Spring 2017 issue 12

Whitman news since 1896

ISSUE 12

The

PIONEER

ISSUE 3 | February 11, 2016 | Whitman news since 1896 | Vol. CXXXVIII Vol. CXL

April 27, 2017

CHANGING FOCUS

Strategic Planning Commitee focuses on inclusion

by RACHEL NEEDHAM Staff Reporter

B

y the end of the spring ’17 semester, the 2016-17 Strategic Planning Committee will have nearly completed its first phase. Co-chaired by President Kathy Murray, Vice Chair of the Board Nancy Serrurier and Chair of the Faculty Melissa Clearfield, the committee is responsible for designing the future of Whitman College.

“Strategic Planning is something that happens very typically when a new president arrives,” Alzada Tipton, Provost and Dean of the Faculty said. “It’s a good way for the new president’s vision for the College and the College’s vision for itself to come together and blossom.”

From over two dozen meetings, the committee–made up of faculty, staff, administrators, board members and students–has developed five strategic imperatives: Diversity and Inclusion, Access, Academic Curriculum, Life After Whitman and Community Involvement. “We haven’t heard much pushback on any of [the imperatives] ... so what we are doing now is just further developing [them],” Melissa Clearfield said in an interview. Subcommittees on each strategic goal are responsible for making specific recommendations and shaping the plan.

ADMINISTRATION TO RECOMMEND NOT RENEWING CERTAIN TENURED POSITIONS

by KATE GRUMBLES Staff Reporter

T

he Whitman administration has recommended not renewing tenured positions of at least five retiring faculty members in a push to increase the student-faculty ratio. The administration recommended replacing three positions in the Music, Chemistry and Economics departments.

The process of deciding which tenure track faculty positions are added or replaced is a long, intensive process. Each year, academic departments request replacements or ad-

ditions for tenure track positions in their department. The Committee of Division Chairs (CDC) reviews these

“The loss of those positions does not end a program or a major or a department.”

Alzada Tipton

Provost and Dean of Faculty

requests, then makes recommendations to the Provost, who makes recommendations to the President. The President makes the final recommen-

“We all share the same goal, which is to make Whitman as fantastic as possible.”

Melissa Clearfield Chair of the Faculty

Photo by James Baker

dations to the Board of Trustees. The Board meeting next week will mark the end of this process and the final decisions about tenure track positions.

While the final recommendations come through the President’s office, the impetus behind the cuts is a push by the Board of Trustees to move Whitman back towards a 10-1 student to faculty ratio. The ratio is currently 8.4-1.

Brad McMurchie, Chair of the Board of Trustees, distributed a letter to the faculty explaining the Board’s efforts to alter the ratio. see TENURE, page 3

Seniors present their thesis artwork

by MICHELLE FOSTER Staff Reporter

A

diverse and striking spread of artwork now inhabits the Sheehan Gallery and the Fouts Center for Visual Arts exhibition space. These pieces are the works of class of 2017 art majors, who went through an extensive artistic process that culminated in the 2017 Senior Thesis Art Exhibition.

The show opened on April 21 with a lecture by Portland Art Museum Curator Sara Krajewski and will continue to be open through May 21.

There will be a reception for family and friends in both exhibition spaces on May 20.

The pieces illustrate the creativity, engagement and wide modes of expression that art students at Whitman possess. Each piece features the unique perspective of the student.

Watercolor paintings, sculptures and photographs address a variety of topics such as loss, changing perceptions and the past.

Caleb Moosman’s piece, “Reflections,” combines elements of a performative piece, installation piece and drawing. This work includes two charcoal-covered beds with footprints in between, meant to express his confusion, meditation and exploration regarding institutionalized religion and the reconstruction of identity. see SENIORS, page 4

Emma Rust’s thesis art, painted entirely with her body, on display in Sheehan Gallery as part of the Senior Thesis Art Show.

Photo by Henry Honzel.

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE?

News

Whitman’s Beta Chapter will lose its house in the fall of 2017. Depending on success in rush, the closure could last the entirety of the 2017-2018 school year.

PAGE 3

A&E

Presented by senior Tara Mcullough, “i love love love you” broadcasts an array of love-themed songs every week.

PAGE 4

Feature

Sports

After a long and relatively successful season, the baseball team came up just short of making the NW Conference Playoffs after being swept in their final series.

PAGE 5

Ever wondered where you should go to eat the best fries in Walla Walla?

Distinguished members of The Wire decided to be the test dummies and ate their way through Walla Walla’s fried potatoes.

Page 6

Tipton serves with professors on the Academic Curriculum subcommittee. “The curriculum is in the hands of the faculty, and so how the faculty decides to develop the strategic plan is in their hands,” she said. Tipton noted that the College has difficult choices to make in the coming years, especially as student enrollments shift from some departments into others. “My role ... is to make the best use of college resources ...

We’re in a period of reallocation right now, [but] I feel that it’s really important that we don’t lose academic programs here.”

ASWC President Arthur Shemitz (’17) is one of two student advocates on the Strategic Planning committee and also serves on the Academic Curriculum subcommittee. “I think, in my role as ASWC President, what I work on remembering is that in the end, everyone wants to do what’s best for students,” Shemitz said. “We all have different life experiences, we all have different backgrounds, we all have different trainings, and you can end up with really reasonable disagreements about what is best for students.”

Shemitz and fellow student advocated Kaitie Dong (’18) met with around 30 student groups and campus organizations for feedback on what students wanted to see from the 2016-17 Strategic Plan.

Throughout the planning process, committee members have emphasized that Strategic Planning requires decision-making. “I like to think that in some sense we all share the same goal, which is to make Whitman as fantastic as possible and to bring it to as many people as possible, but ... this is about choices,” Clearfield said.

Tony Cabasco, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, serves on the Access subcommittee and knows firsthand how difficult strategic decisions can be. “What we’re trying to do at Whitman is [figure out if we] can find a way to [increase access for low-income students] without sacrificing the things that we like about what we are,” Cabasco said. see STRATEGIC PLANNING page 3

Miss last week?

Catch up on what you missed! Go online to read articles and watch exclusive videos.

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NEWS

PAGE 2

April 27, 2017

ASWC floats switch from stipend to hourly pay

by ANDY MONSERUD Staff Reporter

A

SWC and ASWC-paid positions have long been compensated with stipends for each semester served. That may change if a few student representatives have their way. A plan is in the works—though still in the very early stages—to make those positions compensated hourly.

The idea is a passion project of senior ASWC Finance Chair Mitch Cutter, though it will not be ready

$102,986.25 estimated amount of extra money paid out in annual salaries for debate or implementation before he graduates and his position is filled by junior Chris Meabe.

“Every year, whenever ASWC tries to pass the ASWC budget in senate, a discussion always emerges on why we pay certain people certain stipends versus others,” Cutter said. “There’s different lines of logic. Obviously you pay people more if they work more, that’s a nobrainer. But there’s a distinction in some positions as far as a lot of the Executive Council positions are so time-consuming that you can’t really get another job on campus.”

Cutter first started exploring the idea in earnest when firstyear senator David Lilburn made a platform promise to make ASWC more accessible to students who need to work to pay tuition and other expenses.

“One of my constituents was like ‘I want to run for ASWC, but it’s not financially feasible for me because I’m on work study,’” Lilburn said. As part of the Finance Committee, Lilburn has collaborated with Cutter to compile data on the hours that ASWC-paid positions entail.

Hours were self-reported, Lilburn

said, by those currently holding positions.

