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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

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter – Fall 2019

Scene Editor – Fall 2018

 

All content by Matt Escamilla
ASCWU talks events, diversity

ASCWU talks events, diversity

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
November 19, 2019

ASCWU and other council members are nearing the end of their first quarter as a cabinet. Fall quarter has allowed them to get on-the-job training while also gaining clarity on what they want to accomplish...

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How to choose your major

How to choose your major

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
November 13, 2019

After completing general education requirements, students are tasked with picking a degree. Ian Morris, a program coordinator in the career services department, said if students aren’t sure what they...

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Tech changes across CWU campus

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
November 7, 2019

The Student Tech Fee Council is in the process of making the old heat building into an esports gaming center and tech lounge. Student Technology Fee Council Chairman Lwin Htet said that on Oct. 31 members...

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Career fair making connections

Career fair making connections

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
October 31, 2019

Career Services helps prepare students for life after college. One of the ways they help students is by hosting the Fall Career, Internship and Grad School Fair, which took place on Oct. 23. Attending...

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Showcasing student success

Showcasing student success

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
October 24, 2019

Last week the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement (CLCE) put their community service work on display for the CWU community to see. According to Maurice Watkins III, a program leader within the...

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Is graduate school right for you?

Is graduate school right for you?

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
October 16, 2019

Leina Diamond attended the “Applying for Grad School” workshop put on by Career Services last week. “I wanted to have more information on how to apply because I’m starting to fill out applications...

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New cybersecurity center trains and protects

New cybersecurity center trains and protects

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
October 9, 2019

CI Security (CIS), a cybersecurity company, has made Ellensburg the home for its second operations center. According to Garrett Silver, CEO of CIS, the company chose Ellensburg over Denver, Colorado Phoenix,...

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How to deal with the stress of finals week

How to deal with the stress of finals week

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
March 8, 2019

With finals week approaching, it’s important for students to know that the university offers multiple activities on campus to help manage stress. Brooks Library will be hosting two events during finals...

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Update to academic alert system

Update to academic alert system

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
February 28, 2019

The academic alert system CWU currently uses was introduced in 2015-2016. Before the current system was put in place faculty had to log in via email with credentials. After that they would be taken to...

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The fourth floor silent study area is known to be used for student athletes in need of quiet time. Because of this, many other CWU students avoid the fourth floor because of excess noise, despite the silence request, and retreat to the third floor.

Brooks Library opens student common area

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
February 22, 2019

Brooks Library opened a new student common area located on the second floor on Feb.12. The opening of the common area was a process to make the library more functional for students. The reorganization...

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Let MLB players hit free agency sooner

Let MLB players hit free agency sooner

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
February 14, 2019

The MLB payment structure has players play six full seasons before they can go into free agency. That needs to change. Over the last two off-seasons, free agency has been a bust. According to Matt Kelly...

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$35 million funding request for final construction stages of new health sciences building

$35 million funding request for final construction stages of new health sciences building

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
February 14, 2019

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...

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Nick On The Rocks is a popular show about geology on KCTS 9. It is hosted by CWU's own professor, who is also a nationally recognized geologist, Nick Zentner. Season 3 of the show beings January 24th and will be screened here on campus.

Prof. Zentner rocks into new season on PBS

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
January 23, 2019

Nick Zentner, a senior lecturer at CWU in geology, has the opportunity to tell geological stories by hosting a show called “Nick on the Rocks.” The series is a five minute program shown sporadically...

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Dr. Amy Claridge of the Family and Consumer Sciences Department motivates the meeting as 2018-2019 Faculty Senate Chair.

Faculty senate meeting overview

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
January 16, 2019

Last week was the first monthly faculty senate meeting of the quarter. Here are the most important topics discussed during the meeting. These topics have the potential to be talked about all quarter and...

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People gather around to make smores at Wellington's Wildfire during homecoming week last year.

Wellington’s Wildfire Preview

Matt Escamilla, Scene Editor
October 4, 2018

The Wellington Wildfire event on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at the CWU Community Fields and Challenge course is a place for students to take a break from classes and work and spend time outside. It’s free to...

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Jacob Wachte being a mountain top for his goat in child's pose.

Downward dog or downward goat? Campus Activities hosts CWU’s first “Goat Yoga”

Matt Escamilla, Scene Editor
October 3, 2018

Replace green smoothies with grass and Zen music with bleats and you’ve got “Goat Yoga.” On Sept. 25, CWU Campus Activities switched up the typical yoga session by adding goats to the equation. A...

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Seahawks review after getting healthy against the Cowboys

Matt Escamilla, Scene Editor
September 28, 2018

After the first three games two of which were on the road-- and an upcoming game against the awful Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, it’s a good time to evaluate and continue to have a high standard for the...

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"Zoolander" Bingo Night a success

“Zoolander” Bingo Night a success

Matt Escamilla, Scene Editor
September 27, 2018

Going to social events on campus in the first week of a term is a fun and easy way for students to break the ice with one another while at the same time making CWU feel like their second home. This...

