Category Archives: News

Katherine Pecora, Staff Writer   Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, is preparing new policies regarding campus sexual misconduct that would reform the rights of the students accused of assault, harassment, or rape. These new rules obtained by the New York Times streamline the definition of sexual harassment, assault and rape. The new policy holds schoolsContinue reading “DeVos proposes new rules for sexual assault on campus”

Sophia Lim, Staff Writer   Saint Martin’s University has reached a historical milestone as the construction for the new science building has started. Thanks to the donations of the Abbey, alumni donors, foundations, and friends of the university, the school was able to reach its goal of $10 million, and had raised $10.4 million toContinue reading “Generous donation makes SMU science building dream a reality”

Marycrully Godinet, Guest Writer   In the first week of February, tropical cyclone Gita ripped through the islands of Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, and American Samoa. As the cyclone paved a way of destruction in the South Pacific, authorities in American Samoa issued hurricane statements to keep locals aware of Gita’s location and when it wasContinue reading “Hurricane Gita in American Samoa: my grandmother’s silent prayers”

Samantha England, Staff Writer   On Aug. 7, serial entrepreneur Elon Musk, posted a tweet that sent the business world, and more importantly the Tesla Board of Directors, into shock. “Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.” Less than two hours later, after Tesla stock had already risen 7 percent, the Nasdaq haltedContinue reading “Elon Musk has decided to “420 blaze it” with Tesla”

Katherine Pecora, Staff Writer   Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, plead guilty to tax fraud, and to bank and campaign finance violations. Cohen is accused of paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, with whom the president allegedly had an affair. Cohen claims that he had done so “in coordination and atContinue reading “Trump advisers convicted”

Katherine Pecora, Staff Writer   This summer has undoubtedly become the summer of smoke and wildfires all along the western coast of the North America. In Washington, gray skies are a constant for much of the year. This summer, the smoke has gripped much of the West Coast in a seemingly unprecedented way. As weContinue reading “Haze filled skies: “the new normal?””

Chelsea Mancilla, Guest Writer   Speeding cars, predatory animals, and disease are not the only things pet owners should be concerned about this year. Since February, the mutilated bodies of 13 cats have been gruesomely displayed in public parks and front yards across Thurston County. Authorities have also connected the past month’s events to anContinue reading “Serial cat killer terrorizes Thurston County”

Julia Lucas, Staff Writer   On March 25, Palm Sunday, an intense and deadly shopping mall fire killed 64 Russian citizens and injured 79 others. Hundreds of people were trapped by the flames and fought to find ways to breathe through the black smoke that surrounded them. Zimnyaya Vishnya, or the Winter Cherry Shopping Mall,Continue reading “Shopping mall tragedy calls for Russian day of mourning”

Hannah Gabel, Staff Writer   On March 19, the last Northern White Rhino male passed away at the age of 45. With his death, only two females are left of the entire species. The Northern White Rhinos are currently listed as critically endangered, and are on the brink of full extinction, unless a scientific breakthroughContinue reading “The last of the Northern White Rhinos”

Abigail Lowrie   TRIGGER WARNING   April is sexual assault awareness month, but we should be talking about sexual assaults more than just one in 12 months of the year. Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) defines sexual assault as “sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Some formsContinue reading “Sexual assault reporting process at SMU”