FEBRUARY, VOL. 32 ISSUE 7
Sharing the classroom
with
COVID PG. 4
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
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Alexis Schole
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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Mission The VanCougar, a student-run newsmagazine, informs and engages the WSU Vancouver community while practicing the highest standards of timely, ethical journalism.
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The VanCougar is a source of honest, factual information. If you see an error, we want to address it. Please contact the editor-in-chief at van.vc.editor@wsu.edu for corrections.
on the cover After an outbreak of COVID-19 infections occurred at WSU Vancouver, Artemis Asbury, a senior English major, explained their frustration and uncertainty over the looming virus on campus. (Rowan Segura/The VanCougar)
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COVID’s SEAT IN THE CLASSROOM opinion: textbooks are ripping off students Black history month resources Ernst-slavit on multilingual classrooms
Gisela Ernst-Slavit, professor of education and English language learners. (Rowan Segura/The VanCougar)
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Higher education relief fund Expires for students the film feed: The power of the dog Cougar bites: best chocolate shops
Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank in “The Power Of The Dog.” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
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An assortment of Creo’s chocolate. (Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)
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FEBRUARY 2022
COVID’s
SEAT IN THE CLASSROOM
With a rise in COVID-19 cases occurring at the beginning of spring term, students are adamantly voicing concerns regarding in-person instruction. Emily Baumann | Editor-in-Chief The first week of spring term is usually met with smiling faces, intriguing classes and lively conversations between students eager to finish off the academic year. However, once WSU Vancouver opened its doors on Jan. 10, the campus was met with an abrupt wake-up call. A spike of COVID-19 cases had been on the rise in Clark County since late December, largely due to the omicron variant. When returning to campus from winter break, the weeks that followed left classroom seats empty and anxiety-ridden students at home, pushing them to analyze WSU’s administration under a microscope. Artemis Asbury, a senior English major, said at first they were comfortable returning for the spring term based on the lack of viral transmission last fall. However, within days, Asbury started experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and was forced to miss class. “My experience has not been great. [The third day of spring term] was the first day that I was absent from classes. Neither of my classes that day had a Zoom option. So, I just completed the coursework from home and emailed my professor if I had any questions, which was fine by me,” Asbury said. “But then Thursday, both my classes had a join-by-Zoom option. So, I tried to do that, but they were having severe audio issues.” Many students thrive in a face-toface learning environment, however, several had expressed concerns over omicron’s high rate of transmission, as well as the lack of social distancing in classrooms.
Daniel Arreola, a senior and humanities major, said he is frustrated with the lack of hybrid options the campus currently offers, and is fearful of getting COVID-19 from attending in-person classes. “It’s just so strange to me that we don’t even have the option to do more online [classes] if we wanted to.… If we’re having to do all of these steps and numbers are still rising, wouldn’t it be safer to go back to online for a little while?” Arreola said. “I understand that it is better for many people to attend class in person. But when we’re talking about the issues of safety, if we were able to bite the bullet in quarantine for another term, we might be better in the long run. How much longer are we dragging things out just to see the numbers rise?” As of now, Washington state does not require fully vaccinated institutions of higher education to implement social distancing on campus. Still, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests social distancing for unvaccinated or immunocompromised individuals. With concerns looming over rising COVID-19 cases, integrated strategic communication professor, Michael LeVan, said he structured his classes to prepare for the surge. While he believes students need face-to-face interaction, providing asynchronous work options within Canvas, Perusall and PackBack were the key essentials to keeping his classes successfully flexible.
“If we were able to bite the bullet in quarantine for another term, we might be better in the long run. How much longer are we dragging things out just to see the numbers rise?”
