Mount Hood

Oregon’s Governor Replacement Race

By: Alvin Wilson 
Staff Writer

The presidential election isn’t the only election that will take place in 2016.

Next year, Oregon’s incumbent governor, Kate Brown, will run against some tough opposition to see who will fill ex-governor Kitzhaber’s place until 2018.

Elections will take place on Nov. 8, 2016. There are few who have declared their intention to run thus far, but much in Oregon’s political world can change in one year.

Among those who have declared their intention to run are: current governor Kate Brown (D), critical care specialist Julian Bell (D), business owner Bob Niemeyer (R), and experimental pathologist Bud Pierce (R).

Some background information about our candidates:

Kate Brown:

Katherine “Kate” Brown was born in Madrid, Spain in 1960 and raised in Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Colorado in 1981 with a degree in Environmental Conservation, and from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College in 1985 with a degree in Environmental Law.

Previously, Brown served as Oregon Secretary of State and majority leader of the Oregon State Senate. She became Oregon’s governor in February of 2015 in the wake of Kitzhaber’s resignation. For more information about Kate Brown, visit her website at: www.katebrownfororegon.com.

Julian Bell:

44-year-old Julian Bell is a medical doctor for an intensive care unit in Medford, Oregon. He received his medical degree from New York Medical College.

According to his campaign website, Bell’s priorities are promoting clean energy and combating climate change. He has volunteered for environmental organizations such as Southern Oregon Climate Action Now and Rogue Climate, and helped found a group called Hair On Fire Oregon, which helps advertise possible solutions for climate change. This is Bell’s first time running for public office. For more information about Julian Bell, visit his website at www.julianbellforgovernor2016.com.

Bob Niemeyer:

Bob Niemeyer is the owner of an engineering company. Niemeyer graduated from the University of Oregon in 1978 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1987, Niemeyer received his Professional Engineering License in Mechanical Engineering.

According to his campaign website, Niemeyer is running on the ideas of rebuilding Oregon’s independence, not living in fear, and new ways of looking at government action. Niemeyer is described as being fiscally and socially conservative. Some of Niemeyer’s campaign promises include: not being a politician, but a representative; issuing a pardon to the Oregon couple who refused to bake a cake for a gay wedding; and rewriting the state constitution within two years of taking office. This is not Niemeyer’s first attempt at running for public office. In 2014, he ran for Representative of Oregon’s first congressional district. For more information about Bob Niemeyer, visit his website at www.bobniemeyer.com.

Bud Pierce:

William “Bud” Pierce is an experimental pathologist who was raised in Southern California. Pierce graduated with a Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology from UCLA in 1985, where he later returned to receive his M.D. in 1987.

Pierce spent six years of his life as a U.S. Marine. After leaving the Marines, he served as a doctor for the United States Naval Reserve. This is Pierce’s first time running for public office. According to the Statesman Journal, Pierce’s main focus is economic prosperity. Pierce’s positions are generally fiscally conservative and socially liberal. For more information about Bud Pierce, visit his website at www.budpierce.com.

There are more potential candidates who have yet to declare their intentions to run, but it is unclear how drastically the campaign field will change in the next year.

2016 is a very busy year for Oregon voters. Not only are we voting for a new president and governor, but seats in Oregon’s House of Representatives, Oregon’s State Senate and Oregon’s state-level-courts are up for election as well.

The Journal will have continued coverage of Oregon’s 2016 elections.

Goosebumps: frights, delights, pretty alright

By: Declan Hertel
Entertainment Editor

When I was a kid, I was a wimp. As such, I only read a few of R.L. Stine’s bestselling “Goosebumps” stories. They were “2spooky4me,” as the joke goes.

That said, the ones I did read, I really loved, especially “Night of the Living Dummy.” They were spooky, fun reads starring kids just like me! And with 350 million copies sold as of 2014 and a further two million copies a year according to Scholastic, there are far more people who are far more invested in the series than I ever was.

The new film, starring Jack Black (“School of Rock”) as R.L. Stine himself, is clearly meant for that dedicated fan base, right down to the story following the same formula as many of the books: kid moves to new town, many spooky things happen, and the spooky things are eventually triumphed over.

This may sound disparaging, but I think keeping the formula intact helped the movie achieve its purpose: a healthy dose of nostalgia for the older viewers, while introducing the younger generation to these old tales of terror.

I expected three things out of this movie: scares, heart, and laughs; what I consider the three pillars of children’s horror cinema.
While the movie was lacking in the first and decent in the second, it definitely had plenty of the third.

The lack of any appreciable frights is easily the biggest disappointment of the movie. Even though the source material was kid lit, it was called “Goosebumps” for a reason.

While the visual rendering of virtually every monster from the book series is really cool, none of it ever approaches frightening, and the “greatest hits” parade of monsters unfortunately feels rushed. However, the inclusion of Slappy the Dummy (also Jack Black) as the main antagonist of the story was pretty darn freaky.

“Goosebumps” was better at delivering on the heart, though it took some time to get around to it.

While the lack of scares was disappointing, the biggest problem with the movie is that it takes far too long to get off the ground. Though once it does, it starts to pick up speed admirably with the introduction of Hannah (Odeya Rush, “The Giver”) to our handsome, witty protagonist Zach (Dylan Minnette).
I was initially skeptical of the impending romantic subplot, but I was pleasantly surprised by the chemistry and charm the two brought.
Speaking of pleasant surprises, “Goosebumps” is really, really funny, mostly thanks to Jack Black devouring the scenery. Black dominates every scene he’s in, carrying with him his trademark high-energy antics, a complete embrace of how ridiculous this entire exercise is, and a very conspicuous and utterly made-up accent (seriously, his exclamation of “Slappeh!” during the climax of the film made me double over with laughter).
If I am being honest, “Goosebumps” was nothing special, but if you like the books, want to see promising young actors deliver solid performances, or just can’t get enough Jack Black, you can’t go wrong.
3 out of 4 Paws.

