January 9, 2017
TheVanCougar.com
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Issue IX
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Volume XXVII
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First Copy Free
Congratulations, graduates!
Winter graduates and families celebrate success By Megan Peaker In what has become a December tradition, Washington State University Vancouver celebrated the 27th annual winter graduation party and recognized the newest group of WSU Vancouver alumni. On Dec. 16, faculty, staff, families and graduates gathered in the Firstenburg Student Commons to toast the outgoing class of 2016. ASWSUV Vice President Samy Reel opened the party by congratulating the graduates. “You’ve fought long, you’ve fought hard. Tears were shed and laughs were shared. But congrats! You did it!” She then introduced the first speaker of the evening, Chancellor Mel Netzhammer. Netzhammer began his speech with a moment of silence for former student Mike White who passed away just days before receiving his degree. (A public celebration of White’s life is planned for Jan. 9; please contact
the Office of Student Involvement for more information.) Following the tribute, Netzhammer congratulated the graduates and shared a few words of encouragement before introducing Washington State University’s President Kirk Schulz. For the first time in university history, the president of WSU gave a speech to Vancouver graduates. Schulz stressed the importance of two things: travel and continued commitment to WSU. “Traveling is the best way to educate yourself and learn how the world works,” Schulz said. He continued by welcoming the winter graduates to join the 13,000 alumni living in the area and encouraged them to stay involved with the WSU community. The president emphasized that financial involvement is not the only way to stay in touch as an alumnus. Volunteering and attending events also shows support for students and the university, Schulz said, and is equally as important as financial support.
WSU President Kirk Schulz spoke about the value of travel, encouraging graduates to “learn how the world works.” Photo credit: Taylor Jones The final speaker of the evening was Max Ault, an alumnus and vice president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council. He told those assemlbed that success after college should amount to more than just a good paying job. “WSUV graduates should go out into
Business club opens doors to new members
WSU Vancouver's DECA chapter seeks to add new members to its fold
their community and never forget where they started,” Ault said. Like Schulz, Ault emphasized that money is not the only way to stay involved. As graduates become community leaders they should hire WSU Vancouver students as interns, spread volunteer and job opportunities through the
Changes to campus event pricing announced
WSU Vancouver prepares to begin charging for on-campus events By Savanna Ford
DECA club members participate in a recent raffle for a custom tailored Tom James suit. Proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets raised over $1500 to support the club. Photo credit: Andrew Hanchett College of Business. Throughout organization’s website, DECA By Andrew Hanchett One of Washington State University Vancouver’s leading business clubs is looking to expand its membership. Michael McNeil is vice president of development for Collegiate DECA, the local chapter of an international association of students and educators focused on careers in marketing, finance and other sectors. While DECA’s membership has been traditionally restricted to officers, McNeil said the club is now seeking to increase its official membership by including other members. According to the
was founded in 1946. With headquarters in Virginia, the organization currently has 275 collegiate chapters and 15,000 collegiate members. DECA is open to students of all majors, but it tends to attract students of business and related fields, McNeil said, because of the opportunity it provides to get hands on experience with industry professionals. Professors Ron Pimentel and Thomas Tripp are faculty advisors of DECA at WSU Vancouver. Pimentel studies marketing and Tripp focuses on management at the Carson
the semester, Pimentel and Tripp invite business professionals from the local community to speak on topics ranging from dressing for success to resume, cover letter and interview skills. Company representatives are also encouraged to speak about opportunities within their organization — and to recruit potential employees. McNeil said that the experience at DECA allows its members to obtain skills they can use in their future jobs, as well as an opportunity to make connections with employers.
