October 17, 2016
TheVanCougar.com
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Issue V
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Volume XXVII
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First Copy Free
Kirk Schulz kick starts Drive to 25 WSU President visits campus with an overview of university goals By Emily Bratcher Earlier this month Washington State University President Kirk Schulz hosted a town hall meeting at the WSU Vancouver campus, in which he outlined some of the goals of the university's Drive to 25 plan. The Oct. 5 gathering was an informative session open to students and faculty that provided insight of the university’s research goals by 2030, budgeting for the years of 20152017, and a strategic plan to improve undergraduate experience. The Drive to 25 is the university’s initiative to improve the statistics and ratings of the research program across all WSU campuses. One of the main goals of this campaign is to move WSU up in national research rankings. “WSU will be recognized as one of the nation’s top public universities in research and discovery by 2030,” Schulz said. Schulz plans to pursue this goal by having all students more involved in discovery. Undergraduate and graduate students will complete research portfolios that will help them succeed. “The nation is unaware of WSU’s remarkable accomplishments,” Schulz said. Schulz shared an example of these accomplishments with the multidisciplinary research project for storm water runoff. WSU Vancouver is a leading campus for water resource research in the Pacific Northwest, and is one of
the top universities in the world for tackling storm water runoff. During the town hall Schulz also introduced the budget criteria for all campuses. To stay up to date with his vision for WSU, Schulz said that he would be back to Vancouver every fall to discuss the university’s goals and budget. In 2015, the university as a whole received $167 million dollars in donations from private donors. The donations have been allocated to fund new buildings and expand the campuses. Some of the federal funding for the university research comes from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the Department Health and Human Services. Forty percent of the overall budget is composed of fees and tuition to operate the university. “We are a tuition-dependent institution,” Schulz said. A slideshow accompanying Schulz's remarks provided a more in depth look at historical WSU budget trends and how the current budget fits within the budget history. Schulz said he hopes to “make the budget more transparent,” and plans to hold town hall meetings annually to ensure that WSU students university wide are kept informed. The Drive to 25 also encompasses the student research experience at WSU. Schultz said there are five main areas of research that undergraduate programs are projected to focus on. The goals in-
clude sustaining health, resources, opportunity and equality in research, smart systems and projects that help address national security. Schulz said he hopes the Drive to 25 makes the experience from student to student at WSU a positive one that encourages everyone to commit and be involved in activities. Schulz closed the meeting by taking questions from WSU Vancouver students, staff and faculty in attendance, such as what the university is “doing to increase public funding.” Schulz said that University leadership has asked the state legislature to increase public funding. However, Schulz acknowledged that any such request would need to be both politically and economically reasonable. This year $11 million in public funding went towards the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine that will have its first class of students in the summer of 2017. When asked by The VanCougar whether a growing $13 million athletics deficit will be made up by student fees, and if such fees would impact WSU Vancouver, Schulz gave a careful response. He said that he would like to see the current university budget deficit gap close in a few years. If students were required to pay a special fee, it would help pay for only $2 million of the deficit. Undergrads in Pullman would vote up or down on the proposal, which is currently under
President Kirk Schulz and Provost Dan Bernardo recently visited WSU Vancouver to outline the university's strategic plan. Photo credit: Alex Peru
review by administrators and generating debate among students. Schulz said that part of the cause of this deficit is due to the fact that “the university [has] the smallest budget in the Pac12.” The Pac-12 is a collegiate athletic conference comprised of schools in the Western states. He was also asked what the university is doing to help sup-
port marginalized students.Schulz maintained that the university provides a transformative experience for all students. “WSU continues to build communication, support and a safe atmosphere for all of our diverse students,” Schulz said. For more information on the Drive to 25, visit: https://wsu.edu/drive-to-25. n
WSU athletics debt may spawn new student fee Pullman proposes several options to reduce athletics debt By Savanna Ford The main campus of Washington State University has accrued a $13 million deficit in an effort to upgrade the athletics department. Multiple meetings have taken place between President Kirk Schulz and Athletic Director Bill Moos following Schulz’s inauguration in order to find a solution for the financial burden. Much of the money for paying down the defict is expected to come from additional Cougar Athletic Fund donations to Pullman coffers. However, not all of the money will be coming from that source. Schulz and Moos have discussed implementing a student fee to help pay down the deficit linked to athletics. With a target of $1.7 million by 2018, this would mean an additional $100 paid by undergraduates each school year. The fee would, as currently projected, only affect Pullman students. Some of those students —
