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The Eyes, Ears and Voice of the Students at WSU-V

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Washington State University - Vancouver September 8, 2008 www.vancougar.com

In this issue:
Fight that
Full-time counselor a first
By Shane Monroe it was endlessly in-
The VanCougar teresting; because
There is a new doctor on cam-
Freshman pus, and he is here for you! Dr. Wil-
liam Meek has joined the WSU-V
there were no
simple answers
to complex prob-
Fifteen family as our first full-time campus
counselor this year. Whether he is
providing individual counseling,
lems; because
I seemed to be
good at helping
n RECREATION, 7 involving himself in campus out-
people; and be-
reach programs, or serving on the
cause this is one
campus diversity and safety com-
way to make my
mittees; Dr. Meek believes that his
Eating In work is, “essential in helping stu-
dents succeed at WSU-V.”
life meaningful.”
Meek re-
ceived his Ph.D.
Meek was trained as a “gen-
What are the options on campus in counseling
eralist,” meaning that he can work
for healthy “lunchtime” munch- psychology
with almost any person that is in-
ies and beyond? from the Uni-
terested in seeing him. Throughout
versity of
n FEATURES, 6 his work, he has found that most
Missouri-

Illustration by Danielle Mosier

commonly, students want help
Kansas
with anxiety, depression, substance

Cougar
City.
abuse, and academic concerns. Al-
though these are the most common
needs, Meek wants to be sure that

Gridiron all students know and understand

that any WSU-V student is welcome
and encouraged to talk to him

Classic
about any need. Even if it is to sim-
ply learn more about
yourself and live life
more consciously. As
Meek is at WSU-V ev-
he puts it, “Everyone has some-
n RECTRATION, 7 thing in life that could be improved
ery Monday through Friday, from 8
a.m. until 5 p.m. His office located Both ethical and legal statutes
or that would be better after gain-
in the Student Service Center, room to, “safeguard information shared”
The VanCougar Online ing a new insight, so counseling can
111. To schedule an appointment, bindMeek to remaining completely
be used for any reason, not only for
Visit the NEW online ver- support in times of significant dis-
you can call (360) 546-9238. Coun- confidential. It is his hope that,
sion of The VanCougar @ seling is free to current students “Students will feel free to be who
tress.”
www.vancougar.com. Find and meant to be short-term, al- they are in their meetings, and
When I asked Dr. Meek why he
though, session limits do not exist. know that it is helpful to share their
out more: The news that chose Psychology over all the other
Meeks’ goal is to talk with each per- concerns with someone who has an
didn’t fit, editor blogs, pod- possible majors, he said “The an-
son individually to, “determine the objective perspective on things.”
casts, picture swer to that question changes each
best course of our work together.”
time I gain more insight into my
shows, video own life. So far I have discovered
Students interested in meeting
content and with Dr. Meek should know that all
that I went into Psych [sic] because
more. counseling is confidential.

