Year-long union fight culminates in picket line on Highline campus
A picket line erupted earlier this week on Highline’s campus, organized by Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) members across Highline staff. Nearly two dozen people showed up to show support for equal pay.
For the past year and a half, WPEA, a labor union for state workers, has been in a slow-moving, locked argument with Washington’s Office of Financial Management (OFM) over contract negotiations – specifically, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs).
Dive In! Shark in the Park attracted hundreds to Wooton Park
For those who conquered the parking at Redondo Beach on Sunday, sharks were circling Wooton Park ready to celebrate the City of Des Moines proclaiming Redondo Beach as the “Sixgill Shark Capital of the World”.
The first annual Shark in the Park went off without a hitch. With nearly 30 volunteers and around 25 vendors, the event was well supported in greeting local shark enthusiasts and the estimated 750-1,000 attendees. All organizations gathered had a simple mission: Celebrate the docile Sixgill, and teach others how to protect their home.
What the “Big Beautiful Bill” means for Highline
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBA) is Donald Trump’s multi-trillion dollar budget reconciliation, after being battled out by the legislative branch, it has been signed into law with presidential approval. The OBBA has garnered harsh headlines due to its drastic cuts to American institutions such as Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP).
These changes disproportionately target part-time, working students, as well as differently-abled students. Around 46% of Highline students are part-time, meaning they are enrolled in fewer than 12-credit hours per quarter.
OPINION | A steward’s reflection: When advocacy falls on deaf ears
For the past nine months, I along with the other stewards have stood before the Highline College Board of Trustees, representing the voices of classified staff—workers who are essential to the daily operations of our campus but too often invisible when it comes to meaningful recognition or compensation.
I approached the Board in good faith, believing that if they heard our stories, our needs, our hope for equitable treatment, they would act. That faith has been deeply shaken.
Letter from the editor: A grateful farewell
I have been a part of the Thunderword publication since late 2023, nearly as long as I have been attending Highline College. As I prepare to graduate, I am experiencing increasingly bittersweet pangs in my chest whenever I consider that saying ‘good morning’ to my friends here will no longer be a daily routine.
Thankfully, the sweet outweighs the bitter – overwhelmingly so.
Campus

A picket line erupted earlier this week on Highline’s campus, organized by Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) members across Highline staff. Nearly two dozen people showed up to show support for equal pay.
For the past year and a half, WPEA, a labor union for state workers, has been in a slow-moving, locked argument with Washington’s Office of Financial Management (OFM) over contract negotiations – specifically, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs).

During their “Chill & Chat” event the Public Speaking Center (PSC) introduced their updated space to campus students, and displayed this core value of their work during the day’s events. “Everyone, without exception, has something important to say,” reflected the PSC director, Professor Amy Rider King.
For the PSC’s limited summer hours, they hope to attain lofty goals. They are looking to engage with all of Highline, and broaden communication comfortability.

Highline’s 57th Arcturus launch party was an incredibly talented showing. Students from diverse backgrounds shared their amazing stories, poems, videos, music, and more.
The Arcturus is a student-led editorial magazine that puts together submissions from students on and off campus into one artful magazine. This student art exhibition celebrated its 57th edition in 2025. Of course it wasn’t an easy experience for those who submitted.

Summer quarter has arrived, and for the first time in recent history, the ThunderWord is staying open to keep campus connected.
During this condensed quarter, our limited operations will include briefs and recaps on campus events, our continuing coverage of Highline’s MaST Center, and periodic updates on local and national news.
Community

For those who conquered the parking at Redondo Beach on Sunday, sharks were circling Wooton Park ready to celebrate the City of Des Moines proclaiming Redondo Beach as the “Sixgill Shark Capital of the World”.
The first annual Shark in the Park went off without a hitch. With nearly 30 volunteers and around 25 vendors, the event was well supported in greeting local shark enthusiasts and the estimated 750-1,000 attendees. All organizations gathered had a simple mission: Celebrate the docile Sixgill, and teach others how to protect their home.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBA) is Donald Trump’s multi-trillion dollar budget reconciliation, after being battled out by the legislative branch, it has been signed into law with presidential approval. The OBBA has garnered harsh headlines due to its drastic cuts to American institutions such as Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP).
These changes disproportionately target part-time, working students, as well as differently-abled students. Around 46% of Highline students are part-time, meaning they are enrolled in fewer than 12-credit hours per quarter.

With the summer comes campaigns, and with Seattle’s Mayoral election around the corner, this year promises the potential for new and actionable leadership. Katie Wilson is the cofounder and Executive Director of the Transit Rider’s Union, and her plan, if elected, would be to make public transportation safer by addressing the unhoused and housing crisis in the area.
Wilson goes up against the incumbent Bruce Harrell, who has occupied various seats in city hall since 2008.

