Since our last post concerning Bill 4.15, we have received a response from Paul L. Evans (Oregon State Representative District 20).
His Letter to the Editor can be found here: Letter to WOU Journal
Letter to the Editor
Any attempt to withdraw membership from the Oregon Student Association on this campus is an attempt to silence students and diminish statewide student power.
The OSA is the only statewide, student-led, student-run advocacy group that works to ensure that all Oregon students have access to an affordable and accessible college education. The OSA represents over 120,000 students across Oregon, and it is with that collective statewide power that they are able to effectively advocate for students in the state legislature. Every student at Western benefits immensely from being a member of the OSA and withdrawing membership will be a detriment to all. Please help save statewide student power by voting NO on Bill 4.15 in the upcoming student government elections.
As Western alumni and former student body presidents, we know the importance of the OSA to every student on this campus. The OSA is the organization elected officials rely on to bring a student voice to issues facing higher education in Oregon. Western Oregon students have built incredible collective statewide power and fought for amazing legislative victories that have only been possible because of the work done by the Oregon Student Association.
The OSA fights every year to limit tuition increases and make college more affordable and accessible.
By leveraging its statewide power and influence, students won a tuition freeze for in-state undergraduates on this campus for the last two years.
OSA is also the only lobbying organization that fights for an increase in financial aid.
The OSA was also the leader in winning the long fight for Tuition Equity in Oregon.
The OSA ensured that students had representation in the new government structure at Western and pushed to safeguard student control over the student incidental fee on campus.
These triumphs for Western students would not have been possible without the leadership of and collaboration with OSA.
The OSA not only benefits student through legislative victories, it helps make students better leaders on campus. Through on-campus training and campaigns, the OSA developed us as student leaders and made it possible to affectively advocate for Western students on the statewide level. The ongoing training and development that the OSA provides is essential for creating good leaders at Western. Without the OSA, we would not be the leaders and people we are today and Western would not be the campus it is today.
The OSA is the only advocacy group in Oregon that always puts college students first. Withdrawing membership from the OSA is a huge mistake for Western students to make. Not only would it weaken Western students’ ability to work with other students across the state, it would severely limit students’ influence and power in the state legislature.
Since ASWOU students sit on the Board of Directors for the OSA, then changes could be made from within rather than attempting to duplicate efforts without this collaborative effort statewide. Leave nine other campuses in the state to go it alone is short sided and not strategic.
Be extremely wary of any attempts to limit the collective student voice in Salem. We need students across the state to work together in order to achieve real victories for affordable and accessible higher education in Oregon. Please support statewide student power and the continued membership in the OSA by voting NO on Bill 4.15 in the upcoming student government elections.
As a group of former Western student body presidents we ask you to vote NO on Bill 4.15.
Max Beach ASWOU President 2008-2009
Evan Source ASWOU President 2009-2010
Yasmin Ibarra ASWOU President 2010-2011
Jonathan Farmer ASWOU President 2011-13
Krystonia Kotoa ASWOU President 2013
Gym Etiquette: The Do’s and Don’ts of Frequenting the HWC
By Conner Williams - Editorial Editor
The Health and Wellness Center hosts, on average, 5,440 users per week, according to Rip Horsey, director of campus recreation. It can become cluttered and busy at peak times, and following these simple tips will make everyone’s workouts better and their experiences more enjoyable.
Disclaimer: This list was not obtained from the Health and Wellness Center. It was compiled by the editorial editor of The Journal.
1. Put your weights away
• This is number one for a reason. Seriously, put your weights away.
2. Wipe down your equipment
• This falls in close accordance with number one. Nobody wants to have to use a bench or machine that is covered in your sweat. Great job on working hard, but please clean up after yourself.
3. Don’t idle on machines or stations
• Everyone rests between their sets, but that doesn’t mean the machine or bench then serves as a place to take a load off while you text away. Get off your phone, and let someone else work in.
4. Do your exercise at least 5 feet away from the mirror
• We all know the key to building big arms is to stare intently at yourself while doing curls, but that doesn’t mean you need to stand directly in front of the dumbbell racks. Leave enough room so that other people can grab and put away the weights they need.
5. Use headphones
• Nobody wants to hear your music, or you singing along to it. Attention-seeking behavior is just plain obnoxious. Go to Bi-Mart and buy a $6 pair of Skullcandy earbuds.
