Mount Hood

ICE

A photo of an ICE agent touching a protester in a gas mask outside of Portland | Photo from @killendave on Instagram

Nov. 5 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

ICE is slowly becoming a known presence in the Willamette Valley. With a multitude of restraints and arrests happening in areas like Salem and Woodburn, residents are starting to fear for their lives and their family and friends. Often driving unmarked vehicles, residents are even concerned with being able to identify when ICE is coming. Students at Western have received instructions on what to do if ICE comes to campus from Western administrators, Unidos Migrant Student Association and Western’s Young Democratic Socialists of America organization, as well as various resources for knowing their rights.

On Oct. 30, more than 30 people were restrained and arrested in Woodburn by ICE. The Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, a hotline that residents of Oregon can contact if someone they know has been detained, received numerous calls that carloads of people were stopped and arrested while on their way to work. Loved ones were calling in to report that their families hadn’t arrived home from work. The number of calls like this that they receive has only been increasing since. 

Juan Larios, the Woodburn School District superintendent, alerted parents to the presence of ICE agents and reassured them that the district does not partake in any sort of immigration enforcement and will not allow ICE agents to access any school building.

Similarly, the superintendent of Salem-Keizer School District, Andrea Castañeda, has informed families that ICE agents are not allowed to enter school buildings or access student records without a court order. Many families in the Salem-Keizer area have expressed fear, as many come from immigrant families. Confirmed by the Salem police department Oct. 30, immigration authorities are operating in and around Salem. The Salem police explained, though, that they receive no notice when ICE agents come into Salem. 

With the looming threat of ICE agents, it’s important for students at Western to know their rights. If a student is approached by an ICE agent on campus, they should call Campus Public Safety immediately at 503-838-8481, and can additionally call the Office of the General Council at 503-838-9471. All ICE agents are required by law to check in with Campus Public Safety before they take any action, so students can call Campus Safety if approached and can respond to agents by saying, “I do not consent to anything.” 

The presence of ICE, and even thinking about ICE, can be extremely distressing for students. For these reasons, students are also encouraged to utilize mental health resources around campus. The Student Health and Counseling Center is available to students Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then 1 to 5 p.m. Students can make a crisis appointment by calling 503-838-8313. Additionally, students can contact the Unidos Migrant Student Association, which is actively advocating for students and hosts informative events to help students understand what to do in these situations. They also have many useful resources, such as documents with example scenarios and responses for students. 

If anyone becomes aware of the presence of ICE agents in protected areas, such as on campus at Western, they can call the Sanctuary Promise Hotline at 1-844-924-STAY. Students can also sign a petition provided by the Western Oregon University Young Democratic Socialists of America that calls the university to declare the campus a sanctuary to students of all backgrounds, implement an alert system, train staff and faculty on how to interact with ICE, provide training and information to students and pursue options for financing legal support centers. Students who wish to sign this petition can find the link on their Instagram: @wou_ydsa.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Hurricane Melissa strikes

A photo of a kid wading through heavy floodwater in the Dominican Republic. | Photo from @washingtonpost on Instagram

Nov. 5 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Hurricane Melissa is one of the most powerful hurricanes that has occurred in the Atlantic Ocean to this day, having ripped through the Northern Caribbean and leaving thousands of people without power and homes. When the hurricane reached Jamaica Oct. 28, it was reported as a Category 5 hurricane with wind speeds up to 185 mph. A Category 5 hurricane is the highest level classification for hurricanes and means the storm has winds at 157 mph or higher and is accompanied by catastrophic damage.

On Oct. 30, the hurricane reached Jamaica and caused major destruction, affecting residents and even taking lives. Many residents were left without a house after the storm, and many lost personal belongings due to waterlogging. The storm also wiped out roads and bridges, making it harder for Jamaican residents to get assistance after the storm hit. Eventually, helicopters flew in to distribute food, water, medicine and other necessary supplies. During the aftermath, search and rescue teams found at least 19 dead, and more than 13,000 people remain in crowded shelters because they lost their homes. Seventy-two percent of the entire island was left without power. 

