Students elect not to vote

FRIDAY
Issue
April 27, 2007
Issue 7, Volume 141
W e s t e r n
W a s h i n g t o n
U n i v e r s i t y
AS Election
NEWS
AS President
Ramiro 1331
Espinoza 93%
Freshman
class of 2007
may be most
diverse ever
page 4
Write-in
100
candidates 7%
VP for Business
& Operations
Cops Box........... 2
From beyond
the books:
Wilson
Library’s
ghosts
page 5
photo by Justin Steyer the western front
SPORTS
Western
tennis club
competes at
nationals
page 8
Columnist.......... 9
Water skiing...... 9
OPINION
Reader
reacts to
Virginia Tech
shootings
page 11
Frontline.......... 10
Viking Voices.. 10
WEATHER
F RI D A Y
o
57
HIGH
o
43
LOW
S A T UR D A Y
o
56
HIGH
o
43
LOW
SU N D A Y
o
56
HIGH
o
38
LOW
MO N D A Y
o
56
HIGH
o
38
LOW
Source: National Weather Service
Virgilio Cintron
711
48%
Erik
Lowe
Candidates and campaigners stand at the edge of Red Square April 26 to encourage students to vote. Despite their
efforts, 13.4 percent of students voted, down from 14.2 percent last year.
Upcoming......... 7
On the Menu......7
735
50%
VP for Legislative
Affairs
A&E
Baby Gramps
brings his
guttural
voice and jazz
sound to the
Underground
page 6
Abbey
Weigel
Students elect not to vote
Turnout low despite efforts; universal bus pass referendum passes
Sarah Gordon
the western front
Voter turnout reached its
lowest point in at least five years
for the Associated Students (AS)
elections, despite the efforts of
election officials and candidates to
encourage student participation.
The turnout was 13.4 percent
this year, almost one percent lower
than last year’s elections.
“I’m pretty bummed about it,
but I can’t make people vote,” said
Elections Coordinator and Western
senior Molly Ayre-Svingen. “I
can’t make people care – but I have
hope for the future.”
Several AS Board candidates
won their races by slim margins,
and the universal bus pass
referendum won with 80 percent of
students voting for the measure.
Ayre-Svingen said turnout
for 2006 decreased from 2005 by
nearly 5 percent last year to 14.2
percent.
Write-in
65
candidates 5%
VP for Campus
& Community Affairs
Popular hot dog stand broken
into, relish spread to bookstore
Katie Regan
see EL CAPITAN’S page 4 u
Janidlo works at the hot dog stand April 25. Vandalism
struck the Vendor’s Row favorite the night before.
westernfrontonline.com
674
46%
Nina Lau
763
52%
Annie Jansen
841
58%
Ben Murphy
591
41%
VP for Activities
the western front
The El Capitan’s hot dog stand, a frequent haunt of
Western students and staff members, put up a sign April
25 that read: “We’ve been vandalized! Cry for us.”
Marc Ravaris, owner of El Capitan’s on Vendor’s
Row outside Viking Union (VU), said he came to work
April 25 to find his stand had been broken into and
ransacked sometime the previous night.
Ravaris said the metal grates he uses to lock up his
stand up had been pried open, and he found boiler pans,
condiments, hot dog buns, frequent diner cards and other
supplies dumped on the ground.
“They grabbed everything they could get their hands
on,” Ravaris said. “Stuff was everywhere. There was
relish spread from here to the bookstore.”
The only thing taken from the stand was a handful
of frequent diner cards, later found behind the VU.
Employees and onlookers were shocked by the
vandalism done to the stand.
“It makes me so mad because there was no way
to benefit from this,” said Bethany Janidlo, Western
sophomore and El Capitan’s employee. “They didn’t
even take anything. It’s frustrating. We’re just a hot dog
stand.”
Instead of preparing for hungry students, Ravaris
photo by Michelle Rybolt the western front
spent the morning putting his stand back together.
“I probably lost about 10 hot dog sales while I was Western sophomore and El Capitan’s employee Bethany
Devin
Branson
VP for Academics
see ELECTION page 4 u
Vandalism on Vendor’s Row
1318
95%
Aaron
Garcia
873
60%
Tina Quiroga
565
39%
VP for Diversity
Kayla
Britt
1304
95%
Write-in
69
candidates 5%
Alternative
Transportation
Referendum
Yes
No
1403
342
80%
20%
Job Titles Referendum
Yes
No
1083
365
75%
25%
Results are unofficial. Pending
grievances, results will be
certified May 2. Write-in votes
account for any discrepancies.
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
F R I D AY
April 27, 2007
performance will be based on Lobel’s
battle with testicular cancer at the age of
21.
Lobel’s first show titled “Ball,” is
a 70-minute performance also dealing
with his experience with cancer. This
performance begins at 7 p.m. April 30 in
the Viking Union Multipurpose Room.
He is knowen for his one-man shows
around the United States and is based in
Chicago.
Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for
general admission.
Painter, poet and
international musician
coming to Western
photo by Justin Steyer the western front
Western Junior Dominic Ghirardini votes at the polling booth in Red Square April 26.
>>News Briefs<<
Forum on race
in the american
school system
“Does Race Still Matter in American
Schooling? Washington State Politics and
the Upcoming Supreme Court Decision” is
a free forum taking place from 6:30 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m. May 2 in Miller Hall 163.
The forum speakers will discuss
a court case between Parents Involved
in Community schools and the Seattle
School District, which is currently before
the Supreme Court. The case appeals a
decision allowing Seattle public schools
to use race as a tiebreaker when deciding
which high schools students should be
assigned to.
