Whitman Pioneer Spring 2012 Issue 3

A&E pg. 4

This weekend: Student-written One-Act plays feature stories of love, siblings, post-apocalyptic wasteland

Opinion pg. 7

Pioneer editors argue that the tenure review process is flawed, out of touch with spirit Whitman claims to embody

This Week On Web

Students speak about Professor Galindo and their thoughts on his tenure denial at www.whitmanpioneer.com

The

PIONEER

BERFIELD

ISSUE 3 | February 9, 2012 | Whitman news since 1896

SHUT OUT GALINDO TENURE DENIAL PROVOKES OUTCRY

by K ELSEY K ENNEDY & SUSA NA BOW ERS Feature Editor, Staff Reporter

T

he news that Assistant Professor of Spanish Alberto Galindo did not receive tenure came as a surprise to many on campus, provoking confusion and sparking conversation about the tenure process among students and faculty.

Achieving tenure is among the defining events in a professor’s career. For many students, however, the particulars of this process remain locked in the ivory tower of academia.

“Personally, I was upset and concerned because I didn’t know if my experience of his teaching was something that had been overlooked somehow,” said senior Meghan Bill of the decision.

Galindo, who arrived at Whitman in the fall of 2006 directly after completing his doctorate in Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Cultures at Princeton University, sought tenure and promotion to associate professor in the fall of 2011 at the start of his sixth year of teaching.

This timeline of Galindo’s career at Whitman is standard for tenure-track professors. According to Provost and Dean of the Facul-

ty Timothy Kaufman-Osborn, after three of years of teaching tenure-track professors may have their contracts renewed for another three years, eventually going up for tenure in their sixth year of teaching.

The subsequent decision to deny Professor Galindo tenure by the Faculty Personnel Committee, a faculty-elected group of six faculty members representing all three academic divisions as well as the President and Provost and Dean of Faculty as non-voting members, elicited significant reaction from students in the Spanish and Race and Ethnic Studies Departments. The current voting members of the Faculty Personnel Committee are Professor of English Roberta Davidson, Professor of Biology Heidi Dobson, Associate Professor of Chemistry Frank Dunnivant, Professor of Economics Denise Hazlett, Associate Professor of Philosophy Patrick Frierson and Associate Professor of Anthropology Jason Pribilsky.

Several students convened to prepare letters to President George Bridges and KaufmanOsborn in support of Galindo at the beginning of the semester under the name “Students Supporting Professor Galindo.” A meeting with President Bridges has

since been scheduled for Feb 15.

“I welcome the meeting. Among the goals I have are to give students an opportunity to speak with [Kaufman-Osborn] and me about the tenure and promotion process and to listen very carefully to students’ concerns and views,” said Bridges.

“We would like to meet with President Bridges and to basically express our support for Professor Galindo and to communicate how much he has affected our Whitman experience,” said senior Spanish major Grace Evans.

Chair of the Spanish Department Nohemy Solorzano-Thompson echoed this support for Galindo’s promotion and noted that professors in the department wrote letters of recommendation on his behalf.

“From the Spanish Department’s perspective, we are supportive of Professor Galindo, would like to see him receive tenure and were surprised and very disappointed by the committee’s decision,” she said.

In accordance with the Faculty Handbook guidelines, Galindo has requested that a Review Committee be formed to evaluate the decision of the Faculty Personnel Committee. The Review Committee, comprising the three most senior memBERFIELD

NOWHERE TO GO Editor-in-Chief

“S

ometimes I go by it, and I’ll remember it and I’m like, I don’t ever want to go back there.”

When Kirsten Ratliff passes by the Christian Aid Center on Birch Street, she recalls the months during her adolescence when the building was her only home. At age 11, Ratliff and her family lost their house, and, with no other options available to them, moved into the family house operated by the Christian Aid Center, where they stayed for a summer and into the beginning of the school year.

Ratliff’s mother and father didn’t discuss the details of their financial troubles with her.

“They were just like, we don’t have anywhere to go, this is what we’re going to have to do, you’re going to live here whether you like it or not, because there’s no other option,” she said. “I remember starting sixth grade in the homeless shelter.”

Ratliff, her parents and her three sisters lived two to a bed in a one-bedroom apartment unit. The strict rules at the Christian Aid Center, cramped quarters and—most

of all—the sense of being homeless were very hard for Ratliff and her family. But the facility provided them with two meals a day, clothing and school supplies. Most importantly, it put a roof over their heads and helped Ratliff’s parents find jobs and transition out of the home.

Ratliff’s family was able to benefit from the resources available to them in Walla Walla. If Ratliff had been alone, however, her story would be very different.

“There’s no actual youth shelter where its just youth by themselves that are homeless, but there’s a lot of homeless youth in Walla Walla,” said Marcus Hepler, housing coordinator at Helpline of Walla Walla.

Walla Walla has emergency shelters for women, men and families who find themselves without a place to stay the night. But there is nowhere for homeless youth to go.

“There’s nothing,” said Susan Kralman, Homelessness/Poverty Response & Grant Coordinator for the Department of Human Services in Walla Walla. “Nobody has resources for them.”

Kralman is working to start a shelter for homeless youth aged 13-17 in Walla Walla with Tim

Staff Reporter

C

Meliah, Regional Coordinator of Catholic Charities of Walla Walla, and Teri Barila at the Walla Walla Community Network.

There are funds in Walla Walla to support youth to some extent. The school district can provide small things such as shoes, inhalers or an emergency cell phone call. But for a teen without a place to sleep at night, shoes aren’t going to solve the problem.

“It doesn’t give a kid stability so that he or she can excel in life or even think about their future,” Kralman said. “They’re just worried about survival.”

In Kralman’s work for the Department of Human Services, she compiles data from “Point in Time” surveys of homeless populations in Walla Walla county. The surveys are collected on one date each year; the idea is to get an estimate of the amount of homeless people in the county on any given date. These surveys are part of a statewide directive from 2005 that required each county to come up with a plan to reduce homelessness by 50 percent in 10 years.

Seven years in, homelessness in Walla Walla has only declined slightly. see HOMELESSNESS, page 2

various platforms to voice opinions about the Faculty Personnel Committee’s decision around campus.

For the last several weeks, a petition has circulated to the broader Whitman student community in an effort to gauge support for Galindo beyond the Spanish and Race and Ethnic Studies departments.

As of Monday, Feb. 6, the petition had garnered over 700 signatures.

“The idea of circulating the petition is to gather a sense of how many people’s Whitman experiences have been affected by him and how many people on campus would be sorry to see him go,” said Evans.

Evans pointed to Galindo’s visibility around campus, whether as a panelist in various symposiums or a judge at Mr. Whitman, as part of the reason so many Whitties have coalesced behind this issue.

The petition states: “We believe Professor Alberto S. Galindo embodies the spirit of excellence in teaching through his consistent efforts in the classroom and the broader Whitman College community. In recognition of the strong commitment the college makes to a rich student experience shaped by dynamic and passionate professors, we urge the Board of Trustees, the President see QUESTIONING TENURE, page 5

Off-campus studies to add programs, change tuition model for class of 2015

by EMILY LIN-JONES

Homeless youth in Walla Walla have few resources available

by PATRICIA VA NDER BILT

bers and two most junior members of the full-time tenured teaching faculty, will determine whether adequate consideration was given to Galindo’s qualifications for tenure.

Kaufman-Osborn chose not to comment on any specifics regarding Galindo’s denial of tenure. The Faculty Personnel Committee and college administrators are prohibited from discussing personnel cases because of rules about confidentiality.

Galindo also declined to comment on the particulars of the case, but emphasized his appreciation of his students’ support.

Galindo noted that one of his advisees was struck by the deep connection made between the late Dr. George Ball and his students after attending the memorial for the late professor on Jan. 28.

“My student explained that the memorial was an amazing archive of the connection that took place between an excellent teacher like Dr. Ball and his students. To my student, the parallels were evident. I have immense respect and gratitude for this student and all the other students, former and current, who in these Kafkaesque times, make words and take action,” he said.

Students have certainly taken action in the last month, using

hange is coming to Whitman’s Off-Campus Studies program, at least where the class of 2015 is concerned. The new model, which is to be implemented in the 2013 fall semester, will expand the college’s list of partner programs and charge Whitman tuition for all offered programs.

“We realized that it wasn’t really financially sustainable for us to continue to allow aid to go off-campus and not have some actual revenue coming back to the college. Like many colleges, in order to continue to have financial aid be able to be applied to study abroad, we’re going to be charging Whitman tuition,” explained Director of OffCampus Studies Susan Brick.

Students currently have the option to participate in approved programs, which are run through separate institutions and have their own separate tuitions. Whitman financial aid doesn’t apply to these programs. After the change, some of these approved programs will become partner programs, expanding the partner program list from around 45 options to over 70, and students who elect to take a semester abroad through a partner program will pay what they would normally pay for a semester at Whitman plus the cost of room and board.

