The Vancougar: April 1, 2009

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Intramural Soccer

Art Fair Preview

Alternative Comedy Spring Break Sportz

Cleated players took the field for a muddy game

Seven members from WSUV performed community service projects

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Washington State University Vancouver

FSC will host the student Art Fair on April 10; showcases by students from WSUV

Two teams of comedians put on a show for students on campus

April 1, 2009

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Issue 14

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Texting Breakups New technology leaves relationships up in the air; a personal story of a texting breakup

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www.vancougar.com

Election winners ready for fall beginnings Passing of three ASWSUV Constitutional Amendments among Spring election results By Collin Rickman aSSISTanT eDITor

Nick Ferderer and Nicole Mousleh cemented their victory in the 2009 ASWSUV elections, winning next year’s president and vice president slots respectively with 242 votes. The runners-up, presidential candidate Emily Shaw and vice presidential candidate Rob Hildebrant, received 220 votes – the closest election in recent history. Presidential candidate Ryan Davis and vice presidential candidate Candace McCammon notched 137 votes and the team of presidential candidate Kevin Cervantes and vice presidential candidate Abe Robles drew 48 votes. The contest attracted an unprecedented 23.4 percent turnout with students voting yes to three amendments – including decreasing the required voting turnout to confirm amendments to 15 percent and granting a five percent pay increase to senator salaries at a limit of $400 dollars per semester. President-elect Ferderer says he is pleased with the outcome, even if next year seems daunting. “I’m super excited for this opportunity,” he said. “There’s definitely a lot of work up ahead, but I’m looking forward to the challenges and working with a stellar team.” Mousleh said their first priority is increasing communication between the student body and the school. “Large numbers of students have expressed a desire to have a hand in the direction of the university,” she said. “We will be working with the senate to gain an understanding of the concerns and issues facing the campus.” Previous elections netted only a 13 percent average student turnout. Ferderer thanked students for their support and urged them to introduce themselves. “I hope you swing by the office and we can chit chat about activities, your new boyfriend or girlfriend, your classes, the weather; we can talk about whatever,” he said. Voters selected six new senators to fill out the ranks, electing Jake Kleinschmidt, Robert Chu,

Emily Shaw, Ashley Harman, Darcy Cahill and Mason O’Lennick to one year terms. Write-in candidates Kevin Guzman, Ryan Davis, Candace McCammon, Jessica Yahm and Rachel Haseman were slated for an additional five positions. Freshman Heather Gonzalez says she’s glad her favorites won. “I was really happy with the results,” she said. “I hope they can bring more opportunities to a larger diversity of people.” RSO Director Blake Hunter said the election drew enthusiastic campaigns. “The candidates were out there a lot more. They were a lot more known,” he said. “It looks like there is a lot of experience and also some fresh blood [in the senate].” The president of breweryenthusiastWSU Zymurgists club, non-

traditional student Jeff Sanders, was less than impressed with election day results. “I don’t like it. It seemed like Nick and Nicole pirated a lot of Emily and Rob’s ideas,” he said. “I read their platform one day and the next day they had (Emily Shaw’s) ideas on a board.” Sanders also questioned sophomore Ferderer’s experience level, saying the president-elect might be pushed around.

However, Sanders said he’s willing to give Ferderer a shot. “Nick will listen to advice and keep the best interests of the school at heart,” he said. “If that happens, it’ll be awesome. I wish him the best.” The elected will begin their terms on the first day of the fall 2009 semester. Students interested in student government plans and positions are encouraged to visit the Associated Students of WSU-V office in the Firstenburg Commons.

“I’m looking forward to the challenges and working with a stellar team.”

The VanCougar

2 The VanCougar www.vancougar.com

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.

Co-sponsored by ASWSUV Editor-in-Chief Katie Wells Managing Editor Michael Hatch Advisor Dean Baker Assistant Editor Collin Rickman Copy Editor Kati Hughes Arts & Culture Editor Jake Kleinschmidt Sports & Rec Editor Erik Cummings Ad Manager Dan Rauchenstein Staff Writers & Photographers Rosann Bartel, Matt Hunter, Louise Wynn, Hannah Walker, Shane Monroe, Danielle Mosier, Isaac Madsen, Matthew Wright, Greg Zschomler, Lori Fischer, Mark Medina, Christina Frye, Matthew South, Charis Jensen, Perry Miller, Adam Fox, Dale Flamm, Joseph Creager, Erik Jutila, Alexandria Denny, Dillon Stiffler, Ferris Bueller, René Fragall, Spring Atkinson, Sheryl Kennon, and Jessica Davis

The VanCougar, VCLS 212 14024 NE Salmon Creek Ave. Vancouver, WA 98686 Phone: (360) 546-9524 Fax: (360) 546-9072 General Communication [email protected] VanCougar Editors [email protected] Advertising Manager [email protected] We are hiring! We are always hiring. No experience is necessary; we will provide all the training you need in journalistic style, photography, and digital printmaking. E-mail us at [email protected]. edu or visit our office in VCLS 212 for more information. Letters to the Editor We encourage letters to the editor. Please include your full name as part of the letter, and a phone number or email address for confirmation follow-up. Letters must be by a student, faculty, or staff member. Guest Columns & Comics The VanCougar accepts guest columns and comics from current students of WSU Vancouver. Interested students should e-mail us at vancouged@ vancouver.wsu.edu.

Just another in a long line of.. The Nerdist By Spring Atkinson The VanCougar

I admit it. I love texting. I can find out where people are on campus, wish each and every single one of my friends a happy first day of Spring at the very same time, and send pictures of my weekend adventures to people that missed them. I can wax poetically or just say hi to people all day for one low price and never use a minute of my cell plan. In fact, I haven’t gone over my minutes in months…but I have worn down the numbers on the keypad of my phone. Now I live in a constant state of fear that texting may have taken over my life. Texting on a cell phone is just another aspect of social networking. Social networking web sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter allow people to communicate with friends, co-workers, and family all on a broad scale. While it is possible to send a text to multiple people simultaneously with a cell phone, a text conversation is most typically one on one. While texting may be considered more for the younger generation, according to Cell Signs Inc., the median age a text phone user is 38 years old and over 75 Billion texts are sent every month. Texting has become so prominent in our culture that even “text speak” has invaded our daily conversations. OMG, LOL, BRB, ROFL, BBQ (omgwtfbbq is a text used online a lot)…….no, wait! The last one isn’t considered “text speak” but makes the

In-N-Out: Burger joint is Inedible-N-Overrated If you’ve ever met someone from California, you’ve heard about the proclaimed “best burger place in the world.” In-N-Out, which started in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California, was the first drive-thru burger stand in the state. Now, sixty-one years later, there are 140 heart attack drive-thrus in America. Honestly, when I ate at an In-N-Out, I was hugely disappointed in their menu. Yes, In-N-Out is creative in their menu. The ability to order a ‘10 X 10’ or a ‘Protein Style’ burger is fantastic. Where else could you get ten patties and ten pieces of cheese on one bun or a burger wrapped in lettuce rather than a bun? Yes, the fact that they are limited to mostly one state rather than selling out like other fast food chains is admired. Yes, my mom owns one of their t-shirts. But honestly, how can people eat that food? The fries are pale yellow, resembling something naturally unhealthy, compared to the chipper look of other, crispier fries. In this day and age, it’s great to be tan. It seems like the In-NOut fries missed the memo at their ripe old age of sixty. The burgers themselves are disgustingly greasy. If you read the ‘Food Quality’ section of the In-N-Out

point of how easy it is to shorten even a simple phrase. Now, it appears that whatever is the easiest to type into cell phones has become dominant in every day conversation. Even AT&T, a cell phone service provider, has picked up on the texting trend and uses it in their advertising. So does Comcast. While it is easy to see that text message is now a part of our culture, it is necessary to admit that it is taking over aspects of social interaction. It may be that people are busier than ever and do not have as much time to maintain their personal relationships as they would like. However, maintaining friendships and relationships by texting instead of having an in-person conversation or even a simple telephone conversation has become the norm. In fact, people occasionally take texting so seriously that they get upset if a sent text does not get a response within a certain time period they deem acceptable. I myself have been victim of the biggest text faux pas that a person can make. The “text message break up.” This occurs when one person in a relationship decides that not even a phone call, let alone an in-person conversation, can be mustered up in order to end the relationship. Whatever the reasons a person may give to validate a “text message break-up,” I am inclined to agree with comedian, Liam Sullivan whose popular character “Kelly” sings about this in his song Text Message Breakup, “You’re my ex-bf foreva...” Bam. Roasted. Official web site, the word ‘chuck’ is repeatedly used. If I’m thinking about the burger that I’m ordering and all I can picture is a ‘beef chuck,’ I’m about 175 percent positive that I’m no longer hungry. I like to stay in my own little ignorant world where hamburgers have always looked like hamburgers. They were never poor, little cows chillin’ in a field eating grass. Somehow hearing the word ‘beef chuck’ is like getting punched in the face by a cow. For those who aren’t buying my ‘emotional arguments,’ you may enjoy this short story. Most likely not though. A man named Will and his friends from San Fransisco, California, on a drunken Halloween night, ordered a ‘100 X 100’ from In-N-Out. This was a first for the chain, never before had they been asked to make a burger with one hundred pieces of cheese and one hundred patties. Will and seven friends finished the burger in two hours with two of them eating twenty patties a piece. Will created a blog about the experience and noted that the ‘sweaty cheese’ was all that was left of the gigantic burger. The total caloric intake from that burger alone was 19,490 calories. In-N-Out will always be a great place to hang out and should be visited if ever in California. However, expect for the ‘up on a pedestal’ restaurant’s menu to let you down. Basically, In-N-Out sucks. Bam! Roasted.

Will’s story and photo: http://whatupwilly.blogspot.com/2006/01/in-n-out-100x100.html#greensboring_loves_you

Corrections policy It is our policy to correct errors. Please contact the editors by e-mail at [email protected].

CAR + HOME = BIG SAVINGS 071808R2933076

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EDITORIAL

HARRY HOFFMAN, Agent

360-574-5222

1307 B NE 78th St., Ste 1 Vancouver, WA 98665 www.harryhoffman.net

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Co. – Bloomington, IL

By Michael Hatch ManagIng eDITor

I like numbers, but I’m not too good at math. I used to be though, I swear. You see, when I was seventeen, I had an accident— before that I was acing my AP Calculus class and after, well, let’s just say I cordially withdrew from the course. Ever since the accident, my short term memory has degraded to remembering only the broadest of details, of the most important things, too. It was the night of Winter Solstice; it wasn’t a dark and stormy night, or so I don’t recall, and I went downstairs to grab a glass of milk. I stood there watching Cops over my parents’ shoulders until the glass was about half empty. The next thing I remembered was laying on the couch, my mom hovering over me with an extremely worried look on her face. My dad came from the bathroom with what I can only assume was a prototype ShamwowTM. I had busted my chin in such a way that I could have sworn there was a piece of it still on the kitchen floor, and my forehead in such a way that the headache would last well into the afternoon of the next day. I’m convinced that the counter and tile floor had some sort of a vendetta against me. The advantage to having this accident is, of course, that I can use the scars it gave me to tell stories of heroic acts or accidents during an extreme sport of my choosing. It also seems to have rewired my brain for more visual-based, artistic thinking than logical, quantitative thinking. Old habits die hard though, as one of my favorite pastimes remains the art of setting up complicated formula-based spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel and finding a pattern that matches only the final results. I know. I’m a nerd. One of the few things I remember from before the accident is what won me a contest in my sophomore year in high school: memorizing pi to 57 places: 3.1415926535 89793238462643383279502884197169399 375105820974 Actually, that’s a lie. I’m a compulsive liar, but know this: I lie not when I speak of In-N-Out, and In-N-Out is totally not overrated. You know how they say Disneyland is the happiest place on earth? Well, they forgot to take into account the existence of In-N-Out. Bam! Roasted.

Psych! is a new Q&A style column written by WSU Vancouver’s on-campus counselor, Dr. William Meek. “How can I learn to be content with what I have instead of always wanting more? I feel like something is always missing.” B.W Hi B.W., You are feeling something that many people do, and it can be a part of several different things from a motivational system, to something related to your upbringing, to legitimate lack of fulfillment, to some sort of biological trait. However, one of the simplest and most profound ideas about this that I have ever encountered is simply that the state of always ‘wanting’ is part of the basic human condition. That means that to be human means to want, and want more. Obviously this does not feel pleasant and can lead to ruin if we always follow it, but I think we have options. Namely we can learn to (a) tolerate the feeling, (b) make wise choices about how we live, and (c) accept the feeling as part of the reality of our lives. When we can do those things, wanting more can seem less like a painful problem and more like part of knowing you’re a human being. - William D. Meek, PhD If you have a question you’d like answered, please write in to the VanCougar Editors. WSU-V Students can see Dr. Meek for counseling on campus for free. Call 546-9238 to schedule an appointment.

April 1, 2009

OPINION

The Sluice Box Heroes and our perception of humanity By Matt Hunter The VanCougar

There were two critiques found in practically every review of the recent Watchmen movie. The first was that it was indecipherable for anyone but a fan. The second was that it had flawed heroes. In every review I ran across, the flawed nature of the superheroes was praised as admirable. Indeed, it is not the first superhero movie to be praised for a flawed hero. Ironman garnered its fair share of praises for its womanizing drunken hero. “Americans are tired of perfect heroes,” was a reoccurring phase. “We want heroes to whom we can relate.” Heroes to whom we can relate. The heroes of children a few generations ago were tall wiry cowboys with six-shooters, or soldiers with rifles. As a rule, these are no longer our heroes. Why? Because the past few generations of intellectuals have done their best to deface the heroic figures of American culture. Cowboys killed

poor defenseless Native Americans. ancients) understood that man was Soldiers were the tools of empire. neither completely good nor completely Clearly, these are “flawed” heroes, evil. Humanity was seen as capable of so why are they not on the bed sheets great good and terrible evil. Second, of every American child? The fact there was the idea of the virtues. is that they are flawed in the wrong Heracles had the virtue of Fortitude and way for our modern sensibilities. No Prudence (and to a lesser degree Justice Hollywood superhero would ever be a and Love). member of the NRA. He would have to Therefore, it allowed the ancients to be a villain! look upon these flawed characters as No, Americans don’t like flawed heroes despite their flaws because they heroes. They just like their “We moderns continually dig heroes to be like them. Thus, the “flaw” of the most recent through the lives of great men Superman was that he has a and women, looking for that bastard child. Spiderman adulterous affair or racist remark misuses his powers to get revenge on those who have so that we may brand them a hypocrite.“ wronged him. Clearly, none of these “flaws” are really frowned embodied a virtue. upon in American society. Both of In contrast, we moderns continually these “heroes” had their hearts in the dig through the lives of great men and right place. That’s what counts. Thus women, looking for that adulterous the flaws are not really flaws at all. affair or racist remark so that we may The ages before ours had a different brand them a hypocrite. This can easily take on heroes. The traditional be seen in the treatment of George heroes- such as Heracles- were not Washington: a man of extraordinary perfect people. Their tales are full of abilities and integrity who set the jealousy, revenge and hatred. And yet precedence for the Presidency as we until recently this made them no less know it. Nevertheless, he is dumped the hero. Why? Two reasons. First, in the dust bin of history because he the people four generations or more owned slaves. ago (for brevity I will call them the If an ancient were to live for a day

got bored and exasperated with their repetitive asking of the same questions. For instance, when they were trying to see if he understood that words are Bird Brains made of separate sounds, he finally, in By Louise Wynn an irritated tone of voice, spelled out The VanCougar on his own the sounds of the letters in One way to know how far a child’s the word “nut”: “nuh, uh, tuh.” So, like language ability has developed is human children, he knew that words whether the child can make up new are made of separate phonemes. Alex could also count, and numerous expressions by using ones she is already tests showed he wasn’t just following familiar with. For instance, a child who cues from his trainers but was actually has never before heard the expression counting. In addition, just as Irene “tomato soup,” but knows what a tomato is and has eaten soup, easily Pepperberg, the researcher who supervised his training for over 30 figures out what tomato soup is. The child might also see tomato soup, years, was trying to think of a test to without hearing it called that, and determine whether Alex had a concept give it that name. Children commonly for “zero” or “none,” Alex himself figured out a way to show her he did: make up their own When asked how compound words “But did he really feel remorse, many objects of a to describe objects or was he doing what certain color were whose names they humans often do, present on a tray, don’t know. For saying they’re sorry he kept on giving instance, a child the wrong answer, only to defuse a seeing a zebra for until finally she the first time might tense moment?” changed the call it a white tiger, question, and he said, “None.” She or seeing a swan for the first time might call it a water bird. A child might call repeated the test, asking how many an apple a banerry (apparently meaning objects there were of a color that she had a cross between a banana and a cherry). not put on the tray, and he said again, Linguists find that by the age of three, “None,” apparently trying to show children can invent compound words her that he understood the concept of to name two interacting or similar something like zero, or non-existence. He had already shown he understood objects. However, the examples I’ve just given the related concept of displacement, aren’t from human children, but from the fact that an object not seen was still apes and birds. The apes communicated there, which human children learn by with humans using American Sign about the age of two. Language, while the birds were taught Alex learned to say “I’m sorry” when to vocalize, an ability of many birds, he upset his trainers. He apparently including parrots. It was Koko the associated it with “defusing a tense, gorilla who came up with the expression angry, and potentially dangerous “white tiger” for a zebra, and Washoe the moment.” But did he really feel chimp who invented the phrase “water remorse, or was he doing what humans bird” for a swan. And it was a bird, often do, saying they’re sorry only to Alex the talking African grey parrot, defuse a tense moment? who called an apple a banerry. Alex The fact that we can ask this refused to say more than “puh” them it question shows that many elements was a “banerry.” He never would call we used to associate with the innate an apple an apple. His trainers don’t superiority of humans over animals, record whether he thought a rose by such as intelligence, language and any other name would smell as sweet communication, aren’t that unique. (he used the word “rose” for the color Next time: If humans aren’t so special, “red”). But they do record that he often why do we keep acting like we are?

Why Do You Ask?

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3 among us, he or she would find us much less liberal than their own age. Indeed, the ancient would have reason to laugh, for our view of the world is very childish. We expect humanity to be one of two things. They must be saints: doing good during their lives with a few honest mistakes. Or they are hypocrites: posers trying to gain power while living truly hideous lives. Because the standards for heroes are so unrealistic, there are not many around. Often a hero will appear on the scene and be praised for a time until he or she is found to be acting unethically in some way. It makes it very difficult, therefore, to have lasting heroes. Many people realize this problem and have stopped searching altogether. Disappointed time and again by flawed heroes, they have come to believe that there are only hypocrites. If everyone is a hypocrite, there is little to strive for in the modern world. So lives of mediocrity reign supreme. I propose a different path. Instead of childishly seeing black and white, why not see the majesty and mystery of humanity: this species that is capable of such good and such evil? It is only by discerning the flawed nature of mankind that we can begin to see the virtue of people in our time and the past.

Man on the Street

Do you find things after Spring Break to be difficult? By Jake Kleinschmidt The VanCougar

Colton Culbertson Mechanical Engineering

Mike Briggs Engineering

“Yeah definitely, there’s usually a “I guess a bit more than usual. I lot of homework or studying for had intentions to study a lot over the exams. I wish I would break, but intentions have done more over spring break.” are intentions you know? But I would say a little bit more than normal. Things got better around Friday though..”

Blake Hunter

Business Administration

“I would say somewhat extra stress because I had a paper and a test Anthropology and another paper all “I don’t really have much stress due this week, but that really has after spring break. I enjoyed the nothing to do with being after spring break, but I only had to break. I should have do an interview during it so I done it over my spring break, but I didn’t have any stress coming back.” had other things I wanted to do. So I didn’t do it, but it wasn’t that much more than normal.”

Marina Yasuda

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WSU Vancouver Library 

www.vancouver.wsu.edu/library

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“I got a little more relaxed over Taylor Joiner spring break. It was mostly more of Computer Science the homework that “Not Really, the biggest thing is came immediately after Spring that they assign homework over break that I should have been doing spring break. But other than that not over spring break that really” I didn’t.”

The VanCougar

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STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Taking applications for ASWSUV positions CALLING ALL STUDENTS! Are you ready to take on a fun and exciting opportunity serving students on ASWSUV? The time is upon us to begin to construct the student government of next year. With the elections behind us, our focus shifts to filling Executive Staff positions, Elections Board positions, committee appointments, and so on. Consider this a call for all students interested in serving the student body of this University to join ASWSUV. If you have ever felt the need to give back and an interest in getting involved on campus, take this step and apply for these open Student Government positions!

UPCOMING EVENTS Cougars Got Culture Firstenburg Student Commons April 2, 6:00 PM

Cougars Got Culture will showcase the diverse background and talents that are present on WSU Vancouver. It will be a night full of music, dancing and entertainment.

Fine Arts Friday

Easy Printmaking For the Very Young (or Young at Heart) VMMC 107, April 3, 10:00 AM

This easy and fun workshop occurs on Friday of Spring Break for Vancouver School District and is designed to allow you to bring your children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc to discover printmaking! We’ll examine some non-toxic and fun ways to engage in this timehonored art.

The Executive Staff positions that need to be filled for next year are: Public Relations Director, Activities Director, Director of Legislative Affairs, Leadership Development Director, IT Assistant, Event Assistant, and the Activities Board. These are each part-time, paid student leadership positions that will give you the opportunity to enhance your skills and your resume, and give back to WSU Vancouver. To apply for the 2009-2010ASWSUV Executive Staff, please pick up an application and job description for the position that you are interested in from the Office of Student Involvement in the Firstenburg Student Commons.

Fill out and return the application— with resume—to President-elect Nick Ferderer’s mailbox, also in the Office of Student Involvement. Completed applications are due no later than April 10th at 5 pm. For more information on any of these positions or the application process, please contact President-elect Ferderer at [email protected].

Peter Sterr ASWSUV President



Go COUGS!

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

April 1, 2009

5

Newly passed Senate bills Improv comedy visits WSU-V BILL 18.031 ASWSUV

Eighteenth Senate

2008-09 Session

By Senators Chu and Whitling 2 March 2009

BE IT ENACTED BY THE ASWSUV SENATE: Sec. 1. Keynote Speaker Sec. 2. Speaker #2 Sec. 3. Speaker #3 Sec. 4. Speaker #4 Sec. 5. Refreshments

$300.00 $100.00 $100.00 $100.00 $300.00

STATEMENT OF FACT: Advertisements will read “Co-sponsored by ASWSUV” in 14-point font or font equal to the average size lettering on the advertisement, for all advertising for the event(s) as required by ASWSUV By-Laws (260.12). Advertisements shall be approved by the ASWSUV Public Relations Director prior to disbursement. The purpose of this event is to introduce to students broad topics within social and environmental justice while exploring the connections these topics entail. This oneday event will be advertised through list serves, class announcements, and posted flyers. It should be noted that additional funding has been secured through Diversity for speakers and refreshments.

BILL 18.032 ASWSUV

By Gregory E. Zschomler The VanCougar

AN ACT Relating to: The allocation of $900.00 (nine hundred dollars) from the Student Events Pool (6272-0200-03) for a Forum on Social and Environmental Justice to be held on Thursday 16 April 2009.

ComedySportz performs on campus for small group of students in VADM 110

Eighteenth Senate

were called down from the audience for a chance to show their comedic genius. A recent appearance at Vancouver new Magenta Theatre sold out two performances. The group returned for four encore shows at Magenta last week. Comedy Sportz has teams in cities around the country and has been performing in Portland for 15 years. For more information about Comedy Sportz, visit www.portlandcomedy.com.

Improvisational comedy troop, Comedy Sportz, performed their offbeat brand of competitive humor on Wednesday, March 25 in VADM 110. The free event featured six improvisational comedians divided into two teams, each competing against the other for points awarded by a referee elected by audience voting. Audience members participated by throwing out words or ideas to the ref who assigned the teams their tasks “Who’s Line is it Anyway” style. The event was attended by an audience of less than 20 students. Erik Beaulieu and SueAnn McWatters Erik Beaulieu (right) participated in the show. Jake Kleinschmidt/The VanCougar

2008-09 Session

By Senator Brown and Vice President Wooster 12 March 2009 AN ACT Relating to: The allocation of $690.00 (six hundred and ninety dollars) from the Student Events Pool (6272-0200-03) for the Annual Society for American Archeology Conference to be held April 23-25 in Atlanta, GA. BE IT ENACTED BY THE ASWSUV SENATE:

Sec. 1. Round Trip flight and hotel cost Sec. 2. Student Registration for Conference Sec. 3. Per Diem

$550.00 $65.00 $75.00

STATEMENT OF FACT: Advertisements will read “Co-sponsored by ASWSUV” in 14-point font or font equal to the average size lettering on the advertisement, for all advertising for the event(s) as required by ASWSUV By-Laws (260.12). This conference will enable the student to present the research project of which he has been a part to the archeological academic community. A presentation will be given to the WSUV student body upon return. The purpose of the event will be to inform archeologists and students of current research in the anthropological sub field of archaeology.

BILL 18.033 ASWSUV

Eighteenth Senate

2008-09 Session

By Senators Chu and Aday 24 March 2009 AN ACT Relating to: The allocation of $798.00 (seven hundred ninety-eight dollars) from the Student Events Pool (6272-0200-03) for KOUG Radio. BE IT ENACTED BY THE ASWSUV SENATE:

Sec. 1. Licensing for ASCAP Sec. 2. Licensing for SoundExchange

$500.00 $298.00

STATEMENT OF FACT: Advertisements will read “Co-sponsored by ASWSUV” in 14-point font or font equal to the average size lettering on the advertisement, for all advertising for the event(s) as required by ASWSUV By-Laws (260.12). All advertisements shall be approved by the ASWSUV Public Relations Director prior to disbursement. KOUG Radio is the third largest student organization on campus and needs this money to continue broadcasting. These fees will allow broadcasting to continue through 31 January 2010.

BILL 18.034 ASWSUV

Eighteenth Senate

2008-09 Session

By Senators Atkinson and Myers 24 March 2009 AN ACT Relating to: The allocation of $2,150.00 (two thousand one hundred and fifty dollars) from the Student Events Pool (6272-0200-03) for a Volunteer Fair to be held on 14 April 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. BE IT ENACTED BY THE ASWSUV SENATE:

Sec. 1. 100 Round Table pizzas (plates and napkins included) $1,950.00 Sec. 2. Soda (cups included) $ 200.00

STATEMENT OF FACT: Advertisements will read “Co-sponsored by ASWSUV” in 14-point font or font equal to the average size lettering on the advertisement, for all advertising for the event(s) as required by ASWSUV By-Laws (260.12). Advertisements shall be approved by the ASWSUV Public Relations Director prior to disbursement. The ASWSUV External Affairs Committee is partnering with Derence Walk from Civic Engagement for this Fair. There will be approximately 20 community organizations, four campus clubs, and various campus organizations in attendance.

ComedySportz group performed a broadway-like song to end the show.

Jake Kleinschmidt/The VanCougar

The VanCougar

CAMPUS NEWS

Students give back to community on break

CAMPUS NEWS

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‘Spring to Action Break for Change’ event brings WSU students together

problems, dug large ditches around his house to keep the water from running into his yard and ruining his land. While

By Katie Wells EDITOR IN CHIEF

On Saturday, March 14, a van full of WSU Vancouver students left the campus to begin a four day community service trip. Put on by the WSU Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), the ‘Spring to Action Break for Change’ was an alternative spring break trip. Derence Walk, Civic Engagement Specialist, drove the students and himself to an organic farm in Battle Ground, WA where they spent the afternoon caring for the plants. All seven covered plants with tarps to keep them from drowning, covered the tarps in coffee beans to trap heat and created pathways with burlap. Freshman Kendal Mantzke, a trip participate, noted that she admired the passion that the farm owners had. “The guy had a full time job, but after work he’d come home and work on the farm until nine or ten at night. It was crazy,” said Mantzke. When it was time to move on to their next community service project, Eric Davidson, Phillip Ho, Jason Juhala, Elena Mahrt and Kendal Mantzke piled back into the van and rode with Derence Walk up to Morton, WA.

Derek Brown was one of five boys from WSU-V that went on the trip.

digging the ditches, he placed the dirt in his yard. For the community service project, the students moved the dirt from his yard back in to the ditches. The dirt was piled three feet high across the lawn and required ‘intense shoveling

UPCOMING EVENTS Cougars Got Culture

April 2 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. in the FSC. Showcase of diversity and talents. Free and open to the public.

Spring Preview Day

April 3 at 9:30 a.m. in VADM 110. Learn about the classes, programs and campus life. Free to public. RSVP at http://www. vancouver.wsu.edu/preview.

A-Z of Financial Aid and Scholarships Workshop

April 3 at 11 a.m. in VADM 110. Workshops answers questions about scholarships.

Research Showcase

April 9 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in various buildings across campus. Visit http://www.vancouver.wsu. edu/researchshowcase for more information.

WSUV Campus Art Fair

April 10 from 4 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the FSC. Free and open to the public.

in the mud together,” said Derence Walk about how quickly the students got to know each other.

Eric Davidson, Kendal Mantzke, Phillip Ho and Derek Brown on a farm in Woodinville.

Derence Walk/Contributing Photographer

There in Morton, the WSU-V students and dedication’ according to Kendal met the 14 participants from WSU Mantzke. After their time outside, they Pullman. According to Walk, most went back to a flood relief center and students had never met before the trip. separated clothes for victims. That night the twenty students roomed That night, everyone from the group together in two apartments before traveled to Woodinville and ate dinner heading off to complete more projects together before heading to a hotel the next morning. to play games. A group of about ten An elderly man, whose driveway students gathered together in one room was washed into his yard by the flood, to play the game ‘Mafia.’ received a morning’s worth of help from “It seems like you get to be really the students. They shoveled the gravel good friends with people after working from his yard back into his driveway for him. After the long morning there, they traveled over to a home where a woman’s yard was also covered in rocks. For a few more hours, they shoveled the heavy rocks out of her lawn. The exhausted students headed back to the apartments after finished with the misplaced rocks and went straight to bed. On Monday, March 16 the group headed over to a man’s home whose family was poverty stricken. During the flooding, the man, who suffers from severe back Both WSU Pullman and WSU Vancouver students participated in this four day long spring break trip.

Derence Walk/Contributing Photographer

The next day they all headed over to 21 Acres farm in Woodinville and planted onions. They also dug ditches to transport water out of the field before shoveling mulch. When they finished their day at the farm, they drove over to Seattle and stayed in a hostel by Pike Place. On their final day, the group worked at a food bank in Seattle bagging black eyed peas for underprivileged families. They had to fill bags and then box the 25 pounds of beans to be shipped away. When the beans were packed and shipped, the students said goodbye to their new friends from Pullman and headed back to Vancouver. This was the second year that the CCE has done the ‘Spring to Action Break for Change’ trip. However, this was the first year that WSU Vancouver students were able to join in on the community service projects. The WSU CCE offers a chance for students, faculty, and others to contribute to the community through service projects. Being part of the CCE, Derence Walk has noticed that many people think of community service as a court-ordered project or school assignment. He thinks of community service as more of a recreational activity. Derence Walk, when asked why he chose to do community service rather than a real vacation, said, “Actually, it was a vacation! We had a blast while we were making a difference in the world.” “With this alternative spring break trip, I hope we were able to promote the mentality that community service can be fun,” said Walk.

Derence Walk/Contributing Photographer

April 1, 2009

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Please join us for the unveiling of the journal’s largest, most upscale book yet! Fat with text and flush with imagery, we’re very excited to show you some of the fabulous creative work WSU-V has to offer. A full buffet will be available, prizes awarded, and copies of the journal are free! There will be a visual arts presentation and authors will read their work. We are also accepting resumes for the 2009/2010 Editor-in-Chief, Prose Editor, and Visual Arts Editor positions. If interested, send resume and cover letter by April 10th to: A. K. Huseby Editor-In-Chief, 2009 Salmon Creek Journal [email protected]

The VanCougar

8

ARTS & CULTURE

DJ Spotlight Andrea Lang Story by Kayla Page The VanCougar

Ever wonder who the voice behind the microphone is? This is your chance to get to know a DJ from Washington State University’s KOUG Radio. Andrea Lang, music director at KOUG, is the first of many DJs to be asked by The VanCougar to share his or her story with the students. Lang is the host of the show “Fierce’s Folksy Funtime” streaming live every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. This show plays mostly contemporary and indie rock music and Lang tries to play one or two local bands every show. Lang is also in charge of introducing new music, importing it into the system and creating new playlists. “I started because I was interested in listening to new music and there was plenty to be had at the station,” she said. “It turned out to be a lot of fun, so I started taking on more and more responsibilities and then applied for music director.” As far as her future goals, Lang has no plans to be a professional DJ, but says she is enjoying what KOUG has offered her and the opportunities it has created for her resume. “I’m sure having management experience will be very helpful in the future,” she said. “Mostly I’m just having fun, and it is keeping me sane with all the work I have from my classes.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sixth Annual Research Showcase on April 9, 2009 9 am - 5:30 p.m. Poster & Exhibit Viewing Noon - 1:30 p.m. Dr. Tripp Presentation 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony 7 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. Keynote Address 8:15 p.m. - 9 p.m. Reception Dr. Dunbar will talk about the common ground connecting her experiences as a NASA Mission Specialist astronaut aboard 5 space flights, her role in leading and directing the Museum of Flight, and her education journal in Engineering and Science. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Nickie Davis at [email protected]

Salmon Creek Journal Release Party

April 10 from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. in VADM 129/130. Salmon Creek Journal will release their ‘best-yet’ edition of the book. Student artwork is showcased in the journal and free food and prizes will be given away. Free and open to the public.

ARTS & CULTURE

Fierce’s Folksy Funtime: Quick Facts What is your favorite type of music? I know this is kind of a boring answer, but I really like almost all genres of music. If I had to pick one, I guess I’d pick Folk, but only because I’ve been listening to it so much in trying to put together my show. What is your favorite song? I’m not sure I have a favorite song, so I’ll pick a favorite album: Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan. What is your favorite TV show? West Wing! What is your favorite food? Potatoes What is your major? Biology and Environmental Science What are your future goals following graduation? Graduate school, somewhere. If you could sum up your life in three words, what would they be? Chaotic but fun. If there were 25 hours in every day, what would you do with the extra hour? Sleep! What is your biggest guilty pleasure? Computer games.

ARTS & CULTURE

April 1, 2009

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Barista Championship brews up plenty of good times A war of coffee titans face off in a mad mocha match Story by Lance Smith The VanCougar

The smell of espresso in the morning is usually enough to awaken the senses of the average undergraduate student, usually tired and plagued by deadlines. Coffee is one of those potent potions loved by some and abhorred by others. But regardless of how one personally feels about the brown stuff, it’s usually a habit of amateurish delight. There are some, however, who see the world of coffees and cappuccinos as something much more than simply a morning-grade stimulant. To these enthusiasts, it is insufficient to crack open a bag of grounds, make some drip coffee and then sit down with a milky, sugary beverage. To these aficionados, Starbucks is anathema; Mochas are puerile; and the nearly divine essence of coffee is king. Welcome to the relatively unknown

world of United States professional coffee baristas. On March 5 - 8 at the Portland Convention Center, the 2009 United States Barista Championships boiled, simmered, and steamed to the delight of a very fascinated crowd. The setup is rather similar to college basketball’s March Madness. Baristas intimately knowledgeable about their craft compete in ten different regions within the US and each regional winner is sent to the national competition in Portland. Judges have a strict set of guidelines to grade the barista on cleanliness, appearance, affability and (of course) how good their drinks are. Winning nationals guarantees the barista a position at the world competition to be held in Atlanta April 16 - 19. The concept of “barista” that most people have is of their drink-maker at the local Starbucks. While they might make a good drink, they do not hold a candle to these professional competition baristas (sorry ‘bucks). These baristas have an unparalleled

amount of knowledge about their drinks, right down to the name of the farmer on whose land it was grown and the exact elevation that the beans were grown at. Words mentioned repeatedly included “aromatics,” “chocolate-flavor,” “acidity” and “purity.” The competition was simple. Each entrant had fifteen minutes to ready their coffee station, which included setting up a visual display for the judges’ table. Once that initial time was over, the judges would come in, sat down, and gave the barista fifteen minutes to prepare three drinks (espressos, cappuccinos, and a unique “signature” drink). During this period each barista would talk the judges (and the audience) through the making of their drinks, specifying exactly what flavors the judges would be tasting. These were the tensest moments, as a little slip or mis-pour of the drinks could send a barista’s score down to Dunkin’ Donuts level. No one wanted to see that.

The whole competition was as interesting as it was educational. Seeing the passion of the baristas and the care of their craft was a lot of fun. The amount of preparation that went into those three drinks was simply astounding. The sophistication of ingredients was impressive as well. Of course, for those in attendance, there was plenty of free coffee and espresso too. For those interested in the world of professional coffee, Clark County is home to one of the premiere coffee houses in the nation: Lava Java. Lava Java is owned by the 2005 US Barista Champion Phuong Tran, who took the title in Seattle (meaning that she was the best barista in the entire nation). Lava Java is located at the Ridgefield junction area, just east of the freeway. For those seeking a greater understanding about the world of professional baristas or for budding coffee aficionados in general, a quick trip to Lava Java might be the best place to start. Bam! Roasted.

Who watches the Watchmen? WSU-V Campus Art Fair First annual showcase of student artwork on campus By Katie Wells eDITor In ChIeF

For the first time ever, on April 10, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations is holding an Art Fair to showcase arts and crafts from around the community. The showcase, held in the Firstenburg Student Commons from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m, will feature artwork from students, faculty, staff and community members in hopes of raising money for the art displays on campus, the DTC program and the Fine Arts department. Lea Pfau, member of the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, has been advertising in order to receive student artwork for the show since January. Quickly, the open table spots filled up with WSUV students jumping at a chance to display their artwork. The Art Fair will display artwork that is both for sale and for show. There will be at Review by Erik Cummings SPorTS & reCreaTIon IgnoranT

They watch each other. Sometimes they watch the wrong one. To err is human and humanity runs rampant within Watchmen, and, some would argue, without. Alan Moore’s popular graphic novel became a Hollywood reality after two decades in development hell. The question is, should it have stayed there? Opening the film with Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” history is rewritten. Masked vigilantes are introduced in an alternate reality where Nixon wins a fifth term and the Vietnam war is a United States victory. Alan Moore’s writing and Dave Gibbon’s art cross over to the silver screen in vibrant special effects. Malin Akerman parades around as the voluptuous Silk Spectre, flirting with Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) and Daniel Dreiburg (Patrick Wilson) as the United States moves closer to a nuclear confrontation with the U.S.S.R. In the middle of it all, a famous Watchman is slain and his death arouses suspicion in the mysterious vigilante Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley). The movie score is cleverly done with songs mentioned in Moore’s original novel serenading viewers throughout the film. Nat King Cole croons before Jimmy Hendrix wails

and Simon and Garfunkel muse. For fans of special effects, Rorschach’s mask and Dr. Manhattan’s atomwrenching powers provide plenty of fodder for oohs and aahs. The story itself stays mostly intact. Fans of the book might grumble over the ending and the main villain’s tactics lack of canon adherence. One of the problems lies in the film’s excessive violence and sex. True, Hollywood seeks to appeal to the public to sell movie tickets. However, when they twist the creator’s story to do so, it detracts from the tale itself. Wilson and Akerman’s love scene is an extended sequence that seems like an afterthought, almost as though the director threw it in to make sure everyone realized the film was rated “R.” A key aspect in Moore’s work details how the characters affect the lives of those civilians around them. Constrained to three hours, the film ignores most of these, adding thirty seconds to the tryst that don’t need to be there. Haley’s character is played up beyond Moore’s original vision and into a hero more violent than subtly sadistic. Twenty years following its publishing, Alan Moore’s work has hit the screen. A lot has changed over two decades and films have adapted. Story and detail fall before to glitz and emotion. Watchmen can add itself to the casualty list. Bam. Roasted.

One of WSU-V’s rotating galleries.

least 25 artists at the show presenting artwork from many mediums such as jewelry, paintings, pottery and photography. Being the first of its kind, the art fair is expected to increase awareness of the artwork on campus as well as bring more interest to the rotating and permanent galleries on campus. Coinciding with the Art Fair is the Salmon Creek Journal Release party. The Office of Development and Alumni Relations is assisting in the hosting of the event. The party will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Administration Building, rooms 129 and 130. The Journal will be a highlighted group at the Art Fair after releasing their free booklet of student poetry, prose and visual art. According to Amy Huseby, the Editor in Chief of the Salmon Creek Journal, this year’s edition will be one of the best yet. There will be prizes given away at the release party along with free food from a finger-food buffet. KOUG Radio will also be simulcasting the event.

Katie Wells/The VanCougar

The VanCougar

Wind players blow off the danger, hang out in storms

UPCOMING EVENTS

SPORTS & RECREATION

X-tremely Windy: The Columbia River Gorge

SPORTS & RECREATION

10

By Byron Nalos contriButing writer

SUVs with roof-racks and REI stickers crowd the margins of Columbia River Gorge highway during August. Over the past decade, the surfers come out earlier every morning to fight for open space on the nation’s best windsurfing river. It’s not only windsurfers though. Rock climbers, backpackers, and kayakers cram in so fast and so tight that the only thing left for a normal, un-extreme person (like myself) is a seventy five dollar parking ticket. Thankfully, the herd is seasonal. While the talented, daring Matthew McConaugheys must go home for the winter to wax their boards and their chests, the wind still blows, and dozens make sport of it—if you can call mere enjoyment a sport. It’s impossible to escape the Columbia River Gorge winds if you live in the Portland/Vancouver area. Gorge residents will tell you it’s the windiest place in the country. Westerly winds are important to the gorge residents for farming and recreation. However, it’s the east winds coming out of the Gorge that create many of our vicious winter storms. “When making a forecast,” says The Columbian weatherman Pat Timm, “I always factor in the winds from the Gorge.” These winds can sometimes, like on January 18th, reach hurricane force of 100+ mph. Wintertime storms have created a small festival of wind watchers that meet on top of Crown Point State Park. When a storm is expected to come through, even at night, they jump in their cars and make the 22 mile trip from Portland

to the Vista House, atop Crown Point. But they’re not sportsmen, or even scientists; they’re just people like Maria Dempster, “excited to go play in the wind.” A big storm will usually attract ten to fifteen people. Some bring wind measuring instruments; others bring a video camera and a case of beer to guarantee another great YouTube post. Most people only bring a big jacket. “I tried to get out of the car,” says Dempster, “and it blew me backwards into the guard-rail. The wind wouldn’t even let me stand up.” The storms are also dangerous. “We’ve had two deaths this year in wind related storms in northwest Oregon,” says Lt. Greig Hastings of the Portland Police department. Both were from falling trees. During winter months, Hastings says the police restrict traffic about 20 to 30 days a year on Interstate 84. Looking at the ridge above the highway, you can see why. Half the forest is snapped off at the trunk from high winds. But the Crown Point wind parties are in a sort of Bermuda triangle. The park lies conveniently between three jurisdictions: The Dalles, Multnomah County, and Portland Police. “Four actually,” says Hastings, “if you count the State Sheriff.” But none of the troops patrol Crown Point unless ODOT issues a severe storm warning, like they did on January 20th. This was the night I went up to play in the wind. The moon was full, and the thrashing Douglass Firs sounded like the ocean. Several looked like they were ready to uproot into orbit. I edged my way on all fours up the Vista House stairs towards the center of the wind funnel. My eyes were watering, but I could see the whole Columbia River