Similar damage occurred in Cuba, but the Cuban Civil Defense was able to evacuate 735,000 people before the storm hit.

Haiti was also badly impacted by Hurricane Melissa, with at least 30 deaths occurring and 20 residents reported missing. Port-au-Prince, the capital, faced some of the worst damage. Hurricane Melissa brought heavy rain storms, flooding a vast majority of the area and rendering homes inaccessible. Residents slowly started to return home Oct. 30. The hurricane destroyed homes and ripped apart families, as children were reported killed. More than 15,000 people were staying in shelters during the aftermath. In Haiti and Cuba, the tremendous amount of rain and flooding left communities with hundreds of residents completely isolated with no way to contact anyone for help.

Hurricane Melissa caused at least 50 deaths throughout Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba, but this number is expected to rise as experts continue to search the islands for those reported missing. After these devastating events, Hurricane Melissa moved away from Bermuda the morning of Oct. 31 as it died down to a Category 1 hurricane. By 11 a.m., the storm grew smaller and was classified as a powerful post-tropical cyclone with winds around 85 mph, traveling to the northeast. As the storm continued in this direction, the northeast U.S. coast and parts of Canada were expected to be impacted by the storm, primarily through large rain storms. While it will most likely not bring the same damage to land as it did in the areas above, the storm will still create harsh conditions in the ocean near the shore.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Road work ahead

A photo of the route for roadwork in Monmouth and Independence. | Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Transportation

Oct 29 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Construction and road work has begun throughout main roads in Monmouth and Independence. Here’s what students and residents in the area should expect from the construction phase and the outcome.

While construction lasts, crews will be working along Main Street, Monmouth Street and South Main Street. Residents should expect to see construction crews at work Monday through Thursday during normal business hours, with occasional work on Fridays and at night when needed. As of Oct. 29, only shoulder closures have occurred, which doesn’t change the flow of traffic, but residents should be prepared for possible lane closures and shifts as needed. In that case, drivers will see flaggers directing traffic. Additionally, residents should expect some loud noise at times, as construction workers are using loud machinery. The Oregon Department of Transportation asks that residents be aware during this time, and that they slow down and watch for workers.

The reasoning behind the construction is to add curb ramps along Monmouth and Independence sidewalks to meet current ADA accessibility standards. Workers are adding and remodeling 150 ramps in the area. These new curb ramps will make it easier for people to transition from the road to the curb, and vice versa, while walking around town. Accommodations such as these will help those who have trouble stepping up and down from the sidewalk, as well as wheelchair users. The changes can additionally help people with strollers, walkers, hand carts and bikes. 

Residents may notice that not all ramps are being built on the same timeline. This is because workers must review each corner where a ramp will be placed and evaluate it to see if it is ready or needs modification before a ramp can be built. Additionally, not all intersections and locations are the same. Some areas are construction-ready, while some areas have things to plan around, like fire hydrants, utility boxes and utility poles. The construction-ready intersections are being worked on first, while others will be completed at a later date as ramps are designed around the intersections’ barriers.

These construction ramps are part of a larger project throughout Astoria, Corvallis, Cottage Grove, Newberg, Salem, Keizer and Springfield, in addition to Monmouth and Independence. Design and construction for these changes totals $1.56 million. Residents can check an interactive map provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation here to see which areas are currently under construction.

The work being done locally is part of a larger project throughout the Willamette Valley and North Coast to bring over 2,300 curb ramps to ADA standards. The Oregon Department of Transportation is working hard to bring accessibility to cities and towns like Monmouth and Independence that will benefit everyone.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Shutdown guide

A photo of Vice President JD Vance taking questions regarding the government shutdown at a press briefing. | Photo from @whitehouse and @vp on Instagram

Oct 29 2025 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

On Oct. 1, the United States government ceased its operations and entered a shutdown, following Congress’ failure to pass the bills necessary to fund those operations. Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on how the money would be used throughout the government, resulting in the shutdown, limiting governmental operations across the country and endangering certain benefits for millions of Americans.

