CWU Observer

CWU Observer By the students, for the students of Central Washington University. Send us story ideas or breaking Our online team is growing, just as our web-presence is.

The Observer (COM 444) is a three credit class that meets from 1-2:30p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays in Black 227. The Observer has news, scene and sports reporters, as well as photographers, a copy desk and an online section. Working in one of the four sections will help those who want a paid editorial position in the future. The class helps reporters learn journalism and helps improve writing skill

s, which will help students get clips and build their resumes. Photographers learn about the rule-of-thirds, among other photo lessons, and copy desk—the unsung heroes of the paper—help ensure The Observer doesn’t print any inaccurate information. For those interested in any of those positions, please enroll in the class or email [email protected]. Also email if you are interested in freelancing.

For over five years, Tommy Skaggs has been making connections, adjustments and building up 88.1 The ‘Burg. Skaggs was a ...
04/09/2026

For over five years, Tommy Skaggs has been making connections, adjustments and building up 88.1 The ‘Burg. Skaggs was a communications major at CWU and graduated in 2006. He would go on to start his career at the radio station in 2021, where he would take the position of General Manager.

Read more at CWUOBSERVER.COM.

“Twelfth Night” is Central Theatre’s latest production and, with a few successful showings behind it, the team is preppi...
03/12/2026

“Twelfth Night” is Central Theatre’s latest production and, with a few successful showings behind it, the team is prepping for their next couple shows which will run this upcoming Friday the 13th through Sunday the 15th.

Read more at CWUOBSERVER.COM

Three students came forward to The Observer in the last month to allege a “systematic failure” of the Title IX process a...
02/27/2026

Three students came forward to The Observer in the last month to allege a “systematic failure” of the Title IX process at CWU, involving cases they had personally been involved with and claims ranging from prolonged investigations to miscommunication from the Title IX office.

The Title IX office at CWU is responsible for handling cases and investigations “prohibiting sex-based discrimination,” including sexual harassment, sexual violence and gender-based discrimination.

All three students, here labeled Students A, B and C, said they are involved in cases revolving around sexual harassment, violence and/or abuse, and have been in active investigations with the Title IX office following their own reports of harassment or abuse. They provided in-person evidence to The Observer to substantiate their claims.

“No one has had an experience where they felt fully supported by the university … situations where r**e allegations weren’t being taken seriously,” Student A alleged. “I have met a lot of women who said that. I feel as if they took my situation seriously because it was so extreme.”

Full story online.

🖊️:

The faculty backed vote of no confidence against President Jim Wohlpart officially passed this past Wednesday, with 375 ...
02/20/2026

The faculty backed vote of no confidence against President Jim Wohlpart officially passed this past Wednesday, with 375 (out of an eligible 455) faculty submitting their votes and a total of 306 faculty members, 81.6% of the total voting body, voting “no” they do not have confidence in Wohlpart’s leadership.

Outside of the overwhelming majority voting “no,” the official results, which were published this morning, state that 34 faculty members, 9.1%, voted “yes” they have confidence in Wohlpart’s leadership, and 35 faculty members, 9.3%, abstained from voting. The results were collected by the Faculty Senate administrative assistant and verified by an external staff member, according to an email sent out by the Faculty Senate.

The Faculty Senate Executive Committee (FSEC) also stated in their email that they “shared the results via email with President Wohlpart Wednesday evening and the Board Thursday evening. We requested a meeting with the Board of Trustees to discuss these results as soon as possible.”

These results follow a series of allegations, levied by a faculty and FSEC backed petition, against President Wohlpart ranging from “authoritarian” leadership to a consolidation of power and marginalization of faculty in the Shared Governance process.

A vote of no confidence does not immediately indicate the end of Wohlpart’s tenure at CWU, as the Board of Trustees now has to meet with the Faculty Senate and decide through subsequent meetings the best course of action following these results.

Faculty Senator and Senior Lecturer in English Ruthi Erdman explained in The Observer’s past coverage, “Wohlpart faces a faculty vote of no confidence” by Parker Wood, that “An alternate scenario is that a ‘no confidence’ vote could serve as a wake-up call, opening doors to negotiation and processes of true shared governance, with Wohlpart still as our president.”

The Observer will continue to cover this situation as it develops. Check back Thursday, Feb. 26, for further coverage.

We have a new issue out now, featuring 5 new stories covering the vote of no confidence, faculty senate, and President W...
02/12/2026

We have a new issue out now, featuring 5 new stories covering the vote of no confidence, faculty senate, and President Wohlpart. Read all stories in print or online, up now.

This story is currently on-going, and will be updated with new information as the situation develops.49 faculty members ...
02/04/2026

This story is currently on-going, and will be updated with new information as the situation develops.

49 faculty members sent a petition to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee (FSEC), on Jan. 20, requesting that the Senate authorize a vote of no confidence against President Wohlpart.

Today, Feb. 4, at 3:10 p.m. the Faculty Senate will vote on a motion regarding the petitions request, determining whether or not the vote of no confidence will be held (The Observer will update this story with the results of the motion as we receive them).

According to the FSEC, a vote of no confidence “ is a formal process through which faculty express a lack of confidence in the leadership of a university administrator. A vote of no confidence does not, by itself, remove the administrator from office. Rather, the outcome of the vote will be communicated to the Board of Trustees, and they determine any subsequent actions.”

The Observer received a copy of the faculty petition in an anonymous email from “concerned CWU faculty.” The petition is a 19 page document that details the reasoning behind the proposed vote of no confidence, with key reasons including, “Interference with faculty long-standing participation in shared governance, interference with the academic mission of the institution in ways that harm faculty, staff and students and fostering a climate of fear, intimidation and mistrust.”

The Women’s Basketball team are on their longest win streak since 1987, due in part to Senior Guard Asher Cai who has al...
01/30/2026

The Women’s Basketball team are on their longest win streak since 1987, due in part to Senior Guard Asher Cai who has already broken both school and conference records. The Wildcats currently stand at the top of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) with a 18-1 record, nine of those wins coming from GNAC opponents and going undefeated in the GNAC.

Read more at CWUOBSERVER.COM

CWU said goodbye to Football Head Coach Chris Fisk, as Fisk accepted a job as division 1 program Portland State’s Head C...
01/30/2026

CWU said goodbye to Football Head Coach Chris Fisk, as Fisk accepted a job as division 1 program Portland State’s Head Coach in Dec. 2025. Coach Fisk leaves CWU after 10 years, filling the role of Head Coach for the last six of them. Fisk leaves behind a 48-22 overall record and a 38-7 conference record. In his stead, Scott Power has been named the new football program head coach.

Read more at CWUOBSERVER.COM

Multiple racist Neo-Nazi flyers, allegedly created by a group called “Washington White Pride,” were found around the CWU...
01/30/2026

Multiple racist Neo-Nazi flyers, allegedly created by a group called “Washington White Pride,” were found around the CWU campus last Friday, leading to mass sharing and outrage on Instagram by students and ASCWU student leaders alike.

Read more at CWUOBSERVER.COM

Our first issue of the quarter is out now! Pick it up on the blue stands around campus, or read any of our stories on cw...
01/22/2026

Our first issue of the quarter is out now! Pick it up on the blue stands around campus, or read any of our stories on cwuobserver.com! Stay tuned for more story posts throughout the week.

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