Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Isaac Hinson
Shaedon Sharpe is Him… so where do the Blazers go from here?
The last time I wrote about the Portland Trail Blazers for The Observer, it was after the team had started 9-4 in 2022, just over two years ago. I wrote that people shouldn’t be sleeping on the Blazers that season. The front office had just traded for forward Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart and Grant had all hit game-winners in that stretch, and Damian Lillard was playing some of the best ball of his career. What ended up happening?
La elección de sus vidas
Con contribuciones de Lee Beck, Astor Powell-Pederson, Jackson Roberts y Kam Schindewolf-Broyles. Este artículo fue escrito el Día de las Elecciones, el 5 de noviembre. Los resultados finales exactos de las elecciones presidenciales aún no se conocen. Este artículo detalla los pensamientos, reacciones y preocupaciones de los estudiantes, todos registrados el Día de las Elecciones.
National harassment following election reaches CWU
On the evening of Nov. 6, the night after Election Day, black men, women and children and other people of color across the nation received targeted text messages proclaiming extreme racist sentiment. CWU student, Izellah Rainier, was one of the victims of this harassment. Rainier posted about the text message on her TikTok. Her video has amassed 3.1 million views and 644.3 thousand likes. “There’s no sort of full healing from receiving a message like this,” Rainier said.
The election of your lives
Contributions from Lee Beck, Astor Powell-Pederson, Jackson Roberts & Kam Schindewolf-Broyles This piece was written on Election Day, Nov. 5. The exact final results of the Presidential election are not known. This piece details student thoughts, reactions and concerns, all recorded on Election Day.
I’ve been craving a theatrical horror experience. I thought about going to see “Terrifier 3,” but those films aren’t for me. I’ve tried the other two… just not my cup of tea. I’m here in Ellensburg, so I can’t go to the repertory theaters in my hometown of Portland that are playing an array of horror classics right now. I missed out on going to The Majestic cinema in Yakima and seeing their slate two weekends ago. I saw the first “Smile” and liked it, but I didn’t love it.
Wildcats win big
The Wildcats spoiled Texas A&M University Kingsville’s (TAMUK) homecoming celebration this past Saturday, beating the Javelinas on their home field 31-0, their second shutout win of the season. Following the win, sophomore quarterback Kennedy McGill and sophomore defensive lineman Daniel Matagi both won Lone Star Conference (LSC) Offensive Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week respectively.
El Centro Multicultural, próximo proyecto entre los esfuerzos de renovación de la CWU
Traducción del inglés al español por Evelyn Aguiar and Kathryn Natale CWU está lista para comenzar el desarrollo del Centro Multicultural (CMC), que se propuso hace tiempo, según un correo electrónico del 30 de septiembre de Mal Stewman, el director del Centro de Diversidad y Equidad y Verónica Gómez-Vilchis, vicepresidenta asociada de Equidad y Pertenencia.
What you should watch this Halloween
It’s my favorite time of the year for movie watching – Halloween. Well, it isn’t Halloween yet, not quite. But we are only a few weeks away. The weather is getting colder, the clothes are getting warmer and every streaming service is loading up on horror movies. Here is a glimpse into what I’ve already watched or what I’ll be tuning into, and why you should do the same.
Multicultural Center next among CWU’s renovation efforts
CWU is set to begin development of the long-proposed Multicultural Center (MCC), according to a Sept. 30 email from Mal Stewman, director of the Diversity & Equity Center and Verónica Gómez-Vilchis, Associate Vice President of Equity and Belonging. Officials project work on the MCC to be completed by Jan. 2026, with some spaces to be available for use in the fall of 2025.
‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ at 50: As scary as ever
Happy October! It’s the beginning of my favorite three-month stretch of the year. So many holidays. So many memories to be made. And so many movies to watch. Specifically in October. I find a real cozy joy in getting in bed after a long day at school or work and putting on a good horror flick. For the last few years, I’ve even gone as far as to program an entire 31-movie schedule for October.
Remembering Bill Walton
Across my whole life, I have always been able to walk into my Dad’s bedroom and look at a plethora of Portland Trail Blazers memorabilia. From a small child to the young adult I am now. Jerseys, posters and figurines litter his room. One figure has always stood out, of a man in a vintage jersey, extremely short shorts and a headband, who was stanced to be about to throw down a nasty dunk.
ASCWU voting results are in: Cantu re-elected for Presidency
After a long campaign trail, the final voting results from the Associated Students of Central Washington University (ASCWU) student government election has been revealed, as per and verified by the ASCWU Election Commission. Malik Cantu was re-elected as president, while Nick Villa was re-appointed as vice president and Alec “Hondo” Acosta-Vega was voted in as senate speaker. This will be Cantu’s second term as ASCWU president.
