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Campus

History repeating itself: new student-curated art history exhibit reflects on the past and present

By Katherine Rogers

A new exhibit titled “Centuries of Caricature: Critiquing Cultural Conflicts” opened earlier this January in Western Washington University’s Special Collections. The exhibit features more than 40 historic caricature art pieces focusing on major conflicts like world wars, political divide, antisemitism, capitalism, communism and morality.

News

Black-owned businesses build community in Bellingham

Campus

Should AI be included in Western’s academic policy?

Sports

Wheelchair basketball players score more than just baskets

News

Local plant sale promotes habitat restoration one garden at a time

By Katherine Konicke-Dunlop | February 12

Vibrant hues of pink clustered flowers with a sweet fragrance cover the low-growing shrub and its green foliage, marking it as the Subalpine Spirea (Spirea densiflora). While delicate in appearance, the shrubs taste deters Bellingham’s grazing deer, according to the National Garden Bureau.

Campus

Western’s Hip-Hop Theater returns for another performance weekend, placing the spotlight on diversity

By Cody Sauter | February 11

Campus

Sweet Heart Swing Dance comes to Western

By Katherine Rogers | February 11

Campus

Students question campus safety after flashing incident

By Cody Sauter | February 11

Western

WWU Student Health Center unveils aid program amid switch to insurance billing

By Elliot Nicoletti | February 9

Western’s Student Health Center will be switching to an insurance-based billing model, and with it comes a way to help under-insured students pay for their healthcare on campus.

WWU’s debate team rises to the top

By Mackenzie Rankin | February 9

This season, Western’s debate team has ranked in the top tier at every competition it has attended, with five finals placements, and will continue to compete for the national championship.

Western students push for alternative transit funding

By Karsin Hutchins | February 5

As transit fares are set to rise in the fall of 2026, Western Washington University student advocates and local officials are debating how public transit can be funded through existing tax revenues, rather than requiring additional financial contributions from the community.

Q&A: AMP’s carefully crafted winter film lineup

By Chance Loewi | February 5

Over the next few weeks, Western Washington University’s Arts and Music Productions (AMP) will provide students and community members with free film showings. Hosted in VU 552, these showings run bi-weekly starting on Jan. 15 and ending on March 12 from 7-9 p.m.

Local News

Whistles turn ‘silence into community action’ in Bellingham

By Kenna Peterson and Caitlin Grygorcewicz | February 6

On Sunday, in between spurts of heavy rainfall and patchy blue skies, dozens of people squeezed into the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center in Bellingham with two things on their minds: whistles and resistance.

BRIEF: Bellingham community gathers to honor victims of ICE violence

By Aidan Hadley | January 27

As the sun began to set on Western Washington University on Monday, Jan. 26, countless voices chanted “presente” in response to the reading of 38 names, one for each person whose death was caused by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other federal immigration officers since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term.

SNAP disruptions are hard – they’re even harder when food access is already fragile

By Janessa Bates | December 12

For many people, the loss of benefits compounded barriers that were already making food access difficult – like living in a rural area where groceries aren’t as easily accessible, or managing a chronic condition that restricts diet flexibility.

Limited fueling options persist in Blaine Harbor

By DuPree Nugent | December 10

In order to install a public fuel dock, the port must first conduct a cleanup and then determine if installing fuel tanks is feasible, said Mike Hogan, public affairs administrator for the Port of Bellingham.

Sports Recreation

Where to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday

By Jonah Billings | February 5

When the clock expired on the Seattle Seahawks’ 27-31 NFC Championship victory over the Los Angeles Rams on the evening of Jan. 25, 2026, it wasn’t just to the delight of the uproarious home crowd affectionately known as the “12s.”

WWU sweeps Montana Tech in final home series

By Caitlin Grygorcewicz | January 28

This past weekend on Friday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 24, the Western Washington University men's hockey team took on the Montana Tech Diggers, winning both games and sweeping Montana Tech at the Sportsplex Arena in Bellingham, Wash.

Speed banding opens doors into music industry for queer and femme musicians

By Erica Stavnem | January 27

One January evening, a group of students gathered at the Underground Coffeehouse looking for a space to belong. They were there for a speed banding event geared toward Western Washington University’s queer and femme-identifying student musicians.

Bellingham Folk Festival 2026 returns

By Katherine Rogers | January 24

Four folk-filled days and nights with more than 50 music events have made their way to downtown Bellingham Jan. 22-25 as part of the Bellingham Folk Festival.

Opinion

OPINION: Queer love and community forges a path through uncertain times

By Raleigh Nolan | February 1

Fostering community, building connections and refusing to hide queer joy is what will help us prevail through the current administration. Programs like Generations of Pride and Camp Ten Trees provide invaluable opportunities to celebrate queer friendships.

OPINION: In winter, sustainable self-expression doesn’t have to freeze

By Rosalie Johnson | January 25

As temperatures drop and rain drizzles, we retreat from leisurely walks through campus and instead briskly dash to class in zipped coats and flipped hoods. The rush for warm, dry shelter, combined with less daylight, all too often robs us of comfortable time together. This becomes a temporary loss of personal spark that is tangible in our energy and visible in our style.

OPINION: Avoiding deception in reproductive health

By Devin Green | December 12

If you search for a pregnancy test or STI testing in Bellingham, you’ll find plenty of options, but not all of them are actually there to help you.

OPINION: Dreams of high-rises and housing

By Liam Britt | December 12

On Oct. 14, the Whatcom Transit Authority purchased the property at 1522 Cornwall Ave. in downtown Bellingham for $6.2 million. They plan to turn the 1.6-acre site into a large transit-oriented development, constructing up to two 8-10 story mixed-use buildings with a new Bellingham Transit Station.

History repeating itself: new student-curated art history exhibit reflects on the past and present

Local plant sale promotes habitat restoration one garden at a time

Western’s Hip-Hop Theater returns for another performance weekend, placing the spotlight on diversity

Sweet Heart Swing Dance comes to Western

Students question campus safety after flashing incident

Western

WWU Student Health Center unveils aid program amid switch to insurance billing

WWU’s debate team rises to the top

Western students push for alternative transit funding

Q&A: AMP’s carefully crafted winter film lineup

Local News

Whistles turn ‘silence into community action’ in Bellingham

BRIEF: Bellingham community gathers to honor victims of ICE violence

SNAP disruptions are hard – they’re even harder when food access is already fragile

Limited fueling options persist in Blaine Harbor

Sports Recreation

Where to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday

WWU sweeps Montana Tech in final home series

Speed banding opens doors into music industry for queer and femme musicians

Bellingham Folk Festival 2026 returns

Opinion

OPINION: Queer love and community forges a path through uncertain times

OPINION: In winter, sustainable self-expression doesn’t have to freeze

OPINION: Avoiding deception in reproductive health

OPINION: Dreams of high-rises and housing

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Whistles turn ‘silence into community action’ in Bellingham

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Western Watchdog