Such a change is estimated to result in an increase in pay for all the positions examined except the General Manager of KWCW. Most ASWC-paid staff would see increases somewhere between $80 and $1000 annually. The staffers that would stand to benefit the most include the editorial board of The Wire, for such a change would mean raises of over a thousand dollars across the board, and $6600 f or its Editor-in-Chief and Publisher. Top staff at the yearbook, Sound and Lights, Blue Moon and some high-level staffers at KWCW would also receive raises in the area of $1000$3000, according to the analysis; the Power and Privilege Symposium Chair would also receive an estimated extra $1925 in annual compensation, and AS-

WC’s Oversight Chair and Vice Chair would receive the largest increases in compensation of any ASWC member.

With all those pay raises, this plan would come at a high price, according to the analysis—an estimated extra $102,986.25 paid out in annual salaries. That leads to an estimated increase of $72.94 to the student fee. Cutter and other ASWC Executive Council members would likely put that increase to a vote, Cutter said.

Asking students for that much extra money is a hard sell, Cutter said, but there may be ways to cushion the blow. Federal work-study money cannot be used for stipend positions, but can be used to pay for hourly wages.

That cannot be counted on, Cutter

said, since ASWC has no way of knowing how many of its paid employees will eventually qualify for work-study money, but it could cut costs. Cutter has also discussed with college administrators ways to cut ASWC expenses by redistributing some of ASWC’s financial responsibilities to the college. Which responsibilities exactly, Cutter wouldn’t say.

The college, he said, has a vested interest because ASWC’s current pay system is somewhat questionable in the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service, an issue confirmed by college controller Walter Froese.

“If the IRS were to ever look at or audit the non-employee treatment of these ASWC positions the College, as the employer of record, would have to explain or defend that treatment,” Froese wrote in an email. “This doesn’t mean it is noncompliant or wrong, it would just need to be explained ... Additionally, because a record of time would be documented, the College would be able to explain, based on the documentation of time, why such positions wouldn’t receive ACA ... benefits.”

The entire question, Cutter stressed, is still deep in “maybe” territory. Ultimately the responsibility to see it through would go to Meabe, his successor as Finance Chair. Cutter has made a point of keeping Meabe up to date on the topic while Meabe studies abroad this year. Meabe said he is still at “point zero” in terms of putting a plan together, but is seriously considering the suggestion and hopes to do more research. “[Work-study] students have to make a choice between their own financial security and their ability to have a voice in a student government that, among other things, sets a student fee that puts an even greater financial burden on them. I think that’s pretty messed up,” Meabe said. “I’d like to try and make the system a little less messed up, and this might be one way to do that.”

Tiny houses: Students work for sustainability

by LINDSEY BRODECK Staff Reporter

O

n April 8, a group of Whitman students attended the Tiny House Conference in Portland, and hope to build one on campus within the next two years.

Margo Heffron, Dani Schlenker and Caroline Ashford Aya received funding for the conference from the ASWC finance committee after convincing Senate that the experience would benefit the Whitman community as a whole. The group presented what they learned at the Undergraduate Conference, even though the Tiny House Conference was only two days before.

Heffron, a senior Environmental Studies-Economics major has been obsessed with tiny houses since last fall. Her section of the presentation focused on the sustainability of tiny houses. A tiny house is generally defined as a home under 400 square feet. The small size requires far less energy for heating and electricity and forces individuals to live minimally. Features such as composting toilets, rainwater catchments and solar panels can make the house completely offgrid.

Schlenker, a sophomore theater major, envisions using extra materials from the theater and art departments as sustainable building materials. While in favor of a tiny house on campus, Schlenker stressed how

Illustration by Claire Revere

important it is to keep in mind some of the problems with the movement.

“I felt pretty aware of how white the whole conference was.

It’s a very exclusive community,” Schlenker said. “I thought we would talk a lot more about how tiny houses could help people in the future, like with refugee housing, houses for the homeless or for peo-

EDITORIAL

PRODUCTION

Publisher Marra Clay

Production Manager Kerr Ivan Cirilo

Editor-in-Chief Mitchell Smith

Production Associates Maddy Boyle, Mayrangela Cervantes, Chloe Gose, Juliana Ozur, Mickey Shin, Mayra Castaneda

Managing Editor Mickey Shin News Editors Chris Hankin Andrew Schwartz A&E Editor Eric Anderson Sports Editor Ridley Eastland-Fruit Feature Editor Olivia Gilbert Opinion Editor Peggy Li Humor Editor Anthony Reale Illustration Editor Claire Revere Chief Copy Editor Callie Brown

Infographic Artist Peter Eberle Photography Editors Tywen Kelly Natalie Mutter Copy Editors Jessi Anderson, Adrienne Groves, Maddy Gyongyosi Illustrators Meg Cuca, Haley King, Taylor Penner-Ash, Nate Raphael, Eric Rannestad, Nick Sekits Photography and Videography Caroline Ashford Arya, James Baker, North Bennett, Jackie Greisen, Henry Honzel, Samarah Uribe Mendez, Amelia Wells

ple who can’t afford a larger home.”

Spencer Mueller, a senator on the ASWC finance committee, was skeptical at first about how beneficial it would be to send the group to the tiny house convention, and asked them to give the undergrad presentation so that what they learned came back to the Whitman community.

WRITING

NEWS

Lindsey Brodeck, Maggie Chang, Kate Grumbles, Nick Maahs, Eleanor Matson, Andy Monserud, Rachel Needham

A&E

Zuhra Amini, Michelle Foster, Afton Weaver

FEATURE

Alissa Antilla, Alex Brockman

SPORTS

Alden Glass, Arie Knops, Quinn Salkind, Conor Scanlon, Jesse Sindelar, Gaby Thomas, Cherokee Washington

OPINION

Zuhra Amini, Cyril Burchenal, Rina Cakrani, Nikolaus Kennelly

HUMOR

Rebecca Gluck, Arie Knops, Clara Wheeler, Winston Weigand

After realizing the Tiny House Conference was only a couple days before the Undergraduate Conference, Mueller offered to help. His presentation focused on the way tiny houses are portrayed in the media. Most of the TV shows and documentaries displayed owners who wanted to feel closer to nature and bought large plots of land for their

BUSINESS Social Media Engagement Coordinator Adyiam Kimbrough

ADVERTISING Advertising Manager Lauren Feldis

Advertising Associates Samantha Fata, Nina Kostur For information about advertising in The Wire or to purchase a subscription please contact wire@ whitman.edu

tiny house.

“If everyone did this, there would be no land left,” Mueller said. “For someone who wants to encourage someone to live tiny, they need to be careful and deliberate about what they emphasize because ambiguity, especially around sustainability, can lead to mixed messages and the wrong messages becoming the most popular.”

Both Schlenker and Heffron would want the tiny house on campus to address some of the social justice issues surrounding tiny houses, and also be a space for students to experience what it would be like to live small.

“The coolest thing was to tour the houses and see what it would feel like to live tiny. That’s what a tiny house on campus could give to our community,” Heffron said.

“Social sciences could exhibit projects in the space about the issues surrounding the movement. It’s not only a physical presence, but it could be an educational tool for students to present social justice issues around tiny houses.”

The space could also be used for Sustainability Coordinator Brandon Bishop’s office, an extra room for the Outhouse or as a place to hold Environmental Club meetings. Whatever it ends up becoming, a tiny house on campus would provide an educational space to discuss issues with the movement and experience one way to “live tiny.”

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Whitman Wire is a weekly student-run newspaper published under the auspices of the Associated Students of Whitman College. The purpose of The Wire is to provide pertinent, timely news and commentary for Whitman students, alumni, faculty, staff and parents, as well as the Walla Walla community. The Wire 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 Wire strives to be a learning tool for students who are interested in journalism. The Wire welcomes all feedback and publishes letters to the editor in print and online.

SUBMISSION POLICY

Letters to the editor may be submitted to The Wire via email at wire@ whitman.edu or sent to The Wire, 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 Wire’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 Wire, visit whitmanwire.com/about.

