“Oh, you go to Western? So you...” – that’s usually how most of the conversations start, followed by some stereotypical statement or question. Mostly it’s closely tied to standard Northwest characteristics, and most of the time people aren’t that far off. More often than not, I have encountered and gotten along with many people I have met at Western because of the similarities that a lot of my fellow students and I share. Our wonderful campus has countless perks that entice and lure thousands of people to Bellingham every year to start a new chapter, and I would encourage it. I’ve loved every second of living and going to school here, but there are a few things that you should be used to being asked by now – some prompt an eye roll or a short laugh, usually both in agreement.
1. The Birks.
The Birkenstocks and socks gig is both popular and true up on the WWU campus. If you’re on your way to class and casually scan the crowd at their feet, you will frequently see people wearing a snazzy pair of Birks accompanied with a touch of Northwest: warm socks. A similar siting would be sandals and socks -- same concept, but they probably didn’t spend $100 on the pair of shoes they’re wearing. If you attend Western, you either own a pair or you know/see many people donning this popular look.
2. The rain jackets.
You probably own more than your fair share of rain jackets if you live in the Northwest, let alone if you go to Western. People who aren’t from the area have simply asked, “so it rains there a lot, right? Like Twilight?” (Don’t even get me started on the Twilight comparisons -- less now as the years have gone on, but still too many). I always reply with 'yes,' as I think about my closet full of an array of different rain protectors. Usually a follow up question is, "does it gets depressing with all the clouds and grey?" My response is always 'no,' as I grew up here and I love that kind of weather. Rain, grey, clouds, and snow is always a preference compared to intense heat and sun. I enjoy my moderate temperature and gloomy state of Washington just the way it is. And if you see someone walking through campus with an umbrella, there’s a good chance they’re not from here. Unless you’re at a standstill at some sort of an event, an umbrella is not overly practical, as it is usually windy and the umbrella will just make your life more difficult.
3. Mary Jane.
This is probably the most common stereotype, frequently assumed by people who don’t go WWU, or even if they do. While pot has become more common and widely used in general, Westerners have always been known for using it widely, and it is true that a vast majority of Westerners engage with the substance. It is certainly not true to say that all people do, but if you don’t then there is a high possibility that you either know someone who does or have encountered people smoking it somewhere in the area. You can also probably safely assume that Washington state + university students = an abundance of weed.
4. The "chillers."
The use of our friend Mary Jane has built up a reputation for laid back people, and this is correct (most of the time). Many people you meet on campus or in the area are usually fairly chilled-out, some more than others, of course. Westerners are more comfortable in their surroundings and don’t walk around with a stick up their ass. It’s not to say that people aren’t motivated or have things to do -- we are very hard workers -- but we are also very good at kicking back and enjoying the moment. It creates a friendly environment, which is always a nice place to be.
5. Love for the outdoors.
Hiking, camping, skiing, being outside -- we all either do these things or we know multiple people who participate in these wonderful activities. When I tell people I like to do these things and that I attend Western, they always say, “oh, what a great place for that!,” and I couldn’t agree more. The culture at Western is naturally outdoorsy and green. The campus itself has beautiful trees galore and pockets of nature everywhere you turn, not to mention the mountains for hiking, skiing, and camping surrounding it. So, naturally, outdoorsy people are drawn here.
