By Allison Opson Clement, News Editor
Dozens of families in the Monmouth and Independence communities are unable to afford a Thanksgiving dinner for themselves Continue reading Thanksgiving food drive seeks donations for families in need
Fallout shelters? A history lesson of Western Oregon University
By Jennifer Halley
A former central hub for the public in case of nuclear threat, Western Oregon University established fallout shelters on campus to keep people safe if need be.
Throughout the 50’s and 60’s, the threat of nuclear attack was imminent and the Federal Civil Defense Administration, now known as Homeland Security, named Oregon College of Education (OCE) – what is now Western Oregon – a headquarters for people seeking a safe haven.
To prepare for an attack, OCE designed a variety of fallout shelters throughout campus containing food such as crackers, carbohydrate supplements, giant tubs of water that paired as toilets and other supplies to keep people alive until the threats were over.
According to Tony Kment, assistant director of the Physical Plant on campus, only buildings made out of concrete could be subject to a fallout shelter. Many doomsday websites also say that fallout shelters need to be built with materials that offer strength and support in order to withstand the gamma rays and radiation.
Fallout shelters were prominent in that era as the Federal Civil Defense Administration instructed homes and businesses on how to create shelters, according to U-S-history.com. Instruction pamphlets were published as guides for families to build home shelters.
It was intense time for the government as they fought to respond to heightened public anxiety that coated much of America, the article added.
Kment, who was a child during the Cold War, remembers doing drills at school – such as ducking under his desk or a cafeteria table – in case an attack was ever to occur.
“It was scary for a young kid during that time,” Kment said.
In 1974 an article was written about the fallout shelters in OCE’s student newspaper, called Lamron2.
The article, written by Liz Alcarez, describes the campus fallout shelter locations that still exist today, but are being used as storage.
According to Alcaraz, one fallout shelter is in the lower floor of the Humanities and Social Sciences building. Two others are in the basements of the library and Administration building. Many of the mechanical rooms in the residence halls, as well as in Maaske Hall, the education building and the Food Services building could have been used as shelters as well.
Some of the signs used to announce where the fallout shelters were located are still posted around campus. These signs alerted students and staff as to where they could go if an attack occurred.
In the education building, a sign can be seen on the double doors of the mechanical room. Beyond its doors are the boxes of crackers, candy and bins used for water and waste.
“Down” – Portraits of a University
Portraits of a University:
As part of a brand-new weekly Journal column, Nathaniel Dunaway meets with Western Oregon University students to discuss their lives and their experiences in the world of higher education. In doing so, he hopes to find an answer to the question what does it mean to be a college student in the 21st century?
This week, Psychology major Adam Pettitt offers his thoughts on the value of the college degree, and the stigma surrounding depression in America.
I’m a dual major in biology and psychology. This is my fifth year here. I actually went to University of Idaho for a year, then I took two years off, and I realized after those two years off that I wanted to be a psychiatrist. I knew that I wanted to help people. So because of that, I came here. I applied a week before school started.
There are six grad schools I’m applying to this year. But I honestly don’t expect to get in, just because clinical psychology programs are notoriously hard to get into. They have a one-percent acceptance rate. So they have about three-hundred people apply, and three people get in. I want to go to Yale, Harvard, UNC, University of Texas, UCLA and Duke. But honestly, the number one place I want to go to is Yale, but it’s not because it’s Yale. It’s nice that it’s Yale, but… the way these programs work is that you’re not applying to a program, you’re applying to work with a person, in their lab, doing research. I want to look at the genetics of depression.
My first year here, all of a sudden, I just got slammed with depression out of nowhere. I was twenty-one at the time, and either you’ve been through depression and you understand what it entails, or you haven’t. I think that before, when I thought about it, I thought “oh, somebody’s just sad,” but it’s so much more than that. It’s a way of thinking. It’s a descent into someone you’re not. When I was down there, there was no being happy. It’s something that if you don’t have the right tools -and even if you do have the right tools- it can be so hard to dig yourself out of. It’s incredibly devastating to the people who encounter it.
I made an appointment with a psychiatrist, and he told me everything would be fine. I went through ten different anti-depressants for a year before anything ever worked for me. It was the worst year. Anti-depressants work in the way that you have about a four to eight week window before they can even have an effect. Finally I found one that worked, and it was like magic. I actually had a graph on a big whiteboard, for my own edification, where one was the worst that I’d ever felt and ten was the best and five was completely apathetic and neutral. So every day I’d say, “ok, this is where I’m at,” and slowly the graph would get higher and higher, and all of a sudden, five wasn’t my top anymore, and at the six or eight week mark, I realized “oh, this is how life is supposed to be. This is how I used to be.” It was like waking up from a dream.
The way anti-depressants are prescribed is… basically it’s a flow-chart. Basically, if you’re lethargic and depressed, then you get prescribed this kind of anti-depressant. And what ends up happening is that when one doesn’t work, you switch to another kind, and switch to another kind, until you finally find the one that works. There’s actually a flow-chart in one of my textbooks, literally a flow chart. And I was at the end of the chart, right before MAOI’s, which are the oldest type of anti-depressant, and electroshock therapy. So I’m really glad I stopped there. I thought… it’s 2014. How do we just have a flow-chart for prescribing this? There has to be a better way. So I started looking into the genetics of depression and the genetics of anti-depressant response.
