Senior Dean Peterson might have put it best: “As nice as downtown is: specifically Main Street: there is more to do on Whitman’s campus. I don’t feel like a lot of people hang out down there; I don’t run into Whitties.”
Whether the “Whitman Bubble” is a product of campus life or a more ingrained cultural effect, it still controls the actions of students.
Even without many visiting Whitties, Whitman colors the surrounding business culture through its presence. Business owners note that while their economic livelihood does not depend on Whitman being in session, the existence of the campus a few blocks away does impact the way they do business.
“Whitman students are part of our life blood. We like Whitman for the culture it brings to town through its radio station and concerts [it hosts],” said Jim McGuinn, owner of Hot Poop, a local music and stereo equipment shop.
However, this cultural impact does not necessarily translate into increased sales. Many students only visit McGuinn’s store at the beginning of the year buy items to personalize their room and before they graduate to buy a t-shirt. In fact, the store’s historically two biggest seasonal sales periods occur when classes are not being taught.
“It used to be our two best times of the year were when Whitman was out of session: at harvest time and Christmas,” said McGuinn.
David Cosby, owner of Earthlight Books, agrees that Christmas is the best time of year for business but posits that students might not be able to find time during the year to pull themselves away from school.
“The week after finals when students are free from bluebooks [and] in the summer I often see more business when [students] can read what they want,” Cosby said.
Cosby sees Whitman’s impact on the business community in a larger context as well.
“From a student’s point of view, [school] is thought of as a nine month deal; it is actually a 12 month [contribution] that is very important to Walla Walla. [Whitman] benefits the whole community even if it is indirect.”
Students, however, do not consider downtown a necessary excursion. Senior Katie King has noticed that students usually wait to do important errands, like go to the doctor, until they go home over the holidays.
“Whitman students don’t go downtown very much. When they do, it is usually for a token shopping trip or cup of coffee. It is something Whitman students have to make an effort to do because of the gravity of the campus,” said King.
King has made a conscious effort to become a part of the Walla Walla community in addition to the Whitman social network. She is a waitress at Luscious by Nature, a downtown restaurant. She values interacting with a staff made up of local residents because of the connection it gives her to the larger Walla Walla population.
“I really like working off-campus because it provides me with another setting to meet people outside the Whitman community,” King said.
Whitman students do know about some of the more unique offerings of downtown like Bright’s Candies. It is shops like this that provide a quick escape from the rigors of everyday academic life that attract students.
“We certainly notice a lot of Whitman students [especially] since we moved into this location and are open in the evening,” said owner Paul Jenes. “Since it is not a chain and candy is made right there, there is a special atmosphere.”
He feels that even though students regularly come into the shop there are still Whitties who are unaware of his business.
“Whitman’s Bubble,” it seems, might still contain (un)knowing students, but it cannot stop the influence the Whitman and the Walla Walla downtown business communities feel from each other.
