ScholarWorks @ SeattleU (Seattle University)

Moretta, Olivia

Fragments 
Volume 65 Lust Article 3 
2023 
curls for (m)others 
Olivia Moretta 
Seattle University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/fragments 
Recommended Citation 
Moretta, Olivia (2023) "curls for (m)others," Fragments: Vol. 65, Article 3. 
Available at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/fragments/vol65/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. 
curls	for	(m)others 
By	Olivia	Moretta
Mom	plays	with	my	hair	
	disengages	
	each	curl	
	with	fine	toothed	comb	
	a	paddle	brush	
	a	bone	dry	heat	
	nails	graze	my	neck	
	while	mussing	up	
	angelic	frizz	
	as	beauty	
			for	Mom	
	Mother	oils	individual	coils	
	suffocates	
	with	sulfate	free	
	sustainably	sourced	
	and	black	
	Mother	
								and	Her	visits	
	and	endless	hours	in	bathroom	mirrors	
	my	head	the	crystal	ball	diving	
	a	lust	
								a	loss	
	a	way	forward	
	for	Mother 


curls for (m)others

Platt, Chloe

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
6-4-2025 
2025-06-04 A Picture of Passion and Light, Leila Bunker is the 
New Editor-In-Chief 
Chloe Platt 
Seattle University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
Recommended Citation 
Platt, Chloe, "2025-06-04 A Picture of Passion and Light, Leila Bunker is the New Editor-In-Chief" (2025). 
The Spectator Online. 1540. 
https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online/1540 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Newspapers at ScholarWorks @ SeattleU. It has been 
accepted for inclusion in The Spectator Online by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ SeattleU. 
The Spectator • June 4, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/06/04/a-picture-of-passion-and-light-
leila-bunker-is-the-new-editor-in-chief/
A Picture of Passion and Light,
Leila Bunker is the New Editor-
In-Chief
Chloe Platt, Editor-in-Chief
I’m overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude to share
that Leila Bunker, one of our current news editors, will be
stepping into the role of editor-in-chief for the 2025–2026
academic year. Bunker has been a part of The Spectator
since the start of her college journey—beginning as a staff
reporter and layout designer in 2022 and spending the last
two years leading the news section with thoughtful
intentionality and passion. 
I find Bunker’s telling of their first time in The Spectator
office to be an almost comically allegorical representation
of her dedication to The Spectator; an infectious
enthusiasm that calls on others to join in their pursuit of
excellence. 
“I was excited and committed to it enough to have come to a meeting before there was actually a meeting. Before the meetings
started for the 2022-2023 academic year…[I was] sitting in the waiting area with all the editors in the other room, [who were]
obviously not expecting anyone to be here,” Bunker said. 
Bunker and I joined The Spectator at the same time (despite my absence at her week-early office arrival) and having the chance to
work alongside her vibrant, effervescent presence has been one of the greatest honors of my time here. Entering the editor’s room
every Wednesday night, I am warmed by her bright exclamations. In moments of uncertainty and doubt, it is this radiance that both
comforts and moves me. 
Bunker has the deeply necessary and deeply rare gift of truly seeing others—a gift with which she draws upon to highlight the
loveliness of the individual and collective alike. More than just a friendly spirit, Bunker is a true friend to the people around her.
“It has been so special to make friends here and to be here Monday and Wednesday nights and to come together with these people
and be in close proximity to others who just really care about the work that we do here.”
Bunker has highlighted a sense of togetherness as a critical aspect of both The Spectator and their leadership. While her initial foray
into The Spectator began as an attempt to find community, it has since grown into a wish to use community as a catalyst for
discussion and progress—two key values and tenets of their character that undergird the manner in which she moves about life. 
“Over time, what kind of stemmed as ‘I want to find community’ has shifted into ‘Well, how can I actually give back to the
Eve Labriola
The Spectator’s new editor-in-chief Leila Bunker.
community that I’m a part of?’—Using writing as a tool for storytelling that can be effective in fostering dialogue and, hopefully,
change.”
In a time where journalism is being attacked, censored and devalued on both large and small scales, I find solace in knowing that The
Spectator is in the hands of someone with such a deep care for the truth, and all that differing shades of actuality that truth may be. 
Journalism, ultimately, is about serving the community through the act of storytelling. In order to do so, it requires the voices of
many. Bunker is passionate about continuing to foster a community of openness and acceptance at The Spectator. When asked
what legacy they hoped they would leave as editor-in-chief, she replied:
“I hope that people know that it is a place that they can come to despite experience and show up either because they want to write
or they want to be connected with the people that are doing the writing. I’m sure a lot of other editors and editors-in-chief share a
similar feeling of The Spectator being perceived as something that is very scary. I want to find a way to make it more welcoming for
everyone, which I think is everyone’s goal.”


2025-06-04 A Picture of Passion and Light, Leila Bunker is the New Editor-In-Chief

