Article Archive
I scream, you scream, we all scream for The Scoop's ice cream
When you open the door to either location of The Scoop, you are immediately hit by the wonderful waffle cone scent and that’s when you know you are in for a treat, both literally and figuratively.
“Everyone is always in a good mood,” said Kendra Peters, a sophomore at Gonzaga and current employee at the Kendall Yards location of The Scoop. “All the customers are so happy, and you don’t really run into customers who are in a bad mood because how could you when you’re getting ice cream?”
Every time I wait in line at The Scoop, I find myself overwhelmed with joy as I excitedly make my way toward the ice cream cases that are always filled with so many delicious and unique flavors.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
04/28/2021
Novelty products: rundown of the best local bookstores near GU
Much like books, local bookstores each have a unique and compelling story to tell. Nestled in nearby neighborhoods all around Spokane there are many one-of-a-kind shops with a unique selection of used and new books.
All these stores are community driven and community supported. They put on events and sales that not only help their business but help find forever homes for all their books.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
04/21/2021
‘We can’t respond to all of the calls’: Roofers swamped as they manage fallout from January storm
Typically, December through March is the offseason for roofers – a time to rest, train and prepare for the next roofing season. This year, that was not the case locally.
Spokane and the greater Inland Northwest got hit by a massive windstorm on Jan. 13. Thousands were left without power, two people were killed and many trees fell due to winds up to 70 mph.
“It really increased business,” said Rebecca Aldana Rojas, co-owner at Stay Dry Solutions. “All these people probably wouldn’t have even thought about replacing or repairing their roof this year, and then all of the sudden the windstorm comes through and is exposing all these issues with their roof that is affecting their home, and then t
The Spokesman-Review
04/12/2021
Reflections of a longtime Zag fan: Once a Zag always a Zag
My journey to becoming a Gonzaga basketball super fan was not a natural one, in fact it began out of reluctance.
I didn’t want to be one. I couldn’t have cared less about basketball back in middle and high school. However, I had no choice but to care. I grew up around Spokane and in a family who cared deeply about GU basketball, especially my grandma, or Nannie as we called her.
When the Zags had a Saturday game and our whole family was at the cabin it didn’t matter if we wanted to watch anything else, if Nannie was there, which she always was, the Zags were on and that’s what we were watching.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
04/07/2021
Men's Basketball: Zags take on Baylor for a national championship
It’s the matchup we’ve all been waiting for: Gonzaga (31-0) v. Baylor (27-2), the No.1 team all season v. the No. 2 team all season, will face off in the national championship.
“What an absolute thrill to be able to survive the epic battle last night with an incredible UCLA team,” said Gonzaga Head Coach Mark Few. “We go from the euphoric high of that to waking up this morning to the daunting task of trying to prepare for an excellent, excellent Baylor team that I’ve been marveling at for the last two years with how they are on both sides of the ball.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
04/04/2021
‘To me, it’s a hoax’: The Zags’ Final Four clout has Jimmy Kimmel questioning whether Gonzaga even exists — again
Despite having about 7,000 students who pay thousands upon thousands of dollars in tuition to go to Gonzaga University, comedian Jimmy Kimmel still does not believe it exists.
Back in 2019, during the last NCAA Tournament, Kimmel made six videos throughout March building up the humorous conspiracy theory that Gonzaga does not exist.
Now, as the Zags work their way toward a national title and an undefeated season, Kimmel has decided to bring the tiff with this “imaginary” university back into the limelight, saying , “If QAnon wants a real conspiracy, take a look at Gonzaga!”
The Spokesman-Review
04/02/2021
Women's Basketball: Gonzaga falls to Belmont in first round
It was a tough loss in San Marcos, Texas, Monday for the Gonzaga women’s basketball team (20-5) as the Zags fell to Belmont (23-3) in the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball championship 64-59.
Senior guard Jill Townsend led the team with 17 points and six rebounds and LeeAnne Wirth had 10 points, eight rebounds and one assist.
However, they could not stop Belmont and freshman guard Destinee Wells, who ended the game with 25 points, two rebounds and seven assists.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
03/22/2021
Theatre in Spokane has been put to a dramatic pause midst COVID-19
It’s been a year since the performing arts was put on its “pause” as many people who work in the arts like to say. Not shut down, not lockdown but pause. The resiliency of the performing arts shines bright in Spokane as two of the major theaters, Spokane Civic Theatre and Best of Broadway, have been able to stay engaged with the community during this pause while optimistically planning for the future.
