Author Archives: belltowersmu

SMU Athlete Spotlight: Kylee Vanderbout of SMU Softball

Ryne Oshiro, Staff Writer Despite the season’s abrupt end in March of 2020, Saint Martin’s University Softball looks to keep their eyes on their collective goal of making and capturing a Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship. The Saints began conference play on March 19, 2021, nearly 365 days since the last season was canceled.Continue reading “SMU Athlete Spotlight: Kylee Vanderbout of SMU Softball”

Restaurants Expanding their Services during COVID

Tinsae Shifreaw, Staff Writer Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants have been closed to in-person dining since March  2020. Now with Thurston County opening back up, restaurants are following suit with in-person dining at a limited capacity. Governor Jay Inslee has allowed restaurants to prepare for the influx of customers ready to dine in. InContinue reading “Restaurants Expanding their Services during COVID”

Schools Reopening

Ailina Cunningham, Staff Writer For students with families who live locally, it’s important to understand how schools are attempting to open back up amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and how they plan to handle the delicate balance of Education vs. Public Safety. Locally, the Thurston County school districts are opening up as we inch closer andContinue reading “Schools Reopening”

Students Plans After COVID

Tinsae Shifreaw, Staff Writer During this pandemic, many fun activities that allowed interaction were canceled, such as concerts, amusement parks and common hangout areas, so that state and federal governments can slow and stop the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Thankfully, vaccine research and distribution to the population has begun. With the state re-opening andContinue reading “Students Plans After COVID”

Thurston County to receive money for Covid-19 relief

Brianna Lopez, Staff Writer  The country is still suffering from COVID-19 and numbers are rising and declining rapidly. One day there are little cases and other days the cases are through the roof in numbers. Here in the state of Washington, we have officially made our way to Phase Three of lockdown, allowing us toContinue reading “Thurston County to receive money for Covid-19 relief”

Pocket Gophers: The Endangered Species that Calls Saint Martin’s Home

Andrew Oslin, Staff Editor In the grassy meadows that extend through the open expanses of our campus lives a small creature that has had a significant impact on the operations of the university. The Mazama pocket gopher is a nocturnal, mole-like animal that creates discrete, sandy mounds that are low to the ground and haveContinue reading “Pocket Gophers: The Endangered Species that Calls Saint Martin’s Home”

Movie Review: Words on Bathroom Walls

Hillary Thompson, Staff Writer The movie Words on Bathroom Walls was originally released in Russia on December 3, 2020, then released on Amazon Prime on March 20, 2021. This romantic drama focuses on a student struggling with a mental illness while pursuing his passion in the culinary arts and falling in love with another student.Continue reading “Movie Review: Words on Bathroom Walls”

Monk Highlight: Abbott Marion

Hillary Thompson, Staff Writer Saint Martin’s is known for having an impressive array of clubs and activities, and for having an inviting community. Abbot Marion is a monk who, after extensive time in the community, became Saint Martin’s ninth Abbot. Although known for being a part of the monastery, Abbott Marion enjoys other activities inContinue reading “Monk Highlight: Abbott Marion”

Kamakura Restaurant Review

Emmanuel Son, Staff Writer Just a few minutes walk down from the Marcus Pavillion on Pacific Avenue is Kamakura. This Japanese restaurant is a small but lovely family-owned spot serving a number of different traditional and Americanized Japanese dishes. It serves as a convenient location for Saint Martin’s students to grab Japanese cuisine without havingContinue reading “Kamakura Restaurant Review”