GIRLS ROCK!

WWU

MEDIA KIT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER

FAQ

LOGO AND TAGLINE

PITCH LETTER

10

STORY IDEAS

11

MEDIA CLIPS

12

Compiled December 2015 by

Jennifer Frietag
Madeline Mohn
Kylee Morgan

1

GIRLS ROCK! WWU

MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
Press Contact: Erica Ewell
girlsrockwwu@gmail.com, (425) 870 4213

Overview
Girls Rock! WWU is a nonprofit Western Washington University Associated
Students club that creates opportunities for music education through the perspective of
social change. Girls Rock! WWU is concerned with representation of women in the music
industry, the intersectionality of social issues like feminism and race, the importance of
positive body image and promotion of media literacy as they relate to the music industry.
With a message of inclusivity and an unapologetic attitude, members of Girls Rock! WWU
want to involve students in discussions about these issues in order to create an
environment of learning and positivity. Girls Rock! WWU was formed in 2015 in connection
with Bellingham Girls Rock Camp, which hosts music education and empowerment
summer camps for girls ages 7 to 18.

Current activities
Meetings for Girls Rock! WWU are bi-monthly at 6 p.m. on Mondays in Academic West.
Check the website for the most current date and room number. The club plans to meet once
every two weeks and organize three events next quarter: a documentary screening (of a film
like Amy, the Amy Winehouse documentary, or What Happened, Miss Simone?, the
Nina Simone documentary), an open mic event and a song-writing workshop. These events
will be open to all students.

Facts
Key Terms
Media literacy is defined by Girls Rock! WWU as being an active and
critical consumer of media. Media literacy is a conscious
understanding of the logic behind production and portrayal of media.
Body positivity is defined by Girls Rock! WWU as the idea that all
bodies are beautiful and powerful, and understanding that media
portrayals of men and women in music are often unrealistic or
stereotypical.
Empowerment through music is defined by Girls Rock! WWU as the
idea that anyone can use their creativity to create positive change, and

the idea that through musical expression, you can become the best
version of yourself.
The following research is intended to highlight the relevance of music education, issues in
the music industry and some features of the organizations target market.

Hyperlocal
Bellingham Girls Camp Rock, the parent organization of Girls Rock! WWU was
started by Western student Casi Brown in 2012 (Bruce, 2015).
In 2014, Western Washington University reported that 23.6 percent of its students
represent an ethnic minority, and that 55 percent are women (Western Washington
University, 2014).
Western Washington University offers a women, gender, and sexuality minor that
offers five core classes that focus on structures of power regarding race, class,
gender, nationality, religion, age and ability. Their central argument surrounds
feminist, gender and queer scholarship (Western Washington University, 2015).

Local
The Womens Funding Alliance estimates that the percentage of women who identify
as multiracial in Washington state will increase 75 percent by 2030 (Womens
Funding Alliance, 2007).
In Washington in the last year, over a third of female students in 8th, 10th and 12th
grades reported feeling so sad or hopeless that they stopped their usual activities
(Womens Funding Alliance, 2007).
Rain City Rock Camp for Girls, a nonprofit organization based in Seattle, WA. was established
in July 2010. Originally named Girls Rock! Seattle, this organization works to build positive
self-esteem in girls, ages 8-18, through music creative expression (Rain City Rock Camp for
Girls, 2013).
Of the fifteen Seattle nonprofits specifically focused on womens empowerment, only
one is a music camp similar to Girls Rock, that is Rain City Rock Camp for Girls
(Klinger, 2015).

Regional
Oregon elementary schools showed significantly higher test scores in reading, math
and English language proficiency after partnering with The Right Brain Initiative, a
program to enhance learning through art programs (The Right Brain Initiative,
2014).
A study that looked at older adults in nine communities, including Washington
state, showed that the positive effects of music creation on social well-being crossed
generational gaps (Sattler, 2013).
A study by the Arts Education Partnership showed that Washington and Oregon
states are leaders in the national campaign to improve arts education in schools
(Washington State Arts Commission, 2009) (Oregon Arts Commission, 2010).

