On Jan. 5, over 100 students fi lled the Firstenburg

Student Commons, waiting to be welcomed to Washington State University Vancouver.

ROAR, the University’s moniker for student orientation, helped

inform new students joining the university in Spring of opportunities and resources for students at WSUV. It also provided, in Bruce Romanish’s words, “a warm cougar welcome” to those incoming students.

The program started late in the afternoon, at 4 p.m., with Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs,

Bruce Romanish welcoming the new students. Romanish discussed the challenging times that we are facing and stressed that “we look toward the next generation to help us fi gure things out…” and that the purpose of the university was to “equip [the students] to insure those responsibilities.”

See ROAR on page 2

Coming up with an extra $440 a semester to pay for school is proving to be a diffi cult

task for many undergraduate students at WSUV this year. The tuition increase, which was a direct result of the 2009-2010 state budget recommendations by Governor Gregoire, will rise again come Fall semester of 2010 according to the most recent budget updates.

After transferring from Concordia University in the Fall, undergraduate student Bree Barker has been working hard to pay for school at WSUV. “I work part time right now, but it is very hard to work and do school full time. The money I make always goes toward gas, and

books and things.” Most students on campus are currently working one or more jobs while attending classes just to pay for school.

Even with multiple jobs, there is typically a greater need of aid for fi nancing higher education. Loans are usually the most sought after type of assistance. Stafford loans, which are the most common type of loan taken out by students, are fi xed-rate federal loans for those who are enrolled at least half-time in school. In order to apply for these loans, you have to have fi lled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For those that have yet to complete the FAFSA, Clark College is hosting a ‘College Goal Sunday’ event on Jan. 31. This event, which takes place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the O’Connell Sports Center, will bring current and future students closer to fi nancial aid.

By the time she arrived at WSUV, Barker had already taken out student loans to pay for four

years of college, including two years at Lower Columbia College in Longview, WA. “I’ve always joked that I’ll be paying off my student loans until I die,” said Barker. “In the end though, it’s going to be worth it.”

The University agrees that higher education is always worth it and has created ways to help students pay for college. These opportunities include grants and scholarships.

Washington State University currently awards scholarships to residents, non-residents, transfer students, international students, and high school seniors. Their web site, which can be found through the Offi ce of Financial Aid and the Student Services Center, provides easy access to scholarship applications. These scholarships are awarded by the university, the Vancouver campus, and nation-wide donors.

For more information about scholarships and fi nancial aid,

attend an ‘A-Z of Financial Aid and Scholarships’ workshop. The fi rst workshop of the semester takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. in VSSC 101. Upcoming deadlines are Jan. 31 for University-wide scholarships and Mar. 31 for the Vancouver campus scholarships.

IN THIS ECONOMY, EVERYONE COULD USE SOME FREE MONEY

The

Washington State University Vancouver

MLK, Jr. Day volunteer

opportunity on campus

PAGE 2

January 11, 2010 • Issue 9 • Volume 15 | WWW.VANCOUGAR.NING.COM >> Visit our web site for online newspaper, videos, pictures, and more!

Travel Cafe photo contest page 4 • Personal journey to better health page 10 • Castro profi le page 7 page 4

Students seek assistanceIn the 2009/2010 school year, $157,000 was awarded to students through WSU Vancouver scholarships according to the campus’ Financial Aid and Scholarship web site. Photo Illustration: Katie Wells/The VanCougar

Katie Wells/Editor in Chief

THE NUMBERS•$3,360 Spring tuition ‘08 for FT Undergraduate•$3,800 Spring tuition ‘09 for FT Undergraduate•$4,228 Spring tuition ‘09 for FT Graduate•75% of WSUV students receive � nancial aid or scholarships•$2,000 Average award from Vancouver campus

With rising tuition, more students are

needing money

WSUV students lobby in Olympia

Times are tough, and frankly, they are about to get even

worse. That is, they are about to get even worse for students. If you happen to be a student, pay attention.

The Governor’s budget, released in December, proposed several cuts to higher education that could result in both drastically reduced fi nancial aid and large increases in tuition. These cuts may become permanent if students do not rise up in opposition.The proposed cuts include: • A 60% ($146.6 million) cut to the State Need Grant, lowering the eligibility threshold from 70% of the median family income to 50%, making nearly 12,300 students ineligible and reducing the award amounts for those students who remain eligible. • Complete suspension of other fi nancial aid opportunities such as Work Study, Washington Scholars, WAVE, and Future Teachers Scholarship, which together would suspend fi nancial aid for nearly 11,000 students. • An $89.5 million cut to higher education operating budgets, including a $13.55 million cut to WSU. • Discussions about increasing tuition or eliminating the tuition cap, which currently prevents institutions from raising tuition above 14% each year.To raise student voices, ASWSUV began a letter-writing campaign in December—asking students to share their personal stories about paying for their education. More broadly, the letter urged legislators to keep tuition affordable.

See Lobbying on page 12

Peter Sterr/Contributing Writer

Students will present main goal of

lowering tuition

Peter Sterr is the ASWSUV Director of Legislative Affairs and will spend the next semester lobbying full-time in Olympia

ROAR Orientation

Sally Thrall/Campus News Editor

WSUV welcomes new students to

campus for Spring

2 CAMPUS NEWS

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

Rogers Weed, the Director of the Washington State Department of

Commerce, will be coming to WSUV to speak at the Chancellor’s Seminar Series.

Rogers Weed was appointed as Director of the Washington State Department of Commerce in March of 2009 by Governor Christine Gregoire. Rogers Weed has a diverse educational background, first graduating with a bachelor’s degree

in Computer Science from Duke University, and then moving on to the University of Pennsylvania where he obtained a master’s degree in Marketing. Weed went on to become a vice president in Microsoft before taking his current position in the Department of Commerce.

The combination of his education and professional work make him a more than qualified speaker. He will discuss the topic, ‘Achieving Washington’s Innovation Economy: Priorities for growth during tough times.’ This topic will be sure to combine Weed’s knowledge of technology and business as he proposes the best way to insure economic innovation in Washington State. Weed will also provide members of the audience with an

overview of the economy and State budget from the perspective of someone intimately involved with the ins and outs of the process. Weed will also focus on regional impacts of the State budget, proposing ways that the private and public sectors can work together to benefit the local economy.

The Chancellor’s Seminar Series is an event held twice a semester that allows community members, students, staff and faculty to interact while considering an issue of current interest. In addition to the food for thought, the Chancellor’s Seminar Series also bestows attendees with a catered meal in the style of a luncheon buffet.

Students are encouraged to attend the event. Tickets can be purchased online for 25 dollars per person,

which covers the cost of the lunch. However, there are a limited number of free spots held open for students who wish to attend the event. The Office of Student Involvement usually has about 12 spots reserved for students, especially for those on a budget that may not be able to attend otherwise. The spots are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis, so students are encouraged to sign up as early as possible if they want to get a seat.

The first Chancellor’s Seminar Series of the semester will be held on Friday, Jan. 15. It runs from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Firstenburg Student Commons. If you are interested in attending, visit http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/css/ for more information. Students

who are interested in attending are encouraged to go to the Office of Student Involvement where they may be able to get a free spot at the event.

When Bruce Romanish finished his brief welcome

he handed the microphone off to Nick Ferderer, ASWSUV President.

Nick Ferderer opened up to incoming students about the importance of interaction and meeting new people when they arrive at WSUV. He told his own story of only knowing his ambassador when he started, showing students that you have to start somewhere and build connections from there. Ferderer stopped part way through his speech so students could turn to the right and introduce themselves to the person sitting next to them. During that break, Student Involvement Manager

Michelle McIlvoy noted how the sound of students talking grew during the time Ferderer paused to let them meet someone new. After Ferderer managed to quiet the crowd down once again, he encouraged

students to set a goal for how many people they would meet that night.

Once Nick Ferderer finished, the program moved on to discuss topics of interest to the incoming students: faculty expectations and academic integrity, campus resources, student life, and financial aid. Three faculty members shared tips with students about how to best succeed at the University level. The faculty members stressed taking advantage of the small class sizes and classification of the university as a tier one research institution. They recommended students supplementing their education with internships and lab research

experience outside of the classroom. Dr. John Barber summed up faculty expectations with the power of three: show up, think positive, and whatever happens…it’s your fault. The faculty expectations were briefly followed up by a discussion of academic integrity and what that meant of WSUV students.

Kelsey DuPree, Christine Lundeen and Bill Stahley then presented about student resources on campus. Kelsey DuPree asked students to identify their goals for their time at WSUV and write them down on the front of the folder they were given at ROAR. DuPree then provided the students with information about how they can start the process of reaching those goals with the help of resources at WSUV. The Student Resource Center described all of the resources open to incoming students including supplemental instruction, tutoring,

career services, education abroad and the National Student Exchange. Bill Stahley then explained how students can use these resources to meet the expectations the faculty had discussed earlier.

After the three speakers were done explaining campus resources, Mason O’Lennick discussed student life on campus, and brought up a student panel of ambassadors to answer questions the crowd might have about student life. O’Lennick explained the opportunities that students had to get involved right away, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 18.

When students were done asking questions, a brief overview of financial aid was presented to students. Attendees were informed of deadlines for scholarships at Pullman and the deadline for scholarships given out by the Vancouver campus.

Students were also encouraged to fill out the Federal Application for Student Aid for 2010-2011 before the deadline of Feb. 15.

In closing, the University collected feedback about the program so they could improve ROAR for future students. The Office of Student Involvement also offered door prizes for students who could correctly answer questions about the two and a half hours of programming. Correct students received door prizes ranging from coffee mugs to cougar gear. Finally, the attendees were invited to explore the resource fair to collect information about different university programs. Students were also given free pizza to help deal with any hunger pains that they might have been experiencing at 6:30 p.m., around the time when the program finished. Students were also encouraged to attend an optional campus tour, but many did not want to face the rain outside.