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De-stressing during finals week

De-stressing during finals week

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
May 30, 2018

Finals week can be stressful. The CWU library and wellness center provide options for students to de-stress and handle the grueling last days of the quarter. Here are some events going on around campus...

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The multicultural center is a part of a proposed SURC expansion. According to Executive Director of Student Involvement Jeff Rosenberry, the expansion should be completed in three to five years.

Expansion plans progress

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
May 23, 2018

The SURC feasibility committee met Monday, May 21 regarding SURC expansion plans and the proposed multicultural center. The committee is planning a two-day trip to visit other student union buildings...

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Andrea Terry, who has worked at the C-Store since fall of 2017, recalls an instance when someone purchased 4 cases of 12 oz. cans of Red Bull at once in an effort to clear out their meal plan money. This totals over 250 dollars.

C-Store stocks up for spring spending spree

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
May 16, 2018

Here’s a friendly reminder to students: spend all of your Connection Card balance before leaving campus to enjoy your summer break. Start shopping the C-Store soon so you don’t have to deal with long...

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Watkins welcomes all

Watkins welcomes all

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
May 9, 2018

Vice President for Equity and Community Affairs Elect Maurice Watkins has a mission to make everyone at CWU feel welcome. The sense of belonging is important for any incoming student, whether they are...

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Seahawks’ draft picks show signs of team’s true identity

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
May 2, 2018

Last year’s Seattle Seahawks identity did not match Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Schneider’s beliefs of what the team should’ve been. What caused this? Ever since the infamous play...

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Edith Rojas, candidate for ASCWU President.

ASCWU Elect looks to students for expansions

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
April 25, 2018

Newly elected student president Edith Rojas understands that not being heard on important issues is frustrating for students.  Rojas is determined to make sure student voices are heard while still staying...

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New robotics minor offered in the fall

New robotics minor offered in the fall

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
April 20, 2018

Higher education must keep up with the needs of not only their students, but industry demands to justify curriculum. The Electrical Engineering Technology Department (EET) at CWU is offering a new robotics...

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Faculty Senate Chairman Cody Stoddard addresses the floor with an update.

Faculty senate overview

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
April 12, 2018

Having a place to go where people can voice opinions and concerns within a community is essential to keeping issues at bay. Faculty Senate meetings provide an opportunity for faculty and administration...

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OPINION: The Seahawks are just fine

OPINION: The Seahawks are just fine

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
December 6, 2015

When a sports franchise finds itself in the position of being back-to-back NFC champs, it takes a physical and mental toll on everyone involved to stay in shape and meet expectations. That’s the situation...

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SEOIs crucial for future students

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
December 3, 2015

According to Lene Pedersen, chair and member of the Faculty Senate at Central, teacher-student collaboration and evaluation is the heart of a successful educational system.   Pedersen believes,...

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Central enrollment, diversity on the rise for 2015-16

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
November 12, 2015

In a world where diversity is celebrated, it’s important for a student’s university to follow suit.  Students of color now comprise a third of the student population at Central. John Swiney, special...

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Farmers in the area will likely have to cut back on water usage

The fight for water rights

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
November 5, 2015

Without water, nothing can survive, especially in the green Pacific Northwest. With drought seemingly on the horizon, local government entities have begun evaluating water rights rules. They are doing...

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Being safe, smart with drugs and alcohol

Being safe, smart with drugs and alcohol

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
October 29, 2015

Having the opportunity to celebrate holidays on or around a college campus is part of the college experience. With Halloween coming up, Central students will have the opportunity to celebrate with their...

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The lack of air conditioning makes it difficult for summer classes to be held in Michaelson and Randall halls.

Summer heat turns Michaelson and Randall into ‘brick ovens’

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
October 22, 2015

A teacher's office is like a second home. They spend more time in their office than anywhere else on campus. Because of this, it's imperative that faculty make their offices feel more comfortable. However,...

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Ellensburg welcomes Uber, new cab company following Rodeo weekend

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
October 8, 2015

Calling someone for a ride home after a night out demonstrates responsibility and can keep someone safe and out of legal trouble. Knowing the ride home is a fair price and safe can be a key factor in whether...

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Student Employees: Balancing summer classes and work

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
August 3, 2015

Making the decision to work while taking courses in the summer is something students really need to think about before saying yes to both given the time crunch summer presents.   This very decision...

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Shiny new Science II on schedule

Matt Escamilla
July 19, 2015

Providing opportunities for students and its faculty is the purpose of a university, and modernizing the campus with new structures and technologies will ensure it continues to accomplish that goal for...

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OPINION: Russell Wilson isn’t going anywhere

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
July 6, 2015

Since Pete Carroll and John Schneider arrived in the Pacific Northwest the Seahawks have debunked plenty of team building strategies. They have provided the twelves a lot of joy by winning the ultimate...

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RCM generates new minors

RCM generates new minors

Matt Escamilla, Staff Reporter
April 22, 2015
The Responsibility Centered Management budget model rewards departments for generating new minors which attract new students into their departments.
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