- DANIEL ARREOLA
“I try to set things up in advance so that it’s easily adaptable. I rely on a lot of stuff built into instructional technology; in such a way my classes would be virtually unchanged if we went remote. We would just
FEBRUARY 2022 be in breakout rooms on Zoom instead of discussion groups,” LeVan said. In response to increased absences occurring systemwide, WSU released an email on Jan. 18 to all students and faculty, encouraging “professors and supervisors to practice leniency with students and employees who are absent due to illness.” WSU Vancouver’s chancellor, Mel Netzhammer, explained that while students are expected to call WSU Pullman’s Environmental Health and Safety office in the event of receiving a positive test, the current COVID-19 cases posted on WSU’s website are an underrepresentation of WSU Vancouver’s case count due to lack of student reporting. Students can view the current case count for their campus by visiting wsu.edu/covid-19/covid-cases/. Additionally, he said faculty have reported a 5 to 10% drop in attendance. “[We encourage] faculty to be more lenient to work with the students in their classes. I think this is a hugely important point, because where I’m hearing anxiety from students is less about being back face-to-face, and more about the accommodations if they have to miss class,” Netzhammer said. “We’ve had to work with faculty on creating a culture that says, ‘we’re all responsible adults, we want our students to behave responsibly. If they tell you they need to miss class because they can’t get into campus, then we need you to work with them and honor that.’”
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In order to provide the necessary tools for WSU Vancouver to safely move forward during the semester, Netzhammer said 4,000 N95 masks are currently available to students on campus. These masks can be found in the Cougar Center, Office of Student Involvement, Public Safety, the library and the Environmental Health and Safety office. Furthermore, the Associated Students of WSU Vancouver have partnered with the Vancouver Clinic to supply free testing to students on campus. Appointments can be made through the Student Wellness Center by calling (360)546-9238 or emailing at van.health@wsu.edu. Overall, the biggest concern from students, staff and faculty is facing the strenuous two-year battle of adapting to constant life changes influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of differing opinions on whether the university should continue its face-to-face instruction, students will continue to voice their beliefs, needs and concerns in hopes the administration will listen. Editor’s Note: As of now, Clark County is on a downward slope of COVID-19 cases with 1,668 cases being reported on Feb. 2 in contrast to 2,553 cases reported on Jan. 28, according to The New York Times.
Daniel Arreola, a senior and humanities major, said he believes students should have the option to attend hybrid classes amidst the spike of COVID-19 cases on campus. (Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)
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FEBRUARY 2022
Opinion |
How textbooks are ripping off students Bethanie Collette | Reporter Students are becoming drained while trying to accumulate enough money for course materials. The average cost of textbooks at WSU Vancouver ranges from $500 to $1,000 annually. Including the cost of in-state tuition, those paying out of pocket are expected to dish out around $12,000 for their education each year. Furthermore, one survey conducted by the Education Data Initiative reported in 2020, nearly 66% of students avoided purchasing textbooks due to steep prices. When considering these statistics, one must beg the question: How can students be expected to succeed in their courses when they have to sacrifice their time, and sometimes, their entire paycheck to purchase required textbooks? Digital textbooks and e-books could offer refuge from increased prices, as printed books disappear. However, to students’ surprise, the alternative piece of paper that acts as a digital access code costs the same, if not more, than physical textbooks. On average, a digital access code costs around $100, according to The Atlantic. Unlike physical texts, students cannot resell or reuse them, disabling the second-hand market. However, most e-books
offer additional services, such as integrated homework, note-taking and study tools. But are these features enough to support the high price for access to a URL? Digital books exclusively available online can also pose accessibility issues for many students. According to the Open Textbook Alliance, a nationwide student-led Public Interest Research Group, 10% of students report having unreliable internet access. Moreover, 30% report not purchasing a digital textbook access code and 8% of students fail a class due to the lack of affordability of course materials. In case you were wondering who the culprits are for the evolving markup monopoly, most of the textbook market is controlled by only a few publishing houses. This includes businesses such as Barnes & Noble College, McGraw Hill, Cengage and others, as attested by Bloomberg Law. Because the market is controlled by only a handful of companies, publishers get to change their pricing at will due to lack of competition, therefore, creating an opportunity for price gouging. The Washington Post says one of the most common strategies implemented by publishers to keep prices high is by printing new editions of textbooks. Material usually changes between editions, resulting in a misalignment with existing lesson plans. Thus, students are at the mercy of publishers, who mark up costs by an average of 12% with each new edition, making the second-hand textbook market less attainable, according to the Open Textbook Alliance. As reported by the American Enterprise Institute, many professors adapt their courses around a textbook. Luckily, some are willing to make accessible changes. Many WSU Vancouver professors are starting to promote open-access course materials, or have no required text at all. Not only are their textbooks available for free online, but professors can order physical versions to the bookstore that cost around $30 rather than $80 to $150 through nonprofits such as OpenStax. Also, sites like slugbooks.com, textbookrush. com and chegg.com attempt to end the current publishing monopoly by offering low-cost or free versions of textbooks. Rising college textbook costs further the idea that higher education is not meant to be widely accessible, and is inherently classist. The fact that students have to do additional research when hacking their way to a more affordable college experience is disheartening, considering the outrageous costs of a four-year university. Nevertheless, students’ dismay have made open-access texts a reality, and as they continue to outsmart the system of exploitative pricing, there is potential to create a cheaper market for everyone.