ROARContinued from page 1

Rogers Weed Photo credit/Washington Economic Development Commission

State Commerce Director visits campus

Sally Thrall/Campus News Editor

Rogers Weed will be speak at Chancellor’s

Seminar Series

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

CAMPUS NEWS 3

1/18 MLK, Jr. Service Day @ 9 a.m. in VFSC • 1/20 Cougar Afterhours @ 5 p.m. at Pop Culture in Downtown Vancouver for alumni

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, students at WSUV will

have the chance to partake in a day of service benefi ting the community.

Jan. 18 will be a day for students to remember Martin Luther King, Jr. and the struggle he helped lead for civil rights. Students have the entire day off. While some students may be already planning what to do with their three-day weekend, other students have decided to spend that day giving back to the community.

The second annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a way for students to give back to the community and refl ect on the importance of civic and community service. Organizer Bola Majekobaje said, “One of the goals for the day of service is to inspire people to engage

in service in their communities.” In order to do so, committee members Emily Shaw, Cindy Morical, Ramandeep Brar, Jackie Cruz, and Bola Majekobaje have organized different service opportunities for people to participate in.

Last year, the fi rst year of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, over 200 students, staff, faculty, and community members gathered together for the event. This year, organizers are hoping for at least 100-125 people to participate, but would love to have as many as possible.

The day will kick off in the Firstenburg Student Commons where people can register for what service project they would like to participate in. Then after hearing a musical performance and keynote speaker Thabiti Lewis, participants will go to their service location where they will spend between two and fi ve hours giving back to the community.

Students and other members of the community and WSUV will be offered multiple ways to give back

to the community. People wanting to be in the great outdoors or spend time in the fresh air will have two opportunities to do so. StreamTeam, an organization dedicated to reviving the Salmon Creek Watershed, will be hosting an outdoor service site. At the service site participants may be able to plant trees, pot trees for the tree nursery, weed and clean up streams, or monitor water quality and plant survival. Another outdoor service site will be hosted by the Vancouver Watershed Council, where participants will have the opportunity to plant trees.

For those who would rather not brave the cold, there are service sites indoors where participants can help local children in need. For people who are naturally creative, or would like to be, there will be art supplies provided at one service site. These supplies will be used to create cards for the children at the local Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Participants seeking more interaction with those they are helping to serve will be interested in the service site hosted by Share, an organization that helps homeless individuals get back on their feet. Share will be providing

an opportunity to prepare meals for children in need and spend time doing fun activities with the children.

No matter what service project participants wish to partake in, Bola Majekobaje said, “We hope that this day of service will lead each participant to a lifetime of service.”

If you are interested in being part

of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, or have any questions about the event, go to the Offi ce of Student Involvement. Those wanting to participate must RSVP, which can be done at the Offi ce of Student Involvement, or online at http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/diversity/mlk.html.

Hear ye, hear ye

Attention all interested students looking to get

involved. The Women of Distinction Selection Committee is looking for a new recruit to help select two Distinguished Women of the Year.

Women of Distinction is an event put on by the Offi ce of Student Involvement each March. Women of Distinction celebrates women’s history month by recognizing a female member of the community or faculty and staff at WSUV and a female student who have inspired, encouraged and mentored others. Women of Distinction will be held on Mar. 31 to recognize all the women in the community that have been an inspiration and touched the lives of others. At the event, recipients of the Distinguished Woman of the Year Award will be recognized.

Women in the community and on campus are nominated to receive the award by other members of campus and the community. Once the online nominations close, the Selection Committee for Women of Distinction reviews the nominations and chooses two recipients, one for the student award and one for the community/faulty/staff award.

Currently, the Selection Committee is looking to add a fi fth member as another student voice to help decide the Distinguished Woman of the Year recipients. They are looking for someone who is enthusiastic and has been part of the process of mentoring, empowering and inspiring; either having had someone do that to them, or having done that for others. All students are encouraged to apply. Applications can be picked up at the front desk of the Offi ce of Student Involvement.

Sally Thrall/Campus News Editor

Distinguished Women of the year; committee looking for new recruit

WSUV gives backCommunity service

project opportunities on MLK, Jr. Day

Sally Thrall/Campus News Editor

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks to crowd. Photo credit/Screenrant.com

4 STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

1/16 Journalism Boot Camp @ 1 p.m. in VFSC RSVP to vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu by Jan. 13 to reserve a seat

How was your winter break? Are you glad to be back or could you use

another week? Either way, school has started and there’s nothing you can do about it, so you might as well get comfortable. Share stories and pictures from travels you took anywhere and at any time of the year at the Travel Cafe on Jan. 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hosted by OSI and the Campus Reading Project, this event will provide food and award $50 gift certifi cates for two winning photographs in the local and abroad categories. The photographs, which can be supplied by anyone, need to be turned in to Kendal Mantzke, the OSI Marketing Intern, by Jan. 21. Send your pictures to her at osimarkintern@vancouver.wsu.edu with a description of the location.

Here are a couple winter break stories to get you in the sharing spirit:

Chau Nguyen described her winter break as more of a working holiday than a vacation. “Instead of skiing or snowboarding, I was working extra for Macy’s, asking me to work at least fi ve days a week.

“More hours meant more money, but it got really tiring when I had to be at work pretty much every day, and Macy’s was extremely busy during the holiday season. However, the reward was that I ran into a lot of people, some of whom I had not seen for a long time.

“For Christmas and New Year, I just went to my grandparents’ for a

big family dinner and hung out with the cousins. My grandmother cooked good Vietnamese food, such as egg rolls, seafood soup, and beef stirred rice. It was a good catch-up time since I had not been there for a while because of school and work.

“New Year Day was also the birthday of my father and cousin. Hence, we had a double birthday celebration at my grandparents’ house. There were lots of food, cakes, and pictures. It was a fun time, taking off all the tiredness I had from work that day.

“One thing I was not really happy during this break was my haircut. I got one on Christmas Eve and it turned out to be too short that I do not like it. Unfortunately, my family loves pictures and they took tons during the holiday and sent the pictures to distant relatives and friends. I do not like everybody to see my “not-looking-good” look but I had no choice but to be in the pictures.

“Almost four weeks of break (I got done with all my fi nals on the Tuesday of the fi nal week) ends and it is time to get back to school.

“I promise this semester I am going to start fresh and new, no more slacking off and waiting until the last minute to do assignments. Happy New Year everyone and have a great semester!” said Nguyen.

My bipolar winter break: Too short when you’re having fun, too long when you’re dying to get away, back to your normal life where family is a tiny noun meaning tucked away photographs and a phone call every now and then.

Traveling through California with my boyfriend, we encountered it all: a dust storm in Palm Springs, hail in Joshua Tree, and a blizzard in Yreka

that left us stranded on I-5. We watched seagulls eat a dying baby elephant seal on the central coast, licked salt off the ground in Death Valley, and soaked our bones in a natural reed-lined and mud-fi lled hot spring while a slightly crazy biker offered us various narcotics.

We were dirty and smelly, and either too cold or too hot. But that’s what camping is all about. And when you’re in love, all the daily discomforts just don’t seem to matter that much compared to the nightly joy of cuddling up, dead tired and still wearing all your clothes, in a double wide sleeping bag on the leaf littered fl oor of some pristine forest.

Then we’re back in Washington

for one day until I’m whisked away to visit my family in New Jersey, a place I haven’t been for over 2 years and was not looking forward to going back to.

When I arrive, it’s 17 degrees and stays that way the entire time. Everything is covered in snow, and then again in ice. Walking has become dangerous, so I forget about escaping outside when the drama level becomes too high. Which of course, it does, and stays at “level orange” for days while I listen to stories of ungrateful, backstabbing, mean-spirited relatives whose only apparent purpose in life is to create misery.

It’s hard to keep a happy face

when you’re sick with disgust at the life choices of others. Alcohol helps, but as we all know, gets old and nauseating after a while. But hey, that’s what winter break is for right? To get sick with abundance. To get tired of the people you say you love. To remember why you live far away from them and why you’ll never move back. And ultimately, to be grateful to come home.

Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to relax, share your stories and photos, eat free food, and win prizes on Jan. 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Firstenburg Student Commons.

Travel Café event and photo contest on campusSubmit photos for the event and learn about

foreign places

Triana Collins\Student Involvement Editor

Sing your stress away

Are you desperately in need of one more credit? Do you

like to sing or just like to be around singers, hoping that their talent will eventually rub off on you? Well, you are in luck because the campus choir has an abundance of open seats.

The choir, also known as University Singers, is comprised of students, staff, faculty, and community members. It is actually this last group, the community members, who make it possible for the students to have a class due to their enthusiasm and number.

Once a semester, the choir puts on a concert. This past December, they performed Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse” with the help of professional soloists. An orchestra joined them with some musicians coming from the Vancouver

Symphony and as far away as Eugene, Oregon.

The upcoming Spring semester concert’s theme will be “American Classic”. The choir will sing old American music, folk songs, theatre, and art songs. Conductor Lee Jennings is especially excited about a spoken piece titled “Geographical Fugue” by a composer who escaped Nazi Germany for Los Angeles, and said that “even though there is no actual singing it turns out to be very musical”.

Jennings has been the choir conductor since the very beginning when he helped to start the choir from scratch as a club. For the past seven and a half years it has been offered for credit, a rare jewel of a class at a university that lacks a music program. Judging by the turnout at concerts and support among students, more music classes at WSUV would be accepted with open arms.

Jennings has been conducting since he was 15 years old and isn’t about to stop anytime soon. He received his master’s degree

in orchestra conducting at the University of Idaho before moving on to do some doctoral study at the University of Washington. He has taught band, orchestra, choir, musical theatre, and even African drumming, a skill he picked up in the diverse neighborhoods of Seattle.

In addition to being a stress reliever and break from the usual academic day, Jennings believes that music actually helps the brain function better in all aspects of life. He references The Dana Foundation, an organization dedicated to serving as a gateway of information about the latest scientifi c brain research and its connection to arts education.

The choir class is graded based on attendance, with 2 unexcused absences allowed. Jennings lovingly reminisces about a student who couldn’t match pitch but showed up for every rehearsal and hence, received an “A”. They meet twice a week from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The class number is MUSC 432: University Singers.