Leyden, Henry

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
1-22-2025 
2025-01-22 How Seattle U Athletes Are Engaging With Evolving 
NIL Landscape 
Henry Leyden 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
The Spectator • January 22, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/01/22/how-seattle-u-athletes-
are-engaging-with-evolving-nil-landscape/
How Seattle U Athletes Are
Engaging With Evolving NIL
Landscape
Henry Leyden, Volunteer Reporter
There’s been enough change in the world of collegiate
Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) since The Spectator last
reported on the emerging landscape in 2024 to fill a small
book. Since then, a class-action antitrust suit, referred to as
House v. NCAA, is set to bring forward sweeping changes
set to take effect next year. 
One major change is directed toward booster-backed
collectives, who were interpreting vague and
unenforceable regulations from the NCAA to form
contracts that allowed them to pay players directly. Going
forward these contracts are set to be regulated further
than they were in the early days of NIL. 
The emergent question is how Seattle University will
reconcile NCAA policy, which is beginning to look like a
professional league, with its educational values and their
own NIL SOAR policy—all while still remaining competitive. 
Despite the university’s smaller size next to larger schools, numerous Seattle U athletes across various sports have begun engaging
in NIL sponsorships and brand deals to varying degrees. 
Amberlee Espinoza, a second-year biology major and athlete for the Seattle U women’s rowing team, found an NIL deal through
Postgame, a third-party app that facilitates NIL opportunities for collegiate athletes.
“I work with Adidas as my first and only NIL deal so far. Just a lot of posting on Instagram and highlighting all their promotions that
are going on,” Espinoza said.
In exchange for promoting Adidas, Espinoza was given a unique Adidas link that earns her a small commission when used. Despite
having an Instagram following under one thousand, Espinoza has been able to monetize her status as a student athlete.
Espinoza’s entrepreneurial development is one of the goals that the Seattle U athletic administration have for the university’s NIL
program.
“We regard the process of NIL as an invitation to encourage professional formation. For most Division I student athletes, NIL
Sasha Volovnikov
The NIL landscape is unfolding across the country, including at
Seattle U.
opportunities result from their initiative, ingenuity and follow-through. These are valuable transferable skills for any workplace,”
Eric Guerra, associate director of athletics and the point person for NIL compliance at Seattle U, said. 
Guerra put emphasis on prioritizing the education and professional development of the athlete, all while maintaining a spirit of
amateurism. The NIL activity he spoke of revolved mainly around deals with local businesses and exchanges that involved
discounted or free products instead of money. 
Sebastian Lopez and Hunter Komine, both third-year finance majors and players on the Seattle U men’s baseball team, have each
had a range of experiences within NIL.
“My first NIL was Liquid IV. I had a couple buddies that were doing that, so I just reached out to them on Instagram and got that
going for, like, a year,” Lopez said.
In the past, Lopez had deals with a batting glove company, a grooming company, and secured another the day of our interview with a
honey company that he was made aware of through a coach.
Komine has done over a dozen NIL deals with brands ranging from Gillette to SLOWPLAY, a poker company. One of his biggest
deals, with Bruce Bolt Batting Gloves, has netted him thousands. 
“You can type my last name on their website. You’ll get a discount. I don’t promote it at all, but I make a lot of money from it. I only
make 10% from them, so if I made $5,300 last year, I made them $53,000 using that code.”
Komine often reaches out to brands himself, advertising his skills in content creation and then reporting his deals back to the
university. 
“Maybe it’s a cheaper alternative. Like, they go through me, pay me, you know, three, four hundred bucks and then a bunch of free
stuff, instead of hiring, like, a professional social media or professional content creator,” Komine said. 
The variety of ways in which Komine and Lopez have secured deals demonstrates the blurry line between student-athletes and
private citizen entrepreneurs. Under the new rules, this does not violate NCAA guidelines, but it doesn’t neatly align with the
university’s stated goals and policy surrounding NIL. 
Guerra reiterated the need for clearer boundaries that would protect athletes’ identities as students first. But, at the end of the day,
schools want to be competitive, particularly when they’ve just joined a new conference. With NIL packages coming from both third-
party collectives and deals the athletes make themselves, the space appears rife with opportunity for exploitation without the
proper tools for oversight. 