FEBRUARY 2022
Events to celebrate
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Heritage and History Month Events The Smithsonian’s Heritage and History Month Events series centers around Black history, and is available virtually for participants to enjoy “vibrant performances, lectures and family activities that celebrate our nation’s rich cultural heritage and help us understand our shared history.” The February events can be found at www.si.edu/events/heritagemonth.
Olivia Eldredge | Managing Editor The Social Hour Black History Month is a special opportunity to highlight the vital presence and achievements of Black Americans and People of Color across the country. Taking the time to get educated, involved in and honor Black history is something we should be doing consistently, but especially during February. The theme for 2022’s Black History Month will center its focus on Black Health and Wellness, according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. With this in mind, students, staff and faculty should take advantage of these virtual and in-person events happening in and around the WSU Vancouver community.
Black History Month Virtual Festival
Held online by ASALH all month long, the Black History Month Virtual Festival will hold author book talks, panels and guest speakers who will discuss accomplishments of Black health professionals’ impact on the health and wellbeing of People of Color. A schedule of events can be found at asalh.org/festival/.
Both an event and resource hosted by WSU Vancouver Support and Empowerment for Employees of Color Association, The Social Hour holds a space to “connect, celebrate and just be.” Contact Obie Ford III for details through his email, obie3. ford@wsu.edu. The event will be held on Zoom from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., on Feb. 11.
Cultural Arts and Equity Hip-Hop Series
The Cultural Arts and Equity Hip-Hop Series will host Silver Chalice, also known as Tazha, the Diviner. Chalice is an Afro-Indigenous, queer/nonbinary artist, designer, performer and culture worker, who will speak about their work as, “an ode to the narratives of their creative and resilient ancestors that explores identity, healing and liberation for marginalized folks at all intersections.” Held on Zoom (Meeting ID: 952 9906 0926, passcode: 234613), and VDEN 110, Feb. 25 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
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FEBRUARY 2022
FINDING
SUCCESS in multilingual classrooms Gisela Ernst-Slavit, professor of education and English language learners, discusses how educators can support multilingual students by focusing on their unique attributes that bring a classroom to life.
Arabelle May | Reporter Bilingual students are prominent within WSU Vancouver’s community, and supporting different methods of communication is an essential tactic professors will need to include within daily lesson plans. While navigating various cultures within instruction can pose a challenge, professor of education and English language learners, Gisela Ernst-Slavit, believes understanding one another has a profound effect in and out of the classroom. While growing up in Perú and speaking mostly Spanish and German at home, Ernst-Slavit later learned English in school. Different languages and cultures have been part of her life from the start, and coming from a bilingual and bicultural home is partly what influenced her transition into researching multilingual education. Earning a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology, a master’s degree in multicultural education and a doctorate in multilingual education, Ernst-Slavit began to discover the impacts language had within early childhood education. “When I was working as a clinical psychologist, I realized that a lot of the issues that children were experiencing were about context, about the community in which the child was growing up in…. Then, I came to the States… and realized the number of immigrant children there. [I became] interested in working at that level, to pursue more of a socio-anthropological perspective on education,” Ernst-Slavit said. According to WSU Vancouver’s “Tips to Create a Classroom
or Workplace of Equity, Inclusion and Empathy,” professors should create an intercultural development plan, expand their network and develop authentic relationships with people from other backgrounds. In the contest of multilingual classrooms, Ernst-Slavit says the first step in creating an intercultural development plan is understanding students’ needs and their differences. “Classrooms are diverse. So, as educators, everything we do has to deal with differentiation. That means that our students are all coming with different strengths and needs. We cannot just have a one-size-fits-all curriculum,” Ernst-Slavit said. Encouraging students to explore alternate methods of communication helps expand their strengths by learning from their peers. Interactive group work and a variety of choices for assignments are two ways Ernst-Slavit encourages inclusivity in her classroom. She says she takes the approach of placing herself as a “team player” next to her students, and encourages them to do the same with each other. “I always tell my students that they might learn something from me and from the materials, but they will learn mostly from interacting with their peers. So I see my role, not as the sage on the stage, but the guide on the side,” Ernst-Slavit said. How people wield and understand language is often subconscious, yet, Ernst-Slavit says how language is utilized in the context of education is one of the most important things for
