September 19, 2016
TheVanCougar.com
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Issue III
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Volume XXVII
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First Copy Free
Getting to know WSU's new student regent Daniyelyan is first enrolled VanCoug appointed to statewide board By: Savanna Ford The new Student Regent for the Washington State University Board of Regents has a unique line on his resume: he graduated from Washington State University Vancouver. As an undergraduate, Narek Daniyelyan first served as the vice president for ASWSUV, an experience he credits for growing his interest in leadership and governance. His devotion to the WSU name and its students is enthusiastic, and he hopes to conduct himself in a professional and service-oriented manner. Daniyelyan is currently a graduate student at WSU Vancouver working toward a master’s degree. The VanCougar recently had a chance to talk with Daniyelyan, who offered some personal perspective on what he hopes to accomplish in the coming year: Savanna Ford (SF): You are the first student regent to be selected from the Vancouver campus. Can you tell us about the process of selection and how you came to be the best pick for the job this year? Narek Daniyelyan (ND): The Student Regent is selected by the Student Regent Hiring Committee and appointed by the governor of Washington. In order to be considered for appointment, WSU students from any of the four campuses and Global Campus must complete all application materials and be one of the candidates selected to be forwarded to the gover-
nor’s office. Candidates are selected to move forward by ASWSU members from all campuses based on application materials and an interview. The committee typically selects three candidates to be moved forward to the governor’s office. The governor’s office has their own application and interview process. While the committee may have different reasons for selecting me, the reason I applied for the position is because I wanted to represent all students and felt like my personal, professional and educational background made me a strong candidate. WSU has a diverse student population from many different walks of life and when decisions are made that impact students, it is important to keep all students in mind and not just the perceived norm or majority. I have a strong commitment to student service, creating access for students and removing barriers for students and I tried to emphasize that during the selection process. SF: What are some of the responsibilities that you hold as the regent? ND: The Board of Regents is the governing body that supervises, coordinates, manages and regulates the entire WSU system. The board is made up of a total of 10 members and I am the only student member on the board. My role as the Student Regent is to not only actively participate in everything the board does, but also provide a student perspec-
tive or student lens on the matters up for discussion or decision. Some of the things I try to keep in mind during the meetings is an awareness of how or if the topic at hand is benefiting students. I also like to think about whether all demographics of students are being taken into consideration. SF: What are you hoping to accomplish in your position? ND: I would like to accomplish three key goals as Student Regent: visit and meet with students at every campus, represent the student voice at all meetings [and] learn the position well enough to establish long term goals that Student Regents after me can work towards. It is really important for me to visit every campus. When I was serving as ASWSUV Vice President, the student regent from that year came to one of our meetings and I remember what a great experience that was for our entire team to talk to him and provide input and feedback regarding student needs. Additionally, I would not apply for this position if I did not have a strong desire to advocate for student needs and represent the student voice. I have been working in higher education for nine years as a student employee and a professional employee and I believe that I will bring a unique perspective to the Student Regent position. I am also empathetic to student needs because of my own personal background and from helping students through the college process, so I
2016-2017 Student Regent Narek Daniyelyan believes "anyone can be a leader." Photo Credit: Washington State University initiatives in higher education refeel as though I will be able to represent a broad group of students. quire much more time to accom Lastly, I am fully aware of plish. I would love to pick up on the fact that one year is a very continued on Page 4 short period of time, and many
One cafe gets a new look, while another closes Changes come to the VDEN cafeteria as the Commons Cafe closes By: Emmanuel Sanchez
Some students say they have upgrades at the the newly remodeled cafeteria. Photo Credit: Chuck Mitchell