Athletics expenditures have grown the university sports program but have created a deficit which may be partially offset by a fee for Pullman students. Photo credit: The Daily Evergreen including the ASWSU Presiposed by Schulz and Moos. The Regents. Joan King, chief unident Taylor Christensen — are fee will be put to a vote during versity budget officer, told The apprehensive about any extra the upcoming spring semester. Daily Evergreen that since stumoney that must be put forth to Many students do not pardents historically have not parfund their education. ticipate in the referendum proticipated in the referendum proLast month the Board of Recess, which is concerning to cess, their voices concerning the gents met to review the plan prosome on the university Board of new fee might not be heard. This
is the same, in the university’s eyes, as voting in favor of the fee. The referendum process is the only option open for students to declare whether or not they approve of this plan. As such, incoming Pullman freshmen may be left with a fee that they had no say in, say critics of the process. The athletics fee would not be implemented until 2018, and is still under consideration. According to Schulz, students would not be expected to pay down the entire deficit. If implemented, the student fees would cover $2 million of the deficit. Schulz said that other methods of reducing the deficit will also be implemented over the next several years. These other fixes, according to Schulz, will not directly affect WSU students. n
2 | CAMPUS NEWS
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Officer Hurt teaches students how to hurt attackers Public safety seminar shows students self-defense techniques
CAMPUS EVENTS Monday, October 17 n Open Educational Resources 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. VDEN cafeteria alcove Open to faculty and students Runs until Thursday, October 20 n All Abilities Mobility 5:10 - 6 p.m. Fitness Center Open to all Tuesday, October 18 n Make It Happen: Goal Setting Workshop 1:30 -2:30 p.m. FSC 104 Open to students n Strong Interest Inventory Workshop 3 - 3:50 p.m. FSC 104 Open to students and alumni
Instructor Jason Hirata demonstrating a trap hand maneuver Photo credit: Yuliya Nikiforets By Yuliya Nikiforets Eighty-six percent of assault victims get away by fighting back against their attackers. So how does one get away without knowing how to fight? The campus Public Safety department wants to provide students with ways to educate themselves on staying safe. For this reason, Washington State University Vancouver has been offering self-defense seminars for 18 years. Defense does not start with a fight however. The biggest thing students can do is be proactive by staying aware of their surroundings. WSU Vancouver’s police officer Jeannette Hurt says “keeping your chin up when you walk and looking around rather than [at] your phone are things that can keep you from being a target.” She encourages students to report any suspicious behavior to Public Safety so that the situation can be under control before it escalates.
Public Safety offers free self-defense seminars once per semester. This semester’s self-defense seminar took place last Tuesday. Attendees included students and family members of students. The self-defense seminar focused on Budoshin Jujitsu, a form of martial arts that allows one to defend themselves no matter their size, requiring little effort and leading to little injury. The seminar was led by Sensei Jeff Wynn and Jason Hirata of the Vancouver Institute of Self Defense who possess a fifth degree black belt and instructor certificate in Budoshin Jujitsu, respectively. Attendees learned things like freeing themselves from an arm/ wrist grab, a body grab, a hair grab and a shoulder grab. Beyond this, they learned ways to defend themselves when the attacker approaches from the side or back, not only the front, and were given the opportunity to practice each technique with partners and the instructors.
Hurt taught a section she calls “phthooojitsu,” because when an attacker gets close enough “I’m gonna grab a bite of their cheek,” Hurt said. “That’s why we call it phthooojitsu,” said Wynn as he demonstrated spitting out a bite of someone’s flesh. Hurt also suggested, if unable to bite an attacker or scratch their nostrils, scratching them in the ears and eye gouging. “Believe it or not you can reach into those sockets and get around to the eyeballs,” said Hurt. Another technique she emphasized on was breaking fingers; “snap crackle pop, like cereal in the morning” Hurt says. The defense mechanism behind phthooojitsu is to cause the attacker extreme pain that actually makes them want to get rid of you, giving you an opportunity to create distance so that you can escape. Attendees were also gifted a kubotan keychain, a high impact plastic rod that is slightly
Wednesday, October 19 n Invisible Disability to Ability 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Fitness Center Open to all n Film Screening: "Salam Neighbor" 4 - 6 p.m. VDEN 110 Open to all Thursday, October 20 n Different Spokes: Cycling Demo 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Campus Quad Open to all
Tuesday, October 25 n LGBTQA-Friendly College Fair 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. FSC Open to all n Media, Politics and Culture 4 - 5:30 p.m. VDEN 110 Open to all Wednesday, October 26 n LinkedIn Lab 3:10 - 4 p.m. Open to all n Your Mindset Matters! 3:10 - 4 p.m. SSC 101 Open to students n Author Susan E. Eaton, "Integration Nation: Immigrants, Refugees, and America at its Best" 4:15 - 5:30 p.m. VDEN 110 Open to all Thursday, October 27 n "Equity for Students with Vision Impairments" 4 - 5:15 p.m. VDEN 129 & 130 Open to all n Re-Imagined Radio: "Dracula" 7 p.m. Kiggins Theatre $5 adults, $3 children under 12 Friday, October 28 n Global Cougs 101 1:10 - 2 p.m. SSC 101 Open to students Monday, October 31 n VanCougar Issue 6 on stands