Brick said that this new model ensures that students with financial aid are able to choose from a variety of programs if they opt to study abroad. It will also allow the Financial Aid office to package a student’s oncampus aid with the cost of going abroad, lightening the fi-

nancial burden of traveling to more expensive destinations.

“The main principle is that we want students to be able to go abroad regardless of their financial need,” she said.

The change is also designed to more closely align off-campus programs with the academic goals and curriculum of Whitman.

“We’re meeting with each department and asking them what kind of programming would really help students in their major: for their intellectual development, for their careers, for their global awareness,” said Brick.

Studying abroad is generally a popular option for Whitman students, but recently there has been a downturn in the percentage of the student body choosing to take a semester abroad. Approximately 37 percent of this year’s junior class is going abroad, compared to last year’s 49 percent.

Brick said the administration is not certain what is causing this change, although the economic downturn could be a factor.

Some students confirmed that finances were a major factor in the decision to study abroad.

“It is fairly expensive to study abroad in certain areas of the world depending on the exchange rates. I personally would have had to fund my way there and my own living situation, which is what made me decide not to study abroad,” said sophomore Jane Carmody. “I think the switch shows that the Study Abroad and Financial Aid office are now more sensitive to cost issues when choosing to study abroad.” see STUDY ABROAD, page 3

NEWS

2 Domke outlines opposing visions of America Feb

09 2012

by DY L A N T U LL Staff Reporter

F

eelings of intense excitement and frustration are growing in all corners of the country as the 2012 election approaches and America watches Republican candidates desperately trying to gain voters’ favor and President Obama reacts to the GOP candidates.

According to Professor and Chair of the University of Washington Department of Communications, David Domke, who lectured in Olin hall on Tuesday Feb. 7, this year’s election will define the future vision of America for years to come and possibly restructure the American identity permanently in either Republican or Democratic party terms.

Domke’s lecture touched on three central themes: the “public dread” of the upcoming election, the issue of American identity and the conflicting “visions of America” that are defining the 2012 election.

The lecture also focused on Domke’s perspective on the “spirit of America” and how it may change depending on which vision is accepted. Domke described President Obama’s vision of the nation as an inclusive community which works towards the betterment of all, regardless of race, sex or class.

In contrast, Domke argued that the Republican party’s conception of America places more value on selfimprovement of the individual, a definition that will potentially create an exclusive American identity with a set of values that excludes minorities

and divides gender, class and race.

Senior politics major Caroline Koehler commented on this aspect of Domke’s speech.

“I thought that the more theoretical piece about the two American identities was really interesting,” she said. “As our country’s demographics are changing, it’s really important that we foster a more inclusive America.”

According to Domke, the values that the nation is slowly moving towards accepting will be defined by the upcoming election. Domke drew a parallel to Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980, when Reagan’s school of thought became the accepted mode of thinking in America.

“I very much think that there is a lot on the line in this election,” Domke said. “If you support the ‘Obama vision’. . . then you want to give it momentum. . . Because four years in one of the worst economic times in our country’s history is a very difficult time to spool out his vision. So if you support it, it’s very important to give it momentum.

If you oppose it, you want to stop it now; you want to stop it today.”

But despite this, Domke stressed that whichever candidate one supports, the most important thing individuals can do is become involved in the electoral process—whether it be attending caucuses or voting.

“I think there is a negative image of Republican candidates in liberal areas,” sophomore Chelsea Darlington said. “But [Professor Domke]. . . said that when he met [the Republican candidates] he realized that they were humans too. Like he

PAGE

David Domke, Professor and Chair of the Department of Communications at the University of Washington, touched on a number of topics in his Feb. 8th lecture, including widespread “public dread” of the upcoming election, the issue of American identity and conflicting “visions of America” that are coming to define the upcoming election. Photo by Parrish

said, when Rick Santorum looks angry, he’s actually just being serious.”

Koehler expanded on Domke’s message about being proactive in elections, no matter your political preference.

“I think what he wanted us to take [from this lecture] was that we needed to get out there. . . there has been such bad voter turn out in the recent decade,” she said.

As it turns out, this is exactly why many students attended the lecture. Senior Arielle Paulson, the WEB Cultural Events Director, touched on why she thought students had come to hear Domke speak.

“I think that Whitman students are really interested in what’s going on around us, but we’re not always able to have the time to check in on what’s happening,” she said.

This is the first opportunity to participate in a presidential election for many Whitman students, and, as a result, students feel a need to be informed.

“This is the first chance that students my age have to vote in the presidential election, and I thought it would be important to gain an understanding of how campaigns work,” Darlington said.

Shelter plans in progress Res-life staff struggles with NUMBERS IN THE NEWS voter registration from HOMELESSNESS, page 1

ILLUSTRATION BY JOHNSON

by EMILY LIN-JONES Staff Reporter

W

ith Walla Walla County election day rolling around on Feb. 14, residents of the Whitman campus who want to register to vote locally may be in for a confusing experience.

Although many students opt to register to vote in their home counties, some on campus have experienced issues trying to register using the college’s address. Resident Director Anastasia Zamkinos ‘10 reported having difficulties registering while working as a resident director for College House, Douglas Hall and Marcus House.

“When I went to change my driver’s license to Washington from Arizona, I checked the box that said I wanted to change my voter registration at the same time. I listed 280 Boyer since that was my most consistent address while at Whitman,” she said in an email. “I got a big mailing back from the state saying that the school address wasn’t valid for registering to vote, it had to be a residential address.”

Zamkinos eventually found a way around this problem once she became a director for the Interest House Community, which has a common residential and mailing address. Still, she says,

the issue could be a roadblock for students or resident directors living in the dorms who want to register in Walla Walla.

“At best, I think it’s a really counterintuitive process that could be discouraging for several voters,” she said.

Justin Daigneault, resident director of Lyman Hall, noted that the problem of students voting locally remains a contentious issue in college towns, especially those with relatively small populations.

“I think it is a good thing for everyone to vote and have a say in the community they are a part of, even in a town you may only be spending part of your life in, however I don’t think it is helpful to drastically change the climate of a town through a temporary population,” he said in an email.

According to Walla Walla County Auditor Karen Martin, students may register to vote in Walla Walla using the physical address of their dormitory, instead of the 280 Boyer mailing address. “[Students] have to use their physical address on campus, like which house [or dormitory] they’re in,” said Martin. “They need to be aware that by registering, that makes them a citizen of Washington state and Walla Walla county, and that could change the way they’re registered in the school.”

“We’re trying the best that we can, but there’s so many variables that we have no control over.

We don’t have any control over the economy,” Kralman said.

Homeless populations can be difficult to measure because they don’t have a stable address, and homeless youth are particularly difficult to reach because there is no facility available to them. Still, the surveys from 2007-2011 suggest that there are around 20 unaccompanied homeless youth in Walla Walla on any given day.

Most of them are couch-surfing, according to Tim Meliah.

Couch-surfing, the term used for teens who shift between homes of friends or acquaintances, can result in hazardous situations.

“This young girl—was living with two brothers of 30 years old. This 15-year-old girl was trading sex in order to have somewhere to live. That was happening here,” Meliah said.

Meliah’s example comes from a 2007-2008 study conducted by a Whitman student in a joint project with Whitman and the Walla Walla Community Network. Twenty-four homeless teens were interviewed in the study, which found that the top reasons that youth find themselves homeless in Walla Walla are drug use (mostly parental), imprisoned parents, strife or conflict with parents and neglect.

Meliah spoke about the consequences of homelessness for the youth and the community at large. He listed poor health from untreated medical ailments, as well as untreated and/ or undiagnosed mental health issues.

“Or they’re self-medicating, which would be the drug use,” he said.

Homeless youth can have difficulty attending school regularly and are often in juvenile detention facilities.

“It’s a real strain on the community. Economically, if they’re going untreated for either mental health or for medical needs, then they’re ending up in our ERs, and it’s uncompensated care. So it’s costing the community,” Meliah said. “If they’re participating in crime, or selling drugs.

If it’s vandalism or whatever else, it’s going to impact the community.”

Plans for a youth shelter are in progress. Meliah and Kralman envision a six-bed shelter that would serve both genders and would be open year-round. Though operating costs and licensing requirements would restrict the shelter to a night-only facili-

ty, Meliah hopes to form partnerships with other organizations in the community that could operate at the shelter during the day and provide additional services to the youth such as counseling, chemical dependency treatment, job skills training, etc.

The shelter is intended for short-term use.

“The idea is to get them in and . . . get them connected with services to bring stability to their lives and move them along,” said Kralman.

Before they can do this, however, they need to locate a site. The group is still getting past the obstacles involved in finding an appropriate facility for the youth shelter.

The facility is required to have fire sprinklers installed in order to be licensed as a youth shelter; this regulation has made it difficult to find a suitable facility. According to Kralman, several places have been suggested, but none of them ended up working.

“These kids can be in a detrimental situation, and that’s okay, but we don’t want to risk that there might be a fire in a house,” Kralman said.