FEBRUARY 2022
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educators to keep in mind. Simply changing the wording in a textbook to reflect historical accuracy, and being more conscious about your choice of words, are some of the ways students can learn about multilingual-related social and political issues. To address these obstacles in the classroom, Ernst-Slavit says she makes sure to use inclusive language, and to shift focus toward what students can learn from diverse perspectives both from one another, and the curriculum. Additionally, adding language-based demographic information to WSU Vancouver’s student statistics may have some benefits, but only if the charts reflect what students bring to the table, rather than what they lack. According to Ernst-Slavit, if the university adds language demographic statistics to their website, they should be built upon how many students speak multiple languages, what those languages are and students’ proficiency in those languages. In turn, attention is brought to the valuable cultural diversity students bring to campus. “Schools often focus on what students lack and what they need, and we forget to focus on what students bring: their gifts, their talents, their uniqueness. That is an important piece in the way I teach,” Ernst-Slavit said. “We’re privileged to be in a university college setting because we can explore issues with a level of authenticity and honesty that sometimes cannot be explored elsewhere. [We can understand] the power of language.”
Professor of education and English language learners, Gisela Ernst-Slavit, discusses how to bring inclusivity into the classroom. (Rowan Segura/The VanCougar)
“CLASSROOMS ARE DIVERSE. SO, AS EDUCATORS, EVERYTHING WE DO HAS TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENTIATION. THAT MEANS THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ALL COMING WITH DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND NEEDS. WE CANNOT JUST HAVE A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL CURRICULUM.”
- Ernst-Slavit
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FEBRUARY 2022
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Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund expires for students As Congress failed to pass a fourth act of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund created on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, WSU Vancouver hopes to find other avenues to make up for students’ lost financial aid. Andrew Ripley-Suiter | Reporter The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund has ceased its distribution of funds to students for the 2022 spring term. The fund began allocating emergency money to students experiencing COVID-19 hardships in fall of 2020, and ran for three consecutive semesters during the pandemic’s initial duration. Students were warned of the potential termination of their emergency funds via an email sent by WSU in August, but now, a large sum of gifted relief is missing for students.
“Overall, [WSU] gave over $50 million to over 35,000 awards. That does mean some students got more than one [grant]. For WSU Vancouver, we awarded over $8.2 million to over 5,400 [students],” Xiong said.
With the fall 2020 term being the first remote semester for many colleges across the country, the response from Congress was to create a fund to assist the students of America. As the pandemic surged through campuses for the entirety of 2021, the funds continued, with a new act passed every semester.
“At Student Affairs and Enrollment, their team is very vigorous in applying for grants and applying for dollars that are available for students, and trying to find ways to create different kinds of relief,” Xiong said.
“These funds were granted to WSU as part of relief acts due to the pandemic. So, Congress passed legislation— these acts— to provide national relief. As part of those acts, higher education was one of the areas that received funding,” said Diane Xiong, WSU Vancouver’s director of budget and accounting. The emergency funds allocated to WSU came from three different acts, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan. The first two acts allocated $10.88 million each to WSU for student-relief funding, while the final act allocated $31.1 million, according to the WSU Student Care Network. Roughly 16% of these emergency funds were distributed to WSU Vancouver. Diane Xiong, WSU Vancouver’s director of budget and accounting, explains how WSU Vancouver is helping students in the absence of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. (Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)
While Congress failed to pass a fourth act before the spring semester, the financial services office, Xiong says, has been hard at work to make funds available for students who need them.
