Moscow Drag Shows Offer Local GLBTA Community a Place to Connect
High heels, a leopard print dress, and outrageous makeup may seem like inappropriate attire for a typical Saturday night in Moscow, Id., but for performers at the Moscow drag shows, it’s all in the job description.
Once a month, the Moscow drag shows offer the university towns of Pullman and Moscow a safe venue for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community and their allies to come together and celebrate.
Last weekend’s show featured a debut performance by Lauren Edholm, a junior women’s studies major at WSU. Dressed in thigh-high fishnets and a short, corset-style dress that ripped off to reveal lacy undergarments, Edholm commanded the stage and the attention of 400-person crowd to a sexy lip-synced rendition of “All That Jazz”.
Edholm is just one of many WSU students who regularly attend or perform in the drag shows as a way to connect with the GLTBA community.
“When you perform, you kind of become a face for the community in the area,” said Tyler Perkins, a junior zoology student at WSU. “You do it because you are not afraid of how people react to the fact that you’re gay.”
The Moscow drag shows are run by Kathy Sprague and her partner Tabitha, local business owners in Moscow and self-proclaimed advocates for the GLBTA (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and ally) community.
The shows, which began about 15 years ago, were created as a way to commemorate a friend of Sprague’s who died of AIDs. Before each performance, Sprague, dressed as “Bill” in men’s work clothes and a sizeable moustache, addresses the audience. She said the shows are a perfect forum for reaching out to the GLBTA community about important issues such as HIV testing and local support events.
Sprague said the reason the shows are so successful is because of the consistency.
“A lot of organizations have come and gone, but for 15 years, the drag shows have happened once a month,” Sprague said. “We need that kind of event to keep our community strong.”
This sense of unity is appreciated by attendees like Ben Wyant, a freshman pre-vet major at WSU.
“I think that safe events like this allow for people of the gay community to come together and feel wanted and a part of something,” said Wyant.
The shows typically feature two sets of drag performances, which include Drag Queens (men performing as women) and Drag Kings (women performing as men), and as well as Bio Drag performances, in which the performer maintains his or her gender but creates a different, often exaggerated drag identity with which to perform.
Performers vary by week but “there are definitely the usual suspects” said Sprague. In order to perform, participants must attend a “Drag 101” course to learn the guidelines of drag.
“It’s more drag etiquette than anything else,” said Sprague. “We want the performers to really express themselves so we don’t have a lot of rules.”
The Moscow community in general is very accepting of the GBLTA community, Sprague said. The shows have been consistently well-attended since their start.
“The first show had about 100 people at it,” Sprague said, “And now we easily get 300 to 500 at every one.”
Their biggest turnout was at an event in 2000 at the local dance club venue The Beach. The show was featured in a local paper and drew in a crowd of over 1600.
The next show is scheduled for Jan. 30 at the Moose Lodge in Moscow, Id. Doors open at 9 p.m. Sprague expects the event to be “a big one” because it will also be her birthday celebration.
Sources:
Katherine Sprague – in person
kathys@moscow.com
(208) 892-9100
Tyler Perkins - by e-mail
tperky@wsu.edu
Ben Wyant - by e-mail
benwyant09@hotmail.com
Lauren Edholm - interview not conducted, was unable to contact this source
ledholm@wsu.edu
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Speech ledes
1) Tuition costs continue to rise as a result of the $54 million budget cut, and District 9 Sen. Mark Schoesler said that higher education will continue to be at risk until the economy begins to recover.
2) WSU President Floyd said that Gov. Christine Gregoire's plans to cut higher education by nearly $100 million illustrate a vast difference of opinion on how state money should be distributed.
3) Habitat destruction, global climate change, and emerging diseases are just a few reasons for the worldwide decline in amphibian species populations, said Associate Professor Andrew Storfer.
2) WSU President Floyd said that Gov. Christine Gregoire's plans to cut higher education by nearly $100 million illustrate a vast difference of opinion on how state money should be distributed.