Health Services at WSU-V

By Danielle Mosier
The VanCougar
Imagine yourself as a first-semester student
at WSU-V with no health insurance and a major
ear infection. Are you aware of the options avail-
able to you? If you aren’t, you might avoid being
seen for as long as possible, gambling with your
health in order to save some money.
Taking risks with your health isn’t necessary
if you’re a WSU-V student. WSU-V offers some
health services to its students and also provides a
directory to additional services on its website. To
avoid an emergency situation, it’s im-
portant for students to know and
understand the options available
to them. Even if you’re not cov-
ered by insurance through your
employer, parents, or spouse,
WSU offers some health services
to its students.
A resource available to students
at all WSU campuses is the 24-Hour
Advice Nurse. There is no fee for this
service, and the advice nurse can be reached
on campus by dialing 5-3575, or off-campus by
dialing (509) 335-3575. Information regarding ser-
vices available to WSU-V students is available on
the WSU-V website by searching for “Health Ser-
vices.”
Mental health services are also available at
no cost to WSU-V students for their first five vis-
its. Clark College’s health services are also avail-
able to WSU-V students. The fee is only $10 to be
seen by a nurse or nurse practitioner. Additional
fees may apply for lab tests and immunizations.
All of this information is available on WSU-V’s
Health Services page on the WSU-V website. The
web address is http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/
ss/health.htm.
Student health insurance is available through
WSU. According to a flier available in the student
services building, titled, “WSU Stu-
dent Medical Insurance Plan,” en-
rollment for fall or annual coverage
is open until September 5th. Ac-
cording to Student Insurance Co-
ordinator Treva Beebe, “The WSU
student health insurance plan may
be beneficial for students who do
not currently have other afford-
able options for health insurance or
students who need benefits not avail-
able through their current plan.”
The deadline for spring enrollment is Janu-
ary 23rd. The annual premium for a student is
$1,315. Beebe says, “This policy is a worldwide
policy. The students can see any doctor they
choose.”
Additional information on the WSU Student
Medical Insurance Plan can be found at www.
maksin.com/wsu.shtml. As with any insurance
plan, be sure to understand what kind of coverage
is offered in comparison to what your needs are.
According to WSU Pullman’s Health and
Wellness Services website, students at the Pull-
man campus have access to a fully staffed clinic
on campus. It isn’t without a price, however. In
addition to tuition, undergraduates at the main
campus are required to pay an additional $844
in mandatory fees, according to a chart detailed
on WSU’s website, which can be found at http://
www.ir.wsu.edu/budget/docs/09tuitionrates.pdf.
According to this chart, of those additional fees,
$252 annually goes to health services for students
on campus.
These are fees that Vancouver students are ex-
empt from, and for good reason. WSU-V is a com-
muter campus, with students residing at a variety
of locales. A centralized clinic on campus doesn’t
make much sense for the commuter student who
possibly lives closer to a different medical center
or has insurance through their employer.
Also, the backgrounds of the students at
WSU-V are varied. Some students have families
they need coverage for. There is also a wide age
range of students that one might not typically find
at a traditional campus.
n SERVICES, p5
2 The VanCougar
The VanCougar
The VanCougar is a student-
run newspaper serving the
students, faculty and staff of
WSU Vancouver. Copies of The
VanCougar are available free
of charge every other Monday
during the school year .
Editor-in-Chief
Gregory E. Zschomler
Managing Editor
Kati Hughes
Ad Manager
Dan Rauchenstein
Advisor
Dean Baker
Copy Editor
Rebecka Reed
ACE Editor
Beau Baxter Rosser
Staff Writers & Photographers
Beau Baxter Rosser, Rosann Bartel,
Robert Chu, Matt Hunter, Collin
Rickman, Willy Chi Shue Tsang, Louise
Wynn, Jason Garcia, Hannah Walker,
Shane Monroe, Kevin Raymond, Danielle
Mosier, Ruth Zschomler, Kyle Ralston,
Jake Kleinschmidt
Illustrators
Danielle Mosier and Anita Fleming
Layout and Design
Gregory E. Zschomler and Kati Hughes
© 2008 The VanCougar
CLS 212
14024 NE Salmon Creek Ave.
Vancouver, WA 98686
Phone: (360) 546-9524
Fax: (360) 546-9072
General e-mail , comments,
and employment inquiries
vancoug@vancouver.wsu.edu
Letters to the editor, guest
columns, and corrections
vancouged@vancouver.wsu.edu
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We are hiring!
We are always hiring. No experience is nec-
essary; we will provide all the training you
need in journalistic style, photography, and
digital printmaking. E-mail us at vancoug@
gmail.com or visit our office in CLS 212 for
more information.
Letters to the Editor
We encourage letters to the editor. Please
include your full name as part of the letter,
and a phone number or e-mail address for
confirmation follow-up. Letters must be by a
student, faculty, or staff member.
Guest Columns & Comics
The VanCougar accepts guest columns and
comics from current students of WSU Van-
couver. Interested students should e-mail us
at vancoug@gmail.com.
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Advertising information and rates can be
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It is our policy to correct errors. Please
contact the editors by e-mail at vancoug@
gmail.com.
EDITORIAL
Letters to the Editors
Got
In response to the “My DUI” article from
Opinion?
the Aug. 25 issue of The VanCougar:
To those whom it may concern and to the editor of the VanCougar. Free speech. It’s a right we
In the August 25, 2008 edition of the VanCougar, an article was included often neglect. If you’ve got some-
titled “My DUI.” The article gave a description of an individual experience thing on your mind or just need to
with getting arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. The article get something off your chest drop
does not fully capture the seriousness of the infraction that was committed us a line.
and instead focuses on the punishment for being caught. We have laws
prohibiting the use of alcohol while driving as an attempt to save thousands
of lives lost every year due to those who drive impaired. Whether or not one The VanCougar is the
is only slightly over the legal limit or severely intoxicated does not matter, place and platform to
what matters is that if you drive while under the influence of drugs or alco- voice YOUR opinion.
hol you are endangering the lives of others.
A sad fact not mentioned in the article being addressed is that every
year 1,700 other college students, just like you and I, die in alcohol related The VanCougar welcomes Let-
accidents. There is a solution to this problem however and is misguided ters to the Editor. Letters must be
in explanation in the “My DUI” story. The organization, not “classes” by students, faculty or staff and
know [sic] as Alcoholics Anonymous “is a fellowship of men and women include name and contact informa-
who share their experience strength and hope with one another so that they tion for varification purposes. Let-
may solve their common problem of alcoholism.” This organization and ters are subject to editing for length
others like it help those that are afflicted with the disease of alcoholism and or content.
addiction. Letters are printed at the dis-
In the before mentioned article the author refers to those afflicted cretion of the editors, but do not
with the disease of addiction in derogatory terms that I will not repeat and necessarily reflect their views.
that should never have been allowed to be published in the first place. Those Intentionally inflamatory re-
afflicted with the serious diseases of alcoholism or drug addiction should marks and racial, sexual or religious
not be looked down on or spoken about in a derogatory fashion. Most first slurs or extreme profanity will not
year college students who take psychology or sociology 101 know that the be published.
American Medical Association characterizes drug and alcohol addiction as
a disease and does not differentiate one from the other. The disease is char-
acterized by an inability to stop use of drugs or alcohol despite negative Please email your letters and
consequences. comments to:
I have written this letter to the editor for two reasons, the first is to zschomle@yahoo.com
shed light on the fact that drinking and driving is a serious issue and a very OR
serious problem. The second is to inform the intelligent readers of this pa- vancouged@vancouver.
per that those that suffer from addiction are not lacking in moral character wsu.edu
and are in fact suffering from the disease of addiction. In conjunction with
this I would also like to remind readers that if you or someone you know has
an alcohol or drug problem there is a solution and organizations that can
help.
Sincerely,
Wade Bowyer
In response to the “Tresspass arrest” ar-
ticle from the Aug. 25 issue of The Van-
Cougar:
Shame on you Officer Larry Raglione. You’re just another glaring example
of what unnecessary power produces. The reputation that so many law enforcement
agencies have worked so hard to shed has once again been manifested in your in-
ability to provide due process, protect and serve, and above all develop trust in the
students of Washington State University, Vancouver Campus.
Why did you not afford a few construction workers some basic civilities? Was
it necessary to arrest, handcuff, and remove people for handing out some informa-
tional leaflets? Were these people inciting violent protest? Officer Raglione, it would
appear that this entire incident is the result of your own swaggering authoritarian
pride.
This incident should create questions in the minds of all students at Wash-
ington State University on all campuses. This egregious breach of protocol should
make us ask things like why do we have fully sworn police officers on campus? Why
do we not have just campus security? The answer is that when too much author-
ity is placed in the hands of those who are willing to exploit its privileges without
consequences, then mistrust of institutionalized governing structures becomes the
dominant paradigm.
Officer Raglione, you should consider alternate methods of dealing with what
you perceive as obstinance before handcuffing people and destroying personal prop-
erty.
Sincerely,
Jeff Sanders
The views expressed on the editorial and opinion
pages are those of the authors and do not necessar-
ily reflect on the opinions or biases of the writers,
editors, or other staff members of the VanCougar.
OPINION
Health and Wealth
I don’t suppose you’re crazy enough