2025-01-22 How Seattle U Athletes Are Engaging With Evolving NIL Landscape

Truog, Daniel

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
1-29-2025 
2025-01-29 New Climbing Gym Expands Options For Seattle U 
Climbers 
Daniel Truog 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
The Spectator • January 29, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/01/29/new-climbing-gym-
expands-options-for-seattle-u-climbers/
New Climbing Gym Expands
Options For Seattle U Climbers
Daniel Truog, Sports & Opinion Editor
Seattle University students have a new option for rock
climbing within city limits. Seattle Bouldering Project (SBP),
part of the Bouldering Project family of climbing gyms, has
opened a new gym in University District. Just a block away
from the U District light rail stop, students can access two
floors of climbing, a yoga studio, a sauna and cold plunge.
The gym opened November 2024 and students like Alex
Bohls, a second-year nursing major, are already benefitting
from its location.
“I’ve had a really good experience so far,” Bohls said. “The
way it’s set up is cool, and they’re pretty good about
changing their routes pretty frequently.”
The new gym is located inside the University National Bank
Building, previously home to a 112-year-old bank that left
the corner of University Way and 45th Street vacant in
2018. It joins two other SBP locations, Fremont/Upper
Walls and Poplar, to grow the company’s Seattle footprint.
A key draw of the new gym, especially for Seattle U students, is its proximity to public transportation. In addition to the light rail,
which has seen some delays in the new year with service updates, the gym is right by bus route 49. This line travels directly to
Capitol Hill, closer to campus than the light rail. 
The light rail is the preferred travel method of Will O’Connell-Joshua, a fourth-year humanities for teaching major.
“Parking in U District is pretty tough. So half the time, we probably just walk to the light rail station because… you can go and it’s just
right there,” O’Connell-Joshua said.
U District has tough competition in its sister location to the south of campus. Poplar is the second-largest bouldering gym in the
country, with 19,941 square feet of climbing compared to U District’s roughly 7,000 square feet. 
Kara Stone, general manager at the U District location, sees the new location as a benefit for existing members as well as a way to
get new climbers on the walls.
“I refer to it as sort of like a love letter to our members. We really just wanted to say, hey, here’s this really neat space for you to
enjoy,” Stone said.
Daniel Truog
The climbing walls of Seattle Bouldering Project’s newest gym
peek through the windows of the University National Bank
Building.
Bohls and O’Connell-Joshua are both serious climbers who climb three to four times a week. O’Connell-Joshua works at the
Fremont location, but climbs in his free time at the other two gyms. If he’s climbing alone or looking to climb hard, he opts for the
Poplar location.
O’Connell-Joshua prefers the U District location for casual climbing with friends who are newer to the sport. For these casual
climbers, U District offers a wide range of difficulty options in a clean environment.
“The mats are way better than most gyms that I go to. They’re pretty creative with their route setting, which I like, and they have a
lot of variability on the different difficulty levels,” Bohls said.
Another feature of the U District gym that elevates it over its counterparts is the sauna. The Poplar location has two saunas in
gendered locker rooms, but the U District gym features a co-ed sauna inside the vault, which remains from the original bank.
“It’s iconic, right? Like it’s inside of a vault… it’s a really big pride point,” Stone said.
The sauna helps with recovery for all activities offered at the U District gym. Like other SBP gyms, there is a dedicated yoga studio
at U District with its own yoga coordinator and instructors.
Access to the facilities and large network of gyms does not come cheap. For people under 21, a monthly membership is $95 per
month. If you are over 21, it will cost you $105 per month. For students facing the financial hurdles of burgeoning adulthood, this
can be challenging.
“I would say it is pretty expensive, especially it’s more expensive than my gym back home. But I would say that it’s nicer and it does
have stuff that makes up for it,” Bohls said.
Bohls noted that they climb multiple times a week to make the cost of a monthly membership worth it.
O’Connell-Joshua finds that most trips to an SBP location result in an encounter with someone he knows through climbing or
school. He hopes as many Seattle U students as possible can take part in a sport he loves.
“Find a friend at Seattle U and then go with them. I guarantee you that you have at least one friend that is a rock climber, just based
on what I’ve seen at the gym,” O’Connell-Joshua said.
For students, there are a few options. The gym offers a student discount for day passes; for students over 21, showing your student
ID allows you to pay the young adult price, saving $5 on a day pass. Stone also noted that the gyms offer College Nights, where day
passes are only $12. No future College Nights are currently on the schedule, but information about events can be found on the
A climbing route scale hangs on the mezzanine at Seattle Bouldering Project’s U
District location. (Daniel Truog)
gym’s website.


2025-01-29 New Climbing Gym Expands Options For Seattle U Climbers

Johnson, Naja

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
1-15-2025 
2025-01-15 You Gotta Be Kidman Me,“Babygirl” [REVIEW 
ANDSPOILERS] 
Naja Johnson 
Seattle University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
Recommended Citation 
Johnson, Naja, "2025-01-15 You Gotta Be Kidman Me,“Babygirl” [REVIEW ANDSPOILERS]" (2025). The 