The difficulties in getting the project going speak to the reasons why the need for a youth shelter is still unfilled in the community.

“There’s a high cost and big liability in taking on a shelter,” Meliah said.

Part of this liability is the threat of gang activity, according to Hepler.

“How are you going to do it?” he said. “Some of them may be involved in gangs, that may be why they’re homeless. You have them in this shelter, that makes the shelter a target. Even if you have a youth shelter you’d have to screen your youth. It’s really complicated.”

Meliah agreed that potential youth involvement in gangs was a problem that the project coordinators would need to address.

“Its a concern,” he said. “And I think the hope is, maybe something like this will just play a little part in helping to . . . facilitate getting out [of gang participation].”

Licensing requirements also state that staff of both genders must be at the facility overnight and must be awake at all times. A lead counselor must also be on site when youth are present. As a consequence, the shelter’s operating costs will be around $100,000 annually.

According to Meliah, fundraising efforts will gain momentum as more details about the shelter are fleshed out. Despite the substan-

by SHELLY LE News Editor

671,888

Estimated number of people in the United States who experience homelessness in one given night.

1.6 million

Estimated number of people nationwide who use transitional housing or emergency shelters.

39

Percentage of homeless persons nationwide who are children under the age of 18.

300,000

Number of children under the age of 18 who are living on the streets without supervision, nurturing or regular assistance from a parent or responsible adult.

66

Percentage of youths who are runaways and have no permanent housing and seek assistance from youth shelters because of problems with parental relationships.

0

Number of homeless shelters in Walla Walla designed specifically for youth.

S O U RC E S: T H E N AT I O N A L COA L I T I O N F O R T H E H O M EL E S S, T H E N AT I O N A L YO U T H D E V ELO P M EN T C EN T ER, T H E U.S. D EPA RT M EN T O F H O USIN G A N D D E V ELO P M EN T, T H E N AT I O N A L R E S O U RC E C EN T ER F O R F OS T ER C A R E A N D P ER M A N EN C Y P L A N NIN G.

tial fundraising and coordinating efforts before them, Kralman and Meliah hope to open the shelter in 2013.

Kralman believes that the county’s efforts to reduce homelessness are finally beginning to have an effect.

“I can see it all coming together,” she said.

EDITOR I A L

PRODUCTION

W R I T ING

BUSIN ESS

EDITORIAL POLICY

Editor-in-Chief Patricia Vanderbilt

Production Manager Ted Hendershot

NEWS

Business Manager Hailun Zhou

Managing Editor Cara Lowry

Production Associates Katie Berfield, Sean McNulty Madison Munn, Molly Olmsted, Cara Patten, Allison Work

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 weekly Letters to the Editor in print and online.

News Editors Karah Kemmerly Shelly Le A&E Editor Caitlin Hardee Sports Editor Libby Arnosti Feature Editors Alyssa Fairbanks Kelsey Kennedy Opinion Editor Alex Brott Humor Editor Cari Cortez Photography Editor Ethan Parrish Illustration Editor Binta Loos-Diallo

Chief Copy Editor Jean Marie Dreyer Copy Editors Aleida Fernandez Marisa Ikert

ILLUSTRATION

Alex Bailey, Ariel Carter-Rodriguez, Kelly Douglas, Ruth Hwang Emily Johnson, Julie Peterson, Erika Zinser

PHOTOGRAPHY Cade Beck, Caitlin Bergman, Faith Bernstein, Allie Felt, Halley McCormick Chaoyu Li, Nico Peck

Rachel Alexander, Molly Johanson, Emily Lin-Jones, Julia Stone, Dylan Tull

A&E

Clara Bartlett, Nathan Fisher, Alex Hagen, Mallory Martin, Ellie Newell

FEATURE

Samuel Adler, Susanna Bowers, Molly Emmett, Talia Rudee, Kinsey White

SPORTS

Peter Clark, Sarah Debs, Kyle Howe, Pamela London, Sylvie Luiten, Matt Tesmond

OPINION

Sam Chapman, Blair Frank, Sandra Matsevilo, Nathan Ord, Kyle Seasly

BACKPAGE

Elena Aragon, Tabor Martinsen, Theo Pratt, Dana Thompson

Circulation Associate Emily Coba

WEB TEAM Webmaster Kirk Crosland Web Editor Sara Rasmussen Web Content Editor Josh Goodman

ADVERTISING Advertising Manager Hannah Bauer Advertising Associate Will Martin, Woodrow Jacobson For information about advertising in The Pioneer or to purchase a subscription please contact business@ whitmanpioneer.com.

SUBMISSION POLICY Letters to Editor may be submitted to The Pioneer via email at editors@ whtimanpioneer.com or sent to The Pioneer, 345 Boyer Ave., Walla Walla, WA, 99362. All submissions must be received by 4 p.m. on Saturday prior to the week that they are intended to appear. All submissions must be attributed and may be edited for concision and fluency.

CODE OF ETHICS The code of ethics serves as The Pioneer’s established guidelines for the practice of responsible journalism on campus, within reasonable interpretation of the editorial board. These guidelines are subject to constant review and amendment; responsibility for amending the code of ethics is assigned to the Editor-in-Chief in conjunction with the editorial board.

The code of ethics is reviewed at least once per semester.

To access the complete code of ethics for The Pioneer, visit whitmanpioneer.com/about.

NEWS

Feb

09 2012

ILLUSTRATION BY JOHNSON

Professor Ellen Bishop pens guide to Northwestern geology

by MOLLY JOH A NSON Staff Reporter

E Class of 2015 ambivalent about off-campus studies changes, increased tuition from STUDY ABROAD, page 1

Sophomore Bailey Richards agreed that cost was a concern and said that the new model would probably affect some students negatively.

“Finances were a major concern for me because I didn’t want a program with a cost higher than what I’m currently paying for Whitman tuition,” she said.

“Part of the joy of going abroad is not paying as much . . . you shouldn’t be paying Whitman rates.”

Lydia Loopesko ’15

“Universally applying Whitman tuition will make study abroad more expensive for most people, even if they do consider additional aid for pricier programs and waive the administrative fee.”

Erik Larson, a junior currently enrolled in a program in Madrid, also noted the possible effect on students who are paying full Whitman tuition.

“I can understand that the new system will reduce the work that the Office of Off-Campus Studies and the Office of Financial Aid have to do. It’s unfortunate, though, for those students whose study abroad experiences will cost more,” he said in an email.

The change will primarily affect this year’s first-year class. The new model was outlined for first-year students during opening week, and an in-

formational meeting is to be held in April to give prospective study abroad applicants more details about the change.

First-year students appear to have mixed feelings about the changes. First-year Lydia Loopesko is not particularly satisfied with the changes.

“I think there will be less incentive to study abroad now. Part of the joy of going abroad is not paying as much. If you’re not at Whitman, you shouldn’t be paying Whitman rates,” she said.

However, first-year David Wilson doesn’t feel that the change in cost will have too negative of an effect for students in his class.

“I feel like the increase in price could keep students from applying in the first place. But I guess if what you’re paying is what you’d pay to stay here, you’d be paying it anyway. So unless you’re looking to save money while studying abroad, it shouldn’t make too much of a difference,” he said.

Brick noted that Whitman’s commitment towards expanding students’ knowledge would remain constant even at the face of change.

“Whitman is very supportive of global learning and international understanding,” said Brick. “We want our students to have that perspective, and that’s why we’ve been so generous with financial aid for so long for off-campus studies. We’re going to continue to do that, just in a slightly different way.”

3

PAGE

very rock’s got a story. [Geology is a] way of telling a story about the earth,” said Visiting Assisting Professor of Environmental Studies & Geology Ellen Bishop.

Bishop’s upcoming book “Field Guide to Pacific Northwest Geology” will be published in 2013. In it, Bishop intends to tell the stories and histories of the land surrounding Whitman.

Bishop is currently using a draft of her book as the textbook for Geology 120: “Geologic History of the Pacific Northwest.” With the feedback that her students give her, Bishop will make revisions and finish the final draft of the book at the end of this semester.

First-year Tim Reed, who is enrolled in the class, likes the idea of participating in the revision process of the book.

“It’s cool to have a teacher who makes it clear that she’s looking for feedback, [and] being able to be invested in the process, help her get information across in an intellectually stimulating manner,” said Reed.

Bishop was prompted to write her field guide by two factors.

The first was to expand on her first book, “In Search of Oregon,” written in 2003, which was an indepth look at the geologic history of Oregon as a state. Bishop’s new book would put Oregon in context, while providing a broad sweep of the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest as well as specific histories of regions and formations.

It took Bishop five years for the book to reach i ts current state.

“The problem with science is that we keep learning new things,” said Bishop.

Even now, facts that are presented in her field guide are being disproved by new geologic discoveries. At ten years old, “In Search of Oregon” is much in need of a second edition. Much of the information in her book uses information from densely technical geology papers. “[Bishop is] skilled in weaving complex history understandable to a non-geologist, which is enhanced by her photographic expertise,” said Professor of Geology Pat Spencer, who teaches the Geological History of the Pacific North-

west class at Whitman every fall.