The Observer @ SIFF day one: ‘I Saw The TV Glow’
I was lucky enough to attend the Seattle International Film Festival — a hub for filmmakers all around the world to show off their movies big and small — for five days last week. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I hope this is the first of many years where I will be able to cover an event like that.
Broken lights, old cameras … action?
In the Equipment Circulation Center (ECC) in Lind Hall, film students linger, talk about their upcoming projects and check out cameras, tripods and microphones from senior film major Michael Boyer. Recently 22, Boyer is the lone employee at the ECC, and more often than not has to turn away his peers from equipment that would normally be available to them, and give them subpart equipment.
Box Office Boys: ‘Challengers’ is sexy, slick and a triumph of movie-making
In an age where it seems that both movie-makers and movie-goers seem to be averse to the concept of sex in their media, Luca Guadaginino’s “Challengers” embraces sex and polyamory both literally and in allegory.
My top five movies of 2024 (So far!)
April 25, 2024 In rapid-fire style, I’d like to go over my top five movies of the year so far ahead of my attendance of the Seattle International Film Festival as press next month! It’s been an interesting year, but I’ve had a good time at the movies. There have been scares, thrills, kills and a whole lot more. But what is the best Hollywood has to offer so far?
CWU short films selected for KINO Short Film Festival
Seniors Gracen Bayer, Jakob Burnham and Junior Dylan Hanson, are the CWU students and creatives behind two short films that were recently selected to be shown at the KINO Short Film Festival in Moscow, Idaho this weekend. (The writer of this piece has worked with all three of these filmmakers in the past, but not on any of the films discussed in regards to the film festival). Bayer’s short film “Picnic” and Burnham and Hanson’s short film “In My Dreams” were both selected.
The Taylor Swift Album Rankings
With “The Tortured Poets Department” being released tomorrow on Poetry & The Creative Mind Day (April 19), it’s the perfect time to talk about superstar Taylor Swift’s first 10 albums, coming to you from the two self-proclaimed biggest Swifties on campus. …Ready for it? PLEASE NOTE: IT WAS TORTURE (PUN INTENDED) TO RANK THESE ALBUMS. WE BOTH LOVE THEM ALL. THESE ARE OUR PERSONAL OPINIONS AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE THEIR OWN OPINION ON HOW THESE ALBUMS SHOULD BE RANKED.
‘Dune: Part Two’ The biggest, boldest and best sci-fi film of the generation
Pretty much every decade has a saga, franchise or story that defines it. For the 70s-80s that franchise was “Star Wars” which was released in 1977, and had two sequels that followed in the 80s. The 90s were a transitional period from old Hollywood into a new era, much of which was pioneered by “Star Wars,” and saw the rise of the “Jurassic Park” franchise at the beginning of the decade in 1993 and the inception of “The Matrix” at the tail end, as well as the return of “Star Wars,” both in 1999.
The Best Picture power rankings: Can anyone beat ‘Oppenheimer’?
The 96th Academy Awards are right around the corner, and the race simultaneously feels decided, yet… close? It’s the general consensus that Christopher Nolan’s historical epic “Oppenheimer” is all but guaranteed to sweep. So why does it feel like a couple other movies have a chance? This is going to be my final Gold Rush piece before the ceremony, there will be nothing next week as instead I have a very, very special – perhaps spice-inflected – review planned for then.
CWU finds new Provost in Dr. Patrick Pease: How it happened and his mission
On the morning of Feb. 12, CWU’s President Jim Wohlpart sent out an email to students announcing that the search for a new provost had concluded, as he and his 11-member search committee had appointed Dr. Patrick Pease as the new provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. He will begin his tenure on Tuesday, April 16, just as the spring quarter is underway.
ASCWU finalizes letter standing in solidarity with Palestine
The Associated Students of CWU (ASCWU) student government organization finalized a letter standing in solidarity with Palestine amidst the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Gaza and elsewhere. The conflict, which has been deemed attempted genocide by the International Court of Justice, has been a topic of concern and debate amongst ASCWU for weeks now. As recently as ASCWU’s general assembly meeting on Jan.
My Oscar predictions: What’s gonna be going for gold?
Tuesday, Jan. 16 marked the end of the Oscar nomination period, which lasted for five days starting Jan. 11. Official nominees are to be named on Jan. 23, one week after the nomination period. Since the Golden Globes on Jan. 7, the Critic’s Choice Awards commenced, and the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) Awards and Screen Actors Guild of America (SAG) Awards nominations both were announced.
