Seattle U Spectator

Seattle U Spectator The Spectator has been the official student newspaper of Seattle University since 1933.

Wilder wrote “Our Town” to require minimal props, scenery and set, using absence to draw attention to the smallest detai...
05/31/2026

Wilder wrote “Our Town” to require minimal props, scenery and set, using absence to draw attention to the smallest details of life and the fleeting nature of memories. The play’s minimalist style not only led this cast to become proficient in pantomiming, but made the Lee Center feel more spacious and exposed than ever before. Audience seating—typically tiered rows in front of a designated stage space—was made up of single rows of ground-level mismatched vintage wooden chairs gathered around five circular wooden platforms of varying sizes.

Black curtains that previously shaped the space were removed; all four walls were instead painted with earth-toned houses, train tracks and stables that make up a small town. Characters off-stage created sound effects for characters onstage—whether it be a full coop of clucking chickens, a disgruntled horse or humming crickets—that echoed through the open space.

“This show is about life, death and everything in between, and how it’s okay to let go, and how not everything is forever,” Lily Cibene-Ingram, assistant director, assistant stage manager and co-music director, said. “That really speaks to the building itself. When you’re watching this production, you will see every inch of [the Lee Center]. I love that, because it’s the last time you get to really look at every inch of that building.”

(✍️) Keagen Brooks-Torres
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(📸) Sasha Volovnikov

This sentiment is central to why Impact! hosts these events. Shulga-Morskoy acknowledged the difficulty of finding trust...
05/21/2026

This sentiment is central to why Impact! hosts these events. Shulga-Morskoy acknowledged the difficulty of finding trustworthy organizations to work with in the creative industry.

“We live in a world that is kind of trying to rip you off constantly,” Shulga-Morsky said. “Most things or places that you go to are kind of scummy, and you have to constantly navigate this mental minefield of not getting scammed or not giving your money to a bad person, just to exist in society now.”

Along with the progressive nature of the tabling fee, artists are able to collect substantial revenue from the event. Ride found the previous Furswaps to be a major contributor to her finances during her recovery from an injury.

“I’m about to finally settle the debt that I was in,” Ride said. “I had some taxes over the last couple of years that I haven’t paid just because I was injured in 2024.”

(✍️, 📸) Matthew Mai (that’s me!)

According to Anderson, though, the real hero of Q***r Prom was the MOSAIC Center’s Graduate Program Coordinator Madi Ste...
05/20/2026

According to Anderson, though, the real hero of Q***r Prom was the MOSAIC Center’s Graduate Program Coordinator Madi Stephens. Stephens, who also ran last year’s Q***r Prom, did a great deal of work to ensure that the event was a success.

“Madi does everything. Madi is a genius–she’s done an amazing job,” Anderson said. “I need her to get every piece of flowers she deserves. She ran [Q***r Prom] like the Navy.”

For Stephens, this year’s Q***r Prom was more than just an event—it was actually part of her preparation to graduate with a Master’s of Fine Arts in arts leadership this spring. As Stephens’ time as a graduate student at Seattle U wraps up, this event will serve as a summary project for her thesis.

“My thesis is exploring how temporary spaces are essentially like sculptural installations because I’m a sculptor. I’m viewing this physical space as a sculptor and seeing how people interact with it,” Stephens said. “Seeing the visual and performance elements of [Q***r Prom], seeing it as a piece of art, is very exciting to me.”

(✍️) Kean Mathis
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(📸) Justin Hartshorn

Due to the limited budget, most actors’ costumes were sourced second-hand or from other people’s closets. Props were lar...
05/20/2026

Due to the limited budget, most actors’ costumes were sourced second-hand or from other people’s closets. Props were largely made at the Billodue Makerspace on campus or were donated.

Bhananker, who portrayed Morticia Addams, the matriarch of the family, channeled her own mother when performing.