Gory and Groovy: The Triumphant Return of “Fargo”

By: Declan Hertel
Entertainment Editor

When my father asked me several years ago if I had ever seen “Fargo,” the Coen Brothers’ 1996 cinematic masterpiece, I told him I hadn’t. Without saying another word, he went into our living room and turned it on.

There was no question about it: “Fargo” immediately became one of my top three films of all time.

It was sometime in 2012 when I heard that a television show was to be made, also called “Fargo,” that continued to build on the setting and themes of the film: somewhere in the frozen Midwest, in or around Fargo, ND, there are people too desperate and ambitious for their own good, ruthless-yet-quirky criminals who would gut a man for a buck, and good-hearted, innocent police officers forced to come face to face with the darkest face of mankind.

The news filled me with a delight and anticipation I had never felt for pop culture before.

Much to my delight, the first season was unbelievable. It was near-perfect in every facet. “Fargo” ran to nearly universal acclaim, and though it was initially touted as only a miniseries, it seemed like FX, and creator/show-runner Noah Hawley would have been insane to not make another season.

That is precisely what they did. The new season premiered on Oct. 12.

Early reviews stated that it was even better than the almost flawless season one, and I am pleased to announce that two episodes into the second season, it looks like they were right: “Fargo” round two is absolutely killer.

Centering on the “Sioux Falls Incident,” an event oft-mentioned but never explained in season one, season two takes us to Luverne, Minnesota and Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1979.

The nation is reeling from Watergate and the end of the Vietnam War; and as is the way in the “Fargo” universe, someone with too much ambition and too little brain creates a huge problem in a small town for both the local police and criminal populace.

This season stars Patrick Wilson (“Watchmen”) as Lou Solverson, a State Trooper recently returned from combat in Vietnam, Kirsten Dunst (“On the Road”) as Peggy Blomquist, a hair stylist with a creeping obsession with having a better life, and Jesse Plemons (“Breaking Bad”) as Ed Blomquist, Peggy’s dutiful husband and local butcher.

All their performances thus far are pitch perfect, especially Kirsten Dunst as one of the most compelling characters I’ve ever seen in any medium. The aforementioned are just scratching the surface of an amazing cast, which includes Ted Danson (“Damages”), Nick Offerman (“Parks and Recreation”), Jean Smart (“24”), and Bruce Campbell (“Evil Dead”) as Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail.

Thus far, season two’s most promising aspect is that while it’s retained the dark charm, murder, and mayhem that is the essence of all things “Fargo,” it is absolutely coming into its own as a piece of television.

If I have but one real criticism of season one, it’s that it stuck too closely to the movie in terms of plotting and characterization, at least early on. Not so with season two, which takes place almost ten years before the movie, and almost twenty before season one.

The only thing this season needs to do is make the “Sioux Falls Incident” something worth remembering, and with a vehicular mansla
ughter cover-up, two crime syndicates facing off, and a brutal triple murder already, I can’t wait to see how this season escalates.

I feel the phrase “must-see TV” is a cliché, but I am using it here. “Fargo” is truly must-see TV. When “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men” ended, all of a sudden the honor of “Best Show on Television” was up for grabs.

I’m calling it now: “Fargo,” by midway through this season, will have one major entertainment news outlet declare it as such. And they will be right.

If you have any love in your heart for black comedy, for murder mysteries, for perfectly executed drama, for the art of the television show, the verdict is simple: if you are not watching “Fargo,” you are criminally misusing one hour of your time every week.

Casa Burrito brings the heat

By: Brianna Bonham
 Staff Writer

Casa Burrito is a bright orange building off Highway 99W, taking the place of Big Town Hero; it’s hard to miss it.

When walking up to the restaurant, the customer has two options: the faster option, in which you eat outside where burritos, tacos and quesadillas are served, or eating indoors for a sit down restaurant style service.

The building, on the whole, is colorful and filled with music.

For the outdoor option, there is a student discount. If a student shows his or her student ID, they can get $5 burritos or $1.50 tacos. Casa Burrito is working on implementing a senior special.

The service was fast, friendly and very helpful. They offer a wide variety of meats, toppings, sauces, and salsas. There are options for everyone. The restaurant was very clean, comfortable and accessible.

The food was excellent, truly authentic Mexican food.

I sampled five different tacos, shredded pork, marinated pork, steak, chicken, and carne asada. Each meat was grilled along with jalapenos and onions until they were caramelized.

The chef then dressed the tacos with sauces, onions and jalapenos. There were radishes and limes on the side to help cut the heat of some of the spicier salsas and sauces.

The meat was nicely seasoned, and cooked well. The marinated pork was my personal favorite. It was topped with lime juice, cilantro and fresh onions.

The manager, Miguel Garcia, said, “It’s a good location, good food, good service, reasonable prices and a student discount … [this] makes it good for college students.”

Across Borders: Reaching out to Refugees

By: Emily Pate
Staff Writer

This past summer, Eriqa Hermen backpacked across most of Europe, where she saw the Syrian refugee crisis first hand. On Oct. 19, 2015, she hosted a talk at Western entitled Across Borders: Europe and the Syrian Refugee.

Though originally Dutch and Finnish, Hermen has recently become a Swedish citizen. She spent the 2013-14 school year in an exchange program at Western.

While visiting this month, Hermen was asked by Dr. Gudrun Hoobler, a German professor Hermen met in her time at Western, to share her experiences of the refugee situation.

“I want people to see the other side of it, so to speak,” Hermen stated. “I want to show you these are the human beings who live there, who are not part of the [Islamic State], who are just trying to have a life.”

After listening to Hermen speak, Alyssa Chiampi, junior Public Policy Administration major said, “It was really eye-opening … to get information that was real and raw.” After hearing about first hand experiences, she said, “[It] made the issue a lot more real.”

Jena Liebscher, first-year and ASL Interpreting major, also stressed the importance of awareness. After listening to Hermen’s talk, she said that the best way to help is to “find out exactly the facts and information about the situation.”