Bishop’s passion for both photography and the outdoors compose her second motive for writing this field guide.

“I like being outside. [I hope to] motivate people to get out and

see their surroundings. The aesthetics of landscape draws people into Geology,” said Bishop.

Bishop additionally has a lifelong love of photography, and is looking forward to taking the photos for her book this summer.

Professor Ellen Bishop will publish a field guide to local geology in 2013. Photo by Felt ADVERTISEMENT

Chocolates for your Valentine!

•

Valentine’s day is Tuesday, February 14!

• • • •

Heart-shaped boxes Chocolate Hearts Valentine Candies Teddy Bears Traditional Boxed Chocolates

11 East Main . Walla Walla . 509-525-5533 . brightscandies.com

ADVERTISEMENT

WILL YOU BE ONE OF THE 53?

Boise State is searching for 53 smart, highly motivated individuals who are waiting for the opportunity to prove themselves.

Boise State’s Career Start MBA is specifically designed for non-business majors. It’s for those people who went the extra mile in their field and now want a job to match their GPA. Boise State wants students who not only believe in working smarter, but working harder too. The only question is, will you be one of the 53?

1-208-426-1120

careerstartmba.com

A&E

Feb

09 2012

4

PAGE

One-Acts display innovative visions of love

by CAITLIN H A R DEE A&E Editor

S

enior Thomas Knook’s voice rang out in frustration in Harper Joy’s “Black Box” as the actor struggled to enter gun-first through the curtains. The rifle muzzle appeared under the curtain hem and began inching forward.

“Navy Seal!” quipped junior Jeremy Howell, director of senior David Otten’s one-act play “Little Brother.”

With “Little Brother” and his other play “The Station,” Otten has achieved what has only happened once before in Whitman history—the selection of two plays by the same playwright for the three coveted slots in the One-Act Play Festival, running from Wednesday, Feb. 8 through Sunday, Feb. 12.

“The rules were that you could submit three plays and have three plays picked, but after it happened for the first time—it did happen before, but it was like 15 years ago that somebody had two plays—they kind of realized that they want to give more people the opportunity,” said senior Michaela Gianotti, author of “The Guests,” the third play in the contest. “Everybody was like, really amazed that David did that, because it’s such a big accomplishment, so

nobody wanted to take that away from him, of course. So they’re going to change it for future years, but still, it’s awesome that David has two plays this year.”

Otten explained the premises of his two unusual plays. “‘Little Brother’ is a weird thing. It takes place in post-apocalyptic America—basically think ‘The Road,’” said Otten. “It concerns this old man who’s been living in a house by himself for the past 42 years; he’s in complete isolation. His granddaughter is now a soldier in the infantry of what remains of the human race— she comes to visit him once a year while she goes on patrol around the area. This is a wasteland that he’s in. [The other play] ‘The Station’ is very Chaplin-esque. A socially inept janitor who works at a train station falls in love with a woman. It’s very sweet.”

Junior Beth Daviess plays Dutch, the granddaughter in “Little Brother.” Daviess and her fellow actors are under significant pressure, with one week less than normal to rehearse for the contest.

“It’s been really, really short. Last year felt short. This feels ridiculous,” said Daviess.

“The real challenge is that I’m working with a two-person cast for a 35-minute play—so it might seem like it’s easier to control, ‘cause you only have two cast

Kathryn Bogley ‘15 and Nasko Atanasov ‘14 (above) rehearse a scene from ‘The Station,’ written by David Otten ’12 and directed by Ryan Campeau ‘14. The play tells the story of a lonely, shy janitor who falls in love with a woman at a train station. Photo by Bernstein

members to direct, but they have as much on their plate as maybe a cast of 10 people,” said Howell.

Gianotti’s play, with an ensemble cast, takes a more traditional approach.

“I think the show, more than

anything, is about love—the three siblings are all in love or falling out of love in some kind of different way,” said Gianotti. “They’re all different ages and at different places in their lives, and it presents three very dif-

ferent kinds of relationships.”

Audiences at “The Guests” should expect some visual chaos, Gianotti added.

“Our show is last because we’re going to make a really big mess onstage,” said Gianotti.

Award-winning writer Camille Dungy visits campus

by M A LLORY M A RTIN Staff Reporter

O ILLUSTRATION BY CARTER-RODRIGUEZ

n Thursday, Feb. 9, acclaimed author Camille T. Dungy will be visiting Kimball Auditorium in the fourth installment of this year’s Visiting Writers Series.

“It is a tremendous event that the campus offers and absolutely invaluable to students of creative writing,” said junior English major Katie Haaheim. “The chance to interact directly with poets and other writers is an incredible opportunity for us. Any stu-

Tasty recipes for Valentine’s treats show labor of love ‘The Artist’

by ELLIE NEW ELL Staff Reporter

I

f you and your sweetheart are going to brave the crowds this Feb. 14, I’d recommend making your reservations yesterday. I think I’ve mentioned before my undying love for Brasserie Four, but I’ve also come to be a big supporter of the appetizers and beer date. Public House 124’s truffle fries and wings are so delightful you’ll consider building a shack out back just to be closer to them at all times.

Personally, I would take a home-cooked meal over eating out any day. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, or the anniversary of Oregon’s statehood, here’s a recipe that’s tasty, simple to throw together and won’t break the bank. Bonus points for how beautifully orange and purple it is!

triumphs with new, refreshing look at retro forms

by NATH A N FISHER Staff Reporter

“T

he Artist” throws the recent onslaught of 3-D and “Avatar”esque visual effects out the window, and returns to the era of black and white and silent movies. Yes, “The Artist” has no color, and the only sound is the noise of the background musical soundtrack. The lack of high-tech special effects and incoherent dialogue is completely and utterly refreshing, and I—nostalgic for the days of Charlie Chaplin and Rudolph Valentino movies—absolutely loved it!

“The Artist” follows the rise

Quinoa Beet Salad with Cashew Ginger Dressing Start by getting your quinoa cooking. Some people swear that rice cookers work well for quinoa, but my best results have been with a pot on the stove. Most quinoa recipes call for two parts liquid to one part dry quinoa. I often add a spoonful of vegan Better Than Bouillon paste, but you could just as easily use chicken or veggie broth, or just plain water. The quinoa that I buy from Super 1’s bulk section takes about 12-15 minutes to simmer once the water’s boiled. If you prefer a cold base to your salad, you can prepare the quinoa ahead of time and chill it in the fridge.

Wash a head of lettuce and rip into bite sized pieces. Wash a beet or two and trim off the skin. Use a cheese grater to shred. Wash and peel a couple of carrots and shred them just like you did the beets.

Toss the vegetables in a large bowl.

For the dressing, place half a cup of unsalted raw cashews in your blender or food processor and cover with water. Add a pinch of salt and either a couple tablespoons of dried ginger, or a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled and diced. Blend for several minutes, testing the mixture every so often by rubbing a drop between your thumb and pointer, feeling for graininess. When you can no longer feel grains of cashew, add water bit by bit to your dressing until you reach your desired consistency, squeezing half a lemon into it at the end. Give it a taste and add more ginger or salt if necessary.

Serve the salad on a bed of quinoa, drizzled with your delicious homemade dressing. ¡Buen Provecho!

dent interested in the study of English should go, without question.

Otherwise, the readings are open and accessible to anyone curious.”

Dungy is a poet, author, essayist and professor of creative writing at San Francisco State University. She is the author of three books, “Smith Blue,” “Suck on the Marrow” and “What to Eat, What to Drink, What to Leave for Poison,” as well as editor of several poetry anthologies.

“Camille Dungy is a wonderful poet,” said Haaheim. “I have only recently started with one of her books, but she has a great ar-

ray of stylistic choices that makes her poetry highly engaging. I am very excited to hear her read.”

For her part, Dungy says she looks forward to visiting Whitman, and hopes to impart her love of poetry to those attending her lecture.

“I hope that at least one person who doesn’t think s/he likes poetry will come away thinking that maybe s/he does,” Dungy said in an email. “There are so many types of poetry out there. Saying you don’t like poetry is like saying you don’t like apples. I bet if you just found the right one, prepared the right way, you could love apples too.”

2012 Grammys bring mixed bag of nominees

by A LEX H AGEN Staff Reporter

O

n Sunday, Feb. 12, the 54th Grammy Awards, which annually honor the best of the music industry, will be presented at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

This year, Kanye West leads the pack of nominees with seven nominations, including Song of the Year for “All of the Lights”, a standout track from his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Puzzlingly, the album did not receive a nomination for Album of the Year, though West also snagged multiple nominations for his work with Jay-Z on their collaborative album Watch the Throne.

Competitors for Album of the Year include Adele for her smash hit 21, Rihanna’s Loud and Lady Gaga’s wildly uneven Born This Way an album that ultimately failed to live up to its surrounding hype. Also nominated

were the Foo Fighters for Wasting Light and Bruno Mars’ uninspired Doo-Wops & Hooligans.