NEWS

PAGE 3

April 27, 2017

Departments losing tenure positions will struggle to fill gaps, some faculty say

Junior Grace Butler and Senior Maddie Bailey in Akira Takemoto’s Japanese Art and Aesthetics class.

Photo by Tywen Kelly.

from TENURE page 1

“While the college could financially sustain an 8-to-1 ratio in perpetuity, it just wouldn’t be the best use of our resources. Whitman’s mission is student learning.

Our resources are overwhelmingly committed to enhancing that learning. That’s the way it should be. The board is committed to the health and rigor of our academic program across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences,” McMurchie wrote. “We can and will provide an outstanding academic experience while also allocating resources to other priorities.”

McMurchie cited “ensuring financial access to all students and building a truly diverse and inclusive Whitman” as “vital priorities.”

Many faculty around campus have been unhappy with the recommendations. Chair of Art History and Visual Culture Studies Matt Reynolds wrote an Op-Ed on April 10, disagreeing with the Trustees’ metrics-based method of evaluation. According to Provost and Dean of Faculty Alzada Tipton, one of the factors in determining which departments would not have receive new professors was the department’s popularity among students, measured both by the number of students taking classes and the number of majors the department serves. Due in part to Whitman students’ heavy interest in STEM, a large majority of the 15 positions not recommended were in the social sciences and humanities.

According to Tipton, the other criteria for which faculty positions aren’t renewed or added includes evaluating whether the position fits the mission of the College, how much the potential loss of the position will impact the overall department and whether the loss of the position would cause the department to lose an area of expertise.

One of the most visible impacts of the recommendations will be the discontinuation of positions covering Twentieth Century U.S. History and European Art History, both of which currently attract high numbers of students. Provost Tipton spoke about the ways she hopes that the loss of these areas of expertise will be handled in each academic program.

“The loss of those positions does not end a program or a major or a department. It doesn’t have that sort of ultimate negative effect

Beta Chapter to lose house in Fall of 2017

by MITCHELL SMITH Editor-in-Chief

O

n April 23, Gamma Zeta Association, the housing group that owns the Beta Theta Pi chapter house, notified the Chapter that they plan to close the house for the coming fall semester and potentially the entire 2017-2018 school year.

The letter indicated mainly a financial reason for closing the house. Currently, six members of the 26 member fraternity live in the Chapter house. Live-in members account for much of the yearly budget, so having a small number of members living in placed a significant strain on the house’s finances and eventually led to an

unsustainable situation. The letter also cited a moral issue, the “declining commitment to the traditions of Beta on the Whitman campus” as the other determining factor in the decision.

Despite the house’s closure, the Beta fraternity will continue on Whitman’s campus. Former Beta President and current member junior Andrew Davis has been heavily involved in Beta’s response.

“The Beta fraternity intends to still rush, we intend to operate as we always have just without the house,” Davis said. “It’s going to be something we’re going to discuss as a chapter more; it’ll definitely take some different planning than what we’ve done in the

past, but we’re all confident that we’ll have a successful rush this fall.”

“The Beta fraternity intends to still rush, we intend to operate as we always have just without the house.”

Andrew Davis ‘18

Former Beta Theta Pi President

The letter indicated that the coming months will be a re-evaluation period for the Beta fraternity on Whitman’s campus. “We will be evaluating and refining our expectations and next steps to

ensure Beta remains on the Whitman campus as a respected organization,” it read. The letter also informed members that the school continues to support those who “wish to renew Beta in the future.”

Davis pointed towards the setback as an opportunity for improvement to the physical house, as well as the relationship between the Chapter and Gamma Zeta.

“I hope that [the housing corporation] considers this to be a good time to actually do the renovations we’ve been talking about,” he said. “We’ve been working with our new housing corporation for about a year now and we hope to continue to have a positive relationship with them.”

The closure of the Beta chapter house could last the entire 2017-2018 academic year. Photo by Jackie Greisen.

on the program to lose that position,” Tipton said. “There are ways that liberal arts colleges approach thinking about teaching the different parts of the discipline that they teach that I believe offer us some ways of understanding that European art history will still be a part of the art history program, or that we still have U.S. history represented in the History department.”

Although there are creative teaching options to consider, many members of faculty are concerned about the loss of important topics normally covered by faculty in their departments. David Schmitz expressed concern over what the history department will look like after he retires.

“It will create an enormous gap in the curriculum with courses that will no longer be offered or available to students.”

David Schmitz

Robert Allen Skotheim Chair of History

“All of our peer institutions have twentieth century historians.

It’s obviously the consensus of historians that this is an essential part of history curriculum in the United States,” Schmitz said. “It will create an enormous gap in the curriculum with courses that will no longer be offered or available to students.”

Dennis Crockett, Professor in the Art History and Visual Culture Department, spoke about the difficulties of trying to cover topics outside of your area of expertise.

“I used to offer a class annually, and it was a very particular kind of class. It was about Mediterranean Europe in the late Middle ages.

It was about Byzantine culture and Muslim culture, and Christian culture and the interactions. It was a very complicated thing. It took me probably 15 years to get it right,” Crockett said. “You can’t expect the faculty we have to drop some of the classes that they’re doing and to spend several years retooling to teach things that they have no preparation to teach.”

Despite faculty objections, the decision appears to have been made in finality. The Trustees meet on campus from May 3 to 5, where the recommendations will be presented for their approval.

Committee planning process will continue into next year from STRATEGIC PLANNING page 1

Financial aid is a big expense. According to Cabasco, Whitman College spends around $20 million every year on need-based aid, and yet another $4 million in merit awards.

To award financial aid, the college has to maintain the ratio of students paying full tuition and those receiving aid. If they get rid of merit awards, Cabasco estimated, many affluent prospective students would choose to attend a college which granted them a larger merit award.

“There is a cost ... Something’s got to give. And that’s maybe the challenge to students.

I would challenge Whitman students and say, ‘Okay, [in order to have better access] are you willing to give up the Bob Carson Outdoor Fund? Are you willing to give up the 24/7 library?

Are you willing to give up small classes? What if the food’s not as good?’ ... [Access is] very easy to go in front of Mem and protest, but if you really want the rubber to hit the road, you’ve got to contribute.”

Katie Dong sits on the Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee for the Strategic Plan and hopes students will feel empowered by the strategic planning process. “[Arthur and I] have heard that students want a voice, but that means that they need to step up and move to action ... I want students to know that they can voice their concerns to Arthur and me,” she said.

The Strategic Planning Committee hopes to have a finished outline by November 2017, but even then, there will still be more to do. The process will be open to students and faculty who want to engage in helping to achieve strategic goals. “Next year, there will be even more opportunity to get involved in the task forces,” Shemitz said. “The window isn’t anywhere near closed. The Strategic Plan is getting close to crafted, but the details of that plan and how we achieve that plan is still to come.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 4

April 27, 2017

Sheehan hosts Senior Thesis Art Show

A series of portraits by Leo Hernandez, commemorating a group of students kidnapped in Iguala, Mexico, in 2014, arranged in a row as part of Sheehan Gallery’s Senior Thesis Art Show. Photo by Henry Honzel from SENIORS, page 4

“You can say prayers in a bed, you can be intimate with a lover in a bed, you can dream in a bed, you make yourself so physically vulnerable when you sleep and it’s a place of rest and recovery,” Moosman said. “The bed is such a heavy symbol that to use it in a piece of art, especially with all the ideas about the reconsidering of identity and the rebuilding of it, makes the bed a place of becoming.”

Using a different approach, Maia Watkins created what she calls a “consumable, continuous trauma narrative” through her piece titled, “wheeling winging wending mending.” Watkins made caramels and wrapped them in mulberry paper upon which, pieces of a trauma narrative are writ-

ten. People are invited to take a caramel upon visiting her piece and, at the same time, take and consume a piece of her narrative.

