Western

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City & County

Sustaining a bee-utiful environment

By Kota Sato | October 18

Western Washington University's Outback Farm has worked with the Xerces Society to officially become a bee campus, allowing the farm to protect and keep these endangered insects in the campus's backyard.  “Becoming a bee-certified campus from the Xerces Society means that we are taking steps, collaboratively across campus to protect pollinators,” said Terri Kempton, firm manager of Outback Farm and teaching professor at Fairhaven College. “One is that we have an apiary, and we are giving students a chance to get involved with our most delicious animal partnership because we get to harvest their honey.” 

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Campus

You got the diploma … now what?

By Lili Cruz | October 17

The monumental task of switching the tassel from right to left is over. The rental cap and gown have been returned and the official diploma is due in the mail any day now… so, what comes next?

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Campus

Western sees largest freshman class in school history; first generation, transfer numbers still dwindle

By Liz McLane | October 14

Data released last week revealed that the incoming class of first-year students at Western Washington University is indeed the largest cohort the school has seen in its 129-year history.  The Office of Institutional Effectiveness, which provides yearly student demographic and enrollment data, reported that the new freshman class is composed of a total of 3,225 students, which exceeds pre-pandemic numbers. That’s up 3.5% since the fall of 2019, when the last set of enrollment data before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was released.  This jump in enrollment comes after two years of decline at Western, following a trend that public four-year schools across the country saw during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Campus

BRIEF: Western gets national recognition as top-ranked master’s-granting university

By Paloma Ortiz | October 12

Western Washington University was ranked 16th last month on Washington Monthly’s list of master’s-granting liberal arts colleges for its success in promoting public services and social mobility.  According to its website, Washington Monthly ranks liberal arts colleges - “four year institutions that award almost exclusively bachelor’s degrees and that focus on arts and science rather than professional programs.”  

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Campus

Living Proud

By Adam Race | October 11

The sixth floor of Western Washington University’s Alma Clark Glass Hall is designated as the hall’s “Pride Housing floor.” It’s the only floor on campus with entirely gender-neutral room assignments, but the program goes beyond just gender-neutral housing. Pride Housing’s mission statement, as provided by Western Residence Life, is “To provide students with opportunities for learning about the development of their own multidimensional personal and social identities.”

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Campus

AS Review out, Wavelength tunes in

By Finn Wendt | October 11

Western Washington University’s alternative student publication got a new name to kick off the new school year. Wavelength, formerly known as the AS Review, offers a fresh take on campus happenings from the Associated Students. While the publication’s URL still bears its former name, one visit to the website shows its evolution to a more energetic, modern media outlet topped off with a new blue-and-white wordmark logo.

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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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Campus

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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Campus

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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Campus

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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Campus

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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Campus

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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Campus

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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Campus

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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Campus

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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Campus

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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Campus

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.