Hermen showed Seeking Asylum, a “60 Minutes” clip that aired Oct. 18, 2015, which documents refugees’ experiences. The video can be found on CBS News’ website.

On the United Nations Refugee Agency’s website, it states that there are 4,180,631 registered Syrian refugees as of Oct. 19, 2015. The UN estimates the funding requirement for the refugee crisis at just over $4.5 billion, but states that they have only received 41% of what is needed.

Hermen shared her personal experiences of the refugees’ impact on Europe, largely seen in the growing presence of the police, the unreliability of transportation, and protests both for and against immigration.

On her travels, she met people who had given up their apartments or even entire hostels as housing for refugees.

One of the ways Western students can offer aid, Hermen says, is to find and spread knowledge about the refugee situation. Hermen also stated, “You can always give money. It’s cliché, but it’s true.”

Adam Carter Sets out to find America’s Sound

By: Declan Hertel
Entertainment Editor

I sat down with WOU Student and musician Adam Carter over a pint this weekend to talk about his upcoming documentary project.
Declan: So what is this documentary all about?
Adam: Me and my friend JT [Mozingo], we’re going to go around the country, trying to find amateur musicians, and professional musicians, we’re going to do everything music. We’re going to go to recording studios, talk to teachers, talk to students, and we’re going to try to record intimate sessions with them, interviews, and live performances of songs. We want to give exposure to amateur artists, and we want to show everybody that there’s a lot of hardworking people out there that have a lot to offer, but aren’t going to get the exposure.
D: So the super underground?
A:Yeah, the super underground and the super popular. We want to do everything. Doesn’t matter who it is, we want everybody.
D: How did the idea come about?
A: I was walking home from school, and I was thinking about the road. Last summer, I went on a trip for a month last summer, we went all around the west coast. And I was thinking about life on the road, and how I missed it, because it’s different, you know? There’s no routine, something new every day. I was thinking about how I could do something like that for the rest of my life, or make some kind of career out of it, something like that. And I thought, “wouldn’t it be cool to make a documentary about a road trip?” But that’s really not enough, and I love music, and everybody around me loves music, making it, listening to it, so why not put the two together? Go on a road trip for a year, interviewing amateur artists from all over the place. It’s a travel documentary, people like traveling, people like music, there’s a market for it, and this is the kind of thing that doesn’t happen that much, people don’t really go around doing this. And what really inspired me: Alan Lomax, in the 30s and 40s, him and his dad would go around in the south and record a bunch of blues musicians, blues was their favorite I think, but they went all over the world, at least Alan did, and recorded music that wouldn’t have been documented if he didn’t do that. A lot of my favorite songs were recorded by him, and we wouldn’t have them if he didn’t go around and do that. So I think it’d be cool to discover some stuff that wouldn’t normally be out there, and turn people onto some new things.
D: I love that. The idea that there’s so much music that’s beautiful and worth listening to in the world, and I’m not going to hear even half of it…
A: Yeah! And even if I’m not a fan of it, other people will be. What we want to do is give exposure to every single person that records with us. We don’t want to take ownership of any songs or anything.
D: What’s the time frame for getting started in earnest?
A: We want to be on the road in spring of 2017. We have a lot of work to do though; we need to get experience with cameras and editing. We just got a couple cameras; we’re hoping to start shooting pretty soon. We’re going to start shooting locally before we branch out, so Portland, Salem, even Monmouth. Another thing we want to do is go around to bars in the Salem area, and if they have live music, interview the musicians there, the owner, the patrons, just to get some sort of a following first. I think just even locally there’s so many people working hard and making music, and they deserve some exposure.
D: Amen. Speaking of support, are there plans for a Patreon or something where people can support your efforts?
A: There’s not right now, but we’re going to do a Kickstarter when it’s closer to being time to go. We’re gonna be saving up ourselves, a lot. The main thing you can do to support us right now is share. Tell your friends.
D: If we know people, send them your way?
A: We would love to hear from everyone we possibly can. We want to answer questions, we want to give no misconceptions that we’re trying to screw anybody over. We’re in it for, I mean obviously it’s selfish in some ways, but we really do want to give exposure [to artists] and have an adventure while we do it.
We’ve got connections so far in a few different places around the country; we’ve heard from a lot of people in Indiana, we’ve been talking to a guy who lives in Georgia, [some people in] Arizona, Utah, New Mexico. We’ve got a lot of different prospects going on, and we want to get as many people [as we can], all around the country. So we want to advertise and make it available for people.
D: Do you know of any places that have a super vibrant indie scene? I know San Francisco’s got a crazy scene.
A: I’ve heard Austin, Texas has a lot, they’ve got some good stuff going on, San Francisco like you said. I don’t know about indie, but I know Chicago’s got a big urban blues scene, I believe that they are the blues capital currently. And I have family in Chicago, so that’ll be nice. What I’m looking forward to most is Mississippi, I love that Delta Blues.
D: Are there any other places you’re especially looking forward to?
A: The whole south I’m looking forward to, just because I’m such a huge blues fan. But I want to try to go to as many national parks as we can too, because I love national parks. Our country is very beautiful, and a lot of people don’t know just how insane some of the natural wonders are. We want to document those too, that’s part of the adventure. We visited seven of them last summer, it’s amazing. Yosemite National Park, if you’ve ever been there is just… I think we went to seven national parks and Yosemite was by far my favorite. Grand Canyon’s got nothing on it.
D: How do you think the acoustics are at the bottom of the canyon?
A: Echoey. Maybe we’ll do a session down there, ride the mules down.
D: Do you have any plans to shoot in cool locations like that, or mostly living rooms?
A: We want to be able to record outside, definitely. We also want to rig the video we have to have a little studio so we can record if we don’t have anywhere else. We’re also probably going to be renting a studio. One thing I’m really excited for is, apparently, JT knows a guy[…] who runs this bus in San Francisco, and it’s like a punk bus, there’s a stage in the back and there’s punk shows on the bus. They drive around San Francisco with a punk band playing in the back. That sounds really, really cool and I can’t wait check that out.
I’m really excited to shoot the WOU too. As many people as want to do this, I want to do it with them. Just shoot me an email, we’ll set up a time. I would love samples, I can’t get enough of them.
D: You’ve already got some people, yeah?
A: Yeah, we want to do a few practice sessions by ourselves [first], and then we want to start doing that. We’ve got access to microphones and editing equipment through the recording studio. We’re probably going to do our first session […] within the month, then make the Facebook page live. Our goal is to start putting out weekly videos, after we get a few videos, so I want to get three or four before we start. We want to keep people updated and keep them into it; we want to have content coming out at a consistent rate.
D: Do you have a route planned?
A: We’re going to go down south through California, the same route we took on our trip last year. We’re going to go all the way to the bottom, there’s this place called Slab City, you know where that is?
D: Yeah! That’s kinda like a… commune or something? Lawless?
A: Yeah, it’s a squatter’s community. We met some cool people there last time we went, we want to go back. They have concerts every Saturday night. There’s this place called the Range, it’s a bunch of buses put together with a stage. We met some people there, you know, we hung out with them for a few hours, but when we were leaving it felt like we were leaving our family a little bit. It was amazing. We want to go back and connect with them, and that’s going to be interesting to shoot. There are so many crazy people down there. Insane. Meth-heads, their pastor came while we were there to say a prayer over Mariah, the woman’s foot… fun fact, Mariah is, if you’ve seen the movie “Into the Wild”, the girl that Kristen Stewart plays is based on her. But anyway, he was this guy, he was really skinny, he had his shirt off, he looked like a miner. He had this huge beard and this hat, and he was the pastor! I’ve never seen a pastor like that. Everything down there is pretty crazy.
D: Then down through Arizona?
A: Through Arizona, through Texas, there are a couple places in Texas like Austin and Houston; Lightnin’ Hopkins is from Houston and I want to try to delve into that, see if there’s anything about him down there because he’s one of my favorite performers. And then make our way into the South, kind of zig zag through the Midwest, go up the East Coast, then head back through the North. I’m from Illinois originally, I have some family, southern Illinois and Chicago, so I hope to visit them. A guy that’s going to be one of our camera men, he’s from Indiana, so he’s got connection out there. We’re going to try to hit as many states as possible. And we have a year, that’s what we’re planning on doing it in.
D: This is super cool. I’m guilty of this, people talk about big plans, and like “I’m writing a novel!” or something like that, and you never do it. And to see a couple of dudes who said, “let’s do a thing,” and then are going to do the thing, it’s reassuring.
A: My whole life people have been telling me “follow your dreams,” right? And then whenever it’s time to do that, people say, “well, is that really realistic? Is that really going to work, you’re kind of going out on a limb here.” But my whole life people have been saying follow your dreams. So let’s do it! We would regret it if we didn’t, so we’re going to do it. That’s what it’s about, you know. Not having any regrets, looking back when I’m thirty and saying, “wow, I wish I had made that documentary, I wish that I had done that. That would have been a really great life experience but I can’t really do that anymore.” I have a kid or something, you know. I don’t have any kids! I’m 21 years old, I don’t have anything really tying me down. So we’re going to do some cool stuff. Try to travel as much as I can, see as much of the world as I can before I settle down.