“It’s funny because I feel like Morticia and I are pretty different. When I’m [playing Morticia] I kind of feel like my mom, because there’s scenes where she plays the exasperated, angry mother who’s just like, ‘No one in this family can do anything right!’” Bhananker said. “But I have a lot of fun playing her because she’s very moody and she doesn’t pull any punches.”

The director for this production was Fourth-year Film major Navy Williams. After playing Orin Scrivello, the sadistic dentist in last year’s Inigo musical, “Little Shop of Horrors,” she decided that she wanted to direct the following year’s musical.

(✍️) Julia Pilch
Click the link in our story or bio to read the full A&E article.
(📸) Roan Tierney

She outlined the widespread misconceptions regarding the medication. It isn’t simply an ‘abortion pill’ as it’s framed b...
05/20/2026

She outlined the widespread misconceptions regarding the medication. It isn’t simply an ‘abortion pill’ as it’s framed by legislators: it is used frequently and effectively in a variety of medical capacities. Carr stated that mifepristone was initially used in ulcer repair and other medical treatments unrelated to abortion.

She explained how state residents will face new obstacles in accessing mifepristone, even with Washington state’s stockpiling of the medication. Though the state is in support of reproductive rights, the ban will still have negative effects for some WA residents, like rural and other communities who may rely on telehealth for facilitating healthcare.

“Even if the drug itself is still physically available, the process of getting access to it is going to become more onerous,” Carr said.

The Dobbs decision was a result of President Trump’s appointment of three conservative judges in his first term, which solidified a conservative majority in the Supreme Court. The ramifications of this ruling span beyond the scope of abortions, as Roe v. Wade is deeply linked to legal understandings of personal privacy.

(✍️) Lucia Feeney
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(📸) Netta Lee

The following is an excerpt from a May 7 interview. Initials indicate the speaker.MD: How did you get into golf?JK: My d...
05/20/2026

The following is an excerpt from a May 7 interview. Initials indicate the speaker.

MD: How did you get into golf?

JK: My dad was the person who got me started in golf. I started when I was 3 years old, just with plastic clubs, but then just smashing balls all the way up to middle school. That is when I wanted to actually start playing golf competitively. I started playing tournaments and traveling around the world to compete.

MD: What made you decide to continue golf into college?

JK: During high school, I knew I wanted to play professionally and that I wanted to do golf in the future. Golf in college was just another step towards my goal.

MD: What keeps you motivated when playing golf?

JK: I would say the competitiveness. I love competition and competing against everyone. When I win, it feels like a reward.

(✍️) Maya DeGuzman
Click the link in our story or bio to read the full sports article.
(📸) Jandin Muromoto

This performance was followed by a performance of Maha Yeak by Dany Srey-Snow, the artistic director of Srey Selepak SEA...
05/18/2026

This performance was followed by a performance of Maha Yeak by Dany Srey-Snow, the artistic director of Srey Selepak SEA. Srey Selepak is a contemporary Southeast Asian dance project that focuses on channeling the divine feminine through ritual, movement and innovation. The project honors the lineage of ancestral traditions and reimagines them into a contemporary Western context, all while creating new pathways for cultural expression and collective healing. Srey-Snow is also a co-founder (along with her husband) of Studio 7117, a creative studio and safe space in Pioneer Square which sold Khmer photographs and t-shirts at the showcase.

The first community speaker of the night was Bunthay Cheam, a community organizer and co-treasurer of the Khmer Anti-Deportation and Advocacy group (KHAAG). KHAAG is an organization that works on deportation defense for community members, specifically members of Cambodian, Vietnamese and Laos origins, as well as all those who may need help with deportation defense. Cheam touched on the importance of events such as these for creating connections across generations.

“It’s events like this that have different generations showing up,” Cheam said. “You have the students obviously, then you have the grandparents that may have more of a cultural tie back to the homeland… This space creates that intergenerational connection.”

