A takeoff in aviation legislation
Nick Tucker, Staff Reporter
February 22, 2019
Filed under News
State Representative of District 13 Tom Dent has introduced three aviation-related bills in an effort to address worker shortages and boost funding for airports. “Our aviation industry is facing a critical pilot shortage. It is impacting technicians, instructors and other related aviation occupations...
Students ask for more active shooter training, the university responds
Alexa Murdock, Assistant Editor
February 20, 2019
CWU is working on creating an emergency situation training video in response to the Feb. 6 active shooter false alarm. Answering students’ questions during an open forum on Feb. 14, CWU Police Chief Jason Berthon-Koch said the video will include information about what to do in the event of an emerge...
ASCWU encourages students to share opinions
February 14, 2019
Filed under News
President James L. Gaudino and ASCWU President Edith Rojas announced in a press release that an open listening forum will be provided to CWU’s student body on Thursday, Feb. 14 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the SURC Pit. The forum is being opened in response to last Wednesday evening’s active shooter emergency...
Students could see an increase in fees
Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
February 14, 2019
Filed under News
Several on-campus groups have requested to raise their quarterly student fees, including the SURC, Student Medical and Counseling Clinic (SMaCC) and tutoring services. If all requests are approved, the result would be an additional $141 in fees per year, according to Vice President of Student Life...
$35 million funding request for final construction stages of new health sciences building
Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
February 14, 2019
Filed under News
A $35 million request by the health and science department to secure the final stage of state funding for the construction of the new health and science building is under consideration by the state of Washington. Gov. Inslee approved $32 million for the project in December. According to Ethan Bergman,...
Hertz Hall awaiting demolition
Nick Jahnke, Senior Reporter
February 14, 2019
Filed under News
Hertz Hall is set to be demolished by the end of February 2019. CWU plans to construct a new health sciences facility in its place, according to CWU Chief of Staff Linda Schactler. Hertz Hall has been a part of the CWU campus since 1962. Schactler said that in its old age, the building has a number...
Overview of faculty senate meeting
Payton Parke, Senior Reporter
February 14, 2019
Filed under News
New Update to MyCWU Page The MyCWU student page is where you check your holds and where you enroll for classes as well as financial aid rewards. Gail Mackin, Associate Provost of Undergraduate and Faculty Affairs had a lot to say about this update to the student page. According to Mackin, part of doi...
“Snowpocolypse” hasn’t stopped classes
Nick Tucker, Staff Reporter
February 14, 2019
Filed under News
Ellensburg has gotten the most snow of any year since winter 2016, in what has been dubbed the “snowpocolypse.” Since a large weather system moving in from the Pacific Ocean brought snow first to Seattle and then over the mountains to Ellensburg starting on Feb. 8, the National Weather Service (NWS)...
Active shooter false-alarm: How the students feel
Mariah Valles, Alexa Murdock and Jack Belcher, Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, and News Editor
February 14, 2019
The CWU Rave Alert! System informed students, faculty and staff of an active shooter threat nine minutes after the first 911 call on Feb. 6. That is about the time needed to complete the procedure, according to CWU Chief of Staff Linda Schactler.“The day we can get rid of humans it’ll go a lot faster,“...
University says student overheard conversation about possible threat, triggered ROTC protocol
Jack Belcher, Alexa Murdock, and Mariah Valles
February 8, 2019
An emergency response update regarding the active shooter threat on Feb. 6 places the responsibility on “a student” who “overheard” a conversation in the CWU Case Management Services Office in Bouillon Hall for triggering a chain of events that led to the lockdown of campus from 5:35 p.m. to 7:2...
Classes continued in attempt to restore sense of normality
Jack Belcher, Alexa Murdock, and Mariah Valles
February 8, 2019
The Observer is seeking students, parents, faculty and staff, or anyone who is comfortable and willing to share their thoughts or accounts in regards to this situation. If you would like to share your thoughts or accounts, please contact [email protected] CWU Ellensburg classes were held as usual on Thursd...
Abby Chien named new DEC director
Payton Parke, Staff Reporter
February 6, 2019
Filed under News
Abby Chien was selected as the new director of the Diversity and Equity Center (DEC). This is a new position for the DEC, which needed a director because it plans to keep growing. She will helping with student involvement as well as student success. She will also represent underserved students. “I a...