According to Domanic Thomas, the vice chancellor of student affairs and enrollment, the university has applied for a Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness grant, which allocates $186,000 in programs, staffing and emergency funding support. On top of that, Thomas says the school is attempting to centralize resources, such as childcare subsidies and the food pantry, to assist students outside the classroom. For students looking for more information, Xiong and the financial services team recommend visiting the financial aid office to ask questions about receiving additional aid. Students can also visit WSU’s financial aid website to seek information on aid and relief, as well as apply for scholarships through general applications. Jenny Chambers-Taube, vice chancellor for finance and operations, encourages students to reach out at any time if they need assistance. “Please let us know if you need help. We do everything we can to help be responsive and to provide information you need. Please don’t be afraid to reach out and let us know what’s happening. We’re here for your success and we’ll always try to find a solution,” Chambers-Taube said. Even with the pause in funding, financial struggles have certainly not stopped for many students. Although federal emergency funds are no longer allocating money to students, the financial services team may provide options to students who still need help in the absence of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund assistance.
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FEBRUARY 2022
THE FILM FEED
t i o n a l k n o c ko u t A direc with in ‘ Th Telling a story of kindness, sexuality, eP introspection and family, Director Jane Campion ow er reclaims her power within “The Power of the Dog.” of t he D Andrew Ripley-Suiter | Reporter og’ Properly evaluating a film’s worth is difficult enough— but when considering countless genres and target audiences, it becomes trickier to decide which films tell their stories effectively. In 2021, very few films reached the high standards set by Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog.” When analyzing this film from the primary pillars of movie-watching enjoyment, including story, cast, sights and sounds, the impact is alive and evident.
eyes, every shared moment between them feels like an eruption of gripping drama waiting to be uncovered. The collective success of the cast is not the most impressive ensemble of 2021, but the lights-out performances across the board are an incredible achievement.
Story
Simply put, this film looks stunning. The New Zealand landscape is beautifully minimalist, yet successfully represents the Montana countryside. Despite being on opposite sides of the world, the hillside that lies beyond the rustic ranch is stunning, and effectively captures the ambiance of a classic western.
Adapted from Thomas Savage’s 1967 novel, “The Power of the Dog” is a psychological revival of the western genre. It follows hard-headed cowboy, Phil Burbank, as his brother, George Burbank, intertwines his new wife and her son into the family ranch. In a marvelous tale of cruelty and emotion, the story is split into five chapters, recounting the events of their relationships. The mark of a great story includes many different factors: the script, methods of storytelling and the ability to engage audiences. While the actual dialogue may not be the most profound piece of philosophical excellence, what is said in between the lines is a focal point within Campion’s directing.
Sights and Sounds
Another strength incorporated in the storytelling is the score elevated within each act. The sound mixing is spare, as there are not many instances of dramatic shifts between scenes. However, the simple score perfectly supports the tone throughout the film, doing just what it needs to at the right moment.
The strength of its storytelling lies in unspoken words. Visuals that enhance “The Power of the Dog’s” plot and powerful facial expressions delivered by the cast solidify this film not only as a brilliant watch, but as a captivating rewatch too.
Cast Campion’s return to feature-length filmmaking since 2009 is a breathtaking one. But despite her anticipated reunion within the industry, success for the film would be impossible without the ensemble that brought her adaptation to life. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the lead man, Phil Burbank, and the character serves as an influential figure. His eyes and attitude perfectly fill silent gaps, and set the mood of the dialogue, capturing every scene in one of his best performances to date. The on-screen tension between Kirsten Dunst as Rose Gordon and Cumberbatch is masterfully convincing. Be it through the tremor in the face of Gordon or the disgust in Phil Burbank’s
Phil Burbank, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, and Peter, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee. (Photo courtesy of Netflix) The consensus opinion on “The Power of the Dog” seems to be critical of its burning pace – after all, it is a slow-building drama. Nevertheless, the movie walked away with three Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor and Best Director. “The Power of the Dog” is currently available to watch in theaters or stream on Netflix. As the film is sure to be a heavy contender for the Academy Award nominations announced on Feb. 8, this psychological drama is one you will not want to miss.
