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T H E WEB LINKS GREEN URLS IN TEXT & ADS CLICKABLE ISSUE 8 CLICK HERE TO EXIT Cannabis in OR USE ctrl/cmd-Q Washington state 24 The new era of green reconstruction Spring20 vol19no2

Features As buildings go up, so does construction waste. By finding ways to recycle that waste, our researchers hope to usher in an “era of reconstruction.” 24

What keeps women from entering and remaining in science, technology, engineering, and math? It’s not new. 30

UPfront Washington blazed new trails with the legalization of recreational cannabis. There were many unanswered questions but also new insights 8 found en route.

WSU by the numbers 15

Dreaming of when clean energy is not a rarity. 16

Discovering the undiscovered. Meet a scholar who digs it. 17

Something has been zapping Washington’s tax revenue system. 19

It was a spiritual and inspirational time and place for multiple generations 20

COVER: MALE CANNABIS PLANT (PHOTO DAVID GOODMAN) LEFT: PUFFIN FARM IN KITTITAS COUNTY (PHOTO CLIFF GOODMAN) connecting you to WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY the STATE the WORLD From java, no jive Clothing and gear from cofee grounds and other recycled waste UPFRONT

18 COURTESY

FIVE12

Departments Thematics 5 Not so easy being green FIRST WORDS GREEN LEAVES: CANNABIS 21 The soccer squad kicks it SIDELINES IN WASHINGTON STATE 8 22 Wild things IN SEASON 10 The sky isn’t falling 37 Rockin’ the stars 38 Five Cougar generations 39 A moving 11 Cannabis and mental tribute 40 In the right place 41 New chapter ALUMNI PROFILES health: the peril and 43 Mao’s Kisses: A novel of June 4, 1989; To Think Like a promise Mountain: Environmental challenges in the American West; Private Support Helps 12 Washington’s Bread Lab!; Volume 2 NEW MEDIA cannabis consumers 45 CLASS NOTES 46 Majestic Storm ’18 Veteran Realize Dreams 13 Hemp on the horizon 46 IN MEMORIAM While serving as a medic in the U.S. Army, Benji Stander completed many successful 50 Helping Cougs excel in life after college ALUMNI NEWS combat missions, including two life-changing tours in Afghanistan. Initially, he thought 52 Solar energy really gets rolling LAST WORDS he’d become a career soldier but was so intrigued by medicine, he decided to pursue

Washington State Magazine is published quarterly by Washington State University. Editorial ofce: IT Building 2013, 670 NE Wilson Road, Pullman, Washington. 509-335-2388 another dream. He received the Hix Family Endowed Scholarship, designated for Mailing address: PO Box 641227, Pullman, WA 99164-1227. Printed in the USA. © 2020 Washington State University Board of Regents. All rights reserved. Views expressed in Washington State Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect ofcial policy of Washington State University. non-traditional students, including veterans. Benji said, “Private support makes seeking

Washington State Magazine is distributed free to alumni, friends, faculty, and staf. Others can subscribe or gift the magazine for $15 yearly (magazine.wsu.edu/subscribe). a degree much easier and less stressful.” Benji majors in biology at WSU Vancouver and Change of address: Biographical and Records Team, PO Box 641927, Pullman, WA 99164-1927; [email protected]; 800-448-2978. plans to seek a career in the medical field. Washington State University is an equal-opportunity, afrmative-action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This publication is available online as text-only and in other accessible formats upon request: [email protected]; 509-335-2388; 509-335-8734 (fax). Students like Benji are changing the world because of private support. Learn how you can make a difference at WSU: foundation.wsu.edu/scholarships.

2 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 FIRSTwords

Ever a green state

There’s nothing new about being green. Two millennia ago, Chinese Minister for Agriculture Tsai Lun in the first-century Han dynasty called for subjects of the emperor to boil old linen rags for papermaking. Professional recyclers in medieval England collected dust and ash left from fireplaces, then sold it to brick manufacturers as an inexpensive base material. More recently, World War II saw an uptick in recycling, with many common household items like clothes, scrap metal, and tires turned into new products for the war effort. The same spirit of innovative recycling inspired Washington State University’s Taiji Miyasaka and David Drake to invent a construction block from gypsum drywall waste. Similar to a cinder block, the low-cost building material has insulating properties and great potential. Another area of sustainable exploration at WSU, and one with some urgency, is finding replacements for rare earth elements and metals, such as cobalt and lithium, used in most of our tech devices. Not only are those materials expensive and difficult to extract, they’re often mined by children or gathered in exploitative situations. WSU’s JCDREAM seeks earth-abundant replacements for substances such as cobalt. Of course, Washington is known for its green fields, and that includes the latest cash crop, cannabis. After recreational cannabis was legalized by an initiative in 2012, it opened the gates to sorely needed research into all aspects of the drug and related hemp. Almost 100 researchers at WSU are working to clear up misconceptions in this billion-dollar industry. That’s a lot of money, and when you have greenbacks from sales, you have taxes. The Hoops Institute of Taxation and Research Policy in the WSU Carson College of Business keeps abreast of the latest issues, including illegal “tax zapper” software used to hide retail sales. The institute works with the state to identify and educate users about this method to cheat on taxes. There are some evergreen problems that keep cropping up, such as the ongoing need for more women in engineering, mathemat- ics, and other scientific fields. Thanks to work by WSU alumni and faculty, we might bring more girls and women into those areas, which we really need because, as Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture Dean Emeritus Candis Claiborn says, “the more people who look at a problem, the better the solutions.”

EDITOR: Larry Clark ’94

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Adriana Janovich ART DIRECTOR: John Paxson STAFF WRITERS: Rebecca E. Phillips ’76, ’81 DVM, Brian Charles Clark Create a Coug Legacy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tina Hilding, Becky Kramer, Vonnai Phair ’20, Wenda Reed ’76, Siddharth Vodnala ’19 MS PHOTOGRAPHERS: Benjamin Benschneider, Laura Dutelle, Clif Goodman, David Goodman, In 1928, Wenatchee tree-fruit entrepreneur Today, WSU Pullman sophomore Hannah Shelly Hanks, Robert Hubner, Cori Kogan, James Ransom ILLUSTRATORS: Rachel Ignotofsky, Margaret Kimball Grady Auvil began his mission to revolutionize Goodspeed is carrying on that legacy. As a Latinx the industry. His out-of-the-box thinking won woman in civil engineering, she is a 2019-2020 WSU PRESIDENT: Kirk H. Schulz him countless awards, including the Auvil Fellow who conducts life-changing VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS: Phil Weiler Washington State Medal of Merit. Before Grady research and promotes equality for women and ADVERTISING: Contact Lowell Ganin, 206-717-5808 or [email protected] Advertising guide is online at magazine.wsu.edu/advertising. and his wife Lillie passed, they established the minorities in STEM. “The fellowship assures me Washington State Magazine is pleased to acknowledge the generous support of alumni and friends of WSU, Auvil Fellowship at WSU through their estate. that I am capable,” Hannah said. “And that I including a major gift from Phillip M. ’40 and June Lighty. The couple wanted to sustain innovative belong in engineering. Private support gives me Washington State Magazine is printed at a facility (FSC® C006571 [Forest Stewardship Council®]) and on paper that is FSC® certified, using soy-blended inks on 100% post-consumer-waste recycled paper. It is processed chlorine free. The paper is milled at a facility using thinking through undergraduate research. confidence and motivates me to stay in STEM.” 93% recovered biogas (remainder hydroelectricity) — using approximately 60% less water than the North American average. It has the lowest carbon footprint per metric ton in North America (no ofsets used), and is UL certified for reduced environmental impact.

Learn more about how you can create a legacy at WSU: foundation.wsu.edu/estate

10 0 % post-consumer

WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 5 This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. We’re looking for memories and photos of that fateful time in 1980 and how it TALKback affected you. Please email your stories to [email protected] or send a snail mail. Change your world Making much of good medicine Our group arrived as students to WSU and together and remain close friends. Some of Neill Hall in different ways. Most of us came us only see each others once a year. Some I write to compliment the superb feature to WSU intentionally, but a few enrolled of us only see other every few years. Here’s Yoni Rodriguez saw environmental problems “Good medicine” by Brian Charles Clark. thinking they would be attending school in the great thing . . . it doesn’t matter. When we different parts of the country. One thought he come together, it’s family. We fall together up close when he was exposed to pesticides Thank you for choosing the topic, one that was going to a school in the Washington, D.C. like we were never apart. as a teenager. deserves attention, but receives little in my area, and you can imagine his surprise when experience. What the staff is doing to truly he arrived in Pullman, Washington, from New CATHY HIGGINS ’83 PSYCH. The WSU biochemistry student—first in his include Native people and their culture in the Delhi, India. Another came from Saginaw, work of the new medical school is admirable. Michigan, thinking Pullman was a suburb family to go to college—helped develop air And Brian’s writing was quite extraordinary. of Seattle. I can’t speak to all the reasons Remembering a remarkable quality sensors and a low-cost air filtration everyone decided to stay in Pullman, but mentor and man Robbie Paul’s stories from her father will system to screen wildfire smoke pollutants. stay they did, and for this I am forever stay with me. “We need to learn to listen, grateful. Jack Carloye’s passing ought not go unre- and to listen to learn.” If future health-care marked. I took Professor Carloye’s classes in Changing the world is the Cougar way. practitioners from WSU can learn to listen Most of us knew we were coming to school the mid-1970s, when WSU offered an M.A. quietly, they will have a much-needed in Pullman, but many of us were freshmen in philosophy. He was, most of all, a kind and positive impact in our state and beyond. and didn’t expect to be placed into Neill gentle man; he was also a smart and effective wsu.edu I am, once again, proud of the University for Hall. Little did we know how lucky we professor. I can say for certain that he prepared this initiative and for highlighting it in this were that 1979 was a year with a very large his students for a life of thought and reason. magazine. freshman class. To make room for so many CHERRY L. TINKER ’67 new freshmen, we were placed into Neill RICHARD J. MCGOWAN, ’76 MA PHIL. Hall, which was a dorm for upperclassmen. We were also lucky that Neill Hall had been Jack Carloye, WSU philosophy professor from Like we were never apart Note: designated as an international dorm. If that 1962–1992, passed away August 29, 2019, in

On September 16, 2019, Cougs who lived in had not been the case, we might not have Pullman. He was 92. Neill Hall in 1979 reunited on campus. (Now an met Pam from Alberta, Canada; Arjun from academic building, Neill Hall previously housed India; Gabriel from Chile; and so many other students.) You can read Cathy Higgins’s full letter international students. CORRECTION at magazine.wsu.edu. We are spread across North America, and An erroneous version of the article “Power of We marvel at the incredible college yet the geographic distance between us does language” was printed in the Winter 2019 experiences we had while we lived in Neill not dim our personal closeness. Some of us issue. You can read the correct version online at Hall, and the fact that we have all remained vacation together and see each other often. magazine.wsu.edu/2019/11/01/power- close friends for 40 years. Some of our children (now grown!) grew up of-language.

The WSU Holiday Bowl team of 1981, including 32 players, four coaches, and the head trainer, gathered on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene last August for a weekend of rekindled relationships, as they reminisced on an incredible season that sparked an era of football excellence at WSU. Courtesy Jean Sloan PULLMAN VANCOUVER TRI-CITIES SPOKANE EVERETT GLOBAL

6 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 GREEN LEAVES

UPfront

Cannabis research at WSU: research.wsu.edu/cannabis

cannabis in WA state

BY LARRY CLARK

The legalization of recreational cannabis On public policy, a Department of Justice study completed by WSU criminal justice researchers, led by Professor Mary Stohr, in Washington state and Colorado in 2012 showed that racial disparities in marijuana-related arrests continue even though marijuana arrests overall went down after legaliza- opened a box full of questions and debates tion. African Americans are still twice as likely to get arrested as white ofenders. about the drug and its related crop, hemp. Still, much of the research is ongoing, from the economics of hemp, to banking, taxation, and the genomic characteristics What is the efect on youth? Will crime go up? How does cannabis of cannabis. For example, Celestina Barbosa-Leiker in the Col- interact with other drugs and medicines? What health claims are lege of Nursing leads a team that’s assessing better care for accurate? How does the potency of cannabis afect mental health? women who use cannabis during pregnancy and postpartum. These gaps, and many others, in our knowledge—combined with In the Department of Chemistry, Brian Clowers researches the unverified claims by both proponents and opponents of legalized trace detection of cannabinoids in order to develop a portable, cannabis—make it difcult to find the best ways to regulate and sensitive instrument capable of assessing recent consumption manage the substance. of marijuana. To answer the call, almost 100 Washington State University It’s not an easy area to research. WSU began by establishing researchers have begun applying scientific rigor to explore its own policies in 2012, due to the federal status of cannabis the questions, clear up misconceptions and question- as a Schedule 1 drug. As McDonell says, “When the initiative able claims, and help the state navigate the legalization of passed, we thought, ‘Woah, we better have rules around this.’” cannabis. Due to the need to stay in compliance with federal law, Michael McDonell, associate professor at the Elson S. the University set up innovative collaborations with industry Floyd College of Medicine, is chair of WSU’s Collaboration for partners to support cannabis studies. The Puyallup Tribe, for Cannabis Policy, Research, and Outreach (CCPRO). He testified instance, approached WSU to evaluate whether medicinal can- to the Commerce and Gaming Committee of the state House nabis reduces opioid use and pain, and if it improves the physical of Representatives last September that WSU is aiming to be “the and mental health of clients at the Tribe’s Qwibil Natural Healing nexus for cannabis scholarship, policy, outreach, and community and Research Center. engagement” in the state. McDonell says WSU continues to engage with the state Liquor McDonell notes that WSU has four priority areas for CCPRO: and Cannabis Board and other state agencies, and collaborates health and well-being, public policy and safety, economics, and with the University of Washington on prevention research and agricultural research. Some research has already borne fruit in practice to curb youth abuse of cannabis.

ILLUSTRATIONS these areas. There’s a pressing need to answer the big cannabis questions For example, on health issues, inhaled cannabis reduces in a definitive way, says McDonell, which will require financial self-reported headache and migraine severity by nearly half, commitment, focus, and more partnerships. according to a study led by Carrie Cuttler, assistant professor of The following stories delve deeper into a few of those big

BORTONIA psychology. The study, published online recently in the Journal questions, highlighting some WSU studies and providing some of Pain, is the first to use big data from headache and migraine facts around cannabis use, to help us achieve clarity in this mostly patients using cannabis in real time. unexplored area.

8 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 9 GREEN LEAVES

helping people after first episodes of psychosis: bhr.org/programs-services/new-journeys

dispensaries to 335. They also made personal see if the claims they are making are even disease, especially when using the higher cannabis cultivation a felony offense except Cannabis and valid. So, the public doesn’t have the bal- THC products. The sky isn’t for those with a medical marijuana card. ance of information they need to make an “It’s dose dependent,” he says. “The To discourage corporate monopolies and mental health: informed decision.” higher the THC dose you get, the worse your falling Big Marijuana, Mosher says the legislature McDonell is 1 of nearly 100 WSU re- psychotic symptoms get.” likewise prohibited vertical integration. “No the peril and searchers investigating cannabis since its In contrast, early evidence suggests that one could hold all three licenses: producer, legalization in Washington state opened the cannabidiol or CBD might help counteract BY REBECCA PHILLIPS processor, and retail. You could hold two but promise doors for wider study.“We are learning and psychosis by regulating certain areas of the not all three.” responding as we go,” he says. brain. In one study, children at high risk for “More than a few citizens held Such protective barriers along with strict A child psychologist, McDonell works developing psychosis and normal controls BY REBECCA PHILLIPS their breath when Washington legalized monitoring of producers have helped con- with adolescents who are developing serious were given CBD. In all cases, subsequent brain recreational cannabis in 2012. trol the nascent cannabis industry as well as mental health problems like schizophrenia, scans showed the brain areas associated with “There were many who believed it prevent black-market diversion — something Ask around discreetly and you’ll find which typically begins in the teens or early psychosis were stabilized. would trigger a massive increase in youth that’s had an impact on children. that cannabis is often used to self-medicate twenties. He and other members of his team “The bottom line is that we need to fully use and marijuana-related traffic collisions According to the recently published mental health conditions like anxiety, de- are evaluating a new program focused on understand the impacts of THC and CBD on and fatalities,” says Clay Mosher, sociology Washington State Healthy Youth Survey, pression, PTSD, and even ADHD. What is first episode psychosis called New Journeys. mental health,” McDonell says. “The number professor at Washington State University cannabis use in high school students showed less clear, however, is whether that cannabis “We want to treat kids when they get of people using cannabis daily is steadily Vancouver. no significant increase since legalization and use provides actual medical benefits. There their first symptoms of psychosis and are increasing, especially in those of college age. DALE “But in the five years since sales began, even declined in some groups. recreational cannabis has largely been a suc- is also the question of short- and long-term struggling to function — for example, hear- “In Washington dispensaries, you can

those increases in youth use have not mani- A 2019 JAMA Pediatrics study suggests cess,” he says. “Marijuana has been legalized, WILLITS consequences. ing voices or seeing things that aren’t there,” buy cannabis products with a THC concentra- fested, and while there have been some spikes that decline is tied to the difficulty of obtaining and the sky has not fallen.” “The cannabis industry is so far ahead he says. “Instead of waiting until they are tion of 70 percent or more. Using high-potency

in polydrug driving, they aren’t as significant marijuana from drug dealers now that they That conclusion is backed by Dale (COURTESY WSU DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CRIMINOLOGY) of us with its marketing — it’s kind of the wild hospitalized, jailed, or disabled, we try to pot on a daily basis is likely to impair func- as predicted.” are being replaced by licensed dispensaries Willits, WSU assistant professor in criminal west right now,” says Michael McDonell, as- intervene with the kids right away.” tioning in some way. Also, CBD oil is being that require proof of age. justice and criminology, who took part in a sociate professor in the Elson S. Floyd College Schizophrenia has long been anecdotally promoted as a cure-all but it is not closely On the other hand, the number of teens wide-ranging study published last October of Medicine at Washington State University linked with cannabis use and there is some regulated by the FDA, so you really don’t who said marijuana poses a health risk also in the journal Justice Quarterly. The paper Health Sciences Spokane. “There are lots of evidence for a genetic predisposition and know what you’re getting when you buy it.” declined, a trend Mosher says began well compares crime in Washington and Colorado claims being made that may or may not be sensitivity to THC. McDonell worries that people might turn before legalization. to that in states which outlaw cannabis in true and, in most cases, we don’t have the McDonell says studies show that smok- to cannabis as a solution for mental health As for collisions and traffic fatalities, any form. scientific evidence yet. ing cannabis worsens symptoms in people problems before they try more conventional a 2017 study published in the American Using statistics gathered by the FBI from “At the same time, researchers have to go with schizophrenia, but it can also lead to treatments. “We have a lot of great evidence- Journal of Public Health found that, “three 1999 to 2016, the researchers analyzed inci- through many hoops to do a basic study — to psychotic symptoms in those without the based interventions that work for anxiety and years after recreational marijuana legaliza- dents of violent crime including homicide, tion, changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rape, aggravated assault, and robbery, as well rates for Washington and Colorado were not as property crimes like auto theft, burglary, significantly different from states without and larceny. legalization.” “Overall, we found there were no big The Washington Traffic Safety shifts in either violent or property crime Commission followed with a 2018 report rates that coincided with legalization of stating that, while the number of THC-only cannabis,” Willits says. “In some cases, incidents has remained stable, there was an there was an initial short-term jump that increase in polydrug-driving accidents, most faded when retail dispensaries opened, involving cannabis plus alcohol. Notably, but there was nothing consistent across all That hopeful trend is echoed by a recent collisions due to texting and other distractions models. MICHAEL

