Spring 2014 Issue 7

The

PIONEER

ISSUE 7 | March 13, 2014 | Whitman news since 1896 | Vol. CXXXI

Taking a bow: President Bridges to step down Resignation to coincide with end of $150 million Now is the Time campaign

by JOSEPHINE ADAMSKI Staff Reporter

O

n Wednesday, Feb. 26, President Bridges announced to the campus that his time has come to step down. Coming to the end of his 10th year in office, the decision marks not only the president’s transition, but the college’s as well. The announcement was made a year in advance to give the Board of Trustees enough time to do a thorough search for Whitman College’s next president.

“This [time] has been a great joy; I’ve learned so much about Whitman, about higher education, about students, and about what it takes to create exceptional opportunities for student learning. said Bridges.

During his time here, Bridges has increased student and faculty diversity, improved academic programs by adding more experiential learning opportunities and increased national visibility for the college. In addition, by Sept. 15, 2015, the Now is the Time capital campaign will have successfully raised $150 million.

According to the case statement for Now is the Time, the campaign will be split into three sectors: $75 million will be devoted to strengthening academics at Whitman, $50 million will improve access and affordability and $25 million will be dedicated to strength-

ening financing at Whitman to create flexibility and long-term stability. The Now is the Time campaign has been one of Bridges’s most prominent accomplishments and one for which he will certainly be remembered.

“He put the college on a sounder financial footing than ever before, but he also pushed forward with a number of curricular and extra-curricular initiatives that will serve the college well,” said Timothy Kaufman-Osborn, provost and dean of the faculty.

Though Bridges is the face of the Now is the Time campaign, he attributes its success to Whitman’s hardworking community. His accomplishments stand on their own, but according to Bridges, the best parts of his time at Whitman have been the people around him.

“The people who I have had the privilege of working with, this has been the best part, it outweighs any satisfaction I might have about personal contributions I have made to Whitman.

Our work offers a great demonstration of collective accomplishment... our collective effort is what I value. I never sought to lead from the top, I have sought to be part of a collective enterprise that advances common goals,” said Bridges.

see BRIDGES, page 3

During his 10 years in the presidency, Bridges worked to increase student and faculty diversity and to place the college on more stable financial footing. He will be stepping down from his position in June 2015. Photo by Marcovici

New Walla Walla High bond offers hope

by DANIEL KIM Staff Reporter

I

n April, citizens of Walla Walla will be voting on a new bond to renovate aging Walla Walla High School. It was created in response to the rejection of a previous bond to update the school last spring.

The measure that failed last April would have dedicated $67 million to a thorough remodel of Wa-Hi, with special focus on science facilities and exterior hallways. The proposal currently being debated has been scaled back in hopes of gaining more support, and the amount has been decreased to $10.3 million.

“The first bond was a complete campus-wide remodel, including academic buildings, common library, kitchen area, the science building and the vocational building, whereas this one simply builds a new science building,” said Principal Pete Peterson. “So this bond is a much smaller scale and addresses a very specific need, which is our science areas, our lab sciences specifically, and the total cost is probably going to be about $10.3 million.”

Decreasing the bond from $67 million to $10.3 million is aimed to alleviate concerns the community had with the previous bond, which ultimately led to its rejection. According to multiple community surveys, Peterson said that these concerns included high cost projects that were “wants, not needs,” and a desire to have a remodel process in phases rather than all at once.

“We feel this particular bond reflects the three highest reactions from the community,” said Peterson.

The current bond proposal requires Wa-Hi to put the campus-wide renovation remodel into phases. If the current bond were to pass in April, the funds would go toward a new science building that would house 10 additional science classrooms.

“It’s considerably less as far as the scope of the project goes. It’s considered the first phase in what would be a complete campus-wide remodel that will probably take place over the course of ten years,” said Peterson.

Whitman students and faculty are taking interest in the Wa-Hi bond and are getting involved with the process. Senior Stefani Paladino is one of the stu-

dents who is getting involved with the bond, trying to advocate for the bond in any way possible.

“My role up to this point has been learning about the bond, looking over the surveys they gave to the teachers and going to the board meetings. I spoke at the board meeting and advocated that they should go ahead and put this on the ballot in April,” said Paladino.

With the new bond attempting to address problems with the previous measure, the goal is to bring those who were against the bond to support it in the upcoming April election to create a better high school campus.

“I think the whole school needs to be renovated, and that’s not really a question. There is a lot of questioning about how to go about that, and because it has failed in the past, trying to fix everything at once, doing it in these phases is what I think is going to be right for Walla Walla because it’s starting to take the step and having that one foot in the door,” said Paladino.

The plan for the next couple of months leading up to the voting day is that supporters will try everything within their abilities to increase chances of the bond passing. Whitman faculty and students will be going out into the community to express the possibilities with the bond.

“From here to April, I’m going to continue to meet with [Walla Walla School Board Member] Ruth Ladderud to figure out what the next steps are. But I imagine that the next step would be to go out into the community and urge people to vote for the bond, informing them why they should vote for the bond and why it is important,” said Paladino.

For the numerous Whitman students who attended Wa-Hi, passage of the bond would mean a much needed update on an institution to which they owe much.

“It is always nice to see your high school being developed to fulfill new standards, especially when it is for the students. I never had any complaints about the buildings themselves, but as time continues we have to think about what new developments are necessary, such as classroom space, campus security and equipment to better the education,” said junior and Wa-Hi graduate Jose Beleche.

Women’s lacrosse excited, anxious about move to varsity

by SARAH ANDEREGG Staff Reporter

S

illy costumes and lacrosse sticks are not the typical outfit combination students might expect to encounter when walking across Ankeny Field.

However, last week, the women’s lacrosse team was seen dressed up in crazy outfits to bring attention to and celebrate the start of their spring 2014 season.

This annual tradition not only embodies the lacrosse team’s fun-loving attitude toward the sport, but also happens to come with anticipated news. After much deliberation, the Whitman women’s lacrosse team has been granted funding and in 2016 will officially become a varsity sport.

While the majority of the team finds this transition exciting, it is met with a considerable amount of uncertainty, and the process of becoming a varsity sport has players concerned.

“The girls love the current atmosphere and the people they play with, and I think if that continues through the transition, it will be exciting and enjoyable, but there is definitely a little nervousness,” said senior captain Claire Vezie.

With this transition from club to a varsity sport, the commitment level for players is expected to alter dramatically. Currently the team practices five days a week, but there is leniency when it comes to attending practices due to academic or other obligations.

“I think everyone sees it as a good opportunity, but then people are wary and concerned it might be too much to handle. I think it would change my college career drastically. I would be putting more focus on the sport than I initially intended to,” said first-year Sarah Edwards. see LACROSSE, page 5

Professor couple make book art, poetry art piece

by JAMES KENNEDY Staff Reporter

I

n order to illuminate an important issue, someone might think to create a book in order to put their thoughts on paper. However, it’s unlikely they would create a book that doubles as a 35-feet wide art display.

Married artist duo Assistant Professor of Art Nicole Pietrantoni and Adjunct Instructor of General Studies Devon Wootten have done just that, and the finished result is now on display at the Walla Walla Foundry Vineyards.

“I think as artists, we can affect people in different ways ... there’s art that’s really clever, or there’s art that affects your emotions,” said Pietrantoni. “I kind of want to have a little bit of both of those things.”

The two pieces featured at the tasting room, “Implications” and “Precipitous,” take the form of segmented strips of photographs overlayed in text. The separated photographs, which fold into books, are placed side-by-side and create a complete image. The complete image for “Implications” is an iceberg, while for “Precipitous” it is an ocean. These photographs were taken in Iceland by Pietrantoni, and the text is taken from poems by Wootten adapted from climate change documents.

“There’s art that’s really clever or there’s art that affects your emotions ...

I kind of want to have a little bit of both of those things.”

Nicole Pietrantoni Assistant Professor of Art

“While I was in Iceland, I was thinking a lot about landscape, and thinking about my position as a tourist, and thinking about all this beauty around, but also that idea of ‘Okay, it’s beautiful, I took the picture, but now what do I do?’” said Pietrantoni. “Now I’ve got to do some-

thing with that photograph, and for me working in this way ... and the texts from the climate change document really lets me examine beauty in a different way.”

Photo by Felt

Pietrantoni decided to use a separation between the books and full pieces in order to create a division between the different conceptions we might have of these images.