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COUGAR BITES: For the love of chocolate The VanCougar introduces three lovely chocolate shops that we guarantee will sweep you off your feet. Emily Baumann | Editor-in-Chief Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and whether you celebrate by sulking over cheesy rom-coms, or spending time with a significant other, chocolate is a must-have treat for every occasion. With extensive flavors and an aroma of sweet, buttery, melting cocoa, this refined dessert is a great go-to for anyone looking to spend the holiday with a night in. From classic truffles to high-end candy bars, here is a list of the best chocolates shops in the Portland metropolitan area.
Moonstruck Chocolate
Handcrafting chocolate since 1993, Moonstruck’s store is housed on 608 SW. Alder St., welcoming guests with glass shelves loaded with various chocolate sweets. Moonstruck sells items ranging from standard chocolate bars to decorative truffles. Not only does the shop sell bars with artistic etchings of their man-on-the-moon logo and cityscapes, but it also offers an impressive array of flavors. Our personal favorite is their Milk Chocolate Cinnamon bar consisting of roasted almonds, vanilla and a dash of cinnamon spice. As far as cost, Moonstruck lands at the expensive end of the spectrum, but still compares fairly against other gourmet chocolate, pricing each bar at $4 and some boxes of truffles at $12.50. Despite being 29 minutes from campus, chocolate from Moonstruck is guaranteed to add a touch of magic to any Valentine’s Day festivities.
See’s Candies
This old-school candy chain might be the most recognizable name on this list for Vancouver residents. Located 16 minutes away from campus, See’s sits on the second story of the Vancouver Mall. Established in 1921, See’s chocolates continue to serve only the classics of regular milk, dark and extra dark chocolate. However, it is especially convenient for gift-givers, as See’s supplies many Valentine’s Day assortments costing as low as $10, and even allows customers to create their own box of chocolates. Regarding taste, See’s chocolate can satisfy the average customer, but it is subpar compared to other gourmet chocolate because of its overall chewy and bland consistency. Nonetheless, if you want to up your game from regular store-bought candy, we recommend starting at See’s. Valentine’s Day can be enjoyed with friends, family, significant others or even just yourself. In any case, no matter who you choose to spend it with, chocolate is always a palatable dessert that will make this national holiday of love worth celebrating.
Creo Chocolate
After several years of experimenting with various recipes and roasting cocoa beans, Creo Chocolate opened its workshop on the corner of 122 NE Broadway eight years ago, ready to share its small batches of specialty sweets. Creo sources its ingredients directly from small farmers, and uses them to create many truffles and bars to sample from, with flavors ranging from dark-toasted coconut to lemon pie white chocolate. The VanCougar recommends trying their Whiskey Milk Chocolate bar for a slightly sweet dark chocolate infused with bitter malt whiskey. Creo’s is the priciest out of all three stores, marking its bars and small boxes of truffles from $9.50 to $12. Being another Portland location, the shop is a 23-minute drive from campus. However, Creo’s ranks high on the bar for taste, so for those wanting an unforgettable experience, this is the place for you.
The Milk Chocolate Cinnamon bar from Moonstruck. (Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)
February m a r k yo u r c a l e n da r . . .
FRI.
9 SAT.
12 MON.
14 WED.
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WSU Visiting Writers Series: Natalie Diaz 6 — 7 p.m. Via YouTube
Timberline Skiing and Snowboarding
WED.
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Leading the Human Side of Change 9:30. — 10:30 a.m Via Zoom
7 a.m. — 7 p.m. Contact the Office of Student Involvement via email at van.osirec@wsu.edu to register.
SAT.
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Valentine’s Day
SUN.
Vancouver Regional Career and Internship Fair
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Trillium Lake Snowshoeing 7 a.m. — 7 p.m. Contact the Office of Student Involvement via email at van.osirec@wsu.edu to register.
Rock Climbing at the Source 6 — 9 p.m.
1 — 4 p.m. Firstenburg Student Commons
Next issue on stands March 7