The VanCougar Volume 32 Issue 6 by The VanCougar

JANUARY, VOL. 32 ISSUE 6

Students restore 1986 video game

Pg. 10

r a g u o C Van TEAM

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Baumann

PHOTOGRAPHER Rowan Segura

MANAGING EDITOR Olivia Eldredge

COPY EDITOR Gracie Newberry

LAYOUT EDITOR Megan Tuthill

REPORTER Arabelle May

ADVERTISING MANAGER Jagger Norris

REPORTER Andrew Ripley-Suiter

WEB MANAGER Jessica Unruh

REPORTER Bethanie Collette

s r e t t Le

to the editor

The VanCougar welcomes letters and commentary 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. Send letters and commentary to van. vc.editor@wsu.edu. Once received, letters become property of The VanCougar and are subject to editing for length, clarity and style.

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on the

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Completing a major project last fall, students from the digital technology and culture's senior seminar class revamped the 1986 computer game, Amnesia. (Rowan Segura/The VanCougar)

4 6

In this issue

MEET THE STAFF

OMicron in washington state

12 Displays of the 1986 packaging for Thomas Disch's Amnesia video game. (Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)

Digital technology and culture

Senior seminar presents

Amnesia: restored RECORD STORES IN

Portland metropolitan area

DESIREE HELLEGERS

Records lined up on Music Millennium's "oldies" wall. (Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)

THE FILM FEED:

most anticipated MOVIES OF 2022

ON HOMELESSNESS Cougar Bites:

Cheese and Crack's SNACK SHOP

10 12 14 18

JANUARY 2022

MEET THE VAN

Emily Baumann

Olivia Eldredge

Pronouns: She/Her

Standing: Senior

Standing: Junior

Major: Integrated strategic communication

Major: English

Hometown: Vancouver, WA

Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO

Editor-in-Chief

Megan Tuthill

Managing Editor

Jagger Norris

Layout Editor

Advertising Manager

Pronouns: She/Her

Pronouns: He/Him

Standing: Senior

Standing: Junior

Major: Digital technology and culture

Major: Marketing

Hometown: Estacada, OR

Hometown: Amboy, WA

JANUARY 2022

COUGAR STAFF Jessica Unruh

Rowan Segura

Website Manager

Photographer

Pronouns: They/Them

Standing: Senior

Major: Digital technology and culture

Major: English literary studies

Hometown: Vancouver, WA

Hometown: El Paso, TX

Gracie Newberry

Arabelle May

Pronouns: She/Her

Standing: Junior

Standing: Senior

Major: Anthropology

Major: English

Hometown: Vancouver, WA

Copy Editor

Reporter

Andrew Ripley-Suiter

Bethanie Collette

Pronouns: He/Him

Pronouns: She/Her

Standing: Junior

Major: Humanities

Major: Earth and environmental science

Reporter

Hometown: Vancouver, WA

Reporter

Hometown: Kelso, WA

JANUARY 2022

What to know about Washington state’s

Omicron surge Bethanie Collette | Reporter Nearly two years ago, COVID-19 was deemed a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Since then, multiple variants have surfaced, threatening any chance of a return to normal, despite efforts to counter the virus. With the rise of the most recent variant, named omicron, new fears regarding yet another lockdown are spreading throughout Washington state, and the rest of the country. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, omicron is likely to spread faster than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, it is unknown whether omicron spreads faster than the delta variant. There is still minimal information about the variant's severity, except that it has the potential to infect even fully vaccinated individuals who can then transmit the virus to others. The first case of the omicron variant was discovered in South Africa on Nov. 24, and the mutation has spread across the U.S. The cause of the omicron outbreak in Washington state has been traced back to a high school wrestling tournament, as stated by the Washington State Department of Health. Dr. Steven Krager, deputy health oﬃcer at the Clark County Public Health department, said based on the data they have gathered, the omicron variant is at least 30% more contagious than the delta variant. As reported by NPR, the increase in transmission could be due to its many mutations in the spike protein. This allows the virus to affect and penetrate human cells more efficiently, no matter one’s vaccination status or previous infection.

