The Pioneer, Vol. 52, Issue 4
The February 11, 2019 issue of The Pioneer — Pierce College Fort Steilacoom's student news publication in Lakewood, Washington.
The February 11, 2019 issue of The Pioneer — Pierce College Fort Steilacoom's student news publication in Lakewood, Washington.
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DOWN STUDENTS PG. 10-11 SHUTDOW<br />
Feb. 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4<br />
Pierce College Fort Steilacoom’s student news publication, Est. 1974<br />
WN HOW THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SHU<br />
N HAS AFFECTED S<br />
PIERCE COLLEGE FORT<br />
STEILACOOM PRESIDENT<br />
RETIRES PG. 6-7<br />
LIBRARY RESOURCES<br />
THAT MAY SURPRISE<br />
YOU PG. 8-9
THE<br />
Web: piercepioneernews.com<br />
Email: pioneer@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
Facebook: piercepioneernews<br />
Twitter: @piercepioneer<br />
Phone:253-964-6604<br />
Room: CAS 323<br />
2<br />
Editorial<br />
THE SHUTDOWN AFFECTS<br />
OUR STUDENTS<br />
At the time of this writing, the government<br />
temporarily reopened for three weeks.<br />
Amidst America’s longest government shutdown<br />
in history, citizens across the nation were<br />
struggling. However, for many students, there<br />
was one glaring issue: the Free Application for<br />
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process had been<br />
affected.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was (and is) the threat of losing food<br />
stamps and tax returns being delayed. Small businesses<br />
have been affected – more than 30 million<br />
of them, according to USA Today – because they<br />
could not take out federally assisted loans.<br />
Government employees were not being paid.<br />
Many national parks and museums were closed<br />
to the public. Inspections of thousands of industrial<br />
sites, like chemical factories, oil refineries<br />
and water treatment plants, were halted.<br />
<strong>The</strong> New York Times reported that the Food<br />
and Drug Administration had stopped safety<br />
inspections for foods at high risk for contamination,<br />
like seafood, vegetables and fruits.<br />
Students were still able to apply for FAFSA,<br />
and it was not directly impacted by government<br />
closures. However, due to the shutdown,<br />
applicants were experiencing delays. Students<br />
were not able to access certain IRS documents<br />
required for the application because the departments<br />
that hold that information were closed.<br />
To remedy this, the Department of Education<br />
“temporarily adapted their processes as needed.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> question was, “How long is ‘temporary’?”<br />
Donald Trump, the official who initiated the<br />
shutdown, said on more than one occasion that it<br />
could last for “months or even years.”<br />
Negotiations for border security are being<br />
made while the government stays reopened<br />
through Feb. 15. For the time being, students<br />
should continue to hope for the best.<br />
/ piercepioneernews.com<br />
Editorial Manager<br />
Calvin Beekman<br />
cbeekman@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
Production Manager<br />
Carl Vincent Carallas<br />
ccarallas@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
Web Manager<br />
Alyssa Wilkins<br />
awilkins@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
Social Media Manager<br />
Malia Adaoag<br />
madaoag@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
Office Manager<br />
Jenn Burgess<br />
jburgess@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
Staff<br />
Find Victoria: Victoria will<br />
make an appearance in each<br />
of our cover photos. Can you<br />
find her in this one?<br />
Nick Nelson/Staff Photo<br />
Cover: Rhysadams/ Courtesy Photo<br />
Letters to <strong>The</strong> Editor<br />
Have an opinion on our articles or about campus events, policy?<br />
Write a letter to the editor and send to:<br />
pioneer@pierce.ctc.edu.<br />
We cannot publish letters that are anonymous.<br />
THE PIONEER MISSION STATEMENT<br />
David Aguilar<br />
Candee Bell<br />
Marji A Harris<br />
Jorge Higuera<br />
Khuong “Finn” Quoc Ho<br />
Diane Russell<br />
Maxwell Smith<br />
Karley Wise<br />
Nick Nelson<br />
Insert name here_<br />
This<br />
could<br />
be you!<br />
Interested in working for<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Pioneer</strong>? Stop by<br />
room CAS323 to pick up<br />
an application today.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Pioneer</strong> is an official publication of the Associated Students of Pierce College and is<br />
sanctioned as such by the college’s Board of Trustees and funded primarily by student fees.<br />
It is a public forum for student expression since 1974.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Pioneer</strong>’s mission is:<br />
(1) to inform the student body of issues and events of interest, relevance and importance;<br />
(2) to provide students with a forum for discussion, opinion and expression; and<br />
(3) to provide the student body with editorial leadership.<br />
In carrying out this mission, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Pioneer</strong> will use as its ethical guide the Statement of<br />
Principles adopted by the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Although it will strive<br />
to represent the diverse views and interests of the student body, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Pioneer</strong> is not responsible<br />
for representing, endorsing or promoting any person, group, organization or activity.<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4
CONTENTS<br />
Pg. 6-7 Pg. 10-11 Pg. 14<br />
Pg. 8-9<br />
Pg. 12-13<br />
Pg. 16-17<br />
Pg. 6-7<br />
Pierce will see presidential<br />
changes<br />
A national search is already<br />
underway<br />
Pg. 8-9<br />
Pierce’s library of resources<br />
An extensive list available to<br />
students<br />
Pg. 10-11<br />
Pierce weathers shutdown storm<br />
Students are struggling<br />
Pg. 12-13<br />
How Pierce is stepping into the<br />
Chinese New Year<br />
<strong>The</strong> beginning of the new year<br />
Pg. 14<br />
