U.S. needs a grand strategy after Libya
“The Walls” are broken down
Columnist Alex Brott calls for Obama to state a comprehensive rationale for American intervention in Libya. PAGE
WHITMAN NEWS, DELIVERED
VOLUME CXXVIII
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Student writers and actors explore Walla Walla’s relationship to the Penitentiary in Harper Joy Theater’s latest production. PAGE
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Walla Walla, WA whitmanpioneer.com
APR
07 2011
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ISSUE 9
Admissions up despite push for smaller class
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by SHELLY LE Staff Reporter
ecreasing admission rates for undergraduate colleges are a nationwide trend this year; however, Whitman College is the exception to this rule. In contrast to last year, where 46.7 percent of applicants were admitted, 51.5 percent of prospective students were admitted this year, exceeding 50 percent for the first time since 2003. In total, of the 3,208 applications received, 1,654 students were admitted. The increase in students admitted this year comes as a result of fewer Early Decision (ED) applications received and accepted. Because of this, the Admission Office has had to compensate by accepting more Regular Decision (RD) applicants this year than in most past years. For the Class of 2014, 127 students were accepted for ED enrollment, but this year the college had only accepted 86 students, meaning the office had to admit more RD students in order to end up with a reasonable class size. According to Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Tony Cabasco, the college wants to have approximately 405 students for the incoming class, which would make it smaller than the Class of 2014. However, yield — the number of accepted students who actually decide to attend Whitman — has been declining, forcing the Office of Admission to admit more students in order to meet this goal. “We want to have a smaller entering class; the goal is to enroll 405 new students,” Cabasco said. “In looking at the make up of the pool of admitted students, we think based on the trends regarding the mood of the ADMISSIONS,
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by DEREK THURBER Editor-in-Chief
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ome next fall, low-income Whitman students may be faced with new challenges in paying for college. In an effort to close a 5 billion dollar Washington State budget gap over the next two years, the 2011-2013 biennial budget discussed by the state legislature this week proposes major cuts to Washington State financial aid. The proposed budget, which was passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate on Tuesday, April 5, would cut all funding for the Washington State Work Study Program and would decrease the available State Need Grants funds for private college students. Overall, it represents a total loss of 482 million dollars to colleges and universities across the state over the next two years. Even though this is just a small fraction of the total proposed 4.4 billion dollars in cuts statewide, the legislation could have a significant impact on Whitman students. Out of the total number of students who currently receive financial aid, five percent receive some sort of aid from Washington State Need Grants. According to Tony Cabasco, the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Whitman currently receives 400,000 dollars in State Need Grands. Although the budget includes an increase of 101 million dollars towards State Need Grants in order to offset increased tui-
Activity courses teach, foster student involvement in sport by PAMELA LONDON Staff Reporter
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hitman is renowned for its academic achievement, but one of the things that attracts many students to come to Walla Walla is our prominent outdoorsy nature. The Sports Studies, Recreation and Athletic (SSRA) discipline is a program that allows students to experience all that the great outdoors has to offer. Many students get involved in SSRA courses after going on a Scramble or taking a trip with the Outdoor Program. There are 18 SSRA courses to choose from, from beginning courses in rock climbing and kayaking to advanced courses such as River Guide Leadership and Wilderness First Responder (WFR). In addition to outdoor skills and leadership courses, SSRA offers lecture-based courses and basic skills courses in things like sports medicine and weight lifting. “SSRA courses offer Whitman students opportunities to pursue a variety of physical and recreation activities,” said Jennifer Blomme, varsity swim coach and member of the SSRA senior staff. “Students can gain instruction whether in a field they already have some exposure to or in an activity they
may never have tried before. With our lecture courses, students can also challenge themselves intellectually while considering issues pertaining to health, athletics and recreation.” For some students, the opportunity to take SSRA courses was a main reason for applying and eventually coming to Whitman. First-year Katie Parker admits that the attention paid to the outdoors on campus was her first reason for deciding to come to school here. “The reason I came to Whitman was all of the photos that I saw of people rafting and kayaking in the brochure,” said Parker. “[The brochure] also had a student to tree ratio! [great quote! put it right after your lead to make it about people from the get-go] It seems to me like Whitman tries to give students opportunities to balance their academic life with outdoor opportunities, and also to provide students with the opportunities to lead excursions.” One of the common ties for all of the SSRA courses is that the purpose of each course is to establish and build on a student’s leadership and basic training skills. In this way, Whitman takes its tradition for excellence SSRA,
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tion costs for public schools next year, the budget changes how grants are determined, resulting in a decreased level of funding for private college students. “Instead of tying [State Need Grants] to the most expensive universities they want to tie it to the other universities whose tuitions are a bit cheaper,” Washington House of Representatives member Terry Nealy, R-Walla Walla, said. “What that means, then, is that the State Need Grants money available will not be as high for [students] attending private colleges as it will be for ones attending universities.” According to House leaders, this was done in an effort to offset the costs of supporting students attending public schools without overburdening the state, which is facing a 5 billion dollar budget gap. Some Representatives, however, disagree with this shift in policy. “I am not in favor of [this change],” Representative Nealy said. “I am considering putting an amendment in that would even that out so that the money to private colleges would be the same as that going to public universities.” President George Bridges and the other private college presidents from Washington State have taken proactive measure to try to counter this budget. “The presidents of the 10 private colleges in Washington State met in Olympia yesterday to work on communications we will be delivering to legislators this week in support of aid for students,” Bridges said. “The message we are
sending is that cutting aid from college students is mortgaging the future of the state. Aid to the neediest students is a small part of the state budget and reducing it will not help fill the fiscal hole reflected in the state deficit.” BUDGET CUTS,
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Local ranch closure leads to uncertain future for sustainable meat
The door of Thundering Hooves’ Walla Walla store, which has closed permanently due to fianncial difficulties. PHOTO BY FENNELL
by RACHEL ALEXANDER News Editor
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ast spring, while meeting with Whitman students on an environmental studies excursion, Thundering Hooves farmer Joel Huesby told the group, “Eating is an intimate act. Do you know your farmer?” One year later, Huesby has announced that Thundering Hooves is closing due to financial difficulties. With a familiar, local source of grass-fed meat gone from Walla Walla, many wouldbe conscious meat eaters are finding that the answer to Huesby’s question is an uncomfortable “no.” While there are other grassfed meat producers operating near Walla Walla, few have figured as prominently on the Whitman campus. Huesby’s meat was often found on
dinner plates, but his influence extended into the classroom. “Joel Huesby is really good at selling the idea of humane, sustainable beef production,” said Aaron Bobrow-Strain, assistant professor of politics. Bobrow-
Strain has brought his food politics class to visit Thundering Hooves for the past four years, and said that Huesby’s ability to get people excited about sustainable beef allowed him to reach people who might not otherwise think critically about their food. Professor of Environmental Studies Bob Carson, who took environmental studies excursions to Thundering Hooves, echoed this sentiment. “Joel is such a powerful speaker,” he said, adding that the Thundering Hooves trip was often listed as a favorite excursion by students. THUNDERING,
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With Executive Council elections around the corner, The Pioneer examines ASWC demographics ... PAGE 5 while News interviews the candidates PAGE
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