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resources available on campus and if they can, then send a check to the school, according to Ault. The event closed with refreshments, a few tears, and hugs among the new alumni, their family and friends. n
Beginning in 2017, students planning events on campus must factor event set up costs into their budgets, administrators have announced. Washington State University Vancouver's facilities operations department held meetings before Thanksgiving break and on Jan. 4 to discuss new charges facing event organizers. The new charges include room reservations, a labor fee to move any furniture into or around the reserved spaces and fees for any additional equipment used. This month, it also became clear that organizers requesting reconfigurations of spaces such as the Firstenburg Student Commons would be charged for each chair and table already on site. As of last year, throughout the Portland metro area, WSU Vancouver was the only college that had not implemented event set up fees. The new fees reflect the costs associated with facilities personnel who provide labor necessary to stage most events on campus. The costs for event set up have been published on WSU Vancouver’s website. The event price guide outlines the costs for varying levels of work and space. Package A is completely free and uses an existing room set up. Package D, however, allots two hours’ worth of labor and provides
assistance, building access and additional furnishing for the event. Package D costs $150 per space. Indoor and outdoor tabling under Package E will cost $45. According to some club representatives, this may mean a decline in events throughout the school year, as these charges will be paid for from the budgets of clubs. The concern of some student leaders, including organizers of Black People United and other active clubs, is that their annual budgets were created before the event charging system was enacted, and therefore the budgets may not allow for the extra expense. Facilities Operations will implement the new event pricing system at the beginning of the spring semester, with outdoor tabling fees coming in March. For more information, contact Nikki Hinshaw, assistant director of student activities, at nikki_ hinshaw@wsu.edu or Michelle McIlvoy, director of student development, at mmcilvoy@ wsu.edu. The full pricing list can be found at https://admin. v a n c o u v e r. w s u . e d u / e v e n t s office/documents-and-guides. n
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New major at WSU Vancouver draws new students WSU Vancouver offers integrated strategic communication major By Emily Bratcher The communication program at Washington State University Vancouver recently expanded by offering a new major to students. Students can now major in integrated strategic communication, and administrators believe the major will help students succeed as the need for focused communication in the workforce increases. As compared to a traditional communication degree, the integrated strategic communication degree is
a much narrower area of study, according to program director Nanu Iyer. Strategic communication has a focus on advertising, public relations and corporate communication. The typical communication degree focuses on a broader spectrum of career fields that can range from journalism to cinema. Iyer said that that his program, an extension of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication in Pullman, decided the degree “was the best fit for students in the WSU Vancouver campus because of
our location and the demand for strategic communication professionals in the greater Portland-Vancouver area.” As students pursuing a strategic communication degree graduate, job searches should be less time consuming and stressful, as the need for advertising and public relations continues to grow in the Portland area, according to Iyer. Iyer also discussed some of the work students could expect to do after they graduate. “Upon graduation students can work with advertising or PR agencies, and pretty much
any organization that needs communication professionals who are adept at problem solving and strategic thinking,” said Iyer. “Our students will be trained in research, message creation, design and strategy, media planning, social media and the successful execution of campaigns.” Students in the program will learn a variety of skill sets and will be provided with classes that are relevant to the field of modern communications. “The program emphasizes the inclusion and need for social media and other new media skills in all
its classes,” Iyer said. “In addition, we require students to take two core classes that cover these areas. We also encourage them to look at DTC courses that could be a great fit based on their interests.” The new degree has been much anticipated by faculty and prospective students. A related startup on campus, “Strategic U,” was recently profiled by The Columbian newspaper. For more information, contact Nanu Iyer at (360) 546-9176 or nanu.iyer@wsu.edu. n
Week of welcome rings in the new year Informational week helps students navigate their return to campus By Kelli Anderson
The Office of Student Involvement is hosting a Week of Welcome for new and returning Washington State University Vancouver students the week of Jan. 9. There will be student ambassadors in light blue t-shirts or wearing “ask me” buttons around campus ready to answer student questions. They can direct students toward the right classrooms, describe how to purchase a campus parking permit and answer any other questions students may have. In addition to student ambassadors there will be welcome stations set up throughout the week. These stations can be found in front of the library and in front of the Bookie. Information stations will be available at various times throughout the week. Events such as the Week of Welcome hosted by OSI
will be advertised on the WSU Vancouver calendar as well as on the OSI CougSync page. n
Information tables and student leaders with Week of Welcome t-shirts will be out in force all week to answer questions. Photo credit: Auz Burger