Love is all around<br />
But it does not have to be romantic<br />
Pg. 16-17<br />
Love made me a good liar<br />
“We cannot tell anyone, especially<br />
not our parents.”<br />
Pg. 18-19<br />
Coffee Break<br />
Take a break and enjoy some fun<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4 piercepioneernews.com / 3
HAPPENINGS<br />
Feb. 11<br />
Sign-ups begin for<br />
R.A.D. Women’s Self<br />
Defense Class at Student<br />
Life Office<br />
Feb. 12<br />
“Let’s Talk<br />
About Sex”<br />
at Performance<br />
and Fireside<br />
Lounge<br />
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.<br />
Feb. 12<br />
and 26<br />
Clubs Council<br />
Meeting at<br />
Olympic 205<br />
Noon - 1 p.m.<br />
Feb. 14<br />
“Cupid’s<br />
Casino” in<br />
Performance<br />
and Fireside<br />
Lounge<br />
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.<br />
Feb. 18 :<br />
President’s<br />
Day<br />
Campus<br />
Closed<br />
Feb. 15<br />
“Ralph Breaks<br />
<strong>The</strong> Internet”<br />
at Performance<br />
Lounge<br />
Doors open at<br />
5:30 p.m.<br />
Feb. 15<br />
Student<br />
Government<br />
Meeting at<br />
Student Life<br />
Lobby<br />
1:15 p.m - 2 p.m.<br />
Feb. 15<br />
M.L.I. Workshop in<br />
Cascade <strong>52</strong>9<br />
Noon - 1 p.m.<br />
Feb. 20<br />
Feb. 21<br />
Living Voices<br />
“Get Crafty” at<br />
presents: “<strong>The</strong> Right<br />
Art Day<br />
to Dream” at Performance<br />
Student Life<br />
Lounge<br />
Lobby<br />
Noon - 2 p.m.<br />
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.<br />
Feb. 22<br />
E.L.A.<br />
Workshop at<br />
Cascade <strong>52</strong>9<br />
Noon - 1 p.m.<br />
Feb. 26<br />
Clubs Council<br />
Meeting at<br />
Olympic Building<br />
205<br />
Noon - 1p.m.<br />
March 6<br />
M.S.<br />
Awareness<br />
“Seeing<br />
Orange” at<br />
Fireside Lounge<br />
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.<br />
March 1<br />
Student<br />
Government<br />
Meeting at<br />
Student Life<br />
Lobby<br />
1:15 - 2 p.m.<br />
M.L.I<br />
Workshop at<br />
March 1<br />
and 15<br />
Cascade <strong>52</strong>9<br />
Noon - 1 p.m.<br />
March 1<br />
“Game Day” at<br />
Performance and<br />
Fireside Lounge<br />
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.<br />
4<br />
/ piercepioneernews.com<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4
Science<br />
Dome<br />
South Soundʼs<br />
only planetarium!<br />
KIDS’ SHOWS<br />
$6 for children | Adults FREE<br />
Interactive live presentations<br />
Sat at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.<br />
Public Shows ALL AGES<br />
$6 for ages 3 and up | FREE for Pierce College students<br />
Include a half hour live astronomy<br />
presentation and half hour fulldome video<br />
Fri at 7 p.m.<br />
Sat at 3:15 p.m.<br />
Wed at 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. (summer only)<br />
Field Trips<br />
$35<br />
For pK-12 schoolgroups and<br />
youth programs<br />
Private Shows<br />
$200<br />
Up to 60 People<br />
Special Events<br />
FREE with hands on science activities<br />
piercecollegedome.com<br />
(253) 964-6440<br />
Pierce College Fort Steilacoom<br />
Rainier Building, 263<br />
9401 Farwest Dr SW<br />
Lakewood, WA 98498<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4 piercepioneernews.com / 5
Campus<br />
PIERCE WILL SEE<br />
PRESIDENTIAL CHANGES<br />
A national search is already underway for<br />
Fort Steilacoom’s new president<br />
BY NICK NELSON<br />
Staff Writer<br />
DENISE YOCHUM, PIERCE COL-<br />
LEGE Fort Steilacoom’s now-former<br />
president, medically retired on Jan. 2<br />
due to her ongoing battle with metastatic<br />
breast cancer. After multiple surgeries<br />
and a month-long hospitalization, she<br />
realized she could not get healthy and<br />
give the college her best work.<br />
“I needed to make a choice,” Yochum<br />
said. “I chose to work to get healthy and<br />
to let the college move forward.”<br />
While Chancellor Michele Johnson<br />
conducts a nationwide search for new<br />
candidates, Deidre Soileau is serving<br />
as the interim, or temporary, president.<br />
Soileau will be playing the role of president<br />
until June 30, and a new president is<br />
expected by July 1. “In most colleges, July<br />
1 is the first day of the fiscal or academic<br />
year, so that’s pretty commonly a time to<br />
start,” she said.<br />
As the “stand-in president,” Soileau<br />
is expected to fulfill the same duties.<br />
“However, you act differently as an interim<br />
because you know that you are the<br />
interim; you are not making long-term<br />
changes,” she said.<br />
Prior to the interim president position,<br />
Soileau served as the Vice President of<br />
Strategic Advancement. <strong>The</strong> person in<br />
this role works closely with Marketing<br />
and Communications (MarCom), Institutional<br />
Research and Effectiveness and<br />
the Foundation, which raises money for<br />
students.<br />
“Those are the three primary departments,”<br />
Soileau said. “But the nature of<br />
strategic advancement is that your job<br />
is to pay attention to where things need<br />
to be pushed a little, or encouraged to<br />
look a little more closely, and to find the<br />
synergies between marketing research<br />
6<br />
/ piercepioneernews.com<br />
and development.”<br />
Soileau was planning to retire from<br />
her position at the school, until the offer<br />
for interim president arose. Her interest<br />
shifted back to her 15 years of consultant<br />
work. She had started “winding down”<br />
her schedule at Pierce when Johnson presented<br />
the position. “How did I prepare<br />
(for the position)? I didn’t,” said Soileau.<br />
She had to think about the offer, she<br />
said. She compared it to being “halfway<br />
in my camper, traveling down the road.”<br />
However, she loves the people she works<br />
with and decided continuity, if only temporary,<br />
was best for the college.<br />
Denise Yochum had a lot of<br />
support from her team mem<br />
bers, from gifts and cards to<br />
rides to chemotherapy.<br />
“I love this college, I love the people<br />
I work with, I really enjoy the executive<br />