For the most part, students remain unaffected by the shutdown. Western students can continue to attend class and participate in their typical activities, but there may be some instances where students are impacted.

It is expected that thousands of Oregonians will lose their food stamp benefits, known as SNAP, after Oct. 31 due to the stalled funding. While most receiving benefits are not college students, the students who do receive food stamps will lose their access alongside an estimated 41 million Americans.

Western students who have compromised food aid due to the shutdown are encouraged to connect with resources on campus, such as Abby’s House and the Food Pantry, to avoid further food insecurity. Food banks are expected to be heavily utilized following Nov. 1, meaning resources may be limited across the country.

Another way students may be impacted is through travel. Demand for air traffic controllers has been high since well before the government shutdown, but now many are not coming to work, despite being considered essential workers — all of whom are expected to work without pay during government shutdowns. Due to the lack of staffing, many flights are experiencing cancellations or delays, namely at major U.S. airports such as Newark, Phoenix, Nashville, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas and Burbank, and likely more as the shutdown progresses. Security lines through checkpoints at airports may be longer than normal as well.

Thankfully for students, funding for FAFSA, student loans and Pell Grants has not been suspended. Federal grants awarded to schools will continue, but new grants may face delays. Students across the country may be let go from work-study jobs depending on funding.

While many things are still up in the air regarding the government’s funding, one thing is certain: the longer the shutdown, the more it will affect. Millions of Americans on SNAP will continue without benefits, essential workers will keep working for free and travelers will face further roadblocks. 



Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

First gen week

A photo of the Trio lounge. | Photo by Abbi Duhart

Oct 29 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Being first-generation means that neither of the student’s parents or guardians graduated with a four-year degree. If someone’s parents earned an associate degree or started at a four-year college but didn’t finish, the student is still considered first-gen. Identifying as first-gen means that a student has an amazing opportunity to achieve and succeed, yet they may not have the same guidance about the process of enrolling in college that non-first-gen students have, making the transition much more confusing and scary. For these reasons, first-gen students can often feel vulnerable or face imposter syndrome because they encounter different barriers.

To support first-gen students, TRIO is putting on various events during First-Generation Week, starting Nov. 3. TRIO is a federally funded nationwide program implemented to advise and assist students who are first-gen, low-income or receive accommodations through Disability Access Services. Students part of TRIO have a specific advisor who helps them with academic, career and major advising, finding resources, finding a job and more. 

First-Generation Week happens at Western as a replacement for First-Generation Day, which is a national celebration on Nov. 8. Because Nov. 8 is a Saturday this year, TRIO created First-Generation Week so students can celebrate the week leading up to First-Generation Day. Every day during First-Generation Week has different events that help students connect with the diverse resources around campus. 

Each day of events during First-Generation Week has a different theme. Monday, Nov. 3, is all about basic needs. The day will start with a kick-off happening in the TRIO lounge at the Student Success Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is primarily to outline the events happening throughout the week, but students can also come for some fun games and snacks. Next, students can head over to the Werner University Center from 1 to 3 p.m. to learn about meal prepping. Meal prepping can be especially hard for students in terms of budgeting, so this event can help them learn how to actively and efficiently meal prep at a lower cost. 2 to 4:30 p.m., there is a drop-in for students to chat with SNAP workers in the Werner University Center. SNAP is a federal nutrition assistance program that gives students a certain amount of money each month to purchase groceries. In the same location, there are Food Pantry and Stitch Closet tours happening from 2 to 4 p.m. These are both helpful resources on campus that students may not know about, and these guided tours can show students where they are and how they work.