Calling all shark enthusiasts!
Do you have a soft spot for sharp teeth and fish gills? Maybe you want to support Highline’s Marine Science and Technology center (MaST)? Either way, join the MaST Center on Sunday, July 6, at Redondo Beach to celebrate the Sixgill Shark.
As Sixgill Shark season swims in and to kick off Shark Week, join the MaST center in celebrating the Sixgill’s life & legacy with a day of “discovery, food, and family adventures”. The event will be held from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at both the Redondo Pier and the adjacent Wooton Park.

In a move that has reignited fierce debate around the country, President Donald Trump’s administration has reinstated a sweeping travel ban on nationals from 12 countries, primarily targeting Africa and the Middle East.
The executive order took effect on Monday, June 9 at 12:01am EST, and now they are exploring additional restrictions on up to 36 nations.

I have been a part of the Thunderword publication since late 2023, nearly as long as I have been attending Highline College. As I prepare to graduate, I am experiencing increasingly bittersweet pangs in my chest whenever I consider that saying ‘good morning’ to my friends here will no longer be a daily routine.
Thankfully, the sweet outweighs the bitter – overwhelmingly so.
Sports

The Seattle Kraken have officially ushered in a new chapter by appointing Lane Lambert as their third head coach in franchise history. With experience and vision for the future, Lambert’s arrival marks an exciting time for Kraken fans eager to see their team take the next step.
Announced on May 29, 2025, this strategic move follows the dismissal of Dan Bylsma after a single season, during which the team posted a 35-41-6 record and missed the playoffs for the third time in four years.

The Highline College men’s golf team completed a long and challenging season this spring, putting an end to what, in many ways, was a rebuilding year. While the scoreboard may not reflect it, the season was filled with determination, growth, and significant strides for a group of players who are learning what it takes to compete at the NWAC level.
Highline finished ninth in the league standings, with four points in four regular-season matches. The numbers may not be surprising at first glance, but behind them is a team that never gave up: one that showed up, hustled, and represented the college with grit.

Following the ending of this year’s NWAC tennis championship and Highline’s women’s tennis taking home the women’s tennis title, the morning of May 5, 2025, NWAC announced their discontinuation of the sponsorship of men’s and women’s tennis within the conference.
This discontinuation will impact Highline College, Bellevue College, Treasure Valley Community College, and Spokane Falls Community College.

The Highline College women’s tennis team ended their season on a high note, winning the 2025 NWAC Championship on Saturday with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Treasure Valley at the Yakima Tennis Club.
It’s the program’s second title, and, with the NWAC tennis program ending, they go out as the final champions.
Arts

In today’s world, more movies and shows are starting to tell real stories from different voices. Recently, some amazing projects created by Black directors and writers have stood out in a big way.
These works highlight Black creativity, strength, and storytelling, and prove that Black stories deserve just as much attention as any others.

Fifteen years after the first LP under the name Car Seat Headrest, lead singer/songwriter Will Toledo comes through with “The Scholars”, a 70-minute rock opera that works fine as a narrative piece, and truly shines as a benchmark for how far the band has come over the years.
If you’re a listener untainted by the Seattle indie-rock bands’ particular brand of angst, this newest album may take a little time to find its footing. The lyrics are complex and difficult to figure, and the narrative contained within the words is told with little attention to traditional story structure.

Tyler Perry’s “The Six Triple Eight” is a powerful and timely film that boldly redefines how Black history – especially Black women’s history – is portrayed on screen.
Now streaming on Netflix, the film tells the remarkable true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – the first and only all-Black, all-female unit in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II.

Two unrelated projects from separate comedians have highlighted a societal appreciation for ‘cringe’ humor. Nathan Fielder’s HBO Max show “The Rehearsal”, and Tim Robinson’s A24 dark comedy “Friendship” take place in this tragic space of social imbalance, giving us main characters who can do anything but fit in.
While Fielder and Robinson are vastly different comedic minds, both have imbued the world with true gems of awkward humor this summer. Each comedian has individually taken great care in giving us the cringe that we might actually need.

In today’s media landscape, where audiences are craving fresh stories and authentic voices, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” stands tall as a bold and unforgettable celebration of Black storytelling.
This film doesn’t just entertain – it uplifts, challenges, and redefines how we view Black history, creativity, and cultural legacy on screen.