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The VanCougar welcomes brief letters (250 words or fewer) 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. Letters and suggestions may be delivered to the Office of Student Involvement, the VanCougar office (VDEN 160), or e-mailed to vancouged@wsu.edu. For more information about the VanCougar's policy on letters and other information, please visit the VanCougar policy section of TheVanCougar.com The VanCougar | Dengerink Administration Building (VDEN) Room 160 | 14024 NW Salmon Creek Ave. | Vancouver, Wash. 98686 | 360-546-9524
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STAFF DIRECTORY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ALEXANDER PERU . vancouged@wsu.edu MANAGING EDITOR HALEY ELMER . vancougme@wsu.edu ADVERTISING MANAGER DAWN BAILEY . vancougad@wsu.edu LAYOUT AND DESIGN EDITOR CHARLES MITCHELL . vancouglo@wsu.edu WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER AUZ BURGER . vancougso@wsu.edu TEAM EDITORS AUZ BURGER REPORTERS KELLI ANDERSON LAYNE BAUER EMILY BRATCHER TOMMY CULHANE SAVANNA FORD
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STUDENT LIFE | 3
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KOUG Radio DJs get a mic check Stu d e nt DJ s sha re the ir expe rie nce s By Layne Bauer Photos by Laura Dutelle
Nate Nienaber "N8 AM @ 8 AM:"
Adriana Benitz "Las Chicas JA:"
Sterling Fletcher "Subversive Verses:"
Psychology and digital technology major Nate Nienaber is complimenting his senior year studies with time on the air as a KOUG Radio DJ, and he’s hoping to lift a few spirits along the way. After hearing about the opportunity his first year on campus, Nienaber decided last year it was time to try his hand at hosting his own show, called “N8 AM @ 8 AM!” on Wednesdays. As a blend between both music and talk show, Nienaber’s credibility as a DJ stems from his experience listening to podcasts such as the “College Info Geek Podcast,” “Myths and Legends Podcast” and the “Tim Ferris Show.” What makes Nienaber’s KOUG Radio show unique is that the talk show portion primarily discusses motivational topics, such as habits, goals and time management, as well as many other subjects. “I want to emphasize to listeners that setting goals and learning new perspectives are key in tackling life’s problems. If I can help in some small way I am doing my job as a host. I want listeners to feel energized in the mornings and I would hope that keeps them coming back. Plus, my show is as fun as it is helpful,” Nienaber said. Nienaber accompanies his motivational discussions with music. Nienaber said that the music is energizing, making the discussions cohesive with the sounds. Like other KOUG Radio DJs, Nienaber said that practicing effective time management skills is necessary to be a great host, as his other priorities include studies and his job as a student ambassador. According to Nienaber, the shows that he puts the most preparation into are always noticeably better. Yet with a hectic school schedule, it is difficult to produce an education-based talk show backed with research while simultaneously having well-qualified voices come together to discuss these topics. Nienaber tries not to allow these challenges to circumvent his opportunity with the KOUG Radio platform. For those interested in possibly becoming a DJ, Nienaber recommebds jumping in and finding your identity as you go, as KOUG Radio is a great place to experiment and try something new. To keep up to date with Nienaber’s show, visit the show’s Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/nateAMshow. n
Currently in her junior year of studying human development, Adriana Benitez hosts KOUG Radio talk show “Las Chicas JA.” What sets “Las Chicas JA” apart from other shows is that the whole show is delivered in Spanish, and provides unique perspectives on various aspects of culture such as language or music. Inspired by their love for Mexican music and talk shows like “Piolin Por La Manana,” Benitez and cohost Julia Mercado discuss current campus events and participate in challenges like true or false questions on-air. Despite the great times she has on Friday mornings with KOUG Radio, being a talk show host creates its own unique set of challenges as well for Benitez. As the treasurer of the LatinX Student Association, a student ambassador and member of the College Access Program, practicing good time management skills poses a great challenge for Benitez. “Being a student with a couple of jobs and being involved with various organizations, I have to make sure I have time for my studies and other responsibilities, as well as make time to prepare for the show with what music will be played and topics that will be talked about,” Benitez said. Overall, the fun that Benitez has hosting “Las Chicas JA” outweighs the stress. She adds that KOUG Radio is a great platform for students interested in sharing music, ideas or personal interests. To every DJ, whether professional or potential, Benitez says she emphasizes three things: don’t forget to be you, make every show a learning experience and have fun. n
Sterling Fletcher, a student ambassador and information systems major, first heard about KOUG Radio through the involvement fair his freshman year. It was not until Fletcher’s sophomore year that he decided to become a DJ with the organization as the host of “Subversive Verses” at 8 a.m. on Tuesday mornings. The show provides a unique perspective on underground hip-hop music, showcasing the types of sounds not heard on mainstream radio. Big name hip-hop is easily recognizable, as the majority of hits consistently comprise synthetic beats, auto tune and a catchy hook. Fletcher’s show provides a cure for those tired of the mainstream scene by reinforcing the roots of the genre, which derived from jazz, funk and soul music. In some ways, Fletcher considers himself a Robin Hood of hip-hop radio, antagonizing the dominant, widespread mainstream and giving back to the listeners who are deprived of the genre in its novelty form, with jazz samples and intricate poetry. “New listeners should expect to hear sampled beats, complex flows and songs about things other than money, drugs and women,” Fletcher said. It is rare to hear underground, local hip hop artists instead of popular icons that are on repeat on major stations, according to Fletcher. Some of the artists Fletcher plays only have a few followers on Soundcloud.