At the Spokane Civic Theatre, the pandemic hit in the middle of its sold out run of “Cabaret” in its Firth J. Chew Studio Theatre and when it was about to start a run of “The Humans” on the Main Stage. Both shows had to be canceled and the Civic was forced to pivot.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
03/19/2021
Women's Basketball: Truong duo is strong on and off the court
For Kaylynne and Kayleigh Truong, guards on the Gonzaga women’s basketball team, their basketball journey began with an incident in their family’s garage.
“How we got to it was actually funny because our dad had basketballs laying around in the garage and one day Leigh comes in and tripped over a basketball and was like ‘Man, I’m never going to play basketball,’” Kaylynne said. “Then our parents said it would be good for us so they put us in little league and that’s where we started.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
03/17/2021
Men's Basketball: GU's Anton Watson is joining the local legacy
Gonzaga men’s basketball players come from all over the United States and the world to play for one of the best collegiate programs in the country but not many come from the Inland Northwest.
By coming to GU Anton Watson, a sophomore forward, has joined the list of local legends like John Stockton and Adam Morrison, who were born and raised in Spokane and came to play college hoops mere miles from where they grew up.
Not only did Watson grow up in a city known for its basketball, but the sport was also a family affair.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
03/03/2021
Coeur d’Alene City Councilman Dan Gookin appears on gameshow ‘To Tell the Truth’
“I’m a sexologist,” said Dan Gookin, who is not a sexologist.
But he is the founder of the “For Dummies” books, a Coeur d’Alene councilmember, and an imposter on the game show “To Tell the Truth.”
The premise of the show revolves around three people all acting like they have the same career but in reality, two are lying and only one is, in this case, a sexologist.
The Spokesman-Review
02/24/2021
'WandaVision' is innovative, imaginative and well worth your time
Let’s start here: I am a humongous Marvel Cinematic Universe fan. I’ve seen every movie since the first Avengers in theaters (COVID-19 permitting) and I love them all. However, I can admit that these movies can get a bit formulaic. Sometimes they become easy to figure out and it can get monotonous.
Well, “WandaVision” is absolutely, 100%, not monotonous or predictable. As of right now we are seven episodes into the Disney+ original and with each passing episode I leave with maybe one answer and about a million questions because I genuinely have no idea what is going on or what will happen next.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
02/24/2021
You can't mask comedy: How GUTS has continued entertaining through COVID-19
The lesson of the night at Gonzaga University Theater Sports (GUTS) practice was objective. What is the goal? What is the game? And what is The Game? This means what is the performer(s) personal goal of the game, what are the technical aspects of the game and how do you make people laugh during the game, respectively.
Even though the improvisers of GUTS cannot perform in front of the Gonzaga community this year they can still practice. And the objective of these practices are to seize the opportunity to perfect their comedy and come together as community.
“You would think ‘Oh, no shows there’s no point,’” said Dillon Shipley, GUTS sergeant-at-arms. “But, what a lot of people don’t realize is that improv is a skill. You get better the more you do it. So, to put a whole positive spin on what’s happening right now is that we get to improve so much because we’re not distracted by shows.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
02/17/2021
Holiday travel down in Washington, Idaho as health experts urge folks to stay home
Millions are heeding the advice of health officials to stay home during the holidays to avoid spreading COVID-19.
But there are still millions on the road and in the air.
This year, 84.5 million people are expected to travel for the holidays in the United States, according to AAA. That’s 34 million less than last year.
The Spokesman-Review
12/23/2020
Gonzaga cheerleading team keeps hype alive outside of the Kennel
It’s hard to bring the hype into the Kennel when most people aren’t allowed to go into the Kennel. However, this challenge is not stopping the Gonzaga cheerleading team from bringing the hype to the GU community.
While they won’t be cheering “We are GU!” from courtside for the foreseeable future, they are coming up with new and innovative ways to keep that spirit typically seen on the court alive.
The team has been able to continue practicing and preparing to get into the Kennel and have also increased their social media presence to keep the community updated on what they’re doing.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
12/02/2020
The light at the end of the tunnel: Reflecting on the year 2020
It’s hard to put words into sentences that creates a reflection about how this semester went. But that’s my job as a writer; to create a narrative that encapsulates what happened. So, that’s what I’m going to try and do.
I’m going to take my semester, all the ups, downs, the good times and the bad and formulate a story that encompasses the lessons I’ve learned between March and now.
The through line of this story is resilience. The people who I have been surrounded by this past year have shown me how resilient humans are and how determined we are even in the face of impossibility and the unknown.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
12/02/2020
Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra plays on amidst COVID-19 procedures
Even though the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center won’t be filled with the colorful sounds of the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra (GSO) they are still playing and finding silver linings in a hard and confusing time.