Choir class o� ers credit, sign up now for

University Singers

Triana Collins\Student Involvement Editor

Vancougar.ning.com

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT 5

1/30 Submissions due for the Salmon Creek Journal. Have your artwork published in a college periodical. More info online!

Running ClubTriana Collins\Student Involvement Editor

Mari-Jo Qualey claims she has been running forever and wants to continue that

obsession here at WSUV. She started the Running Club during fall semester simply

because she loves to run and wants to share that love with others. On her own,

she will run 12 to 13 miles in one day. The club will take it a bit easier, doing about two or three miles at a time,

and staying on and around campus. Like last semester, the Running

Club will meet twice a week during spring semester. They

will begin training for the Hood to Coast run, a 197

mile run from Mt. Hood to Seaside, OR. This is

the world’s largest relay with 14,000 runners

clogging the streets. Teams of about 12

people are formed with each person

running four

to seven miles at a time. The runners will keep going non-stop, all day and night, switching at designated points where they get picked up by safety vehicles and brought to the next starting point until someone eventually reaches the sea.

Qualey said that training for events helps runners have a long term goal that enables them to become better runners: running longer distances with less injuries. She hopes that the club will be able to participate in 10ks or half-marathons with a grant she has applied for. These events cost on average 20 dollars per person with all the proceeds going to charities.

If given a choice, Qualey prefers to run in the afternoons or evenings, as she is not a morning person. The times the club will run depends on the members’ schedule, with mornings unfortunately being an option if that is what works. She believes running helps people in all areas of their life and that runners are typically in good health. If you would like to get in shape, send her an e-mail at mjcq32@hotmail.com

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In need of a map?

6 FEATURE

1/26 Health and Fitness Resource Fair @ 11 a.m. in VFSC: Get a massage, have health screening, contact physical therapist

(TFLN): TXTS FRM LST NGHT

HOME I BEST NIGHTS I WORST NIGHTS I SUBMIT

(979): Do you think Tom Brady went home tonight and changed

his facebook status to “pink with lace”?

(954): He was telling me how the song fi refl ies makes him feel

like he can talk to animals

(760): I can handle NPR. I speak hippie. I took it in college.

(612): You text me last night that you invented a new food.

Cheese-less grilled cheese. Congrats, you made toast.

(702): just got death stares at taco bell because I asked if

Denise was working.

(941): Is it just me, or does Colt McCoy look like Herbie the

Dentist from “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”?

(570): Just took a closer look at the paper that kid wrote me his number on. It was an ATM receipt. His balance is $17.89. i

made the right choice.

(817): The worst mistakes make the best memories. Write that

down.

(701): I just found out you can fi le for divorce online. I love

America.

(716): I can’t go out tonight. I feel like I’m starting to party as much as Farrah on Teen Mom.

(631): I’m afraid my bank account can’t handle syllabus

week.

(609): i carry sandwiches in my pockets more than any normal

person should

(806): You proceeded to call me a hoe and then informed me that Bear Grylls is and always will be more important than I am to

you.

(201): In Canada she would be a 10 but here in America she’s

only a 7

(303): i have a dinosaur tramp stamp

(904): Pretending to care about her feelings is becoming a full

time job

(301): I wish real life had face-book tags so i could fi gure out

who all these people are

(301): Just showed mom and dad the pics from San Francisco,

while i played the Full House theme song in the background.

(360): just took my ibuprofen with ramen broth, yay college

(305): just ate frosted cheerios in coffee with some marshmel-

lows. the college diet begins

(330): hot pretzels for dinner, snacks, and now breakfast...oh to be a poor college student...

everyday is like a carnival.

(715): just had a dream there were parent teacher conferences in college...scariest dream ever.

And... we’re back. Whatever, I know you’re moaning and groaning,

but I am so excited. New year, new decade, new classes, I can barely contain myself. Plus, now that this painfully long break is over, I won’t have to visit my family for another, say, 2 years, which is just fi ne with me. Perhaps I could make it longer if I contracted an infectious disease (maybe, swine fl u?). Then, not visiting would seem like a conscientious favor instead of inconsiderate carelessness. Maybe by that time a new mass hysteria will have hit, and I can contract that as well and drag the visit out another 5 years. But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. Anyways, enjoy some mostly FREE events in our lovely city.

What: Symphony StorytimeWhen: Saturday, Jan. 16Where: Vancouver Mall LibraryTime: 3 p.m.Cost: FREEThis sounds genuinely cool. The

guy who does the percussion section at the Oregon Symphony is like, really good, and is going to be adding sounds to stories read at the library. So say a lion roars in the story, then maybe he’ll bust out his timpani and make it sound all crazy loud and roaring. And then perhaps there’s a

thunderstorm and all the animals are in grave danger, so he gets out his cymbal and just goes to town. That’s what I’m envisioning but I suggest you check it out for yourself.

What: America’s Largest Antique and Collectible Show

When: Sat. and Sun., Jan. 16 - 17Where: Clark County Event CenterTime: Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sun.

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Cost: $7 for adults, $3 for kidsI know this is a little pricey at

seven dollars but I just thought you should at least know about it. This is the largest antique and collectible show in America, which is “offering a diverse and happy hunting ground for the collector in every fi eld”. I like when places or events claim they have the largest or biggest or grandest of something. In Baker, California they have the world’s largest thermometer and I was begging my boyfriend to take a tiny 100 mile detour so that we might be able to bask in it’s temperature reading glory. But noooo, we just didn’t have the time. So I don’t want you to feel like me and wish you had gone. I mean, this is basically one gigantic garage sale so there’s bound to be something exciting. And if nothing else, you know all the crazy old people hassling each other over those McDonalds Collectible Beanie Babies will be entertaining.

What: Art and Music FestWhen: Saturday, Jan. 16Where: Paper Tiger CoffeehouseTime: 1 p.m. – 11 p.m.Cost: FREEI know there’s a lot of stuff going

on today, but you should defi nitely try and check out this event if you can manage to get out of bed. There will be live painting, music and spoken word for 10 straight hours. That’s a really long time to be listening to stuff. So maybe you should go for an hour and then go somewhere else for an hour and then go back and forth like that all day. The music is rather eclectic with stuff like space rock, hip-hop, solo viola, alt-country, and punk.

What: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.When: Monday, Jan. 18Where: EverywhereTime: All dayCost: FREEToday is a holiday so don’t forget

to not come to school. Unless you really feel like it. No one is going to stop you, but it’s not like anyone else will be here so you might be kinda lonely.

What: Ribbon Cutting MixerWhen: Thursday, Jan. 21Where: Columbia BankTime: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.Cost: FREEHaha. I had to put this in because

it’s so funny. I highly recommend NOT going to this event.

Free Coug: living on a budgetTriana Collins\Student Involvement Editor

I hate New Years. Especially the resolution

thing. It has become like a requirement for anyone entering a new season. What if I don’t want to change? What if I am perfectly content with how things are? Whats this demand that I must change something about myself?

That is why whenever someone asks me. “Whats your New Year’s resolution?” I simply answer “To come up with one next year.” Funny, how that is the same deal every year for me is it not? Do you think the world would end if we decided to abolish these resolutions? Are they really that important? If I do not have one, why is it that people seem to badger me into coming up with one?

I ask you this, who actually follows through on their resolutions? I do not think anyone succeeds with their cliché resolutions. Essentially the resolutions befall on our most shameful habits and our attempts to break them. But as being humans, we seem to not have the willpower to overcome these things with just a simple unsupported statement on the fi rst of January. Seriously, 78% of all “reported” resolutions fail by the end of the year, and 45% fail by the end of January. Kudos to the 22% who succeed then. I’m guessing, their resolutions, were either like mine, or extremely simple.

Studies also say that this is because people keep their resolutions to themselves. So apparently if you scream to everyone you know what your resolution is, it will likely succeed? For some reason I hope nobody does this. I really do not want to know your resolution, because, They are all the same, it would get boring fast. Either you are trying to lose weight and be fi t, or stop smoking and drinking. And if its neither of those, you must be in debt.

Yay for you, good luck with that, really.

New Years, I hate you for being so common. New Years, I hate you for your resolutions of nonsense. New Years, I hate you for being overly important.

Jake Kleinschmidt\Managing Editor

Editor’s note: These ‘numbers’ and ‘studies’ are for effect. The are not real.

The Rant

They said what?“Dolphins are ‘nonhuman

persons’ who qualify for moral standing as

individuals.” -Thomas White, professor

of ethics, Loyola Marymount University in

Los Angeles.Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article6973994.ece

Have you heard a funny quote lately? Send it in to vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu and we will

publish it in the next issue!

FEATURE 7

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

Erica Castro can make you feel a little, um, lazy. But it is totally unintentional

because this single mother, full-time student, club president, and community volunteer does not have a mean bone in her long ballerina body. She is simply doing what she has to do and she doesn’t have time to stop.

Hailing from Portland, Erica is a Humanities major with a dual focus in Women’s Studies and Dance. The dance classes come from the Boston Conservatory where she continued her lifelong love of movement that started when she was very small. In Boston, she had her two children, but also wound up in an emotionally abusive relationship that, while diffi cult at the time, changed her life for the better.

“There was a lot of distress, so we left. It was like being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she explained of the reason for her move back to the Northwest and her separation from her children’s father. “It’s much more peaceful that it’s just us now. But it took a year to recuperate, gain my footing, clear my head, and fi nd a goal for myself, something to be proud of. My family has been very supportive... I wouldn’t be here without them.”

On being single, Erica said she “doesn’t have time for a signifi cant other.” With power and determination in her voice she said, “Our society is so focused on male power... I’m not looking for a mate to support us. I’m trying to support us. I’m sure my daughter isn’t happy with all the nights I say ‘I have to study’, but one day they’ll appreciate all the work I did and want to do it too.”

As president of the Women’s

Empowerment Coalition that was started this past fall semester, Erica has made the goal of the club “to empower women and girls here on campus, in Vancouver, and around the globe”. The club is a support resource for its members, holds monthly meetings, conducts donation drives and silent auctions to support women and families in the community, brings awareness to groups and organizations, and works closely with shelters and the YWCA.