Students gather together for bonfire

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By: Megan Clark 
Campus Life Editor

The annual Bonfire Kickoff to Homecoming Week occurred on the lawn outside the math and nursing building the evening of Oct. 12, 2015.

The bonfire was accompanied by the school pep band, a KWOU DJ, and Western’s cheerleading squad.

The Western “W” shaped effigy fire blazed for a good hour and a half before burning the separate pile of stacked wood to cinders. During the fire, students could watch a pie eating contest and snacks were offered to students at no cost.

Marilisa Peña, a senior forensic science major said, “I didn’t come the last few years, so I thought I’d come out. I think it’s pretty awesome, I don’t normally go to bonfires as large as this.”

The bonfire was a successful way to start off the week, pulling in a large crowd of observers brimming with school spirit.

“I’ll be honest, I’ve always been disappointed in our school spirit, but there’s quite bit [tonight] … I’m hoping we can amp it up,” said Shannon Haas, a senior computer science major.

Barbara Dearing, executive director of intercollegiate athletics, and Arne Ferguson, head football coach, were also in attendance.

Dearing urged students to keep the spirit going for the upcoming football home game against Central Washington, Saturday, Oct. 17 after their huge victory last week over the previously no. 6 team in the nation.

“We need you to come out and root us on,” said Dearing.

Campus is blushing

PANKPANKPANK

By: Brianna Bonham 
Staff Writer

Pink is the official color to promote breast cancer awareness. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, Western decided to name Wednesday, Oct. 14 Pink Out day, on which students are told to wear pink.

According to cancer.org, 231,840 women are expected to develop new cases of breast cancer in 2015, and 40,290 of those cases are expected to result in death.

Many students are affected by breast cancer in some way, and Pink Out day is a day to raise awareness and ask questions about something so insidious and impactful.

“Breast cancer awareness is very important to me because I had a mentor that became ill with breast cancer. It was scary to watch someone I look up to go through that,” said Daniela Diaz Rodriguez, a first year elementary education major at Western.

When asking Brayde Rothe, a first year majoring in public policy, what hope meant for him as his mother went through treatment, he replied “It means survival. I’m glad we have a day for it because I was told by the doctor to give up hope. Never give up hope.”

When asked what advice he would give to someone dealing with breast cancer, either personally or by affiliation, Rothe replied, “Always think the glass is half­full, there’s always the next day and the day after that … As long as you stay hopeful, everything is going to be okay.”

Dead by dawn

By: Darien Campo 
Freelancer

Continuing my October horror movie marathon, this week brought me … “Coraline” (2009), “House on Haunted Hill” (1999), “Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984), and “The Babadook” (2014).