Actor presents two shows
inspired by cancer
“Other Funny Stories about Cancer,”
an performance by actor Brian Lobel,
will take place 7 p.m. May 1 at the
Viking Union Multipurpose Room. The
Corrections
>In the page 1 story titled “Candidate drops out of election,” in the
April 24 edition, the SHADO dorms were mislabeled. The SHADO
dorms are Sigma, Highland, Alpha, Delta and Omega.
>In the page 9 story titled “Parks Hall lab blocks Facebook,
MySpace,” in the April 24 edition, Jon Junell’s name was misspelled.
He is the Manager of Information Technology and he works in the
College of Business and Economics.
>In the page 1 picture caption for the story “SpeedBike Team tests
its wheels,” in the April 17 edition, the man in the picture Jay Ostby.
The Western Front regrets this and any other errors. Errors should be reported
immediately to the Editor-in-chief at [email protected].
WesternFrontOnline.com
Western Washington University
Communications Building 251
Bellingham, WA 98225
[email protected]
Editor-in-chief: Jessica Harbert
Managing editor: Taylor Scaggs
News editors: Matt Gagne
Nate Seaburg
Presentation editor: Shawna Walls
Copy editors: Greg Applegate
Jessica Araujo
Features editor: Sara Thompson
Sports editor: Brady Henderson
Arts & Entertainment editor: Liz McNeil
Opinion editor: Amy Harder
Head photographer:
Justin Steyer
Jon Sayer
Online editor:
Faculty adviser: Carolyn Nielsen
The Western Front is published twice weekly in the fall, winter, and spring quarters and
once a week in the summer session. The Western Front is the official newspaper of Western
Washington University, published by the Student Publications Council and is mainly
supported by advertising. Opinions and stories in the newspaper have no connection with
advertising. News content is determined by student editors. Staff reporters are enrolled in
a course in the department of journalism, but any student enrolled at Western may offer
stories to the editors. Advertising inquiries should be directed to the business office in CF
230 or by phone at 650-3161. Members of the Western community are entitled to a single
free copy of each issue of The Western Front.
Jadranka Stojakovic, an international
artist, will give a concert at 7:30 p.m.
May 2 in the Performing Arts Center
concert hall.
Stojakovic,
who
is
known
professionally as Jadranka, will be
performing as part of Japan week. She is
a native of Sarajevo, but moved to Tokyo
in 1988 because of the turbulent situation
in Bosnia.
Stojakovic sang and composed the
song for the Sarajevo Winter Olympics in
1984. She is also a painter and a poet.
The concert will include haikuinspired Japanese songs as well as
folk songs from parts of the former
Yugoslavia.
Ticket prices are $3 for Western
students and senior adults and $5 for
general admission. Tickets are available
through the Western Washington
University box office Monday through
Saturday and one hour before the
performance.
Compiled by Moira Hurley
PAGE
Cops Box
Campus Police
» April 25, 3:17 p.m.: Police
responded to a report of malicious
mischief on Vendors Row. Damage
was done to a vendors cart.
» April 25, 7:16 a.m.: Police
responded to an intrusion alarm
in Old Main. Police found two
males inside who were university
employees. As there was no after
hours authorization scheduled
police asked the men to leave.
» April 24, 3:14 p.m.: Police
responded to a report of three males
in the central area of campus who
were spitting on cars that drove by.
No one was in the area when police
arrived.
» April 26, 8:15 p.m.: Police and
medics responded to the Wade
King Recreation Center for a person
who had been lifting weights and
complained of a headache. The
person was transported by medics.
Bellingham Police
» April 26, 12:49 a.m.: Police
responded to a complaint of a loud
sushi party on the 800 block of High
Street. Officers issued one man
a notice of infraction for a public
noise disturbance.
» April 25, 10:06 p.m.: Police
responded to the 2300 block of
Taylor Avenue after receiving a
report of shots fired.
» April 25, 3 p.m.: Police were
contacted regarding the theft of
a license plate from 1900 block
Kentucky Street.
Compiled by Moira Hurley
we sternfrontonline.com
2
WesternFrontOnline.com
NEWS
Friday, April 27, 2007
|
Car prowlers frequent resident lots
Vehicle break-ins most common in parking lots where students leave cars unattended overnight
Moira Hurley
THE WETERN FRONT
Over the past two months, 22 vehicle
break-ins have been reported in the
Western student parking lots according
to the University Police (UP) daily crime
logs. March 5, six break-ins were reported
to UP and on March 19 four incidents
occurred in a single night.
On March 21, Western freshman
Lourna Olson found the window popped
out of her 1999 Honda Civic parked in
parking lot 16CR, just south of campus.
The screwdriver used to pick her lock was
lying on her car seat. The stereo deck and
two pairs of sunglasses were stolen from
her car, Olson said.
Car prowls happen year round, but
there are certain times during the school
year when they happen more often, said
University Police Sgt. David Garcia.
Prowls are more prominent during a
school quarter when there are lots of cars,
and when the weather is rainy or windy
because students will spend less time in
the lots so prowlers have a smaller chance
of being noticed, Sgt. Garcia said.
The break-ins are not done by
professionals, he said. Sgt. Garcia calls
them “smash and grab” prowlers. They
break windows to get in to the car and
destroy the dashboard to get the radio.
Often its car stereos, speakers and
other items in plain sight are stolen from
the cars when the break-ins occur, he said.
Break-ins mainly occur during
the night, but this year they have been
occurring more often in the daylight, said
UP Sgt. Bianca Smith.
Lots 20R, 16CR and 3R, where oncampus residents park, are most prone
for car prowlers because there are always
vehicels in the parking lots at night, Sgt.
Garcia said.