“What I was interested in is when the image is in this panoramic form, we see the beautiful glaciers … but it’s also interrupted and sort of fractured for the folds as well as the slices between each book,” said Pietrantoni. “When we fold them up, we no longer see the image.

The image is totally abstract.”

Pietrantoni has a background in printmaking, and the two pieces on display at the Foundry Vineyards were made with a more contemporary form of digital printing, which uses a large format inkjet printer (44 inches wide) that is able to print hundreds of feet of paper. Here, the material used was a special Japanese printing paper that is soft, strong and able to fold easily. The two pieces took several tries to correctly print, and overall, Pietrantoni estimates the total time spent on both pieces exceeds 300 hours. see ENVIORNMENTAL ART, page 4

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13 2013

Professor of Geology Bob Carson is currently working on five distinct projects during his sabbatical this semester. He began writing a book about the natural history of Walla Walla in January 2014. Photo by Bowersox

Sabbaticals benefit faculty, students alike

by HELEN ANGELL Staff Reporter

W

hile professors on sabbatical do not teach classes and usually do not advise students or serve on committees, a professor’s sabbatical could never be described as “time off.”

The sabbatical program is an essential part of the Whitman College faculty’s ongoing professional development and provides numerous benefits—not only to the individual professor, but also to her or his students and to the entire Whitman community.

Sabbatical allows professors to take either a semester or a year away from teaching classes in order to conduct their own research.

A professor at Whitman may take one semester of sabbatical after four semesters of teaching, or an entire year of sabbatical after four years in the classroom. However, faculty have been discussing the possibility of changing the way that sabbatical functions at Whitman.

Publishing independent research is an important part of a professor’s role as a scholar at the college, and a necessary step for professors aiming to be granted tenure at Whitman. But the sabbatical program is also crucial for professors to develop their teaching abilities.

“There’s a constant feedback between the research done on sabbatical and quality of teaching,” said Professor of Politics Aaron Bobrow-Strain, who is currently on sabbatical conducting research for a new book.

His research explores the relationship between border milita-

rization and rural poverty in Arizona. Sabbatical has allowed Bobrow-Strain to spend multiple weeks during the semester traveling to Arizona in order to conduct ethnographic research along the U.S. Mexico border.

“All the reading that I’ve had the chance to do while I’m on sabbatical will really transform the U.S. Mexico Border seminar that I teach,” said Bobrow-Strain.

Christopher Leise, assistant professor of English, and Douglas Scarborough, assistant professor of music, both stressed the important role that research plays in improving their teaching. As fields of study shift and change, professors must keep abreast of current thinking and knowledge in their field, whether it’s politics, English literature, geology or music. “[Research is part of] an ongoing contribution to our expertise such that we can be better ambassadors for our fields for our students,” said Leise.

Scarborough agrees.

“If you don’t stay up to date, your research or teaching is going to become antiquated,” said Scarborough.

Conducting research while on sabbatical for the entire year, Leise has been able to deepen his knowledge of 20th and 21st century American literature, his primary scholarly focus. But it has also helped him broaden his interests, allowing him to delve into his secondary focus, Native American studies. Leise is currently conducting research for a new book on Iroquois anglophone literature and has received a grant to inves-

tigate Iroquois archives in New York during the summer months.

Scarborough is on sabbatical in order to write and record a new album that fuses jazz with traditional music from the Middle East.

“That’s something that I never would have been able to do [while teaching classes],” said Scarborough.

He expects the album to be released sometime in June or July. Scarborough is new to Middle Eastern music and is grateful for the opportunity to expand his musical knowledge.

“It’s going to infuse energy and confidence and creativity into all my ensembles and classrooms,” said Scarborough.

Professors often work on multiple projects at once while on sabbatical. Professor of Geology Bob Carson is currently working on five distinct projects during his sabbatical this semester.

Carson began writing a book about the natural history of the Walla Walla Valley in January, working in collaboration with professors from the geology department and environmental studies program, as well as outside scientists and artists. Carson is also conducting research, or preparing for future research, for four other projects with students and faculty at Whitman.

“You’re always thinking ahead about future research, and you’re always working on presenting past research,” said Carson.

Sabbatical can also directly benefit students, who are able to work with professors on their research, or who participate in

unique programs developed by professors on sabbatical. Perry, Abshire and Dublin awards allow students to conduct research with professors while on sabbatical or over the summer, further enriching students’ academic experiences. Conducting research with a professor is a unique opportunity for students to build academic and professional skills in their fields of interest.

Leise has been working with a student, junior Brandon Hunzicker, for the last year in order to research Iroquois literature. Hunzicker is co-writing a paper with Leise, which will be delivered at a conference in April.

Bobrow-Strain is not working directly with students to conduct research this semester, but his sabbatical allows him to develop a new studentfocused program. This innovative experiential summer program will focus on food systems in the Pacific Northwest and is being developed in collaboration with faculty from University of Puget Sound, Lewis & Clark College, Reed College and Willamette University.

“Here’s a pretty amazing program that students wouldn’t have if it weren’t for sabbatical,” said Bobrow-Strain.

While professors on sabbatical are conducting crucial research or working on projects that directly benefit students, they receive 82 percent of their regular salary, unless they take sabbatical less frequently.

Sabbatical has also influenced the Whitman community because more visiting faculty are

hired when tenured faculty go on sabbatical. The college has been working to reduce the reliance on visiting faculty by hiring more internal sabbatical replacements.

Internal sabbatical replacements are tenure-track faculty hired in order to prevent a shortage of courses in a department when professors are on sabbatical. Unlike most visiting professors, these replacements do not leave Whitman as soon as a professor comes back from sabbatical.

By adding more tenuretrack faculty, departments can teach the same number of classes without adding visiting faculty. Whitman has been able to hire more internal sabbatical replacements in a variety of departments because of grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The faculty has recently been discussing changes to the sabbatical program. Faculty met on Wednesday, March 5 to discuss sabbatical, including the option of allowing pre-tenure faculty to take a year of sabbatical sooner than the policy currently allows.

The discussion also includes the importance of internal sabbatical replacements and incentives for sabbatical. The possibility of increasing flexibility in the program has also been under consideration, though the specifics of this discussion have not been stated officially by any faculty.

While no changes have yet been made to the sabbatical program, the committee of division chairs will be formulating a final report with recommendations for any changes to the program.

Students prepare for spring break service trips

by SAM GRAINGER-SHUBA Staff Reporter

T

he 2014 spring break service trips take off to their various locations next week, and the students leading and attending the four different trips are finishing their preparations.

Spring break service trips are week-long excursions during the two-week Whitman College break, two leaving the first week and two the second week. During these trips, students focus on a particular social issue outside of the Walla Walla area and help the community they visit to combat that issue.

“One of the nice things about the spring service trips is that whether or not you believe that fixing one trail or one patch of invasive species is making a difference, you can see the progress you’ve made in a day,”

said sophomore Spring Service Trip Leader Cam Hancock. “That, for me, is the most rewarding.”

In the first week, “Relief & Rebuilding” will head to New Orleans to work with organizations doing disaster relief, and “Urban Education” will be off to Portland, Ore. to work with organizations trying to close the racial-equity gap in schools in the area. During the second week, “Refugees & Resettlement” will be in Seattle working with refugees to find stable housing and work, and “Environmental Conservation” will be in Eugene, Ore. restoring parts of the landscape that have been damaged by pollution and neglect.

Sophomore Lucinda Sisk was inspired to lead a service trip after going on one herself last year, as well as leading a Summer Community Out-Reach Excursion this past summer. She will be head-

“We’ll definitely be impacting the places where we work in a significant way, but restoring one trail in one town only does so much.”

Emma Altman ‘16

ing to Seattle for the “Refugees & Resettlement” trip on March 22.

“The theme of my SCORE was ‘Housing & Homelessness,’ and I really connected with that theme and the people that we worked with,” she said. “I’m excited to take that further into Seattle, which is a larger city with more people, more immigrants, more organizations working on

housing issues. I’m excited to meet other groups and see how they’re working on these issues.”

Sophomores Hancock and Emma Altman will be headed to Eugene, Ore. on March 22 to work on environmental conservation in the area around Mount Pisgah.

They will be doing trail restoration, invasive species removal and work with a native plant nursery.

“A lot of what our work does is raise awareness. We’ll definitely be impacting the places where we work in a significant way, but restoring one trail in one town only does so much.”

