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

Nicholas Tucker, Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief - Spring 2020

News Editor - Winter 2020

News Editor - Fall 2019

Senior News Reporter - Spring 2019

News Reporter - Winter 2019

News Reporter - Spring 2018

News Reporter - Winter 2018

 

All content by Nicholas Tucker
Courtesy of wikimedia.commons.org | See bottom of story for attribution

Trump signs executive order to ban TikTok unless bought by U.S. company

Nicholas Tucker, Editor-in-Chief
August 7, 2020

In an executive order signed August 6 by President Donald Trump, TikTok will be effectively banned from operating in the United States in 45 days unless it is sold by its Chinese-based parent company,...

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A 4-H boy smiles at the crowd bidding on his market goat at the 2019 Kittitas County Fair.

[Photo] In-person Kittitas County Fair canceled due to state COVID-19 restrictions

Bailey Tomlinson, News Editor
July 18, 2020

A 4-H boy smiles at the crowd bidding on his market goat at the 2019 Kittitas County Fair.

Protesters continue to rally in Ellensburg, despite fears of violence

Protesters continue to rally in Ellensburg, despite fears of violence

Nicholas Tucker and Mitchell Roland
June 6, 2020

Hundreds of protesters filled the streets of Ellensburg on Friday to continue protesting national systematic racism and police violence. Almost 300 protestors marched from Barge Hall down Main Street...

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MVIMG_20200519_143235

[Photo] Fast food pulls thru

Karina Severino, Staff Reporter
May 21, 2020

Protesters gather at county courthouse

Protesters gather at county courthouse

The Kittitas County Business Coalition held a protest against statewide health orders in front of the county courthouse on May 1. At the core of the protest was the concern that businesses, particularly...

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Dining Services terminates majority of student employees

Dining Services terminates majority of student employees

Nicholas Tucker and Bailey Tomlinson
April 15, 2020

CWU Dining Services has terminated the majority of its student employees, according to Director of Dining Services Dean Masuccio. This was announced via an email employees received from Assistant Director...

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Professors adapt to online courses

Professors adapt to online courses

Nicholas Tucker and Bailey Tomlinson
April 15, 2020

With the transition to entirely online classes, students are not the only ones facing a learning curve as the quarter begins. CWU professors are also working to adapt as they move a diverse array of classes...

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Observation Deck

Observation Deck

Nicholas Tucker, Editor-in-Chief
April 9, 2020

What a time to take over the paper, huh? Here it is, the first issue of a redesigned paper both under my tenure as Editor-in-Chief and which has been designed entirely remotely. The staff has worked diligently...

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Out for Delivery: Where do we eat now?

Out for Delivery: Where do we eat now?

Nicholas Tucker, Editor-in-Chief
April 9, 2020

In mid-March, Gov. Jay Inslee announced the prohibition of in-person dining at restaurants across the state. The effects of this order on the $13.5 billion-dollar industry have yet to be fully seen, but...

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CWU cancels spring commencement

CWU cancels spring commencement

Mariah Valles and Nicholas Tucker
March 7, 2020

Note: This story will be updated as information becomes available. March 20, 2 p.m. - CWU cancels in-person commencement CWU will not host an in-person graduation ceremony in spring due to COVID-19.  The...

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Graduate assistants planning to unionize

Graduate assistants planning to unionize

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
February 19, 2020

A group of CWU graduate assistants has begun holding the first meetings to discuss unionizing and negotiating with administration for better pay and to implement greater support systems.  The assembly,...

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Nicholas Tucker

Ellensburg Recycles and Here’s How

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
February 19, 2020

One of the main things CWU is trying to improve about itself as an institution is in its campus’ sustainability. This was one of President James L. Gaudino’s three long-term goals that he announced...

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Vape ban ends

Vape ban ends

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
February 12, 2020

The statewide ban on flavored vaping products ended on Feb. 7 after 120 days. Senate Bill 6254, proposed by Gov. Jay Inslee, would have made the ban permanent, though after numerous amendments it now allows...

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Téa Green

Student employees raise concern for new dining policies

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
February 12, 2020

Student employees of CWU Dining Services have come forward with concerns about new management practices, including changes to the sick leave policy.  Six current student employees spoke to The Observer...

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The green revolution is inevitable

Nicholas Tucker, Columnist
January 22, 2020

As the fight against climate change continues, it gets easy to view the issue as a direct two-sided conflict. It seems to be the idea of many that fossil fuel companies are trying to keep oil, coal and...

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Nicholas Tucker

Living Like King: What is a Legacy?

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
January 22, 2020

Calls for peace, freedom and unity could be heard across the CWU campus on Jan. 16 as students celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. This was the 11th annual celebration, hosted by...

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Gov. proposes permanent vape ban

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
January 22, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has proposed legislation, SB 6254, which would make the current statewide ban on flavored vaping products permanent. The current ban was originally proposed as a temporary stopgap...

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What’s going on in the Middle East? Is it WWIII?

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
January 16, 2020

What do students know? The dominating news for the early weeks of 2020 has been the ongoing tensions and military conflict between the United States and Iran. When CWU students were asked for their...

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Minimum wage increased to $13.50

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
January 15, 2020

The Washington state minimum wage has been increased to $13.50 from $12.00 per hour, raising the wages of over two thousand student employees. The wage increase happened on Jan. 1 in accordance...

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Students protest ICE contract

Students protest ICE contract

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
December 4, 2019

Local immigration advocates have been protesting on and off the Ellensburg CWU campus for over a year against a contract between the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office and the federal Immigration and...

