DRAC Department Summaries

The DRAC committee consists of fifteen voting members including faculty and student representative from Theatre Arts and Dance, Music, Publications, Forensics, International Affairs Association, and WWU Racing. There is also an administrator is appointed by the Vice President for Student Affairs and two at-large student representatives. DRAC received $1,054,871 in fiscal year 2022.

Communications

Forensics

The Western Debate Union is a large, inclusive debate program with over 75 years of history of excellence in debate across a variety of formats regionally, nationally, and internationally. Throughout its history, the program has been active with policy debate, parliamentary debate, and public debate. The Union believes that the power of debate should not be limited to competition; the program embraces community-building and civic engagement in all of its endeavors.

The Debate Union emphasizes an approach that embraces academic rigor while remaining student-centered. Western Debate is unique in that it is both consistently ranked among top national programs and a place where every Western student is able to hone their argumentation, research, and debating skills regardless of their experience level. While other programs only recruit experienced competitors from high school, Western has consistently fielded successful teams made up of students from our classrooms. Our graduates go on to law school, other graduate school programs, jobs in service to the community, and are successful in private enterprise due to their training. We are open to any major from campus and do not require past experience in high school, just a desire to compete for the team.

The Debate program is funded exclusively through DRAC support. The Department of Communication, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, or any other administrative budget does not provide revenue to debate. We are also the only state school in Washington to have a full-time faculty member direct the program and have official institutional recognition and support.

Key program highlights:

Connecting debate communities across the globe with Bellingham. The program has hosted the Irish National Debate tour, the Chinese national debate team, and will bring the Rwandan National Debate tour to campus in the fall of 2020.
The “average” Western debater engages in 8-10 hours of public speaking per year.
Students engage in anywhere from 5-20 hours of research a week, researching at levels on par with many graduate programs.
2019 National Champions in Parliamentary debate, as well as ranked in the top 10 overall as a program.
“Forensics” refers to the broader art of competitive speech and debate. Throughout the program’s history, Western has emphasized the importance and power of debate and argumentation.

Music

DRAC funding is integral to music in a variety of applications, including support for large and small performing ensembles, chamber music, and accompaniment for juries and recitals that serve as a laboratory for music performance, support for student travel to conferences, performances and other events related to the educational mission of the department. DRAC supported performing ensembles are open to all students on campus regardless of major and include: large and small choral ensembles, orchestras, concert bands, jazz ensembles, opera productions and chamber music ensembles.

DRAC funds additionally support guest musicians, conductors and composers, offering students the opportunity to work with, learn from and observe top professionals in the field. It also supports our Viking Band, engaging students in performance and supporting student athletics. The DRAC fund is used to finance musical instruments and equipment that would otherwise be unavailable to students. Finally, these funds support student employment in positions providing professional experience in musical pursuits including music audio and video recording and stage management.

Below are some of the key ways students have benefited from DRAC funding:

Faculty-student trip to SphinxConnect Conference
- “The Sphinx Organization is the social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. Sphinx’s four program areas form a pipeline that develops and supports diversity and inclusion in classical music at every level: music education, artists performing on stage, the repertoire and programing being performed, the communities represented in audiences, and the artistic and administrative leadership within the field.”
Renting and purchasing orchestral music for public performances by the WWU Orchestras. Most orchestral music composed after 1923 is still under copyright, and is only available by rental from publishing houses. Nearly every concert includes at least one rented piece, which can range in cost from $350 to over $1,000.
The hiring of adjudicators for the annual concerto competition, which is an opportunity available to every student musician on campus. These judges are always professional musicians from the region with no connection to Western.
Several students of the Western Saxophone Studio have won the state and regional MTNA soloist and chamber music competitions allowing them to compete at the national level during the national conferences at Las Vegas, Chicago, Orlando, Spokane, and San Antonio to name a few. The Western “Equus Saxophone Quartet” won the Frances Walton Chamber Music Competition in which they toured Washington State and performed a live broadcast on KING FM and rebroadcast on American Public Radio. The Western Sax studio has often performed in local schools and opened the studio class to invite local high school students to participate.
Guest Artists
- The hiring of guest artists to rehearse and perform with the orchestras in their public concerts. Sometimes these are major artists traveling from outside the region, and sometimes they are our own NTT faculty.
- Proposal to invite Joseph Conyers and Sphinx’s professional choral ensemble EXIGENCE to promote and demonstrate our commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our program.
- Renowned guest artists have worked with the Saxophone Studio such as Timothy McAllister, Prism Saxophone Quartet, Kenneth Tse, Otis Murphy, and John Sampen to name a few.
- ONIX is coming in March from Mexico City to work and perform with the students.