Western sophomore Aaron Garcia
had his car broken into the same day that
Olson’s car was burglarized. Both of their
cars were in lot 16CR.
Aaron Garcia found his sound system
stolen and his back window smashed in,
he said.
It is not often that car prowlers are
caught. However, when a car was broken
into at the Lincoln Creek Park and Ride
in March, a witness was able to get part
of the suspect’s license plate, Smith said.
Police put the partial license plate
through the scanner, Smith said. Using
police tools the Ferndale police were able
to recover the stolen stereo by identifying
the stereo’s serial number, Smith said. The
Ferndale police apprehended the suspect
on an unrelated incident and recovered
the stereo.
Sgt. Garcia said an ideal solution is to
put cameras in the parking lots, however
the money required to purchase and
install cameras, and the funding needed
photo by Jon Bergman the western front
Hundreds of student cars sit unattended in university parking lots, some over night,
making them easy targets for smash and grab thieves.
to pay employees to monitor them, is
simply not available.
“We pay $240 a year just to park
there,” Olson said. “I don’t understand
why there isn’t better security. Even
imitation cameras would scare off a lot of
people.”
The parking lots on campus are
patrolled by Green Coats, and they are
equiped with streetlights and emergency
phones, Sgt. Garcia said.
A small percentage of car prowlers
are caught and an even smaller percentage
of stolen goods are recovered, Smith said.
Smith asks that students be aware,
since police can not always patrol the
parking lots.
“If you are walking through the
parking lots and a car alarm goes off, get
to an emergency phone and call it in.”
4|
Friday, April 27, 2007
NEWS
The Western Front
Fall freshman class may be Western’s most diverse
Andrea Dramer
THE WESTERN FRONT
The record breaking number of
applications for admission received for
fall 2007 put Western on track to surpass
state-funded enrollment goals, and gave
Western an opportunity to select qualified
students.
The 8,830 applications exceeded last
year by 10 percent, and broke the fall 2005
record by 2 percent.
According to the Fall 2007 Enrollment
Update, with more than 20 percent of
accepted students being people of color,
next year’s freshman class could be the
most diverse freshman class Western has
ever had.
Western junior Tom Loughney said he
is glad to see Western is becoming more
diverse.
“I think it’s important that we
experience several cultures while attending
Western,” Loughney said. “Having a more
diverse student body makes that all the
more possible.”
Bothell High School senior Rachel
Wienckoski said she is leaning toward
attending Western instead of the
Uninversity of Washington (UW), one of
Western’s main competitors for students.
“Western seems really friendly and
the classes are smaller than the ones at
UW,” Wienckoski said.
Western junior Albert Park said he
chose Western for its location and after
getting positive responses from current
and previous students.
“UW was too big and too close,
and out of state was too far,” Park said.
“Western seemed perfect.”
Students coming from the Washington
state community college system have
priority over students transferring from
other four year institutions, said Marian
Shaughnessy, Western’s assistant director
of admissions.
“The most important thing we look
for in accepting students is academic
performance,” Shaughnessy said. “That
includes GPA or how rigorous a student’s
high school schedule is.”
Students who go above and beyond
the minimum requirements have a better
chance of being accepted, she said.
Minority students in college
Percentage of total enrollment
National
Western
Western minority enrollment is predicted to
reach more than 20 percent in 2007. But
Western still is far below the national average.
source: Western Admissions and the NCES
graphic by Matt Gagne
El Capitan’s owner considered ‘campus friend’ Candidates stand in rain to pitch their causes
u EL CAPITAN’S from 1
cleaning up this morning,” he said. “And
the meatballs for the meatball subs weren’t
ready until the afternoon. It really hurt my
business.”
Western junior and El Capitan’s
employee Maria Heinegg said she was
upset to see vandalism happen to a vendor.
Small businesses can rent spaces on
Vendor’s Row to sell goods to in a public
market setting.
“It’s crappy because Western and
Bellingham are so big on supporting local
businesses as opposed to chain stores, and
someone trashed [Ravaris’],” she said. “I
mean, it’s upsetting period, but especially
since it happened to a vendor.”
This is not the first time the stand
has been vandalized, but it is the worst
incident in its three and a half year history
on campus, Ravaris said.
“People have stolen minor things
before, like Halloween decorations and
flags,” he said. “But no one’s ever done
anything like this.”
Jen Redmond, owner of The Coffee
Lady stand situated next to El Capitan’s,
said her stand has been vandalized in the
past.
“My mini white board was harassed,
so to speak,” she said. “There are people
out there who do this, and it’s sad to be
that pessimistic, but that’s just how it is.”
Ravaris said he does not think the
vandals targeted El Capitan’s, but that it
was part of a string of vandalism occurring
in the VU area.
“There were bricks thrown through a
display case in Haggard Hall recently, and
someone tried to break into the Outdoor
Center the other night,” he said. “Three
crimes in four nights, in the same area,
seem like they’re related.”
Ravaris filed a report with the
University Police (UP), who said vandalism
is unusual on Western’s campus.
“I mean, it happens,” UP officer Loren
Lipson said. “But it’s definitely no terrible
problem. This is surprising.”
Customers who came early to get their
hot dog fix and were turned away came
back later to support his business, Ravaris
said.
Heinegg said Ravaris is the reason
customers have been so sympathetic.
“Everyone really likes him,” she said.
“Marc is like the campus friend. When I
work alone, people will come up to me and
ask, ‘Where’s Marc? Is he okay?’”
Ravaris said he was upset by the
damage done to his stand, but knows there
is not much he can do about it.
“At the end of the day, you just kind of
have to shrug your shoulders, scratch your
head, and move on.”
u ELECTION from 1
“It really is lower than it should be,”
she said. “We really need to change [the
voter turnout] and get more students out
there voting since those decisions effect
us.”