From this list of nominees, Adele indisputably deserves to triumph.

The awards for Song of the Year, which honors the nominated tracks’ songwriters, and Record of the Year, given to performing artists, producers and mixers, share several of the same nominees.

Adele’s blockbuster single “Rolling in the Deep,” Bruno Mars’ “Grenade,” Bon Iver’s gorgeous “Holocene” and Mumford & Sons’ “The Cave” each received nominations in both categories. Since today’s music world is so vast and diverse, the Grammys might do well to spread the wealth of nominations around a bit more. As it stands though, the tracks by Adele or Bon Iver would be fine choices.

The list for Best New Artist, another major category, ranges from rappers Nicki Minaj and J. Cole to dubstep producer Skrillex.

STYLE SPOTLIGHT ILLUSTRATION BY H WA N G

and fall of George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), a silent movie megastar.

The movie begins in 1927, and follows the home life and peaking movie career of Valentin with his trusty sidekick Uggie, a Jack Russell terrier. George is at the top of the game until sound testing for movies begins in 1929. George walks out of a private screening for the sound testing, laughing, saying that if talkies are the future, he does not want any part of it. “I’m not a puppet; I’m an artist,” he says. George becomes an insignificant dinosaur shunned from the movie business as talkies take over the silver screen, giving rise to new faces like Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). Years before, George helped Peppy get her first job. Peppy—and she is quite peppy—swiftly ascends to stardom and tries to help George along the way.

“The Artist” tells a tale of an actor’s struggles of leaving the silent movie era by making the movie in black and white and mostly silent, the very medium that is being left behind. Brilliant! The actors must rely on exaggerated facial expressions and body movements and not their voices. The stripping away of both color and voices forced me to watch the movie more intently, and I felt myself becoming more invested with the characters. Hands down, “The Artist” is one of my favorite movies this year. I look forward to a repeat showing and having my senses shocked once again.

Dungy is a recipient of numerous accolades, such as the Northern California Book Award, a Silver Medal for the California Book Award, a position as a finalist for the Balcones Prize and two consecutive nominations for the NAACP Image Award. She encourages all students to follow their passion, acknowledging it took her down the right path.

“I decided I would build my life around what I loved, which happened to be poetry. I built my life around what I loved and figured I’d see what happened. As it turned out, good things happened.”

Every week, The Pioneer searches out Whitties who bring an extra splash of fashion consciousness and sartorial daring to campus. This week’s Style Spotlight: sophomore psychology major Kalen Bergado.

Style Soundbites “The shirt was actually just a regular long-sleeved Oxford before I got it. I saw a picture on the

ADVERTISEMENT

Also nominated were The Band Perry and Bon Iver, who released his debut album four years ago, leading me to wonder how exactly the Grammys define “new.”

There are a few surprises in the genre-specific categories, like the inclusion of Robyn’s Body Talk, Pt. 3 in Best Dance/Electronica Album and her single “Call Your Girlfriend” in Dance Recording. I also appreciated seeing one last nod to the late Amy Winehouse, whose cover of “Body and Soul” with Tony Bennett was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Overall, this year’s Grammys lineup reflects a mix of commercial hits and critical darlings.

Frustrating though they may be, the awards always provide entertaining speeches and memorable performances. Whether you’re a Kanye fan or one of Gaga’s Little Monsters, the Grammys will no doubt give you something to talk about next Sunday.

Internet of one that kind of looked like a three-quarter length with a piece of material sewn at the end, of a different pattern than the Oxford. I asked my mom if she could make one for me; she’s super into sewing and she made it. ” “I love expensive clothes.

There are so many pieces I want that I just can’t afford. Like, designer pieces that aren’t meant to be affordable; they’re meant to be limited. But I also like vintage thrift stuff.

You can find me searching online, like looking at the designer collections for spring-summer ‘12, but also in a thrift store buying cheap-ass T-shirts.”

FEATURE

Feb

09 2012

PAGE

5

Committee decision to be reviewed from QUESTIONING TENURE, page 1

and the Provost and Dean of Faculty to grant Professor Galindo tenure.”

“Students Supporting Professor Galindo” also tabled in Reid all last week, encouraging students to sign the petition and wear white ribbons to raise awareness. As part of this effort, concerned students initiated a “whiteout” last Thursday, calling for students to wear white in support of Professor Galindo.

Senior Spanish major Zoe Kunkel-Patterson also argued while tabling in Reid last week that students should play a more visible role in the tenure process.

“Their decisions impact our day to day lives and we are paying greatly for it,” she said.

Despite her surprise at the Faculty Personnel Committee’s decision in the case of Galindo, Bill emphasized that she can’t presume to know the complexities of the tenure process.

“I can see how there is possibly a need for distance between Whitman as an institution and faculty as members of that institution and students that are just passing through. I see the value in having some kind of distance in that process, but as a student of [Galindo’s], while he was still in the process of awaiting a decision, I would have liked to have had a chance to voice my opinion,” said Bill.

Frustration over student representation in the assessment of professors is also felt by many students in the art department, who dispute the college’s decision to deny Lecturer of Art Mare Blocker a tenuretrack position. According to Kaufman-Osborn, the lecturer position held by Blocker was converted to a tenure-track position after the college was awarded an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant last June.

“In the case of Studio Art, we conducted a national search in order to identify the most qualified candidate for the position. In this instance, Nicole Pietrantoni was recommended as the most qualified by the search committee, and that recommendation was endorsed by the Committee of Division Chairs as well as the president. She signed a

contract with the College in December 2011,” said Kaufman-Osborn.

“All I can say about this issue is that Professor Blocker was hired as a visiting assistant professor. She was not hired on a tenure track. Consequently, she has never been eligible for tenure and never been eligible to apply for tenure,” said Associate Professor of Art and Department Chair Charles Timm-Ballard.

Blocker declined to comment on the specifics of her case.

Blocker’s students are disappointed by the college’s decision, and wish they could have had more of a say in the process.

“All the art students that I’ve talked to about it are very upset and disturbed at what little attention seems to have been paid to the people Mare taught, who should be considered the most informed judges of her teaching ability. The faculty in every department at Whitman should be taking a very critical look at their tenure processes, and seeing whether they accurately reflect the needs and desires of the student body. I think it’s pretty clear that right now they’re failing to do so,” said senior art major Sam Alden.

“Their decisions impact our day to day lives and we are paying greatly for it.”

Zoe Kunkel-Patterson’12

Senior art major Sarah Canepa also emphasized Blocker’s popularity among students.

“I knew that conflicts over her rehiring had come up before, but her students, including myself, had successfully advocated for her in the past, and I was optimistic that the strong support demonstrated by the student body on her behalf would continue to have an impact,” she said.

In addition to calls for reassessment of their particular cases, Galindo’s and Blocker’s denials have raised more general questions about the role of students in the decision-making process.

Currently, student input in tenure decisions comes mainly from

the course evaluations that students complete for each of their classes at the end of every semester. The evaluations are included in the Faculty Personnel Committee’s assessment. Students may also submit letters of recommendation on behalf of a professor, however, these letters are not openly solicited by the administration.

“Students have on occasion submitted such letters, but, at present, there is no formal policy for soliciting such letters,” said Kaufman-Osborn.

Bill and Evans both regret that they did not submit letters of recommendation on behalf of Galindo last semester, and wish that the administration advertised this outlet for additional student perspectives.

“We really weren’t aware I think until the very, very last minute [that] we could have written letters, that we could have done something. It was literally sort of the day before the Personnel Committee was meeting that we were made aware that we could write letters of recommendation,” said Evans.

Student evaluations weigh heavily alongside peer reviews, as well as a written statement by the professor seeking tenure and his or her course materials, in an effort to measure what Whitman terms “Excellence in Teaching,” the “most important criterion” in the Faculty Personnel Committee’s decision, according to the Faculty Handbook.

Evaluations of a professor’s “Excellence in Professional Activity” and “Service to the College” are considered after this Excellence in Teaching criterion. A professor’s writing and research that appears in peer-reviewed publications, other peer-reviewed professional activities and involvement in professional organizations are among the elements included in the Faculty Personnel Committee’s assessment of a tenuretrack professor’s qualifications.

Service to the College encapsulates a professor’s involvements outside of the classroom. A professor’s service to the Whitman community may include involvement on college committees, iniADVERTISEMENT

tiation of new programs, mentoring and more general efforts to enhance student life and Whitman’s commitment to diversity, as outlined in the handbook guidelines.

Associate Professor of Religion Melissa Wilcox argues that the Service to the College category may not receive the attention it deserves in Faculty Personnel Committee decisions.

Wilcox noted that professors who belong to under-represented groups often engage in service to the college that is not openly recognized in the tenure process.

“Women faculty are far more likely to see students in their office hours or in private meetings elsewhere who are dealing with things like sexual assault. For the queer faculty, the queer students come to us with coming out issues or just any issue because we are someone they are more likely to identify with. For faculty of color, students of color disproportionately come to them. So there is all of this unacknowledged service time that most of us are very passionate about putting in . . . but how often, or do we even feel that it’s right to put it on our annual self-review?” she said.