team, which I was on and will still be on,”<br />
Soileau said. “Even now, thinking about<br />
leaving, even though I know I need to<br />
do that, and I want to do that… I tear up<br />
when I think about leaving the people.”<br />
When it comes to picking the new<br />
president, there are a lot of people<br />
involved. Administration does not<br />
handle the hiring on their own. A search<br />
committee is formed that contains “some<br />
people from outside, some people from<br />
inside,” Soileau said. It also includes two<br />
Pierce College Archives/<br />
Courtesy Photo<br />
Febraury 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4
Deidre Soileau worked as a<br />
consultant for 15 years. Her<br />
role at Pierce is the only job<br />
she’s had in Washington.<br />
students.<br />
<strong>The</strong> chancellor is responsible for determining<br />
a job description, and she has the<br />
final say. However, Soileau assured that it<br />
is a very collaborative process.<br />
Debra Gilchrist, the vice president for<br />
Learning and Student Success, said that<br />
students play a part in hiring a new president.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re will be … open forums that<br />
everyone in the college – students included<br />
– will be invited to,” Gilchrist said.<br />
Anyone can submit comments about<br />
candidates and the screening committee<br />
will consider them before making a final<br />
recommendation.<br />
Candidates will be given a topic to<br />
make a presentation. <strong>The</strong> day of the interview,<br />
anyone who attends will be able<br />
to ask questions. <strong>The</strong>re will be an email<br />
sent out to the college as an invitation to<br />
the candidates’ presentations.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are core values that the college<br />
looks for when searching for a new hire,<br />
Deidre said. <strong>The</strong> values include integrity;<br />
Matt Wuscher/<br />
Courtesy Photo<br />
a commitment to equity and inclusion; a<br />
commitment to student success; and the<br />
ability to collaborate. “(<strong>The</strong>y need to) be<br />
able to function in a way that they’re not<br />
the (only) person who gets to make the<br />
decision and then go do it,” Soileau said.<br />
“All of us is smarter than one of us.”<br />
Commitment to student success is an<br />
important value at Pierce. Gilchrist said,<br />
“If we don’t hear our candidates in their<br />
application materials talk about students,<br />
then this isn’t the place for them. That’s<br />
why we’re here.”<br />
Soileau said that one of their frequently<br />
asked questions is, “How would you see<br />
your role contributing to student success?”<br />
If the candidate answers “in a very<br />
narrow point of view,” then it is likely that<br />
they don’t fit the role.<br />
“Often, the president is the person<br />
who meets with students,” Gilchrist said.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>y meet student leaders. <strong>The</strong>y’re out<br />
on the forefront, so they’re who students<br />
will see. <strong>The</strong>y’re often the face of the<br />
institution.”<br />
Before Yochum left Pierce,<br />
her proudest accomplishment<br />
was Pierce landing on the<br />
Aspen Top 10 list. Gilchrist<br />
said, “ All of the criteria that<br />
we had on that award, every<br />
one of those factors, we worked<br />
really diligently to further. Her (Denise’s)<br />
leadership and moving us on every one<br />
of them (helped).”<br />
Gilchrist and Soileau listed Yochum’s<br />
leadership, advocacy, cheerleading,<br />
creativity and brainstorming as reasons<br />
for the college’s Aspen success. However,<br />
Soileau said, “You’re not going to find<br />
one person who says, ‘I did that.’”<br />
Soileau added, “Denise is highly respected<br />
and much loved. It’s a blow to the<br />
institution to have her retire, but I think<br />
everyone understands.”<br />
“DENISE IS HIGHLY<br />
RESPECTED AND MUCH<br />
LOVED. IT’S A BLOW TO<br />
THE INSTITUTION TO<br />
HAVE HER RETIRE,<br />
— DEIDRE SOILEAU,<br />
INTERIM PRESIDENT<br />
Campus<br />
On Yochum’s personal influence,<br />
Gilchrist said, “She’s been a good role<br />
model for me. I learned how to be a<br />
good vice president through her eyes<br />
and through her actions and the way that<br />
she thought about things. I’ve been very<br />
appreciative of what she’s taught me and<br />
what she’s mentored me through.”<br />
Soileau said what she would like<br />
students to know is where Yochum<br />
began. “Where she came from, where<br />
she started, to then becoming president<br />
of a college, very closely mirrors many<br />
of our students who are first-generation,<br />
who come from rough places, who have<br />
to scrabble together the money to do<br />
anything.”<br />
She said, “It’s not up to me to tell her<br />
story, but I can say that it was not easy.”<br />
Soileau said that Yochum’s story closely<br />
resembles Pierce students’ and that she is<br />
a great example for them.<br />
Febraury 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4 piercepioneernews.com / 7
Campus<br />
Pierce’s library<br />
of resources<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is an extensive list of resources available to students<br />
By CANDEE BELL<br />
STAFF WRITER<br />
BALANCING HOMEWORK, FAM-<br />
ILY OBLIGATIONS and a side job can<br />
be exhausting, but Pierce College offers<br />
untapped resources to help alleviate<br />
some of the pressures of school life. <strong>The</strong><br />
Pierce College handbook has five pages<br />
of resources that are available to students.<br />
Here is a list of just a few:<br />
<strong>The</strong> library is bursting with free<br />
resources that students can take advantage<br />
of. Students can check out laptops,<br />
camera equipment (including lighting),<br />
calculators and more.<br />
<strong>The</strong> library page on the college website<br />
offers a list of equipment available for<br />
checkout. <strong>The</strong>re is a “Media Equipment”<br />
link on the right-hand side of the page.<br />
Students need to bring their Pierce ID<br />
and fill out a short form at the main desk<br />