to watch much TBN (religious TV). Good.
Honestly, I can’t see how people do. And
I, as a Christ follower, consider myself a
spiritual person. I just don’t like religios-
ity. But, that’s beside the point.
The point is there’s a “doctrine”
(that’s a held religious belief) that all
good “christians” are entitled to health
and wealth. Let me tell you, it ain’t so.
Okay?
I don’t care who you are—sinner,
saint, atheist, agnostic, religious, or non-
religious—you really aren’t entitled to
much of anything. There are few guaran-
tees in life, my friend.
Now governments can “give” you
stuff, like laws and taxes and “rights”
if you will, but all that “certain inalien-
able” hoorah isn’t always so. It’s an ideal.
A good ideal—granted. But no one owes
anyone anything.
Not health. Not wealth. Fact is,
some have both; some have neither. And
having one or the other can certainly help
get the other. (Maybe their symbiotic
things?) vine.”
However, few people naturally have
perfect life-long health; I mean, we’re ALL
dying, right? (Sorry, to spring that on you
if you didn’t know.) Anyway, comfortable
longevity MAY be somewhat attainable.
And that requires a little cash—okay, a
LOT of cash.
If you wanna stay fixed up (knee
surgery, heart jobs, face-lifts, etc.) nice
and proper like, you’ve got put out some
bucks. (But even that is no sure thing.)
At any rate, I think health care is a
good thing and not just for the rich. Yes,
NEED TO EXPRESS YOURSELF?
The Salmon Creek Journal is now accepting submissions.
Faculty, staff, and students currently enrolled at Washington
State University Vancouver are encouraged to submit their
poetry, prose (fiction, non-fiction, or essay), and visual art to
be considered for publication in the 2009 Salmon Creek Journal.
2009 Salmon Creek Journal
The Literary Journal at Washington State University Vancouver
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS
NOVEMBER 15, 2008.
For a copy of the full submission guidelines, please contact:
A. K. Huseby or
Editor-In-Chief, 2009
Salmon Creek Journal
scj@vancouver.wsu.edu
Our website is forthcoming!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN
SALMON CREEK JOURNAL!
September 8, 2008
even college students should be able to
afford a visit to the doctor now and then.
Maybe, one day the government or some-
one will “give” it to us. In the meantime
either give up an arm or leg every month
on a premium or plan on giving all your
extremities over if hospitalized.
Forgive us our Trespasses
You may have read in the last issue
about the arrest of three union folks for
trespassing on WSU-V. I told you they
were going to step it up. Though they
may not try that one again, things ARE
likely to escalate—peaceful things, po-
lite things, of course—as “drywall-time”
grows closer. (Though they have been
strangely absent these past week. Hmm.)
Incidentally, lots of folks come on
our campus that aren’t students, faculty
or staff. Do you wonder why they aren’t
arrested for trespassing? I tell you: Be-
cause they don’t do anything to tick any-
one off, that’s why. That’s what it boils
down to. ful but functional tables.
Agreed, it isn’t kosher to hand out
university-dissing propaganda to 400
incoming students. You do that, the of-
ficials aren’t going to like it. However,
being careful not to appear to infringe on
“certain inalienable rights,” (like freedom
of speech; the right to assemble, etc.) they
might trump up other charges.
For instance, I was down at the First-
enburg last month handing out newspa-
pers to ROAR! Students. No one seemed
to care, but HAD they I might be “cited
for criminal trespassing,” not because I
was handing out “propaganda,” but be-
cause I was “obscuring entry,” let’s say.
Or I might be “creating a disturbance.”
(Though what constitutes a disturbance
is matter of interpretation as well.) You
see?
On the other hand…well, let’s just
say that “to err is human; to forgive di-
Hollar Back
If you ever have a complaint about
me, what I say in my editorials or the con-
tent of the paper be “man” (or woman)
enough to “hollar back” to my face. That
is have the guts to identify yourself and
tell me personally via email (zschomle@
yahoo.com). Compliments are welcome,
too. And thanks, all of you, for reading
the paper! of seven years—her
~GEZ
Barbara Melton
Managing Editor, 2009
Salmon Creek Journal
bemelton27@hotmail.com
3
Caffein’d
Kati’s curiously captivating
coffee-addled commentary
By Kati Hughes“A lot of our regulars have become
diabetic over the years,” says Rut-
Managing Editor
When I went to Clark Col- ledge, “but they still want their cof-
lege, aside from the cafés in vari- fee and still want it to taste good.”
ous buildings on campus, I noticed In an effort to accommodate their
a rarity of coffee shops in the area. diabetic customers, Crema Dolce
One day after class and on my way has developed one of the longest
home, I noticed an inviting little lists of sugar-free flavorings I have
shop along Fourth Plain. It was ever seen. Even for those custom-
Crema Dolce, and I’ve been back ers who are counting calories, it’s a
several times since. relief to be able to order something
Although it has changed in other than vanilla.
the three years since I first walked During my interview with Rut-
in and asked what was good, it is ledge, WSU-V student and a secu-
still the same intriguing shop it has rity guard Kevin Raymond entered
always been. The décor may be the shop. Raymond stops into Cre-
partly responsible for this, as well ma Dolce regularly for his caffeine
as the coffee-free products for sale. fix, and had plenty to say about the
The furniture is a combination of establishment. “It’s a popular stop,”
antique-style easy chairs and taste- says Raymond, “but it might be off
the beaten path for WSU-V students
One corner of the shop is set up who don’t live around here.” Being
with several formal, old fashioned a commuter campus, it is also true
easy chairs on short wooden legs. that many WSU-V students live
There is also a gas fireplace that outside of Salmon Creek.
resembles an old-fashioned wood When asked why he regularly
stove, making it an especially invit- gets his caffeine kick from Crema
ing place in the winter. Dolce, Raymond was honest. “Part
The arrangement also speaks of it is that they take my debit card
to the overall friendly and sociable and they’re convenient,” says Ray-
atmosphere of the place, with the mond, “just about as quick as a
chairs grouped together in a way drive-thru.” In addition, Raymond
that encourages conversation. says their drip coffee is delicious.
Along the walls and windows Another great reason to stop by, ac-
of this petite coffee shop are shelves cording to Raymond, is that “they
and bookcases lined with locally still give out chocolate-covered
made gifts. Jewelry, matching espresso beans. Every coffee place
mugs and coasters showcas- used to do that and now
ing Pacific Northwest it seems like they’re
photographers’ the only place that
work, as well does.”
as vintage- One of the ma-
style purses jor changes the coffee
and coffee- shop has made since I
art cards are first walked in is a dis-
c e
Dollain
among the appointing one to me.
m a One of my favorite
Cre0 E 4th P
many items to
be admired and things about going to
purchased at 500 # A101 Crema Dolce was the
Crema Dolce. Blvd 695-4048 gelato, a rich Italian
As I inter- (360) kind of ice cream.
viewed Erin Rut- Crema Dolce
ledge—a barista used to be well known
in the neighborhood
daughter meticulously for the gelato variet-
organized the cards and ies, but due to a lack of
other items on the coffee sales the product was removed
bar. Rutledge says that her favorite from the menu. In the end, though,
part about working at Crema Dolce the coffee is what keeps me there,
is the, “camaraderie you build with and I can always get ice cream else-
the people you see every day,” re- where.
ferring to the customers. When I walked into the shop
Rutledge believes the thing that to interview Rutledge, I asked her
sets Crema Dolce apart from other to make me her favorite drink. I al-
local coffee shops is the friendly at- ready knew that the drink I order
mosphere. Whereas conversation is every time I go there—a soy black
sometimes either forced or neglect- forest mocha—is delicious, so I
ed at some other places, Rutledge wanted to try something new. Rut-
says the approachability of the em- ledge made me a caramel and white
ployees at Crema Dolce is genuine. chocolate Americano with cream.
Rutledge says that the friendly As I had expected, it was strong,
attitudes of the baristas started with sweet, and perfect for a chilly day.
customer service training and de-
veloped into real friendships with To suggest your favorite coffee
customers. shop for review, email me at kati.
Evidence of the bonds between hughes.04@gmail.com, or come by
Crema Dolce employees and cus- the VanCougar office during my
tomers can be found on the menu. office hours.
CAR + HOME = BIG SAVINGS
HARRY HOFFMAN, Agent
360-574-5222
071808R2933076
1307 B NE 78th St., Ste 1
Vancouver, WA 98665
www.harryhoffman.net
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Co. – Bloomington, IL
4 The VanCougar
Obama vs McCain: A look at Health Care proposals
The Sluice Box
By Matt Hunter
With the election just around
the corner, it is time to discuss a
very important issue: health care.
While perhaps not the single most
important topic of this election,
health care will influence how
many Americans vote, particularly
with the baby boomer generation
(an abhorrently overused classifi-
cation) beginning to sink into re-
tirement. It is, therefore, a pertinent
issue.
At face value, Obama and Mc-
Cain have almost identical health
care plans. Both agree that the pres-
ent system is unsustainable. Both
agree that greater federal involve-
ment in health care is paramount.
Both promise their changes will
have no extra cost to the tax payer.
However, Obama and Mc-
Cain have vastly different plans for
health care. McCain hopes to cre-
ate greater competition between
insurance companies with the help
of government oversight. Obama
wants universal health care with
the option of private health care.
Obama’s Health care Plan
According to the Barack
Obama website, Obama intends
to expand government health care
to cover anyone and everyone, no
matter pre-existing health condi-
tions or economic standing. En-
Skin cancer: Words we don’t want to say
Why do you ask?
By Louise Wynn
Two words I really hate to hear
are “cancer” and “melanoma.” But
I don’t mind hearing them as much
as I mind saying them. In fact,
when I was diagnosed with two
malignant melanomas a few years
ago, I couldn’t bring myself to tell
my sister what I had.
I stammered and stuttered, and
finally I said, “I have these moles
that grow way too fast, and they
look different from a regular mole,
and, and, and they’re called…” She