“If you've been infected with a type of COVID-19 in the past, whether that's delta or the original strain, you seem not to have protection from omicron,” Krager said. "We were already seeing a pretty rapid spread in Washington. Not a lot of confirmed cases, but a lot of probable causes.” Dave Stephenson, the WSU Vancouver campus COVID-19 coordinator, said while WSU Vancouver is not planning to implement any new procedures, the university encourages students to get the booster shot and continue following state protocols. “[The CDC] strongly recommends vaccine boosters now that they are approved and available, saying that the vaccine has been demonstrated to protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death for most people contracting COVID-19," Stephenson said. Dr. Scott Lindquist, a Washington state epidemiologist, said the CDC and the state have not given any updated guidance regarding the new variant. Additionally, he said that winter break has disrupted the transmission of the virus on university campuses by sending students home from school, thus slowing the spread. “It becomes [the responsibility] of us as individuals, going to family events or parties, to help control the spread. Those recommendations are not anything new; get vaccinated, get your booster, wear a mask in an indoor space or test before the event," Lindquist said.

JANUARY 2022

In response to the spread, researchers at the University of Washington are analyzing test results from the recent omicron spike, searching for positive tests to find more answers regarding the dangers of the new variant. In reference to the New York Times, the University of Washington found 13% of 217 positive COVID-19 tests traced back to the omicron variant, which increased from previous data recorded just the day before. When estimating how many cases could increase on account of the omicron variant, Trevor Bedford, a computational biologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, predicted peak infections to triple due to the omicron variant. "If we make a very simple 10-day projection of this rate of growth, we should expect approximately 2,100 daily omicron cases in King County on Dec. 22, 2021. This is approximately 3.5 times the Delta peak in King County in August," Bedford said. In the following days, King County increased from a seven-day average of 710 cases on Dec. 22 to a case average of 2,137 on Jan. 1, according to reports from The New York Times. As for what other universities are doing to reduce the surge of omicron, Western Washington University has canceled the first week of classes after winter break because of the variant’s potential threat. The decision was made to prioritize testing and symptom monitoring upon the return to campus, thus, time will tell if other universities in the state of Washington follow suit.

There are still many unknown factors surrounding the omicron variant. However, one thing public health oﬃcials do know is that Washington residents need to continue following CDC guidelines, and urge others eligible to get vaccinated, or receive the booster. All adults over the age of 18 can get vaccinated and receive a booster shot for free, as long as they have been given the first two rounds of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Information surrounding the variant is advancing every day, and WSU will continue to track active cases weekly across all campuses. For more information on WSU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, readers can check out https://wsu.edu/ covid-19/ for more information.

JANUARY 2022

Introducing The Current, C-TRAN’s new, ondemand rideshare service for just the cost of a bus ride! Available to WSU Vancouver and elsewhere, starting in January.

RideTheCurrent.com

JANUARY 2022

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE SENIOR SEMINAR PRESENTS

Amnesia: Restored Andrew Ripley-Suiter | Reporter Thirty-two digital technology and culture seniors have completed their restoration of the 1986 game, Amnesia, as part of their capstone course. The goal of the project was to prepare students for work after graduation, while under faculty guidance. The Creative Media and Digital Culture Program, first founded in 1997, has become a booming success as it enters its 25th anniversary offering DTC classes for many students on campus. Through the major’s capstone requirement, also known as senior seminar, students in their fourth year are offered the chance to work for external organizations while using the university’s available tech-education resources. Dene Grigar, director of CMDC, said the objective of senior seminar is to transition students out of the classroom and into professional job settings. “No one can ever tell me that [the program is] not turning out thinkers, scholars,” Grigar said. “[They are] doing important work in media history, cultural history, literary history, art history.” Following the creation of the Macintosh computer in 1984, computer-based media began to increase in popularity. Being the only text-based adventure game published by Electronic Arts and written by Thomas Disch, Amnesia

follows the story of a character who wakes up in a Manhattan hotel room with no clothes, money or recollection of his life. Players must then unravel the events that led up to his current state. Selecting Amnesia as the restoration project for the DTC seniors commenced long before the fall semester started. The Electronic Literature Lab on campus, managed by Grigar, is known for housing the largest collection of interactive media in the world. The lab has also saved roughly 700 flash artworks since the termination of Adobe Flash Player in January 2020. Through ELL’s reputation of restoring electronic works and connections made by Grigar, the program was granted access to Disch’s estate, who requested the students recreate the iconic EA video game. At the start of the project, students were divided based on their academic interests and specialties, also deemed “Superpowers”, which include skills like game development, web development, design, video, animation and promotion. Students began the project by studying the original 450page manuscript written by Disch. According to Andrew Thompson, DTC major and the project’s manager, most of

“No one can ever tell me that [the program is] not turning out thinkers, scholars. [They are] doing important work in media history, cultural history, literary history, art history.” - Dene Grigar