Tuesday’s theme is mental health. Starting off, there are presentations happening from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Santiam Room in the Werner University Center. Counselors from the Health and Counseling Center on campus will be giving presentations about the importance of mental health. Later, there will be a trail walk starting in the TRIO lounge from 1 to 2 p.m. Students will join a walk around campus and participate in a mediated conversation where they ask each other questions and just talk about life. From 2 to 4 p.m., students can head back to the TRIO lounge to participate in a mini brain break where they can do some arts and crafts and join a “Mario Kart” tournament. 

Wednesday’s theme is community. Students can attend a first-gen fair happening in Richard Woodcock Education Center Room 101 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Here, they can connect with fellow students, staff, faculty, resources and departments around campus. Each department will have a table. Students who go will receive a bingo card to mark off each table they attend, with a possibility of winning a prize. There will also be free food at this event. At 4 to 5 p.m. in the Student Success Center, Room 203, a workshop with Student Success and Advising will take place. This will surround the theme of professional goal setting.

Thursday’s theme is “step in the right direction,” beginning with a Career and Professional Pathways fair happening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second floor of the Student Success Center. Students can go to network with recruiters from various organizations and jobs, as well as with alumni. These professionals will be giving students advice on how to land jobs in their chosen career path. From 3 to 5 p.m., there will be a TRIO and first-gen alumni panel in the Willamette Room in the WUC. Students can talk with them and get an understanding from someone of a similar background on how to get to the career they’re in. 

Friday’s theme is celebration. A Tri-Alpha induction ceremony will be happening in the Willamette Room from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. This is for the Alpha Alpha Alpha Honor Society, an honor society for first-gen students. Students can come to celebrate and support inductees as they join Tri-Alpha. 12 to 3 p.m. in the TRIO lounge, there will be a First-Generation Day celebration to celebrate National First-Generation Day. There will be different stations and games for students as well as cake to enjoy. Students who attend any event throughout the week will be entered in a raffle for prizes on Friday.

Andres Hernandez, the first-gen coordinator, explains that everyone — not just first-gen students — can benefit from attending these events. While the resources are catered to help first-gen students more, all students can learn how to best support first-gen students who often come from different backgrounds and face different barriers. If anything, students can attend any event throughout the week to learn about helpful resources, potentially win some prizes and maybe even meet some new friends.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Frog epidemic takes root in Portland

A photo of a protester at Salem’s “No Kings” event with a sign that said “FROGS TOGETHER STRONG.” | Photo courtesy of Maria Rinella

Oct 22 2025 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Portland, Oregon saw hundreds of protesters reportedly donning inflatable animal costumes at the city’s “No Kings” protest Oct. 18, one of more than 2,000 “No Kings” protests that took place across America. Organizers of the “No Kings” protests estimate nearly seven million attendees nationwide, with Portland being a news-garnering hotspot after Donald Trump won his push for National Guard troops to be deployed into the city to defend federal agents, pending further legal approval.

Prior to Saturday’s “No Kings” protest, one Portland local drew premature attention for posting up Oct. 2 outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building just off of I-5.

Seth Todd, 24, was wearing a large, puffy, green inflatable frog costume outside of the facility, when the protest escalated — resulting in a federal agent directing a stream of chemical spray into the costume’s air vent. According to Oregon Live, Todd went to help another protester who was allegedly shoved to the ground by a federal agent when he was assaulted with the spray. Despite the altercation, Todd claimed to be fine, stating that he’s “definitely had spicier tamales” than what was directed into his costume.

Caught on camera and uploaded to TikTok, a whirlwind of media attention pointed at Todd, dubbing him with various names: “Antifa Frog,” “Portland Frog” and “Protest Frog” being some of the more common aliases. In his wake, more frogs showed up the following evening at the facility in support. Later in the month, numbers doubled and tripled as frogs took to the streets, spanning Oregon’s multitude of protests.
Various frog paraphernalia popped up across the country in tandem with the “No Kings” protests, broadcasting support and allegiance with Todd after he began a motion of peace and resistance using inflatable animal costumes.

