With Bellingham becoming increasingly desirable and the current economic struggles of the country, students and experts agree that prices haven’t adjusted.
Sitting behind Arntzen Hall on the campus of Western Washington University is a patchwork of garden spaces — small raised beds full of soil, a greenhouse, a patch of growing camas bulbs and a compost pile. As part of the university’s campus, the Arntzen Hall gardens are utilized by the College of the Environment for classes that teach hands-on horticulture and agriculture concepts.
This fall, Jacqueline Hughes became Western Washington University’s first-ever chief diversity officer. The position works directly with the office of Western President Sabah Randhawa.
Western Washington University’s Disability Access Center (DAC) recently held two neurodiversity workshops for students, student employees, tutors, peer mentors, teaching assistants, graduate assistants, advisors and faculty.
Western Washington University academic student employees of Western Academic Workers United filed to form a union on Friday, Dec. 2, with the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) in Olympia. Members of the group also delivered a letter of intent to unionize to President Sabah Randhawa.
Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Hannah Montana blared over the speakers of the Underground Coffeehouse as The Royal Gambit drag performers lip-synced and strutted their way across the stage. For their second show, Western’s Royal Gambit Drag Club put on their cowboy hats, boots and plaid attire for A Wild West Drag Show that took place on the night of Nov. 18.
An email was sent to Western Washington University students including brief information about hazing prevention on Nov. 2, highlighting a new university policy and two educational programs. Effective on Oct. 19, an interim policy set the new standard for preventing and responding to hazing at Western.
Western Washington University’s Wellness and Counseling Center is hosting a monthly workshop event called “Growing Wellness” between the months of October and May, with the workshops taking place on the second Wednesday of each month (excluding December). These workshops focus on the well-being of students while also allowing students to be more connected with nature using horticulture therapy practices.
Western Washington University students may have noticed the appearance of gumball machines filled with plastic pods on campus. These gumball machines are part of a project from the fine arts department called the “Art Drop Mini,” a collection of machines that dispense small, locally sourced art pieces for just $1.
After a months-long national search, Western Washington University has selected Katy Potts as the new chief of the University Police. The announcement was made on Oct. 31, and Potts will begin her new position in the new year.
South College Drive at the southern end of Western Washington University’s campus is getting a makeover. Its median, which runs the length of the road, is being removed in favor of 131 angled parking spaces on the northbound side.
Western Washington University issued a Western Alert on Saturday, Nov. 19, informing students of a violent and racist message sent to students in three courses via Canvas. Western later revealed that the message targeted Black students.
“Volcanic Reflections” uses a vast range of percussion instruments played by the Western Washington University Percussion Orchestra to take listeners on an exciting musical journey. On Nov. 18, students and Bellingham residents can escape the cold winter weather and embark on a journey into a foreign, fiery landscape.
The Career Services Center and the Disability Access Center have collaborated to make Western Washington University career fairs more accessible by implementing an Early Access Hour. Inclusive spaces were held for participants for the first time at the Career and Internship Fair on Oct. 21 and again at the recent Technology and Engineering Career and Internship Fair on Nov. 3.
Owen Donnelly wakes up at 7:30 a.m., makes some instant oatmeal for breakfast, brushes his teeth, puts on his rain jacket and heads to his 8 a.m. class. He showers after class, has a snack and after his last class of the day, he makes himself some pasta and goes to study on Western’s campus before heading back home at 11 p.m. to go to bed.
A group of Western Washington University students focused on menstrual health advocacy will set up a table and operate a period cramp simulator in Red Square on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The group will give any willing volunteers a chance to test their limits with the simulator and will also be accepting cash donations to help buy menstrual products for Bellingham’s YWCA.
Oct. 31 marked the opening of Western Washington University’s first multi-stall gender-neutral bathroom, a 10-stall facility located on the main floor of the Haggard Hall side of the library, room 241. Since 2016, Western has been expanding the accessibility of gender-neutral restrooms across campus, and single-occupancy gender-neutral restrooms are now in the majority of buildings on campus.
Whether it’s streaming from a phone, laptop or TV in a dorm, unwinding after class by binge-watching the latest season of the hottest new show is second-nature to many students. Before this year, students living on-campus have been able to access live Xfinity channels and HBO through a service included in housing fees. The Xfinity-on-Campus service was a tiered service for students living on campus but what was offered varied from where you were watching.
Food prices haven’t stopped rising — take a walk down the aisle at your closest grocery store, and you’ll see it right on the price tags — it’s no secret. From September 2021 to September 2022, the price index for food products rose 13 %, according to an October data release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Certain essential food groups’ pricing increased even more in that time span.
Western Washington University used to offer the HBO Max streaming service for students living on campus but not anymore. Western decided not to renew its contract with Comcast, leaving students looking to other streaming services for something new to binge-watch.
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