Opinion

OPINION: Tell your friends when they deserve better

By Rosalie Johnson | March 2

Much like exam anxiety or Sunday morning hangovers, messy dating is a disconcerting reality for many college students. In navigating these relationships, we learn through trial and error: what is fun and what is not, and who we should or should not be with.

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Opinion

OPINION: The rock that refused to leave

By Eva Breitinger | February 23

Between Flora St and W Champion, nestled behind the backs of O-Pole dance studio and the Mount Baker Theatre, lies the Great Bellingham Boulder. Standing almost two stories tall, it looks disarmingly natural and serene amongst paved asphalt and urban alley.

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Opinion

OPINION: Knotty or nice? The hidden art of Shibari

By Raleigh Nolan | February 18

Shibari, a style of Japanese rope bondage, is an art form that uses rope to create intricate patterns on the human body. As a subculture of the BDSM community, it is often viewed as taboo or scandalous.  

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Opinion

OPINION: Bittersweet symphony: the joys and agonies of having a crush

By Raleigh Nolan | February 14

Celebrate Valentine’s Day by admiring other people's feelings instead of dealing with your own! Check out WinkWink Boutique’s newest gallery during the month of February.

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Opinion

OPINION: Queer love and community forges a path through uncertain times

By Raleigh Nolan | February 1

Fostering community, building connections and refusing to hide queer joy is what will help us prevail through the current administration. Programs like Generations of Pride and Camp Ten Trees provide invaluable opportunities to celebrate queer friendships.

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Opinion

OPINION: In winter, sustainable self-expression doesn’t have to freeze

By Rosalie Johnson | January 25

As temperatures drop and rain drizzles, we retreat from leisurely walks through campus and instead briskly dash to class in zipped coats and flipped hoods. The rush for warm, dry shelter, combined with less daylight, all too often robs us of comfortable time together. This becomes a temporary loss of personal spark that is tangible in our energy and visible in our style.

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Opinion

OPINION: Avoiding deception in reproductive health

By Devin Green | December 12

If you search for a pregnancy test or STI testing in Bellingham, you’ll find plenty of options, but not all of them are actually there to help you.

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Opinion

OPINION: Dreams of high-rises and housing

By Liam Britt | December 12

On Oct. 14, the Whatcom Transit Authority purchased the property at 1522 Cornwall Ave. in downtown Bellingham for $6.2 million. They plan to turn the 1.6-acre site into a large transit-oriented development, constructing up to two 8-10 story mixed-use buildings with a new Bellingham Transit Station.

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Opinion

OPINION: You can cut funding but you can’t cut ties

By Liam Britt | December 12

Can-Am Studies has received federal grants for decades, relying on the money to support faculty research, fund cross-border field trips for students and hire additional instructors. Despite these cuts, Christina Keppie is fighting to keep as many programs running as possible.

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Opinion

OPINION: Lonely conversations

By Sarah Zieger | December 10

In an increasingly lonely society, active listening in conversation feels like a lost art.  

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Opinion

OPINION: How myths shape the SNAP narrative

By Myla Balser | December 6

Many of the myths surrounding SNAP are fueled by the belief that people in poverty cannot be trusted to spend responsibly and should “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” This rhetoric, perpetuated and associated with American individualism and meritocracy, ignores the fact that millions of households are struggling to cover the rising cost of food. 

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Opinion

OPINION: Students deserve better support to make voting easier

By Devin Green | December 4

As ballots were cast and deadlines closed for the General and Special Elections on Nov. 4th, it wasn’t just another busy stretch for students on Western Washington University’s campus — it was the final push before Election Day. 

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Opinion

OPINION: The difference of a dollar

By Liam Britt | December 1

The Whatcom Transportation Authority proposed a fare increase to buses in the county, raising prices from $1 to $2. While this would be the first increase since 2008, there’s concern over what this change could mean for riders. 

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Campus

OPINION: Ditching the degree

By Melody Marichalar | November 18

With rising tuition costs, students are being forced to think more critically about their future and if they’re the right fit for a college setting. There is not one learning style that fits all, and it’s important to assess if the college schedule is meant for you.