April 10, 2017
TheVanCougar.com
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Issue XV
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Volume XXVII
Revisions and changes accompany refocused 'gender neutral' campaign Fifth-annual Gender Neutral Bathroom Week adjusts in response to feedback from survey
Stefani Mammenga, Holly Varner, Ian Muck and Amanda Shannahan encourage students to "flush you stigma" and learn about Gender Neutral Bathroom Week. Photo credit: Zeke Estes centralize their efforts in order to By Andrew Hanchett Last week, Holly Varner and several other volunteers smiled at passing students and provided fliers in order to raise awareness about Gender Neutral Bathroom Week at Washington State University Vancouver, which ran from April 3-7. A rainbowcolored toilet, with a call to “flush your stigma,” was set up under a tent next to the volunteers. A man stopped at the tent and Varner asked him whether he had anything he wished to forget by writing it on a piece of paper and “flushing” it in the toilet. “A little cleansing ritual,” said Varner as the man entrusted the undesirable bit of his past to the paper slip and proceeded to dispose of it. This year, the organizers of GNBW decided to scale back and
make the event more “effective and inclusive for everyone,” said Stefani Mammenga, the president of the Cougar Pride Club. Selected bathrooms were only transitioned to gender neutral when there was a volunteer on duty to make sure that students were able to critically think about the issue, she said. The decision to reformat the campaign and reduce the number of transitioned bathrooms was a response to the results of the Student Campus Climate Survey. Mammenga said the decision was made with the advice of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Nancy Youlden who also gave the “full go-ahead” for the initiative. According to the Climate Survey report released last August, the purpose of the survey is to understand student attitudes
regarding campus diversity and to “evaluate the effectiveness of diversity initiatives.” In addition to responding to the questions posed in the survey, students had the opportunity to leave comments in order to elaborate on their answers. According to the report, 42% of the individuals participating in the survey took advantage of the comment sections. The authors of the report point out that “for the most part, the commenters were a representative sub-sample of students.” According to the report, “no topic attracted dissatisfaction as much as the campus Gender Neutral Bathroom Week.” Some students expressed support for the initiative, however most students who mentioned the event “were strongly against it.” One of the students said “I felt uncomfortable during gender-neutral week and did not feel comfortable using the restroom on campus that entire week.” Others said that the event was “poorly publicized and explained as well as disruptive.” Mammenga said the response has a “recency effect” since the survey was administered shortly after last year’s GNBW. She said this year the event organizers are introducing a survey of their own in order to tailor the event to the needs of the campus community. A student majoring in English
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Art meets the digital age in student publication Unveiling of the 2017 Salmon Creek Journal coming soon
Works such as "Cubist Self Portrait" by Lylliana Gurrola will be featured in the Salmon Creek Journal. Photo credit: Salmon Creek Journal By Quetzali Ramirez Big things are happening at Salmon Creek Journal. The upcoming release of Washington
State University Vancouver’s student led art and literary journal will feature the largest journal yet published, showing off the artistic and literary talents of WSU Vancouver students, staff, faculty and alumni. This year will be the first time Salmon Creek Journal has produced both a digital and print version of the journal. The staff of Salmon Creek Journal will hold a launch party to celebrate the journal’s release on Friday, April 14. Students, faculty and the community are welcome to attend the event. The event will feature guest speakers, crafting opportunities and pizza for all to enjoy. “SCJ received an eclectic variety of artistic submissions this year,” said Amanda Flynn, editor-in-chief of the Salmon Creek Journal. Tyler Hickey, the journal’s prose editor, chose this year’s theme. The journal staff is excited to reveal the theme at the 2017
edition’s launch. The Salmon Creek Journal decided on the theme after discussing digital diversity and the way technology has changed people’s way of interacting with, viewing and creating art. “[Although] these ways are changing, ultimately what this means is teachers and artists are given new theories and systems in which they can both teach and model,” Flynn said. “And along with those new challenges come along new visions in which both the artist and the creator can recreate their artistic representations to speak to a new and changing world.” The launch party will be held April 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Firstenburg Student Commons. For more information visit https://events. v an c ou v e r. w s u . e du / s a l m on c re e k - j ou r n a l - l au n ch - p ar t y. Keep an eye out for the opening of submissions for next year’s journal or visit the Salmon Creek Journal website n for more information.