DUTELLE) criminology study which found little change were higher than all drug categories combined. “Although serious crime neither sky-

in violent or property crime rates since “Although I would say there’s an increase rocketed nor plummeted, we can’t claim MCDONELL LAURA legalization. in marijuana-related driving, we don’t know there has been no effect on public safety as (PHOTO

Mosher, who wrote a retrospective on if it’s actually marijuana-impaired driving as it’s only been five years for sales and two years

cannabis called In the Weeds, says much of the we only know they have THC in their blood, post-sales for our data,” he says. (PHOTO MOSHER success is due to the fact that “Washington but not the level,” Mosher says. “Without a “When you look at prohibition, it took

did legalization right.” THC breathalyzer, you can’t compare it, say, forty years for alcohol consumption to reach CORI CLAYTON

Unlike Colorado or Oregon, for example, to an alcohol level of 0.08. its pre-prohibition rates. So, it may take 20 KOGAN) the Washington legislature initially limited “While not without problems, I do or 30 years for the full effects of legalization the number of retail licenses available for think Washington state’s legalization of to play out.”

10 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 11 GREEN LEAVES

Hemp on the horizon

BY REBECCA PHILLIPS MARGARET KIMBALL HUBNER) Washington was one of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis, ROBERT but it has some catching up to do when it comes to industrial hemp and the lucrative (PHOTO CBD oil market. “We are actually the only state that legal- CUTTLER

ized marijuana before we legalized hemp,”

INFOGRAPHIC says Randy Fortenbery, economics profes-

CARRIE sor and Thomas B. Mick Endowed Chair at Washington State University. “It took two depression,” he says, “And most, especially she found that many patients reported a legislative sessions before we got it passed. psychotherapy, don’t have side effects.” 50 percent reduction in depression symptoms Even under the 2014 Farm Bill, hemp had to be That sentiment is shared by Carrie right after cannabis use. part of a scientific experiment affiliated either Cuttler, WSU assistant professor of psychol- “The problem, however, was the with a land-grant university or the Washington RETAIL ogy, who compares cannabis to a Band-Aid longer they used cannabis to treat depression, State Department of Agriculture.”

DATA that temporarily masks symptoms of the worse their baseline symptoms became With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill,

mental health problems but does not treat the over time,” she says. “Again, like a wound however, the federal government finally re- JANUARY underlying cause. festering under the Band-Aid, short-term moved hemp from the illicit substance list, Cuttler has conducted numerous sur- use may help but long-term could exacerbate effectively ending an 80-year prohibition

1

THROUGH veys and studies examining the effects of symptoms.” against its cultivation. States are now free to cannabis on conditions like anxiety, PTSD, Cuttler says regular cannabis use can set up their own commercial hemp manage- and depression. Using a data-collecting app interfere with the body’s natural endocan- ment systems, including regulations to assure

AUGUST called Strainprint, her participants self-report nabinoid system, which has a wide range it isn’t being used to disguise marijuana fields. symptoms before and after smoking cannabis. of functions including regulating pain, fear, Last April, Governor Jay Inslee signed

31, “I’d say the best evidence is for the treat- appetite, stress response, and mood. further legislation allowing Washington farm-

2019. ment of PTSD,” Cuttler says. “There’s some “We have THC-like substances in our ers, including WSU researchers, to buy hemp

FROM indication that using cannabis can reduce brain called endocannabinoids that are seeds without federal approval. The bill also

nightmares and hypervigilance, and generally produced as needed by the body,” she says. eliminated a four-mile buffer zone between HEADSET, improve quality of life.” “Endocannabinoids contribute to the ‘run- hemp and marijuana fields — meant to prevent For anxiety, the evidence is mixed. “In ner’s high,’ for example. cross-pollination — that had previously kept

“DEMOGRAPHICS small doses, THC can reduce anxiety but in “One of the reasons we think medi- much of the state off-limits to hemp growers. high doses, it can increase anxiety or even cal cannabis has so many effects is because As one of the earliest domesticated trigger a panic attack and paranoia,” she says. the endocannabinoid system is so pervasive plants, hemp has provided benefits to humans “So, short-term use might be beneficial but throughout the body and brain. If that sys- for 10,000 years. Before fears of “reefer mad-

OF not for the long term. tem becomes dysfunctional, it could leave ness” led the U.S. government to shut down

CANNABIS “If you don’t treat the root cause, the people more vulnerable to depression and production with the Marihuana Tax Act of symptoms will keep coming back when anxiety. 1937, hemp was prized for its fiber, seeds, oil,

CONSUMERS,” the high wears off, and people can become “Scientists are now looking at ways to and wide array of byproducts ranging from dependent on cannabis,” Cuttler cautions. augment this natural system without the use clothing, rope, and cosmetics, to paper and “It’s much better to seek proper treatment of THC,” says Cuttler. “They hope to develop fuel. The plant’s checkered history is mainly with a clinical psychologist to address the drugs that will prevent the breakdown of due to its similarity to marijuana.

OCTOBER issues that are maintaining these disorders.” natural endocannabinoids in order to retain According to Fortenbery, both hemp Cuttler reports that it is also very com- higher levels in the brain. They’re just starting and marijuana belong to the genus Cannabis

2019 mon for people to self-medicate depression clinical trials and it’s showing potential prom- and are typically of the varieties C. sativa or with cannabis. Using her Strainprint app, ise for treatment of conditions like PTSD.” C. indica. Depending on growing conditions,

12 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 13 GREEN LEAVES

11 NUMBER OF PRESIDENTS WSU HAS SEEN SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1890 KIRK H. SCHULZ BECAME THE UNIVERSITY’S 11TH PRESIDENT AND A TENURED PROFESSOR IN THE GENE AND LINDA VOILAND SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND BIOENGINEERING IN 2016. 30 either of these varieties can produce high

levels of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the NUMBER OF YEARS SINCE THE EST. OF THE VANCOUVER, IN 1989 TRI-CITIES, AND SPOKANE CAMPUSES psychoactive chemical that creates a high. It’s the concentration of THC in a can- nabis plant that determines whether it is called hemp or marijuana. A plant containing more than 0.3 percent THC is considered to be AT TOP (FROM LEFT): marijuana, a Schedule I federally controlled challenges with growing new crops — figuring commercial CBD growers use. We had both WSU ALUMNI WORLDWIDE substance under the U.S. Drug Enforcement out how to water them, how to plant, where male and female seed this time but the male Administration. Cannabis plants with 0.3 to get the seed, and how much fertilizer they plants aged out much faster than the females, SEATS IN BRYAN HALL THEATRE. BRYAN HALL IS percent THC or less are classified as hemp. need.” which stayed green and vigorous longer.” NAMED FOR ENOCH A. BRYAN, PRESIDENT OF “When both plants are growing in Waters’s first project was identifying As for the future, Waters and Fortenbery

RANDY WSU FROM 1893 TO 1916. HE DIED IN PULLMAN the wild, you can’t tell them apart,” says herbicides that could be safely used for hemp agree there are potential markets for hemp in IN 1941 AT AGE 86. TODAY, THE 1909 BUILDING Fortenbery. “But you can tell the fields apart. fields. He worked in collaboration with WSU Washington, but it will depend on supply and

FORTENBERY IS SAID TO BE HAUNTED BY HIS GHOST. It’s the management practices of the farm professor and weed scientist Ian Burke. demand, the value of CBD oil, and how much that differentiate whether cannabis is being “To be honest, the most difficult part is produced in other more established areas. grown as industrial hemp or marijuana. of the process was getting the $300 permit,” “Hemp will certainly grow here,”

(PHOTO “If I’m growing for marijuana, I will Waters says. “It took four months, so it was Fortenbery says. “The question is, can we be maximize production of leaves, flowers, and relatively late by the time we planted our competitive? That will depend on the varieties

ROBERT buds, the parts of the plant with the largest experimental plot in mid-June.” we develop that take advantage of our local

concentrations of THC,” he says. “For indus- The cost of hemp seed was another sur- environmental characteristics. HUBNER), WSU trial hemp, I’ll grow for the stalk and seeds. prise — high CBD varieties run one to three “And, despite all the excitement about As a result, marijuana plants are generally dollars per seed. Working on a budget, Waters CBD oil and its possible uses, a lot of medical

TIMOTHY by the kept short and bushy. They are also spaced decided to grow the fiber type hemp instead, research hasn’t been done,” he says. “The size farther apart in rows than industrial hemp which cost $300 for a 50-pound bag from of that total market is uncertain as we don’t plants, which are grown close together to Canada. yet know CBD oil’s true functionality in the WATERS increase height and discourage flowering.” “Hemp grows very fast,” he says. “When health-care system.

TOTAL Fortenbery says another phytochemical we harvested the plots in August, the average “The cosmetic and food markets are also (COURTESY ENROLLMENT called cannabidiol or CBD is also present in height was four feet tall. I was concerned very high-end and high-price markets but ACROSS ALL all cannabis plants in varying levels. CBD, about our late start, but we got the experi- too much production could overrun those

WSU WSU credited with a wide array of health benefits, ment established, herbicides applied, and markets and trigger a price collapse. CAMPUSES is an essential component of many medical the data we needed. “So, there’s still a lot of uncertainty EXTENSION), marijuana products and does not cause a high. “I think we learned a lot,” says Waters. on where this hemp market goes longer “A lot of early CBD oil on the market “Next time, we might try feminized seed like term.” ¬

s came from marijuana,” says Fortenbery. “But BELOW: it turns out there’s an inverse relationship AGE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS between CBD and THC — if you try to maxi- PHOTO AND ASTRONOMY, WHICH PIONEERED mize CBD concentration in a plant, it results

SHUTTERSTOCK TOOLS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE in less THC. So, once it looked like industrial hemp was going to be legalized nationally, UNIVERSE, INCLUDING ULTRA-HIGH people started to focus on hemp as the main VACUUMS, ELECTRON MICROSCOPES, ULTRA-COLD BOSE-EINSTEIN feedstock for CBD oil. Now, according to the NUMBER OF YEARS OF GROUND- SEATS AT MARTIN CONDENSATES, AND SHOCK PHYSICS, federal government, the only legal CBD oil is STADIUM, WHICH BREAKING SURVEY RESEARCH DON ALL USED TO INVESTIGATE THE BASIC that made from industrial hemp.” OPENED IN 1972 WITH DILLMAN PROVIDED TO WSU—AN PROPERTIES OF MATTER. By last summer, the Washington State ROOM FOR 22,600. AT INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SURVEY Department of Agriculture had approved and DIFFERENT TIMES, THE METHODOLOGIST KNOWN FOR HIS issued eleven licenses for the cultivation of STADIUM HELD 26,500 DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HOW industrial hemp. Among those license-holders AND AS MANY AS NUMBER OF CHAPTERS OF THE WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY ALUMNI STATE OF THE WASHINGTON NUMBER OF CHAPTERS

HIGH-QUALITY SURVEYS CAN HELP was Timothy Waters, professor and regional 35,117. IT’S THE NATIONS AND COMMUNITIES FIND vegetable specialist with WSU Franklin and SMALLEST STADIUM 59 IN THE PAC-12. SOLUTIONS TO PRESSING PROBLEMS. Benton County Extension in Pasco. “I’m a sucker for trying new things. I’m 10 always interested,” he says. “There are lots of the genetics of cannabis: magazine.wsu.edu/extra/cannabis-genetics NUMBER OF HEMP LINES IN THE RIGGING SYSTEM AT BRYAN HALL THEATRE:

14 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 15 read the full Travis Olds story at: magazine.wsu.edu/extra/olds-rock

A rare and nickel by hand to get at the cobalt. They on a sustainable supply chain of materials steel at the other to protect it from corrosion. inhale toxic dust so thick they can asphyxiate that are not focused on critical elements.” You still might use critical materials, he says, solution in the 100-meter-deep pit mines. Holding up his iPhone, Feaver says it’s “a but you’d use much less as you print a part Lithium is also a component in batteries microcosm of the technologies being used to layer by layer instead of tooling away the BY BRIAN CHARLES CLARK of portable electronics and electric vehicles. deploy clean energy and green transportation unwanted material from an ingot. A major source of lithium is the Atacama infrastructure.” Recycling could reduce the use of critical “The thing about rare earths Desert in the Andes, where mining threatens Take the touch screen, for instance, which materials, too. Feaver says American Maga- is that they’re not actually the water supply of farmers and flamingoes. is coated with a very thin layer of ITO, indium nese has developed a process to recycle bat- rare—but they might as well This is no way to run a stable and sustain- tin oxide. While indium isn’t exactly rare, teries, resulting in a product that “battery be,” says Aaron Feaver, direc- able global economy, dependent on metals it is a byproduct of other forms of mining manufacturers can drop right in to their tor of JCDREAM, the Joint mined under dubious circumstances. Huge and, like other critical materials, China is a supply chain.” That technology is currently Center for Deployment and spikes in, for instance, the price of cobalt in major supplier. Using funds from JCDREAM, being scaled up for commercial use. Research in Earth-Abundant recent years have manufacturers jittery while researchers at the University of Washington Before coming to WSU, Feaver re- Materials at Washington uncertain relationships with key mineral developed the first ink-jet printer capable searched and developed the use of highly State University. suppliers, like China and the DRC, only add of printing a sub-micro copper grid that abundant carbon and silicon for use in bat- Along with critical elements such as to the unease. can replace ITO in touch screens. The grid teries. Both technologies were spun off as cobalt, lithium, and indium, rare earth ele- The keys to stability, Feaver says, include is not only more transparent but also more successful companies. ments are essential to our smart device-rich finding earth-abundant replacements for conductive. And copper is fairly abundant, And storage, whether in batteries or lives. But those devices come at a cost. some of these materials, as well as souped- with major deposits scattered around the some other technology, is the big challenge PHOTO “Rare earth elements aren’t concentrated up recycling efforts and simply using less of globe, including the United States. in getting renewable energy on the grid reli-

SHELLY enough to be easy to mine,” Feaver says. a critical material to begin with. 3D printing metal offers some intriguing ably. Solar may be cheap to deploy, but if the

