My guests today are Desiree Hellegers,Laurie Mercier, and Derya Ruggles-Christensen.They’re on today to call attention to the steep reduction in funding and the cutting of diverse and inclusive coursework available at WSU-Vancouver.
Desiree Hellegers ia a professor of English at WSU Vancouver and a founding co-director of the Collective for Social and Environmental Justice. They’ve been at WSU Vancouver since 1993, when classes were still being taught at Bauer Hall on the Clark College campus. A frequent contributor to Counterpunch magazine, Hellegers is a member/producer with the Old Mole Variety Hour on KBOO Portland.
Laurie Mercier is Professor Emerita and former Claudius O. and Mary W. Johnson Distinguished Professor of History at Washington State University Vancouver. She is the author of numerous books, articles, and websites about region, gender, immigration, and labor. For thirty years she helped build programs and taught courses on US, Pacific Northwest, media and social history at WSUV.
Derya Ruggles-Christensen, is a WSU Vancouver alum in English, with a Masters in Strategic Communication from WSU Pullman; former president of the WSU Vancouver Environmental Club, co-director of the web series “How I Learned to Breathe Through the Apocalypse”; co-creator and co-host of “Cool Couv” on Open Signal Cable TV; former soap star onDays of Our Lives; and commissioner for the City of Vancouver Transportation and Mobility Commission.
To voice concerns or complain about the 15% budget and program cuts at Washington State University Vancouver, you cancontact campus leadership, reach out to local elected officials, or submit feedback through official administrative and finance channels. You can also follow this link:https://sites.google.com/view/wsuaaup/home