The future of said inflatables is undecided, with the expected utilization of National Guard troops in Portland inching closer and closer. News organizations have noted a consistent presence of “hundreds” rallying in the evening outside Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building as recently as Sunday, Oct. 19. Protesters and counter-protesters engaged in physical altercations, leading to multiple arrests by police; at another time, federal agents deployed tear gas into the crowd.

Despite rising tensions, the response from protesters has yet to quell. A newly-founded organization titled Operation Inflation asks for $35 donations to fund more costumes for protests against ICE, signifying the growing movement that started with Todd, and likely won’t end with him.



Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

New asynchronous feedback

A photo of the Writing and Research Center space. | Photo by Vanessa Petroj

Oct 22 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Most students are aware of the Writing Center and its basic services, or have even had to go in as a requirement for a class, but starting this term, the Writing Center is going through some major upgrades. The Writing Center is implementing a new asynchronous feedback response option for students in addition to the normal in-person or Zoom appointment options, and is also transitioning to be known as the Writing and Research Center rather than just the Writing Center. Staff members are working hard to create many fun events and workshops in the Writing Center for students to attend and get involved.

First and foremost, the Writing Center has merged with the research librarians starting this term to form the Writing and Research Center. Because writing and research go hand in hand, the merging of these two services provides a smoother process for students seeking resources. This allows students to not only get advice from peer tutors, but also from expert research librarians. The Writing and Research Center is now a hub located in one spot for anything related to writing or research. 

With this transition, students can easily have access to research librarians and instruction librarians without having to go to two separate buildings. Rather than training the Writing Center peer tutors in research, it made more sense to integrate the research librarians into their services, so they are now located in the same building. If a student comes in-person, they could have an appointment with both a Writing and Research Center tutor and a research librarian to help with their assignment. Students can book appointments with either a writing tutor or a research librarian, but can also access both during their appointment if needed. 

The main goal of the Writing and Research Center is to help students build necessary skills in writing that apply to any and all subjects. Not only this, but the peer tutors hope to build up confidence in students so they feel comfortable repeating these learned skills themselves. Staff and tutors at the Writing and Research Center hope to increase self-efficacy in students so they learn writing processes rather than just a solution for one assignment. 

Like before, the Writing and Research Center is offering both in-person and Zoom appointments to students, but this term, they are also offering a new asynchronous feedback option. If students choose this service option, they would upload their projects online to be reviewed by a tutor. Then, tutors will read through their assignment and compose a one-page response to give back to the student within an hour. These responses are focused on feedback following student requests, or on things the highly trained staff deem necessary to give feedback on. For students who choose this feedback option, they don’t need to be present during the process; they simply upload their document and wait for their tutor to send back the response. 

This new feedback system offered by the Writing and Research Center fits into the needs of Western’s current student population. A lot of students who seek tutoring don’t have the time or option available to attend in-person sessions or schedule a Zoom appointment. Vanessa Petroj, the director of the Writing and Research Center, explained that “we have very busy students, we have non-traditional students, we have students with jobs, we have students who commute. But at the same time, we also have students who like to see their feedback so they can refer back to it. So all of those things … I only see it as another alternative to provide support in addition to the synchronous one-on-one that we have.” Staff added the extra asynchronous feedback option in order to provide as much support as possible.

The Writing and Research Center also offers other resources, such as bilingual tutoring. They have bilingual tutors for students in both Spanish and American Sign Language. Additionally, students can now create a partnership appointment, meaning that they pick a tutor and have a recurring appointment with them either weekly or biweekly. If students choose to utilize this service, they don’t have to keep creating appointments, but rather can come to their slot each week to work on any writing. These appointments don’t have to be devoted to one class either; they can bring in writing for one class on an appointment, then bring in writing from a completely different class for the next. There is no rule for the kind of writing students can bring in, be it an academic essay, scholarship essay or application.