in the library. A little bit of extra time is<br />
necessary at the counter when checking<br />
out equipment; this way, the library staff<br />
can go over each item in the equipment<br />
bundle.<br />
If the library has<br />
classroom textbooks<br />
on the shelves, students<br />
can save some money<br />
by checking them out if<br />
they are available.<br />
Kanopy is a free<br />
resource where students<br />
can watch movies and<br />
educational films. This<br />
library movie collection<br />
is accessible to students<br />
on the library webpage.<br />
<strong>The</strong> link for Kanopy is located on the<br />
right side of the library page. Students<br />
just need to click on “Articles and Databases,”<br />
then click on the letter “K.” After<br />
selecting the Kanopy link, students have<br />
access to over 26,000 movies.<br />
“This comes out of the library budget<br />
“ONE OF THE GOALS OF OUR<br />
TEAM THIS YEAR WAS TO<br />
ELIMINATE AS MANY POTENTIAL<br />
BARRIERS TO ACCESSIBLE<br />
EDUCATION AS POSSIBLE.”<br />
— CONNOR FREDERICKS,<br />
ADMINISTRATIVE SENATOR OF<br />
STUDENT LIFE SERVICES<br />
8<br />
/ piercepioneernews.com<br />
Kanopy/Courtesy Photo<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4
and is a great resource for students,” said<br />
Sue Cole, a reference and instruction<br />
Librarian. “If you don’t find what you are<br />
looking for through Kanopy, you can also<br />
look up ‘Swank’ in the library database or<br />
check out DVDs off the library shelves.”<br />
In today’s busy world, it can be<br />
challenging to find a peaceful spot to<br />
read or study. <strong>The</strong> Pierce College library<br />
has a few quiet spaces that students can<br />
take advantage of.<br />
Study groups of five or more can<br />
request one of two large conference-sized<br />
rooms located on the lower floor of the<br />
library. Study groups of three to four<br />
students can reserve one of three smaller<br />
private study rooms. <strong>The</strong> library also<br />
provides a silent study room which does<br />
not allow laptops upstairs next to the<br />
Design Studio.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Design Studio is a resource for<br />
graphic artists, photographers, game<br />
designers or anyone looking to try out<br />
one of the many computer programs<br />
used in today’s workforce.<br />
“Our computers have many design<br />
programs like the entire Adobe Suite,<br />
Paint, Unity video game software and<br />
on certain computers, Maya is available<br />
to use,” said Marissa Warren, a student<br />
design studio employee.<br />
If a student needs a specific program or<br />
is wanting to experiment with a new one,<br />
they should check with the Design Studio<br />
and see if it is available. “<strong>The</strong> Design<br />
Studio doesn’t offer tutoring services, but<br />
they do provide assistance for camera<br />
usage,” Warren said.<br />
Students are given $10 for printing<br />
expenses at the beginning of each<br />
quarter. A large Epson printer, scanners<br />
and color printers are also available in<br />
the Design Studio. <strong>The</strong> Green Room is a<br />
Design Studio feature that students can<br />
use for audio and music production. <strong>The</strong><br />
room is not soundproof, but it does offer<br />
a private space for producers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> bus pass is an exciting new addition<br />
to Pierce College’s resource list. “We<br />
have a large population of students here<br />
at Pierce College that do take the bus and<br />
that is the only way they can get to and<br />
from school,” said Connor Fredericks,<br />
the administrative senator of Student Life<br />
Services.<br />
Fredericks said, “With such a diverse<br />
population of students, sometimes they<br />
must choose between getting to school,<br />
keeping the lights on or paying tuition<br />
and so one of the goals of our team this<br />
year was to eliminate as many<br />
potential barriers to accessible education<br />
as possible.”<br />
This resource is available for both<br />
Pierce College campuses. It is a year long<br />
contract between Pierce College and<br />
Pierce Transit that will run from January<br />
2019 to January 2020. Students can also<br />
pick up an Orca card at the security<br />
office if they do not have a phone<br />
or cannot get the bus app to work.<br />
Pierce College is the first to try out<br />
the new phone app Hopthru and is<br />
testing it for Pierce Transit.<br />
For more information on<br />
resources available to students<br />
check out <strong>The</strong> <strong>Pioneer</strong>’s website at:<br />
https://piercepioneernews.com/<br />
Carl Vincent Carallas/Staff Photo<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4 piercepioneernews.com / 9<br />
Campus
News<br />
By CALEB HENSIN<br />
Staff Writer<br />
SHUTDOWN<br />
AS WHAT HAS BECOME<br />
THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT<br />
SHUTDOWN in U.S. history trudges on,<br />
Pierce College continues to operate as<br />
normal.<br />
<strong>The</strong> shutdown began on Dec. 21 after<br />
spending bills were not signed into law<br />
before the midnight deadline. President<br />
Donald Trump had indicated that he<br />
would not sign any spending bills that<br />
did not contain over $5 billion to help<br />
fund his proposed U.S.-Mexico border<br />
wall, one of his campaign promises.<br />
“If we don’t get what we want, one<br />
way or the other, whether it’s through<br />
you, through military, through anything<br />
you want to call, I will shut down the<br />
government,” Trump said on Dec. 11<br />
in a televised Oval Office meeting with<br />
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate<br />
PIERCE WEATHERS<br />
Pierce administration and staff are largely unaffected by the gover<br />
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.<br />
“And I am proud, I’ll tell you what. I<br />
am proud to shutdown the government<br />
for border security, Chuck. Because<br />
the people of this country don’t want<br />
criminals and people that have lots of<br />
problems and drugs pouring into our<br />
