Walking into Spring
OTTER FACT: A river otter can run up to 15 miles an hour on land.
Good morning Otters!
Welcome to the 🌸spring🌸 quarter Otters. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some sunshine! Hopefully, this quarter provides that shine in more ways than one. Happy sunshine, and happy easter for those who celebrated yesterday!
It’s cherry blossom season, and all of Seattle is colored pink. The pretty colors and even prettier weather have really inspired me creatively. My creative outlet is writing, which I hope to showcase within the student section this week. Your outlet may vary from singing and dancing, to painting or sculpting. Whatever form, I encourage you all to keep on creating.
As always, make sure to check out our student section for a fun story this week, and the rest of the page for event updates and helpful resources.
Have a great rest of your week Otters!
Student Section: “The Northern Dragon” by Ashwak Samatar.
“Hurrah!” The people shouted, their voices echoing off the walls of the narrow courtroom they were in.
“Hurrah!” The kingsmen shouted, holding up a large grey horn with a sword impaling it.
“Hurrah!” They all yelled in unison, everyone but the king and two men joining in the celebration.
The first man, a dark-haired, yellow-eyed young man, was sitting in the front of the courtroom. His skin was golden and flawless, except for the gash on the left side of his forehead, crusted over with blood. He was quiet, for he was on trial.
The second man was a mystery. A silent, imposing shadow in the crowd. No one in the crowd knew who he was, and there was a noticeable amount of space between him and them.
On the king’s part, he was strangely unamused. The Northern Dragon that had long been terrorizing his subjects was vanquished, injured and reduced to the weak little man he saw before him. Yet, the king was silent. As if something was weighing on his thoughts.
Before anyone could dwell on the king’s reaction for too long, a short stubby man was clearing his throat from the front of the courtroom. The King’s mage.
The crowd murmured in disapproval. Just because the King allowed it, did not mean the people had to like the man and his satanic ways.
Facing the crowd, he spoke. “Our dear subjects,” he started. “The wicked shapeshifter has been defeated, taken down by a mere sword.” He was careful not to make any sudden movements.
“We have once again returned to a magic-free kingdom. Free from the devil’s work they call witchcraft.” At the mention of witchcraft, the crowd let out obligatory sounds of disgust. It was hypocritical, but it was the only thing he could say without the people turning on him.
Magic had been banned for a decade now. For as long as the king had ruled, the people of the kingdom had been kept mortal. All creatures and practitioners had since been wiped out. The only being in the land allowed to wield magic being the King’s mage. Aside from him, no one else had dared defied the King. All except for the Northern Dragon, who had eluded their grasp for so long.
But alas, he was caught. And his trial had immediately sentenced him to death, a fixed sentence dressed up for show.
“Hurrah!” The people cheered again. And it was during this celebration that something finally dawned on the Northern Dragon. For he was silent in confusion, and not out of shame or fear like everyone else had assumed.
The Northern Dragon had never hurt anyone. In fact, he had never even been out much as a dragon. He lived most of his days out as a human, and aside from the occasional flights over the kingdom, he was nothing more than a myth.
Yet, the people had been attacked. By whom, he wasn’t sure of at first. They named him, but the Northern Dragon was innocent. A fact he became increasingly unsure of with each accusation hurled at him.
That was until now.
He was recounting his steps, wondering when he could’ve committed these crimes he was being accused of during his limited time as dragon. Wondering why he couldn’t remember his capture, or the human that had apparently been the cause of his horn being ripped off. Or why, from the little he remembered, he saw flashes of scales. Too dark to be his own, his scales matching the golden brown of his skin.
It was with that last thought that the realization hit him.
“Wait...” He whispered, too quiet to be heard.
His confidence was building. “Wait...” He breathed out again, louder. The crowd was too busy in their celebrations to hear him.
“Wait!” He finally yelled out, a hush going over the crowd and the king whipping his head up to glare at him.
It was his trial, yet he was not allowed to talk. Not really, despite what the officialities may have read. Yet, the royal court could do nothing but watch in front of the public in order to keep that front, which the Norhtern Dragon counted on.
His gaze was fixed on the horn on the table, labeled “evidence.” Something about it had bothered him all evening.
When he looked closer, he realized why.
“That horn,” he stated. “Is not mine.”
He heard murmurs behind him, the same ones directed to the mage earlier. They weren’t listening to him.
He spun around to face the crowd, finally looking away from the curious horn laid out in front of them all.
“My horn was not ripped off by a sword,” he continued. “No sword is powerful enough to rip it off as cleanly as it was.”
The Northern Dragon steeled himself for what he was about to stay, ready to face the repercussions.
“The king...is lying to you.” At this, the crowd gasped. Everyone but that shadow of a man. He stayed perfectly still, watching the dragon.
He could hear the guards moving toward him at an increasing pace, but still the Northern Dragon pushed on.
“I am innocent! Framed by another, a dragon that exists to defame my name and aid the king!” He was yelling now. “The king is the reason for your misery! Wake up!”
The crowd’s discontentment increased with every word. Some were booing him, others expressing their confusion.
One kept his gaze on the Northern Dragon being dragged away by the King’s men. Their eyes finally locked, and one yellow gaze met another.
The man smirked, nodding at the other in acknowledgment. What an interesting show it had been that night.
This week:
We’re hiring!
Spring Pizza Party!
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.