Kevin Hekmatpanah, director of GSO and professor of music, has been working with the music department since spring break, when everyone got sent home, to figure out a way to bring orchestra back this semester.
“It was up in the air and then the ball was completely off as far as performances are concerned,” Hekmatpanah said. “We are able to rehearse but we aren’t able to perform. So, that presents a lot of hardships and some challenges but also some opportunities.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
09/23/2020
Hundreds of runners take to streets of Spokane Valley for socially distant Windermere Marathon
Albery Lockhart was met with signs made by his children and a big hug from his wife as the announcer called his name when he crossed the finish line of his first marathon Sunday morning.
While this finish didn’t involve the fanfare that typically comes with a marathon, morale remained high and those organizing the Windermere Marathon made sure to make every runner feel special and appreciated as they crossed the finish line.
“Everyone was so nice and really kept their distance, and when people passed you they let you know, and everybody handing out waters stayed really far away and were really cheerful,” Lockhart said. “Everybody was supportive. It was a great atmosphere to be a part of.”
The Spokesman-Review
09/06/2020
Green Bluff picking a popular activity during pandemic, but farmers worry about apple festival season
Everything is peaches and cream at Green Bluff as the farms continue to work through their peach season.
Despite statewide coronavirus guidelines, U-pick farms have not had to change operations too much over the summer – especially as of this week, when Gov. Jay Inslee issued new guidelines for agritourism businesses in Phase 2 counties, which includes Spokane County.
“We’ve actually seen more folks come out,” said Jason Morrell, owner of Walters’ Fruit Ranch. “It’s something they can do and it’s pretty socially distant. We had our strawberries as our first season in the spring this year, and we had record numbers of people.”
The Spokesman-Review
08/24/2020
Letter from the editor: Being Gonzaga editor-in-chief in 2020
When I began the application process to become The Gonzaga Bulletin’s fall semester editor-in-chief (EIC) the idea of a pandemic changing the world wasn’t even a conceived thought in my mind.
I was preparing for my interview thinking about new ways to share basketball games and theater performances through social media. I was thinking about ways to integrate our writing and photo staff into one big productive community. I was thinking about what a normal semester as EIC would look like.
A month later when I scheduled my interview none of those normal things came to mind.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
08/19/2020
Brains and Braun: Sophia Braun Gonzaga Women's Soccer
Using her natural strengths while also finding strength in her weaknesses is how Sophia Braun, a junior midfielder and co-captain on the Gonzaga women’s soccer team, has found incredible success in both her soccer and academic careers.
Over the past three years she has managed to maintain a high GPA as a computer science major, been an important player on the GU team and got invited to play with the U20 Argentina national team.
However, her journey to this point was no easy feat. She remembers being recruited to play at the collegiate level as a tough process.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
08/12/2020
White Elephant’s last day in Spokane Valley leaves staff, customers saying final goodbyes
Well, that’s it.
After 40 years, the White Elephant in Spokane Valley opened its doors for the final time Saturday.
And while the shelves were virtually empty, the aisles were still busy with people coming to support the longtime local business for the last time, even though White Elephant’s other location, on North Division Street, will remain open at least until August.
The Spokesman-Review
07/11/2020
Finding Blessings in a Pandemic: Holy Temple COGIC sees opportunity to grow, learn
Finding blessings during this time has helped the Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in Spokane highlight the ways this pandemic has allowed them grow and learn.
“The coronavirus has impacted us greatly,” said Ezra Kinlow, the pastor of the church. “It has made us do new things we’ve never done before and it’s been hard. But it’s been a blessing also.”
Spokane FāVS
06/02/2020
Kind, caring, selfless: Remembering Gonzaga student Sienna Rettig
Sienna Rettig lived her life with the mindset of a shark. Always moving forward and never dwelling on the past.
Described by her friends as their angel, Sienna was the light in a lot of peoples’ lives.
“We all know people at Gonzaga who bring us that kind of joy and laughter, and that was just who she was as a person, all the time,” said Josh Bulawa, one of Sienna’s friends and a GU graduate. “She was there with me and all her other friends through every peak and valley we went through these last four years, and she knew what it meant to show love and compassion regardless of a situation.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
05/29/2020
‘My phone is blowing up’: Spokane salon will spend months meeting needs of clients with quarantine hair
With Spokane County’s Friday move into Phase 2 of the state’s Safe Start reopening plan, hair salons and barbershops were allowed to get clients back in their chairs and take care of their neglected (or unprofessionally managed) quarantine hair.
