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By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

Astor Powell-Pedersen

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor

News Editor – Spring 2024

Staff Reporter – Winter 2024

All content by Astor Powell-Pedersen
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CWU political science professors’ perspectives on an ‘extraordinary’ election

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
November 12, 2024

To many, the 2024 US presidential election—the last several elections really— has seemed out of the ordinary from what people have come to expect from politics  past decades. “All of this really...

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Ron Dotzauer and President Jim Wohlpart

Ron Dotzauer – CWU political science alum – shares his political journey

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
October 31, 2024

On Oct. 24 Ron Dotzauer, political strategist, founder of Strategies360 and CWU political science alum, came back to speak to students about his political journey and how students can get involved in politics.  Chair...

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Ballot box outside of the SURC.

2024 Washington gubernatorial Voter’s Guide

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
October 31, 2024

Washington state’s gubernatorial election will take place on Nov. 5 between Democrat Bob Ferguson, a lawyer who is currently serving as the 18th attorney general of Washington and Republican Dave Reichert,...

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Festival submission posters. (Photos courtesy of CWU Theatre and Film)

Students bring genre filmmaking to the big-screen at the Wildcat Film Festival

Astor Powell-Pedersen and Chayton Garcia
October 31, 2024

The Wildcat Film Festival, held on Oct. 29 gave students the opportunity to see seven student-made short films on the big screen in McConnell Auditorium. The seven films submitted were “I Still Love...

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ASL Students Jose L Martinez III, Tevin Merlin and Jesus Chavez-Lara signing "I love you." (Photo by Astor Powell-Pederson)

On the ground at the world language open house

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
October 25, 2024

Attended by faculty and students from the French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Sign Language and Spanish departments, the World Languages and Cultures Open House was a forum for students across departments...

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(Design by Robin MacArthur)

The celebritization of politicians

Astor Powell-Pedersen, Columnist
October 25, 2024

Throughout American history, and quite frankly all of political history, every major politician is going to have their diehard supporters. The people who love everything they do, and follow their every...

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Design by Z Morris

The Observer’s 2024 Voters’ Guide

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
October 17, 2024

With the US presidential elections less than a month away, it's vital to know where candidates stand on topics of importance, both domestically and internationally. All information is taken from candidate...

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President Jim Wohlpart speaking at the State of the University Adress. (Photo by Brandon Mattesich)

The State of your University: Wohlpart says $26 million lost due to low enrollment

Astor Powell-Pedersen and Lee Beck
October 9, 2024

President Jim Wohlpart revealed that CWU has lost $26 million in tuition money due to enrollment decline at his annual State of the University Address (STU) on Oct. 4 in the SURC Ballroom.  Wohlpart...

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Ballot box outside of the SURC.

Voting in Washington State

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
October 3, 2024

Voting season is almost here again with the general election for the next president of the United States being a little over a month away on Nov. 5. For many college students, this is the first presidential...

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Rules for a Reason

Astor Powell-Pedersen, Columnist
May 30, 2024

They say that behind every rule, there is a story. Every young mind that tours CWU’s Ellensburg campus knows one thing by the end of the tour: you do not swim in the Ganges. The sweet smile of your tour...

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Barge Hall with chalk drawings during the protest.

Disclose, divest, disrupt

Organized and individual protests in relation to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict have left an impact on campus over the past two weeks, with calls for the disclosure and divestment of CWU’s...

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The building of Farrell Hall. 
(Courtesy of CWU archives)

So Long Farrell Hall

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
May 23, 2024

If you have been on campus any time in the last several months, you’ve certainly noticed all of the construction, blocked pathways and, of course, the lack of L&L. While we’ve had this time to...

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Updates on the Vice President for Equity and Belonging and Senior Diversity Officer

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
May 16, 2024

On May 8, CWU President Jim Wohlpart sent out an email with an update on the search for a Vice President for Equity and Belonging and Senior Diversity Officer. After the failed search, the president, along...

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Ringing the alarm bells on staff exploitation

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
May 16, 2024

Between three and seven CWU staff employees out of 10 feel overworked, undervalued and exploited, according to a survey by the Public School Employees of Washington (PSE) that Raymond Wells, the president...

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Everything you need to know about the upcoming ASCWU election: Senator edition

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
May 9, 2024

We’ve got five candidates this year in the running for ASCWU senatorial positions, each hoping to find their place as representatives for their prospective student groups. The positions in the running...