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First Copy Free
Local women honored for service and achievement Women of Distinction recognizes women giving back to the community
Local women were recognized for their service at the Women of Distinction event. Photo credit: Zeke Estes By Emily Bratcher To recognize the contributions of local women to their community, Washington State University Vancouver recently honored 46 different women at the annual Women of Distinction event. Emily Forette, Andrea Olvera and Faye Palmerton each won awards for their service work in the community. Julie Mercado introduced the event, spoke about its history and announced the nominees. Sheri Bennett, a graduate of Clark College, Western Washington University and the Leadership Clark County program, delivered a keynote address. Bennett is now the executive director of YWCA Clark County. Bennett has worked for over 19 years to better the lives of local families and women through her work at the YWCA. In her presentation, Bennett discussed the importance of women in leadership, how she obtained her position at the YWCA and the functions of the YWCA. When Bennett first took her position at the YWCA 19 years ago, she started as an on call staff member at the domestic violence shelter. Bennett told of how an encounter with a child named Sean changed her outlook on life and made her want to grow with the YWCA. Bennett talked about how she took a position of leadership at the organization by taking the initiative in her own hands and by “saying yes” to the opportunities in front of her. Awards and honorable mentions were then recognized. The first category was for high school women in the community. The winner of this event was senior Emily Forrette, who attends Union High School in Camas. Forrette was recognized for her courage, participation in extracurricular activities and her individuality. Forrette recently came out to her friends and community as transgender and has faced bullying. Despite that, Forrette has pushed on and has been an active member on her high school's speech and debate team, and has worked as a crew and production member for her school's drama
department. Forrette also works to educate her family and friends about the transgender community. The honorable mentions for the WSU Vancouver female student of the year were Allison de Vincenzi and Stefani Mammenga. De Vincenzi is a doctoral candidate for education and was recognized for her work and research with the math endorsement program. Mammenga is a graduate student studying prevention science and was recognized for her involvement in campus diversity projects, such as work done for the Cougar Pride Club. The winner the WSU Vancouver female student of the year award was Andrea Olvera. Olvera is a sophomore at the university and is majoring in mechanical engineering. Olvera is an undocumented student and was recognized for her academic achievements and bravery. Olvera talked about her experience as an undocumented student and said that she was “very proud to be going through higher education, especially as a woman in my area of study.” The honorable mentions for the WSU Vancouver female community member were Anne Johnston, Nelea Nelson and Rosalba Pitkin. Johnston was nominated for her work as a public nurse for Clark County. Nelson was recognized for her work as a mentor and manager, and Pitkin was nominated for her work at the Office of Diversity at Clark College. The WSU Vancouver female community member of the year was Faye Palmerton. Palmerton was distinguished for being “a retired administrator with the Portland Public Schools who founded TLC-TNT, a dropout prevention program,” said Brenda Alling, the marketing and communications director for WSU Vancouver. Palmerton has worked for the Portland Public Schools for over 30 years and worked for schools located in impoverished areas. Palmerton said she believes that all kids “want to be and do good.” For more information
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2 | CAMPUS NEWS For researchers studying hearing loss, critters promise breakthroughs What screechers, squeakers and swishers can tell us about our brain
Researchers on campus study bats to learn about hearing and hearing loss. Photo credit: Zeke Estes By Layne Bauer At any moment in nature, one may hear the screeches of bats overhead, the squeaks of mice along the ground or the swishes of fishes schooling underwater. The hearing and communication laboratories at Washington State University Vancouver offer the rare opportunity to study such animals: from bats to mice to zebrafish. Research in these labs is primarily focused on advancing the understanding of speech processing mechanisms in individuals with normal hearing and in those with different forms of hearing loss. Known on campus as the “Rats, Bats and Fish Labs,” the hearing and communication laboratories are a collaborative effort among undergraduate and graduate