According to Wilcox, this service to the college often detracts from research time, which is weighed more heavily in the Excellence in Professional Activity category.

While there are concerns about the juggling of these various components in the tenure process, in recent years the number of tenure-track professors awarded permanent positions has been high. “[Of] the 10 persons considered for tenure over the course of the past two years, nine were awarded this status,” said Kaufman-Osborn.

“Students Supporting Professor Galindo” is hosting an information session for those interested in learning more about the tenure process and Galindo’s case.

ASWC representatives will be present at the event, which will take place Thursday, Feb. 9 from 7-9 p.m. at La Casa Hispaña.

Tenure: seven quick facts compiled by ALYSSA FAIRBANKS Feature Editor

are re1. Professors viewed for tenure in their second year.

Assistant Professors are reviewed for tenure in their sixth year.

2. Tenure is indefinite. there 3. Inwere2010-2011 123 fulltime tenure-track positions.

Board of Trustees 4. The may award indefinite tenure at any time with a special vote.

in 5. Excellence teaching, excellence in professional activity, service to the college are considered.

reviews 6. Course are considered

by the Personnel Committee.

a member of the 7. Iffaculty has not been

given tenure by the end of their sixth year, he or she shall not continue in service of the College beyond the end of their seventh year.

SOURCE: FACULTY HANDBOOK, SEC. 4

SPORTS

Feb

09 2012

WHITS ROLL OUT DEFENSE

by PA MEL A LONDON Staff Reporter

A

fter a weekend of electric crowds, furious rallies and stifling defense, the Whitman men’s and women’s basketball teams find themselves in a position where everyone wants to be: in line for a spot in the four-team Northwest Conference tournament.

Boisterous crowds filled Sherwood Center Friday and Saturday nights to watch the Missionary men and women combine to win three of four games against Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound.

Defense was the name of the game for the women both nights, holding the Tacoma schools to under 33 percent shooting.

“Defensively, we just took PLU out of their game completely,” said coach Michelle Ferenz.

“We held them to 42 points, which is a low for them this season.”

Whitman blew out PLU 62-42.

The women took the floor Saturday night in a winner-takes-thirdplace showdown with UPS. Once again, a strong defensive effort made the difference in a 66-59 victory over the Loggers, giving Whitman sole possession of third place in the NWC with four games remaining.

“UPS has one of the best shooting teams in the conference,” said Ferenz. “We did a great job for most of the game getting out on their shooters, and they didn’t get a lot of open looks. That is what we needed to do to get the win.”

After trailing by 16 midway through the second half, UPS hit six three-pointers over the next six minutes to cut their deficit to only three. Whitman was clinging to a four-point lead with less than 90 seconds to play, but Whitman hit four free throws to seal the win.

Peterson ran the offense efficiently for a second night in a row, finishing with 19 points and five as-

The Whitman women won both in-season games against UPS and PLU this year, a feat not achieved for more than 17 years.

The Whitman men remain in a threeway tie for second place in the NWC with UPS and George Fox. Photo

Men’s and Women’s NWC Championships Feb. 10-12

by McCormick

sists while playing all 40 minutes.

“Beating both PLU and UPS on the road and then again at home was something that has not been done in a very long time, so everyone was very excited,” said Jenele Peterson.

The Whitman men entered two home games caught in a logjam at second place in the NWC with its two opponents for the weekend, PLU and UPS. The Missionaries split two close games, defeating PLU and falling to UPS. “I feel we competed, but didn’t follow our game plan(s) particularly well,” said coach Eric Bridgeland.

Trailing by eight points, with under six minutes to play Fri-

day night, the Missionaries finished the game on an 18-5 run.

Senior forward David Michaels poured in 30 points and nine rebounds in 32 minutes. Michaels also teamed with forwards junior Drew Raher and sophomore Ben Eisenhardt to play physical interior defense all night.

Saturday’s game with UPS was a grind-it-out battle that remained close throughout, and the game was not decided until less than a second remained.

Tied at 64 with 31 seconds to play, UPS’s Riggs Yarbro hit a jumper to put the Loggers up two points. After calling timeout, Whit-

man advanced the ball to frontcourt with 29 seconds to play. The Missionaries got the look they wanted, but could not convert, and UPS pulled out the win 66-64.

“I think that we played good, but not at the level we are capable of playing,” said Michaels. “We really needed to win both games this weekend, so it hurts to see us drop such a close game on Saturday.”

Despite the loss Saturday, the Whitman men remain tied for second place in the NWC at 8-4 with UPS and George Fox University. The three teams trail Conference leader Whitworth University by three games. Both Missionary teams trav-

T Climbers bring organization, competition to growing club ed, but the climbing did for Lazar, who is now president of the club.

Junior Tom Vogt, a novice climber, recently joined the new club.

“I had been on the cycling team and wanted other sport activities to get into, and I started climbing. I’m in a climbing class, and my friend told me that you could do outdoor climbing trips with the climbing club and get to know other climbers. The wall has its own nice, really inviting community. It’s also a good chance to turn a fun indoor and outdoor activity into a social activity,” said Vogt.

Over the last year, the club has spent much of their time planning for the future. Now they look forward to enjoying the fruits of all their labor. The club competes with other schools from the Pacific Northwest. “[In the] NC3 there’s about seven or eight [competitions] but we don’t necessarily go to all of them,” said Charlotte Hill, a junior and head of the Indoor Committee, a position which gives her responsibility for the indoor portion of the club’s activities.

“Last semester [junior] Kenn

Graze’s

Kochi and I decided that we really wanted to start the climbing club back up and build a structure that the climbing community could organize around. So we set about doing that and getting people together and having meetings,” said Lazar.

Even though the team is still getting on its feet, its members already have accomplishments under their harnesses.

“We’ve sent people to competitions, we have trainings on Wednesdays we’re looking to have trainings three days a week. We have plans for all these different activities and fundraising—and we’re going to make shirts,” said Lazar.

Vogt points out that this club is uniquely accessible, both because of its openness to new members, and because of the flexible nature of the sport.

“It’s cool to see how all different body types can find an advantage in climbing. With climbing, all shapes and sizes find a way to approach it differently. There’s kind of a spot for everyone and every body type—its sort of neat.”

by SA R A H DEBS

anatomy of a sandwich: 1. Superior view 2. Inferior view

fig. 2

Loss 66-64

Win 64-42 Win 66-59

Away Away Home Away Away Home

his week’s sports profile centers on the prolific climber and head of the Whitman Indoor Climbing Commitee. Charlotte Hill is a junior English major from Seattle, Wash.

So when did you really get into climbing?

I think when I moved to Seattle in seventh grade. That is when I really started hooking in. There was a big climbing center close to my house called Vertical World and my dad started taking me. I joined the climbing team and competed in middle school and high school.

What was it like to compete on the climbing team?

It was pretty hard, but it wasn’t like an insane amount of work. There were three practices a week you had to go to. The competitions themselves were based on different things. I competed nationally, and they judge based on the difficulty of the route you take up the wall.

Wow, so you competed nationally? You must have gone all over the place!

Yeah I went from California to Maryland. My last year as a youth competitor I got to go to worlds, which was held in the south of France.

Tennis

Men’s Whitman College Shootout Feb. 10-12 Women’s vs. Lewis & Clark State Feb. 12

Baseball

vs. College of Idaho Feb. 11-12

Away Away Home Away

Away

el to Oregon next weekend to face Pacific University and Linfield College for the final road games of the season.

For more notes and quotes on the weekend’s action, visit the new Whitman Sports Blog at www.whitmanpioneer.com.

Charlotte Hill ‘13 hones her bouldering skills in the gym.

Hill has participated in climbing competitions at the national level. Photo

by Beck

That must have been a great experience.

Well, I just did the qualifiers, but it was really cool to watch some of the climbers. The set up is different too. They have you climb until you fall, which is definitely a tough change.

It makes it really intense!

So how does that intensity compare to the climbing you are doing at Whitman?

[The people here] definitely aren’t as intimidating, and it’s a nice change. I do miss the intense competition, but it’s certainly nice not to have to worry so much.

Yeah that must be nice. So what’s going on in the climbing world here at Whitman?

Well, we are trying to get some competitions going [through the club]. People’s interest in competing started around my freshman year, but it has really taken off this past year. I’m hoping it will be more successful than in past years, and I’m hoping we can get more participation.

Climbing Club meets Fridays at 2:30 in the climbing gym.

Tennis kicks off with Shootout

ADVERTISEMENT

fig. 1

Win 73-68

Swimming

Staff Reporter

W

Men’s vs. Pacific Lutheran University Feb. 3 vs. University of Puget Sound Feb. 4 Women’s vs. Pacific Lutheran University Feb. 3 vs. University of Puget Sound Feb. 4

Men’s vs. Pacific University Feb. 10 vs. Linfield College Feb. 11 vs. Whitworth University Feb. 14, 8p.m.