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Everything you need to know about the upcoming ASCWU election

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
April 30, 2024

ASCWU Elections are quickly approaching, with online voting for the General Elections opening Monday, May 13 at 8 a.m. and closing Friday, May 17 at 5 p.m. There are eight students running for executive...

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Campus Village catches fire in the night

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
April 25, 2024

It was nearly 2 a.m. on Sunday, April 14 when Audry Baratto, a fourth-year film major, was getting ready for bed. “It was a normal night, all the lights were off, my cat was lying next to me and...

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CWU Students at Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).(Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Renteria-Valencia)

Becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
April 17, 2024

The federal government defines Hispanic Serving Institutions, or HSIs, as accredited institutions of higher education where 25% or more of the undergraduate population are Hispanic, with at least 50% of...

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Lucky

Astor Powell-Pedersen, Columnist
April 11, 2024

If you’ve been paying attention to the national news, it isn’t difficult to see that in recent years, the right-wing has found its perfect new scapegoat.  According to https://translegislation.com/,...

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The Primary Elections at CWU

Astor Powell-Pedersen, News Editor
April 4, 2024

For many CWU students and college students across the board the 2024 presidential primary election was their first voting experience. According to CNN, primaries are “election[s] to select candidates,...

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Spotlight on women at the Observer

Astor Powell-Pedersen, Staff Reporter
March 7, 2024

This Women’s History Month at The Observer we want to show our appreciation for the amazing women that make this newspaper what it is. This quarter, we have had the honor of working with Megan Foster,...

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Women Empowering Women at CWU

Astor Powell-Pedersen, Staff Reporter
March 7, 2024

This March will be the 37th annual Women’s History Month celebrated in the United States, according to history.com. Women’s History Month started as a week-long celebration of the contributions women...

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Photo courtesy Yohannes Goodell

MEChA’s Week of Action

Astor Powell-Pedersen, Staff Reporter
February 29, 2024

MEChA, CWU’s Chicanx student organization, has undoubtedly been one of the biggest supporters of the Palestinian people here on campus. In the past, they have held demonstrations and educational workshops,...

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The Voting Crisis: Another thing to blame on young people

The Voting Crisis: Another thing to blame on young people

Astor Powell-Pedersen, Staff Reporter
February 23, 2024

Pretty much since the beginning of time, it's been popular to blame any little problem on the “younger generation,” be it social issues, economic crashes or your local supermarket not having the brand...

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Photo taken at Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Photo courtesy of Layla Taha.

Historical contextualization of the past and present Israel-Palestine conflict

Layla Taha and Astor Powell-Pedersen 
February 16, 2024

History continues to be written in Palestine. With the growing topic of conversation surrounding the Israel-Palestine War, the history that led to today is integral to societal understanding of the topic. The...

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The failure of University 101

Astor Powell-Pedersen , Columnist
February 8, 2024

It’s no secret to any first-year student here at CWU that the required University 101 course in the 2023 fall quarter was something akin to a trainwreck. At CWU, along with all of your other classes...

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What is an Honors Student?

Astor Powell-Pedersen , Staff Reporter
February 1, 2024

CWU has been home to the William O. Douglas Honors College (DHC) since 1977. According to its page on the CWU website, the Douglas Honors College “supports and encourages all students to find individual...

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'The Beekeeper' debuted at no. 2 at the domestic box office, making $8.6M its opening weekend. (Photo courtesy Amazon MGM)

To Bee or Not To Bee: “The Beekeeper” (2024) Review

Astor Powell-Pedersen, Columnist
January 25, 2024

Imagine that one guy we all went to high school with, yeah, you know the one. The kid who wore ugly expensive suits every day, drove his daddy’s fancy car to school and knew a little too much about cryptocurrency.  Now...

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Diverse Voices: Texas’s Ban on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Centers

Astor Powell-Pedersen , Staff Reporter
January 24, 2024

On June 14, 2023, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17, which went into place Jan. 1, 2024. Senate Bill 17 requires that all state-funded colleges and universities close down their Diversity, Equity...

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Vandalism in the Residence Halls: It’s Not Just The University’s Problem

Vandalism in the Residence Halls: It’s Not Just The University’s Problem

Astor Powell-Pedersen , Staff Reporter
January 20, 2024

If you’re a student living on campus, then you’ve almost certainly heard about the regular occurrences of vandalism within the residence halls, if you have not seen it yourself.  Vandalism and...

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