ScholarWorks @ SeattleU (Seattle University)

Sebastian Cuadra Agudelo, Josh Alexander, Sophia Castro, & Cleo McBrid

Seattle University

Spotlight on the Core 1: The Urgency to be Heard: Taking a Stand on Climate Change

Lilka Clocksin, “Ecology and Life History Evolution in Algae,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Zanis
Solana Dicus, “Effects of CO2 and Nitrogen Levels on Liverwort Growth and Development,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Zanis
Mackenzie Dierich, “Phenotypic Response to Sulfur Starvation in Arabidopsis Thaliana,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Zanis
Sarah Mitchell, Tarini Rapelly, and Brynja Severtson, “Hanging Around with Bushtits: Analysis of Nest Composition,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Hartley
Julieta Peralta, “Characterization of BrxC, a AAA+ ATPase of the BREX Bacterial Defense System,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brett Kaiser
Rohan Sethi, “Impact of Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Disease in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, ” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stephen Luckey
Laurel Shepherd, “Hopping around the Salish Sea: Investigating how shoreline modification affects the invertebrate community,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lindsay Whitlow
Nicole Teola, “Genetic Variation and Cryptic Speciation in Green Algae,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Zani

Biology Lightning Talks

Editors of The Spectator

English

Spectator 2025-05-22

Scott, Tristan

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
5-28-2025 
2025-05-28 Trans Community Rallies as Far-Right Organization 
Arrives in Seattle 
Tristan Scott 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
The Spectator • May 28, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/05/28/trans-community-rallies-as-
far-right-organization-arrives-in-seattle/
Trans Community Rallies as Far-
Right Organization Arrives in
Seattle
Tristan Scott, Staff Reporter
The sun beat down on hundreds of faces crowded together
in Cal Anderson Park May 24. What would have been a
perfect day to sunbathe became a sweltering nightmare as
two opposing protests made their way through the park.
Clouds of dust were kicked up beneath marching feet,
mixing with the sweat dripping off faces. The noise could be
heard from blocks away, a cacophony of music, chanting
and police sirens. 
At the center of the park, a massive stage had been
constructed by far-right Christian organization Mayday
USA, bringing their nationwide “Don’t Mess With Our Kids”
tour to Seattle. Throughout the day, the event hosts
delivered sermons on “gender ideology,” abortion and the
ongoing “war on children,” as well as playing gospel music. 
Metal barricades surrounded the crowd of supporters as baton-wielding officers from the Seattle Police Department (SPD) faced
away from the stage and towards the swaths of counter-protesters. Despite only having roughly a week’s notice to prepare,
members of the transgender community and their allies showed up in massive numbers, at some points appearing to outnumber the
original group of Mayday demonstrators.
“This group is coming out here promoting Christian nationalism, pushing hate and denying healthcare services to people in our
community. They aren’t even from Seattle,” one counter-protester said as he waved a large rainbow pride flag.
Through their website and social media accounts, Mayday USA makes their anti-trans and anti-abortion stance explicitly clear.
“Today, in Peru, transgenderism is classified as a mental illness, and life is defined at conception. It’s our turn!” their website states.
Eve Labriola
Christian pro-life group Mayday USA takes the stage at Cal
Anderson
When Mayday supporters began advertising their upcoming rally to parkgoers, word spread through social media like wildfire. Just
hours after the first Mayday fliers were spotted in Cal Anderson, plans for a counter-protest had been finalized. Local punk bands
were scheduled to drown out Mayday’s speakers with music while organizations like Capitol Hill Pride provided water and medical
assistance to protesters. 
One group heavily involved in organizing the rally was the Seattle chapter of Refuse Fascism. The organization has been active since
Donald Trump’s first presidential term, aiming to unite and organize all communities affected by his administration.
“When we started in 2016, a lot of people didn’t want us to use the word fascism because they thought it would upset people, I kid
you not. It’s sad, but we have to tell the people the truth. Fascism isn’t a swear word, it’s a new form of government,” Cynthia
Whetsell, an organizer and Seattle University alum, said. “We have to be brave. We have to do stuff we’ve never done, nonviolently.
We’re working with everybody that has a heart for humanity, that cares about the world, and is absolutely sickened by what these
fascists are doing.”
Whetsell and other volunteers for Refuse Fascism emphasized the nonviolent nature of the protest. Many attendees aimed to
spread joy, support and community to those targeted by hate. Teens and adults alike could be seen dancing to the music, drumming
on trash cans and waving flags and signs. 
Older folks distributed water and popsicles to beat the heat while swapping stories with younger generations. Proud grandparents
of trans kids hugged those who may not have support at home, while pastors in rainbow regalia assured queer folks that God loves
them exactly as they are. One group stationed a few yards away from the main protest offered free gender-affirming haircuts to