(✍️, 📸) Diego Dumlao

Lastly, the Letter of Demands requested to meet with Neumos management to discuss improving their working conditions. Ne...
05/17/2026

Lastly, the Letter of Demands requested to meet with Neumos management to discuss improving their working conditions. Neumos Workers United described their back-and-forth efforts to set up a meeting with management as “obstructed at every step,” until management and ownership agreed to meet with staff April 23. However, April 21, Neumos management sent an email to the organization requiring that five staff members, whom they selected and named, were the only people allowed at the meeting, and when Neumos Workers United refused, Neumos’ General Manager canceled the meeting.

Following the cancellation, Neumos Workers United publicized their organization on May 1 (International Workers Day) to an ongoing wave of enthusiastic support from local businesses, community members and Neumos, Barboza and Runaway patrons. Neumos Workers United’s Instagram was flooded with comments in support of the movement, and the account has reached over 1,200 followers in the 12 days it’s been active. Northwest Terror Fest, the three-day heavy metal festival held at Neumos and Barboza May 7-9, released a statement in support of the organization. Neumos Workers United solidarity pins are available at Black Cat, The Wash, Montana and Montana Badlands.

Following Neumos Workers United going public on May 1, four staff members met with Neumos’ General Manager, Security Manager and Neumos Co-owner Jason Lajeunesse May 6. The company agreed to begin paying for radio earpieces, flashlights and security shirts—which employees were previously expected to pay for out of pocket. Lajeunesse said in the meeting he would talk with Nuemos’ Security Manager about appropriate staffing levels, and that he was reviewing pay rates with the company’s accountants.

(✍️) Keagen Brooks-Torres
Click the link in our story or bio to read the full news article
(📸) Lucia Feeney

With this information on hand, Vergeront and his team were on high alert, monitoring Canvas, and noticed the hack within...
05/17/2026

With this information on hand, Vergeront and his team were on high alert, monitoring Canvas, and noticed the hack within minutes. They sent out information to students and faculty via Redhawks Hub starting at 2:17 p.m. May 7, advising users not to attempt to access Canvas until further notice.

Students were immediately concerned about the status of their data, as well as whether classes, midterms or homework assignments would be postponed. President of Student Government of Seattle U Diego Gonzalez had both students and professors bringing these concerns to him.

“[Professors] were also freaking out because they didn’t know what to do. They didn’t know how to support students. They didn’t know when Canvas was going to come online. All that unknown caused a lot of uncertainty, which resulted in stress from everybody at the university,” Gonzalez said.

(✍️) Hadia Noor Ahmed
Click the link in our story or bio to read the full news article.
(📸) Annabelle DeGuzman-Carino

Earlier this week, a 19-year-old transgender woman who was a student at the University of Washington was killed in the l...
05/16/2026

Earlier this week, a 19-year-old transgender woman who was a student at the University of Washington was killed in the laundry room of her place of residence, Nordheim Court. This tragedy has harshly reminded the people of Seattle that, while the city is largely viewed as a safe bubble for LGBTQ+ individuals, American political leaders advocating for the eradication of transgender people have normalized senseless violence. This act of violence shows where rhetoric turns to action, where hate becomes deadly and horrific, where words warp beyond mere cruelty and cause irreversible harm.

While Washington state helped lead the legal fight against Donald Trump’s executive order blocking gender-affirming care and has passed bills to protect the right to such medical services in the state, national anti-trans rhetoric from far-right groups continues to impact the lived experiences of the transgender community.

Beyond the indescribable horror of the murder, this potential hate crime is compounded by the now-canceled anti-trans Turning Point USA-UW event that was scheduled for this week. This follows just weeks after the previous TPUSA “Prove Me Wrong” event ended in arrests for student protestors and calls for UW administration to take action against the organization that promotes such violent rhetoric and prejudicial thinking.

But can the two events truly be disconnected? Can the murder of a transgender student be fully separated from an event designed to advocate against the existence of trans people?

(✍️) The Spectator Editorial Board

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