By: Ella Colwell
The Housing Community Center is seeing a resurgence in student organized events. October 30th and November 2nd, 2024, were big moments for the life of the HCC (Housing Community Center), which once was a spot with big events held on behalf of encouraging community between students. Just 20-30 years ago, the Evergreen State College campus was buzzing with live music and art. Now, there is a student led movement to bring this back in full force. This is partly due to Evergreen pulling the performing arts out of its budget, which eliminated staff roles and classes that taught performing arts. The HCC is a great space that should be used more often. There is a small stage, bathrooms, and ADA access! Creating a sense of community is important at a college, especially at Evergreen where there’s a fewer population of students.
The show on October 30th was promoted as a ‘Gay Halloween Show’ which had a goal of raising funds for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. It featured three different cover bands, Coven Dove, Stella Jay, and Koa Koala who covered Amy Winehouse, Green Day, and Neutral Milk Hotel respectively. There was also a guest drag queen performance and a costume contest! The winner of the costume contest was Saige Stittsoworth, who dressed up as Mormon Jesus and performed a special dance.
The concert on the 30th led the excitement for the show on November 2nd, which featured six bands: Yasuø, Pilfer, Trash Fairy, Cockerspaniel, Heat Signature, and Tendon. Three of the bands playing were Evergreen students: Yasuø, Pilfer, and Tendon while the other three bands came from Seattle or Tacoma. With some of these bands being evergreen students and some of the bands being from other parts of Washington, the show reached max capacity, drawing in all types of students and staff that go to Evergreen. The energy in the room was unforgettable, some students made signs to support the bands. Including ‘I <3 Yasuø’ and ‘Tendon got me pregnant’. During the sets, there was also a projector on the ceiling that would play youtube videos of Smosh, Weezer, and Dragon Ball Z. You could see the smiles on all the student and staff’s faces, one person even mentioned in passing ‘This is the most packed I’ve seen the HCC since the winter storm in 2019’. The Arcades Project was also tabling at this event, handing out zines on how to start your own D.I.Y dance party as well as zines about voting. Tendon, the closing band, was about to play their last song when Will Wiencken hopped on stage. Will was one of the organizers who made the November 2nd show happen. He gave a short and sweet speech on how if we want cool shit like this to keep happening, we have to put in the effort to make it happen. He encouraged students to take control of their college experience, you get what you put into it.
These two shows, on October 30th and November 2nd, prove just how easy it is to do something fun in the HCC. They were easy to organize and make happen, you just have to be motivated and want it. We don’t have to be worried about what the administration thinks, we will find a way to make exciting things happen, Evergreen students deserve to have a good time. Start a band, create art, make things happen. Make this college a place you would be proud of attending. Lets continue to make memorable experiences in the HCC.
Photos by: @sapphic.lucifer