Altman also commented that she and Hancock have used the momentum from their past service trips to work on similar issues in their own communities and in the Walla Walla community.

“It’s a good way to get in-

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volved. I feel like a lot of Whitman students, especially the ones who don’t live off campus spend all of their time in a very small part of downtown [Walla Walla] or on campus,” said Altman.

Sisk commented that the most important part of the spring break trips is that they really serve as educational experiences for students.

“I think it’s important because not only are we doing a small-tomoderate amount of physical, tangible help, but we’re also educating ourselves on these issues, which are very prevalent in most cities and oftentimes get swept under the rug when you are able to go to a college and don’t really have to worry about those things immediately,” said Sisk. “It helps us not only appreciate where we are, but also empathize and work toward social change for a greater good.”

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NEWS

MAR

13 2013 Students reach out after deaths of Carleton ultimate players

by ANDY MONSERUD Staff Reporter

L

ast week, college frisbee teams across the country mourned the Feb. 28 death of three Carleton College ultimate players in a car crash.

The deaths of Carleton Ultimate Team members James Adams, 20, of St. Paul, Minn., Paxton Harvieux, 21, of Stillwater, Minn. and Michael Goodgame, 20, of Westport, Conn. and the injuries of William Sparks, 20, of Evanston, Ill. and Connor Eckert, 19, of Seattle, struck a chord with Whitman College students both within and outside the ultimate community.

While driving on ice on Minnesota Highway 3, the car, driven by Sparks, spun out across the median into oncoming traffic. A semitrailer truck T-boned the players’ car, killing Adams, Harvieux and Goodgame at the scene and seriously injuring Sparks and Eckert. Police investigations are ongoing, but so far they have found no traces of alcohol or drugs.

All five had their seatbelts on. Sparks and Eckert were in stable condition as of March 1. The teammates were probably on their way to the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport for a flight to a tournament at Stanford University.

Several factions of the Whitman community have connections to the men. Some members of the ultimate teams, who play Carleton occasionally, met the victims on and around the field. In 2012, Whitman teams played at a tournament the five had been scheduled to attend. Whitman men’s frisbee co-captain and senior Ethan Parrish didn’t know any of the victims personally, but noted that the crash impacted the whole team.

“It really kind of tore us apart. We didn’t know how to respond to that,” said Parrish. “This tragedy’s super relatable because our programs are so alike.”

In solidarity with CUT, Whitman’s ultimate teams hosted a vigil for the victims of the crash. The team also contributed to a video collabora-

tion by several college ultimate teams in solidarity with Carleton. The project, begun by the ultimate team at the University of Puget Sound, will feature college teams across the country reciting a yet-unannounced poem.

“That’s one of the most beautiful things about the sport we play,” said Parrish. “People from around the country, throughout the sport, not just in college but at the club level or high school level … have reached out to Carleton.”

Many members of Whitman’s large community of native Minnesotans also have connections to the accident. Sophomore Samantha DeFreese, of Eden Prairie, Minn., knew Adams through Camp Widjiwagan, which they both attended during summers in Minnesota. Though upset about the tragedy, she also admires the unification of the many usually separate worlds in which Adams was involved.

“I have a lot of friends that go to Carleton, and I have a lot of friends that played ultimate in high school,” she said. “Seeing the connection between people I knew who played ultimaten ... and then people I knew who went to Carleton ... and then people I know from camp, who I worked with this summer ... it was cool seeing people relate to all that.”

Sophomore Grant Laco, who also met Adams at Widjiwagan, heard the news that night while party-hopping.

“I was … having a grand old time, and then my good friend ... kind of stops me on my way over to another party and tells me,” said Laco. “We kind of took a second and then went to his room to kind of think it over.”

In the wake of the tragedy, Laco was impressed with the support Whitman students offered for CUT and those who knew the victims.

“I was really surprised at the impact that the incident had at Whitman, several states away,” he said.

“All things considered ... it showed a lot of the positive aspects of different cultures coming together.”

Senate Meeting Minutes for 3/9 Passed the election rules for upcoming elections by a vote of 16-0-2.

Ratified Running Club by a vote of 16-0-3.

Ratified HAPA Club by a vote of 16-0-2.

Confirmed Aleida Fernandez ‘15 as publisher of The Pioneer by a vote of 16-0-2.

Confirmed Meg Logue ‘16 and Anna Zheng ‘17 as heads of

Waiilatpu by a vote of 10-4-4.

Confirmed Kinsey White ‘15 and Dana Thompson ‘15 as editors of blue moon by a vote of 15-0-3.

Confirmed Tyle Schuh ‘15 as editor of quarterlife.

Confirmed Emily Lin-Jones ‘15 as editor-in-chief of The Pioneer by a vote of 15-0-3.

Confirmed Mallory Martin ‘15 as sound and lights manager by a vote of 15-0-3.

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“It puts the theater at the center of the discourse on campus.”

Christopher Petit

Chair and Director of Theatre

Theatre department, Encounters partner to bring texts to life

by LACHLAN JOHNSON Staff Reporter

P

erformances of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” were held March 5-9 in Harper Joy Theatre as part of the collaboration between the theatre department and the Encounters faculty. This is the second year HJT has incorporated a performance of one of the texts in the Encounters syllabus, following last year’s successful production of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.”

The college aspires to involve all academic departments in the Encounters program, which all firstyear students and transfer students with fewer than 58 academic credits go through in their inaugural year at Whitman. Like other departments with a small faculty, the theatre department had found it difficult to commit a professor to teaching the course. The collaboration to perform one of the texts allows the department to contribute to the Encounters program, reach all first-year students and add a unique perspective to the course.

Though the changing needs of both HJT and Encounters make it difficult to plan far into the future, the program has been well-received and will continue for at least one more year.

“It puts the theater at the center of the discourse on campus,” said Associate Professor of Theatre and Garrett Fellow Christopher Petit.

Both performances have been widely popu-

lar with faculty and students.

“The acting was phenomenal,” said first-year Elise Frank. “Because ‘Hamlet’ is a play and meant to be a performance, it was helpful for everyone in Encounters to see it on stage.”

Professor of Politics and Paul Chair of Political Science Paul Apostolidis, who served as director of Encounters during the first year of collaboration, attributes part of this success to the numerous elements of the performance not present in the text.

“It’s a question of how the aesthetics of the play interact: the sound, the lighting, the way the characters look on stage and interact in motion physically with each other. You can imagine other alternatives [of how to perform the play] in the abstract when you read the text, but it gives you so much more to talk about when students have been to the production together and seen it,” said Apostolidis.

The Encounters syllabus is usually reviewed every three years and either revised or replaced. The latest incarnation, Encounters: Transformations, was headed by Associate Professor of English Gaurav Majumdar, who is currently serving the first year in a two-year term as director of Encounters.

The Transformations syllabus was first used last year. Although the live performance of “The Tempest” and now “Hamlet” were not initially designed as part of the syllabus, Majumdar is glad the collaboration was added.

“More than a pleasant surprise, it’s been a [helpful] thing for me, especially this year because of the quality of the production,” said Majumdar. “[This year’s performance] has been excellent. I can’t recommend it enough.”

To provide new material for HJT, the Encounters syllabus was slightly revised this year, removing “The Tempest” and Aimé Césaire’s “A Tempest” and replacing them with “Hamlet” and Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.” Stoppard’s play will be performed next year.

The choice of new texts, which must occur at least every other year as long as the collaboration takes place, must take into account both the themes of Encounters and the production and casting needs of HJT. “You can’t do ‘Hamlet’ anytime you want to do ‘Hamlet.’ You can only do ‘Hamlet’ when you have the right people [as actors],” said Petit.

Because the students available to fill different roles change every year, decisions about future texts cannot be made far in advance. However, as the program has so far been successful, it will likely continue as long as collaboration between the two departments of the college remains possible. “[The question was,] how can we [collaborate] in a way that completely supports the integrity of the Encounters program and the integrity of the Harper Joy enterprise as well? And I think we got there, and I would love to see it continue,” said Apostolidis.

Whitman College begins search for next president

from BRIDGES, page 1

According to veteran faculty member Professor of Geology Pat Spencer, Bridges has strengthened the student-to-faculty connection at Whitman. Experiential learning has become a priority during Bridges’s presidency. “[Educational experience] becomes more of a collaborative exercise between groups rather than individual learning …. It’s always been a family here, and I think that particular part of it has continued and has been strengthened during George’s time,” said Spencer.