 Experience the City of Music, created by the Port of Seattle, is a comprehensive

music program that uses Northwest music culture to enhance the travelers
experience. The experience features female artists that originated in Seattle such as
Heart (Business Wire, 2012).
An all-female band called The Trucks was formed in Bellingham in 2003 in response
to the lack of female representation on stage at a music festival. The Trucks became
popular in the Northwest and toured nationally.

National
A 2015 study of middle school students in the United States indicated that music
students who mastered an instrument had higher levels of self-efficacy than their
non-musical counterparts (Zelenak, 2015).
A proposed replacement to the No Child Left Behind act would restructure the
government funding decision process to prioritize art and music achievement and
other subjective measurements over test scores (Higgins, 2015).

International
An ongoing international study demonstrates that music is a means of emotional
regulation for adolescents and young adults. The study indicates that regular
exposure to music improves emotion recognition and feelings of optimism
(Saarikallio, 2014).
Students with disabilities who play an instrument have higher self-esteem, are more
assertive and more socially accepted by their peers (Darrow, 2014).
Women make up 11 percent of the most influential leaders in the music industry
according to the 2015 Billboard Power Player list, up from 7.9 percent in 2012
(Griego, 2015).
An international study of students with a mean age of 20.6 showed that musicians,
or those with musical experience, in the sample demonstrated greater long-term
motivation (Lamont, 2012).

Bios

Jeanie Marinella
Co-Coordinator
Marinella is a senior at Western and a vocal performance student. Marinella is passionate
about advocating for music and for all students, regardless of their background. She looks
forward to continuing to develop Girls Rock! WWU after her graduation in the fall of 2015
and finding her place in the community as a teacher and musician.
Marinej4@students.wwu.edu (206) 491 - 7533
Erica Ewell
Co-Coordinator
Ewell is a junior at Western and a music education major. Ewell originally wanted to
perform on broadway, but found the industry off-putting. She got involved with BGRC in
the summer of 2015 and discovered a love for teaching music. Along with spearheading
Girls Rock! WWU, Ewell is currently a vocal coach and teaches a drama class. After
graduation, Ewell intends to continue nonprofit work for music and social change.
3

Ericaewell5@gmail.com
girlsrockwwu@gmail.com (425) 870 - 4213
Owen Fox
Co-Coordinator
Fox is a junior at Western and a music education and vocal performance major. Through
Fairhaven College, Fox has been able to focus on social change in culture, race and gender
through music. Fox believes in the Girls Rock! WWU ideals of inclusion and individuality.
Fox is a multi-instrument musician and part of a Seattle-based band.
Owenfox0@gmail.com (509) 881 - 1273

Boilerplate
Girls Rock! WWU was founded in fall of 2015 by Morgan Paris Lanza at Western
Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. This Associated Students club, which
is dedicated to empowering members through music, meets every other week and is
concerned with issues of media literacy, representation of women and intersectionality in
the music industry. The current leaders of the club are Erica Ewell and Jeanie Marinella.
For more information, visit www.wwugirlsrock.weebly.com

