Category: Community
A panel discussion focused on how to improve the Olympia community’s education system after the screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” May 3 at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. The documentary emphasized the power of girls’ education. The panel included South Puget Sound Community College Vice President for Student Services Rhonda Coats, South [...]
An estimated 250 people gathered at The Evergreen State College (TESC) May 28 to strike for a “fair contract” for the Student Support Services Staff Union (SSSU). Strikers asked campus goers to either join them or turn around and leave. Many campus services were unavailable, and some instructors held classes off campus to avoid crossing [...]
Annual Free Comic Book Day happens worldwide to give old fans the chance to celebrate their comic book obsessions and to create new fans to this growing industry. May 4, Olympic Cards and Comics in Lacey, Wash. was one of several comic book stores in the community and nationwide that participated in this annual event. [...]
Spring Arts Walk weekend is Olympia’s claim to fame. This year, 96 official venues publicly displayed the visual and performing arts of local artists. Luminary Procession occurred on Friday night of Arts Walk weekend to celebrate the spirit element in nature. Thousands of people packed around Capitol Way and 5th Avenue to watch fluorescent jellyfish [...]
As youth homelessness continues, Community Youth Services (CYS) in downtown Olympia opened a 10-bed overnight shelter for youth ages 18-21 on Feb. 24. During the day, youth ages 18-21 can sign up at Rosie’s Place to come back at 9 p.m. for an overnight stay, said Shogren. There is a 10-bed capacity for the shelter [...]
Each year the Thurston County Economic Development Council (EDC) recognizes the county business and nonprofit community through its Annual Meeting & Business Recognition Awards. There are four categories for awards: nonprofit, new business, small business, and corporate employer. Each award winner receives recognition through press releases, a plaque commemorating their award, and a video of [...]
Thurston County may soon be facing a ban on all single-use plastic bags. The cities of Olympia, Bucoda, and Tumwater have all recommended a ban on single-use plastic bags. Other cities are pending decision, have recommended a countywide vote on a plastic bag ban, or have recommended suppliers pay a small fee on bags. Once [...]
Every Tuesday night at the Olympia Eagles Ballroom, people in the community come together for a night of lively swing dancing. Admission is $5, and all ages are welcome. Anyone can feel free to come alone, since people rotate partners between each song. Jordan Biscay, a South Puget Sound Community College student who is “addicted [...]
Local business in downtown Olympia is fluctuating as normal, while some businesses continue to brave the current recession, others have closed. Two local businesses, The Mod Fix, as well as the Jewish deli Kitzel’s, both closed in March. Although, according to the Executive Director of the Olympia Downtown Association (ODA) Connie Lorenz, more businesses have [...]
Over 350 students from nearly two dozen schools gathered early February to share their opinions about college tuition, textbooks, and budget cuts. South Puget Sound Community College brought seven activists eager to join the discussion. Excited students packed the rotunda. They carried signs and wore t-shirts with messages such as, “Forget the NFL, give me [...]
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Student Spotlight: Hongna Svay
Hongna Svay, 29, is currently studying computer programming at South Puget Sound Community College. He came to Olympia from his native country Cambodia to attend college and to be near his friends and relatives in the Olympia area. Svay first came to America in Aug. 2010. He started attending SPSCC right away, enrolling in English [...]
Student Spotlight: Hal Schrieve
After two years of frustration, new Running Start student, Hal Schrieve begins school in the hope that SPSCC will provide a more realistic transition into adulthood. “I felt as if I deserved more autonomy within my own education,” said Schrieve. Schrieve’s decision to participate in Running Start spawned, in part, from previous conflict with his [...]
After experiencing challenges at SPSCC, student Rebekah Hutson turns things around
Rebekah Hutson faced and overcame many challenges while at SPSCC. Graduating with an associate of arts this quarter, she said she started at the college unenthusiastically, feeling isolated as a black student on a mostly-white campus. Hutson said since then, she gained a passion for making the school more diverse and became very involved [...]
Video game coverage: where journalistic integrity fails
What happens when the line between journalists covering a business and the business itself becomes indistinguishable? when honesty and integrity is trampled upon by profit and fear? One new form of media has given us an unsettling glimpse at what this looks like. Most forms of media have long-standing traditions surrounding their criticism. There is [...]
Opinion: Tragedies lead to disproportionate fear of guns
Student submission: David Detrick Is there a serious problem surrounding gun violence in the United States? Yes. Ranked tenth on the list of things causing death in the United States, gun violence is a serious social problem. An average of 16,000 deaths annually and dropping ––wait a second, did I hear that right? Yes, gun [...]
Opposing Viewpoints: The Death Penalty: justified
May 6 in Cleveland, Ohio three women were rescued from captivity in a house belonging to a Cleveland resident named Ariel Castro. He allegedly abducted, held captive, beat and repeatedly raped these women over a decade. They were held in captivity for 11, 10 and nine years. Two of them were under 18 years old [...]