thicker than a marker pen. They were then shown which pressure points to apply it to and how to use it to break a grab. Students who are interested in learning these techniques can be on the lookout for the next seminar that will be offered in the spring. Students may also contact the Vancouver Institute of Self Defense regarding other trainings that
are offered in the community at http://www.vancouverjujitsu.org. To report suspicious activity on campus, or to request an escort to a vehicle, contact Public Safety at 360-546-9001. n
Movie night brings new perspectives on disability The Diversity Center screens a documentar y as par t of Disability Awareness Month
By: Andrew Hanchett “A human being can never be broken,” Hugh Herr emphasizes in his Ted Talk speech. Herr is a bionics engineer, a rock climber and a double amputee with prosthetic legs developed by himself, and is featured in the documentary “Fixed: the science/ fiction of human enhancement.” The film was screened by the Washington State University Vancouver Diversity Center during the first week of Disability Awareness Month. The movie’s creators, led by director and producer Regan Brashear, sought to shine light on the discourse surrounding the topic of human enhancement through advanced technology such as prosthetic limbs or visual implants. The movie featured scientists and other experts in the field and they all addressed the issue of human enhancement. Herr is presented as a proponent of human enhancement in “Fixed.” He argues that society needs to dispel with the notion of normalcy and sees technology as a means to liberation from human limitations. However, Judy Berne, a disWashington State University Vancouver
ability justice educator, believes that enhancement technology can lead to further inequality. According to Berne, such advanced technology will only be available to the most affluent. “We don’t have basic health care,” said Berne, “talk about misplaced priorities.” Amanda Shannahan, the diversity center advisor, said that she hoped the film’s use of multiple perspectives would generate good discussions among students. She said that the purpose of the film was to provide exposure to the issue of disability, challenge stereotypes and allow students to learn something new. Eric Oblepias, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, said the movie made him consider issues he had not thought of before, such as having the choice of not bringing a potentially disabled child into the world. “In my mind, I would not have that child, and I was thinking that’s fine, that’s not selfish,” Oblepias said, “but the idea that you are making people that are already in this world feel like they don’t belong, that‘s an idea I haven’t really considered before.” Shannahan thinks that WSU
Vancouver is on the right track when it comes to providing access and raising awareness around the topic of disability, but stressed that there is room for improvement. As an example, Shannahan described a conversation she had with a deaf student who pointed out the lack of visual warnings during
the recent lockdown drill on campus. “There is always more that we could be doing,” Shannahan said. “Fixed” is also available for free streaming on WSU Vancouver library’s website, and the DVD can also be checked out. For more information on the remaining activities for Disability
Awareness Month, contact Shannahan at 360-546-9182, or via email at amanda.shannahan@wsu.edu.. n
STUDENT LIFE | 3
THEVANCOUGAR.COM
The Monster Mash and more: celebrating Halloween in style How students can celebrate Halloween around town By Kelli Anderson Pumpkins are carved, costumes are on, candy is bought, but where do you go? With Halloween approaching many VanCougs will be looking for something to do to celebrate. There are many options going on in the Vancouver area on and around Halloween. The seventh annual Monster Ball will be hosted by the Cougar Pride Club on Oct. 28 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Firstenburg Student Commons. This year’s party theme is haunted house. This event is a costume party and is open to everyone in the community, including: LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ students, staff and community members. Student Diversity team member Stefani Mammenga said, “We hope to see all kinds of costumes—from spooky to sparkly!” There will be a costume contest with prizes for the top three outfits. Entertainment will come in the form of music provided by KOUG radio, along with a Thriller flash mob, a photo booth and snacks and candy. The Monster Ball was created to bring awareness of the LGBTQ community on campus. “We hope that this event will provide attendees with a greater sense of LGBTQ visibility and inclusivity on campus as well as in the broader community,” Mammenga said. During the event, local businesses offering community support services will be tabling, including Planned Parenthood, Cascade AIDs Project and Triple Point. Mammenga said these community resources offer “physical, sexual and mental health resources and services” to everyone in the community. “Cougar Pride Club and our community partners strive to benefit . . . every one of all sexual orientations and gender identities,” Mammenga said. A representative from Triple Point will also be speaking during the Ball. Triple Point is a group that runs through Children’s Home Society and offers peer support and counseling to LGBTQ people age 11 to 17, as well as 18-yearolds involved in high school or GED courses. The goal of Triple Point is to ensure youths have a
