Women’s HERstory Celebration

By Kiersten Kimminau

The month of March is annually recognized as Women’s History Month to highlight the contributions of women to history, culture and contemporary society.

At CWU, we don’t want the celebration to stop just yet…I mean honestly, should it ever really stop? After all, women are friggin dope!

Central’s Diversity and Equity Center agrees with this sentiment. So, they’re stretching their celebration through the month of April so that students can continue to celebrate Women’s HERstory!

No matter where you are this spring, there are plenty of ways to participate in the celebration. The DEC is offering a combination of virtual and in-person opportunities that invite people to diversify the ways we view feminism and create space for all intersections of womanhood.

Check it out…

On April 9th and 23rd tune into the final episodes of the video series called “Here’s a Seat”. Jaeda Nelson, Student Initiatives Coordinator for the ​Diversity and Equity Center, described the series as, “dialogue involving feminism and systems of powers through different identities.”

Previous episodes in this series have discussed the experiences of women with disabilities and women of color. The video on April 9th will be focused on LGBTQ+ Women and Femme People, and the final video on the 23rd will open dialogue on all people. View this series on the DEC’s Facebook account.

If you’re on the Ellensburg campus this month, stop by the SURC pit to see the She Did That display. This display explores the intersectionality of womanhood and empowerment by presenting women of the past and present who show us how they use their power.

Come see what what a diverse group of women said when asked the question, “How do you empower yourself?”

Then, learn about twelve historic women who made major waves in feminism.

And there’s more…so I guess you’ll just have to come see for yourself 😉

If you’re unable to check it out in person, don’t worry. You can still get involved by sharing how YOU demonstrate power. Post a photo to Instagram using #shedidthatcwu and challenge 3 other CWU pals to do the same!

To close out the Women’s HERstory Celebration, the DEC will be hosting a march, All of Us or None, on April 14th. The march starts at 3PM meeting at the front of Black Hall, all are welcome!

In preparation for the march, the DEC is inviting students to come to their office on April 12-13 to make posters during office hours from 1pm-5pm. So come on down, make a jazzy sign and get ready to march folks!

Make sure to follow the DEC and CWY HYPE for updates about the Women’s HERStory Celebration and MORE groovy events throughout the quarter!

#CWUTogether #WildcatsBelongHere

Spring Break 2021

Spring break will be here in two weeks, and it’s time to make plans. This year, we’re recommending a #WildcatStaycation because CWU departments have planned tons of activities that will keep you busy in the ‘Burg!

What does a week in Ellensburg look like? Read on to get details to all of the events you can attend in person or virtually. If you want to get dressed up, mask up and see people in person, you can do that, and if you want to stay in your pajamas and participate from home you can do that too! We’ve just handed you your Spring Break plans!

Scavenger Hunt All Week

Join the Diversity and Equity Center and local partners during Spring Break in a citywide scavenger hunt that will allow you to explore the town and campus history! Participants will have the entire week of spring break to gather clues rolled out daily via social media and can be claimed the following week for fun prizes! All you need is a camera and a face mask! More details will be released via our social media channels (@cwudiversity on Facebook and Instagram) so make sure to stay tuned!

*All clues are designed to comply with campus, state, and federal health safety guidelines regarding COVID-19 prevention. We encourage all participants to practice social distancing, wearing masks, sanitizing frequently, and other safety practices while completing these challenges.

Monday, March 22

Campus Activities is hosting Monday Movie Madness in person in the SURC Theatre or virtually. Watch the movie “Her” at 7 p.m. Never heard of the movie? Here’s a quick summary: In a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need. Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson.

Wednesday, March 24

At 5 p.m. join OPR for a Fireside Chat on the OPR patio.

At 7 p.m. it’s time to get your trivia on! Share your knowledge and see if you will come out on top. Join Campus Activities and Recreation for a round of trivia in the SURC Theatre or virtually via CWU Recreation’s Twitch channel. Masks are required if attending in person. 

