Students starting something big at Eastern
Eastern is a starting point; a place with resources and able-bodied faculty prepared to help
By: Paul Michie, Contributing writer, The Easterner
Posted: 4/16/08
At first, Eastern Washington University's new slogan, "Start Something Big" seems like a lot of BIG talk; just another idea to get more students and money to the school. But someone willing to give the school's slogan a second look will likely see EWU as a starting point; a place with resources and able-bodied faculty prepared to give students' dreams a platform to grow. This is not anything new to students and alumni. For over 100 years, students have been choosing Cheney's school of higher education as a base for their big ideas.
One such student is Tracey Waring, a senior in EWU's Interdisciplinary Studies program. Like most EWU students, if one was to pass Waring on the street she wouldn't appear to be anyone of particular interest or influence. Yet, like many of her fellow classmates, when one takes a little time to find what she is doing to improve society and make a lasting difference it is hard not to be impressed.
Waring began college like most students: unsure of exactly what impact she hoped to bring to society. While attending Spokane Community College, a friend brought to her attention the needs of many women leaving Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women (PLCCW) in Medical Lake. Waring decided to make a small difference. Trying to assist female offenders re-entering society, she began giving a set of clothing to one destitute woman leaving prison each month. However, after only a few months she was told this was not allowed. Prison regulations only allow a community member to send packages to one offender currently housed in the institution for safety reasons. Not letting this deter her, she began to contemplate alternate ways to accomplish her goal.
A short time after starting at EWU, Waring discovered the option of independent study and wondered if her idea to create a clothing bank for indigent women leaving prison would qualify. During a meeting with her adviser, John Neace, director of Interdisciplinary Studies, fall quarter of 2006, she asked him about this possibility. She told him, "I had this idea and I was wondering if I could get credit for it."
Unexpectedly, Neace, who had previously worked with the Department of Corrections, jumped at her idea. Before Waring knew what had happened, she was enrolled in three independent study credits dedicated to her goal.
As part of her coursework she began researching a similar program being operated at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor. Based on her findings she created a proposal structured on the logistics at PLCCW, and sent a letter outlining it to Captain William McDonnell. To show evidence of coursework, Waring created a notebook showing the project's progress.
After several months of not receiving a response from the institution, Waring became worried that the project might fail. According to Waring, it was during times of uncertainty that made having a good adviser a godsend. Neace always showed faith in Waring's cause. She said of Neace, "If it wasn't for him this project would have never gotten this far. He kept telling me I needed to be patient or needed to call. It alternated, so between October and March I called, e-mailed, sent notes, or waited, and finally heard from them."
After approximately seven months working on the project, Waring finally met with PLCCW officials in April of last year. However, due to changes going on at the prison, permission to begin the program would have to wait. With encouragement from Neace, Waring moved her focus to being prepared for the time when permission would be granted. She began working with large organizations that she knew could be counted on for lasting clothing donations and volunteer support: the Catholic and Episcopal dioceses of Spokane. St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on the north side of Spokane opened its doors and two storage rooms to house the donations.
Coincidentally, while Waring waited for permission to begin work at the prison, she met Dr. Patricia Luse, an EWU professor and alumni, who happened to be at the PLCCW volunteer recognition dinner where Waring gave a speech about "the Clothing Closet," the name given to her project. Luse contacted Waring and began supporting the project first as a volunteer, then by allowing Waring to promote the Clothing Closet in her classes, and last by offering the Clothing Closet as an option for the community service requirement in her EDUC 490 class. Since that time, many of Luse's students have assisted the program through various methods, mostly sorting clothes.
In September, Waring was informed by PLCCW they wanted her to begin implementing the Clothing Closet in October. Thanks to Neace's support the program was ready to go and fitted four applicants that first week. Since that time, the Clothing Closet has assisted approximately 70 indigent women re-entering the community.
Of her success Waring said, "The Clothing Closet has grown beyond my original vision. I thought 'Oh, two applications a week'... [Now] we have seven to 10 women each week. Things are really moving along."
When asked how the Clothing Closet was made possible, Waring credits its success to many sources including EWU's Alumni Association, John Neace, Patricia Luse, volunteers from Luse's classes, the PDK Organization, the Honors Program Leadership Class, the McNair Scholars and Erin Rost, an EWU junior, all of whom have either contributed time, donated items or money to the program.
Among all the support, the Clothing Closet has received many accolades including a donation by the women of Pine Lodge made possible through their fundraising efforts and Waring being named Volunteer of the Year for Pine Lodge by the Department of Corrections.
Although Waring is happy with the Clothing Closet's success she does not see it as the end of her or Eastern's association with Medical Lake's Pine Lodge Corrections Center. She has a new goal. In fact GOAL is its name. "When I first came to Eastern and I first got involved with this project my vision was that I would complete my education, get my master's in social work and then run a non-profit…" Waring comments, "… and that is what the GOAL project is all about. GOAL stands for Great Opportunities for A Lifetime." Part of the GOAL vision is to offer a year-long transition program focused on preparing women to make better life decisions for themselves and their families for successful re-entry. The project will rely on Eastern support to get the program up and running.
Waring, speaking of her lack of know how in creating such a program, said, "… this is where I see Eastern playing a part, because of the resources and the support for new ideas and starting something big. And this is my starting something big."
Tracey Waring is just another example of an Eastern student stepping forward to reach their potential. And that is what Eastern's new slogan, "Start Something Big," is all about. It is about students making their dreams realities through EWU faculty assistance, resource support and increased knowledge. Eastern Washington University is not just selling itself through its new slogan; it is making a recognizable and personalized difference in and around the Inland Northwest.
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