What to watch over the break
We’ve finally reached the end of fall quarter, or at least we are real close. Personally, I am more than ready to finish up the work I have left to do and then book it back home and enjoy the holidays with my family. But when we do get home, and the day is nearing its end and the family is sitting around the TV… how do you choose what to watch? There are so many people to please, each person with their own unique tastes. Or even if you’re on your own, there are so many options, how do you choose?
‘Thanksgiving’ carves its spot in the holiday horror pantheon
A movie based on a fake trailer that was made for a movie released in 2007? You must be kidding, right? Surely that can’t be good… Right? Released on this past friday, “Thanksgiving” is director Eli Roth’s fully fleshed out imagining of his faux-trailer of the same name.
‘The Killer,’ and the top four David Fincher movies
Harkening back to his thriller roots, legendary director David Fincher returns this Friday with his new film “The Killer,” starring Michael Fassbender. Based upon the French graphic novel of the same name written by Alexis Nolent, “The Killer” is an incredibly lean and precise action thriller that is all killer and no filler (pun intended). Releasing Nov.
CWU student harkens back to his childhood with children’s book
Junior public relations major Brian Valencia is releasing a children’s book. “The Dog Who Barked… and Barked, and Barked…” tells the story of just that, a dog who has a real affinity for barking. The dog, Nova, fears that she has driven away her owners because of her excessive barking. Nova must deal with her emotions, and some unexpected turmoil, as the story unfolds. Self-proclaimed “cat guy” Valencia said his book is the reworking of a project he was assigned in his youth.
My five favorite films for the fall
Fall is my favorite time of the year. It’s the cooldown after these increasingly hot summers. Cool mornings, even cooler nights. And those chilly evenings make for perfect cozy stay-at-home nights with a blanket, a nice warm drink (I personally go for any variance of tea) and a good movie. Here are my favorites that I think encapsulate the season, plus an honorable mention.
WGA and AMPTP sign new deal, strike ends
The Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) reached an agreement on a tentative new deal on Sept. 24, ending the 148 day long writers strike, according to Deadline. The new contract, which is effective from Sept. 25, 2023 through May 1, 2026 brings pay increases, more jobs and regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) to all guild members. Writers were able to return to work on Sept. 27th.
CWU athlete’s perspective on ‘person first, player second’
The number on the back of a jersey isn’t the only thing that defines who an athlete is. To be a student-athlete comes with an extra responsibility of balancing multiple identities, according to CWU senior sport management major and men’s track and field and cross-country runner, Ty Savely.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,’ and the summer movie slate
Once more with feeling. The summer movie season has kicked off with the premiere of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” on May 5, written and directed once again by James Gunn, the movie comes five years after the previous installment in the franchise. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” My relationship to these movies runs deep.
CWU football coaching staff welcomes new faces and promotes an old one
CWU Football Head Coach Chris Fisk has some new help in the coaching staff, as well as a returning face in a new position. James Basham and Ronnie Scott have taken over as Defensive Line Coach and Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties Coach respectively, while former graduate assistant and Defensive Line Coach Grant Torgerson has been promoted to Defensive Coordinator. Grant Torgerson Torgerson has been a fundamental piece to the puzzle that is the Wildcats coaching staff for the past five years.
Men’s rugby looks forward to postseason after historic year
The CWU men’s rugby team have punched their ticket to the playoffs. Finishing the regular season with a nearly undefeated 8-1 record, the Wildcats cemented their best ranking in team history, earning the number one seed in the West Region of the College Rugby Association of America’s (CRAA) D1A postseason. The Wildcats will be entering the postseason on an extended break.
‘Everything Everywhere’ sweeps, and the future of the Oscars
The 95th Academy Awards took place on March 12, and A24’s “Everything Everywhere All At Once” swept in historic fashion. The heavy frontrunner coming into the ceremony, everything went according to plan for this season’s darling.
Who’s taking home the gold?
This Sunday marks the commencement of the 95th Oscars. A year’s worth of movies watched, campaigns ran and other awards shows attended have all led to this, and right now it seems like the clear frontrunner for nearly every award it was nominated for is A24’s “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” Sweeping the Independent Spirit Awards this past weekend, it would be a safe bet to assume “Everything Everywhere” is going to clean house at the Oscars.
‘Aftersun,’ and our parents mortality
Released this past year by A24 and MUBI, “Aftersun” has been the breakout sleeper hit of this award’s season. Directed by long-time short, but first-time feature-director, Charlotte Wells, “Aftersun” tells the story of a young adult woman recalling a brief, but important, vacation she had with her father as a child. I found “Aftersun” to be completely riveting, and it’s one of my favorites of the last five years.
