From magician@u.washington.edu Wed Jan 28 12:06:49 1998 Received: from jason01.u.washington.edu (root@jason01.u.washington.edu [140.142.70.24]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP id MAA49362; Wed, 28 Jan 1998 12:06:44 -0800 Received: from homer13.u.washington.edu (magician@homer13.u.washington.edu [140.142.70.14]) by jason01.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP id MAA28512; Wed, 28 Jan 1998 12:06:42 -0800 Received: from localhost (magician@localhost) by homer13.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.04) with SMTP id MAA130838; Wed, 28 Jan 1998 12:06:41 -0800 Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 12:06:41 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Allen Reply-To: Michael Allen To: uwtaction@u.washington.edu, lsinfo@u.washington.edu, uwtpride@u.washington.edu, uwtequity@u.washington.edu, cc: Laura Nole Subject: Are we all "Huskies"? Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Hi, There are a couple of letters to the editor in this week's Ledger that invite comment. If the Ledger wants to eventually print this letter it is fine with me, but I thought I would get something out onto the line pronto. First, and quickly, I think Steve Smith has already adequately addressed concerns about this year's commencement. I can only add that the letters I saw and the angry voices I've heard on this issue must be coming mostly from students who are new to the University and have no idea of how these decisions were made and the degree of participation from STUDENTS IN ALL PROGRAMS that, over the past eight years, has determined our commencement policies. I might add that I've helped to organize and have attended every commencement ceremony here, and I think last year's, at UPS, was one of the best we've had. I'm looking forward to '98 and thank Steve for all his work on this. But there are bigger fish to fry: The issue of (egad!) COUGAR GEAR AT THE UWT BOOKSTORE... How to begin? I guess by first saying that I earned my advanced degree at UWS and I have worked for UWT for 8 years. Moreover, in 1961, I was seen running down 8th Street in Ellensburg, WA screaming jubilantly when the Huskies waxed Wisconsin in the '61 Rose Bowl, 44-8. Having said that, I CANNOT agree with those angry cries that imply 'disloyalty' and even treason (!) because our wonderful Bookstore sells Cougar gear. Let me submit: 1. We, at UWT, are not "Huskies." We are a branch campus of UWS with no football field, frat houses, dorms, or 18 year-olds running around wearing "Woof" hats. Indeed, five years ago, an ASUWT committee recommended choosing a new mascot and colors for UWT but was literally ordered by UWS to cease and desist in any such endeavor. Go figure. 2. Examine your loyalties. This year, the UWS Athletic Administration rewarded UWT's loyalty to the Huskies with **21** (count 'em) tickets to the Apple Cup. Woof! Woof! By that same ratio, their own UWS student body would be awarded a measly 500 tickets! Evidently some "Huskies" are more equal than others. 3. Sure, many of us at UWT are Husky fans but many are Cougar fans too. Tacoma and South Sound--the area we serve--has a BIG Cougar connection. Many South Sounders are Cougs, and scores of Lincoln, Wilson, Puyallup, Stadium, etc High School grads have played football for Washington State. 4. These South Sounders who UWT serves have always been grateful for the fact that the UWT Bookstore has, since its opening in 1990, sold Cougar apparel and gear. I have always considered this marketing policy to be one of the many charming and individualistic aspects of our Bookstore. So, THANK YOU, Laura Nole, for stocking up for this, the Cougs' greatest year. As for '98 and the Pullman Apple Cup, let the best team win. And let all of us here at UWT buy the apparel for whichever team we support. Adios, m.a. ___________________________________________________________________________ Mike Allen, Ph.D. Associate Professor of History and American Studies Liberal Studies Program/Box 358436 University of Washington, Tacoma 1900 Commerce Street/Tacoma WA 98402-3100 PH 253-692-4466/EMAIL magician@u.washington.edu/FAX 253-692-5612 ___________________________________________________________________________ .