attendees.
“All of us are out here at the park are here supporting our trans, queer brethren and letting Seattle know that we’re here and we’re
not going anywhere. No matter how many fascist, right-wing Christians they bring to our park, we’re gonna be louder and gayer
than they are. Trans joy!” Alexis Schlegel, a hairdresser from Lady Neptune Salon who attended the protest, said. “My buddies and I
are out here cutting and slinging shears just to make Seattle look as gay as we feel today, and we want to give as much gender
affirming joy for free as we can today. Our identities are so much on the inside, I want everyone to feel like they can show their
identity on the outside and know that they’re safe to do that, and they should be.”
This joy, however, proved to be fragile. As the day went on, Mayday USA’s speakers became more radical, calling on the crowd to
“protect [their] children” and requesting “sacrifices” from the audience in the form of monetary donations. While the two groups of
protesters rarely interacted directly, counter-protesters reported seeing hateful signs and gestures coming from the crowd.
Signs are planted in the grass of Cal Anderson(Eve Labriola)
“I’ve seen a lot of people in the crowd sieg-heiling and pretending they were waving their arms or reaching out to God. I’ve heard a
lot of weird things. They’re saying some insane stuff. Like, ‘they tried to kill me because I’m a woman.’ Girl, you want to kill me for
being a woman!” Zifri, an attendee who preferred to share her first name only, said.
“It just confuses me. Half the stuff they say doesn’t even make sense, it’s just hurtful,” another attendee named Maddie added.
Zifri and Maddie also reported witnessing SPD officers drag multiple people away from the Mayday stage. Officers were
accompanied by troopers from the Washington State Patrol, who arrived around 5:30 p.m. after a request from SPD for mutual aid.
“I watched the cops drag someone away for just being in there. He had a skateboard, he got close-ish to the stage. From my
perspective, he didn’t actually do anything. I watched them tear gas us for pushing a gate over and just drag people away, like a limp
body across the grass. I saw somebody get dragged face down, across the grass, across a gate. I started tearing up because that’s
horrible, why would you do that to someone?” Maddie said.
Around 7 p.m., as Mayday USA protesters began to leave the park, SPD officers dressed in riot gear reportedly used pepper spray to
disperse a group of counter-protesters near the entrance at 11th Avenue and Olive Street.
“I was right at the front when [SPD] started spraying us. I have really bad asthma, so when that happened, I knew I needed to get
out,” one counter-protester who preferred to only be referred to by their first name, Danny, said. “I saw a few people start pushing
forward, and I guess that was considered too aggressive. When the concert was going on, they were just standing at the guard rails.
When the Christians left, that’s when they started getting more aggressive towards us.”
Danny and others reported seeing multiple arrests made for what they described as seemingly no reason. At the time of publication,
SPD reports that 23 arrests were made during the protest, the majority being taken in under charges of assault and/or obstruction.
Through donations and mutual aid, all protesters have reportedly been released on bail.
“It’s all peaceful, it’s been incredibly peaceful. Way too many police though, there’s a crazy amount of police for a peaceful protest,”
one anonymous protester said. This person estimated seeing 40 to 50 officers stationed in various parts of the park.
Mayday USA vacated the park by 8 p.m., prompting cheers from counter-protesters. Local bands continued to play well into the
night, as an air of both celebration and dread hung over the park. The next morning, white signs with the words “Republican lies kill
trans people” still peppered the grass like gravestones.
On the evening of May 24, Mayor Bruce Harrell released a statement affirming his support for the LGBTQ+ community and
attributing any altercations with police to “anarchists [who] infiltrated the counter-protesters group and inspired violence,
prompting SPD to make arrests and ask organizers to shut down the event early, which they did.”
In response to Mayor Harrell’s statement, Mayday USA, in association with Pursuit Church, hosted a rally at Seattle City Hall May
27, just days after their original demonstration. The group condemned Harrell for referring to them as an “extreme right-wing”
organization. They called for Harrell to either apologize or, if he refused, to resign.
One video from The Burner, an independent Seattle-based journalist, shows a Pursuit Church security guard barring anyone not
affiliated with a church from entering the City Hall Plaza. Mayday supporters could be seen with signs referring to the event as
“Rattle in Seattle.”
Shortly after the second rally began, Deputy Director of the FBI Dan Bongino posted a statement on social media platform X,
stating that he had, “Asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle
concert,” adding that, “Freedom of religion isn’t a suggestion.”
Despite the last-minute nature of this rally, the event still drew a significant number of counter-protesters. SPD reports that eight
arrests were made under charges of assault. Harrell and SPD have yet to release statements on the demonstration at City Hall.
Trans Seattlelites are left to wait with bated breath after the events of the week provided a bitter reminder of the work needed to
keep the city safe for their community.