The sun peaks at the horizon, and shines through the Quad at Washington State University Vancouver. On the main level of the Dengerink building, there is a ruckus in the dining hall. Undercaffeinated voices chatter, pots clamor, an espresso machine whirrs and the scent of melting cheese alerts the customer that someone's appetite is about to be satisfied. Over the summer some equipment within the cafeteria was updated, and it received some entirely new additions. But across campus, it's a different story: the cafe in the Firstenburg Student Commons will remain closed for budgetary reasons, says its manager. The new features in the VanCougar Cafe may be subtle, but they do improve the functionality
of the space. Bill Bontems, manager of the cafeteria and catering, explained the updates saying, "We installed new marble countertops, stainless espresso bar, floor tiles in the register area and coffee and soda storage. Also, 16 outlets with USB ports on the north side of the dining room were installed." Some students observed the renovations with a keen eye. Nazar Stelmakh, a junior majoring in computer science, said, "I noticed the new outlets. Everybody [fights] for the outlet in the corner." Other students did not immediately notice the changes. Daniel Maida, a junior majoring in computer science, said, "I haven't noticed much except for the new ceiling and more lighting." While the cafeteria is newly remodeled, the Commons Cafe has been closed indefinitely. The counter in the corner of
the Commons has operated on and off for sevrearl years. However, "labor costs [are] rising and it's hard to justify paying more in labor than we are bringing in revenue," Bontems said. "We can hopefully do more exciting specials and [cultural dishes] with the extra savings in labor." Whether you are looking to have a bite or just chat with fellow VanCougs, the vibe is always welcoming at the cafeteria. The hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday. Be sure to stop by and try new specials such as Wazoodle bowls or handtossed pizza on Wednesdays.n
2 | CAMPUS NEWS
THEVANCOUGAR.COM
Free e -books may help reduce financial struggles
New open access resources may soon help reduce the pain of purchasing textbooks. Photo Credit: Robert Schubert
By: Andrew Hanchett Washington State University students may see a significant drop in the cost of course materials due to the university’s efforts to make Open Educational Resources (OER) more accessible. “The most recent set of initiatives were driven by the students,” said Michael Caulfield, the director of blended and networked learning at WSU Vancouver. The students asked WSU Provost and Executive Vice President Dan Bernardo to address the rising cost of textbooks and access codes. According to Caulfield, Pullman students enrolled in the Physics 101/102 sequence are already saving an aggregate of $108,000 a year just by switching to an open source textbook published by Open Stax. The number of Pullman students enrolled in Physics 101 means that cost savings break down to approximately $300 in savings per student enrolled in the class. Open Stax is a non-profit
Washington State University Vancouver
based at Rice University, which is sponsored by philanthropic foundations such as the Gates and Hewlett foundations. The goal of the program is to make education more accessible to students by providing them with free textbooks and learning technology. Open Stax offers institutions and individuals the options of viewing a book online, downloading a digital version, or ordering a print copy. PDF and online versions of the books are free, while print copies are provided at a low cost. A new Open Stax College Physics book is listed at $43.65 in the Bookie. A number of Open Stax books can also be purchased from iBooks at minimal cost and include interactive content such as chapter reviews and quizzes. Another benefit of using OER textbooks, according to Caulfield, is that students that use them tend to do do better in the course because they have the textbook on day one. Caulfield describes Open
Stax textbooks as a great resource for introductory courses as they are “very focused on taking existing open resources and bringing them to a level of polish and review.” According to openstax. org, the textbooks are peer reviewed by educators and the organization also accepts suggestions for revisions via an error report that can be filled out online. Caulfield made it clear that introductory courses are not the only focus of the university. The grants that sponsor OER are directed to where they can make the most impact, such as courses with the largest enrollment across the nation. As first and second year courses get solid resources, the grants will then move on to more advanced courses. “There is no edict to force anybody to change their textbook,” Caulfield said. “We are trying to identify faculty that are open to low-cost materials and help support them in that effort.” In addition to an Open Stax textbook, instructors also receive access to supplemental resources such as Power Point slides and test materials. Sections that use open textbooks tend to fill up faster, so Caulfield and his team are now working on a way to help students identify classes that use open textbooks when they register. BCcampus and Lumen Learning are also among the open course developers partnering with WSU. In the spring the university will begin paying faculty to evaluate open books. The goal is to provide instructors with a review of the strengths and weaknesses of these textbooks so that they can decide whether OER are a good fit for their course. For more information, contact Michael Caulfield at michael.caulfield@wsu.edu n
