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Learn more about Mavrie Durham and get to know the person behind the posts you have read.

Mavrie Durham

Mavrie Durham is a recent transplant to Washington, bringing in a East Coast, southern, and Gen Z perspective to topics of interest. She’s passionate about her life and where it will go, traveling with her dog, and being knowledgeable in all she can get her hands on. Books take up about 20% of her apartment's square footage, with sticky notes and dog toys taking up the rest. As a big historical fan, she likes to take on big topics, classic literature, and old school films. She has a background in film from Full Sail University, and hopes to pursue an English or Classics degree from the UW after her time at Highline. She commits to writing soberly and objectively in her stories, apart from book reviews, and to provide a well rounded context for issues with many perspectives attached.

Mavrie Durham's Recent Posts:

From STEM to psych: Soccer player Emma Thirkildsen graduates this spring

Among all the graduates this spring, Highline will be thrilled to see campus staple Emma Thirkilsden off to Washington State University, Vancouver. Thirkilsden came to Highline to study chemical engineering and play soccer, but found a place among CREW, student staff, and embedded tutoring. 

She will be graduating this spring and transferring to complete a bachelors in psychology. She hopes to break into the new field of Industrial Organizational Psychology, or I/O Psych for short. She will be working with companies to focus on behaviors within the workplace.

Justice Department finally comes down on sleeping giant Live Nation

The Live Nation-Ticketmaster conglomerate is now under the scrutiny of the Department of Justice for maintaining an illegal monopoly. Whether it’s a concert at Lumen Field, a Mariners game at T-Mobile Stadium, or an event on Capitol Hill, the big live event giant handing out your tickets has now been thrust into its own spotlight after years of skirting the dark side of the stage.

The entertainment industry is a curtained machine of artist management, venue operations, concert promotion, and ticket sales. After a 2010 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the one company now owns and controls every single one of these aspects. The lawsuit, set forth by the DOJ against Live Nation, says they “control around 60% of concert promotion at major concert venues across the country.”

Boeing locks out firefighters and EMS staff across Washington facilities

Over 100 firefighters and EMS staff working at Boeing facilities in Washington are locked out in an attempt by Boeing to force a contract agreement for low wages and longer progression periods.

At midnight on May 4, Boeing deactivated all security and parking passes of its on-site EMS and firefighters at its six Washington facilities around Seattle.

The lockout began at 12:01 a.m., as the current contract between Boeing and the International Association of Firefighters union expired at midnight, and a new contract had not been agreed upon. The lockout comes after months of failed contract negotiations on wages between the company and the union representing the workers.

Camped out on the Quad: Pro-Palestine students against Boeing

On the morning of April 29, students from University of Washington Seattle campus pitched tents on the Quad, establishing the Popular University for Gaza Liberated Zone. Situated in between the Raitt and Miller buildings, the encampment tripled in size within the first 24 hours. The most contentious demand is for the school to cut ties with Boeing, a long-time partner.

The encampment includes organizations from the UW Progressive Student Union as well as the UW United Front For Palestine Liberation and the UW Student Muslim Association.

Registration is open for summer and fall classes

Registration for summer and fall quarter is now open to all Highline Students. Summer quarter is shorter, more faced paced as it stretches over eight weeks as compared to fall classes, which last 11 weeks.

Summer begins June 24 and ends with exams being Aug. 14 and 15.

For students wanting to receive financial aid for the summer quarter, a separate form is required to be completed as it is processed differently than the typical academic year (fall-spring). Students must ensure they register for classes first and then fill out the Summer Aid Request Form.

Universities across the nation have erupted “Solidarity Zones” in protest of the Israeli attack on Gaza

Over the past several months, 2,600 students have been arrested at protests across the country as encampments crop up on quads and in squares. The main call for these protests have been to end US involvement in the war, bringing it to their school administrators demanding divestment from Israel-supporting companies.

For context, on October 7, 2023, Hamas, a Palestinian militant force who has had control over the Palestinian population for the past 18 years, launched an attack into southern Israel, resulting in the death of 1,400 and the capture of about 250 people, including women and children.

A deep dive with the Nautilus: A review on Jules Verne’s greatest novel

For anyone looking to explore the seas, Jules Verne gave us a peak at what could be down there in his 1867 masterpiece “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. With Professor of Natural Science Pierre Arronax, his trusty advisor counsel, and gruff Canadian harpooner Ned Land, the adventure through the water is an ultimate escapism dream for any reader.

With each chapter, epic battle scenes and treks through seafloor forests are broken up by detailed descriptions of the life found where no man has reached. For those uninterested in scientific descriptions or analyses, Penguin Classics has a well abridged version that keeps the action going.

The novel was originally published in a magazine as part of a serialization through publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel.

May the fourth, George Lucas, and Skywalker’s 'Hero’s Journey'

As we all tuck into theaters for the re-release of the Star Wars saga and the many films it gave us this weekend, nerds will give thanks to George Lucas, the creator of the series making May the fourth a sort-of Star Wars thanksgiving.

“May the fourth be with you,” we’ll all say to each other.

The origin of this social holiday came from a congratulatory publication for Maragaret Thatcher, former prime minister of the United Kingdom. After securing the election, her political party placed the congratulations in the evening news on May 4th, 1979. It said, “May the fourth be with you Maggie. Congratulations.”

Dogs with jobs: The differences between working dogs and emotional support animals

Upon entering a restaurant and seeing a dog in a bright red vest on, it’s hard to tell whether the pup is about to start begging for food or alerting their handler to something wrong. With a “Service Dog – Do Not Pet” patch attached, there’s still a level of mistrust these days.

Due to the easy access of service dog attire, it’s commonplace for people to purchase working dog harnesses for household pets in order to bypass “no-pet policy” places. Some might claim their dog is an ESA, maintaining a privilege above business policies.