students that work alongside postdoctoral and faculty members. Christine Portfors and Allison Coffin lead a group of neuroscientists who utilize fruiteating bats from South America, mice and zebrafish as model systems that help provide insights into the human brain and body. Although each lab utilizes different animals as models to facilitate research, the labs are often multi-functional in their purpose. The bat lab analyzes the mechanisms of vocal learning in the brains of bats; the mice lab focuses on the mechanisms of complex sound processing in the brains of mice; the fish lab uses external hair cells on zebrafish to study the mechanisms of hearing loss. “We focus the majority of our studies on understanding how the brain detects, discriminates
and categorizes different types of communication sounds,” Portfors said. “We conduct our studies in mice and bats because these mammals are great models for understanding the neural mechanisms of auditory processing.” Like humans, bats possess an extremely rare trait found in nature: vocal learning. This trait makes them a great subject for researching speech and hearing. The vocal learning process includes the ability to learn, acquire and produce new sounds via imitation. Researchers study the vocal learning process that bats undergo in order to communicate with other bats and navigate their environment through supersonic sound, or echolocation. By better understanding how communication sounds are detected, decoded and categorized by the auditory system, researchers aim to develop more effective prosthetic hearing devices. Their research includes studying how speech is processed by the auditory system in individuals with normal hearing and in those with various forms of hearing loss or disorders. “The research that we are doing also is to enhance awareness about the causes of noise-induced hearing loss,” said Elena Mahrt, a doctorate-level researcher. “By doing this we can provide techniques to facilitate healthy listening habits for those who, for example, like to listen to loud music in the car or attend concerts.” The bat lab has two different rooms, one of which houses 45 male and female bats intended for breeding, and another that houses 19 females for population control.
Amongst the group of flying mammals there is an albino bat that has white hair and red eyes. These bats, including the red-eyed albino, will not attack your jugular for blood like vampire stereotypes would lead some to believe. The fruit eating bats, more technically the leaf-nosed bat, come from the humid regions of South America. To replicate their original living conditions, the rooms are humid and the bats are fed fresh fruit and peach and apricot smoothies. Although the bats fly horizontally, they perform acrobatic feats to flip and land upside down quickly. Along with sharp teeth, these bats are equipped with an amazing signal processing ability that allows them to determine a target’s velocity, size, elevation and many more fine characteristics by echolocation. The high-pitched frequencies are indiscernible to the human ear. “These bats are fun to work with, and very few universities even have the opportunity to research them,” said Alex Nevue, WSU Vancouver’s very own “Batman.” According to Nevue there are a couple of different experiments being conducted with the bats utilizing a variety of different methods. These experiments include behavioral studies, ultrasonic sound and brain anatomy. The high dependency that bats have on echolocation means that a larger portion of the brain is devoted to auditory processing. By studying the brain and processing system of bats, researchers hope to learn more about the mysteries of the human mind. For those involved, the research being conducted is much more than a step to gain skills necessary to succeed in scientific or health-related careers. By relying on teamwork, scientists in the hearing and communication labs hope to make an impact on the lives of the more than 275 million people worldwide that are affected by hearing loss. To learn more about the hearing and communication lab, contact Christine Portfors at portfors@wsu.edu or visit https:// labs.wsu.edu/hearcomm/. n
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Group helps students explore vegan and vegetarian lifestyles By Quetzali Ramirez The Plant Based People club wants to grow interest in the benefits of plant-based diets among Washington State University Vancouver students. The club is currently looking for new members interested in helping students become informed on where their food comes from and the impact of creating those products for their consumption. Their goal is to expand students’ perceptions of what food is and show them that being vegan can be simple. “Our inspiration for the club was our desire to connect people on campus who are interested in learning about the benefits of a plant-based diet,” said Katherine Kofoed, founder of Plant Based People. Earlier in the semester the club held its first event, a screening of the documentary “Forks Over Knives” that discussed research into the effects of animal products on human health. This film has become a resource to learn about numerous health benefits of a plant-based, vegan diet. “Many people are turned off by the word ‘vegan,’ but we emphasize that our club is open and very welcoming to anyone interested in learning about the benefits of eating a plant-based, vegan diet… no matter what your current diet is,” Kofoed said. “Everyone is