said, “You mean melanoma?” I
said, “Yes. That.”
Melanoma, like many other
cancers, is considered a disease of
older people (like me). That is, it
takes a few years of exposure to the
carcinogen(s) responsible, in this
case, the sun, before enough cells
are sufficiently damaged to become
a full-blown cancer. Also, in the
case of melanoma and other skin
rollment would be simple and
the benefits would be expanded.
The plan would also create a Na-
tional Health Insurance Exchange,
whereby citizens could keep their
existing private insurance if they
desired. However, private insur-
ance groups would have to give at
least the same benefits as the gov-
ernment alternative
Under the Obama plan, if
employers didn’t provide private
health insurance to their employ-
ees, they would have to pay a given
amount to the federal health care
system
There is a curious paragraph
in the Obama health care plan
headed with the title “Lowering
Costs by Increasing Competition in
the Insurance and Drug Markets”
It is curious because the paragraph
it supposedly describes has noth-
ing to do with insurance compe-
tition. “[Obama’s] plan will force
insurers to pay out a reasonable
share of their premiums for patient
care instead of keeping exorbitant
amounts for profits and adminis-
tration.” This is not market com-
petition but rather the government
deciding how much of the premi-
ums insurance companies actually
should keep.
Obama also plans to lower
prescription drug costs by allowing
Americans to buy their drugs from
other countries, thus encouraging
a competitive pharmaceutical mar-
ket.
McCain’s Health care Plan
Like Obama, McCain sees fur-
ther government involvement in
health care as the only cure for the
coming crisis. However, where his
opponent wants universal health
cancers, a genetic predisposition
such as fair or freckly skin (like me)
and a few severe sunburns in child-
hood (like me) can tip the scale to-
ward skin cancer.
But here’s the clinker: You
don’t have to be old, you don’t have
to have pale skin, and you don’t
have to have had even one sun-
burn, to get skin cancer. You’re not
even safe from it here in the Pacific
Northwest, where we sometimes
kid ourselves that the almost con-
stant overcast protects us from this
malady.
So my advice is please take
care of yourself. If you “need” a tan,
spray it on. If you see anything on
your skin that looks unusual, isn’t
healing or is growing fast, have a
doctor check it.
Don’t just take my word on
this. If any of this is ringing a bell
for you, go to the Web to read up
on the signs of skin cancer. Then,
when you see a doctor, be prepared
with your research on the topic.
Please do REAL research,
though. When I started reading up
on malignant melanoma, I found a
lot of garbage both on the Internet
and in print. A good rule of thumb
for deciding whether to take seri-
ously a medical research article is
which journal it appeared in. If it’s
from a peer-reviewed journal, you
care, McCain is not so committed.
According to the McCain web-
site, citizens will receive a check of
2,500 dollars for individuals and
5,000 dollars for families to “offset
the costs of insurance.” Families
will chose their preferred provider
and the money will be sent to the
company.
McCain also wants to create a
non-profit organization to negotiate
with insurance companies for those
individuals who would normally
be uninsurable. He would also en-
courage states to expand their own
health care systems and experi-
ment with methods that work in
their communities. Like Obama,
McCain wants to allow importation
of drugs from other countries.
McCain’s health care plan also
includes doctor liability reform,
which would decrease the num-
ber of frivolous lawsuits brought
against doctors in America.
Are We Ready For Universal
Health care?
Comparatively, Obama and
McCain are only separated by de-
grees. Where Obama is obviously
proposing a form of universal
health care, McCain is merely a few
steps behind him. So the real ques-
tion: does America want universal
health care or stronger government
involvement in the health insur-
ance market?
The reader might protest
“But Obama is proposing a gov-
ernment health care system that
would merely be an alternative to
private insurance.” True, but this
duel existence of private and fed-
eral health care will invariably lead
to the elimination of private health
care for the simple reason that busi-
can probably trust it. Even then,
though, you’ve got to read careful-
ly, and make sure you understand
the actual findings of the research.
Case in point: In July, research-
ers reported that women who dis-
cover a cancerous lump through
breast self-examinations were no
more likely to survive breast cancer
than those whose cancer was dis-
covered through a mammogram.
(The article is at http://www.
cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab003373.
html. You’ll be fascinated to read
what it says and doesn’t say; and to
notice the huge difference between
the actual methods and results of
the study, compared with the “plain
language summary.” You’ll also see
interesting differences between the
results of the Russia and Shanghai
studies reported. And you’ll decide
for yourself if these results are per-
tinent to your situation.)
The evening that report was
made public, national and cable
news and Web news sites pro-
claimed that women shouldn’t
waste their time doing breast self-
exams any more. “It just causes
a lot of unnecessary anxiety for
women when they find a lump,”
said one M.D. in a radio interview.
“We would have less false positives
if women would just let their doc-
tor worry about this.”
OPINION
nesses must make a profit.
Under Obama’s plan, insur-
ance companies will have to pro-
vide the same or better benefits as
the government health care system
at the same or lower price. This is
asking the impossible. The govern-
ment system does not have to make
a profit and thus has a massive
advantage over any private alter-
native. So instead of encouraging
competition, Obama would create a
government supported monopoly.
“But what is the problem with
universal health care?” you ask. We
need look no further than Canada
for the answer. Despite exorbitant
taxation, the Canadian health care
system is in shambles, rendered
unable to perform its intended task
because it has no real market com-
petition. Lowering its prices to in-
credibly low levels, the Canadian
system simply couldn’t support it-
self. It has been forced to ration its
benefits, resulting in many citizens
that desperately need care never
getting it. Thus, there are many sto-
ries of Canadians crossing the bor-
der into the United States to get the
treatment they need.
So universal health care is a
bridge Americans really don’t want
to cross, but is McCain’s plan any
better? He certainly isn’t proposing
universal health care, but he is tak-
ing a small step in that direction by
encouraging greater government
involvement in health care. One
positive aspect of McCain’s propos-
al is medical malpractice reform,
which would reduce the number of
frivolous lawsuits brought against
doctors. This small reform would
save billions every year.
That doctor (a pediatrician,
not an OB-GYN, not a researcher,
and obviously not a careful reader)
was criticized by many listeners.
Many commented on his patron-
izing attitude and lack of credibil-
ity. Some told of experiences such
as finding a lump a month after a
negative mammogram. (Anecdotal
evidence, to be sure; just remem-
ber that “anecdote” is the singular
form of “data.”)
That radio “expert” doctor ad-
mitted, a month later, that he had
mischaracterized the research, and
he apologized for his mistake. The
bad news is that most of the self-
proclaimed experts who made a big
deal about the study haven’t done
anything to correct their original
reporting, which may be all that
many people ever hear or read.
Finally, then: Take care of
yourself. Don’t be afraid of say-
ing or hearing those words. Also,
trust yourself. Don’t trust so-called
experts, even doctors, with your
body and your health. If I’d insisted
on getting those moles taken care
of when I saw them, I’d have had
an easier recovery. If your doctor
doesn’t respond, get a second opin-
ion. The resources are out there to
help you become your own expert
researcher, care-giver, and advo-
cate.
 NEWS September 8, 2008
SERVICES, from p1
It would be more difficult and
WSU Vancouver
costly to effectively meet the needs Options
of all the students at WSU-V, thus
requiring different services than are 24 Hour Advice Nurse
necessary at Pullman. Fee: None
Regardless of how you choose On-Campus, dial 5-3575
to address your medical needs, be Off-Campus: (509)335-3575
sure to have an idea of what you’ll do
and how you’ll pay for it if an ailment
arises. Whatever you decide, WSU- Student Health Insurance
V and the surrounding community Fee: Moderate
have options available to you. Open enrollment until Sept. 5
www.maskin.com/wsu.shtml
Online Resources Student Mental Health Services
Fee: None (for first five visits)
To see a counselor on-campus,
General call (360)546-9446 and leave a
* www.hrsa.gov message to make an appointment.
To see a counselor off-campus, call
* www.healthfinder.gov
Nancy Youlden at (360)546-9571
* www.hhs.gov for a referral form.
Women Clark College Health Services
Fee: $10/visit. Additional fees
* www.healthywomen.org may apply for lab tests and immu-
* www.4woman.gov nizations.
* www.cdc.gov/women (360)992-2264
Children
* www.kidshealth.org
VIT: When it doesn’t compute By Rosann Bartel
Illustration by: Danielle Mosier
The VanCougar
WSU-V’s Vancouver Infor-
mation Technology (VIT) is the
university’s resource for stu-
dents, faculty and staff who
seek technical services and sup-
port. Some services are available
strictly on campus, but many can
be accessed online. Even if tech-
nology doesn’t generally inter-
est you, you might be pleasantly
surprised by what’s available.
Computer Labs:
There are three computer
labs on campus, located in the
following rooms: VMMC 101,
VCLS 218, and VLIB 102. Most of
the computers contain Windows
XP, Adobe Photoshop CS2, Mi-
crosoft Office 2003, Macromedia
Dreamweaver 8, and Secure tel-
net and FTP.
Printing documents costs
$.05 per black and white page,
and $.40 per colored page (though
Students speak out on smoking Signage required by law
By Hannah Walker
The VanCougar is posted in white on clear glass
doors as you enter a building,
Smoking policy on the WSU- easily missed unless looked for.
V campus aligns with Washing- By contrast, Clark College
ton State policy that requires has a policy they call “Breathe
smokers to take it outside at least Easy!” This policy makes the en-
25 feet away from building en- tire campus tobacco free, relegat-
trances, windows that open and ing smokers to the outer fringes
building intake ventilation. of the school for a five minute