On my mom’s side of the family, my uncle killed himself. A lot of people on that side of the family suffered from depression. There is a genetic basis to it. I started doing research on how certain people with certain genetics will favorably respond to certain anti-depressants. That’s when I realized that this is what I want to do. What I went through, nobody should ever have to go through. I would not wish that on anybody. If I could be the one who helps people, to prevent people from becoming depressed, from getting down there… and also using the genotype of people who do suffer to discover which anti-depressants will work for them and which won’t. I think that it can be done. It’s going to take a lot of collaboration across the disciplines, from psychology to biology to neuroscience, but I think that it can be done, and that it should be done.
There’s a general lack of knowledge about mental health in this country. If there is this genetic basis, if there is –as it’s simplified in the media- this chemical imbalance in people, then it’s not people’s fault that they’re depressed. It breaks my heart that people have to endure depression while there are all these stigmas against it. Things are starting to shift and change, but it’s going to be a battle before depression becomes something that’s acceptable and understandable as an actual health disease rather than a purely mental disease.
We should be able to tailor and individualize treatment for people, so that after one anti-depressant doesn’t work, one treatment doesn’t work, they don’t give up. I didn’t make the choice to stop trying, but there are people out there who do. It’s not going to be one-hundred percent figured out, but it’ll be better than a flow-chart.
By Adam Pettitt, edited by Nathaniel Dunaway
If you’re a Western student and would like to be interviewed for the Portraits of a University column, contact Nathaniel Dunaway at journalentertainment@wou.edu
Football shows strength in victory against Simon Fraser
By: Freelancer Jacob Hansen
“It makes my job a whole lot easier when you have a dynamic player to throw to, yet alone two of them to throw to,” senior quarterback Ryan Bergman
With back to back touchdowns thrown to redshirt freshman wide receiver Paul Revis in the fourth quarter, the Wolves were able to secure their second Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) win against the Clan of Simon Fraser University, 27-16 during homecoming week on Oct. 25.
Western Oregon (4-4, 2-1 GNAC) struck first and fast against Simon Fraser (2-6, 2-2) during the Wolves homecoming game. Senior quarterback Ryan Bergman started off the game with a 35-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Tyrell Williams. Bergman completed 18-of-42 passes for 332 yards on the day and four touchdowns. Williams and Revis combined for 286 yards and three touchdowns on the day, making their presence known throughout the GNAC.
“It makes my job a whole lot easier when you have a dynamic player to throw to, yet alone two of them to throw to,” said Bergman.
Paul Revis was named the GNAC’s offensive player of the week for the first time in his career. He leads the Wolves and GNAC with 902 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Revis is ranked third in division II for all-purpose yards averaging 205.1 yards per game.
“It’s a great honor to be acknowledged by the league and hope to earn many more in my future,” said Revis.
It was the Wolves’ defense that forced the Clan to field goals instead of touchdowns that really gave our boys in red the upper hand. Redshirt sophomore defensive back Danny Hankins led the Wolves defense with seven solo tackles and an interception. The defense allowed only one pass to be thrown over their head for 51 yards in the second quarter, which would be the last score before the half.
The Wolves came out of the half strong, finishing a drive with a one-yard touchdown pass from Bergman to junior wide receiver James DePew, putting the Wolves up 14-10.
The Clan answered back with two drives that would both result in field goals, giving them the two point advantage at the beginning of the fourth.
Bergman and Revis answered again when they connected for a 94-yard drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to put the Wolves up 21-16.
A 54-yard touchdown pass from Bergman to Revis would wrap up this homecoming victory for the Wolves.
The Wolves travel to Glendora California to play the No. 25-ranked Azusa Pacific University Saturday, Nov. 1.
“Whoever wins this game will be the conference champs,” said head coach Arne Ferguson.
Volleyball serves up first conference win
BY RACHEL SHELLEY AND CHIANNA TOLTON SPORTS EDITOR AND FREELANCER
Western Oregon University Volleyball
had their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference
(GNAC) win of the season in Lacey,
Wash. against Saint Martin’s University Saturday
Oct. 25, where they finished 3-1 (25-
12, 25-19, 21-25, 25-21) in the match.
Leading the team offensively was redshirt
freshman outside hitter Alisha Bettinson,
who added 10 kills and five aces for the
Wolves.
“We’ve been really close in a lot of
matches this year,” said Bettinson. “We finally
put everything together to put ourselves
on top.”
Senior setter Jordin Ramos added a
team-high 24 assists while freshman setter
Kiana Cash dished out 18 for the Wolves.
Senior opposite hitter Hannah Deede and
redshirt freshman middle blocker Sydney
Blankenship grabbed nine kills and a teamhigh
four blocks each.
Four Western players added doubledigit
digs led by sophomore outside hitter
Christie Colasurdo with a match-high 26.