welcome to attend our meetings and events, and we don’t judge or criticize anyone for how they eat.” The club's next event is a one night only screening of a documentary from the award-winning filmmakers of “Cowspiracy.” The film “What the Health” will be shown at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver on April 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The movie will be followed by a Q&A with a panel of health and advocacy experts. The film aims to expose the alleged collusion and corruption in government and big business that costs people trillions of healthcare dollarss. The Plant Based People club will also be volunteering at the local animal sanctuary Out To Pasture Farm Sanctuary next month, and next fall they hope to host guest speakers amongst other informative events. Plant Based People welcomes everyone to learn about health, wellness, the effect of dietary choices on the environment, the ethics of nonviolence and kindness to all creatures. The club meets every other Monday at 2:10 p.m. but the location varies based on room availability. Check for updates on CougSync and their Facebook page Plant Based People at WSU Vancouver. n
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CAMPUS NEWS | 3 Young Americans for Liberty club faces unique challenges in its creation An emerging new political club seeks to represent a fresh perspective By Layne Bauer From the campus community here at Washington State University Vancouver, to broader society nationwide and even countries around the world, the current political climate is unpredictable with distant skies split by brewing storms. During such times, college students may wish to become politically involved. One of the ways students can do this is through studentled clubs and organizations such as the Young Americans for Liberty Club, an emerging club that members hope will represent a new political view for the WSU Vancouver community. According to the Young Americans for Liberty website, there are over 900 YAL chapters and almost 309,000 members nationwide, and the organization serves as the “largest, most active and fastest growing pro-liberty organization on America’s college campuses.” YAL seeks to identify, educate, train and mobilize youth activists committed to “winning on principle.” Their goal is to prepare the leaders of tomorrow and reclaim the policies, candidates and direction of the United States government. The YAL organization was founded after Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential campaign, and has since grown in size following his campaign in 2012. “YAL went
from 150 chapters at the end of 2009 to 600 chapters as of April 2015, and now 900 chapters in 2017,” according to the website. The WSU Vancouver chapter was created and is led by club president Andrew Colclough, who studies Public Affairs at WSU Vancouver. For Colclough, the chapter’s presence goes beyond just representing libertarian ideals and values. According to Colclough, the club will provide an important opportunity for civically engaged citizens to see that the message of freedom can bring people together and find common ground in politics. “The club isn’t affiliated with any particular political party. We do, however, tend to identify as libertarians, limited government conservatives and classical liberals,” Colclough said. “This means that we advocate for voluntary behavior, see government as coercive and that respect for the individual’s property is fundamental to a peaceful society.” The club had its first oncampus event during February’s Involvement Fair. According to Colclough, the experience was a positive one with many of the questions asked relating to what the club stood for. Members of the club were eager to answer any questions and welcomed potential incoming members. By answering questions, passing out club flyers and numerous