2025-05-28 Trans Community Rallies as Far-Right Organization Arrives in Seattle

Berman, Dylan

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
2-26-2025 
2025-02-26 Students Support Seattle Children’s Hospital with Pie-
a-President Event 
Dylan Berman 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
The Spectator • February 26, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/02/26/students-support-
seattle-childrens-hospital-with-pie-a-president-event/
Students Support Seattle
Children’s Hospital with Pie-a-
President Event
Dylan Berman, News Editor
Whipcream splatter covered the concrete of the Lemieux
Library Square. Last Tuesday, several club leaders stood in
plastic raincoats, bracing for impact as students
approached with plates of whipped cream, ready to pie
them right in the face. This is the second annual Seattle U
“Pie-a-President fundraiser.” 
Taking place Tuesday, Feb. 18, the event is a
RedhawkTHON fundraiser for Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Students could pay $3 for a plate of whipped cream, or $5
for two, and then pick the club leader of their choice to pie.
The event has an aspect of competition. The club that
received the most pies purchased in their name by the end
of the event will be announced and celebrated at Dance-A-
Thon, a RedhawkTHON event later in the year. 
Ella Grayzel, a third-year English and history double major at the event for Women’s Lacrosse Club, described her experience at the
event being pied. 
“It was awesome, my roommate did a great job, and my best friend, she really got me, I couldn’t breath for a sec, it was cool. She also
did my hair,” Grayzel said, still smeared with whip cream. “It feels great doing it for a good cause.” 
Naomi Pettit, a fourth-year interdisciplinary liberal studies major, helped to organize the event with RedhawkTHON. She explained
that RedhawkTHON’s fundraising efforts for the children’s hospital go to the uncompensated care fund, which helps pay for what
insurance won’t cover for families. They specifically fundraise for the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, a local clinic opened by the
Seattle Children’s Hospital in Othello, providing affordable healthcare in a low-income area. 
“We’re just starting and we’re already six tubs of cool whip in,” Pettit said, happy with the money the event had raised so far. “I think
we’re doing pretty good.” 
Pettit explained the experience of being pied. 
“Everything smells like the texture of whip cream after, so that part’s not as great,” Pettit said. “Pieing is something that Dance
Marathon programs like us really capitalized. It’s fun, it’s harmless, it’s just a fun, really easy way to fundraise.” 
Sasha Volovnikov
SASA co-presidents Tarunika Arun (left) and Angelina Joseph
(right) pose with SGSU President Sophia Cofinas (middle).
She is proud to be a part of events like this supporting a good cause, and spoke to RedhawkTHON’s year-long efforts fundraising for
the same cause. 
“We love supporting Seattle Children’s Hospital, all of our events are Seattle Children’s based. We fundraise all year for them,” Pettit
said. “And to find out which club raised the most, everyone should come to Dance Marathon on May 3rd.” 
Jase Kobayakawa, a fourth-year accounting major, who purchased a pie at the event, spoke to the experience overall. 
“I feel like it’s really fulfilling,” Kobayakawa said. “We get to
contribute to a cause while also the leaders are taking the
embarrassment for a good cause, so I just feel like it’s such a nice
thing to donate to.” 
He described his experience pie-ing the executive secretary of the
Hawaii Club as rewarding. 
“I hope my donation is used effectively and I just really appreciate the
opportunity to be able to donate to something like this,” Kobayakawa
said. 
Chayse Katada, a second-year nursing major, also participated in the
Pie-a-President event. 
“This event has been really fun. It’s just nice seeing familiar faces that
are contributing to a cause outside of school,” Katada said. 
Katada and other student attendees enjoyed the social aspect of the event. With the small size of Seattle U, many students are
friends or acquaintances with a club leader who they were offered the opportunity to pie.
“Seeing my friends here is pretty awesome, because it just shows what their true character is outside of school,” Katada said. 
An event like Pie-a-President is an opportunity for community engagement as well as a perfect incentive for donations to an
important cause. As one of many events hosted by RedhawkTHON throughout the school year to raise funds for Seattle Children’s
Hospital, this year’s Pie-a-President was highly successful. The event is one of many that work to build connections among the
student body and help Seattle U support ethical causes in the broader Seattle community. 
The SASA co-presidents pie BSU President Téa’Ayanna
Garvey (right) and VP Semaj Gales (left), who is also
the founder and president of SisterHood.