Student Publications

The Student Publications Program at Western Washington University serves to showcase and archive the diverse talent and effort of student produced journalism, arts, literature, and research. As an activity, Student Publications provides more than 50 student jobs each quarter and a platform to present the independent and academic work of hundreds of students each year. Paid positions provide experience in Management, Editing, Photography, Graphic Design, Advertising Sales, Community Networking, Distribution, and Administration. As a service, our award winning publications deliver independent news as well as scientific, artistic and academic content to Western’s campus and the community beyond.
All Western students are eligible to participate in publications staff work. Student editors-in chief are appointed by the Publications Council and receive a salary. The editorial management teams they hire are compensated in hourly income. Students may enroll in staff courses for credit; the courses are supervised by faculty of the Department of Journalism or, in the case of The Planet, Huxley College. Jeopardy is supervised by the English Department. Student
publications are an essential component of a creative writing and a journalism education. Western students are given the opportunity to practice what they learn in hands-on student publication laboratories, culminating in professional quality publications, including The Western Front, Klipsun, Jeopardy, Occams Razor and The Planet.
Student Publications Info 2019

Theatre and Dance Department

Departmental Productions

The Theatre and Dance production season serves as a laboratory for the department’s curriculum while fostering cross-campus collaboration with open participation and auditions. All students attending Western Washington University can be involved regardless of their major. Each season students can utilize what they have learned while collaborating on productions with faculty and peers, creating theatrical and dance performances for the community to enjoy. The production season is primarily supported by DRAC and traditionally includes 7 to 8 shows each academic year. DRAC funding provides WWU students with opportunities to perform, direct, stage manage, choreograph, create costumes, build scenery, design lights, create sound effects and to serve as crew members backstage during a production.

In addition, DRAC funds help to employ our students in the Costume Shop, Costume Storage, Scene Shop, and Administrative Office. Student employees are essential to our main stage productions and work side by side with our professional employees learning valuable career skills. As with our productions, these positions are open for all students to apply.

Student Travel Support

Each year the Theatre and Dance Department supports student travel to conferences such as the United States Technical Theatre Conference, the American College Dance Association and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. These conferences allow students to attend performances, workshops, auditions, portfolio reviews, and interviews while providing a platform to participate in competitions for scholarships. DRAC dollars help offset the travel expenses for student participants and serves as an important extracurricular educational experience open to all WWU students.

These conferences have also garnered impressive recognition for WWU students;

2019 Theatre graduate Megan Huynh was the winner of the Irene Ryan acting competition
2020 and 2022 Theatre graduates Jay Chavez and Jessica Moreland were recipients of the Kennedy Center’s National Undergraduate Playwriting Award. As regional award winners, both students were invited to the national Kennedy Center Conference in Washington DC, funded by the Kennedy Center.
In 2019, 2021 and 2022, WWU students won the Student Directing Initiative Fellowship with Audrey Delaney-Hanna, Erin Smith, and Katie Ginther representing the program nationally
2022 Elijah Rakha-Sheketoff was one of the two regional finalists for The Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy for this year’s KCACTF competition. Elijah represented the region nationally that spring!

For the 2019 conference, WWU’s student-devised production HereToo-WWU, was selected to be showcased at the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Fort Collins, CO. This prestigious commendation was the result of a nomination by a jury of theatre professors who select the best productions in the region to highlight at the conference. This honor to represent Western Washington University with an original performance created by a collaborative ensemble is a wonderful opportunity for our students. HereToo-WWU went on to receive national awards from the Kennedy Center as did our production of how to clean your room (and remember all your trauma) by Jay Chavez.

