C ONN E C T I N G W A S H I N G T O N S T A T E U NIVERSITY, THE S TATE, AND THE W ORLD • S U MM er 2 0 06 EATING WELL TO SAVE THE SOUND Plants Take Control • Cougars in High Places • A Course of His Own SUMMER 2006 VOLUME 5, NUMBER 3 Washington tate magazine features The Making of Mountaineers 22 by Hannelore Sudermann Danielle Fisher gave herself five years to become the youngest person to climb the highest mountain on every continent. The Washington State University CONTENTS student did it in two, joining the ranks in 2005 of an elite fellowship of climbers who got their start on Washington’s peaks. No Shrinking Violet 29 by Cherie Winner Researchers at WSU are finding that plants are surprisingly assertive. Based on their findings, a case could be made that the average potted plant is at least as active as the average human couch potato—and a lot smarter about what it consumes. EMERGING PARALLELS by Cherie Winner Eating Well to Save the Sound 36 by Tim Steury • photos by Kevin Nibur The Puget Sound region’s 3.8 million population is expected to increase to 5.2 million within the next 15 years. If Puget Sound is to survive that growth, we must change our lives. That, and eat more shellfish. 36 CHANGING LIVES by Tim Steury WINE AND OYSTERS by Tim Steury 22 COVER: Hood Canal, near Union. See story, page 36. Photograph by Kevin Nibur. Washington tate CONNECTING WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, THE STATE, AND THE WORLD magazine 6 letters 9 panoramas 9 Taking it to the limit 10 Seeing stars 11 PERSPECTIVE: Can America compete in a “flat” world? 12 Gaylord Mink shifts his focus from viruses to wild horses 14 A new kind of chop suey 15 Foreign stories A small representative of a big worm assures that it is not extinct 16 SEASONS/SPORTS: A course of one’s own, or the coffee-can country club 18 Learning what it is to do science 19 FOOD AND FORAGE: Cherries—the sweet fruit of worry KEVIN NIBUR 20 The CUB: Back to the future 45 tracking the cougars 45 What I’ve learned since college: Robbie Tobeck ’94 46 Class notes 47 Journalism’s grandest prize 29 48 Busting out 49 Alumnni achievement 50 In memoriam SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, 51 Iraq fallen remembered U NIVERSITY OF VERMONT LIBRARY 52 books, etc. 56 Washingtonia Scholarship Opportunities at Washington State University Scholarships and graduate fellowships are vital to Washington State University’s ability to attract and retain high-ability students of all ethnic and financial backgrounds. Opening Doors • Every dollar invested in scholarships raises the bar of quality University-wide. • Private support for scholarships and graduate fellowships opens doors at WSU for tomorrow’s leaders. • Through their determination, ambition, and hard work, scholarship students enrich the experience for everyone at WSU. Scholarship opportunities at WSU include: • Need-based scholarships • Merit-based scholarships, including Regents Scholars program • Diversity scholarships, including Future Cougars of Color initiative • Athletic scholarships • Graduate fellowships For more information about how you can support scholarships at Washington State University, contact the WSU Foundation at 800-448-2978 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Scholarship Opportunities at Washington State University Treat Dads and Grads to Cougar Pride. Treat your dad and new grads to fine gifts from Washington State Connections—your Puget Sound location for Cougar apparel, world-famous Cougar Gold cheese, and other fine-quality WSU merchandise. Visit our retail store at Westlake Center in downtown Seattle or order online at www.washingtonstateconnections.com. ID#00000001 Butch T. Cougar CARD CARRYING WSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERS SAVE 10 %* *Excludes wine, Cougar cheese and sale items. 206-957-9090 • 400 Pine Street Street level, Westlake Center Seattle, Washington 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday www.washingtonstateconnections.com LETTERS Washington tate magazine VOLUME 5, NUMBER 3, SUMMER 2006 WSM.WSU.EDU Editor, Tim Steury Assistant Editor/Senior Writer, Hannelore Sudermann Managing Editor, George Bedirian Art Director, Jo Savage (’70 M.F.A.) Photographers, Shelly Hanks ’88, Robert Hubner Writer, Tina Hilding Science Writer, Cherie Winner Contributors WRITERS: Eric Apalategui, Pat Caraher ’62, Jason Kardong ’95, Bill Morelock ’77, V. Lane Rawlins, David Wang ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHERS: DeWitt Beattie, Danielle Fisher, Maxime Guinel, H UBNER Matt Hagen, Craig Harrold, Olga Mavrodi, Kevin Nibur ’05, Giles Oldroyd, Joe Poovaiah, Ed Viesturs ’87, Bill Wagner, David Wang ILLUSTRATOR: David Wheeler The Clothesline Project President, Washington State University, V. Lane Rawlins Associate Vice President, University Relations, Barbara B. Petura Robert Hubner’s picture of the Clothesline Project display [Spring Executive Director, Alumni Relations and Washington State University 2006] brought back 15 years of activism to my mind. Rachel Carey- Alumni Association, Tim Pavish ’80 Harper from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, developed the Clothesline LETTERS: Washington State Magazine invites letters on its content Project and displayed it at the Women’s International League for Peace or on topics related to the University. Letters for publication must be signed and may be edited for style, length, and clarity. Shorter and Freedom Congress at Bryn Mawr in summer 1991. WILPF mem- letters are more likely to be published due to space limitations. bers and I immediately recognized the power of publicizing the abuse Writers should include an address and daytime phone number. Letters may be submitted online at wsm.wsu.edu/feedback.html against women. A gong, bell, and whistle sounded regularly to remind or sent to: listeners of the persistence of injury, death, and rape in what contin- Washington State Magazine ues to be a war against women. The Portland branch of WILPF has PO Box 641227 Pullman, WA 99164-1227 continued to support the Clothesline Project with displays several E-MAIL: [email protected] faX: 509-335-8734 times a year. Brochures in Spanish and English list community ser- Washington State Magazine is published quarterly by Washington vices available to abuse sufferers as well as history of the Line. Displays State University, PO Box 641227, Pullman, Washington 99164-1227. Editorial offices are located at Washington State often bring tears to even men’s eyes. The evidence is obvious that University, Information Technology Building, Room 2013, domestic violence exists. Women who made shirts appreciate seeing Pullman, Washington 99164-1227. their suffering aired in public. Board of Regents, Washington State University ©2006. Mary Rose ’56 Views expressed in Washington State Magazine are those of the authors Portland, Oregon and do not necessarily reflect official policy of Washington State University. Alternate formats will be made available upon request for persons More on Murrow with disabilities. Washington State Magazine is pleased to acknowledge the generous Your publication of the support of alumni and friends of WSU, including a major gift from [Beverly] Meyer letter [Spring Phillip M. ’40 and June Lighty. ’06] shows your complete TO SEND THIS MAGAZINE: Washington State Magazine is distributed free of charge to graduates, donors, faculty, and staff of Wash- lack of historical knowledge ington State University. With a gift of $25 or more, you can have and puts you in the position WSM sent to someone who is not on our mailing list. For details, go to wsm.wsu.edu/send.html or contact Sherri Peters at of dishonoring WSC gradu- 509-335-1686, [email protected]. ates who fought and died in MANUSCRIPTS ADVERTISING: For information about advertising in Washington WWII so that you and your State Magazine, contact Syndi Ellison, advertising manager, at 509-335-7628, [email protected], or go to wsm.wsu.edu. descendents could be free. , ARC H CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS? How could Edward R. Mur- IVES Please send current address information to Sherri Peters, row “intervene” in WWII AN D PO Box 641927, Pullman, WA 99164-1927, e-mail SPECIAL [email protected], or call 509-335-1686. Thank you! when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor followed a few COLLECTIONS days later by the Germans declaring war on us? 6 WASHINGTON STATE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2006 Have you done your research? There is a pub- was a liberal turned anti-communist, and the included. Early in 1956, Bruno Richter, Guy lished list of WSC students who died in WWII. motives go on. [John] Toland ignored masses of Bockus, another student whose name I’ve forgot- Why don’t you study that list and then apologize evidence available to him to prove his thesis. ten, and I drove to Sun Valley for a four-day to us survivors and express your honor for those Meyer should read Gordon Prange’s At Dawn We skiing vacation between semesters. When we who died. Slept for the origins of the Pacific war. If the approached the town of Ketchum, Idaho, and You should also publish a list of books from people she cites had their way, we would all be saw the mountain to our left rising high above the l940s that set forth the roots of WWII and speaking German today. the surrounding terrain, Bruno remarked that he the rise to power of Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo. Edward M. Bennett wasn’t sure that he could handle the challenge; Professor Emeritus, WSU All three planned to kill your grandparents and however, at the top of the lift early the next wipe out all vestiges of freedom for Americans. morning, Bruno took off down the mountain Major Phillip W. Foraker, Army (ret.) like a bat out of hell, and none of us saw him Gresham, Oregon Roughing it—sort of until the end of the day.