Spectator Online. 1560. 
https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online/1560 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Newspapers at ScholarWorks @ SeattleU. It has been 
accepted for inclusion in The Spectator Online by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ SeattleU. 
The Spectator • January 15, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/01/15/you-gotta-be-kidman-me-
babygirl-review-and-spoilers/
You Gotta Be Kidman Me,
“Babygirl” [REVIEW AND
SPOILERS]
Naja Johnson, News Editor
“Babygirl” was released on Christmas day last year and
captured audiences across the nation. The film explored a
forbidden romance between an uptight business executive
and an overzealous intern. It also served as a step-by-step
manual on how to be expelled from corporate America.
The film explored female empowerment, unconventional
relationships, and the intensity of power and control in the
workplace. 
Nicole Kidman has graced our screens, once again, to play
Romy Mathis, a high-strung and imbalanced business
executive of a New York-based electronic company. On the
surface, Romy appears to have a perfect life, filled with luxury, a successful theater director husband, and two perfect daughters, all
the while being chief executive officer of a Fortune 500 company. Romy’s life is dictated by control and discipline in every aspect.
Nevertheless, she desperately craves a release. When a charismatic intern by the name of Samuel comes into her helm she gets her
wish. 
Samuel’s attitude and lack of subservience startles her and challenges her to question her own identity.
At the beginning of the film, Romy appears to be a one-dimensional and plain character. Upon closer inspection, Romy is a very
intriguing and flawed character. For an executive, she’s surprisingly very quick to abdicate and dispense her free will for a man who
offers her nothing but imminent peril. She is shown as reckless and insatiable for one thing, not her career or accolades, but an
orgasm.
On the other hand, there is Samuel, the calculated villain. Despite being a typical cocky persona, I wouldn’t forecast him as the
abhorrent antagonist in this film. From the beginning of the movie, he challenges boundaries by flirting and having several affairs in
the workplace. To play devil’s advocate, he pushes the limits and absolutely nobody dares to hold him accountable for his
indiscretions. In reality, he’s an absolute menace that’s been released on the lascivious women of New York. Combined with Romy’s
sexual frustration, that’s a recipe for disaster. 
That intern is played by the charming and desirable Harris Dickinson. Dickinson presents a flamboyant and unconventional
personality riddled with red flags. He is a free spirit that simply cannot be contained. Like a moth drawn to a flame, he becomes the
object of Romy’s obsession. Before the consummation of their relationship, there is an apparent power struggle between the two
for dominance and control, two things both of them are used to having in their arsenal. 
Image courtesy of Yakima Theatres.
The film not only serves as a dark romance but a psychological thriller of the result when two dynamic personalities combust with
lust and tension. Romy represents a strong forceful personality with a relentless drive for what she desires, while Samuel is a
controlling egomaniac who likes to indulge his strange proclivities. With these two characters used to getting what they want,
something’s gotta give. It ends with one relinquishing power to the other, on all fours.
A big element of this film is the intense sexual impropriety, eroticism and overall the power dynamic at play. Both of them enter into
the affair without actually discussing boundaries and limits. Romy behind closed doors surrenders every once of her independence
to Samuel but at work expects to be the dominant personality. Unbeknownst to Romy, Samuel anticipates controlling and
dominating Romy in every aspect of her life, from choosing her diet to when she takes off her clothes. What began as an intriguing
chick flick has transformed into a screenplay for a Lifetime movie. 
The film had a lot of potential to be great but it was only good. Overall I would rate it a “B.” Both leads possessed a deep magnitude
of sexual magnetism but not a lot of chemistry. Dickinson, in the past, has always sported roles that have depicted him as the boy
next door or America’s boyfriend. Watching him as a dominant and authoritative personality felt forced and almost like watching a
kid being taken to the candy shop for the first time. His performance was mediocre at best. 
Nicole Kidman on the other hand delivered and worked for that $10 million. Watching her character stand in the corner, lick milk
like a kitten from a bowl and do some risky acts for sexual gratification had me clutching my imaginary pearls. 
My biggest critique is for director and screenwriter Halina Reijn. This film had a lot of potential with such prominent actors, I
would’ve liked to see Nicole Kidman pay homage to Eyes Wide Shut where she successfully portrays a sexually repressed female
who reclaims her identity. I would’ve wanted to see two consenting adults explore and border eroticism in true nature. Reijn used
this project to showcase her fantasies and past sexual escapades. But what I was exposed to was a wide age gap up for debate, a
woman diminishing her self-worth and not even enjoying it. 
The whole narrative in film and media that a woman in control of her sexuality is reckless is quite cliche and tiring. The neverending
notion that a woman would simply risk her livelihood for a man who offers her nothing in return is profoundly boring. This film alone
serves as a human resources employee field day, but did have an excellent soundtrack. 


