Q&A: Western’s art students advocate for new student-run art space

In fall of 2025, Melynda Huskey, the former vice president of Student Affairs at Western Washington University, closed the Viking Union Gallery. The space, built in the 1980s, was originally constructed to serve as an art gallery for students’ work. When plans to close the gallery were made public, concerned students and community members created and signed a petition to keep it open – however, it was unsuccessful.