Looking to the future, Whitman will continue the work Bridges has begun, but as Whitman pushes forward, it will face a new set of problems. According to Spencer, expanding diversity will be Whitman’s next big challenge that the next president will have to address.

“Which direction to take and [how] to wisely use the endowment to strengthen the student body and faculty will be the new president’s biggest challenge. The next big challenge, in one word, would be diversity. That is the next step, to be more reflective of society more generally. That is really important,” said Spencer.

According to Bridges, pushing Whitman to improve di-

versity within administration leadership will be crucial.

“In staff meetings I’ll often wear bow ties, and a colleague recently asked if I thought the next president would wear bow ties.

It was a joke of course but I said, ‘I doubt she will’. Many laughed.

But Whitman needs diversity in its leadership, and I know the Board of Trustees will look for diversity in who selecting the next president,” said Bridges.

Spencer agreed that change

is good as Wh it ma n searches for the next president, but he asserted that finding the best fit will be the top priority.

“I would welcome a female president … I think it would be a great step in the right direction. It is time. I think it’s the next step, again, to diversify the students and have faculty that reflect them, but I think again the most important thing is to find the right person,” said Spencer.

With his time to step down approaching, Bridges reflected upon his decision to resign. “ I felt like it was time.

The college needs a succession of persons in leadership positions who can help advance the college, and that is what I have tried to do. We have accomplished what I wanted and it is time to find someone new

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who will take the college to another level,” said Bridges.

According to Spencer, Bridges’s announcement to step down at the completion of his capital campaign in 2015 is fitting.

“Change is always good, I think. George has been here 10 years and will have, realistically, successfully completed that campaign. That is a good note to go out on.

To go out on something else that would be as well remembered would be hard,” he said.

As Bridges moves forward, he faces similar problems that Whitman College as an institution will face in the future: staying connected and keeping

up with the world around him.

“You know, we have many options. My wife, Kari and I are considering what is next… there are lots of possibilities and honestly we have made no plans. But we are certain to stay connected with students in some way, that is the challenge and the joy as we look forward,” said Bridges.

While Bridges and Whitman will move forward, Kaufman-Osborn hopes that Bridges will contribute one last thing before he leaves.

“I do hope that George will leave us several of his signature bow ties for us to place in the Penrose Archives,” said Kaufman-Osborn via email.

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A&E

PAGE

4

MAR

13 2014

Foundry features professor’s art

PIO PICKS Each Thursday, The Pioneer highlights events happening on campus or in Walla Walla.

Here are this week’s picks: Visiting Writers Reading Series: Amy Leach: Recipient of the Whitting Writers’ Award, Amy Leach is an American non-fiction writer and will be one of the last speakers from the Visiting Writers Reading Series this year.

Thursday, March 13, 7 p.m., Kimball Theatre

A Movement With Soul: Environmental activist Tim DeChristopher is a climate activist and co-founder of the environmental group Peaceful Rising. Come and here his lecture and opinions on climate change issues and the role of social activism in addressing these issues.

Thursday, March 13, 7 p.m., Olin 130

Art Outside the Box: Whitman staff art will be featured at this public exhibit, which will be put on display as students return from spring break.

Saturday, March 1, 7 p.m., La Maison

Big Idea Talks: The Female Villain: Assistant Professor of Psychology Erin Pahlke will be giving a seminar on the fictional character Amy Dunne from Gillian Flynn’s thriller novel and New York Times bestseller, “Gone Girl.”

Thursday, March 20, 7p.m., Walla Walla Public Library Assistant Professor of Art Nicole Pietrantoni (right) collaborated with her husband and Adjunct Instructor of General Studies Devon Wootten to create “Implications” (above). Photos by Felt from ENVIRONMENTAL ART, page 1

The textual part of the piece, the text on top of the image, is a form of conceptual writing that takes documents from the International Panel on Climate Control that are made to complement the meaning of the visuals.

“Typically I start out with an idea with the image for where I want to go with it, and then [Wootten will] tell me, ‘Well, find me a text—the drier and more boring the better, just find me whatever text resonates with your image.’ And then he’ll just try to make something out of it,” said Pietrantoni. “The poetry he does is often not aiming to be beautiful.”

Wootten changes text colors to indicate different segments of the poem.

The grey background text is the entirety of the original document, the white text is what he chose to bring forward as the actual content of the poem and the text in brackets is text he added to the original text of the document.

“Nicole and I, when considering what to put in these books, wanted something that mirrored the images, that had a similar strategy of creation,” said Wootten. “In the same way she cuts up the landscape and compresses it into books, a lot of times I work with found texts, and then I excise words from there and then create a poem out of those words.”

Typically, “artists’ books” or handmade books like Pietrantoni’s do not feature actual content to their text, especially if the artist has no experi-

ence in writing. Here, Wootten’s writing experience allows Pietrantoni to add another layer to her work.

“What we really wanted in these pieces was an added level of conceptual complexity,” said Wootten.

While the two artists work in very different mediums, they try to complement each other by helping to illuminate aspects of the other’s work.

“I like to joke that I don’t have very good taste in visual imagery, but I can talk about the ideas that I see in her work,” said Wootten. “We both are able to see things in each other’s works that we don’t see ourselves, and it’s really productive ... it’s a good thing we’re married.”

Both pieces are very large, and Pietrantoni was unsure whether they could even be displayed in Walla Walla. However, the Foundry Vineyards approached her and offered to display her work, making her the first local artist to be shown by the world-famous foundry that has hosted artists like Maya Lin, designer of the Vietnam Memorial.

Pientrantoni believes her work has had a very positive response from the Whitman and Walla Walla art communities. She enjoys that while viewers’ first reactions are based on the physical beauty of the two pieces, the more time they spend with it, the more they examine the deeper layers working together.

“What I generally love about Nicole’s art is its delicacy, smart materiality and visual lyricism,” said Assistant Professor

Sex, gore found in ‘300’ prequel NATHAN FISHER Junior

HOOK, LINE & CINEMA

S

even years ago, Gerard Butler brought his metal thong, sword, graphic violence, 300 friends and (most importantly) his six-pack abs to the big screen. Now in 2014, “300” finally gets a prequel, “300: Rise of an Empire,” with unbelievably more blood, more gore and more sex. The original “300” is definitely the better movie, but “300: Rise of an Empire” met one of my favorite past times—mindless entertainment.

“300: Rise of an Empire” definitely needed the Spartan queen to narrate and explain the switch between how the sequel takes place before, alongside and after the original “300” movie. Rodrigo Santoro reprises his role as the evil Xerxes, who sells his soul to become a “godking” of Persia in order to avenge the death of his father by declaring war against Greece. Originally, 300 Spartans seemed to be the last defense against Xerxes’s destruction of Greece, but this is not so.

Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton), another chainmail-clad stud muffin, led a band of Greek naval warriors against Xerxes by sea. Themistokles’s goal was not to win his battle, but to give Butler’s men enough time to make a stand and unite all of Greece to fight for their freedom.

The bad-guy Persian navy is actually led by bad-gal Artemisia (Eva Green). Green’s performance was terrifying and

Women in Music: Performed by the Walla Walla Valley Bands, this event will feature songs that celebrate women composers and arrangers. Tickets for students are $5 at the door.

of Art History and Visual Culture Studies Lisa Uddin. “In ‘Implications,’ she is giving us a scale that injects all of these still present qualities with some bravada.”

Pietrantoni is looking toward creating more pieces in this same, largescale style using a book format.

“The work is very modular, and I think there are ways I can re-imagine how it will be shown in order to display it in different spaces,” said Pietrantoni. “It’s something I’ll definitely continue with, because I know there’s still more to explore and do.”

Sunday, March 16, 3 p.m., Walla Walla Performing Arts Stadium

Walla Walla Valley Farmer’s Market: Beginning this Saturday, the farmer’s market will be open every Saturday until October. Rejoice in the local and seasonal produce now available in the welcome of spring.

Saturday, March 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Walla Walla County Fairgrounds

Walla Walla Guitar Festival to feature West Coast blues

by HANNAH BARTMAN A&E Editor

W

alla Walla will be hosting the third annual Coyote King’s Invitational Walla Walla Guitar Festival this weekend, which will feature 16 blues and roots bands, including artists from all over the West Coast.

