President Sabah will be having his "State of the University" address, formerly called the Faculty & Staff Opening Convocation, this upcoming Wednesday (10/4) at 9am. It is available to watch remotely here, but attending in-person has been restricted to RSVP-only with limited seating. 

In his New Student Convocation last week, he said Western is dedicated to improving and supporting academic success, diversity, inclusion, and "passionate about continually enhancing the distinctive excellence of Western's Academic programs and learning experiences." He also said that the University strives to ensure the physical, psychological, and emotional safety of all its students. 

It's interesting how the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report seems to reflect this, with virtually no change from 2020 - 2022 in terms of crime statistics (excluding a significant increase in motor vehicle theft), yet a WWU student living off-campus nearby was stabbed multiple times  in July 2022. Why is this not reflected in the report? What other crimes has Western not reported or addressed simply because of clerical loopholes?

We've seen several instances of Western administration claiming to diligent, law-abiding, ethical individuals, and then turning around and acting in a way that directly opposes that. Washington State Legislature approved a $69.2 BILLION budget for 2023-2025, with the university stating that its operating priorities will be increasing employee wages, expanding graduate and STEM programs, increasing first year student retention, and expanding its buildings and academic offerings. 

Shortly after the release of the budget numbers, Western Washington University approved an operating budget with a $2.2 million deficit, with a minimum 3% increase in fees for the 2023-2024 academic year. This seems like a small number, until you learn that tuition has been raised almost 20% in the last 7 years for in-state students, and nearly 30% for non-resident students. 

Yet, President Sabah lists a 2021 yearly salary of $422,000, according to OpenPayrolls. The Honors College alone has been reported to use $400,000 in funding for a year: Why is it that the President of the University makes more than an entire College, while students are facing homelessness, hunger, and unemployment? Cascadia Daily published an article addressing student retention concerns and in it Sara Wilson, Executive Director of Student Success Initiatives at Western, states that the top reasons students leave Western without finishing are "financial reasons, mental health, lack of basic needs..., academic struggles, or a lack of belonging at Western."

Aside from how that covers essentially the whole gamut of the college experience, if Western is aware of the problems its students are facing, why does it continue to push back against student initiatives such as the Unionization efforts - which would guarantee improved conditions for student employees? Why does it neglect to address the student concerns about housing - forcing them to deal with moldy dorms or facilities in disrepair, and unsafe conditions surrounding campus? There are food bank and support initiatives available on campus, but they're almost all student-directed and receive minimal support from the University itself. South campus has a 5-acre "permaculture farm" and fields upon fields of grass and ornamentals (in the state known for its apple trees, no less), yet it takes external grant funding from Whole Foods just to repair a greenhouse door and a chicken coop? 

Why is it that the University claims to be supporting its students and faculty, but only where it's most profitable?

The "State of the University" is that its administration is coasting along on the backs of its students, preying on them and milking them of their time, effort, money, and willpower, without even doing the bare minimum of ensuring that they can complete their degree without sacrificing their mental or physical wellbeing. The University is running a for-profit model at the expense of its students and community, while claiming to be a boon for it. 

Until the University and President Sabah addresses these concerns and begins to legitimately remedy them, we will continue to call out their hypocrisies, lies, and deceit, and use the truth and facts to shine a light on the darkness that the administration is using to hide its unethical treatment of students and staff and the exploitation of the community it has established itself as a vanguard of. 

Keep checking back with us at The WWU Whistleblower for more, and we can be contacted for questions, comments, or anything else via the Form at the bottom of the page, or directly at Wissle.B.Loer@outlook.com.

WWU knowingly employs professors and advisors wanted for murder, guilty of assault, guilty of sexual harassment, as well as discrimination and other civil and criminal violations. Current and former administration has been found guilty of fraud, embezzlement, and more.

Western allows its professors and "professional staff" to have a Union, but resists the formation of a Student Union. These faculty and staff are provided with health insurance, paid holidays, and other Union benefits - yet administration is against the formation of a Student Union because it's "too much weight for students to bear," according to President Sabah himself. Yet, students are expected to bear the weight of oppression, discrimination, exploitation, and lies.

In 1981, the Klipsun Magazine said in an article: "Western Washington University is not a democracy. It is an autocratic regime ruled by the president and the board of trustees." Over forty years later, there is evidence that this is still the case.

We are an independent, student-run newspaper dedicated solely to exposing the underbelly of WWU, particularly the Administration and President Sabah. 

Stay tuned for further press releases, articles, and testimonies from current and former students and staff from Western Washington. We will be publishing a new article every month starting the 1st of October and continuing as long as necessary.