pocket Constitutions, the Young Americans for Liberty raised awareness for the club’s profile. A quick scroll through the club list on CougSync reveals that there are currently no active conservative or right-wing political clubs at WSU Vancouver. Since libertarianism typically aligns more centrally on the political spectrum, The Young Americans for Liberty club aims to add variety to the number of political organizations on campus. The chapter has faced difficulties in its creation, however, and is still working to become an official club at WSU Vancouver. According to Colclough, the administrative steps necessary for the club’s creation caused the most difficulty. “The next steps [to become an official club] will include getting recognized by the school, setting up a meeting date and then getting an event going that will promote liberty,” stated Colclough. “We are hoping to have our first meeting in April and our first event soon after.” With at least three or four committed members at this time, the club welcomes individuals to learn more about its mission and purpose. If interested in joining, contact Andrew Colclough at a.colclough89@gmail.com. More information about the Young Americans for Liberty organization can be found at http://www.yaliberty.org/. n
Talk prepares residents for 'the big one' By Yuliya Nikiforets It's almost 10 a.m. on a Monday in February, rush hour in the middle of winter, as you make your way to work. You feel the ground beneath your car shaking severely and see massive cracks developing on the freeway, completely altering the road up ahead of you. The shaking continues for five minutes as you witness disaster and chaos increase exponentially. According to experts, a full fault line rupture of the Cascadia Subduction Zone would mean that 800 miles along the fault, from the top of Washington to northern California, would be devastated by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake. The epicenter of this quake would be 120 miles west of Eugene and about 60 miles off the coast. This would cause tsunamis with heights ranging from 12 to 40 feet at landfall. Such a description is of a model used to explain "the big one," a name developed for the potential earthquake by Kathryn Schulz in an article published by The New Yorker back in 2015. The point of this model is not to frighten, but to increase awareness and preparation. Washington State University Vancouver's Department of Public Safety and ASWSUV sponsored a dialogue led by Scott Johnson, the emergency management division
manager for Clark County, to teach people about preparation for such an event. Along with this lecture, multiple vendors attended the event to showcase emergency products and teach people about what local resources are already being offered. According to Johnson, no one really knows when this catastrophe could strike. Seismologists have studied the shifting of these plates and understand that major eruptions happen every 300 to 500 years. The last one occurred in 1700. As a rule of thumb, the more time that elapses between eruptions, the greater the chances of a larger one occurring. Johnson explained that "we [are] either 17 years into the envelope or, because I [am] an optimist, I have 183 years to get ready." Preparation was a key part of this dialogue. Johnson proceeded to give some statistics on the functionality of our community in the case of such an emergency. It is estimated that only 7% of hospitals, 8% of police departments and 18% of fire departments would have no structural damage. 78% of electrical services and 89% of potable water services would have suffered medium to severe damage. Such damage would greatly diminish the availability of resources needed to get help. When a severe quake occurs, the land breaks into what are called micro islands. There can be fallen
power lines, collapsed bridges, landslides and much more that will immobilize an entire community, restricting it to the resources on hand in that specific area. Johnson said that in any disaster it is important to remain calm and prepare for aftershocks. People usually respond by first ensuring that they are okay, ensuring that those around them are okay and then attempting to find out whether their loved ones
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"Gender Neutral Bathroom Week," continued from page 1 who wished to remain anonymous when interviewed for this article in order to avoid “ridicule” and “shaming” by her peers said “I feel uncomfortable walking into a girl’s bathroom and seeing a guy there." She pointed out that the Gender Neutral Bathroom sign informs students that “the nearest gender segregated bathroom is located upstairs.” The student said there is a lot of criticism on campus directed at people responsible for marginalization, yet, she said, the organizers of the initiative are marginalizing those who are uncomfortable with GNBW by sending them upstairs. Mammenga said that there is a lot of concern and fear regarding the possibility of sharing the restrooms with someone of the opposite sex. However, she said that statistically speaking, this does not increase the likelihood of being harassed. Mammenga said that if it was to happen, it would still be a crime and the victim still has the right to pursue the prosecution of the attacker. She said it is a valid concern, but it is important to stop the “heavy policing” that is done in segregated bathrooms as long as no one is harassed or assaulted. “How are you going to enforce