While refraining from saying that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is back with their new movie “Thunderbolts*”, one can say that this Marvel film has a more improved action-to-storyline balance than others have in the past few years since “Avengers: Endgame” was released.
The film focuses on mental health; the characters work through their own trauma while trying to figure out their place and status in the new world. They help each other out of seemingly bottomless pits both literally and figuratively. Their challenges persist as Valentina, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, continues to stick her hands in the mud and manipulate the characters’ lives.

“Transformers” has always been a special series. Unlike other ’80s action series centered on selling toys, “Transformers” has managed to successfully stay relevant in mainstream media in a consistent manner. While “He-Man”, “Thundercats”, and “GI JOE” have jumped in and then disappeared, “Transformers” simply never left.
Of course, Hasbro’s darling and mainstay money maker hasn’t been without struggle. After the original series finished, it looked like “Transformers” would be forgotten. Then “Beast Wars” came. Since then, “Transformers” has grown to a mainstay of pop culture. After all, there’s nothing cooler than giant robots.
Science & Technology

While many folks were begrudgingly returning to work after last week’s Memorial Day holiday, Thunderword reporters & photographers had the chance to join the Marine Science & Technology Center (MaST) during a specimen collection trip.
Typically, these trips are reserved for MaST employees. They are crucial to the center, as they allow them to diversify and reinforce their existing aquarium population.

Through every season, tide cycle, and rainy day the circle of life endures. If a whale dies, and washes up on your local shore, how do the powers that be preserve it?
According to four-time whale conservator and marine biologist Rus Higley, step one is simple. Higley runs Highline’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST), as an educator he knew the power of having a local whale on display.

Highline’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) is more than just an aquarium with hundreds of species of native marine life, it is a view into the greater oceanic world around us.
Rus Higley, MaST’s director and knowledgeable caretaker, is a professor of marine biology. His work at the center allows all who enter a chance to have a deeper connection with these creatures living in the Puget Sound.
Opinion

For the past nine months, I along with the other stewards have stood before the Highline College Board of Trustees, representing the voices of classified staff—workers who are essential to the daily operations of our campus but too often invisible when it comes to meaningful recognition or compensation.
I approached the Board in good faith, believing that if they heard our stories, our needs, our hope for equitable treatment, they would act. That faith has been deeply shaken.

Everyone’s felt nostalgia before. It’s a natural human feeling that we can’t control, and why would you? What’s wrong with feeling nostalgic over a beloved event from the past? Nothing really, but what if we’re not actually nostalgic? What if it’s just being forced on through subtle messaging and branding?
There’s no reason to act like this is a strange possibility, it’s an objective truth that nostalgia is being used to advertise products. The problem is it’s being used so often that it loops around to just being exhausting. There are so many beloved series and franchises that have been remade over and over so many times that fans fear when their favorite will be done next.

The Ukrainian president approached the White House with a wide smile and reached out his hand. “You’re all dressed up today.” The U.S. president said as he shook the Ukrainians hand. “Oh yes… How are you Mr. President?” “He’s all dressed up today. ” The U.S. president continued, turning to the press with a smile as he rests his hand on the Ukrainian president’s back.
The two were here to sign the minerals deal. As mentioned in Chapter I, the minerals deal was a declaration of cooperation between the United States and Ukraine, by creating a fund in which both countries could invest and profit from the rare earth minerals found in Ukraine. More importantly, this meeting was to continue the positive relationship between Ukraine and America. Which, under President Biden, funded nearly half the effort towards Ukraine’s existential war.

The Public Broadcasting Service, or PBS, has always been an invisible string throughout my life.
When I was five years old, my grandmother passed away. Some of my last memories of her were in the hospital watching “Downton Abbey.” “Downton Abbey” became a source of comfort for my grandmother, for my mom, and me as we sat with her in the room. To this day, my mom and I will rewatch it, and every time, memories of my grandma come flooding in, even though I knew her for a short time.

Lately, I have been waking up with an uncertainty about my own safety – one that I haven’t felt since the first time I heard the phrase “Run, la migra”.
I was only seven years old, and I thought “la migra” was some predatory animal I should have been afraid of. Eventually, I learned it was my own government.
I would be lying if I said that I am not afraid. I am afraid.

The long-fought war between dog and cat lovers is still ongoing. Dog people claim dogs as “man’s best friend”, while cat lovers claim loving cats requires a certain appreciation for individual autonomy. While these paradigms are a couple ways to look at the issue, there is also the extroverted dog versus introverted cat debate. Regardless, all animal lovers can agree that animals improve our lives.
According to Forbes, 66% of households own pets, and of those 66%, 46.5 million households have cats. While dogs beat them out for the majority, 46.5 million is no small number.