They’ve happened here, there and everywhere. As the year draws to a close, the Pioneer reflects on the year’s most newsworthy topics that sparked discussions on everything from national headlines to local events.
1. Sherwood begins renovation
Built in the 1960s as the college’s athletic facility, the large concrete building that sits on the corner of Boyer Avenue and Park Street will be undergoing a 15-month-long transformation. Some of the changes will include a taller climbing wall, dance studios and a second full-sized gym. The new space will also allow for intramural, club and varsity sports teams to practice.
2. Fouts Center for Visual Arts
The construction of the new art building should be completed by the time students arrive back onto campus this fall. Currently, several spaces in Olin are being used for art projects and displays but will also be seeing some changes, turning into classrooms by the fall as well.
“This is going to be a state-of-the-art facility in every respect,” said Associate Professor of Art Charles Tim-Ballard, referring to the Fouts Center in a Feb. 21, 2008 article of the Pioneer. “I don’t know of another liberal arts college in the Northwest, possibly in the West Coast, that has made this kind of commitment to art.”
3. Memorial flags on Ankeny
As part of a final project for Iraq War class, taught by associate professors of politics Bruce Magnusson and Shampa Biswas, four students placed 160,000 white and red flags all over Ankeny to represent the death toll of the war. Each white flag on Ankeny Field represented between six to 10 Iraqi civilian deaths, which has been calculated to be between 655,000 to 1.2 million. Additionally, each red flag represented six to 10 deaths of U.S. soldiers, a climbing total of about 3,880.
4. Steroids in sports
Professional athletes have become public figures of the steroid scandals that have been surfacing since Congress has cracked down on illicit use of performance-enhancing drugs. Eighty-nine current and former players were mentioned in the Mitchell report, according to ESPN.com. Among those listed in the report included New York Yankee Roger Clemens, who was called to a congressional hearing last February.
5. Salman Rushdie comes to Whitman
The famous author made a visit to Walla Walla on Nov. 7, 2007, presenting his lecture “Culture Wars and the Importance of Free Speech.”
“The defense of free speech begins at the point at which people say things you can’t stand,” said Rushdie. He discussed his controversial works and the worldwide reactions that have followed.
6. Windstorm sweeps Walla Walla
While many students were away from campus over winter break, a windstorm wreaks havoc around Walla Walla. More than 55 trees were knocked down around campus and residents were left without power for about 30 hours, as reported by Gillian Frew in the Jan. 31, 2008 issue of the Pioneer.
7. Writers strike for 100 days
Ratings stumbled and the entertainment industry crumbled when the Writers Guild of America labor union decided to walk out and stop working early November 2007 due to insufficient profit for writers. After talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the organization in which the WGA was striking against, the strike ended on Feb. 12, 2008.
8. Remembering Michael Quimpo
At the age of 21, junior Michael Quimpo passed away on March 27.
“The heartache and sense of loss: even for those who did not know Michael personally: are immediate and very painful,” said President George Bridges in an e-mail sent out to the campus about the tragic death.
Community gatherings followed, including a memorial service that celebrated Quimpo’s life in the company of friends, colleagues and family members that traveled long distances to pay their respects.
9. Pio controversy initiates dialogue
In the last “jack issue” of the Pioneer, the paper’s traditional April Fools’ Day theme raised concern due to some content that was deemed offensive by many readers. The attempt at satire was interpreted differently, causing an open discussion on listserves and other forums. The April 10 issue of the Pioneer featured submitted opinions by students, faculty and staff including the authors of the piece in question.