At Northside Salon, owner and hairstylist Emily Yaden was working with her two stylists, Makayla Moore and Brooke Cannon, to reopen on Tuesday. That meant rearranging furniture, scheduling appointments and practicing health and safety protocols.
While some salons and barbershops opened immediately, Yaden’s salon is among a large number taking their time as they await shipments of personal protective equipment and work to figure out how to follow all the guidelines the state has put in place.
The Spokesman-Review
05/23/2020
‘It’s going to be a learning curve’: Lincoln County businesses prep to reopen ahead of most of state
DAVENPORT, Wash. – Sherry Bakken was in her salon in Davenport on Thursday, cleaning, moving furniture to allow for a safe separation between future customers and otherwise preparing her business for reopening – a reopening that is coming much earlier than it is for most businesses in Washington.
Davenport is the seat of Lincoln County, which is one of eight rural counties in Washington given permission to move ahead of the rest of the state into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s phased Safe Start reopening plan.
Bakken’s salon – which is perfectly named for the occasion as Phase II Hair and Design – was one of many businesses up and down Davenport’s main drag on Thursday as they prepared to begin Phase 2 of reopening today.
The Spokesman-Review
05/15/2020
Gonzaga student teacher donates books to elementary students
It was a Friday when teachers found out all schools in Washington were being moved to distance learning, meaning the following Monday would be the last day with their students.
This sent teachers into a frenzy trying to get the materials they needed together to send home with students so they could continue their schoolwork.
“My teaching partner and I spent the weekend trying to get our head around what [distance learning] might look like. We had one day that we could have some things ready,” said Carol Nolan, a fifth grade teacher at Grant Elementary School.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
04/27/2020
Dance will serve us: Gonzaga holds ACDA amidst health crisis
At 9 p.m. only 12 hours before the American College Dance Association (ACDA) Northwest Conference was about to begin the tenth university dropped out of the conference due to concerns of the coronavirus.
“We are doing this in the middle of an international health crisis,” said Suzanne Ostersmith, the director of the dance program at Gonzaga. “This is a conference of joy and artistic expression coming together in such significant ways. The fact that we were hosting this at all is phenomenal and the fact that we’re going to pull this off in the middle of this crisis is amazing.”
This conference was something that Gonzaga had been set to host for nearly four years and Audrey Parks, the student coordinator and student at GU and Ostersmith had been planning for the past year.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
03/14/2020
A major dance conference at Gonzaga highlights how the art form can serve communities off stage
When Suzanne Ostersmith came to Gonzaga 20 years ago to teach in the Theatre & Dance Department, the school had one dance studio and one theater, and the dance major and minor didn't even exist.
Now, two decades later, Ostersmith and the university have built up the program and invested in facilities that not only have the ability to house the school's growing dance program but host a major dance conference. Thirty-one different dance programs from eight states, bringing more than 550 college dancers, will descend on the GU campus next week for the American College Dance Association (ACDA) Northwest Conference.
The Inlander
03/05/2020
Gonzaga's Fr. Bernard Coughlin's S.J. funeral remembers his legacy
This morning members of the Gonzaga and Spokane community gathered together in St. Aloysius Church for the Mass of Christian Burial of Fr. Bernard “Barney” Coughlin, S.J., former president and chancellor of Gonzaga, who died on Jan. 28 at the age of 97.
The church was filled with family members, community members and all those who Coughlin impacted during his life.
“He was a 97-year member of the Coughlin family – that’s a long time and welcome to the extended family here,” said Steve Kuder, S.J., who led the service with the Rev. Tom Lamanna S.J. “He was a 42-year member of Gonzaga. So, welcome to faculty, staff and board members. And a 77-year member of the Jesuit family – welcome guys.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
02/21/2020
Gonzaga Bulldogs defeat USF 71-54 after disappointing first half
It was a battle in the Kennel as the Gonzaga Bulldogs took on the University of San Francisco Dons for the second time this season. After a difficult first half for the Zags, they fought back to win 71-54.
The last time the two teams met, the Zags won by four points in San Francisco. After trailing in the first half by nine, the team was able to rebound and secure the win.
“That’s about as poorly as we’ve ever played on the offensive end in the first half tonight,” said Mark Few, head coach of the Zags. “But for long stretches, even in the first half, I thought we played great defense. I thought we were spectacular on the defensive end in the second half.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
02/20/2020
Remembering the legacy of Gonzaga's Rev. Patrick Howell, S.J.
Rev. Patrick Howell, S.J. lived fully until his last breath. He was a dedicated Jesuit and worked to make the world, the people around him and himself the best they could possibly be.