3) Habitat destruction, global climate change, and emerging diseases are just a few reasons for the worldwide decline in amphibian species populations, said Associate Professor Andrew Storfer.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Speech story
State Officials Address Students About Graduating in Times of Economic Stress
An improved business climate may be the key to recovery for the Washington state budget and will provide hope to students entering the job market.
“We need businesses here. We need jobs here,” Representative Joe Schmick said. “We have students with good degrees. They need good jobs!”
Schmick addressed students at Washington State University on Tuesday Dec. 1, along with fellow Senator Mark Schoesler and State Representative Susan Fagan. The event was part of the “Coffee and Politics” series hosted by the Foley Institute.
The officials were invited to speak about how the Washington state budget shortfalls will effect WSU and the City of Pullman.
Students at WSU have already felt the financial strain of the shrinking state budget. Tuition has increased by 14 percent since the university fiscal budget was announced last spring, and will increase by another 14 percent for the 2010 and 2011 school year.
When asked if WSU can expect to see even more tuition increases and department cuts in the future, the officials said that circumstances are uncertain but more cuts are possible.
“Until the economy is turned around, higher education is always at risk,” Schoesler said.
With companies like Boeing opting to leave the state, the annual retail growth in Washington state is low and unemployment is high. The officials all stressed the important of growth in the economy. Schmick said that there will be a natural progression of dollars for education as the business climate improves.
Pullman community members and students also voiced concerns that students graduating from college with thousands of dollars of debt are suffering when entering an already-competitive job market.
“We’re really aware of that impact,” Schmick said, “It’s like, here’s your diploma, and by the way, here’s your mortgage.”
Senior political science major Celena Canode said that it does feel like an inopportune time to enter the working world.
“Some students are opting to go to graduate school just because there are so few jobs out there right now,” Canode said.
Fagan said that she feels it is part of her responsibility to make sure that students have job opportunities upon graduation and that prioritizing state spending is one step in the process of recovery.
“We are spending more money than we have. There is no question about that,” Fagan said.
One method of state fund prioritization that arose multiple times was the idea of re-evaluating the qualifications and expectations for unemployed citizens receiving supplemental income through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in order to conserve state funds.
Chloe Beardsley, a senior political science major, believes that some people use government unemployment programs as a crutch.
“There is probably a lot of money that could be conserved,” Beardsley said. “I have friends my age on unemployment who use the money just because they’re eligible for it, not because they have to.”
The Washington State Legislature will be looking into reprioritizing spending across the board this year in order to make it through tough times.
“I don’t think you’ll see many stones left unturned at the end of this year,” Schmick said.
Sources:
Celena Canode
celenacandoe@gmail.com
Chloe Beardsley
cbeardsley239@yahoo.com
Speakers:
Senator Mark Schoesler - (360) 786-7620
Representative Joe Schmick – (360) 786-7844
Representative Susan Fagan - (360) 786-7942
3 Questions:
1) Do you feel students are well-informed about politics on a local or national level
2) Do you feel students have a voice in local politics?
3) Do you feel that high education is a priority for taxpayers in Washington state? Should it be?
An improved business climate may be the key to recovery for the Washington state budget and will provide hope to students entering the job market.
“We need businesses here. We need jobs here,” Representative Joe Schmick said. “We have students with good degrees. They need good jobs!”
Schmick addressed students at Washington State University on Tuesday Dec. 1, along with fellow Senator Mark Schoesler and State Representative Susan Fagan. The event was part of the “Coffee and Politics” series hosted by the Foley Institute.
The officials were invited to speak about how the Washington state budget shortfalls will effect WSU and the City of Pullman.
Students at WSU have already felt the financial strain of the shrinking state budget. Tuition has increased by 14 percent since the university fiscal budget was announced last spring, and will increase by another 14 percent for the 2010 and 2011 school year.
When asked if WSU can expect to see even more tuition increases and department cuts in the future, the officials said that circumstances are uncertain but more cuts are possible.
“Until the economy is turned around, higher education is always at risk,” Schoesler said.
With companies like Boeing opting to leave the state, the annual retail growth in Washington state is low and unemployment is high. The officials all stressed the important of growth in the economy. Schmick said that there will be a natural progression of dollars for education as the business climate improves.