6. Use a spotter
• There is a thin line between arrogance and ignorance. If you’re going to attempt a lift that you know you can’t do more than twice or will struggle with, ask someone to spot you. We’re all happy to help, just as long as we don’t have to lift all the weight for you because you want to show off with some immovable heavy weight.
7. Wash your hands after using the restroom
• This one is pretty self-explanatory. According to the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention, washing your hands prevents illnesses and the spread of infections to others. Who would’ve thought? Thousands of hands touch the gym equipment every day, so let’s try to keep it as sanitary as possible.
8. Don’t take over someone’s station or machine
• You just saw that person using that piece of equipment, so before taking it from them, ask if they are done. If not, ask if you can work in with them. Most people are happy to share equipment. After all, this is a public gym.
9. Be aware of your surroundings
• Don’t blindly walk around the gym with your eyes glued to your phone. There are people everywhere, and running into someone can cause a very dangerous situation.
10. Use deodorant
• This cannot be stressed enough. You may not be able to smell yourself, but the rest of us can, and it isn’t pleasant. Go buy a $2 Speed Stick, and keep it in your gym bag.
11. Keep the between-set conversation to a minimum
• You’re here to work out, not to chat and take up valuable gym space. If you need to take a phone call or text someone, do it off to the side of the weight floor.
12. Keep your workout tips to yourself
• Unless someone is performing an exercise with excessively poor form that can cause injury to themselves and/or others, your fitness advice probably isn’t welcome.
13. Try not to stare at other people
• This one mostly applies to the men of the gym crowd. We’ve all been caught creeping at least once, but try to keep it on the down low, and don’t make anyone uncomfortable by conspicuously staring wide-eyed while they’re mid-deadlift.
Fairy Tale Films on the Rise
By Emily Pate Freelancer
This spring, Disney released “Cinderella,” the latest in their live action fairy tale adaptions, following last year’s “Maleficent.” According to the International Business Times, these two films will soon be joined by similar adaptations, including Emma Thompson’s “The Beauty and the Beast,” as well as “Mulan,” “The Jungle Book,” and numerous others.
And why not, with how popular these new versions have been? In fact, the recent wave of fairy tale retellings has even been enough to catch “Saturday Night Live’s” attention, which refers to both “Maleficent” and “Cinderella” in their parody trailer of a live-action “Bambi” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Many of Disney’s most popular recent movies have been a retelling of fairy tales. “Frozen,” according to the Daily Mail, recently became the fifth highest grossing film of all time. The only four that have earned more are “Avatar,” “Titanic,” “The Avengers” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.” This means that, of the five films that have made the most money globally, three are adaptations of preexisting stories.
“Frozen” is a new version of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen.” The Disney version of this story was then adapted to television in ABC’s “Once Upon a Time”; the Huffington Post reports there are currently stage and on-ice versions in the works. Disney has also recently released the film “Into the Woods,” an adaption of a play of the same name, which was – in turn – an adaptation of the many fairy tales that take part in its plot.
These films and TV shows are just a few of the fairy tale adaptations that can be found in recent media. There are also, among many others, the ongoing show “Grimm,” which presents a new view of the family most famous for recording fairy tales, and “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters,” which transforms the classic story into an action film. The number of these new versions only seems to be rising.
As an adult watching the animated films of my childhood, I often wonder why the characters do what they do. What does Maleficent try so hard to hurt Sleeping Beauty? Why does Cinderella stay in a house where she is unhappy?
These new adaptations try to supply the answers, but what never changes is the fact that fairy tales are good stories. There are infinite ways to tell them – evident by the skyrocketing popularity of the genre, and as they shift for new mediums and audiences, I’m sure there will be even more versions in the future. I, for one, am hoping so.
Solitary Women
By Nathaniel Dunaway Entertainment Editor
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of seeing a pair of films that, as well as sharing the fact that they are both great movies, share similar themes, chiefly that of the complicated female protagonist on the edge of society. They involve ladies who are loners, who are strange, and are therefore unwelcome strangers to those around them. Before breaking down each film more, I’ll just say this: both are highly recommended, and both are currently playing for a limited time at the incomparable Salem Cinema.