Campus EvEnts Tuesday, Sept. 20
Wednesday, Sept. 28
Wednesday, Sept. 21
Thursday, Sept. 29
Monday, Sept. 26 n Graduate School Basics
Monday, Oct. 3
n Top 8 For Academic Success Workshop 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. FSC 104 Open to students
n Interviewing Skills Workshop 4:10 - 5 p.m. SSC 101 Open to all n Meet the Firms Accounting Career Fair 6 - 8 p.m. Firstenburg Student Commons Open to accounting students
12:10 - 1 p.m. MMC 217 Open to students
Tuesday, Sept. 27 n Negotiating Salary Workshop 3 - 3:50 p.m. FSC 104 Open to all
n Self-care in Stressful Times Workshop 3 - 4 p.m. SSC 101 Open to students
n Resumes and Cover Letters Workshop 12 - 12:50 p.m. FSC 104 Open to all n University Honors Workshop: The Mechanics of Quality Posters 6 - 7 p.m. VMCB 205 Open to students by reservation
n VanCougar Issue 4 on stands Want your event featured here? Email details two weeks in advance to vancougme@vancouver.wsu. edu
STUDENT LIFE | 3
THEVANCOUGAR.COM
FASFA and WASFA applications opening on Oct. 1 Applications opening three months early
Photo Credit: Washington State University
By: Auz Burger Beginning this year the FAFSA and WASFA applications will be opening on Oct. 1, three months earlier than they have opened in the past. This change will allow students to use their 2015 tax information instead of waiting for their 2016 taxes to go through before finalizing the forms. The official deadline to file your FAFSA or WASFA for all WSU students enrolled for any amount of credits on Sept. 3 is Nov. 30. Students enrolled at WSU after Sept. 3 must file their FAFSA or WASFA by Jan. 31. Opening the application so much earlier means some stu-
dents no longer have to rush to get their applications done before the deadline closes. The new opening dates also help new students who are planning to attend WSU Vancouver next year, because it now lines up better with the admissions applications, which become available in September. For more information about the new FAFSA and WASFA applications opening, contact the financial aid department at van. finaid@wsu.edu or 360-5469559. The FAFSA applications can be found at fafsa.ed.gov, and the WASFA applications are
at readysetgrad.org/wasfa.
n
Volunteers are needed to help stage events of Clark County's chapter of the Washington State Special Olympics. Photo Credit: specialolympicswashington.org
Special Olympics seeks volunteers for events The Clark County chapter of the Washington State Special Olympics is in need of volunteers By: Kelli Anderson The Clark County Special Olympics team is in need of volunteers to help with competitions throughout the year. The team is made up of local members who require extra support in during training and competition. Derek Fuller, head coach for the spring athletics team, said the organization is in need of approximately 20 to 30 volunteers. “Responsibilities
range from being a head coach…to coaches that just help with drills and timing athletes.” There are also openings available for chaperones at fundraising events. “We are seeking volunteers for Clark County,” said Fuller. “The positions are available year round and travel depends on position and season.” Each season there are regional and state competitions for the assigned sporting events, such as cycling in spring and football in fall, while world games rotate
every two years. “2015 was summer games in LA and the 2017 winter games will be in Austria. National games are on a four-year rotation without a seasonal rotation; 2014 was held in New Jersey and 2018 will be held in Seattle,” Fuller said. More information on the teams can be located on the Clark County Special Olympics Facebook page. If you would like to view volunteer positions go to the local website at: www. specialolympicswashington. org. n
The WSU Vancouver Library and the Writing Center present
MLA 8 Boot Camp!
Confused about MLA citations? Photo Credit: Student Activities Board
Enjoy udder bliss with free ice cream By: Auz Burger To celebrate National Ice Cream Day as well as the first day of autumn, on Thursday the Student Activities Board (SAB) will be hosting an ice cream social. The social will have free ice cream for students from Ice Cream Renaissance, and will give students a chance to relax and mingle. In order to get ice cream
at the event students must have their Cougar Cards with them. The social will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the patio of the Firstenburg Student Commons. For more information visit the ice cream social event page on SAB’s Facebook or CougSync pages. n
The new MLA Handbook is here, and it’s a big change. Bring your questions to the MLA 8 Boot Camp workshop, where librarians and writing tutors have joined forces to answer them.
Thursday, September 29th 3:00-4:00 PM VCLS 224 (computer lab on the second floor of the Classroom Building) Sign up any time at the Writing Center or at the Library’s Reference Desk.