JANUARY 2022

Students a part of the promotions team for Amnesia: Restored, Sydney Brower and Caitlin McBride, discuss the project moments before presenting. (Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)

the written content was not included in the original game due to EA’s insuﬃcient budget, therefore, students had to sift through existing material and choose elements that were critical to Amnesia’s plot. “The game had enough content to fit on six floppy disks, but they only published two because they didn’t have the budget to release that much.… Our job was to take the game and modernize it in some way so we can now release it for a public audience once again,” Thompson said. “And how we did that was up to us. So that’s when the class started.” Thompson said he and his peers worked around 20 to 25 hours per week, and had accumulated 6,300 hours collectively, with a dedicated 1,700 hours from the six-person game development team. Alongside their achievements in media history studies and game design, students also said it encouraged them to refine their communication and teamwork skills.

“You can teach design skills easier than you can teach people skills. Learning how to take feedback and give feedback without getting your feelings hurt and communicating was really vital for a work environment,” said Ceenan Calzadilla, a member of the web development team. After completing the project, students obtained professional experience by presenting the game to a board of clients. Grigar said the DTC program has a 90% placement rate, as some students are graduating with jobs already setin-stone, largely because of the capstone course’s overall success. “I have seven students leaving the semester with jobs in hand before graduation day – before grades are even in,” Grigar said. The DTC program's restoration of Amnesia is available on their website at www.amnesia-restored.com. While the game’s project has come to a close, stay tuned for the Spring 2022 project as graduating seniors work on restoring another classic video game.

12 JANUARY 2021

ON THE RECORD: To p 3 v i n y l s h o p s i n t h e P o r t l a n d m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a

Olivia Eldredge | Managing Editor The love for cueing up a turntable and putting on your favorite vinyl has come back in full force for many music enthusiasts looking to appreciate all recorded genres in their oldest forms. Whether you choose to buy records for their authentic sound quality or vintage appearance, The VanCougar presents a list of the best record stores for both beginners and experienced shoppers that reside in Portland and Vancouver.

Little Axe Records Little Axe Records is a hidden gem among Portland record shops. Both an establishment and record label, Little Axe reissues vinyl pressings of international music. Thus, visitors are sure to find records sourced from many different parts of the world; something not too many other shops can offer. Most notably, they also provide an African record subscription, spanning from a one-time record purchase to a recurring shipment throughout the year. According to their website, the store has many 1970s and 1980s African records available with genres ranging from highlife, fuji, juju, soukous and more. You never know what you may find when walking into Little Axe. From your favorite Grateful Dead album to obscure 1960s movie soundtracks, this store is filled to the brim with a truly unique selection of fairly priced records and cassette tapes. Little Axe Records can be found in Portland by the Hollywood Theatre at 4142 NE Sandy Blvd., and is open every day from 12 to 7 p.m.

Music Millennium Holding a well-known reputation in Portland, Music Millennium has one of the largest vinyl selections the city has to offer. Compared to other shops, it carries a wide variety of music in multiple forms. The shop also hosts occasional artist performances, which can be found via a schedule on their website or their Instagram account, @musicmillennium. Next time you take a trip into Portland, you can visit the store on the corner of 3158 E. Burnside and 32nd Street Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Records lined up on Music Millennium's "oldies" wall. (Emily Baumann/ The VanCougar).

1709 Records Vancouver is packed with music-based establishments, but is considerably lacking in the record store scene when compared to the Portland area. However, 1709 Records, a quaint shop located downtown, contains classic rock albums, alongside new releases and rare finds. In addition to being one of Vancouver’s best small businesses, the owners will often post on their social media, @1709records, any additions that make their way into the store’s collection. Being the location that sits closest to campus, 1709 Records is located at 1709 Broadway Street. The store is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m., and closed Monday and Tuesday.

Plants and record bins in the front shop window of Little Axe Records. (Emily Baumann/ The VanCougar)

Whether you are new to collecting records or an experienced audiophile, we highly encourage readers to explore these record stores, where you might find something truly special.

