Western

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Campus

Juggling it all: The balance of social and academic life at Western

By Jack Glenn | October 11

At almost 11 p.m. on the first Wednesday school night of October, dozens of Western Washington University students - many of them first-year students - gathered for an impromptu party at the campus sculpture popularly known as the “Stairs To Nowhere.” Away from their parents, first-year students at Western are getting a taste of what adult life is and the liberty that comes with it. 

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Western clubs are making a comeback

By Dani Gibson | October 9

Enrollment at universities and colleges across the country declined in recent years, but Western Washington University’s campus is active once again. The engagement in campus activities has surged. Club officers have seen their numbers climb and say that now is the best time to get involved. 

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Campus

Finally … Freshens Reopens on Campus!

By Bryn VanMansum | October 7

For the first time in over a year, the Carver Gym location of Freshens Fresh Foods Studio has opened for the fall quarter.  The on-campus dining option was closed all of last year and some of 2020 due to the pandemic, subsequent labor shortages and supply chain issues. Now, Western Washington University students who have been craving Freshens in its absence are excited to see it up and running again. 

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Social media influencer and WWU student shares eating disorder story

By Chloe Nelson | October 5

Sophia Carter’s Instagram account is filled with smiling selfies and photos of friends. It’s also overflowing with authenticity. Carter, a third-year Western Washington University student, uses Instagram to share her journey living with eating disorders since 2019. On her platform of more than 60,000 followers (@sophiaecarter), she posts unposed pictures, updates on her recovery and reassuring reels. Ironically, Carter noted, Instagram influenced the beginning of her eating disorders. 

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Campus

BRIEF: WWU State of the University Address

By Jack Glenn | September 30

Western Washington University’s State of the University Address, held Wednesday, Sept. 28, took a look back on the 2021-22 academic year and described new goals set for 2022-23. 

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One year later: inside Western’s Basic Needs program

By Matthew Phillips | August 1

This summer, the Office of Student Life is hosting basic needs student focus groups. This is one of many measures Western Washington University is taking to address food and housing insecurity.

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Where there’s smoke, there’s fire

By Matthew Phillips | July 29

After a year of navigating the challenges of on-campus living in a pandemic, no one anticipated the record-breaking heatwave and subsequent wildfires the summer of 2021 would bring.

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Calling all kings, queens, non-binary fiends: Royal Gambit Drag Club comes to Western

By Matthew Phillips | July 21

Wearing a drawn-on beard and platform boots, cowboy hat in hand, drag king Axe Andros’  persona — a self-described gay little man who’s incredibly pansexual — comes to life. Now, Andros wants to bring the fun and freedom of drag to Western Washington University through a new student group called the Royal Gambit Drag Club. Through the club, Andros wants to create a safe space for people to experiment with their style, find their persona and perfect their performance.

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WWU cannabis lab explores impacts of CBD on young brains

By Matthew Phillips | July 17

Western Washington University psychology professor Josh Kaplan and his team of student researchers are exploring the possible impacts and therapeutic benefits of using CBD, also known as cannabidiol, on a still-developing brain.

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Here and queer: introducing Untethered The Musical

By Mia Tocas | June 16

Western Washington University's Summer Theatre is producing a student-created musical titled “Untethered.” The process began through Student Theatre Productions, where Western theatre and dance students connected to cultivate the writing team. 

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Long-awaited Lawnstock makes first in-person return since 2019

By Mia Tocas | June 16

On Saturday, June 4, students flocked to Western Washington University's south campus to enjoy an evening filled with live music, food trucks, tie-dying and a 30 ft slide. 

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Cookies, cakes and bread! Oh my!

By Michelle Soi | June 11

Western Washington University third-year, Sofia Larrondo, has been selling homemade baked goods since March 2021 and donating the profits to the Bellingham Occupied Protest Mutual Aid to help the homeless population in Bellingham.

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New WWU Film Club movie ‘Stalkers’ enters production

By Theron Danielson | June 10

Ethan Johnson is now entering the production phase with his new movie, "Stalkers,” in association with Western Washington University's Film Club. Johnson is new to the independent film scene in Bellingham, but has been interested in filmmaking since he was very young.

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Campus

WWU Move Out Date Causes Stress for Students

By Theron Danielson | June 10

The move out deadline for on-campus students at Western Washington University is June 10 at 4 p.m., which adds a lot of stress to students living in the dorms who are busy around that time. 

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Campus

What’s WWU listening to?

By Hanna Rhody | June 9

Having the right soundtrack for your trek across campus is important. Sometimes on those gray and cloudy Washington mornings you need that one song to get you motivated for the day ahead.

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Are your plants not looking too hot?

By Desiree Erdmann | June 9

Are your plants suddenly looking a little yellow, maybe not taking in as much water as normal or the leaves have started dropping, even though it’s properly taken care of? Well, then you might have a bug situation going on.

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Annual Spring Club Showcase takes off

By Sophie Kashman | June 8

Western Washington University students attended the Spring Club Showcase in the Viking Union multipurpose room on May 17. Students explained the importance of in-person clubs on campus. Joining clubs gives students the opportunity to find others with similar interests to themselves.

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Outdoor Wellness Extravaganza weekend recap

By Hanna Rhody | June 8

Students were greeted by blue skies and sunshine at Lake Whatcom on Saturday, May 21 as they flocked to Western’s boat house for an Outdoor Wellness Extravaganza.

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An unexpected gallery: Right to Recognition

By Desiree Erdmann | June 2

When a Western Washington University dance instructor invited her student-turned-friend to teach a fun end-of-quarter art project on the last day of the fall quarter, they did not expect to be co-creating an exhibit that would show two quarters later. 

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Providing students a platform to reward creativity, showcase talent, shine light on Western’s art scene

By Mia Tocas | June 1

The sprinkled pink donut sticker in the window of JoJoe’s Doughnuts caught an artist's eye as she drove on Commercial Street in downtown Bellingham. It was shortly after the business opened its doors in December 2021 and third-year Western student, Emma Deubler, was on the hunt to have her ceramic creations on display inside of a local establishment.