Howell died on Nov. 28, Thanksgiving Day, in Spokane due to lung cancer at the age of 79.
He was born in Lisbon, North Dakota, to Joe and Virginia Howell, and was the oldest of nine children.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
01/15/2020
Gonzaga declines club due to affiliation with Planned Parenthood
On Wednesday the Students for Reproductive Rights Club was declined to receive formal club status by Gonzaga.
“The goal was to bring to Gonzaga a space where we could talk about reproductive rights and sexual health and sex in general in a safe and constructive environment where we could have actual educational material and talk about all these things in a more educated way than what we typically get on this campus,” said Elaine Rickards, the vice president of Students for Reproductive Rights and a senior at GU.
The club would act as a place for students to learn about sexual and reproductive health through their affiliation with Planned Parenthood.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
12/06/2019
Men's basketball: Bell Jr. makes his return to GU for family
As media swarmed around Gonzaga men's basketball head coach Mark Few after the Zags' win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff earlier this month, graduate assistant coach Gary Bell Jr. was quickly sneaking past the chaos to hug his young kids out on the court.
For Bell, this job at GU was never really about basketball or coaching.
“[I came back for] family honestly,” Bell said. “I was playing overseas for four years and being away from my family for eight months out of the year was tough.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
11/20/2019
War on words: Student journalism under fire after Northwestern debacle
As a student journalist myself, I was heated when I read that the students at the student newspaper of Northwestern University, The Daily Northwestern apologized for doing their jobs.
On Nov. 5 former Attorney General Jeff Sessions visited the Northwestern campus to give a talk and there were student protesters at the event.The Daily Northwestern sent two reporters and a photographer to cover the event and the protest.
After the story was published the article was met with extreme criticism and it resulted in the paper taking out a source’s name, removing a photo of the protest and issuing an apology in their opinion section for their coverage.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
11/13/2019
Ambassador tour: the rigorous steps to becoming a GU Ambassador
The first time a student steps onto Gonzaga’s campus is most likely on a campus tour. Meaning, the first person they meet is the smiling face walking backward telling prospective students facts, figures and memories of GU.
There are about 70 ambassadors who give these campus tours and welcome prospective students, and by February there will be around 30 fresh faces ready to share their enthusiasm about GU.
The application process to become an ambassador is lengthy and competitive but necessary, said Maggie Clare, a senior ambassador and the selections coordinator for ambassadors this year.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
11/06/2019
New GU dean, Karlene Hoo, hopes high for school of engineering
A passion for learning and advancement is at the forefront of Karlene Hoo’s philosophy, both personally and in her career.
Hoo, the first female dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Gonzaga, found her way to engineering partially because of her father, who is a mathematician. She also said she found a natural ability for chemistry and physics.
“I went to a very technical high school, so the thought was that I was always going to go to college and engineering seemed to be the converging point of pure mathematics and pure science,” Hoo said.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
10/09/2019
Women's cross country: GU's Manley blazes own trail to success
Claire Manley has always been growing. As one of the captains of the Gonzaga women’s cross country team, the redshirt junior has elevated her goals with each year and then smashed them.
Raised in Seattle, in the Green Lake area, Manley said she grew up running. She began competing in cross country in first grade and has kept it up since.
“My first couple years of high school running I really didn’t know what I was doing,” Manley said. “I was just having fun with it.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
10/03/2019
GU students protest Board of Trustee member Timothy Barnard
“No justice. No peace. No racist trustee.”
This was chanted by Gonzaga student’s today as they made their way around campus protesting Timothy Barnard, a board of trustees member who is contracted to build part of the U.S. Mexico border wall.
Barnard serves as a trustee emeritus, meaning Barnard no longer actively participates on the board, but still serves as a representative of the university.
2019 SPJ Region 10 Finalist - Breaking News
The Gonzaga Bulletin
09/27/2019
Hey Zags, welcome to our closet: GU’s theatre & dance costume shop
Nestled deep in the east end of College Hall right above the Magnuson Theatre is the costume shop. It is here that Leslie Stamoolis, assistant professor of theatre and dance, along with her four employees, build, organize and manage all the costumes for Gonzaga’s theatre and dance department.
Until this fall the old shop was in a lofted space up a staircase that turned in the middle. This made it difficult to maneuver large items up and down and was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Stamoolis found out last May that the shop would be moving down from the loft and into a much more open place in the theater.
