ROP serves underrepresented groups on campus

Video by Jeremy Smith | University Communications intern

The seven centers that make up the Associated Students Resource and Outreach Programs at Western Washington University provide information, advocacy, activities and peer education to Western students. The ROP strives to empower and support all members of WWU’s diverse community. In this video, created during winter quarter at WWU, University Communications intern Jeremy Smith speaks with the heads of the ROP's seven offices to tell the story of the ROP.

Seattle artist Cable Griffith to lecture May 16

Rich Brown wins national award for theater work

Gov. Gregoire congratulates WWU men's basketball team

Do Art! raises money for earthquake victims

'Rent' runs through May 20 on campus

Could biodiversity loss rival impacts of climate change?

Former WWU graduate student Daniel Slakey samples plant diversity while investigating the encroachment of exotic species as part of the research of Western biology professor David Hooper.

Loss of biodiversity appears to impact ecosystems as much as climate change, pollution and other major forms of environmental stress, according to a new study from an international research team headed by Western Washington University’s Dave Hooper.

The study is the first comprehensive effort to directly compare the impacts of biological diversity loss to the anticipated effects of a host of other human-caused environmental changes.

The results highlight the need for stronger local, national and international efforts to protect biodiversity and the benefits it provides, according to the researchers, who are based at nine institutions in the United States, Canada and Sweden.

The study, scheduled for online publication in the journal “Nature” on May 2, can be viewed online athttp://www.nature.com/nature.

“Some people have assumed that biodiversity effects are relatively minor compared to other environmental stressors,” said Hooper, the lead author of the “Nature” paper. “Our new results show that future loss of species has the potential to reduce plant production just as much as global warming and pollution.”

Alexander Kobrin to play in Sanford-Hill series May 5

Western Washington University’s Sanford-Hill Piano Series will feature Alexander Kobrin in concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, in the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall. The evening program will include works by Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Robert Schumann. ...

Recent news releases

• Western Libraries Speaker Series 'Redefining the Academic Library' begins on May 2
• WWU's 'Back2Bellingham' Reunion Weekend is May 18-20
• WWU College of Business and Economics to Host Marian Exall May 4
• WWU Art History Students Host Celebration of Japanese Culture, Fundraiser for Victims of Japan Earthquake
• WWU Theatre & Dance to Present 'Cabaret' on May 4-5
• WWU Department of Music Presents 'Collegium Musicum' Concert on May 12
• Western Students Recognized at International Math Modeling Contest
• WWU Announces Summer Choral Arts Institute
• WWU Huxley College students’ prototype converts wave energy into electricity

'Your Western' wins N.O.W. film contest

'Your Western,' a film telling the story of Western through the eyes of students, faculty and alumni, too top honors in the 'My University, My Western' category of the N.O.W. film contest. The film was shot and edited by students Ryan Hasert and Chris Jespersen

The film "Your Western," shot and edited by Western Washington University students Ryan Hasert and Chris Jespersen, took top honors in the "My University, My Western" category of the recent N.O.W. film contest at Western. Winners were announced during a presentation given by Matthew Dunn, co-founder of Say It Visually!, on April 11. The speech and the film contest were part of Western's "Digital Media: The Future is N.O.W." event.

Recent press releases:

WWU to Host Spring Career Fair April 19

Western’s Huxley College Speaker Series to Host Eric Grossman April 20

WWU Hires Karen Dade as New Associate Dean of Woodring College of Education

WWU Department of Music Presents "Friesen & Friends" on April 19

WWU Students Honored by Society of Professional Journalists

WWU Dance Presents 'Dance Faculty Concert' April 19-22

Western's Professional Editing Course Begins This Fall; Information Session Set for Apr. 25

Puget Sound Energy CEO Kimberly Harris to Keynote WWU Seattle Business Forum April 30

Western's Scott Miles Wins National Award from the Western States Seismic Policy Council

Western wins national basketball title

The Western Washington University men's basketball team celebrates after winning the school's first national basketball title, 72-65 over the University of Montevallo. Photo by Timothy Patrick, Northern Kentucky University | Courtesy of WWU Athletics

The Western Washington University men's basketball team won the NCAA Div. II national title Saturday, March 24, with a 72-65 victory over the University of Montevallo.

