Looking Forward
OTTER FACT: There are 13 different species of otters.
Good morning Otters!
I hope everyone has been having a great week as we come back from our extended weekend. As college applications are finishing up, and spring registration starts up, a lot of us are looking forward. I just wanted to take time and tell you all what a great job you are doing. Keep up the great work and make sure to give yourself credit where its due.
After a short story for our student section this week, make sure to check out the important updates for this week!
Student Section: Scream by Ashwak Samatar.
The screaming wasn’t letting up. Try as I might, the sound only grew louder and louder. It was constant, never letting up and never wavering. Just pure agony, through and through.
What was wrong with this person? What could possibly be the reason for this sound? And how could it possibly be getting any louder? I’ve been biking for 30 minutes now, in all directions. Somehow the sound stayed with me. And terrifyingly enough, it was still getting louder.
They were being tortured. There was just no other answer to this symphony of anguish. By whom, I never wanted to find out. All I wanted to do was go home. All I wanted to do was escape this pain.
Why me? A question repeated over and over again in my head. Was I being punished?
Were they being punished? For what? What warranted something so horrifying?
Just imagining what the screaming person was going through made me feel sick. I pedaled faster, hoping against hope that the sound would go away once I was among other people.
I could see a main street coming up and gave my last bit of energy to reach it.
Once I was at the top, I realized I was only a couple of minutes away from my house, and felt my spirit lift with the thought. I was almost home. My parents were going to be there. My siblings were going to be there. The screaming couldn’t possibly follow me.
It was as I was jumping off my bike and running towards my home that I came to realize the screaming could. I ran like I had never ran before.
Before I could knock, my front door burst open. The sight of my entire family standing there made me go still.
They had horrified looks on their faces, and suddenly they were all rushing to me. I was confused, but the shock was quickly replaced with relief. Everything was going to be okay.
Except, instead of hugging or greeting me, they stopped short. Inches away. I fell back, confused by the lack of warmth I was feeling.
Instead, I was feeling fear. And something else. A feeling that had started within me at the same time the screams had.
My family’s faces horror-stricken faces mirrored my own. My sister, her face still twisted and dark, was the first to come up to me and wrap me in her arms.
“What’s wrong?” Her voice was soothing but urgent, her hands smoothing my hair. “Why are you screaming?”
It was only after she spoke that I was able to put a name to that feeling.
Anguish. I was feeling anguish.
This week:
Student Meetup
Student Survey
Exciting Events for International Students!
Weekly Meeting
All SSC students are invited to our weekly USA meetings, every Tuesday from 1:00 - 2:30 pm. Discuss your concerns as a student and get involved in student leadership. Meet us in JMB 128, the conference room inside the student life building!
Environmental Activism Group
Want to get involved in community building, work towards environmental change, and have opportunities to earn volunteer hours? Join the Environmental Activism Group! Zoe, our sustainability officer, will be hosting every Thursday from 2:00 - 3:00pm in JMB Student Life 128. See you there!
Sign up link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHyeY6a6Utmj2xNma0y39ePy4Ujr4S-AO0aoTXYp_6spp4Ww/viewform
Interested in starting a student club?
Student organizations are a big part of building communities on campus. USA is focused on getting student clubs off the ground this year, after the loss of them due to COVID.
First, let’s clarify what a student organization is, it’s a group of students that come together to meet, hold events, and support other students. Student clubs can be created over majors, advocacy, culture, hobbies, special interests, and more. There are many benefits to being a part of a club, and each club will have different benefits depending on its focus.
The problem USA is facing right now is we are lacking enough student leader interest in starting a club. So, if you are interested in becoming a student leader and starting a club do not hesitate! I know students already have a hefty load to carry with school, work, life, and more so USA is here to help you get the club started and running smoothly. This is an opportunity you can put on your resume to show leadership skills and to network with your peers.
If you are interested in starting a club please email yana.goddard@seattlecolleges.edu.
WSA Student Advocacy Sign-Up Form
The Washington Student Association is the official, nonpartisan, statewide representation for students in higher education. As the largest student-run, student-led organization in the state, their mission is to make higher education accessible and affordable for everyone in Washington.
This Winter, the WSA is working to pass several bills whose goal is to address the impact of increasing cost-of-living expenses, and lack of basic needs resources. These include initiatives around affordable housing, food insecurity, campus mental health resources, childcare, financial aid, and more! The only way these bills will succeed is through direct advocacy efforts by current students. By sharing your story and your experience as a college student, legislators can be convinced to pass legislation that will benefit hundreds of thousands of students.
Use this form to sign up to be a part of these historic efforts! By filling out this form, the WSA will know to contact you with opportunities to testify during the 2023 legislative session, as well as future chances to get involved.
Student Advocacy Interest Form
Check out WSA’s website at www.wastudents.org to find out more about the bills they are working on this Winter, as well as more about their organization and history of advocacy. If you have any questions, please email the WSA Organizing Manager, Molly Walker at molly@wastudents.org.
Interested in meditation?
Come down to the Food Pantry!
The food pantry is open to everyone, come down for snacks/groceries and toiletries.
Resources:
On-Campus Operations Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Phone/Voicemail: 206-934-5387
Counseling: If you are currently experiencing a crisis situation, please call 988, 911 or contact CRISIS CONNECTIONS: 1-866-427-4747 (24-HR Crisis Line)! Requests for consultation and/or non-emergency educational and personal counseling appointments should be sent to southcounseling@seattlecolleges.edu.
Hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays 11 am - 2 pm.
LOCATION: Jerry Brockey Student Center Office of Student Life, room 134 (same building as Bookstore but at the south end).
If you are in urgent need to access the pantry, please visit the Office of Student Life in JMB 125 or email Monica.Lundberg@seattlecolleges.edu to schedule an appointment.
Hours: 5:30 A.M. - 10 P.M (Monday through Friday)
Location: Robert Smith Building (RSB 50)
Primary Phone: 206-235-0911
Secondary Phone: 206-934-0911.
Additional:
If you want more information on the newsletter, or have any requests/suggestions, you can reach me at ashwak.samatar@seattlecolleges.edu.