Although not commonly known, Journalism is often referred to as the fourth check and balance of American Democracy. As Americans, protected by the constitution, it is our right to freedom of the press and we shouldn't take that for granted. As a citizen of any democratic state, it is also the job of the citizen to be civically engaged in their democracy. This includes voting, lobbying, reading the news, participation in national defense, etc. The key to civil engagement however is to be an active participant not a passive one. It is increasingly worrisome that our younger generations are learning less and less about the importance of civic engagement and the relation it holds with Journalism and media.
Off Grid:
Exploring Nature Naturally
Phone, wallet, keys. The three necessities. As digital natives, we are rarely out of cell range or without our phones. Most of us are probably not thinking about the impact of our trusty digital companions. But what does it feel like to be without them? The sinking feeling in the bottom of our stomachs when we reach for our pocket and aren’t greeted by our trusty rectangles. Not being able to call, text, or signal to our friends. Missing the moment because we are scrambling for our pocket cameras. Do our phones really make life surreal?
Foraging in Whatcom County
Abe Lloyd, a senior professor at Western who studies native plants, biodiversity and Northwest Coast ethnobotany, said the PNW is a great place for foraging.
Due to the large elevation gradient between the Pacific Ocean and Cascade Mountain Range, the diversity and chance of finding edible plants is high.
“For every 1,000 feet there's a different community,” Lloyd said. “There’s all sorts of variability like uplands, wetlands, slope face and more.”
A Guide to Mountain Biking Galbraith
Bellingham offers a wide variety of mountain biking with fast flowy single track, steep technical descents and progressive jump lines.
Galbraith Mountain, located between Samish Way and Lakeway Drive, is both Bellingham’s largest mountain bike trail network and one of the biggest in the Pacific Northwest.
Ryan Josyln, trail crew leader for the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition, says Galbraith has something for everyone – with 65 miles of trails spanning 3,000 acres, the options are almost limitless.
Single Stream Recycling in Bellingham Wash.
Residents of the Sehome neighborhood in Bellingham Wa, are experiencing high amounts of litter in their streets. With a proposed conversion to single stream recycling, some residents are hopeful for change.
“Recycling kind of falls out of those tiny bins. I feel like if it was all in one, less stuff would be littered,” said Edward Ellison, a Western Washington University student, and resident of the Sehome neighborhood, while taking his garbage out Jan. 26, 2022.
