Western

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Campus

WWU faces effects of $18 million budget cuts

By Austin Wright and Milo Whitman | November 20

Western Washington University announced a comprehensive cost-reduction strategy in response to several financial deficits last month. The administrative structure of several departments and divisions of the larger campus will be reorganized, and, approximately 8% of Western’s annual operating budget will be cut in increments through the 2026-2027 academic year.

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Campus

Western Washington University’s Music Library: a hidden gem

By Cody Mills | November 22

Western Washington University’s Music Library holds 132,959 scores, journals, books, CDs and other types of music-related media. 

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Campus

Finding the perfect photo op

By Ava Nicholas | November 22

Bellingham’s foliage is aglow with reds, oranges, greens and yellows this fall, making for an enticing palette for local photographers. But finding that perfect spot to shoot can be difficult unless you know where to look.

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Campus

Education evolves as peer mentors join the classroom

By Madelyn Jones | November 20

This year, Western Washington University is offering a new class to help first-generation students integrate into college life.

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Campus

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week events at Western

By Cody Mills | November 18

 Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is a national event held the week before Thanksgiving each year that aims to educate the public and draw attention to the problem of poverty, while building a base of volunteers and anti-poverty organizations.

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Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Rent your heart out with ATUS

By Aidan Hadley | November 15

Working with a college student budget sometimes means making sacrifices to afford the important things. Academic Technology and User Services, Western Washington University’s technology integration and support department, offers a convenient solution for students who need access to various tech equipment with their equipment loan program.

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Campus

What is...Jeopardy Magazine?

By Aidan Hadley | November 15

For the editors of Jeopardy Magazine, these fast-passing weeks of November are the calm before the storm. As the literary and arts magazine approaches their first submission deadline of Dec. 15, 2024, the editors are focused on spreading the word about their publication before the floodgates of entries open. 

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Health & Wellness

BRIEF: WWU's Caring Communities empower students through peer support

By Madelyn Jones | November 11

Western’s assorted peer support groups, known as Caring Communities, are designed to strengthen social ties and promote a sense of community, while also offering informal guidance and helping students access valuable on-campus resources, according to the wellness website.

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Campus

WWU's new safety app is live

By Cody Mills | November 11

Western Washington University’s new Western Safe app was released on Oct. 18, 2024, 245 days after the deactivation of the LiveSafe app. Developed by University Communications, University Dispatch and University Police in association with a vendor, to be tailored to Western’s community. 

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Campus

Western observes First-Generation College Celebration Day

By Milo Whitman | November 8

Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, is national First-Generation College Celebration Day. Western Washington University kicked off its week of celebration with a drop-in event on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room.

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City & County

Day trips and travel destinations for WWU students

By Madrona Raney | November 7

For students without access to a car, the local bus system accesses local trails, including the North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead. The Outdoor Center is an on-campus community that engages students in outdoor activities and shines a light on the areas surrounding Western. The Outdoor Center offers equipment rentals, day excursions and overnight excursions for as little as $5.

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Campus

Addressing campus inaccessibility one sticker at a time

By Sean Lynch | November 7

This Is Not Accessible, shortened to T.I.N.A., is a student-led project that aims to bring awareness to areas on campus that aren't inclusive to students with physical disabilities, all through the act of placing a sticker. Scanning the QR code at the bottom of each sticker brings up the T.I.N.A. Linktree, which hosts several disability resources as well as the project's Instagram page. There, anyone can request stickers to place themselves via direct messaging. 

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Campus

Untitled Tempest: How Western’s Mainstage is reshaping Shakespeare

By Ava Nicholas | November 7

“The Tempest” was the single most-produced Shakespeare play in the United States in 2021-22, with around 38 individual theaters nationwide staging it that year. Western Washington University’s “Untitled Tempest” devising members, however, will use the show as analytical inspiration from which they will create something entirely new.

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Campus

WWU establishes board for Socially Responsible Investing

By Austin Wright | November 7

The Western Washington University Board of Trustees formally enacted the Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing (ACSRI) during their Oct. 18 meeting.

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Campus

Ever feel like someone’s watching you? The Red Square webcam is

By Aidan Hadley | November 6

Have you ever wanted to know what the weather on campus was like before leaving the house? Or wished you could see how busy Red Square was before passing through? If so, the Red Square webcam could be the perfect solution for you.

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Campus

United Faculty of Western Washington ramps up for upcoming negotiations

By Milo Whitman | November 6

United Faculty of Western Washington’s bargaining team is preparing for their upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement with Western’s administration. Although the start date for negotiations isn’t set yet, it is estimated to take place in late winter or early spring, according to UFWW President and political science professor Vicki Hsueh. 

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Campus

PHOTO STORY: A Western Halloween special

By Eli Voorhies | November 3

Western Washington University students showed up and showed out this Halloween with an array of elaborate costumes. Amid the chaos of midterms, students proved they still had tricks up their sleeves, treating the campus to a festive display. 

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Campus

Campus Bluegrass: folk music plants new “Roots” at Western

By Ava Nicholas | November 1

Toting instruments from fiddles and clarinets to guitars and trumpets, or even simply themselves, Roots’ jam session attendees gather in a small practice room. They chat softly, share laughter and tune strings as they prepare to play the folk classic, “Cornbread and Butterbeans.” 

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Campus

Western Washington University launches "Building Community Through Difficult Conversations" series

By Cody Mills | October 30

Western Washington University hosted its first "Building Community Through Difficult Conversations" event on Oct. 23, put on by the WWU Faculty Senate and Office of Equity. For students who couldn’t make it, the same session will be offered on Nov. 13. 

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Health & Wellness

BRIEF: WWU expands naloxone accessibility

By Sean Lynch | October 29

Naloxone is now available at several new locations across Western Washington University, according to an email sent from the Vice President of Student Affairs office. The medication, often referred to by the brand name Narcan, works to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses. While it can be administered through injection or as a nasal spray, WWU only holds the latter form.