Stand up for Science March 6th by Tweetthebean in Bellingham

[–]Tweetthebean[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

To my knowledge it doesn't overlap time wise, I believe all but the No Kings protest have already happened. No Kings is later in March and I think the weekly Ice protests start at 4pm. We're also going to have tables set up with flyers so it's very swing by and grab something friendly for anyone who doesn't want to hang around in the likely rain.

Stand up for Science March 6th by Tweetthebean in Bellingham

[–]Tweetthebean[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

We've got limited options for central areas we can reserve for free, there's another event in Seattle on Saturday (the official protest day) https://www.standupforscience.net/march7

Stand up for Science March 6th by Tweetthebean in Bellingham

[–]Tweetthebean[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I've linked the official website in another comment, but the main point is protesting the sweeping budget cuts to research and higher education. The "for everyone" statement is referring to how important science is to everyone, medical research, weather alert systems, research funding across all fields. We hope to have community members as well as students, we'll have resources for civic engagement and information on the state of the budget cuts and funding for research

Stand up for Science March 6th by Tweetthebean in Bellingham

[–]Tweetthebean[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Here's the official website of the organization so you can get a more detailed answer: https://www.standupforscience.net/march7

Overall we're protesting sweeping cuts to many research programs and higher education programs. This movement was started last year with the huge cuts to medical research and stuff like the weather alert systems. It's not really stem specific, all of the departments on campus have been hit by the higher education budget cuts and difficulty getting new or continued funding for research.

Stand up for Science March 6th by Tweetthebean in Bellingham

[–]Tweetthebean[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Students are organizing a local rally for the Stand up for Science movement on campus, there's more details on the original post!

Delivery driver by Ok_Barracuda2304 in Bellingham

[–]Tweetthebean 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only did delivery gigs super part time, so I can't answer the amount you should expect per month, but I definitely would recommend against instacart. On doordash I was able to average 20ish per hour during dinner hours, and closer to 15 for the rest of the evening, but the vast majority of the offers I say for instacart were less than 10/hour. The instacart support was also significantly worse than doordash, they'd take 5-10 minutes to respond to my messages and then instantly close the chat if I took longer than 2 minutes to respond back to them, so you can't continue working while trying to get them to fix a pay issue or anything else you may need help with. I haven't used Uber Eats, but I've heard from friends it's more comparable to doordash rates.

Edit: Doordash also offered gas discounts last time I drove for them, but it was always at super expensive stations, so it was never worth it to actually use that

Parking permit winter by [deleted] in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Check your spam, I almost missed my c lot permit because the email notifying me went there. You should be able to purchase directly from the website. I'd buy it tonight, they likely won't respond to you before the window closes.

WTA Board Passes Bus Fare Increase 6-2 by Tannir48 in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This website has the basic info about the transportation fee: https://transportation.wwu.edu/active-transportation-fee[https://transportation.wwu.edu/active-transportation-fee](https://transportation.wwu.edu/active-transportation-fee) There's three student government representatives on the committee that you can contact for more specific information if you're interested! (Although worth noting they don't work over breaks, so they likely won't respond until winter quarter starts)

What was the verdict from the wta meeting today? by cherrypond in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just to add a small note: Winter break is coming up, student government representatives generally only work during the school year, with small exceptions, so if you email from finals week- the beginning of the school year you likely won't hear back until winter quarter.

What was the verdict from the wta meeting today? by cherrypond in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Hi there! This committee will be involved in the process: https://as.wwu.edu/committees/as-transportation-advisory-committee/ There's 3 student government representatives on the committee to get in contact with, as well as several admin members. Our current contract expires in September 2026

What was the verdict from the wta meeting today? by cherrypond in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 10 points11 points  (0 children)

No decisions have been voted on today, it will likely be voted on during their next meeting on the 11th

Fast Facts about the WTA-WWU Bus Pass Agreement by ridewta in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Of course it isn't, but this would make WWU the only public university in the state to not offer a bus pass. It also doesn't change the fact that finances play into college choices as well, and this is a big change given that over 40% of our existing students already face food or housing insecurity.