“I was thinking about alternative trauma narratives and how a lot of times ... people who have stories that are difficult to tell have to work a lot harder in order to have their voices be heard,” Watkins said.

While making distinct and separate pieces, Moosman, Watkins and their 16 fellow senior art majors remain a part of a community of artists who are attuned not only to their own artistic expression, but also to the way that expression might engage others. Exhibitions and Collections Manager Kynde Kiefel, who worked with the students throughout the installation process, noted this awareness.

“I feel like there’s a lot of big, generous ideas and really worldly, interesting ideas, and I just appreciate the depth and width that this group is thinking in,” Kiefel said.

“I just appreciate the depth and width that this group [seniors] is thinking in.”

Kynde Kiefel

Collections Manager, Sheehan Gallery

Moosman expanded on this and how each piece might act as a catalyst for more discussions.

“Somehow, there’s still a way in which all our works are communicating with each oth-

“i love love love you” with Tara McCulloch Wednesday, 8-10 am

er,” Moosman said. “I would almost want to say it’s about a struggling self, like struggling to understand yourself in light of bigger institutional things ... It’s a lot of the individual self trying to reach out to a community.”

The consciousness and investment of each artist with their piece is evident in the displayed works. Watkins expressed her hopes regarding her piece.

“Something that I hope in general is that by telling my story, that [it] affects other people and hopefully, as a product of empathy, that will make trauma more real,” Watkins said. “More than anything, I just want to make visible a more nuanced narrative of trauma than people are used to hearing or seeing.”

Both Watkins and Moosman

acknowledged that much is left to the viewer to interpret. The artists frame their ideas, but leave the viewer to, in turn, bring their own ideas. The interaction between viewer, art and artist is an active and experiential relationship.

“Ultimately, art is about trying to convey–dig at–stuff we can’t really get to in words,” Moosman said. “It’s kind of that gut reaction of standing in front of something, and you don’t have to like it, it doesn’t have to be beautiful, but it is definitely doing something.”

Indeed, this year’s senior art majors have created works that can engage an array of audiences. The show gives the students a well-deserved opportunity to display the outcome of their hard work and artistry at Whitman.

Wire Watch Week of April 27th Righteous Dopefiend The unique multimedia exhibition on homelessness will close at the end of the month.

Open Thursday-Friday, April 27-28, 12:00-4:00 p.m., Maxey Hall W40. Free admission.

Spring Jazz Concert Featuring the Jazz I Ensemble (directed by Gary Hemenway) and the Jazz II Spring Concert (directed by Gary Tara McCulloch (above) broadcasts a broad array of love-themed songs from the KWCW 90.5 Radio Station in Reid Campus Center. Photo by Jackie Greisen

KWCW Show of the Week:

“i love love love you”

by AFTON WEAVER Staff Reporter

H

osted by senior Tara McCulloch, “i love love love you” spins love songs across a spectrum of genres ranging from folk to jazz, all in an effort to showcase an eclectic blend of music and a new perspective on love. The segment on KWCW radio airs on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to do so before she graduated, McCulloch began her segment for KWCW this January.

“I’m really interested in podcasting, so I thought this would be a good venture into the audio world,” McCulloch said. “i love love love you” presents the theme of love through music and conversation, attempting to reveal love that exists beyond a conventional form. McCulloch achieves this by designing playlists that illustrate love through social justice movements and platonic relationships.

“There’s some talking, but it’s mostly just music,” McCulloch said. “The songs focus on love and social justice, so I’m writing a love ethic and what my friend, Annie Want, re-

fers to as ‘radical tenderness.’”

Frequently featured artists include Peter, Paul and Mary; Patsy Cline; The Vaccines; and Hurray for the Riff Raff. Recently, she also included songs by Mitski, responding to student demand after the artist performed on campus.

“I try to find songs that are about friendship and love for social justice movements.”

Tara McCulloch, ‘17 Host, “i love love love you”

McCulloch has set many goals for herself and her show.

“I want to learn more for myself about radio, and audio storytelling and art in general,” McCulloch said. “I want to think about bridging that gap that is very much there between community members within the Whitman community and the Walla Walla community ... and just promote a radical love ethic.” “i love love love you” brings forth various ideas about love, expressing how it can be interpreted in alternate ways through a myriad of styles.

“I think the combination of

the love and social justice songs is unique,” McCulloch said. “I’m just thinking about a love ethic in creating playlists and centering that, because it’s pretty easy to find love songs but it’s hard to find a variety of love songs that aren’t necessarily heteronormative or only about romantic love. I try to find songs that are about friendship and love for social justice movements, for communities rather than just a classic romcom song where a white dude’s crying over Julia Roberts.”

Because McCulloch’s show is very broad in scope, it attracts a wide range of listeners. Through personalizing her music to portray love from more than one perspective, her show aims to unify and relate listeners to each other.

“Personalization is really great in radio, so I maybe think about my friends when I’m talking but I’m also thinking about the larger Walla Walla community, which does not have the exact same point of view that I have when I’m talking to my friends.

I think that’s great to also keep in mind,” McCulloch said. “I love how the KWCW radio station can really bridge that gap between the Whitman community and the Walla Walla community.”

Gemberling).

Thursday, April 27, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Chism Hall Free admission.

People’s Climate March A solidarity march promoting public awareness and support for policies that address climate change.

Saturday, April 29, 10:00 a.m., First Congregational Church. Free to participate.

Spring Orchestra Concert Conducted by Jonathan Spatola-Knoll, featuring Jackie Wood on keyboard and Shawn Copeland of the University of Idaho on clarinet.

Saturday, April 29, 1:30-3:00 p.m., Chism Hall.

Free admission.

A Night of Laser Fantasies Hosted by TKE and GlobeMed, a laser light show set to the music of Beyonce, Bob Marley and Pink Floyd.

Saturday, April 29, starts at 6:00 p.m., Cordiner Hall. Suggested $8.00 donation.

SPORTS

PAGE 5

April 27, 2017

SCOREBOARD BASEBALL

v. Linfield College Apr. 14: L 3-12 v. Linfield College Apr. 15: L 2-7 L 1-4

GOLF

Men’s NWC Championship Apr. 23: 8th/9 Women’s NWC Championship Apr. 23: 3rd/8

UPCOMING TENNIS

NWC Tournament Finals: Men v. Lewis & Clark Apr. 23: W 5-1 Women v. Linfield College Apr. 23: W 5-1

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

At Whitman College: Men’s Northwest D-1 Regionals: Apr. 29-30 Women’s Northwest D-1 Regionals: Apr. 29-30

CYCLING

Collegiate Road National Championships Grand Junction, CO. Apr. 27-30

FROM BORLESKE TO SAFECO: BASEBALL CLOSES MEMORABLE SEASON

by QUINN SALKIND Staff Reporter

T

he Whitman Blues baseball team ended their season falling painfully shy of a playoff berth in their final weekend match up against Linfield College. With the possibility of a win during the weekend, and a combination of possible outcomes across the Northwest Conference, the team still had a chance on the final day of the season. Although the cards didn’t fall in the right direction, this 17-20 season was one of the best for the team in a long time.

The previous two seasons saw the team posting six and 13 win seasons. This year marked the second highest win total that the baseball team has achieved in the last 35 years of the program.

“This year’s team really proved that hard work will continue to push to program forward. While we didn’t quite achieve our ultimate goal in the end, we made huge strides through our determination and our hard work,” sophomore first baseman Lucas Thrun said.

“We came a long way this year, making big positive strides as a program with our culture and expectations both on and off the field. I am proud of how our players competed and how they’ve represented themselves in the community,” head coach Brian Kitamura said.

The season brought many unforgettable moments for the program. In February, first year Eric Ma threw a

no-hitter against the Whitworth Pirates to complete a series sweep. The 12-strikeout performance turned out to be one of the best of the year, with only four base runners being allowed, via walks, the whole nine innings.

