De-stress, pay it forward during #WesternCares
Finals are approaching, and this is a busy -- and often quite difficult -- time for students.
That's why Western is continuing the #WesternCares campaign begun this past spring, encouraging students, faculty and staff to relax and help others. We're all in this together, and we can get through these weeks with each other's help.
A preliminary list of #WesternCares events is below. Admission to all events listed is free. If you know of something that's missing, or if you want to create a new event, let us know! We're looking for any event that gives students, faculty and staff a chance to study, relax, de-stress, socialize or get work done.
When posting about something you've done or received to social media, don't forget to tag the post with #WesternCares to encourage and inspire others. Let's see how much help we can offer others as the quarter comes to a close.
March 2 to 6: WWU Kindness Campaign
A team of students from the Center for Service-Learning has been working hard to spread kindness on campus with its week of WWU Kindness Campaign events. This first-ever event featured opportunities for students to thank their faculty members, encourage themselves and to appreciate the hard work of grounds workers and custodians. View photos from the encouragement event or learn more about the entire week of projects.
March 4: Petting zoo
Associated Students Productions reached out to Animal Encounters to bring a petting zoo to the Communications Facility Lawn March 4. Watch a video or view pictures of the event.
March 6: Art Walk
The free monthly event takes place Friday, March 6, in downtown Bellingham. Several WWU students' pop-up art will be featured throughout downtown.
March 6: Employee Appreciation Day
The annual celebration of employees is Friday, March 6. Thank your favorite Western employees for their hard work throughout the year.
March 7: Dodgeball tournament
The Ark is holding a free dodgeball tournament from noon to 4 p.m. March 7 in the MAC Gym of the Wade King Student Recreation Center.
March 9: Seed-starting workshop
The AS Outback Farm his holding a seed-starting workshop at 3 p.m. Monday, March 9, led by volunteer David LeMay.
March 9: Poetry reading
Poet Natalie Diaz will be speaking on the Western Washington University campus at 4:15 p.m. Monday, March 9, in Fraser Hall Room 102.
Diaz has been featured on PBS Newshour and recently was selected to be the Holmes Fellow at Princeton University.
The event, sponsored by the WWU English Department and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, is free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale through the WWU AS Bookstore.
March 9: Be the media with the WWU Women's Center
Join the WWU Women's Center for "a feminist zine making, community building, patriarchy smashing, stress relieving workshop space to chat about media representation and subverting the mainstream" at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, in Viking Union Room 462. Make your own zine or contribute to a community Women's Center zine. Oh, and enjoy free pizza.
March 9: Symphony Orchestra concert
The Western Washington University Symphony Orchestra is offering a free evening of orchestral music Monday, March 9, in the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall.
The program will feature the "Academic Festival Overture" of Brahms, Igor Stravinsky's sparkling paraphrase of Pergolesi in the suite from his ballet "Pulcinella," and WWU Piano Professor Milica Jelača Jovanović performing Prokofiev’s brilliant "Third Piano Concerto." Ryan Dudenbostel will be conducting.
The event begins at 7:30 p.m. on campus.
March 9 to 13: Employee Art Show
The 21st Annual Employee Art Show is now open in Viking Union Room 565. An opening reception will be held from 3 to 5 p.m.
Show hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, March 9; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, March 10 to 12; and 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 13.
"Living with the Dead," a video entry by WWU's Gary McKinney, will be shown one day only, from 12:15 to 12:35 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, in VU 567.
March 9 to 19: Canines on Campus
The Wilson Library end of the Western Libraries skybridge will be home to several dogs and a cat from March 9 to 19. Anyone in need of a de-stress break is invited to sit down and pet the animals.
March 10: 'How Reading in a Police State Saved My Life'
Author Eugene Yelchin will speak about growing up in communist Russia during a March 10 speech titled "In the Forest of Raised Hands - How Reading in a Police State Saved My Life."
The event will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Special Collections on the sixth floor of Wilson Library.
Yelchin also will speak at 6:30 p.m. March 9 in the Whatcom Middle School auditorium.
March 10 to 12: Study, snack with the Ethnic Student Center
The Ethnic Student Center will be holding quiet study hours and providing snacks, supplies and math tutors for students who want a place to study for finals.
March 10 to 12: THRIVE study breaks
The THRIVE program will be holding study break activities in The Corner (Wilson Library Room 265). Students will be able to make a stress ball and participate in a craft activity that encourages them to identify goals for finals week and stresses to leave behind. Times are 11a.m. to 1 p.m. March 10 and 12 and 2 to 4 p.m. March 11. Snacks and hot cocoa will be provided.
March 11: Jazz concert
A jazz concert will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Viking Union Underground Coffeehouse.
March 11: Dance with the Swing Kids
The WWU Swing Kids club is holding a free hour of dance lessons and then an hour of social dance Wednesday, March 11, in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room. Visit the club's Facebook page for more info.
March 12: A'capella clubs winter concert
Take a study break and head over to the winter a'capella club concert in Arntzen Hall Room 100. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and any donations collected will go to Relay for Life teams.
March 13: Help for the homeless
Students with extra meals at the end of the quarter can use them to feed someone in need at the Be Our Guest event from the student club Western Homeless Outreach. Students with extra guest meals can guest in a hungry and homeless community member. The event will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 13 in the Viking Commons. Email the club atwhowwu@gmail.com for more information and for volunteer opportunities.
March 15: Rugby on Harrington Field
The WWU men's rugby team will take on Eastern Washington University at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15, on Harrington Field (B-side kickoff at noon).
March 18: Western Wednesday coffee booth
The WWU Alumni Association will be handing out free coffee and hot chocolate from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 18, in front of Carver Gymnasium on campus.
March 18: Wonderheads workshop for students
A free acting workshop for students will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on the PAC Mainstage. Through a series of games and guided exercises, participants will focus on developing a greater understanding of physical expression and articulation, and leave with a set of tools to help them better express themselves both on stage and off.