Western

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Campus

Four months later, College of the Environment name sparks debate

By Finn Kurtz | May 4

Despite the College of the Environment officially losing the ‘Huxley’ title on Dec. 9, 2021, the name change has continued to be a topic of discussion reaching beyond the environmental sciences program.   Students had long criticized Western Washington University for naming the college after Thomas H. Huxley, a 19th-century biologist who became a famous proponent of Darwin’s theory of evolution — but also supported tenets of scientific racism.

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Campus

Underground hosts final Jazz Night of year amid COVID uncertainty

By Finn Kurtz | May 1

Jazz students of Western Washington University performed their last concert of the year at the Underground Coffeehouse on Wednesday, Apr. 20, after a winter quarter of public health instability.

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Campus

Every day is Earth Day!

By Jemma Alexander | May 1

During  Earth Week, Western Washington University and members of the community celebrated the efforts of BIPOC and youth climate activism with a week of events that began Saturday, April 16. The events included outdoor activities, film screenings, panel discussions and two celebrations.

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Campus

Undocumonth brings UndocuJoy

By Michelle Soi | April 30

Western Washington University’s Blue Group held its first Undocumonth in April 2022 to celebrate what joy means to undocumented people in terms of resiliency, family and community. 

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Campus

KUGS 89.3, the remarkable radio station recovering from COVID-19

By Theron Danielson | April 28

KUGS 89.3 FM is the student radio station at Western Washington University, located in the Viking Union. They use a blend of analog and digital technology to play mostly underground local music.

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Campus

30 Years of Drag at WWU

By Hanna Rhody | April 28

The Queer Resource Center at Western Washington University put on its 30th annual drag show in accordance with Sean Humphrey House and Lifelong, local charities dedicated to providing care and services to families living with HIV and other chronic illnesses. A portion of the ticket sales went to both organizations.

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Campus

From Ski to shining Sea

By Rowan Westwood | April 28

Buckle your bindings, get your running shoes on, grease your gears and put a life jacket on. This year’s Ski to Sea race is back and members of Whatcom County are ready for it.

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Campus

Fairhaven student's project connects nature and mental health

By Bella Neff | April 26

A new program focused on benefiting students' mental health was welcomed onto Western Washington University’s campus this spring. The Outdoor Wellness Program is the product of a fourth-year Fairhaven student, Ben Crandall, who created this peer-to-peer program for his senior project. 

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Campus

ESC Night Market comes back

By Michelle Soi | April 24

Western Washington University’s Ethnic Student Center brings back its annual Night Market on May 21. Ethnic student clubs will gather together at Red Square to fundraise and celebrate reaching the end of the academic year.

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Campus

QueerCon’s in-person comeback after the COVID-19 pandemic

By Michelle Soi | April 24

Western Washington University is having an in-person Queer Convention on April 30 to celebrate queer arts and media, after two years of hosting the event online.

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Campus

No Car? No Problem. Get Outside!

By Hanna Rhody | April 22

With spring just around the corner, getting outside is important. Taking a break from school or work to spend even a few minutes outside benefits physical and mental health. 

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Campus

Questions about sex? “Ask the Sexperts”

By Jemma Alexander | April 21

“Ask the Sexperts” was hosted by Western Washington University’s Counseling and Wellness Center on April 14. At the event, audience members could submit any questions they had about sex online with no identification and get an answer from sexual health experts.

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Campus

Beats, bars, brotherhood

By Mia Tocas | April 20

Employing a heavy blend of pop and trap, YT Suns emerged as a music duo beginning in early high school. Western Washington University fourth-year, Reef Hill, and Gonzaga fourth-year, Jack Thorsland were raised in Renton and each held the title of lead drummer at opposing middle schools. 

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Campus

Students struggle to find affordable, nutritious food between classes

By Sophie Kashman | April 19

Students living on and off of Western Washington University’s campus rely on markets like the Viking Union, Zoe’s Bagels and the Atrium to purchase food during the school day. 

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Campus

@WatchingWWU is chronicling life at Western on Instagram

By Will Frantz | April 16

In the interim between classes at Western Washington University, Red Square is a bustling crowd of diverse people, all walking to their own different destinations and all inhabiting a headspace where they think that both everybody and nobody is looking. 

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News

Western gathers input on dining services at ‘Shape the Future of Dining at Western’

By Sol Vandeman | April 14

Western Washington University students and faculty shared their opinions on campus dining services at “Shape the Future of Dining at Western” on Thursday, March 31. 

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Campus

The Great Puzzle Hunt Returns to Red Square

By Jemma Alexander | April 14

On Saturday April 9, 750 people joined in on the sixth annual Great Puzzle Hunt, a timed competition between teams of up to six involving complex logic puzzles. 

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Campus

BRIEF: Booster shot to be required for staff and students at Western

By Simone Higashi | April 8

COVID-19 booster vaccines will be required for Western Washington University staff and students starting Sept. 1, 2022, according to an email update from Western’s COVID Support Team.

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Campus

County council accepts Western’s funding request for longhouse

By Ben Larson | March 21

On Tuesday, Feb. 22, the Whatcom County council voted five to two to approve a supplemental budget request that included $75,000 to Western Washington University to build a Coast Salish style longhouse. 

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Campus

Off-campus housing fair brings landlords and rental resources to WWU

By Annabelle Stefanoff | March 21

Western Washington University students attended the off-campus housing fair in the Viking Union multipurpose room to learn about off-campus living opportunities and resources on March 3