Dr. Rolita Ezeonu returns to Highline once again as Interim VPAA
Highline welcomes back Dr. Rolita Ezeonu as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs after the termination of Dr. Emily Lardner last quarter. Dr. Ezeonu has served as Interim VPAA in the past, from April 2017 to June 2018, before spending the past several years at Green River Community College as the Vice President of Instruction.
“Coming back now feels like a full-circle moment, an opportunity to rejoin a community that aligns with my values and am ready to contribute and be of service during a meaningful time in Highline’s journey,” Dr. Ezeonu said.
Washington House member aligns with G.O.P. SAVE bill
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE Act, is the newest G.O.P. lead bill that would redefine eligible voters to those with specific citizenship documents. This bill would not have passed in the House without the support of four democrats, including Washington State House member Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.
In an official statement to the press, Perez stated her vote was based on the following, “I do not support noncitizens voting in American elections.”
“Parade”: The importance of self-acceptance and due process
“Parade” tells the story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who moved to Atlanta to pursue a career at a pencil factory in 1913. There, he met Lucille Selig, whom he later married. As a Jewish man from Brooklyn, Leo is portrayed as a man who often felt out of place even with his Southern Jewish wife.
Leo, who held a management position at the pencil factory, was later charged with the rape and murder of thirteen-year-old factory worker Mary Phagan.
Opinion: AI, an insult to life itself
Once again, AI has intruded on the great works of the artists it shamelessly steals from. Regardless of AI’s usefulness in important fields like medicine, cybersecurity, etc., taking someone’s art and mass producing it is insulting.
It would be one thing if AI was merely a prompt generator to inspire artists and it sourced images ethically, but it doesn’t. It scours the internet and hijacks art from unsuspecting artists. It’s integral to mention AI is not to blame for this situation, the users and creators are at fault.
Campus
Highline welcomes back Dr. Rolita Ezeonu as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs after the termination of Dr. Emily Lardner last quarter. Dr. Ezeonu has served as Interim VPAA in the past, from April 2017 to June 2018, before spending the past several years at Green River Community College as the Vice President of Instruction.
“Coming back now feels like a full-circle moment, an opportunity to rejoin a community that aligns with my values and am ready to contribute and be of service during a meaningful time in Highline’s journey,” Dr. Ezeonu said.
The Inter-Cultural Center opened their doors for Earth Day as Highline students filled the room with color to express their creativity through canvas painting. The Q-Center provided all artists with canvases, brushes, and vibrant colors to their heart’s content, along with full creative liberty.
“This is an event about identity and how our identity shapes the future,” said M.B., a professor in Geology & Environmental Science at Highline, aiming to highlight the importance of how climate change affects marginalized groups.
This week at Highline, our campus celebrated spring homecoming with the Center for Leadership & Service (CLS). Edwina Fui, the CLS Director welcomed newcomers from Building 8, and kicked off the event this past week.
The center welcomed all new students introducing all the services they offer for the whole year. This homecoming event was filled with useful information about how the students thrive in their academic quarter. Fui and the rest of CLS was devoted to promoting growth, learning, and leadership beyond the classroom.
Since the beginning of this year, 300 student visas have been revoked by the current executive administration. This may lead to many visa bearing students asking what protections they have on and off campuses.
Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk and Alireza Doroudi – if you’re a student on an F-1 or J-1 visa these names might be uncomfortably familiar to you. Without prior official notification, or request to appear before a judge, these students were detained by government officials.
Weather can vary drastically from day to day, not unlike people’s moods. The relationship between people and weather is deeply connected, and our own reactions to sunlight, temperature and humidity can run parallel to those phenomena.
The weather changes due to the constant movement and interactions of air masses, influenced by factors like temperature, humidity, pressure and also the sun’s energy. Leading to variations in wind, clouds and precipitation.
Community
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE Act, is the newest G.O.P. lead bill that would redefine eligible voters to those with specific citizenship documents. This bill would not have passed in the House without the support of four democrats, including Washington State House member Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.
In an official statement to the press, Perez stated her vote was based on the following, “I do not support noncitizens voting in American elections.”
The Washington State Fair has been a gargantuan PNW staple of community pride and tempting cuisine for the past century. Last Sunday’s event was no exception; here are some highlights from the Puyallup centered celebration. Maybe you’ll be enticed to attend in 2026!
Employees of the popular American grocery chain Trader Joe’s were in for a surprise earlier this month when the high demand for a limited edition rerelease of a fan favorite – canvas tote bags – led to lines for miles outside the front doors.
But these aren’t just any bags, they’re plastered with light pastel colors. These are perfect for the Easter season, or any occasion where you need a bit of color or a bit of extra cash, as resellers camped to market these totes for thousands of dollars more than their original $2.99 price on secondhand sites.
The Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival (SCBJCF) took place this past weekend showcasing beautiful art, vendor booths, and even sumo wrestling.
The festival was able to bring hundreds of people to come celebrate the long friendship between the people of Japan and Washington state. The SCBJCF committee presented culturally educational programs, arts, technologies, the rich heritage of Japan, and celebrated the beautiful sakura cherry tree.
Ser Hispano/Latino no significa que olvides tus raíces, ni abandonaste tu cultura si no te adaptaste a una nueva cultura, aunque en algún momento puedes ser discriminado.