The team also hosted what was Whitman College’s largest ever alumni event to take place off-campus at the Seattle Mariners’ Safeco Field. The Bud Knight Memorial Series turned out to be the highlight of the season for many.

“Having the opportunity to play at Safeco was a once in a lifetime type of experience. It was incredible to see the support from alumni and get to play on that stage,” Kitamura said.

March brought the program’s annual little league camp, which was their most successful community outreach program to date in terms of attendance.

“The little league camp was a blast. This year, we had the most little leaguers we had ever had at one of our camps and it was a great chance for the team to interact with the community and give back. Hopefully a lot of them will stick with the sport and will be playing in the future too,” junior pitcher John Lyon said.

The team was also active in the Whitman community, teaming up with the Green Dot program to host an awareness event during an afternoon ballgame. The program is an effort to create safe social environments and combat sexual assault through peer-to-peer action.

On the field, there were great individual performances throughout the season. Juniors Joe Zimmer and Adrian Vela each had six home runs and 28 runs-batted-in on the year.

Zimmer led the team in on-basepercentage with a staggering 0.489, leading the NWC. Ma led Whitman’s starting pitchers with an ERA of 2.98 (runs allowed per nine innings pitched), while senior Garrett Atkinson led relievers with a 1.96 ERA. “This year was special–we continued to get closer and become more of a family. When we lost, we lost together, and when we won, we won together. We will maintain that mentality for working hard next year, and considering we are bringing a lot of guys back, it’s really going to be something to see when we take the field,” Thrun said.

Carrying their core forward, the Blues look to continue their upward trend next season with a strong squad. Coach Kitamura has high hopes.

“We are very excited about next year, especially with this year’s juniors rising to be seniors and really helping take our program to the next level with what we’ve been building,” Kitamura said. “We will have to work hard every single day to reach our goals and exceed our own expectations, but with this group coming back and the recruiting class we have coming in, the sky is the limit. The vast majority of our roster returns and we fully expect our newcomers to compete for significant time in our everyday lineup immediately.”

Crank, climbing reach new heights

Sophomore Lucas Thrun leads off Safeco Field’s first base during the baseball team’s March weekend in the professional ballpark. Contributed by John Lee.

A round of applause: Threat to decency or deserved reaction?

by ALDEN GLASS Staff Reporter

I

Climbers from across the region converged at last weekend’s Sweet Onion Crank climbing competition, which attracted onlookers from Admitted Students Day and the Renaissance Festival. Photo by Caroline Ashford Arya.

by CONOR SCANLON Staff Reporter

I

n its twenty fifth year, last weekend’s annual Sweet Onion Crank bouldering competition brought nearly 200 students from schools across the Northwest to campus for a day chock-full of laughs and challenging climbs. On a weekend with the Renaissance Festival, Admitted Students Day and the 24-hour Varsity Nordic show, the Sweet Onion Crank was a great opportunity for Whitman to showcase its uniqueness to other schools on the Northwest Collegiate Climbing Circuit. The Whitman Climbing Team was heavily involved in the operation of the Crank, but it also offers Whitman students not on the team a chance to dip their hands in the chalk.

Climbing culture at Whitman is pervasive. When the Crank started a quarter of a decade ago, the climbing wall was simply an exterior slab of concrete attached to the side of the Sherwood Multipurpose Gym. The event’s history is one of sophomore climbing co-captain Raquel Peterson’s favorite features of the Crank.

“I think the history of the Sweet Onion Crank and the climbing wall really make the Crank unique in that it’s been around for a long time.”

NoahLani Litwinsella, junior co-captain and first place finisher for the men’s competition this year, also recognizes the timelessness of the sport.

“25 years is a long time to be around, but it’s still going and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime

soon,” he said.

While officially headed by Brien Sheedy of Outdoor Program, this year’s Crank Coordinator, junior Rachel Needham shouldered much of the work of the competition.

The whole climbing team also plays a large role in the promotion, setup and takedown of the event. Climbers volunteer to set and forerun routes, help sign people into the competition and strip holds after the event. Some members of Whitman’s team even chose to skip the entire competition just to help with its logistics.

The Crank features a laid back atmosphere many do not expect when they hear the words “competitive climbing.” Encouraging cheers constantly echo through the gym and funny costumes or accessories are commonplace.

Julia Mason, a Whitman sophomore and this year’s champion of the women’s competition, donned a “onesie” pair of pajamas during one of her climbs.

“Last year my roommate lent me their onesie to climb in for good luck and it worked great, so now every year I try to climb in a onesie for at least part of the Crank,” she said.

The Crank also featured a raffle in which one lucky competitor received a rotisserie chicken.

“A passionate and dedicated team member went out of his way to make sure that we raffled off a rotisserie chicken during the Crank’s raffle, and it was a fun experience to say the least,” described Mary Kampa, sophomore co-captain of the climbing team.

The event’s onion-eating contest, in which participants from each school face off to finish an onion in the least amount of time, only built on this light-hearted atmosphere.

With an electric atmosphere inside the gym coupled with the Renaissance fair goers passing by in medieval garb, it seemed impossible to have a bad time at the event. This helps rope in new climbers.

“I think people think that because it’s a competition it isn’t beginner friendly, but I know lots of people who climbed for almost the first time in the Crank and still had a blast,” Mason added.

Litwinsella is not surprised by the high attendance, as he is well aware of just how popular the sport is on campus. Climbing runs much deeper than the 45 members in the club and the roughly 25 members who regularly travel with the climbing team.

“It’s a growing culture and the team reflects that. I talk to people in admissions and they’re always complaining about how many climbers are applying or how many times they have to read ‘I’m a climber’ on applications.”

With prospective students teeming around the gym on Saturday, the folks in admissions can expect to see many more accepted offers of admission from future hopeful Crank participants. With one of the best college climbing facilities in the Northwest and a rapidly growing climbing team, the Sweet Onion Crank will only increase in popularity in coming years.

n mid-April, Barcelona’s Brazilian superstar, Neymar, was suspended for three La Liga matches for sarcastically applauding the fourth official while walking off the field after his second yellow card of the match.

While a three match ban for such an important player would be catastrophic in the best of circumstances, the timing could not have been worse for Neymar and Barcelona. They currently are tied with eternal rival Real Madrid with one more game played. The second of the matches Neymar missed was El Clasico, the game between Barcelona and Real Madrid. El Clasico consistently draws more viewers than the Superbowl, and while Barcelona was able to beat Madrid, they looked the worse team for most of the match as Neymar’s absence was obvious.

It was therefore a huge deal that Neymar did not play and calls into question the validity of the ban handed down by La Liga. Does sarcastic applause really warrant a three match suspension?

To put it in perspective, Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero was given a four match suspension for his second violent act of the season back in December after a horror tackle on Chelsea’s David Luiz. The tackle could have seriously injured Luiz and four matches was probably too light of a ban, but was it a comparable offense to Neymar’s poor attitude after being sent off?

In the context of the game in which the incident occurred, Neymar’s frustration can be understood if not tolerated. The defenders from Malaga spent the better part of an hour aggressively fouling Neymar every time he touched the ball. This is no new tactic when dealing with

Illustration by Taylor Penner- Ash

Barcelona’s immensely talented attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, but it was especially obvious and aggressive in this game. Yet many of those fouls didn’t result in a single yellow, while Neymar received two cards for reactively fouling out of frustration.

While one would expect a consummate professional to keep their calm, Neymar certainly has some maturing to do before being capable of such self-restraint. Yet does his childish insolence need to be punished in a way that hurts his team, the league itself and fans around the world? Neymar should have been given a small fine and the normal one game suspension. Every single game players surround the referee screaming, swearing and whining and yet they are rarely if ever punished further.

I am no fan of Neymar due to his propensity for diving theatrically and decision to play for Barcelona, but I am also a fan of the sport.