Pullman community members and students also voiced concerns that students graduating from college with thousands of dollars of debt are suffering when entering an already-competitive job market.
“We’re really aware of that impact,” Schmick said, “It’s like, here’s your diploma, and by the way, here’s your mortgage.”
Senior political science major Celena Canode said that it does feel like an inopportune time to enter the working world.
“Some students are opting to go to graduate school just because there are so few jobs out there right now,” Canode said.
Fagan said that she feels it is part of her responsibility to make sure that students have job opportunities upon graduation and that prioritizing state spending is one step in the process of recovery.
“We are spending more money than we have. There is no question about that,” Fagan said.
One method of state fund prioritization that arose multiple times was the idea of re-evaluating the qualifications and expectations for unemployed citizens receiving supplemental income through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in order to conserve state funds.
Chloe Beardsley, a senior political science major, believes that some people use government unemployment programs as a crutch.
“There is probably a lot of money that could be conserved,” Beardsley said. “I have friends my age on unemployment who use the money just because they’re eligible for it, not because they have to.”
The Washington State Legislature will be looking into reprioritizing spending across the board this year in order to make it through tough times.
“I don’t think you’ll see many stones left unturned at the end of this year,” Schmick said.
Sources:
Celena Canode
celenacandoe@gmail.com
Chloe Beardsley
cbeardsley239@yahoo.com
Speakers:
Senator Mark Schoesler - (360) 786-7620
Representative Joe Schmick – (360) 786-7844
Representative Susan Fagan - (360) 786-7942
3 Questions:
1) Do you feel students are well-informed about politics on a local or national level
2) Do you feel students have a voice in local politics?
3) Do you feel that high education is a priority for taxpayers in Washington state? Should it be?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Correct These Sentences - Grammar Practice
Correct the following sentences.
1. Even though the Seattle Sounders' FC inaugural season ended Sunday with a 1-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo, the Sounders still have a lot to be proud of. (of which to be proud? - shouldn't end sentence in a prep.)
2. Tommy Sullivan was one of many fans able to attend a game this year.
3. With the work of improvement in mind, Pullman residents feel the comfort of a clean, high-quality, diversified neighborhood more and more.
4. “People will come in and buy them by the case,” said Ryan Jones, a senior management operations major and employee of Bob's Corner Market for three years. “It’s not uncommon for them to run out at the warehouse. Sometimes I think they just can’t keep up.”
5. Yagiz started school as an undecided major but after taking geology her sophomore year, she had found what she wanted to study.
6. "If enacted, the plan will positively affect the neighborhood of College Hill and the collegiate experience of WSU students," he said.
7. More than 60 percent of off-premise establishments provided at least one type of beer promotion.
8. A fleet of camouflage army cargo trucks sits in a parking lot while men from the National Guard use forklifts to load supplies into the truck beds.
9. Potential employers are increasingly likely to view social-networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace when screening applicants for a position.
10. Stefany Unda, career development program coordinator for CACD, said the biggest misconception out there is that setting a Facebook page to private will prohibit employers from viewing the profile.
11. He said he expects to see a number of transit systems voters to try to get more revenue.
12. With more traffic on the web site than in the department, digital technology must be every organized and has allowed archives to be more accessible to the public sphere.
13. “We just buy and sell real estate. It is what we do, but the market doesn’t dictate the price,” she said. “The price is the price and I haven’t seen a noticeable change.”
14. These bales are then sold to a processing center in Tacoma, Wash., for $24.
15. “In five or 10 years something else will be cool and texting while driving will be a primary offense, but it’s going to take a little time,” Tennant said.
Underline the subject and verb of the following sentences:
Another impact(S) that increases the purchasing of alcohol is(V) the premises that sell alcohol on and off the WSU campus.
The best advice(S) the CACD can give is(V), do not post things that you would not want people to see.
Comma splice? Yes or no.