circle of peers and access to resources in the community which include supportive LGBTQ and straight ally adults and agencies. Triple Point also hopes to help break down barriers of discrimination and remove feelings of isolation. The Cougar Pride Club will be collecting cash donations for Triple Point during the Monster Ball. There are many other budget-friendly Halloween themed events occurring in the Vancouver area. Included in these events are Haunted Walking Tours provided by the Clark County Historical Museum through Oct. 29 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Pre-registration is required and costs $10 per person. Additionally, Kiggins Theater will host a showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” featuring the shadow cast The Denton Delinquents who will perform along to the movie. Tickets cost $10 and costumes are strongly encouraged for Kiggins’ annual costume contest. Winners will be awarded with trophies, gift certificates and more. For Halloween thrill seekers the Clark County Events Center at the fairground is hosting ScareGround’s Haunted House Scream Park every Sunday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until Oct. 30 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets prices range from $15 to $22. Across the bridge on Sauvie Island is the Portland Corn MAiZE in the shape of Charlie Brown and Snoopy in honor of the 50th anniversary of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Maze goers will not be given a map, but are given hints throughout in order to find the exit. There are also games that people can entere to win prizes for completing. Visitors can also check out other attractions and pick up a pumpkin for additional cost. Tickets for this maze are $8 for adults and can be purchased online or in person. To learn more about getting involved in LGBTQ and ally events, visit the Cougar Pride Club on CougSync or connect with them on Facebook. For more information on the Portland Corn MAiZE visit their website at http:// w w w. p o r t l a n d m a z e . c o m . For more information on community events and to look at the full calendar of events check out the website http://www.visn itvancouverusa.com.
Angry White Men: The Masculinity of White Supremacists Michael Kimmel explains his research and interactions with skinheads By Emmanuel Sanchez Michael Kimmel, an award-winning sociologist, gave a presentation on his experiences with members of small, scattered communities of neo-nazis last Wednesday. The topic for this discussion originated in Kimmel’s investigations captured in his newest book titled “Angry White Men: American Masculinity at the End of an Era.” The presentation was sponsored by the Diversity Council. Renny Christopher, vice chancellor for academic affairs, set the stage for the revealing, hour-long talk. Various members of the Washington State University Vancouver community attended, including faculty, students and even alumni. Kimmel said that his book was concerned with certain groups of men that express anger “at a system that no longer guarantees that they’re gonna get all the rewards.” His main focus of the speech, was on one chapter, which was about angry, white supremacists and his interviews with them. The overarching theme was on how neo-nazis see race and class experiences in gender terms. Kimmel explained how these white supremacists felt emasculated. Through art and cartoons, they showcased the discontent of their situation. One striking image depicted a cartoon of a white man being subordinated by a feminist, a Jewish judge and a black man. Kimmel said, “They feel that they have lost their masculinity, or more accurately, it’s been taken from them.” Kimmel then displayed more images on how these angry skinheads are using their masculinity to place blame on other groups. One of the images was of a map of the United States and a borderline horizontally across the middle signifying the encroachment of Mexico into US territory. Another image portrayed
Michael Kimmel discusses race and masculanity Photo credit: Emmanuel Sanchez
lesbians as more masculine than the modern white man. Kimmel conveyed the point that these neo-nazis were using manliness as a recruiting tool for their cause. “So if you join us, you will regain your masculinity,” the professor said. The premise of these images was to invoke their masculinity to recapture what was once theirs. For example, one animation had an Aryan man carrying a woman into the sunset in which the sun had a swastika at the center. Also, some of those depictions showed how a man would lose his manhood, then regaining it after transforming into a white supremacist. Surprisingly, Kimmel even expanded on how the same neonazi ideas are being used around the world. Kimmel concluded with the direction of where these skinheads are headed in the United States. Particularly, after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, some of the Aryan factions were split. Half of them urged violence in retaliation, while the other half seemingly rejoiced because the terrorists had hit the Zionist power where it hurt; in the financial sector. Sort of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” situation Kimmel said. Kimmel closed his presentation with a twist. He expressed sympathy toward
these angry, white men. “I believe that many of these guys, they have been screwed by the system,” Kimmel said. “I believe these guys are right to be angry, but they’re delivering their mail to the wrong address.” Also, he added that in order to relieve the circumstances, we needed to understand their situation and give them an alternative to view what has happened to them. One audience member expressed her appreciation of the lecture. Jennifer Shroy said, “For me what was [the] most valuable part of this talk revolved around how to have a talk with men, about masculinity that doesn’t attack them, but has them have an internal conversation to change actions that are damaging.” Throughout the lecture, the speaker presented a variety of deeply racist art, cartoons, pamphlets and words used by these angry men. It gave the audience a glimpse into the world of white supremacists and the messages they convey how they are the ones that have been done wrong by “the system.” For more information on Michael Kimmel and his wide array of books, lectures and articles, you can visit his website at http:// www.michaelkimmel.com. n
TAKE ONE, LEAVE ONE Did you know the library has a popular reading book exchange? Books are available to take and leave as you please.
