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

Nick Jahnke, Online Editor

Online Editor - Winter 2020

Sports Editor - Fall 2019

Sports Editor - Spring 2019

Senior News Reporter - Winter 2019

All content by Nick Jahnke

Nash Fung returns to campus tonight

Nick Jahnke, Online Editor
February 26, 2020

Nash Fung, a CWU graduate, will be returning to campus tonight as a magician. The show starts at 7 p.m. in the SURC Ballroom. The event is free with student ID and $5 general admission. According to...

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Teagan Kimbro

Living alone: not so lonely

Nick Jahnke, Columnist
February 26, 2020

For most, college is a time of growth and transitions. The average student is still on the front end of a long journey. They have a lot to figure out and more to learn. During this time, it is extremely...

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Cassandra Hays

Showtime at Central let the audience decide

Nick Jahnke, Online Editor
February 26, 2020

The Dr. Wayne S. Hertz Concert Hall was buzzing last Friday evening for Showtime at Central, the event where talent is judged by the audience and many poor souls get booed off stage. There were at least...

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David Dick/CWU

15th annual Parade of Nations happening tonight

Nick Jahnke, Online Editor
January 23, 2020

The CWU Diversity and Equality Center (DEC) is putting on the 15th annual Parade of Nations event this evening from 6-8 p.m. The event will showcase music, dance and apparel from all over the globe, according...

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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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Bringing it home on homecoming

Nick Jahnke, Sports Editor
October 16, 2019

Wildcat football left Tomlinson Stadium on Saturday night with their second win under their belt. The Wildcats nearly shut down the Azusa Pacific University Cougars with the final score of 44-6.  The...

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Two daughters, 100 sons

Two daughters, 100 sons

Nick Jahnke, Sports Editor
October 16, 2019

“I knew, maybe around the age of sixteen, that I wanted to be a football coach.” Wildcat football head coach Chris Fisk grew up in Pocatello, Idaho, a city that takes high school sports seriously....

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Canon Racanelli: Starting quarterback

Canon Racanelli: Starting quarterback

Nick Jahnke, Sports Editor
October 2, 2019

Canon Racanelli has been chosen as the starting quarterback for the 2018-19 season.  Racanelli was one of three potential quarterbacks who had to compete for the starting position in the offseason....

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CWU Football wraps  up preseason

CWU Football wraps up preseason

Nick Jahnke, Sports Editor
October 2, 2019

Wildcat football has finished their preseason and have moved into the regular season with a 1-3 record. The Wildcats lost to NCAA Division I-FCS Idaho and number two ranked team Ferris State University...

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Club baseball had their first game ever in April 2019. The season started late and only allowed for four games to be played. They had about 12 players turn out but expect to have 30 or more in next year’s season.

Club baseball takes first swing

Nick Jahnke, Sports Editor
May 29, 2019

   There’s a new option available for students who play baseball but didn’t make it onto CWU’s team or just want a chance to play. CWU Club Baseball had its first season after being formed...

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The 1986 NAIA National Championship Men’s Swimming Team finished their season with 381 points and eight national titles. They won three relay races and five individual titles. Stan Vela was awarded outstanding swimmer.

Athletics to hold 36th Hall of Fame inductions

Nick Jahnke, Sports Editor
May 15, 2019

National champions Krissy Tandle-Richerson, Russell Ferguson and the 1986 Men’s Swimming Team have been chosen as the newest editions to CWU’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Athletics will celebrate their...

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Making plays on the field and in the classroom

Making plays on the field and in the classroom

Nick Jahnke, Sports Editor
April 24, 2019

Members of the football team are charged with attending position meetings, workouts and practices, all of which take away from time they could be using for their studies. Players are referred to as “student-athletes”...

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The swift water rescue course teaches various knots, pulley systems and craft-recovery techniques. Trainees also learn how to recover, retrieve and transport people who
have lost control in the river. Gear is provided by OPR.

Rescue course offered by OPR

Nick Jahnke, Sports Editor
April 17, 2019

Learning how to stay afloat and navigate swift water in life-threatening situations is a requirement for those who work at OPR, according to OPR Shop Manager Andrew McDonald. OPR will host the Swift Water...