Erica knows fi rst hand what it’s like to be at a low point in life where help is desperately needed. “I know that spot and I know how low I was and I know that women can get out of that spot. Whether they have children or not, or are coming from a divorce or separation. It takes time to rebuild yourself and to fi gure out what you really want to do, without having someone else tell you what you should do. “

Erica will be graduating in May but said, “It’s not going to be a break. One day you’re graduating and the next day you’re in your master’s program.” She’ll have a little bit of time to relax before heading off into the elementary education program here at WSUV since “everything’s already familiar”. Then, the goal is to teach the fourth or fi fth grade when “at that age they have a good academic foundation... and they still have open minds to learn”.

Castro’s daughter, who is six and a half, is enrolled in a local elementary school, and her son, three, is in the Child Development Program here at WSUV. “My daughter is in the 1st grade, so I can refl ect upon what it was like to be there. I can recall those individuals who helped me and it inspires me to be a teacher or a principal.”

In addition to her own full time academic schedule, Erica volunteers at her daughter’s school on Friday mornings helping the teacher with

the classroom activities for the day, such as writing, reading, or science experiments. “When I was a kid we didn’t have so much help from parents but I can see that it’s needed. There is a lot of energy in the room and it can be hard to control. There are a lot of kids who have a hard time focusing and if I have a group of them, then the teacher can focus more one on one.”

Since Erica believes that art education is vital to a child’s development, she volunteers with At Home At School (AHAS). She teaches dance to kids who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to learn the art form and takes them to cultural events such as the ballet, The Nutcracker. “Some are from shelters and we give the kids an experience that they might not be able to have. It gives them a different perspective of the world that may turn into a passion later on in their life. “

Erica suggests that all people should take a women’s studies course and recommends Dr. Gordillo’s ‘Global Feminisms’. Women’s studies courses “open your eyes not just to gender differences, but race and class as well. And just because it’s a women’s studies course doesn’t mean it’s just for women. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem, so men need to be part of the solution too”.

“Come join the women’s empowerment coalition!” Erica encouraged before running off to study, volunteer, be a mom, and take care of herself. For more information, e-mail her at womensempowermentcoalition@yahoo.com.

Q: Dear Sexpert,

Should guys shave or not? Personally, I can’t feel a difference on a woman during the act if she’s just shaved or not, but then maybe that’s because I don’t. I guess my question is trying to get your angle on the matter. Does it feel better for her if I do? Do women like that, or is it just in porn? Does it make a difference?Followup: If you decide that I should indeed shave, what is the best method? Razor or electric shaver?

- To shave or not to shave

Dear Shave,

As with most things sexual, shaving is a matter of personal preference. Some people like it, others do not. If you don’t want to shave (male or female), then I would say do not. However, if you are neutral on the subject, then you might want to try it out. Some women report that shaving increases sexual pleasure because it gives them better access to more sensitive areas. As a guy, you may fi nd that that logic also applies to you, but then again you may not. It is hard to say exactly what shaving will or will

not do for you because each person is different and has different bodies and different psyches that interpret sensations differently.

If your partner is interested in you shaving, then you may want to try it. You do not have to if you do not want to, but for some people seeing a partner with trimmed hedges makes things a little more exciting. I would ask your partner if she has a preference, or try out the new look, and see what response you get. Your partner may like the shave better sensation wise, and she may not know until you try it. Unfortunately, though there is no preference for shaved or unshaved that can be applied to all women, it varies on an individual basis.

If you are worried about aesthetics, but you are not sure that you want to bare it all, then you can always just try trimming the hair down a little bit. Trimming also avoids some of the negative aspects of shaving like cuts, infections of said cuts, razor burn, bumps (which in this area can look like something

dangerous and completely unappealing), and ingrown hairs. It is recommended that you trim before you shave anyway, and you may fi nd that you like the tamed look better than bushy or bald.

Remember that, as you are shaving and trimming, the hair is there for a reason. Pubic hair helps keep the genitals warm, offers a certain amount of protection (especially for women), collects pheromones, alluring hormones that attract people that may in the near future see your pubic hair, and decreases friction during sex. You should defi nitely think about the last one before you decide to shave. For some people, and without proper lubrication, shaving can actually make sex painful or awkward.

If you want to try shaving, you should trim the area that you intend fi rst, depending on how long the hair is. Trimming the hair to ¾ to ½ an inch should aid in any further hair removal. Once you’ve trimmed, I would recommend using a razor, and not an electric shaver. The

electric shaver was not meant to go in that area. Use a new sharp blade to prevent cutting yourself or irritating the area. The pubic area is especially prone to irritation so that part is important. I would consider buying a female razor with a moisture strip, because these razors are made with the possibility of shaving the pubic region, while male razors usually are not. More specifi c directions for shaving pubic hairs can be found online. Whatever you do, be sure to be careful.

If you like the look and sensations after shaving, then you may want to think about other methods of hair removal. However, given that most other methods are more painful, and the genitals are a sensitive area, then you may want to just stick with shaving.

Do not worry about mistakes or experimenting too much, because after all is said and done, any hair you shave will come back.

- The SEXpert

The SEXpertSally Thrall/Campus News Editor

the classroom activities for the day, such as writing, reading, or science experiments. “When I was a kid we didn’t have so much help from parents but I can see that it’s needed. There is a lot of energy in the room and it can be hard to control. There are a lot of kids who have a hard time focusing and if I have a group of them, then the teacher can focus

Since Erica believes that art education is vital to a child’s development, she volunteers with At Home At School (AHAS). She teaches dance to kids who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to learn the art form and takes them to cultural events such as the ballet, The Nutcracker. “Some are from shelters and we give the kids an experience that they might not be able to have. It gives them a different perspective of the world that may turn into a passion

Erica suggests that all people should take a women’s studies course and recommends Dr. Gordillo’s ‘Global Feminisms’. Women’s studies courses “open your eyes not just to gender differences, but race and class as well. And just because it’s a women’s studies course doesn’t mean it’s just for women. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem, so men need to be part

“Come join the women’s empowerment coalition!” Erica encouraged before running off to study, volunteer, be a mom, and take care of herself. For more information, e-mail her at womensempowermentcoalition@yahoo.com.

Student Spotlight: CastroTriana Collins\Student Involvement Editor

Student, mother, volunteer, and survivor

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10 SPORTS AND RECREATION

1/11 Mt. Bachelor Registration in Recreation Center: $135 per student, trip takes place Feb. 19 - 21, staying at Phoenix Inn Hotel

I have realized that there are very few photos of myself over the last few years. I often

tell people it is because I am the one behind the camera, but who am I kidding? I can’t tell you where my camera is at this moment or even if the batteries are charged. The reason

there are very few photos is because I will not allow them to be taken. If there are pictures of me, they will be posted on social networking sites, I will be tagged in the photos, and other people will see the photos; I will see the photos. Then I will have to admit something I have been able to avoid by only making eye contact with myself in my bathroom mirror: I am overweight. Correction: I am past overweight; I am obese.

This not a place I thought I would ever be. At almost fi ve feet tall and 118lbs in high school, I was constantly teased about my weight. When walking down the halls a group of boys liked to chant

“Boom Boppa, Boom Boppa” with every footstep as I walked past. That was over fi fteen years ago but I still hear their voices like it was today.

When serving in the military I was in the best shape of my life: six-pack abs and all. The physical fi tness level required of a woman my age were not an issue for me. I often “maxed-out” in pushups and sit-ups and ran two miles in under thirteen minutes, but at 128 lbs I was considered overweight by military standards. Every weigh in for me was excruciatingly painful since I knew that I would be called out of my platoon to have my body fat calculated to see if I needed to be put on a weight loss program. That never happened but once again I was singled out because of my weight.

Most recently, I had a bouncer at bar tell me I shouldn’t drink while I was pregnant. My face was red-hot with shame as I, not so kindly, explained that I was fat-not pregnant. I came to the realization that while I cannot change what other people think and say (after all, everyone in America seems to have an opinion and shares it freely), I can change how I feel about myself.

I have decided that 2010 will be the year I take care of me. Often with classes, homework, family, and work I forgot all about me. While I seemed to be covering all the bases for intellectual well-being, I forgot my body houses my brain and I have not been taking very good care of it. Instead of thinking that the body I see in my mind will just magically appear someday, I have decided to do something about it. I have joined the Campus Fitness Challenge sponsored by the Recreation Offi ce.

The Campus Fitness Challenge is being led by Neil Gregory, Recreation Coordinator, as well as Mary Jo

Qualey and DeAnne Perler. This program will take 20 students through eight weeks of a fi tness program. According to Gregory, this is more of a getting started program. That will be encompassing goal setting, personal training, coaching, accountability and encouragement. Motivation is a key factor in any fi tness program and this can vary from person to person. “A “good trainer coach” will acknowledge an individual’s different style of motivation and play to that strength,” said Gregory.

Another known motivator: competition. By having an entire group participating, the Recreation Offi ce hopes that people will let good natured competition motivate the participants to meet their fi tness goals for the duration of the program and beyond. At the conclusion of the program, prizes will be awarded. Unlike Big Brother, however, everyone that has met their fi tness goals will be put into a drawing for prizes with a Grand Prize of a weekend for two at the coast with night lodging, meals, and a gas card included.

A weekend away is enough to get me motivated! The question remains though, will I continue to be motivated as the weeks pass? I truly hope so and I hope you will continue to take the journey with me this semester. Each issue I will be checking in and I hope that you will continue to hold me accountable for this life change that I will be sharing so publicly with all of you. If you want to get involved with the Campus Fitness Challenge, please sign up in the Recreational Offi ce or e-mail mjcq32@hotmail.com.Next Issue: Beginning Measurements and Goal Setting.

Look for video, picture, and written updates online at vancougar.ning.com.

As I sat around the house this break enjoying the college football bowl

season, I couldn’t help but feel a little irritated. I was irritated at the fact that Washington State University was not participating. In fact, our football team has had back-to-back horrendous seasons that leave me, not only as a Cougar but also as a sports fan, wondering if the University is committed to winning.