2025-01-15 You Gotta Be Kidman Me,“Babygirl” [REVIEW ANDSPOILERS]

Noor Ahmed, Hadia

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
3-12-2025 
2025-03-12 Fading Traditions: The Uncertain Future of Seattle U’s 
Social Calendar 
Hadia Noor Ahmed 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
The Spectator • March 12, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/03/12/fading-traditions-the-
uncertain-future-of-seattle-us-social-calendar/
Fading Traditions: The Uncertain
Future of Seattle U’s Social
Calendar
Hadia Noor Ahmed, Staff Reporter
Seattle University’s smaller size provides the benefit of
having more intimate and engaging social events
throughout the year. However, due to several factors, the
school’s many events may be seeing changes in the years to
come. 
This year, two annual events at Seattle U were canceled due
to unforeseen circumstances: Center for Student
Involvement’s (CSI) Winter Ball and Residence Hall
Association’s (RHA) Casino Night. Factors such as budget
constraints, inflation and time management are making it
difficult for organizations and clubs at Seattle U to keep up
campus traditions.
The first of these events to be canceled was Casino Night,
which was originally scheduled for Jan. 12. Jan. 8, RHA
announced on Instagram that they were postponing the event. Jan. 16, RHA announced that the event would be canceled
altogether. 
The cancellations of both the Winter Ball and Casino Night were unexpected occurrences, leaving many students who hoped to
attend disappointed.
Regan Luz, a first-year communication and media major, expressed disappointment at learning of Casino Night’s cancellation. 
“As a freshman, I’m constantly looking for social opportunities to create a community for myself—especially on a smaller campus. So
I was definitely very disappointed when I heard Casino night got canceled, especially after hoping me and some friends could
attend,” Luz said.
According to Fourth-year Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Public Affairs Double Major Anabella Vucci, president of RHA,
the organization still plans on hosting its other annual events, including the Spring Carnival. RHA also recently hosted a new event
called “Dancing with RHA.”
Annabelle DeGuzman-Carino
Vucci believes that traditions and legacy events are events ingrained into the culture of Seattle U. 
“[Traditions and] legacy events only make it to legacy event status if they are good and if they are liked by students and if we find
that they are meeting the needs of our community,” Vucci said. “It’s not very often that we as a board will choose not to do a legacy
event, it rarely ever happens, but it is possible.” 
Socially, traditions and legacy events are a staple of the Seattle U experience and are usually larger than other social events. There
are also a few technical aspects that help define the parameters of legacy events. 
The official term “legacy event” refers to six events put on by cultural clubs at Seattle U, including United Filipino Club’s Barrio
Fiesta, Hui O Nani Hawaii’s Lū’au Marianas TaoTao, MECHA’s Celebracion, Vietnamese Student Association’s Xuan and the Office of
Global Engagement’s International Dinner. Due to Seattle U’s contract with Chartwells, the company that manages Seattle U’s
dining operations, the school can only allow six events to serve homemade food per school year. These events are considered
“legacy events.”
According to Peter Vandeventer, the assistant director of the Student Events and Activities Council’s (SEAC) CSI, other annual
events are like “traditions.”
“Technically, SEAC doesn’t have any legacy events, although we do a lot of traditions,” Vandeventer said. “A lot of those events are
like legacy events, but they’ve fallen into the larger just traditional events.” 
Therefore, events such as Casino Night and Winter Ball are classified as traditions. The intent is the same as legacy events—larger-
scale events with a bigger impact, but they aren’t tied to contractual obligations between Chartwells and Seattle U. 
Since organizers for traditional events can’t use non-Chartwells catering services on campus, some rely on alternative venues. One
of these events is Winter Ball, which has been hosted by SEAC since 2019. This year, Winter Ball was scheduled for Feb. 21.
However, in an Instagram post on Feb. 14, SEAC announced that Winter Ball was canceled.
According to Vandeventer and Soren Kloepfer, the graduate assistant for SEAC and CSI, a key reason Winter Ball was canceled was
due to inflation. 
Inflation is a growing problem all over the country, including in the greater Seattle area. The Seattle Times reported that based on
data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical care and housing prices are the leading factors in rising consumer costs in the
Seattle area. The national inflation rate is 2.6%, but Seattle’s rate of inflation is higher, which points to the challenge of rising costs
that Seattle residents will be feeling for a good while. 
Most organizations and clubs are working with the same budget as in previous years, without an increase or subtraction. According
Annabelle DeGuzman-Carino
to Vandeventer and Kloepfer, that budget is unfortunately not adequate anymore.
“The budget hasn’t gone down for the Winter Ball or for Quadstock. It’s just that our budget hasn’t gone up or down at all whereas a
lot of places have been increasing prices yearly,” Vandeventer said. “[The budget] just doesn’t go as far anymore as it did several
years ago… you’re just not able to afford the same level of event.”
The intention behind every event organizer is to put together the best event they can, which includes getting the best venue and
food to create a lasting and memorable experience. However, with budget constraints, organizers are often unable to go with their
first venue options. 
Celeste Guzman, a second-year social work major at Seattle U, was the Winter Ball chair this year. 
“There were a couple of venues that we looked at that we toured, and we really liked them, but they were out of our budget because
we also had to keep in mind other things like transportation and decorations. So we tried to go with the cheapest we could find,
which turned out to be KEXP, the radio station,” Guzman said. 
As Seattle U is a smaller campus, most large-scale events need to be held off campus, which adds the challenge of coordinating
transportation, security and bringing caterers in. 
“The Winter Ball, being an off-campus event, there’s a lot of hoops that naturally we have to jump through,” Vandeventer said. “Just
[from] securing transportation to venues, to the DJ for the music. And then [there are] additional contracts that we do, for instance,
we were going to have Cafe Bonita provide drinks at the events, so to get them contracted as well and a photo booth that we were
bringing in [added to it]. And so with large events like that, there’s just so many moving parts.” 
As a leading organization on campus, SEAC did not want to put a burden on students hoping to attend Winter Ball. Therefore, when
finalizing the contracts for Winter Ball was taking too long, SEAC made the decision to cancel the event completely. 
“You don’t wanna be [in] a situation where we do not have the event completed to our standard, and then all of a sudden students
are having issues like not being able to get to the event or they weren’t provided information about the event in an adequate
amount of time. So we didn’t want to put the stress or burden on the students, and so we gotta make sure that to continue the
event, we need to have the event lead to our standard,” Vandeventer said.
The Winter Ball’s cancellation was also partially due to something all students can relate to: having a busy schedule.
For Guzman, whose role as the Winter Ball chair was to lead and drive the whole organizational process, the combined effect of
being an active student and an organizer was overwhelming. Even with a supportive team who were more than constructive in their
efforts, being the leader is a position that you learn requires more than your full attention. 
“Because time goes by really fast, [I] shouldn’t have trusted myself that I was going to have a lot of time. So I feel like setting myself a
timeline for when things should be finished and when things should go out would have made it a smoother process,” Guzman
reflected. 
Both the leaders of SEAC and RHA expressed that when organizing such socials, you always want to hold yourself to the same
standard as the previous years. The reason legacy and traditional events continue to happen every year is because of positive
feedback and reactions from students who attend. 
Vucci shared that while planning events, there is a lot of documentation for the organizing process. Since legacy and traditional
events set a precedent for themselves, it’s important to keep track of how they are run, and RHA’s documentation process leaves a
blueprint for all future executive boards. 
“It’s important to maintain those blueprints and follow deadlines, especially for legacy events. Even if you’re repeating something,
you have to make sure the structure stays consistent to meet student needs,” Vucci said.
In any circumstance, these event cancellations are disheartening for anyone involved, attendees and organizers alike, as they
represent lost opportunities for a chance to relax and connect. These spaces that CSI and RHA provide are the foundation for
building relationships and fostering college experiences. Ensuring these opportunities and events stay active is vital to the
community at Seattle U. Hopefully, organizations and clubs can find ways to sustain these events that enrich students’ experiences. 
 
 


2025-03-12 Fading Traditions: The Uncertain Future of Seattle U’s Social Calendar