Taking place in four separate local venues and running March 13-15, the festival was organized by the local blues band the Coyote Kings, led by Robin Barrett.

“I have friends that have bands and who have helped me book us in some of the festivals around the northwest, so I felt like I wanted to pay them back,” said Barrett, one of Walla Walla’s nationally renowned musicians. “I decided to pull the trigger on it. I found a couple of sponsors here in town and the tourism [in the wine industry] really helps.”

Local bands that gain attention through their involvement in music culture in Walla Walla will present their music, such as Gary Winston and the Real Deal. There are also three artists from Portland, one from Seattle and one from Los Angeles who are traveling to perform at the festival.

Barrett believes the festival has grown over the past three years, such that roughly 60-70 percent of attendees last year were from out of town.

Owner of Sapolil Cellars Abigail Scherwin also states that hotel and ticket packages are nearly sold out. Sapolil Cellars, Main Street Studios, the Elks Lodge and VFW Post 992 will be the

four venues used for the festival.

“Sapolil Cellars has been an integral venue in this festival since its inception,” she said. “We are a main music venue in this market, and we fully support live music.”

Sapolil Cellars, a common venue for musicians in Walla Walla, has played a role in helping this festival come into fruition by building connections with local bands they have hosted and also by recruiting the band The Evangenitals to the festival.

One of the local bands that will be present at the festival is led by Whitman Music Assistant Phil Lynch. His band, Phil Lynch & the Reubens, has been together six months and has played at local venues such as Sapolil Cellars. Lynch played at the first guitar festival two years ago, but this will be his first appearance with his band at this particular festival.

His band will be playing at 10 p.m. on Friday, March 15 at VFW Post 992, located on 102 N. Colville St. “It’s always fun to see bands from the Pacific Northwest region.

However, I think it’s cool that people from out of town get to hear the wealth of local talent here in Walla Walla,” said Lynch in an email.

Lynch will also be teaching two clinics at the YMCA from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. Both clinics will be geared toward kids 12-17 years of age and will focus on blues fundamentals.

Tickets and a schedule of events are available online at the Walla Walla Guitar Festival website. Tickets are available for $20 for Friday night, $40 for Saturday night and $60 for a weekend pass.

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SWEET BASIL scared the crap out of me. Artemisia’s form of leadership was command by intimidation—disappoint your commander-in-chief and off with your head, followed by a quick kiss (with tongue) on the lips before your head is tossed overboard. Gross, yes, but effective at making Artemisia’s men work harder not to disappoint her!

Needless to say, tidal waves of blood are spilled as the brave Themistokles leads his men to fight for their freedom in this 300-atsea film against Artemisia’s navy.

Many characters from the original film such as the Spartan queen, played by Lena Headey, and the hunchback traitor, played by Andrew Tiernan, are back for more blood and guts. Unfortunately, the unique visuals and slow-mo-

tion violence and gore that seemed groundbreaking seven years ago in “300” seem rather dull and unimpressive in this prequel. Although grand battles are always fun to watch, I missed Gerard Butler’s commanding presence. Sure, Green stole the show, but neither she nor any other warrior had the charisma to get their army or (most importantly) me pumped for battle. No one shouted Butler’s famous and memorable lines, such as “Tonight we dine in hell!” But one thing was held constant. There were still PLENTLY of half- (and fully) naked men and women fighting to the death every minute.

So if you’re looking for gushing blood, unattached limbs and airbrushed abs, “300: Rise of an Empire” is the mediocre movie to see.

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SPORTS

MAR

13 2014

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5

Men’s golf keeps swinging despite early setbacks

by MITCHELL SMITH Staff Reporter

L

ife on the Whitman men’s golf team has not been easy as of late. The team has had to deal with horrible weather, defecting players and a conference that ranks as one of the best in the country.

For a group looking to improve on a rough first part of its year, the snow and sleet, the undersized team and the difficult competition could make it tough to achieve their goal of third place in the Northwest Conference. Despite these challenges, the Missionaries still believe that they can overcome anything their tough situation throws at them.

Practice is the key to achieving any athletic goals, but the bad winter weather has forced the team to fight for even this essential part of overall performance.

“We haven’t missed a practice since school started again in late January,” said Head Coach Peter McClure.

“They’ve just gone out and played.”

In fact, the weather conditions of late have embodied the team’s motto of “any course, any time.” The team has gone through a lot more adversity than just some unexpected bad weather. Both last semester and this semester, the team has competed with just four golfers, the minimum for a college competition.

While the team went into this season thinking that it would have as many as six, a confluence of factors shrunk the number back to four.

Two golfers decided not to play before the beginning of the fall season, another golfer decided not to play for the spring season and a potential transfer student did not join the team.

Jonathan Standen ‘14 follows through on his drive during practice at Veteran’s Memorial Golf Course. Standen is one of just four golfers on the men’s roster. Photo by Bowersox

“A coach never wants somebody to decide that they don’t want to play.

It’s a bit of a disappointment,” said McClure. “But it doesn’t overwhelm me thinking that we’re sunk because I know that we’re strong right now.”

This strength is closely related to the return of junior Scott Martin. Martin had been abroad first semester and his return brings back the second-lowest scorer on the team, effectively replacing one of the higher scorers that decided not to play this semester.

“Having Scott Martin back really has made a big difference in the team. We’re going to

be much stronger,” said McClure.

When compared to most teams, which start five or six players and count the best four scores (allowing one of the better golfers to have a bad day and still have a good team score), having only four players could make it difficult on the team. The added pressure of knowing that regardless of how your teammates do, all the scores will be counted is never a welcome thought on the course.

This pressure doesn’t concern the team, though. In fact, coach McClure believes it helps them.

“I think it’s a real advantage, because you can’t quit ever,” said Mc-

Clure. “If you’re under the gun all the time, I think it helps you play better.”

Sophomore Daniel Hoffman insists this external pressure does not affect him because he is only focused on his individual play.

“When I’m playing, I just take it one shot at a time,” said Hoffman. “As much as I want to think about my teammates and how they’re doing, I just block it out and play my own game.”

The team has left some work to be done after a disappointing first tournament last weekend. They finished in sixth place out of a total of eight teams, finishing 62 strokes

over par, while the winner, University of Puget Sound, finished at 32 over. After all the adversity in the off season though, fighting toward better scores should be no problem.

“We have a lot of work to do after the fall,” said Martin. “We just need to go out there and play our best golf, and the scores will figure themselves out.”

McClure is optimistic the team’s talent and energy will lead to improvement this spring.

“We’ve got a really good team, the guys are enthusiastic, and they’re really looking forward to playing this season,” said McClure.

Jocks, sports nerds unite at Sloan Conference RILEY FOREMAN Junior

N

o, it’s not the classroom. Nor is it a locker room. The MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference is a home to both jocks and nerds.

Last weekend, representatives from the two parties met in Boston to discuss the relationship between numbers and sports. I mingled with team owners, statisticians, coaches, athletes, students and even TV personalities, and I listened to discussions such as “A Data-Driven Method for In-Game Decision Making in MLB” and “The Changing Nature of Media Rights.”

Panelists spoke honestly and openly about the advances and shortcomings of analytics across all industry outlets, including player assessment, injury prevention, business growth models and even Vegas odds-making. Bill James, the godfather of sabermetrics (a fancy word for baseball analytics), graced this year’s opening seminar themed “In-Game Innovations: Genius or Gimmick?”

James, who is famous for coining Pythagorean expectation and on-base percentage, wisely stated, “Everything that we now consider genius was once thought to be gimmicky.” He encouraged statisticians to continue to innovate and instructed teams to instill their faith in the analysts’ advice.

While practices may be unconventional and the results delayed,

James reiterated one thing: trust the process. One attendee knows exactly what it means to trust the process. Kevin Kelley has called for a punt just a handful of times as head coach of the Pulaski Academy high school football team.

Kelley cites advanced statistical analysis to back his method. These win-probability calculations are well respected among other SSAC attendees, but ridiculed by those outside of the numbers-driven community.

Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, is yet another believer in sports analytics.

Like Kelley, he is still questioned over a controversial fourth down call he made in 2009. With two minutes left, his offense needed two yards to convert on their own 28. The attempt failed, and the Colts scored a touchdown to beat the Patriots 35-34.

