Sound- Fall ‘22
Dear Reader,
After five quarters working for The Planet as a writer, photographer and editor, I applied for the position of editor-in-chief in the spring of 2022. Toward the end of the quarter, I was hired for the job and could not wait to begin! Between graduating seniors and students with busy schedules, I was the only member of the editorial team returning in the fall. What’s more, the advisor of the previous eight years, Warren Cornwall, was also saying goodbye to The Planet and beginning a full-time position as a journalist for Science magazine.
Although my excitement was slightly subdued by nervousness about an entirely new staff, editorial team and advisor, the experience was no less an opportunity to carry on The Planet’s legacy while redefining it to fit a new generation of individuals pouring time and love into their work. We welcomed a new advisor, Eli Loomis, who jumped aboard eagerly and brought fresh, informed perspectives to our newsroom. The two of us had many conversations about the ways we wanted to adapt the schedule and classroom discussions to fit our skills and those of the students.
Fall’s theme was “Sound,'“ and included stories about noises and silences, language, sustaiable decision-making and other important news from the Puget Sound region. The students were patient, curious and persistent, and it paid off. It is with great pride that I thank the entire team of editors, the writers and photographers, and Eli for a very, very successful first quarter for all of us.
The Planet is ever-evolving, and the magazine reflects the values and commitments of the student staff creating it. I graduated at the end of my quarter as editor-in-chief and I was sad to step away from something so dear to me. The Planet was a huge part of my identity during my time at Western and I am endlessly grateful for all of the skills and relationships I gained through the class and through my involvement as an editor. I hope the magazine and the stories inside have an effect on you, too.
Sincerely,
Emma Bjornsrud
Fall ‘22 Editor-In-Chief
Stories
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The Quiet Sound program is researching ways to reduce noise pollution from boats in heavily trafficked waterways that cross paths with Southern Resident Killer Whales.
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When a fishing boat sank near San Juan Island this summer, spilling diesel into the Puget Sound, it was a race to retrieve the boat, stop the spread of fuel oil and prevent marine life from swimming into it.
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Bellingham’s adoption of “Quiet Zones” and installation of safety equipment at railroad crossings to ensure safe horn volumes remains incomplete after more than a decade.
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Darrell Hillaire created Children of the Setting Sun Productions in the honor of his great grandfather, a Lummi Nation member who witnessed the treaty signings of Mukilteo in 1855. This October, Hillaire and the production team completed filming the Salmon People, a documentary about the Lummi Nation’s reliance upon salmon as a way of life.
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Bellingham’s Dockside Market brings community, business, and fish together in a sound and sustainable way.
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Canyon Lake Community Forest is a unique asset to Western. Without a key, it’s largely inaccessible for students who could otherwise learn from the forest’s ecology.
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Helicopter tourism over Snoqualmie Falls is disturbing the Snoqualmie Tribe's traditional practices. There's no legislation in place to protect them and many tour companies refuse to change their ways.
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The staff of the Lushootseed Language Department is working to expand traditional language curriculum within the Tulalip Tribes and share Lushootseed with children from a young age to keep the language alive.
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Examining Regenerative Agriculture Solutions in the Puget Sound Region.