Washington State University Vancouver
4 | EXTRAS
"More Than Meets the I" art submission deadline approaches
WSU Vancouver hosts naturalization ceremony
Student regent continued from Page 1 projects that past student regents have left behind and/or create new initiatives that regents after me can continue to work on. One such intuitive would be to work with departments to offer dual credit options for high school students so they are able to earn some college credit while still in high school. SF: Anything else you would like to share?
Salmon Creek Journal calls for submissions for upcoming exhibit By: Auz Burger
ulty and staff each spring. SCJ recently received an award for their 2014-15 edition from Printing Industries of America. The award was part of their Premier Print Awards, and the award was under the best body of work category. “Art has the capacity to break all borders. Providing every individual with an open forum where they are given unlimited tools to access both their potential, and most importantly, their heart,” Flynn said. Submissions can be made on SCJs CougSync page, and the form will be open until 9 p.m. on Friday; more information on the project can also be found on that page. n
October is Disability Awareness Month, and in honor of the event Salmon Creek Journal is looking for submissions for the “More Than Meets the I” art project. They are accepting submissions until Friday, Sept. 23, and are wanting any sort of creative works of art, including visual art, poetry and songs. Amanda Flynn, the journal's editor-in-chief, said that one reason the project is being presented is because “celebrating Disability Awareness month each year emphasizes the importance of an inclusive environment… [it allows students] to feel welcome and freely express themselves… [which is] the impact art has on an individual.” The submissions that are accepted will be displayed in the Firstenburg Student Commons during the month of October. Submissions will also be considered for publication in the 201617 issue of Salmon Creek Journal. SCJ is Washington State University Vancouver’s art and literary journal and publishes creative works from students, alumni, fac-
Correction:
Incorrect contact information was provided in the article “‘FYI, VanCougs’ keeps students up to date,” published in the Sept. 6 issue. The correct contact for submissions to the newsletter is news@wsu.edu.n
Community members take the oath of citizenship at WSUV. Photo Credit: Haley Elmer
By : Quetzali Ramirez Washington State University Vancouver held a naturalization ceremony last and reception last Wednesday welcoming 27 new United States citizens. These community members were from 15 countries of origin including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Moldova, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia and Ukraine. This event was hosted by the American Democracy Project alongside the WSU Vancouver Diversity Center. Also associated with the event is the WSU Common Reading Program that provides the community with a common intellectual experience to stimulate discussion and critical thinking to encourage
THEVANCOUGAR.COM
a
sense of community. The event opened with a live performance of the national anthem by Mary Nelson. The field office director of Portland's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services presided over the naturalization ceremony, naming the various countries that were represented that evening. Each year all WSU campuses select a book that pertains to the theme of social justice and leadership. This year's pick is "Integration Nation: Immigrants, Refugees, and America at It's Best," by Susan E. Eaton. Eaton will be a guest on campus to discuss her book later this year. Events like these will be held throughout the course of the year. For more information on related upcoming events, visit the online events calendar at CougSync. n
ND: It is important for me to note that while the Student Regent has an important role, the person in that position does not have as much direct impact on students as the student leaders on each campus. They are the people who truly work every day to give students the best possible experience. It is important for every student to have a unique experience, but also an equitable one, and I believe student leaders at WSU are constantly trying to provide those opportunities and experiences for students. I am very thankful and appreciative to have this experience but I want students to know that anyone can be a leader in a way that works for them. n
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Are you an LGBTQ+ or ally-identifying student looking to get involved or simply looking for connections and resources? Come join Cougar Pride Club! Our meetings: Thursdays from 3-4pm in VLIB 201. For more information, contact Stefani at stefani.mammenga@wsu.edu- and find us on Facebook, Twitter, and CougSync! n
Need
Help? WSU VANCOUVER IT ACADEMIC SERVICES
IS HAPPY TO HELP YOU!
We have three ways to give you a hand: 1) Email van.evita@wsu.edu 2) Call the HelpDesk at: (360) 546-9770 3) Walk-In Support for Fall 2016 in VCLS 219B Monday 1pm – 3pm Wednesday & Thursday 9am – 11am We also have tutorial guides we can send to you.
Don’t let Blackboard stump you,
just ask FOR HELP. Information Technology Washington State University Vancouver