Ayre-Svingen said she used media
such as the radio station KUGS FM and
Facebook to make students aware of
election candidates and issues.
She said she had hoped to increase
turnout this year by bringing back poll
stations in Red Square, which were not
available last year.
Voting began to take place completely
online in 2005 and as a result, polling
stations disappeared and student voter
turnout decreased, Ayre-Svingen said.
The poll station was set up again this
year to encourage students to vote, AyreSvingen said.
The Puget Sound Blood Center drive
had a station behind the poll booth, so
several students came up to the voting
booth asking to give blood, said Brian
Lau, a Western senior who worked the
polls in Red Square.
“It seems that people want to donate
blood, but they don’t want to vote,” Lau
said.
Western freshman and voter Colin
Riordan said he felt this year’s election
addressed important issues, and students
should participate in making those
decisions.
“The AS is what we are,” he said.
“They are the representative of our
governing body on campus for every
large issue.”
Western sophomore Devin Branson,
candidate for vice president for campus
and community affairs, stood in the rain
on the steps leading to Red Square with
other candidates to encourage passing
students to vote.
“It’s important [for students] to voice
their opinions to how their government is
structured,” he said. “They are the engine
that drives our democracy at Western.”
Western sophomore Virgilio Cintron,
candidate for vice president for business
and operations, also stood on the steps to
encourage students to vote.
“I hope that more people care about
it this year,” he said. “Student fees are
paying for the positions regardless of who
wins.”
Western senior and voter Hannah
Hong said she expected a higher
percentage of students voting than the
past couple years.
“I didn’t think [the turnout] would
be that bad,” Hong said. “Students need
to vote to participate in the democracy
process, and to see the issues that are
important to be addressed.”
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
F R I D AY
April 27, 2007
PAGE
5
The ghost of Wilson Library
Moira Hurley
THE WESTERN FRONT
The Wilson library can
send chills down anyone’s
spine. Built in 1928, the library
is rumored to have a ghost that
haunts the six-story building
located northwest of Red
Square.
The microform room is
the section of the library where
some employees have felt
something might be lurking.
“Once
back
in
the
microform room all the lights
were off, I felt a breeze go past
me or go through me.” said,
classified staff member, Amy
Sedovic. “Definitely felt like
there was someone there. It has
happened two or three times
total.”
Sedovic works at the media
desk in the library and has only
had experiences like those in
the microform room.
Barney Terrell used to work
the circulation desk in Haggard
Library as the night supervisor
from October 2002 to December
2003.
Terrell said he has also
had eerie experiences in the
microform room.
“When you’re the first
to turn the lights on in the
morning, it’s creepy and there
has been a couple stories of just
random noises and cold spots
in the microform area,” Terrell
said.
The microform room is not
the only place that has weird
occurrences Terrell said.
“The reading room has
a sinister reputation,” Terrell
said. “The Wilson Library is
creepy at night compared to the
Haggard Library.”
“I don’t have a
problem if there is a
good spirit of Mabel
Zoe watching over
the library.”
- Tamara Belts,
special collections manager
The elevator near the
microform room and media
desk has spooked a few people,
Terrell said.
“The only thing that I
have ever seen happen is the
elevator near the media desk
goes up to fifth floor,” Terrell
said. “Occasionally it will go to
the third floor or fifth no matter
what floor you push, the doors
will open three or four times
and then it will continue on. A
janitor and a couple students
have experienced that,” Terrell
said.
No one who had weird
experiences can identify the
ghost. Terrell said Mabel Zoe
Wilson, a deceased librarian,
was rumored to be the ghost.
Wilson is also rumored to haunt
the apartment building she lived
in before she died, Terrell said.
According to school records,
Wilson helped create the library
and made the first card catalog
for the Wilson Library. She
worked as a librarian for 43
years and lived in an apartment
on Garden Streer. The library
was dedicated to her in 1964.
That same year, she fell down
a stairwell in her apartment
building, broke her shoulder,
and never recovered. She died
two months later.
Ross Allison, president
and founder of Advanced Ghost
Hunters of Seattle-Tacoma, said
someone does not have to die
in the building to haunt it and a
ghost can haunt more than one
place.
“Some of these energy’s
can attach themselves to a place.
photo courtesy of
Tamara Belts
photo by Justin Steyer
THE WESTERN FRONT
photo illustration by
Sara Thompson
THE WESTERN FRONT
Mabel Zoe Wilson is rumored to be the ghost in Wilson Library.
It could be where a tragic event
took place or where they were
the happiest,” Allison said.
Allison said the common
characteristics of a ghost are the
feeling of being watched, items
being moved. Doors closing
on their own, the sound of
footsteps, electrical problems,
breezes, cold spots, and strange
smells, Allison said.
Tamara
Belts,
special
collections manager, has worked
in the library for 30 years.
“There is certainly not an
evil spirit,” Belts said. ”But I
don’t have a problem if there
is a good spirit of Mabel Zoe
watching over the library.”
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
F R I D AY
April 27, 2007
Sharing ex perience through monologue
Nancy Bruce
“I’d say he’s an old jazz
artist gone gutter punk...
He sounds like he’s
singing through a
didgeridoo, but it’s
his voice.”
THE WESTERN FRONT
- Corvus Woolf
Baby Gramps
8 p.m. April 27
Underground Coffeehouse
Free
photo courtesy of
Baby Gramps
An old sou l
Baby Gramps has played alongside legends, now he plays the Underground
Middle school marks a time of transition; as the
world of childhood starts to fade, the new world of
adolescent appears.