It works best if books are donated as well, but you do not have to trade in a book to take one.
Photo credit: WSU Vancouverver
The bookcase is located near the rows of wooden computer carrels. WSU Vancouver Library hCps://library.vancouver.wsu.edu/
Washington State University Vancouver
4 | CAMPUS NEWS
THEVANCOUGAR.COM
Lights out, no talking, just create Disability awareness organizers take a hands on approach
Photo credit: Valerie Parrish By Megan Peaker
of what makes an artist an artist. The “I Can Create” event was Created in honor of Jessie brought to Washington State UniDunahoo, the “I Can Create” workversity Vancouver to raise awareshop simulated what it is like to ness of the limitations of disabled create art as a visually impaired and artists. By blocking out light and deaf artist. In a dark room, with no sound, participants were given sound, participants of all art skill a glimpse into the silent world levels worked away to create pieces of Dunahoo. Dunahoo is a 90 inspired by Dunahoo. Afterward, year old artist from Kentucky. He the artists attended a panel disstarted his artistic journey decussion to learn more about the signing landscapes which eventuproject and why it is important. ally led him to create indoor art. Bruce Burris, creative employDunahoo only had access ment director of ArtWorks, Jaime to materials commonly found in Walsh, program coordinator at garages, such as plastic bags, left Oregon Supported Living Program over fabric and oth(OSLP) and Kaiter trash. Using these lyn Wittig Mengüç, Have photos materials, he creco-founder of Plural to share from ates seemingly two led the workshop. dimensional pieces A r t Wo r k s , Disability that have three dibased in Corvallis, is a collaborative em- Awareness Month? mensional function. Participants ployment innovation Send them to in the event were project dedicated to helping disabled artvancougso@wsu. given access to the same materiists find viable emedu and you may very als that Dunahoo ployment by creating professional and see them on our uses in his pieces. Afterwards, social support on an website. the participants individual basis. This were given a chance includes building to show off their pieces and exprofessional skills and helping the plain themselves as an artist. artists reach markets to sell their art. Many of the artists commentOSLP is an organization in ed on the various textures they Eugene that supports independent used because of limited sight. adults with developmental disabiliSome commented on the sities get the extra help they need to lent language that formed in the continue living independently. Their room as people needed to commumost recent project is Walsh’s favornicate, despite the no talking rule. ite, the Arts and Culture program. “Be present in the moment,” said Eli OSLP’s resources are dedicatCampbell, a participant at the event. ed to community engagement and The workshop ended with employment programs, and the Art a comfortable silence and many and Culture program is no differbright, colorful pieces on disent. However, it is unique in that play for the world to see. Amanda the program allows anyone in the Flynn, another participant, said community to become involved, “Sometimes we take the little things not just those with disabilities. “The for granted. I am so happy to be a community comes together for art part of a campus that encouragand growth and learning and shares inclusion, and see how that efing. That’s beautiful,” Walsh said. fectively leads to encouraging the Plural is an internationvoice of everyone on our campus.” al organization dedicated to adTo learn more about Artvancing equity in the arts. They Works go to artworks.ceiworks. support equity by addressing org. To learn more about OSLP, systematic barriers to create a go to http://www.oslp.org. To more equitable field by increasing learn more about Plural, go to awareness, deepening knowledge http://www.pluralculture.org. n and complicating understanding Washington State University Vancouver
STOP, LOOK, THINK.
DON’T GET PHISHED!
Phishing is the attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity. P Phishing is typically dependent on the recipient clicking on harmful links included in an email. Phishing example:
Even WSU accounts can send phishing email!
Don’t be fooled! It’s best to never click on links in emails, even if you know the party who is sending it. When in doubt, forward the email to abuse@wsu.edu. Vancouver IT is here to help! Call the HelpDesk at 360-546-9770 Email: van.evita@wsu.edu Walk-in support: VCLS 225 Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm