The Vancougar: October 5, 2009

Washington State University Vancouver’s Student Newspaper

Volume 15, Issue 4 www.vancougar.com

October 5, 2009

Different perspectives mid semester Students monitor grades while staff enjoys a new view

be corrected.” This is a long process done by a crew of about three or four people who find Campus News Editor issues such as doors that do not lock right or elcome to week seven of the Fall ceiling tiles that don’t fit correctly. “These are semester. This is roughly the middle of the the things you usually do when you buy a brand semester as most students probably know from new home. You have to work out all the kinks the midterms that their professors have either until everything runs smoothly.” Raglione given them or are warning them of. continued to mention that he saw the Some begin to evaluate how things crew of WSU-V workers doing their are going for themselves or the walkthroughs in the mornings when campus during the middle of their he would unlock buildings. This semester. new building gives us the promise Academically speaking everything of a growing campus, but is it just an seems fairly average. Tests are going illusion? alright, some are struggling while Surprisingly, the campus is not others find it to easy. However some people find growing as much as it is just stretching its legs. it harder to study well enough for what they are Rough estimates provided by Randy Boose dealing with in school. from the Human Resources Department say that The more involved people are in the campus, from Dec. 1, 2008 to Sept. 2009, Tenured track the more overwhelmed they feel on a daily professors decreased from 101 to 99. Boose basis. Being swamped is just a part of the said that it does not reflect the exact number of overcommitted and overworked student. Most professors WSUV gained. Just that the campus who put themselves in that situation thrive on gained nearly as much as it lost. Adjunct turn the pressures of being rushed. However, some over varies a great deal, but even with that, there may be thrown into the mix of being rushed and was hardly a change in faculty and staff. This overwhelmed by force rather than choice. is most likely due to the hiring freeze. Though Many people have been affected not only by there aren’t many new members added to the the workload at school, but by the increases in faculty, the construction of the new building tuition as well. Having was no waste at all. to take extra jobs or According to Boose, all focus more on their the people from the English own financial issues department, some from instead of how well Human Development, they are doing in class is and faculty from other adding to the stress that departments now have students already face. It offices in the UCB. Boose is difficult for students to continued to say that the be able to survive during people from the two main the economic downturn, departments in the move with unemployment rates had not changed location never seeming to give in about ten years. They anyone a break. Simply must appreciate the new put, it is getting tough view. Hal Dengerink, for those at WSUV. Chancellor, said at a Students have had Chancellor’s Student to drop some classes, Advisory Board meeting but nothing out of the that there were about 250 ordinary. Everyone more students accepted knows in the first few as freshman and transfers weeks people drop out than there had been last for various reasons; be year. they life or academic So with the a building issues. They could and a couple hundred be withdrawing from people as the only big courses for reasons of the changes, has the quality of economy or just personal the semester been the same conflicts. It appears as last year? Last year a that those who have great number of students remained in school and had been involved in only dropped one or two activities on campus. This classes are mostly due to year the events have been personal complications greater in frequency, but or just lack of interest in fewer students seem to turn the subject. out for them. What is the Though students have reason behind the lack of been working hard in participation? Are we too school and on job, they busy with financial issues have had just enough to attend? Is the campus time to enjoy the new itself less connected with Undergraduate the students and its needs? Classroom Building Maybe the lack of (UCB). So far, it seems participation is due to the to be received well. fact that school has only Comfortable benches to been in session for a (Top) Located by the side doors of the lower level of the Undergraduate Classroom Building, this small pond provides a calming view. sleep on and quiet places (Above) The Undergraduate Classroom Building has received many compliments toward the group study rooms and outdoor benches. little over a month. to study are available there. Jake Kleinschmidt/The VanCougar Though it seems like a There are roughly 100 mean that the building is entirely finished. that after the construction workers finish the short amount of time, courses being taught in the UCB, so the building “They have to do what you would call a main project, a small crew on campus does Midterms are just around the corner. is being utilized well. However this doesn’t punch list,” said Officer Raglione. “This means walkthroughs to find the problems that need to Jake Kleinschmidt

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Annual dodgeball tournament pictures page 4

Student Spotlight: Harrison Polo; musician and student page 7

Cougars vs. SMU football game page 9

ASWSUV’s Cougs and Cowboys dance page 13

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CAMPUS NEWS

Health care reform debate

Chancellor’s Seminar Series begins Louise Wynn Staff Writer

WSUV students joined local doctors,

bankers, and health insurance managers for the first Chancellor’s Series lecture of the 2009-2010 school year on Sept. 25. Steve Hill, administrator of the Washington State Health Care Authority, spoke about health care reform. The message wasn’t pretty, particularly for students. Many students, Hill acknowledged, lack health insurance. His advice for them? Get a job with benefits. He wasn’t dismissing the question or joking around. He was emphasizing that in the current state of affairs in the U.S., that’s the best a student, and most people, can do for health insurance: find an employer who provides it. Meanwhile, about 46 million Americans are uninsured, including 30 million working poor and 13 million young adults. To arrive at a workable health-delivery and payment system won’t be easy, he said. “We have a long journey in front of us. The health care crisis will not be over in January.” Every other developed country has a less expensive and more comprehensive health-care

program, he said. “We spend twice what the United Kingdom spends on health care, and the others spend even less than the U.K. If we had a system like theirs, the government’s share could pay for all of our health care.” He pointed out that the U.S. has elements of health care insurance similar to the models of other developed countries: Our Veterans Administration plan is like the Great Britain and Italy models; our Medicare and Medicaid programs like the models used in Canada and Australia, and our employer-funded private insurance like Germany, France, and Japan. But the fourth model common in the U.S. is the “out-of-pocket” model, which is what the undeveloped countries, and the U.S., have: a large populace of uninsured. So, Hill asked, “Why is health care reform so hard for us?” He answered: “Because the U.S. is a democracy. And if we have a public that believes we’re spending too much or too little, it will be hard to wrestle the affordability elephant to the ground.” He asked the audience what they thought a comprehensive health-care insurance plan should cover: dental care, stomach bypass surgery for weight loss, acupuncture, massage therapy, long-term nursing care, fertility

AWARE Network program

Helps students feel safer on campus Rup Brar

Staff Writer

It has been about two years, since the

dreadful day of April 16, 2007, when an estranged college student opened fire on his fellow classmates at Virginia Polytechnic and State University. The killer took 33 innocent lives, before turning the gun on himself. The incident is one which has stayed in our minds and reminded us of the horrors of columbine. These events lead to several changes on campuses nation wide to prevent from anything like this ever happening again. AWARE Network at WSUV campus was a precipitate of that day. The tragedy left many institutions to rethink the safety of students, and led to develop better precautionary measures to prevent such massacres. AWARE network was established last year with collaboration of several different departments on campus. The program is a medium for WSUV community to proactively respond to individuals exhibiting behaviors that pose threat to other students as well as to themselves. The AWARE program provides a way for students and faculty to channel their concerns. Our purpose is not to pinpoint any individual, but rather to ensure safety of all, mentioned Nancy Youlden, the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and an active member of the Behavioral Assessment Team. “AWARE Network provides an important avenue for the campus community to communicate” added Youlden. AWARE network is a non-emergency response system, where each complaint is thoroughly analyzed by a Behavioral Assessment team. A Behavioral Assessment Team, made up of personnel from Student Affairs, Public Safety, Counseling Services, Student Conduct, Human Resources, Disability Resources, Academic Affairs and Risk Management, oversees the program. The team functions individually in order to quickly and effectively judge if a person is indeed a threat to the safety of WSUV

students. After review, the person in question is referred to appropriate counseling services. Or any other necessary course of action that is needed to be taken will be appropriately taken. Keeping our eyes and ears open to our surroundings is the key to safety. AWARE Network web site lists warning signs as indicator of troubled and distressed individuals. Some of the warning signs include: change in frequency of absences, disinterest, apathy, hopelessness, angry outbursts, suicide talk, noticeable change in behavior, neglect of personal well being, paranoia, communicating threats as well as social threats. Seung-Hui Chong, the perpetrator of Virginia Tech killings was described as a quiet, loner and a shady character by both his instructors and fellow students. Chong’s writing reflected anger, and his strange behavior had led his professor to recommend counseling. Warning signs were there, but no action was taken. As human beings, all of us ride the roller coaster of life. Ups and downs come and go. One day you are flying high, while the next you are falling with non-functioning parachute. AWARE network is as much about helping troubled individuals as it is about safety. Proper care can make sure you stay grounded and avoid any parachute related accidents Students are encouraged to visit the AWARE network web site, for any assistance and referrals, at www.aware.vancouver.wsu.edu.

Warning signs of a distressed student:

Assignments not being turned in, frequent absences, disruptiveness, excessive emotional content in discussing or writing class materials, mention of suicide or homicide in the content of coursework, significant decline or deficit in self care behaviors like personal hygiene and extreme weight loss. Signs that the student may be experiencing a mental health emergency and in danger of harm to self or others include: Direct suicidal or homicidal statements, bizarre speech, loss of contact with reality, extreme anxiety; panic. In these instances, walk the student to Counseling Services (280 Lighty), Health and Wellness Services (Washington Bldg.) or call 911.

WSU Vancouver Library

www.vancouver.wsu.edu/library

treatments, fitness club memberships, Lasik eye surgery? Most thought only dental care and long-term nursing care were important. But Hill pointed out that the stomach bypass surgery is covered by many plans. “We’ll pay $30,000 for stomach surgery,” he said, “which often ends up costing much more because of complications, but we won’t pay for a health or nutrition coach, or a gym membership, and we won’t pay for dental care, which by itself prevents many non-dental health problems.” Hill said he supports many aspects of the health-care reform bills being considered now in Congress, but the problem is this: “We have an access problem because we have an affordability problem. We have an affordability problem because we have a quality problem. We have to improve quality and efficiency to get affordability, and that’s what will lead to access to health care for all Americans.” Health care costs accounted for 4% of the economy when Hill was born, in 1947; for 8% of the economy when his daughter was born; for 16% of the economy when his grandson was born, and for 20% of the economy now. “I don’t think there’s a bright future for my grandson,” he concluded, “unless we reform health care.” Hill recommended two recent articles, available online, that review America’s healthcare problems and suggest solutions:

“The Cost Conundrum,” Atul Gawande, New Yorker: http://doclibrary.com/MSC149/ DOC/Cost_Containment_Article_NewYorker_ 6.1.092050.pdf “How American Health Care Killed My Father,” David Goldhill, Atlantic: http://www. theatlantic.com/doc/200909/health-care **** VanCougar questionnaire: 1. Do you have health care insurance? 2. If not, do you think you’re okay without it? 3. If so, do you get it through: your parents your employer WSUV other________________________ 4. Do you think you’re paying too much for your coverage? 5. What do you like about your health insurance coverage? 6. What would you like added to your health care insurance plan? 7. Do you use free clinics or emergency room care for your medical/health needs? 8. Do you think standard quality health care should be available to all Americans? what about legal immigrants, foreign workers, international students? what about illegal immigrants?

Andrew Carnegie live

Historical re-enactor to visit WSUV of Carnegie Library buildings across Join the Clark County Historical Museum Athenumber country have been converted to museums during the week of October 6-10, 2009 as we present, Andrew Carnegie Live! (Well, his look-a-like, noted re-enactor and humanities scholar George Dauler) with a series of ten performances that are free and open to the public. In an effort to celebrate the museum’s double anniversary year (building is 100 years old and museum is 45 years old) and to make museum programs accessible to the broadest possible audience, the Clark County Historical Museum has partnered with four branches of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library System, the Camas Public Library, and the Washington State University History Department to provide performance venues in eight different locations (see program schedule for locations and times). Nineteenth century industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie did more than any other individual to advance the cause of literacy and self-improvement by helping communities build quality libraries and museums. The buildings represent a time when the public really began to embrace civic responsibility. When he was a teenager, Andrew Carnegie was given access to the personal library of wealthy businessman, Col. James Anderson, an iron manufacturer in Allegheny City, PA.. Carnegie (1835-1919) never forgot the experience or the opportunity to further his education. Upon his retirement, Andrew Carnegie was the richest man in the world, having amassed a fortune of $500 million (about $200 billion in today’s dollars). Believing that “the man who dies rich, dies disgraced,” Carnegie’s retirement years were spent giving away his fortune through numerous cultural donations. Carnegie donated the funds for the construction of 2,509 libraries world-wide. In each locale it was up to the community to provide the land, pay for the books, furnishings, and staff. This opportunity provided the catalyst for community engagement. All of the 2,509 buildings represent Carnegie’s legacy and his belief “of giving a hand up, not a hand out.” In Vancouver, the Hidden Family donated the land (which was formerly the clay pit for their brick yard) and the library was built with a $10,000 Carnegie Foundation grant. The library opened on December 31, 1909 and is the former home of the Vancouver Public Library, now the Fort Vancouver Regional Library System. In 1963 the library system relocated to their new building at the time on Mill Plain Blvd. On May 24, 1964 the Clark County Historical Society re-adapted the building and opened the museum to the public.

and art centers. Funding for this program is provided by a generous grant from Humanities Washington with additional support from museum supporters, Friends of the Library Groups, the Columbian and Vesta Hospitality. Performance Schedule: • Tuesday October 6, 10 am Clark County Historical Museum located at 1511 Main St., Vancouver; 7 PM La Center Community Library at the La Center Community Center, 1000 E. 4th St. • Wednesday October 7, 10 am Woodland Community Library, 770 Park Street.; 12 noon Vancouver Rotary; 7 PM Vancouver Community Library, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd. • Thursday October 8, 4 PM Goldendale Community Library, 131 W. Burgen. • Friday October 9, 10 am Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St.; 7 PM Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave. • Saturday October 10, 10 am Washington State University Vancouver Campus, ADMIN 110*; 2 PM Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St. *The 10/10/09 10 am WSU V performance is open to the public but is a special presentation that is also tailored for high school and college age students interested in pursuing a career in acting or re-enactment of historical characters. ABOUT ANDREW CARNEGIE REENACTOR GEORGE DAULER: George P. Dauler, a graduate of Indiana University, has a master’s degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. He is an Ohio-based, retired Presbyterian pastor, counselor, and humanities scholar who has performed historical reenactments for more than 30 years. Dauler has appeared as Andrew Carnegie since 2002. CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM INFORMATION: The Clark County Historical Museum is housed in Vancouver’s 1909 Carnegie Library which is located at 1511 Main St. Vancouver, WA 98660. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Regular museum hours are: Tuesday through Saturday 11-4 PM. Admission rates apply. The museum is also open first Thursday evenings (Feb – Nov) from 5-9 PM for First Thursday Museum After Hours. A wheelchair accessible entrance to the museum is located on the east side of the museum building accessed from 16th street. For more information contact the Clark County Historical Museum at (360) 993-5679 or visit: www.cchmuseum.org.

10/7 Cougar Wine and Dine Night at Everyday Wine in Portland, OR @ 6 p.m. - 10/17 Cougs in the Community; volunteer to paint @ 7 a.m.; contact Lea Pfau

CAMPUS NEWS

Grade inflation at universities nationwide

Is A the new B?

Melissa Vik

D

Contributing Writer

espite having good intentions to finish the paper sooner, I procrastinated and left it until the night before it was due. With so little time to focus, my research was halfhearted, my sentences lazy, and I was hard-pressed to write an original thought. By 2 a.m. the paper was finished, but it wasn’t my best work, and I knew it. The following week the papers were handed back. I hesitated before looking at my grade, then there it was – on the back side, an “A” scrawled in pencil. I was pleasantly surprised and relieved. But somewhere deep down, I felt slightly disillusioned, and strangely, a twinge of disappointment. I guess that’s all it takes, I thought. It was one of my first papers coming back to college after an 8-year hiatus. I had expected my upper-division university courses to challenge me, to ask me to dig deep. But I found that, as with the paper, in many classes I could get by on less effort. The discovery surprised me, and at the same time, as a full time-plus student working part time on the side, it was welcome. Maybe I wouldn’t have to work as hard as I thought. Was I being my own worst critic, or are college grading standards lax? “Grade inflation is the award of higher grades than are warranted, generally to avoid displeasure with students,” says Dr. John Barber, a professor of WSUV’s Digital Technology & Culture program. “Students have come to expect higher grades for marginal work at the university level.” Grade inflation has been a concern in universities for a long time, but critics say it began in earnest in the 1960s. Research evidence is somewhat mixed, but studies have shown that average GPAs have increased steadily since the 1960s. Ivy League schools such as Princeton,

Stanford and Harvard have gained notoriety Grade Inflation: A Crisis in College Education. for grade inflation and have made changes to Johnson’s study also showed that grade combat it. An ongoing study by a former Duke inflation is less of a problem in the natural University professor at gradeinflation.com sciences than in the humanities. Perhaps this shows average GPAs at American colleges and is because in mathematics and sciences, grades universities have risen from 2.93 in 1991 to tend to be more quantitative and thus easier 3.11 in 2007. to grade on a black-and-white basis. Gretchen Many professors assert from their experiences Johnson, a 2009 graduate of WSUV’s biology that grade inflation is a problem, and some admit program, found her courses difficult. “I did not to giving in to the practice themselves. notice teachers grading easily in my classes,” “What used to get a C now gets a B,” says she says. Dr. Andrew Giarelli, who teaches English and In the humanities and liberal arts, there is writing courses at WSUV. “I try to resist grade more room for grading interpretation. “What inflation, but I have also participated in it.” He is the difference between an A- and an A?” says rather than give C’s to average work, he Barber says. “The teacher has no support for reserves C’s for “pieces that have really missed their determination of a grade, other than years the point.” of experience, time “Students have come spent reading thousands Often, professors have their jobs in to expect higher grades of papers, and perhaps mind. “Students take research into assessment.” advantage of teachers for marginal work at the This relativity often already nervous allows students the room university level.” about their future to negotiate or argue their employment,” says grades. - Dr. John Barber Barber. “Teachers Not everyone is want to be seen as liked, and therefore successful, convinced that grade inflation exists, however, so they often give in to pressure from students or if it does, that it is a problem. Author and to raise grades.” lecturer Alfie Kohn writes, “Maybe instructors Dr. Wilfred Wu, Assistant Professor of have been too stingy with their marks and now WSUV’s Management Information Systems have become more reasonable.” program, thinks that course evaluations, which Among arguments denying grade inflation are are taken into consideration when professors those that contend that the quality of students’ are up for tenure, have a lot to do with grade work has simply improved over the years. inflation. “Professors with tenure can grade how Giarelli disagrees. In 25 years as a professor, they want, but non-tenured professors have to “That has not been my personal experience,” he be more careful,” he says. Teachers want good says. A 2002 study by Dr. Henry Rosovsky and evaluations from students, and students tend Dr. Matthew Hartley showed that SAT scores to give better course evaluations when they’re have not increased. An increase in SAT scores getting good grades. would be expected if students were performing “There were some semesters where grades better. were really bad, and my evaluations dropped If students aren’t doing better work, why proportionately,” Wu says. Despite the pressure, are they expecting better grades? Dr. Harvey he resists grade inflation as much as possible. “I Mansfield, professor of government at Harvard don’t give out very many A’s.” and a critic of grade inflation, points to a greater This correlation between grades and course cultural trend. evaluations was supported in a 1999 study at “Grade inflation has resulted from the Duke University by Dr. Valen Johnson, author of emphasis in American education on the notion

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of self-esteem,” he writes in an article featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education. “According to that therapeutic notion, the purpose of education is to make students feel capable and empowered. So to grade them, or to grade them strictly, is cruel and dehumanizing. Grading creates stress. It encourages competition rather than harmony. It is judgmental.” Since 2001, Mansfield has chosen to deal with grade inflation by giving students two grades, an official inflated grade for the records, and another unofficial grade he feels the student has truly earned. Emily Jones, a 2009 WSUV graduate, isn’t sure if grade inflation exists, but “if grades have been inflated,” she says, “I think it’s because more students are working [in addition to school], and teachers understand that.” Jones has a point. On commuter campuses like WSUV, many students have full lives outside of college, with families and jobs. Students load up on courses in order to complete their degrees faster and save money in the long run. Few students are able to put the recommended study and preparation time into their courses. I understand all that. Prior to my graduation last May, I was one of these nontraditional students. And I wanted my A as much as anyone. Still, I wanted my college degree to mean something. And I wanted to improve. An A grade for a paper when I knew I’d been lazy was good for my GPA, but it deprived me of incentive to improve. I was left with the feeling that I’d somehow fooled my professor. The classes that I tended to work hardest in were those in which I knew the professors had the highest expectations. “In the end, everyone is hurt [by grade inflation],” says Barber. “The student is hurt because he/she cannot live up to the rigor required of individuals in the marketplace… Other students, true achievers, are hurt because their achievements are marginalized by higher grades being awarded to sub-par work. The university is hurt because it gains a reputation not for preparation for life, but rather an easy way to obtain a college degree.”

Candid Cougs “Which do you like cake or pie?” Jake Kleinschmidt

Bret Davis - Psychology

Campus News Editor

“Pie.”

Psychology -Mitzi Ang “Cake.”

Caitlin Ribera - English “Cake.”

Business - Leah Sarkkinen “Pie.” Liz rosas - Psychology “Pie.”

Biology - Bryan Johnson “Cake.” Elijah Houle- -Computer Science “Cake.”

You’re a writer? Perfect! The VanCougar is hiring reporters for all sections. Please apply online at vancougar.com. 10/17 Eco Friendly Volunteering; clean up Battle Ground Lake State Park @ 10 a.m. - 10/21 Cougar Networking Night @ 5:30 p.m. at The Club at the Historic Reserve

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STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Annual dodgeball tournament

TUESDAY

TO

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 – 10

CelebrateÊOurÊ CarnegieÊLibraryÊ Centennial andÊmeetÊ

AndrewÊCarnegie! (well his look-a-like, noted re-enactor George Dauler) Located in Vancouver’s 1909 Carnegie Library building, the Clark County Historical Museum is one of 41 Carnegie libraries built in Washington State with funding from steel magnate and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. Join the museum and WSUV History Department on campus, Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. in ADMIN 110 and experience George Dauler as he portrays the famous philanthropist. Contact the museum for official schedule and location of all performances taking place Oct. 6-10. FRUGAL FAMILY FUN

1511 Main St., Vancouver WA (360) 993-5679 www.cchmuseum.org This FREE program is sponsored by Humanities Washington, Friends of the Library Groups, individual museum supporters and The Columbian.

(Top) Nick Jurgensen prepares to throw the ball at the opponent. (Above) Sean Meyers and Jake Kleinschmidt defend themselves from being thrown out in the dodgeball tournament on Sept. 24. Joseph Tiegs/The VanCougar

10/6 Archery Indoor Instruction at Archery World @ 7 p.m.; $5 for students, $10 for non-students - 10/7 Diverse Careers, Diverse people @ 4 p.m. in VLIB 240

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

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Social and Environmental Justice Cougs’ zoo trip Sally Thrall

N

Staff Writer

ow is the time to get involved with the Social and Environmental Justice Club if you are concerned about many of the issues facing not just the local community, but the world at large. The Social and Environmental Justice Club complements the overall University education by teaching students about issues they may not learn about in their classes. Also, the club features issues that are of particular concern to the students. In a sense, the goal of the Social and Environmental Justice Club is to inform students and the community about some of the problems facing our global and local communities. If you come to the Social and Environmental Club, you can expect to find ways to get involved with community issues right off the bat. Community members and professors often come to meetings to share information about local volunteer projects that directly affect issues of social and environmental justice. You can find information about projects like Stream Team, which helps to clean up local streams in the area from litter and invasive species in an effort to restore the vegetation to its normal state. Or you can find information about the Vancouver division of Meals on Wheels which provides meals to members of the community in need of food. Students are more than encouraged to get involved because the club is interested in student input and the direction that the members want to take the club. At the first meeting, advisors stressed the ideas of the open ended possibilities of the club and the type of progressive messages the club could promote. “It’s really about where the members want to take the club,” said Taj Mahon. And the members have already started thinking about where exactly that is. The club is still in the planning stages for what they would like to do this year, and some ideas are already being discussed. Members of the club are discussing the possibility of getting some guest speakers to come to campus and inform the community of issues that

might be of interest to the people. There have also been talks of social and environmental justice themed art/ performance art shows or finding a way to bring social and environmental justice publications and literature to campus. The Social and Environmental Justice Club is interested in any way to disperse information about important issues, including working with KOUG radio. Input from anyone in the community who would like to get involved is welcomed and appreciated. So far this year, the Social and Environmental Justice Club has already been hard at work trying to get more people interested in the club and some of the goals of the club. The Social and Environmental Justice Club tabled at Vancouver’s Peace and Justice fair where there was a great turn out from members of the local community and presented the club with opportunities for possibly collaborating with other local organizations in the future. The Social and Environmental Justice Club is thinking of collaborating with the Center for Columbia River History and the Center for Social and Environmental Justice on a conference about the impact of dams on indigenous peoples and the environment. This year the work builds upon that of the Social and Environmental Justice Club last year. Last year, the Social and Environmental Justice Club hosted a symposium open to the public called “Cross Cutting the Themes of Social and Environmental Justice.” This symposium hosted panel speakers discussing with the community issues ranging from free trade agreements, to poverty, to political amnesty. It provided a forum for the public to chat with knowledgeable speakers about these dense issues and gain a better understanding of the issues and maybe be presented with differing view points. If any student is interested in getting involved with the Social and Environmental Justice Club, they are encouraged to come to the club meetings every other Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Firstenberg Student Commons. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Triana Collins/The VanCougar WSU VANCOUVER CAMPUS READING PROGRAM: LIFE OF PI by Yann Martel presents

“Ecology and Geography in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi” BY

Brian Tissot, PhD

Associate Professor, Science Program, WSU Vancouver &

Jorge Lizárraga

Diversity Faculty Fellow, WSU Vancouver Brian Tissot’s research is focused on the ecology and conservation of marine invertebrates and fishes. His research projects investigate issues at the interface between conservation science, management, and policy. He holds a PhD in zoology from Oregon State University. Jorge Lizárraga’s research and teaching interests center on human geography, designed landscapes, and environmental studies. He is ABD in geography from the University of California, Berkeley.

Wednesday, October 7, Noon, VUCB 125

WSU VANCOUVER CAMPUS READ: LIFE OF PI

VANCOUGAR.COM

‘Religion and Spirituality’ in Life of Pi by Yann Martel October 21 - VUCB 125 - 6:00 p.m. Moderated by Jorge Lizárraga

10/12 Dirt: The Erosion of Civilization; Professor Dave Montgomery; Scholars Lecture Series @ 6 p.m. in VUCB 1 - 10/14 National Dessert Day; Free ice cream @ 1 p.m.

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FEATURE

‘See You At The Pole’

Nationwide event also held on campus Chau Nguyen

H

Staff Writer

aving to wake up early and be outside in the cold weather did not stop the Chi Alpha Club members from getting together and praying. As a lot of people drove by the flagpole on Wednesday, Sept. 23rd from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., they slowed down and wondered what a group of people were doing in front of the Student Service Center. It was “See You at the Pole Day 2009”, when Christians all across America gather to pray for anything. “See You at the Pole” connects Christians on campus at the beginning of the school year and helps them stay in unity throughout the year. Eight people held hands and prayed for America, for the U.S. troops, the President, and the government. They prayed that poverty and hunger would be reduced or no longer be in existence. They also prayed for Christian churches around the world and were thankful that they live in a country where they are not persecuted for their religion. Some Chi Alpha club members stepped up and prayed for each other. They prayed for a fabulous school year

during which everyone will do well in school and for families to be able to take some time off from work and also for friends to talk with their parents or siblings. Emily Mertsching, the Chi Alpha Club President, prayed for younger generations that they will be protected from the dangers of the world. Chi Alpha Club is a Christian club on campus. It meets every Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Student Commons and Monday nights at 6 p.m. The location is not yet determined for Monday nights. Anyone interested can send e-mails to [email protected] and Mertsching will send out updated information about the club and meetings. Mertsching is really excited to see the club grow. “More people show up at club meetings this year than last year. We have about 12 solid members. There are new people coming to meetings every week.” The club has some exciting plans for this year. In December, the members are doing Christmas blessings when they will give out coffee, cocoa, or cookies. They also plan to do a concert with local bands in either January or February. And in the spring, they will do free car washing!

The Rant

Jake Kleinschmidt

Campus News Editor

Matt Hunter was one of the students who showed up Wednesday, Sept. 23 for the ‘See You At The Pole’ event. Chau Nguyen/The VanCougar

The Rant

Kati Hughes

F

Copy Editor

or most students who want to go on to Graduate school and earn a Master’s degree or a Doctorate, the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is a big scary monster lurking in the future for which they know they must prepare, but for which they know not how to prepare. Many undergraduate students do not even know they will have to take the GRE in order to get into Grad school. When I heard about it, I assumed that since it is a test one takes after earning a Bachelor’s degree, I would already know everything I need to know to pass it. I assumed wrong. The GRE standard test is a beast, and the worst part is that it isn’t even a real gauge for the breadth and depth of a students’ knowledge. All it measures is the students’ ability to take standardized tests. The questions are designed to trick you, to get you to answer wrong. The math section is the worst for English majors, and it says something about the uselessness of the test that more and more grad schools are no longer requiring GRE test results in application packets.

When I started studying for the GRE I found out that I can retake the test as many times as I want in order to improve my score. That was my plan for awhile; take the test, then re-study for the sections I failed. Unfortunately, the test costs $130.00 to take, and they list all of your previous scores when they send the results to your schools. Instead of looking like someone who can get an awesome score on the GRE, you end up looking like a professional test-taker. Also, you look like an idiot because you’re too poor from paying for 6 exams to buy new clothes for your college interview. Now that I know I only have one chance to pass the GRE, I’m spending more time studying vocabulary than doing homework for my actual classes. The study guide that I bought for the GRE has a list of the most commonly used words on the test, and tips on how best to memorize them. Oh, by the way, the list is six hundred words long. One of the study tips is to “use these words in your everyday conversations to allow maximum retention.” First of all, just no. Second of all, if I went around using words like “impecunious” instead of “poor” and “intransigent” instead of “stubborn” I would look like a pompous ass. There may be those

I hate La Center. Unfortunately, I live in that town. Well, not in it, but near it. I was given the rock and a hard place decision between La Center and Woodland as my home address. This feeling of not really belonging to either small town helps me sleep at night, because if I lived in either of them, I do not think there would be enough water on earth to wash off my shame. When people say La Center either they don’t know what you are talking about, or think about casinos. La Center must have about 500 of them and they seem to do pretty well at taking everyone’s money. Either by legal or illegal means like the horse betting that happened several years ago. These gambling houses which lead to the legendary “La Center Bum” have been reaping in the profits ever since I was born. And if you are still shocked on the statement that La Center is large enough to be a city, but at the same time have a label for a vagrant, believe it. La Center is small, ridiculously small, yet is still a city. No Street lights, but still a city. Maybe that’s just simply because they have sidewalks. The once quaint little logging town sitting off the east fork of the Lewis River has turned into a “city” with an inflated sense of self importance. The casinos enjoy the easy life by purchasing the police shiny fast cars, and the government of you out there thinking, “I use those words all the time, and nobody thinks I’m a pompous ass.” Yes, they do. Just stop. Don’t even get me started on the subject tests. Most of the grad schools I’m applying to don’t require a subject test, but since one of them does I have to take that one as well. As it is only offered three times a year, and costs $150.00 to take, I only have one shot. In addition to the scarcity of test dates, there is only one available practice test. While the GRE standard test is repugnant for just plain sucking, at least there are almost countless practice tests available online and through mail order with which to humiliate and disillusion myself. The GRE subject test in English Literature is a freaking nightmare. You are tested on basically everything written in the English language since there was an English language, even back when it sounded like German with a Scottish accent. Becoming familiar with these archaic texts basically involves learning another language, because the excerpts used on the GRE subject test are in modern English and the original freaky Germanish-Scottishish English, but you never know which it will be. I’m basically trying to familiarize myself with the major authors as canonized by the good

new city halls. This allows the card dealers to have a great deal of influence on what they are allowed to get away with. To make matters even worse, the second largest entity associated with the government through marriage is the construction companies. When the economy is in the toilet and the housing market already in the sewers you would think that if someone mentioned building more houses the “industrial strength landscaping fertilizer” would hit the fan. But alas, they are still building because that helps the powers that beget not only more money from taxes, but money from business. I am not terribly fond of paying for my mayor to go golfing on weekends on taxpayer money, even after being reelected after that discovery. To make matters worse, La Center seems to have quite the arrogant atmosphere about it. And I am not just talking about the typical “small town values” or “keep the community small,” as they keep building residential areas without caring about peoples jobs. They seem to believe that they are the world’s example to a perfect community. If a perfect city requires arrogance, stacked on top of more corruption than the mind can possibly imagine, then La Center has achieved above and beyond perfection. La Center, I hate you. I hate you for your casinos buying out the government. I hate you for your absolute arrogance and unimaginable ignorant ways of life. Go back to your logs and rivers, get a new government and stop whining about Indian casinos that give people jobs other than the ones that line the government’s private pockets.

people at Norton, but I’ve noticed that the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, and William Makepeace Thackeray are not in those anthologies, so I’m pretty sure there are huge gaps in my literary knowledge. Yay! GRE, look at what you have done to my life, and the lives of so many others. Because I was so thoroughly unprepared for you when I was supposed to be applying for Grad school last winter, I have had to take a year off before grad school, effectively putting my entire life on hold. I have spent more time learning how to dodge your trick questions and effectively guess on questions with no clear answer than I have spent learning anything of value. I have increased my vocabulary by six hundred words that I can’t use in everyday conversation or – for some – even in my academic work without appearing to be a self-inflated egomaniac. And I have lost nearly $300.00 for two tests that I may have no choice but to retake. In all the time I have spent doing this, I have not had time to work on my college essays or writing samples. And yet, GRE, you are one of the basic assessments that determine whether I get into Brown University or the University of Loserville. GRE, you are a big, fat, stupid jerk and I hate you!

10/6 Costco Sustainability Supply Chains presentation @ 7 p.m. in VADM 220 - 10/7 Master of Accounting Information Night @ 6 p.m. in VADM 129

FEATURE I

met Harrison in my anthropology class this semester. I could tell from a distance that he was musical because if you have seen him walking around campus, he is often carrying his guitar. After class one day he invited my roommate and I to attend a local acoustic performance at the Vancouver mall. So, I decided to see what he was all about. After hearing him sing and play the guitar I began to see just how talented Harrison really is. Harrison has been writing music and singing for about two years. He writes songs daily, and confessed that in class it may look like he is taking notes but he is actually jotting down ideas for songs. He says his inspiration for songs comes through his life experiences. He writes about topics ranging from fun times to relationships to tragedies. Talking with Harrison let me know just how much music and performing means to him. “Music to me is an escape to another reality. When I am on stage, I can bring out my alter-ego.” For Christmas in 2007, Harrison was given his first guitar. Since he did not know how to play it, he went to the Power Cord Academy in Seattle. He described this as a “rock n’ roll music camp.” While at the camp Harrison learned to play the guitar and discovered his talent of singing. When put into a small group to perform, he was forced to be the lead singer when no one else would! Hey, you have to discover your talent somehow. After attending this camp, guitar has become Harrison’s favorite instrument. He can play both electric and acoustic but he prefers electric. Besides his vocal talent and skills on the guitar, Harrison can also play bass and drums. With the discovery of his musical ability, Harrison entered the Summer of Rock Anthem hosted by KUFO. This is a contest specifically

Music, writing, and Star Wars? Danielle Tanner

Feature Editor

created for songwriters looking to have their songs recognized by the public. The song Harrison chose to enter was “Summertime,” which is about living it up on the last night of summer. This contest not only won him $500, but allowed him to be recognized in a huge way. Since this contest, Harrison has performed many times at Vancouver’s “Pop culture,” a music venue that allows local bands to perform

Recreation center rounds up riders I

Staff Writer

t was a sunny day. I was walking by one of those informative, shiny black boards with the colored letters when I saw the sign: “Horseback Riding!!! September 27th…” Next thing you know, I’m in the Rec office, handing over my last $5. You see, I love horses. Yes, I may be completely terrified of them (such big teeth! such large appendages!) but that will not stop, quell, or tame my adoration. Put a horn on a hippopotamus and it becomes a rhinoceros (terrifying!). A toad becomes a horny toad (gross!). But a horse becomes the ultimate creature of magic and mystery: a unicorn. So in my mind, on Sept. 27, I had a date with a unicorn. In the carpool, WSUV student and Recreation Assistant, Denise Eyerly, explained the origin of the horseback riding trip that she organized with the help of the other recreation-dedicated individuals in the WSUV Rec office: she loves horses and wanted to go for a ride! Renee Rugh, a sign language interpreter at WSUV, said she signed up simply because she had never been on a horse before. I decided not to share my real reason for going, thinking they might find it “odd,” “strange,” or even “unrealistic.” The real reason was finding the perfect horse to become my perfect unicorn that would dye its hair rainbow, learn how to fly, and leave a trail of glitter everywhere we go.

The SEXpert Dr. D

Staff Writer

Question: “I’m really attracted to a good friend of mine and would like to get something going, but I’m afraid to mess up our friendship!” - Allen C.

will cover a variety of topics. In the first show, which took place just last week, Harrison talked about the art of flirting. Although Harrison may be mostly known for his musical talent, there is more to him than just that! Some other fun facts about Harrison include his obsession with Star Wars. He calls himself a “fanatic” when it comes to Star Wars trivia. He also loves to play video games, and is a big Halo fan. He is an English major, and enjoys writing fiction short stories. And, he has been a vegetarian for about 16 years! In the future, Harrison dreams of having his own record label. Although his major is English, he is also thinking about going into audio engineering and working toward having a studio. More than anything, he would just like to have recognition as a singer/songwriter. He is not the typical guitar player who wants Photo courtesy of Harrison Polo to be famous and have every girl in the world drooling over him. He genuinely loves music and simply wants to have people everywhere hear his music. If you are wondering how you can witness the talent of Harrison Polo, there are many opportunities. On October 10th he playing at the live. Although he sometimes performs with Waterfront in Portland for a fundraiser at 12:00 p.m. He is also playing at Pop Culture October friends, Harrison is mostly a one man show. He has also been recognized through his 23rd and 24th at 7:00. Pop Culture is located at work on the radio. On Thursdays from 12-1 in 1929 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98660. If you happen to pass by Harrison on the afternoon he co-hosts the Koug radio, right here at WSUV. It’s called “H and H,” which campus, don’t be afraid to say hello. He is one stands for “Harrison and Hillary.” The show of the friendliest and most approachable people covers “life at college,” both the fun times and I have met my first semester at WSUV. For the challenges. On Monday nights from 8-9 p.m. more information about Harrison, and to hear Harrison hosts error FM, a station in Portland the song that was selected as the Summer of that plays indie/alternative rock/pop music. This Rock Anthem, visit his myspace page at www. new development called “Monday Night Polo” myspace/fivecpu.

Student Spotlight: Polo

Cougs horsing around Triana Collins

7

Upon arriving at Silver Buckle Ranch in Bush Prairie (a non-profit organization dedicated to helping at-risk youth through hard/ horse labor), I found out that the eleven eager riders from WSUV were pretty evenly divided by those who had ridden a handful of times to those that had never even touched a horse. Due to the abundance of attendees (or the shortage of horses), our group had one horse to two riders. (While the ranch did have a fair number of ponies, goats, and cows, they were not up for the task of carting around a large human on their backs). Mason O’Lennick, a hardworking yet somehow relaxed student double-majoring in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, was a relative beginner with horses. “I started riding a few months ago and haven’t wanted to stop,” said O’Lennick. Our shared horse was named Black, probably due to its coat, which was the color of oil. It glistened in the sun like it had just had that precious natural resource poured on. Our instructor was half my height and half my age. While a senior in the horsemanship scene, she was in the sixth grade, had been working with horses for eight years, and was a highly valued volunteer at the ranch. She showed us how to brush Black’s filthy coat, comb his knotty hair, and tie his hairy face to a pole. She warned us not to get our toes crushed by his massive hoofs, and explained the reason why horses and ponies are always separated (an ancient feud; they just don’t get along). We were then fitted for a life-saving, yet optional Answer: This is a tricky one. Especially if your friend happens to much more attractive than you. No offense, but that is probably why you guys are just friends. However, if you feel like you really have a chance at making your friendship something more, follow these steps. 1. Pretend you like someone else. Someone really, really hot. Talk about this girl constantly and how she just “gets” you. Your real girl friend will become super jealous almost immediately if she does in fact like you. 2. When she becomes jealous, start

helmet. (Two people in the group chose not to wear them, apparently having extremely hard skulls). Out in the rink, we learned the essential horse commands. Whoa equals stop; kicking your feet into bulbous belly equals go. As usual, I had some trouble paying attention to instructions. I was too busy wondering about the best placement for a sharp, pointy, golden horn on Black’s large, luscious head. Thus, I wasn’t surprised when I was clueless as to how to maneuver Black left and right between the obstacle course poles (we knocked down every one! ‘Attaboy!). It was a 90 degree day. Black was black, hot, and cranky. He repeatedly ran when I said walk, stopped when I said go, drank deeply from a blue bucket when I said trot around the orange cone. He did not want to entertain my unicorn fantasies. I decided it was time to get off and let my partner have a go. Around 4 p.m. everyone seemed exhausted, covered in horse hair/dandruff and ready to call it a day. Was it a success? Rugh

answered, “Definitely.” Would you go back? O’Lennick didn’t need to think, “Oh, totally.” Eyerly, the group organizer, thought the event was such a success that she plans on having another horseback riding trip in the spring. As we were leaving, everyone profusely thanked the instructors, inquired about how to volunteer or get private lessons, and excitedly planned for Silver Buckle Ranch’s upcoming Fall Festival. The free event will feature hundreds of pumpkins, demos on roping, pony rides, equine displays, a petting zoo, and more. For more information on the ranch, visit: www. silverbuckle.org.

complimenting her on her outfits, smile, jokes, and of course, new shoes. She will notice that even though you ‘like that other girl,’ you are noticing her as well. 3. Finally, when you have her on your sly, sticky web, tell her that the girl you liked was her. Either she’s flattered, or she becomes super awkward. What’s true love with the risk though, right? Have any questions you’d like to ask our resident Sexpert? Contact Dr. D. at vancoug@ vancouver.wsu.edu

Web Editor Needed Apply now at vancougar.com

10/8 Test Anxiety Workshop @ 1 p.m. in VFSC 104 - 10/13 HD Club Meeting @ 12 p.m. in VMMC 219 - 10/17 Fall Preview Day @ 9:30 a.m. in VADM 110

8 SPORTS AND RECREATION

Soccer Profiles “All the single ladies at WSUV holla at me at 509-855-1636.”

“My name is Ochoa.”

Name: Abraham (Abe) Robles Birthday: April 9, 1989 Position: Forward Reasons for joining the soccer club: I enjoy playing soccer and scoring goals. Did you play soccer in high school?: Yes, I played on varsity in my freshman and sophomore years. I did not play in my junior or senior year because I did Running Start. Favorite food: Gyros sandwich Random facts: I hate it when people touch my hair and I went to Germany for a week when I was sixteen for World Youth Day.

Name: Andrew Montehermoso Birthday: June 25, 1989 Position: Midfielder Reasons for joining the soccer club: I love playing soccer and playing keeps me in shape. Did you play soccer in high school?: Yes, I played all four years of high school. Favorite food: French toast with peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Random facts: I like long walks on the beach, walking my dog in the park, lying on a blanket under the stars, and all I can afford right now is top ramen.

Bringing the heat

everyone was able to put forth a strong effort and have a good game. The constant squeak of the gym floor resembled the melody of a song. Athletes giving it there all and having a positive attitude is what was happening in Alki Middle School’s gym at 8:30 p.m. Everyone seemed to be so aggressive as if there was a social status to winning. Many were happy to see that four girls came out to compete. The sportsmanship was good for the most part according to Kevin Guzman. Joseph Tiegs stated, “The sportsmanship varies most of the time. It’s basketball, and people are getting into each others faces, so it’s to be expected.” There were a variety of comments, but for the most part there was a lot of positive feedback. This is well known in basketball on and off the court. People are always in each other’s faces because of the close proximity of players. Although this was intramural basketball the intensity was unrivaled. Players were hustling and diving to keep possession of the ball. Teamwork is essential in basketball and everyone was working well together to have a strong defensive and offensive game. “The way we set up open gym allows everyone to play with everyone else that came out,” says Tim Snyder. Open gym allows students to make connections and meet new people while playing some competitive basketball.

Open gym basketball Alex Giebelhaus

S

Staff Writer

tudents came out ready to play on Sept. 23, 2009 for the second basketball open gym. There were around 30 athletes excited to play some competitive basketball. The location of open gym is at Alki Middle School off of 134th St. Washington State University students, faculty, and staff are the only ones allowed to participate in open gym. Some students had to arrive late due to class conflicts. Open gym is usually between 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and everyone has the opportunity to get in early for a warm up. The season of open gym basketball usually runs mid September to late November. There is another season that starts up in early spring. Open gym is put on by the WSU Recreation center. “We are lucky that we are at Alki because in the past we have had to move around to many locations,” said Tim Snyder. The gym seemed to be enough space for the Cougars because it was two full sized courts. The way open gym is set up is there are two courts with four even teams playing two games simultaneously. The winners of each court play a final match and then the teams split up again. Skill level varied amongst players, but

Joe Creager/The VanCougar

10/8 Last Day of Outdoor Soccer @ 3:30 p.m. - 10/10 Outdoor Soccer Tournament; sign up in Recreation Office on Oct. 5 - 10/15 Flag Football begins @ 3 p.m.

SPORTS AND RECREATION

9

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!

Senior Linebacker Jason Stripling (51) attempts to tackle SMU’s Running-back Ryan Armstrong. Joseph Tiegs/The VanCougar

Cougars win in OT kick

Southern Methodist University falls PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - Nico Grasu kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime as Washington State came back to beat Southern Methodist 30-27 on Saturday for their first win of the season. The Mustangs (2-1) had the first drive of overtime. But Bo Levi Mitchell threw deep into the end zone on the first play and was picked off by Chima Nwachukwu. It was Washington State’s fourth interception of the game. The Cougars (1-2) took over on the 25 and gained just three yards on three plays before Grasu’s game winner. Earlier in the game he missed a 39-yard field goal. It was the first time Washington State had led all season. Southern Methodist led 24-7 in the third quarter and seemed to be cruising to victory. Then the WSU defense took control. Linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis picked off Mitchell at midfield and ran the ball back 52 yards for a touchdown late in the third. But the snap for the conversion was fumbled, and the Cougars trailed 24-13. That missed extra point would end up costing them a chance to win in regulation. Matt Szymanski kicked a field goal early in the fourth for SMU. Linebacker Myron Beck picked off a scrambling Mitchell and outran the Mustangs for a 67-yard touchdown that cut SMU’s lead to

27-20 with 10:07 left. Mitchell led SMU deep into WSU territory on the next drive but was picked off by Brandon Jones. The Cougars’ offense went 3-and-out, but SMU did the same and Washington State got the ball back on its 20 for one last drive. The Cougars benefited from a key pass interference call on fourth down against Sterling Moore on receiver Jared Karstetter that gave them first down on SMU’s 34. Quarterback Marshall Lobbestael completed two passes to give them first down on the SMU 7 with 36 seconds left. On the second play, Lobbestael hit a diving Karstetter in the end zone with 28 seconds left. Grasu kicked the extra point to tie the game at 27-27. The loss ruined a career day for Mitchell, who completed 40 of 57 passes for 424 yards and two touchdowns, but also four interceptions. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders caught a school record 18 passes for 178 yards, while Terrance Wilkerson caught two touchdown passes. The Mustangs had 504 yards of offense, compared to 276 for WSU. Lobbestael, who replaced Kevin Lopina at starting quarterback this game, completed 24 of 52 passes for 239 yards and was picked off twice. Karstetter finished with five catches for 63 yards.

10/26 Pac 10 Fitness Challenge Week - 10/26 Pac 10 Billiards and Ping Pong Play in VFSC - 10/27 Elliptical Relay in Fitness Center - 10/29 Bowling Tournament

10 ARTS, CULTURE, AND ENTERTAINMENT

Coug’s Night Out

Essential Guide to Bars and Clubs Jess Davis in Vancouver

ACE Editor

Bar Name and Location

Bar Features and Happy Hour

Back Alley Bar & Grill 6503 E Mill Plain Blvd Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: (360) 694.6873

Six pool tables, Karaoke seven days a week, Seven big screen TV’s. Happy Hour: M-F, 3 - 6 p.m.

Beaches 1919 Se Columbia River Dr Vancouver, WA 98661 Phone: (360) 699.1592

Waterfront location, Outdoor volleyball. Happy Hour: M-F, 4 - 6 p.m.

Blackstone 3200 SE 164th St. Vancouver, WA 98683 Phone: (360) 253.0523

Live music late week, Upscale atmosphere, Full menu during happy hour. Happy Hour: M-Sa, 4 - 6:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.Close, All Day Sunday

Chronis 819 Main Street Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: (360) 690.0032

50 cent or 6/$2.50 Taco Tuesday night, Two dart boards, Pinball, Golf, Karaoke Th-Sa, 9pm. Happy Hour: M-F, 4 - 6 p.m.

Cinetopia/Vinetopia 11700 SE 7th St Vancouver, WA 98683 Phone: (360) 213.2800

State of the art theatres on-site, Full restaurant, Live Jazz and blues in bar and before movies, Wine tasting machines. Happy Hour: M-F, 3 - 6 p.m. & 8 - 10 p.m.

Elbow Room 1800 Broadway St Vancouver, WA 98663 Phone: (360) 694.3552

Heavy handed bartending, Attentive servers. Happy Hour: M-F, 5 - 7 p.m.

Irishtown 11600 SE Mill Plain Blvd # F Vancouver, WA 98684 Phone: (360) 253.1470

Full menu, Live Irish music on Wednesdays/ Rock music on Friday, Karaoke Monday, Two pool tables, Five dart boards, Big screen TV. Happy Hour: Everyday, 3 - 7 p.m.

Oscars Place 400 NE 112TH Ave Vancouver, WA 98684 Phone: (360) 256.7175

Three pool tables, One dart board, Shuffleboard! Happy Hour: M-F, 3-6pm.

Salmon Creek Brewery and Pub 108 W Evergreen Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: (360) 993.1827

Beer brewed on-site, Laid back atmosphere, Full menu. Happy Hour: M-Th and Sa, 3 -6 p.m.

The QuarterDeck 4300 E Fourth Plain Blvd Vancouver, WA 98661 Phone: (360) 694.8016

Karaoke Wed. and Fri; Four pool tables, Two dart boards, Two Mega Touch’s, Pinball, Golf, Foosball, WII. Happy Hour: M-W, 4 -7 p.m.

Local Fare: Mint Tea Imports

A unique addition to Main Street Sally Thrall

W

Staff Writer

hen first walking into Mint Tea Imports, I was overwhelmed by the cozy atmosphere and visual aesthetic. The eclectic collection of worldly goods adds a colorful element to the shop that would otherwise look like an English country home. The outside of the shop welcomes the public with plenty of seating and a well-kept garden. The exterior complements the inside of the shop, where imported merchandise mingles with delicious food and tea. There are two levels to the shop. The bottom level contains the merchandise, kitchen and a seating area, while the top story has additional seating, including a fun alcove to share with close friends. Mint Tea Imports sells imported items ranging from free-trade olive oil, to bath and body care, to beautifully made scarves. If you are in the market for Moroccan drums, or henna tambourines, then you might enjoy shopping in the Moroccan Room. Or if you want to purchase hand crafted jewelry from India, then you can probably find it at Mint Tea. One could spend over an hour looking at all of the fun items on sale. But merchandise is not the only thing sold here. Mint Tea Imports is also a bistro that provides local, sustainable and organic goodies for purchase. They have many vegan and vegetarian options to choose from, like Moroccan spiced tofu and summer vegetables. They also have fine cuts of meat, including carefully seasoned lamb, to satisfy carnivore cravings. They have baklava, truffles, lunch and dinner menus, oh and of course, tea. The tea comes in a variety of flavors and varieties, such as black, herbal, green and even special blends. The tea is imported seasonally from around the world and blended by Strand Tea Company in Oregon. The staff is very friendly, and will offer to let you smell any of the teas, and recommend what to eat with the tea or when to eat it. In addition to food and merchandise, Mint

Tea Imports occasionally hosts events. During the summer months, Mint Tea Imports hosts a free drum circle where the public can come and jam with others, or just enjoy the music. Dancers are also encouraged to come enjoy the drum circle. Mint Tea Imports also hosts art shows for the public to enjoy and musicians to add to the customer’s experience. If you really enjoy Mint Tea Imports, you can also rent private space to host events. The seating on the bottom floor includes an adults-only Moroccan room, where I chose to drink my pot of Roo-Berry Tea. The Roo-Berry Tea, now one of my personal favorites, is a slightly sweet herbal tea that contains just the right amount of fruity flavor. Do not expect to find any NSFW (not safe for work) items in the Moroccan room; it is adults-only because there are expensive musical instruments that can only be played responsibly. When my party of four friends took our seats, we had the pleasure of listening to one of our friends play a Tibetan singing bowl. As the reverberations filled the room, we waited for our tea to steep. Service is fast; depending on the type of tea, service will take anywhere from two to five minutes for the tea to brew. The tea comes brewed in a pot placed with tea cups on an ornamental tray. You can ask for cream and sugar to add to the tea, but many brews are enjoyable by themselves. They also have jasmine blossom tea, which comes in a flower that opens up when it is done brewing. The aroma and taste of the tea adds to the rest of the atmosphere for a full-bodied experience. Needless to say, I fell in love with this shop once I explored all it had to offer and was able to taste their wonderful teas. If you are a tea (or food) lover, I recommend Mint Tea Imports for a tasty time. If you are a fan of imported items, I recommend Mint Tea Imports as a new location for shopping. If you’re open for something new and a little out of the ordinary, I recommend Mint Tea Imports for the cozy atmosphere and the escape it provides from the mundane café.

Poetry Place Elizabeth “You need a hug,” she says. I feel the heavy softness of her experienced arms encircling me. No longer firm flesh or toned muscle they are history and wisdom. Worn smooth from the dispensation of comfort Her skin is cool and paper-thin like fine silk. The fabric of a treasured dress one cannot bear to stop wearing I have accumulated in my own years resentment and uncertainty layered like the earth’s strata Her hugs slowly, tenderly excavate the fossils of my life eroding without judgment the sediments binding the truth of my future to the error of my past By Penney Samuel

Submit now to the Salmon Creek Journal [email protected]

10/13 Promotions Committee Meetings: Plan the fun for Downtown Vancouver @ 8:30 a.m. in VDA office - 10/14 Design Committee Meeting @ 12 p.m. in VDA office

ARTS, CULTURE, AND ENTERTAINMENT 11

DJ Dossier: Stuart Ellisards Amy Thielen Staff Writer

K

OUG Radio DJ Stuart Ellis’ involvement with music does not end when he leaves the radio studio. In addition to hosting his radio show “Radiodiffusion Internasionaal,” Ellis dedicates much of his time to maintaining his web site of the same name. His web site focuses on exploring popular music from the 1960s – 1970s in Africa, The Middle East, India, and Asia, while displaying how popular Western music influenced music in these other parts of the world. “The web site evolved out of a set of mix CDs that I had made for a few friends,” said Ellis, “Over time, I started posting new finds, and that eventually became the mess it is today.” On his web site, Ellis posts hundreds of songs from these areas of the world. For each song, he provides a detailed description of the song and artist as well as showcases the record cover for the song. Additionally, Ellis includes links to other web sites that focus on world music, including Seattle based record label Sublime Frequencies. Sublime Frequencies’ founder Alan Bishop has been an important influence for Ellis’ radio show. “He is the person who gave me the idea for the format of the show,” said Ellis, “with the bits of static and other sounds. I borrow heavily from his radio collage releases on Sublime Frequencies.” The music Ellis plays for his radio show is the same music his web site focuses on; late 1960s to early 1970s era music from Africa, The Middle East, India, and Asia. “The show is mixed to sound like you are scanning the shortwave frequencies,” said Ellis, “so various bits of field records, song fragments, found sounds and static are mixed in between the songs.”

Working for KOUG is not Ellis’ first experience with radio. Ellis, a current print and graphic designer, was involved with radio when he was a student at Auburn University. “I worked in the production department at WEGL at Auburn University when I went to college there and occasionally helped out on the Punk Rock/Hardcore show,” he said. Though Ellis is not a student at WSUV, he was convinced by a fellow KOUG DJ to join KOUG radio. “Rich Lindsay talked me into it. I couldn’t think of a reason not to do it,” Ellis said. The music Ellis has been playing for his show has greatly influenced his current musical preferences. “Right now, I would have to stay the stuff that I play on my show [is my favorite kind of music],” said Ellis, “It’s why I do what I do. It’s just something I find unlike most of the other forms of music that are generally shoved down your throat on a daily basis. A lot of radio stations claim to be ‘Alternative.’ The stuff I listen to is a real alternative to the ‘Alternative.’” If you would like to listen to Ellis’ show, “Radiodiffusion Internasionaal,” it airs every Monday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Anyone who would like to request songs can e-mail Ellis at stuart@ radiodiffusion.net If you would like to check out his web site, the address is www.radiodiffusion.net In addition to posting information about world music to his web site, Ellis posts downloads of most of his previous radio shows, links to artists played in the previous shows, and playlists from his previous and upcoming shows. For anyone who would like to help further Ellis’ efforts with the web site by sending him information, music, or translating record covers, one can contact him at the e-mail address stated above.

Listen to KOUG Radio streaming live on kougradio.com

Fall TV show run-down

What you are missing while studying Mark Balyshev Photographer

H

eroes - Can this show be saved? Maybe it will, while this season brings a few new faces, but it’s still full of misplaced dialogue and lame powers for new characters. However, because of the new cast additions it might come back with a bang Flash Forward - ABC Network is looking for a new lost, this might be it. Everybody on earth passes out and sees their future in exactly six months. A few members of the Lost cast show up in this series and gives us a lot of promise. Pilot episode had great action sets and resembled a lot of the first episode of Lost. Sons of Anarchy - Second season of FX’s biker “badass” has a great cast, but the narrow focus of the show might not attract the general viewer. That is disappointing because it actually has great writing, and a becoming-of-age storyline. Also, it’s safe to say that this show might have one of the best casts on current TV show line-up. Fringe - FOX’s sci-fi series continues with the second season. One-crazy-mystery-per-episode theme worked great for the first season, and it might work here as well. The lead detective (Anna Torv) is horrible in front of the camera, every dialogue she is in makes me cringe, but the show is saved by the dad-son relationship between Joshua Jackson and John Noble. The Office - It’s the same: kind of funny and awkward. Pam is pregnant, that’s the new theme, but the show should of focus mainly on the supporting cast to mix things up, and they didn’t, doesn’t look like they will in this season either. Trauma - It’s shooting for a full hour medical drama with prolonged action scenes, which sounds pretty interesting, but yet, it’s boring…. Full of awkward dialogues and cliché characters, skip it. Community - Possibly the funniest series on TV this season. Chevy Chases plays a great trying-to-be-cool-grandpa, and the rest of the cast is just as funny. Please watch this instead of

The Office, you won’t be disappointed. House - Best two hour season premiere yet. Dr. House is still crazy and off the meds, which makes the show. It looks like the writers will not take this season to its usual place, which might be a reason to watching it. Bored to Death - HBO’s new half hour comedy with Jason Schwartzman and Zach Galifianakis. Schwartzman plays a bored-of-life unlicensed detective making this an enjoyably weird, almost sad, but really funny new series. Oh yeah, and did I mention Zach Galifianakis? Need I say more? Dexter - He is killing for two now (pun intended). Great season premiere of Showtime’s biggest series. Dexter is completely different from any other show if you haven’t seen the previews or first three seasons, go and rent them tonight! It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia - Yes! It’s finally back. FX’s bad comedy is back and it’s still hilarious and completely, awkwardly mean (to some people). Definitely watch this for a lot of laughs. Dollhouse - Joss Whedon’s new toy might be a fanboys fantasy, but Eliza Dushku kills it with her over-the-top acting, which Dollhouse doesn’t need. If you like the first season, you will probably like this one, but Whedon’s writing is not that strong, and the series does get boring after a while. I think Joss Whedon needs to drop everything and bring Firefly back, a thousand times please. Glee - a musical high school comedy! Sounds horrible right? Believe me, it’s simply fun. You don’t have to invest a lot of time in order to get this show. Modern Family - Smart and funny half-hour family show; watch it for the mockumentary style comedy. Bones- Everybody watches it, admit it. It’s okay for a mainstream show. Everything is the same with possibly a bit of added romance, but that’s about it. Psych- Wacky and hilarious, it is not going for the best comedy on TV, but it’s something so charming, and such a treat to watch every week.

My dad is an early victim of this economic crisis/financial meltdown thing that’s been a nonstop topic on radio, TV, newspapers, the internet, and the minds of each and every American. The oncoming poverty of US citizens has become such a common and widespread theme that it’s the type of conversation you can have with a stranger. If you’re thrown into an awkward situation with a coworker you don’t have anything in common with, you can always bring up the economic climate. It’s put the weather on the back burner. Instead of saying, “Well gee golly gosh it sure is hot today. How bout this heat wave?” You can say, “Well gee golly gosh, I sure do need to get my food stamp forms in, how bout you?” What: Presentation When: Tuesday, Oct. 6 Time: 4 p.m. Where: Vancouver City Hall Cost: FREE

What: Slideshow When: Thursday, Oct. 8 Time: 7 p.m. Where: Battle Ground Community Library Cost: FREE

What: Reading (to Dogs!) When: Saturday, Oct. 10 Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Where: Vancouver Mall Community Library Cost: FREE

What: Festival When: Saturday, Oct. 10-Sunday, Oct. 11 Time: Various Where: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Cost: (some stuff is…) FREE

What: Theatre When: Friday, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 15 Time: 7 p.m. Where: Magenta Theatre Cost: FREE

If you haven’t lost your job, you know someone who has. If you’re not on unemployment, you know someone who is. In my opinion, it’s bringing us all closer. My dad can no longer tell me to “stop dreaming and get a real job!” because he doesn’t have one and has resorted to “working” on his pairing of wine with certain TV shows (talk shows are great for reds, Animal Planet for white, etc.). This whole job thing is no longer dividing us because the truth is: life is work. We are both just people, living, breathing, wandering, wondering about what we’re supposed to be doing next, and perhaps taking advantage of all the FREE events other people have organized for our enjoyment and enrichment. The City of Vancouver wants to know if you know where your garbage, yard debris, and recycling go once you’ve haphazardly thrown them on your curb. Well, do you? They claim that this stuff you no longer want and gift to the garbage man every week takes a “fascinating” journey. They want you to meet the haulers, processors, local government peeps, and advisory committee players responsible for managing this “fascinating” journey and have planned a presentation titled “Take It Away! – The Many Travels of Your Trash and Recycling”. Sounds fascinating… Iran has been in the news a lot recently. A lot of this news is negative. But how many of us really know this country through and through, let alone what it looks like? Battleground librarian, Jackie Spurlock, and her husband Mike traveled to Iran in 2006 and 2008, lived there from 1974-78 and took loads of pictures. They report that the country is “complex, beautiful, and fascinating”. See for yourself with their presentation, “Images of Iran: A Slideshow of Recent Visits.” Okay, the event info says that you have to be between the ages of 5 and 12 to participate, but I highly suggest using your persuasive skills to get in on the action, because this is amazing. For two whole hours, you get to read to a real, live, and possibly listening therapy dog. It’s unclear whether the dog needs therapy or the reader, but either way, I guarantee this event will unleash the roaring reader within. If you like birds, music, history, or buying stuff, you’ll probably have fun at the BirdFest and Bluegrass Festival. Featuring: Audubon-led bird and plant tours, bald eagle talks, kayak tours, birders marketplace, Native American demonstrations, salmon bake, Bluegrass music with a jamming workshop, craft stations, storytelling, raptor shows, and so, so, so much more. I’ve saved the best for last. FREE THEATRE! Free stuff doesn’t get much better than this. Last year a fabulous nationwide program, dedicated to introducing people to live theatre, organized for 650 theatre companies in 120 cities to open their doors to 65,000 new theatergoers for free. The program is back this year, and our very own Magenta Theatre will be participating with their show, “Wait Until Dark,” a play about a doll filled with narcotics, a blind women, and two con men (how suspenseful! How mysterious!). So, starting on Oct. 1, you can get your pair of FREE tickets on www.freenightoftheatre.net for this one of a kind spectacle.

10/15 ‘Wait Until Dark’ @ 7 p.m. at The Magenta Theater; suspenseful mystery/thriller; tickets available online - 10/17 Farmer’s Market at 8th and Esther Street

12 STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Free Coffee Culture event Music from around the world Chau Nguyen Staff Writer

When it comes to what keeps people awake,

coffee is a good way to go. Coffee Culture on Sept. 24 provided people with energy for their early morning classes while giving them a chance to listen to music around the world. Coffee Culture is a new event this year for ASWSUV (The Associated Students of Washington State University Vancouver). The idea originally came from Dan Jassal, who was a multicultural coordinator over the summer. Janine Johnston, Activities Director, took Jassal’s idea and made it real. “It took me a couple of weeks to plan for the event,” said Johnston, “It did not take long since I already know the performers. I went to Mt. Hood Community College with them. I just called

them and asked if they could come to WSUV and play music.” There were performers from Palau and Egypt. The event gave students an opportunity to study, relax, hang out with friends, and hear music from other countries that they have never heard before. Free coffee was provided. To advertise for the event, Student Government and Student Involvement members went around campus and handed out coupons for free coffee to the students for several days before the event. In order to enhance the nature of the event more, Janine Johnston put flags from different countries around the world on the walls. Quite a few people stopped by the Firstenburg Student Commons before, between, and after their morning classes from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. to join the event.

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$PNNPOT 10/7 Mayoral Candidate Debate in VADM 110 @ 3:30 p.m. - 10/8 Free Bowling Night at Crosley Lanes @ 9:30 p.m.; “Black Out” theme: wear black and white

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

13

Western themed dance

Cougs and Cowboys line dancing Joey Hollibaugh

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Staff Writer

or one night, the Firstenburg Student Commons was transformed into a traditional honky-tonk. On Friday, September 25, the AWSUV hosted Cougs and Cowboys, an event that featured country music, line dancing, and mechanical bull rides. The bull riding competition that took place halfway through the event turned out to be the highlight of the evening. Contestants had to take on a fierce mechanical bull and compete to see who could stay on the longest when only holding on with one hand. Many students attempted to master the art of bull riding to no avail. “The bull ride is harder than it looks.” said Rebecca Bawal. However, two men triumphantly rose as victors in the contest. Abe Robels stayed on the bull for 103 seconds, while ASWUV President, Nick Ferderer, came in a close second place with a time of 94 seconds. Even after the competition was over, bull riding continued to lure the masters in throughout the night. Alisa Astrakhan, inspired by competitors who rode before her, took the stage and laid down a new

record for the night by staying on for a full 133 seconds. Dancing and listening to music took up the majority of the night. The primary style of music played was Country. Many popular artists were played, such as Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Big and Rich, Shania Twain, Alan Jackson, and Garth Brooks. The play list also featured many popular dance songs, including Thriller, The Electric Slide, and The Macarena. Everyone joined in, whether they knew the moves or not. One of the students taught the group how to dance The Electric Slide, which quickly became the most popular dance there. The party even broke out into a party train ending in a dance circle featuring the best and weirdest dancing of the evening. KOUG Radio’s DJ Sarah Richards provided the music for the evening. Richards is a new member of Koug Radio and has her own radio show on Mondays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. featuring both Country and Rock music. As with every show that she performs, her work at the Cougs and Cowboys was dedicated to her older brother who is currently serving as a soldier in Iraq.

Triana Collins/The VanCougar

Solve the COUGoku

HOW TO PLAY: Fill all the blank squares with the correct number. Every row, every column, and every 3 by 3 square must contain a digit between 1 and 9. They can be in any order, but must only appear once in each row, column, or square. Jake Kleinschmidt/The VanCougar

10/24 Unleashing Your Potential Fall Leadership Conference; register at ASWSUV.com to attend - Apply to be on the S & A Committee at ASWSUV.com

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 Katie Wells

Managing Editor Now Hiring!

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We are always hiring. No experience is necessary; we will provide all the training you need in journalistic style, photography, and digital print making. E-mail us at vancouged@vancouver. wsu.edu or visit our office in VCLS 212 for more information.

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What’s the Controlled Substance Act, anyway?

T

}

o really put into perspective how un-free we are in this country, we must examine the behavior of the government. Which is why I am taking the time in this article to discus the Controlled Substance Act. The Controlled Substance Act was enacted into law in 1970, and has been amended numerous times since that date. It could be considered the ultimate body of evidence for indicting government hypocrisy, but I’m sure that there are plenty of other examples so I won’t jump the gun. The contents of the act should make for an interesting read for many of you, and hopefully an informative one as well, so I suggest you take the time to check out the lists yourself by going here: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ schedules/schedules.htm For those of you who don’t know how it works, there are five different controlled substance categories. Schedule I (that’s the worst of the drugs) Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, and Schedule V. In addition to these very long lists of controlled substances are regulated chemicals, Lists I and II, these chemicals can be used in the production of drugs. The schedules are explained below. Schedule I. (A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse. (B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. (C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision Schedule II. (A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse. (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. (C) Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence Schedule III (A) The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II. (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. (C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence Schedule IV. (A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III. (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. (C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III Schedule V. (A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV. (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. (C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.” If you don’t know what a substance on this list is, I suggest you Wikipedia it and read up on it. You should be able to find some pretty interesting inconsistencies by following this process. For instance I’m sure you have all heard of GHB, gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid, also known as liquid ecstasy. It is known as a date-rape drug and it is a Schedule I substance, however there is a pharmaceutical known as Xyrem, which is produced by the somewhat ironically named Jazz Pharmaceuticals that is regarded as a Schedule III substance. That drug, Xyrem, is the exact same thing as GHB.

Doruk Senkal: Building robots that feel robot’s accuracy. The robot was completely “You can’t put a giant robot in the the built and assembled in the WSUV mechanical

dentist’s office,” Doruk said. “The guy is already struggling to see in that tiny mirror and work around inside your mouth.” So far, most medical robots have been too big for dental use, but the robot Doruk Senkal is working on may change that. “These robotic devices already exist, but they need to be smaller, so we’re working on a technique that will change the strength-to-size ratio, so it will have a very strong force, but be as small as possible,” he explains. Doruk’s robot isn’t just small. It can also feel, using haptic technology. The word “haptic” comes from the Greek haptikos, which refers to the sense of touch. The secret is in the use of an MR brake, which uses a magnetorheological (MR) fluid which is controlled electronically, to “feel” virtual walls that tell it when to stop. This “smart fluid” has the viscosity of motor oil most of the time, but when it’s subjected to a magnetic field, it has the consistency of peanut butter. The fluid is placed between two drums with a magnetic field, where it puts the “brakes” on the robot’s arm when the arm runs up against a virtual wall or barrier. The MR brake is controlled electronically by the user, who watches a monitor. “When the robot approaches a barrier, indicated by a CT scan of the patient, it sets up a force feedback to the surgeon’s console that locks its action,” Doruk explains. “Without this sense of feel, it’s like the surgeon is operating with numb hands.” With dental implants, for instance, this can help the dentist avoid drilling into the mandibular nerve, thereby causing the patient to lose feeling in the jaw. Some computer and video games already use haptic technology, but it’s not as refined as Doruk’s robot must be: if a player misses, he/ she just loses points, not the life or future smile of a patient. Doruk is working on his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering under the direction of his advisor, Dr. Hakan Gurocak, who is director of engineering and computer science at WSUV. Doruk heard about WSUV’s robotics program through a professor at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, where he earned his B.S. He had always had a fascination with robotics, but, he says, “As an undergraduate, you’re taking so many classes, and you don’t get to do the fun stuff.” One of the things he enjoys about his robotics research is that he can combine mechanical engineering principles with electrical work and computer programming. “I’m doing multiple things, so it never gets boring.” With Dr. Gurocak’s help, Doruk has built a proof-of concept design for dental surgery. He’s currently working on experiments to test

engineering lab. He started learning English in middle school, so he was already fluent by the time he entered college. “All our classes were in English,” he says. “There’s some debate in Turkey over whether classes should be taught in Turkish, but the textbooks are in English, and all the online resources are in English, so we really need to use English. “For me, English is not a second language,” he adds. “Not because I speak it so well, but because without it you can’t do anything. If I knew German or something, then that would be my second language.” He did study German and Japanese when he was younger, but didn’t learn enough to speak now. He’d like to study Japanese again because he’s fascinated with Japanese culture, watching anime and reading manga.

Doruk Senkal: Quick Profile Born: Istanbul, Turkey Came to the U.S: August 2007 Favorite Turkish food: Iskender kebob (roasted meat, sliced and put on pita with yogurt and a topping of butter and pepper sauce) Favorite food in the U.S: Chinese Favorite musical group: Blind Guardian Favorite color: Midnight blue Favorite comic strip: PhD Comics (http://www.phdcomics.com/) Spare time: Skiing, hiking, any outdoor activities Indoors: Produce Row Café (especially the jazz on Mondays) Coffee or tea: Tea, loose, from Turkey Favorite anime: Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki) Best advice: “It never works the first time. So it is best to not give up on the first try, because eventually it will work. This is true not only for engineering problems but for anything that is challenging enough to be significant.”

Continued on p. 15

10/7 Students will be assessed a 7% late payment penalty for unpaid tuition - 10/9 Deadline to apply for Undergraduate and Graduate Degree

OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

15

unfocus for a few minutes. When you’re feeling better, gradually dial your attention back, and the rest of the day will go better.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Why exercise? It improves your mood, lowers your blood pressure, helps you manage hunger and keep your weight down, boosts your energy levels, and helps you sleep better at night. What’s stopping you? Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21): Do you ever worry that you’re not getting enough sleep? Most people, even college students, really do need a minimum of 7 or 8 hours of sleep every night. If your homework is overwhelming you, get some help. WSUV has a personal counselor, Dr. Will Meek (http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/pc.htm). Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Is it your social life that’s keeping you awake all night --- and keeping you from getting all your homework done? Madame L doesn’t want to sound like your mother, but if that’s what you need: “Do your homework first, and THEN socialize.” Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Did you realize that the semester is already one-third of the way through? Do you feel okay with how you’re progressing? If you want to improve on study skills or tone down your test anxiety, you could attend one of the academic success skills workshops (http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/dnloads/src/ src-successskillsworkshops.pdf). Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You know that old wives’ tale about splashing cold water on your face to feel fresher? Turns out it’s a good idea, as long as the water isn’t too cold. The cold water tightens your pores and increases circulation, and generally makes you feel better. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Need a quick calming technique? Whether you’re religious or not, meditation or prayer can bring relief from stress and tension. Start by sitting, relaxed, in a quiet place. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and let your mind

Aries (March 21-April 19): Did you see that Newsweek article about the “myth” of exercise? Hunh! That article is mythical. Exercise does help, and it does not make you go out and gorge on cupcakes later --- if you don’t let it. YOU are in charge, not some reporter who can’t think up a real story. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Did you know that we have some great exercise facilities right here on this campus? So even on those rainy days, you can go to the fitness center from 6:30 in the morning until 9:00 at night. You can even get a 20-minute session with a personal trainer. Gemini (May 21-June 21): Want to know more about all kinds of exercise and fitness? Check out this WSU Web page: http://exercise.wsu.edu/. And if there’s something you’d like to know more about, but can’t find at that site, you can submit a request for the info to be added to the page. Cancer (June 22-July 22): Not into strenuous exercise, but want to stay flexible? Try a yoga or Pilates class. Classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays at 11:00, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00, in room 20 of the Clark building. Call (360) 5469271 for more info. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Did you know that dental health is one of the most important things you can take care of now, to prevent future health problems? Poor dental health is associated with heart disease, problems in pregnancy, and diabetes. So, brush and floss! Virgo (August 23-Sept. 22): Are you one of the many students without health care insurance? Then it’s particularly important for you to take care of yourself: Eat your fruits and veggies, cut out fats and sugars, and exercise. Yeah, I’m talking to you! Madame L

Staff Astrologist

Continued from p. 14

In Search of Dangerous Tea Partiers Tea parties. In case you haven’t noticed,

this phrase has taken on a whole new meaning during the last few months. Across the U.S., millions of upset Americans have turned out to events to protest the Obama healthcare plan, deficit spending, and basically every other expansion of government that has been proposed by the present administration. These people come from a wide variety of political perspectives, united by an intense dislike for what they perceive as a dangerously intrusive and expanding government. The mainstream media’s response to these gatherings has been at best patronizing, writing off the protesters as uneducated misguided closet-racists. More often, however, they have not been so generous. . But are these tea partiers really as vicious and dimwitted as they are portrayed? To find out, I went to a 9/12 rally in downtown Vancouver, which coincided with the 1.7 million person march that happened on the Mall in Washington DC. An interesting side note is that the inauguration of President Obama attracted 1.8 million people, and yet the 9/12 march in D.C went largely unreported by the media. The rally I went to in Vancouver took place in a small amphitheatre by the Columbia River. Around the amphitheatre were pitched the booths of the various organizations that the tea partiers had created. Most of them were very young organizations, but many of them had memberships in the millions. The media’s opinion of these organizations has been that they were organized by the Republican Party or some very powerful conservative organization. But often, the person sitting behind the table at the booth was one of the founders of the organization. One by one, I questioned them as to how their organizations came about, and all had the same answer. They were a group of concerned citizens that wanted to do something about government expansion and decided to organize. There wasn’t a single booth affiliated with the Republican Party. But what about the people at this rally? Many of them had signs that concerned me at

first. “The Second American Revolution” and “A Proud Member of the Angry Mob” were the only two that I found questionable. But I didn’t make a judgment immediately. It was easy to tell that the people holding these signs were not the revolutionary sort. They had families, assets and (perhaps most importantly) many of them seemed to be very well read where American history was concerned. These were not revolutionaries. The speeches clarified the signs for me. The “Second Revolution” sign was a reference to the speeches of Bob Basso: a man who has been speaking at dozens of tea parties across the U.S. dressed as the American revolutionary Thomas Paine. When he spoke later on in the event, he made it perfectly clear that the second revolution was one that would be fought politically not violently. And I saw no indication that anyone there believed otherwise. Similarly, the “Angry Mob” sign was based on the remarks of the Left concerning tea parties. Slowly, I realized that the signs searched two purposes. They were meant to explain the protesters’ cause while thumbing their noses at those on the Left. But what of the argument that these tea partiers are racists? I never heard a single racial slur against Obama or anyone else from the stage or in the audience. Indeed, it was amazing how civil the tea party was given how displeased those participating clearly were with the policies of the Obama administration. In the most extreme statement of the event, the Thomas Paine impersonator called on the audience to vote out the present Congress in 2010 and the Obama administration in 2012. And this is extremism? What ever happened to the Bush-era chant, “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism”? It is perfectly understandable that the media and the Left in general have no love for the tea partiers. Nevertheless, it is laughably ridiculous to call your opponents dangerous racist idiots when they merely disagree with your ideology. Indeed, this is a lesson everyone can learn from. Refute the opposition with facts. Slandering the opposition, however, will always come back to bite.

Did you get that? Its the same thing, but one is a Schedule I drug, which means it is addictive, dangerous, and of no medical value, while the other is a Schedule III drug, which means it is considered safe when used properly. I hate to say it, but what gives? Our good friend Marry Jane finds herself in the same boat as her considerably more dangerous counterpart GHB. Marijuana in its herbal form is also considered a Schedule I substance, meaning that it is dangerous, addictive, and has no medical value. Just to clear this up, I have two questions for you. Have you ever known anyone that has overdosed on pot and died? I’m actually died, not “almost?” Also, have you ever known anyone to do anything terribly morally reprehensible just to acquire cannabis? For all of you I know that the answer to the first question is “no.” For almost all of you, I know the answer to the second question is also “no.” Now if cannabis has no medical value, why is there a synthetic version of THC known as Marinol or dronabinol, which is produced by a pharmaceutical company, and listed as a Schedule III drug? What is interesting is that while not many definitive studies have been done on marijuana (some would say none), Marinol was thoroughly studied, and the results are pretty interesting. For instance in an open-label study, patients received Marinol capsules for up to five months and did not display any signs of abuse, diversion, or change in personality. What makes this research even more interesting is the fact that this study was done with AIDS patients, and many of the participants had a history of drug abuse. Studies also showed that there was no carcinogenicity associated with even high dose, continuous use of THC. To view information on this study, and to read up on Marinol go to: http://www.rxlist. com/marinol-drug.htm Marinol is listed as Schedule III substance, which means it is safe when used properly. That means that the government admits that THC, the same thing in weed, is perfectly safe. If this is the case, why the hell is pot still illegal? Moreover, why is it listed as a Schedule I drug along with heroin, coke, ecstasy, meth, and GHB? It seems to me that even the government knows pot should be legal, and any right minded individual should be able to see that Marijuana should have no place on Schedule I. I hope this has helped open your eyes to the hypocrisy surrounding the marijuana prohibition. It is time that everyone saw how backwards, broken and biased the United States drug policy is. To read more from The Ganja Guru go to http://theganjaguru.blogspot.com

There are a total of seven things that would make this campus much more enjoyable. Not to say it isn’t nice, but I think it could be better. Here is the list. 1. Sports. Real sports. I know, we can’t have them because Pullman has them, but I think we should just change the name of our university and then start our own sports’ teams. We could be the University of Vancouver and play against Division II schools. 2. A racetrack. Every day when I get out of my car in the parking lot, I see tons of Subaru WRX’s. I think if we had a racetrack, it would motivate those people to upgrade to STI’s. Not only that, but we would constantly have the opportunity to watch some drag racing. And drifting. 3. A fire pit. At night time, nothing would be cooler than going out and having a giant bonfire, especially after midterms or something. It’d be a great way for students to hang out without spending a ton of money. 4. Sand volleyball courts. I’m addicted to volleyball, and for my own personal benefit, I’d like some beach courts out on the grass field. Yeah, Washington is super rainy and horrible, but having the beach on campus would make it seem warmer. 5. Full Throttle. Thanks to long nights at the paper, I’m re-addicted to those. Unfortunately, every single machine on campus was sold out of them when I was searching for one. Not only were the machines lacking ‘canned sleep’, but the cafeteria was also sold out. It might have something to do with multiple tests happening this week and students needing that extra boost, but we should get rid of some pop and replace it with Full Throttles. 6. A petting zoo. Where I can bring my puppy. And leave him there. It wouldn’t really be a petting zoo, it’d be more of an animal day care. We could open it to the public and watch everyone’s animals while they were working or attending class. It’d be a really easy way for the campus to make money too. And it would provide student’s with jobs. 7. A nap room. Picture this: a giant room filled with cots. You would bring your own blanket and pillow, and pass out for up to an hour between classes. It might be awkward sleeping in a room with random people you don’t know, but it’s not like you’d be on the same bed. (425): So some girl kept staring at me and giving me these weird looks. That’s when I realized she could probably hear the Mulan soundtrack playing on my iPod...

10/9 Deadline to apply for Graduate and Teaching Certificate - 10/23 Deadline to use a regular withdrawal to withdraw from a course; Undergrads only

16 CALENDAR

Cardio and Yoga, Clark Center 20, 12:15 p.m.

Cardio and Yoga, Clark Center 20, 12:15 p.m.

Blood Drive @ 10 a.m. near cafeteria

Strong Interest Inventory @ 4 p.m. in VFSC 104. Call SRC before to RSVP

Dirt: The Erosion of Civilization presentation in VUCB 1 @ 6 p.m.

Human Development Club Meeting @ 12 p.m. in VMMC 219

Miniature golf passes on sale; $5 in Rec Office

Blazer vs. Denver game tickets go on sale; $15 @ Student Services Cashier

Reading for Retention workshop @ 1:30 p.m. in VFSC 104

Network with young professionals in VLIB 240 @ 4 p.m. Life of Pi presentation in VUCB 125 @ 12 p.m.

National Dessert Day: Free ice cream @ 1 p.m. in VFSC Open gym basketball at Alki Middle School @ 8 p.m.; every week

Etiquette Dinner @ 4:30 p.m. in VFSC; $5, RSVP with SRC

Indoor archery @ 7 p.m. at Archery World; $5

Cougar Networking Night @ 5:30 p.m. at the Club at the Historic Reserve

Archery Tournament at Archery World @ 7 p.m.; $5 for students

Learn more from Lectures Workshop @ 8:30 a.m. Open gym basketball at Alki Middle School @ 8 p.m.; every week

Grad School informational luncheon @ 12 p.m. in VLIB 260 Free Bowling Night @ 9:30 p.m. at Crosley Lanes; wear black and white

Flag Football @ 3 p.m. on field; every Thursday until November 12

AUDIO JOURNALISTS ****** Paid Positions Record news reports and broadcast them over kougradio.com Contact Triana at [email protected] to learn more about the position.

Paint the Swift House @ 7 a.m. and noon; contact Lea Pfau at 350.546.9600 Volunteer to maintain Battle Ground Lake State Park @ 10 a.m.

Flag Football @ 3 p.m. on field, every Thursday until November 12

Flag Football @ 3 p.m. on field, every Thursday until November 12

Need a job? KOUG Radio needs

History club, Library, and Clark County Historical Museum present Andrew Carnegie re-enactor; @ 10 a.m. in VADM 110

Student Media Board needs

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AND STUDENT-AT-LARGE ****** Volunteer Positions Applications can be found in the Office of Student Involvement and are due by October 12.

Contact Kerry Mraz at [email protected] with questions

Football party at Big Al’s Bar and Grill @ 1:30 p.m.

Want to improve your resume and volunteer on campus?

Having trouble paying the bills?

Portland Rock Gym Indoor Climbing: sign up by Oct. 21 in Rec Office; $20

Mayoral Debate @ 3:30 p.m. in VADM 110

Want extra cash?