Entrances are required to be smoke break.
marked with signs that express When asked weather or not
this policy. In a park-like setting WSU-V should adopt a simi-
with plenty of space for every- lar policy, students responded
one, such as the WSU-V campus, negatively. Shirley comments
most students are comfortable that such a policy would be over
with this policy. correcting. “If I don’t want to be
When asked what they around it, I can walk two feet
thought of the smoking policy on away,” says Nate Colpron, of the
campus, smokers and non-smok- current policy. Patrick Delo, a se-
ers alike agreed that the 25-foot nior at WSU-V and a non-smoker,
rule was respectful of everyone. feels strongly about this topic.
“I think it is a considerate “They (smokers) pay tuition
policy to both parties because just like I do. They should be able
it allows people who smoke to to do what they want to…Clark
smoke, and people who don’t is persecuting smokers!”
want to be subjected to it to be
able to avoid it,” said Rachael n SMOKING, p6
Shirley.
State/Community
Options
New Heights Medical Clinic
Fee: None
Medical
8000 NE 58th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665
(360)694-0355
http://www.coalitionclinics.org/
new-heights-clinic.html
Seamar Community
Health Clinic
Fee: Based on income
Medical
7410 Delaware Lane
Vancouver, WA
(360)986-5128
Dental
1412 NE 88th Street
Vancouver, WA
(360)574-4074
http://www.seamar.org/
Wash. State Basic Health Plan
Fee: Based on income
(800)826-2444
basichealth.hca.wa.gov
the latter option is only available
in the library copy room).
Laptops: Wireless Internet and
Laptops for Check out
Students with laptops don’t
need to register for wireless in-
ternet access. Simply connect to
the WSU-V wireless network.
Once online, you’ll be sent to a
login page which requires your
network ID and password. Wire-
less internet is available in the
following areas: The Quad, VCLS
218, the majority of the VMMC
building, the library and its sec-
ond floor classrooms, the cafete-
ria, and portions of the Engineer-
ing/Life sciences building.
Student laptops are required
to have antivirus software. Cur-
rent students can download Sy-
mantec Antivirus for free from
their MyWSU web accounts.
Students can also check out
laptops in the VCLS 218 comput-
er lab for four hour increments.
First time users need to complete
While some WSU-V students are annoyed by the presence of cigarrette smoke,
most seem to be willing to allow smokers their space if the favor is returned.
Several students think the unsightly ashtrays around campus are nothing com-
pared to the littered sidewalks and parking lot of Clark College, where smoking
was recently banned outright.
5
Washington Breast and Cervical
Health Program
Fee: None
Women over 40: Women’s health
exams, mammograms, pap tests
Women under 40: A grant may be
available for breast concerns.
(360)514-1663
(800)992-1817
State of Washington (Just for
Children)
Fee: None (if eligible)
For children up to 19 years old,
and pregnant women, if eligible.
(877)543-7669
For more information, please
visit http://www.vancouver.wsu.
edu/ss/health.htm
a brief form. They are currently
unable to print documents, but
they are equipped with wireless
internet access.
E-mail
Students can turn their WSU
email address into a forwarding
address. This service is easily
activated in the myProfile sec-
tion of one’s MyWSU account.
Once activated, all emails sent to
one’s WSU email (your network
id@wsu.edu) will be sent to the
email you specify.
This option can be particu-
larly useful if you desire a more
professional email address, and
is crucial if you expect teachers
to contact you via your WSU ac-
count. If a student doesn’t have
a personal email account, VIT
can provide one (instructions are
available on the VIT webpage).
VIT is located on the second
floor of the Classroom Building
in room 214. n VIT, p6
Photo Credit: Hannah Walker
 6 The VanCougar
SMOKING, from p5
Students also recognize that
Clark’s policy has unintended
consequences. When smokers
move to the sidewalk to smoke
where there are no ashtrays avail-
able, the ground becomes littered
with used cigarette butts.
Still, some would appreci-
ate a stricter policy on campus.
“Between the Media building and
the library where [the smokers]
congregate is difficult because you
have to walk right through [the
smoke],” says Greg Hazelquist,
an ex-smoker himself.
An idea students mentioned
favorably was a stricter policy that
had designated smoking areas
away from buildings altogether.
Shay Kaushagen is adamantly
opposed to the idea of relegating
smokers either off campus or to
designated smoking areas away
from buildings. For her, it comes
Back to school BBQ
The 2008 Back to School Barbe-
cue and Club Fair held September 3
more closely resembled a luau than
a stuffy university function. Food
and music from Patrick’s Hawaiian
Cafe gave it that flavor.
A cornucopia of student or-
ganizations had a chance to make
themselves known to new and old
students alike. Everything from
Queer Cougars, ASWSUV, the Lat-
ter Day Saint Student Organization
and even our own humble publica-
tion, the VanCougar and many more
clubs were out in the sunshine to
mix and mingle with the student
body.
Sunshine, free food, and good
music created a celebratory atmo-
sphere and made this barbecue one
to be remembered. The event was
sponsored by the ASWSUV.
Photos by Willy Chi Shue
down to an issue of the right to
choose.
“I understand that we all
share space, but to me it’s the
same as someone who wears a
lot of perfume,” said Kaushagen.
“It’s my personal choice and an
expression of my independence.”
For now, WSU-V’s smok-
ing policy seems to balance the
needs of both smokers and non-
smokers. Could we see pressure
to change the policy in the fu-
ture? One student speaks to the
discrepancy between the policy
at Clark and that at WSU-V.
“Because the campus isn’t as
crowded as Clark, the issue isn’t
forced. If the campus were to be
more crowded, I bet a lot more
non-smokers would complain
about it,” says Dustin Liebhaber.
VIT, from p5
If a student doesn’t have a
personal email account, VIT can
provide one (instructions are
available on the VIT webpage.)
Website Server
Students, faculty and staff can
apply for an account that allows
them to upload files onto the WSU-V
web server. The instructions vary ac-
cording to your personal status (stu-
dent, faculty, staff) and are available
on the VIT webpage, as are the terms
of use.
Blackboard
Students will inevitably encoun-
ter Blackboard, as many teachers use
it to upload course documents and
grades, and online courses might
be exclusively taught from it. Black-
board is accessed via a student’s Net-
work ID and password. If a student
loses their password, a staff member
at any of the on campus computer
labs can provide a new one. You
can also call the helpdesk at 360-
546-9770. The URL for Blackboard is
http://blackboard.wsu.edu/.
AV/Classroom Technology Services
Students, faculty and staff can
learn how to operate Audio Visual
equipment via scheduled training
sessions. Either email av@vancouver.
wsu.edu or call 546-9440 for appoint-
ments. Staff are also available during
regular business hours for emergen-
cy support services.
Forms are available online for
equipment requests. It is advised
you send the request at least a day
before you need it. A list of current
equipment is also available online.
Healthy options: on
campus dining
By Kevin Raymond
The VanCougar
It doesn’t take long to find the vari-
ety of healthy options in the WSU Van-
couver cafeteria. And if someone was
unable to locate a healthy alternative,
they could track down Bill Bontems.
He supervises the main cafeteria
and the “Commons Café” in
the Firstenberg Center.
Some immediate
options that jumped out at
me as I checked out the op-
tions were veggie wraps,
gardenburgers, Odwalla
smoothies, veggie stir-fry’s
and of course the salad bar.
Some simpler snacks include ba-
gels, yogurt with or without granola,
the baked potato bar and fresh fruit.
In my experience it is hard to
find that selection at restaurants out-
side of Portland and downtown Van-
couver.
The truth is that the cafeteria
is pushing the envelope in terms of
healthy options. WSU Vancouver stu-
dents seem to want what the culture at
large is looking for. “Our sales indicate
that eighty percent of the people want
the fatty foods. Chicken tenders and
cheeseburgers are our big sellers,” said
Bontems.
I managed to grab a graduate
student, Andy Hardwood, in the Com-
mons Café. He told me that his meal se-
lections at WSU Vancouver are motivat-
ed more around time constraints than
a desire for healthy options. He said,
“I think about that [healthy options]
more for breakfast and dinner. For
FEATURES
Tech Knowledge Workshops
Students, faculty and staff can
register for an array of technology
centric workshops. The classes are
brief and straight forward, and can
greatly enhance your technological
knowledge. You can even earn docu-
ments of completion in specific sub-
jects (such as Dreamweaver, HTML,
and Photoshop), if you attend an
entire series of workshops. For a list
of upcoming workshops, see the VIT
website.
Free/Discounted Software
The following programs are
available for free download on the
VIT webpage:
- FTP programs, used to up-
load files onto the internet (and in
this case, the school web server) are
available for both Windows and Mac
users.
- Microsoft Secure Shell Client,
which allows students to edit files
via the WSU web server.
- Symantec Antivirus, free to all
students with personal computers,
both laptops and desktops.
Various Microsoft programs
are available for free download, via
the Tech Tools link on your MyWSU
webpage. Microsoft Office is not
available for free, but versions of it
are available for discounted prices
($88 and below).
The information for this article
was gathered from the VIT website.
VIT staff were contacted but unable
to contribute to this article in time
for its publication.
For more information visit the VIT
website at http://www.vancouver.
wsu.edu/vit/.
lunch
I get what is
convenient.”
Bontems was quick to defend
the healthier entrees, “The good thing
is that we still offer the other. We want
to push that because obviously we are
an obese nation and we are working on
that.”
Bontems did say that he didn’t
foresee any changes in the near future.
“I think we have made a lot of changes
in the last two years. I don’t see any-
thing big on the horizon.”
Typical American products
may be the hot sellers, but for those
who are looking to cut calories or eat
more nutritious meals the cafeteria is
waiting for your support. Besides that
the greatest power we have to affect so-
ciety may boil down to how we spend
our money.
RECREATION & SPORTS September 8, 2008 7
Cougars corraled by Cowboys
Story and Photos by
Jason Garcia
The VanCougar

