CWU Observer

11/20/2025

11/13/2025

Over the past few years, CWU has taken an attrition approach to decreasing staffing numbers at the university, in response to lower enrollment and lower state budgets. Across the state, different universities have approached these staffing reductions differently, with Western Washington University notably facing campus-wide layoffs in response to the decreased state budgets.

While the general consensus across the assorted union chapter presidents at Central has been that they would rather face attrition than layoffs, the nuance of what attrition effects on CWU’s campus has led to mixed reactions from staff and faculty alike.

Read the full story online.

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11/06/2025

In the past month, “Cats Against Assault” (CAA), the anonymous student advocacy group, publicly shared three new posts detailing claims of sexual assault on and off campus, their first such posts since 2022.

“The common thread in these stories is that CWU’s HR and Title IX departments historically ignore and dismiss dangerous behavior reported by students,” CAA stated in the description of one of their posts.

CAA’s Instagram page, originally founded in 2022, has publicized allegations dating back to 2021. A mission post from that year stated that they believed, “CWU’s Title IX Office has gained a reputation for disorganization, dismissal of federal regulations, and the revictimization of students who report sexual misconduct on campus. This is unacceptable and us cats are determined to create change.”

Read the full story online, at cwuobserver.com

11/06/2025

As the government shutdown continues, the Ellensburg City Council calls for residents to help the community during this time.

Central Students and Ellensburg residents- If you or someone you know has been impacted by the shutdown, we'd like to hear your experience.

Email The Observer at [email protected]

11/06/2025

As of Tuesday evening, the government shutdown that started on Oct. 1 became the longest shutdown in US history. Its effects have hit communities across the nation, and its effects on the combined CWU/Ellensburg community are no different.
Most directly, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for millions were delayed or canceled starting Nov. 1, and government grants have been paused for the duration of the shutdown, affecting colleges across Washington.

Read more at cwuobserver.com

11/05/2025

The Day of the Dead, also known as Día de los Mu***os, is a multi-day Latin American celebration that allows people to remember their friends and family members who have passed away. It also allows people of all identities to recognize and appreciate Latin culture.
To honor Día de los Mu***os, LSO and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicane de Aztlán (MEChA) partnered with the Multicultural Center (MCC) and the James E. Brooks Library to host a four-day festival.

Read more as well as look through our photo gallery online at cwuobserver.com

11/04/2025

CWU Administration has been using the idea of “attrition” for adapting the university’s staff size to its new student population for at least the past four years. With college enrollment on a steady decline since the pandemic in 2020, universities nationwide have been forced to adapt to smaller student populations and reduced federal funding. CWU has taken a distinctly “different” approach to handling that decrease, and its effects are being felt across the university.

Joel Klucking, senior VP of finance and administration, described how CWU is operating under this new financial situation as an “attrition model,” stating, “We have acknowledged early on that this [how CWU handles a smaller student body] was something that we needed to pivot on,” Klucking said. “As enrollment has declined, we have done the things necessary to try to match the number of faculty and staff for a student body our size.”

Read the full story online at cwuobserver.com

11/03/2025

In this special edition of Sound Bite our columnist takes his picks for the most exciting artists out right now, and who might be up next. Read the full article out now on our website!

10/30/2025

OUT NOW: To celebrate Rocky Horror’s 50th anniversary, every issue of this weeks Observer release comes with a FREE collectors edition CWU Rocky Horror Picture Show poster, designed by and photographed by !! Pick up your free poster today and send us a photo of it in your room for a chance to be featured in our future content!

10/29/2025

A quick thank you message to everyone who has supported so far, and a thank you to everyone who will continue to support The Observer as we try our hardest to keep the legacy alive. Here’s to 110 more years.

10/23/2025

If you attended the Wellington Wildfire, tag us in your posts to be featured on our website and social media!

Students came together for a special wildfire-themed community event created to bring people together in a calm and fun environment. This event featured food trucks, live music and a warm fire pit that students gathered around to heat up in the cool weather.

Smoke from the fire filled the air, creating a firewood aroma. Long lines formed in front of the food trucks as hungry students waited to get free hot dogs, pop corn and ice cream. Screams could be heard as one person won a game and got a prize, while chatter scattered through the environment like the breeze in the air. There were also many people around the fire, chatting it up and enjoying the relaxing scenery. Music still continued to play, each song garnered dancing and singing out of students that were present.

Read more at cwuobserver.com

10/03/2025

Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” (TLOAS) is a 41 minute 15 second album, and for millions around the world, the only one that will be playing on loop for the rest of the fall season. But unlike her last project “The Tortured Poets Department,” (TTPD) TLOAS is short, sweet and channels everything Taylor promised when the project was announced just a few months ago.

On the surface, tracks like Opalite and Wood tell the story of Taylor’s now blossoming relationship with Travis Kelce, with the album release closely following their own engagement. It’s a much happier album, with its fast pace reflecting the tone of a majority of the project. Love hit her like a truck, and so does this album’s quick, upbeat tones.

You can read the rest of this review on our website now, the link is in our bio!