Sources
Burgess, Melinda and Burpo, Sandra. 2012. The effect of music videos on college
students perceptions of rape. College Student Journal 46:4. Accessed October 13,
2015.
Bruce, Kyra. 2015. New club promotes female empowerment through music. The
Western Front. Accessed October 13, 2015.
http://www.westernfrontonline.com/2015/09/29/new-club-promotes-femaleempowerment-through-music/
Darrow, Alice-Ann. 2014. Promoting Social and Emotional Growth of Students with
Disabilities. General Music Today 28:1. Accessed October 13, 2015.
Gilliam, Jeffrey. 2008. Completing the Triangle: How Students, College Fsculty and
a Local Chapter Formed an MTNA Collegiate Student Chapter At Western
Washington University. American Music Teacher. Accessed October 13,
2015.
Griego, Skylar. 2015. Women slowly gaining in music industry. Daily Lobo, March 2015.
Accessed October 13, 2015.
http://www.dailylobo.com/article/2015/03/3-2-women-in-music
Lamont, Alexandra. 2012. Emotion, engagement and meaning in strong experiences
of music performance. Psychology of Music. Accessed October 13, 2015. Doi:
10.1177/0305735612448510
"Mission & FAQs." Rain City Rock Camp for Girls. March 1, 2013. Accessed October 8,
2015.
Oregon Arts Commission. 2010. Access to the Arts in Oregon Schools. Accessed
October 13, 2015. http://www.aep-arts.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/OR2011.pdf
The Right Brain Initiative. 2014. 2014 Progress Report. Accessed October 13, 2015.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4408204/RightBrain_2014ProgressRpt.p df
Saarikallio, Suvi, Vuoskoski, Jonna and Luck, Geoff. 2014. Adolescents expression and
perception of emotion in music reflects their broader abilities of
emotional
communication. Psychology of Well-Being, 4, 1-16. Accessed
October 13, 2015.
doi:10.1186/s13612- 014-0021-8
Sattler, Graham. 2013. Playing outside the generational square: The intergenerational
impact of adult group music learning activities on the broader community.
International Journal of Community Music 6:3. Accessed October 13, 2015. DOI:
10.1386/ijcm.6.3.311_1
"Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Launches Experience the City of Music, a
Groundbreaking Initiative Showcasing the Region's Music Culture." 2012.
Business Wire, Jan 24.
http://search.proquest.com/docview/917929878?accountid=15006.
Washington State Arts Commission. 2009. Arts Education Research Initiative.
Accessed October 13, 2015. http://programs.ccsso.org/link/aep/WA2009.pdf
Western Washington University. 2014. Student Diversity Statistics. Last modified March
2015. http://www.wwu.edu/diversity/stats.shtml
Woldu, Gail Hilson. 2013. Do These Sequins Make My Butt Look Fat? Wardrobe,
Image,
and the Challenge of Identity in the Music of Black American Women. Music
Quarterly. Accessed October 13, 2015.

Womens Funding Alliance. 2007. A Closer Look. Accessed October 13, 2015.
http://www.wfalliance.org/docs/WFA_Closer_Look.pdf
Zelenak, Michael S. 2015. Meausring the Sources of Self-Efficacy Among Secondary School
Music Students. Journal of Research in Music Education, 62:4.
Accessed
October 13, 2015.

GIRLS ROCK! WWU Top 10 FAQs

1. What does GIRLS ROCK! WWU do?

Girls Rock! WWU is a new Associated Students club that was established Fall 2015 by
Morgan Paris Lanza, a Western graduate. We promote ideas of female empowerment
and media literacy through musical creativity. Our primary focus is body image,
representations within music and learning to to be a self-empowered leader.

2. Why should I join the club?

We are an inclusive space where we aim to make our members feel safe. You should join
to discover how your creativity, whether musical or otherwise, can make positive change
on campus, in the media and in your life. This is a supportive and fun group of people
that youll want to get to know.

3. Why is it called Girls Rock?

Girls Rock! WWU is an offshoot of the Bellingham Girls Rock! Camp, which hosts weeklong camps for girls ages 7 to 18 that focus on musical collaboration and positive
relationships. The campus club wants to model the success of our parent organization
and possibly inspire students to volunteer with BGRC.

4. How do I become a member?

Becoming a member is easy. There is no formal application you need to fill out in order
to join Girls Rock! WWU.

5. Do I have to be musically talented to join?

No! We believe in the motto that all sounds are good sounds. Experience in anything
music-related however like playing music, writing songs, going to concerts or watching
music videos helps. Some music avenues are exclusive and require auditions, music
has a potential to be a community builder. You are important to our music industry
regardless of who you are.