Gorge crystal clear in a loud bath of blueblack moonlight. When leaning face first into 85 mph winds, the saliva from the corners of your mouth leaks across your cheeks and into your ears. If you’re planning to come, don’t wear loose clothes; they may tear. Also, be careful which direction you park the car, otherwise you’ll have a hell of a time trying to get back inside. That evening the sheriff told us to go home. There were fallen trees all over the Crown Point highway driving back, but returning to Portland the weather was relatively calm. Not many people responded when I told them about how powerful the wind was. They probably didn’t care, but I couldn’t wait for the next storm. The Gorge is another reminder of how hard it is to keep up with the increasing existentialism of the postmodern world. People aren’t just looking for a walk in the woods; they need to be on a kayak in class five rapids. The Great American Pastime isn’t the only hobby on steroids. Skateboarding annually tests the limits of the human body in the X-games; geeks have built an online gaming network that never sleeps. But there is something un-human about these ultra hobbies. They lack that childish sense of awe and play. “You know,” says George Carlin, “Where you sit in the yard with a [expletive] stick, and you dig a [expletive] hole.” Perhaps what’s exciting about Crown Point isn’t exactly the wind. The Gorge is not the windiest place in the nation. Neither is Chicago— it’s Dodge City, Kansas. But Crown Point is a small reminder that the only extreme hobby left for the untalented, abundantly average dude, is extreme enthusiasm. Bam. Roasted.

Outdoor soccer begins Intramural sport proves a real kick in the pants By Ferris Bueller

Juvenile delinquint and quite popular, really

Outdoor Soccer

The field was soggy and muddy from the early morning rain, but that didn’t deter the players’ spirits from getting wet and having fun. The intramural soccer game was put on by the student recreation center on Thursday. Among the people, Phillip Ho showed traces of completely falling down in the mud, even though he was wearing cleats. Tim Snyder showed his skills off by head butting the ball in for a sweet goal past a few opposing players. Even though the pick-up game started at 3 p.m., the amount of players was inconsistent. Players came and went, ranging from short to tall, male and female, students and faculty, but one thing was the same: it was very muddy and a fun time was had by all. Interested parties seeking to join in the fun can contact the Recreation Center at (360) 546-9532. They can also head to the sports fields any Thursday afternoon at 3:00

April 2: Visit the OSI or Recreation Center for more information

Outdoor Paintball

April 4: Woodland Paintball Students $10 wNon-students $15

Whitewater Rafting Trip April 18: Students $50.00 Nonstudents $60.00. Visit the OSI or Recreation Center for more information

Visit www.vancouver.wsu.edu for further listings of events to come

Ferris Bueller/The VanCougar

SPORTS & RECREATION

Suns shine weakly in Portland

April 1, 2009

11

Blazers finish out twenty points ahead By Erik Cummings

Sports and Recreation Editor

Thursday’s game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns brought a reassuring pat on the back to fans of Oregon’s team. Nicolas Batum made a beautiful steal and field goal that contributed to his team’s early lead in the first quarter. The towering forward would go on to sink three more in the remaining five minutes. Not to be outdone, Shaquille O ‘Neal and Jason Richardson fought hard, forcing the quarter to close with the Blazers’ lead at two points. Guard Rudy Fernandez took the Blazers forward in the second with a three pointer, followed later by another from teammate Greg Oden. The Suns continued to lag behind until O ‘Neal banked over Joel Przybilla to start the comeback. On his tail came Przybilla to mimic the shot with one of his own that had O ‘Neal eyeballing him balefully. The two later clashed with a double technical foul. Stromile Swift pulled the Suns out of the thirties with his first three-pointer of the season. The Blazers retaliated with more treys of their own, along with Lamarcus Aldridge’s rebound dunk. The first half’s ending again found them in the lead at 65-57. Halftime announced the 63rd consecutive sellout for the Blazers and a marriage proposal was accepted. Rotation among the Blazers continued and they took the first goal for the second half. Przybilla and O ‘Neal squared off again, Przybilla committing a loose ball foul as the Suns’ player closed in behind. The struggle deepened with Brandon Roy making a basket and Richardson sinking a three pointer, both beating the shot clocks. But with Aldridge slamming in goals and a magnificent rebound by Forward Travis Outlaw, the Blazers leaped ahead to break one hundred by the end of the third. The Suns were left behind at 79 while Blazer fans rejoiced in the glory and free Chalupas. Even with the furious ascension by the Suns through the fourth quarter and O ‘Neal rounding out his game at 29 points, the Blazers kept their lead. By the finish, they scored twenty points to the Suns’ thirty, leaving the court at 129-109.

For exclusive Vancougar interview with Lamarcus Aldridge, visit http://tinyurl.com/2g9mqh

Students Mike, Tony, Ryan, TJ, and Jake play Texas Hold’em for the Office of Recreation’s Hold’em Tournament on March 6.

Joe Creager/The VanCougar

The WSU-V City League volleyball team won their last match of the season 2-1.

Ferris Bueller/The VanCougar

The VanCougar

12

TAIL END

2009

April

Apr. 4: Outdoor Paintball (Woodland) Woodland Paintball Action / 12 p.m. Register at OSI, Students $10 and Nonstudents $15 Apr. 6: University Scholars Program: Dr. Denise Lewis Administration Building, Room 110 / 6:00 p.m. Free and open to the public Apr. 9: Research Showcase 2009 Various buildings / 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Free and open to the public Apr. 10: Salmon Creek Journal Launch Party VADM 129 & 130 / 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Free and open to public. Free Food Apr. 10: Campus Art Fair Firstenburg Commons / 4 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Free and open to public

Annual Public Affairs Lecture Series April 15, 7 pm Student tickets are FREE! Two tickets per student available only in the Office of Student Involvement.

Apr. 13-15: ‘Spare Change for Change’ coin drive Alcove next to the Cafeteria / 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Human Development Club fundraiser. All proceeds go to the Oregon Food Bank.

Kweisi Mfume “Race, Class and Economic Recovery in Obama’s America”

Apr. 17: Fine Arts Fridays: Monotype Printmaking Multimedia Building, Room 107 / 10:00 a.m. Free and open to current faculty, staff, and students

From activist to US Congressman to head of the NAACP, it was with bold steps and fierce determination that Kweisi Mfume has become one of America’s most provocative public intellectuals.

Apr. 18: Whitewater Rafting Trip Wind River / 10 a.m. Register at OSI, Students $40 and Nonstudents $50 Apr. 18: Health Professions Career Fair Firstenburg Student Commons / 10:00 a.m. Free and open to all current student and alumni

Students who sign up for tickets will be entered into a drawing to attend the Meet & Greet or dinner with Mr. Mfume. For more information go to: www.vancouver.wsu.edu/pals

Sponsored by: Official Media Sponsor Offices of Student Involvement and Academic Affairs

Applications due April 3rd