I also had a chance to re-watch my favorite trilogy of movies — and just in time, because with a brand new television show premiering this month, Sam Raimi’s “Evil Dead” series is about to come back in style.

I watched “Evil Dead” at a young age, and I’ve been hooked ever since. The original “Evil Dead” (1981) is a testament to perseverance, brimming with the potential of fledgling director Sam Raimi and actor Bruce Campbell.

Reading Campbell’s autobiography “If Chins Could Kill” gives a great insight into the impossible odds these college students faced trying to make their first feature-length film. It may stumble in its delivery, but “Evil Dead” is an accomplishment in gore cinema.

“Evil Dead II” (1987) is by far my favorite of the series. The sloppy mess of violence that made the original Evil Dead great is now mixed with Bruce Campbell’s unique style of Three Stooges-esque slapstick overacting.

This sequel/reimagining takes a more comedic turn on the genre, giving us a hilariously twisted romp that has you gasping in shock between peals of laughter. “Evil Dead II” knows you’re not taking it seriously, so it doesn’t bother either.

The final film in the trilogy is the funny and endlessly quotable “Army of Darkness” (1992). While “Evil Dead II” strikes a perfect balance between scares and shticks, the third movie has made it all the way to other side of the spectrum, where it is now a straight comedy with horror elements.

The second film may have had its over-the-top moments, but “Army of Darkness” is an over-the-top film. The entire setting of the series is flipped on its head and our hero, Ash, becomes a cheesy one-line spewing powerhouse of hilarity.

But true to its themes the “Evil Dead” series lives on.
2013 brought us a fantastic remake that had all the heart of the original and all the special effects of today. A hilariously messy musical has also found its way to the stage, which you can see at the 2nd Street Theatre in Bend, Ore. every year.

Finally, you can catch the fast-approaching “Ash vs. the Evil Dead” series on STARZ, premiering Oct. 31, 2015. It is a terrific time to be a fan of “Evil Dead.”

Speaker on campus: Tim Wise

By: Emily Pate 
Staff Writer

Anti-racism activist Tim Wise came to Western Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015 to speak to students in the WUC Pacific Room about racism and inequality in modern day America.

His website, www.timwise.org, describes Wise as “among the nation’s most prominent antiracist essayists and educators.” Wise has written six books, covering topics including poverty and racism.

Wise’s website states that he has spoken at over 1,000 high school and college campuses. This week, it was Western’s turn.

As Wise explained during his talk, this was his second visit to Western.

The first visit, where he spoke before a small class of only eleven students, took place in Oct. 1995, almost twenty years to the day before his 2015 return.

In the two decades since his last trip to campus, much has changed with regards to racism, but much has also stayed the same.

Wise brought to attention the fact that, though the United States now has an African American as president, we are not living in a “post-racial America.”

Barack Obama’s presidency and the current debate over immigration have only intensified the nation’s attention towards issues of race.

Melissa Evangelista Vargas, a first year student studying pre-nursing, though attending the event primarily because her diversity class required it, said, “I also wanted just to hear the speaker and his opinion on racism.” She also stated that racism is “still a huge problem today.”

While Wise focused his talk on racism, he also discussed its intersectionality with poverty, sexism, ableism, and the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community.

When asked if the issues Wise discussed are important today, Shelby Brooks, a first year majoring in elementary education, said, “Yes, extremely. Growing up low-income as a child … a lot of issues he talked about hit home. I’m also a feminist so a lot of things he talked about apply to my life.”

Truth was also one of the overarching themes in Wise’s talk.

He stated that one of the ways to begin fighting racism is to interrogate our position in the world and share stories with honesty and belief in the experiences of others.

After his talk, Wise accepted questions from the audience.

The final question Wise asked was, “What information do you trust? How do you find the truth?” He answered that the key is to be critical of all information, even his, and especially the information that you are inclined to believe.

The fight against inequality, Wise said, needs people who are willing to seek out the truth for themselves, and then have the courage to speak up.

Campus Blotter

The following information is from the public records of Campus Public Safety.

ALCOHOL VIOLATIONS

At 1:51 a.m. Oct. 10, in the Sequoia Commons, Public Safety was contacted about an intoxicated individual. Officers were clear at 2:28 p.m.

At 2:29 a.m. Oct. 11, in Ackerman Hall, Public Safety was contacted about an alcohol violation. Officers were clear at 2:57 a.m.

MENTAL HEALTH

At 11:52 p.m. Oct. 10, in Heritage Hall, Public Safety was contacted by Salem PD in reference to an individual’s welfare.

At 9:04 p.m. Oct. 11, in Landers Hall, Public Safety was contacted by a concerned roommate.

At 12:35 a.m. Oct. 12, in Ackerman Hall, Public Safety responded to a suicidal individual.

At 11:28 p.m. Oct. 13, in Ackerman Hall, Public Safety was contacted regarding a mental health concern.

At 10:22 a.m. Oct. 14, in the Sequoia Commons, Public Safety responded to a mental health issue.

WEAPONS VIOLATION

At 12:05 p.m. Oct. 11, in Ackerman Hall, Public Safety was contacted about a possible weapons violation.

What are you really funding?

By: From the desk of the Journal Editorial Team

October has been branded National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in America.

All month long, we are provided with endless opportunities to support those in our country affected by breast cancer, and even more opportunities to buy pink merchandise that purports to support further research into the disease.

The force behind the Pink-Out cause is noble, and it is building. The ravages of a disease that will affect one out of every eight women in America (according to the breast cancer society) can be debilitating for friends and family as well as the actual patient.

Creating a network of survivors and supporters who drive a fundraising machine aimed at eliminating a possibly lethal disease sounds like a great plan, but the leaders in the charity research movement are frequently less scrupulous than their cause.

The most prominent example of research money going astray in recent memory is the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure.