On Saturday, August 30, the

Washington State Cougars hosted the
Oklahoma State Cowboys at Seattle’s
Qwest Field Stadium for the 2008 Grid-
iron Classic. Unfortunately, “home
field” advantage looked more like a
disadvantage. The great defensive first
quarter for the Cougars proved to be
nothing more than a slow offensive
start for the Cowboys.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys
dominated the WSU Cougars in only
the third-ever match between the two
teams, winning by a score of 39-13.

After being held to only three

Fighting the feisty

points, the Cowboys pulled the triggers
on both six-shooters in their hands to
start the second quarter. The combina-

freshman fifteen
By Ruth Zschomler
The VanCougar
Possibly you’ve heard of the
freshman fifteen. The freshman fif-
teen refers to the phenomenon of
gaining fifteen pounds during the
first year of college. It is common
enough that books have been writ-
ten about it and no one seems to be
immune. What is it that promotes
this weight gain? It is not any one
thing, but rather a combination of
little changes that add up.
Busy lifestyles and new free-
doms contribute to this phenom-
enon. One reason may be the avail-
ability of cafeteria food. At many
colleges and universities, food is
available for students at all hours.
Without mom and dad around to
dictate mealtimes and snacks, many
students find their own choices to
be less nutritious than they could or
should be.
Another reason could be the
lifestyle change. New schedules,
more homework, and added pres-
sure on the college student can be
overwhelming.
What are some things students can
do to avoid adding inches to their
waistlines?
Cut back on calorie laden bev-
erages. Although coffee may help
you stay awake enough to study, fla-
vored coffee drinks can add calories
you might not be aware of.
Just one Starbucks® Grande
Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuc-
cino® Blended Crème-no whip has
400 calories. Make it a Venti for 550
calories. Add the whip for another
110 calories. You might think that
since it is not food, it doesn’t make
that much difference, but when you
add it all up, it counts.
Get enough sleep. Late night
cramming might help you get
through midterms, but when you
start dragging it is tempting to eat to
recharge your batteries.
Energy bars carry up to 400
calories each. It’s easy to grab an
energy bar and throw it in your bag
to eat between classes. Especially if
you have a schedule with back to
back classes. Try some fresh fruit;
apples, oranges, and bananas are
good choices.
Get some exercise. If you park
in the farthest parking lot from the
building you can get in some addi-
tional exercise (this will save money,
too.) Use the fitness center between
classes. Rent a bike from the recre-
ation office and ride the trails on
campus if you have a longer break.
This can be a good way to clear
your mind and might even help you
pay more attention in class. Most of
us need more energy, not more calo-
ries.
Plus, with the new recreation
center opening this month and lots
of intramurial sports on campus
to keep you active there are lots of
ways to keep in shape.
“Everyone has six pack abs; some just
bury it a little deeper in the fridge.”
tion of sophomore wide receiver/punt position, in addition to a massive 90-
returner Dez Bryan and sophmore yard kick off return for a touchdown.
running back Kendall Hunter was The Cougars’ indecisive play
more than enough to keep the Cougar placed them behind their 10- yard line
defense on its heels for the rest of the several times. Oklahoma’s defense
game. forced a safety on one such play, bring-
The Cougars’ inability to contain ing the sea of fans to an unsettled mur-
Bryant in one-on-one coverage opened mur.
up the field for Hunter to run loose. WSU began to find their rhythm
Oklahoma had 15 points on the score- with just over five minutes left in the
board at the close of the first half while third quarter, scoring their first points
Washington had none to show for their of the game. This sudden spark proved
efforts. too little, too late for the Cougars to
The beginning of the second half catch up.
brought a ray of hope as WSU inter- Oklahoma State chalked up a to-
cepted a pass on the Oklahoma open- tal of 376 yards, 172 in the air and 204
ing drive. However, a penalty on first on the ground. Washington State had a
down led Washington to a fast three total of 191 yards for the day, 76 pass-
-and-out, which became their routine ing and 115 rushing.
for the day. As the grounds of the stadium
To make matters worse, Oklahoma emptied, one Washington State stu-
dominated the special teams match- dent likened the game to a “slaughter,”
up. The Cowboys made three field in which conspicuous advertisements
goals and two extra-point attempts, for “Washington Beef, It’s What’s for
while the Cougars completed only one Dinner!” were suddenly put in a new
out of two attempts. Oklahoma’s punt light.
returns allowed for great starting field
You’re Invited to Join Us for
JOURNALISM BOOTCAMP
Saturday, September 27th, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
FREE
Learn about journalism, media,
reporting and more. Lunch provided.
Guest Speaker: Brett Oppegaard
All interested parties are invited to attend with RSVP.
Contact the VanCougar to RSVP,
for more info and location
8 The VanCougar FEATURES

Man on the Street: Coug tastes By Jake Kleinschmidt

My Own Story
The VanCougar
Everybody knows that food fuels learning. And in a learning environment like WSUV there are a lot of
hungry Cougars on campus. But what do these hungry minds want to eat? The VanCougar went out on campus
to ask the students exactly that. What do students think about the selection of nutritional foods on campus and
what would they like to see? Also, what do they usually eat?
Most students who have eaten on campus before enjoyed the burgers, particularly the chicken burger. There
were a few, however, who tried to eat more lean meals, like salads. The impression most students had about the
food in WSU-V was that if you wanted to eat healthy, bring your own food or go someplace else. Campus Cougars,
though, just want to eat something that tastes good. There isn’t enough time to think about eating right.
Below are some of the thoughts the students have on WSU-V’s food selection.

Tommy Tran
We want to hear
Business major from YOU!
“Something that’s not too In light of the upcom-
greasy, something that’s a ing First Annual Diver-
bit healthier, but good at sity Film Festival, the Van-
David Williams Cougar will be joining the
Psychology major the same time... spaghetti WSU-V campus in celebrat-
“Maybe better carb as an example.” ing diversity.
charts, count carbs, or if Bola Majekobaje of the
Office of Student Involve-
anybody is diabetic then ment specializes in Student
add sugar free items.” Diversity. “Film is one way
that people like to learn
about life,” she says, “and
if [the film festival] leads to
Susan Lerma students looking at differ-
Human Resources major ent cultures in a new way,
maybe they will be inspired
“I think they’re great; I to make a film.”
have lunch here all the As you are watching
time … usually the ham- these films and learning
about your life and the lives
burgers.” of others, think about your
James van Boxtel own story.
Computer Science major At WSU-V we want to
“I’m actually ok with the celebrate “students of many
food right know, I just backgrounds,” as Majeko-
want them to be cheaper.” baje says.
The Film Festival focus-
es on minoritized groups
shedding light on their
own perspectives of them-
Troy Potter selves. There are undoubt-
Pharmacology and edly many fascinating sto-
ries from the campus to be
Toxicology major told.
“I think they have a good Maybe you feel that
selection, a diverse selec- Travis Schemp your story isn’t “diverse”
tion of it. Some items are enough to be interesting
Finance major because you don’t belong
low in calories, low in “Definitely something to a group that people usu-
cholesterol, then you’ve that tastes good. If I want ally think of when the word
got the gut winchers.” something healthy I’ll “diverse” is brought up.
Given the focus of the Film
bring it from home.” Festival, this is an interest-
ing thing to think about.
The films featured in
the festival focus on people
whose stories are often ei-

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NEWS
WSU-V DTC students to McClaskey building
intern with fairness.com breaks ground at WSU-V
This fall students in newspaper
reporter Brett Oppegaard’s “Informa-
tion Ethics” class at Washington State
University Vancouver will be working
with Fairness.com to evaluate main-
stream news publications and exam-
ine contemporary ethical problems
related to information.
“This experience will give stu-
dents specializing in digital media a
taste of what it is like to work with a
commercial Web site and to receive
feedback on their writing from profes-
sionals in the field,” said Dene Grigar,
director of the Digital Technology and
September 8, 2008
Culture program at WSU-V.
Fairness.com is a free national
clearinghouse providing information
links to articles about fairness issues
world-wide, such as law, politics, fi-
nance, consumer protection, media
and information technology.
A staff writer at The Columbian
for more than 13 years, Oppegaard
said he sees this collaboration with
Fairness.com as an opportunity to
give students professional work expe-
rience, improve their literacy habits,
and teach them how to evaluate mass
media .
Washington State Universi-
ty-Vancouver will host a ground-
breaking event at 11 a.m. Sept.
18 to celebrate the generous gift
of $1.5 million from the Tod and
Maxine McClaskey Foundation
for the expansion of the WSU-V
Child Development Program.
The new building will al-
low the creation of a full-day
kindergarten scheduled to open
in fall 2010.
The ceremony will take
place near the Human Devel-
opment building, soon to be re-
9
named the McClaskey Building.
WSU-V Chancellor Hal Denger-
ink will give opening remarks
followed by members of the
Foundation Board. The children
in the program will also be par-
ticipating in the actual ground
breaking.
Students and the public are in-
vited to the celebration, though
RSVP is required to events@van-
couver.wsu.edu or 360-546-9600.