6. When does GIRLS ROCK! WWU meet?

The club meets Monday nights from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Academic West. Be sure to check
our website for the exact time and location of our next meeting.

7. What will I be doing at GIRLS ROCK! WWU meetings?

Each meeting will look different. There may be discussions around topics of interest, as
well as documentary showings and guest speakers. Upcoming dates of events and
workshops will be announced on our website and during each meeting.

8. What events does the club host?

Girls Rock! WWU hosts documentary viewings, song writing workshops and discussions
about music industry issues.

9. Is GIRLS ROCK! WWU only for girls?

No, Girls Rock! WWU is a club for anybody who supports female empowerment.
Although this club primarily consists of female-identified students, all people who are
interested in finding a safe space for creative expression through music and discussions
of female- addressed topics are involved with Girls Rock! WWU.

10.

Who can I talk to for more information on GIRLS ROCK! WWU?

Co-coordinator Erica Ewell has experience in the music industry and is spearheading
the launch of Girls Rock! WWU. Shes also been involved with Bellingham Girls Rock
Camp. She can answer any questions you may have or set you up to volunteer with
BGRC. You can contact Erica at (425) 870 4213 or at EricaEwell5@gmail.com.

LOGO AND TAGLINE

The following are two examples of appropriate logos to be used in association with
Girls Rock! WWU.

The logo is based on the design of Bellingham Girls Rock Camp its parent
organization but includes the unique WWU signature. It was created in 2015 by
Kylee Morgan.

The tagline is Share your sound. This can be used independently or in conjunction
with the logo, as seen below.

The logo is black on a white background. All other colors, negatives or distortions
are prohibited. Contact the organization for more logo standards.

PITCH LETTER

FALL 2015

AS REVIEW

Dear Marina Price and Alex Bartick,

The practice rooms in the basement of Westerns Performing Arts Center are supposed to be
soundproof. But Erica Ewell knows better. When standing outside the practice rooms
designed for students to play or sing without disturbing next-door classrooms the performer
inside is still somewhat audible, which is why Ewell has been known to place a piece of paper
over the window of practice rooms: to avoid appraising eyes.
The way that I was trained to sing, it sort of gets side-eyed by the music department here,
Ewell said.
Ewell, a junior studying music education, knows shes not alone in her discomfort and dread of
judgment. She and some current and former music students at Western are kicking off a new
Associated Students club this fall called Girls Rock! WWU that aspires to foster creative, fun
and inclusive spaces for musical collaboration on campus.
Western is renowned for its performing arts college, and there are more than 500 students
involved in Westerns music program. The readership of the AS Review may have the interest
in, or even the demand for, a club and community like the one Ewell is operationalizing.
The name of the club comes from a local organization, called Bellingham Girls Rock Camp,
which hosts weeklong music and media literacy camps for girls ages 7 to 18. The mission of the
camp, which is to empower girls to become collaborative leaders through music, is shared by to
the on-campus club. The Executive Director of the club, Morgan Paris Lanza, is a Western
alumna. Lanza and Ewell are working together to bring the spirit of the camp to campus.
Club co-coordinator Owen Fox, also a junior in the performing arts program, is an advocate of
all sounds being good sounds, he said. He and Ewell share a vision of a community where all
musical contributions are important and valued. Outside of his co-coordinator duties for Girls
Rock! WWU, Fox is a multi-instrument musician and a member of a Seattle-based band.
After graduation, Ewell would like to work for a nonprofit dedicated to bringing music and
performance education to kids without access to arts programs, but in the meantime, she is
committed to creating a positive, inclusive change on Westerns campus. Ewell knows the
demand and interest in the club exists, but just needs to spread the word.
Contacts:
Erica Ewell
Club co-coordinator
(425) 870 - 4213

Morgan Paris Lanza

Club founder/advisor
info@bgrc.org

Contacts are willing to meet for art opportunities.

