In this issue, we release an unprecedented investigation into the United State’s land-grant university system, which was created from the expropriation of Indigenous land. This two-year investigation uncovers the origin of wealth that undergirds The nation’s system of higher education. The issue also looks at ranked-choice voting in Oregon, the cultural trend of meatless hamburgers, and the origins of immigration practices that are sweeping through Western communities. In Seattle, we follow scientists who are scrambling to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Meanwhile, award-winning authors Tommy Orange and Louise Erdrich discuss Erdrich’s new novel, and an essay takes a retrospective look at the life and work of writer Charles Bowden.

Download the Digital Issue

Added perspectives

I was recently immersed in an interview in The Sun, “Blind Hate: Randy Blazak on Why White Supremacy Persists.” One of Blazek’s points is how changing American demographics are affecting white males who grew up in a country dominated by “straight, white, able-bodied males.” In their hearts, they feel safe and important in settings of…

by Linda Paul

Backcountry snobbery

For years, I have gotten grief for hiking and backpacking in jeans and T-shirts instead of lightweight zippered shorts/pants and sweat-wicking shirts; eating M&Ms and PB&J sandwiches, rather than custom gorp or Clif Bars; and for cross-country skiing in the same jeans and T-shirt with old 75-mm three-pin bindings. As a white guy, I let…

by Craig Jones

Electric vehicles

In “The Elon Musk dilemma” (March 2020), Brian Calvert gets a number of facts wrong about climate change, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. He starts the column by highlighting Americans’ “beliefs” in climate change. As a climate scientist, I would like to point out that the climate doesn’t care about people’s beliefs. It doesn’t care…

by David Schneider

Over-generalizing

Does one person of a certain identity represent all people of that identity? Of course not (“Conservation justice,” February 2020). In his interview, Sergio Avila affirms that truth when he describes the misstep of generalizing about people. Unfortunately, Avila went on to generalize repeatedly about “white people.” What about those of us who seek knowledge…

by Steve Paulson

Public transportation

How could you publish an article about public transportation in the Northwest without mentioning Amtrak once (“Mass transit West” January 2020)? The Coast Starlight train runs daily from Seattle to Los Angeles. The Empire Builder runs from Portland and Seattle connecting to Spokane and Chicago and has coach and sleeper car options.  Amtrak Cascades offers…

by William Edward Gretz

Relocating the BLM

I retired from a career with the Bureau of Land Management in 2009. From over 33 years of public-lands stewardship “in the trenches,” I was gifted with many things, the best of which was a deep understanding of the power of the land and those who are connected to it and, of course, the natural…

by Kristie Arrington

The stereotypical picture of the West doesn’t have room for me

I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have High Country News in our household. I still get excited every time I see one of your stories pop up online in other platforms, even as that happens more and more regularly. I don’t know if I would have solidified myself as a Westerner as strongly…

by Martha Geier

Voting for wolves

In “Colorado Throws Wolves to the Vote” (March 2020) Ethan Linck maintains that whether to reintroduce wolves to Colorado is a philosophical question not answerable by science. Putting wolf reintroduction to a vote is the right way to go. After all, why should Colorado Parks and Wildlife scientists enjoy privileged status when it comes to…

by Kirk Robinson