A group of eighth grade Fairhaven Middle
School students have a chance to voice their thoughts,
feelings and experiences to their community 7:30
p.m. April 27 and 28 at the Firehouse Performing
Arts Center in Fairhaven.
Seventeen Western students and 13 Fairhaven
Middle School students will be performing
approximately 40 monologues, all written by
Fairhaven eighth-graders. The Fairhaven Middle
School students will either perform their own
monologue or one of their peers, said Joel Gillman, a
Fairhaven Middle School language arts teacher.
Meghen Chaffin from The Power of Hope, and
Jessica Armstrong from AmeriCorps approached
Joel Gillman’s eighth grade language arts classes in
January 2007 to start the project, Gillman said.
During that month the classes participated
in workshops once a week, in which they learned
about dramatic writing with a focus on monologues.
Chaffin and Armstrong then sent approximately
200 monologues to Rich Brown, Western assistant
professor of theatre.
Brown’s winter quarter Theatre 260 class,
Intermediate Acting Studio I, read through the
monologues and chose those that touched them most.
They then performed the middle school monologues in
front of their class and later in front of the 8th graders.
“[The] monologues provide a glimpse into the
middle schooler’s mind,” Brown said. “Which at
times is beautiful, at times scary, but always human.”
The monologues range in topics and emotions.
Some are whimsical and funny, discussing issues,
such as brushing teeth and remote control usage.
Other monologues explore deeper issues such as
social labels and relationships with parents, friends
and school, Gillman said.
“[The] monologues aren’t complaints,” he said. “I
would describe them as descriptions and yearnings.”
Western junior Tony Smith, who has been acting
since he was 13, is performing two of the monologues.
5th Annual
Kevin Diers
THE WESTERN FRONT
With more than 600,000 records at
his disposal, it’s safe to say Glen Howard,
founder of the American Musical Heritage
Foundation, has heard his share of
Northwest music.
The American Musical Heritage
Foundation is a group with a goal of
creating a library of all recorded music.
But of all the Northwest bands in their
extensive library, Howard is most
impressed by grey-bearded steel guitarist
Baby Gramps.
“Baby Gramps is the most original
performer to come out of Washington,”
Howard said.
Howard has been in the presence of
artists such as Bob Dylan and Jello Biafra,
but said he feels Baby Gramps offers
something different.
“I’ve known so many great musicians
over the years,” Howard said. “He is equal
to any of them, but he is more unique than
any of them.”
Baby Gramps will bring his
steel guitar and singing skills to the
Underground Coffeehouse when he
performs a free show 8 p.m. April 27.
Western junior Corvus Woolf has
seen Baby Gramps perform several times
at the Oregon Country Fair, a yearly
festival held in Veneta, Ore.
Woolf said Baby Gramps has an
original sound that combines multiple
elements.
“I’d say he’s an old jazz artist gone
gutter punk,” Woolf said. “He sounds like
he’s singing through a didgeridoo, but it’s
his voice.”
Jeff Talbot, Coordinator for the
Underground Coffeehouse, said he booked
Baby Gramps for the free show because
he is a great performer who captivates the
audience.
Though Talbot said he can’t quite
describe Baby Gramps’ sound, he said his
musical style fits in well with the eclectic
tastes of the Bellingham music scene.
“He has a natural, organic style that
really tends to pull people in,” Talbot said.
An average show at the Underground
Coffeehouse draws approximately 60 to
70 people, but Baby Gramps will probably
double that attendance, Talbot said.
“I expect great storytelling, I expect
unique music and I expect a very good
turn out,” Talbot said.
Recently, Baby Gramps gained
notoriety by having two of his songs
featured on the “Rogues Gallery: Pirate
Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys” twoCD set. The set is a compilation of piratethemed music featuring songs by artists
such as Nick Cave and Bill Frisell and was
produced by Johnny Depp as an unofficial
accompaniment disc to the newest “Pirates
of the Caribbean” film.
In support of the collection,
Baby Gramps appeared on The David
Letterman Show with Tony Garnier, Bob
Dylan’s bassist.
Baby Gramps will also be flying to
New York City to perform May 2 with
Lou Reed and Beth Orton, among others,
for a concert performance of the “Rogues
Gallery” CD.
Baby Gramps has jammed with bands
such as Phish and Leftover Salmon, as
well as playing a special private show for
Bob Dylan before one of Dylan’s concerts,
Howard said.
Howard said Baby Gramps refused
to record for more than 30 years because
he wanted more creative control than
producers and record labels would give
him. Baby Gramps recorded several
albums, but wasn’t satisfied with the way
they turned out, Howard said.
Howard finally talked Baby Gramps
into recording his album, “Same Ol’
Timeously” which Howard produced in
2003.
Baby Gramps fell in love with
everything old, Howard said. He loves all
old music, old antiques and even collects
rust. Howard said his favorite Baby
Gramps quote was when he and Gramps
were talking one day and Gramps said,
“Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve wanted
to be an old man.”
Howard emphasized that the more
times anyone sees Baby Gramps, the more
they are amazed by him. He never plays
the same set list twice, Howard said.
Though Howard said he isn’t sure how
well the college crowd at the Underground
Coffeehouse will react to Baby Gramps,
he said the longer one sits there, the more
they will be rewarded.
Dirty Dan
Days
Historic Fairhaven
April 28 to 29
For the past four years, on the last weekend
in April, Fairhaven has come alive with the blend
of town merchants and community members in
the rediscovery of historic Fairhaven know as Dirty
Dan Days.
This year the fifth annual Dirty Dan Days will
run all day April 28 and 29 at a variety of locations
throughout Fairhaven.