“We just buy and sell real estate, it is what we do but the market doesn’t dictate the price,” she said. YES
In 2007, while the average income in Washington was $55,628, the average income for Whitman County was $36,438. NO
Going green took on new meaning this year when WSU Waste Management announced dramatic changes to the recycling program in an effort to save money across the university, the city plans to follow suit. YES
“Take a little out of athletics, take a percentage out of athletics so a whole department doesn't have to be terminated,” Converse said. YES
----
News Feature:
The 20 year-old Founder's Day tradition of throwing shoes into two trees outside of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity will end this year due to complaints from the community that the shoe trees are an eyesore on College Hill.
1. Even though the Seattle Sounders' FC inaugural season ended Sunday with a 1-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo, the Sounders still have a lot to be proud of. (of which to be proud? - shouldn't end sentence in a prep.)
2. Tommy Sullivan was one of many fans able to attend a game this year.
3. With the work of improvement in mind, Pullman residents feel the comfort of a clean, high-quality, diversified neighborhood more and more.
4. “People will come in and buy them by the case,” said Ryan Jones, a senior management operations major and employee of Bob's Corner Market for three years. “It’s not uncommon for them to run out at the warehouse. Sometimes I think they just can’t keep up.”
5. Yagiz started school as an undecided major but after taking geology her sophomore year, she had found what she wanted to study.
6. "If enacted, the plan will positively affect the neighborhood of College Hill and the collegiate experience of WSU students," he said.
7. More than 60 percent of off-premise establishments provided at least one type of beer promotion.
8. A fleet of camouflage army cargo trucks sits in a parking lot while men from the National Guard use forklifts to load supplies into the truck beds.
9. Potential employers are increasingly likely to view social-networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace when screening applicants for a position.
10. Stefany Unda, career development program coordinator for CACD, said the biggest misconception out there is that setting a Facebook page to private will prohibit employers from viewing the profile.
11. He said he expects to see a number of transit systems voters to try to get more revenue.
12. With more traffic on the web site than in the department, digital technology must be every organized and has allowed archives to be more accessible to the public sphere.
13. “We just buy and sell real estate. It is what we do, but the market doesn’t dictate the price,” she said. “The price is the price and I haven’t seen a noticeable change.”
14. These bales are then sold to a processing center in Tacoma, Wash., for $24.
15. “In five or 10 years something else will be cool and texting while driving will be a primary offense, but it’s going to take a little time,” Tennant said.
Underline the subject and verb of the following sentences:
Another impact(S) that increases the purchasing of alcohol is(V) the premises that sell alcohol on and off the WSU campus.
The best advice(S) the CACD can give is(V), do not post things that you would not want people to see.
Comma splice? Yes or no.
“We just buy and sell real estate, it is what we do but the market doesn’t dictate the price,” she said. YES
In 2007, while the average income in Washington was $55,628, the average income for Whitman County was $36,438. NO
Going green took on new meaning this year when WSU Waste Management announced dramatic changes to the recycling program in an effort to save money across the university, the city plans to follow suit. YES
“Take a little out of athletics, take a percentage out of athletics so a whole department doesn't have to be terminated,” Converse said. YES
----
News Feature:
The 20 year-old Founder's Day tradition of throwing shoes into two trees outside of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity will end this year due to complaints from the community that the shoe trees are an eyesore on College Hill.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Practice News Release - Virtual Journalism
College of Communication Hosts Virtual Journalism Symposium
A Specialized Reporting Institue with a focus on virtual journalism and new media outlets will be held at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State Unversity in Pullman, Wa., on April 6, 2009.
Presenters at the symposium include virutal world journalists as well as representives and creators from the White House, CBS, Walt Disney, CNN, ThinkBalm, and Second Life.
"These and other emerging forms of digital news distribution offer both promise and potential for our students and for the future of journalism." WSU President Elison S. Floyd said.
Virtual journalism is a new trend, seen in real-world mass news media such as CNN and Skye News, that involves news reporting in a 3D virutal environment like Second Life or Club Penguin.
"These emerging 3D spaces offer fascinating new opportunities for storytelling," said Erica Austin, interim dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. "And as the traditional, newspaper-based world of journalism looks for appropriate new ways to provide the vital checks and balances vital to democracy, this event will provide a very significant catalyst for innovation."
The event is presented as a partenship between the McCormick Foundation, one of the nations's largest charities, and WSU's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, the Northwest's most comprehesnive college communication program.
A complete schedule of events is available http://communication.wsu.edu/virtualjournalism .
For more information, contact:
Brett Atwood, Edward R. Murrow College of Communication 509-335-0113, batwood@wsu.edu
Maria Ortega, WSU News Service, 509-335-7209, mortega@wsu.edu
A Specialized Reporting Institue with a focus on virtual journalism and new media outlets will be held at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State Unversity in Pullman, Wa., on April 6, 2009.
Presenters at the symposium include virutal world journalists as well as representives and creators from the White House, CBS, Walt Disney, CNN, ThinkBalm, and Second Life.
"These and other emerging forms of digital news distribution offer both promise and potential for our students and for the future of journalism." WSU President Elison S. Floyd said.
Virtual journalism is a new trend, seen in real-world mass news media such as CNN and Skye News, that involves news reporting in a 3D virutal environment like Second Life or Club Penguin.
"These emerging 3D spaces offer fascinating new opportunities for storytelling," said Erica Austin, interim dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. "And as the traditional, newspaper-based world of journalism looks for appropriate new ways to provide the vital checks and balances vital to democracy, this event will provide a very significant catalyst for innovation."
The event is presented as a partenship between the McCormick Foundation, one of the nations's largest charities, and WSU's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, the Northwest's most comprehesnive college communication program.
A complete schedule of events is available http://communication.wsu.edu/virtualjournalism .
For more information, contact:
Brett Atwood, Edward R. Murrow College of Communication 509-335-0113, batwood@wsu.edu
Maria Ortega, WSU News Service, 509-335-7209, mortega@wsu.edu
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The End of Tradition in the Trees
As the seasons change, leaves may not be the only things falling from the trees on Washington State University’s Greek Row. The hundreds of shoes that adorn two large trees outside of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house are also slated for removal by the city, signifying the end of a tradition for the fraternity.
Shoes are thrown into two trees standing outside of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity on Oak Street every Dec. 10, which is Founder’s Day for the chapter. Members say the tradition started around 1987.
“The trees are a symbol for us,” Delta Sigma Phi President Ryan Coumont said. “They represent our brotherhood and throwing the shoes is a way for us to come together and celebrate our membership.”
A series of complaints from residents of College Hill, a neighborhood located near the WSU campus and home to the Greek community, identified the trees as a violation of the City of Pullman’s Nuisance Ordinance. The complaints stated that the shoes create an unsightly appearance and have become an eyesore to residents of College Hill. Exact sources of the complaints can not be identified due privacy reasons.
Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson mentioned that there are also safety issues associated with the trees since shoes sometimes land on or near power lines. Johnson believes that the shoe trees are both unsightly and unsafe.
“College students should have standards too,” Johnson said.
For some, this standard may mean a standard for tradition and appreciation of college culture. The loss of the shoe trees is not only the loss of a tradition for Delta Sigma Phi, but also the loss of a Pullman landmark, says student Erin Dunn, a member of the Greek community.
"Traditions are what keeps the Greek community going so strong. I love the Delta Sigma Phi shoe trees because they are a visual demonstration of strong traditions. They're a fun way to connect with members of every generation,” Dunn said.
The removal of the shoes from Delta Sigma Phi’s trees is a demonstration of the struggle faced by many Greek houses between maintaining a working relationship with the College Hill residential community and upholding the strong traditions for which the Greeks are known.
The Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life encourages all sororities and fraternities to maintain a positive relationship with the residents of College Hill. Assistant Director Samantha Armstrong believes that it is in Delta Sigma Phi’s best interest to develop new traditions in order to set a trend in the neighborhood.
“We understand that the fraternity values the tradition and history associated with the tree,” Armstrong said. “For some the tree represents times gone by, a work of art, college students having fun. For others, it is an eyesore bringing down the property value and making the neighborhood look even more run down.”
In an effort to work with the Pullman community, Coumont says the men of Delta Sigma Phi will not be continuing their shoe-throwing tradition this Founder’s Day after the shoes are removed.
“It’s like the end of an era for us,” Coumont said. “Maybe we’ll have to come up with a new tradition, but it’s sad.”
Sources:
Samantha Armstrong - in person/by e-mail
Assistant Director, Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life
(509) 335-5433
sjarmstrong@wsu.edu
Glenn Johnson - in person
Mayor of Pullman, University Faculty
509-335-3068
galjohns@wsu.edu
Erin Dunn - by e-mail
New Student Programs employee, Chinook Yearbook editor
509-981-2889
Ryan Coumont - in person
Delta Sigma Phi President Fall 2009
509-991-9053
Shoes are thrown into two trees standing outside of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity on Oak Street every Dec. 10, which is Founder’s Day for the chapter. Members say the tradition started around 1987.
“The trees are a symbol for us,” Delta Sigma Phi President Ryan Coumont said. “They represent our brotherhood and throwing the shoes is a way for us to come together and celebrate our membership.”
A series of complaints from residents of College Hill, a neighborhood located near the WSU campus and home to the Greek community, identified the trees as a violation of the City of Pullman’s Nuisance Ordinance. The complaints stated that the shoes create an unsightly appearance and have become an eyesore to residents of College Hill. Exact sources of the complaints can not be identified due privacy reasons.
Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson mentioned that there are also safety issues associated with the trees since shoes sometimes land on or near power lines. Johnson believes that the shoe trees are both unsightly and unsafe.
“College students should have standards too,” Johnson said.
For some, this standard may mean a standard for tradition and appreciation of college culture. The loss of the shoe trees is not only the loss of a tradition for Delta Sigma Phi, but also the loss of a Pullman landmark, says student Erin Dunn, a member of the Greek community.
"Traditions are what keeps the Greek community going so strong. I love the Delta Sigma Phi shoe trees because they are a visual demonstration of strong traditions. They're a fun way to connect with members of every generation,” Dunn said.
The removal of the shoes from Delta Sigma Phi’s trees is a demonstration of the struggle faced by many Greek houses between maintaining a working relationship with the College Hill residential community and upholding the strong traditions for which the Greeks are known.
The Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life encourages all sororities and fraternities to maintain a positive relationship with the residents of College Hill. Assistant Director Samantha Armstrong believes that it is in Delta Sigma Phi’s best interest to develop new traditions in order to set a trend in the neighborhood.
“We understand that the fraternity values the tradition and history associated with the tree,” Armstrong said. “For some the tree represents times gone by, a work of art, college students having fun. For others, it is an eyesore bringing down the property value and making the neighborhood look even more run down.”
In an effort to work with the Pullman community, Coumont says the men of Delta Sigma Phi will not be continuing their shoe-throwing tradition this Founder’s Day after the shoes are removed.
“It’s like the end of an era for us,” Coumont said. “Maybe we’ll have to come up with a new tradition, but it’s sad.”
Sources:
Samantha Armstrong - in person/by e-mail
Assistant Director, Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life
(509) 335-5433
sjarmstrong@wsu.edu
Glenn Johnson - in person
Mayor of Pullman, University Faculty
509-335-3068
galjohns@wsu.edu
Erin Dunn - by e-mail
New Student Programs employee, Chinook Yearbook editor
509-981-2889
Ryan Coumont - in person
Delta Sigma Phi President Fall 2009
509-991-9053
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
News Feature: Dan Geib
When Dan Geib was cut from his high school baseball team, he never anticipated that it would aid in the discovery of a new passion.
Instead of running around the bases on a baseball field, Dan decided to start running as a hobby. Now a junior at Washington State University, he is a student-athlete who runs competitively on WSU's Cross Country team.
"It started out as just something to do. Now I'm in college and running is a big part of my life," Dan said.
Instead of running around the bases on a baseball field, Dan decided to start running as a hobby. Now a junior at Washington State University, he is a student-athlete who runs competitively on WSU's Cross Country team.
"It started out as just something to do. Now I'm in college and running is a big part of my life," Dan said.
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