Women’s vs. Pacific University Feb. 10 vs. Linfield College Feb. 11 vs. Whitworth University Feb. 14, 6p.m.

Open seven days a week, the Whitman Climbing Center caters to climbers of skill levels, from beginning to advanced. In climbing classes, students can learn everything from bouldering to top-roping. Most classes are taught by fellow students. Photo by Bergman

hitman’s ClimbingClub has made big strides since its formation two years ago, and is fast becoming a popular new environment for students of all skill levels.

The Climbing Club strives to be open to all students. “The climbing club really is for everyone—its not for really experienced climbers who want to climb 5.14 and that’s their whole life, really what we’re looking for is to create a fun, supportive social environment that centers around climbing,” said junior Jack Lazar, who began climbing at a young age in order to approach a girl.

“When I was in 6th grade, there was a small climbing wall at my school, and my crush saw me and told me that I looked like I would be really good at climbing and that I should come join the Stoneworks climbing team in Portland, and so I did, and we worked wonderfully, climbing and I,” said Lazar. The girl may not have last-

Basketball

Basketball

by M AT T TESMOND

Staff Reporter

SCOREBOARD

UPCOMING

Profile: Veteran climbing whiz Charlotte Hill ’13

by SY LVIE LUITEN

6

PAGE

509-522-9991 Sunday 10-3:30 Monday-Saturday 10-7:30

Staff Reporter

A

fter an eventful pre-season, men’s varsity tennis will mark the beginning of a promising season with the Whitman Shootout during the weekend of Feb. 10th. The Whitman Shootout is a weekend-long home event against many strong teams, including UC Santa Cruz, Montana and LewisClark State. The matches will be played in the indoor tennis facility.

Coming off an outstanding season last year in which they dominated the Northwest Conference, men’s

tennis has had quite the pre-season.

Between a trip to Hawaii in early January, and nearly beating Hawaii Pacific, the #22 team in DII, the athletes have been practicing and training hard. Coach Northam is optimistic about the upcoming season.

“Obviously the strong competition we have faced early this year will help us as the year progresses,” said Coach Northam. “I’m looking forward to seeing the development of the team and individuals on the team. The guys on the team have been working very hard on the games and fitness, and I’m excited to see how the season unfolds.”

The team will face its biggest home match of the year against UC Santa Cruz on Saturday, Feb. 11th at 6 p.m. “[The match will be] a great opportunity for us to play one of the top teams in the nation on our home courts,” said Coach Northam. “We hope to have a great crowd at the match. We will be serving free pizza at the match, so come out, grab a slice of pie and watch some great tennis!”

The Shootout will start at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 with a match between Whitman and Lewis-Clark State.

OPINION

Feb

09 2012

Pioneer board editorial Galindo case reveals need for reevaluation of tenure review process

T

he scale of the recent student protests regarding Assistant Professor of Spanish Alberto Galindo’s tenure denial speaks not only to Galindo’s impact on those who have taken his classes, but also to a largescale student frustration regarding the process of faculty members receiving tenure. Most of the 700 students who have signed the petition in support of Professor Galindo have never had a class with him. These signatures should be taken as a sign that the tenure review process at this institution is inadequately designed to measure a professor’s impact on his or her students.

In the view of the Pioneer Editorial Board, there are two major problems with the current system. The first is a lack of transparency about how the tenure process occurs and, moreover, an absence of efforts to communicate to students as to how our opinions are considered in the assessment of a professor’s “Excellence in Teaching.”

Few of us realize as we scribble blithe comments on Academic Evaluations in the last few minutes of our classes that this input will be a part of our professors’ futures at this college. Even fewer are aware that we can submit letters of recommendation to the Faculty Personnel Committee, and those who do may not know when their professors are going up for tenure review. While this information may be available to those who seek it, to the best of our knowledge, it has never been advertised to students and recent alumni in any formal way.

Second, and perhaps more

importantly, student evaluations themselves are a deeply problematic means of considering student input. Many studies have shown that these surveys are essentially popularity contests; attractive and charismatic educators tend to receive high scores on evaluations, regardless of the quality of their teaching.

They have also found virtually no correlation between student evaluations of professors and student academic achievement in a particular class. A study on student evaluations in the St. John’s Law Re-

view notes that “students’ contradictory and often hostile comments on evaluations of minority faculty, as well as their occasional direct references to gender or race, raise troubling questions about the role of bias in these assessments.”

Student evaluations do not take into account the advising

that professors give to students on nonacademic matters or to students who are not in their courses during a particular semester. They often provide career advice, help students with personal projects, write letters of recommendation and contribute to the Whitman community in many ways outside of the classroom.

Professors of color, female professors and LGBTQ professors may be particularly helpful in identifying with students from similar backgrounds. Unfortunately, these professors tend to be underrepresented on college campuses as is, and studies suggest that they are also more likely to receive lower scores on student class evaluations.

According to Provost and Dean of Faculty Timothy Kaufman-Osborn, nine out of 10 faculty members who applied for tenure in the past two years were granted it. But how many professors have left this school instead of applying for tenure because they wanted to avoid the stigma that tenure denial would attach to their careers in academia? And how many were unfairly represented on end-ofsemester evaluations by students who didn’t realize the significance of the form they were filling out?

Students are undeniably transitory at Whitman, however, we are also firsthand witnesses to a professor’s Excellence in Teaching. The limited and problematic means by which student voic ILLUSTRATION BY DOUGLAS es are considered in faculty tenure decisions marks Whitman College as an institution that is out of touch with the reality of those whose interests it ultimately exists to promote. If Whitman is to sincerely embody the liberal arts spirit it champions, the tenure review process must be reevaluated.

7

PAGE

eBooks should expand BLAIR FRANK Junior

N

ovember of this year will mark the fifth anniversary of the introduction of Amazon’s Kindle. Back then, the Kindle was thick and clunky, with a poorly designed keyboard and a fairly limited catalog to purchase from. Purchasing one on launch day would have set you back $400, and Amazon’s entire stock was bought out in a matter of hours. Today, the Kindle catalog has grown tremendously, while the Kindle itself has shrunk both in size and cost, down to a paltry $80. Kindle software is available for all the major smartphone operating systems, as well as Windows and Mac OS X. The availability of eBooks is absolutely unparalleled.

There’s not a doubt in my mind that eBooks will make up a significantly greater percentage of the overall literary market in the next few years. Put bluntly, dead-tree books are less portable, less available and more expensive than their digital counterparts.

For example, when I’m on the go, I can download a new book to my iPhone using my cellular data connection with a few button presses, rather than seeking out a physical bookstore that might not have the book that I’m looking for. What’s more, the second book that I buy doesn’t take up any more space in a bag, or weigh anything more than the first.

It’s an incredibly convenient system.

Of course, eBooks do sacrifice some of the inherent bookishness of their bulkier relatives. Flipping pages just doesn’t feel the same without physical pages to flip, and the smell of a book is something that you just can’t get from a hunk of plastic and circuitry. For folks who enjoy the way a novella sits in their

hand, or the nice heft of a fantasy epic, eBooks just aren’t the same.

However, those who worry about the death of literature or the death of reading because of the rise of eBooks are missing the fantastic opportunities electronic readers have in store for them.

I’ve read several articles worrying about what might come of libraries, if and when eBooks become the preferred method of reading. The way I see it, the idea of a library as a space that provides information to members of a community will remain both valuable and relevant.

Furthermore, I’m most excited by the opportunities for innovation in the storytelling space itself.

While there’s still plenty of demand for books that are simply words on a page, there are a lot of really cool possibilities available when you think about the capabilities of eBook reading hardware. The storytelling capabilities of books are limited by the physical media they were printed on: Color images are expensive to print, and while it’s possible to connect a dead-tree book to content on the Internet, it often involves convoluted links, footnotes and poorly designed websites.

Consider the possibilities, though, when reading on a smartphone. Now, it’s possible for readers to interact with books on a device that is not only constantly connected to the Internet, but also to GPS. Imagine a book that, in addition to providing a compelling reading experience, can also put you in the shoes of the protagonist. When the hero of the story gets a phone call, you don’t have to read a transcript of it—you can listen to the real deal on your phone.

Or, even more interestingly, your book could know if you happen to be near a place referenced within the pages you’ve just read, and can then guide you through a tour of exactly the footsteps outlined in the text.

The possibilities for eBooks to change the way we think about literature are phenomenal. In the next few years, I think we’re going to see some really fantastic innovation come to market, and that’s great news for reading.

‘Republican Shuffle’ spells difficulty for general election Massachusetts, a state well known young liberals have thrown their will come true. Without a major rev- to all people—and, as anyone atSAM as a bastion of Volvo-driving, clove- worship for reasons that remain in- olution in thought, Republicans will tempting to do that inevitably does, CHAPMAN smoking NPR donors that is never- explicable to me. My hatred for have to continue being all things end up being nothing to anybody.