It has been reported by Reuters that in 2011, a mere 15 percent of the money donated to the foundation actually went to fund research, with 43 percent going to education, 18 percent going towards fund-raising and administrative costs, and 17 percent to help with screening and treatment of the disease.

Even if this report isn’t 100 percent accurate – not-for-profits are subject to more relaxed financial reporting standards than for-profits – it still points to a larger, disturbing trend of misdirection used by large-scale charity organizations.

In fact, some of the most trusted charitable organizations like the American Red Cross have been embroiled in funding mismanagement scandals recently.

National Public Radio exposed the American Red Cross’s financial misdoings in a 2015 article. According to the article, after raising around half a billion dollars to build homes in Haiti following the devastating earthquake of 2011, they reported that they had built 130,000 homes, but in actuality, the total number of homes built by the Red Cross in Haiti totals just six.

Where did the rest of that money go? The debate falls somewhere between wildly out of control administrative spending, and simply an increasing cost of purchasing materials and labor to build.

Whatever the reason, it doesn’t even begin to make up for almost half a billion dollars in missing funds.

However, a few bad apples doesn’t mean that there is a shortage of reliable ways to donate to charity knowing that your contribution isn’t simply going to pay for administrator’s expenses or producing more charity gear for you to buy.

Our intention is not to dissuade you from making a donation, but we hope that our suggestions below will help you make the most impact you can.

Donate your time, not your money.

One of the simplest ways you can make a safe donation is donating your time and your abilities to charity. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity and The Special Olympics are always in need of able-bodied individuals to help in construction of houses, and set-up/breakdown of sporting events.

Donating your time is especially valuable because you get to experience your effect first hand. You know exactly what you did, and you can work confidently that your contribution made a difference. Conversely, you can simply leave if you become uncomfortable with how a charity is using its resources.

Donate physical goods when you can.

Places like the American Red Cross frequently ask for money because it is easier for donors to simply send a text or make a quick phone call to complete their donation. However, disaster relief organizations, halfway houses, and family shelters are always happy to accept physical items like canned or non-perishable food, blankets, and sealed personal hygiene items.

Playing devil’s advocate, it is difficult for physical items to be misused in the same way that money is. While money can be funneled around under the guise of “administrative expenses” or “education,” physical goods are of little value to the organization but they hold high value to the individuals on the receiving end of your charity.

Look at the publicly posted financials for charities.

All charities and not-for-profits are required to post their financial statements like any for-profit company. While these statements can be confusing at times, it is important to consider the proportion of donations that actually go to the mission of the organization.

Financial statements can be doctored to show a higher proportion of cash donations going to the cause like with Komen, but most local charities do not have the time or the resources to create the same detailed level of smoke and mirrors. This brings us to our final suggestion.

Donate to local charities rather than large-scale organizations.

Once you decide to donate, look for a charity in your area that deals with the issue you wish to address. For example, if you want to help with food insecurity, consider donating to the Marion-Polk County Food Share rather than the national Meals-on-Wheels program.

While Meals-on-Wheels is a reputable charity, their large-scale focus can create difficulty in reaching local communities. This is where Marion-Polk County Food Share steps in, and they are better able to address the specific needs of a Salem and the surrounding area.

Good riddance Christopher Columbus

By: Jenna Beresheim 
News Editor

For over 80 federally recognized years, Native Americans have watched our country celebrate a day commending Columbus, a historical figure who induced indigenous peoples’ genocide and European colonization. But it is not only the United States – other countries observe the day, such as Italy and Spain.

Now, though, there may be hope for our native peoples.
Recently, the Portland City Council officially joined the slow-moving bandwagon by declaring a shift from Columbus Day, typically recognized on the second Monday of October, to Indigenous People’s Day.

Portland joins at least seven other cities around the country that are making the change. The movement began with the International Indian Council in Berkeley, California as a protest against Columbus Day in 1992.

This shift directly ties into the fact that the Portland area reportedly has the 9th-largest indigenous population in the US.

Amongst that population are nine different federally recognized tribes, such as the Burns Paiute Tribe, Coquille Indian Tribe, and Klamath Tribes. There are at least 11 more Oregon tribes and clans that are not federally recognized.
Growing up, my elementary teachers taught our class the familiar mnemonic “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” While this was helpful to remember the date of Columbus’ so-called “discovery” of America, we were fed the sugar-coated version of what this truly meant.

We need to understand the real version, not only for our history, but for the history of those who had already inhabited the land before immigration to the area.
A key point to note is that historians are actually unclear as to who first discovered America.

History occasionally becomes blurry in the sense that there is little documentation of certain events, or those said documents come up against questions of validity.
An example would be John Smith – an English explorer who wrote of his tales in America. While some bits and pieces of his writings are fairly accurate, such as what Native Americans wore, other chapters became more about primping Smith’s ego than portraying an accurate account of his explorations.

Competing theories of who exactly discovered America are as follows: Irish Monks in the 6th Century, Vikings in the 10th Century, and The Chinese in the 15th Century. However, that last one is admittedly lacking in credible evidence.
Regardless, Columbus came, saw, and conquered.

By taking on the Western Hemisphere, good old Christopher brought the disease party train with him, complete with smallpox, measles, and influenza – effectively destroying 90 percent of the native population. The cherry on top of the smallpox sundae was that Columbus even had a hand in the transatlantic slave trade.

Maybe that is why Oregon has never officially observed the “holiday.” Hawaii, Alaska, and South Dakota must have also caught the memo of Columbus’ nefarious deeds, as they also refused to have a day off in recognition of something clearly corrupt with the celebration.

Slowly, entire states are making the change by either renaming the day to Native American Day or Indigenous People’s Day, or not even observing the day at all. For Native Americans, this proves that our country is willing to cease a celebration of mass genocide and give a tip of the hat to our predecessors on this land.

Now if only it was that easy to remove novelty Native American costumes and headdresses from Halloween or the runway.

So whether you find yourself in the Leif Erikson boat, or one of the many other possibilities for the discovery of a land already populated, remember to celebrate responsibly: sans the mass destruction of an entire race.