While Kelley’s games might not be broadcasted (at least not in prime time), Belichick’s play-calling is consistently witnessed by millions of NFL fans. Despite finishing the season 10-6 and making the playoffs, the defining moment of the 2009 Patriots will forever be the fourth-and-two failure.

What the general audience fails to realize is that historically, teams convert in the same scenario 60 percent of the time. If Belichick had the same fourth-and-two opportunity nine more times, the Patriots would have converted on six of those nine additional attempts.

This trust in numbers is what those at SSAC not only recognize, but also reward. Belichick is praised as a mastermind of sports analytics.

When the ownership, coaching staff and players are committed to analytics’s cause, they are doing as Bill James once did. Hopefully one day they will be remembered as geniuses, not gimmicks.

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Lauren Benedict ‘17 (above) attempts to hold off her defender during practice on Ankeny Field. Kaylee Kautz ‘14 (below) pursues Nina Henelsmith ‘16. Women’s lacrosse will become a varsity sport in 2016. Photos by McCormick

Women’s lacrosse preps for move to varsity from LACROSSE, page 1

The women’s lacrosse team is presently student-coached by its three senior captains, Vezie, Kaylee Kautz and Allie Willson, all of whom are expected to graduate in May. These three have played an instrumental role in the push toward becoming a varsity sport.

The environment of the current team is encouraging and welcoming of all levels of experience, ranging from veteran players like Willson with 10 years under her belt, to first-time lacrosse players.

“It is rewarding seeing girls who have never played before pick up sticks and improve over the course of my four years, and now seeing them have the chance to be on a varsity team is really amazing and important to me,” said Willson.

The next two years will be a developmental period for the team. The ladies will carry out their 2014 season as a club team in the Northwest Women’s Lacrosse League competing against much larger schools like Gonzaga University and Washington State University.

“It is challenging because a lot of the teams we are playing have coaches and a lot more money and funding to spend because they do come from those bigger schools,” said Willson.

However, this size advantage does not dissuade the determined group of 18 players on the roster.

“It’s a real credit to our team that we can stand our own against them, considering our size. Gonzaga could field two [full] teams, but we are still competitive with them” said Vezie.

Subsequently, 2015 will serve as a hybrid year, and hopefully in two years, the women will be competing in the Northwest Conference against schools more comparable to Whitman’s student population.

Although many of the details regarding this transition are still in the works, and this shift is anticipated to foster a higher level of commitment, the team still hopes to maintain their enthusiasm and camaraderie. “[The team] has become my family at Whitman and my teammates are all extremely supportive. Overall, we just like to have fun,” said Willson.

SCOREBOARD BASKETBALL

Women’s v. Chapman March 7: W 106-51 v. Whitworth March 8: W 73-67

BASEBALL

v. Pacific Lutheran March.8: L 4-1 v. Pacific Lutheran March 9: L 5-3, L 7-2 v. Lewis & Clark March 10: W 8-4, T 2-2

TENNIS

Men’s v. Trinity (TX) March 7: L 5-4 v. CMS March 8: L 7-2 v. UC Santa Cruz March 9: W 6-2

TENNIS

Men’s v. UPS Invite March 8-9: 6th Women’s v. UPS Invite March 8-9: 1st

UPCOMING SWIMMING

v. NCAA Championships March 19-22: AWAY

BASKETBALL

Women’s v. Christopher Newport March 14, 7 p.m.: HOME Sectional Final March 15, 7 p.m.: HOME

BASEBALL

v. Linfield March 15, noon/3:00p.m.: HOME v. Linfield March 16, noon: HOME

TENNIS

Men’s v. Pacific Lutheran March 14: AWAY v. Puget Sound March 15: AWAY v. Pomona March 17: AWAY v. Whittier March 18: AWAY v. Redlands March 19: AWAY Women’s v. Pacific Lutheran March 14, 4 p.m.: HOME v. Puget Sound March 15, 1 p.m.: HOME v. Bowdoin College March 19: AWAY v. Biola University March 19: AWAY

GOLF

Men’s Duel March 15: AWAY

13 FEATURE SA program strengthens community MAR

PAGE

6

by ANNA ZHENG Staff Reporter

M

ore than 30 years after its creation, the Student Academic Advisers program remains successful in helping new students and bringing a stronger sense of community to first-year housing.

Student Academic Advisors are Whitman sophomores who live in first-year dorms to help alleviate the stress of transitioning to a new environment and new classes while also giving academic advice. First-years are encouraged to see SAs as role models and seek advice from them about academic resources on campus, such as the Writing Center.

The program is run through the Academic Resources Center, with support from the Residence Life and Housing Office. It was originally created to help students transition from high school to college.

“The SA program is not so much a [tutoring program] as it is to help students get initiated into Whitman and to realize all the resources that are available for them,” said first-year John DeBuysser, who will begin working as an SA next fall. “[They] encourage good study habits and behaviors that will help them in the four years.”

According to the ARC, every spring an average of 50 firstyear students apply for the 16 SA positions on campus. This semester’s pool of applicants went through three rounds of interviews before hiring decisions were announced on March 7.

According to Resident Director of Anderson Hall Cory Kiesz, who helped interview potential hires, SAs are selected for good time management, effective communication skills and a positive attitude, among other things.

“I think one of the most important parts of the selection pro-

2014

cess is recognizing that there isn’t a ‘cookie cutter’ SA,” said Kiesz. “What I mean by that is that no two SAs that I’ve ever worked with have been the same.

Everyone has something different they bring to the position, strengths and weaknesses, and it’s our job to see how each unique individual can work with the SA and RA staff to best accomplish our goals.”

First-year Hallie Barker, who will also be an SA next fall, applied to the program because she finds talking about school with people interesting.

According to her, the program is a way for students to connect with first-years who may feel too intimidated to talk to faculty or professors on campus.

“I think that students really find the best example [from other students] for how to enjoy school and take advantage of school,” said Barker. “It’s really great that you can also have a student who has all the same answers and knows all about registration and everything, but they’re more approachable and more relatable.”

First-year Henry Sanborn applied to become an SA because it seemed like a good way to get to know more people at Whitman.

“There are a lot of benefits,” said Sanborn. “I enjoy the process of learning, and it’s nice to be able to help other people. There’s some freedom in that it’s not for your own grades or anything.”

For the majority of students, their experiences with their own SAs influenced their decision to apply. Former SA and sophomore Arden Robinette’s firstyear experience inspired her to apply for the position. As a frightened first-year who had many questions about Whitman academics and college culture, Robinette’s SA helped her.

“That’s why I wanted to be an SA, because I saw my SA and I was like ‘Wow, that is some-

50+ On average, more than 50 students apply to become SAs each year; 16 are chosen.

16 one who has it together, and they made it through their first year, and they’re still alive,’” said Robinette. “If they can do it, then that must mean I can sort of do it.”

The program also builds a stronger sense of community for students living in dorms.

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“Now I have a ton of people who I can see in the hall and be like ‘hey, I know you,’” said Robinette. “It’s really cool to have that community-building aspect, and I feel like I’m more involved in the Whitman community as a result.”

DeBuysser believes there could be some improvement in creating more relationships between residence halls— what he calls “cross diversity.”

“I know for myself, it’s been hard to get to know kids in other resident halls,” said DeBuysser. “Having SA programs where somehow we get

two halls together for a talk on something [might] spark conversations in the groups.”

Although Barker did not personally go to her SA for help often, she still recognizes the program’s significance as a way for the college to provide additional, peer-based help for new students.

“It shows that Whitman does understand the importance of nurturing a really healthy learning environment,” said Barker. “They’re trying to find ways to make students feel supported even in residence life and not just in the classroom. That’s really unique.”

Retiring dean leaves legacy in student advising program

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Staff Reporter

A

ssociate Dean of Students for Academic Support Services Clare Carson will retire at the end of the semester after 38 years working on campus. During her tenure, Carson helped create the Student Academic Advisors program that trains peer advisers to help each incoming class make the transition from high school to college.

But when the next batch of SAs begins working in fall 2014, Carson won’t be on campus to see them.

“I was planning to retire last year and I stayed on one more year to get kind of a transition ... it’s been a wonderful number of years here,” said Carson.

Although Carson has not worked directly with SAs for a few years now, she was integral in founding what has become a staple of the Whitman experience.

She and her colleagues first conceived of the idea of the SA program in 1977, shortly after Carson became the director of the Academic Resource Center, which was then called the director of the Student Learning Center. Their vision became an institutional reality in the early 1980s, after a few years of pilot programs.

