Western Front - 2002 May 31

              Spring kings
Western spring intramural
champions are crowned.
See Story, Page 9.
Sit back and relax
Enjoy spa treatments
in Bellingham.
See Story, Page 6.
FRIDAY, Mav 31, 2002 The Western Front Western Washington University Volume 121 Issue 16 Bellingham, Washington
Samish residents wary of sex offenders
By Andrea Jasinek
THE WESTERN FRONT
With their crimes in the spot­light,
Bellingham area sex
offenders said they are feeling
the sting of a hostile community.
Increased publicity is forcing
many of the 28 Level III sex
offenders — the highest risk to
society — to leave the places
they call home, rendering some
homeless and tempting others to
give false addresses to law
enforcement.
When an offender pops up
somewhere in the community,
he draws mixed reactions from
neighbors and schools.
Where can I go?'
The Aloha Motel on Samish
Way used to be a haven for
recently released offenders,
sometimes housing two at a time.
"The (Department of
Corrections) asked me many
times to give them (sex offend­ers)
a place to stay, so I helped
See REACTION, Page 4
Stephanie Kosonen/ The Western Front
Western senior Jennifer Allard walks a normal route she takes home from school. Allard says
she does not fear walking home in her neighborhood, but walks with companions at night.
Council supports Sumas power plant plan
By P. Nicholas Carlson
THE WESTERN FRONT
Washington energy regulators
unanimously recommended the
approval of a $350 million power
plant in Sumas, Wash., near the
Canadian border.
Despite protests against the
Sumas Energy 2 project, the
Energy Facility Site Evaluation
Council recommended the
approval of the project May 24.
The proposed power plant
would provide 660 megawatts of
power — enough to fulfill half of
Seattle's annual power demand.
In addition to supplying
British Columbia with energy
through its power grid, the plant
would also connect to the West
Coast electric grid. The natural
gas-fired facility will occupy 37
acres outside of Sumas.
Final approval of the project is
left to Gov. Gary Locke.
"This project sets a new thresh­old
for environmental responsibil­ity,"
said Chuck Martin, president
of National Energy Systems
Company. "We're committed to
100 percent offsetting of emis­sions.
I don't think we've seen
this before in Washington or
British Columbia."
Those who oppose the SE 2
project said the power plant
would further harm the environ­ment
of the Fraser Valley, the
proposed site of the plant.
"The Fraser Valley airshed is
polluted as it is, and SE 2 will
only increase the pollution," said
Randy White, a member of the
Canadian Parliament represent­ing
Abbotsford and Langley,
B.C.. "The air in the Fraser
Valley is really bad. The number
one concern is emissions going
into the airshed."
Mary Reeves, executive direc­tor
of the Abbotsford Downtown
Business Association said SE 2
would increase the pollution in
the valley.
"We used to have an incredibly
bad airshed," Reeves said.
'We've actually improved the
air in the last few years a little.
But it only takes one big polluter
to change that. All the work we've
done and cost measures we've
taken would be all for nothing,"
Reeves said.
White said the Canadian fed­eral
government, the provincial
government and local govern­ments
oppose the SE 2 project.
"There isn't anybody I know
who supports this," White said.
"We should stop looking at the
corporate profit and look out for
the health of the community."
Jim Fiksdal, EFSEC execu­tive
director said the council
See SUMAS, Page 4
Students
arrested
in repeat
vandalism
B y M i k e B a a b
THE WESTERN FRONT
Two Western students were
arrested in connection with
nearly $25,000 worth of vandal­ism
at Western and in down­town
Bellingham.
Bellingham Police Lt. Todd
Ramsay said Reid Morris, 20,
was arrested May 10 on nine
felony and 27 misdemeanor
counts of malicious mischief.
He is suspected of causing over
$14,140 in damage to the city.
Morris' roommate, freshman
Luke Meighan, 19, was arrest­ed
on five felony and five mis­demeanor
counts of malicious
mischief, totaling $10,500. The
suspects allegedly used an acid
compound to etch their "tags"
into store windows.
Seattle resident Desmond
Hanson was also arrested on
May 10 in connection with the
same crimes. He is suspected of
causing $16,400 worth of dam­age
to Bellingham.
Bellingham Police Sgt. Colin
Emmett said small-scale van­dalism
is relatively common in
Bellingham, but it is rare for
vandals to leave their mark in
so many places.
University Assistant Police
Chief Dave Doughty said van­dals
usually use the same tag
every time they vandalize,
making it easy to connect them
to numerous incidents.
"Graffiti artists like to sign
their work," Doughty said. "It's
a signature."
Morris and Meighan could
not be reached for comment.
Rep. Larsen visits Bellingham, answers students' questions
Derek Sheppard/ The Western Front
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D) speaks with Western senior
Joaquin Paratore about local issues as other students
wait for an opportunity to speak with the congressman.
By Derek Sheppard
THE WESTERN FRONT
Congressman Rick Larsen
spoke to students and commu­nity
members in an informal
session Tuesday night at
Boundary Bay Brewery and
Bistro.
"Tonight's event here at the
Boundary Bay Brewery was a
way for me to reach out," Larsen
said.
Anna Trenouth, a Western
senior, said Larsen has been
supportive and responsive to
student concerns.
"It's important for people to
feel like their voices are heard,"
she said.
Bradley Pavlik, a Western
senior, said Larsen was not very
responsive to his questions.
After speaking with Larsen
about a defense bill in Congress,
Pavlik said he is still unsure of
Larsen's position. Pavlik said he
understands Larsen has his own
agenda, but he would have liked
to get his opinion on the defense
bill.
Joaquin Paratore, a Western
senior, said he discussed
Medicare, environmental iss­ues,
transportation issues and
Intalco with Larsen.
Western senior Derek Baker
said it is important for more stu­dents
to become involved in the
political process.
Larsen said the event was a
way to express his thanks to
students and the community
and to remind everyone he is
up for re-election in five
months.
"Students at Western were
very instrumental in helping me
get elected into Congress," he
said.
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