Volleyball falls short in close contest with Concordia

By: Jamal Smith 
Freelancer

The Western Oregon volleyball team lost at home in four sets on Oct. 13, 2015 to Concordia University (CU). The set scores were 25-19, 25-22, 21-25 and 25-20, in favor of CU.
The Wolves fell behind in the first set 5-12 but clawed their way back, eventually bringing the score to 14-19. It would continue to go back and forth from there, but CU would eventually win the set 25-19.
CU won the second set after a tight battle, resulting in 25-21.
After the two-set break, the Wolves came out with great energy and determination, winning the third set 25-20.
The fourth and final set was even at 13-13, but CU would outscore the Wolves 12-7 to close out the match.
First year player Amanda Short (OH), led the Wolves with 13 kills, and she also tallied 1 ace and 2 blocks. Junior Paige Kelsey (S/OPP) had 9 kills, 1 ace and 6 blocks.
The loss brings the Wolves’ overall record to 4-14 and 1-8 in GNAC conference play.
The Wolves’ hit the road on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2015 to take on Montana State University, before heading home for a two game stand against Seattle Pacific University on Thursday Oct. 22, 2015 at 7 p.m. and then Saint Martin’s University on Saturday Oct. 24, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the New P.E. Building.
For more information about the game or to purchase tickets, please call 503-838-8917 or visit the New P.E. Building, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Soccer posts 3-1 loss to Seattle Pacific

By: Jamal Smith 
Staff Writer

The Western women’s soccer team lost 3-1 at home to Seattle Pacific University (SPU) on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015.
The loss brings the Wolves’ season record to 5-5-1, and 1-4-1 in GNAC conference play.

In another blow, senior forward and leading goal scorer Makana Pundyke suffered an injury in the 5th minute after the ball struck her in the head. Pundyke would not return for the rest of the match.

SPU scored their first goal in the 34th minute after a cross into the home goal box, finding its way past sophomore goalkeeper Lindsey Mabinuori. Mabinuori would have a spectacular save later in the half, denying the Falcons an opportunity to go into the half two up.

Western came out in the second half with more energy and increased possession.

The Wolves’ efforts paid off in the 53rd minute when junior forward Savannah Bogan equalized the score at 1-1 with a shot into the top right corner.

Bogan was assisted by freshman midfielder Dacia Alexander. “The goal was a good all-around team effort. It was good work by Dacia to get the second ball, and we are all confident in each other to take good shots,” stated Bogan after the match.

Seattle Pacific would go on to grab another goal in the 63rd minute, and then again right at the death in the 86th minute. “It’s always a battle with them [Seattle Pacific] and we have to compete because they are a quality team,” stated Wolves head coach Steve Ancheta. “But our girls worked hard today.”

Western’s next two games are on the road where they take on Saint Martin’s University on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 and then Concordia University on Saturday, October 17, 2015.

Tough stuff at Powder Tuff

TUFFPUFFSTUFFPUFF

By: Rachael Jackson 
Freelancer

The third day of Homecoming Week, Wednesday Oct. 14, 2015 hit a peak with the boys’ Powder Tuff volleyball game.

Sharing the day with Pink Out, most players and spectators wore pink garments, such as shirts, socks, and bandanas, in order to raise breast cancer awareness.

The game began with a huddle around the Assistant Director of Intramural and Club Sports, Ben Prahl. Normally the game is broken up between teams of those who live on- or off-campus, but low attendance meant teams were mixed this year.

The audience sat attentive as the first plays were set in motion, the first points garnering excited whoops and cheers.

Watching from the sidelines and nearly hit by a wayward ball, Shay Guyton, a senior and Community Health major, surveyed the game with a watchful eye.

“It’s really great that there is so much spirit displayed,” Guyton said, “I’m loving that people are wearing pink, the students, the players, even Wolfie.”

Though they did not practice beforehand, most players seemed to come prepared with a working knowledge of the game.

One player, Reece Blatch, a junior American Sign Language Interpreting and American Sign Language Studies double major, mentioned he plays volleyball at both Seaside and Corvallis. A source from the crowd pointed out several of the players that take part in intramural and open gym volleyball. Their skill showed as both sides held their own during the game.

The boys played a series of rounds, the game ending with the home team taking the win with a final score of 25-20.

Don’t miss the Powderpuff game, taking place Friday Oct. 16, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. The game will take place on the turf field. Show up early for a tailgate at 5:30 p.m. and stick around after the game for a fireworks show.

Upset

By: Jamal Smith 
Staff Writer

The Wolves football team edged out undefeated University of Northern Alabama (UNA), winning at home 24-22 Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at McArthur Field.

The Wolves were considered massive underdogs against UNA, who came into the game as the no. 6 ranked team in the country in Division II football.

Throughout the game, the Wolves defense was spectacular. On Northern Alabama’s first drive, junior Danny Hankins (DB) intercepted UNA’s Luke Wingo (QB).

After the Lions forced a punt on Western’s next possession, the Wolves created another turnover when senior Jonathan Breland (LB) got to Wingo and forced a fumble. The Wolves capitalized and went ahead 3-0 on a 39 yard Jesse Correa (K) field goal.

Northern Alabama’s next drive was cut short after yet another turnover; this time an interception by Breland who would have a total of two interceptions for the game and one forced fumble.

Junior David Sowards (QB) would lead the Wolves downfield on the next possession, but UNA stopped the offense in the red zone, setting up an apparent 4th down field goal.

Western had other plans and faked the field goal. Sophomore Paul Revis (WR) threw a touchdown pass to sophomore Devin Williams (DL). WOU would go up on Northern Alabama 10-0 going into the second quarter.
The Wolves’ defense continued their outstanding form in the second quarter, forcing UNA to punt twice, and adding another forced fumble, this time by junior Jeremy Moore (DL).

The only blemish in the first half for WOU’s defense came late in the second quarter when Wingo would connect with one of his wide receivers for a 60-yard touchdown. The Wolves led the Lions 10-7 at the half.