Gonzalez, Diego

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
5-7-2025 
2025-05-07 POV: You Are A Casual Chess Player and Place Top 3 
In Your First Ever Tournament ft. GM Troff 
Diego Gonzalez 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
The Spectator • May 7, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/05/07/pov-you-are-a-casual-chess-
player-and-place-top-3-in-your-first-ever-tournament-ft-gm-troff/
POV: You Are A Casual Chess
Player and Place Top 3 In Your
First Ever Tournament ft. GM
Troff
Diego Gonzalez, Volunteer Reporter
Chess is one of the oldest sports that is still played today. It
has garnered millions of fans throughout history for the
complex strategy and tactics required to win. Some players
dedicate their entire lives to attempting to master the
game. That’s why, over the weekend of May 3 and 4, Seattle
University Chess Club hosted its Chess Classic tournament,
with people from all over attending. Among the players
fighting for victory was I, Diego Gonzalez (the person
writing this article).
As a chess novice, I joined due to its open Swiss format and
the fact that there was a Casual 18+ section. It basically
means that throughout the tournament, I would be playing
against people who have the same points as me (based on
wins and losses), and that I would play against other casuals
without a care for rating. The 18+ was also key because I
did not want to spend my Saturday getting beaten by child
prodigies. 
While the chess tournament lasted two days, the casual section was only on Saturday. There were five games throughout the entire
day. Each player had 30 minutes but a 10-second delay, meaning that if you played a move within the first 10 seconds, you wouldn’t
lose any time.
I signed up with one of my friends, Savate, who joined me in my same section. Savate being there made the whole experience much
more fun as we could banter and chat in between games. The first game started around 9 a.m. on the sixth floor of Bannan. 
In the same room, there was the Scholastic section, which meant a bunch of little kids were playing against each other. It was
extremely funny hearing the little kids argue about moves and seeing how happy they looked when taking the other person’s
pieces. 
Noelle Lee
Two players notating their moves in the middle of their chess
game
I was luckily paired against another Seattle U student who was also a part of the chess club. I played against him before during the
club, so I knew what to expect. Through some skill and mostly luck, I won my first game.
After the first game, everyone started talking to each other. I knew almost all the Seattle U students and quickly met all the
community members who were participating. Everyone was extremely nice and provided advice to one another.  
For my second game, I was all warmed up and ready to go 5-0. Unfortunately for me, I was playing against an extremely good
individual. We had a decent opening, but I made a singular mistake that he capitalized on. He ended up winning the game, leaving
me with 1-1. 
Because I lost so quickly, I decided to check out the rest of the tournament. I walked over to Sinegal, where the main tournament
was happening, to watch the much better players compete for their respective cash prizes. 
One of the coolest parts of the event was that chess Grandmaster Kayden Troff was in attendance as a special guest. One of his
many accomplishments was being the World Under 14 Chess Champion in 2012. There are also only 100ish grandmasters in the
United States, making his attendance a big part of the event. For the non-Chess people, it is the equivalent of a pro athlete showing
up to a soccer tournament. 
GM Troff wasn’t there to compete, instead, he was there to provide game analysis to all players and to play blitz games. While I
waited in line to get my game analyzed, I learned a lot from GM Troff as he broke down the best plays and strategies for other
games. Unfortunately, I had to leave for my next game before I could get my own game analyzed. 
For the third game, I was up against Savate, and I quickly beat him. He beats me most of the time when we hang out, but fortunately,
after watching GM Troff, I dominated him on the tournament board. Afterward, I beat him again for the love of the game while
waiting for everyone else to finish. 
As I was now 2-1, I played against an amazing player who was another community member. We chuckled and smiled while playing as
I desperately tried not to get checkmated. I held on but eventually lost.
For my final game, I played against another Seattle U student. It was a close match, but I pulled through in the endgame, leaving with
a final score of 3-2. I got a six-way tie for 3rd place, meaning that I got a cash prize!
I had an incredible experience at the chess tournament. The players were amazing. Everyone was nice and humble, whether they
won or lost. All the players were there to have fun and make sure others had fun. The community we created was incredible.
Author Diego Gonzalez focusing on chess pieces(Noelle Lee)
I would recommend anyone interested in chess to check out the chess club by joining their ConnectSU, so you can improve your
skills and compete in the next tournament!
 


2025-05-07 POV: You Are A Casual Chess Player and Place Top 3 In Your First Ever Tournament ft. GM Troff

Dumlao, Diego

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
4-30-2025 
2025-04-30 Softball Falls to Wolverines on Senior Day 
Diego Dumlao 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
The Spectator • April 30, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/04/30/softball-falls-to-wolverines-
on-senior-day/
Softball Falls to Wolverines on
Senior Day  
Diego Dumlao, Staff Reporter
Senior night celebrations are a staple in collegiate athletics.
After four, sometimes five, years with the program, the day
came when Seattle University’s six seniors got to be
recognized and celebrated for the hard work that they put
in over the years. For the Redhawks, senior day came in the
final matchup of a three-game series against conference
opponent, Utah Valley.   
Seattle U softball has six seniors who were recognized this
weekend. Those seniors were: 
Tai Wilson, an outfielder and biology major who hails from
Fairfield, Calif. In her time at Seattle U, Wilson has a career
batting average of .320 with 213 hits and 148 runs. Wilson
has earned All-WAC recognition, including being named to
the All-WAC First Team in 2023.  
Amanda Morris, outfielder and kinesiology major from Coto De Caza, Calif. Morris spent all four years with the Redhawks. She has a
career batting average of .236 and played a vital role in the pinch hitter position for Seattle U.  
KJ Hopfer, infielder and psychology major from Tokeland, Wash. Hopfer spent her first two years at the University of San Diego and
has been a consistent starter at second base since making her way to Seattle in 2024. Hopfer was named to the Academic All-WAC
team in 2024.  
Naomi Chaidez, a right-handed pitcher and accounting major from Anaheim, Calif. In her four years with the Redhawks, Chaidez has
a career ERA of 4.87 and received Academic All-WAC recognition in 2023.  
Nicola Simpson, a right-handed pitcher and designated player pursuing her master’s in criminal justice from Seattle, Wash. Simpson
spent her first two years at the University of Tennessee, where she helped bring the team to the Women’s College World Series in
2023. Simpson has also shone on the international stage, playing for the Canadian national team. During her time with the
Redhawks, Simpson has 2.79 ERA while also maintaining a batting average of .278. The Seattle native has received the WAC Pitcher
of the Week award twice and was also named to the All-WAC team.  
Jasmine Wehn, an infielder and grad student pursuing an early career MBA from Chatsworth, Calif. Wehn spent all five years with
the Redhawks and has a career batting average of .298, along with a .415 slugging line. Wehn has received Academic All-WAC and
district recognition.  
The Redhawks started off hot in this matchup. Wilson, ripping a leadoff double to left, gave Seattle U a runner in scoring position
Diego Dumlao
Group photo of SU softball seniors (Left to right: Jasmine Wehn,
Tai Wilson, Amanda Morris, KJ Hopfer, Naomi Chaidez, Nicola
Simpson)
Senior first baseman, Jasmine Wehn’s family showing their support during pregame.
right off
the bat.
Wilson
would go
on to come
around and
score,
along with
sophomore
infielder
Mikee
Morris,
who got on
via a single.
After
putting up
another
run in the
bottom of
the third
inning,
Seattle U
led over
the
Wolverines, 0-3.  
After pitching three shutout innings, Simpson allowed the Wolverines’ first run of the matchup in the fourth. From here on, Utah
Valley’s offense was hot, putting up seven in the same inning. Despite attempts at a comeback in the latter half of the game from the
Redhawks, it wasn’t enough to pull out a victory. The Wolverines took home the win, securing the series sweep, with a final score of
11-6.  
“Just got some things to work out before the conference tournament, but I feel like we got offense together today, so hoping it
comes together and I feel good about the next couple weeks,” Wilson commented on the team’s performance.  
Despite not receiving the ending that they wanted, there are still many positive takeaways from this matchup. The Redhawks were
able to pick up eight hits, one more than their opponents. Wilson and M. Morris picked up a couple of hits, going 2-3 and 2-4,
respectively, at the plate. The Redhawk pitchers also put up good performances. Though Simpson allowed 11 runs, only three of
those were earned. Sophomore pitcher and outfielder Avari Morris came in for relief after Simpson and shut the Wolverines down
for the final two innings. Av. Morris went 2.1 innings, allowing no runs or hits.  
“It’s bittersweet, but it’s not the end. That’s what we’re focused on from here on. Yeah, we won’t be at home, but we’ve still got a lot
of season left,” Simpson stated.  
The seniors on this squad have all made major impacts towards the program’s success. With them leaving, a new generation of
Redhawks will be making their way onto campus, beginning a new legacy here at Seattle U.  
“Just enjoy every single little moment. It goes by so fast, and I feel like I was a freshman yesterday… There’re hard times in college
athletics, but if you enjoy it and enjoy the grind, then it makes it worth it,” Hopfer commented when asked what advice she would
give underclassmen.  
The Redhawks will hit the road May 2 to take on UT Arlington for their final matchup of the regular season.  


