Going to the movies is always fun, and now it’s educational thanks to the First Annual WSU-V Diversity Film Festival titled “Visions from the Inside.” The festival will feature works that show marginalized communities from an insider perspective that is rarely seen in Hollywood. It will also do more than showcase little-known films; it will act as a catalyst for conversation.

On Wednesday, August 20 at approximately 10:30 a.m. three members of the local carpenter’s union (the names have not yet been released) were arrested “for trespass” on the WSU-V campus by Officer Larry Raglione. The three—two men and a woman—were peacefully handing out protest flyers outside the Firstenburg Student Commons during the ROAR! event.

Burn off those Back-to-School Barbeque calories and have a blast with the help of the WSU-V Recreation and Sports center. There are tons of ways to stay fit and have fun here in the Pacific Northwest, but what student has the cash to buy all of the equipment needed? At WSU-V, you don’t have to buy it or join the gym.

“Good job.” “Well done.” “Fine revision.” These are words any student wants to see on their college paper. It doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. Any student can write a better paper when they take advantage of the resources offered to them at the WSU-V Writing Center. Trained writing consultants are available for students seeking help with their writing assignments, whether it is a first or final draft.

There are those who would argue that enjoying our college years with friends and parties is just as important as mastering a major and gaining the tools we need for a better economic future. Pushing our limits to study night after night, making sure we’re ready to ace the final for a particular class, and then going out to celebrate after the hard work is done, seems very common place. They, as well as I, would also argue that all work and no play is the recipe for an over-stressed individual, and what better way to relieve stress than with friends?

The Shack, by William P. Young, is like no other book I’ve read. The New York Times Bestseller (now #1 for its twelfth week) is at the top for a reason—it’s an intriguing mystery wrapped in enigmas, yet full of thought-provoking ideas and original conclusions. The ideas are often so lofty and “out there” that the book has garnered its share of criticism. In fact the work has got some religious folks awful riled up—and, of course, that’s a good thing.

Freshmen: We want to know what you think of the WSU-V freshman reading project and the book “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time,” by Greg Mortenson and Portland’s David Oliver Relin.

Controversy has swarmed over the Dreamworks film “Tropic Thunder” since before its release. The war movie spoof is undeniably funny, but I wouldn’t recommend it to sensitive audiences. After seeing the film, I can understand why people would get mad, but for me the absurdity of both the plot and acting made it obvious that the material wasn’t meant to be offensive.

“Mirrors” is a flawed piece of work, but worth checking out if you make a few leaps of faith. It seems implausible that someone would hire a guard for an abandoned store, but if you allow yourself to get beyond that aspect, you’re in for a series of unsettling shocks as the mirrors reflect a reality which affects that of the real world.