Western started off on a 7-2 run in the
first set followed by a 6-3 run by Saint Martin’s
to bring the score within two, 10-8. Bettinson
got her third service ace of the first set
to bring the Wolves on a 6-1 run, bringing
the score to 16-10. The Wolves scored an unanswered
five points before closing the opening
set with a 4-1 run.
The second set saw an early 10-3 lead
by the Wolves where they were able to keep
their momentum with a 7-1 run and finishing
the set 25-19. The third set was won by
Saint Martin’s, where the Saint’s scored the
final seven points after being behind to earn
the 25-21 victory.
The fourth set opened up with the
Wolves scoring the first five points. Ramos
began the 6-2 lead with a kill. The score was
tied at 20-20 after the Saint’s made a run but
the Wolves were able to finish the set and the
match with 5-1 run, earning the Wolves their
first GNAC conference win.
“Error free is carefree,” said senior outside
hitter Sam Moore. “We really took that
into the match and the scores showed it.”
Moore had eight kills, three blocks and an
ace contributing to Saturday night’s success.
The Wolves welcome University of Alaska
to Monmouth Saturday, Nov. 1 where play
will start at 7p.m.
A Touch of the Supernatural
BY STEPHANIE VILLALOBOS FREELANCER
Students got a new take on Halloween, and a taste of the supernatural, as they wandered down the halls of Todd and Campbell Hall in search of ghosts. Professional ghost hunter Ross Allison visited Western Tuesday night and presented on what it means to hunt the supernatural to over 100 students.
Allison gave students a brief history on ghosts, and paranormal activity, shared his experiences of work he performs on a daily basis.
After his speech, Allison took students through Todd Hall, Campbell Hall and The Cottage in a ghost hunt, which provided students a hands-on experience of what he does for a living.
According to Allison, he is the only full time ghost hunter in the Pacific Northwest, and is the founder of A.G.H.O.S.T. (Advanced Ghost Hunters of Seattle-Tacoma).
He teaches students Ghostology 101 at the University of Washington and Tacoma Community College. Examining the unknown has allowed Allison to travel around the world and be featured on several television programs including The Learning Channel’s “America”,
MTV, CMT, CNN, A&E, The Discovery Channel and many more. He is planning to write several books and Western will be featured in one of them.
“I have always been curious about this kind of stuff and I believe there is something out there; people just need to keep an open mind,” Allison said. He said his main focus and goal while being a ghost hunter is to always be honest and follow “PDP” (Passion, Dedication, Patience).
He also allowed students to use his equipment, which included EVP Recorders (Electronic Voice Phenomena). This type of equipment detects human – sounding voices from any unknown source.
Throughout the night, Allison gave students the opportunity to interact with the unknown and ask questions.
“I really enjoyed being part of the ghost hunt, and getting to try something I would’ve never thought about doing,” said first year- David Hoover.
“There was definitely something interesting here at Western, and I would love to come back with my team and take a better look.” Allison said.
Movie Review: The Best of Me
by Haunani Tomas, Managing Editor
My friends and I decided to watch “The Best of Me” twenty minutes before show time on a Friday night. In other words, there was no time for some pre-movie plot research and I did not read the Nicholas Sparks’ novel.
I was unprepared and completely blindsided for assuming this movie would be a romantic tale comparable to other cliché chick flicks like “Titanic” and “The Notebook”. But, if you liked those movies even the slightest bit, you’ll be head over heels for this heartbreaker. Side note: I am not one to cry in movies or grovel at the cuteness of couples but this movie was an isolated incident.
Dawson Cole (James Marsden) and Amanda Collier (Michelle Monaghan) return to their hometown in Louisiana after receiving news about the passing of their mutual friend, Tuck. Tuck’s will requests the two to fulfill his final wishes together: pack up his belongings and spread his ashes at his cabin
Key word: together.
Flashback to a high school Dawson (Luke Bracey) running away from home, after refusing to help his family with a drug deal, to meet a young southern belle named Amanda (Liana Liberato) for a first date.
Dawson wanders aimlessly to find a place to sleep for the night. He comes across a garage and falls asleep in a sweet classic car.
Tuck finds Dawson the next morning, recognizes that he is the only good Cole in the family and takes him in without hesitation.
The Cole family, notorious for their drug and criminal activity, is the polar opposite of the Colliers: a Kentucky Derby-esque pedigree.
Mr. Collier attempts to bribe Dawson into leaving his daughter. Although we understand Mr. Collier’s desire for his pride and joy to be unaffiliated with the white trash clan that is the Coles, Dawson is an extraordinary exception.
Although they hail from opposite sides of the tracks, Amanda and Dawson are perfect for each other in the way that Mondays are for football and chips are for salsa. They are the type of couple that single sorority girls regard as their (high) relationship goals.
They literally bring out the best in each other.
Obviously, something happens that prohibits this exemplary high school sweetheart love, which will not be discussed.
Fast forward 21 years: while spreading Tuck’s ashes at his cabin, the old couple realize Tuck’s tacit final wish is to bring Amanda and Dawson back together despite their prolonged disconnect of two decades.
“The Best of Me” reminds us of the depth of a first love, the desire that arises when it is disallowed and the beauty of a feelings that ascend a decades.
WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
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Monmouth OR 97361
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