The event kicks off with the old fashion family
fun day, which provides games and activities for
families, and the historical scavenger hunt. Both
events begin at 10 a.m. April 28 on the Village
Green on 10th Street in Fairhaven.
Dirty Dan Days provides an array of
activities that celebrate Fairhaven’s founder,
Daniel Jefferson Harris and its community.
The piano race draws one of the biggest
crowds and begins at the corner of 10th Street and
PAGE
7
upcoming
Friday, April 27
Leaves Sleeves, Loyal Sinners, Eric Vaughn,
One for the Mouse
The Old Foundry, 8 p.m.
$5
Future City Fear, The Mark, Police Teeth
Chiribin’s, 10 p.m.
21+ $5
Saturday, April 28
April Brews Day to benefit Max Higbee Center
Depot Market Square, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
21+ $12 in advance / $15 at the door
North by Northwest, The Productionists,
Bloodshot, Rise ‘n’ Shine
Hot Shotz, 9:30 p.m.
21+
Sunday, April 29
Dirty Dan Days
Fairhaven Village Green, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free
photo by Nancy Bruce THE WESTERN FRONT
Sam Goldstein performs his own monologue in
front of his classmates at Fairhaven Middle School.
Western students helped eighth-graders with their
monologues as part of a theater class.
He said that reflecting back on his own middle school
experience, the monologues he felt most connected
with were those dealing with social awkwardness and
insecurities.
Middle school can be a difficult time in which
problems can accumulate and stay with someone
later in life, but with these monologues, students can
be assured they’re not alone in their thoughts and
feelings, Smith said.
“Part of being brave is not facing them alone,”
he said.
Admission will be $8 for adults and $5 for youth.
All proceeds will go toward Western and The Power
of Hope, a non-profit organization aimed at helping to
promote youth leadership and self awareness through
the arts.
After each show, there will be time to allow the
audience, actors and the 8th grade playwrights to give
feedback and discuss their experiences in working on
this project.
Harris Avenue. Four teams of four people each run
down to Eighth Street, where their pianos sit, and
push the pianos back up the hill to 10th Street,
Johnson said.
The traditional chowder cook-off costs $10
and will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. on April 29
on the Village Green, accompanied by live music
from noon to 4 p.m.
During the two-day event, people will have
the opportunity to participate in activities, as well
as visit the antique booths, merchant booths and
Fairhaven stores and restaurants.
Compiled by Katie Dreke
photo courtesy of Stephanie Johnson
Town criers make the rounds at Dirty Dan Days.
Kate Mann
Green Frog Acoustic Tavern, 9 p.m.
21+ Free
Monday, April 30
“Shortbus”
Viking Union 552, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
$.50
Tuesday, May 1
“Other Funny Stories About Cancer” by Brian Lobel
Viking Union Multipurpose Room, 7 p.m.
$5 student / $7 general
“Throne of Straw”
The Underground Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
$6 student / $8 general
Wednesday, May 2
“Tears of the Black Tiger”
Viking Union 552, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
$.50
Jadranka
Performing Arts Center Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.
$3 student / $5 general
Thursday, May 3
Sarah the Songbird presents The Gallus Gals
Wild Buffalo, 9 p.m.
21+ $5
Dine Out for
Maple Alley Inn
Thirty-two local restaurants and cafes are going to
donate 20 percent of their May 1 profits to Maple Alley
Inn, an organization that offers hot meals two days a
week to the homeless, working poor and disabled
veterans. The following restaurants are participating:
Bayside Café
Bellingham Red Robin
Boundary Bay
Busara Thai Cuisine
Café Akroteri
Cascade Pizza
D’Anna’s Café Italiano
Diamond Jim’s Grill
Guiseppe’s
Hilltop Restaurant
Hizzoner’s Uptown Deli
Keg Steakhouse
Mykonos
Nimbus
On Rice
Oriento
Our House Deli
Pacific Café
Pastazza
Pepper Sisters
Rocket Donuts
Stanello’s
Taco Lobo
Thai House Restaurant
The Bellingham
The Black Drop
The Grace Café
The Flat Tapas Bar
Wingdome
Compiled by Liz Beaulieu
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
F r i D AY
April 27, 2007
PAGE
8
Tennis club competes at nationals
Brynne Berriman
the western front
The Western tennis club is
competing at the United States
Tennis Association (USTA) Campus
Championship April 26 to 28 in Cary,
N.C.
The tournament consists of 64
Division I and II schools from all over
the United States.
Western is the only school to have
gone to the USTA Campus Championship
each year of the tournament’s eight-year
history.
Western won the bronze division
at last year’s tournament. This year, the
team is hoping to win the gold division
championship.
“We have the potential to compete
with the best teams at nationals,”
Western senior player-coach Justin
Cooper said. “If everyone plays to their
ability, we will win.”
The team was placed in a pool with
the University of Florida, Brigham
Young University and Eastern Michigan
University. How well the team fares
during the initial pool play will decide
the team’s competitive division — gold,
silver, bronze or copper.
Ten players are competing at the
tournament, including freshmen Ada
Cohen and Jordan Reni, sophomores
Annelise Owen, Jason Franks and Ari
Adelstein, juniors Peter Reni, Amy
Diehl and Donny Baugh and seniors
Cooper and Josh Glick.
“I’m very confident in our team,”
Glick said. “Our team is full of hardworking individuals, and we are all
really supportive of each other.”
Cooper said he is eager to see two
of the team’s younger players in action.
“We are enthusiastic about the
tournament this year because of the two
new freshman girls Cohen and Reni,”
Cooper said. “They have really done
well during our practice tournaments and
matches.”
The tournament is scored based on
the results of the men’s and women’s
singles, doubles and one mixed doubles
match.
