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

All content by Kailan Manandic
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman points to the crowd after an audience member shouts out his alma mater, Stanford University.

Sherman intercepts Students of Color Summit

Kailan Manandic, Editor-in-Chief
April 6, 2017

Students from across Washington state gathered in McConnell Auditorium, decked out in Seahawks colors, to hear Richard Sherman answer a few vetted student questions ranging in topic from homemade food...

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Rune Torgersens Getz-Short apartment is pictured with the makeshift gutter and drip bucket placed there by maintenance the day after the leak began.

Short on repairs

Kailan Manandic and McKenzie Lakey
February 23, 2017
Two students share their experiences living in the Getz-Short apartments.
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One marcher rallies the crowd as they pass by.

Solidarity in Seattle

Kailan Manandic, News Editor
January 26, 2017

Not long after the presidential inauguration, millions gathered across the world in support of women’s rights as well as in opposition of President Trump’s views and ideas. Crowds exceeded expectations...

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Hundreds gather for Not In Our KittCo peace march

Kailan Manandic, News Editor
November 14, 2016

Chants and cheers echoed throughout downtown Ellensburg Monday evening as hundreds of community members and CWU students marched in protest of hate and intolerance. About 500 people participated in...

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Marte Fallshore holds up a KKK pamphlet at the Not In Our Town meeting.

CWU and Ellensburg say “Not In Our Town”

Kailan Manandic, News Editor
October 13, 2016

The CWU community and Ellensburg residents held a meeting last Friday, Oct. 7, in response to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) fliers that have recently surfaced. Over 50 students, staff, faculty and community...

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Michael Sam came during Pride Week to speak to CWU students, faculty, and staff about being one of the first openly gay NFL players.

Pride Week brings NFL player Michael Sam to CWU campus

Kailan Manandic, Senior News Reporter
June 3, 2016

Michael Sam, the first openly gay NFL player, spoke at Central Washington University last Wednesday during its annual Pride Week. Students, faculty and community members gathered to hear Sam talk and...

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Science II coming soon with a building near you

Science II coming soon with a building near you

Kailan Manandic, Senior Reporter
May 26, 2016

After over two years of construction, Central Washington University’s new science building is nearly ready for operation. Science Phase II has finished construction and is on track to open this fall...

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Central community rallies to support displaced residents at Shady Brook

Central community rallies to support displaced residents at Shady Brook

Kailan Manandic, Senior Reporter
May 12, 2016

Shady Brook mobile home park, commonly known as Shady Acres, is in the process of being purchased by Kittitas County, a move that has created backlash from the community. Residents of Shady Brook have...

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Furniture in the bistro is meant to be mismatched, making it feel more like home.

NW Furniture Barn outfits 1891 Bistro, provides mattresses for the needy

Kailan Manandic, Senior Reporter
May 4, 2016

The mismatched furniture in the 1891 Bistro recently helped provide mattresses for those in need through a charity organization designed for displaced families NW Furniture Bank (NWFB), based in Tacoma,...

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Centrals tortoise meets thousands of students a year

Central’s tortoise meets thousands of students a year

Kailan Manandic, Senior Reporter
April 28, 2016

Central’s greenhouse contains many species of plants from different climates around the world, and a certain roaming creature that has become popular among students and the community. Snorkel the...

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Speaker comes to Central to talk on North Korean threat to United States

Kailan Manandic, News Senior Reporter
April 22, 2016

The Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle visited Central last Tuesday to speak on the nuclear armament of North Korea and their potential threat in the near future. Moon Duk-Ho spoke to...

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Late night at Saks Diner

Late night at Sak’s Diner

Kailan Manandic, Senior Reporter
April 21, 2016

It was a dead night at Sak’s Truckstop Diner until a fight broke out over a pair of boxers. Sak’s is one of Ellensburg’s 24-hour diners in the middle of the Flying J Travel Plaza just off of I-90...

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OPINION: The down-low on gen eds

Kailan Manandic, Senior Reporter
April 21, 2016

There’s been a lot of recent stuff going down regarding the faculty senate and the general education program here at Central. It’s all very confusing and boils down to education departments that can’t...

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Faculty turn down gen ed proposal

Faculty turn down gen ed proposal

Kailan Manandic, Senior Reporter
April 21, 2016

Central’s Faculty Senate hit another stalemate in their attempts to revamp the general education program. The Faculty Senate’s latest attempt to move forward on reforming Central’s general education...

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Wolverines making a comeback this season

Wolverines making a comeback this season

Kailan Manandic, Staff Reporter
April 14, 2016

Last week, a federal judge ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider its 2014 decision against listing the wolverine as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Wolverines...