The Writing and Research Center hosts many events for students throughout the year that have fun activities and simultaneously allow students to become more familiar with the services offered. Some examples include holiday crafts and activities near the end of the term. Coming up soon, they are hosting their annual Halloween event Oct. 31. Not only will the event feature activities for students, but it also coincides with the grand opening of the Writing and Research Center, where students can learn about what the new center offers. There will be decorations set up, hands-on activities and learning activities, including a life-size board game throughout the Writing and Research Center. All students, faculty, staff and community members are welcome to come, see the space and learn about the center. The event will also be kid-friendly with children’s activities available, meaning parents can bring their families.

The Writing and Research Center encourages students to utilize their services and come to any events hosted to have some fun and learn about the space. The new services and resources created will help provide for the student population at Western, supporting students of all needs and backgrounds. They are continually evolving and working to find ways to serve and help all students, offering everyone the resources available to perfect their work, writing and wordsmithing.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Fall Extravaganza

A photo of the Center for Professional Pathways. | Photo by Isaac Garcia

Oct 22 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

On Oct. 29, students are invited to the Pacific Room at the Werner University Center to participate in Fall Extravaganza from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Jennifer Hansen, who is the career development coordinator for the Center for Professional Pathways, described Fall Extravaganza as “a career fair with a twist,” and continued by saying, “Career fairs are typically halfway boring because you’re going in a little intimidated because there’s a whole bunch of professionals in a room to talk to. So we try to liven it up a little bit.” 

The event will include a bingo game where students are incentivized to talk to as many professionals as possible, of which there will be 50. Some of the organizations that will be attending are Salem-Keizer School District, Salem Health, the FBI and for the first time, the state of Oregon will be attending in search of cybersecurity interns. For those interested in graduate school, the University of Oregon, Willamette University and Western’s own occupational therapy program will be attending as well. On top of all that, there will be food and prizes from churros and corn dogs to a drawing for a $200 Amazon gift card at the end of the event. 

This will be the second year of Fall Extravaganza, following a bit of reinvention. “We used to do a general career fair in the fall. (It) just didn’t work real well. It was like our students didn’t connect with the fact that it was a general one,” Hansen said. “So I figured I’d give it another shot for a general career fair and change it up, so it’s Fall Extravaganza. I started this last year and we’ve had a great turnout.” 

The event isn’t just for upperclassmen. Fall Extravaganza is also a great resource for students just starting their college careers to get an idea of what they can do early to put themselves in the best position to find employment in their chosen field post-graduation. 

Three weeks after Fall Extravaganza, the Center for Professional Pathways will be hosting CJ ProConnect, aimed at careers in the Criminal Justice field such as medical examiners and forensics, which will indeed be represented at the event. The event begins with students having lunch with professionals in the field to help open up communication. When a student registers for the event, they’ll get a question prompt: “If you could ask anything of a professional, what would you ask?” During the meal, the questions students ask will be passed around to professionals who will then answer the questions. Even students outside the criminal justice program may still find something of interest at CJ ProConnect. For example, Psychology majors may be interested to hear about counseling opportunities within local sheriff departments. 

Students interested in either event should register as soon as possible on Involve, otherwise known as Presence, in order to make sure there will be enough food and snacks at both events. If students cannot make either event, the Center for Professional Pathways, located in room 205 of the Student Success Center, is still an excellent resource for all students. Hansen mentioned that there seems to be a misconception that only students ready for careers should utilize the department’s resources, but she encourages anyone to pay the center a visit: “Come and see us from your first day here, because we can help you from point A all the way through point Z and beyond,” Hansen said. Students can also get resume help, mock interviews, job search assistance and much more. “I highly recommend mock interviews,” Hansen said. “I cannot stress how important it is to be interviewed by someone where it doesn’t count. Because you don’t know what you don’t know.” 

To learn more about the resources the Center for Professional Pathways provides, students can go online to https://wou.edu/professional-pathways/students/ and take a look through the site as well as make an appointment with a counselor.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

Dax robots MIA

Graphic of Dax with love hearts | Graphic by Addison Watts

Oct 22 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Dax food delivery robots, often remembered for their clunky white frames and expressive LED eyes, have since disappeared as a food delivery service on campus after a nearly five-year run.

But what happened to Dax robots, and where did they go?

Dax robots were first implemented on campus shortly after the coronavirus pandemic because students didn’t have access to the dining hall to get food. For this reason, Campus Dining utilized Dax to deliver food to students on campus to follow pandemic guidelines.

Ultimately, Dax delivery robots left campus last June because Dax Corporation ended its contract with Western. The reasoning behind this was likely that they weren’t getting enough sales from students on campus. After the pandemic ended, most students, especially last academic year, just preferred to go into Valsetz Dining Hall rather than get food delivered to their building. Additionally, the company increased the price of deliveries to $5, against Campus Dining recommendations. Campus Dining tried to communicate that with students living on campus, it needed to be an affordable delivery system, but the company still wanted to increase the price to earn revenue. This is also partially why the partnership between Western Campus Dining and Dax ended. 

Another big question up for speculation by students was how Dax robots were controlled. When Dax first came to campus, the company programmed mapping, which is essentially a GPS. Dax had an electronic brain of sorts that this GPS tracking was programmed into, and Valsetz had GPS receivers on the roof. The company was also able to control Dax robots remotely, so if they fell over or got stuck, they could attempt to solve the issue without coming to campus. 

Campus Dining has not yet switched to a new delivery system because it would have to go through a third party like Dax Corporation. It’s also important to Campus Dining that whatever system they choose in the future, if any, is affordable to students. As of right now, though, there is no delivery method in place. Jane Cameron, the director of Campus Dining, also added that there isn’t really a need for a new delivery system right now. She explained that Western is such a small campus, and increasingly has many dining location options, like Valsetz and the Summit, that students can visit a short walk away from their campus residence. With the new meal swipe system, many students also prefer to go in so they can load up with all they can carry rather than rely on a delivery system.

While Dax was still on campus, it was somewhat of a mystery to students, or an icon of sorts; many had heard different stories and lore about Dax. A big rumor many students reported was that Dax robots had the potential to make heart eyes at them — this was proven to be true, yet students weren’t sure if this was done through some sort of hand motion or voice command. Similarly, students believed their eyes changed based on the holiday, such as how they would make pumpkin eyes during Halloween. One student reports seeing a Dax robot slam into the window outside of Cafe Allegro, which caused its head to fully fall off. Students had commonly seen Dax robots getting stuck around campus, one of these times being when one was crossing the sidewalk from the Grove to the Werner University Center and got stuck in the divot because there was a giant rain puddle. This caused it to turn on hazard lights. 

There are also reportedly many relatable stories of students getting into a standoff of sorts with a Dax robot, in which they tried to get around Dax, but it blocked them from walking. Dax robots also often got stuck in random spots and needed to wait for a staff member to come to the rescue. Rumors also spread that there was someone in the basement of Campus Dining controlling Dax, so they were intentionally doing all of these things. Another student said that they once flipped a Dax robot off, and it made sad eyes at them. Some students even felt targeted, in that Dax robots would go out of their way to run into them. Another notable report was that a Dax robot allegedly went up to a student putting up posters with information about a controversial political topic and shook its head while making a sad sound. 

All in all, Dax robots have since disappeared from campus. While students have discussed many outlandish stories and allegations surrounding them, few can be fully proven true, and it’s up to students to determine for themselves what to believe and what not to in regard to Dax. What can be confirmed is that Dax Corporation no longer contracts with Western, and Campus Dining is leaning into in-person dining options around campus.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

 

Molly y los Swingset

21 de Mayo del 2025 | Sadie Latimer | Editora de Noticias

Molly and the Swingset es una banda de jazz local de la zona de Monmouth. A sus cuatro integrantes — Molly Hare, Lionel Brown, Diego Díaz y Adriel García — les encanta compartir su pasión por el jazz con su público. 