2025-02-26 Students Support Seattle Children’s Hospital with Pie-a-President Event

Sky, Magdalena

Fragments 
Volume 67 Discarnate Article 2 
2025 
stay 
Magdalena Sky 
Seattle University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/fragments 
Recommended Citation 
Sky, Magdalena (2025) "stay," Fragments: Vol. 67, Article 2. 
Available at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/fragments/vol67/iss1/2 
This Poetry is brought to you for free and open access by the Seattle University Journals at ScholarWorks @ 
SeattleU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Fragments by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks @ SeattleU. 
stay by Magdalena Sky 
the body 
slack 
suspended 
neither here 
— 
nor there 
not heavy 
not lite 
not quite right 
this world knows all my secrets —yet i am still waiting — anticipating the unraveling of 
desire —  
i 
might 
just 
fall 
into 
a 
dream 
again 
fingers 
hover 
and wait for my heartbeat 
to 
knock 
on 
the 
door. 


stay

Vu, Vanessa

Fragments 
Volume 67 Discarnate Article 3 
2025 
You Are Here and Gone 
Vanessa Vu 
Seattle University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/fragments 
Recommended Citation 
Vu, Vanessa (2025) "You Are Here and Gone," Fragments: Vol. 67, Article 3. 
Available at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/fragments/vol67/iss1/3 
This Poetry is brought to you for free and open access by the Seattle University Journals at ScholarWorks @ 
SeattleU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Fragments by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks @ SeattleU. 
You Are Here and Gone by Vanessa Vu 
My sense of self drifts, untethered from you, 
gnawing away at the knots I inherited, 
destroying myself just to divide us.  
As if I never, ever become you, 
then maybe, I will finally exist.  
And if I never turn into you, 
maybe I will finally understand freedom.  
But I see your face in every reflection. 
Your voice threads through my genuine words, 
as I try to escape the rhythm of your walk, 
but your steps echo in my bones.  
I’ve held a knife to my own throat, 
attempting to unlearn your undying hatred, 
to sever the beating pulse of your resentment, 
to scrape off the indignation from my skin, 
but we bleed the same shade of crimson.  
I was always your shadow, your ideal blood, 
trying to be the man you never were 
as your shadows dive beneath my skin, 
watching as your vessels keep me alive, 
searching for the point where you stop 
and where I am supposed to begin.  
And yet, there is only bone marrow, 
whispering, singing your artful lullaby.  
I have calluses from your years of slaughter, 
believing if I continued to pull, I’d be free.  
But your blade, your melody only carves a circle, 
echoing my inevitable return.  
And my blade, my silence has deepened my scars. 
And I swear you are not allowed to win, to fight, 
to beat me like I am just your daughter  
as I’ve unravelled the knots of your carnage, 
separating my heart that was always half of yours. 


You Are Here and Gone

Taylor, Samantha

Fragments 
Volume 67 Discarnate Article 17 
2025 
Melinoe ̈ 
Samantha Taylor 
Seattle University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/fragments 
Recommended Citation 
Taylor, Samantha (2025) "Melinoe ̈," Fragments: Vol. 67, Article 17. 
Available at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/fragments/vol67/iss1/17 
This Poetry is brought to you for free and open access by the Seattle University Journals at ScholarWorks @ 
SeattleU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Fragments by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks @ SeattleU. 
Melinoë by Samantha Taylor 
translucent silhouette of body passing / through solid walls that reverberate with / 
the cries of loss she carries / with her flowers of which the petals never fall / but are never 
watered and dry / they hang in cold hand / impaled with thorns 
breath sucked inward / and thrown forward as daggers / slicing at glass 
reflecting image of shadow / figure that stands holding bouquet but mirrored self / 
its jaw distorted and broken / in screams of recognition / daughter of life and 
death / stuck in limbo  
trapped in mental carousel / rise and fall the horse with wings / exit 
out of reach / from hands full of petals / and thorns / and hair / and blood / 
and scalp / and glass from shattered mirror / to stop the containment of her 
/ screams  


Melinoë

Creson, Fern

Fragments 
Volume 67 Discarnate Article 32 
2025 
Pennant 
Fern Creson 
Seattle University, scholarworks@seattleu.edu 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/fragments 
Recommended Citation 
Creson, Fern (2025) "Pennant," Fragments: Vol. 67, Article 32. 
Available at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/fragments/vol67/iss1/32 
This Online Exclusives is brought to you for free and open access by the Seattle University Journals at 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Fragments by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks 
@ SeattleU. 
Pennant by Fern Creson 
 
About the Author: 
Fern is a third year Photography and Creative Writing student. 'Pennant' places her experience 
with the extremism of pleasure into the lens of Pennant Mary Magdalene, who ascended sin and 
ego, becoming a moral tale of the spirit overcoming the material world. 