His absence led to a Clasico where Barcelona looked like a shell of their normal selves. While they pulled out the win off of Messi’s individual brilliance, large portions of the game saw Barcelona’s offense lost.

Leagues across the world, from the NFL to the EPL to the NBA, fine and suspend their athletes for dangerous plays, legal issues and “bad” behavior. I completely understand fines and suspensions for violent acts or legal issues like DUIs, but to suspend players for sarcastic applause is a step too far. Players are human beings, with immense pressure upon them, and these outbursts towards fans and referees are bound to happen. Fining these players seems to be a happy medium that allows the league to express its displeasure with their actions while still allowing fans to see the best possible games.

FEATURE

PAGE 6

April 27, 2017

Walla Walla Tour de Fry

by MITCHELL SMITH, MARRA CLAY & OLIVIA GILBERT Editor-in-Chief, Publisher and Feature Page Editor

With just two issues of The Wire remaining, Publisher Marra Clay and I asked ourselves what we had missed this year.

One word came to mind: food. Then another: fries. So we decided to embark on a selflessly (ful)filling expedition, the Walla Walla Tour de Fry. We visited local favorites The Green Lantern, Wingman Birdz + Brews, Public House 124 and Marcy’s Pub to taste each version of the classic fried strips of potato that we know and love. Below is our recollection of the experience, documented through notes on napkins and remembered, albeit hazily, by Marra, Feature Editor Olivia Gilbert and me.

THE GREEN LANTERN For many years, students have walked up Isaacs and visited what is perhaps Whitman’s favorite bar, The Green. We arrived midevening on a Thursday and found a circular table placed right underneath a television tuned to the night’s Mariners game. Knowing we had a long night ahead, we ordered the small fries. At $5.45, we gave these fries the highest “bang for your buck” score. The sizeable portion of fries arrived with small cups of fry sauce and homemade ranch nestled into the sides of the basket.

The fries were wonderful. Cut thick, with an outer crunch that combined with a pleasingly warm and gooey inside, we devoured our order with ease. Marra noted

Public House 124, affectionately called “Pub House,” was not to be missed on our tour because of their famous truffle fries. However, when we walked in the door (which, granted, was around 9 p.m.- fairly late for a Thursday night in Walla Walla) the restaurant was relatively calm.

Pub House seems to still be figuring out their atmosphere. There’s a hint of fine dining (or at least the expensive drinks and entrees would suggest such), the TVs of a sports bar, yet also an air of upscale drinking.

“Are they a nice bar or is it a pub? They can’t figure it out,” I muttered as we waited for our food.

Olivia was also confused about the aesthetic, “The TVs are weird to me.”

Upon arrival, the dish was classily arranged. The fries themselves were in a separate white dish, with the ketchup and garlic aioli fry sauces on a side platter. The flavors were absolutely top-notch, winning Olivia’s approval. However, were they worth the $8?

that the fries “tasted like real potatoes,” and Olivia added, “I’m a little nervous.”

We were all nervous. Worried about the impending evening of heavy eating yet needing something to wash down our food with, we limited ourselves to one drink each.

Though the fries were delicious, what really made them were the sauces. They were a bit under salted, which we countered with a deep dip in the ranch.

Verdict: An early favorite, The Green did not disappoint. Slight deduction for less salt than usual, but we loved these fries. 4.5/5 stars. Judging from the Whitman faculty also enjoying the food, the community agrees.

The most recent addition to le Tour, Wingman boasts a fantastic beer selection and several chicken/fry concoctions. Think non-chain Buffalo Wild Wings, but better. Unexpectedly, we arrived to wonderful live music that was turned up just a bit too loud. Unable to hear each other to discuss our order, we opted for the Birdz Nest, a combination of house cut fries topped with melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese, bacon bits, diced tomatoes, sour cream and green onions.

These fries won the “tuxedo” award for being the best dressed of any we tasted. We expected nothing less at the whopping price of $9.49.

The next time you see two types of cheese oozing from between thin fries topped with tantalizingly fragrant bacon, tomatoes, sour cream and green onions, you’ll understand.

Then we tried to remove a fry from the pile, and could not. At one point

Marra picked up the entire dish and held it by a single strand of potato.

The toppings tasted good, but glued the fries together in an impossibleto-share mash up. The fries themselves were nothing special either. I focused on my beer while the Mariners, on TV next to us, unfortunately lost their game.

“This is impossible to eat,” Marra said, shoveling eight fries into her mouth at once for lack of a better option.

One bonus of Wingman is the 7 oz. drinks, which give you the opportunity to taste the plethora of unique beers and ciders that they offer.

Verdict: We liked the live music and good beer, but not much else.

Maybe our dish was not meant to be shared, maybe I was bitter because of the Mariners or maybe their fries should be paired with their chicken and not left to suffer alone. 2.5/5 stars.

included deep fried cheese curds, citrus chicken lettuce wraps and the ever-tantalizing bang bang cauliflower. Most students just go there for drinks, but the food really sounds amazing.

“Wow, I wish I wasn’t already full of fries,” Olivia said.

Deciding we had endured enough distractions from the task at hand, Olivia ordered the $8 garlic fries. Surprisingly enough, they seemed eerily similar to our prior stop. The fries came with truffle garlic sauce, feta cheese and a bit of parsley on top. After trying almost identical truffle-infused fries at Pub House, we weren’t completely sold on these. The fries themselves were thick cut and had plenty of salt, but the garlic left us needing gum or a breath mint.

“These would be bad fries for a first date,” Marra said, trying to wash the garlic flavor out of her mouth with a gulp of water.

Verdict: With full acknowledgement of our delirious states of mind, we were disappointed with Marcy’s. Our expensive cocktails combined with another $8 order of fries hurt both our wallets and our already-full stomachs. Only 3/5 stars.

“I’m not into bougie-ass fries,” someone said, probably.

An added bonus of Pub House is the wide variety of drinks. Marra was particularly pleased to learn they have gluten-free beer–an unlikely find in Walla Walla. However, she immediately regretted her choice when it turned out that the beer was made with lentils. No bueno.

We stayed at Pub House until they closed at 10 p.m., so if you are interested in dining there make sure to arrive earlier in the evening. However, the wait staff were not annoyed with our late-night fry shenanigans– our waitress was probably the most friendly of all that we met during le Tour.

Verdict: Though the garlic aioli and truffle fries were without a doubt the most delicious, the price is not fit for the average college student. Thus, we award the Public House fries 3.5/5 stars. But, if it’s family weekend and your parents are paying for your meals, we highly recommend.

Our final stop on the tour brought a significant number of yawns, full bellies and bathroom breaks. Prior to entering, Marra channeled her runner’s spirit and inspired Olivia and I: “This is an endurance sport!” Upon arriving, she promptly laid half her body on our table and exclaimed, “I’m so full!”

It took us a while to get to our final fried potatoes of the evening.

First, we succumbed to the aura of the cocktail menu and, aided by the upselling bartender, ordered three $10 drinks. Oops. However, we do have to give it to them for the drinks.

Olivia’s cocktail was particularly special–a “thyme’s up” that included white rum, lime and egg whites. We were all skeptical about the eggs, but it turned out alright.

Disappointed with ourselves yet determined to complete our task, we scanned the menu for the fries. In general, we were very impressed by food options at Marcy’s. The menu

Olivia, Marra and I wandered back to campus full. Happy. Never wanting to eat a fry again. Until next week. “This was all for the greater good!” Olivia cheered, while I tried to figure out how my body would possibly process all of the potatoes that I had consumed.

The Green Lantern wins our official Wire stamp of approval.

It’s cheap, the drinks are dependable and the fry sauce is worth the walk through the Isaacs’ construction site.