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Whittaker is taking it easy after coming off a succesful indoor-season and placing eighth in the GNAC championships, but is still working on improving himself.

Whittaker jumps into outdoor-season

Nick Jahnke, Sports Editor
April 10, 2019

Zach Whittaker has been proving himself as one the Wildcats top jumpers. Awccording to Wildcat jumps coach Bryan Mack, Whittaker is coming off a great indoor-season, which concluded with him placing in...

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CWU spring football practices will begin April 5. Practices are open to the public and the spring game will take place on May 4, starting at 3 p.m.

Wildcat football moves into spring training

Nick Jahnke, Sports Editor
April 3, 2019

Wildcat football is about to kick off spring training. Practice will begin April 5, with two scrimmages throughout spring, ending with a spring game on May 4, according to press release on wildcatsports.com....

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The Central Transit buses have been offering a free service to CWU students for the last nine years. The service became free to all Ellensburg residents in 2016. The
transit system has been steadily growing in popularity ever since.

Central Transit looks to improve their free service

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
March 8, 2019

City of Ellensburg’s Central Transit is taking steps to get the word out about the free transport service and improve it to better serve the community. Central Transit offers free rides throughout Ellensburg...

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No wrong way to deal with stress and anxiety

No wrong way to deal with stress and anxiety

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
March 7, 2019

It’s safe to say that most students, and humans in general, feel some degree of stress and anxiety in their lives. The list of reasons could go on forever. As it pertains to students, the stresses of...

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ASCWU has an open public meeting in the SURC pit every Monday. From left to right: Leah Mobley, Jocelyn Matheny, Bailey Klinker, Edith Rojas, Kane LeMaster
and Claire Anne-Grepo.

ASCWU offers chance to win $500 scholarship

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
February 28, 2019

At the ASCWU public meeting on Monday, Feb. 25, Vice President of Student Life and Facilities Jocelyn Matheny announced that ASCWU had recently opened up a feasibility survey to students. The survey is...

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Wheel lines are used to irrigate pastures in preparation for growing seasons. During the winter they stand idle.

Fumigation issues concern hay farmers

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
February 28, 2019

Hay and grain exporters in and around Kittitas County are attempting to cut processing costs by skipping fumigation of their timothy hay. According to the Organization of Kittitas County Timothy Hay Growers...

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SAD(ness) happens, the sunshine will come

SAD(ness) happens, the sunshine will come

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
February 22, 2019

There’s snow on the ground. The car is frozen over. The outdoors are a hostile place. Wouldn’t it be better to just stay in bed? This is the reality some of us have battled with since the winter...

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Trump signs bill to keep government funded, declares national emergency

Trump signs bill to keep government funded, declares national emergency

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
February 22, 2019

On Friday, Feb. 15, Trump declared a national emergency on the border, asserting that the movement of criminals and illegal immigrants from Mexico to the U.S. constituted a reasonable threat to national...

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Narcan nasal spray can reverse the effects of an opioid
overdose until proper medical care can be given.

Students who bring overdose victims to hospital won’t be charged with possession

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
February 22, 2019

The number of drug and alcohol-related emergencies involving CWU students has risen over the last year, according to Wellness Center Assistant Director Doug Fulp. Fulp said that he attributes the rise...

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Students could see an increase in fees

Students could see an increase in fees

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
February 14, 2019

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...

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Hertz Hall is soon to be demolished. However, the building is temporarily being used for police training.

Hertz Hall awaiting demolition

Nick Jahnke, Senior Reporter
February 14, 2019

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...

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This hall on the second floor of Samuelson is home to General as well as Department specific Advisors. Advisors can be seen through appointments made via phone call as well as during their personal walk-in hours.

Academic advising to get restructured by Fall 2019

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
February 6, 2019

CWU’s advising model is going to be rethought and reorganized over the coming months, and according to Faculty Senate Chair Amy Claridge, these changes will be implemented by Fall 2019. According to...

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Aviation program looks to expand

Aviation program looks to expand

NIck Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
January 30, 2019

The aviation program is considering moving their operations to McAllister Field in Yakima. CWU has requested that the state provide $14 million for the move. The funding will be spent on the construction...