First-year

A

ssertion: Until there is a drastic change in political discourse, no Republican will win a general election.

In case you’ve been living under a rock (or in case this MTV spinoff of a nomination race makes your stomach turn), the victor of 2012’s primary slough is almost certain to be Mitt Romney.

This Romney may be the most bland man in America—a candidate so middle-of-the-road I routinely forget such basic information as his stances on the issues, or what he looks like. I once heard him described as seeming like a man playing the president in a movie.

He’s going to win the nomination, but not the presidency. The reason why is best summed up in this headline from The Onion: “Mitt Romney Haunted by Past of Trying to Help Uninsured Sick People.”

For clarification: Romney’s most prominent political role prior to his candidacy was as the governor of

theless surprisingly prone to accommodating the GOP. The reason for this is that Massachusetts Republicans tend not to toe the line of their or any other party—see the pleasant surprise of sleeper moderate Scott Brown after 2010’s midterm.

See also Romney himself, who, during his term, was able not only to bring healthcare reform to the uninsured, but to turn Massachusetts’ budget deficit into a surplus through the unheard-of bipartisan method of cutting spending while increasing revenue. In short, Governor Romney was the moderate all moderates aspire to be.

That was the past—before he set eyes on the land’s highest office, before he was forced to dance the “Republican Shuffle.”

The Republican Shuffle refers to exactly what a right-wing candidate must do to win office: two steps to the right, two steps to the left. In response to the election of Barack Obama, the Tea Party movement floated the gospel that supply-side economics and a massive curtailment of government were the only solutions to the country’s woes; soon, they had everybody doing it, and every political race became a battle to see who was the most conservative.

Witness Ron Paul, the libertarian knight at whom hordes of

Paul is a subject for a different column, but part of my ire is reserved for the way that, every time an election rolls around, he sweeps his few high-profile liberal views under the rug and runs ads extolling how gosh darn conservative he is.

Witness Romney, previously reluctant to take public positions, skewing conservative on every social and fiscal issue nameable. He’s a malleable enough man for his handlers to create the perfect Republican, but no matter what he does before the Convention, it will come back to bite him.

This is the consequence of the conservative base’s Obama-era slide away from the mainstream electorate: A candidate far enough to the right to win the base will be forced to perform the Republican Shuffle to win over independent moderates in the general election, thus looking insincere to everybody, whereas a candidate who is actually in the middle will never get the chance to shuffle because they are not willing to step to the right.

Though this is the first election in which we’ll see this theory play out, I am confident my prediction

Political Cartoon by Kelly Douglas

ADVERTISEMENT

Voices from the Community If Whitman were to recieve a $500,000 grant for anything, what would you spend it on? Poll by Beck

TANNER BOWERSOX

KYLA FLAT TEN Senior

Sophomore

“I would have Whitman expand their financial aid program to make the campus more accessible to everyone else.”

“I would have a permanent bouncy castle on Ankeny.”

HANNAH MOSKAT

KEVIN O’LEARY

Senior

First-year

“I would use it to fly in more prospective students to campus.

If more people got on campus, more people would know about Whitman and want to be here.”

“I think they should replace all the sidewalks on campus with the personal walkways you find in airports so no one ever has to walk to class.”

Guys.

Valentines Day is Not that Complicated.

Give and you Shall recieve.

BACKPAGE

Feb

09 2012

8

PAGE

how we socialize lurkbook

Matt Whitman Johnson

I thought something smelled . . . just realized I’m next to the garbage

Bike ride to Waitsburg, time for a shower

State school facebook updates

Like

Comment

Comment

10 seconds ago

Nicole StateSchool Smith Anthro prof just called me “301,” what the what?

Matt Whitman Johnson

Like

Like

Comment

Totes naming my first-born after my bio prof

57 seconds ago

Comment

30 seconds ago

Nicole StateSchool Smith Dudes no homeworkkkkkkk over the weekend OH YEAH BABY

Matt Whitman Johnson

Like

Like

Like

Comment

YES only two essays to write and 300 pages to read this weekend! MAMA’S GOIN’ OUT TONIGHT

3 minutes ago

Comment

5 minutes ago

Comment

5 minutes ago

Matt Whitman Johnson

Headin’ over to the Tri-cities for the day, who’s with me?

Comment

2 minutes ago

Had to print out like 60 pages for psych; doublesided and four pages per side and I still cried a little thinking about all the trees I just murdered :’(

Nicole StateSchool Smith

Like

Comment

Matt Whitman Johnson

Like

HUMANE SOCIETY PETTING SESH WHO’S WITH ME??

5 minutes ago

Like

Comment

10 minutes ago

Nicole StateSchool Smith Got a 98 on my Psychology test! (no statuses about grades) Like

Comment

7 minutes ago

Nicole StateSchool Smith I think I may have just eaten a whole box of goldfish crackers . . .

Matt Whitman Johnson I think I may have just eaten a whole box of goldfish crackers . . .

Like

Like

Comment

10 minutes ago

Comment

15 minutes ago

H OL D KE

U LEPRECHA

You can recognize this person if she is in a long distance relationship and spends all day skyping with her sweet boo. Another tell-tale sign is tons of mailordered flowers and balloons. It looks like her room was decorated by the Hallmark people themselves. The best thing to do is avoid these people, or else they will incessantly talk to you about their loving cutie pie, which is enough sugar to make you want to puke.

Comic by Erika Zinser

These pairs can range from adorable and cute to way too over the top, and the reason so many people hate this damn holiday in the first place. They do all the typical agenda items: breakfast in bed, sweet cards, flowers, dinner date and movie. Oh god, it’s like a cheesy romantic comedy. Get me out of here!!

Dear Autumn Knutson, The season for love is right around the corner and I thought this could be my big chance to tell you how I feel about you. So without further ado, Autumn, if I ever talked to you I would say: “You are the chicken of my chimichanga. You are my cherries and red wine, flowers and sunshine.

If I could paint you a rainbow, I would only use your favorite colors: purple, baby yellow and orange. I would use that pick-up line I’ve been practicing in my head, “Autumn, I’m falling for you” (get it?). But alas, my sweet Persephone, I know that you will disappear as winter approaches, and the world grows cold without your warm presence and smile. I will patiently hold onto your love and memory until the day when you come back to me with your gentle, beckoning breezes and your precious pomegranates. We can dance together in the light of day, and even though I would prefer to dance in the refuge of the darkness at night because I pale in comparison to your dancing, I shall put that aside, just as I put aside doing my homework to write this for you. I would say,“I wish I could take your clothes off so I could see how angels hide their wings.”

And although I love your eyes, I love mine more, for

without mine I couldn’t see yours.

My friends are annoyed with me because I keep borrowing their hearts since you stole mine, but I would take you over them any day. If I were a stoplight, Autumn, I’d turn red every time you passed by, just so I could stare at you a bit longer. Me without you is like a nerd without braces, a shoe without laces and asentencewithoutspaces. If I got a nickel for every girl I saw that was as pretty as you, I’d be broke. But I’m not broke, Autumn, I’ve been working three part-time jobs all year, so that I can buy you that Valentine’s present (it’s a surprise). Writing this I realize that there is little point since words fall far short of you,my dear, so I will end it here.

ADVERTISEMENT

With love, Your future husband P.S. If there is one thing about you that I am disappointed in, it’s that your number isn’t in my cell phone yet.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY PETERSON

These folks are cheery and give out loads of chocolate and valentines to everybody!! Gotta love the people who don’t believe that the tasty aspects of Valentine’s Day are limited to romantic couples.

N

LY JOL

S E

O

ELY SINGLE

PL

N LO

This fellow could not be more obvious that he has no one to love on Valentine’s Day. Moping around with a pout and a downturned head, he is the embodiment of loneliness itself, treating this day as a mourning ceremony rather than a commercial holiday filled with candy. No amounts of Adele or tequila can bring him any comfort.

We all know those people who use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to try to get in on dat V-Day action. Just because the emphasis is on love this day, it does not mean Cupid is ready to shoot around arrows with condoms attached.

The male version preys on the lonely single girl who is just looking for reassurance.

CUPID’S CH

Nothing is more refreshing than interacting with a person who is confident and doesn’t let the romantic drags of this day bring them down. However, this person likes to be involved in many “anti-Valentine’s” activities, which makes the dreary pain of this day even worse.

OS HO F HO

Valentines’ Day Personalities

ERED

CUTESY CO U

Like

20 seconds ago

Nicole StateSchool Smith Had to print out like 60 pages for psych, felt like a jillion pounds haha

G LE IN

A ND E M PO

Nicole StateSchool Smith

Whitman facebook updates

W

lurkbook

Creator : DragonArt dragonartz.wordpress.com Art m gon o : Dra press.c tor Crea rtz.word

us/

3.0/ ona http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ -sa/ drag y-nc /b nses /lice s.org mon ecom eativ ://cr http

Creator : DragonArt dragonartz.wordpress.com

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

Creator : DragonArt dragonartz.wordpress.com