Professional Guest Artists

DRAC funding has helped to bring guest artists to campus to work with students including Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Spectrum Dance Theater Company, Blessed Unrest, Hand to Mouth Theatre, the Liz Gerring Dance Company, socio-political artists Anya Cloud and Rebecca Bryant, as well as artists from the Trisha Brown Dance Company, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

The Spectrum Dance Theater, Alvin Ailey, Liz Gerring, and other choreographic residencies introduce WWU students to internship and career opportunities with these professional companies. Working with these internationally recognized choreographers has been invaluable for our students and audiences as it shares the power of dance for social justice.

DRAC has also allowed professional designers, stage managers and directors to work on our season productions, giving our students a chance to work alongside the best in the field. This opportunity for networking and connection are critical for success in the artistic community.

The Theatre and Dance production season serves as a laboratory for the department’s curriculum, although auditions and participation in productions are open to all students attending Western Washington University regardless of their major. Each season students can utilize what they have learned while collaborating on productions with faculty and peers, creating theatrical and dance performances for the community to enjoy. The production season is primarily supported by DRAC and traditionally includes 7 to 8 shows each academic year. DRAC funding provides WWU students with opportunities to perform, direct, stage manage, choreograph, create costumes, design and build scenery, design lighting, create sound effects and to serve as “run crew” backstage during a production. Due to Western Washington University’s quality productions, and the experience our students have working on them, Theatre and Dance has earned two dedicated internship spots each year at the OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL. This is a huge asset for our students to have this opportunity to intern at the largest and longest running repertory theatre in the country! Currently we have 3 recent alumni who have gone on to accept full time positions with the company.

Each year the Theatre and Dance Department supports student travel to conferences such as; the United States Technical Theatre Conference, the American College Dance Association and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. These conferences allow students to attend performances, workshops, auditions, portfolio reviews, interviews and to participate in competitions for scholarships. DRAC dollars help offset the travel expenses for student participants. This travel serves as an important extracurricular educational experience and is open to all WWU students. These conferences have also garnered impressive recognition for WWU students; 2019 Theatre graduate Megan Huynh was the winner of the Irene Ryan acting competition, and 2017 Theatre graduate Zoe Jovanovich was the co-recipient of the Kennedy Center’s National Undergraduate Playwriting Award. As regional award winners, both students were invited to the national Kennedy Center Conference in Washington DC, funded by the Kennedy Center. For the 2019 conference, WWU’s student-devised production HereToo-WWU, was selected to be showcased at the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Fort Collins, CO. This prestigious commendation was the result of a nomination by a jury of theatre professors who select the best productions in the region to highlight at the conference. This honor to represent Western Washington University with an original performance created by a collaborative ensemble is a wonderful opportunity for our students.

DRAC funding has helped to bring guest artists to campus to work with our students including; Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Spectrum Dance Theater Company, Blessed Unrest, Hand to Mouth Theatre and The Liz Gerring Dance Company. DRAC has also allowed professional designers, stage managers and directors to work on our season productions, giving our students a chance to work alongside the best in the field. In addition, DRAC funds help to employ our students. Student employees are essential to our main stage productions and work in the Theatre and Dance Scene Shop, Costume Shop and Costume Storage side by side with our professional employees learning valuable career skills.

International Affairs Association

Western Washington University’s International Affairs Association (IAA) is a student run association within the Political Science Department. The IAA provides ambitious students the opportunity to explore contemporary global issues outside of the classroom, develop personal and professional skills, and to prepare for post-graduate opportunities. Functionally, the IAA serves and manages two university programs; the Model United Nations team and the Services Events & Programs division. The first of these programs, Model United Nations, allows members to simulate the affairs and procedures of the United Nations by serving as representatives of various Member States. To simulate the proceedings, team members travel to a variety of conferences in the United States and Canada, with the team on average sending twenty or more attendees to five conferences throughout the year. The final element of the IAA, the Services Events & Programs division, serves to bring international issues to campus, through the facilitation of speakers, running high school and collegiate level Model United Nations conferences. Taken together, the IAA is more than the sum of its constituent parts. It is an institution that creates student leaders by empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in a global society.