‘Triangle of Sadness,’ and the “Eat the rich” dilemma
The term “Eat the rich” originates from a quote by Genevan Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, reading: “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.” Rousseau said this during the height of the French revolution, and could not possibly predict that it would become a modern day hot-phrase when discussing class affairs, capitalism and in a more niche realm, media.
The Best Actor gauntlet
One of the most coveted awards of the ceremony, the Best Actor race is always tight, and this year seems to be no different. After being won last year by Will Smith for his performance in “King Richard” no more than three hours after the Chris Rock slap incident, the Academy seems to be looking for a feel-good story with this year’s class.
Surprises and snubs from the Oscar nominations
A day often met with feelings of anticipation for fans, confusion for those in the industry who find themselves off the ballots and relief for people like my mother and I, who want to know what movies we’re going to spend the next six weeks watching, the 95th Oscar nominations were revealed the morning of Jan. 24. A24’s “Everything Everywhere All At Once” led the nominees with 11 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director and two Best Supporting Actress nominations.
Men’s basketball catching fire
Isaac Hinson, Sports Editor After beginning the year with a record of 1-7, CWU men’s basketball has caught fire and won seven of their last ten games and found themselves in the midst of a four game winning streak. Junior forward Samaad Hector cites the team’s chemistry and grit as the spark that reignited their season. “We know we’re a good defensive and offensive team,” Hector said.
The Fabelmans: Spielberg at the peak of his powers
One year removed from his masterful re-imagining of “West Side Story,” legendary Director Steven Spielberg returns with a deeply personal story about his childhood, how he grew to love movies and the turmoil that came with his parents’ relationship and looming divorce. Spielberg says the film has been a dream project of his for over 20 years, but out of fear of hurting either of his parents with their portrayals, he waited until they had both passed to begin development.
Seahawks land fifth pick in NFL draft
Isaac Hinson, Sports Editor On March 8, the Seattle Seahawks traded All-Pro Quarterback (QB) Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. In exchange, they received QB Drew Lock, Tight-End (TE) Noah Fant, Defensive Lineman (DL) Shelby Harris and a collection of five draft picks, including first-rounders in the 2022 and 2023 drafts. The first round pick in the 2022 draft conveyed as the ninth overall pick and became Offensive Tackle (OT) Charles Cross.
Women’s basketball surging through season
Isaac Hinson, Sports Editor The Wildcats currently sit at 11-3 and rank fourth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) with a 3-2 conference record. Of those 11 wins, eight of them have been won by 20-points or more. Head coach Randi Richardson attributes the massive margin-of-victory to the team’s high-powered offense. “We have a pretty balanced offense,” said Richardson.
Breaking down Julio Rodriguez’s historic season
After cementing himself as the Seattle Mariners best player during the year that they made the playoffs for the first time in two decades, outfielder (OF) Julio Rodriguez has been awarded American League (AL) Rookie of the Year. Rodriguez became the fifth Mariner of all-time to win Rookie of the Year, joining Alvin Davis (1984), Kazuhiro Sasaki (2000), Ichiro Suzuki (2001) and Kyle Lewis (2018).
Don’t sleep on the Trail Blazers
The Pacific Northwest is becoming a hub of the sports world once again. The Seahawks find themselves at 6-3 and on top of the NFC West, thanks to the resurgence of Seattle legend Geno Smith. The Mariners made the playoffs for the first time in two decades this past fall, and have the heroics of Julio Rodriguez locked up for the foreseeable future. But, a little south in rainy Oregon, the Portland Trail Blazers are taking the NBA by storm.
Women’s rugby team reflects on senior night and looks forward to playoffs
The regular season for the women’s Rugby team has come to a close, and the Wildcats sit with a 4-3 record as they prepare for the D1 Elite Semifinals. Before the game, the Wildcats found themselves celebrating their seniors, Keia Mae Sagapolu, Shona Kennedy and Madison Hadden. “It’s bittersweet,” Hadden said about being honored at senior night. “Everyone knew it was our last game in Ellensburg, which was a weird feeling. It was nice to be celebrated.
Volk wins LSC Defensive Player of the Week
Isaac Hinson, Sports Editor Football’s safety Tanner Volk won the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Defensive Player of the Week award this past week, making him the third Wildcat to take home an LSC Player of the Week award. His performance against Texas A&M-Kingsville proved him to be worthy of the award, with a team-high 12 tackles, seven of which were solo-tackles, and 1.5 of which registered a loss in yardage for Texas A&M-Kingsville. “I found out through Twitter,” Volk said.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Isaac
Contact Isaac, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack