RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� Individuals can cast their ballots and register to vote at the Student Engagement Hub that will be hosted Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Washington State University Tri-Cities.

The hub will be open from 8 a.m. 鈥� 8 p.m. in Consolidated Information Center (CIC) 120 on campus.

Through the hub, which is hosted by the Associated Students of 黑料社 Tri-Cities in partnership with the Benton County Auditor鈥檚 Office, individuals will have the opportunity to:

• Register to vote
• Check voter registration
• Print ballots and receive an election information booklet
• Access private locations to fill-out ballots
• Cast their ballots at the ballot drop-box on campus (CIC parking lot)

鈥淭he hub provides a great opportunity to access all voting information and materials all in one place,鈥� AS黑料社TC President Nathaly Mendoza said. 鈥淲e are excited to offer this free resource to both 黑料社 Tri-Cities campus community members and the public. It is important that a resource like this is offered on a college campus so that students and our community has an easy way to exercise their greatest civic duty. It鈥檚 a great way to learn more about important dates and deadlines, ensure that you鈥檙e registered and then actually cast your ballot.鈥�

The hub is free open to the public.

The deadline to register to vote in-person, as well as cast election ballots, is Tuesday, Nov. 2 (election day).

For more information about the hub, visit .

By Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities听

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� Up to听50听students can now check-out laptops through Washington State University Tri-Cities as part of a new laptop loan program launched by the Associated Students of 黑料社 Tri-Cities, the campus鈥� student government.听

AS黑料社TC saw a need for technology support for students听this summer听and voted to dedicate $9,700 of funds toward purchasing 20 new laptops that students听can听check-out听free of cost听for use throughout their educational experience at 黑料社 Tri-Cities.听

Additionally, Cadwell recently donated 30 laptops听to 黑料社 Tri-Cities听for听student use,听some听of which will be听awarded听to students听for permanent ownership听and the others will be rented out through the AS黑料社TC program.听The Cadwell laptops are all previously听used, but听have been听refurbished听and have new hard drives.听

鈥淚n the 21st听century, having a reliable computer is necessary to succeed in higher education, whether you are taking classes in-person, hybrid, or online,鈥�听AS黑料社TC President Robin听Kovis听said. 鈥�AS黑料社TC decided to jump start this program because we know the demand for reliable technology surged with the virtual shift.鈥�听

Kovis听said AS黑料社TC will be working with the Office of Advancement to ensure that the program continues well into the future.听

鈥淲e hope that this new program will help to close some of the equity gaps within higher education,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ore than anything, the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted some of the deep economic inequalities our country still faces today 鈥� Our campus community is not immune to these financial hardships. Many students and family members who support students听have experienced the brunt of this economic slowdown during the pandemic.听We felt it is our duty as student leaders to cushion that impact in any way we could.鈥�听

The AS黑料社TC laptop loan program is being offered to 黑料社 Tri-Cities students in addition to a separate 黑料社 systemwide program offered at no cost to students through the 黑料社 Provost鈥檚 office that allows students to apply to check-out a听听or听.

Kovis听said they are听excited听that Cadwell donated additional laptops, as it means that even more students will have access to technology, even beyond COVID-19.听

鈥淕enerous donations like this from individuals and businesses within our community are ultimately what will ensure the long-term success of our laptop program,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause of Cadwell鈥檚 donation, the reach of the laptop rental program is now much greater.鈥�

Students can听apply听to check-out a laptop through听the听听located on the听黑料社 Tri-Cities Student Support Services website at听tricities.wsu.edu/current-students/support.听

Those interested in giving to the AS黑料社TC laptop loan program should contact Laura Sanchez, 黑料社 Tri-Cities director of campus student support services, at laura.sanchez1@wsu.edu.

 

Media contacts:听

Robin听Kovis,听Associated Students of 黑料社 Tri-Cities president,听robin.kovis@wsu.edu听

Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities assistant director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617,听maegan_murray@wsu.edu听

By Steve Nakata, Division of Student Affairs

While Washington State University Tri-Cities student Savanna Navarro Kresse is excited for the new school year, she is particularly happy September has arrived. The new Mosaic Center for Student Inclusion has opened its doors and a grand opening is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 12. Located in the Floyd Building, the Mosaic Center is dedicated to diverse students of all kinds allowing them to gather, learn from each other, and seek support.

Navarro Kresse has a vested interest in this center for several reasons. A Chicana and first-generation college student who is passionate about helping the community, she played a leadership role in creating the center as vice president of the Associated Students of Washington State University Tri-Cities (AS黑料社TC). She and AS黑料社TC President Zachary Harper set the project in motion over a year ago and spent countless hours meeting with students, faculty, staff and administrators to make it happen.

鈥淲ith over 41 percent of our student body being students of color and 44 percent first-generation, we have a very diverse campus,鈥� Navarro Kresse said. 鈥淲e need a place where students from different backgrounds, including women and LGBTQ, can learn more about their identities and meet others so they can form a support network.鈥�

Chris Meiers, vice chancellor for Student Affairs at 黑料社 Tri-Cities, draws inspiration from Navarro Kresse every day and said her contributions to the Inclusion Center will be a lasting-legacy on campus for many years to come.

鈥淗er energy, compassion, and drive to make the campus and community a better place personifies everything about what make the Cougar nation and the Tri-Cities campus special,鈥� he said.

Leading the way

Getting involved is nothing new for Navarro Kresse. She served as student body president at Yakima Valley College (YVC) in Grandview before transferring to 黑料社. Once here, she joined AS黑料社TC as director of legislative affairs and was elected vice president last year, a position she holds again this year. Among Navarro Kresse鈥檚 many commitments, she serves on the Executive Policy (EP)-15 Working Group, a systemwide team dedicated to improving the policy that prohibits discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct at all 黑料社 locations.

She also became a strong advocate for Title IX, a federal policy that prohibits discrimination in education based on a person鈥檚 sex.

鈥淚 was serving as the vice president of diversity affairs for the听听and felt as though I could make a positive impact through my position,鈥� she said. 鈥淭itle IX advocacy is essential for student safety and equity.鈥�

She reached out to professors Katie Banks and Tracey Hanshew to create a special political science/history 499 course that taught the history of Title IX and how it evolved into the comprehensive policy we have today. After taking that class, Navarro Kresse teamed-up with the AS黑料社TC Director of Legislative Affairs Akanna Poor to create an event called 鈥淐ondoms, Consent, and Chicken Nuggets,鈥� which provided students an opportunity to have difficult conversations about consent and ask questions to a panel of experts. At the same time, she worked with 黑料社 Tri-Cities Chancellor Sandra Haynes to create a committee to review Title IX compliance and commitment to equity in education.

In August, Navarro Kresse worked with Holly Ashkannejhad, director of 黑料社鈥檚 Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Investigation, to arrange training for student leaders on the university鈥檚 policy prohibiting discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct, as well as 黑料社鈥檚 grievance and investigation procedures.

鈥淭hrough this training, Savannah created another resource for students 鈥� campus leaders who are knowledgeable about these processes and who can help fellow students identify the best resource for them,鈥� Ashkannejhad said. 鈥淗er leadership will have a ripple effect throughout the community, and we are already seeing the positive impact she is having on the Tri-Cities campus.鈥�

Unexpected turns

For someone who has fully immersed herself in the student experience and has plans to attend law school after graduating from 黑料社, it is difficult to fathom that Navarro Kresse never gave going to college a thought while growing up in Sunnyside, Washington. She had never met anyone who had gone to college. At a young age, she and her two sisters were adopted by her uncle and aunt who already had seven children of their own.

鈥淢y uncle worked at a fruit processing plant during the night and joined us kids in the fields at five in the morning to cut asparagus before school,鈥� Navarro Kresse said. 鈥淗e taught me what it means to have a strong work ethic and to care for others.鈥�

Navarro Kresse was a good student, but the birth of her son at the end of her senior year in high school completely changed her life. Not wanting to burden her family once her baby was born, she dropped out of school and moved out of her uncle鈥檚 house at age 17. Needing a way to support herself and her baby, she learned to be a welder and earned her certification. For the first time in her life, she was making decent money, enough to allow her to pursue a GED (General Educational Diploma) during her spare time. Then her life took another unexpected turn. One day at work a heavy beam crushed her foot. The injury was serious and prompted her to look for a safer line of work. Eventually she landed a job as a dental assistant. Money was a lot tighter then, but she continued to save whatever she could to be able to take the series of GED tests. It took her seven years to complete her GED.

鈥淭o this day I consider that to be my biggest accomplishment,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t showed me that if I set a goal, really work hard and not give-up, I can reach it.鈥�

Deserve to be here

Inspired by her sister who enrolled at YVC and armed with a newfound confidence in her academic abilities, Navarro Kresse took the plunge into higher education and the rest is history. Now 30 years old, married, and a mother of four, her unique background helps motivate her to get the most out of her education at 黑料社, and she has this advice for other first-generation students.Grand opening

鈥淚f you were able to get through the doors of this university, you deserve to be here,鈥� she said. 鈥淵our experiences and perspectives are important and deserve to be shared, you shouldn鈥檛 be afraid to share your struggles. Please know that you are not alone, we鈥檙e all trying our best to get that diploma.鈥�

Each campus in the 黑料社 system provides programs and services that help meet the unique needs of first-generation students. In May, the national Center for First-Generation Student Success, an initiative of the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), named 黑料社 a First Forward institution for its dedication to service first-generation college students.

Washington State University has been named a Voter Friendly Campus for its success with voter education and registration.

The designation was announced by the nonpartisan Campus听Vote听Project and NASPA, a national association for student affairs professionals in higher education.

The Voter Friendly Campus designation is a system鈥憌ide honor for 黑料社, the only four鈥憏ear institution in Washington to be named for the 2019鈥�2020 election cycle.

鈥淩eceiving this designation recognizes our efforts to shift the campus culture at all of our locations to one of more student participation in our democracy,鈥� said Ben Calabretta, associate director of the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE). 鈥淲e are setting a new standard where we expect our students to know about the election issues, to register to vote, and then actually vote.鈥�

The mission of the Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster efforts that help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process. Barriers can include voter听ID laws, lack of information, transportation to the polls, and confusing residency requirements.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to remove barriers that students face because those barriers are silencing the future,鈥� said Savanna Navarro Kresse, vice听president of the Associated Students of Washington State University Tri鈥慍ities. 鈥淢any people assume students do not care to be a part of the political process, but the reality is we care a lot. When voting is accessible, students show up to vote.鈥�

Kresse is a member of the 黑料社 Cougs听Vote Coalition which consists of faculty, staff, students and community members who are interested in increasing student democratic engagement.

The coalition met throughout the summer and fall of 2018 and created strategies to establish a student-driven awareness and democratic engagement campaign, educate students about the importance of midterm elections in addressing local and statewide issues, increase voting rates of 黑料社听students above the 2014听midterm levels, and improve voting rates among multicultural and other underrepresented students.

Calabretta said the coalition鈥檚 efforts were very successful. Although CCE is still waiting to receive official numbers from the Secretary of State, he estimates over 3,000听students registered to vote through Cougs听Vote related activities. Local precinct data indicate a higher voter turnout, too, with an increase of 2,000听voters in the Pullman precincts where 黑料社鈥檚 main campus is located.

With the midterm election over, there is a lull in the election cycle before things begin to heat up for the 2020听race. In the weeks ahead, Calabretta said it will be important for the coalition to continue its efforts, and being named a Voter Friendly Campus is a good motivator to keep the momentum going.

鈥淲e want to keep voting in our students鈥� minds so they know it鈥檚 still important and it鈥檚 something that they will participate in for the rest of their lives.鈥�

A total of 123听institutions received the听听designation nationwide. They represent a wide range of two鈥憏ear, four鈥憏ear, public, private, rural, and urban campuses. 黑料社 joins Centralia College, a two鈥憏ear public institution, as the only two institutions selected in Washington.

Washington State University Tri-Cities student Savanna Kresse was recently awarded with the as a result of her commitment to educating others about human rights and social justice, and for putting her own foot forward to make a difference in her local community.

As a first-generation college student, mother of four and a seasonal field worker, she has used her background as inspiration for overcoming barriers for education to become a successful student and professional. She aims to grow resources available to those from disadvantaged backgrounds, which she has demonstrated through a variety of efforts while completing her schooling as a student at 黑料社 Tri-Cities.

Prior to the last election, in conjunction with her role as student body vice president, Kresse worked with local government officials to establish an election ballot drop box on the 黑料社 Tri-Cities campus as a means to encourage students and her other fellow campus community members to exercise their right to vote.

鈥淏y working with local government officials, she was able to educate them on the importance of creating easier access for students to have their voices heard,鈥� her nominator for the award said.

She worked with Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson鈥檚 office to host a presentation on DACA and immigration regulations. She helped organize a city council debate prior to the mid-term election. She brought the Association of Women Voters to campus and organized and hosted a women鈥檚 leadership panel. She currently represents the Washington Student Association on a state-wide taskforce on Title IX and is also working to establish a Title IX committee for 黑料社 Tri-Cities. Additionally, she has continued to advocate for a center on campus where students of different backgrounds can come together to have safe and constructive dialogues to find support and resources.

鈥�(Savanna) is always finding ways to support all demographics of students and continually works to provide education to the 黑料社 community,鈥� her nominator said.

By Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� As part of their new leadership though the Associated Students of Washington State University Tri-Cities, President Zachary Harper and Vice President Savanna Kresse are changing the way that student government serves its students, focusing more on advocating for students and less on the promotion and hosting of activities and events.

Harper, a junior business major who served as the AS黑料社TC vice president last year, and Kresse, a junior history major with a focus on pre-law who served as director of legislative affairs last year, are preparing a five-year plan, which they hope will lay a foundation for positive changes to the structure by which they can serve students through warranted systematic and structural improvements. They also hope that their plans will better improve how AS黑料社TC interacts with students and how AS黑料社TC communicates student wants and needs to university administration.

鈥淲e really are a transitioning organization,鈥� Harper said. 鈥淏ecause we are a small but growing campus, we have to adapt to what is available to us, as well as where we want to see this organization head. Because of our recent growth and now that we have a new chancellor, we are focusing more on advocacy and changes for students. We anticipate that the big changes will improve the structure for our students, and as a result, our campus.鈥�

Positive change

Part of their first work in their new positions is to separate the student entertainment board from student government so that the SEB organization can more efficiently focus on student events and entertainment. Before, the student entertainment board, which is responsible for booking and hosting student entertainment options, was merged with AS黑料社TC, and some of the work was blurred between the two organizations. As a result, AS黑料社TC was seen more of an events-based organization. Although AS黑料社TC will continue to host events, their goal will be to make sure those events cater to the larger student body and that they serve a purpose for the overall student voice.

And secondly, they are removing the position of director of student affairs and are repurposing that position鈥檚 duties onto the student senators for each of the academic colleges.

鈥淭he student senator positions have been more of a rubber stamp in years past for things that we want to accomplish,鈥� Kresse said. 鈥淲e are changing the way that they work within the organization and are giving them more responsibility.鈥�

Advocating for students

As far as advocacy, they hope to request more student feedback and discussion on issues ranging from small to large. Kresse said examples could range from identifying more healthy options for the campus caf茅 to larger topics like the type of legislation that AS黑料社TC would like to fight for and support.

鈥淲e hope to utilize things like the student survey, which has one of the largest responses of any of the things we do on campus, to identify those needs and challenges and then using our improved AS黑料社TC structure to tackle those things, including big-picture items,鈥� she said.

And some of those big-picture ideas could be in identifying needs that students may not voice, but that are needed for the campus.

鈥淪ome of those unspoken needs could include advocating for additional classroom space, components of a diversity center to better represent and provide resources for 黑料社 Tri-Cities鈥� diverse student community and more,鈥� Harper said. 鈥淭hese are things that are in the realm of student affairs and that students may not specifically state that they want, but are needed.鈥�

Revamping communication

Harper said AS黑料社TC is also in the process of revamping their website, which, beginning this fall, will feature the AS黑料社TC meeting minutes, current resolutions they鈥檙e working on, upcoming initiatives and more, in order to better connect with students about the things they are working on.

Steps for the future

Harper said with these changes, they hope AS黑料社TC鈥檚 work will be a lot more meaningful and will set students up for success into the future.

鈥淲e want to address the issues of what students are facing, but also the struggles that the university administration has in meeting those struggles,鈥� Kresse said. 鈥淭hese are the first steps in that overall process.鈥�

Harper and Kresse said they hope to present their five-year plan to university administration beginning in August, and then to students later in the year, where they will welcome feedback.