country. So I will take the mantle. I will<br />
be the one to shut it down.”<br />
Democrats refused to approve<br />
“MANY OF THE THINGS WE<br />
DO HERE AT PIERCE ARE<br />
ALSO FUNDED LOCALLY AND<br />
THROUGH THE STATE,”<br />
— CHOI HALLADAY,<br />
VICE PRESIDENT OF<br />
ADMINISTRATIVE<br />
SERVICES<br />
packaging the border wall funding<br />
with spending bills, although they did<br />
offer $1.6 billion for border security<br />
funding that could not be used for a wall.<br />
President Trump refused any such deal<br />
and refused to sign a stopgap funding bill<br />
passed by the Republican majority Senate<br />
on Dec. 19.<br />
Due to 75 percent of government<br />
funding being approved for the budget<br />
year that started in October, the<br />
shutdown is considered a partial one.<br />
Multiple cabinet departments are among<br />
the 25 percent that will go unfunded;<br />
including Homeland Security, Interior,<br />
Justice and Transportation. Programs<br />
like the Food and Drug Administration<br />
(FDA) are also affected by the lack<br />
of funding, leaving thousands of<br />
government workers furloughed and<br />
currently without paychecks.<br />
Choi Halladay, vice president of<br />
<strong>The</strong> White House/Courtesy Photo<br />
10 / piercepioneernews.com<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4
SHUTDOWN STORM<br />
News<br />
nment shutdown, but some students are struggling in other areas<br />
Administrative Services at Pierce, said<br />
that it is “fortunate” that the department<br />
of Education is among the 75 percent of<br />
already funded Departments.<br />
“Many of the things we do<br />
here at Pierce are also funded<br />
locally and through the state,”<br />
Halladay said, and added that<br />
he was not aware of any nonpayment<br />
issues regarding<br />
financial aid. However, he<br />
did say that there could be<br />
“crossover effects between<br />
departments” if programs<br />
continue to go unfunded.<br />
As for professors and other<br />
staff members, Halladay said<br />
that payroll is also unaffected.<br />
“What is more likely to affect<br />
staff at Pierce are personal problems<br />
caused through the shutdown of other<br />
departments, especially the IRS, as tax<br />
season approaches and people are unable<br />
to get their tax returns.”<br />
Aiden Helt is Pierce’s current Student<br />
Life Activities Board <strong>Issue</strong>s and<br />
Awareness Coordinator. She also receives<br />
aid through the Supplemental Nutrition<br />
Assistance Program (SNAP), more<br />
commonly known as the Food Stamp<br />
Program. SNAP is a federal aid program<br />
administered through the Department<br />
of Agriculture, one of the cabinet<br />
departments going without funding.<br />
It provides food-purchasing assistance<br />
for U.S. citizens who meet certain low<br />
income and resource requirements.<br />
Due to the government shutdown,<br />
food benefits that would normally<br />
be received by recipients this month<br />
were distributed weeks earlier, with no<br />
announced plan for March. Helt said she<br />
normally gets benefits in the beginning<br />
of each month, but received February’s<br />
benefits on Jan. 20. “I was told if the<br />
shutdown continued, there wouldn’t be<br />
any more after that,” she said.<br />
Helt, who lives in a household of six,<br />
said that she generally uses up her SNAP<br />
benefits roughly halfway through every<br />
month and afterwards relies on personal<br />
“HOLIDAY SEASON SPENDING,<br />
I KNOW FOOD BANKS IN THE<br />
COMMUNITY ARE RECEIVING<br />
MORE DONATIONS BECAUSE<br />
PEOPLE KNOW OTHERS ARE HAVING<br />
TROUBLE DUE TO THE SHUTDOWN.”<br />
— AIDEN HELT, STUDENT<br />
LIFE ISSUES AND AWARNESS<br />
COORDINATOR<br />
funds. She stated that if she does not<br />
receive aid after this month, she could<br />
potentially be unable to afford enough<br />
food to support her family.<br />
Because of her closeness to the issue,<br />
Helt expressed empathy with other<br />
students on forms of federal aid affected<br />
by the government shutdown. She<br />
encouraged students with problems<br />
affording food, whether it be due to the<br />
government shutdown or other reasons,<br />
to take advantage of community food<br />
banks and the food pantry outside the<br />
Student Life office.<br />
“Though donations to our food pantry<br />
are usually down at this time of year due<br />
to people recovering from holiday season<br />
spending, I know food banks in the<br />
community are receiving more donations<br />
because people know others are having<br />
trouble due to the shutdown,” Helt said.<br />
Helt said that this month, Pierce will<br />
also be implementing a “food truck” that<br />
will visit both the Fort Steilacoom and<br />
Puyallup campuses two days a week, one<br />
day for each campus. <strong>The</strong> truck will<br />
be like a “mobile food bank” that<br />
operates similarly, and is<br />
funded partially through the Student Life<br />
budget and donations.<br />
Nani Hazard, the TRiO Presentation<br />
Manager, talked about how she<br />
and roughly 20 Pierce students are<br />
volunteering at the Emergency Food<br />
Network (EFN), a Pierce County<br />
organization with the stated mission “to<br />
provide Pierce County with a consistent,<br />
diverse and nutritious food supply so that<br />
no person goes hungry.”<br />
Hazard stated that she sent the email<br />
out to students asking for volunteers<br />
to join her after hearing about how the<br />
government shutdown would affect those<br />
on benefits like SNAP. “We just felt the<br />
need to get out there and do something,”<br />
she said.<br />
Currently, the government has<br />
been restored to normal operations<br />
for at least three weeks after President<br />
Trump backed down and signed a<br />
stopgap spending bill on Jan. 25. <strong>The</strong><br />
bill included none of the border wall<br />
budget money the president originally<br />
demanded, and was essentially the same<br />
proposal the democrats had advocated<br />
for in December and since.<br />
In a speech in the Rose Garden,<br />
President Trump indicated that he was<br />
willing to shut the government down<br />
