Western Front - 2005 June 28

              HE WESTERN FRONT
AY, JUNE 2.8, 2005 • WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY • BELLINGHAM, WASH. vWESTERNFRONTONLINE.COM
ISSUE Z
VOLUME 13 «f
Western expands
to waterfront land
BY KELSEY DOSEN
The Western Front
The Port of Bellingham is collaborating with the Belling-ham
City Council to clean up the city's waterfront, and has
offered Western a space for possible expansion. Western is
deciding how to use the land.
Currently, Georgia-Pacific, a pulp and paper mill that
ceased operation in 2001, occupies the area, said Robert Fra-zier,
Western vice president for external affairs.
The 150-acre property starts at the Port of Bellingham on
Bellingham Bay and wraps around the harbor. Frazier said
Western would use only a portion of the area, but the port and
the City Council have yet to determine the amount.
"This is the port's and the city's project," he said. "They
just invited us to participate."
The port and the City Council will tear down and recycle
or remodel the warehouses, port property and 16 brick build­ings
located on the land before Western develops the area,
said Buff Schoenfeld, executive assistant to the president of
the university.
Last spring, Western President Karen Morse appointed a
committee composed of 15 faculty members from various de­partments
to review proposals for the utilization of the area,
Schoenfeld said. During the past year, Western received 22
proposals from faculty, students and departments.
The proposals range from the university building a pos­sible
park and ride facility to it moving entire academic de­partments,
such as the department of art, to the waterfront,
Frazier said.
Plans are still in the early phases of development and the
committee has not decided what to do with the property, she
said.
Linda Beckman, budget director for student affairs, said she
submitted a proposal April 15 for Western to build an arena for
events that would benefit Western, as well as the community.
Western could use the space for campus activities such
as commencement, and community members could use it
for activities such as concerts. The campus does not have
the space necessary for events with a substantial amount of
people, Beckman said.
"The beauty of the plan is it also provides a facility of value
to the community," she said. "The area also bridges the marina
to Fairhaven, so it might get people out and about more."
The Port of.Bellingham invited Morse's suggestions in the
Exploding with patriotism
see WATERFRONT, page 8
^0M"-
SUSAN ROSENBERRY/The Western Front
Lummi Nation residents David Jefferson, 4 1 , and Evelyn Jefferson, 36, discuss fireworks prices for July 4
at the Hillaires fireworks stand at the intersection of Slater Road and Ferndale Road.
Fire officials offer rules, tips for fireworks use
as residents prepare to celebrate the holiday
BY SUSAN ROSENBERRY
The Western Front
The bright and colorful celebration of Independence
Day can create legal issues for fireworks users if they do
not abide by Whatcom County and Bellingham laws. Risks
arise if people do not use fireworks safely, said Brian Flan-nelly,
public information officer for the Bellingham Fire
Department and Whatcom Medic One.
Individuals planning to use personal fireworks must
abide by city and county rules regarding fireworks use to
prevent legal repercussions, such as imprisonment for as
many as 90 days and fines up to $1,000, Bellingham Po­lice
Sgt. Tim Lintz said.
Shoppers must purchase legal fireworks — city and
county laws dictate the legality of certain fireworks —
from licensed stands, Flannelly said.
People can light fireworks at varying times within Bell­ingham
city limits and in Whatcom County. Bellingham
residents can fight fireworks between 9 a.m. and midnight
only on July 4, while people in the rest of Whatcom County
can light fireworks from June 28 to July 5, he said.
Bellingham tightened its fireworks restrictions as a
preventative measure in response to Washington's 2003
drought, and has continued the restrictions since then,
Flannelly said.
"People can get burned, poked and blown-up with fire­works
if they are not used properly," Lintz said.
People or families that choose not to use personal fire­works
can still enjoy the spectacle at the public fireworks
show, Flannelly said. The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber
see FIREWORKS, page 8
Wrights donate seven outdoor sculptures
Courtesy of Special Collections Wilson Library
Mark di Suvero stands in front of his sculpture "For Handel".in
1975 on campus with donors Bagley and Virginia Wright. The
Wrights have promised to donate seven more sculptures to
Western's collection, including another piece by di Suvero.
BY CANDACE CUSANO
The Western Front
Seattle art patrons Virginia and Bagley Wright have
promised a gift of seven sculptures to add to West­ern's
current collection of 25 outdoor sculptures. The
Western Foundation accepted the gift June 10.
The Wrights have donated and helped fund seven
of the 25 sculptures that currently decorate West­ern's
campus, said Sarah Clark-Langager, curator of
Western's outdoor sculpture collection.
Their first gift to the university, titled "For Han­del,"
is the sculpture by artist Mark di Suvero that
sits in the Virginia Wright Plaza outside of the Per­forming
Arts Center, Clark-Langager said.
"The fund began in the early 1970s," Virginia
Wright said. "We wanted to find a place in western
Washington to help build and promote a collection.".
The beauty of the campus, and the existing sculp­ture
at Western by artist Isamu Noguchi, influenced
the Wrights' decision to donate sculptures to the uni­versity,
she said.
"The Wrights have been involved with the outdoor
sculpture at Western for decades as lifelong philanthro­pists
eager to see the collection grow and flourish,"
said Stephanie Bowers, vice president of university
advancement and executive director of the Western
Foundation. "Their generous gift of seven of their per­sonal
pieces caps Western's already highly-regarded
collection. I am very pleased that this incredible gift
will have an everlasting effect on Western."
see SCULPTURES, page 8
SUMMER SOUNDS WSSBBHBBM
The Viking Union showcases
musicians in a concert series
ACCENT, PAGE 4
FINISH LINE
Eight thousand bicyclists
enjoy summer at annual race
SPORTS, PAGE 5