WhatcomReads! Contest Deadline Approaching
The deadline to submit an entry to the Second Annual WhatcomReads! Writing Contest is approaching. The contest, in honor of this year’s WhatcomReads! book, “Border Songs,” by Jim Lynch, is open to all residents of Whatcom County.
The theme for the contest is borders: “Borders are everywhere: between countries, between people, between life and death. What borders do you cross? What is really on the other side?”
Those interested can enter the contest by submitting a piece of writing, whether fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. Entries must be no longer than 800 words and be must e-mailed to borderline2011@gmail.com by Feb. 1. Each entry must also include the author’s name, school (if they attend one), community they live in, and phone number.
Winners will be announced Feb. 24 during Jim Lynch’s 7:30 p.m. visit to Whatcom, and will have their work published in an anthology in addition to being invited to read their work at an author’s reception at Village Books on March 6.
Lit Journals Merge, Seek Submissions
Whatcom’s two literary and arts journals, “A Gathering of Voices” and “The Noisy Water Review,” have merged into one publication. The new, combined journal will retain the name “The Noisy Water Review,” and back issues of both publications will be available on the “Noisy Water” Web site.
Wayne Robertson, English instructor and editor of “A Gathering of Voices,” said in a campus-wide e-mail on Jan. 10 that there had been confusion in the past about the purpose of the two journals, and added that the merger will hopefully “increase collaboration across campus and create a stronger literary and arts journal for the college,” in addition to helping them focus their efforts and broaden the journal’s content.
The new journal will now feature music recorded both for classes at Whatcom and independently by Whatcom students, in addition to non-fiction academic essays, short stories, poetry, and artwork.
The “Noisy Water” is currently accepting submissions for these categories for its 2010-2011 edition. Submissions should be e-mailed to NoisyWater@whatcom.ctc.edu by no later than midnight on Jan. 28.
Drama Students Honored
Several of Whatcom’s drama students were recently honored by the American College Theater Festival for their work on the college’s fall drama production, “Deutscher Expressionismus.”
Colleen Ames, Trevor Van Houten, and Shu-Ling Zhao-Lindwall all received nominations for their acting. In addition, three students received “Certificates of Merit”: Harley Teichman for sound design, Madeline Enger for costume design, and Zhao-Lindwall for dramaturg.
Two of the nominated actors from the production, along with their scene partners and adjunct faculty member Shawn Fuller, will travel to Arcata, California next month for the American College Theater Festival’s Region VII competition, to be held Feb. 14-18 at Humboldt State University.
Free Help Desk
The IT Professionals of Tomorrow are available to help any Whatcom students with their computer issues with their free, student-run help desk. The help desk will be located outside of the Student Access Lab in Heiner 105, and will be available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Services include virus removal, diagnostics, and installations.
Free Student Counseling
For any student feeling overwhelmed by school, life, or simply in need of an objective and confidential listener, Whatcom’s counselors can help.
Margaret Vlahos and Malcolm Oliver provide free short-term personal counseling for issues including: transitioning to college, career decision-making, stress management, test anxiety, relationship and mental health issues, and alcohol and substance abuse referrals.
To make an appointment with one of them, go to Entry and Advising in Laidlaw 116.
Student Success Workshops
Whatcom offers another set of their Student Success Workshops this quarter. The workshops will take place nearly every Monday of the quarter from 1 to 2 p.m. in Cascade 101. Topics include time management, procrastination, test anxiety, financial aid and scholarships, and test taking skills.
For more information, contact Entry and Advising at (360) 383-3080.
Summer Quarter Start Date Pushed Back
Whatcom’s Board of Trustees recently approved a revision that will delay the start of Whatcom’s summer quarter classes in 2011 and 2012 by one week.
Patricia Onion, vice president for educational services, explained in an e-mail to faculty on Jan. 18 that due to changes in federal financial aid regulations, all colleges must begin their summer quarters on or after July 1.
If Whatcom did not do so, Onion explained in the e-mail, the college’s financial aid and business offices would have to manually carry out all processes in awarding financial aid to summer quarter students, resulting in “long delays and staffing inefficiencies.”
Students, she added, would then not have tuition and books paid for in time for the beginning of their classes. As a result of this change, the 2011 summer quarter now begins on July 5 and ends August 26.
Noemi Ban to Speak at Whatcom
Holocaust survivor Noemi Ban will once again visit Whatcom’s campus to share her tale of survival and hope. Ban, who survived the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, will speak between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Jan. 26 in the Heiner Auditorium. Her message deals with such topics of the dangers of bigotry and hatred, as well as love, healing, and tolerance.
Scholarship Opportunity
The Washington State Recycling Association is offering student scholarships to attend its annual conference, to be held May 22-25 in Pasco, Washington. The scholarship will allow students to attend the conference, which includes educational workshops, social events, meals, an exhibit hall, a tour of recycling facilities, and the annual WSRA Awards Banquet.
Scholarships are offered to current undergraduate or graduate students at Washington colleges and universities. Funding was granted for 10 students to receive the scholarships. Students must be 18 or older and must submit their scholarship application (http://www.wsra.net/UserFiles/docs/ScholarshipApplication2011.pdf) by Feb. 1, at midnight.
Those with questions can contact WSRA at (206) 244-0311 or recycle@wsra.net.
Macklemore Gonna Be Rappin’, Yo
Seattle area hip-hop artist Macklemore is coming to Whatcom on March 4 at 7 p.m., and will perform with Ryan Lewis and special guest Blueprint. Tickets are $12 for students and $15 for general admission, and can be purchased at Whatcom’s business office, as well as Avalon Music and Everyday Music in downtown Bellingham.
QSA Meeting at New Time, Location
Whatcom’s Queer-Straight Alliance is now meeting at a new time in a new location this quarter. The club will meet on Fridays at 1:30 p.m. in Syre 217, also known as the Baker Reading Room.
QSA meets weekly for conversation, mutual support, board games, and/or activity planning. Their next event is a fundraiser dance for Bellingham Pride, and is scheduled for Feb. 18 in the Syre Auditorium. Students with questions can contact instructors Susan Lonac at (360) 383-3534 or slonac@whatcom.ctc.edu, or John Gonzales at (360) 383-3518 or jgonzale@whatcom.ctc.edu.