again if democrats and Republicans<br />
could not reach an agreement by<br />
the February deadline, or declare a<br />
national emergency over border<br />
security and bypass Congress<br />
altogether.<br />
HUTDOW<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4 piercepioneernews.com / 11
Campus<br />
Stepping into the<br />
Chinese New Year<br />
How students at Pierce celebrate<br />
By CALVIN BEEKMAN<br />
Staff Writer<br />
CHINESE NEW YEAR CELE-<br />
BRATES the beginning of the new year<br />
on the Chinese calendar. It is one of the<br />
world’s most prominent and celebrated<br />
festivals. However, not everyone gets to<br />
experience the celebration in their home<br />
country. Many students who are studying<br />
abroad in the U.S. find ways to celebrate<br />
here.<br />
In an email sent by Erik Gimness, director<br />
of Institutional Research at Pierce,<br />
he said, “Last year we had 96 international<br />
students from China. This year,<br />
we have 50 international students from<br />
China as of winter quarter. However, we<br />
are expecting that number to grow in<br />
spring.”<br />
Gimness said, “In general, enrollments<br />
vary a bit from year to year, but I would<br />
be surprised if by the end of spring quarter<br />
we still saw such a large decrease from<br />
last year. Also, the International Education<br />
program is projecting an increase in<br />
spring quarter,” he added.<br />
Although it is not a formal holiday<br />
in the U.S., it is still thought of and<br />
observed by those who live here from<br />
abroad. Two students spoke about their<br />
experiences with the holiday back home<br />
and what they liked best about it.<br />
Loan Vo, or “Tracey” as she is known<br />
at Pierce, is in her second quarter studying<br />
business but thinking about transferring<br />
to marketing management. Vo chose<br />
to study here at Pierce because she enjoys<br />
Washington’s weather, and the classes<br />
were convenient for her.<br />
Vo talked about her fond memories of<br />
the holiday. “<strong>The</strong>re’s always the traditional<br />
food. Pork and eggs and a special cake<br />
is always made,” she said. “<strong>The</strong>re are also<br />
lucky wars – competitions that happen<br />
throughout the holiday.”<br />
Sabrina Li, a peer tutor in the tutoring<br />
center, is in her third year at Pierce. She<br />
is studying business and came to Pierce<br />
through the Running Start program. She<br />
enjoys being in leadership positions and<br />
connecting on campus. Li also observes<br />
the holiday here in the states – or tries to,<br />
at least.<br />
“THE IMPORTANT PART<br />
(OF CHINESE NEW<br />
YEAR) IS THE UNITY<br />
AND LOVE.”<br />
— SABRINA LI, A<br />
PIERCE COLLEGE<br />
STUDENT<br />
Sabrina Li’s favorite Chinese New Year<br />
tradition is lucky money, and her favorite<br />
symbol is 春 , which means “spring.”<br />
“I want to celebrate with my host<br />
family, but it’s a little tricky compared<br />
to home with all that’s involved,” Li said.<br />
“My favorite part back home was being<br />
with family and watching the Gala (a<br />
Chinese New Year special produced by<br />
China Central Television).”<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are, of course, differences<br />
between the Chinese New Year and the<br />
New Year’s celebrations that are held in<br />
the U.S. “It lasts three to four days longer,<br />
and there’s ‘lucky money’ (money that<br />
is given at the end of competitions to<br />
younger people by older people),” Vo<br />
said.<br />
12 / piercepioneernews.com<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4
Campus<br />
“Every Chinese person goes home,<br />
it’s really crowded, the businesses close<br />
down. <strong>The</strong> important part (of Chinese<br />
New Year) is the unity and love. It has a<br />
long, long history,” Li added.<br />
Vo, when asked if she had her favorite<br />
things to pick from the holiday, she said,<br />
“<strong>The</strong> food and lucky money and being<br />
together with family.”<br />
Today (Feb. 11), International Education<br />
and ASPIRE Waymakers will be<br />
hosting a Chinese New Year event in the<br />
Fireside and Performance lounges from<br />
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will include additional<br />
booths in the hallway.<br />
This year’s theme is Tet 2019 (the Vietnamese<br />
New Year), looking at how the<br />
Vietnamese culture celebrates the Lunar<br />
New Year, which is similar to Chinese<br />
New Year. <strong>The</strong> stage will be set up for<br />
various performances. <strong>The</strong>re will also be<br />
food tables featuring Vietnamese food.<br />
Alyssa Donaldson, an ASPIRE coordinator<br />
that has been working on the event,<br />
said, “This is our second time collaborating<br />
with International Education.<br />
We went with the Vietnamese theme<br />
this year because we try to highlight one<br />
country’s look on the Lunar New Year<br />
and not just one group.”<br />
Art project tables such as calligraphy<br />
and origami will also be available for the<br />
arts-and-crafts-minded.<br />
A kid zone will be available during the<br />
event for those with children. <strong>The</strong>re will<br />
also be a K-pop booth.<br />
Anyone who wants more information<br />
can contact Donaldson in the ASPIRE<br />
office on the third floor of the Cascade<br />
building in room 301. She can also be<br />
contacted at adonaldson@pierce.ctc.edu.<br />
Tracey Vo’s favorite Chinese New Year tradition<br />
is the decorating competition of lucky<br />
money. If you win the competition, you can get<br />
more lucky money that year.<br />
Karley Wise/<br />
Staff Illustrations<br />
If you have events you would<br />
like to collaborate on with<br />
ASPIRE or International<br />
Education, contact the<br />
International Education<br />
department at<br />
international@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4 piercepioneernews.com / 13
Features<br />
Love is All Around<br />
Valentine’s Day does not have to be romantic<br />
By DIANE RUSSELL<br />
Staff Writer<br />
CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR’S AND<br />
OTHER FAMILY HOLIDAYS are over.<br />