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Surf City Waterpark still in the works

Surf City Waterpark still in the works

Kailan Manandic, Staff Reporter
April 7, 2016

Surf City Waterpark overcame some major obstacles last week and is close to finally breaking ground this summer. On March 21, 35 of the 40 acres of water park land south of Interstate 90 went up...

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Haven House has taken over Green Hall for students who are recovering.

Haven for recovering addicts

Kailan Manandic, Assistant News Editor
March 3, 2016

Central’s Recovery Outreach Community (ROC) plans to launch it’s Haven House program next fall in Green Hall for students recovering from substance abuse and addiction. Through a $10,000 grant...

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Stefan Bradley is coming to Central for mass incarceration

Kailan Manandic, Assistant News Editor
February 18, 2016

Stefan Bradley is coming to Central to speak on his experiences at the front line of Ferguson with his speech, “Freedom and Beyond: Activism, Access and Achievement in the Age of Ferguson.”   Bradley,...

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Vice president of five years to resign from Central

Vice president of five years to resign from Central

Kailan Manandic, Assistant News Editor
January 23, 2016

For five years, George Clark, chief financial officer and vice president for Business and Financial Affairs, guided Central through multiple financial transitions. On Feb. 18, he’ll resign to take...

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Central searches for new VP, appoints interim CFO

Kailan Manandic, Assistant News Editor
January 17, 2016

Central will begin the search to replace George Clark, chief financial officer and vice president for Business and Financial Affairs, after announcing his resignation last Thursday. Central President...

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Uber’s surge pricing surprises New Years Eve revelers

Kailan Manandic, Assistant News Editor
January 14, 2016

In the first hours of the 2016, party-goers looking for a safe way home found themselves slapped with an expensive ride, ending their celebrations. Several reports began popping up on New Year’s Eve,...

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Wellington joins students at   the grand opening of 1891 Bistro

Central welcomes new coffee hangout 1891 Bistro

Kailan Manandic, Assistant News Editor
January 12, 2016

The newest addition to Central’s cafe scene, 1891 Bistro, has made itself known a month after its soft opening. Filled with faculty and students alike, the bistro maintained a steady stream of customers...

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James King, environmental advocate and Central student, wears over 300 bags to bring attention to the cause to ban plastic bags in Kittitas County.

The plastic monster

Kailan Manandic, Staff Reporter
December 6, 2015
Environmental advocate and Central student James King has an unusual way of keeping warm this winter. While most students would throw on an extra layer or two, King is covered head to toe in over 300 bright yellow plastic bags...
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FISH food bank helps around 620 families and 1,600 individuals every month in Ellensburg.

FISH has turkey, food for Thanksgiving

Kailan Manandic, Staff Reporter
November 19, 2015
On Nov. 28, 2014, the day after Thanksgiving, the Friends In Service to Humanity (FISH) Food bank caught fire, burning nearly all of the food stored for the holidays. In the aftermath, there was a large hole in the building.
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(From left) Jac Murray, Toni Heay-Stewart, Michaela Rogers, Jen Stuart, and John Mounsey all help the homeless at First United Methodist Church of Ellensburg.

Homeless Haven

Kailan Manandic, Staff Reporter
November 12, 2015
As winter descends in Ellensburg, local churches are opening their doors to the homeless, and providing a place to sleep for those with nowhere to turn.
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Ellensburg City Council still wants more time to decide on plastic bags.

Plastic bags in limbo as City Council wants more info

Kailan Manandic, Staff Reporter
November 5, 2015

The Ellensburg City Council is withholding their decision on a plastic bag ban until they know what the community wants. Ellensburg’s environmental commission met on Oct. 19 and decided they didn’t...

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CWU updates 15-year-old student conduct code

Kailan Manandic, Staff Reporter
October 29, 2015

The last time Central Washington University updated its student code of conduct, Bill Gates was stepping down as CEO of Microsoft. It was the same year the Kingdome was demolished in Seattle. For the...

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Safeguarding against sexual assault

Kailan Manandic, Staff Reporter
October 22, 2015

Universities across the country are seeing an increase in reports of on-campus sexual assault and rape, a trend Central isn’t immune to. In a 2010 survey, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported...

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Environmental group says no to plastic bags

Environmental group says ‘no’ to plastic bags

Kailan Manandic, Staff Reporter
October 14, 2015

Over the next few months, the Ellensburg City Council will discuss whether or not to ban plastic bags in reaction to a letter sent to them on Sept. 21. The letter requested action concerning single-use...

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Surf City hasnt broken ground, missing the summer goal.

Surf City Waterpark not catching waves

Kailan Manandic, Staff Reporter
October 8, 2015

Surf City Waterpark, originally set to open summer 2016, has not yet broken ground despite expectations of beginning construction this past summer. Located just south of Interstate 90, a 40 acre plot...

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