Muchos de los inmigrantes son niños que aún están aprendiendo cómo sobrevivir un día en la escuela, con currículos diferentes como los curriculum de México, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, etc.
Sports
The Highline College women’s tennis team just concluded a tough three-match stretch on the road, and although the final results weren’t in their favor, their fight and enthusiasm never wavered. From rough starts to tough moments, the Thunderbirds showed great courage, and some players made it clear they are players to watch this season.
It all began on April 6 at The College of Idaho, where Highline faced a strong opponent and fell 6-1. It was a tough start to the trip, but it set the stage for what was to come: a team that refined its game and learned from every match.
Priscila Heldes, a Brazilian volleyball player and former national team setter, brought global attention to herself after appearing in one of Fluminense’s Brazilian championship matches – while five months pregnant.
“A magical experience” is how Heldes, Fluminense’s setter, described the experience of playing in the Women’s Superliga while pregnant with her son Emanuel.
The 2024-25 softball season has been challenging for Highline, marked by a string of losses, tough opponents, and constant weather delays. From the first pitch in February to their final game in early April, the team struggled to find their rhythm, finishing with a 2-19 record overall and 2-11 in the conference.
Things started rough with an opening-day loss to Grays Harbor, followed by a rained-out game. As the season progressed, the team faced stiff competition in both non-conference and league play. Despite some promising flashes, such as their back-to-back wins against Shoreline on March 12, the T-Birds couldn’t maintain the momentum.
Arts
“Parade” tells the story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who moved to Atlanta to pursue a career at a pencil factory in 1913. There, he met Lucille Selig, whom he later married. As a Jewish man from Brooklyn, Leo is portrayed as a man who often felt out of place even with his Southern Jewish wife.
Leo, who held a management position at the pencil factory, was later charged with the rape and murder of thirteen-year-old factory worker Mary Phagan.
It’s not everyday that a generational social commentary also doubles as a sober and gutting rendition of your worst nightmares, but that is exactly what fell into my lap when I finally succumbed to the umpteenth recommendation of “Tender is the Flesh” by Augustina Bazterrica. This book is what happens when an author peeks behind the human veil and refuses to pull away when things get ugly.
We are immediately thrust into a world where a virus renders all animals inedible, and cannibalism is not just legalized, but mandated. Marcos, an employee at a human flesh processing plant, is our periscope into the hellish society that preserves the privileged class by slaughtering the poor.
“Blink Twice” is intense, highly abrasive, and extraordinarily unsettling. The movie starts unassuming, but has a far from comfortable, underlying feeling of: “Something is going to go wrong, but when?”
That feeling does not give away until the last 20 minutes, keeping the watcher on the edge of their seat, and genuinely enthralled. Starring Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie, “Blink Twice” is a psychological thriller, truly living up to the label.
Who here is playing “Marvel Rivals”? I imagine quite a few people have tried out the newest Marvel game. For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, “Marvel Rivals” is a hero shooter created by Chinese game studio, NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel.
The game was released on Dec. 6, 2024 and immediately became a smash hit. The premise of the game is simple. Team up with five other players to capture and either push or defend the objective, and make sure the enemy team can’t do the same. If you want success, creating the perfect team is integral, but how?
Science & Technology
The decision to “demote” Pluto from planetary status back in 2006 caused a wave of disappointment and anger towards the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The backlash from this shows us the dangers of nostalgic thinking.
But why was Pluto no longer considered a planet, seemingly out of nowhere? It was not any sudden discoveries made, but rather a re-evaluation of an old term. At the time of Pluto being established as a planet, there wasn’t a clear definition of what a “planet” even was.
News Briefs
Is your home cluttered with old paperwork or outdated electronics? BECU Tukwila Financial Center is holding their bi-annual Shred-it event next Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and this could be the week that you clear out all of your clutter!
The event (held at 12770 Gateway Drive in Tukwila) has been a hit the past few years with those who want to get rid of old tax paperwork, and their partnership with the Tukwila Food Bank and Northwest Center makes this effort a win-win.
Opinion
Once again, AI has intruded on the great works of the artists it shamelessly steals from. Regardless of AI’s usefulness in important fields like medicine, cybersecurity, etc., taking someone’s art and mass producing it is insulting.
It would be one thing if AI was merely a prompt generator to inspire artists and it sourced images ethically, but it doesn’t. It scours the internet and hijacks art from unsuspecting artists. It’s integral to mention AI is not to blame for this situation, the users and creators are at fault.
President Donald Trump has been testing the idea of running for a third presidential term, which is both the natural next step in the nation’s path to fascism and antithetical to the U.S. Constitution. The government’s behavior is decaying, and the sarcasm and irreverence we’ve allowed from them is actively disconnecting us from the country we could be. It will take the embrace of conviction and earnestness to quell American fascism.
Trump’s irreverence to those around him is now a mainstay on the political stage, and arguably the reason his opponents cannot simply scold him into submission. But while irony is a staple in American media, we must reckon with how we have suffered from allowing people to puppet irreverence from such lucrative positions
Another day, another fascist administration in office. It’s only April, and it feels like we’re halfway through the year already.
The outlandish claims and power plays have begun in force, and people are already losing track of what’s going on. Pay attention though, that’s a tactic from the “How to Be a Fascist For Dummies” playbook.
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.