February is here and Valentine’s Day is<br />
around the corner. Stores are decorated<br />
with red hearts and bows. Everywhere<br />
seems to have reminders of love. Valentine’s<br />
Day is a time to celebrate with<br />
romantic partners and show them how<br />
much you care, but it does not have to<br />
exclude people without partners.<br />
Love comes in many forms. Valentine’s<br />
Day can be an opportunity to remind<br />
any loved one how special and meaningful<br />
they are. It can also be a wonderful<br />
chance to see how many sources of love<br />
exist.<br />
One can remove the romantic part of<br />
Valentine’s Day. It can be another<br />
family-oriented holiday. Candy hearts<br />
and flowers can be given to anyone,<br />
even to family members. Family can be<br />
blood-related or chosen. Either way, family<br />
is about community and belonging.<br />
Aimee Sander, a sophomore in the<br />
nursing program at Pierce College Fort<br />
Steilacoom, said that family can be<br />
supportive even if it is only in small ways.<br />
“Family is a source of love for me as a<br />
support system,” she said. “Not even in<br />
the sense that they do big things for me.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y may not even support my career<br />
and schooling choices, but the smaller<br />
things.”<br />
Things like making a snack or a cup<br />
of hot coffee for each other “speaks love”<br />
to Sander and makes her “feel loved.”<br />
Disagreements can happen in families,<br />
but love can be shown in a hundred<br />
small ways that add up. Family members<br />
weather the storm together. Valentine’s<br />
Day can be a time for family members to<br />
remember that love is unconditional.<br />
Another common source of love is<br />
pets. Animals provide true, wholehearted<br />
love and support. Pets show affection and<br />
devotion all year long. Many people love<br />
their pets like family. For people without<br />
families, animals can make great substitutes.<br />
“ANIMALS PROVIDE<br />
ONE OF THE MOST PURE<br />
FORMS OF LOVE. ”<br />
— JANIE UNBEHEGEN,<br />
VETERINARIAN<br />
Veterinarian Dr. Janie Unbehagen<br />
owns Animal Care Clinic in University<br />
Place. <strong>The</strong> Animal Care Clinic website<br />
states that Unbehagen “enjoys working<br />
with owners and their pets to develop<br />
fun, long-term relationships.”<br />
Dr. Janie, as she is known to her<br />
clients, said, “Animals provide one of the<br />
Nick Nelson/Staff Illustration<br />
most pure forms of love. <strong>The</strong>y do not<br />
judge. <strong>The</strong>y do not withhold their love<br />
and adoration for any reason.”<br />
She said, “<strong>The</strong>y will be at your side no<br />
matter how hard life appears to be for<br />
you or them until the end.”<br />
Valentine’s Day can be a holiday to<br />
celebrate with one’s “fur babies.” It is also<br />
a chance to spoil them more than usual.<br />
However, Valentine’s Day does not<br />
have to be shared with anyone. It can<br />
be a chance to be alone and indulge in<br />
hobbies. Love can be found in self-expression.<br />
Photography, painting, writing<br />
or any creative outlet allows for self-love.<br />
Digital Design student Lucas Schuetz<br />
said, “Creating art makes me feel fulfilled.<br />
It instills a sense of accomplishment and<br />
also a sense of purpose. It makes me feel<br />
complete.”<br />
Valentine’s Day does not have to be<br />
romantic; what matters is how it is spent.<br />
14 / piercepioneernews.com<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4
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February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4 piercepioneernews.com / 15
Commentary<br />
Love made me a good liar<br />
By KARLEY WISE<br />
Staff Writer<br />
IN MARCH OF 2011, I BEGAN<br />
DATING my partner. <strong>The</strong> problem that<br />
I addressed right away was something I<br />
made very clear: “We cannot tell anyone,<br />
especially not our parents.” <strong>The</strong> reason<br />
this was brought up was because I did<br />
not want any attention at all. I had not<br />
told anyone, not even my family, that I<br />
was gay.<br />
It was hard to put trust into others. Being<br />
young, I had this strange idea that if<br />
even one person knew, it would somehow<br />
trickle all the way to my parents. Because<br />
of this, I allowed a select few to know of<br />
my relationship and sexual orientation.<br />
It was fun for a while, but naturally, I<br />
wanted more. I wanted my relationship<br />
to be known, but most of all, I wanted to<br />
be myself.<br />
I grew up thinking about coming out,<br />
but the idea made me sick to my stomach.<br />
I was afraid of not being accepted. I<br />
was even more terrified of being separated<br />
from her. <strong>The</strong> thought of being<br />
separated from someone I considered to<br />
be the love of my life was devastating. I<br />
had heard too many times about LGBT<br />
youth being forced to change their identities<br />
by their family. I would rather live in<br />
fear than be apart from her.<br />
Writing all this now, it seems so silly,<br />
but the feeling of anxiety and fearfulness<br />
was something I experienced almost<br />
every day.<br />
So we stayed together, acting as best<br />
friends, having slumber parties and<br />
spending summer days together. Chit<br />
chatting about “girl talk,” which, for us,<br />
was dreams of getting married, living<br />
together and still laughing at each other’s<br />
jokes, even in our old age. She was my<br />
entire world. I could not give her up.<br />
Valentine’s Day came and left many<br />
times during our relationship. It was<br />
difficult. I had to sneak her some kind of<br />
gift and be able to spend time with her<br />
without question. I had to exceed the<br />
expectations of Valentine’s Day, all while<br />
trying to make it seem like we were just<br />
friends.<br />
I would watch as other couples got<br />
public displays of affection, romantic<br />
gifts, go on dates and express their love<br />
without fear. I wanted to do that so<br />
badly. I wanted to give her the world<br />
and show everyone our incredible bond<br />