“The shop has to be a classroom, a production space, a storage space and a student lab,” Stamoolis said.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
09/25/2019
Spokane Civic Theatre's 'Matilda' is a show that leaps off the page
The Spokane Civic Theatre is known for its phenomenal production. It has this innate ability to create shows with a completely local cast and crew that mesmerize audiences and create a sense of professional theater similar to the shows that come to the First Interstate Center for the Arts.
“Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical” is at the theater until Oct. 13 and is worth seeing.
Based off the book, which was published in 1988 and the film, which came out in 1996, the musical follows a little girl named Matilda. She has a bad home life and goes to a terrible school, but through the power of will and a positive attitude she is able to overcome and defeat the evil in her life.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
09/18/2019
Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib speaks with city leaders in Spokane
Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib visited Eastern Washington over the past couple of days to speak with local politicians as well as prominent university figures to discuss the future of higher education.
In his position, Habib deals with executive duties serving under Governor Jay Inslee. He also serves as the president of the Senate and has his own agency: The Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
He has a passion for higher education and sat down with The Gonzaga Bulletin to talk about his current work and the importance of this kind of education.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
09/12/2019
Spokane food trucks feed both GU students and homeless students
During the first and last two months of the school year, students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to try out a variety of new and interesting food through the food trucks that grace campus every Wednesday.
The food served ranges from classic burgers to crepes to island food and everything in between.
This partnership between Gonzaga and the Greater Spokane Food Truck Association (GSFTA) began when Tony Epefanio, president of GSFTA and owner of the food truck Mixed Plate, reached out to the university a few years ago.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
08/28/2019
A Spokane teen's journey into one of the country's best ballet schools
Harris Kahler was reluctantly put into his first ballet class at age 11. By the time he was 12, he knew he wanted to make a career out of it.
Now 17, he's off to Michigan to attend Interlochen Art Academy to further his ballet career and learn from some of the finest teachers in the country.
Finding the right dance partner made all the difference. At first, Harris hated ballet. It wasn't until he was paired with his now long-time partner Ryan Ham that he really began to love it.
The Inlander
08/29/2019
TheaterFest gives Spokane's performing arts groups and curious fans the chance to meet
Spokane has a plethora of opportunities to attend and participate in the performing arts. From musical theater to improv comedy, dance to drumming, and everything in between, there's something for everyone.
The notion of keeping up with it all is daunting, and that's why TheaterFest was created.
TheaterFest is a one-day event that brings a multitude of performers from all over the community into a free mini festival so the public can sample virtually everything the arts scene has to offer without a hefty pricetag.
The Inlander
08/22/2019
GU senior, Scott Davis, is working to preserve stories of veterans
Scott Davis, a senior history major at Gonzaga, created an organization dedicated to telling military veterans’ stories, entitled Faces of Valor.
His website says: “[Davis’] interest in the experiences of the individual has developed into a passion for telling the stories of average Americans thrust into incredible circumstances. As a result, he created ‘Faces of Valor,’ an oral history project aimed at interviewing the last living World War II and Korean War veterans in the Pacific Northwest to ensure their sacrifices are not forgotten.”
Davis has traveled all over the Inland Northwest to speak with numerous veterans about their experiences.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
08/21/2019
The nostalgia factor
In the past month nearly all the content I've consumed has been based on, or was a remake of, something from yesteryear.
These things included: the new season of Veronica Mars, uploaded 15 years after the original show aired, the trailer for Top Gun: Maverick and a variety of Disney content (Toy Story 4, Aladdin and most recently The Lion King), all of which was made to make its audiences reminisce on the good old days.
In my house, movies were paramount to weekend plans. I grew up singing along to "Hakuna Matata," buying aviators just to look like Maverick and Goose, attempting to have the quick wit of Veronica Mars and being temporarily convinced that my toys were alive.
The Inlander
08/15/2019
GU set to welcome one of the largest classes in school history
This fall, Gonzaga University’s campus will be filled with the bright and shining faces of the class of 2023.
The incoming class will be one of GU’s largest with 1,254 first-year students and 103 transfer students, making it among the five largest classes to register at the university.
“We enrolled another phenomenal class coming into Gonzaga this year and we’re really excited about them,” said Erin Hayes, director of undergraduate admissions.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
08/07/2019
Jesuit education goes beyond religion and transcends disciplines
Gonzaga University is known as one of 28 Jesuit universities. However, what people may not know is what that actually means. The value of a Jesuit education goes much deeper than religion and transcends all areas of study.
“In my own work, I am constantly referring to the writings of Jesuits and the guidance that is periodically given locally, regionally and internationally. The Jesuits have developed priorities for their works, and there is an expectation that all Jesuit works will pay attention to and in some way reflect those priorities in their own works,” said Thayne McCulloh, president of Gonzaga. “Placing our aspirations as Gonzaga University in the context of the Jesuit mission is very important to me.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
08/07/2019
REVIEW: Les Misérables is a classic for a reason…
For most people, the first time they see Les Misérables is an unforgettable
experience.”
In last week’s Inlander this is what I wrote to open a story about the cultural impact of the musical phenomenon Les Mis.
At the time, my writing was based on what people told me about the musical because I had never seen it.
The Inlander
08/07/2019
Musical phenomenon Les Miserables still thrills in Spokane
For most people, the first time they see Les Misérables is an unforgettable experience.
Suzanne Ostersmith, dance director and assistant professor of theatre and dance at Gonzaga University, had her first interaction with Les Mis as a college student during a musical theater history class.
Her professor was playing music from the show, specifically, the song "One Day More," and Ostersmith had such an intense emotional reaction to simply hearing the recording that she immediately fell in love with the production.
The Inlander
08/01/2019
The Garland District hopes to bring artists and community together to celebrate Spokane's most vibrant art alley
The longer I live in Spokane, the more I notice the pops of color on the walls of bridges, buildings and alleys.
In the Garland District you can find murals in many of the nooks and crannies of the four-block neighborhood. And this Saturday, July 27, a group of artists will expand the Garland's mural collection with a day-long painting party.
The alley's existing murals, and their respective artists, inspired the decision to offer the community an opportunity to watch artists in action. People can bring lawn chairs and cameras to take in the art being created right in front of them. It's also a unique event because so many artists will be working at the same time, something that rarely happens.
The Inlander
07/25/2019
New Spokane Valley bakery the Blissful Whisk aims to build community through a love of baked goods
Tiffany Cable has an affinity for baking and a love for her community. When she put the two together, the Blissful Whisk was created.
Located in Spokane Valley, the bakery is a place for locals to come enjoy a pastry and each other's company.
"I want this place to feel like home," Cable says. "I want people to go back in time and take a minute to breathe, enjoy the pastries and think about home."
The Inlander
07/04/2019
Sky High: One reporter's crash course in the mission of Fairchild AFB's KC-135
As I rolled out of bed Thursday morning at 0500 I can safely say I really did not know what I was getting myself into. I knew I was going on a plane, I knew it was a military plane and I knew we were going to see a fighter jet… that’s it.
Even now I don’t think I can fully comprehend how cool seeing these planes in action was, but what I can say was that it was a once in a lifetime experience and well worth waking up early.
Prior to my interview with the pilot and the plane ride all I knew about military planes and the Air Force was what I had seen in Top Gun and the assortment of random plane information given to me by my 15-year-old brother.
The Inlander
06/21/2019
New axe-throwing venues aim to be a big hit among the curious and daring
Forget bowling, darts and pool — axe throwing is the new pastime that is taking over the country, and it's the newest thing to do in the Inland Northwest.
Currently there are two locations: Heber Hatchets Axe Throwing on North Division in Spokane, and Axe Force One, located in the Silver Lake Mall in Coeur d'Alene.
"People are always looking for something to do with friends and things like bowling and darts have been around for a long time and this is something new," says Doug Duncan, manager of Axe Force One. "It's really fun, it's really not that difficult to learn. People can come and pick it up relatively quickly and enjoy a nice time of competition with their friends."
The Inlander
06/20/2019
TEC at Bryant senior Caleb Schrader a quiet, thoughtful leader
Caleb Schrader is not your typical leader. A young man of quite demeanor, he has no shortage of leadership experience.
Schrader is involved in Musha Marimba at his school, as well as choir, and spends lots of time helping his family.
“He has always been quiet and studious, but in the last couple of years, I have seen him take a leadership position in his performing group, Musha Marimba. He helps other students, quietly leads and takes his responsibilities very seriously,” said Heather Ward, music specialist for TEC at Bryant.
The Spokesman Review
06/06/2019
Family, school play crucial role in shaping Oaks Academy senior Elenor Wiens’ career aspiration
Elenor Wiens loves people.
As a senior at The Oaks Classical Christian Academy she has spent her 13 years at the school developing deep and meaningful relationships with her fellow students, the staff and faculty.
“I’ve been at this school since I was in kindergarten, so it’s where I’ve always been. There are really small class sizes, about 20 kids,” Wiens said. “I grew up in a family of six kids, and I’m the oldest. The youngest three are adopted, one’s from Ethiopia and the other two are from the U.S.”
The Spokesman Review
06/06/2019
Competition winners to perform solo at new Gonzaga performing arts center
"On April 29, Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra will put on its final performance of the year. Unlike the past three concerts where the soloists were famous musicians, this time the featured soloists will be GU student.
Students competed in the prestigious Young Artist’s Concerto/ Aria Competition for a stop at center stage earlier in the semester and the three were selected as winners.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
04/25/2019
Meet the founding director of the new MWPAC: Laura Sims
The Gonzaga Bulletin
04/10/2019
At the west end of Gonzaga’s campus stands the massive, opulent and new Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center.
The woman behind the creation is Laura Sims, its director. She is responsible for everything that has gone into and will go into this building.
Sims said her career kind of started by accident.
“I grew up in north Alabama, completed my undergraduate degree at Auburn University and it was there that I took this interesting turn into the performing arts,” she said.
Kimberlé Crenshaw speaks about intersectionality to sold out crowd
On Thursday night the Hemmingson Ballroom was packed awaiting the entrance of Kimberlé Crenshaw, a professor of law at UCLA and Columbia as well as the creator of the term intersectionality.
Opening the event was Jacob Rooksby, the dean of the School of Law who introduced this talk as the inaugural event of the Center for Civil and Human Rights at Gonzaga Law.
Rooksby said Crenshaw’s work is “intimately tied to Gonzaga’s mission and the mission of Center of Civil and Human Rights.”
The Gonzaga Bulletin
02/28/2019
First walk out at GU results in students meeting with cabinet
2018 SPJ Region 10 Finalist - General News Reporting
Friday, students walked out of their classes and down Bulldog Alley into the Hemmingson Rotunda and filled the space from the ground floor up to the third. They began chanting, giving speeches and reading letters in an effort to get the administration to hear them and their demands.
They refused to leave until a cabinet member addressed their demands and promised a meeting.
The walkout was staged around #WeTooAreGU.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
11/30/2018
Crime in Spokane remains stagnant, property crime biggest concern
More recent incidents of crime like break-ins and burglaries in the Logan Neighborhood and on the Gonzaga campus may lead students to believe there has been an increase in the crime rate of Spokane.
However, the crime rate in Spokane, is stagnant if not slightly decreasing.
The biggest concern for the city is property crime. These crimes include: burglary of residential, garage and commercial property, larceny, vehicle theft and arson. According to the Nov. 17 Preliminary Citywide IBR Crime Report, all these crimes are down for the year.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
11/29/2018
Joshua Shank is the newest addition to the Gonzaga music department
Joshua Shank, the newest addition to the Gonzaga music department, has a passion for teaching and music. He titles himself as a teacher, composer and collaborator.
Throughout his career he has seen major success in all three of these categories.
“I sort of fell backward into a lot of the things I’ve become successful at,” Shank said.
In high school, Shank spent one year in choir and it changed his life. He continued his education at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, due to its acclaimed choir program.
The Gonzaga Bulletin
11/08/2018
Spokane homelessness increases while House of Charity loses funding
The Gonzaga Bulletin
09/26/2018
Homelessness has always been an issue for the city of Spokane.
This has escalated due to the House of Charity limiting its capacity to house people overnight, due to budget cuts. This has caused a movement of people experiencing homelessness in all directions, including areas near campus.
City councilwoman Kate Burke said a possible reason why these people have been moving toward the Logan and Gonzaga areas is because places like the “Centennial Trail and Mission Park are good places for them to hang out,” and find cover.
Cheney valedictorian Elizabeth Potter wants to mentor, be of service to others
Elizabeth Potter, a senior at Cheney High School, spent ages 8 to 12 growing up in Thailand. After six years, Potter returned there during February and March this year to work for the nonprofit Echo.
“Echo is a nonprofit that partners with nongovernmental organizations, missionaries and locals to promote agricultural sustainability,” Potter said.
Over the course of her internship, Potter mainly did office work, but she also got to help with a research project called Seed Storage. It is working to make vacuum sealing technology affordable, with a bike pump, so seed can be stored without it being ruined by the humid weather.
The Spokesman Review
05/31/2018
Writing club adds dimension to Rogers High senior Jamie Cahill’s studies
For the past two years Jamie Cahill, a senior at Rogers High School, and the members of the Writers United club have been meeting every Wednesday after school to share their stories and practice their writing skills through writing games.
Throughout the meetings students get to share the work they have written for classes or independent creative work they have been working on. Cahill said it’s a “nice club to get together and people can share their stories.”
Cahill is president of the club and plans every weekly meeting. The meetings typically consist of a PowerPoint that contains the week’s exercises, a video, the weekly haiku – and then they move into writing tips and play writing games that help develop their skill sets.