The SA program was and continues to be centered around helping first-year students get through the rigor of college courses while providing a peer in the dorms who is easily accessible. It also hopes to give new students the tools to be self-sufficient in finding help once they leave residence halls.

SAs are assigned to live in a first-year section for the fall semester. According to Carson, the residential aspect of the SA program is what truly sets it apart from the tutoring and peer advising programs at Whitman’s peer institutions.

“Being able to merge an academic program with a residence life program was what I think made our program successful,” she said.

This sentiment is echoed by former SAs, such as senior Zoë Erb. She notes the benefits of having an expe-

rienced peer to confide in.

“The SA program is ... one of the only programs like it around the country where we actually have mentors living in the first-year residence halls, and I think it’s really nice to be able to go [to] someone who’s not an adult,” said Erb, who is currently the ARC intern.

But while the unique idea of peer mentoring in a residence life environment was a contributing factor to the success of the program, Carson’s personal involvement and commitment to the SAs is something that reverberates through campus today. It will be missed by many after her departure, Carson’s coworkers say.

“She just provided incredible amounts of support to the SAs because she knew the job that they were doing was demanding ... and she wanted to make sure that they knew that what they were doing was important and that they were making a difference,” said Program Coordinator of the ARC Mary Claire Gegen, who currently supervises the SAs. “So in that regard, Clare was making a difference.”

The impact Carson has had on Whitman College is widespread, ranging from the students that the SA program has aided, to the SAs benefiting from her support and guidance and even to fellow administrators like Gegen.

“Because of [her care for the program], I take my role very seriously and I realize the value and importance of what I’m doing for the college,” said Gegen.

Carson, however, deflects most of the attention from herself, citing the SAs themselves as the part of campus life that she will miss most after retiring.

She notes that it is their contributions that have made the program successful and created a lasting legacy on the campus.

“We get students that come in and they are concerned about other students, and that makes it a really good place to work and study through the rigorous academic work that they have to do. It’s hard enough, but when you’ve got people helping you along the way, and students who care about you, it makes it a lot better,” said Carson.

OPINION

MAR

13 2014

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7

Reducing black actors to limited roles reinforces negative stereotypes ALISHA AGARD Junior

THE MIND OF AN ACTIVIST

I

want to first start off by saying I am so happy to hear about the success films “12 Years a Slave” and “Django Unchained” have received lately. It is nice to see actors and actresses of color receiving recognition for their talents, and I am extremely proud.

That being said, I personally will not be watching either film any time soon. For those who are unaware, “Django Unchained” and “12 Years a Slave” are both films with plots about slavery. In both films, there are scenes that are incredibly graphic that emulate the pain and torture slaves experienced while working on plantations. When both films were released, movie critics described the movies as “too tough to watch” due to the graphics and the real-

ness of the movies. Other critics have claimed the movies were amazing and revolutionary. I think it’s great that the films are able to show people what slavery was like and educate viewers on the history of race relations, but I just cannot bring myself to watch them.

As a black person, I am fully aware of my history. I know about slavery, and I know about the damage slavery has done, so I don’t feel the need to watch the pain and suffering my ancestors experienced. It’s too painful. I do, however, believe that people who are not aware of the damages slavery had on black people should see it, because though I am uncomfortable with them, the films do have educational value. I will never watch them though, because not only are they too painful to watch, but I am also simply tired of slavery being one of very few representations of black people in film.

Over the years, I’ve noticed a trend in film. There are very few movies that do not portray black people in a way that enforces stereotypes. Films like “Friday,” “Hustle and Flow” and many others usually portray black men as the lazy pot smoker, gangster or pimp and usually portray black women as baby mommas, gangsters or promiscuous women. It

seems like a lot of the films I usually see released in theaters and played all the time on the television are films like “Django Unchained” and “12 Years a Slave,” which portray black men and women as slaves. Slavery and being a gangster do not encapsulate black history or black culture, and I am tired of the media painting that picture. There are very few films I see that are like “Eat Pray Love,” “Thor” or “The Heat;” the positive representation of black people in these types of films just is not there.

By reducing black actors and actresses to roles of slaves and poor gangsters and drug dealers, the film industry reinforces the stereotypes people hold about black people. People watch these films, and they see black people acting as thugs and slaves, but they don’t see black people in more positive roles. Black people go to see films like “Django Unchained” and “12 Years a Slave” and have to witness a trauma that they never had to experience, but they still see its effects manifested in society. I can’t do it. I want movie-goers, directors and producers to see my people as more than just slaves and thugs. Black people are so much more than that.

Voices from the Community

How were you impacted by the SA program? Poll by HAYLEY TURNER

JAKE SCHWIMMER

MAYA KAKIGAHARA

MATEO SEGER

JOEY DIEZ

Junior

First-year

Sophomore

First-year

“I thought my SA was a fun person, but I never went to him to seek help in my academics.”

“She provided a comfortable space to study and hang out.”

Birth is magical experience for all humankind ANU LINGAPPA Junior

THE QUIBBLER

L

ast week, Feminists Advocating Change and Empowerment put on Breaking Ground, the annual monologue show written by Whitman students, professors and alumni. I wrote and performed a monologue about my experiences working as a volunteer doula in a hospital’s birth center. Doulas are birth attendants who support and advocate for the mother, making sure she is in a good physical and mental space throughout the course of her labor. I’ve done over 100 hours, working 12-hour night shifts in the delivery ward. When not needed in the delivery room,

Birth is one of very few experiences that everyone shares. Every single person on this planet was pushed, pulled or cut from a uterus.

I helped take care of the newborns across the hall. My monologue was called “The Miracle.”

Despite being very passionate about birth and more than happy to share anecdotes of weird delivery room shenanigans, I’ve found it surprisingly hard to talk about these experiences at Whitman. Many people seem to be too disgusted by the process to want to hear about it, even though I have funny stories about fussing patients and weird placenta ritu-

als. I try to respect people’s sensitivities and not bring it up if it makes people uncomfortable, but I’ve never understood where this taboo comes from. Yes, birth is bloody, painful and stressful.

Yes, it involves lady-bits. But so do lots of things. I think the miraculous aspect far outweighs how painful and “gross” it is.

Birth is one of very few experiences that everyone shares.

Every single person alive on this planet was pushed, pulled or cut from a uterus. It should be relevant to everyone, regardless of gender or if they ever plan on having kids of their own. In the hospital, everyone—doctors, nurses, midwives, doulas, students and family all come together in solidarity with the mother. Working in the birth center has changed my life because it has showed me how birth is a celebration of new life and a chance to empower women at the most natural level. As Laura Stavoe Harm said, “There is a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful. It’s that women are strong.”

As I said in my monologue, it isn’t the pain that stays with me after I see a birth. What really stays with me is when, suddenly, after pushing and pushing, the baby slides out and a transformation occurs right before my eyes. There’s triumph and panic, exhaustion and excitement, desperation and familiarity, and in that moment of relief the mother recognizes what she’s done.

Birth doesn’t always go down all natural and complication-free, and people’s lives aren’t perfect—all the babies and mothers and families are going to face hard times, and some won’t stay together, nor should they all. But the moment of birth transcends all of that. It’s a glimmer of hope and new life that gets straight to the heart of human potential. It shows me, again and again, that there is magic in the most biological and physiological processes, and there is empowerment in the rough. It shows me that being a woman is a miracle.

“My SA was always there if I needed him, and there were a couple times where I had questions for him and I was always able to answer them. For the most part we just became good friends.”

“He’s been a lot of help with picking classes and turned out to be a pretty decent friend.”

Mease not Mooses

by Asa Mease

Real eco-change might happen in secret SAM CHAPMAN Junior

A MOVING FOREST

A

few weeks ago, a friend forwarded me a blog post about something called the Huron Mountain Club in the upper peninsula of Michigan. This regional secret society is exclusive to the ultra-rich, completely disavows its own existence and made Henry Ford wait in line for ten years until a member died to open a spot for him. The mission of the club, in which they enjoy the full cooperation of local law enforcement, is to protect an old-growth wood by any means necessary.