Campus Events Wednesday, January 11 n Pre-retirement Seminar 9:30 - 11 a.m. VDEN 301 Open to faculty and staff Friday, January 13 n Admissions 101 2 p.m. SSC 101 Open to all RSVP at studentaffairs. vancouver.wsu.edu/ admissions/ admissions-101 Monday, January 16 n Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. FSC Open to all RSVP at events.vancouver. wsu.edu/mlk-jr-dayservice-event-form Wednesday, January 18 n Involvement Fair 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. FSC Open to students n Time Management Workshop 12:10 - 1 p.m. SSC 101 Open to students n State of the University Address and Drive to 25 Public Kickoff
3 p.m. VDEN 129 Open to all Thursday, January 19 n Your Mindset Matters! 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. VSCI 140 Open to students n Celebration of Life for Mike White 4 p.m. FSC Open to all Friday, January 20 n Global Cougs 101 1:10 - 2 p.m. SSC 101 Open to students RSVP at studentaffairs. vancouver.wsu.edu/ student-resource-center/ sign-global-cougs-101 n Admissions 101 2 p.m. SSC 101 Open to all RSVP at studentaffairs. vancouver.wsu.edu/ admissions/ admissions-101
Want your event featured here? Email details two weeks in advance to vancougme@wsu.edu. “Subversive Verses” goes beyond what is expected because Fletcher often creates unique themes for his music selections. For example, Fletcher has done a series of region-specific shows, like an all-Chicago artist show. Accordingly, the first show of the spring 2017 semester will be a Portland metro area show. One of the greatest challenges Fletcher faces when it comes to producing a complete show for KOUG Radio is getting around the notoriously explicit language common to hip-hop. It is common for underground hip-hop songs to have only one unedited version, meaning Fletcher must spend his own time making radio edits. In this way, Fletcher says
that, “One show can sometimes take at least two to four hours of editing to clean up explicitness.” “Subversive Verses” is the only hip-hop show on KOUG Radio. On top of playing music, Fletcher usually discusses each song briefly, providing background on the artists, discussing deeper meaning to lyrics, or describing connections between other artists on the show. Fletcher believes that KOUG Radio is an important creative outlet for students at Washington State University Vancouver. To hear Fletcher tell it, allotting an hour of someone’s day to music is just as fulfilling as painting a pretty picture or writing a gripping story. n
Make a connection with your library! ----in person, on our website, and now on social media. Connect with the WSUV Library on Facebook and Twitter for event info, research tips, personalized help, weird book pictures and more. We’d love to hear from you. facebook.com/wsuvlibrary @wsuvlib
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"DECA," continued from page 1
“If you are looking to get a good job out of college, this is how people got there,” McNeil said. “Just to put on your resume that you were a member of DECA, that stands you out from the crowd.” According to McNeil, students often get recruited after talking to professionals at events, pocketing a business card or exchanging contact information. Many students from the business school have also been able to find internships at club meetings, McNeil said. Representatives from UPS, Amazon and Tom James clothiers have recently spoken at WSU Vancouver as a result of DECA's outreach efforts. This spring, DECA plans to host an event that shows students how to negotiate a job offer. The event will feature local
entrepreneurs and other experts on the subject. DECA is also planning to host a LinkedIn tutorial session and a business student tell-all. Programs hosted by DECA include the annual “Dress for Success” forum with speaker Marc Cleve from Tom James, and “Understanding Credit” with employees from Columbia Credit Union. Each fall the club also hosts a “Workspace Organization” event with a speaker from Workplace Oregon. The company donates a custom chair to the winner of a sales competition. Last semester, Tom James donated a $1,500 suit to the club as a raffle prize. Raffle tickets sold for $10, and DECA raised over $1,500 to support club activities. “The company is a great friend of the college here,” Pimentel said in reference to Tom James, which has offered the club similar support in previous years.