JANUARY 2022

Professor Desiree Hellegers discusses the stark reality of homelessness Arabelle May | Reporter

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, the life expectancy of a person experiencing homelessness in America is 50 years, in contrast to the average life expectancy of 70 years. While issues of homelessness continue to remain present throughout the country, specifically in Clark County, one professor questions why community members ignore the possibility of facing this reality themselves. Two years after her father died and being kicked out of her home, English Professor Desiree Hellegers had what she calls a very brief and privileged experience with homelessness alongside her sister. “We were working on campus at Georgetown [University]. We spent a good part of this summer dodging security guards, trying to look like we weren't houseless and sleeping in dorms that were being painted,” Hellegers said. “Thankfully, we had jobs at a gym that allowed us to shower there. And I think, if we'd been People of Color, we would have gotten hassled a lot more by security.… But, you know, being white and on a college campus, we are able to more or less blend in.” When understanding who is affected most by homelessness, Hellegers says racial and gender marginalization are important aspects to consider when confronting the issue. As reported by Clark County’s Council for the Homeless, in 2019, 23% of the overall homeless population identified as People of Color, a trend reflective of income inequality that continues to increase year after year. While homelessness is an unresolved issue, Hellegers says it remains largely ignored by the middle class.

When discussing homelessness, it is often in a quantitative manner, rather than viewed through a human-focused lens. Listening to real-life stories from people living on the streets is one of the main reasons Hellegers became interested in homelessness as a human rights issue. “Statistics don't really capture the enormity of the suffering. You have to hear the stories. And so I'm really glad to see that there's a lot more people having control over their own stories,” Hellegers said. Additionally, homelessness is something everyone has encountered, whether that be through the passing of a tent on the sidewalk or becoming houseless. Now that the COVID-19 eviction moratorium has oﬃcially ended, more people may be subject to the likelihood of homelessness and financial stress. “I get concerned about our students… the level of stress that they're having to bear by being exposed every day to seeing other people who are out on the street. So when you're on that threshold, and you see the way that houseless people are abandoned, despite the really important work that so many nonprofits and mutual aid groups are doing, it's psychologically stressful for all of us in ways that we don't think or talk enough about,” Hellegers said. Some organizations, like the Women’s Housing Equality and Enhancement League in Seattle and Dignity Village in Portland, work with models of democratic governance, or self-governance, to provide self-managed shelters without depending on the influence of local authorities.

JANUARY 2022

“Democratic governance works so that you have some say over the circumstances of your own housing, and you're living in a situation that respects the autonomy and the dignity of houseless people… tent cities are a really important model for dealing with houselessness. They promote self-governance and autonomy and dignity in ways that shelters sometimes don't,” Hellegers said. As for future proposals Clark County has set in place, on Dec. 15, Governor Jay Inslee announced an $815 million plan, allocating funds to fight homelessness in Washington state. A portion of the budget will go towards expanding facilities like tiny homes, enhanced shelters and permanent affordable housing. Additionally, a sum of the budget will go towards resources for cleanup programs, preventing evictions, expanding treatment beds for chronic behavioral health conditions and more. There is certainly some hope to be had in the state’s spending plan to support people who are homeless. However, as those plans unfold and actions occur throughout the year, Hellegers urges people to get involved by volunteering, donating and paying attention to what government oﬃcials are doing to support houseless people who are a part of our community.

Having experienced homelessness herself, English Professor Desiree Hellegers urges others to get involved and care for people in need around the Clark County community. (Photo courtesy of The Columbian)

“We were working on campus at Georgetown [University]. We spent a good part of this summer dodging security guards, trying to look like we weren't houseless and sleeping in dorms that were being painted.” - Desiree Hellegers

JANUARY 2022

THE FILM FEED

Most anticipate d mov ies o Andrew Ripley-Suiter | Reporter f 2022

2021 brought many memorable films, with some of the biggest charting box oﬃce numbers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 is anticipated to feature just as many notable projects, both blockbuster and cult hits alike. From big Marvel movies to visionary thrillers, this year’s release lineup has something for everyone.

The Batma n (March 4) Director Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” has the superhero stalking the streets once again, looking to combat crime when opportunity strikes. With Robert Pattinson behind the mask, and the resurgence of iconic ‘90s villains such as The Riddler and The Penguin, action-packed scenes are bound to occur as Batman pursues a serial killer who targets the elite citizens in Gotham City.

The North

man (A pril 22)

S e p t. 2 3)

The foretold ensemble of Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling” is enough to get giddy for the fall crime-drama season. Starring Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine and Gemma Chan; this 1950s mystery tells the narrative of a housewife living in a utopian society who suspects her husband may be hiding insidious secrets within his glamorous company. Details should emerge more in the late spring, but buzz behind Olivia Wilde’s second film has already gathered a cult following, nine months before its release.

cross the Spid eran: A M Ve er d i rs Sp e

Details for Robert Eggers’ third feature-length film are slim, however, after the massive reception of “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse,” Eggers “The Northman” focuses on a story set in Iceland centering around a Nordic prince seeking revenge for the death of his father in the 10th century. With an all-star cast including Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe, Ethan Hawke, Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgård, this film is sure to deliver an epic Viking story with Eggers’ signature visuals of grim storytelling.