Recreation Center to re-open Photos and Story by

Katie Wells
The VanCougar
A wide range of workouts will be possible
in the Fitness Center which will open Monday,
September 8 at 7 a.m. as planned. With over
$60,000 worth of new exercise equipment, the
newly expanded and remodeled Fitness Center is
a prime location for a great workout. The inven-
tory includes free weights, dumbbells, barbells,
Olympic bars, treadmills, and elliptical machines
as well as training balls and yoga mats.
Last year, in the much smaller workout room,
an average of 120 students and staff members
used the facility per week. Neil Gregory, the Rec-
reation Center Advisor, estimates an average of
200-250 users in the peak times of the year.“The
old building...it had a cement floor, grey walls, no
mirrors. Now you look at? Wow! It’s double the
size and mirrors go all the way around. It’s re-
ally nice,” Gregory said. There’s also a rubberized
floor.
Gregory, along with many fitness oriented
people at our school, are very excited about the
chance to use all the new equipment. The center
will be student staffed from open to close each
day. Students, faculty, and staff will be able to use
the facility at not cost during the hours of 7 a.m.
to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to
2 p.m. on Fridays.
10 The VanCougar
By Rosie Bartel
The VanCougar
“Babylon A.D.” is a barely com-
prehensible mess, featuring characters
who stoically recite clichéd dialogue,
engage in dizzying action sequences,
and are forbidden to develop interest-
ing personalities.
It stars the ever gravely voiced
Vin Diesel as Toorop, a tough, foul
mouthed, and remarkably unflappa-
ble mercenary who frequently roughs
up and/or kills people after deliver-
ACE
ing callous one liners. He’s hired to
smuggle the beautiful Aurora (French
actress Mélanie Thierry), a Russian
immigrant, to New York. She lives
in a convent and is accompanied by
Arts, Culture Sister Rebeka (Hong Kong action star
Michelle Yeoh), whose saucy repar-
Entertainment tee with Toorop provides some much
needed humor.
The film is bloated with extensive
and confusing action sequences, in-
volving a constant deluge of enemies
who wish to capture Aurora, who
exhibits extrasensory abilities and
screams a lot. Aurora’s weird parents
UPCOMING
(who she thinks are dead) monitor her
via “futuristic” computer surveillance,
EVENTS
and mysteriously tout her as The Sav-
ior. Though a Biblically inspired plot
emerges, the movie ignores its more
compelling implications.
DIVERSITY FILM Plot details are belatedly ex-
plained and then complicated further
FESTIVAL by abrupt (and often nonsensical) de-
velopments. I was working so hard to
keep up that I honestly couldn’t tell if
• Hello Thanks, Scaredycat, The Pull I was enjoying the movie or not. Set
Wednesday, September 10, 7p.m. murkily in the future (we learn that
• Killer of Sheep Siberian tigers went extinct in 2017),
Tuesday, September 16, 4 p.m. the film is indeed visually interesting,
particularly the scenes overlooking
• Smoke Signals miles of snowy terrain, and the col-
Wednesday, September 17, 7 p.m. orful New York City. Newcomer Mé-
3 Cups of Tea Bazaar
Photo Credit: ©2008 Focus Features
See page 8 for details.
Connections 2008
FSC, Sept. 9, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/diversity/
Coogan usure of his performance in Focus’
Hamlet 2
Music Review: Slipknot, “All Hope is Gone”
By Danielle Mosier
Managing Editor
All hope is not gone for Slip-
knot fans. The band’s fourth studio
album, All Hope is Gone, delivers
songs with the driving, sometimes
frantic, rhythm of guitar and drums
that fans have grown to expect, but
balances these songs with some
that are less hardcore, but more
melodic. Songs like “Snuff” aren’t
antithetical to Slipknot’s energetic
style, though. Rather, these songs
are complementary to the others on
the album.
The opening track, “Execute,”
flows well into the following track.
Its lyrics are almost impossible to
discern unless the listener reads the
lyrics included as they are played
ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
Babble-on, Babylon
Vin Diesel as Toorop points his gun with authority in 20th Century Fox’s Baylon A.D.
lanie Thierry gives an appropriately
sensitive, ethereal performance, and
Michelle Yeoh lends genuine emo-
tion to her thinly developed character.
Yeoh is also given a few underrep-
resented action sequences, and as a
fan of her work in “Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon,” I was disappointed
there weren’t more (especially since
the insolent Toorop deserved at least
a backhand or two.)
Vin Diesel’s Toorop oscillates be-
tween heroism and cruelty with star-
tling frequency, which I guess is sup-
posed to give him depth as a tortured,
conflicted soul. He’s initially gruff and
dismissive of the pouty lipped Aurora,
but inevitably softens up, even confid-
ing in her his wish to live a quiet life
on the old family farm. But if you’re
queasy about romance, don’t worry;
it’s only briefly acknowledged.
The movie is based on the sci-
fi novel Babylon Babies by Maurice
Georges Dantec. Perhaps part of the
Hamlet 2 “rotten”
By Hannah Walker
Managing Editor
Irreverent? Yes. Sacrilegious? De-
batably. Sidesplitting? Occasionally. This
movie is appropriate only for those who
do not take themselves too seriously due
to its diverse portfolio of the crude and of-
fensive.
An out-of-work and talent deficient
actor, Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan), at-
tempts to save his job as a drama teacher
through the production of an original piece,
Hamlet 2. This play serves to throw the
community into frenzy, and allows a host
of players to work through various internal
issues. A colorful cast of characters troop
in and out of scenes as a backdrop for
Marschz, not the least of which is a gang of
high school students.
on the track. Nevertheless, they
set the tone for what seems to be
a politically charged album. The
album’s title track, “All Hope is
Gone,” delivers lyrics with politi-
cal tones such as, “The State of the
Nation/ Violation,” and “The Bill of
Rights is a Bill of Sale.”
Still, references to the current
political climate are vague and only
a handful of songs have a political
tone to them. The music takes cen-
ter stage on this album, not the pol-
itics. The vocals are, in typical Slip-
knot fashion, a component of the
music, not the central focus of the
music. Because of this, All Hope is
Gone can appeal to metal fans of
any persuasion.
Photo Credit: ©2008 2oth Century Fox
problem is the standard difficulty of
book-to-movie conversion. Addition-
ally, IMDB.com reveals that “creative
differences” between director Mathieu
Kassovitz and 20th Century Fox may
have mangled the final product.
Whatever the case, this movie
might interest those who can toler-
ate confusing action flicks with little
substance, especially if they’re fans
of Vin Diesel, who, despite my deri-
sive assessments, delivers a satisfy-
ingly gritty performance. However,
be forewarned that the tangled plot is
never adequately resolved, thanks to
the rushed and bewildering ending,
which leaves enough unanswered
questions to merit a sequel. Sadly (or
not), the movie doesn’t give us much
of a reason to care.
The film is 90 minutes long and
rated PG-13 for violence, language,
and light sexuality.
Primarily, this film touches on themes
of racial tension and teenage angst, though
nothing is safe from mockery. A few bril-
liant moments comically dealing with these
themes are sprinkled throughout the film,
always delivered by the high school crew.
The musical number “Sexy Jesus” is one
of the highlights of the film. Unfortunately,
Coogan’s character dominates the screen
far too often in a generally flat and tiresome
performance, and these luminous moments
are indeed sparse.
This film is rated R for language,
sexual references, nudity and drug content.
It is not recommended that you make this
a date movie. It may serve to fend off the
boredom on a long, hot afternoon, however.
Just be sure to make the matinee because
Hamlet 2 is not worth $10.
Photo Credit: ©2008 Roadrunner Records
All Hope is Gone is labeled
with a parental advisory sticker for
explicit content.
ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
Game Review: Metal Gear Solid 4
By Beau Baxter Rosser
ACE Editor
The Metal Gear Solid games
have always offered players a
unique experience incomparable to
other games of the medium. Direc-
tor Hideo Kojima has an amazing
grasp of what a game should look,
feel and play like. His ability to
craft a story and direct a cut scene
without leaving the player bored or
jaded is unmatched within the in-
dustry.
His newest game to the se-
ries, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the
Patriots, is no exception. Whereas
Metal Gear Solid 2 made an exam-
ple of the player by leading them,
as Raiden, through the story like a
puppet, Metal Gear Solid 4 lets the
player witness the aging process of
a game series and its character, Sol-
id Snake. Both of which have been
around for almost 20 years.
In the overly casual space
of gaming, a game like Metal
Gear Solid 4 stands out among the
crowd, and Kojima knows this. In
the opening scene, Snake professes,
“War has changed,” an allegory to
the fact that gaming has changed.
Snake represents the entire hard-
core population of gamers as a
dying breed. Replacing Snake are
newer, younger and stronger com-
mandos, whom some would feel
have no place on the battlefield.
Just like Snake, the hard-
core gamer and hardcore gaming
experience is getting replaced, al-
beit slowly, by the casual gaming
experience and its fair-weathered
gamers. That isn’t to say that the
casual gaming space is a bad thing,
September 8, 2008
but instead, something new, young
and strong.
For fans of the Metal Gear
Solid series, all the factors that
make those games popular are in
attendance: well crafted storytell-
ing, beautifully handled directing,
solid controls, and amazing graphi-
cal presentation. Those hardcore
gaming staples are a given, but this
game is something more than that.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Pa-
triots is Kojima’s swan song to the
hardcore gamer.
So instead of breaking this
game down into reviewable cat-
egories a la a typical game critique,
I wanted to look at this game as a
piece of art and a message to all
the people who have been play-
ing games for over two decades. If
you’re a gamer who owns a Play-
station 3, this game is a must have.
I would also urge gamers who do
not own a Playstation 3 yet to take
the 400 or so dollar plunge on the
system just to experience this land-
mark in gaming.
Gaming has changed, and it
is up to the player to adapt accord-
ingly.
11
GADZUKES! By Will & Greg
Will: Dawg! Thanks for the veggies. Love those fresh green beans.
Greg: Want some more zuke?
Will: Sure! That last one, being the size of a baseball bat, was useful and
delicious. Had a burglar break in to my apartment last week. I brained him
from behind with that zuke and called 911. Made a salad out of the zuc-
chini while I waited for the police. Only veggie I know of with self-defense
properties.
Greg: That’s great, amigo. I’ve got some out in the truck for ya. Do you have
a pallet jack handy?
Will: All lines are busy. Please try your call again next year. A zuke surplus
is your problem; please don’t make it mine. Puts a strain on our friendship,
over and above your myriad of annoying personality quirks.
Greg: I’m running out of options here. Ya gotta help me out. None of my
neighbors will make eye contact with me. The wife is making zucchini bread,
chocolate zucchini cake, zucchini chutney… I HATE chutney! In fact I don’t
even like zucchini that much. Try and disguise it all you like by grinding it
up in stuff—it just looks like boogers in your bread. I know it’s good for you,
but…
Will: You never, ever, put more than one zuke plant in your garden, didn’t
you know that? If you do, add marital stress to the properties of this speck-
led green garden staple. Look, pay me ten bucks and I’ll take a couple more
off’n you. What other joys is your garden putting on your table? (Insect
pests do not count.)
Greg: Beans, beans, beans. The tommy-toes, too are a timely taste-sensa-
tion and the corn is coming ripe. Oh, yeah! I MAY share those with you, too.
That is, IF you take some more zuke off my hand—at no charge, of course.
Mmmm, piping hot corn on the cob, roasted on the grill, slathered in butter
and sprinkled with pepper. Tommy-toes, sliced and sprinkled lightly with
lemon-pepper…
Will: Tempting, but the prospect of a delicious nosh is outweighed by the
twenty loaves of zuke bread I’d have to bake to use up the one you are hid-
ing behind your back. Take it away! It is frightful to my sight! I do not like
green zuke and ham, I will not eat them, Greg-I-am.
Greg: You and Suess! Sheesh. Suess, he didn’t like the zuke; it made him
sick, it made him puke. (Like me.) Look, its okay if you lightly sauté it in a mix
of other veggies, but cook it too much and it turns to a goo so loathsome
that even okra sounds better—and that’s saying a lot. Why didn’t George
Washington Carver find five-hundred uses for zucchini rather than pea-
nuts?
Will: We can add at least one more use: we’ve squeezed half our column out
of one. But don’t diss okra, dude. You can’t thicken gumbo properly without
it. And you fry up some okra, you got a real treat. Mmm, mm! Likewise, you
can batter-fry zucchini and it’s not too bad either. But kindly remove them
zukes you hid behind the couch cushions. And the ones behind the TV, the
ones under the sink, the sack full in the closet, the bagful under the coffee
table, and the ones under the newspaper on top of the fridge.
Greg: You seen me? Man! Look at it this way: You will always have a weap-
on handy in case of another break in. Hey! Maybe I can sell these on eBay
as “Attacker Smackers.” All natural ingredients, biodegradable, environmen-
tally-friendly, earth-consciously, organic self-protection devices. Otta sell
like hotcakes.
Will: Zucchini hotcakes—you try those yet? Try a shot of zucchini syrup in
your next latte. Grate some on your ice cream. Actually, I didn’t knock out
the burglar. When he saw me standing there with that monster zuke, he
thought I was going to make him steal it too, and he fainted straight away.
Zuke/nuke; both have massive deterrent capabilities. You want to remove
all them zukes you hid in my washer and dryer, right? I saw that too.
Greg: VMD’s, huh? Vegetables of Mass Destruction. Do you think the De-
fense Department…? Nah. But speaking of the government, why don’t
they pay farmers NOT to grown zuke? They do everything else. What would
happen if zucchini overtook all other garden species? In fact what if zukes
are actually pod people from the planet Zukari aII come to suck our brains
out? Dude! Should we, like, notify the USAF? Area 51? And zucchini syrup?!
Do you realize what that would look like? You ARE mental.
Will: Yeah, and I’m OK with that. Know what happens if you wear a slice
of zucchini behind each ear? You’d look stupid, but you’d use up part of a
zuke. That makes it worth thinking about. Okay, last year, you opened my
computer case and hid three inside. Do I have to look inside this year? And
I liked how you dumped out that box of Wheaties and filled it with zukes. A
bowl full of sliced zucchini with milk does NOT sound like the breakfast of
champions.
Greg: So, you’re implying that a slice of zuke behind the ears might work
like the cashews work in that Planter’s commercial where the “beauty-chal-
lenged” chick rubs the nut behind her ears and it drives the men wild? Is
that what you’re saying? Or are you suggesting that… WAIT! Great Scott!
What if you accidentally got a seed lodged in your ear. It might take root in
the wax and… I can’t even fathom this: The thought is mind blowing, if you
get my drift.
Will: Delete key! You need more practice with that. But to answer your ques-
tion, you’d end up a vegetable. I guess we can always hope for an early frost.
No! That would mean I can expect your yearly off-load of winter squash. You
should convert your garden to a heavenly place—by making it de-vine.
Visit TAG online at http://www.creativity-unlimited.biz/webtour/twoguys/index.html
12 The VanCougar TAIL END
September 2008 The VanCougar Bulletin
To include a bulletin on this page, drop a flyer for a school or club-related event into
our “Bulletins” folder outside VCLS 212 or email vancoug@vancouver.wsu.edu.
Connections September 9 4 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. Free for registered student organizations!
Firstenburg Student Commons
Free food, art, and music to welcome all new members of the WSU
Vancouver community!
Classified Advertisment Space is Available
Three Cups of Tea Fair and Bazaar September 10 11 a.m.-2 Your ad here for just $3.50 an issue or two issues for $5.
p.m. 50 words or less. Cash in advance. Students recieve a fifty
Firstenburg Student Commons cent discount. No business listings, please. Call or stop by the
Learn about life in Southeast Asia, mountain climbing, and fair
trade. Shop for unique treasures (starting at $10) including scarves, VanCougar office for assistance. 546.9524 • VCLS 212
jewelry, wallets, purses, carved items, and more. Plus, share a cup
of chai or indulge in a henna tatoo ($5)!