When making environmental arguments, I’m always careful not to mix up preservation (determining the important parts of the wilderness and never touching them) and conservation (practicing the same rules of responsibility everywhere), and the Huron Mountain Club falls squarely in the former category. However, with resources like theirs, it’s hard to imag-

ine they couldn’t cross the line. So, lately, I’ve been contemplating what might happen if the planet’s wealthiest citizens decided to use their power to positively influence its destiny.

Let’s start with some reasons why this might actually happen.

The first is an attack of conscience. I don’t believe that people can be pure evil, but to amass millions or billions in this world requires a certain amount of rationalization. Whether your fortune is based in land and natural resources or not, at some point you had to convince yourself that holding on to the money was preferable to spreading it around.

And at some later point, you may realize there are things you could be doing with your clout—things you have a responsibility to do— that you’ve let fall by the wayside.

More practically, although the wealthy like to think of themselves as above the danger that could result from an angry planet, they have the most to lose. Maintaining industrial dominance or an economic empire requires labor from people who may live in at-risk areas. The resources on which you capitalize aren’t unlimited, nor are those that go into your staples and luxuries. Furthermore, when things get bad at the bottom, people tend to turn their ire toward the top. If you aren’t afraid for your safety, hypothetical rich person, be afraid at least of a shift in your government.

Clearly then, it is the duty of the super-rich to effect this shift in con-

sciousness. So what potential futures could we be looking at here?

One might be a one-percent civil war: the billionaires in high-tech, media and other industries with a comparatively small impact cut loose from the miners, drillers, refiners and factory-farmers. While resources dwindle, those not tied to them could work with governments and fund new technologies in order to set off a transition in energy.

Ideally, this schism would happen in full view of the public and would see more and more members of the fossil fuel industry defecting as they realized the stakes. The problem is that influence—money judiciously applied—is a more powerful weapon in this fight than money alone. As long as fossil fuels are entrenched and high-emission industries create jobs, politics will be in the pocket of the wrong kind of wealthy, who have yet to open their eyes.

So it’s quite possible that, if the wealthy wish to be a part of global change, it may all happen in secret: a national and global chain of Huron Mountain Clubs. Those aware of the problem will have to change the rules, to convince the ones responsible that their empires aren’t at risk—likely by building a new green wealth system they can step into like a comfortable lifeboat. By the time the president signs a bill cutting fossil subsidies and creating green jobs, it will be a sign rather than a cause of change.

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How to have the best spring break ever!!!!

H

ave no idea what to do over spring break? Have no fear!

As everyone knows, the best solution for any type of confusion is to view a Hollywood film on the mystifying topic.

Over the years, film has taught me so many incredibly valuable lessons. “Iron Man 2” showed me that women can fight crime as long as they wear low-cut, black spandex suits. “Alice in Wonderland” taught me that if I ever want to make a Disney movie, then I should trip on acid. Finally, “High School Musical” helped me to realize that when I get emotional, I’m supposed to break out into spontaneous song and dance. Who knew? I sure didn’t! (Insert tap dancing here).

Since I had no idea what to do over spring break, I turned to “Spring Breakers” for some guidance. It was a really insightful film that allowed me to reevaluate my own plans. I was contemplating doing a service trip, but “Spring Breakers” showed me that I should actually focus on drugs, tanning oil and money. Here are

some basic tips so that you too can have the best spring break ever.

1. If you are at all cool, you should wear a bikini at all times during your break. I don’t care if it’s nighttime or if you’re vacationing in the North Pole. A bathing suit is an absolute must. As James Franco’s character Alien said, “Bikinis and big booties—that’s what it’s all about.” Preach.

2. You need money. If you do not possess said money, then you must steal it from a local restaurant. Don a pink ski mask and stick up the place with a plastic squirt gun. I know it sounds ridiculous, but speaking from personal experience, it totally works. Once you get said money, you must proceed to lick it and rub it all over your body. If you do not like the taste of money, then I suggest marinating it in Sriracha and Brewer’s yeast—both of which can be found in the dining halls.

of

3. Drugs. Lots and lots drugs. Preferably cocaine.

4. Spend some time in jail.

It’s a super fun way to (bail) bond with your friends. Nothing screams “besties for life” quite like matching prison tats.

If jail time does not fit into your busy schedule, then maybe spring break just isn’t for you.

5. The most important thing to keep in mind is cultural appropriation. As James Franco’s Alien shows, the spring break experience is not complete without stealing from other peoples’ cultures and making them your own. Before I saw the film, I was so unaware of how necessary cultural appropriation is if you want to have the most fun spring break ever.

Thank you, “Spring Breakers.”

6. Finally, if worse comes to worst, listen to Vanessa Hudgens’s character, Candy: “Just pretend it’s a video game.”

She’s so young and yet so wise.

This spring break, I am going to ______________ (suburb of Seattle).

I am _____________ (adjective) to see my _____________ (family member), but even more _____________ (adjective) to see my ___________ (type of pet). I am going to ____________ (verb) a lot of __________ (crappy TV show), _____________ (verb) plenty of ____________ (Encounters text) and ___________ (verb) way too much _____________ (brand of cheap beer). I’m a little _________ (adjective) to ____________ (verb) my ex-___________(location on the gender spectrum)-friend, but I can’t wait to ___________ (verb) my ___________ (noun).

But, obviously I’m most ____________ (adjective) for the day I return to Whitman.

Spring break dos, don’ts, maybes?

D

Don’t tell, you know, a gross stranger you love them.

Don’t let your parents realize you have learned how to cook for yourself.

Do hike in the woods!

Do get that tattoo you’ve always wanted!

Do road trip with friends—no better time than now!

Don’t play Russian roulette with the hitmen from the local Tong.

Don’t miss out on quality time with friends.

Don’t burn it down.

Do let her go. Because you only know your lover if you do it.

Don’t let it go. The rest of us want to enjoy our warm break. Talkin’ to you, Elsa.

Don’t worry about anything all day.

Don’t waste your time on bad books.

Do paint your naked body red and writhe in the middle of a mall yelling “Fascism! Fascism!”

Do booty call!

V

Life of Mammals’ on Netflix.”female junior biology major “Having my mom do my laundry” - male first-year “Visiting my high school.”female first-year “Drinking to forget my impending thesis deadline and wide open and endless future.” - senior “Eating.” everyone

Don’t spend break in your uncle’s abandoned cabin in the woods where all those people in that cult were found dead, but it’s totally fine. Let’s not bring cell phones!

Do spend a day eating whatever you want without worrying about your weight!

Don’t wake up in a Bugatti—regardless of newness.

Students list plans for weeks of relaxation

Don’t fax anyone a picture of your butt.

Do make a paper hat and wear it all day.

Do see a concert of a band you’ve never heard of.

to San Diego, [Calif.] to absorb some sun rays, which have been absent from here for five months.” - dejected female senior “I’m going to finish my philosophy reading that was assigned two weeks ago!”

- excited female first-year “A lot of people are going to cool places like Hawaii.

But my plan is to watch ‘The

13 2014

Spring break Mad Lib

o spend all day in bed.

oices of the community: “Starting ‘House of Cards.’ Right now it’s like I’m living under a rock. I can’t communicate with anyone else because that’s all they ever talk about!”- female sophomore “I’m planning on tweeting my 1000th tweet.”- male junior “The highlight of my break will definitely be going home

MAR

Do go out to ice cream for breakfast!

You deserve it.

Don’t flush rubidium.

Do strawberries!

Don’t forget about the campfire! And s’mores!

Don’t kill the Starks. It will all end in disaster. I can tell already.

Do watch “Downton Abbey.” What a great show!

Do have a dance party with your friends and chat roulette—see how people respond.

Don’t wander into the desert at night and go on a journey past Orion and deep into your own being, returning eventually to your body but never really coming back. You can never come back. You’ll always be there.

Suspended in the void... Lost in emptiness...

Do punch a shark in the nose!

Do cuddle with your pets.

Do go see a movie all by yourself.

Don’t tell anyone I’m here. Please.

Just act like you don’t see me.

Don’t feel guilty about doing nothing.

Do go skinny dipping!

Do patronize all your friends from home. It must be so easy being so unaware!

Do go fishing, but release everything you catch.

Do make your favorite food.

Do weep softly into your drink at a seedy roadside bar. If anyone asks what’s wrong, just whisper the word “Argentina” and look away.

Don’t drink 70 percent vodka with Russian whalers in the ceaseless darkness of the Arctic winter.

Do tell a stranger you love them.

Do Miyazaki marathon!

Do learn a new and useless skill.

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