Don’t Worr y Dar ling (

O ne The animated “Into the Spider-Verse” was (Oct. 7) one of the biggest surprises of 2018, taking home an Academy Award for best-animated feature. Returning to the same stylistic animation with a bigger cast of Spider-men, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - Part One” continues Miles Morales’ (Shameik Moore) journey as Spider-Man in company with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) as Spider-Woman. The sequel is set to expand the multiverse while bringing back original voice actors and weaving in new characters such as Miguel O’Hara - the futuristic Spiderman 2099 - voiced by Oscar Isaac.

Despite the lack of insight on fall and winter films appearing through nothing more than teaser trailers, the hype for 2022’s movie lineup is more than enough to get cinema lovers through those months of anticipation. While some of these films may not be granted a theatrical release, they are likely to become shoo-ins for Academy Award favorites, and accomplish another big year for the film industry.

JANUARY 2022

COUGAR BITES: A guide to Cheese and Crack's ultimate snack shop

Serving up a variety of cheese platters and soft serve ice cream, visiting this brick-and-mortar should be on everyone’s Portland bucket list.

Emily Baumann | Editor-in-Chief Cheese and Crack is a southeast storefront, never failing to capture the attention of Portland foodies and social media influencers. Getting its start as a food cart in 2012, their current establishment is flourishing into a popular spot selected by tourists and locals looking to enjoy cheese platters, sandwiches, mac and cheese and the restaurant’s one-of-a-kind soft serve ice cream. While the shop offers a plethora of items to snack on, The VanCougar recommends checking out these hand-picked favorites to get the most out of your visit.

ticular fan-favorite, the Beecher’s Flagship Cheddar and Brie Brûlée, contains cuts of brie cheese torched to a golden brown consistency with melted sugar on top, providing the perfect contrast of salty and sugary flavors. Regular platters range from $13 to $23, and meats like Molinari salami or capicola can be added at an additional cost. With all things considered, these cheese and cracker boxes create an opportunity to share both a delectable afternoon, or midnight snack, with a friend or family member.

Cheese and Cracker Boxes $$$

When it comes to comfort food, nothing is better than eating superb macaroni and cheese on a rainy day. Luckily, one of Cheese and Crack’s specialties is a rich and creamy dream. Layered in saucy white cheese and garnished in confit garlic, this unique recipe stands out among other Portland pasta. To make this meal extra memorable, we recommend treating the macaroni and cheese as a spread on crunchy baguette slices. While their macaroni and cheese is on the pricier side at $11, Cheese and Crack serves decent portions, making it a perfect menu item to eat in one go, or save for next day’s leftovers.

The shop’s signature cheese platters feature a wide variety of treats, all carefully displayed in an Instagram-ready fashion. Each platter includes house-made butter crackers and oatmeal cookies, a baguette, olives and cornichons. They also offer several spreads including chocolate ganache, dijon and honey mustard. One par-

Macaroni and Cheese $$

Soft Serve Ice Cream $ Ending with an absolute showstopper, the last item we recommend is Cheese and Crack’s ice cream. Known for making some of the city’s best soft serve cones and sundaes, the shop carries a multitude of distinctive and classic flavors ranging from matcha powder and beet dust to plain vanilla and strawberry flavors. Alongside a smooth coating and airy texture, all servings come with a charming surprise of a chocolate ganache filling inside each cone. To top it off, one heaping scoop of quality ice cream costs $4, a modest price considering all it has to offer. Cheese and Crack is located on Southeast 28th Ave., and open every day from 3 to 10 p.m. There are numerous places to visit when seeking out new adventures within Portland’s massive food hub, however, this shop is rapidly becoming a well-known stop for all those wanting to try something either sweet or savory.

January m a r k yo u r c a l e n da r . . . MON.

10 FRI.

14 SAT.

First day of spring semester

MON.

Movie Night, "Soul" Firstenburg Student Commons 6 — 9 p.m.

Silent Voices Firstenburg Student Commons, room 104 10 — 11 a.m. FRI.

Snow on WSU Vancouver campus. (Laura Dutelle/WSU Vancouver)

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Campus closed Re-Imagined Radio, "Figurski at Findhorn on Acid" Listen on KXRW-FM 1 — 2 p.m.

Mount Bachelor Trip Departure at 3 p.m. — returns Jan. 30 at 9 p.m.

Next issue on stands Feb. 7

JANUARY 2022