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Librarians leading for free textbooks

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
November 19, 2019

A project is underway at the lead of two CWU librarians who are trying to get rid of textbook requirements for gen ed classes. According to Instructional Design Librarian Geri Hopkins and Scholarly...

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Aviation program was moved to Yakima after summer incident

Aviation program was moved to Yakima after summer incident

Nicholas Tucker and Mariah Valles
November 18, 2019

Editor’s Note: This story was updated from its original form.  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ On June 24, a CWU Aviation...

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The Observer stands for a free and unregulated press

The Observer stands for a free and unregulated press

The Observer holds transparency between the publication and its readers as a top priority. We believe it’s our duty and a crucial factor in our pursuit of journalistic integrity. For these reasons,...

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NARCAN saves lives

NARCAN saves lives

NIcholas Tucker, News Editor
October 31, 2019

Between Oct. 17 and 18, Ellensburg police officers responded to two overdoses within 16 hours. In both cases, officers recognized that the overdoses were related to opioids and were able to provide emergency...

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‘On the cusp of greatness’

‘On the cusp of greatness’

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
October 24, 2019

CWU President James Gaudino announced his three long term university goals at the fall 2019 State of the University Address. CWU will strive to reduce its campus carbon footprint by 5%, increase freshman...

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Washington state health board bans flavored vaping products

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
October 9, 2019

An emergency ban on the sale of flavored vaping products has been approved by the Washington State Board of Health. This follows an executive order by Governor Jay Inslee, calling for a ban lasting 120...

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Vape ban affects local businesses

Vape ban affects local businesses

Nicholas Tucker, News Editor
October 9, 2019

“Hello, [Ruze] 509, we’re going out of business,” the cashier of Ellensburg’s specialty vape shop said answering the phone. On Sept. 27, Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee announced an executive...

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Students from Valley View Elementary stood silently on the sidewalks as the procession for Deputy Ryan
Thompson passed by. Many students held American flags.

Support shown for fallen Deputy Ryan Thompson on March 28

Nicholas Tucker, Senior News Reporter
April 3, 2019

Hundreds of people from across the country and beyond came to Ellensburg March 28 to celebrate the life and support the family of one of their own. Deputy Ryan Thompson of the Kittitas County Sheriff’s...

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Students interact with wildlife during Tieton River Elk Feeding

Students interact with wildlife during Tieton River Elk Feeding

Nicholas Tucker, Staff Reporter
January 16, 2019

The Kittitas Valley is not only home to around 46,000 people, but also a diverse ecosystem of animals. CWU’s Outdoor Pursuits and Rentals (OPR) makes it one of its goals to bring students closer to the...

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Summer exodus leaves businesses out to dry

Summer exodus leaves businesses out to dry

Nicholas Tucker
May 30, 2018

Ellensburg is a college town and with that comes some unique qualities. In a town of 20,000, roughly half are students, so what happens to the local economy when its population fluctuates greatly as students...

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The 50-year CWU time capsule sits in the alumni office in the first floor of Barge until it gets buried.

Be a part of CWU history with SAA

Nicholas Tucker, Staff Reporter
May 23, 2018

CWU history will be made Thursday, May 24 in the Barto Lawn when relics of the present are buried. The CWU Time Capsule, which has been three years in the making, will descend into the ground at 11 a.m....

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Kevin Brett running into retirement

Nicholas Tucker, Staff Reporter
May 16, 2018

When he started writing at 8 years old, Kevin Brett never imagined what would follow: a distinguished and accomplished career which put him in print news, California politics, the semiconductor industry...

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CWU hosts First Amendment Fest

Nicholas Tucker, Staff Reporter
April 20, 2018

The First Amendment is a big part of everyday American life.. Slander and obscenity laws aside, the First Amendment is what allows the American people to speak their minds without fear of retaliation by...

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Self-driving cars: it’s only a matter of time until they take over

Nicholas Tucker, Staff Reporter
April 11, 2018

You may have seen a headline or heard a friend talking about self-driving cars and perhaps thought about it as a cool future technology or a neat gimmick. However, self-driving cars aren’t some faraway...

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Construction company donates quarter million to name Science II

Nicholas Tucker, Staff Reporter
April 4, 2018

Lydig construction announced a $250,000 donation to the Central Washington University foundation on Monday, March 19. Lydig Construction, a general contractor and construction management company headquartered...

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Courtesy of Miriam Abelson.

PSU professor talks on queer studies

Nicholas Tucker, Staff Reporter
March 6, 2018

When one thinks of LGBTQ rights, they often think of events such as the pride parades seen in places like Seattle, San Francisco, and New York. The general public doesn’t usually see rural communities...

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Second climate discussion focuses on ecosystems

Second climate discussion focuses on ecosystems

Nicholas Tucker, Staff Reporter
February 10, 2018

Around 60 community members and students gathered in the Dean Hall lobby for Fire and Ice II, a lecture and discussion on climate change in the Pacific Northwest last Thursday, Feb. 1. The lecture was...

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Myrinda Wolitarsky, left, and a fellow marcher hold their signs up high while walking up Walnut Mall.

Community unites for ninth annual MLK March

Nicholas Tucker, Staff Reporter
January 18, 2018

Unfavorable weather and fresh snow didn’t stop protesters from gathering in the SURC Pit on Jan. 11 to attend the ninth annual MLK Peace March. At 3:30 p.m., roughly 30 students and community members...

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