Environmentalist Bill McKibben speaks on campus

By: Kelly Rockey “Scientists have identified the greatest problem that we have ever faced as a civilization, and given us a warning about it,” said environmental activist Bill Mckibben during an interview on the May 16 episode of Bellingham’s Chuckanut Radio Hour, hosted at Whatcom Community College. The show was…

Historian Ian Stacy: A fresh face on campus

By: Max Singer Whatcom Community College welcomed new history instructor Ian Stacy last fall quarter. Stacy, who teaches Western Civilization and U.S. History, said he is primarily an environmental historian, which means he studies the way humans have interacted with the environment throughout history. Stacy said it is imperative to…

Eco-journalist presents at Whatcom

By: Lynette Martinez McKenzie Funk, environmental journalist and author of the book “Windfall,” gave a presentation at Whatcom Community College May 7 and discussed how people are adapting to and capitalizing on climate change. “When I got back from the Arctic, it wasn’t, ‘Is climate change real,’ or ‘Does climate…

Whatcom County writers unite

By: Tyler Kirk This June, Whatcom Community College and Village Books will join forces to host the fourth annual Chuckanut Writers Conference, an event that brings local writers, readers, publishers and guest authors together at Whatcom. This year’s conference runs from Friday, June 27 through Saturday, June 28. Anna Wolff,…

Divided by seas, united by education

  By: Jamie Leigh Broten Students from around the world gathered to discuss the topic of education at the Global Panel event hosted by Whatcom Community College in the Heiner Theater on May 1, with around 100 community members in attendance. Iris Anthony, Whatcom’s international housing coordinator and advising assistant,…

She’s got the beat

By: Tyler Kirk Last fall, Whatcom Community College hired new music instructor Melanie Sehman: professional percussionist, mother, wife, and Washington state native. After only three quarters at Whatcom, Sehman says she is staying busy as the music department’s discipline lead, advisor for the Music Club, teaching three courses, and staying…

Taking initiative

By: Greg Lane Beginning in winter quarter, community colleges and technical colleges in Washington state asked students for their gender identity and sexual orientation when they registered for classes—the first steps of the state-wide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Qeer/Questioning (LGBTQ) Student Success Initiative, a project proposed by students of…

Policy changes promote campus safety

By: Lynette Martinez Attention is being called to sexual assaults on college and university campuses by the Obama Administration because “one in five women is sexually assaulted while in college,” said a newly established White House Task Force team in an official report released on April 29. At Whatcom Community…

The touch of success

By: Dylan Nelson 20 Years of Physical Therapy Assistant Degrees Celebrated Alumni and faculty of Whatcom Community College’s Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) Program celebrated its 20th anniversary May 3 of this year at Syre Student Center. The celebration was an opportunity for old friends, classmates and faculty to share their…