As members of DECA, students also have the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate competitions. These high-octane events pit WSU Vancouver's business students against chapters at other colleges and universities.. In a typical DECA competition, students have 10 minutes to study a hypothetical business scenario, before presenting their solution and responding to five follow up questions. Students also have the option of developing and presenting a business plan. The club will be participating in such a competition next month. Students interested in obtaining more information about DECA can contact the club's president, Honor Stevenson, at honor. stevenson@wsu.edu. n
VanCoug Voices: Student artist's work sheds light on Black Lives Matter movement Martin's "Say Her Name" project highlights issues of race within criminal justice system
MAKE IT A DAY ON
NOT A DAY OFF
MA R TIN LU THE R K ING J R .
DAY of SERVICE
please bring
oducts, new hygiene pr od items fo e nonperisha bl pplies su ol ho and sc
workshops • kids’ activities • MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
JanUARY 16
to donate
THIS YEAR’S FOCUS:
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Organizing for
wsu vancouver campus • firstenburg student commons
Social Change
LEARN MORE AND RSVP AT VANCOUVER.WSU.EDU/EVENTS C O - S P O N S O R S ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF WSU VANCOUVER • STUDENT DIVERSITY CENTER P A R T N E R S ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER CLUB • BLACK PEOPLE UNITED • COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES • HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CLUB Q U E S T I O N S ? A C C O M M O DAT I O N S ? Contact Amanda Shannahan at 360-546-9182 or amanda.shannahan@wsu.edu.
them, who they were, and how unjust it was that they were killed when another conclusion could have been reached. SF: What inspired you and continues to inspire you while working on this project?
"Say Her Name" is a series of portraits of black women who lost their lives due to police violence. Photo credit: Savanna Ford By Savanna Ford Cecilia Martin, an artist at Washington State University Vancouver, has created a project that brings to light the problems, challenges and wrongs faced by African American women within the criminal justice system. The VanCougar sat down
with Martin to ask about the project and what it means to her. This project is came about as the Black Lives Matter movement attained widespread notoriety over the past year. Martin hopes her piece, which is on display in VMMC, will shed light on this movement as an integral aspect of society today and what it represents to a
severely mistreated community. Savanna Ford (SF): What is the "Say Her Name" project all about? Cecilia Martin (CM): The "Say Her Name" project is about spreading awareness of flaws in our police system which have led to the deaths of women. It is also about remembering
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CM: What inspired me to do this project was the fact that though you hear about several of these women quite a bit, like Sandra Bland and Tanisha Anderson, some of them aren't mentioned in conversations of police brutality. The sheer number of women included in and beyond the list that I used should serve as a call to reform of gun laws and police protocol when it comes to dealing with civilians, but as long as change has not been enacted we have to keep saying their names.
and see that we do have a problem on our hands. These women may still be alive if it were not for police officers escalating the situation rather than diffusing it. SF: you
Any would
further details like to add?
CM: I would like to mention that there are hundreds of people who deserve to be remembered and for whom justice has not been served. My hope for the future is that we as a society will recognize that the number of deaths from police brutality and gun violence in our country are unacceptable and entirely avoidable. n
SF: What do you hope that your audience will get from your artwork? CM: I hope that anyone who sees this project will be inspired to learn more about these women's stories
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