2025-04-30 Softball Falls to Wolverines on Senior Day

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
5-21-2025 
2025-05-21 Pickleball Intramural Play Kicks Off, Demonstrating 
Game’s Popularity On Campus 
Daniel Truog 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
The Spectator • May 21, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/05/21/pickleball-intramural-play-
kicks-off-demonstrating-games-popularity-on-campus/
Pickleball Intramural Play Kicks
Off, Demonstrating Game’s
Popularity On Campus
Daniel Truog, Sports & Opinion Editor
Last week in The Spectator, a volunteer reporter made A
Case For Pickleball. Now, it’s time to take a look at pickle-
play that’s been happening all year on campus.
Tucked in the back half of the Redhawk Activity Court
(RAC), one would be excused if they didn’t notice pickleball
competition happening amid the noise of basketballs
bouncing and the chatter of friendly competition. But step
behind the curtain and you’ll hear the sound pickleballers
know so well. That sound? Dinking, of course. Close your
eyes, and you can hear it.
Seattle University Recreation (UREC) has hosted quarterly
intramural pickleball tournaments for years. Tori Somsanith, a
third-year nursing major and competitive sports manager at UREC,
couldn’t remember a time when it wasn’t a part of the school’s
intramural offerings.
“I would say pickleball’s one of the most popular sports out of the
ones we offer,” Somsanith said. “It’s usually one of the ones that
have all the slots fill up pretty quickly because a lot of people enjoy
playing.”
In the evening of May 19, students enrolled in the spring quarter
pickleball intramurals filtered in and out over three rounds. Pairs of
players swapped in and out across three courts, dinking off against
one another. After every game, teams tapped paddles over the net to say “good game.” Like all intramurals, each game showcased
that secret sauce of casual fun and friendly competition that makes these sports an enduring presence at universities everywhere.
But pickleball takes this further. To an uneducated viewer, it might seem nonsensical. But if the dozens of players are to be believed,
the game isn’t only uncomplicated, it’s something anyone can start.
“I think a lot of people are into it just because it’s a pretty simple sport to pick up, anyone can play. You don’t have to have any prior
experience, so I feel like it’s very welcoming for anyone to join,” Somsanith said.
Rowan Stark
Rowan Stark
Some students see it as a nice addition to intramural offerings alongside old standards like soccer and flag football. Owen Tanner, a
third-year computer engineering major, started playing his first year at Seattle U with Brian Ortiz, a third-year chemical science
major.
“We’ve been friends for a while, and we’ve been playing intramurals together, so we just said, ‘screw it, let’s play pickleball,’” Tanner
said.
While they play every quarter in intramurals, Ortiz doesn’t let the summer stop his personal
development of pickle prowess. Outside of the university, he’s playing with the age bracket
that the sport is most known for in the mainstream.
“During the summer, when I go home, I just play at the YMCA with a whole bunch of random
older people. They’re like, in their 50s and like, probably better than anyone here,” Ortiz said,
gesturing around the courts. “It’s insane.”
Although a casual pursuit for the likes of Tanner and Ortiz, pickleball is life to others. Lucius
Turkalj, a second-year business economics major, plays almost every day. This might be too
much, he admitted.
His favorite place to play is at the school’s club, but he also engages in open play at the outdoor
courts that have spread across the city like generative AI in a writing-heavy university course.
Turkalj appreciates how Seattle U’s pickleball club offers a range of skill levels and a
smorgasbord of players.
When asked about any pickle rivalries or proficient players, Ortiz mentioned another player
named Bryan. This Bryan had already left, but his specter cast a long shadow over the
fluorescently lit foam floors of the RAC. Ortiz said that last year, this shadowy figure won first
place in the tournament…without a partner.
Ortiz wasn’t the only person on the court that day with a whisper of pickle boogieman Bryan. Bryan’s name echoes in the mind of
Turkalj since this pickle savant snatched the gold from his clutches.
“We named our team Bryan’s Nightmare this year, to come back and take gold. I think we could do it this year. We got some new
competitors that I haven’t seen before that might be a little challenging,” Turkalj said.
This quarter’s tournament will be held June 2. Whether Bryan, Turkalj or an unknown team will take gold is anyone’s guess.
Other teams choose names with personal pickle connections. Tanner and Ortiz, this quarter, are going by the name Pickle Rick.
“Rick turned into a pickle and he says, ‘I’m Pickle Rick,’” Tanner said.
Fun is waiting on the pickle courts. Paddles, balls and even nets can be checked out for free at UREC. Seattle U Pickleball Club
meetings are free as well, taking place every Wednesday and Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the RAC. That leaves just one question…
when will you take the pickle plunge?
Rowan Stark