OPINION April 27, 2017

Pepsi offers peace with an empty apology ZURAH AMINI Columnist

O

n April 5, Pepsi released an ad starring Kendall Jenner making peace with the police at a “protest” by offering a police officer a can of Pepsi. The protest depicted was ideologically ambiguous with signs asking to “join the conversation” and fashionable millennials having a good time.

In response, social media and journalists erupted in a wave of criticisms directed towards how the ad trivializes and co-opts the Black Lives Matter and Dakota Access Pipeline protesters who experienced explicit police brutality.

After initially resisting the backlash, Pepsi finally decided to pull the ad and issued an “apology.”

“Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position,” PepsiCo said.

Although Pepsi’s “apology” focused on their unfulfilled intentions, no failings were specified. In other words, no one from the company seems to be held accountable. Yes, Pepsi may be the organization to blame, but there are many people who have the goahead to run this ad.

Joe Pinsker, writing for the “Atlantic,” asks, “How on Earth Does an Ad Like Pepsi’s get Ap-

Illustration by Nate Raphael

proved?” In the article, Pinsker tracks the process in which an ad such as Pepsi’s may have been produced. Pinsker identifies the conceptual stage of the ad, where creatives develop and pitch ideas, as the stage where an offensive ad can be potentially avoided. Obviously, that was not the case here.

This fail on the part of Pepsi has lead many to postulate that the creators were most likely white and of older age. I have a hard time believing otherwise.

However, that is not to say I am satisfied with this postulation because it doesn’t necessarily take an action to prevent such an ad running again. Just this week Shea Moisture ran an ad with a trivializing approach, similar to all lives matter but with hair. The ad equates the problems white women have with their hair to the experiences of black women, in effect ignoring the racialized pro-

ject that black women’s hair is situated in.

Pepsi’s apology, just like Pinsker’s investigation, merely identifies a mistake and states where that mistake was made. As such, Twitter criticism and Pinsker’s investigation may be critical first steps in identifying the problem, but we cannot stop there. Demands for specific changes in the ad industry, such as a diverse employee body in executive roles or a more racially and culturally informed research process, must be expressed if we are ever to have more politically, culturally and racially conscious ads.

Operating within a capitalistic society, I doubt Pepsi suffered financially enough to take on such steps. Rather it is the fear of “scandal,” an often flighty but potentially career altering term that poses a reason for the apology.

Indeed, the apology works to af-

M

y story is all about family. I grew up in Spokane, attended Spokane Public Schools and completed my undergraduate and post-graduate studies at Gonzaga University. After spending time living in Oakland, CA, and Madison, WI, I returned to Spokane to be closer to my family.

When I moved back home, I was working in the event ticketing industry. I managed a three state region for TicketsWest, a job that took me to University towns like Pullman/Moscow and Clarkston/Lewiston, affording me a better understanding of my home district. From the moment I arrived back in Spokane, however, I started looking for ways to solve the many problems facing Spokane’s working families.

After leaving TicketsWest, I had the opportunity to start Communities in Schools of Spokane County, where I worked in the nonprofit sector to provide resources for our kids in the form of school supplies, after-school programs, counseling and other support. Once I discovered that there were structural bureaucratic problems standing in the way of true progress, I decided to run for President of the Spokane City Council in 2011.

As City Council President, I have fought hard for those less fortunate than me. I have worked to protect our natural environment, to ensure that all workers are entitled to Safe and Sick Leave and to defend the rights of our LGBT community.

I’m proud of the work I’ve done at the City, and I intended to run for May-

or in 2019 so that I could continue to work for my home city.

Then Donald Trump happened.

The 2016 election cycle was deeply troubling to me. I saw friends on both sides of the political spectrum becoming more and more rigid in their beliefs. I watched in dismay as that polarization became increasingly entrenched and calcified.

I realized that at a time when many were eager to put as much physical and metaphorical distance between themselves and Washington, D.C. as possible, I was itching to charge in.

I knew that Trump was a menace to our democratic system of government, but I also knew that the deeper problem was the deep distrust of government felt by so many in both parties. I became firmly convinced that the best place to work on that problem would be as a representative. So I decided to run for Congress.

My family is still the most important thing in my life, and right now I’m scared for our future. I’m scared that we will allow our country to become a place that’s no longer dedicated to freedom and opportunity. I don’t want America to become a place that turns people away when we should be welcoming them in. I don’t want to live in a nation where people are judged by their skin color, their sexual orientation or their religion. I don’t want anyone in this country to be afraid of the federal government, and I believe that Congress is our best hope for effectively opposing the scary and divisive policies being peddled by the Trump Administration.

That’s why I’m running.

Letter to the Editor

A

front-page article in the Walla Walla University Horizon’s recent take-over of The Whitman Wire is devoted to demonstrate the friendly sentiment of its title: “We aren’t that different after all.”

Does a student in Whitman’s Biology Department have essentially the same educational experience as a student in WWU’s Department of Biological Sciences?

Here is the first sentence of the “Philosophy” of WWU, as stated on the university’s web-site: “Walla Walla University is founded on Christian teachings and values as understood and appreciated by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.”

And here is the first sentence of the mission statement of the WWU Department of Biological Sciences: “The Walla Walla University Department of Biological Sciences trains undergraduates and graduate students in experimental and field sciences in a Christian setting.”

And here are three “Affirmations” issued by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in 2004 in a document entitled “Affirmation of Creation” (one of the church’s “Official Statements”): “1. We affirm the primacy of Scripture in the Seventh-Day Adventist understanding of origins.

2. We affirm the historic Seventh-Day Adventist understanding of Genesis 1 that life on earth was created in six literal days and is of recent origin.

3. We affirm the biblical account of a catastrophic Flood, an act of God’s judgment that affected the whole planet, as an important key to understanding earth history.”

No doubt students of biology and geology at WWU are exposed to the current scientific consensus on human evolution, the age of life on earth and the obsolescence of Flood geology. But the above statements

by WWU and the SDA Church imply that WWU students are informed that this consensus is fundamentally erroneous. If so, surely this would be a significant way in which we are, in fact, different after all.

David A. Lupher Classics Department

We must change social activism on campus

Op-Ed: Why I am running Contributed by BEN STUCKART

firm Pepsi’s initial intentions rather than address the consequences of their actions. In addition, Pepsi uses the word apology once in response to Kendall Jenner–the person least likely to be affected materially or socially. And yet, the persons who have the most to lose from this trivializing ad, such as BLM and NODAPL movement, are merely vaguely implied.

Jenner herself has yet to comment or apologize. Many are demanding an apology from her, but if it is going to be another round of what Pepsi has to offer, I think I’ll pass. This is not to say that I don’t think Jenner or Pepsi should not apologize, but that I demand more than a false pretences. Preventing racially and culturally inconsiderate ads take a lot more critical reflection and a substantial deconstruction of media exploitation on the part of ad companies and celebrities alike.

PAGE 7

CY BURCHENAL Columnist

W

hitman has a respectable tradition of social justice and activism. As Whitties, we aspire to create the most comfortable and accepting environment for our fellow students. It is that ability to change that makes our community so cohesive and empathetic. This willingness to put our opinions up for criticism is a compelling trait, but I feel it is undercut by the culture of Whitman itself.

Political activism is a valuable aspect of Whitman’s culture, certainly, but I’m not sure it belongs on campus. There is a large and powerful political consensus at Whitman.

‘The echo chamber,’ the ‘liberal bubble’–whatever you want to call it–dictates a lion’s share of the political dialogue on campus. It seems that most Whitties acknowledge the existence of the bubble, and some even seek to dismantle it. Regardless of whether this bubble is good or bad, it does affect the pragmatic nature of social activism and stunts its ability to spur change. The causes themselves that promote said activism are all beyond valid, but vocalizing those opinions and stances in an environment that shares your

Voices from the Community

opinion is unproductive. And there we find the problem. In a community that is tremendously welcoming to activism but also politically uniform, said activism is unnecessary.