Ross Island Tour Kayaking September 13 2008 Cougar Holiday Card CONTEST!
Sign up at the OSI by September 9.
$15 student price, $20 for non-students. Help design this years holiday card for the WSU-V De-
velopment Office. The winning design will be made
Archery Instruction at Archery World September 16 into the card that goes out to all of our donors.
Sign up at the OSI by September 12th.
$5 student price, $8 for non-students. The contest began Aug. 1 and the submission deadline is Oct. 1.
Each entry must include the $5 entry fee. All proceeds go to support
Football Weekend September 20-21 the WSU-V Scholarship Program and the lucky winner also decides
Pullman, WA which special scholarship will recieve the entry money. All art medi-
Sign up at the OSI. For current students only. $25 fee includes ums (drawing, painting, photos, etc.) accepted.
tickets, transportation, and hotel accommodations.

For guidlines and more information see the office of Development

Disc Golf Clinic September 24 and Alumni Relations at: 360-546-9600 (Admin 216B)
Sign up at the OSI.
Join other gold lovers on campus for this free event. Sign up on the
day of the event.
After School Care Wanted - Immediate Opening
Chartered Bottom Fishing (Pacific Ocean) September 24
(Salmon Creek)
Sign up at the OSI. 4 days per week (flexible for the right person). 3:00 p.m.
$60 student price, $70 for non-students.
– 6:00 p.m. This would include helping with homework and
picking up/dropping off the children at after school activities.
Please call Holley or Jeff at 360-576-4906