“They have similarities in electronic struc- Feaver says that “a clean energy transfor- possibilities for reducing use of materials. power is on only when the sun shines, it’s not HANKS ture, making them very useful but also very mation is coming.” He points to a couple of Feaver explains that most metal parts are very useful. Energy demand typically surges, difficult to differentiate from each other and especially in the northern latitudes, when hence extract. You end up with a mixture of the sun isn’t shining, early in the morning a whole bunch of rare earth elements and and in the evening. And once the grid gets have to use a solvent-laden and energy-and to about 40 percent renewable, he says, it Stones unturned Republic to the deserts of Southern Utah, waste-intensive processes to separate them.” becomes unstable. and even the drawers of very old mineral That’s why, Feaver says, a bipartisan group Our grid storage capacity is a fraction BY SIDDHARTH VODNALA ’19 MS collections, where sometimes new minerals of Washington legislators “sponsored a vision- of what we use every day, Feaver says. With can be found hiding. ary bill” that created JCDREAM in 2015. Using our current petroleum-based energy econo- Growing up in a small mining If Olds suspects that he has found a seed grants and larger capital investments, my, “we don’t need storage, we just turn on community in Michigan, previously unknown mineral, he tries to JCDREAM’s goal is “to accelerate the devel- turbines when we need more electricity.” Travis Olds descended from isolate a pure crystal of it and determine opment of next generation clean energy and Those turbines might burn non-renewable a family where mining the structure. If the structure doesn’t transportation technologies in Washington.” natural gas or be powered by water, although was the lifeblood for many match that of any previously known min- Feaver says that, as far as he knows, JCDREAM hydropower also has serious environmental generations. eral, then it is “new,” and can be given a is unique: Washington is the first state look- costs. As a boy, Olds was fascinated by the unique name. A commission at the Inter- ing to ensure an economically stable and “Your storage is the pile of coal, the rocks and crystals that his dad would bring national Mineralogical Association then environmentally sustainable high-tech future natural gas supply, or the gas tank — the home in his lunch pail from the mines. He votes on the name and soundness of the through research on earth abundant alterna- energy is stored as chemical energy. And spent hours hunting for rare and striking classification. tives for critical materials and rare earths. fossil fuels are very efficient, which is why it specimens. Olds has named minerals he Critical materials pop up everywhere, is hard to compete with the energy density “I became obsessed with digging for discovered after the physicist Richard from computer memory and catalytic convert- of gasoline.” strange and pretty crystals, and Michigan’s Feynman — feynmanite — and for the unique ers to fluorescent lights and cell phones. Rare But energy density is not destiny. Upper Peninsula is a great place for a fledg- paddle wheels found in the structure of earth mining and processing is dominated JCDREAM is funding projects at WSU ling collector because there are hundreds paddlewheelite. He also named the mineral by China and is used as leverage against the Pullman and elsewhere that Feaver describes of mines there,” he says. redcanyonite after Red Canyon in Utah, the United States in ongoing trade disputes. as “phenomenal battery research.” Substitut- As a postdoctoral scholar at site of an ancient ocean where Olds and As for cobalt, Feaver says, “We used ing earth-abundant materials for conflict Washington State University, Olds built a his colleagues have made multiple mineral to talk about blood diamonds but now we indicators: “Solar, for example, is now vastly tooled from solid ingots of an alloy. With 3D ADOBE and critical ones might mean an individual career from his childhood love of finding discoveries.

have blood batteries.” Cobalt is used in the cheaper to deploy on the grid than coal. It’s printing, though, the deposition of materials battery doesn’t carry as much energy but unusual minerals. He discovered and Olds also worked with John McCloy, a STOCK cathodes of phone batteries. Children mine cheaper to drive a Tesla than a Camry. We’re can be precisely controlled. A jet engine strut, its production is less fraught with environ- named 18 new minerals, many of which professor in the School of Mechanical and the metal in the Democratic Republic of here to help ensure that our next generation for example. that needs to be heat-resistant mental and social concerns and is easier to contain uranium. He’s hunted underground Materials Engineering, looking at ways to Congo (DRC). Miners reduce ores of copper of clean energy and transportation are built could contain ceramic at one end and stainless recycle. ¬ for them all over the world from the Czech safely store and dispose of nuclear waste. ¬

16 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 17 BY WENDA REED BY BECKY KRAMER

From Zapping “Part of his vision was to create a place being investigated, paid for their meals where students would work on solutions to with cash, and later checked to see if their recycled the tax real-world tax issues,” says Jeff Gramlich, purchase showed up in the cash register’s accounting professor and director of the tally. materials, zappers Hoops Tax Institute. Although several high-profile prosecu- When Gramlich heard about tax zapping, tions have involved restaurants, Chertude says really Something fishy was going he figured it would be a rich area for academic tax zapping extends beyond the hospitality on at a popular Bellevue study. Mike Chertude, who manages the industry. He suspects the practice is prevalent The world is full of garbage. They started with coffee because, well, it’s specifically to be melted down. At Five12, he restaurant, and it wasn’t Department of Revenue’s Computer-Assisted in other retail industries and also in the sales Some of it is reusable. Let’s so Northwest. Plus, it has wonderful natural says, “everything we use is post-consumer,” related to the seafood specials. Audit Program, agreed. of personal services, some of which are subject make athletic gear out of it. properties of absorbing odors, drying quickly, meaning the plastic bottles are actually used, During a routine audit, Washington One national expert estimates that tax to Washington’s sales tax. Jeff Bradbury (’88 Hosp. Busi. Mgmt.) and protecting from harmful UV rays. then recycled. “[Chen’s] patent is not burn- Department of Revenue officials noticed zapping could be costing Washington more didn’t come to this conclusion in an instant. In his world travels, Bradbury made ing anything in making the fabric. He even that Facing East Restaurant was reporting a than $400 million annually. While no one AT THE HOOPS TAX INSTITUTE, Lee re- It took a lifetime of hiking and snowboard- friends with Jason and Amy Chen, who makes soaps and shampoos out of the coffee suspiciously low volume of cash sales. Seven knows the extent of the problem, tax zapping searches “behavioral nudges” that help keep ing in his native Pacific Northwest, playing manufacture S.cafe fabric in Taiwan. Four oil he extracts.” percent of customers were paying for their siphons away revenue the state depends on businesses in compliance with the law. beach volleyball, traveling the world with a years of research and trial and error taught Bradbury’s next discovery was a Chinese meals with cash, according to Facing East, to pay for essential services like public safety In an earlier survey conducted by Lee and backpack, and meeting innovators in Asia and the Chens how to extract the oils from cof- glass-recycling company that separates the compared to the industry average of 22 to and parks, Chertude says. a WSU faculty member, people were asked Europe to make the connections. He became a fee grounds discarded by local Starbucks polyvinyl butyl (PVB) film from the center 30 percent for dine-in restaurants. to assume the role of a sole proprietor for a designer of eco-friendly textiles and apparel, and other coffee houses, leaving a fine, dry of discarded glass windshields. The PVB film State auditors found something else TAX-ZAPPING SOFTWARE is believed to lawn care company where many customers specializing in outerwear and technical cloth- powder. They remove labels and caps from gives the glass resistance to flying projectiles suspect: At night, the amount of cash taken have originated in Europe, where residents paid in cash. About a quarter of the survey ing for athletes and fitness buffs. used plastic bottles, clean and crush them, and provides UV protection. It’s chipped and out of the register to pay the servers’ tips pay a hefty 20 percent value-added tax on respondents were self-employed. In 2016, he and his daughter, Brooklynn grind them into flakes, then melt them into melted to make a thick, waterproof fabric. often exceeded the restaurant’s daily cash many goods. Half of the respondents reported their Gould-Bradbury, a collegiate volleyball player, pellets. The coffee pellets and plastic pellets While not suitable for clothing, it makes sales. The state’s subsequent investigation Chertude was dubious when he first sales to the government in a lump sum. The and their friend, Allison Wood, started Five12 are melted together to make yarns and fab- tough water-resistant bags. Bradbury admits led to the first conviction for “tax zapping” heard about tax zapping — it sounded too other half broke out cash sales from credit Apparel, named for the 512 Highway between rics. Bradbury orders the cloth with the right that hiking and playing sports in the Pacific in Washington in 2016. brazen to be real. But a series of high-profile and debit card sales. Tacoma and Puyallup. Now based in Sumner, weights and stretchability for the clothing he Northwest makes him prioritize products Officials say tax zapping costs Washington cases in Canada during the 1990s revealed Survey respondents who listed cash they make clothing and accessories using designs. that stand up to weather. state millions of dollars annually in lost rev- how pervasive use of the software is. The sales separately from electronic sales report- coffee grounds, the discarded inner parts Some clothing labeled “from recycled Five12 has just introduced a new prod- enue. It occurs when retailers use software to phrase “tax zapping” came from a confiscated ed higher income — and thus paid higher of windshields and, beginning this spring, materials” actually may not be, Bradbury uct: hoodies made from old fishing nets. delete cash sales from the register’s running floppy disc, which had the word “zapper” taxes — than the other group. fishing nets. says. Sometimes, the plastic is manufactured Bradbury is distressed by the amount of total — hiding a portion of their sales from written on it. The study demonstrates that “simple discarded and abandoned fishing nets in the the state Department of Revenue and pock- In the case of the Bellevue restaurant, steps like reporting cash sales separately” ocean — 640,000 tons annually, according eting part of the sales tax owed to the state. the owner showed state employees how she could encourage business owners to report to the nonprofit World Animal Protection. “This is a way that businesses evade pay- plugged a USB drive into her point-of-sales their full income to the state, Lee says. An Italian company, Aquafil, reprocesses ing taxes, and it’s obviously illegal,” says Jon system at the end of each month. When she As part of his research, Lee also is used fishing nets into a tough nylon yarn Lee, a doctoral student at Washington State ran the software, a pop-up window asked her evaluating the effectiveness of campaigns called Econyl, which is catching on with a University’s Carson College of Business and to select how much in cash sales to delete from to alert business owners to the penalties for variety of companies, including Burberry and a fellow at the college’s Hoops Institute of the daily transaction record. tax zapping and offer amnesty programs to Speedo. Taxation and Research Policy. Yu-Ling Wong, Facing East’s owner, pled companies that self-report violations. “It’s the Ten percent of Five12’s sales of the new Lee is researching ways Washington can guilty to first-degree theft and unlawful use of carrot and stick approach,” Lee says. Without Huntington Tech Hoody and other apparel combat tax zapping through strategies that sales suppression software. She was ordered an amnesty program, offenders might not be made from Econyl will be donated to The encourage businesses to stay on the correct to pay $300,000 in restitution and to comply willing to come forward. Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit launched by side of the law. The research, which is part of with five years of court-order monitoring. Chertude is eager to see the results of Dutch inventor Boyan Slat to round up plastics his doctoral dissertation, grew out of coopera- Thirty-three states have laws specifically Lee’s research. Given the time it takes to and other debris from the seas. tive efforts between the Hoops Tax Institute prohibiting the use of tax zapping features, investigate a case of suspected tax zapping, Spreading out a variety of merchandise, and the state. which can also be built directly into point- he’s interested in knowing what else might Bradbury talks about how even the zippers, The institute was established in 2012 of-sale systems or used in cloud-based sales work. cords, and other pieces of trim on the com- by the late Howard (’50 Hosp. Mgmt.) and reporting. In Washington, possession of “It could be as simple as encouraging pany’s garments are made from recyclable Billie Hoops to increase public awareness of the software itself is illegal. But tax zapping customers to keep their sales receipts and FIVE12

materials. tax issues. During the years Howard Hoops remains difficult to detect and prosecute. providing an incentive for them to send those SHUTTERSTOCK “It does cost more to use truly recycled worked for the American Red Cross, the couple “You don’t automatically know if some- sales receipts to the state,” Chertude says. “If COURTESY fabric and materials,” Bradbury says. “But traveled extensively, and Hoops noticed that thing is missing,” Chertude says. the business owner knew there was a copy our overall goal is a sustainable, active few people understood taxes or their role in In some cases, Department of Revenue of that transaction, they might be less likely

PHOTOS life.” ¬ government. employees ate at restaurants that were to stray.” ¬

18 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 19 BY BRIAN CHARLES CLARK

watch the trailer for the BAM documentary: magazine.wsu.edu/video/bam SIDElines

BAM! The Black other musicians, artists, dancers, poets, and But it’s not just music, Lewis points out, THE WINNINGEST TEAM in WSU women’s With that strike, Minniss became the writers in the vast collaboration known as the that makes the BAM such a powerful force in soccer history climbed onto a plane to San Jose twelfth Cougar to score on the year and the Arts Movement Black Arts Movement. American culture. When Gwendolyn Brooks be- in the first week of December, but not for a tenth to score a game-winner. The Black Arts Movement of Chicago came, in 1950, the first African American to win vacation. They were bound for the first time It was a team efort all season, and Minniss in Chicago is the subject of a film by two Washington the Pulitzer Prize, she was performing on the to the College Cup, a contest of the top four was one of a number of players who stood out. State University Vancouver associate profes- streets, in bars, prisons, and wherever she could college soccer teams in the country, to face Star forward and All-American senior When Earth, Wind and Fire’s Maurice White sors of English, Thabiti Lewis and Pavithra learn about what other Black people were experi- top-seeded North Carolina. Morgan Weaver tied a single-game record took to the stage playing an electric kalimba Narayanan. The 50-minute documentary encing. Brooks, and other Black poets, fearlessly The unprecedented road to the College with four goals against Colorado in the home in the 1970s, he was drawing on a deep well took four years to make. It’s quick-cut style experimented with the rhythms and syntax of Cup was filled with breakout seasons for several regular season finale. For her career, Weaver hit of inspiration. The iconic African instrument, keeps viewers riveted and hungry to learn language, bringing legitimacy and a height- Cougar players, new records, and a lot of moxie. 43 goals — second most in Cougar history — after sometimes called a thumb piano, had first more about a period of American history ened aesthetic to Black Vernacular English. Coach Todd Schulenberger’s team finished the recording a personal-best 15 goals in 2019. been electrified in the 1950s by Phil Cohran, that birthed a rich aesthetic based on Black As Lewis says of his undergraduate years, One kickin’ regular season 12–6–1 overall. Senior goalkeeper Ella Dederick extended a pioneering musician who called his kalimba American experience. “Whenever I had the chance to read BAM The team headed into the postseason for her program record with 53 career wins while a “frankiphone.” The Black Arts Movement (BAM) of writers, I did so. Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, season the third-straight season and eighth time in nine picking up 29 career shutouts. Cohran had been the trumpet player for the ’60s laid foundations, says Lewis, for Eugene Redman, Nikki Giovanni — I took up years after being selected for an at-large bid Junior midfielder Gomera-Stevens also Sun Ra Arkestra, a big band the likes of which the funk of Parliament/Funkadelic and Kool that moment because what they were doing to the 2019 NCAA Tournament in November. stepped up in crunch time. The native Hawaiian no one had heard — or seen — before. Sun Ra and the Gang; the soul of Earth, Wind and with language was challenging notions of uni- BY LARRY CLARK They faced a tough challenge right away versus scored four of her team-best five game-winning was a self-ascribed cosmic philosopher and, Fire; and contemporary styles like hip-hop versality. This was really fascinating to me and the Memphis Tigers. goals against top teams, including two in the for his fans, he brought to Earth the music (which is based on the collaborative aes- made me want to become a literature scholar.” The Cougars hit their tournament stride NCAA tournament. of the spheres. Cohran left the Arkestra to thetic of sampling) and the Afrofuturism BAM created a lot of art but also, Lewis when Makamae Gomera-Stevens, with an assist The Cougars couldn’t keep the magic go- return to Chicago, where he founded the of Bootsy Collins and contemporary science says, a lot of institutions that continue to from Averie Collins, knocked it just inside the ing when they faced top team North Carolina Artistic Heritage Ensemble and worked with fiction. thrive in Chicago and other cities. Schools post for a 1–0 win over Memphis. in the College Cup. Although they lost 2–1 and museums that teach and celebrate African In the second round of the tournament, against the Tarheels, nothing would erase the heritage inspire young Chicagoans to this WSU grabbed the biggest upset in program greatest season in WSU soccer history. day. Haki Madhubuti founded Third World history, defeating top seed Virginia, 3–2, in a The team’s season ended there, but Press as not only a publishing house, but high-scoring match. Weaver and Gomera-Stevens joined the a workshop for aspiring writers. Muralists The momentum carried into the third senior U.S. national team camp in Bradenton, democratized art by painting, among oth- round, where the Cougars notched another Florida, while Minniss played in the 2019 Nike ers, a Wall of Respect which beautified a shutout with 3–0 against West Virginia. The International Friendlies with the U-20 team in neighborhood and “not just an elite gallery.” Elite Eight saw a staunch defensive battle against Lakewood Ranch, Florida. John Johnson, the owner/publisher of The Cougs celebrate a goal against number two seed South Carolina, ending 1–0 in Weaver and Gomera-Stevens became the Jet and Ebony, teamed up with Hoyt Fuller to North Carolina in the College Cup. overtime when defender Mykiaa Minniss nailed first Cougars to be called into camp with the publish Black World, a journal that pushed Photo Robert Hubner it to the back of the goal. top team in the United States. ¬ Black writers to think deeply, read widely, and arguably, laid the foundations for Black studies and other ethnic studies programs taught in universities around the world. With such vast contributions to American culture, it’s no wonder Lewis and Narayanan are pushing ahead with a book-length ac- count of the movement. Based in part on his own experience, on the interviews he and Narayanan conducted for their documentary, as well as on contributions by other collabora- tors, Lewis aims to show that Chicago was a “matrix, an intellectual and cultural center” that was “an infectious source” of spiritual and revolutionary inspiration for multiple generations of Americans of all colors. ¬

Clockwise, from top: Three Queens, 1971, Wadsworth Aikens Jarrell, courtesy Detroit Institute of Arts; Pavithra Narayanan; Thabiti Lewis. (Photos courtesy WSU CAS)