It is the first national title for the men's basketball team. The game was broadcast live across the nation on CBS. Highlights of the game are available online.

The Vikings were led by the 14 points of John Allen. Chris Mitchell had 13 points and Zach Henifin 12. Henifin fouled out with a couple minutes to go and had to watch the game's tense ending from the bench.

Western led by 12 with 6 minutes to go, but a strong comeback by Montevallo cut the lead to 4, 68-64, with just 58 seconds to go. Four free throws by Allen in the last minute sealed the victory for the Vikings.

"I'm very proud of our players, very excited for them," said WWU coach Brad Jackson (27th year). "They've worked very hard, they've maintained their focus throughout the year. They came here believing they could accomplish this."

WWU held a 33-26 lead early in the second half before Montevallo hit seven straight shots from the field to go on a 14-2 run and take a 40-35 lead with 15:20 to play.

But the Vikings immediately responded with a run of their own, putting together a 14-4 charge in less than five minutes to go ahead, 49-44, with 10 minutes left, and eventually extending the margin to 61-49 on a three-pointer by Paul Jones with 6:19 left.

"They had not shot it well the whole tournament and tonight they shot it really well," said Montevallo coach Danny Young of WWU's hot stretch. "It got to be one time there when they were really rolling, even if you had your hand up it didn't matter. It was going in."

More than 400 students to graduate March 17

WWU alumnus and entrepreneur Chase Franklin gives the commencement address at the fall ceremony in Carver Gymnasium on Dec. 10, 2011. File photo by Dan Levine for WWU

Timothy Egan, award-winning author and columnist with the New York Times, will receive Western Washington University’s honorary doctorate degree at winter commencement 10 a.m. Saturday, March 17, in Carver Gymnasium. Egan will also give the commencement address and graduating senior Bethany Fromong of Enumclaw will give the student commencement address. The ceremony will include the presentation of the Western Washington University President’s Award, the university’s highest community honor, to the Haggen and King families. The award is presented to those who have given distinguished service to the university and the region.

Western alumnus to make a pitch on Shark Tank this Friday

Men advance to Elite Eight with 56-50 win over SPU

Again, Western honored for community service

B'ham Adventures Photo Contest open through April 2

'US' to return for one night only Feb. 10

"US," the Western Washington University Theatre Department's hit show from last season, has been invited to be one of four full-length plays shown at Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Fort Collins, Colo., as part of the Region VII.

To help fund sending the cast and crew of students to the festival and get the show back into our bones, the department is remounting the show for one night only at Western, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 on the Performing Arts Center Mainstage.

An investigation of the young American experience, "US" is inspired by Jack Kerouac’s "On the Road" and photographer Robert Frank’s book "The Americans." The production explores why these two artists traveled thousands of miles to ask “what does it mean to be an American?” and investigates what that question meant 50 years ago and how it resonates for audiences today. Having worked collaboratively for a year and a half, an ensemble of WWU students devised the original theatre piece, which contains live music, singing, dance, and moments of heightened theatricality.

Big Blue of '72 squad among best in country

'Between Wander & Settlement' open through March 2

Western walks for life

Classic 'Tartuffe' uses comedy to tell tale of hypocrisy

Student Health Center offers 'Health Minute' videos

New map offers interactive look at campus

Western Washington University's new interactive campus map, created by students working with Huxley College’s Institute for Spatial Information and Analysis, is now online.

Originally released in a "beta" version this fall, the map recently has been revised and updated. Among the recent enhancements are drop down menus to locate each of the buildings, departments and services on campus as well as a construction projects layer and building links to individual web pages for the different buildings on campus.

Brad Smith to retire as dean of Huxley College

Classic 'Tartuffe' uses comedy to tell tale of hypocrisy

Student Health Center offers 'Health Minute' videos

Lectures to probe intersection of science and religion

At Western, snow is a medium for art