Let’s look at the University of Washington; they went from a Pac 10 conference record with the fi rst winless season to being on the horizon of bowl berth within one year. Not to mention they upset the then number three ranked University of Southern California, who for the past eight years or so has dominated the Pac 10 conference. UW was committed to winning and hired a brilliant offensive mind to help resurrect their once proud football tradition. I want WSU to show the same commitment to winning because Cougar nation is not going to tolerate another woeful 1-11 season. I think that WSU has the ability to become competitive quickly. Look at the surrounding schools that recruit the same kids and have had tremendous success. The University of Idaho won their fi rst bowl game in almost ten years and they recruit within the same area that WSU does.

I have to mention the constant battle with UW for Washington’s prized recruits. Not too long ago, one of the most wanted Washington recruits was Jake Locker who chose the more attractive UW. The one recruit that really leaves me irritated is Kellen Moore. For those who don’t know who Kellen Moore is, he is the current quarterback for the Boise State Broncos. Moore led the nation in passing effi ciency. The nation. That includes all 119 teams that compile Division 1 football. Most people do not know that Moore played High School football in the state of Washington. He went to Prosser High School which is near Yakima, but that’s not really important. He was selected Washington State’s Player of the Year, but Pac 10 schools seemed to stay away from under-sized Moore. It just irritates me that someone who could have helped WSU begin to turn the program around was passed over because he was not two inches taller.

Now you may be thinking, “How does one player turn a program

around?” I will tell you plainly, one player doesn’t. It does however begin to gather attention from other recruits that otherwise might not choose WSU. I know WSU is keeping its current coach for at least one more season and it bothers me somewhat because at any other University, 3-21 in two seasons is unacceptable. It seems to be acceptable for Washington State University though. If Cougar nation has to endure another 2-10 or 1-11 season, the call for a drastic change is going to come down swiftly. I want to give our current coach Paul Wulff a chance, but after seeing his body of work, I’m just not convinced that he can turn it around. WSU needs to go out and fi nd a coach that will bring players to Pullman and make WSU football relevant again.

I am not one of those sports fans who just points out the fl aws and doesn’t offer a solution to the problem. I think that WSU needs to pursue an up-and-coming coach who other big time schools have passed over, or an established coordinator who is still waiting for a school to give them a shot at a head coaching position. One person who is very interesting to me as a sports fan is current University of Oregon Defensive Coordinator Nick Aliotti. If you looked at the defensive roster for the UO, you would be hard-pressed to fi nd someone that really wowed you. That team was designed to score points and hopefully score enough to win, but Aliotti managed to assemble a formidable defensive that won them some games this year. I am not saying that this is the perfect fi t, but Aliotti knows how to recruit the Pac 10 area and would be a welcome change to the performance-lacking Cougars over recent years. Another coach that could be a good fi t is recently fi red Texas Tech University head coach Mike Leach. Some might question his handling of a recent situation, but there is still more evidence being uncovered. The fact is that in ten years at TTU, he managed to coach his teams to a bowl each season. Leach never had a losing season and he brings an exciting brand of football to the table. His system of spreading the defensive out and passing it all over them would excite me as a Cougar fan. Those are just a couple ideas that could help restore the once proud WSU football tradition. Hopefully in the near future WSU will pursue an exciting football coach that won’t leave Cougar nation so irritated.

Almost hot: a personal journey

Despite their initial home-game winning streak, the Portland Trail Blazers fell

to the Los Angeles Clippers in L.A. on Jan. 4. Memphis had their turn the following day with the Grizzlies managing a fourth quarter rally to win on the Blazer’s home court.

The Clippers and Blazers met Monday, each fresh from three home-game wins. Clippers Center Chris Kamen put Los Angeles on the board fi rst. Martell Webster brought the Blazers their fi rst points, starting the furious back and forth struggle that would end the fi rst quarter with the Blazers one point ahead at twenty-one.

Traveling violations seemed to be the soup du jour and the Blazers received three of the four given. Similar infractions conducted by Los Angeles passed by referee Delaney’s notice more often than not. The Blazers pressed on and kept up, Andre Miller passing off the ball left and right to assist the second half ending in a tie at forty-fi ve all. With two quarters gone, the number of lead changes had reached seven with at total of eight ties.

With the Clippers’ traveling

violations largely ignored continuing into the third quarter, the L.A. team’s turnover still rose to 16. Miller managed a swift drive down the court to dunk a few minutes after a three-pointer from Webster. Kamen’s return fi eld goal spelled the beginning of the end for the Blazers. The lead would remain fi rmly in the Clippers’ hands for the remaining fi ve minutes in the third quarter as well as the entirety of the fourth. Indeed, the Blazers came no closer than two points to the Clippers’ lead for the rest of the game. The sheer irony of the Clippers at last being called out for traveling in the fourth was matched with the fact that it was not Delaney who called it, but one of his associates.

The fi nal score in the Los Angeles vs. Portland game rounded out at 105-95.

Blazers Forward LaMarcus Aldridge and Guard Steve Blake were absent from the L.A. game. Blake was recovering from his bout with pneumonia and Aldridge was recovering from a sprained ankle. Aldridge returned to the Rose Garden Arena on the Jan. 5 for the game against the Grizzlies.

Aldridge’s return started the Blazers off with a fl ourish as he claimed the fi rst fi eld goal of the game. The unfazed Grizzlies wrestled the lead away from the Blazers until the last two minutes of the fi rst quarter starting with Memphis Forward Rudy Gay’s foul

shot. Miller mimicked his previous night’s performance by setting up assists that helped establish the Blazer’s one point lead at the buzzer.

A fl urry of activity before the second half included two consecutive three pointers by Webster, leading to a Memphis timeout, and strong assists by Jerryd Bayliss. Memphis kept pace, Zach Randolph forcing the half to end with the Grizzlies a mere point behind Portland.

The Blazer defense started the third quarter out strong, then waned as the Grizzlies took an 11 point run in which Guard O.J. Mayo sank a three pointer. Center Marc Gasol took a leaf out of Miller’s book and stepped up his assists for Memphis. In the fourth quarter, the Blazers broke one hundred, Brandon Roy sinking the shot despite being triple teamed. Five minutes left in the period found the Blazers up by eight at 104. In four and a half minutes, the Grizzlies made eight consecutive points through a fi eld goal by Randolph and a series of foul shots. At thirty and a half seconds left in the game, the score was tied.

Thirty and a half seconds passed with a series of fouls called and shots taken. For the Blazers, it must have felt like years as Memphis managed to pull ahead. Bayliss’s attempt to tie the game at 106 failed as he missed his fi rst foul shot. Randolph sank the last shot of the game to bring a Memphis victory at 107-105.

Clippers win, Grizzlies roarPortland Trail Blazers fall to LA and Memphis on

home courtErik Cummings\Sports Editor

Irritated sports fan

Daniel Barrette\Sports Writer

A look at the WSU football program

Spring Atkinson\Contributing Writer

Regular updates of one Campus Fitness

Challenge participant’s progress in eight-week

program to health

Photo credit/Michael Hatch Cougar Trails map

SPORTS AND RECREATION 11

1/11 Mt. Hood Meadows lift tickets on sale in Recreation Office, costs $35 for students, valid all times Meadows is open

Football: PULLMAN, Wash -- The Washington State Cougar football team will play a 12-game schedule in 2010, including nine games against teams that played in bowl games this season.

“We have another strong nonconference schedule that will test our young, but vastly improved team,” WSU Director of Athletics Jim Sterk said in releasing this year’s schedule. “Playing that schedule, with two road contests against teams that played in bowl games this season, will prepare us for a challenging Pac-10 schedule, which is always one of the most difficult nationally.”

WSU opens its 2010 slate at Oklahoma State (Sept. 4), followed by a home game against Montana State (Sept. 11). The Cougars close out the nonconference portion of their 2010 schedule Sept. 18 at Southern Methodist University. Both Oklahoma State and Southern Methodist participated in bowl games this season.

The 2010 schedule also features five home conference games, the first being Sept. 25 when USC comes to Pullman. Back-to-back games against defending Pacific-10 Conference champion Oregon (Oct. 9) and Arizona (Oct. 16) gives WSU three of its first four Pac-10 games at home.

The Cougars do not play another home game until Nov. 20 when they host California. Following a bye week, WSU closes out its 2010 regular season Dec. 4 against Washington in the Apple Cup, proudly presented by Boeing.

WSU’s first conference road game is at UCLA (Oct. 2), and then two weeks later the Cougars begin a stretch of three-consecutive conference road games. WSU will be at Stanford (Oct. 23) and at Arizona State (Oct. 30) in back-to-back weeks, and following the first of two bye weeks, WSU will play its final road game at Oregon State (Nov. 13).

Sterk also noted that discussions are ongoing regarding a possible game in Seattle for 2010. WSU has played a home game at Qwest Field each of the past eight seasons.

“With the college football schedule extending into the first week of December, the Pac-10 felt it was an opportunity to highlight the great rivalries in this conference,” said Sterk. “Certainly we feel the Apple Cup is one of the great rivalries of college football and playing this weekend highlights that fact.

The complete 2010 football schedule for Washington State follows:

Sept. 4 - at Oklahoma StateSept. 11 - Montana StateSept. 18 - at SMUSept. 25 - USCOct. 2 - at UCLAOct. 9 - OregonOct. 16 - ArizonaOct. 23 - at StanfordOct. 30 - at Arizona StateNov. 6 - ByeNov. 13 - at Oregon StateNov. 20 - CaliforniaNov. 27 - ByeDec. 4 - Washington

Home games in boldMen’s Indoor Track & Field:

PULLMAN, Wash. -- The Washington State men’s track and field team is ranked 18th in the preseason indoor edition of national track & field team rankings for NCAA’s Division I by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

USTFCCCA national rankings are a prediction of how teams and individuals will place at the 2010 NCAA Div. I Indoor Championships, March 12-13, Fayetteville, Ark. The WSU men’s team returns All-Americans Jeshua Anderson and Reny Follett from the men’s 4x400m relay team that finished eighth in 2009, and Trent Arrivey, a three-time All-American high jumper.

The Florida State men’s team has been identified as the No. 1 team entering the season with in-state rival Florida at No. 2 close behind. On the women’s side, Texas A&M, the defending outdoor champion and led by a talented sprint crew, enters the season No. 1 in the rankings. The Cougar women’s team is unranked in the preseason projections.

The first regular release of updated rankings for NCAA’s Division I will start Tuesday, January 26, with updates occurring the following seven Tuesdays leading to the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 12-13.

Men’s Basketball: PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State University men’s basketball sophomore Klay Thompson has been named as one of 30 midseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award, the organization announced Monday.

A native of Ladera Ranch, Calif., Thompson leads the Cougars and the Pacific-10 Conference and ranks third in the nation with 24.3 points per game. The 6-foot-6 guard has led the team in scoring in 13 of the team’s 14 games and reached 20-plus points in 11 of the 14 games. His streak of six consecutive 20-point games to open the season matched the most since the school’s all-time leading scorer, Isaac Fontaine, scored 20-plus in six-straight games Dec. 7-29, 1996.

At the Great Alaska Shootout, Thompson put up 43 points against San Diego in the championship game (Nov. 28), matching the third-most points by a Cougar in a single game. He also set a Great Alaska Shootout with his 43 points, breaking the record set by Glenn Robinson in 1993.

Thompson has earned Pac-10 Player of the Week twice this season and ranks 17th in the WSU career record books for 3-pointers made with 104 in his young career.

Thompson is one of just two Pac-10 players to be named to the list, being joined by Washington’s Quincy Pondexter. He is also one of 10 players who were not named to the preseason list of 50 and is one of seven underclassmen in the top 30. Thompson is the first Cougar since Derrick Low in 2008 to be named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 30 list.

Just as players who are not on the preseason list are eligible for the midseason top 30, players who do

not make the midseason list are still eligible for the national ballot, which will be selected in March and will consist of approximately 20 players. The Wooden Award goes to the nation’s top player and will be presented at the award ceremony April 9 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The top-five finalists will be invited to L.A. for the ceremony and receive a contribution to their university’s general scholarship fund.

Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation’s best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird (‘79), Michael Jordan (‘84), Tim Duncan (‘97), and Blake Griffin (‘09).

Women’s Volleyball: PULLMAN, Wash. -- The Washington State University volleyball program will hold its awards banquet to celebrate the 2009 NCAA Championship Tournament season Saturday, February 20, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Compton Union Building (CUB) Junior Ballroom.

The Cougars, under the direction of Head Coach Andrew Palileo, the 2009 Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year, posted an 18-13 season and returned to the NCAA Championship tournament for the first time in seven years. Four seniors, Jackie Albright, Rene Bordelon, Kelly Hyder and Cassie Robbins, were instrumental in the Cougars’ success in 2009 and will be honored at the banquet as well as recognition of the accomplishments of the rest of the WSU team.

The cost to attend the banquet is $22 per person and reservations can be made with Assistant Coach TeAna Tramel via email at ttramel@wsu.edu. If you cannot attend but wish to sponsor a player, please contact coach Tramel via email.

General Release: BELLINGHAM, Wash - Washington State University Director of Athletics Jim Sterk will be inducted into the Western Washington University Athletics Hall of Fame, Saturday, Feb. 6, Western Washington University announced Sunday, Jan. 3.

“It is a real honor to be inducted in WWU’s Hall of Fame,” said Sterk, who is one of four members of the 2010 class. “I was fortunate enough to play with a great group of players and coaches during my time at Western. The friendships and experiences still last after 30-plus years.”

Sterk will be inducted in a 2 p.m. ceremony at the Concert Hall in the WWU Performing Arts Center. He will also be honored at halftime of the WWU men’s and women’s home basketball games that day.

Those wishing to attend the ceremony may RSVP to Dorothy Goldsmith at 360-650-6525 or Dorothy.goldsmith@wwu.edu. There is no charge to attend and everyone attending will be given tickets to that night’s men’s and women’s basketball games.

Sterk received his Bachelor of Arts

degree at Western in 1980, earning four letters in football and one in basketball. He was credited with a school-record 164 tackles during the 1977 season, being a first-team NAIA District 1 all-star, team captain and MVP in helping the Vikings to the district championship game.

Born and raised in Whatcom County, Sterk is a graduate of Nooksack Valley High School, where he was a four-sport letter winner. He played on the Pioneers’ Class A state championship basketball team as a senior in 1974.

Sterk is in his 10th year as director of athletics at Washington State, overseeing unprecedented growth and success in a 17-sport NCAA I program that competes in the Pacific-10 Conference.

Over the past 10 consecutive semesters WSU student-athletes have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and in 2006-07, WSU was awarded with three national honors. They included being recognized as a Program of Excellence by the Division I-A Athletic Directors’ Association, and receiving the Diversity in Athletics Award presented by the Laboratory for Diversity in Sport at Texas A&M University and the Opportunity Award for the West Region presented by the Women’s Sports Foundation.

On the field, Cougar Athletics have enjoyed extraordinary achievements during Sterk’s tenure. In the three years prior to the 2009-10 season, WSU Athletics have been represented in NCAA post-season play in 12 of its 17 sports. The men’s basketball team had three consecutive post-season appearances including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2007 and 2008 for the first time in school history. The football program put together three consecutive 10-win seasons from 2001to 2003 and the women’s rowing program earned five NCAA Championship appearances, placing fourth in 2006, the highest finish ever by a WSU women’s team in NCAA post-season competition in any sport.

The on the field achievements have continued into the fall portion of the 2009-10 season with NCAA appearances by volleyball and soccer as well as cross country’s Lisa Egami’s appearance at the NCAA Championships.

In addition to the student-athletes’ academic and athletic success during his tenure, Sterk has also presided over exceptional increases in financial support for student-athletes and overseen a significant increase in the department’s operating budget.

Facility improvements have also been among projects Sterk has tackled at WSU including major renovations of the football and baseball facilities, the development of an indoor rowing facility, and a hydrotherapy system.

Sterk currently is the chair of the Pac-10 Athletic Directors committee. He has also served on the prestigious NCAA Championship Competition cabinet. Sterk and wife Debi have three daughters, Ashley 20, Amy 17 and Abby 14.

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

EquipmentEllipticals & Treadmills

Free WeightsLeg Presses, Extension, &

Curl machinesMedicine balls & Yoga

matsStrength bands & jump

ropes

PolicyFitness center is free to all WSUV students, faculty,

and staff. Must sign liability waiver. Bring

Fitness Center card each visit.

TrainerA 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!

Ah back from Christmas vacation and already the murmurs of anticipation fill the air. Upcoming this semester is the fabled Mount Bachelor Ski Trip, a vacation grown to such popularity that the recreation center has upped their cap of participants to eighty. Also, the Cougar 5km sounds like it will be a large event as well, involving the community as well as the university. Two new additions to the Sports and Recreation pages include The Irritated Sportsfan and Almost Hot. Hard edged sports critic Daniel Barrette has been browbeaten graciously invited to write a column this semester about our beloved football and other sports teams. Vivacious Spring Atkinson put forth the idea of writing about her progress through the Campus Fitness Challenge, an ongoing event sponsored by the Recreation Center. So, with major events approaching and two new columns in our humble pages, we are pleased to enter the new semester with you, our readers. Enjoy!

From Pullman: season updates

Quick wordErik Cummings\Sports Editor

12 STUDENT GOVERNMENT

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

Holy smokes everyone! It’s 2010 and it’s Spring Semester! Are you ready to get back to business, busy and involved?

Over break, Student Government continued to work on two important projects we started last semester—wireless Internet access and the

letter-writing campaign. From the monthly Senate surveys,

ASWSUV learned that wireless Internet access could be improved in the Firstenburg, VMMC, and outside VADM. With this info, the IT Department is beginning feasibility studies in these areas; look for upgrades by March. It is almost time to check this project off the list!

I am happy to report that, with your help, we gathered over 500 personalized letters saying, “No more cuts!” These letters will be sent to legislators. To keep tuition reasonable and preserve higher education accessibility, however,

much work is still needed. Talk about busy, the ASWSUV

Director of Legislative Affairs is living in Olympia for the legislative session and lobbying full-time on behalf of our needs as students, especially when it comes to tuition. If you are interested in being involved with this process in any way, please contact Peter Sterr at aswsuv.dla@vancouver.wsu.edu. Your involvement could include participating in rallies, making phone calls, and even visiting Olympia!

Currently, ASWSUV has two open, paid positions—Public Relations Director and Multicultural

Event Coordinator. The Public Relations Director

literally puts the ‘stud’ in student government. The position entails promoting all things ASWSUV, including events, projects, and other campus happenings. The skilled and creative behind-the-scenes genius creates all flyers, ads, news blips, and A-Frames, as well as coordinates all tabling extravaganzas for ASWSUV.

The Multicultural Event Coordinator also creates magic, but in a different way. Alongside the Activities Director, a board of three activity experts, and others, this person helps plan one campus event each month with a focus on diversity. Remember the Spoken Word event? Or the free coffee and Palauan

music? Those were some of the events the former Multicultural Event Coordinator helped make happen.

If you are interested in applying for either of these positions, or learning more about what ASWSUV is doing, visit aswsuv.com or stop by the offices in the Firstenburg. Just follow the smiling faces.

I’m stoked for the new semester and more Student Government progress! This is the perfect semester to join the fun, gain some friends, and, most importantly, makes your student experience unforgettable! Heck, it’s a new decade; do something new because it’s a great time to be a Coug!

Welcome back everybody! Go Cougs!

From the ASWSUV President

Nick Ferderer\ASWSUV President

Welcome to the new semester at WSUV; looking forward to

getting back

We received just over 500 letters, each of which was sent

to each legislator in the student’s district, resulting in just over 1500 letters. While we consider this incredibly successful, it is only just the beginning.

To successfully oppose these budget cuts, we must continue to connect students and legislators. This means that we need letters, phone calls, e-mails, visits to Olympia, and recorded testimonies from as many students as possible. Take five minutes to write something, or five hours to testify in Olympia (student government will arrange your travel) and participate in protecting your higher education.

If you are able to contribute to this campaign—a campaign which truly unites all students—please contact Max Ault, Public Affairs student and Chair of the Washington Student Association Campus Chapter, at dmaxault@gmail.com. He will be coordinating campus activities throughout the legislative session (Jan. 11 to Mar. 11) and is in need of assistance. Contact him if you are interested in participating in any way.

The first exciting opportunity to participate is this Wednesday, Jan. 13. We need students who are currently receiving financial aid to

come to Olympia and testify to the House and Senate Higher Education Committees. Your travel will be provided, and you will be briefed so that you are prepared. I highly encourage anyone interested in this to participate. Contact Max Ault (dmaxault@gmail.com) if you are available.

I must reiterate that we are facing a situation that will affect everyone, and now is not the time to sit back and let things happen. I realize that you have busy lives, and I realize that civic engagement may not be your first interest. But please understand that if you do not participate—and we are making it very easy for you to participate—your tuition will assuredly increase, significantly. Your financial aid will assuredly decrease, significantly. And the quality of our higher education institutions—and the value of your education—will decrease, significantly.

Please join us in raising our voices to the legislature. Join us in showing the state that students are organized, paying attention, and will not be ignored. Encourage your fellow students to participate as well, for our strength is found in numbers—without unification and broad participation, we will crumble. There are ways to participate of varying time-commitments, so please contact us to lend your support, at Dmaxault@gmail.com.

Lobbying in OlyContinued from page 1

Washington State University Vancouver is helping to bring

21st century technology to the 19th century Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Brett Oppegaard, a

professor in WSU Vancouver’s Digital Technology and Culture program, has recently been awarded a $9,000 grant from the Historical Promotion Grants Program to produce multimedia content for mobile technology for the national park.

That means the 800,000 people who visit the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site each year will be able to supplement the brochures and interpretive signage they currently rely on to understand

the significance of the site with educational, entertaining, historically based multimedia content. That content will be available to visitors via their cell phones as early as fall 2010.

In addition to being a professor at WSU Vancouver, Oppegaard is a doctoral student working on a dissertation related to mobile storytelling. His project aims to reveal the power new technologies have in promoting cultural tourism, historical preservation

and audience engagement. Using mobile technology, Oppegaard can deliver richer, more in-depth, thought-provoking content than any interpretive sign ever could.

Oppegaard’s work will focus on the outer ring of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site called “the village.” Here people from more than 35 ethnic and tribal groups lived together in support of the fort, which operated as an economic and cultural center for the entire region. Oppegaard hopes to enlighten

visitors about the rich history of the village by focusing on peoples and communities that have often been overlooked in traditional historical discussions.

Oppegaard has gathered collaborators over the last several months including staff at the site, photographers, videographers and WSU Vancouver students. He’s contributing 120 hours of his own time as project coordinator.

Press release: New technology preserves historyBrett Oppegaard earns

grant to produce multimedia content for

national park

Vancougar.ning.com

STUDENT GOVERNMENT 13

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

FREE

Friends and family welcome!FREE hot cocoa to the rst 50 people!

MOUNTAIN VIEW ICE ARENA

14 OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

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

Rhiannon Thomas started her graduate studies at WSUV four and a half

years after completing her bachelor’s in Environmental Science. During that time, she did seasonal work for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon Department of Agriculture.

She also worked at the National Outdoor Leadership School (www.nols.edu), teaching backpacking skills, wilderness survival, and outdoor leadership. After that, she was ready to go back to school.

“I’m glad I did it that way,” Thomas said. “Because now I know I really do want to be a biologist.”

Although her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science focused on botany, the research she’ll be doing here isn’t specifically about plants. Rhiannon finds plants fascinating. “They don’t move around the landscape like animals, but they tell you a lot about the landscape, from where you are in the world, to the hydrology of the area, human impacts, and animals you might find there,” she said.

Since she is researching an endangered butterfly, the Fender’s Blue, she will have many opportunities to apply her knowledge of plants and the experience she had during her break from formal education to the research.

“The Fender’s Blue depends on two species of lupine and, in some areas, a single species, Kincaid’s Lupine, for laying its eggs,” she explained. “The butterfly lays its eggs on the underside of the lupine leaves, and when the larvae hatch, they eat those leaves until they go underground. They live underground in a state of diapause for the winter.

“In the early spring, the caterpillars come out and eat lupine leaves again. Then they pupate, and emerge as adult butterflies about three weeks later.

“For their three-week adult life, they fly around, eat flower nectar, mate, and lay eggs. But in this phase they’re eating nectar from the flowers of other species. And the question is which species they need at different places and times during those three weeks.”

That’s one of the questions Rhiannon will be trying to answer through her research. “We think

they’re generalists for the nectar species, meaning they don’t rely on one single type of flower. They rely on some native and some non-native species.

“So I’ll be looking at the phenology of the butterflies and of the plant species they use for nectar. Phenology is the timing of biological events, and the butterflies and flowers don’t necessarily overlap in their timing.

“So if most of the butterflies emerge as adults before or after one of the flower species in their area has bloomed, what other species could they use? What factors determine which flower species they’ll go to at different times? How much do temperature, the length of the days, rainy versus sunny days, and all those factors influence the butterflies in their feeding?”

Thomas came to WSUV specifically to work with Dr. Cheryl Schultz, an assistant professor in the science program. Dr. Schultz leads efforts in the U.S. and collaborates with researchers around the world restoring endangered butterfly species to their former habitats.

Thomas was the Biology 102 lecture teaching assistant for the fall 2009 semester and will be a research assistant for the spring 2010 semester.

For her own research, Thomas has already done her first season of fieldwork and will continue this summer. She’ll be counting flowers and watching butterfly nectaring behavior at five sites between Eugene and Salem. The things she learns will help with the restoration of the rare Fender’s Blue to its original sites in Oregon.

Rhiannon Thomas: A botanist studies butterflies

Rhiannon Thomas: Quick ProfileGrew up: Corvallis, OregonB.S. from Oregon State University: environmental science, with a focus in botanyShould people talk to their plants? “I don’t know. I do, and they seem to be doing okay.”Advice: I took four and a half years off between undergraduate and graduate school, and I think it was a really good idea. I got lots of experience doing seasonal field work and other kinds of work, so when I went back, I knew I was ready. Graduate school isn’t something to do because you think it should be your next step --- because it’s hard.Quote: “Flowers are so complicated, and interesting, and beautiful, and ephemeral.”Favorite places and activities in the Vancouver/Portland area: Powell’s Books, the Chinese Tea Garden, skiing at Mt. Hood Meadows, rock climbingFavorite reading (non-school): Children’s books (“because I don’t really have the brain power to devote to serious literature when I need a break in the middle of doing research and statistics”)Five favorite children’s books:Comet in Moominland - Tove JanssonThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. LewisThe Golden Ocean - Patric O’BrianAmy’s Eyes - Richard KennedyThe BFG - Roald Dahl

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 EditorJake Kleinschmidt

AdviserDean Baker

Advertising ManagerBen Ryan

Campus News Editor Sally Thrall

ACE Editor Now Hiring!

Feature Editor Now Hiring!

Student Involvement Editor Triana Collins

Student Government Editor Adam Fox

Sports Editor Erik Cummings

Web Editor Now Hiring!

Copy Editor Now Hiring!

Staff Writers Louise Wynn, Amy Thielen, Rup Brar,

John McNett, Sally Thrall, Chau Nguyen, Joey Hollibaugh, Triana Collins, Meghan

Bartosovsky, Kenneth Allan, Justin Rossetti, and Daniel Barrette

Photographers Joe Creager, Mark Balyshev, and Joseph

Tiegs

Location:VCLS 212

14024 NE Salmon Creek Ave. Vancouver, WA 98686 Phone: (360) 546-9524

E-mail the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor:

vancouged@vancouver.wsu.eduE-mail the Section Editors:vancoug@vancouver.wsu.edu

Advertising:vancougad@vancouver.wsu.edu

We are hiring!We are always hiring. No experience is necessary;

we will provide all the training you need in journalistic style, photography, and digital print making. E-mail us at vancouged@vancouver.

wsu.edu or visit our office in VCLS 212 for more information.

Letters to the EditorWe encourage letters to the editor. Please include your full name as part of the letter, and a phone

number or e-mail address for confirmation follow-up. Letters must be by a student, faculty, or staff member. E-mail to vancouged@vancouver.wsu.

edu

Advertising queriesAdvertising information and rates can be found on our web site at www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/vancougar. E-mail vancougad@vancouver.wsu.

edu for quotes.

Corrections policyIt is our policy to correct errors. Please contact the editors by e-mail at vancouged@vancouver.

wsu.edu

And it is a new semester folks. I hope you all had

a nice break. I took it easy this round but even then it proved to have it’s chaos. For me, as you may of read in some of my rants I am not much of a movie goer. But I must confess I saw Avatar. Twice. I love this movie. The storyline was excellent. The characters are deep and the action is amazing. Okay, the main character may be called Jake and this may put me a little bias but I still love this movie.

Oh and don’t forget the graphics on this movie are absolutely stunning. I sometimes had a hard time distinguishing CGI and reality. Allegedly it’s the most expensive movie ever produced, and believe me, every cent was well spent in this

movie. I tend to make fun of obsessive

fans but in all honesty I have fallen in with this category with this movie. The fact that I cant wait for the next two movies following Avatar proves this fact.

Go see it. Seriously, why are you still here? Go see it. Right now.

Aside from Avatar I saw recently on YouTube a rather old video with only three million views. Search for “What am I?” and click on the one that has puppets. Note, strong language is used at the end. Your reaction may either be “what the heck” or some laughter. But I hope you enjoy.

Anyway, I hope this semester goes well for all of you!

Hey everyone! Welcome back to school! The VanCougar has a fricken sweet event coming up on Saturday, Jan. 16 in VFSC.

From 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., we will be hosting Journalism Boot Camp for anyone that would like to attend. There will be nine professional journalists speaking at the event as well as visitors from Clark College, WSU Pullman, and the University of Portland. If you’d like to eat some free pizza, meet students from other schools, and learn about journalism, I encourage you to RSVP to vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu. This event is free and open to the public, so please tell everyone you know about it!