and relationship. I wanted to be able to<br />
express just how much I loved her, but I<br />
could not. I was unable to do as others<br />
could, all because of the fear in my heart<br />
of being in a queer relationship.<br />
This took a big toll on me mentally<br />
and emotionally. How was I supposed to<br />
be happy if I could not even be myself? I<br />
could not sit back and watch everyone be<br />
happily in love with their partner. I could<br />
not break the idea of being rejected by<br />
society.<br />
Social media showed loving couples<br />
post gushy texts and representations of<br />
their affection for each other. It seemed<br />
never ending, like it was something I<br />
could not escape.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were times that were very dark<br />
for me, but I could not even tell my<br />
parents what was wrong because the<br />
truth would be out, and it would all be<br />
over. Love made me a good liar for far<br />
too long.<br />
Karley Wise (left) and her<br />
fiancée, Savannah.<br />
16 / piercepioneernews.com<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4
Commentary<br />
Carl Vincent Carallas/Staff Photos<br />
In April 2016, I came out to my parents.<br />
I was 18 and I was prepared for anything.<br />
It turned out that I did not need<br />
to worry. I am lucky; I was accepted. We<br />
were accepted.<br />
I could not have been happier. It was<br />
like opening a door to a locked room to<br />
which I had not had access until now. I<br />
was free! I no longer needed to pretend<br />
to be someone else. I could say what was<br />
on my mind and it was amazing. It also<br />
helped that my family already liked my<br />
partner. We had an easy transition into a<br />
new, romantic lifestyle.<br />
We got to go to Senior Prom together,<br />
which I had never been able to experience;<br />
I had not been to a school dance<br />
with her the entire time we were together.<br />
We got to spend as much time together<br />
as we wanted without the fear of being<br />
caught. Life was really brightening up for<br />
me, and I could see it staying this way for<br />
years to come.<br />
Today, we are still together. I do not<br />
call her my girlfriend anymore, though,<br />
because she is now my fiancée.<br />
I can now spend as many Valentine’s<br />
Days with my partner as I please. This<br />
will be our third Valentine’s Day out of<br />
the closet, and it feels amazing. I can<br />
buy her as much as I want, tell everyone<br />
I want, express myself freely and finally<br />
feel like my love can be seen.<br />
Although, there are still LGBT youth<br />
who have a difficult time during month<br />
of February. According to the Human<br />
Rights Campaign, 44 percent of LGBT<br />
youth are not out of the closet to their<br />
immediate family. Ninety-one percent<br />
are only out to their close friends.<br />
Without the ability to express yourself<br />
romantically with someone you love,<br />
seeing others who can is difficult. I know,<br />
because it is something I had to battle<br />
with for five years. Consider those who<br />
do not feel comfortable with their sexuality;<br />
give them a safe place to be happy.<br />
Valentine’s Day is all about love, and to<br />
freely express it matters more than you<br />
may think.<br />
A local LGBT resource is the Rainbow Center and<br />
Oasis Youth Center (for ages 14 - 24) in Tacoma.<br />
2215 Pacific Ave. Tacoma, WA 98402<br />
Oasis Youth Center:<br />
(253) 988-2108<br />
oasis@oasisyouthcenter.org<br />
Rainbow Center:<br />
(253) 383-2318<br />
info@rainbowcntr.org<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4 piercepioneernews.com / 17
Coffee Break<br />
Hallway Hassle<br />
What is your favorite resource and how did you hear about it?<br />
“ “ “ “<br />
My favorite resource<br />
is the Library Writing<br />
Center. I found out<br />
about it from friends.<br />
I asked them how I<br />
could get feedback on<br />
my work when I was<br />
writing essays.<br />
- Charles Mateo<br />
<strong>The</strong> food pantry is my<br />
favorite because it is<br />
accessible when you<br />
run out of money after<br />
buying all your textbooks.<br />
I heard about<br />
it through friends and<br />
student life.<br />
”<br />
- Samantha Davis<br />
<strong>The</strong> library database<br />
because the information<br />
is more reliable<br />
than Google when<br />
looking for the factual<br />
information. College<br />
Success and psychology<br />
class mentioned it a<br />
few times.<br />
”<br />
- Jose Castillo<br />
<strong>The</strong> Tutoring Center<br />
is very helpful and I<br />
use it a lot for chemistry,<br />
English 101 and<br />
College 110. I heard<br />
about it through a<br />
friend. It’s been so<br />
helpful that I tell others<br />
about it also.<br />
” ”<br />
Freeform Crossword<br />
All of the resources listed below can be checked<br />
out from the Pierce College Fort Steilacoom library.<br />
- Lacey Barbee<br />
Fill in the crossword by matching each item with<br />
the corresponding column or row. <strong>The</strong> word ‘tripod’<br />
has been filled in for you.<br />
Down:<br />
Camera<br />
Laptop<br />
Green Screen<br />
Wireless Hotspot<br />
Tripod<br />
Across:<br />
Microphone<br />
Headset<br />
Lighting Kit<br />
Video Camera<br />
Web Camera<br />
IPad<br />
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18 / piercepioneernews.com<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4
Cartoon<br />
Corner<br />
Coffee Break<br />
Every Day Matters<br />
Created by Nick Nelson<br />
A Desire To Be...<br />
A Revolutionary<br />
Created by Karley Wise<br />
COLLEGE WOES - BROKE VALENTINES<br />
Created by Carl Carallas<br />
February 11, 2019 / <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>52</strong>, <strong>Issue</strong> 4 piercepioneernews.com / 19
SHUTDOWN SHUTDOWN SHUTDOWN SHUTDO<br />
UTDOWN SHUTDOW<br />
TDOWN SHUTDOWN SHUTDOWN SHUT<br />
Did you know? <strong>The</strong> last time America had a big government shutdown<br />
was in 2013 when former President Barack Obama was in office. It<br />
lasted 16 days because Congress could not come to an agreement on<br />
the Affordable Care Act.