2025-05-21 Pickleball Intramural Play Kicks Off, Demonstrating Game’s Popularity On Campus

Scott, Tristan

Seattle University 
ScholarWorks @ SeattleU 
The Spectator Online Newspapers 
5-21-2025 
2025-05-21 “Earth to Kenzie” Brings Opera to the Next Generation 
Tristan Scott 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/spectator-online 
The Spectator • May 21, 2025 • https://seattlespectator.com/2025/05/21/earth-to-kenzie-brings-opera-
to-the-next-generation/
“Earth to Kenzie” Brings Opera
to the Next Generation
Tristan Scott, Staff Reporter
The word “opera” may evoke images of extravagant sets,
black-tie apparel and strict etiquette. Typically, to see
children laughing and playing directly in front of the stage
would come as a shock. However, this is exactly what
visitors experienced at the Mural Amphitheater in Seattle
Center May 17. Though the sky may have been gloomy, the
energy was anything but as families waited in anticipation
to view a free performance of “Earth to Kenzie,” a Seattle
Opera production for audiences of all ages. 
“Earth to Kenzie” is a short, one-act opera centering a fifth-
grade girl (the titular Kenzie) and her mother as they
navigate housing insecurity and life in a shelter. The show is
part of a larger partnership between the Seattle Opera and
Mary’s Place, an organization dedicated to helping families
experiencing homelessness find emergency and long-term
shelter. At all performances, the opera staff provides a
location for donations to be collected on behalf of Mary’s
Place.
“We’ve been doing supply drives and other kinds of need-dependent things for [Mary’s Place] for about five years now,” Julia Curns-
Welch, associate director of development for institutional giving at the Seattle Opera, said. “The theme of the opera, exploring
housing insecurity, really drove our want to partner with something where people can put what they’re feeling directly into action.
A lot of our partnerships stem from that. You’ve reacted to something, now here’s something you can do about it.”
While the subject matter may seem heavy for young audiences, “Earth to Kenzie” tackles the topic in a way that children can
understand and relate to. Kenzie is a lot like many of the kids in the audience: she likes playing video games, writing stories and
using her imagination. Her anxieties surrounding moving to a family shelter relate to situations kids encounter every day:  What if a
classmate asks to play at her house? How will she finish her homework if the shelter lights turn off at eight? 
“It’s so many different perspectives on how somebody might process something and all of the different emotions and ways that they
work through it. I think it’s super relatable for this age group,” Curns-Welch said. “I think the way Kenzie immediately doesn’t want
to tell a teacher is really relatable. I like how approachable it is and how bite-sized it makes really hard-lived experiences relatable.”
Alan Behar
Three performers share the stage during a dramatic moment of
the opera.
The music is easy to follow, with repetitive lyrics that still manage to showcase the performer’s impressive vocal abilities. The
backing music, provided entirely by pianist Li-Cheng Hung, is clear in its emotional intent and serves to elevate the tension of many
scenes. 
The show is small and adaptable, featuring only four performers and minimal set dressing. This allows “Earth to Kenzie” to be
performed practically anywhere with ease. The show has traveled to numerous local elementary schools, where students have the
opportunity to ask performers questions after the show and learn more about what their classmates may be going through.
“We wanted to create an opera that centered a story about a mother and daughter who are experiencing homelessness because
this is such a relevant issue in our communities right now,” Sarah Litchfield, associate director of youth programs for the Seattle
Opera, said. “We wanted to make a hopeful and exciting story, but we also wanted to make sure that youth knew they weren’t alone
because this is such a common situation in school districts.”
“Earth to Kenzie” has been in the works for a number of years, originally being co-commissioned with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in
2020. Just before the show was set to open, the Seattle Opera was forced to pause performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though the show underwent a number of changes, some cast members stayed consistently involved with the project. This includes
performer Lucy Weber, who plays a student in Kenzie’s class, also experiencing homelessness.
“I’ve been a member of the Seattle Opera Chorus since 2015,” Weber said in a Q&A session after the show. “When I heard about
‘Earth to Kenzie,’ I was really interested in getting involved with the project. It’s been a lot of fun to create and perform.”
“Earth to Kenzie” will return with multiple performances at the Seattle Opera Center June 7. Tickets can be purchased on the
Seattle Opera website.
A performer is accompanied by the pianist (Alan Behar)


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