The link to join virtually: twitch.tv/cwurecreation

Thursday, March 25

Grab your bingo dauber and head to the SURC Pit for a round of BINGO, hosted by Campus Activities. Follow @cwucampusactivities on Instagram for the virtual join link, which will be posted 1 hour ahead of the event.

Friday, March 26

End the week with some video games at Geek Out Game Out at 7 p.m. in the SURC! Bring some friends and play video games and board games with Campus Activities! Join the fun in person in SURC 135, 137A/B and 140. You can also join virtually via Jackbox. Follow @cwucampusactivities on Instagram for the join link, which will be posted 1 hour ahead of the event.

Conferences

If you want to learn about primates or learn leadership skills, there are two conferences happening all week that you can check out.

The Global Primatology Conference: Lemurs, Lorises, Tarsiers, Monkeys & Apes in Sanctuaries, Zoos & Forests Across the World is taking place March 22-26 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Here’s a description: Central Washington University (CWU) invites you to a virtual global primatology conference, which will convene experts on Lemurs, Lorises, Tarsiers, Monkeys, and Apes from around the world. Our extraordinary line-up of presentations will allow attendees the opportunity to visit and learn about a diverse array of primate species and the research and conservation work being done in sanctuaries, zoos, and natural environments across the world. Each presentation will be followed by 30 minutes for questions and interaction, allowing attendees the opportunity to connect  in meaningful ways with leading primatologists. CWU, among the few universities in the United States offering undergraduate and graduate education in primatology, is well positioned to connect students with professionals in the field. Must register in advance to attend.

Wildcats, we hope you take this #WildcatStaycation with us and stay in Ellensburg this Spring Break!

Black History Month 2021

By Kiersten Kimminau

Journalist, professor and former civil rights era activist Charles E. Cobb Jr. once said, “The way the public understands the civil rights movement can be boiled down to one sentence: Rosa sat down, Martin stood up, then the white folks saw the light and saved the day.”

Well, by now we should all know that sure as heck ain’t the whole story…

Black history is absolutely fundamental to our nation’s history, but is rarely recognized as such. Back in 1915, historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland noticed this issue and decided to do something.

They started what is today known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). In 1926, the group sponsored a weeklong celebration during the month of February to recognize Black history and achievements. After gaining traction, this week eventually evolved into a month, and in 1976, February became officially recognized as Black History Month.

What Can YOU Do at CWU?

At CWU, various campus organizations will be collaborating to celebrate the past, present and future of Black Americans.

One particularly special event that will take place is a virtual discussion with Innocence Project Speaker, Huwe Burton.

The Innocence Project is organization that exonerates the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. Photo by Lacy Atkins.

At just 16 years old, Burton became a suspect in his mother’s murder in 1989.

Bronx detectives used psychologically coercive techniques to obtain a false confession, convicting him in 1991 and sentencing him to 15-years-to-life for a crime he did not commit.

“They knew that they were forcing a child into confessing to something that he didn’t do,” Burton said in an exclusive interview with CWU Hype.

Even after evidence came to light clearly proving Burton’s innocence, detectives doubled down on their efforts to hide the truth. It took three law clinics over the course of 30 years to prove what Bronx detectives had known within a week.

Burton was released on parole in 2009, and with help from the Innocence Project, affiliated with the law schools and clinics at Northwestern Law Clinic and Rutgers Law Clinic, he was finally exonerated in 2019.

Today, Burton continues to work closely with the Innocence Project because, “What happened to me 31 years ago is still happening to a lot of people same way now,” he said.

You can hear Burton’s story and learn how discrimination is still impacting the criminal justice system by attending the virtual event on February 9th at 7 p.m. RSVP HERE.

Video by Alex Groom, CWU Hype

In addition to Burton sharing his story with CWU students, other events will be taking place throughout the month as well. According to Elizabeth Vidaurri, the Program Manager of CWU’s Diversity and Equity Center (DEC), “There will be events… in conjunction with the Black Student Union, Central African Student Association, Africana & Black Studies department, Westside Student Life, Museum of Culture and Environment and the Ellensburg School District.”

After February 28th

One month is definitely NOT enough time to fully appreciate all of the untold stories and contributions of Black Americans throughout history (it also doesn’t help that February is the shortest month of the year *cue gargantuan eye roll*).

So, in addition to participating in the events taking place at CWU in honor of Black History Month, check out these resources to continue educating yourself and amplifying Black narratives long after the month ends:

  • Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) created A History of Racial Injustice. Their virtual calendar includes hundreds of entries highlighting historical events and issues in our nation’s racial history. Check it out HERE.
  • READ books, LISTEN to podcasts and WATCH films by Black creators.
  • SUPPORT Black-owned businesses.

Get Your Craft On With Campus Activities

Campus Activities is bringing Wildcats more make and takes this quarter! Last quarter we made super cute CWU Together Wildcat paw print paintings, and this quarter we all made a winter-themed painting with a penguin in a scarf. If you haven’t tried a make and take event with Campus Activities, read on to learn what they’re like.

Kits Included

Campus Activities provides kits for all of the make and takes so you just need to pick it up to participate. All of the specialty supplies including paint, paintbrushes and canvas were provided for the winter paint social. There were 1 to 2 other things for this event that they recommended people have on hand — a pencil, water container and paper towel — which we all probably have at home!

The guide was great, and had us all start by drawing a grid on our canvas. We then moved into adding each part of the penguin step by step. If you have no artistic bone in your body, you can still do this!

Look At These Amazing Works Of Art!

At the end of the session, participants posed with their art. Those who didn’t want to be in the photograph were allowed to leave the call or turn off their camera. You actually didn’t even have to have your camera on to participate in the whole event. We were able to ask questions via the chat function or by unmuting ourselves. That’s the cool thing about Campus Activities make and take events — you can participate at whatever level you’re comfortable with. So if you just want to craft and watch Netflix in the background, you can do that too!

Upcoming Make & Takes

Create A Creature: February 12, 2021
7 p.m. •Virtual • Free, CWU students
Create a creature with Campus Activities! Masks and physical distancing required when picking up kits. Choose to make a stuffed animal sloth or elephant and decorate a shirt for them to wear. Don’t want to make it there? Pick up your kit and take it to go. Kit pickup is available at the Info Center in the SURC starting Feb. 12.

Valentine’s Day Soiree: Moved to Feb. 14! from 5-8 p.m.
5-8 p.m. • Virtual • Free, CWU students
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with all of the make and takes! Pick up a plant your own succulent kit, cookie decorating kit, paint kits and create a creature kits. Masks and physical distancing required when picking up kits. 

Follow @cwucampusactivities on Instagram

#CWUTogether #WildcatsBelongHere

Monday Movie Madness Flicks

Catch a movie with other CWU students every Monday this quarter!

You can join the event in your pajamas at home! Campus Activities is hosting virtual options, and the join link will be posted on Instagram (@cwucampusactivities) one hour prior to the movie. Movies start at 7 p.m. every Monday.

Check out the list below and let us know what movie you’re most excited about! #CWUTogether #WildcatsBelongHere

Here is the Winter Quarter lineup:

January 11 | Lilo & Stitch

Virtual via Disney+

January 18 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl

Virtual via Disney+

January 25 | The Help

Virtual via Netflix Party

February 1 | Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

Virtual via Netflix Party

February 8 | Black Panther

Virtual via Disney+

February 15 | The Theory of Everything

Virtual via Netflix Party

February 22 | The Cat In The Hat (2003)

Virtual via Netflix Party

March 1 | Mulan (1998)

Virtual via Disney+

March 8 | The Other Guys

Virtual via Netflix Party

March 15 | Double Jeopardy (1999)

Virtual via Netflix Party

March 22 | Her

Virtual via Netflix Party

CWU Campus Activities organizes Monday Movie Madness each quarter.
To learn more, email Robbi.Goninan@cwu.edu.

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