20 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 21 season

recipes for wild greens: magazine.wsu.edu/extra/wild-things

State University regional extension and handled and shipped. These, once you lemon and garlic or mushrooms. Serve them as torches. Parts of the plant are palatable, specialist emeritus of special forest pick them, often within a couple hours they with creamy hollandaise sauce. “I treat it like too. Just be sure to peel away the older plant products. “They’re very bitter.” In general, don’t look very palatable.” asparagus,” Freed says. material, “or it’s like eating cardboard,” Wild wild greens “aren’t bland. They all have Deeply rooted dandelions are one of Freed says. distinct flavors — everything from lemony Watercress, or Nasturtium officinale, is often a lawn-keeper’s biggest blights. Why fight The insides of fresh shoots can be sau- things to very bitter and earthy.” associated with high tea and crustless sand- them when you can eat them? Healthful and téed and tossed with pasta or rice and other Before retiring three years ago, Freed used wiches. Don’t let its dainty leaves fool you; readily available — in some yards more than vegetables, or added to a stir-fry, pickled, BY ADRIANA JANOVICH horticultural techniques to help landowners they pack a peppery punch. They’re also rich others — dandelions, or Taraxacum, are packed or put into soups. While they’re still young manage forest plants and also developed in vitamins A, C, and K. Look for watercress with nutrients. They’re rich in vitamins A, C, and green, their corndog-like flowers can be agroforestry practices with indigenous people near ponds, shallow lakes, and slow-moving and K and are also good sources of calcium, cooked for a sort of marshy version of corn- Whatever you do, don’t around the world. Today, he advises foragers streams — and bring a zip-top bag. Freed iron, potassium, magnesium, and fiber. The on-the-cob. Their rhizomes can be processed touch them. Stinging to consider their location before collecting suggests placing freshly cut stems in three or leaves are spicy, reminiscent of arugula or into flour or roasted like a potato. “They take nettles will give you a pain- wild greens. four ounces of water while continuing to for- mustard greens, and can be used in soups, on the flavor of the soil in the area where ful, poison-ivy-like rash. “I tell people not to pick cattails where age. “They will last longer that way,” he says. salads, pesto, and pasta, or wilted with other they grow, and they grow in highly organic Instead, consider eating this people are walking,” Freed says. “Find a nice, Miner’s lettuce, or Claytonia perfoliata, greens. Their yellow blossoms brighten sal- material. I always wash and scrape them moisture-loving weed. fresh site somewhere, and go to where the is as pretty as it is nutritious. A slender stem ads and can also be steeped into tea, baked before roasting them. Don’t leave any dirt Rich in vitamin A, calcium, fiber, and newer growth is, the young shoots. Also, in the center of each leaf supports a spray of into cookies, fermented into wine, or dipped on them,” Freed warns, “or they’ll taste like more, stinging nettles, or Urtica dioica, are avoid ditches that might have agricultural small, white flowers. Packed with vitamins A into light beer batter, then fried to make frit- rotten mud.” actually very good for you — as long as you run-off. You don’t want to pick watercress, and C as well as iron, miner’s lettuce grows ters. Just don’t harvest them, Freed advises, Of course, he notes, “if you add the don’t directly handle them while they’re for example, where there’s run-off from the in abundance in California where it helped from lawns or fields that have been treated right stuff to it”— butter, salt, pepper, uncooked. road or pesticides or herbicides.” Forty-Niners stave off scurvy during the Gold with chemical fertilizer, pesticides, or weed WSU Everything Seasoning —“it all tastes Nettles are among the first wild leafy Ken Mudge (’80 PhD Hort.), professor Rush. It can also be found along mountain killer. good.” ¬ greens of spring. And they grow in abun- emeritus of horticulture at Cornell streams and moist, woodsy spots on either Purslane, or Portulaca oleracea, is so dance in the Pacific Northwest, home to University’s School of Integrative Plant side of the Cascade Range. “You’ll find it hardy it can be found growing in cracks in many wild edible greens — from dandelions Science, Section of Horticulture, and co- growing under trees in the northeast corner sidewalks. Its stalks and fleshy leaves, remi- to watercress. author of Farming the Woods, cautions of the state, where Idaho and Washington niscent of a young jade plant, are packed Be sure to wear gloves if you harvest against over-harvesting. “Some collectors and Canada come together,” Freed says. “If with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and nettles yourself. If you buy already-bagged will go into an area and strip it clean. you get it before it starts to bloom, there’s no C. Verdolagas in Spanish, purslane is com- nettles at a local farmers market, you can drop They will pick all the plants of a particular bitterness to it; it’s almost lemony. It makes monly paired with pork in Mexico, where it the contents right into a pot for steaming or species, slowing down generations of that a fantastic salad mix with spring greens.” also often complements soups, stews, salsas, (PHOTO SALAD PURSLANE JAMES RANSOM)

boiling. Cooking destroys the hard-to-see plant in that area for years and years. The tightly furled tops of young ferns, and salads. Raw purslane provides a crunchy, NETTLES (PHOTO MOBOGRAPHY/UNSPLASH) hairs fraught with irritating chemicals on Someone who has respect for the forest is or fiddleheads, also look pretty on a plate. lemony tartness. Cooked, it makes for a simple their leaves and stems. After that, you can going to harvest much less. You can really These whimsical spirals offer a grassy fla- side. Sauté it with garlic, olive oil, salt, and treat nettles like cooked spinach. Puree them only pick five percent in a given area, in vor, sort of like green beans. While they’re a pepper, and finish it with a splash of fresh into soups or pesto. Make nettle tea. general, if you expect the plant population good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty citrus. Like most wild spring greens, nettles to be stable.” acids and are high in fiber and iron, certain Cattails, or Typha latifolia, grow where it’s are best early in the season — when they’re Wild spring greens don’t keep long and types — such as the ostrich fern, or Matteuccia wet — near ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers — and most tender and mild. “Later in the season, are best as fresh as you can eat them. “They’re struthiopteris — have caused gastrointestinal can help you survive in the wilderness. Dry you don’t want to eat the older leaves,” says rather delicate,” Freed says. “They’re not like illness when not fully cooked. Blanch them stalks can be used to build a fire as well as Jim Freed, an Olympia-based Washington spinach or kale or chard, which can be stored before sautéing, stir-frying, or roasting with shelter. The cigar-shaped heads can be used

22 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 23 feature building a drywall waste block: magazine.wsu.edu/video TAIJI King County and Pierce County have The ground-up material drops into

both banned disposal of drywall scrap from a barrel and then to a surplus USDA seed MIYASAKA new construction in local landfills, so most coater to receive a minimal amount of

of the excess drywall, particularly from the water. The damp material is combined with (COURTESY west side of Washington state with its larger a binder — waste slag from blast furnaces — construction industry, ships to distant land- and moved to a press.

fills in Boardman, Oregon, or just across the Miyasaka and Drake are on their third- ARTIST COURTESY Columbia River in Washington. generation block press. “The first one was

made out of wood, and took about 15 minutes TRUST)

TAIJI BUILDING A BLOCK to make a block. I think we managed to make

MIYASAKA, Miyasaka has a deep background in architec- about 50 blocks or so on the wood press before ture and teaches studio classes at WSU. He it completely broke apart,” recalls Drake. also has a long interest in ecological building The latest press runs off a hydraulic

DAVID design approaches in architecture. power unit and makes about a block a minute. Miyasaka’s expertise pairs nicely with Drake estimates that, with automation, it

DRAKE, Drake’s extensive experience in the building or Drake welded it himself. With additional could make up to six blocks a minute.

AND trades and sculpture. funding, they’ve been able to design cus- Miyasaka points to a pallet of blocks The two men say building materials from tom machinery fabricated by the Voiland covered in plastic, where the drywall waste

ZAKY recycled gypsum wallboard was originally a College of Engineering and Architecture’s blocks (DWB) cure for 28 days. They have

RAMADHAN response to a materials innovation challenge. tech shops. also successfully tested a low-pressure steam They developed it first as a concept and then Using gypsum drywall waste from proj- process used by the concrete block industry, decided to see how far they could push it as ects such as the new plant sciences building which reduces curing time to 24 hours. an actual product. at WSU Pullman, they grind up everything The result: a masonry block that looks “As far as we know, there’s been actually in a hammer mill, which Drake compares to very similar to a concrete or cinder block, very little work done on drywall waste. When a leaf shredder. but lighter. It has high insulation value and we first started looking at this, we found “One of the things about our process, slightly less compressive strength than con- The new era of a number of recent papers by people who which is different from every other process crete blocks. It can accept fasteners such were sort of working with drywall waste,” we know of for recycling drywall waste, is as screws and nails, be cut with ordinary green reconstruction Drake says. “This seemed to indicate, ‘Okay we don’t separate the gypsum core from the woodworking tools, and absorbs dyes and this is not crazy, this is something that is paper. We grind it all up together, and paper color similar to concrete. really a problem.’ But, at the same time, it’s facing and backing layers are incorporated The process is really simple, say Drake BY LARRY CLARK hardly something that’s saturated in terms into the blocks. It’s giving us a fair amount of and Miyasaka, and for on-site production, all of research. So, right place at the right time, strength from the paper fibers reinforcing it, of the equipment would fit on the back of a I suppose.” and we believe that’s also part of what’s giv- pickup or a flatbed trailer. Visit any construction site, whether it’s a Architecture Professor Taiji Miyasaka and David Drake, Fabrication Miyasaka nods. “I knew that gypsum ing us the high insulation value,” Drake says. “We’re trying to compete with concrete Labs manager and adjunct professor in the School of Design and has been a problem, but I didn’t know a lot It doesn’t discriminate between types blocks that sell for a buck at Home Depot,” house or a 50-story skyscraper, and it’s easy Construction, took a look at one common type of waste — gypsum of information,” he says. “So, we talked about of wallboard either, alleviating the need for Drake says. DAVID

drywall — and developed a way to convert it into a construction block. it and David said, ‘Well, in South America, sorting. They also built a hotbox testing appa- DRAKE to marvel as a structure goes up. Drywall, also called sheetrock or wallboard, covers walls and people make adobe blocks.’” ratus, essentially a wood box divided in half

ceilings in many buildings, especially in North America. It makes Drake says their drywall waste block by a wall of their drywall waste blocks, to (COURTESY But look back at the ground level. Piles or bins of wood pieces, up nearly 10 percent of unrecycled construction waste, with as reimagines compressed earth blocks devel- simulate an interior room on one side and asphalt shingles, bricks, concrete, and drywall wait to be moved to a much as 10 million tons going to landfills in the United States each oped in Central and South America back in the outdoors on the other. They keep one landfill or recycled. The amount of waste is even more pronounced year. the 1950s. However, unlike earth-building “indoor” side at ambient temperature and WSU at demolition sites. “Now there’s no use for drywall waste from demolition, which is traditions, drywall waste blocks divert waste cool the “exterior,” in order to measure the SCHOOL And that amount is huge — and growing. Some 40 to 50 percent about three-quarters of all the drywall waste. So, you have contractors from landfills instead of excavating soil, and insulating value of the blocks. of the world’s solid waste is estimated to be construction materials. who don’t have a choice but to dump the drywall waste from demoli- are higher performance blocks better suited Students in mechanical engineering OF

According to a 2018 study, the annual volume of construction waste tion at about three times what they’d be paying if a recycler would to colder climates. faculty Roland Chen and Chuck Pezeshki’s DESIGN will double by 2025. take it,” Drake says. The WSU drywall block experiment capstone class designed the cooling system.

+

Landfills are getting clogged with all that debris, with additional Recycling causes other issues. Gypsum contaminates concrete, began in the basement of a building on the Another group of mechanical engineering CONSTRUCTION) impacts to groundwater and odor. It’s also a huge expense for construc- so it cannot be added as fill. Although there are proprietary methods edge of the Pullman campus, where Drake and students designed a hopper for the future tion companies, exacerbated by the recent recycling crises. to deal with waste drywall, the process requires removing the paper. Miyasaka show off their simple, yet elegant, automated block press. Through all the dust and detritus, though, two Washington State “Drywall manufacturers want pure gypsum so there’s some process in what looks like a converted truck The tests were positive. “These are about University faculty members see potential and opportunity. difficulty to recycle drywall,” says Miyasaka. bay. At first, they adapted surplus equipment half the density of a concrete block, and ten

24 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 25 GREEN RECONSTRUCTION plant-based Styrofoam: magazine.wsu.edu/extra/plant-foam

times the insulation value,” says Drake. “We drywall waste. They realized the panel could think that a commercial building, for example, have good potential due to gypsum’s natural nonresidential, you might be able to avoid fire resistance. POWER timber additional insulation completely. We expect Drake fires up a blowtorch and aims the blocks to be highly fire resistant and have the flame directly onto the panel. When BY TINA HILDING good acoustic performance, too.” the back of the panel is touched, it’s barely Says Miyasaka, “I was surprised we were warm. Small or diseased timber in forests can create fire risk unless it’s thinned out, but what can be done able to make a block which performs quite “We could sit here for an hour or so but with it then? One solution is an environmentally friendly product called cross-laminated timber, well.” it still wouldn’t burn through,” Drake says. an engineered wood panel made by compressing and gluing boards into layers. Drake nods. “It’s one of those few times They aren’t looking necessarily to replace that it was a good idea and no one ever really insulating foam, but the drywall waste panel About a decade ago, the Composite Materials and Engineering Center (CMEC) researchers at had it before.” could add more insulation while serving as Washington State University began looking at developing a cross-laminated timber (CLT) industry a fire break. in Washington. BLOC OF SUPPORT The drywall waste insulation and blocks Others soon began to take notice of the are just a couple of the products the pair are “CLT is really at the confluence of green building, forest health, and job creation,” says Don Bender, DWB. In 2018, the researchers received an considering, but always with an eye to the Weyerhaeuser Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and CMEC’s director. Amazon Catalyst grant, which encourages practical. “What drove interest in it was the possibility of helping to spur rural economic development and PHOTOS people to find innovative solutions to real- Craig Curtis (’83 Arch., ’84 Const. Back in the lab, on a worktable next to “In a back-of-the-envelope way for two to mitigate wildfire risk by reducing fuel loads in the national forest.” world problems. Mgmt.), one of the other jurors for the award, shelves full of DWB samples, a cross-section guys who are not engineers, not chemists, and

COURTESY In addition to the grant, WSU’s Office told Architect Magazine that the project com- of a wall shows the thick plastic foam that not economists, we try to figure out, ‘Are we For more than a half century, CMEC has conducted research in wood and composite materials of Commercialization connected Miyasaka pares to “the introduction of fly ash into serves as a common building insulation. Drake making something that could be produced that have changed industries and economies in the state and country. They began working with and Drake with industry contacts interested concrete, which now is commonplace. . . . notes that the plastic product works well on TAIJI cheaper? Higher performance?’” says Drake. companies and economic development groups to improve CLT performance and manufacturing,

in their product. They met with King County I honestly think this could become a com- many levels: high R-value for insulating, fairly MIYASAKA, It look like there’s no end to supply either. including analyzing its cost effectiveness and supply chain logistics. officials in Seattle to see if the blocks would modity product.” inexpensive, doesn’t absorb water, and fairly As Drake notes, drywall waste has negative be a viable option for construction of several While discussions are still ongoing, the easy to install. However, even if you add fire value for companies that pay to have it hauled WSU faculty analyzed and designed a pilot CLT supply chain with a 2013 USDA grant, along with tiny home communities to house the city’s blocks could soon have niche uses, such as retardants, it’s still flammable. DAVID away, so they’re ready to find a better way to industry partners that included a lumber mill in Colville, a CLT manufacturer in Columbia Falls, growing homeless population. patio pavers, planters, or landscape walls. It’ll In a building fire, like the horrific 2017 get rid of it. Montana, and an advanced systems manufacturer in Spokane.

Drake and Miyasaka have also visited take more testing, possibly over a decade, to Grenfell Tower fire in London, the foam insula- DRAKE, “The usage of gypsum has been growing It was a day of celebration last fall when California-based Katerra opened a new 270,000-square-

with construction companies about the dry- receive certification to use the drywall waste tion burns fast and intensely. In the Grenfell radically, particularly in Asia,” says Miyasaka. AND wall waste block and its potential. “Their blocks as load-bearing walls. Tower case, which killed 72 people, a high- “The market for drywall, or the use of drywall, foot CLT factory in Spokane. The facility will bring 105 manufacturing jobs while producing responses to our product have helped inform performing foam insulation even released ZAKY is increasing in China and India three times 11 million square feet of the material. our research, as we continue to look for ways NOT JUST A BLOCK deadly hydrogen cyanide. RAMADHAN faster than it’s increasing in the U.S.” to solve an industry need,” says Miyasaka. Miyasaka and Drake aren’t waiting around Drake and Miyasaka grab a thin panel Drake adds that the growing Asian WSU became a key partner with the company to study supply chains, test, and refine manufacturing The researchers participated in for 10 years. They’re already thinking about from next to the wall model. It’s an insula- market may be really fortuitous for their methods. They will work to ensure that CLT resins, processing parameters, and timber materials WSU’s I-Corps entrepreneurial program other possibilities for drywall waste. tion panel, about one-inch thick, made from drywall waste block, because some of those meet professional standards. The partnership includes Katerra colleagues with close ties to WSU, and received Commercialization Gap Fund countries have a much stronger masonry including Craig Curtis (’83 Arch., ’84 Const. Mgmt.), the company’s chief architect, and Todd support through WSU. They also garnered building tradition, especially for residential Beyreuther, Katerra’s senior director of advanced building materials and a WSU adjunct professor. some initial funding from the American construction. “That could be a really nice Institute of Architects. symbiotic relationship,” he says. “WSU has a long history of working side-by-side with companies in testing and evaluating manufacturing Drake says that by the standards of The drywall waste blocks will continue processes, such as those being used by Katerra,” says Bender. “We help close technology gaps so engineering, though, their funding is really to go through testing as discussions on com- that Katerra has the most durable and safe product for its customers.” modest at just around $100,000. mercialization take place.

Last July, the drywall waste blocks re- As the drywall waste products evolve, This semester, WSU architecture and engineering students in the School of Design and Construction, PHOTO BENJAMIN BENSCHNEIDER ceived an American Institute of Architects Miyasaka and Drake also hope they raise as well as University of Idaho students, are working with Katerra on a studio design experience. R & D award, which recognizes innovation awareness of the construction and demolition They are developing ideas for a student housing project in Spokane’s University District while they in architectural technology. The award was waste issue, at least for drywall. study commercial wood construction. announced in Architect Magazine and is one “Everybody knows about plastic and of eight awarded nationally. knows that there’s a big plastic garbage patch “Our future architects and engineers will need skills in the design and construction with mass timber “This is radically useful and radically somewhere in the Pacific,” Drake says. “No to meet the demands for carbon-free building of the future,” says Ryan Smith, director of the School simple at a time when so many products one knows about drywall. And yet, we’re of Design and Construction. “We’re excited about exploring the possibilities of using this material.” ¬ are trying to call attention to themselves by surrounded by it because it’s an easy- to-install being unusual,” juror James Garrett Jr. told building material. We just need a market for Architect Magazine. the recycled waste.” ¬

26 magazine.wsu.edu 27 The ascent of using CLT

Small-diameter or diseased timber thinned from forests improve forest health and reduce fire risk.

Low-quality boards from that timber compressed and glued into layers make CROSS-LAMINATED TIMBER (CLT), also called mass timber, a building product developed in Austria in the 1990s.

When glued together, CLT is comparable in strength to steel and concrete.

It also requires much less energy to manufacture and transport than steel or concrete.

CLT is a carbon sink: Instead of having the wood degrade or burn in the forest, using it for buildings locks up carbon that contribute to climate change.

Due to its strength, CLT can be used for the structural components of a building.

Researchers assessed the material’s seismic performance, an important consideration for buildings in the Pacific Northwest.

The roof of Pullman’s Brelsford WSU Visitor Center, opened in 2013, is made of CLT — the first university building to use the material in the United States.

PACCAR Environmental Technology Building at WSU Pullman, built in 2016, also includes CLT.

In 2018, Washington became the first state to allow structural use of mass timber in buildings as tall as 18 stories. ¬

OPPOSITE/LEFT AND ABOVE: ATRIUM WITH CLT STAIRS AT THE WSU EVERETT UNIVERSITY CENTER (COURTESY SRG PARTNERSHIP/PHOTOS BENJAMIN BENSCHNEIDER)

29 feature Illustration of HYPATIA (born c. 350–370; died 415 AD) — Hellenistic Neoplatonist philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician, who lived in Alexandria, Egypt — from Rachel Ignotofsky’s Women in Science I, scientist, too

BY BRIAN CHARLES CLARK

Cultural constraints and biases keep women and people of color from entering and remaining in science, technology, engineering, and math. Washington State University and other national universities are working to increase the participation of these underrepresented minorities.

hen she was an undergraduate studying mathematics at Vassar women but the number of women in computer science has declined College, 19-year-old Molly Kelton applied to a National Science since 1991. After decades of effort and millions of dollars spent, the Foundation-funded program called Research Experiences participation of women in engineering is still flatlined at around 20 Wfor Undergraduates. A phone interview ensued with a male percent of the workforce. professor who, seemingly out of the blue, asked Kelton if she had a Women, as well as other underrepresented minorities in boyfriend. STEM — science, technology, engineering, and math — often face “Why?” she asked, taken aback by such a personal question. issues of bias, both conscious and not, which manifests as micro- “Because,” the professor responded, “girls who come here and aggressions or worse. Media and other stereotypes are constantly have boyfriends can’t focus on the research. And that’s a problem reinforcing the notion that they don’t belong in STEM and are because, in general, girls are already worse at mathematics.” better at other things. Stunned, Kelton says she didn’t know what hit her. She shared Kelton is far from alone in working to counter the cultural the incident with one of her Vassar professors, who was horrified and constraints and biases that keep women and people of color from said she should report it. entering and remaining in STEM fields. Professor and Voiland College “I don’t think anything ever came of it,” she says. She got a differ- of Engineering and Architecture Dean Emeritus Candis Claiborn is ent REU position and, out of the research she conducted, wrote and working on a project to understand why more young women and published a paper, launching her academic career. Now an assistant people of color don’t stay in engineering programs. Sociologist Julie professor of mathematics education at Washington State University, Kmec and an international team of collaborators are exploring the Kelton says that ugly interview got her thinking about the problem reasons why there are more women engineers in some predominantly of inclusion. Muslim countries than there are in the United States. And Kelton Who gets to be a mathematician? Or a scientist, an engineer, or a herself uses art and movement to disrupt assumptions about what computer programmer? Time was, the majority of programmers were it means to be a mathematician or scientist.

30 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 31 I , SCIENTIST

check out the Fleet Science Center’s interactive exhibit Taping Shape: magazine.wsu.edu/video/taping-shape

IT STARTS EARLY Indeed, cognitive neuroscientist Gina Rippon, writes in her recent many other schools, “it’s heavily populated by women and under- Angela Jones (’94 English) is the CEO of Washington STEM, a book, Gender and Our Brains, that there’s plenty of research to show represented minorities.” nonprofit organization that collaborates with communities, busi- that children’s gender-segregated activities account for many of the “If you’re a lawyer or a doctor,” Kmec adds, “you know you helped nesses, and educators to ensure youth have equitable access to STEM differences we see between boys and girls. Boys use computers more, that client or patient. Engineers probably save more lives, though, by education. They work with ten regional STEM networks across the and play more video games, research has demonstrated, and such bringing in fresh water, and so forth.” But the United States doesn’t state to help direct resources and scale successful programs that aim play is “a powerful predictor of certain spatial skills. . . . If being male need roads to make a community accessible to the rest of the world, to ensure that there is cradle to career support for STEM skills. This means that you have much greater experience of constructing things nor do we have especially pressing water distribution issues, potentially means working to strengthen math skills for the state’s youngest stu- or manipulating complex 3D representations (there is an uncanny making engineering less appealing to women. dents so they can start kindergarten strong as well as helping identify similarity between the images used in mental rotation tasks and LEGO Jones, who talks to many professionals to understand their recruit- and work in cross-sector partnership to establish career pathways for instructions), it is very likely that that will show up in your brain. ment and retention concerns, says that, “men and women approach local students, which will in turn help meet future economic needs. Brains reflect the lives they have lived, not just the sex of their owners.” STEM differently at times. I was talking to an engineering prof who Washington ranks second in the nation, she points out, in con- Dualism is inhumane, Kelton argues. “I think it’s at the root of observed that women want to think in terms of, ‘How will what I’m centration of STEM jobs: from agriculture to aeronautics to computer why children don’t get to move enough in school.” doing affect my community and my fellow humans?’ A lot of times science, Washington is a thriving hub of technological innovation. As a doctoral student, Kelton led a couple projects that aimed But, she adds, “we’re in the bottom five in the country of students to demonstrate that moving and physically experiencing math- going on to post-secondary education. These folks are not going to be able ematical concepts is a viable way of teaching kids to enjoy math. to compete for all the jobs that are available” in the state, meaning em- In Math Moves, she and her collaborators set up several interactive ployers have to bring in qualified workers from other states and countries. museum exhibits that got kids (and their adult companions) to From electricians to rocket scientists, Washington is not alone experience ratio and proportion by using their bodies. In one, the in suffering a homegrown shortage of skilled STEM workers. Part of kid stands in front of a bright light that projects her shadow on a the problem, Jones says, starts in a child’s first brush with education. grid on a big wall. As she moves, she begins to detect the pattern of “When my son was born 13 years ago,” she says, “his dad and I inverse proportion that determines the size of her shadow. Kids had talked and said we’ll never tell him that math and science are hard. As fun while doing math, running around becoming shadow Hulks. kids, we were always told, ‘It’s OK, math and science are hard.’ But no Another project was Taping Shape, an interactive exhibit staged MOLLY KELTON (COURTESY WSU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION) one says to their kid, ‘You know what, English is hard. It’s OK if you at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego. Taping Shape was a huge don’t know how to read and write. It’s OK to be illiterate.’ Nobody sculpture made, Kelton says, “out of a humble material,” packing says that! So why don’t we have that same viewpoint of math? American women mathematicians who helped put the first astronauts tape. “By design, you could walk around the inside of math objects,” “We don’t socialize STEM as cool,” Jones continues. “And yet, in space. While Hidden Figures was lauded for advancing the visibility of like a torus, a donut-shaped object that fascinates geometers. “We everyone wants to be able to hold their iPhones” to chat, or check women of color in science, Kelton was dismayed to hear an interview with strapped head cams on families and studied the video, where we found their social media. Someone had to invent the phone and all those one of the Black actors who said she had to learn a whole new vocabulary a lot of really rich engagement. Part of the intent of that is to be more apps — and under the hood are mathematics, computer science, and to be able to play the part of a mathematician. Then there’s Beyoncé’s inclusive. Everyone has a body, even if they are differently enabled.” all manner of engineering challenges. She makes the same point about song “1+1,” which has the line “I don’t know much about algebra.” cosmetics, the development of which takes a lot of chemistry. Same “It’s normal in our culture to be averse to math,” Kelton sighs. DOING GOOD AND DOING WELL with many of the foods we eat, from lattes to chicken nuggets, which “That’s what people see and hear in the media.” One of the arguments for greater diversity in STEM education and require an applied form of chemistry called food science. Like Beyoncé, Kelton says that children develop “discipline- its associated professions is what Jones calls “the moral imperative:” “So how do we disrupt that norm about STEM education?” Jones specific identities from a very young age. They say, ‘I’m not a math no matter their gender or skin color or religion, everyone deserves to wants to know. “It should be a core part of any curriculum because of person,’ or ‘I love science, I hate art.’” She’s interested in getting the make a living, whether it’s as an electrician or an electrical engineer. the critical thinking and analysis skills you need in any job,” whether anti-science kids to see the world a little differently. “Often we find But diversity results in improved productivity and innovative ANGELA JONES (COURTESY WASHINGTON STEM) STEM-related or not. that there are kids who have anti-science identities but feel very con- solutions to challenges — issues such as climate change, food, and Kmec points out that “even though we complain about gendered nected to particular arts practices.” energy all benefit from having more eyeballs examining them from a occupations, we teach kids gendered ideas about what they’re good at. For Kelton, a contributing problem is that our education system greater number of perspectives. males approach it from, ‘What’s the issue in front of us, what is the Girls are told they’re better at English. We have sex segregated sports,” is still largely premised on mind-body dualism, the idea that mental “The more people who look at a problem, the better the solu- issue we need to resolve?’ When you combine both of those? That’s among many other segregated activities kids participate in. By the phenomena are not physical nor influenced by the body. In fact, tions,” Claiborn says. “Taking advantage of the entire population to an incredibly powerful way to problem solve.” time they’re adults, they enter a workforce that is highly gendered. though, the motor system affects the way our brains work just as our address global issues, to make sure you get the best solutions — those Kelton collects representations of mathematicians in the media. brains influence how our bodies work. The mind is in the body, not are reasons enough to embrace diversity in STEM. IMPROVING DIVERSITY THROUGH HEAL “In pop culture we see these very narrow and problematic represen- a separate metaphysical entity. “Degrees that lead to working on health, energy, and the envi- Kelton says the arts are a tool to engage learners in STEM. By tations of scientists and engineers and mathematicians,” she says. “There’s a long tradition of thinking about math as a transcen- ronment, they’re big picture topics of global concern, and I think disrupting assumptions about science and math perceptions, STEM The popular TV show Numbers, for instance, “features a white male dental disembodied thing that’s up there,” she says, gesturing vaguely women are drawn to those,” Claiborn continues. “The Engineering studies become more playful and creative. Together with WSU en- mathematician with so much inborn genius that he is unrelatable. skyward. “And there’s quite a few pedagogical problems with that! It’s Grand Challenges program started in 2008,” she says, with the idea tomologist and artist Jeb Owen and colleagues in WSU Extension, That’s the stereotype of a mathematician. And STEM more generally a setup for learners’ failure, because it’s this thing you can’t access.” to develop an army of engineers to address global issues. Although Kelton has a National Institutes of Health grant to “bring science is still very coded as a white male enterprise.” She says there’s a growing body of evidence that thinking is always WSU isn’t involved, engineering deans have reported that the program to historically underrepresented and non-dominant communities.” There are others: John Nash, white, a genius, and mentally ill in embodied. “There’s hard-to-see but nevertheless measurable motor attracts a disproportionate number of women. “And if you look at Working with Latinx communities in central Washington, A Beautiful Mind. Or take Hidden Figures, which features three African- engagement when people think about algebra equations.” Engineers without Borders,” a student-run organization at WSU and the HEAL project — short for Health Education through Arts-Based

32 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 33 I , SCIENTIST

how to encourage a girl to get into STEM: magazine.wsu.edu/extra/girls-in-stem

Learning — focuses “on creating new inroads into STEM,” Kelton for schools and afterschool programs that support kids in using art says. “The communities we work with are differentially impacted by to think about complex scientific systems.” West Nile Virus; they have higher rates of infection because they are a labor force in agriculture. We are concerned about health outcomes WOMEN SEEKING BALANCE and STEM careers in biomedicine,” and empowering communities to Claiborn and Kmec are both tackling the issue of how to recruit take more direct control of their health-care needs by bringing more and retain women and underrepresented groups in STEM. underrepresented people into the field. Claiborn has an NSF grant to investigate student engagement, Just as Latinx ag workers are disproportionately affected by retention, and success among undergraduate engineering students, ag-related health issues, so too are they more in need of teaching including women and underrepresented minorities at the undergradu- strategies that let them see themselves in STEM as doctors, engineers, ate education level. Working with Olusola Adesope, a WSU professor and microbiologists. Kelton’s HEAL project teaches kids to think of educational psychology, and an engineering education professor holistically about, for instance, the gut microbiome. at Utah State University, they’re hoping to learn why students leave “With the human microbiome, we don’t just want them to engineering programs — and what might be done to keep them engaged. understand microbes and how they work but also how they are con- They are especially interested in retaining women and members of underrepresented groups. Meanwhile, Kmec and her colleagues have been working on a long- term study of female engineers in predominantly Muslim countries. Kmec and her collaborators, in their cross-cultural study of engineering education and practice, points out that in the United States there are more “off-ramps: If you fail at math once, that’s it, ‘I’m not good enough.’ And it happens early, before junior high.” She contrasts this with Malaysia, Tunisia, and other coun- tries where women work as engineers at a much higher proportion. “In Malaysia, there is no expressed conflict between being female and an engineer. The two identities can exist side by side without tension. Engineering aligned well with girls who love math and phys- JULIE KMEC ics, and they were encouraged to do so from a young age by parents, (COURTESY WSU DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY) fathers, and teachers. Remedial classes helped those who needed to get up to speed in math.” Kmec and her research team just garnered an Amazon Catalyst grant to produce a virtual reality environment that will make use of 3,000 minutes of audio interviews of women in Malaysia and elsewhere. “Viewers will put on VR goggles and choose a theme like ‘Work and Family’ that shows how women in these other countries dealt with their struggles. No one has ever looked at how a tool like this could be used to help women deal with career, home, and life,” says Kmec. She thinks that eventually the program might be useful to hu- man resource departments to develop strategies that make women ILLUSTRATION and underrepresented people more welcome in the STEM workplace. CANDIS CLAIBORN (COURTESY VOILAND COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE) Indeed, Jones says, “One of the challenges is, how do we disrupt the norm in the workplace? That environment, where women don’t nected to human health and all the pathways to that,” she says. Not feel welcome, where they’re asked, ‘Why are you here?’ I’ve heard that DESIGN36 only do learners get a better sense of the complexity of an issue but said of classrooms, too. That’s a culture that was created over time. they also learn that there are multiple career paths that might enable I’ve talked to different companies, too, and said, ‘You can change them to address that issue. that!’ You have to be intentional about making people feel welcome “We’re very careful to not use elitist forms of art. We do comic and valued.” Disruption and change, she says, “have to come from books with kids, for example. That helps kids find another pathway multiple directions. People I talk to really want to see workplace culture into science. And then there’s an epiphany: ‘I can use art to engage change but a lot of times they don’t know how to even start that.” in something I didn’t think I’d be good at!’” But that’s precisely why researchers at WSU and elsewhere are Whether students take up a career in STEM, or “simply develop investigating this complex situation from multiple perspectives. How a lifelong interest and sense of empowerment in science and math,” to recruit and retain women and underrepresented minorities in STEM the long-term goal is greater engagement. “Shorter term, we are fields is not just a good idea: with the challenges we collectively face, developing what we hope will be a fairly comprehensive curriculum our futures may depend on it. ¬

34 magazine.wsu.edu 35 BY ADRIANA JANOVICH Karr’s L.A.—and shooting the stars: magazine.wsu.edu/extra/Dean-Karr ALUMNIpedia Rockin’ the stars COURTESY

DEAN

KARR

The tombstone bears Willie Nelson’s name. It’s from his 2007 I pulled over, I couldn’t find it,” says Karr, “Gravedigger” video, directed by Dean Karr (’88 Fine Arts). who belonged to Tau Kappa Epsilon. “I was morbidly fascinated that he was going to On the table stands a plaster cast of Ozzy Osbourne’s head, come out of the woods and get revenge” — and mouth stretched open by a pair of hands—Karr was the that’s exactly what happens in the 2002 video. hand model—from the 1996 video for “I Just Want You.” The Karr’s always been fascinated by the dark coyote heads on the wall appeared in a more recent work: and bizarre. Summers during college and the 2016 video for Korn’s “Rotting in Vain.” for months after graduation, he worked as a groundskeeper at a Seattle cemetery. That That’s just the dining room. experience helped shape his aesthetic. Some of his signature imagery includes dead leaves, During his thirty-year career, Karr has Karr is known for his bold style and snakes, bats, top hats, and vintage masks 37 alumni profiles worked with some of the biggest names in fantastical storytelling. In his 2005 video and microphones. His 1970 “sublime” green 43 new media the music business and collected all kinds for Seether’s “Truth,” for example, a cast of Dodge Challenger has even appeared in a few of keepsakes — from VIP passes and plati- characters — from Santa Claus to the Easter shoots. “I like working with contrasts,” Karr 45 class notes num records to props and guitars signed by Bunny — duke it out in a boxing ring with says. “I like working with things that don’t 46 in memoriam the likes of Judas Priest and Slayer’s Kerry a surreal vintage vibe. For his 2000 video belong. I like contradictions, things that don’t alumni news King. Exploring Karr’s 1926 Spanish-style for “Kryptonite” by Three Doors Down, he make sense, absurdities, oddities, freaks.” 50 home in the Hollywood Hills is like walking “imagined a place where old superheroes He started going to rock shows — and through a museum of rock-and-roll’s recent go to retire.” photographing them for fun — in high history. From his first-floor studio to his Karr drew on life experience for “No One school. At WSU, he took graphic design and upstairs office, souvenirs tell the story of Knows” by Queens of the Stone Age — hitting photography classes from Francis Ho, who his work, which he sums up simply: “I just a deer on the drive home from Pullman taught in the Department of Fine Arts for like making cool stuff.” during college — but added a twist. “When 37 years before retiring in 2004 — and whom

CHERRY BLOSSOMS FRAME JIM DINE’S THE TECHNICOLOR HEART ON A PULLMAN GREENING SPRING DAY (PHOTO SHELLY HANKS) 36 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 37 ALUMNIprofiles

The Rightmires– and Kathleen remember the protests, strict dress codes, basketball games in Bohler Five Cougar Gym — and how WSU President Glenn Terrell made a huge impact on them as generations students. Dick returned to northwest BY LARRY CLARK Washington and worked as an agricultural

educator until his death in 2000. His and JONATHON Frank Carey, an orchardist and Kathleen’s children, Todd (’92 Ag. Ed.) and rancher near Yakima at the Kristi (’95 Ag. Comm.), became the fourth A moving

beginning of the twentieth generation of Cougs, along with Deborah’s WALDRIP century, only had a fifth-grade daughter, Katie Granger (‘06 Elem. Ed.) tribute

education. But he was forward and Rebecca’s son, Bryce McGrew (’06 (COURTESY thinking when it came to Phys. Ed.). BY ADRIANA JANOVICH college for his children; Carey The family was recognized for their dedi-

sent all four of his children, cation long after graduation. Nominated by his It was massive. But it had to WSU

three daughters and a son, children, Gordon was awarded WSU “Dad of be moved. “If you simply picked up the mural from COLLEGE to Washington State College. the Year” in 1968. His son Dick was selected The artwork stretched more than 30 feet each end, it would flex in the middle and the

Elva Carey (’19), Avis Carey (’22), and “Dad of the Year” in 1992. wide and stood twelve-and-a-half feet tall. It glass would crack,” he says. “The glass and OF

T. Benton Carey (’30), launched a tradition Gordon also received the Alumni was also heavy, weighing some 28,000 pounds. ceramic parts of the mural were very brittle, ARTS

that spans a century, leading to five genera- Achievement Award in 1982, served as And, it was highly breakable. so the steel frame had to be very stiff. This was AND tions of Carey’s descendants at Washington president of the Whatcom County Alumni Transporting something so large and especially difficult because the mural weighed

Karr considers a mentor. “He was always career into high gear. After that, he worked State. Elva and Avis were charter members of Association, and became the first president fragile would be an exercise in engineering. so much and was curved, which put a huge SCIENCES), KARR encouraging, honest, and helpful. He taught with Cheap Trick, Cypress Hill, Dr. Dre, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Avis married of the WSU Veterinary Alumni Association. “Our whole job was move it, and don’t amount of torsion on the frame. Nothing could

me to understand composition and was really Damian Marley, Velvet Revolver, Shooter Edward Robert Nolte (x’21) and Elva married Dick served as president of the Whatcom break it. It was definitely a challenge,” says be welded to stiffen things up because the heat MURAL DEAN

important in forming my aesthetic.” Jennings, Godsmack, Evanescence, Lisa Marie Chester Worthen (’17 Elec. Eng.). County Cougar Club. Jonathon Waldrip (’14, ’16 MS Civ. Eng.). could propagate through the wall and dam-

Still, “I didn’t really get my act together Presley, Stevie Nicks, and others. The three Carey siblings who The connection continues as Todd, also Then a structural design engineer with KPFF age the artwork. So everything was bolted BY

JEAN COURTESY until I got down here (to California).” He’s directed shoots from Brazil and graduated often told stories of their time an agricultural educator in Whatcom County, Consulting Engineers, he was on the team that and assembled in place like an Erector Set.”

Karr moved to L.A. in 1989 to attend the Mexico to Toronto and Prague — even inside his at Pullman, such as Elva’s memory of when brings FFA members to the state convention helped orchestrate the mural’s relocation in The design took about a month to CORY

ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. But, own home. His videos have been nominated the college students met the train with in Pullman each year, sometimes assisted February 2019. complete. Prep work took about a week and BEALL “I was out every night seeing bands.” He met for awards from MTV, Much Music, Billboard, the victorious 1916 Rose Bowl team, and by his sister Kristi. “The mural illustrates what Washington included heavy shoring of the floor and front GRANGER

musicians who introduced him to record label and the Music Video Production Association. wheelbarrowed the football players up the The Rightmires still travel to Pullman, is all about,” Waldrip says. “And the state of the building. “To extract the mural, we (COURTESY reps who connected him with people in their And his photographs have been exhibited at hill to campus from the train station. including homecoming in 2018 and 2019. wished to preserve that.” actually had to cut open a large part of the RIGHTMIRE

art departments — and became so busy doing the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and At the end of World War II, Avis and They also come to visit the fifth generation: Made out of masonry and glass, the front of the building,” Waldrip says. “The

commercial photography that he stopped on billboards on Sunset Boulevard. Ed’s daughter, Louise, moved to Pullman with Meghan Harting, daughter of Kristi and detailed mosaic is adorned with 150,000 small doors were not big enough to get it out.” WASHINGTON going to class and eventually got to work In behind-the-scenes footage for Rolling her husband, Wallace Gordon Rightmire (’51 Mark Harting (’93, ’95 MS Ani. Sci.) and a squares, or “tesserae,” of Byzantine glass and Once the frame was installed, the exist- DEBORAH with some of the artists he idolized as a teen. Stone, Korn’s lead singer, Jonathan Davis, calls DVM). They lived in the hastily constructed sophomore studying communication. stone. Each tile helps create imagery celebrat- ing support was demolished around it, the

In 1992, he landed what he calls one of Karr “a great and very capable director.” In an South Fairway married student housing, where “It’s a huge source of pride, being part ing Washington state’s rich industrial and frame put on airskates — “sort of like mini STATE

his big breakthroughs: photographing the email, Tommy Lee says he’s “one of the most Louise raised three future Cougars — Richard COURTESY of this Cougar lineage,” Todd says. ¬ natural resources. Aerospace engineering. Nu- hovercrafts,” Waldrip says — then pushed

album art for Tool’s “Undertow.” He keeps creative and attentive guys on the planet!” Karr “Dick” Rightmire (’69 Ag. Ed.), Deborah clear science. Cattle ranching. Salmon. Timber. out of the building. Once inside, the front of DEPARTMENT a copy in his rec room, bookended by a latex worked on two solo-album videos for Mötley Rightmire (’71 English Ed.), and Rebecca The artist, Jean Cory Beall, had assem- the frame was cut off, revealing the artwork. likeness of Dave Matthews’s head — a prop Crüe’s drummer: 2002’s “Hold Me Down” Rightmire (’73 Elem. Ed.) — while Gordon bled the mural — commissioned by the State The back side of the frame remained in place,

from 1998’s video for “Don’t Drink the Water.” and 2005’s “Good Times.” Lee writes: “He finished his veterinary degree. Capitol Committee — in 1959 on a gently permanently anchoring the mural in its new OF

Overhead shelves hold Karr’s old cameras, gets it!!! The music, the feel, and the vision! Deborah recalls her parents spoke fondly curved wall of un-reinforced four-inch ma- home in Olympia’s 2017 Helen Sommers ENTERPRISE including the Nikon he used from 1994 to It’s like he wrote the song and sees images of their time at Fairway, where “the other sonry with a ceramic coating inside the state’s Building, which also houses the Washington

2000 to photograph Matthews, Duran Duran, that are on point with the artists.” families became and remained dear friends now-mothballed General Administration State Patrol, Office of the State Treasurer, and SERVICES) and more. Karr considers 2001’s “Rock in Rio” up into their 90s.” Building in Olympia. other government agencies. Karr’s album images paved his way to concert film his “opus.” The 18-camera live The Rightmires eventually settled “The tiles were pressed into the plaster The move itself took a day. Waldrip, video; Karr shot his first in 1994. A year later, shoot included two helicopters and 250,000 near Bellingham, where Gordon started a one by one. We couldn’t cut it up to move it; now a structural design engineer at Visser he directed Marilyn Manson’s version of Iron Maiden fans, including Karr. “If you veterinary practice. it had to be moved whole,” says Waldrip, who Engineering Co. in Federal Way, wasn’t able “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” The know the music like I do, you’re going to Dick married Kathleen Kruse (’69 helped plan the mural’s big move. He designed to be there. “But it’s really cool to me that the distorted, eerie images caught the attention get great stuff. You know exactly when the Home Econ.) at WSU, while turbulence a steel frame to support and transport the frame accomplished double-duty and is hold- of other artists and execs, and kicked Karr’s solo’s coming up or that next drum roll.” ¬ rocked the campus. Deborah, Rebecca, work. ing the artwork down in its final location.” ¬

38 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 39 more about Kulé Tech: business.wsu.edu/dividend/2018/08/01/kules-next-step ALUMNIprofiles

COURTESY No one has constructed a new fraternity majestic columns, the vintage building A new page home at WSU for decades. An executive com- housed World War II veterans and recent

mittee appointed Sigma Chi alumnus Jeff high school graduates. The veterans’ ma- WSU Burnside (’89 Comm.) as project director, turity gave a special character to the frater-

DEPARTMENT for an old to use his fundraising, communication, and nity back then, Jensen says. chapter strategy skills on the campaign. The cook could use four-letter words like One of the largest hurdles was finding a no other and “was held in near reverence by

OF BY VONNAI PHAIR ’20 bank to support the project, since there was all us — I picture her yet with a cigarette in her

MATHEMATICS nothing comparable. mouth dropping ashes into the pancakes on In last June’s blistering heat, Burnside says Spokane Teachers Credit the stove,” Jensen says. while most WSU Pullman Union believed enough in Sigma Chi and in Jensen remembers the third-floor bed-

AND students were away and the WSU that “they did not require a signature to rooms, where snow greeted them on their Palouse was quiet, Sigma secure the loan for the construction.” sleeping bags through open windows. The

STATISTICS Chi broke ground on a new Sigma Chi is the first fraternity at WSU and constant need for plumbing, flooring, and chapter house. It was the the largest fraternity in the country, commit- wiring fixes spoke to the condition of the biggest construction project ted to create men of good character, Burnside old building. on Greek row and the first says. “Every fraternity man says their fraternity The men of Sigma Chi have a lot to around the world with Peace Corps. Most research on a smart thermometer device to entirely new fraternity home is different, but in the case of Sigma Chi, it be thankful for, and it doesn’t just include In the right are like her: single, young, female, and living aid in milk pasteurization for Kulé Tech, a in a generation. is measurable and demonstrably different.” the construction project, current Sigma Chi and working in Africa. company she cofounded with fellow stu- The original 1900s-era house stood for Many Sigma Chi men say the new home member Jacob LaRoque says. place Women make up 64 percent of Peace dent Victor Charoonsophonsak (’17 Mech. almost 90 years until it was torn down in is long overdue, particularly Val Jensen (’52 “This year, we celebrate 100 years at WSU. Corps volunteers in 62 countries throughout Eng.). They entered their project in the small- 2003. Now, as Sigma Chi celebrates a century Poli. Sci.), 1952 chapter president. We are the oldest active chapter here at WSU– BY ADRIANA JANOVICH Eastern Europe, Central and East Asia, Central business plan competition at WSU’s Center at WSU, a new $6.2 million house will take Jensen recalls living in the old house we’ve never been shut down or suspended,” and South America, Africa, the Caribbean, for Entrepreneurial Studies, winning third its place on California Street. at Washington State College. Adorned with he says. “We intend to keep it that way.” ¬ Annalise Miller saw a wor- and Pacific Islands. Their average age is 27. place overall as well as merit prizes for best risome trend among local Ninety-nine percent are unmarried. Nearly social impact and best presentation. youths in northern Namibia, half — 46 percent — are in Africa. For two years now, Miller’s been working where she’s been working to In all, more than 235,000 Americans with 18- to 35-year-olds at a trade school in promote financial literacy have served in 141 countries since Peace Corps’ a town of about 6,000 people in northern and entrepreneurship. inception. Founded 60 years ago next year — Namibia, where she teaches financial literacy “What I noticed is many lack the basic President John F. Kennedy created the program courses. One of her projects was hosting a critical thinking and leadership skills that are by executive order March 1, 1961 — Peace Corps business plan competition for students at vital in becoming successful entrepreneurs,” has three main aims: help meet the needs of three regional trade schools. She modeled she says. “They are in an economic crisis so interested countries, help promote a better it after the one she entered at WSU. When job creation is really important.” understanding of people in other countries, she and her colleagues hosted the kids’ en- To help build their skills, she and her and help promote a better understanding of trepreneurship camp last spring, they had colleagues developed a five-day Exploring Americans. room for 30 campers. More than a hundred Entrepreneurship Kids Camp. The goal: teach Nearly 10,000 volunteers have come from applied. 12- to 16-year-olds the basics of starting and the state of Washington. Of those, about a That response underscored what she had running a business, beginning with simple tenth — 1,008 volunteers, to be exact — is made already been feeling: “I’m in the right place. principles — “like don’t spend more than you’re up of WSU alumni. There are 17 WSU alumni I’m doing what I should. And I’m getting more making.” Other focuses include personal currently serving in Peace Corps. from this experience than I could possibly strengths, money management, and teamwork. Miller is nearing the end of her service. ever give. Everything is based on relationships “The idea was that their creativity and “When I got to WSU, I wasn’t exactly here. It’s so important to develop relationships excitement around making things can be sure what I wanted to do,” says Miller, who with people. That’s basically the pinnacle of turned into something lucrative,” says Miller, found her calling in international develop- the Peace Corps development approach.” ¬ a community economic development volun- ment. The summer after junior year, she teer at a vocational training center. “It was traveled to northern Ghana to share best Read about the experiences of four more WSU so fun to see the campers take ownership practices for clean water consumption as a alumnae who served with Peace Corps — Zoë of the program and be proud of the things field representative for Saha Global. “I really Campbell in Tanzania, Anjie Bertramson in that they made.” fell in love with the whole experience.” Morocco, Denise Bausch in Niger, and Diane Miller (’17 Math., Busi.) is one of more Senior year, she traveled to Tanzania Kelly-Riley in the Marshall Islands — at than 7,300 volunteers currently serving for her senior capstone project: conducting magazine.wsu.edu/extra/Peace-Corps. Roof trusses get placed on the new Sigma Chi chapter house last fall. Photo Robert Hubner

40 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 41 NEWmedia

To Think Like a Mountain: He writes with the straightforward ap- Environmental challenges proach of a former newspaperman, presenting in the American West facts, history, policy, and modern milestones. NIELS SPARRE NOKKENTVED He also includes some of his own photo- WSU PRESS: 2019 graphs as well as short, personal, scene-setting vignettes — from the forests of Washington’s “Thinking like a mountain” is the name of a Olympic Peninsula and Pacific waters out past short essay from Aldo Leopold’s 1949 book the Grays Harbor bar to Big Smoky Creek in A Sand County Almanac. In it, he reflects on the Soldier Mountains of central Idaho and CLASS OF an old wolf he shot and killed as a young the foothills of the Jarbridge Mountains in hunter and how he came to realize wolves Nevada. play a critical role between prey, such as deer He concludes Mother Nature is losing and elk, and the flora of the forest and other ground. But, he writes, “When we think like natural habitats. He lamented humans need a mountain, we will have clean air and water, Mao’s Kisses: A novel of to learn to think like a mountain, or take a forests will thrive, wild salmon will spawn June 4, 1989 long-term view of ecology, including the naturally and make thousand-mile journeys 1960 ALEX KUO value of predators. to their natal streams, sage grouse will strut THIS IS REDBAT BOOKS, 2019 This similarly titled volume encour- their stuff on their leks in the western sage- ages people to do the same thing — to think brush grasslands, and the wild green fire Deng Xiaoping learned to play bridge in like a mountain in terms of environmen- will burn in the eyes of the wolf — and that the early 1950s. Little did he realize that tal concerns — in the specific setting of the benefits us all.” 1970 YO UR YEAR! appropriating state transportation to modern American West. A quote from — Adriana Janovich take him and his team to tournaments Leopold’s now-famous essay sets the would result in the Cultural Revolution of tone: “Only the mountain has lived long APRIL 23–24, 2020 the 1960s and his being transported far from enough to listen objectively to the howl of Beijing for reeducation through manual a wolf.” 1980 labor. Niels Sparre Nokkentved spent two But Deng wasn’t just a Goren Prize- decades as an environmental and natu- winning bridge player. He was, after his ral resources reporter for newspapers in Every year, WSU grads return to Pullman for rehabilitation, China’s paramount leader Washington, Idaho, and Utah, and eight during a time of civil crisis. The spring of 1989 years as a writer, editor, and photographer for their Reunion to reconnect with classmates brought a series of mass demonstrations that the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. His resulted in a declaration of martial law — and new book of essays explores environmental and learn more about WSU’s research, Tank Man standing down a row of tanks challenges such as wolf recovery, threats to leaving Tiananmen Square the morning watersheds by abandoned mines, the linger- leadership, and present-day experience. after. ing effects of grazing private livestock on Kuo’s latest novel dives down a rabbit public lands, overcutting ancient forests, hole, sifting through redacted archival and more. Celebrate this important materials and interviews WSU emeritus Bread Lab! milestone with us! English professor Kuo conducted over many KIM BINCZEWSKI AND BETHANY visits to China, to produce — according to the ECONOPOULY (’18 PHD CROP SCI.) book’s official description — a narrative of READERS TO EATERS, 2018 “another muddled episode in China’s history.” The narrator is G — named G at birth Explore the magic — and science — of bread alumni.wsu.edu/reunions in homage to Kafka — himself a strong baking in this bright, slim, straightforward, bridge player and, after he meets Deng at a hardbound children’s book, published in tournament, the leader’s note taker. While not cooperation with the Bread Lab at Washington for the casual reader, Kuo’s novel is rewarding State University in Mount Vernon, and spon- for students of Chinese history and anyone sored by the Bread Bakers Guild of America. interested in the ebb and flow of social justice Aunt Mary, a plant scientist whom young movements. Iris affectionately calls “Plant Mary,” comes — Brian Charles Clark over with a Saturday morning mission: “Let’s

WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 43 NEWmedia CLASSnotes turn your kitchen into a bread lab, Iris!” They BRIEFLY NOTED The American Association of Feline (‘88 Civ. Eng.) is the new state transportation Certified Beer Server. ∞ London’s 90TEN spend the day making whole wheat sourdough Lost Life Recovered: An odyssey 60 Practitioners awarded SALLY LESTER (’67 director in Oregon, overseeing a staff of has hired MAY BACCARI (’99 Comm.) as bread from scratch with just four ingredients: S.M. GHAZANFAR (’62, ’64 MS, ’69 PHD DVM) for her contributions to the Journal about 4,700 and a budget of roughly $4 director of communications. ∞ DEVIN sourdough starter, whole wheat flour, water, ECON.) 2019 of Feline Medicine and Surgery. She is certified billion. Strickler previously served as head of LEWIS (’99 Soc.) has been named captain and salt. And they make it seem so easy. Of S. M. “Ghazi” Ghazanfar is a survivor. His father by the American College of Veterinary the Oregon Department of Transportation’s of the police department in Redmond, course, that’s the point. died when he was four. At ten, after migrating Pathologists as both a clinical pathologist Highway Division. ∞ GARY SWINDLER Oregon. He previously served as a lieutenant This volume aims to inspire young bak- with his family to Pakistan during the Partition and an anatomic pathologist. ∞ NANCY (’87 Comm.) is the new CEO of Washington with the Bend Police Department. ers and their families to not only bake their of India, he was abandoned by his abusive DICKAU MOORE (’68 For. Lang. Ed.) has State Employees Credit Union. He started own loaves but consider where the wheat was stepfather. Despite a tenth-grade overseas been inducted into the Fairfield High Athletic at the credit union two years out of college MATTHEW COLLEY (’01 MA English) grown and milled. It includes playful illustra- education, he was able get into WSU and Hall of Fame. as a loan officer in 1989. More recently, he 00 was recently appointed to the board of tions and sensory details — sounds, smells, persevere, becoming a professor of economics at served as senior vice president and chief directors of Catholic Charities of Oregon. tastes — to engage young readers. the University of Idaho, founding its International BRYAN SLINKER (’80 DVM, ’82 PhD Vet. operating officer. ∞ Axsome Therapeutics He’s a business and litigation attorney The character of Aunt Mary, inspired Novoselic´ is by far Giants’ most famous Studies program, and winning a WSU Alumni 80 Sci.) was appointed interim provost and has appointed DAVID MAREK (’87 at Black Helterline in Portland, Oregon, by agriculturalist and coauthor Bethany member, known as the bassist and co- Achievement Award. His memoir tells the executive vice president for Washington Bus. Adm.) as chief commercial officer. where he lives with his wife Jessica and Econopouly, serves as a conversation starter founder of the iconic grunge band Nirvana. story of an extraordinary life that will resonate State University. He also received a ∞ CAROL KOWALSKI (’88 Comm.) their three children. ∞ KREM 2 News has about women in science. Iris — curious, con- Born in a grange hall in a sylvan setting in with those familiar with or interested in the distinguished achievement award from is the director of planned giving for the promoted WHITNEY WARD (’01 Comm.) genial, and a diligent notetaker (she tracks southwest Washington, Giants offer their immigrant experience, rising above childhood the Washington State Veterinary Medical YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties. ∞ to coanchor of its early evening newscasts. the process of making bread step-by-step own dynamic and interesting brand of rural circumstances, and confronting an abuser. Association last October. ∞ GARY L. MICHAEL HORNE (’88 Comp. Sci.) has ∞ Irrigation and agriculture engineering in her notebook) — sports red glasses and a Pacific Northwest rock — folksy, fun, funky, BAKER (’81 Busi.) was recently appointed joined Swift Navigation as executive vice specialist JOSE RODRIGUEZ (’03 PhD halo of curly hair. She’s biracial, her dad is dreamy, danceable, rootsy, and all-around The Girl I Left Behind chair of the WSU Everett Advisory Council. president of worldwide sales. ∞ DAVE Eng. Sci.) has joined Dilution Solutions black, and her mom — and Aunt Mary — are approachable. ANDIE NEWTON (’09 HISTORY) 2019 He was also recently elected chair of the WHITEHEAD (’89 Elec. Eng.) is the new as business development manager. ∞ white. They emerged from the woods of Set in Germany during World War II, this com- national finance committee of the United CEO at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. GLY Construction, an employee-owned The back of the book features a baker’s Wahkiahum County in 2017 with a self- pelling story of friendship, courage, and coming States Power Squadrons and serves on the general contracting firm in Bellevue, recently dozen of bread facts, plus a diagram of a titled album. (Their name comes from the of age is told from the point of view of Ella, board of directors of the Henry M. Jackson ERNIE ISEMINGER (’91 Soc. Sci., Ed.) has named senior project manager TESS wheat berry depicting the bran, germ, and chorus of “Sasquatch,” arguably a quintes- the historical novel’s young heroine who lives Foundation. He lives in Lake Stevens and has90 joined Illinois Institute of Technology as vice WAKASUGI-DON (’06 Const. Mgmt.) as endosperm, as well as an easy-to-follow recipe sential PNW anthem, evoking images of in Nuremberg with her aunt, the owner of an practiced law for 33 years. ∞ CATHERINE president for institutional advancement. ∞ a new shareholder. She is the first female for whole wheat sourdough bread. towering pines as well as mysterioso echoes antique store. Ella is introduced to the Falcons, REEF (’83 English) has been chosen to receive ANN CIASULLO (’94 MA English) won the owner in the firm’s 52-year-history as well Coauthor Kim Binczewski is the manag- of avant-garde space rock.) Raye’s haunting, a German Resistance group, by her best friend the 2020 Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Spokane YWCA’s Women of Achievement as a member of the advisory board for ing director of the Bread Lab. A short “About ethereal, sultry, sometimes husky vocals Claudia. Soon, she’s helping hide Jews from the Award, recognizing her body of work as award for education. She helped create the the School of Design and Construction at the Bread Lab” section at the end of the book are supported by a trio of seasoned mu- Gestapo in the basement of her aunt’s shop. With an author of outstanding nonfiction for critical racial and ethnic studies minor at WSU. ∞ DARRIN TRASK (’09 Bio. Eng.), is written by the director, Stephen S. Jones. sicians: Friend on percussion, Prestegard a foreboding prologue, Andie Newton’s debut—a middle grade and young adult readers. The Gonzaga University, where she’s a professor an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in on guitar and harmonica, and Novoselic´ quick, dramatic, and suspenseful read—follows presentation is May 30 in Washington, D.C. and chair of the English department. ∞ total hip and knee replacement surgeries, — Adriana Janovich on bass and accordion, a staple in the Ella as she transforms from a teenage shop ∞ STEVE ELLERSICK (’83 Elec. Eng.) was MAUREEN JOHNS-GRIFFIN (’94 has joined Olympia Orthopaedic Associates. Croatian-American community in which girl to a courageous young woman, secretary elected president of the Pioneer Association Comm.) is the new director of marketing he grew up. Raye also plays banjo and for the Reich, and spy for the Resistance. of the state of Washington. ∞ Obsidian and communications for the Granbury Key Technology has promoted SHAYLA Volume 2 guitar. They enjoy playing together, and it Therapeutics, a biotechnology company Chamber of Commerce in north Texas.10 WENTZ (’10 Comm.) to marketing GIANTS IN THE TREES shows. I Want Everybody to Love Me pioneering controllable cell and gene ∞ JASON R. WANDLER (’94 Poli. Sci.) is communications manager. ∞ JULIAN 2019 Their Volume 2 opener, “Feel You HOLLY E. JONES, (’02 ENGLISH) 2018 therapies, has appointed MELANIE CALL a managing partner at Oles Morrison Rinker REYES (’10, ’18 PhD Civ. Eng.) was recently Now,” kicks off with Novoselic´’s accordion, It’s 1992, and Violet Karchefski is trying to make (’85 MBA) as vice president and head of & Baker. He also serves on the construction awarded a science and technology policy In their simply titled sophomore offering, which — together with Raye’s soothing vocals, it through middle school. She’s a small-town program development. ∞ Major General management advisory board for WSU’s fellowship from the American Association for Giants in the Trees have established their Friend’s slow and steady percussion, and eighth grader who plays trombone and is learn- DENNIS PAUL LEMASTER (’85 Range School of Design and Construction. ∞ the Advancement of Science. He will work stride. Jillian Raye, Erik Friend, Ray Prestegard, Prestegard’s mastery of strings — sets a mellow, ing to navigate complicated feelings about boys Mgmt., ’87 Forest Mgmt.) was promoted Governor Jay Inslee has appointed ALICIA in the State Department’s Office of Global and Krist Novoselic´ (’16 Soc. Sci.) have spent if somewhat melancholy, tone. Novoselic´’s in this upbeat, coming-of-age sequel aimed at to his current rank on May 7, 2019. He BURTON (’96 English) to the Pierce County Change, providing technical guidance on more than two years honing their sound — accordion also features prominently on young readers. It picks up where 2016’s I Want commands Regional Health Command- Superior Court. Burton has worked for climate change and climate science, helping from the old creamery building where they the last track, the whimsical and waltz-like Everybody to Like Me leaves off, following Violet— Pacific and is stationed at Joint Base Lewis- more than 20 years as an attorney with the in international negotiations, and working practice to last year’s inaugural Thing festival “Nevermore.” In between, find the funky who’s now two years older—on a band trip to McChord. ∞ TIMOTHY J. NICHOLS Pierce County prosecuting attorney’s office, across federal agencies to coordinate climate in Port Townsend. Their second album — “Star Machine,” country-esque “Sons and Japan as well as through sticky social situations (’86 Ag., ’93 MA Adult Ed.), dean of South most recently as a tort litigation attorney in change research. ∞ Landscape architect heavier, stronger, and tighter than their de- Daughters,” and catchy “Hot Blooded” and disagreements with her parents. Gen X Dakota State University’s Van D. and the office’s civil division as well as the legal JAMES DAVIS (’13 Land. Arch.) has joined but — features 39 minutes of ten varied tracks and “My Name” that — with their repetitive parents might want to read both books right Barbara B. Fishback Honors College from advisor to juvenile court. ∞ MATT DREW Bernardo|Wills Architects in Spokane. ∞ of moody, melodic, and modern Americana, lyrics —will have new listeners singing along in along with their kids; they’ll get the references 2008 to 2016, has been named a National (’97 Comm.) is leading marketing and sales Allflex has hired KODY DEE (EASTERDAY) punctuated with whimsy and, at times, trippy, no time. to Trapper Keepers, Ren & Stimpy, Mike Myers Collegiate Honors Council Fellow. ∞ THOR for Montana Craft Malt, a new craft malting WILLIAMS (’18 Ag. Tech.) as a regional psychedelic pop. — Adriana Janovich on Saturday Night Live, and C+C Music Factory. CULVERHOUSE (’87 Elec. Eng.) is the new operation. He holds several advanced manager, overseeing sales and marketing CEO at Lighter Capital. ∞ KRIS STRICKLER malting certifications and is a Cicerone in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

44 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 45 CLASSnotes

COURTESY MAJESTIC STORM Arizona. WILLIAM S. SLIPPERN (’51 Physics), 90, October 14, 2019, Richland. She’s used to the question. She hears Tschabold-Grant first visited KHQ HAROLD OLIVER BOSS (’52 Mech. it all the time. And she gets it. Her during high school, telling forecaster Eng.), 90, February 6, 2018, Simi Valley, name is unusual. Blake Jensen (’09 Comm.) of her dream of California. DAVID WAYNE COBURN (’52 Happy And the answer is yes. becoming a meteorologist for a national Socio.), 90, August 24, 2019, Spokane. MAJESTIC STORM (’18 Comm.) morning show. He let her go on-air dur- PATRICIA L. CONLEY (’52 Home Econ., is her real name. ing his weather segment — and she was Kappa Alpha Theta), 86, June 23, 2017, It’s almost as though she was hooked. She set up a job shadow with him, Spokane. RONALD LYNN KERCHEVAL Day destined to do the weather. and he became her mentor, helping her (’52 Ag. Eng.), 68, November 10, 2019, She’s a forecaster for KHQ and with her senior project and encouraging Mount Vernon. ALLEN PICKETT MUNN FOX28 in Spokane as well as the her to pursue an internship. (’52 Ani. Sci., Alpha Gamma Rho), 88, morning show “Wake Up Montana” She started working at KHQ full- April 25, 2019, University Place. ROBERT on KULR, KFBB, KWYB, and KTMF. time shortly after graduating from WSU CALVIN SAXE (’52 Pharm.), 88, January “I love being able to start someone’s morning off on a positive Pullman, where she was a first-generation college student and worked 25, 2015, Spokane. VICTOR CHEW note, smiling, with lots of energy, lifting them up,” she says. Plus, for Murrow News 8 as well as Cable 8 Productions. GUNN AUYONG (’53 Psych.), 93, “People rely on the weather. They use the weather to plan their day.” Today she does four hours of live TV from Monday through November 5, 2019, Honolulu, Hawaii. She became interested in weather as a girl growing up outside of Friday, waking up at 1 a.m. and arriving at the station by 2 a.m. SANDRA E. THIRTYACRE (’53 Ed.), 86, Spokane. “I remember watching storms light up our back field. And (Most nights she’s in bed by 6 p.m.) July 24, 2018, Medford, Oregon. NANCY I’ve always loved the changing seasons across the Inland Northwest.” This leads to another oft-asked question. The answer is also yes: JANE WRIGHT (’53 Home Econ.), 89, Storm is actually her middle name. She uses first and middle She is a morning person. April 12, 2019, Spokane. ROBERT DALE names on air because they’re shorter and easier to pronounce than “I love morning shows,” she says. “We’re drinking our coffee, BURKHART (’54 Ed.), 85, July 22, 2017, her last name: Tschabold-Grant. we’re listening to music, and we’re having fun.” Spokane. MALCOLM L. EDWARDS “I used to not like my name when I was younger,” she says. “Now Another perk: She’s off work by 10 a.m. ¬ (’54 Poli. Sci.), 87, September 14, 2019, I love it.” Seattle. MARGERY ROUNDS MUIR (’54 BY ADRIANA JANOVICH Her middle name was inspired by ESPN anchor Hannah Storm. And, Home Econ., Kappa Alpha Theta), 86, she says, “My mom came up with Majestic from a flower (seed) packet.” online clips: magazine.wsu.edu/extra/Majestic-Storm September 9, 2019, Pullman. S. LEROY WHITENER (’54 DVM), 90, November 9, 2019, Moses Lake. LEALON V. “LEE” Celebrate your Valen Day CASSELS (’55 Civ. Eng.), 91, October 30, 2019, Vancouver. BARRY KENNARD and become a member of the Wine-By-Cougars INmemoriam JONES (’55 Busi.), 86, November 7, 2019, Wine Club! The wine club for Cougs is free to join Spokane. GAYLE WILLIAM DOBISH (’56 GRACE WELLER GILMORE (’36 Home English, Alpha Chi Omega), 96, August 1, ETHEL JUANITA BOOTHE (’50, ’56 MAT Police Sci.), 85, May 5, 2019, Bellevue. for WSUAA members. World-class wines that 30 Econ., Kappa Alpha Theta), 106, September 2019, Dayton. BERNITA MUENSCHER50 Phys. Ed.), 97, October 18, 2019, Mound ELIZABETH GILDOW HORTON (’56 Ed., spotlight WSU alumni wineries and support 1, 2019, Irvine, California. HELEN LOIS ZUIDMEER (’45 Home Econ., ’53 Ed.), 96, House, Nevada. LEIF C. GREGERSON (’50 Delta Gamma), 85, November 7, 2019, IRBY (’39 Home Econ., ’40 Ed.), 100, October 5, 2019, Bellingham. LAWRENCE Pharm.), 93, November 6, 2019, Seattle. Stanwood. JAMES B. PETTERSEN (’56 WSU scholarships? We’ll toast to that. Choose from August 20, 2018, Lynnwood. DOROTHY E. “BUD” BOISEN (’47 Busi.), 97, August 15, WILLIAM J. HAFEN (’50, ’53 MA Ed.), Police Sci.), 83, October 7, 2017, North four dif erent shipment options and enjoy premium M. TOMBARI (’39 Home Econ.), 101, 2019, Spokane. DALE MARVIN BLY (’48 94, December 31, 2018, Orem, Utah. Bend. DENNIS D. RATH (’56 Phys. Ed.), December 6, 2017, Spokane. Ani. Sci., Phi Sigma Kappa), 90, July 31, 2016, DONALD I. HOFSTRAND (’50 Elec. Eng.), 86, October 22, 2019, Port Townsend. Cougar-connected wines delivered right Grand Coulee. JAMES EDWARD RICE (’48 92, October 16, 2019, Everett. JAMES PHYLLIS J. SOLOMON (’56 Gen. St.), to your door, four times a year. JANET ELIZABETH FOTHERGILL (’41 Chem. Eng.), 97, September 24, 2019, K. JOHNSON (‘50 Busi., Beta Theta Pi), 84, August 31, 2019, Moscow, Idaho. 40 Bacterio.), 101, September 4, 2019, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. MARY ALICE 93, October 31, 2019, Spokane. ROGER RONALD DOUGLAS FOISY (’57 Phys. West Hartford, Connecticut. LAURA SCHULER (’48 Pharm), 92, September 1, STANLEY JOHNSON (’50 Mech. Eng.), Ed., Beta Theta Pi), 86, September 14, alumni.wsu.edu/valenwines JEAN SHAW (’41 Pharm.), 98, March 7, 2019, Sacramento, California. CALVIN 91, July 31, 2019, Ormond Beach, Florida. 2019, Desert Hot Springs, California. 2018, Oregon City, Oregon. EILEEN E. HOBSON BLAIR (’49, ’52 MA History), ROBERT J. THEODORATUS (’50 Socio.), MELVIN L. KLEWENO JR. (’57 Poli. GRIFFITH (’42 Fine Arts), 98, October 94, September 17, 2019, Chambersburg, 91, August 22, 2019, Fort Collins, Colorado. Sci.), 84, September 2, 2019, Des Moines. 26, 2019, Denver, Colorado. DONALD Pennsylvania. DALE FRANCIS STEDMAN VERNON LLOYD HAVO (’51 Busi.), 90, GARRY RAY MILLER (’57 Chem. Eng.), 83, D. ANDERSON (’44 Civ. Eng.), 97, (’49 English), 92, November 12, 2019, July 12, 2019, Albuquerque, New Mexico. August 16, 2019, Waco, Texas. RALPH N. August 7, 2019, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Spokane. W. LYNN THIRTYACRE (’49 HILTON A. JONES JR. (’51 Busi., Acacia), ANDERSON (’58 Elec. Eng.), 85, December IRENE SEARS (’44, ’46 MA Ag.), 98, Mech. Eng.), 92, October 2, 2019, Medford, 90, August 31, 2019, Roseville, California. 27, 2017, Battle Ground. CLARENCE R. November 19, 2019, Keizer, Oregon. Oregon. MARYANNE H. WATKINS (’49 LORNA ANN (BURGESS) ROSS (’51 “DICK” BRESSON (’58 PhD Chem.), 93, DOROTHY “DOTTY” K. MEAD (’45 Zool.), 93, January 12, 2019, Wenatchee. Fine Arts), 89, October 19, 2018, Tucson, October 30, 2018, Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

46 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 cf_wsumagazinead_feb2020.pdf 2 12/12/19 1:27 PM

CORRECTION In the Winter 2019 issue’s “In Memoriam, Faculty and Staff,” INmemoriam Charles Kenlan worked at WSU from 1962–1999

GARY D. KITTERMAN (’58 Police Sci., August 26, 2019, Yakima. JOHN MARTIN DOUGLAS R. YEAROUT (’74 Wildlife Biol., ’61 Civ. Eng.), 85, July 4, 2019, Dayton. POTTER (’65 Anthro.), 76, November 7, ’77 Vet. Sci., ’80 DVM), 68, November 24, WESLEY DALE MARSHALL (’58 DVM), 2019, Puyallup. WILLIAM JOHN BRISKEY 2019, Everett. KENNETH M. BISBEE (’75 85, October 11, 2019, Ekalaka, Montana. (’66 DVM), 84, August 1, 2017, Tacoma. Ed., ’82 MEd Higher Ed. Admin.), 66, August MYRNA LEE OVERSTREET (’58 Home SANDRA SUE HENSON (’66 Speech & 24, 2019, Clackamas, Oregon. WILLIAM Econ., Gamma Phi Beta), 82, August Hearing Sci.), 73, June 5, 2019, Albany, “BILL” DAVID DENNIS (’75 Busi.), 66, 19, 2019, Everett. DOUGLAS PERRY Oregon. ROY HENRY JOHNSON (’66 October 9, 2019, Everett. TERESA E. RICHMOND (’58 Ag.), 86, August 4, Phys. Ed.), 76, July 13, 2019, Everett. RANDECKER (’75 Hort.), 66, September 2019, Walla Walla. STANLEY LEE LOREEN RICHARD JOHN BENDER (’67 Math.), 18, 2019, Seattle. SUSAN “SUSIE” CAROL (’59 Civ. Eng.), 82, September 22, 2019, 72, November 11, 2017, Sultan. JOHN DEKKER (’76 Nursing), 65, December 15, Lynden. F. PAUL OLSEN (’59 Busi.), 82, THOMAS MOSS (’67 Busi., ’70 MBA), 2018, Portland, Oregon. RONALD PAUL September 3, 2019, Zillah. GEORGE 73, April 26, 2018, Snohomish. LINDA HALVORSON (’76 Arch., Sigma Nu), 66, WILLIAM PASSMORE (’59 DVM), 85, L. HELLER (’68 Acc.), 73, April 20, 2019, August 31, 2019, Spokane Valley. NANCY September 21, 2019, Kent. Tucson, Arizona. WILLIAM “BILL” R. ANN SANKOVICH (’77 Ed.), 65, August STEVENS (’68 Forest & Range Mgmt.), 1, 2019, Puyallup. GREG RICHARD BILL BONING (’60 Ag. Eng.), 81, June 8, 73, June 10, 2019, Coulee Dam. LARRY O. WEGNER (’77 Ag. Econ.), 68, August 9, 60 2019, Ashburn, Virginia. RICHARD ALAN HINES (’69 History), 71, October 15, 2017, 2019, Chelan. MARCIA ANN SCHEKEL CougsFirst! Show FUSSELL (’60 DVM), 83, May 29, 2017, Falls Church, Virginia. DOUGLAS LOU (’78 MA Human Dev.), 70, May 18, Lake Forest, California. LEE DUANE CAREY RECTOR (’69 PhD Chem.), 74, June 21, 2017, Portland, Oregon. MARGARET SHOWC ASING C OUGAR (’60 Busi.), 83, May 7, 2019, Edmonds. 2016, Kalamazoo, Michigan. BILL RAY “MAGGIE” M. MCGREEVY (’79 Ani. Sci.),

SANDRA LOU KERR (’60 Home Econ.), SCHOEPFLIN (’69 Wildlife Biol.), 72, 85, August 14, 2019, Pullman. C

July 22, 2019, Redmond. STANLEY G. August 15, 2019, Farmington. ALBERT M KILDOW (’60 Ag. Eng.), 85, September ERNEST SCHWENK (’69 PhD Econ.), 79, JAMES W. JETER (’81 Elec. Eng.), 81, OWNED & MANAGED BUSINESSES Y 2, 2019, Olympia. LEWIS J. MATHERS May 30, 2019, Falls Church, Virginia. 80 November 22, 2019, Vancouver. LAURA (’60 MS Civ. Eng.), 88, May 7, 2019, ELIZABETH FARRAR (’82 English), 59, CM Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. MAURICE ERIC ALDINGER (’70 Chem. Eng.), 75, September 23, 2019, Campbellsville, MY March 11, 2020 - SEATTLE / April 22, 2020 - SPOKANE “REECE” S. MILLER (’60 Indus. Tech.), January 4, 2018, Green River, Wyoming. Kentucky. WILLIAM “BILL” HEPLER (’83 70 CY Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue Spokane Convention Center 87, September 8, 2017, University Place. ROY CHARLES EASTON (’70 Econ.), 71, Busi., Phi Delta Theta), 59, October 7, CMY MARVIN EUGENE NELSON (’60 Mech. September 19, 2019, Las Cruces, New 2019, Bainbridge Island. WAYNE SCOTT Eng.), 86, September 30, 2019, Vancouver. Mexico. TIMOTHY EDWARD GILLES CONE (’87 Biol.), 55, October 28, 2019, K CougsFirst! is a business network that encourages WSU alumni to WILLIAM FROST (’61 Busi.), 81, August (’70 History), 71, October 19, 2019, San Prosser. DONALD CORBETT RITTER (’87 14, 2019, Lynnwood. LOUIS E. GRIMES Antonio, Texas. PERRY GRANT KEITHLEY Hum., Sigma Alpha Epsilon), 56, August Think CougsFirst! for products & services. (’62 History), 84, September 5, 2019, Coeur (’70 MEd, ’74 EdD), 83, April 4, 2019, Lacey. 23, 2019, Vancouver. TERESA ANNE d’Alene, Idaho. ALICE NELDA STANLEY EDWARD NEIL VICTOR (’70 Ani. Sci.), 74, ZUPA (’87 Comm.), 58, March 11, 2019, (’62 Elem. Ed.), 79, June 25, 2019, El September 18, 2019, Spokane. DARRELL Seattle. GREGORY JAMES BROECKER (’88 Granada, California. JOSEPH THOMAS E. BRYAN (’71 History), 71, September 7, MA For. Lang. & Lit.), 59, September 16, BRADLEY (’63 Zool.), 78, October 11, 2019, Seattle. JAMES BRADLEY JERDE 2019, Kuwait. 2019, Olympia. LARRY E. MULLARKEY (’71 Mech. Eng.), 72, June 23, 2019, Santa JR. (’63 DVM), 81, December 23, 2018, Cruz, California. WILLIAM F. LOVE (’71 SALLY JANE BEATON (’90 For. Lang. Eugene, Oregon. GARY R. PFAFF (’63 Elec. Hotel & Rest. Mgmt.), 77, May 2, 2019, 90 & Lit.), 78, September 26, 2019, Sarnia, Eng.), 77, November 11, 2019, Lewiston, Seaside, Oregon. LEILA M. J. LUEDEKING Ontario. MICHAEL EZRA WARD (’91 Idaho. MICHAEL REED DREW (’64 Poli. (’71 MA English), 90, November 18, 2019, Nursing), 48, March 12, 2016, Ferndale. Sci., Beta Theta Pi), 77, August 21, 2019, Pullman. SUSAN (BYQUIST) KLINE (’72 LESLEY ANN RHODES (’92 Poli. Sci.), 49, Langley. JOHN ROBERT REDDING (’64 Elem. Ed.), 67, May 28, 2017, Bellevue. August 23, 2019, Everett. MEREDITH JANE Acc., Kappa Sigma), 78, August 9, 2019, THOMAS “TOM” LUTHER RHONE WILLCOX (’96 Busi., Kappa Alpha Theta), Portland, Oregon. ROGER CRAIG BELL (’65 (’72 Arch., Sigma Phi Epsilon), October 45, September 14, 2019, Portland, Oregon. Elec. Eng.), 70, November 5, 2017, Seattle. 6, 2019, Bellingham. ROBERT DALE LAUREL M. DORMAIER (’65 English), BAGLEY (’73 Econ., ’77 Ag. Econ.), 66, LISA RAE ASKHAM (’00 Psych., ’04 MA 76, November 8, 2019, Spokane. STEVE October 8, 2016, Wenatchee. JAMES 00 Couns.), 51, August 30, 2018, Pullman. DRUMMOND (’65 Poli. Sci.), 76, June 24, ANDREW TIEDEMAN (’73 Wildland CHAD MATTHEW MCMILLAN (’02 2019, La Conner. DONALD D. JONES (’65 Rec.), 69, July 11, 2019, Wenatchee. History), 42, April 4, 2018, Tacoma. MA Biol.), 85, October 1, 2019, Shelton. GREG RICHARD WENDLER (’73 Econ.), ROBIN KRISTINE SCHMIDT (’02 MICHAEL JOHN LUST (’65 DVM), 79, 68, September 12, 2019, Kennewick. Elem. Ed.), 62, April 12, 2019, Onalaska. ALL ARE WELCOME, REGISTER NOW + more info at:

48 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 FREE TO ATTEND cougsfirst.org INmemoriam Alumni Association News

BRIAN GREGORY EDWARDS (’03 Crim. Jus.), 36, September 2, 2019, Pullman. Helping Cougs excel in NICOLE SHERIDAN DE LEON WINANS (’06 Elem. Ed.), 38, August 26, 2019, West life after college Richland. MEGHAN BRIANNE EVANS (’09 Soc. Sci.), 38, June 24, 2019, Kelso. Learning doesn’t stop after graduation. In student loan payoff, tips for purchasing a house, KINDA B. NICHOLL (’15, ’19 DNP some ways, it begins — and, at the very least, and other pertinent topics. 10 Nursing), 41, October 8, 2019, Vancouver. continues. However, focusing on post-degree DOUGLAS LEVI ROCHESTER (’17 Soc. development can be challenging, especially for Also coming to Seattle this May, the first- Sci.), 28, September 30, 2019, Puyallup. new graduates. In an effort to support Cougs ever WSUAA Women’s Summit will focus on as they navigate life after college, the WSUAA helping women achieve success in their chosen FACULTY AND STAFF is dedicated to crafting programming that EVA BRISTOL, 89, Animal Sciences, profession. Noel Schulz, electrical engineering specifically addresses these struggles. 1973-1994, September 21, 2019, professor and WSU’s first lady, will be the Pullman. ∞ ARDITH DERAAD, 78, keynote speaker, joining other highly talented This spring, the WSUAA is working with Extension, 1995-2009, October 13, alumnae to guide female Cougs on their paths BECU to conduct financial literacy training 2019, Vancouver. ∞ STANLEY HOYT, to greatness. 90, WSU Tree Fruit Research Center, 1957- events in Seattle and Spokane, as well as online opportunities for those in other areas. 1993, November 30, 2019, Wenatchee. Available online, the first class in the Cougar ∞ LEILA LUEDEKING, 90, Libraries, 1973- Additional in-person events will be brought to Career Academy provided ways in which Cougs 1998, November 18, 2019, Pullman. ∞ other campuses throughout the coming year. could maximize their job search opportunities. STEVEN SYMS, 66, Facilities Services, The programming will include relevant tools 2008-2014, September 8, 2019, Pullman. such as information on managing a budget and This collection of online workshops is designed to provide graduates with the necessary tools for advancement by connecting them with career development professionals and field experts. This spring, additional classes will focus on résumé building, LinkedIn networking, and more to help guide participants professionally. While all WSU alumni and students are welcome to participate, these workshops place a special emphasis on recent WSU graduates. World-Class Technology, For those of all ages who are interested in furthering their personal development, the Made in the Northwest Alumni Learning Network is available year- Every day, we invent, design, and build the systems that protect power grids round for WSUAA members. Individuals may around the world. SEL’s employee owners are dedicated to making electric take classes, designed by WSU faculty, without power safer, more reliable, and more economical. paying tuition or worrying about exams. To learn more, visit www.selinc.com. The WSUAA has much more to come for those looking to advance their careers. WSUAA chapters around the country will be focused on Welcome to WSU networking opportunities within each group, in Connecting campus & community an effort to connect Cougs with one another.

150 E. Spring Street, Pullman visitor.wsu.edu (509) 335-INFO To learn more about WSUAA programs Monday – Friday 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. intended to help alumni excel in life after Visitor and campus information • WSU daily parking permits college, visit alumni.wsu.edu/lifeaftercollege.

50 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 BY BRIAN CHARLES CLARK

LASTwords

Solar energy really gets rolling

Washington State University physicist Brian Collins explores the nano Now solar panels, like OLED TVs, can be printed on a roll. Instead of structures of polymers—large molecules with many repeating units. Most bulky panels that have to be mounted on rooftops or large solar farms, of us know polymers from everyday life as plastics. Because they’re

flexible, polymers can be used to make all sorts of electronic devices, such as phones—or solar panels.

COURTESY Generation Coug

HELIATEK College was always in Jessica You have the power to help Primarily made of carbon, one of the first big success Santana’s plans; however, in students like Jessica. Starting at age “Scholarships helped stories for polymers in electronics was the organic LED display. Beautiful solar panel rolls can be easily installed in all sorts of environments and addition to the rigors of studying 70½, you are able to transfer IRA me earn a college elementary education, she’s raising funds directly to the WSU images displayed on large, lightweight screens are a result of the configurations, such as coverings for windows. education and made a son. Scholarships helped Jessica Foundation, which is a tax-smart exploration of the fundamental properties of polymers. a difference in the life focus on her studies and attend to of my son.” way to support WSU students. Instead of projecting light, as OLEDs do, Collins says, “you want Physics at Washington State turned 100 this year. Watch videos and her future Coug, while staying on Because of you, Jessica will achieve to run them backwards,” so the polymer takes light from the sun and read about a century of physics research and innovation at WSU: the President’s Honor Roll. her goal of becoming a teacher. creates power, “which is a solar panel.” magazine.wsu.edu/extra/physics-100. Learn more about how you can support students through your Individual Retirement Account: foundation.wsu.edu/ira

52 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE PO BOX 641227 PULLMAN WA 99164-1227

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