That does not mean that the cause of the activism is invalid–it merely means you need to expand your field of view.

Whitman, in its progressive liberal political stance, is juxtaposed against the more conservative community in and around Walla Walla. It is because Walla Walla

doesn’t share Whittie’s beliefs that ‘the bubble’ is a bubble. To most effectively pursue social change, it would be more productive to go into the Walla Walla community since, unlike Whitman, it is varied in its beliefs.

This is not an indictment of the social activism of Whitman students, as they truly address areas in need of change. Instead, it is an endorsement of the spirit of activism, and a recommendation of more effective measures.

yes!

Illustration by Eric Rannestad

Where do you want to be during a nuclear war?

Illustration by Eric Rannestad Photos by Samarah Uribe

GARETH JONES Sophomore

“Probably Walla Walla, just ‘cause we’re so out of the way.”

NIKKI ANTENUCCI Junior

“I was going to say New Zealand because they are getting very little conflicts. And, I don’t know. Maybe with my family.”

EMILY DORN Junior

“I feel like the few things that pop into my head are my grandma’s house or the state penitentiary ... for very different reasons.”

THOMAS HARRIS First-year

“I would probably want to be away from a big city like Seattle or even Tacoma.

So, I think Eastern Washington would be an okay place to be because they probably wouldn’t bomb Walla Walla.”

SATIRE

PAGE 8

April 27, 2017

ISAACS CONSTRUCTION UNCOVERS PRESIDENT PENROSE’S TOMB

STUDENTS’ OPTIMISM WITHERS AS SEMESTER REACHES CLOSE

by REBECCA GLUCK Fruit Dehydrator

W

ith only a few weeks left in the spring semester, and with finals quickly approaching, Whitman students are starting to feel the endof-school-year stress. In addition to the lack of sleep and lack of money for alcohol, most students have expressed a sense of impending doom looming over them.

For the most part, Whitman students are friendly and optimistic. Over these past few weeks, however, instead of holding doors open for inordinate amounts of time and smiling at strangers, they have been slamming doors in people’s faces and flipping people off for no apparent reason.

“At the beginning of the year I read every reading, figured out every math problem on my own and even thought that the state of the world was okay,” junior Pessy Mism said. “But now, with the school year ending, I haven’t read a book since win-

by ARIE KNOPS Corndog Librarian

T

he Isaacs Avenue construction team made a shocking discovery early Monday morning as they uncovered stairs leading to President Penrose’s tomb. The excavation is ongoing, but the tomb appears to be modeled after King Tutankhamun’s in Egypt. Penrose often called himself “The King Tut of Whitman” after being named Whitman’s President at the age of 29, making him the youngest college president in the nation.

The tomb appears to sprawl beneath much of Whitman’s campus. The burial chamber lies directly beneath Penrose Library, and the treasury lies beneath Memorial.

The walls of the tomb are covered in stick figure drawings detailing Penrose’s 40-year reign as Whitman’s President, as well as copies of Penrose’s “Whitman Hymn,” written during his tenure as President. Like many other tombs, Penrose’s featured a variety of relics, like Whitman frisbees and a Whitman College bumper sticker.

“We are hoping this breakthrough leads to the discovery of the infamous Valley of the Presidents. This tomb is believed to be one of many under Whitman’s campus,” said Jindiana Jones, visiting Professor of Archaeology from University of Chicago.

“President Chester Maxey’s tomb is said to hold at least one of the missing Faberge Eggs, while President Louis Perry’s is said to hold a copy of the Star Wars Christmas Special.”

Jerry Bruckheimer has already bought the film rights for the discovery of the tomb, under the title “National Treasure Three: In the Eye of Isaacs.” Nicholas Cage will be resuming his role as Ben Gates, whilst also playing the role of President Penrose.

The tomb will continue to be uncovered and is believed to push back the Isaacs construction completion date from fall 2056 to fall 2057.

For its discoverers, Penrose left a variety of messages. #WHITCITY and #GETWHITIT were engraved on multiple spots on the walls, and Penrose’s sarcophagus bore a threeword phrase, etched in eternity; “I should’ve divested.”

Illustration by Meg Cuca

ter break, I forgot how to divide two-digit numbers and I’m pretty sure the sun is going to run out of energy during my lifetime.”

This sense of withering optimism may be attributed to the endof-the-year activities for prospective students—with so many high schoolers on campus, Whitman students must come face to face with hopeful, energetic teens who have no idea what college has in store.

“I was hosting a prospective student this weekend, and when I asked if she wanted to go downtown to do homework with me she said no because she didn’t have any homework,” Mism explained. “I immediately started crying and had to call my mom so she could remind me that I was once like this student.”

Experts say the usual Whitman spunk and optimism will return at the beginning of the fall semester. Meanwhile, the administration has banned all prospective students from visiting in order to take care of Whitman students’ sanity.

ComRADe: The passionate communism housed within campus skateboarding culture

by ANTHONY REALE Rogue Millenial

O

n any average day on Whitman’s campus, you’re bound to find quite a few people skateboarding, blasting past pedestrians with an excited, ‘Shaaaaaaaaaaa brooooooo!’

As common as a sighting of any duck or can of PBR, skateboards quite literally litter the campus–campus garbage collectors’ perspective coming out soon.

However, within this lifestyle, a very special lifestyle masks itself to the untrained eye. The CSC, or Collective of Skateboarding Communists, can only be found by their extremely cool ‘Sickle Handshake.’

As Whitman welcomes nearly every lifestyle, these Commies are not unwelcome on our campus. And truly, these comrades are just like us–they go to class, pre-

tend to do the reading and complain about dining hall food.

“Ya, it’s just a cool way to grind rails, kickflip and try to bring down capitalism,” Vladimir Skatir told The Wire in an exclusive interview. “And we’re a popular club because we’re not centered around table conversations and weird meetings, ya know,” Skatir continued.

The CSC has felt some friction from campus leaders– Chunk Cleavage, specifically.

“These goddamn Commies are just like the previous goddamn Commies. They can put whatever label they want on their goddamn Communism, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be a good idea,” Cleavage said.

Despite the lack of support from the administration, the CSC continues to skate every day and shout parts of “The Communist Manifesto” to each other in hopes to convert people by osmosis.

Illustration by Haley King

Divination professor already aware of students cheating on her final

by WINSTON WEIGAND Tinder MVP

W

hitman College has never offered a course on divination–the practice of fortune telling–until this year. In fact, no other schools of higher education have even considered it before.

“It was a risky move, we know. But we’ve all seen the

Harry Potter movies. Magic is goshdarn real. If I want it to be real badly enough, then it will happen. I won’t stop until I succeed. I’m like Thomas the Tank Engine, but instead of being the figurehead of a children’s TV show, I’m the figurehead of an accredited college,” Whitman’s president remarked.

Beginning in January, the divination course taught stu-

dents how to read palms, shuffle tarot cards and roll their eyes into the back of their heads. The professor in charge of teaching these fortune telling methods, Dr. Krystal Ball, has 40 years of experience in the field. She was born in a cave in an unmapped area of Romania, and since moving to the United States has predicted numerous events, such as Kim Kardashian’s sex tape

and that time her neighbor left the front porch light on.

As we approach finals week, however, Dr. Ball has expressed concern over the structure of her final exam–she is worried that her students have already seen the answers in their chai tea lattes. The school’s administration is currently working together to find a way around this problem, but a solution has yet

to be found. One employee has suggested shutting down the coffee shops on Whitman’s campus until next semester.

“No ... NOOOO ... The uprisings ... No coffee means death ... Death from the STUDENTS ...” Dr. Ball said, her eyes rolling back into her head–evidently frightened about what students would do without caffeine.

MOODYTUNES: The homestretch

Cartoon by Nick Sekits