Key Program Highlights

WWU IAA’s Model United Nations team most recently won five awards at the Northwest Model United Nations Conference: one Outstanding Delegate Award, one Distinguished Delegate Award, and three Position Paper Awards. Delegate Awards recognize excellence in participation, group work, public speaking, negotiation, research, and preparedness of members during the conference. Position Paper Awards recognize excellence in research, academic writing, and proposed policy solutions.
Each year, WWU IAA sends a group of highly qualified students to New York for the National Model United Nations conference. In years past, IAA has won awards as the Outstanding Delegation, which demonstrates the strength of a team as a whole, as well as multiple Outstanding Delegate and Position Paper Awards, which reward excellence of specific delegates. Since 2008, the IAA has won a Delegation Award every year. In the past several years, nearly every delegate from the IAA won an individual award as well. This year, IAA will be taking 18 carefully selected students who are highly skilled in public speaking, research, and academic writing.
IAA facilitated “Chat with the Diplomat,” a program which brought esteemed diplomat Michaela Schweitzer-Bluhm to campus. Schweitzer-Bluhm has worked in North Macedonia, Nepal, and Egypt in her work as a Diplomat in Residence. This event was open to all students and gave students the unique opportunity to learn more about careers in foreign service and in the State Department. Additionally, first-generation students were invited to speak personally with Schweitzer-Bluhm, which gave invaluable advice to disadvantaged students interested in pursuing a career in foreign service.
Since 2006, members of IAA have won over 120 individual awards. In addition, the IAA has won 17 team awards. The IAA is incredibly proud to be able to demonstrate the strength of its team and the academic rigor offered by Western Washington University, particularly at conferences which are attended by anywhere from 180 to 2,200 students from across the globe.
IAA gives students the opportunity to refine important skills such as research, academic writing, public speaking, and problem-solving. Moreover, the IAA gives students the opportunity to grow both academically and personally. Conferences are attended by students from across the world, including delegations from around the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Mexico, Russia, Brazil, and more. By having the opportunity to engage with students from vastly different backgrounds in new environments, members of the IAA gain extensive personal development. Additionally, conferences allow students to grow their confidence, learn to negotiate for what they believe in, learn to work with difficult people, and develop advocacy skills. As such, IAA gives students the opportunity to learn how to be leaders in professional and academic settings.
Students are given the opportunity to attend conferences at a low cost, removing socio-economic barriers to these opportunities for growth. While many universities, such as the University of Washington, require their members to pay for conference fees, hotel, transportation, and other expenses out of pocket which creates barriers to attendance for low-income students, WWU IAA ensures that these conferences remain low-cost and accessible to all students who wish to attend. Funding through the Department Related Activities Committee allows the opportunities offered by this organization to remain inclusive for all students.

Clarifications

The Model UN Team is part of the International Affairs Association, and the terms are often used interchangeably.
Model UN has nothing to do with modelling for pictures or anything like that. It is an activity in which students simulate the United Nations by bringing forward policy solutions for international problems from the perspective of an assigned country. Essentially, students act as the delegate from a UN Member State. Students wear western business attire and behave as delegates in the UN would.
Model UN requires that all delegates write a position paper, in which they outline their assigned country’s position on the topics at hand and proposed policy solutions, before the conference. At the conference, students must negotiate with other delegates, while remaining in the perspective of their assigned country, to build consensus around policy solutions and craft a cohesive UN resolution.

WWU Racing

WWU Racing is an engineering team that competes in the Formula SAE Collegiate Design Series where students design, manufacture, and test an open-wheel formula-style racecar. Every academic year, WWU Racing’s goal is to use acquired data and knowledge from prior years to perfect the current year’s car. The car is designed for the non-professional weekend autocross racer, which requires solid design, construction, and high performance all at low cost. Through this process, students learn engineering design, project management, business mindset and skills in a challenging, professional environment. Western Washington University competes against an international field of 80+ teams at the FSAE West competition in Fontana, California.

Engineers look to build the most cohesive car possible by exercising sound design methodology and implementation. At competition, our car is reviewed by a panel of industry professionals and the team must justify all design decisions. The business team administers all tasks that the team needs to sustain itself: budgeting, purchasing, marketing, sponsorship. Additionally, the system organizes the cost report and business presentation for competition purposes.

Students participating in the Formula SAE Collegiate Design series with our team gain experience which makes them highly prepared for any industry of interest. The product of WWU Racing is the students being enriched through professional experience, with a racecar as a portfolio to display their efforts, development, and learning. WWU Racing strives to make the best product possible: the students of the team.