“A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night”
3 paws out of 4
The first word that comes to mind when thinking about this film is “style.” It’s dripping with it. Shot in gorgeous black and white and self-described as “the first Iranian vampire spaghetti western,” “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” is the story of The Girl, a nameless, lonely vampire, played by Iranian-American actress Sheila Vand.
The Girl stalks the streets of Bad City, a small hamlet of perpetual squalor, where there is (among other things) a ditch full of corpses that no one seems to pay much attention to. Newcomer Arash Marandi also stars as a greaser punk who becomes transfixed by The Girl. The cat that plays Arash’s pet cat in the film is also a great performer. The film is based on a graphic novel by Ana Lily Amirpour, who also directed.
In a recent interview with “The Moveable Fest,” Amirpour, when asked why she gravitates towards horror, replied: “Do you think it’s a horror film? If there’s a vampire in the story, you’re in a certain realm. But I think it’s more like a John Hughes film than it is a horror film.”
My only disclaimer is that if you’re put off by black and white movies or by subtitles, do the following: get over it, and go see this movie.
“Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter”
3 ½ paws out of 4
In 2001, a Japanese woman named Takako Konishi was found dead in a snowy field in Minnesota. According to an article by Paul Berczeller in “The Guardian,” a misunderstanding between Konishi and the local police a few days before her death led to the media believing she had died while looking for the money hidden by Steve Buscemi’s character in the film “Fargo” (in reality, Konishi’s death was ruled a suicide). This led to an urban legend surrounding the event, and that urban legend led to the film “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter,” which takes this seemingly absurd premise and runs with it, to deeply troubling results.
Directed by David Zellner, the film stars Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi (“Pacific Rim”) as Kumiko, a socially awkward, solitary woman living in Tokyo, who is obsessed with treasure-hunting. On one of her adventures, she discovers a damaged VHS copy of the film “Fargo,” and believes it to be a clue to finding a large stash of money, which Steve Buscemi’s character in the film buries in a field. Convinced of the movie’s authenticity, Kumiko steals her boss’s company credit card and travels to Minnesota to find a treasure that isn’t actually there.
The film does an expert job of sticking with Kumiko, focusing loyally on her quixotic journey, and of making Minnesota feel more foreign to the audience than Tokyo. Like “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night,” Kumiko also features an impressive performance by an animal, this time a pet rabbit named Bunzo.
My disclaimer for this film, the first half of which is entirely subtitled Japanese, is the same: get over it, and go see it
It’s raining men, hallelujah!
By Katrina Penaflor - Campus Life Editor
For the past two years, I have regretted not attending the annual drag show. My friends who went always raved about the hilarious and slightly scandalous performances, and I just knew I was missing out on something good.
So this year, when I saw tickets being sold in the Werner Center I immediately purchased one. The theme was “Out of Pandora’s Box,” which I found exciting because of my love for Greek mythology.
The night of the show, the auditorium was packed. I had never attended a drag show before and as I sat in my seat I honestly had no idea what I was in store for. I knew there would be dancing and laughter, but I was not prepared for the magnitude of performances I was about to see.
Drag show advisers and performers, Gabbi Boyle, Joe Hahn, and Yumi Kong, got the crowed pumped up before the show began and encouraged viewers to sing and cheer during the numbers.
The show was narrated by Megan Habermann who told the story of Pandora, a creation of the gods, and how she fell in love with Persephone.
The first dance number literally blew me away—like eyes glued to the stage and jaw-dropped impressed. The cast was a large ensemble and a majority of the group took the stage during the first number. I was drawn in by the choreography and how in sync all the dancers were. No one missed a beat and everyone on stage gave attitude and flavor to the performance.
I was immediately captivated and found myself shouting out and singing along to the rendition of the Pussycat Doll’s “Buttons” – a personal favorite of my mine.
Apart from the dancing, the storyline was equally as entertaining. I was desperate to know what was going to happen between Pandora and Persephone and what kind of obstacles Hades was going to throw into the mix.
One of my favorite numbers of the night was the performance to the Weather Girl’s “It’s Raining Men.” I wanted to get out of my seat and dance along with the people on stage. I also envied Hera’s ability to dance in heels that I would fall over in if I took two steps. I could not stop myself from singing and cheering, and probably annoying every person who sat around me.