Cada integrante aporta su propio talento único a la banda, con García al bajo, Díaz a la batería, Brown al teclado y Hare a las vocales. 

“Siempre quise estar en una banda, pero no aprendí a tocar ningún instrumento de pequeña, y las bandas casi nunca buscan vocalistas,” dijo Hare. “Mi propósito de Año Nuevo este año fue crear mis propias oportunidades. Estaba cansada de sentirme estancada como música y decidí que era hora de un gran cambio de mentalidad.” 

Este cambio de mentalidad incluyó aceptar nuevas oportunidades cuando se le presentaban, presentarse a nuevas personas y conectar con otros artistas. 

El concepto de la banda surgió cuando Hare tuvo varias oportunidades de ser vocalista para un grupo de jazz de estudiantes de Western llamado Big Guy. 

“Lionel y yo hablamos de las ventajas de un combo más pequeño y de formar un grupo vocal de jazz. Adriel y Diego se sumaron enseguida y desde entonces hemos estado tocando jazz con alegría,” dijo Hare. 

El nombre de la banda es un ingenioso juego de palabras y un guiño a su estilo favorito de jazz. “Nos encanta especialmente tocar swing — de ahí el nombre,” dijo Hare. “También me encanta la imagen lúdica que asocio con un conjunto de swing. Diversión sencilla, infantil, con un rango que puede ser agudo o grave, súper rápido o lento, pero todo con la fantasía de hacerlo porque es nuestra pasión. Lo tocamos porque nos encanta.” Aunque la banda suele interpretar música swing, no les gustaba estar atados a un solo género. El nombre “Molly and the Swingset” puede cambiarse temporalmente si interpretan algo que no sea swing, como “Molly and the Soft Rock Set” o “Molly and the Bluegrass Set.” Hare siente una gran pasión por la música que ella y sus compañeros de banda crean, lo que a menudo se refleja en las personas para las que tocan.

“Lo que más me gusta de tocar es la conexión que se crea con los oyentes, aunque sea solo por un segundo. Podemos compartir arte, lo cual es un gran honor, y para mí no hay nada más hermoso que mi arte impacte a otra persona,” dijo Hare. 

Crear una banda o cualquier otro grupo musical puede ser una tarea abrumadora, sin embargo, Hare sabe por experiencia propia que solo hay que cambiar la mentalidad. “Mi consejo sería que salgan y lo intenten. No hay una ‘forma correcta’ de empezar una carrera musical, empieza simplemente haciendo la música que te encanta y luego empieza a hacer contactos. Lo peor que puede pasar es que te digan que no,” dijo Hare. 

Hasta ahora, la banda ha tocado en un centro de retiro de Salem y ha tocado varias veces en el Mercado de los Sábados Riverview de Independence. 

“Esperamos más presentaciones en el Mercado de los Sábados, incluyendo el Mercado de los Sábados de Salem a finales de Mayo,” dijo Hare. “Siempre buscamos lugares locales con los que colaborar. Nos encanta la comunidad que se crea al actuar localmente.” 

También planean lanzar música con muchos estándares de jazz. Para actualizaciones o anuncios, visita @molly_and_the_swingset en Instagram. Para más música de jazz interpretada por un grupo de estudiantes de Western, visita @bigguyjazband en Instagram. 

“Melodías, ritmos, letras y armonías se combinan para contar una historia, para compartir una experiencia,” dijo Hare. “Para mí, el arte es arte cuando refleja cualquier emoción humana. Los sentimientos en sí mismos son arte. Si influimos en tus sentimientos, aunque sea por un segundo, transmitimos la belleza de la música, la narración y las experiencias únicas y a la vez conectadas de estar vivo.” 

Contacta al autor en howlnews@mail.wou.edu

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