For the past three years, Texas
Agricultural and Mechanical University
has dominated the tournament and won
the gold division championship.
“Last year we were able to compete
with teams like the University of Texas,
USC, UCLA — schools that are major
powerhouses in athletics,” said Innermural Sports and Sport Club coordinator
Jeff Crane. “This year, we are expected to
do even better, by competing in the gold
division and having a run at the title.”
photo by Brynne Berriman THE WESTERN FRONT
Western senior Josh Glick is one of 10
Western tennis club members competing
at the United States Tennis Association
Campus Championship April 26 to 28 in
Cary, N.C.
WesternFrontOnline.com
SPORTS
NFL draft is nothing but hype
COLUMNIST
Derrick Pacheco
The 2007 National Football League
draft begins at noon April 28 in New
York City and I, for one, can’t wait until
it is finished.
All the pre-draft research and
analysis is a waste of football fans’
time.
ESPN has shown diluted draft
coverage since the end of the college
football season in January.
Draft experts have discussed
everything from who the Oakland
Raiders should select with the first
pick, to who will be the biggest
disappointment in the draft.
The NFL draft used to be a fun
experience for me. I can remember
sitting next to my father as we watched
the draft. I used to see the NFL draft as
a time to bond with my dad, not watch
overzealous experts criticize college
athletes and their athletic potential.
When Louisiana State University
humiliated my Notre Dame Fighting
Irish in this year’s Sugar Bowl, I
drowned my sorrows with the hope that
Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn
could be the first pick.
Instead of being optimistic Quinn
could be taken No. 1, I am frustrated
because analysts repeatedly tell
viewers who should be drafted and who
shouldn’t. I am tired of watching analysts
rip the athletes on the 3 p.m. edition of
Sportscenter, and then at 6 p.m., and 8
p.m. and again at midnight.
These analysts don’t know who will
be the best player selected in the 2007
draft — no one knows. Drafting players
into the NFL is a gamble and giving
these makeshift experts the opportunity
to dominate football media for the past
four months is ludicrous.
Draft specialists like ESPN’s Mel
Kiper, Jr. cannot predict the future.
Hindsight is 20/20 and criticizing teams
for selecting the players that these
experts suggest is pathetic. After the
2007 season ends, draft specialists will
look back on who was a bust and who
was a surprise.
No kidding.
Anyone can look back and question
a decision. The franchises will be held
accountable for their selections, while
these experts will not be held accountable
for their predictions.
Draft experts believed former
Washington State University quarterback
Ryan Leaf was a comparable prospect to
Peyton Manning.
So did the San Diego Chargers, who
gave up two draft picks to obtain Leaf.
The Chargers chose Leaf with the
second pick in the 1998 NFL draft and
the rest is history. Manning is a two-time
league MVP and Superbowl XLI MVP,
while Leaf retired after four worthless
seasons in the NFL, cementing his legacy
as the biggest draft flop of all time.
I don’t blame the Chargers for this
miscue — at least not entirely.
I have no doubt the team’s
management was curious about who to
draft in 1998 and the opinions of draft
experts played a role in selecting Leaf.
I can no longer watch draft coverage
hoping Quinn will climb to the top of
Kiper’s draft prediction. As much as I
enjoyed watching Quinn’s projection in
the draft, the aura surrounding the draft
has faded.
I think I am going to sit this one out.
University of Wisconsin offensive
lineman Joe Thomas is going to be one of
the first ten picks in the draft, but he isn’t
going to be in New York on Saturday
waiting to hear his name. He will be on a
lake fishing with his father.
Like Thomas, I am skipping the
draft this year and going fishing. I’m
sure I won’t miss anything. These selfproclaimed experts will have loads to say
when I get back.
Derrick Pacheco is a senior journalism
major at Western.
Friday, April 27 2007
|9
Water ski team
hosts regional
tournament
Ben Small
the western front
The Western Tournament Water Ski
Team will host a competition against
collegiate teams from around the northwest
April 28 and 29 at Borderline Lake in
Blaine.
The tournament begins at 8 a.m. April
28 and at 9 a.m. April 29.
More than 10 teams from California,
Oregon, Arizona and Washington will meet
at Borderline Lake for the competition.
The tournament will consist of three
separate events. The slalom and trick
events will be April 28 while the jump
event will be April 29.
Western
sophomore
and
team
captain Kyle Foley said the team has
been practicing hard to prepare for the
tournament.
“We’ve been having runoffs to see who
the best skiers are,” Foley said. “We also
had two tournaments earlier this season
that went pretty well. The team is making
a lot of progress.”
The Western ski team will also host
The National All Star tournament May
19 and 20. In this tournament the best
skiers from across the nation will come to
Borderline Lake to compete.
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
F R I D AY
April 27, 2007
PAGE
10
Viking Union needs a makeover
Comfortable seating, colorful design would spruce up student hub
Have you ever tried and
failed to find a room or an office
in the Viking Union (VU)?
Have you ever tried to get
comfortable in the hard, plastic
chairs available on the sixth
floor?
Have you ever wished
the building reflected more
what students want and less a
corporate office building?
The VU, which serves as
Western’s main student hub
fails to make students, faculty,
staff and visitors feel welcome.
Trying to navigate around
the seven-floor building is also
an obstacle all on its own.
The VU contains universitywide
services,
including
Associated
Students
(AS)
offices and programs, a post
office, conference rooms and
the Underground Coffeehouse.
To ensure the campus
community is making the most
out of these services, Western
should revamp the building’s
atmosphere to add more
character, comfort and clearer
indicators as to where services
are located.
The building’s
(UW), offer more welcoming
The university
atmosphere should
atmospheres and activities for
can’t realistically
reflect
what
their students.