Question: Have you heard of the Salmon Creek Journal? If not, it is the WSU Vancouver Art and Literary Journal. They publish once a year and give students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to turn in their prose, poetry, and visual art. By turning something in, you not only have your work published in a college journal, but you could even win money! Visit the Salmon Creek Journal web site at http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/scj. The deadline for turning something in is Jan. 30! Hurry and submit!

Since I’m on a roll of promoting media on campus, why stop? KOUG Radio is currently looking for more DJs, audio journalists, and executive staff members. Cara Cottingham, the station manager, is awesome and would probably love to work with you! I say probably because

I’m not exactly sure if you guys would mesh since I don’t actually know who is reading this. Is anyone reading this? Anyway, apply to work for KOUG Radio, or just listen to their broadcasts, at http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/kougradio.

There seems to be a trend with these web sites, huh? ‘http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/blahblah(name of organization)blah. Well, the VanCougar is breaking that trend. Our web site is a bit harder to find than the other two medias. Sorry. It is, however, really awesome! You can go to our site, http://www.vancougar.ning.com, and watch videos, view pictures, apply to work for us, answer surveys and polls, chat to other people who happen to be checking out our site, look at the online newspaper, and even respond to articles. Really the only thing you can’t do on our site is order food. We are looking into an application for that though so don’t worry.

Oh, I almost forgot. The Student Media Board, which basically controls the world, needs a new Vice Chair. If you’d like to volunteer to work with each media entity organization, please apply in the Office of Student Involvement. Think about it. You could very well be the Vice Chair of the Student Media Board; Vice Chair of the world. That is a pretty big deal if you ask me.

Let us know what you think of the new VanCougar redesign at vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu.

The VanCougar

OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS 15

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

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): What goals do you want to reach this year? What will help you attain those goals? Divide your goals into smaller, achievable parts, and work on these one at a time.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): People who set a big goal sometimes fi nd it’s too vague, as well as too huge to grasp. Good luck with a goal to lose weight, for instance; but if you decide to cut out sugary snacks or eat fi ve fruits and vegetables every day, those are doable.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): What’s your goal for your schoolwork? Wishing for “better grades” won’t help. So set yourself a goal of studying each subject for fi fteen minutes, half an hour, two hours, or whatever works for you, each day.

Aries (March 21-April 19: One way to improve your grades is to fi nd a study partner or start a study group. Working with a group will help you not only this semester; you’ll also fi nd partners for future group research projects and reports.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Come to your study sessions prepared. No one likes to deal with a person who expects to be given all the answers. Start by looking in the syllabus and at previous exams for clues about what your study group should spend time preparing.

Gemini (May 21-June 21): Most professors and teaching assistants really want to help their students. They actually get lonely during offi ce hours and wish people would show up with questions. So go to offi ce hours; you’ll earn brownie points, and you’ll learn more.

Cancer (June 22-July 22): Let perseverance be your watchword. It’s too easy to give up before you’ve really tried everything and worked as hard as you can. If you’re thinking about giving up, give yourself one more chance, then another, and another. Repeat as needed.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Is there something you’ve always wanted to try, but you haven’t had the time or money to do it? Make a plan for earning some extra money or cutting your expenses to save up, and set a date for this activity. Stick to the plan, and make it happen.

Virgo (August 23-Sept. 22): The only way to be sure of failure is not to try at all. When you’re not sure you’ll succeed, what kinds of impulses have motivated you in the past? Think back on what has worked, and try it again. If it doesn’t work this time, try something else.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The New Year is a good time to work on your relationships and people skills. Set a goal to become closer to someone you admire, and achieve that goal by taking the initiative to call, e-mail or text him/her at times you wouldn’t have in the past.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21): Look for the best in the people around you. It’s easy to criticize, but healthier to fi nd the positive. When you see a character trait you like, the best way to attain it for yourself is simply to copy that person’s behavior.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): How you act is who you are. Every action lays part of the foundation of your character now and in the future. But don’t worry about slipping up, as long as you’re willing to learn from your mistakes. Laying this foundation of character never ends.

Madame L Staff Astrologist

After much ado, it seems that the relatively harmless nature of

cannabis, and the inanity of its criminalization has fi nally started to dawn on lawmakers across the country. The now concluded year 2009 is appearing to be one of the best years for publicity that the cannabis legalization movement has ever seen. It seems as though every day, another state is considering medical marijuana legislation, decriminalization, and even legalization. Even the federal government has started to change its attitude toward the highly controversial plant after President Obama issued a memorandum to the Department of Justice requesting that the organization not pursue medical marijuana recipients and their suppliers who operate legally under state law. However, it seems that the biggest news occurred as the decade drew to a close; our very own state of Washington is now considering cannabis legalization.

State representatives Roger Goodman and Mary Lou Dickerson

have introduced the bill, and it aims to reclassify cannabis from an illegal drug to a licit and taxable substance. This bill differs from other bills such as decriminalization and deprioritization bills, which still treat cannabis possession and cultivation as a crime. The legalization bill would treat cannabis like alcohol, as a substance that would be sold through the state, with a hefty tax attached. Whether or not cannabis would be sold in liquor stores is up in the air as for one, the bill hasn’t passed yet, and secondly, Goodman has suggested that he would like a provision that would prevent cannabis from being sold were alcohol is sold.

The tax revenue from the bill would not go into the Washington state general fund, but rather it would be used specifi cally to fund drug treatment and mental health services. These services have been on the chopping block since our state’s budget woes began. It is unclear how much tax revenue could be earned from cannabis, however estimates place the fi gures in the hundreds

of millions of dollars. Regardless, the monetary fi gures generated from cannabis tax would doubtfully be small potatoes, and the added tax revenue could make a serious difference in our state.

In addition to earning our state money by taxing cannabis, the legalization of cannabis could potentially save our state untold and gargantuan sums of money. As of right now, our state prosecutes citizens for cannabis possession and cultivation, and even simple possession of cannabis in amounts of less than forty grams is considered a gross misdemeanor and can warrant jail sentences of up to a year. If cannabis were made legal, we could literally fi ll swimming pools with the money that we would save by not investigating, arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating cannabis offenders, and that is just the start.

In addition to money earned and money saved by the state, our very own citizens would also be saving and earning money if cannabis were made legal. Convictions for cannabis possession can cost an individual thousands of dollars in legal fees and fi nes, and in addition, it can prevent that individual from gaining employment, fi nding a place to live,

and even getting money to go to school. Cannabis legalization could once and for all end the viscous circle of tragedy that follows a drug which has negligibly harmful effects that don’t even begin to compare with the very harmful effects of alcohol, which is currently legal.

Finally, in addition to our own citizens saving money, among many other things, legalizing cannabis would increase personal opportunity by opening the doors to new industries and economies. It is important to remember that cannabis is not simply a recreational drug. When grown as hemp, it is a valuable and environmentally friendly industrial resource. There are over 25,000 uses for industrial hemp, and much of our farmland is prime real estate for hemp cultivation. Industrial hemp could provide our state with a bio-fuel source, while simultaneously reducing our use of pesticides and fertilizers on farmland.

There are countless benefi ts to cannabis legalization, and it is important to insure that this bill succeeds. This means that all of us must do our part by encouraging our representatives to support this legislation. Our district representatives are Tim Probst

(probst.tim@leg.wa.gov) and Deb Wallace (wallace.deb@leg.wa.gov), so shoot them an email, send them a letter, or give them a call and let them know that you expect their support on this matter if they intend to be re-elected. There is a lot at stake with this legislation, let’s not allow this opportunity to go to waste. Personally, I emailed both of them a week ago.

Deb WallaceDistrict offi ce:

108 SE 124th Ave., Suite 23Vancouver, WA 98684

(360) 260-6110Olympia offi ce:PO Box 40600

429A Legislative BuildingOlympia, WA 98504-0600

(360) 786-7976Toll-free Hotline: 1-800-562-6000

TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-635-9993wallace.deb@leg.wa.gov

Tim ProbstOlympia offi ce:

Legislative Bldg.PO Box 40600

Olympia, WA 98504-0600(360) 786-7994

Toll-free Hotline: 1-800-562-6000TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-635-9993

probst.tim@leg.wa.gov

Welcome back from your break everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. While you were busy doing last minute shopping, the United States Senate was busy with a task of their own. Into the wee hours of the morning they worked preparing a Christmas gift of their own. And their gift to you was health care reform legislation.

The President and Congress alike called it a glorious step forward, a win for equality. A number of Senators and Congressmen compared this health care reform legislation,

to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. But I sincerely hope that the methods used by the Senate to pass this legislation, will not continue in the future. Democrats in Congress, particularly the Senate, were not the knights in shining armor that they were portrayed as by the media.

Democrats needed two more votes to stop the fi libuster on the fl oor of the Senate. So what did they do to accomplish this great feat? How about one Louisiana vote to the tune of 100 million dollars? How about another vote “exchanged” for full federal aid for Nebraska’s now, “expanded” Medicaid system. That’s right. This was a bribe. Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana and Senator Ben Nelson from Nebraska, were bought off by Senate Democrats to gain their votes.

Is this how the Senate operates now? If they can’t what they want through reason, they buy votes? Have they no sense of decency? I am fairly certain that members in Congress didn’t have to buy votes to pass Civil Rights legislation.

Not only did they buy two votes in the Senate, both houses of Congress are skipping the conference committee on health care, believing that Republicans would only use delay tactics to slow this legislation down. They are bypassing a key part of the process, in order to pass their “historical” legislation.

But as bad as this sounds, there is still hope. Constitutionality of this bill is being called into question by Attorney Generals from a number of states, including South Carolina and Texas, particularly over the Nebraska

bribe. Opponents of the health care bill, believe that giving full federal aid to expand and maintain Medicaid in one state, at the expense of 49 others, is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Have faith friends. The fi ght is not over yet. Call your Congressmen, write your governor, take part in tea party protests. Let your voices be heard! We elect them. You have to do something about this. You cannot stand by and watch as your country’s infrastructure falls right in front of your eyes! Show Congress that you rule and not them. Before it is too late…

Common Sense: a Conservative columnHealth care reform

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