Thank you for your consideration,
Madeline Mohn
10

Owen Fox
Club co-coordinator
(509) 881 -1273

STORY IDEAS
Feature story on any of the co-coordinators. Ewell, Fox, and Marinella all
came to the club with unique visions and goals. Contact information can be
found on the website or media backgrounder.
Feature story on Bellingham Girls Rock Camp Executive Director Morgan
Paris Lanza, a Western Washington University alumna with a passion for
empowering young musicians.
Alternative story layout: a day-by-day account of a Bellingham Girls Rock
Camp session, including interviews with campers, volunteers and leaders.
Alternative story layout: an infographic dedicated to the representation of
women in music.
Event coverage of Girls Rock! WWU-hosted concerts or workshops.

11

MEDIA CLIPS
PUBLISHED BY THE WESTERN FRONT SEPT. 29, 2015
Performances, creativity, media literacy and feminism are lessons and opportunities that
help young women shape their place in the music industry. This year, Bellingham Girls
Rock Camp (BGRC), a summer camp that promotes female empowerment through music, is
coming to Western as a new Associated Students club.
BGRC began as a senior project for Fairhaven student Casi Brown in 2012. BGRCs
Executive Director Morgan Paris Lanza said Brown drew on her inspirational and
transformative experience with Seattles Rain City Rock Camp in developing the camp.
Ive seen girls come in very shy and reserved and by the final show, theyre sliding on their
knees and rippin on their guitar, really just expressing their voice in so many different
ways, Lanza said.
After Brown graduated in spring 2013, Lanza said she knew BGRC needed to continue
because the community needed and wanted it. Lanza took charge of the camp using the
resources and blueprints that Brown had used to start it.
Since then, Lanza has directed for three years and four camp seasons.

Junior Erica Ewell (left) and senior Jeanie Marinella (right) are spearheading Girls Rock!
WWU, a new club at Western. They are hoping to bring lessons taught at Girls Rock Camp
to Western. // Photos by Christina Becker

12

The goal of new club, Girls Rock! WWU, is to provide a space for education and
conversation around issues of media literacy and representation of people in the media
based on gender, race and sexuality, Lanza said.
The camp is open to female-identified youth, ages 7 to 18. BGRCs mission is to educate and
inspire female-identified youth to be self-empowered leaders through music.
Lanza said the goal is to help more women feel comfortable and confident stepping into
that space [the music industry] that has, for so long, lacked the representation that makes
it so you see yourself being a part of that space.
This year, BGRC will have a stronger presence on campus as the AS club Girls Rock! WWU.
Lanza said it was important to maintain a relationship with Western and to continue
providing opportunities for students to get involved and become self-empowered leaders.
Music education major Erica Ewell and Lanza want the club to be a student-directed space
for people to go out of their comfort zone and try something new. They hope the club will
help create a support system for creative risk taking.
What I envision the club becoming is not only a way to get Western students involved with
Girls Rock Camp, but a way to bring some of those activities and workshops to Western
students, Lanza said.
Along with creating a solid base for recruitment of volunteers, Lanza and Ewell hope that
Girls Rock! WWU will host documentary showings, discussions and songwriting workshops.
Ewell wants the camp ideals of feminism, female-empowerment through music and bodypositivity to be promoted on campus.
Ewell said she believes the Girls Rock! WWU is the next step in solidifying their spot in the
community.
Becoming a club was a smooth process for Girls Rock! WWU Lanza said. We got the gavel
of approval, Lanza said.
When students look to form clubs, on-campus resources like the Club Hub are available to
help students pursue their passions according to AS Club Coordinator Walter Lutsch.
Lutsch said his job is to help students with club details and forms before they are reviewed
by the AS Activities Council.
The Activities Council is how the AS recognizes student organizations, said Lutsch. Its also
responsible for disbursing the $90,000 funding for clubs, Lutsch said.
The Activities Council considers the purpose and mission of a club before approving it,
Lutsch said.

13

Lanza said the Bellingham Girls Rock camp and Girls Rock! WWU both have a mission
that is encouraging and fun, bringing the local community and the Western community
together.

14