Frontline editorials reflect
remodel the VU
students want.
WSU
students,
for
the opinion of the
to make it less
Western could
example, can take advantage of
editorial board and not
the staff or advertisers
architect u rally
conduct
student
a bowling alley in their hub and
of The Western Front.
confusing without
surveys to help
UW students enjoy lounges, a
spending millions
jump-start
this
big flat screen TV and arcade.
of dollars.
process with specific suggestions
Even though Western is
It can, however, rather
generated from the polls.
smaller than both these schools,
inexpensively make the most
Putting in
it can still follow
“Putting in a
out of what it already has.
a large, colorful
their examples.
The seventh floor includes
map on the
For instance,
large, colorful
the campus radio station KUGS
sixth floor is
the VU offers only
map is one
and a classroom.
one
solution
one recreational
The sixth floor, which
that
would
activity, a lone
solution that
contains the main eating and
liven up the
pool table in the
would liven
seating area, is probably the
bland, corporate
coffeehouse.
up the bland,
most popular floor.
atmosphere this
Adding
a
The fifth floor contains,
floor
offers
ping-pong
or
air
corporate
among other services, the AS
while
also
hockey table to
atmosphere the the sixth floor
Board of Directors’ offices, VU
serving as an
gallery and the post office.
aid for people
would offer more
sixth floor
The fourth floor is split into
searching for a
leisure activities
gives off.”
two sections — fourth floor A
room or office.
for students and
and fourth floor B.
Painting the
encourage more
The third floor contains the
walls a more interesting color
people to visit the VU.
Underground Coffeehouse. The
than white is another way to
Replacing the plastic chairs
second floor is primarily used
inexpensively add character to
with cushioned ones is another
for storage and The Outdoor
this most popular floor.
simple way to improve the
Center comprises the first floor.
The seating on the sixth
building’s welcoming feeling.
floor, both stools and regular
If Western wants to ensure
chairs, is uncomfortable.
students, faculty, staff and
This type of unwelcoming
visitors take advantage of
POLLSTER
seating shouldn’t be what
the VU’s services, which it
In what way could Western improve the Viking Union?
incoming people first see when
should, it needs to redesign the
visiting the VU.
most-frequented areas in the
A. Offer more comfortable seating
The cushioned couches
building.
B. More clearly indicate where offices and rooms
and chairs in the Underground
A
more
welcoming
are located
Coffeehouse, on the other hand,
ambiance would make the
C. Spice up the colors and interior design aspects
are quite comfortable. These
most out of the confusingly
D. No change is needed
shouldn’t be hidden on the third
constructed
building,
floor.
maximize the various services
TO VOTE, GO TO
WesternFrontOnline.com
Western should apply the
and encourage more of the
interior design elements that
campus community to visit and
reflect
a
cozy
coffeehouse
to
appreciate the VU.
Results from last POLLSTER
more than just the third floor.
What
The
Underground
The editorial board is
A. President - 6%
Associated
Coffeehouse’s walls and art are
comprised of Editor-in-Chief
B. VP for Activities - 6%
colorful and reflect more what
Jessica Harbert, Managing
Students Board
C. VP for Campus and Community
students
want
when
studying
Editor
Taylor
Scaggs,
Affairs
6%
of Directors
and talking with friends.
Opinion Editor Amy Harder,
D.
VP
for
Academic
Affairs
58%
position do you
Other student hubs, such
advertising representative Kim
E. All of them - 6%
think affects
as those at Washington State
Higginbotham and studentF. The AS has board members? - 16%
University (WSU) and the
at-large Western senior Zach
you the most?
University
of
Washington
Frazier.
Last-Ditch Effort
What’s your
favorite park in
the Bellingham
area and why?
Elise Watness
junior
“Elizabeth Park because I love
the historical structure of the
park — it’s beautiful. And I can
let my dog run.”
Erik Solberg
junior
“Clayton Beach because there’s
an element of danger when
crossing the railroad tracks.”
Brittany Van Lant
senior
“Boulevard Park has fun festivals
and booths during the summer,
and you can take the boardwalk
to Fairhaven.”
By John Kroes
Britta Jacobs
junior
“Fairhaven Park because it’s
great for Bocce Ball.”
Compiled by Alissa VandenBerghe
WesternFrontOnline.com
Lettertheto Editor
OPINION
Friday, April 27, 2007
| 11
Response to Virginia Tech shootings raises questions of racial profiling
I appreciate President Morse’s address to the student body concerning the safety of
Western’s campus community. However, I feel you left out a critical aspect of the meaning
“campus security.”
While it is significant for students to be familiarized with campus security’s
function and availability, you encouraged students to report suspicious behavior they
may have of individuals.
I feel this paints our campus with suspicion and advocates mistrust among the student
body, hindering the necessity to build a strong community in such a time of concern. I
am a member of this student body and the talk I hear on this campus, post-Virginia Tech
is alarming. Students refer to the shooter as a “the crazy, angry Korean guy who didn’t
speak English wel.”
I reflect on the shooting at Columbine High School just eight years ago and remember
the shooters’ descriptions. They were refereed to as “the guys in trenchcoats, who played
too many video games.”
Society’s reaction was focused on rationalizing how violent games could lead
to violent behavior. Why didn’t society refer to this shooter as an angry man of
European descent?
It is distressing to see the racism that is already forming within our campus
community and public’s rationale.
I feel your letter to Western’s members is of good intention, however if we truly
want to ensure safety, security and well-being of all members of our community, failing
to recognize institutionalized discrimination against people of color while endorsing
suspicions is a danger to us all.
-Helen Jones
Fairhaven College sophomore
12 |
Friday, April 27, 2007
The Western Front