Videos
The seven centers that make up the Associated Students Resource and Outreach Programs at Western Washington University provide information, advocacy, activities and peer education to Western students. The ROP strives to empower and support all members of WWU’s diverse community.
In this video, created during winter quarter at WWU, University Communications intern Jeremy Smith speaks with the heads of the ROP's seven offices to tell the story of the ROP.
The descriptions below are from the AS website:
Sexual Awareness Center: The Sexual Awareness Center is a non-judgmental resource for people seeking information about sexuality and related issues. The SAC also works to actively promote knowledge in the campus community that allows people to make safe and informed choices about sexual attitudes and behavior by providing a safe space for all students, confidential referral services, educational and social programming, and peer education.
Social Issues Resource Center: The Social Issues Resource Center is responsible for raising awareness about social issues, including those not commonly represented in the mainstream media, and inspiring students to be more active and engaged citizens. The SIRC facilitates the sharing of diverse perspectives by providing resources, information, and the coordination of events. It also serves as a networking center for related AS clubs and community organization.
Veterans Outreach Center: The Veterans Outreach Center helps veterans and concerned individuals with information about employment, educational opportunities, counseling, disabilities, and benefit information. The VOC also serves as an advocate for veterans on Western’s campus while striving to create a united community of support and understanding.
The Women's Center: The Women’s Center exists to provide the Western community with support, the opportunity to exchange ideas and become aware of women’s issues through programming, resource referral, and the development of a “safe space” on campus. Historically, politics and public debate on women’s issues has been an integral part of the Women’s Center.
Queer Resource Center: The Queer Resource Center provides non-judgmental and unbiased programs, safe space, and resources to both students who identify as Queer and their allies. The QRC does this by reaching out and building community among Western students of diverse backgrounds, advocating for and educating about the Queer identity through events and resources, creating and affirming positive self-identities, networking with Queer clubs, providing peer counseling services, and addressing current issues relevant to the Queer community.
Legal Information Center: The Legal Information Center provides confidential and non-judgmental information and resources for students. Our mission is to help students make informed choices, to encourage students to take an active role in their own legal disputes, and to act as an informal prelaw advisor to those students pursuing or interested in legal careers. We believe that through the use of the LIC’s peer education, programs and events, and resources students will gain a better understanding of their legal rights and responsibilities and a greater degree of knowledge about the legal system in general.
Disability Outreach Center: The Disability Outreach Center is a student organization that serves both people with disabilities and community allies. The DOC provides information, referrals and education programming targeting disability issues in order to provide students with a connection to community resources and to promote their human and civil rights. The DOC also provides a safe space for all people, social programming and promotes community pride for students with disabilities.
A group of Western Washington University Art History students held a fundraising event May 1 to benefit the victims of the March 2011 tsunami that ravished Japan as a result of the powerful 9.0-magnitude earthquake off the northeast coast.
With about 15, 800 people killed, more than 3,150 still missing and about $235 billion in damages, according to Word Bank estimates, the tsunami was the most costly natural disaster ever recorded.
Students in Art History 411, a seminar focused on contemporary Japanese visual culture, organized “Do Art! Honor Japan: A Celebration of Japanese Visual Culture and Fundraiser for Victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake,” to help with relief efforts.
They held interactive events and workshops, or “teach-ins,” celebrating Japanese culture on Red Square and in the Fine Arts Building. The students also made objects such as ink-painted kanji bookmarks and shibori tie-dye bracelets to be sold on that day; all proceeds went to Peace Winds America, a nonprofit organization in Seattle known for its effective distribution of donations to Great East Japan Earthquake victims. This event was co-sponsored by the Japanese Student Association..
They chose the date because although the phrase “May Day” summons images of workers marching and uniting for the cause of improved human rights or of colorfully dressed children dancing around a May Pole, “May Day” is also a distress call, used particularly in response to marine disasters.
“The students are doing this not simply to fulfill a class objective but with a sense of joy at having a platform from which to help victims of the quake,” said Julia Sapin, associate professor of Art History, before the event. “There is still much work to do before Japan and the people of the northeastern region can move on with their lives.”
For more information about the fundraiser, contact Julia Sapin at (360) 650-3670 or julia.sapin@wwu.edu.
The Western Washington University men's basketball team, 2012 NCAA Division II national champions, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Seattle Mariners' April 14 home game against Oakland.
The Vikings became just the second collegiate men's basketball team in the state of Washington to capture a national title, and the first in 36 years, with a 72-65 win over Montevallo (Ala.) on March 24 at Highland Heights, Ky. They won a school-record 31 games while also capturing the regular-season Great Northwest Athletic Conference title and earning a trip to the Elite Eight by winning the West Regional championship.
Jackson was the consensus NCAA II National Coach of the Year, being honored by both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and Division II Bulletin. He has won 518 games, the third-highest total by a collegiate coach in the state of Washington, in 27 years directing the Vikings' program.
The Western Washington University Faculty & Staff Wellness Program has been recognized as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly University by the American Heart Association for helping employees improve their wellness.
“Physical activity and employee wellness are important priorities at Western. We are honored and excited to be recognized by the American Heart Association as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly University,” said Kaylee Nightingale, Health Promotion specialist. “We’re committed to providing the best workplace environment possible. This will benefit our employees’ health and produce continued positive results for our university overall.”
Chyerl Wolfe-Lee, director of Western’s Human Resources Department, said the award-winning program affirms the university’s commitment to promoting good health among its employees. Western’s Faculty and Staff Wellness Program, which is part of Western’s Human Resources Department and the Division of Business and Financial Affairs (BFA), offers faculty and staff a range of exercise and wellness programs.
The program has garnered three honors in just the past six months. In addition to being a Platinum Fit-Friendly University, Western was also the first university in the state of Washington to achieve Washington Worksite Wellness designation, and has also been given the prestigious statewide award of the Golden Apple.
Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly employers: offer employees physical activity options in the workplace; educate on healthy nutrition options; promote a wellness culture in the workplace; implement at least nine criteria outlined by the American Heart Association in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and culture, and demonstrate measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness.
The film "Your Western," shot and edited by Western Washington University students Ryan Hasert and Chris Jespersen, took top honors in the "My University, My Western" category of the recent N.O.W. film contest at Western.
Winners were announced during a presentation given by Matthew Dunn, co-founder of Say It Visually!, on April 11.
The speech and the film contest were part of Western's "Digital Media: The Future is N.O.W." event.
The film contest also included an open category for a short film (three minutes or less) on any subject. The “My University, My Western” category challenged filmmakers to complete a project of three minutes or less in 101 hours detailing why Western is special to them. Cash prizes for the open category were $250 for the People’s Choice (voted on at the Matthew Dunn presentation) and $250 for the Judge’s Choice; cash prizes for the My University, My Western category were $750 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place.
View all of the entries, including the other films named as contest winners, here: https://vimeo.com/user11028298/videos.
Digital media guru Matthew Dunn, co-founder of Say It Visually!, spoke during the “Digital Media: The Future is N.O.W.” event on April 11 on the Western Washington University campus.
Dunn’s company, Say It Visually!, explains complex topics with compelling visual stories. Launched in 2008, the company is already the world’s largest creator of private-label explanatory media. Dunn led a presentation and discussion on visual literacy for the new millennium.
Carol Davis, 2007 winner of the TS Eliot Prize for poetry, gives a reading from her new book, “Between Storms,” in the Wilson Library Skybridge on the Western Washington University campus.
The reading was recorded on April 3, 2012.
Davis is a 1975 graduate of Western’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies. She received her master’s degree in Slavic Languages and Cultures from the University of Washington in 1979 and is an adjunct professor at Santa Monica College.
Davis is a former Fulbright Scholar whose poetry awards include the Anna Davidson Rosenberg Award for Poems on the Jewish Experience and the Reuben Rose Poetry Competition in Israel.
Davis’ reading was co-sponsored by the Western Libraries and Western’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Leaders of the various planning units at Western Washington University presented their budget decision packages and strategic plans on Friday, March 30, in Old Main Room 340 on campus.
Schedule:
- Introduction & Opening Remarks - President Shepard
- Institutional Context & Strategic Planning - President Shepard
- Academic Affairs Presentation - Provost Riordan
Leaders of the various planning units at Western Washington University presented their budget decision packages and strategic plans on Friday, March 30, in Old Main Room 340 on campus.
Schedule:
- Business and Financial Affairs Presentation - Vice President Van Den Hul
- Enrollment and Student Services Presentation - Senior Vice President Coughlin
- University Relations Presentation - Vice President Swan
- University Advancement Presentation - Vice President Bowers
- Final Thoughts & Next Steps
After winning their first NCAA Div. II national championship, Western Washington University men's basketball team was welcomed home by family and friends on March 25, 2012.
The Viking Men won the title game Saturday, March 24, beating University of Montevallo 72-65 at Northern Kentucky University. This game was seen nationally on the CBS TV Network.
The team was met by roughly 200 fans behind the SMATE building on the campus of WWU. A student team featuring Video Production interns led by Robert B. Clark, manager of ATUS Video Services, and Suzanne Blais, executive director of the Center for New Media, were on hand to record the event.