The gods and their descriptions in the show where wonderfully accurate and each actor provided their own twist to the characters. The costumes were another plus to the show. They were bright and eye-catching and helped bring the characters on stage to life.
Overall “Out of Pandora’s Box” kept audience members smiling, singing, and laughing. The show embraced owning one’s sexuality, and the flawless performances proved dedication amongst the performers and crew.
My final words of advice are to get your tickets early next year. The drag show is something you do not want to miss.
A highlight of success
By Jennifer Halley - Copy Editor
A looming 6 feet 6 inches and 260 pounds, Andrey Avgi – known by his friends, family and the Western community as Andy – catches anyone’s attention as he walks through the door. He’s used to people looking up at him and gawking at his height. But Avgi’s height is not the only thing people notice about him.
Avgi is an animal on the basketball court. He proved that during this year’s basketball season, ending it strong as he became the only Wolf ever selected onto the NCAA All-American Basketball Team.
This is something he is not used to people staring at him for.
Simply put, being selected onto such a prestigious team “feels awesome,” Avgi said. “It actually caught me by surprise,” he added. “I didn’t think that I would be getting any other awards after my all-region awards.”
Well, he did. And he deserves every award he won. Avgi scored over 1,000 points this season, as well as being ranked third in GNAC for scoring, averaging 18.1 points per game. Additionally, he was ranked 10th in the conference for rebounding and third in field goal percentage, while also being named Player of the Year.
Pretty impressive, right?
“I definitely couldn’t have done it by myself; my teammates and coaching staff have the biggest part in my success,” Avgi said. “It isn’t just an individual award, even though only one person gets it. “
Another person he credits to his success? Girlfriend Dana Goularte, another one of Western’s successful athletes.
“Me and Andy met our freshman year here and have dated for three years,” Goularte said. “I love watching him play and have such a successful season.”
She added: “It was tough when we both were in season playing because we were busy and traveling but it was nice because we both understood the importance of putting in the time to our sport.”
Having a partner who is also deep in the basketball world helps this powerful pair not only stay on common ground, but “she knows what I am going through,” Avgi said. “I can talk to her about anything, and she would understand,” he added.
No achievement comes without definitive struggle, though and for Avgi, he stared that monster in the face a number of times.
“I had a appendectomy that took me out for a week,” he said. “That had to be the biggest struggle this year because it wasn’t basketball related and I had no control of that. “
Staying healthy and tending to injuries – making sure they didn’t get worse – were also some issues Avgi dealt with throughout the “long, exhausting” season.
On the court, Avgi is serious, determined and focused on winning. Off the court?
He’s a normal 22-year-old from Woodburn, a lover of burritos and fishing, and is the youngest in a family of three boys.
“It may seem like he’s a serious person on the floor but off the court, he is always joking around and is always making me laugh,” Goularte said. “He is one of the kindest people I know.”
Cherene O’Hara, a senior Communications major, echoed this when she said: “You get this really chill vibe [from him]; he seems really down to earth.”
She said Avgi would sit in the back of class, quietly saying “thank you” to everyone as they congratulated him on all his awards.
“Humble,” O’Hara added as an afterthought. “He’s very humble.”
Aside from friends, his girlfriend and coaches, family has been a huge influence on Avgi’s basketball career so far, another group of people he gives credit to.
“I would always watch my older brother John play when I was younger, and he was a big help in my development,” he said. “Also, my mom is important because she would make sure I got to every practice and games. She would always be there for support.”
Every athlete has their special ritual they do in order to prepare for the big game; for LaMarcus Aldridge: it’s tossing talcum powder into the air at the scorers’ table. For Avgi: he comes to the courts well before the game starts and gets a feel for the rims; it helps him get into the mindset of the night.
And to help him stay motivated throughout all the stress, exhaustion and pressure of the season?
“I hate to lose in anything [and] I love to win.”
Seems pretty basic, but for a dedicated athlete like Avgi, staying motivated is the biggest factor in whether or not he does well.
Basketball has ended. Avgi’s drive has not.
“I will just train in the off season and get better for the next season,” he said.
He added: “Just a big thanks to all the fans and everyone that came to our games. It is nice to have a big following. We really do appreciate it.”
WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
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