March 7, 2017
TheVanCougar.com
•
Issue XIII
•
Volume XXVII
Celebrating accomplishments and looking to the future President Schulz delivers State of the University address
WSU President Kirk Schulz called this year's address "a celebration of successes." Photo credit: Washington State University By Yuliya Nikiforets The State of the University address is a long-time university tradition in which the president addresses past successes and outlines future opportunities for Washington State University. This year, President Kirk Schulz declared the address “a celebration of accomplishments [rather than] talking about some future trends which I'm sure if I predict them,
will be wrong anyway." Schulz expressed continued commitment to growing WSU as a research university and remaining a "family friendly environment." This celebration of accomplishments is only a small cross-section or sampling of all that WSU has done in the past year. Accomplishments accompanied future goals in Schulz’s hour-long address. To begin, Schulz discussed the expansion of WSU’s healthcare education department. This fall, 60 students will begin their education at the new publicly funded medical school. WSU’s medical school is the second medical school in the state of Washington. These students will spend their first two years at the Spokane campus and finish their education at other WSU campuses across the state. In keeping with WSU’s commitment to scientific advancement, Schulz outlined some of the research accomplishments of the university. In a collaborative effort between WSU and MIT, and with a $40 million research grant from the USDA, researchers produced environmentally friendly jetfuel from by-products of forest harvesting. An Alaska Airlines flight departed from SeattleTacoma International Airport to Reagan National Airport
in Washington D.C., fueled entirely by biofuel developed in part by WSU researchers. WSU works closely with local industry to research and create new developments. Schulz said that agriculture is an important industry in Washington, and that WSU seeks to support this industry. For example, Schulz said that the "cosmic crisp" apple, developed with support from WSU, is on course to become available to consumers by the year 2020. "This is the fruition of lots and lots of years of research and working together,” Schulz said. Schulz then discussed university enrollment. The 20162017 school year boasted record enrollment numbers. As of last fall, WSU enrollment peaked at 30,142 students. Over the past four years, applications have increased by about 50% and the average GPA is also steadily increasing. WSU aims to be an inclusive and diverse school, Schulz said, and current enrollment numbers reflect this. Onethird of incoming freshman are underrepresented minority students and 40% of students are first generation students. Briefly discussing recent federal immigration laws, Schulz said "there [are] going
Continued on page 3
•
First Copy Free
New guidelines force club logo changes Clubs alarmed at new rules for spirit marks By Layne Bauer Three club leaders were met with surprise when they opened their email inboxes. On Feb. 1, club leaders found out that the univeristy had implemented new guidelines for the use of spirit marks such as the cougar head logo. Raj Lamichhane, Stefani Mammenga, Scott Thompson and other club leaders found they must change their club name or logo by Mar. 20 to be compliant with new branding regulations of Washington State University. At WSU Vancouver a wide variety of student groups provide an opportunity for individuals to connect with others based on similar interests. One of the ways that students can do this is through clubs, also known as registered student organizations.
Continued on page 2
Photo credit: International Students Association
Photo credit: Cougar Pride Club
* What's up with the 'O' in VanCougar? Editor's note: The VanCougar’s logo is also in need of changing to comply with new regulations. The newspaper is looking for student submissions for a new logo. Students can submit a logo design for an opportunity to win a $40 gift card to the Bookie. All students can participate, and may submit up to three designs. Submissions are accepted via social media with the tag #VanCougLogo, at bit.ly/vancouglogo or by email to vancougso@wsu.edu. Submissions will close at midnight on March 10, and the winner will be announced on March 20. n
ASWSUV elections happening now
Candidates debate prior to upcoming vote
By Layne Bauer National political polarization has become a key point of discussion on campus. In the lead up to the ASWSUV elections happening this week, candidates for executive and senatorial positions had two chances to debate. Many candidates said that, if elected, they wanted to strive to create an environment on campus in which the community could discuss political issues in a safe, respectful way, regardless of one's political orientation. On Feb. 21 and Mar. 1, the Associated Students of Washington State University Vancouver hosted candidate debates in the Firstenburg Student Commons. The debates allowed students, faculty and community members to get to know candidates who are running for student government for the 2017-2018 school year. The debates outlined what students could expect from the candidates, their campaigns and how they might fulfill their desired roles. The executive candidates, running in pairs for the president and vice president seats, include
Ethan Penland and Catherine Chaisson; Naomi Grande and Jose Scott; Corrine Bryce and Brianna Lembke and Lindsay Brown and Benjamin Otto. The candidates for senate positions include Giofranco DiCarlo, Michael DeManti, Holly Varner, Ian Meck, Joseph Colombo, Raj Lamichhane, Zeke Estes and Hunter Jarrett. Following short introductions, the panel began asking prepared questions, and each candidate had a strict two-minute time limit in which to respond. This gave candidates an equal opportunity and equitable playing field to address popular topics, issues and concerns. Participants in the debate also had opportunities for rebuttals to other candidates. Many questions posed revolved around what it means to be an active voice for the student body, the roles of the president, vice president and senators and how they would overcome various adverse scenarios. Many candidates responded to questions by demonstrating how past experiences brought them to the point of campaigning. “It’s really tough to pinpoint what issues are more outstanding
Executive candidates prepare for the Mar. 1 debate. The full stream of the debate can be found online on The VanCougar's Twitter feed, @thevancougar. Photo credit: Zeke Estes than others that students might face,” Otto said when asked about the greatest issue facing the administration. “But by finding who you are, not being ashamed of who you are and voicing your views to us, we can try to bridge the gap between administration and students.” Many candidates, both executive and senatorial, said that the community should be able to
engage in political discourse in a safe way, no matter where one lies on the political spectrum. Many candidates said it is imperative to promote civility and respect towards one another despite any differences in worldviews and opinions. Participants and audience members exemplified the capacity to do so during and following the event, where competitors were seen shaking
hands and wishing each other the best for whatever lies ahead. Student Scott Thompson said, “In the end, it’s a popularity contest.” ASWSUV encourages students to participate and vote in this year’s election. In the past, election winners have been
Continued on page 2
2 | CAMPUS NEWS
THEVANCOUGAR.COM
On the air: Broadcasting literature to the public Professional Writers Series discusses podcasting techniques
Photo credit: Veterans Club and Associated Students
"Logo change," continued from page 1
David Naimon and Benjamin Parzybok discuss literature and broadcasting via podcast and radio show. Photo credit: Megan Peaker stock questions to advance the he posts online. Naimon invites By Megan Peaker A local radio talk show host and local autor recently helped students understand the importance of literature interacting with broadcasting. David Naimon and Benjamin Parzybok presented the third workshop in the Professional Writers Series called “The Art of the Literary Podcast.” The presentation focused on Naimon’s radio show and how the speakers believe it is important to hear authors’ voices through a variety of media. Megan Peaker and Paul Peralta, both seniors at Washington State University Vancouver, introduced the speakers. They talked about various accomplishments of the speakers and welcomed them to the stage. The workshop was set up like an interview, and differed from previous installations in the Professional Writers Series that were presented as a lecture. Parzybok interviewed Naimon on the ins and outs of interviewing authors, a tongue-in-cheek approach that Naimon found more comfortable than talking directly to the audience. The audience was also invited to participate throughout. David Naimon is the host of “Between the Covers,” a literary radio show on KBOO 90.7 FM in Portland. His radio show is a shortened version of the podcasts
authors to his show to discuss their own writing. When asked why he enjoys interviewing authors, he said, “I am an avid reader and lover of literature and there is something wonderful about reading a book and knowing you are going to get to sit down at a table with the author afterwards and dive into a deep engagement with the text with the person who created it.” The presenters also discussed the positive influence engaging with authors has on writing. Bejamin Parzybok is a Portland local and published author. Parzybok has lived all over the world from Ecuador to Taiwan to Brooklyn. In Ecuador, over the course of six months, he penned his first novel “Couch.” His latest novel is called “Sherwood Nation” and is a fictional look at how Portland would respond to a drought that makes water a precious resource. Parzybok’s interview of Naimon was filled with multifaceted questions that dug into the podcasting industry. Naimon discussed what to do when interviewing guests to make a memorable experience. He said to start bored and guide the author along to make the discussion interesting. That way the interviewer can become more engaged in the discussion, rather than being interested then getting bored. Naimon said to use
discussion because avoiding them will make the interviews too vague. Parzybok then asked Naimon if he ever had any problematic interviews. “There are authors that love to discuss and there are just authors who don’t,” Naimon said. The audience participated in the discussion by asking questions to help them understand the podcasting industry. One question was about emotions and how emotionally charged interviews become. Naimon said, “Emotions become a part of the interview. I can’t imagine it any other way.” After a few more questions, the presentation wound down and the audience dispersed. Peter Ames Carlin will be presenting the next workshop in the Professional Writers Series, “Biographies that Rock,” on Mar. 9 in MMC 6. He will discuss the art of writing biographies. For more information about the Professional Writers Series, contact Howard Aaron at 503-816-2742. To learn more about David Naimon, visit http:// www.davidnaimon.com. More information about Benjamin Parzybok is available at http://smallbeerpress.com/ c ate gor y / aut hors / b e nj am i n parzybok-authors. n
2017 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY VANCOUVER The VanCougar is a student-run newspaper serving the students, faculty and staff of WSU Vancouver. The VanCougar is available at distribution sites in the lobbies of most WSU Vancouver buildings. The VanCougar may be viewed online at TheVanCougar.com.
Correction Policy
It is the policy of The VanCougar to correct errors. Please contact the editor via e-mail at vancouged@wsu.edu.
Representation
The existence of advertising in The VanCougar is not meant as an endorsement of any product, service or individual by anyone except the advertiser.
Employment
Washington State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer.
Letters to the Editor
The VanCougar welcomes brief letters (250 words or fewer) from members of the WSU Vancouver community on current issues. Letters must include the author’s full name, contact information and WSU affiliation, year and major for students, department for faculty and staff, degree and year graduated for alumni. The VanCougar does not publish anonymous letters. Letters and suggestions may be delivered to the Office of Student Involvement, the VanCougar office (VDEN 160), or e-mailed to vancouged@wsu.edu. For more information about the VanCougar's policy on letters and other information, please visit the VanCougar policy section of TheVanCougar.com The VanCougar | Dengerink Administration Building (VDEN) Room 160 | 14024 NW Salmon Creek Ave. | Vancouver, Wash. 98686 | 360-546-9524
Washington State University Vancouver
According to the RSO Handbook, student organizations at WSU are intended to complement the academic mission of the university and enhance the educational experience for students. Pullman’s Office of Marketing and Communication recently released new branding regulations. “A club has the ability to show affiliation with WSU Vancouver in its official club name. However, it must identify the club prior to the university,” the memo said. It continued by outlining new regulations for club logos. “A club may use the university spirit marks (cougar head, Butch, etc.)… But [the sprit marks] may not be altered in their shape, pattern and design. In order to be in compliance the cougar head must be presented in crimson, especially for online use. For print purposes the cougar head my be black, reversed or gray.” Club members, leaders and advisors responded to the new guidelines with initial shock and disappointment. Although the RSO Handbook mentions the name policy for clubs, most of the controversy stems from the club logo clarifications. Some of the clubs that were affected by the logo changes include the International Student Association, led by Lamichhane; the Cougar Pride Club, led by Mammenga;
?
NG
FI
I SH
and Veterans Club and Associated Students, led by Thompson. After receiving the guidelines, the Veterans Club and Associated Students underwent a process of voting on potential new designs. “I’d say the overall process has been inconvenient, but not completely unreasonable,” Thompson said. “Overall club members did not express too much concern with the regulations, just mild confusion and some slight resistance.” Some of the clubs relied upon the creativity of motivated WSU Vancouver students to create potential new logo designs. Others are still working to bring their logos into compliance. “When I heard the policy, I started to work on it, and we have a new logo now,” Lamichane said. “It took me a while to find the perfect person for the logo work. It’s time consuming and needs more creative work because the logo reflects the club’s values and attracts members.” The changes were met with concern by some clubs, however. Some leaders said that although the regulations may seem innocuous, changing the logo may inadvertently change the club itself. “Our club’s rainbow cougar head logo had become what I saw as a very iconic and fitting symbol of LGBTQ-inclusivity on campus,” Mammenga said. “But I knew our club would be able to design a new one that was just as meaningful.” n
"ASWSUV election," continued from page 1
determined by a single vote, so ASWSUV representatives push the importance of every student’s vote. The polls are open online on CougSync and in-person through Wednesday. Polling stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. For more information visit the ASWSUV website at http:// wsuv.orgsync.com/org/aswsuv, or email the Election Board at aswsuv.electionboard@wsu.edu. n
D!
GO
O
PH
IS
BA
HI
D!
NG
?
FISHERMAN FRED SAYS,
“Don’t get HOOKED, dagnabbit!”
STAFF DIRECTORY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ALEXANDER PERU . vancouged@wsu.edu MANAGING EDITOR HALEY ELMER . vancougme@wsu.edu ADVERTISING MANAGER DAWN BAILEY . vancougad@wsu.edu LAYOUT AND DESIGN EDITOR CHARLES MITCHELL . vancouglo@wsu.edu WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER AUZ BURGER . vancougso@wsu.edu TEAM EDITORS AUZ BURGER REPORTERS KELLI ANDERSON LAYNE BAUER EMILY BRATCHER SAVANNA FORD ANDREW HANCHETT
QUETZALI RAMIREZ YULIYA NIKIFORETS MEGAN PEAKER
USE CAUTION when clicking links in emails, even if the email looks official
Not sure?
Forward the email to abuse@wsu.edu Got Questions? IT HelpDesk (360) 546-9770
STUDENT LIFE | 3
THEVANCOUGAR.COM
Story of class and privilege needs to be reevaluated, says racial justice educator Boston-based educator Debby Irving shares story and seeks to inspire further discussion By Andrew Hanchett If one practical thing can be taken away from Debby Irving’s presentations delivered to an overwhelmingly female audience at Washington State University Vancouver last Monday, it is that one must carefully consider the factors that shape one’s worldview. Irving is a racial justice educator and writer raised in the suburbs of Boston. She said that she had a “blissfully sheltered, upper middle class” childhood surrounded by white, Protestant family members that presented themselves as able bodied and heteronormative. Early in her childhood years she watched “Babar the Elephant,” a cartoon that shaped her initial understanding of race. The cartoon, Irving said, presents darkskinned characters as “uncivilized.” Other factors such as the portraits on dollar bills, the concept of a heteronormative family with the father as the head and even the layout and the architecture of her hometown continued to build Irving’s “very flawed belief system” that had “many omissions.” “This was my white bubble,” Irving said. She pointed out that she was raised not to “see” racial difference. However, that became a problem, she said. Irving would go on to finish college, teach and work for nonprofit organizations, attempting to bring diversity to the institutions she worked at. However, despite all of her wellintended efforts, Irving said that she was constantly aware of a “tension ... an elephant in the room” whenever the issue of race was discussed. In her first presentation at WSU Vancouver titled “Leveling the Playing Field—Interrupting Patterns of White Privilege” Irving asked the audience to identify the social category that had to struggle the least for the the American ideals of freedom and equality. Irving and the audience concluded that Protestant white males are the most privileged class in American society. A couple of audience members challenged minor details of her presentation, but their remarks were met with slight annoyance from the rest of the audience. Irving credits a graduate course she took at Wheelock College in 2009, titled “Racial and Cultural Identity,” for helping her understand that the perceived problem lay in her own white, Anglo history. She said she realized that she “ended up internalizing a lot of ideas about being superior just because I was a member of this group that called themselves white that didn’t seem to be ailing and fumbling around and suffering and not achieving the way I observed black and brown families and people were.” As a result, Irving shifted her focus from merely helping people of color to changing the social structure she believed was responsible for constructing the flawed paradigm of her childhood. In the spirit of Ralph
Ellison, who in his essay “Change the Joke, Slip the Yoke” calls for a change of artistic representations that facilitate racial oppression, Irving now travels the country encouraging her audience to reconsider the story of race in the United States. Worldview is everything, according to Irving. To Irving, lenses that are gradually crafted, piece by piece, day after day, through the seemingly ordinary things—such as friends and family members, the cartoons seen as a child or the buildings driven by on a daily basis—all of these construct the perspective through which one interprets the unfolding story of the universe. In her second presentation at WSU Vancouver, titled, “I’m a Good Person, Isn’t that Enough?” Irving presented a number of images and examples that she said pointed to the establishment of white dominance in America. One of them was “American Progress,” a painting by John Gast that portrays the settlement of America at the expense of the indigenous population. Irving also showed a collage of all American presidents prior to Barrack Obama and pointed out the lack of color in the picture. Irving said similar images and symbols create a false perception of American history and encouraged the audience to seek out other perspectives. The reconsideration of American history Irving calls for is already an active conversation on American campuses. Early last month, the New York Times reported that Yale University will change the name of one of its colleges honoring John C. Calhoun, a “19th century white supremacist statesman from South Carolina” and the seventh vice-president of the U.S. WSU Vancouver is also no stranger to events devoted to racial justice. This semester various clubs and departments hosted events in order to raise awareness for Black History Month, indigenous culture, immigration and women’s rights. However, Irving did not call for her audiences to distance themselves from their history. “Every human story… is incredibly complicated," and people should embrace that complexity, she said. “We need to be able to consider multiple perspectives in the moment and to think about how that lives today.” At the conclusion of her last presentation, Irving offered three practical suggestions for action. “Lift up history for all,” she said. Then she encouraged the audience to be “radically curious” and try to find out what they fail to see. Lastly, she urged people to be confident to start and maintain conversations on racial issues. “It is not rude to talk about race,” Irving said, “It is an essential skill to dismantle white supremacy.” More information about Irving and her story can be found at http://www.debbyirving.com. n