that?” Mammenga asked, “what are we going to do? Pantie checks?” Varner, a social sciences major, said her role as a volunteer was to “educate the masses” on the importance of single stall bathrooms. She pointed out that there are only three one stall bathrooms on campus and said that there is a need to have one at least in every campus building that may be constructed in the future. She also clarified that the initiative does not advocate making all restrooms permanently gender-neutral because “we don’t want to make other people feel uncomfortable.” According to Mammenga, permanent genderneutral bathrooms are “something that is not in the foreseeable future.” For Mark Campbell, a humanities major, gender segregated bathrooms are “pointless.” “We don’t intentionally segregate our bathrooms in our home,” he said. “By segregating our bathrooms, we give everybody a reason to argue over nothing. I think we have bigger problems.” Campbell said that “it is up to how the current
student body feels about it.” Jenny Kaly studies hospitality business management. She said she is “very supportive” of the LGBTQ community and echoes Campbell’s sentiment. “I don’t see a problem with gender neutral bathrooms at all,” she said, “we are all human and we all deserve to use public bathrooms.” Susan Lalone, a volunteer of the Washington SAFE Alliance, also served with GNBW volunteers. Lalone referred to Taraji Henson’s character in the film “Hidden Figures” who had to walk half a mile to the nearest black restroom, cutting 40 minutes out of her workday with every trip. “You can’t be expected to concentrate on your work,” Lalone said. Mechanical engineering major Serge Karnaukh said that one-stall bathrooms may be the best way to solve the debate. However, he said that GNBW and multi-stall gender neutral bathrooms have no place in academics and society. He said that it is an opportunity for more crime and it violates the rights and religious beliefs of other people. Karnaukh said the WSU Vancouver administration needs to ask itself if “they are doing what is best for their students or what they believe is the general idea around America.” Though Karnaukh expressed concern for the safety of others, he said he is not worried about his own safety if a transgender individual walked into a restroom with him. “I would feel more sorry for them,” he said, “because, honestly, they are more worried about what I am thinking about them than me thinking about what they think about me. They are the ones that are much more sensitive.” Mammenga said that when it comes to locker rooms, the issue is a little more complex since they provide less privacy compared to multi-stalled bathrooms. She reiterated that a single stall changing room would be the best solution for this scenario. Gender Neutral Bathroom Week was organized by the Gender Inclusivity committee and sponsored by the Cougar Pride Club and ASWSUV. For more information, contact Stefani Mammenga at stefani. mammenga@wsu.edu. n
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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 "Women of Distinction," continued from page 1
"Earthquake," continued from page 3
on the Women of Distinction nominees for this year, visit h t t p s : / / a d m i n . v a n c o u v e r. wsu.edu/marketing-andcommunications/press-releases/ wsu-vancouver%E2%80%99sw om e n - d i s t i n c t i on - h on or s women-who-make. n
are okay. With communications down and most roads being completely blocked off, this will be very difficult to do. Johnson encouraged people to make a plan and to be well acquainted with the community around their home. Knowing who your neighbors are will greatly increase one’s sense of security for children
Washington State University Vancouver
or pets that may be at home. Johnson also urged people to put together emergency kits, explaining that "no one can make a better emergency kit for you, than you." These is no one size fits all as every family has different medical needs, allergies, family size, pets, etc. These kits should include supplies for sanitation, nutrition, shelter and medical needs. He encouraged people to have multiple supply kits, one for the
home and one that could be stored wherever you spend most of your time, such as at work or school. One of the organizations at the event was Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency. CRESA serves 460,000 people in the community and has a staff of 6. People need to make an individual plan so that the community as a whole can be more resilient, allowing for CRESA to locate the most problematic areas until help
from other parts of the country arrives. For more information on how to prepare and develop a plan for when "the big one" strikes, local emergency managers recommend referencing the resources below. http://cresa911.org/emergencymanagement http://www.ready.gov/publications http://www.emergency.cdc.gov/ http://www.redcross.org/local/or/ preparedness n