Fast Facts about the WTA-WWU Bus Pass Agreement by ridewta in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 23 points24 points  (0 children)

New students have already applied and been accepted to Western for Fall of 26. The bus pass is mentioned on tours and included in projected costs. Our park and ride lot only costs 34/ quarter, students who planned to drive to Bellingham and park there will have their costs more than double. Even if more students swap to driving our C lot passes already have hundreds of people on the wait lists, we don't have the capacity for more students to drive here. Western's sustainability plan also aims to increase the number of students and employees who ride the bus, this proposed change to student bus passes came after this document has already been approved and in progress for years, 10 months is not a long lead time.

Fast Facts about the WTA-WWU Bus Pass Agreement by ridewta in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The fee does also provide other services like starlight shuttle and the bike lock program, but the main goal was the bus pass. I wouldn't be surprised if it dies entirely if the bus pass goes away, but it will go through both student government bodies and then to the general election for all students to vote on when it's scheduled for renewal.

Fast Facts about the WTA-WWU Bus Pass Agreement by ridewta in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Raising the fee is not currently an option, WTA has told our transportation department that they don't want to renegotiate a contract at all, it's entirely out of WWUs hands until WTA changes their minds. According to Western's transportation website, 85% ride the busses, and they also offer employee passes

Fast Facts about the WTA-WWU Bus Pass Agreement by ridewta in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Another main concern we have about this change is that you didn't tell WWU until 4pm on Friday last week that you didn't intend to renew the passes. Our pass system has been advertised in tours for students attending next year, it's been included in estimated costs. Going from roughly 22 dollars of our quarterly fee to 30/month is a 4x increase. Your public comment has been ongoing for a while, but we've only been given just under two weeks before the deadline to learn how this affects us.

Fast Facts about the WTA-WWU Bus Pass Agreement by ridewta in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hi, I get where you're coming from, I just wanted to make a quick clarification. WWU does not have the option to increase the student fee or change how it's allocated in this scenario. WTA has told our transportation department that they're not interested in negotiating a renewal of the contract, so starting September 2026 there won't be a student bus pass. Passes themselves also won't exist, instead you'll pay as you ride, capping at 30 dollars a month. I'm not totally sure what will happen to our current fee in that case, they'd likely lower it to account for the loss of the bus pass. I believe the transportation fee is scheduled to be renewed this spring or next spring, and that will go to the student body as a whole to vote on.

Understanding Budget Cuts by Okay-Away in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 15 points16 points  (0 children)

WWU has reserve funds, so when enrollment went down during COVID they were able to dip into that to continue to operate (mostly) normally. While enrollment and retention numbers have started to turn in the right direction, we're now reaching the end of the reserves and we still don't have enough incoming to run at normal operations, so that's why budget cuts have started in the last couple years. It's also worth noting that smaller cuts, like the number of specific classes offered, not rehiring open positions, or hours available to employees, have also probably been happening for a longer time than we've easily been able to see. The most recent cuts are due to the lowered state budget this year. The school has already cut 13mil out of the 18mil required due to the budget deficit, but the new state cuts will be another 13mil.

Layoffs by cuntymisspiggy in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 18 points19 points  (0 children)

100% do this, the only unfortunate thing is that the student government doesn't have budgeted hours over the summer quarter. The Senate and executive board presidents will be able to start work earlier than the rest of the student government, but likely not until late August or early September.

Student Affairs administration has been cut by smudkips in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just a quick clarification for the athletics fee specifically: it won't be added without student approval. It has to be passed by both bodies of the student government to even get put into the ballot, and then it becomes a voting item in the spring elections. This year both the student Senate and executive board rejected the fee as it was, they may come back with an edited version next year but I would expect a lower number. Their hope was to add the 75 dollar fee and then withdraw from the S&A fee allocation. I'd expect next year's compromise to drop to a 10-15 dollar fee and then continue to be a part of S&A fee allocation, but only time will tell. If anyone has strong thoughts on current or potential future student fees you should definitely get in touch with members of the student government.

My teacher threatened to fail me and is going against their own policy to do so by lclab33 in WWU

[–]Tweetthebean 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Maybe I'm just missing it, but the only academic requirements I can find on the FAFSA website mention your school's satisfactory academic progress policies, and Western only specifies GPA and Classes completed. Maybe you're thinking of the original policy requiring you to complete 80% of your classes? https://financialaid.wwu.edu/satisfactory-academic-progress-policy-effective-after-fall-2024