January 11, 2010 • Issue 9 • Volume 15 | WWW.VANCOUGAR.NING.
| WWW.VANCOUGAR.NING.COM >>
MLK, Jr. Day
volunteer
opportunity on
campus
PAGE 2
Travel Cafe photo contest
IN THIS ECONOMY, EVERYONE COULD USE SOME FREE MONEY
In the 2009/2010 school year, $157,000 was awarded to students through WSU Vancouver scholarships according to the campus’ Financial
Aid and Scholarship web site.
Students seek assistance
With rising tuition,
more students are
needing money
Katie Wells/Editor in Chief
C
oming up with an extra $440
a semester to pay for school
is proving to be a difficult
task for many undergraduate
students at WSUV this year. The
tuition increase, which was a direct
result of the 2009-2010 state budget
recommendations by Governor
Gregoire, will rise again come Fall
semester of 2010 according to the
most recent budget updates.
After transferring from
Concordia University in the Fall,
undergraduate student Bree Barker
has been working hard to pay for
school at WSUV. “I work part time
right now, but it is very hard to work
and do school full time. The money
I make always goes toward gas, and
ROAR Orientation
WSUV welcomes
new students to
campus for Spring
Sally Thrall/Campus News Editor
Visit our web site for online newspaper, videos, pictures, and more!
The
page 4 • Personal journey to better health page 10 • Castro profile page 7
books and things.” Most students on
campus are currently working one
or more jobs while attending classes
just to pay for school.
Even with multiple jobs, there is
typically a greater need of aid for
financing higher education. Loans
are usually the most sought after
type of assistance. Stafford loans,
which are the most common type of
loan taken out by students, are fixed-
rate federal loans for those who are
enrolled at least half-time in school.
In order to apply for these loans,
you have to have filled out the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA). For those that have yet to
complete the FAFSA, Clark College
is hosting a ‘College Goal Sunday’
event on Jan. 31. This event, which
takes place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in
the O’Connell Sports Center, will
bring current and future students
closer to financial aid.
By the time she arrived at
WSUV, Barker had already taken
out student loans to pay for four
O n Jan. 5, over 100 students
filled the Firstenburg
Student Commons, waiting to be
welcomed to Washington State
University Vancouver.
ROAR, the University’s moniker
for student orientation, helped
Washington State University Vancouver
Photo Illustration: Katie Wells/The VanCougar
years of college, including two
years at Lower Columbia College in
Longview, WA. “I’ve always joked
that I’ll be paying off my student
loans until I die,” said Barker. “In
the end though, it’s going to be
worth it.”
The University agrees that higher
education is always worth it and
has created ways to help students
pay for college. These opportunities
include grants and scholarships.
Washington State University
currently awards scholarships to
residents, non-residents, transfer
students, international students,
and high school seniors. Their web
site, which can be found through
the Office of Financial Aid and
the Student Services Center,
provides easy access to scholarship
applications. These scholarships
are awarded by the university, the
Vancouver campus, and nation-wide
donors.
For more information about
scholarships and financial aid,
inform new students joining the
university in Spring of opportunities
and resources for students at
WSUV. It also provided, in Bruce
Romanish’s words, “a warm cougar
welcome” to those incoming
students.
The program started late in the
afternoon, at 4 p.m., with Vice
Chancellor of Academic Affairs,
THE NUMBERS
•$3,360 Spring tuition
‘08 for FT Undergraduate
•$3,800 Spring tuition
‘09 for FT Undergraduate
•$4,228 Spring tuition
‘09 for FT Graduate
•75% of WSUV students
receive financial aid or
scholarships
•$2,000 Average award
from Vancouver campus
attend an ‘A-Z of Financial Aid
and Scholarships’ workshop. The
first workshop of the semester
takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 20
at 6 p.m. in VSSC 101. Upcoming
deadlines are Jan. 31 for University-
wide scholarships and Mar. 31 for
the Vancouver campus scholarships.
Bruce Romanish welcoming the
new students. Romanish discussed
the challenging times that we are
facing and stressed that “we look
toward the next generation to help
us figure things out…” and that the
purpose of the university was to
“equip [the students] to insure those
responsibilities.”
See ROAR on page 2
page 4
WSUV
students
lobby in
Olympia
Students will
present main goal of
lowering tuition
Peter Sterr/Contributing Writer
T imes are tough, and frankly,
they are about to get even
worse. That is, they are about
to get even worse for students. If
you happen to be a student, pay
attention.
Peter Sterr is the
ASWSUV Director
of Legislative
Affairs and will
spend the next
semester lobbying
full-time in
Olympia
The Governor’s budget, released
in December, proposed several
cuts to higher education that
could result in both drastically
reduced financial aid and large
increases in tuition. These
cuts may become permanent
if students do not rise up in
opposition.
The proposed cuts include:
• A 60% ($146.6 million) cut to
the State Need Grant, lowering
the eligibility threshold from
70% of the median family
income to 50%, making nearly
12,300 students ineligible and
reducing the award amounts
for those students who remain
eligible.
• Complete suspension of other
financial aid opportunities such
as Work Study, Washington
Scholars, WAVE, and Future
Teachers Scholarship, which
together would suspend financial
aid for nearly 11,000 students.
• An $89.5 million cut to higher
education operating budgets,
including a $13.55 million cut
to WSU.
• Discussions about increasing
tuition or eliminating the tuition
cap, which currently prevents
institutions from raising tuition
above 14% each year.
To raise student voices,
ASWSUV began a letter-writing
campaign in December—asking
students to share their personal
stories about paying for their
education. More broadly, the
letter urged legislators to keep
tuition affordable.
See Lobbying on page 12
 2 CAMPUS NEWS

State Commerce Director visits campus

Rogers Weed will be
speak at Chancellor’s
Seminar Series
Sally Thrall/Campus News Editor
in Computer Science from Duke
University, and then moving on to
the University of Pennsylvania where
he obtained a master’s degree in
Marketing. Weed went on to become
a vice president in Microsoft before
taking his current position in the
overview of the economy and State
budget from the perspective of
someone intimately involved with the
ins and outs of the process. Weed will
also focus on regional impacts of the
State budget, proposing ways that the
private and public sectors can work
which covers the cost of the lunch.
However, there are a limited number
of free spots held open for students
who wish to attend the event. The
Office of Student Involvement
usually has about 12 spots reserved
for students, especially for those on a

R
ogers Weed, the Director
of the Washington
State Department of
Commerce, will be coming to WSUV
to speak at the Chancellor’s Seminar
Series.
Rogers Weed was appointed as
Director of the Washington State
Department of Commerce in March
of 2009 by Governor Christine
Gregoire. Rogers Weed has a
diverse educational background, first
graduating with a bachelor’s degree
Department of Commerce.
The combination of his education
and professional work make him
a more than qualified speaker. He
will discuss the topic, ‘Achieving
Washington’s Innovation Economy:
Priorities for growth during tough
times.’ This topic will be sure to
combine Weed’s knowledge of
technology and business as he
proposes the best way to insure
economic innovation in Washington
State. Weed will also provide
members of the audience with an
together to benefit the local economy.
The Chancellor’s Seminar Series
is an event held twice a semester
that allows community members,
students, staff and faculty to interact
while considering an issue of current
interest. In addition to the food for
thought, the Chancellor’s Seminar
Series also bestows attendees with
a catered meal in the style of a
luncheon buffet.
Students are encouraged to attend
the event. Tickets can be purchased
online for 25 dollars per person,
budget that may not be able to attend
otherwise. The spots are given out
on a first-come, first-serve basis, so
students are encouraged to sign up as
early as possible if they want to get
a seat.
The first Chancellor’s Seminar
Series of the semester will be held Rogers Weed Photo credit/Washington Economic
on Friday, Jan. 15. It runs from Development Commission
11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the
Firstenburg Student Commons. If who are interested in attending are
you are interested in attending, visit encouraged to go to the Office of
http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ Student Involvement where they may
css/ for more information. Students be able to get a free spot at the event.

ROAR Continued from page 1

Michelle McIlvoy noted how the
sound of students talking grew
during the time Ferderer paused to
let them meet someone new. After
Ferderer managed to quiet the crowd
down once again, he encouraged
experience outside of the classroom.
Dr. John Barber summed up faculty
expectations with the power of three:
show up, think positive, and whatever
happens…it’s your fault. The faculty
expectations were briefly followed up
career services, education abroad
and the National Student Exchange.
Bill Stahley then explained how
students can use these resources to
meet the expectations the faculty had
discussed earlier.
Students were also encouraged to
fill out the Federal Application for
Student Aid for 2010-2011 before the
deadline of Feb. 15.
In closing, the University collected
feedback about the program so they

W hen Bruce Romanish
finished his brief welcome
he handed the microphone off to Nick
Ferderer, ASWSUV President.
Nick Ferderer opened up to
incoming students about the
importance of interaction and
meeting new people when they arrive
at WSUV. He told his own story of
only knowing his ambassador when
he started, showing students that you
have to start somewhere and build
connections from there. Ferderer
stopped part way through his speech
so students could turn to the right and
introduce themselves to the person
sitting next to them. During that
break, Student Involvement Manager
students to set a goal for how many
people they would meet that night.
Once Nick Ferderer finished,
the program moved on to discuss
topics of interest to the incoming
students: faculty expectations
and academic integrity, campus
resources, student life, and financial
aid. Three faculty members shared
tips with students about how to best
succeed at the University level. The
faculty members stressed taking
advantage of the small class sizes
and classification of the university
as a tier one research institution.
They recommended students
supplementing their education
with internships and lab research
by a discussion of academic integrity
and what that meant of WSUV
students.
Kelsey DuPree, Christine Lundeen
and Bill Stahley then presented about
student resources on campus. Kelsey
DuPree asked students to identify
their goals for their time at WSUV
and write them down on the front of
the folder they were given at ROAR.
DuPree then provided the students
with information about how they can
start the process of reaching those
goals with the help of resources
at WSUV. The Student Resource
Center described all of the resources
open to incoming students including
supplemental instruction, tutoring,
After the three speakers were done
explaining campus resources, Mason
O’Lennick discussed student life on
campus, and brought up a student
panel of ambassadors to answer
questions the crowd might have about
student life. O’Lennick explained the
opportunities that students had to
get involved right away, including
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of
Service on Jan. 18.
When students were done
asking questions, a brief overview
of financial aid was presented to
students. Attendees were informed of
deadlines for scholarships at Pullman
and the deadline for scholarships
given out by the Vancouver campus.
could improve ROAR for future
students. The Office of Student
Involvement also offered door prizes
for students who could correctly
answer questions about the two
and a half hours of programming.
Correct students received door prizes
ranging from coffee mugs to cougar
gear. Finally, the attendees were
invited to explore the resource fair
to collect information about different
university programs. Students were
also given free pizza to help deal
with any hunger pains that they
might have been experiencing at
6:30 p.m., around the time when
the program finished. Students were
also encouraged to attend an optional
campus tour, but many did not want
to face the rain outside.

Over 100 students sat in the Firstenburg Student Commons for ROAR Orientation. Sally Thrall/The VanCougar

1/14 Traumatic Brain Injury Resource Outreach @ 10 a.m. in cafeteria • 1/15 Chancellor’s Seminar Series @ 11:45 a.m. in VFSC
 CAMPUS NEWS 3

WSUV gives back to the community. People wanting

Community service
project opportunities on
MLK, Jr. Day
Sally Thrall/Campus News Editor
in service in their communities.” In
order to do so, committee members
Emily Shaw, Cindy Morical,
Ramandeep Brar, Jackie Cruz, and
Bola Majekobaje have organized
different service opportunities for
people to participate in.
to be in the great outdoors or spend
time in the fresh air will have two
opportunities to do so. StreamTeam,
an organization dedicated to reviving
the Salmon Creek Watershed, will
be hosting an outdoor service site.
At the service site participants may
be able to plant trees, pot trees for
the tree nursery, weed and clean up
streams, or monitor water quality

T
Last year, the first year of the
his Martin Luther King, Jr. and plant survival. Another outdoor
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of
Day, students at WSUV will service site will be hosted by the
Service, over 200 students, staff,
have the chance to partake in a day Vancouver Watershed Council, where
faculty, and community members
of service benefiting the community. participants will have the opportunity
gathered together for the event. This
Jan. 18 will be a day for students to plant trees.
year, organizers are hoping for at
to remember Martin Luther King, For those who would rather not
least 100-125 people to participate,
Jr. and the struggle he helped lead brave the cold, there are service
but would love to have as many as
for civil rights. Students have the sites indoors where participants
possible.
entire day off. While some students can help local children in need. For
The day will kick off in the
may be already planning what to do people who are naturally creative,
Firstenburg Student Commons where
with their three-day weekend, other or would like to be, there will be art
people can register for what service Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks to crowd. Photo credit/Screenrant.com
students have decided to spend that supplies provided at one service site.
project they would like to participate
day giving back to the community. These supplies will be used to create an opportunity to prepare meals of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
in. Then after hearing a musical
The second annual Martin cards for the children at the local for children in need and spend time of Service, or have any questions
performance and keynote speaker
Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. doing fun activities with the children. about the event, go to the Office of
Thabiti Lewis, participants will go to
a way for students to give back to Participants seeking more interaction No matter what service project Student Involvement. Those wanting
their service location where they will
the community and reflect on the with those they are helping to serve participants wish to partake in, Bola to participate must RSVP, which
spend between two and five hours
importance of civic and community will be interested in the service site Majekobaje said, “We hope that can be done at the Office of Student
giving back to the community.
service. Organizer Bola Majekobaje hosted by Share, an organization that this day of service will lead each Involvement, or online at http://www.
Students and other members of
said, “One of the goals for the day of helps homeless individuals get back participant to a lifetime of service.” vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/diversity/mlk.
the community and WSUV will be
service is to inspire people to engage on their feet. Share will be providing If you are interested in being part html.
offered multiple ways to give back

Hear ye,
hear ye
Distinguished Women
of the year; committee
looking for new recruit

Sally Thrall/Campus News Editor

A ttention all interested

students looking to get
involved. The Women of Distinction
Selection Committee is looking
for a new recruit to help select two
Distinguished Women of the Year.
Women of Distinction is an event
put on by the Office of Student
Involvement each March. Women
of Distinction celebrates women’s
history month by recognizing a
female member of the community
or faculty and staff at WSUV and a
female student who have inspired,
encouraged and mentored others.
Women of Distinction will be held on
Mar. 31 to recognize all the women
in the community that have been an
inspiration and touched the lives of
others. At the event, recipients of the
Distinguished Woman of the Year
Award will be recognized.
Women in the community and on
campus are nominated to receive the
award by other members of campus
and the community. Once the online
nominations close, the Selection
Committee for Women of Distinction
reviews the nominations and chooses
two recipients, one for the student
award and one for the community/
faulty/staff award.
Currently, the Selection Committee
is looking to add a fifth member as
another student voice to help decide
the Distinguished Woman of the
Year recipients. They are looking for
someone who is enthusiastic and has
been part of the process of mentoring,
empowering and inspiring; either
having had someone do that to them,
or having done that for others. All
students are encouraged to apply.
Applications can be picked up at the
front desk of the Office of Student
Involvement.

1/18 MLK, Jr. Service Day @ 9 a.m. in VFSC • 1/20 Cougar Afterhours @ 5 p.m. at Pop Culture in Downtown Vancouver for alumni
 4 STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
Travel Café event and photo contest on campus
Submit photos for the
event and learn about
foreign places
Triana Collins\Student Involvement Editor
H
ow was your winter
break? Are you glad to
be back or could you use
another week? Either way, school
has started and there’s nothing you
can do about it, so you might as
well get comfortable. Share stories
and pictures from travels you took
anywhere and at any time of the year
at the Travel Cafe on Jan. 27 from
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hosted by OSI
and the Campus Reading Project, this
event will provide food and award
$50 gift certificates for two winning
photographs in the local and abroad
categories. The photographs, which
can be supplied by anyone, need
to be turned in to Kendal Mantzke,
the OSI Marketing Intern, by Jan.
21. Send your pictures to her at
osimarkintern@vancouver.wsu.edu
with a description of the location.
Here are a couple winter break
stories to get you in the sharing spirit:
Chau Nguyen described her winter
break as more of a working holiday
than a vacation. “Instead of skiing or
snowboarding, I was working extra
for Macy’s, asking me to work at
least five days a week.
“More hours meant more money,
but it got really tiring when I had to
be at work pretty much every day,
and Macy’s was extremely busy
during the holiday season. However,
the reward was that I ran into a lot of
people, some of whom I had not seen
for a long time.
“For Christmas and New Year, I
just went to my grandparents’ for a
Sing your stress away
Choir class offers
credit, sign up now for
University Singers
Triana Collins\Student Involvement Editor
A re you desperately in need
of one more credit? Do you
like to sing or just like to be around
singers, hoping that their talent will
eventually rub off on you? Well, you
are in luck because the campus choir
has an abundance of open seats.
The choir, also known as
University Singers, is comprised
of students, staff, faculty, and
community members. It is actually
this last group, the community
members, who make it possible for
the students to have a class due to
their enthusiasm and number.
Once a semester, the choir
puts on a concert. This past
December, they performed Haydn’s
“Harmoniemesse” with the help of
professional soloists. An orchestra
joined them with some musicians
coming from the Vancouver
Vancougar.ning.com
1/16 Journalism Boot Camp @ 1 p.m. in VFSC RSVP to vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu by Jan. 13 to reserve a seat
big family dinner and hung out with
the cousins. My grandmother cooked
good Vietnamese food, such as egg
rolls, seafood soup, and beef stirred
rice. It was a good catch-up time
since I had not been there for a while
because of school and work.
“New Year Day was also the
birthday of my father and cousin.
Hence, we had a double birthday
celebration at my grandparents’
house. There were lots of food, cakes,
and pictures. It was a fun time, taking
off all the tiredness I had from work
that day.
“One thing I was not really happy
during this break was my haircut. I got
one on Christmas Eve and it turned
out to be too short that I do not like
it. Unfortunately, my family loves
pictures and they took tons during
the holiday and sent the pictures to
distant relatives and friends. I do
not like everybody to see my “not-
looking-good” look but I had no
choice but to be in the pictures.
“Almost four weeks of break (I
got done with all my finals on the
Tuesday of the final week) ends and
it is time to get back to school.
“I promise this semester I am
going to start fresh and new, no more
slacking off and waiting until the last
minute to do assignments. Happy
New Year everyone and have a great
semester!” said Nguyen.
My bipolar winter break: Too
short when you’re having fun, too
long when you’re dying to get away,
back to your normal life where family
is a tiny noun meaning tucked away
photographs and a phone call every
now and then.
Traveling through California with
my boyfriend, we encountered it all:
a dust storm in Palm Springs, hail in
Joshua Tree, and a blizzard in Yreka
Symphony and as far away as
Eugene, Oregon.
The upcoming Spring semester
concert’s theme will be “American
Classic”. The choir will sing old
American music, folk songs, theatre,
and art songs. Conductor Lee
Jennings is especially excited about
a spoken piece titled “Geographical
Fugue” by a composer who escaped
Nazi Germany for Los Angeles, and
said that “even though there is no
actual singing it turns out to be very
musical”.
Jennings has been the choir
conductor since the very beginning
when he helped to start the choir
from scratch as a club. For the past
seven and a half years it has been
offered for credit, a rare jewel of a
class at a university that lacks a music
program. Judging by the turnout at
concerts and support among students,
more music classes at WSUV would
be accepted with open arms.
Jennings has been conducting
since he was 15 years old and
isn’t about to stop anytime soon.
He received his master’s degree
that left us stranded on I-5. We for one day until I’m whisked away when you’re sick with disgust at the
watched seagulls eat a dying baby to visit my family in New Jersey, a life choices of others. Alcohol helps,
elephant seal on the central coast, place I haven’t been for over 2 years but as we all know, gets old and
licked salt off the ground in Death and was not looking forward to going nauseating after a while. But hey,
Valley, and soaked our bones in a back to. that’s what winter break is for right?
natural reed-lined and mud-filled hot When I arrive, it’s 17 degrees To get sick with abundance. To get
spring while a slightly crazy biker and stays that way the entire time. tired of the people you say you love.
offered us various narcotics. Everything is covered in snow, To remember why you live far away
We were dirty and smelly, and and then again in ice. Walking has from them and why you’ll never
either too cold or too hot. But that’s become dangerous, so I forget about move back. And ultimately, to be
what camping is all about. And escaping outside when the drama grateful to come home.
when you’re in love, all the daily level becomes too high. Which of Don’t miss out on a great
discomforts just don’t seem to matter course, it does, and stays at “level opportunity to relax, share your
that much compared to the nightly orange” for days while I listen to stories and photos, eat free food, and
joy of cuddling up, dead tired and still stories of ungrateful, backstabbing, win prizes on Jan. 27 from 11:30 a.m.
wearing all your clothes, in a double mean-spirited relatives whose only to 1 p.m. in the Firstenburg Student
wide sleeping bag on the leaf littered apparent purpose in life is to create Commons.
floor of some pristine forest. misery.
Then we’re back in Washington It’s hard to keep a happy face
in orchestra conducting at the
University of Idaho before moving
on to do some doctoral study at the
University of Washington. He has
taught band, orchestra, choir, musical
theatre, and even African drumming,
a skill he picked up in the diverse
neighborhoods of Seattle.
In addition to being a stress
reliever and break from the usual
academic day, Jennings believes
that music actually helps the brain
function better in all aspects of life.
He references The Dana Foundation,
an organization dedicated to serving
as a gateway of information about the
latest scientific brain research and its
connection to arts education.
The choir class is graded based
on attendance, with 2 unexcused
absences allowed. Jennings lovingly
reminisces about a student who
couldn’t match pitch but showed
up for every rehearsal and hence,
received an “A”. They meet twice
a week from noon to 1 p.m. on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. The class
number is MUSC 432: University
Singers.


 STUDENT INVOLVEMENT 5

Running Club Triana Collins\Student Involvement Editor

M
ari-Jo Qualey claims she to seven miles at a time. The runners will
has been running forever keep going non-stop, all day and night,
and wants to continue that switching at designated points where
obsession here at WSUV. She started the they get picked up by safety vehicles and
Running Club during fall semester simply brought to the next starting point until
because she loves to run and wants to someone eventually reaches the sea.
share that love with others. On her own, Qualey said that training for events
she will run 12 to 13 miles in one day. helps runners have a long term goal that
The club will take it a bit easier, doing enables them to become better runners:
about two or three miles at a time, running longer distances with less injuries.
and staying on and around campus. She hopes that the club will be able to
Like last semester, the Running participate in 10ks or half-marathons with
Club will meet twice a week a grant she has applied for. These events
during spring semester. They cost on average 20 dollars per person with
will begin training for the all the proceeds going to charities.
Hood to Coast run, a 197 If given a choice, Qualey prefers to run
mile run from Mt. Hood in the afternoons or evenings, as she is not
to Seaside, OR. This is a morning person. The times the club will
the world’s largest relay run depends on the members’ schedule,
with 14,000 runners with mornings unfortunately being an
clogging the streets. option if that is what works. She believes
Teams of about 12 running helps people in all areas of their
people are formed life and that runners are typically in good
with each person health. If you would like to get in shape,
running four send her an e-mail at mjcq32@hotmail.com

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Firstenburg Family
Fountain
E FIRSTENBURG ADMINISTRATION
CLASSROOM BUILDING
STUDENT COMMONS BUILDING (VADM)
A Admissions
Reserved Parking
(VCLS)
CLARK COLLEGE MCCLASKEY
BUILDING BUILDING
B Bus Stop (VCCW)
Public Safety/
Cafeteria (VMCB)
E Early Learning Center Picnic
C Motorcycle Parking ENGINEERING/
E Bookstore Area Outdoor Sports
LIFE SCIENCES B Court
BUILDING Bus Loop
Ad

D Daily/Visitor Pay Lot (VELS)

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Metered Parking (2-hour limit)

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Art Gallery
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1/30 Submissions due for the Salmon Creek Journal. Have your artwork published in a college periodical. More info online!
 6 FEATURE
Free Coug: living on a budget
Triana Collins\Student Involvement Editor
A
nd... we’re back.
Whatever, I know you’re
moaning and groaning,
but I am so excited. New year, new
decade, new classes, I can barely
contain myself. Plus, now that
this painfully long break is over,
I won’t have to visit my family
for another, say, 2 years, which is
just fine with me. Perhaps I could
make it longer if I contracted an
infectious disease (maybe, swine
flu?). Then, not visiting would seem
like a conscientious favor instead of
inconsiderate carelessness. Maybe
by that time a new mass hysteria will
have hit, and I can contract that as
well and drag the visit out another 5
years. But maybe I’m getting ahead
of myself. Anyways, enjoy some
mostly FREE events in our lovely
city.
What: Symphony Storytime
When: Saturday, Jan. 16
Where: Vancouver Mall Library
Time: 3 p.m.
Cost: FREE
This sounds genuinely cool. The
guy who does the percussion section
at the Oregon Symphony is like,
really good, and is going to be adding
sounds to stories read at the library.
So say a lion roars in the story, then
maybe he’ll bust out his timpani and
make it sound all crazy loud and
roaring. And then perhaps there’s a
1/26 Health and Fitness Resource Fair @ 11 a.m. in VFSC: Get a massage, have health screening, contact physical therapist
thunderstorm and all the animals are
in grave danger, so he gets out his
cymbal and just goes to town. That’s
what I’m envisioning but I suggest
you check it out for yourself.
What: America’s Largest Antique
and Collectible Show
When: Sat. and Sun., Jan. 16 - 17
Where: Clark County Event Center
Time: Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sun.
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Cost: $7 for adults, $3 for kids
I know this is a little pricey at
seven dollars but I just thought you
should at least know about it. This
is the largest antique and collectible
show in America, which is “offering
a diverse and happy hunting ground
for the collector in every field”. I
like when places or events claim
they have the largest or biggest or
grandest of something. In Baker,
California they have the world’s
largest thermometer and I was
begging my boyfriend to take a tiny
100 mile detour so that we might
be able to bask in it’s temperature
reading glory. But noooo, we just
didn’t have the time. So I don’t want
you to feel like me and wish you had
gone. I mean, this is basically one
gigantic garage sale so there’s bound
to be something exciting. And if
nothing else, you know all the crazy
old people hassling each other over
those McDonalds Collectible Beanie
Babies will be entertaining.
What: Art and Music Fest
When: Saturday, Jan. 16
Where: Paper Tiger Coffeehouse
Time: 1 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Cost: FREE
I know there’s a lot of stuff going
on today, but you should definitely
try and check out this event if you can
manage to get out of bed. There will
be live painting, music and spoken
word for 10 straight hours. That’s
a really long time to be listening to
stuff. So maybe you should go for an
hour and then go somewhere else for
an hour and then go back and forth
like that all day. The music is rather
eclectic with stuff like space rock,
hip-hop, solo viola, alt-country, and
punk.
What: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
When: Monday, Jan. 18
Where: Everywhere
Time: All day
Cost: FREE
Today is a holiday so don’t forget
to not come to school. Unless you
really feel like it. No one is going to
stop you, but it’s not like anyone else
will be here so you might be kinda
lonely.
What: Ribbon Cutting Mixer
When: Thursday, Jan. 21
Where: Columbia Bank
Time: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Haha. I had to put this in because
it’s so funny. I highly recommend
NOT going to this event.
The Rant
Jake Kleinschmidt\Managing Editor
Editor’s note: These ‘numbers’
and ‘studies’ are for effect. The are
not real.
I
hate New Years.
Especially the resolution
thing. It has become like a
requirement for anyone entering
a new season. What if I don’t want
to change? What if I am perfectly
content with how things are? Whats
this demand that I must change
something about myself?
That is why whenever someone
asks me. “Whats your New Year’s
resolution?” I simply answer “To
come up with one next year.” Funny,
how that is the same deal every year
for me is it not? Do you think the
world would end if we decided to
abolish these resolutions? Are they
really that important? If I do not have
one, why is it that people seem to
badger me into coming up with one?
I ask you this, who actually
follows through on their resolutions?
I do not think anyone succeeds with
their cliché resolutions. Essentially
the resolutions befall on our most
shameful habits and our attempts to
break them. But as being humans,
we seem to not have the willpower
to overcome these things with just a
simple unsupported statement on the
first of January. Seriously, 78% of all
“reported” resolutions fail by the end
of the year, and 45% fail by the end
of January. Kudos to the 22% who
succeed then. I’m guessing, their
resolutions, were either like mine, or
extremely simple.
Studies also say that this is
because people keep their resolutions
to themselves. So apparently if you
scream to everyone you know what
your resolution is, it will likely
succeed? For some reason I hope
nobody does this. I really do not want
to know your resolution, because,
They are all the same, it would get
boring fast. Either you are trying
to lose weight and be fit, or stop
smoking and drinking. And if its
neither of those, you must be in debt.
Yay for you, good luck with that,
really.
New Years, I hate you for being so
common. New Years, I hate you for
your resolutions of nonsense. New
Years, I hate you for being overly
important.
They said what?
“Dolphins are ‘nonhuman
persons’ who qualify
for moral standing as
individuals.”
-Thomas White, professor
of ethics, Loyola
Marymount University in
Los Angeles.
Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/
tol/news/science/article6973994.ece
Have you heard a funny quote
lately? Send it in to vancouged@
vancouver.wsu.edu and we will
publish it in the next issue!
(TFLN):
TXTS FRM LST NGHT
HOME I BESTNIGHTS I WORSTNIGHTS I SUBMIT
(979): Do you think Tom Brady
went home tonight and changed
his facebook status to “pink
with lace”?
(954): He was telling me how
the song fireflies makes him feel
like he can talk to animals
(760): I can handle NPR. I speak
hippie. I took it in college.
(612): You text me last night
that you invented a new food.
Cheese-less grilled cheese.
Congrats, you made toast.
(702): just got death stares at
taco bell because I asked if
Denise was working.
(941): Is it just me, or does Colt
McCoy look like Herbie the
Dentist from “Rudolph the Red-
nosed Reindeer”?
(570): Just took a closer look
at the paper that kid wrote me
his number on. It was an ATM
receipt. His balance is $17.89. i
made the right choice.
(817): The worst mistakes make
the best memories. Write that
down.
(701): I just found out you can
file for divorce online. I love
America.
(716): I can’t go out tonight. I
feel like I’m starting to party as
much as Farrah on Teen Mom.
(631): I’m afraid my bank
account can’t handle syllabus
week.
(609): i carry sandwiches in my
pockets more than any normal
person should
(806): You proceeded to call me
a hoe and then informed me that
Bear Grylls is and always will
be more important than I am to
you.
(201): In Canada she would be
a 10 but here in America she’s
only a 7
(303): i have a dinosaur tramp
stamp
(904): Pretending to care about
her feelings is becoming a full
time job
(301): I wish real life had face-
book tags so i could figure out
who all these people are
(301): Just showed mom and
dad the pics from San Francisco,
while i played the Full House
theme song in the background.
(360): just took my ibuprofen
with ramen broth, yay college
(305): just ate frosted cheerios
in coffee with some marshmel-
lows. the college diet begins
(330): hot pretzels for dinner,
snacks, and now breakfast...oh
to be a poor college student...
everyday is like a carnival.
(715): just had a dream there
were parent teacher conferences
in college...scariest dream ever.
 FEATURE 7

Student Spotlight: Castro

Student, mother,
volunteer, and survivor
Triana Collins\Student Involvement Editor
Empowerment Coalition that was
started this past fall semester, Erica
has made the goal of the club “to
empower women and girls here
on campus, in Vancouver, and
the classroom activities for the day,
such as writing, reading, or science
experiments. “When I was a kid
we didn’t have so much help from
parents but I can see that it’s needed.

E
rica Castro can make you
feel a little, um, lazy. But
it is totally unintentional
because this single mother, full-
time student, club president, and
community volunteer does not have a
mean bone in her long ballerina body.
She is simply doing what she has to
do and she doesn’t have time to stop.
Hailing from Portland, Erica is a
Humanities major with a dual focus
in Women’s Studies and Dance. The
dance classes come from the Boston
Conservatory where she continued
her lifelong love of movement that
started when she was very small. In
Boston, she had her two children,
but also wound up in an emotionally
abusive relationship that, while
difficult at the time, changed her life
for the better.
“There was a lot of distress, so
we left. It was like being in the
wrong place at the wrong time,”
she explained of the reason for her
move back to the Northwest and
her separation from her children’s
father. “It’s much more peaceful that
it’s just us now. But it took a year
to recuperate, gain my footing, clear
my head, and find a goal for myself,
something to be proud of. My family
has been very supportive... I wouldn’t
be here without them.”
On being single, Erica said she
“doesn’t have time for a significant
other.” With power and determination
in her voice she said, “Our society is
so focused on male power... I’m not
looking for a mate to support us.
I’m trying to support us. I’m sure
my daughter isn’t happy with all the
nights I say ‘I have to study’, but one
day they’ll appreciate all the work I
did and want to do it too.”
As president of the Women’s
around the globe”. The club is a
support resource for its members,
holds monthly meetings, conducts
donation drives and silent auctions
to support women and families in
the community, brings awareness to
groups and organizations, and works
closely with shelters and the YWCA.
Erica knows first hand what it’s
like to be at a low point in life where
help is desperately needed. “I know
that spot and I know how low I was
and I know that women can get out
of that spot. Whether they have
children or not, or are coming from
a divorce or separation. It takes time
to rebuild yourself and to figure out
what you really want to do, without
having someone else tell you what
you should do. “
Erica will be graduating in May
but said, “It’s not going to be a break.
One day you’re graduating and the
next day you’re in your master’s
program.” She’ll have a little bit of
time to relax before heading off into
the elementary education program
here at WSUV since “everything’s
already familiar”. Then, the goal
is to teach the fourth or fifth grade
when “at that age they have a good
academic foundation... and they still
have open minds to learn”.
Castro’s daughter, who is six and a
half, is enrolled in a local elementary
school, and her son, three, is in the
Child Development Program here at
WSUV. “My daughter is in the 1st
grade, so I can reflect upon what
it was like to be there. I can recall
those individuals who helped me
and it inspires me to be a teacher or
a principal.”
In addition to her own full time
academic schedule, Erica volunteers
at her daughter’s school on Friday
mornings helping the teacher with
There is a lot of energy in the room
and it can be hard to control. There
are a lot of kids who have a hard
time focusing and if I have a group
of them, then the teacher can focus
more one on one.”
Since Erica believes that art
education is vital to a child’s
development, she volunteers with
At Home At School (AHAS). She
teaches dance to kids who wouldn’t
normally have the opportunity to
learn the art form and takes them to
cultural events such as the ballet, The
Nutcracker. “Some are from shelters
and we give the kids an experience
that they might not be able to have. It
gives them a different perspective of
the world that may turn into a passion
later on in their life. “
Erica suggests that all people
should take a women’s studies course
and recommends Dr. Gordillo’s
‘Global Feminisms’. Women’s
studies courses “open your eyes not
just to gender differences, but race
and class as well. And just because
it’s a women’s studies course doesn’t
mean it’s just for women. If you’re
not part of the solution, you’re part of
the problem, so men need to be part
of the solution too”.
“Come join the women’s
empowerment coalition!” Erica
encouraged before running off
to study, volunteer, be a mom,
and take care of herself. For
more information, e-mail her at
womensempowermentcoalition@yahoo.com.

not do for you because each person dangerous and completely electric shaver was not meant to go
is different and has different bodies unappealing), and ingrown hairs. in that area. Use a new sharp blade to
and different psyches that interpret It is recommended that you trim prevent cutting yourself or irritating

The SEXpert
Q: Dear Sexpert,
Should guys shave or not?
Personally, I can’t feel a difference
on a woman during the act if she’s
just shaved or not, but then maybe
that’s because I don’t. I guess my
question is trying to get your angle
on the matter. Does it feel better for
her if I do? Do women like that, or
is it just in porn? Does it make a
difference?
Followup: If you decide that I
should indeed shave, what is the best
method? Razor or electric shaver?
- To shave or not to shave
Sally Thrall/Campus News Editor
Dear Shave,
As with most things sexual,
shaving is a matter of personal
preference. Some people like it,
others do not. If you don’t want
to shave (male or female), then I
would say do not. However, if you
are neutral on the subject, then
you might want to try it out. Some
women report that shaving increases
sexual pleasure because it gives
them better access to more sensitive
areas. As a guy, you may find that
that logic also applies to you, but
then again you may not. It is hard to
say exactly what shaving will or will
sensations differently.
If your partner is interested in you
shaving, then you may want to try
it. You do not have to if you do not
want to, but for some people seeing
a partner with trimmed hedges
makes things a little more exciting.
I would ask your partner if she has a
preference, or try out the new look,
and see what response you get. Your
partner may like the shave better
sensation wise, and she may not
know until you try it. Unfortunately,
though there is no preference for
shaved or unshaved that can be
applied to all women, it varies on an
individual basis.
If you are worried about
aesthetics, but you are not sure that
you want to bare it all, then you can
always just try trimming the hair
down a little bit. Trimming also
avoids some of the negative aspects
of shaving like cuts, infections of
said cuts, razor burn, bumps (which
in this area can look like something
before you shave anyway, and you
may find that you like the tamed
look better than bushy or bald.
Remember that, as you are
shaving and trimming, the hair is
there for a reason. Pubic hair helps
keep the genitals warm, offers
a certain amount of protection
(especially for women), collects
pheromones, alluring hormones
that attract people that may in the
near future see your pubic hair, and
decreases friction during sex. You
should definitely think about the last
one before you decide to shave. For
some people, and without proper
lubrication, shaving can actually
make sex painful or awkward.
If you want to try shaving, you
should trim the area that you intend
first, depending on how long the hair
is. Trimming the hair to ¾ to ½ an
inch should aid in any further hair
removal. Once you’ve trimmed, I
would recommend using a razor,
and not an electric shaver. The
the area. The pubic area is especially
prone to irritation so that part is
important. I would consider buying
a female razor with a moisture strip,
because these razors are made with
the possibility of shaving the pubic
region, while male razors usually
are not. More specific directions for
shaving pubic hairs can be found
online. Whatever you do, be sure to
be careful.
If you like the look and sensations
after shaving, then you may want to
think about other methods of hair
removal. However, given that most
other methods are more painful,
and the genitals are a sensitive area,
then you may want to just stick with
shaving.
Do not worry about mistakes or
experimenting too much, because
after all is said and done, any hair
you shave will come back.
- The SEXpert

1/28 Cougs and Coffee @ 7:30 a.m. at Burgerville; free and open to all Alumni • 1/31 College Goal Sunday 2 p.m. at Clark
8 ADVERTISEMENTS

Who was
president
during your last
annual exam?

Salm on Cree k heal th cent er is back !

2105 NE 129t h Stre et in Vanc ouve r,
1-88 8-57 6-PL AN

1/11 Every Monday and Wednesday Cardio Combo class @ 5:15 p.m. in the Clark Building, room 20 until April 22
 ADVERTISEMENTS 9

1/12 Every Tuesday and Thursday Yoga class @ noon in the Clark Building, room 20 until April 22
 10 SPORTS AND RECREATION
Clippers win, Grizzlies roar
Portland Trail Blazers fall
to LA and Memphis on
home court
Erik Cummings\Sports Editor
D A
espite their initial home-
game winning streak, the
Portland Trail Blazers fell
to the Los Angeles Clippers in L.A.
on Jan. 4. Memphis had their turn
the following day with the Grizzlies
managing a fourth quarter rally to
win on the Blazer’s home court.
The Clippers and Blazers met
Monday, each fresh from three home-
game wins. Clippers Center Chris
Kamen put Los Angeles on the board
first. Martell Webster brought the
Blazers their first points, starting the
furious back and forth struggle that
would end the first quarter with the
Blazers one point ahead at twenty-one.
Traveling violations seemed to
be the soup du jour and the Blazers
received three of the four given.
Similar infractions conducted by
Los Angeles passed by referee
Delaney’s notice more often than
not. The Blazers pressed on and
kept up, Andre Miller passing off
the ball left and right to assist the
second half ending in a tie at forty-
five all. With two quarters gone, the
number of lead changes had reached
seven with at total of eight ties.
With the Clippers’ traveling
Almost hot: a personal journey
Regular updates of
one Campus Fitness
Challenge participant’s
progress in eight-week
program to health
Spring Atkinson\Contributing Writer
I
have realized that there are
very few photos of myself
over the last few years. I often
tell people it is because I am the one
behind the camera, but who am I
kidding? I can’t tell you where my
camera is at this moment or even if
the batteries are charged. The reason
Photo credit/Michael Hatch
there are very few photos is because
I will not allow them to be taken. If
there are pictures of me, they will be
posted on social networking sites,
I will be tagged in the photos, and
other people will see the photos;
I will see the photos. Then I will
have to admit something I have been
able to avoid by only making eye
contact with myself in my bathroom
mirror: I am overweight. Correction:
I am past overweight; I am obese.
This not a place I thought I
would ever be. At almost five feet
tall and 118lbs in high school, I
was constantly teased about my
weight. When walking down the
halls a group of boys liked to chant
1/11 Mt. Bachelor Registration in Recreation Center: $135 per student, trip takes place Feb. 19 - 21, staying at Phoenix Inn Hotel
violations largely ignored continuing
into the third quarter, the L.A. team’s
turnover still rose to 16. Miller
managed a swift drive down the court
to dunk a few minutes after a three-
pointer from Webster. Kamen’s return
field goal spelled the beginning of the
end for the Blazers. The lead would
remain firmly in the Clippers’ hands
for the remaining five minutes in the
third quarter as well as the entirety
of the fourth. Indeed, the Blazers
came no closer than two points to
the Clippers’ lead for the rest of the
game. The sheer irony of the Clippers
at last being called out for traveling
in the fourth was matched with the
fact that it was not Delaney who
called it, but one of his associates.
The final score in the LosAngeles vs.
Portland game rounded out at 105-95.
Blazers Forward LaMarcus
Aldridge and Guard Steve Blake
were absent from the L.A. game.
Blake was recovering from his
bout with pneumonia and Aldridge
was recovering from a sprained
ankle. Aldridge returned to the
Rose Garden Arena on the Jan. 5
for the game against the Grizzlies.
Aldridge’s return started the
Blazers off with a flourish as he
claimed the first field goal of
the game. The unfazed Grizzlies
wrestled the lead away from the
Blazers until the last two minutes
of the first quarter starting with
Memphis Forward Rudy Gay’s foul
“Boom Boppa, Boom Boppa” with
every footstep as I walked past. That
was over fifteen years ago but I still
hear their voices like it was today.
When serving in the military I was
in the best shape of my life: six-pack
abs and all. The physical fitness level
required of a woman my age were not
an issue for me. I often “maxed-out”
in pushups and sit-ups and ran two
miles in under thirteen minutes, but at
128 lbs I was considered overweight
by military standards. Every weigh
in for me was excruciatingly painful
since I knew that I would be called
out of my platoon to have my body
fat calculated to see if I needed to be
put on a weight loss program. That
never happened but once again I was
singled out because of my weight.
Most recently, I had a bouncer
at bar tell me I shouldn’t drink
while I was pregnant. My face was
red-hot with shame as I, not so
kindly, explained that I was fat-not
pregnant. I came to the realization
that while I cannot change what
other people think and say (after all,
everyone in America seems to have
an opinion and shares it freely), I
can change how I feel about myself.
I have decided that 2010 will be
the year I take care of me. Often
with classes, homework, family, and
work I forgot all about me. While I
seemed to be covering all the bases
for intellectual well-being, I forgot
my body houses my brain and I have
not been taking very good care of
it. Instead of thinking that the body
I see in my mind will just magically
appear someday, I have decided to
do something about it. I have joined
the Campus Fitness Challenge
sponsored by the Recreation Office.
The Campus Fitness Challenge is
being led by Neil Gregory, Recreation
Coordinator, as well as Mary Jo
shot. Miller mimicked his previous
night’s performance by setting up
assists that helped establish the
Blazer’s one point lead at the buzzer.
A flurry of activity before the
second half included two consecutive
three pointers by Webster, leading
to a Memphis timeout, and strong
assists by Jerryd Bayliss. Memphis
kept pace, Zach Randolph forcing
the half to end with the Grizzlies
a mere point behind Portland.
The Blazer defense started the
third quarter out strong, then waned
as the Grizzlies took an 11 point
run in which Guard O.J. Mayo sank
a three pointer. Center Marc Gasol
took a leaf out of Miller’s book and
stepped up his assists for Memphis. In
the fourth quarter, the Blazers broke
one hundred, Brandon Roy sinking
the shot despite being triple teamed.
Five minutes left in the period found
the Blazers up by eight at 104. In four
and a half minutes, the Grizzlies made
eight consecutive points through a
field goal by Randolph and a series of
foul shots. At thirty and a half seconds
left in the game, the score was tied.
Thirty and a half seconds passed
with a series of fouls called and shots
taken. For the Blazers, it must have
felt like years as Memphis managed
to pull ahead. Bayliss’s attempt
to tie the game at 106 failed as he
missed his first foul shot. Randolph
sank the last shot of the game to
bring a Memphis victory at 107-105.
Qualey and DeAnne Perler. This
program will take 20 students through
eight weeks of a fitness program.
According to Gregory, this is more of
a getting started program. That will be
encompassing goal setting, personal
training, coaching, accountability
and encouragement. Motivation is
a key factor in any fitness program
and this can vary from person to
person. “A “good trainer coach”
will acknowledge an individual’s
different style of motivation and
play to that strength,” said Gregory.
Another known motivator:
competition. By having an entire
group participating, the Recreation
Office hopes that people will let
good natured competition motivate
the participants to meet their fitness
goals for the duration of the program
and beyond. At the conclusion of the
program, prizes will be awarded.
Unlike Big Brother, however,
everyone that has met their fitness
goals will be put into a drawing for
prizes with a Grand Prize of a weekend
for two at the coast with night lodging,
meals, and a gas card included.
A weekend away is enough to get
me motivated! The question remains
though, will I continue to be motivated
as the weeks pass? I truly hope so and
I hope you will continue to take the
journey with me this semester. Each
issue I will be checking in and I hope
that you will continue to hold me
accountable for this life change that I
will be sharing so publicly with all of
you. If you want to get involved with
the Campus Fitness Challenge, please
sign up in the Recreational Office
or e-mail mjcq32@hotmail.com.
Next Issue: Beginning Measurements and
Goal Setting.
Look for video, picture, and written
updates online at vancougar.ning.com.
Irritated sports fan
A look at the WSU
football program
Daniel Barrette\Sports Writer
s I sat around the house
this break enjoying the
college football bowl
season, I couldn’t help but feel a
little irritated. I was irritated at the
fact that Washington State University
was not participating. In fact, our
football team has had back-to-
back horrendous seasons that leave
me, not only as a Cougar but also
as a sports fan, wondering if the
University is committed to winning.
Let’s look at the University of
Washington; they went from a Pac
10 conference record with the first
winless season to being on the
horizon of bowl berth within one
year. Not to mention they upset the
then number three ranked University
of Southern California, who for the
past eight years or so has dominated
the Pac 10 conference. UW was
committed to winning and hired
a brilliant offensive mind to help
resurrect their once proud football
tradition. I want WSU to show
the same commitment to winning
because Cougar nation is not going to
tolerate another woeful 1-11 season.
I think that WSU has the ability to
become competitive quickly. Look
at the surrounding schools that
recruit the same kids and have had
tremendous success. The University
of Idaho won their first bowl game
in almost ten years and they recruit
within the same area that WSU does.
I have to mention the constant
battle with UW for Washington’s
prized recruits. Not too long ago,
one of the most wanted Washington
recruits was Jake Locker who chose
the more attractive UW. The one
recruit that really leaves me irritated
is Kellen Moore. For those who
don’t know who Kellen Moore is,
he is the current quarterback for
the Boise State Broncos. Moore
led the nation in passing efficiency.
The nation. That includes all 119
teams that compile Division 1
football. Most people do not know
that Moore played High School
football in the state of Washington.
He went to Prosser High School
which is near Yakima, but that’s not
really important. He was selected
Washington State’s Player of the
Year, but Pac 10 schools seemed to
stay away from under-sized Moore.
It just irritates me that someone who
could have helped WSU begin to turn
the program around was passed over
because he was not two inches taller.
Now you may be thinking, “How
does one player turn a program
Cougar Trails map
around?” I will tell you plainly, one
player doesn’t. It does however begin
to gather attention from other recruits
that otherwise might not choose WSU.
I know WSU is keeping its current
coach for at least one more season
and it bothers me somewhat because
at any other University, 3-21 in two
seasons is unacceptable. It seems to
be acceptable for Washington State
University though. If Cougar nation
has to endure another 2-10 or 1-11
season, the call for a drastic change
is going to come down swiftly. I
want to give our current coach Paul
Wulff a chance, but after seeing his
body of work, I’m just not convinced
that he can turn it around. WSU
needs to go out and find a coach that
will bring players to Pullman and
make WSU football relevant again.
I am not one of those sports fans
who just points out the flaws and
doesn’t offer a solution to the problem.
I think that WSU needs to pursue an
up-and-coming coach who other big
time schools have passed over, or an
established coordinator who is still
waiting for a school to give them a
shot at a head coaching position. One
person who is very interesting to me
as a sports fan is current University of
Oregon Defensive Coordinator Nick
Aliotti. If you looked at the defensive
roster for the UO, you would be hard-
pressed to find someone that really
wowed you. That team was designed
to score points and hopefully score
enough to win, but Aliotti managed
to assemble a formidable defensive
that won them some games this
year. I am not saying that this is the
perfect fit, but Aliotti knows how to
recruit the Pac 10 area and would be a
welcome change to the performance-
lacking Cougars over recent years.
Another coach that could be a good
fit is recently fired Texas Tech
University head coach Mike Leach.
Some might question his handling
of a recent situation, but there is still
more evidence being uncovered.
The fact is that in ten years at TTU,
he managed to coach his teams to
a bowl each season. Leach never
had a losing season and he brings
an exciting brand of football to the
table. His system of spreading the
defensive out and passing it all over
them would excite me as a Cougar
fan. Those are just a couple ideas
that could help restore the once proud
WSU football tradition. Hopefully
in the near future WSU will pursue
an exciting football coach that won’t
leave Cougar nation so irritated.

FITNESS
CENTER
Hours
M-Th : 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat-Sun: Closed
Equipment
Ellipticals & Treadmills
Free Weights
Leg Presses, Extension, &
Curl machines
Medicine balls & Yoga
mats
Strength bands & jump
ropes
Policy
Fitness center is free to all
WSUV students, faculty,
and staff. Must sign
liability waiver. Bring
Fitness Center card each
visit.
Trainer
A certified personal trainer
is available to Fitness
Center users at no cost.
Develop a fitness plan,
learn how to use the
equipment, or develop
strength for a specific
sport or activity. The
sessions are free. Get fit!
Stay fit!
Quick word
Erik Cummings\Sports Editor
A h back from Christmas
vacation and already the murmurs of
anticipation fill the air. Upcoming this
semester is the fabled Mount Bachelor
Ski Trip, a vacation grown to such
popularity that the recreation center
has upped their cap of participants to
eighty. Also, the Cougar 5km sounds
like it will be a large event as well,
involving the community as well as
the university. Two new additions
to the Sports and Recreation pages
include The Irritated Sportsfan and
Almost Hot. Hard edged sports
critic Daniel Barrette has been
browbeaten graciously invited to
write a column this semester about
our beloved football and other sports
teams. Vivacious Spring Atkinson
put forth the idea of writing about
her progress through the Campus
Fitness Challenge, an ongoing event
sponsored by the Recreation Center.
So, with major events approaching
and two new columns in our humble
pages, we are pleased to enter the new
semester with you, our readers. Enjoy!
1/11 Mt. Hood Meadows lift tickets on sale in Recreation Office, costs $35 for students, valid all times Meadows is open
From Pullman: season updates
F
ootball: PULLMAN, Wash
-- The Washington State Cougar
football team will play a 12-game
schedule in 2010, including nine
games against teams that played in
bowl games this season.
“We have another strong
nonconference schedule that will
test our young, but vastly improved
team,” WSU Director of Athletics
Jim Sterk said in releasing this year’s
schedule. “Playing that schedule,
with two road contests against teams
that played in bowl games this season,
will prepare us for a challenging Pac-
10 schedule, which is always one of
the most difficult nationally.”
WSU opens its 2010 slate at
Oklahoma State (Sept. 4), followed
by a home game against Montana
State (Sept. 11). The Cougars close
out the nonconference portion of
their 2010 schedule Sept. 18 at
Southern Methodist University.
Both Oklahoma State and Southern
Methodist participated in bowl games
this season.
The 2010 schedule also features
five home conference games, the
first being Sept. 25 when USC
comes to Pullman. Back-to-back
games against defending Pacific-10
Conference champion Oregon (Oct.
9) and Arizona (Oct. 16) gives WSU
three of its first four Pac-10 games at
home.
The Cougars do not play another
home game until Nov. 20 when they
host California. Following a bye
week, WSU closes out its 2010 regular
season Dec. 4 against Washington in
the Apple Cup, proudly presented by
Boeing.
WSU’s first conference road game is
at UCLA (Oct. 2), and then two weeks
later the Cougars begin a stretch of
three-consecutive conference road
games. WSU will be at Stanford (Oct.
23) and at Arizona State (Oct. 30) in
back-to-back weeks, and following
the first of two bye weeks, WSU will
play its final road game at Oregon
State (Nov. 13).
Sterk also noted that discussions are
ongoing regarding a possible game in
Seattle for 2010. WSU has played a
home game at Qwest Field each of
the past eight seasons.
“With the college football schedule
extending into the first week of
December, the Pac-10 felt it was an
opportunity to highlight the great
rivalries in this conference,” said
Sterk. “Certainly we feel the Apple
Cup is one of the great rivalries of
college football and playing this
weekend highlights that fact.
The complete 2010 football
schedule for Washington State
follows:
Sept. 4 - at Oklahoma State
Sept. 11 - Montana State
Sept. 18 - at SMU
Sept. 25 - USC
Oct. 2 - at UCLA
Oct. 9 - Oregon
Oct. 16 - Arizona
Oct. 23 - at Stanford
Oct. 30 - at Arizona State
Nov. 6 - Bye
Nov. 13 - at Oregon State
Nov. 20 - California
Nov. 27 - Bye
Dec. 4 - Washington
Home games in bold
Men’s Indoor Track & Field:
PULLMAN, Wash. -- The Washington
State men’s track and field team is
ranked 18th in the preseason indoor
edition of national track & field team
rankings for NCAA’s Division I by
the United States Track & Field and
Cross Country Coaches Association
(USTFCCCA).
USTFCCCA national rankings
are a prediction of how teams and
individuals will place at the 2010
NCAA Div. I Indoor Championships,
March 12-13, Fayetteville, Ark.
The WSU men’s team returns All-
Americans Jeshua Anderson and
Reny Follett from the men’s 4x400m
relay team that finished eighth in
2009, and Trent Arrivey, a three-time
All-American high jumper.
The Florida State men’s team has
been identified as the No. 1 team
entering the season with in-state
rival Florida at No. 2 close behind.
On the women’s side, Texas A&M,
the defending outdoor champion and
led by a talented sprint crew, enters
the season No. 1 in the rankings. The
Cougar women’s team is unranked in
the preseason projections.
The first regular release of updated
rankings for NCAA’s Division I
will start Tuesday, January 26, with
updates occurring the following
seven Tuesdays leading to the NCAA
Indoor Championships, March 12-13.
Men’s Basketball: PULLMAN,
Wash. - Washington State University
men’s basketball sophomore Klay
Thompson has been named as one of
30 midseason candidates for the John
R. Wooden Award, the organization
announced Monday.
A native of Ladera Ranch, Calif.,
Thompson leads the Cougars and the
Pacific-10 Conference and ranks third
in the nation with 24.3 points per
game. The 6-foot-6 guard has led the
team in scoring in 13 of the team’s 14
games and reached 20-plus points in
11 of the 14 games. His streak of six
consecutive 20-point games to open
the season matched the most since
the school’s all-time leading scorer,
Isaac Fontaine, scored 20-plus in six-
straight games Dec. 7-29, 1996.
At the Great Alaska Shootout,
Thompson put up 43 points against
San Diego in the championship
game (Nov. 28), matching the third-
most points by a Cougar in a single
game. He also set a Great Alaska
Shootout with his 43 points, breaking
the record set by Glenn Robinson in
1993.
Thompson has earned Pac-10 Player
of the Week twice this season and
ranks 17th in the WSU career record
books for 3-pointers made with 104
in his young career.
Thompson is one of just two Pac-
10 players to be named to the list,
being joined by Washington’s Quincy
Pondexter. He is also one of 10
players who were not named to the
preseason list of 50 and is one of
seven underclassmen in the top 30.
Thompson is the first Cougar since
Derrick Low in 2008 to be named to
the Wooden Award Midseason Top
30 list.
Just as players who are not on the
preseason list are eligible for the
midseason top 30, players who do
SPORTS AND RECREATION 11
not make the midseason list are
still eligible for the national ballot,
which will be selected in March and
will consist of approximately 20
players. The Wooden Award goes
to the nation’s top player and will
be presented at the award ceremony
April 9 at the Los Angeles Athletic
Club. The top-five finalists will be
invited to L.A. for the ceremony
and receive a contribution to their
university’s general scholarship fund.
Created in 1976, the John R.
Wooden Award is the most prestigious
individual honor in college
basketball. It is bestowed upon the
nation’s best player at an institution
of higher education who has proven
to his or her university that he or she
is making progress toward graduation
and maintaining a cumulative 2.0
GPA. Previous winners include such
notables as Larry Bird (‘79), Michael
Jordan (‘84), Tim Duncan (‘97), and
Blake Griffin (‘09).
Women’s Volleyball: PULLMAN,
Wash. -- The Washington State
University volleyball program will
hold its awards banquet to celebrate
the 2009 NCAA Championship
Tournament season Saturday,
February 20, beginning at 6 p.m. in
the Compton Union Building (CUB)
Junior Ballroom.
The Cougars, under the direction
of Head Coach Andrew Palileo, the
2009 Pacific-10 Conference Coach of
the Year, posted an 18-13 season and
returned to the NCAA Championship
tournament for the first time in seven
years. Four seniors, Jackie Albright,
Rene Bordelon, Kelly Hyder and
Cassie Robbins, were instrumental in
the Cougars’ success in 2009 and will
be honored at the banquet as well as
recognition of the accomplishments
of the rest of the WSU team.
The cost to attend the banquet is
$22 per person and reservations can
be made with Assistant Coach TeAna
Tramel via email at ttramel@wsu.
edu. If you cannot attend but wish
to sponsor a player, please contact
coach Tramel via email.
General Release: BELLINGHAM,
Wash - Washington State University
Director of Athletics Jim Sterk
will be inducted into the Western
Washington University Athletics Hall
of Fame, Saturday, Feb. 6, Western
Washington University announced
Sunday, Jan. 3.
“It is a real honor to be inducted in
WWU’s Hall of Fame,” said Sterk,
who is one of four members of the
2010 class. “I was fortunate enough to
play with a great group of players and
coaches during my time at Western.
The friendships and experiences still
last after 30-plus years.”
Sterk will be inducted in a 2 p.m.
ceremony at the Concert Hall in the
WWU Performing Arts Center. He
will also be honored at halftime of
the WWU men’s and women’s home
basketball games that day.
Those wishing to attend the
ceremony may RSVP to Dorothy
Goldsmith at 360-650-6525 or
Dorothy.goldsmith@wwu.edu. There
is no charge to attend and everyone
attending will be given tickets to
that night’s men’s and women’s
basketball games.
Sterk received his Bachelor of Arts
degree at Western in 1980, earning
four letters in football and one in
basketball. He was credited with a
school-record 164 tackles during the
1977 season, being a first-team NAIA
District 1 all-star, team captain and
MVP in helping the Vikings to the
district championship game.
Born and raised in Whatcom
County, Sterk is a graduate of
Nooksack Valley High School, where
he was a four-sport letter winner. He
played on the Pioneers’ Class A state
championship basketball team as a
senior in 1974.
Sterk is in his 10th year as director
of athletics at Washington State,
overseeing unprecedented growth
and success in a 17-sport NCAA
I program that competes in the
Pacific-10 Conference.
Over the past 10 consecutive
semesters WSU student-athletes
have earned a cumulative grade point
average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and
in 2006-07, WSU was awarded with
three national honors. They included
being recognized as a Program of
Excellence by the Division I-A
Athletic Directors’ Association, and
receiving the Diversity in Athletics
Award presented by the Laboratory
for Diversity in Sport at Texas A&M
University and the Opportunity
Award for the West Region presented
by the Women’s Sports Foundation.
On the field, Cougar Athletics have
enjoyed extraordinary achievements
during Sterk’s tenure. In the three
years prior to the 2009-10 season,
WSU Athletics have been represented
in NCAA post-season play in 12 of its
17 sports. The men’s basketball team
had three consecutive post-season
appearances including back-to-back
NCAA Tournament appearances in
2007 and 2008 for the first time in
school history. The football program
put together three consecutive 10-win
seasons from 2001to 2003 and the
women’s rowing program earned five
NCAA Championship appearances,
placing fourth in 2006, the highest
finish ever by a WSU women’s team
in NCAA post-season competition in
any sport.
The on the field achievements
have continued into the fall portion
of the 2009-10 season with NCAA
appearances by volleyball and soccer
as well as cross country’s Lisa
Egami’s appearance at the NCAA
Championships.
In addition to the student-athletes’
academic and athletic success during
his tenure, Sterk has also presided
over exceptional increases in
financial support for student-athletes
and overseen a significant increase in
the department’s operating budget.
Facility improvements have also
been among projects Sterk has tackled
at WSU including major renovations
of the football and baseball facilities,
the development of an indoor rowing
facility, and a hydrotherapy system.
Sterk currently is the chair of the
Pac-10 Athletic Directors committee.
He has also served on the prestigious
NCAA Championship Competition
cabinet. Sterk and wife Debi have
three daughters, Ashley 20, Amy 17
and Abby 14.
 12 STUDENT GOVERNMENT

From the ASWSUV President Event Coordinator.

Welcome to the new
semester at WSUV;
looking forward to
getting back
Nick Ferderer\ASWSUV President
Holy smokes everyone! It’s 2010
and it’s Spring Semester! Are you
ready to get back to business, busy
and involved?
Over break, Student Government
continued to work on two important
projects we started last semester—
wireless Internet access and the
letter-writing campaign.
From the monthly Senate surveys,
ASWSUV learned that wireless
Internet access could be improved
in the Firstenburg, VMMC, and
outside VADM. With this info, the IT
Department is beginning feasibility
studies in these areas; look for
upgrades by March. It is almost time
to check this project off the list!
I am happy to report that, with
your help, we gathered over 500
personalized letters saying, “No
more cuts!” These letters will be
sent to legislators. To keep tuition
reasonable and preserve higher
education accessibility, however,
much work is still needed.
Talk about busy, the ASWSUV
Director of Legislative Affairs is
living in Olympia for the legislative
session and lobbying full-time on
behalf of our needs as students,
especially when it comes to tuition.
If you are interested in being
involved with this process in any
way, please contact Peter Sterr at
aswsuv.dla@vancouver.wsu.edu.
Your involvement could include
participating in rallies, making phone
calls, and even visiting Olympia!
Currently, ASWSUV has two
open, paid positions—Public
Relations Director and Multicultural
The Public Relations Director
literally puts the ‘stud’ in student
government. The position entails
promoting all things ASWSUV,
including events, projects, and other
campus happenings. The skilled and
creative behind-the-scenes genius
creates all flyers, ads, news blips, and
A-Frames, as well as coordinates all
tabling extravaganzas for ASWSUV.
The Multicultural Event
Coordinator also creates magic, but
in a different way. Alongside the
Activities Director, a board of three
activity experts, and others, this
person helps plan one campus event
each month with a focus on diversity.
Remember the Spoken Word event?
Or the free coffee and Palauan
music? Those were some of the
events the former Multicultural Event
Coordinator helped make happen.
If you are interested in applying
for either of these positions, or
learning more about what ASWSUV
is doing, visit aswsuv.com or stop by
the offices in the Firstenburg. Just
follow the smiling faces.
I’m stoked for the new semester
and more Student Government
progress! This is the perfect semester
to join the fun, gain some friends, and,
most importantly, makes your student
experience unforgettable! Heck, it’s
a new decade; do something new
because it’s a great time to be a Coug!
Welcome back everybody! Go
Cougs!

Lobbying in Oly
Continued from page 1 come to Olympia and testify to the

W
e received just over
500 letters, each
of which was sent
to each legislator in the student’s
district, resulting in just over 1500
letters. While we consider this
incredibly successful, it is only just
the beginning.
To successfully oppose these
budget cuts, we must continue to
connect students and legislators. This
means that we need letters, phone
calls, e-mails, visits to Olympia,
and recorded testimonies from as
many students as possible. Take five
minutes to write something, or five
hours to testify in Olympia (student
government will arrange your travel)
and participate in protecting your
higher education.
If you are able to contribute to this
campaign—a campaign which truly
unites all students—please contact
Max Ault, Public Affairs student
and Chair of the Washington Student
Association Campus Chapter, at
dmaxault@gmail.com. He will
be coordinating campus activities
throughout the legislative session
(Jan. 11 to Mar. 11) and is in need of
assistance. Contact him if you are
interested in participating in any way.
The first exciting opportunity
to participate is this Wednesday,
Jan. 13. We need students who are
currently receiving financial aid to
House and Senate Higher Education
Committees. Your travel will be
provided, and you will be briefed
so that you are prepared. I highly
encourage anyone interested in this
to participate. Contact Max Ault
(dmaxault@gmail.com) if you are
available.
I must reiterate that we are facing
a situation that will affect everyone,
and now is not the time to sit back
and let things happen. I realize that
you have busy lives, and I realize that
civic engagement may not be your
first interest. But please understand
that if you do not participate—and
we are making it very easy for you
to participate—your tuition will
assuredly increase, significantly. Your
financial aid will assuredly decrease,
significantly. And the quality of our
higher education institutions—and
the value of your education—will
decrease, significantly.
Please join us in raising our
voices to the legislature. Join us in
showing the state that students are
organized, paying attention, and
will not be ignored. Encourage
your fellow students to participate
as well, for our strength is found in
numbers—without unification and
broad participation, we will crumble.
There are ways to participate of
varying time-commitments, so please
contact us to lend your support, at
Dmaxault@gmail.com.

Press release: New technology preserves history

professor in WSU Vancouver’s
Brett Oppegaard earns Digital Technology and Culture
grant to produce program, has recently been awarded
a $9,000 grant from the Historical
multimedia content for Promotion Grants Program to
national park produce multimedia content for
mobile technology for the national
the significance of the site with
educational, entertaining, historically
based multimedia content. That
content will be available to visitors
via their cell phones as early as fall
2010.
In addition to being a professor
and audience engagement. Using
mobile technology, Oppegaard
can deliver richer, more in-depth,
thought-provoking content than any
interpretive sign ever could.
Oppegaard’s work will focus on
the outer ring of the Fort Vancouver
visitors about the rich history of the
village by focusing on peoples and
communities that have often been
overlooked in traditional historical
discussions.
Oppegaard has gathered
collaborators over the last several

W
park. at WSU Vancouver, Oppegaard National Historic Site called “the months including staff at the site,
ashington State
That means the 800,000 people is a doctoral student working on village.” Here people from more photographers, videographers and
University Vancouver
who visit the Fort Vancouver a dissertation related to mobile than 35 ethnic and tribal groups WSU Vancouver students. He’s
is helping to bring
National Historic Site each year storytelling. His project aims to lived together in support of the fort, contributing 120 hours of his own
21st century technology to the 19th
will be able to supplement the reveal the power new technologies which operated as an economic and time as project coordinator.
century Fort Vancouver National
brochures and interpretive signage have in promoting cultural cultural center for the entire region.
Historic Site. Brett Oppegaard, a
they currently rely on to understand tourism, historical preservation Oppegaard hopes to enlighten

Vancougar.ning.com
1/16 Journalism Boot Camp in VFSC from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. RSVP to vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu by Jan. 13 to reserve a seat
 STUDENT GOVERNMENT 13

FREE

MOUNTAIN VIEW ICE ARENA

Friends and family welcome!

FREE hot cocoa to the rst 50 people!

1/14 Basketball Open Gym at Alki Middle School from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., open to all students, faculty, and staff, every Thursday
 14 OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

The VanCougar
The VanCougar is a student-run newspaper
serving the students, faculty and staff of
WSU Vancouver. Copies of The VanCougar
are available free of charge every other
Monday during the school year.
Editor-in-Chief Rhiannon Thomas: A botanist studies butterflies
Katie Wells

A R
Managing Editor nd it is a new
Jake Kleinschmidt semester folks. I
hope you all had
Adviser
a nice break. I took it easy this
Dean Baker round but even then it proved
to have it’s chaos. For me, as
Advertising Manager you may of read in some of my
Ben Ryan rants I am not much of a movie
goer. But I must confess I saw
Campus News Editor
Avatar. Twice. I love this movie.
Sally Thrall
The storyline was excellent.
ACE Editor The characters are deep and the
Now Hiring! action is amazing. Okay, the
main character may be called
Feature Editor Jake and this may put me a little
Now Hiring! bias but I still love this movie.
Oh and don’t forget the
Student Involvement Editor
graphics on this movie are
Triana Collins
absolutely stunning. I sometimes
had a hard time distinguishing
Student Government Editor
Adam Fox CGI and reality. Allegedly
it’s the most expensive movie
Sports Editor ever produced, and believe me,
Erik Cummings every cent was well spent in this
Web Editor
Now Hiring!
Copy Editor
Now Hiring!
Staff Writers
Louise Wynn, Amy Thielen, Rup Brar,
John McNett, Sally Thrall, Chau Nguyen,
Joey Hollibaugh, Triana Collins, Meghan
Bartosovsky, Kenneth Allan, Justin Rossetti, Hey everyone! Welcome back
and Daniel Barrette to school! The VanCougar has a
fricken sweet event coming up
Photographers on Saturday, Jan. 16 in VFSC.
Joe Creager, Mark Balyshev, and Joseph From 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., we
Tiegs
will be hosting Journalism Boot
Camp for anyone that would
Location: like to attend. There will be nine
VCLS 212 professional journalists speaking
14024 NE Salmon Creek Ave. at the event as well as visitors
Vancouver, WA 98686 from Clark College, WSU
Phone: (360) 546-9524 Pullman, and the University of
Portland. If you’d like to eat
E-mail the Editor-in-Chief and some free pizza, meet students
Managing Editor: from other schools, and learn
vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu about journalism, I encourage
you to RSVP to vancouged@
E-mail the Section Editors:
vancoug@vancouver.wsu.edu
vancouver.wsu.edu. This event
is free and open to the public, so
Advertising: please tell everyone you know
vancougad@vancouver.wsu.edu about it!
Question: Have you heard of
the Salmon Creek Journal? If
We are hiring!
We are always hiring. No experience is necessary; not, it is the WSU Vancouver
we will provide all the training you need in Art and Literary Journal. They
journalistic style, photography, and digital print publish once a year and give
making. E-mail us at vancouged@vancouver. students, faculty, and staff the
wsu.edu or visit our office in VCLS 212 for more opportunity to turn in their prose,
information. poetry, and visual art. By turning
something in, you not only have
Letters to the Editor
We encourage letters to the editor. Please include your work published in a college
journal, but you could even win
your full name as part of the letter, and a phone
number or e-mail address for confirmation follow- money! Visit the Salmon Creek
up. Letters must be by a student, faculty, or staff Journal web site at http://www.
member. E-mail to vancouged@vancouver.wsu. vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/scj. The
edu deadline for turning something
Advertising queries in is Jan. 30! Hurry and submit!
Advertising information and rates can be found Since I’m on a roll of
on our web site at www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/ promoting media on campus,
vancougar. E-mail vancougad@vancouver.wsu. why stop? KOUG Radio is
currently looking for more DJs,
edu for quotes.
audio journalists, and executive
Corrections policy
staff members. Cara Cottingham,
It is our policy to correct errors. Please contact the station manager, is awesome
the editors by e-mail at vancouged@vancouver.
wsu.edu
and would probably love to work
with you! I say probably because
movie.
I tend to make fun of obsessive
fans but in all honesty I have
fallen in with this category with
this movie. The fact that I cant
wait for the next two movies
following Avatar proves this
fact.
Go see it. Seriously, why are
you still here? Go see it. Right
now.
Aside from Avatar I saw
recently on YouTube a rather
old video with only three million
views. Search for “What am I?”
and click on the one that has
puppets. Note, strong language
is used at the end. Your reaction
may either be “what the heck” or
some laughter. But I hope you
enjoy.
Anyway, I hope this semester
goes well for all of you!
I’m not exactly sure if you guys
would mesh since I don’t actually
know who is reading this. Is
anyone reading this? Anyway,
apply to work for KOUG Radio,
or just listen to their broadcasts,
at http://www.vancouver.wsu.
edu/ss/kougradio.
There seems to be a trend with
these web sites, huh? ‘http://
www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/
blahblah(name of organization)
blah. Well, the VanCougar is
breaking that trend. Our web site
is a bit harder to find than the
other two medias. Sorry. It is,
however, really awesome! You
can go to our site, http://www.
vancougar.ning.com, and watch
videos, view pictures, apply to
work for us, answer surveys
and polls, chat to other people
who happen to be checking
out our site, look at the online
newspaper, and even respond
to articles. Really the only thing
you can’t do on our site is order
food. We are looking into an
application for that though so
don’t worry.
Oh, I almost forgot. The
Student Media Board, which
basically controls the world,
needs a new Vice Chair. If you’d
like to volunteer to work with
each media entity organization,
please apply in the Office of
Student Involvement. Think
about it. You could very well
be the Vice Chair of the Student
Media Board; Vice Chair of the
world. That is a pretty big deal if
you ask me.
Let us know what you think
of the new VanCougar redesign
at vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu.
hiannon Thomas started
her graduate studies at
WSUV four and a half
years after completing her bachelor’s
in Environmental Science. During
that time, she did seasonal work
for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau
of Land Management, and Oregon
Department of Agriculture.
She also worked at the National
Outdoor Leadership School (www.
nols.edu), teaching backpacking
skills, wilderness survival, and
outdoor leadership. After that, she
was ready to go back to school.
“I’m glad I did it that way,”
Thomas said. “Because now I know I
really do want to be a biologist.”
Although her undergraduate
degree in Environmental Science
focused on botany, the research
she’ll be doing here isn’t specifically
about plants. Rhiannon finds plants
fascinating. “They don’t move around
the landscape like animals, but they
tell you a lot about the landscape,
from where you are in the world, to
the hydrology of the area, human
impacts, and animals you might find
there,” she said.
Since she is researching
an endangered butterfly, the
Fender’s Blue, she will have many
opportunities to apply her knowledge
of plants and the experience she
had during her break from formal
education to the research.
“The Fender’s Blue depends on
two species of lupine and, in some
areas, a single species, Kincaid’s
Lupine, for laying its eggs,” she
explained. “The butterfly lays its
eggs on the underside of the lupine
leaves, and when the larvae hatch,
they eat those leaves until they go
underground. They live underground
in a state of diapause for the winter.
“In the early spring, the caterpillars
come out and eat lupine leaves again.
Then they pupate, and emerge as
adult butterflies about three weeks
later.
“For their three-week adult life,
they fly around, eat flower nectar,
mate, and lay eggs. But in this phase
they’re eating nectar from the flowers
of other species. And the question is
which species they need at different
places and times during those three
weeks.”
That’s one of the questions
Rhiannon will be trying to answer
through her research. “We think
they’re generalists for the nectar
species, meaning they don’t rely on
one single type of flower. They rely
on some native and some non-native
species.
“So I’ll be looking at the
phenology of the butterflies and of
the plant species they use for nectar.
Phenology is the timing of biological
events, and the butterflies and flowers
don’t necessarily overlap in their
timing.
“So if most of the butterflies
emerge as adults before or after one
of the flower species in their area has
bloomed, what other species could
they use? What factors determine
which flower species they’ll go to
at different times? How much do
temperature, the length of the days,
rainy versus sunny days, and all those
factors influence the butterflies in
their feeding?”
Thomas came to WSUV
specifically to work with Dr. Cheryl
Schultz, an assistant professor in the
science program. Dr. Schultz leads
efforts in the U.S. and collaborates
with researchers around the world
restoring endangered butterfly species
to their former habitats.
Thomas was the Biology 102
lecture teaching assistant for the fall
2009 semester and will be a research
assistant for the spring 2010 semester.
For her own research, Thomas
has already done her first season
of fieldwork and will continue this
summer. She’ll be counting flowers
and watching butterfly nectaring
behavior at five sites between Eugene
and Salem. The things she learns will
help with the restoration of the rare
Fender’s Blue to its original sites in
Oregon.
Rhiannon Thomas: Quick Profile
Grew up: Corvallis, Oregon
B.S. from Oregon State
University: environmental science,
with a focus in botany
Should people talk to their
plants? “I don’t know. I do, and
they seem to be doing okay.”
Advice: I took four and a half
years off between undergraduate
and graduate school, and I think
it was a really good idea. I got
lots of experience doing seasonal
field work and other kinds of work,
so when I went back, I knew I
was ready. Graduate school isn’t
something to do because you think
it should be your next step ---
because it’s hard.
Quote: “Flowers are so
complicated, and interesting, and
beautiful, and ephemeral.”
Favorite places and activities in
the Vancouver/Portland area:
Powell’s Books, the Chinese
Tea Garden, skiing at Mt. Hood
Meadows, rock climbing
Favorite reading (non-school):
Children’s books (“because I don’t
really have the brain power to
devote to serious literature when I
need a break in the middle of doing
research and statistics”)
Five favorite children’s books:
Comet in Moominland - Tove
Jansson
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader -
C.S. Lewis
The Golden Ocean - Patric
O’Brian
Amy’s Eyes - Richard Kennedy
The BFG - Roald Dahl

1/15 Chancellor Seminar Series in VFSC from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Commons will be closed to students during that time for event
 OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS 15

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): What goals do you want to reach this year? What
will help you attain those goals? Divide your goals into smaller, achievable parts, and work on
these one at a time.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): People who set a big goal sometimes find it’s too
vague, as well as too huge to grasp. Good luck with a goal to lose weight, for instance; but
if you decide to cut out sugary snacks or eat five fruits and vegetables every day, those are
doable.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): What’s your goal for your schoolwork? Wishing for
“better grades” won’t help. So set yourself a goal of studying each subject for fifteen minutes,
half an hour, two hours, or whatever works for you, each day.
Aries (March 21-April 19: One way to improve your grades is to find a study
partner or start a study group. Working with a group will help you not only this semester;
you’ll also find partners for future group research projects and reports.
Cancer (June 22-July 22): Let perseverance be your watchword. It’s too easy to give up
before you’ve really tried everything and worked as hard as you can. If you’re thinking about
giving up, give yourself one more chance, then another, and another. Repeat as needed.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Is there something you’ve always wanted to try, but you
haven’t had the time or money to do it? Make a plan for earning some extra money or cutting
your expenses to save up, and set a date for this activity. Stick to the plan, and make it happen.
Virgo (August 23-Sept. 22): The only way to be sure of failure is not to try at all.
When you’re not sure you’ll succeed, what kinds of impulses have motivated you in the past?
Think back on what has worked, and try it again. If it doesn’t work this time, try something
else.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The New Year is a good time to work on your
relationships and people skills. Set a goal to become closer to someone you admire, and
achieve that goal by taking the initiative to call, e-mail or text him/her at times you wouldn’t
have in the past.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Come to your study sessions prepared. No one likes to Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21): Look for the best in the people around you. It’s easy to
deal with a person who expects to be given all the answers. Start by looking in the syllabus and criticize, but healthier to find the positive. When you see a character trait you like, the best way
at previous exams for clues about what your study group should spend time preparing. to attain it for yourself is simply to copy that person’s behavior.

Gemini (May 21-June 21): Most professors and teaching assistants really want to Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): How you act is who you are. Every action lays part
help their students. They actually get lonely during office hours and wish people would show of the foundation of your character now and in the future. But don’t worry about slipping
up with questions. So go to office hours; you’ll earn brownie points, and you’ll learn more. up, as long as you’re willing to learn from your mistakes. Laying this Madame L
foundation of character never ends. Staff Astrologist

of millions of dollars. Regardless, and even getting money to go to (probst.tim@leg.wa.gov) and Deb
the monetary figures generated school. Cannabis legalization could Wallace (wallace.deb@leg.wa.gov),
from cannabis tax would doubtfully once and for all end the viscous circle so shoot them an email, send them
be small potatoes, and the added of tragedy that follows a drug which a letter, or give them a call and let

A
fter much ado, it seems
that the relatively
harmless nature of
cannabis, and the inanity of its
criminalization has finally started
to dawn on lawmakers across the
country. The now concluded year
2009 is appearing to be one of the best
years for publicity that the cannabis
legalization movement has ever seen.
It seems as though every day, another
state is considering medical marijuana
legislation, decriminalization, and
even legalization. Even the federal
government has started to change
its attitude toward the highly
controversial plant after President
Obama issued a memorandum to the
Department of Justice requesting that
the organization not pursue medical
marijuana recipients and their
suppliers who operate legally under
state law. However, it seems that the
biggest news occurred as the decade
drew to a close; our very own state
of Washington is now considering
cannabis legalization.
State representatives Roger
Goodman and Mary Lou Dickerson
have introduced the bill, and it aims
to reclassify cannabis from an illegal
drug to a licit and taxable substance.
This bill differs from other bills
such as decriminalization and
deprioritization bills, which still treat
cannabis possession and cultivation
as a crime. The legalization bill
would treat cannabis like alcohol, as a
substance that would be sold through
the state, with a hefty tax attached.
Whether or not cannabis would be
sold in liquor stores is up in the air as
for one, the bill hasn’t passed yet, and
secondly, Goodman has suggested
that he would like a provision that
would prevent cannabis from being
sold were alcohol is sold.
The tax revenue from the bill
would not go into the Washington
state general fund, but rather it would
be used specifically to fund drug
treatment and mental health services.
These services have been on the
chopping block since our state’s
budget woes began. It is unclear how
much tax revenue could be earned
from cannabis, however estimates
place the figures in the hundreds
tax revenue could make a serious
difference in our state.
In addition to earning our state
money by taxing cannabis, the
legalization of cannabis could
potentially save our state untold
and gargantuan sums of money. As
of right now, our state prosecutes
citizens for cannabis possession
and cultivation, and even simple
possession of cannabis in amounts of
less than forty grams is considered a
gross misdemeanor and can warrant
jail sentences of up to a year. If
cannabis were made legal, we could
literally fill swimming pools with the
money that we would save by not
investigating, arresting, prosecuting
and incarcerating cannabis offenders,
and that is just the start.
In addition to money earned and
money saved by the state, our very
own citizens would also be saving
and earning money if cannabis were
made legal. Convictions for cannabis
possession can cost an individual
thousands of dollars in legal fees
and fines, and in addition, it can
prevent that individual from gaining
employment, finding a place to live,
has negligibly harmful effects that
don’t even begin to compare with
the very harmful effects of alcohol,
which is currently legal.
Finally, in addition to our own
citizens saving money, among many
other things, legalizing cannabis
would increase personal opportunity
by opening the doors to new industries
and economies. It is important
to remember that cannabis is not
simply a recreational drug. When
grown as hemp, it is a valuable and
environmentally friendly industrial
resource. There are over 25,000 uses
for industrial hemp, and much of
our farmland is prime real estate for
hemp cultivation. Industrial hemp
could provide our state with a bio-
fuel source, while simultaneously
reducing our use of pesticides and
fertilizers on farmland.
There are countless benefits
to cannabis legalization, and it is
important to insure that this bill
succeeds. This means that all of us
must do our part by encouraging
our representatives to support
this legislation. Our district
representatives are Tim Probst
them know that you expect their
support on this matter if they intend
to be re-elected. There is a lot at
stake with this legislation, let’s not
allow this opportunity to go to waste.
Personally, I emailed both of them a
week ago.
Deb Wallace
District office:
108 SE 124th Ave., Suite 23
Vancouver, WA 98684
(360) 260-6110
Olympia office:
PO Box 40600
429A Legislative Building
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7976
Toll-free Hotline: 1-800-562-6000
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-635-9993
wallace.deb@leg.wa.gov
Tim Probst
Olympia office:
Legislative Bldg.
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7994
Toll-free Hotline: 1-800-562-6000
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-635-9993
probst.tim@leg.wa.gov

Common Sense: a Conservative column

Health care reform
during the Christmas
holiday
Ben Ryan\Advertising Manager
Welcome back from your break
everyone! I hope everyone had a
wonderful Christmas. While you were
busy doing last minute shopping, the
United States Senate was busy with
a task of their own. Into the wee
hours of the morning they worked
preparing a Christmas gift of their
own. And their gift to you was health
care reform legislation.
The President and Congress alike
called it a glorious step forward,
a win for equality. A number of
Senators and Congressmen compared
this health care reform legislation,
to the Civil Rights movement of the
1960’s. But I sincerely hope that the
methods used by the Senate to pass
this legislation, will not continue in
the future. Democrats in Congress,
particularly the Senate, were not the
knights in shining armor that they
were portrayed as by the media.
Democrats needed two more votes
to stop the filibuster on the floor of
the Senate. So what did they do to
accomplish this great feat? How
about one Louisiana vote to the
tune of 100 million dollars? How
about another vote “exchanged” for
full federal aid for Nebraska’s now,
“expanded” Medicaid system. That’s
right. This was a bribe. Senator Mary
Landrieu from Louisiana and Senator
Ben Nelson from Nebraska, were
bought off by Senate Democrats to
gain their votes.
Is this how the Senate operates
now? If they can’t what they want
through reason, they buy votes? Have
they no sense of decency? I am fairly
certain that members in Congress
didn’t have to buy votes to pass Civil
Rights legislation.
Not only did they buy two
votes in the Senate, both houses of
Congress are skipping the conference
committee on health care, believing
that Republicans would only use
delay tactics to slow this legislation
down. They are bypassing a key part
of the process, in order to pass their
“historical” legislation.
But as bad as this sounds, there is
still hope. Constitutionality of this
bill is being called into question by
Attorney Generals from a number of
states, including South Carolina and
Texas, particularly over the Nebraska
bribe. Opponents of the health
care bill, believe that giving
full federal aid to expand and
maintain Medicaid in one
state, at the expense of 49
others, is a violation of the
Equal Protection Clause of the
14th Amendment.
Have faith friends. The
fight is not over yet. Call
your Congressmen, write
your governor, take part in tea
party protests. Let your voices
be heard! We elect them. You
have to do something about
this. You cannot stand by
and watch as your country’s
infrastructure falls right in
front of your eyes! Show
Congress that you rule and not
them. Before it is too late…

1/24 Horseback Riding Trip to Silver Buckle Ranch, $10 per student, 3-hour horseback riding lessons, Ponies available for small riders
16 CALENDAR

JOURNALISM BOOT
Free H1N1 vaccines VCLS Chancellor’s Seminar
CAMP IN VFSC FROM
room 14 from 1 p.m. to Series at 11:45 a.m. in
1 P.M. TO 7 P.M.
4 p.m. VFSC; Rogers Weed to
speak
RSVP TO VANCOUGED@
VANCOUVER.WSU.EDU

Martin Luther King, Jr. Photos due to

Day. No School! Kendal Mantzke
at osimarkintern@
Volunteer for one of four vancouver.wsu.edu for
service projects. 9 a.m. Travel Café Photo Contest
in VFSC.

Submissions due for the

Health and Fitness Travel Café and Photo Salmon Creek Journal.
Resource Fair has been Contest in VFSC from Send in artwork to scj@
cancelled! 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. vancouver.wsu.edu

J
F Photography

N
i e
Staff Writer
w
Journalism
r s
Interview p
s
Design
a Accurate
p
t Editor-In-Chief
e
Newsworthy

r
A Mass Media
m Bootcamp
e 2009-2010
n
d
m
e
n
t

January 16, 2010 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Free and Open to the Public
Please RSVP at vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu to get a lunch
Questions: vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu

Join professionals: Erin Middlewood, The Columbian; Matt Wastrodowski, The Columbian; Kathie Durbin, The Columbian; Justin Carinci, Portland Daily Journal of
Commerce; Michael Andersen, The Columbian; Mike Rogoway, The Oregonian; Brandy Grey, The Reflector; Jeff Bunch, and more.

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