A place to call their own: Engineering and computer science students get center on campus New workplace for 'innovation and design' greets students By Yuliya Nikiforets Finding space on campus for group meetings can often be difficult. To help students find space to study or work, Washington State University Vancouver’s school of Engineering and Computer Science has developed a Student Innovation and Design Center in VECS 123 that will be open for engineering and computer science students as of Mar. 6. Prior to housing the new design center, the room held a computer lab. The old computers lacked many of the programs engineers needed and the lab was underused. The newly converted space is equipped with four engineering computers, a variety of desks for team meetings, multiple whiteboards and two meeting cubes that can each facilitate up to six people for student laptop teleconferencing. The center may be used for holding team meetings,
"State of the University address," continued from page 1 to be lots of things happening over the next several months out of the federal government and we remain committed to a family friendly environment that's diverse and supportive of students, faculty and staff." WSU is spread across the state of Washington and has struggled with being Pullmancentric, Schulz said. Schulz said that other campuses will no longer be considered "branch campuses," as some of the campuses are large enough to be standalone universities. Schulz also highlighted accomplishments at each campus in the past year. With much focus in science and research, WSU has also done a great deal for the enrichment of the arts through the construction of a new art museum. The goal now, Schulz said, is to find creative ways to integrate the art museum into more curriculums and education experiences. In a recent international competition, WSU North Puget Sound at Everett's Mars Rover Team finished second. This project allowed students
collaborating with project sponsors, conducting engineering & computer science club meetings and receiving tutoring for computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering coursework. There are currently over 100 seniors working on capstone projects so priority reservations will be given to these students. Freshmen and sophomores in engineering and computer science programs will have access Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. if space is available. Juniors and seniors in these programs have access to the room whenever the building is open, but must swipe in with their ID cards. Some students have already gotten a glimpse of the new Design Center and have had varying opinions. A few students expected a more industrial facility while others liked it and thought it was well lit and clean. Enoch Mbuyamba, a
mechanical engineering student said, "For the capstone we always have to go places to find a spot on campus. This is actually a great resource… and you can talk here with a loud voice." The facility is still under construction and currently only possesses items relocated from other parts of campus. In the near future, WSU Vancouver will reach out to industry partners for financial support. One of the whiteboards is currently used for students to write their suggestions and improvements. Some future improvements are planned. The Design Center will get an overhead projector, printer and potentially more white boards. Visit the center for more information and to see what they have to offer and remember to bring your CougarCard with you. n
from all disciplines to work together which is a key part of the educational environment. Schulz said that WSU’s team beat out competition from another research university in Washington. The competition was the "mars rover apple cup" Schulz said. Schulz also said that WSU is making efforts to internationalize the student body by partnering with an organization that helps universities expand their international student population. “A great faculty is also a part of a great university,” Schulz said, as he recognized the achievements of several WSU staff members. Four faculty members were elected to the Washington Academy of Sciences and may eventually become a part of the National Academy of Sciences. Schulz said that a lot of focus will go into ensuring that future faculty achievements are recognized. Looking ahead, Schulz said WSU must acquire future funding. The new medical school requires $10.8 million to support the 60 first year medical students and this amount will be needed again for the next incoming class. As part of capital funding, $58.9 million is needed to build a plant sciences building and $38.1 million to build
a diagnostic lab for veterinary medicine. According to Schulz, WSU's philosophy to gain funding is to describe its needs, advocate for programs and provide information to allow the state legislature to figure out creative ways to make university funding goals happen. Schulz then publicly launched The Drive to 25 at the event. The Drive to 25 is WSU's goal to become one of the nation's top 25 research universities by 2030. Emphasis is placed on accelerating the development of a preeminent research portfolio as well as to offer students a transformational experience. Progress towards these goals will be measured by 11 metrics determined by the Association of American Universities, peer comparisons and a few WSU specific metrics. To help WSU's continuing growth, Schulz recommended that people share their suggestions, join efforts to advance the Drive to 25 and incorporate the Drive to 25 in messaging. n
Enjoy your SPRING BREAK but if you need us, we’ll be here! LIBRARY SPRING BREAK HOURS March 11-19 Sa 10:00am-6:00pm Su 12:00-6:00pm M-W Th-F
9:00am-7:00pm 9:00am-5:00pm
Sa Su
10:00am-6:00pm 12:00-6:00pm
Washington State University Vancouver
4 | EXTRAS
Highlighting student research, scholarship and creative expression
THURS., APRIL 13 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Poster and Podium Presentations FIRSTENBURG STUDENT COMMONS AND DENGERINK ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ROOM 110
2 – 2:30 p.m. Award Ceremony DENGERINK ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ROOM 110
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Reception DENGERINK ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ROOMS 129/130
Learn more at vancouver.wsu.edu/showcase
Washington State University Vancouver
THEVANCOUGAR.COM