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Courtesy of wikimedia.commons.org | See bottom of story for attribution

Government shutdown comes to an end for now

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
January 30, 2019

President Trump announced early on Friday, Jan. 25 he would be signing a bill that would temporarily reopen the federal government until Feb. 15. The three--week period would spell relief for roughly 800,000...

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Gov. shutdown could affect students

Gov. shutdown could affect students

Nick Jahnke, Senior Reporter
January 23, 2019

Correction 1/26/19: The government was re-opened on a temporary basis yesterday, Jan. 25. As of today, the government is expected to remain open through Feb. 15, 2019.   The partial-government...

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Gov. Inslee pardons marijuana convictions

Gov. Inslee pardons marijuana convictions

Nick Jahnke, Senior Reporter
January 23, 2019

According to Governor Jay Inslee’s web page, thousands of Washington residents with misdemeanor marijuana possession charges face an offer by Inslee via the Marijuana Justice Initiative. The initiative,...

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Gaudino gives annual State of the University address on Jan. 15

Gaudino gives annual State of the University address on Jan. 15

Nick Jahnke, Senior News Reporter
January 16, 2019

The annual State of the University Address was a celebration of CWU’s culture and its accomplishments in recent years. CWU President James L. Gaudino and Board of Trustees Chair Ron Erickson recounted...

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ust a few miles outside Ellensburg, the wind farm lies up in the hills and provides energy for much of Kittitas County.

Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility

Nick Jahnke, Senior Reporter
January 16, 2019

If you were to drive about 25 minutes east of Ellensburg on Vantage Highway, you would begin to notice the pillars of wind turbines looming in the hills. On the north side of the highway, these turbines...

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Students connect with presidents during Q&A event

Students connect with presidents during Q&A event

Nick Jahnke, Senior Reporter
January 10, 2019

It’s difficult to imagine the presidents of our university juggling side by side, or attempting to come up with “dad jokes” in front of an audience, but that's exactly what an audience witnessed...

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Faculty senate approves changes to gen-ed

Nick Jahnke, Staff Reporter
November 20, 2018

Next year's batch of incoming freshman may be in for an underclassmen experience unlike that of their predecessors. On Nov. 14, the Faculty Senate General Education Committee (GEC) voted in favor to...

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Built in 1971, the Language and Literature building is showing its age. Some faculty have expressed concern about the buildings safety.

L&L building showing age after nearly 50 years

Nick Jahnke, Staff Reporter
November 15, 2018

The Language and Literature (L&L) building has started to show signs of aging. The building was constructed in 1971 and has been eliciting a slew of complaints and concerns from some of the faculty...

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Lanzce Douglass is the developer of the new apartment complex and has proposed 10 buildings on the site.

Apartment complex being constructed near Alder

Nick Jahnke, Staff Reporter
November 10, 2018

By fall of 2019, there will be a new apartment complex for CWU students and Ellensburg residents. Douglas Properties, a Spokane based apartment rental agency, is constructing a 10-building complex at the...

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Frankenstein prepares to scare in the SURC.

Halloween safety in Ellensburg

Nick Jahnke, Staff Reporter
October 31, 2018

For many, Halloween at CWU is a time to get out, blow off some steam and socialize with friends. Parties pop up throughout Ellensburg, and the downtown streets come alive with students and locals alike....

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Los Bailadores Del Sol of Central Washington performing Veracruz Jarocho.

World Without Walls

Nick Jahnke, Staff Reporter
October 17, 2018

The “World Without Walls” show was an explosion of color and joyous dancing. The production started at 1 p.m. Saturday in McConnell Auditorium. Los Bailadores de Bronce performed four regional dances:...

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Jacqueline Flaherty shows her high-kick skills during a Zumba class at the CWU Recreation Center.

Fitness classes at CWU now free with membership

Nick Jahnke, Staff Reporter
October 11, 2018

CWU’s Group X fitness classes are now included with a Recreation Center membership. Members of the Recreation Center may now participate in as many classes as they want with no added cost. Fitness...

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A new sign and purpose for the old New York Teriyaki building.

CWU is unsure what to do with NY Teriyaki

Nick Jahnke, Staff Reporter
October 4, 2018

CWU purchased the former New York Teriyaki and Burgers building in April 2018 for $850,000. According to CWU Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs Joel Klucking. For now, the building remains...

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