Just a few minutes into the third quarter, Wolves quarterback Sowards limped off the field after being hit on a pass attempt. He was replaced with third-string sophomore Phillip Fenumiai (QB).

“You just have to wait for your time to get in there and just go to work, and everything that you prepare for in the offseason just makes its way into the game,” said Fenumiai after the game.

The Lions would score the only points of the third quarter on a field goal, and then score another field goal early in the fourth quarter, taking the lead 16-10.

Fenumiai led the Wolves to two unanswered fourth quarter touchdown drives; the first ended when Fenumiai scrambled for a 13-yard touchdown, and the second on a Fenumiai 8-yard pass to junior Andy Avgi (TE) which increased the Wolves lead to 24-16.

The Lions would show why they were ranked the number six team in the country on their next drive, answering the Wolves touchdowns with an 11 play, 68-yard touchdown drive of their own.
However, with the score 24-22, WOU’s defense stopped the Lions from converting on the 2 point conversion. With 1:24 remaining in the game, the Lion’s kicked an onside kick, which Northern Alabama recovered near midfield.

Lions quarterback Wingo marched Northern Alabama downfield with a five play, 42-yard drive that put the Lions in field goal position on Western Oregon’s 23 yard line with just seconds remaining in the game.
On 2nd down and 10, Wingo dropped back to pass, but Wolves’ linebacker Breland jumped the rout and got his second interception of the game, sealing the victory for the Wolves.

“To put the game away against the number six team in Division 2 football, it is a great feeling for me personally but I just love my team,” stated an exuberant Breland after the game. “My defense, my offense, I love playing with these guys and I was just glad to make a play for them.”

“I’m really proud of our defense stepping up in a big way and getting the ball to our offense,” said Wolves’ head coach Arne Ferguson. “We capitalized in the fourth quarter when we needed to.”

The win against UNA brings the Wolves’ record to 3-3 overall, and 1-1 in GNAC conference play.

“Western Oregon, we’re here to play,” stated Breland. “We had it a little bit rough in the beginning of the season, but we feel like right now were we are at, we will just keep climbing from here.”
The Wolfpack’s next game is against Central Washington University on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 1:05 p.m. on McArthur Field.

For more information or ticket sales, please contact the ticket office at 503-838–8917, or stop by the New P.E. Building, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Democratic debate discusses the issues, not the candidates

By: Conner Williams 
Editor-in-Chief

The first Democratic debate of the 2016 Presidential Election aired on CNN Tuesday night as the five candidates took the stage to hash it out over some of our nation’s biggest challenges.

The debate was moderated by Anderson Cooper and saw a record-high 15.3 million viewers, shattering the 2008 record when Barack Obama debated Hillary Clinton towards the end of the primaries.

And that’s what made the debate such a joy to watch: it was actually about the issues, rather than about exchanging personal attacks and calling people losers.

“On this stage … You didn’t hear anyone make racist comments about new American immigrants … You didn’t hear anyone speak ill of another American because of their religious beliefs … What you heard on this stage tonight was an honest search for the answers that’ll move our country forward,” said Martin O’Malley (D), former Governor of Maryland.

O’Malley then went on to commend millennials by saying “talk to our young people under the age of 30, because you’ll never see among them people that want to bash immigrants, or people that want to deny rights to gay couples. That tells me that we are moving to a more connected, generous and accomplished place.”

Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also addressed millennials, saying, “If we want free tuition at public colleges and universities, millions of young people are going to have to demand it.”

And we have the power to demand it. We make up the largest denomination of people in the United States, and we need to make our voices heard.

Every American needs to be concerned about the state of our crumbling infrastructure, our disgustingly broken for-profit student loan system, the notion that we have more people currently incarcerated than any other country on earth, and the fact that tens of millions of Americans currently do not have healthcare coverage.

Unlike the Republican debates, which centered on socially divisive and economically insignificant issues like abortion, illegal immigration and gay rights, the Democratic debate actually addressed some of the economic issues facing the American public, including income inequality, affordable college tuition, closing tax loopholes for the ultra-rich, and providing affordable healthcare.

I’m not downplaying the validity of discussions that center around social issues, but let’s be real, should we really be asking candidates if they would or wouldn’t attend a marriage between two gay people if they were invited, as was the case in the Republican debate? Are those kinds of questions really going to help us tackle some of the great issues facing us right now?

Probably not, but they tug at the emotions of the Republican audience and sound like they’re important issues. After all, campaign finance reform isn’t as flashy or divisive of a topic as, say, abortion or immigration, which Republicans use to hold negotiations hostage and that tend to become polarized discussions, meaning that they divide people rather than bring them together over serious issues that need addressing.

There are serious issues that need discussing, not the state of Donald Trump’s hair or Hillary Clinton’s “damn emails,” as Sanders so bluntly put it on Tuesday night.

In addition to defending his fellow candidate and treating her like an actual human being instead of attacking her character, Sanders also decided to explain his stance on our economic system of capitalism.

“Do I consider myself part of the casino-capitalism process by which so few have so much and so many have so little, by which Wall Street’s greed and recklessness wrecked this economy? No, I don’t,” Sanders said.

In the wake of the horrible tragedy that occurred at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore., Clinton decided to take a risk and call out one of the largest lobbying powers in Washington.

“It’s time the entire country stood up against the [National Rifle Association],” Clinton said.

Clinton also called out the Republican Party’s sense of hypocrisy when it comes to denouncing the scope of the federal government.

“It’s always the Republicans or their sympathizers who say ‘you can’t have paid leave, you can’t provide healthcare,’ they don’t mind having big government interfere with a woman’s right to choose and to try to take down Planned Parenthood, they’re fine with big government when it comes to that, I’m sick of it,” Clinton said.

When it comes down to it, our greatest social and economic challenges will not be solved by closing the border and deporting hard-working people. In fact, we would be amiss to say that we are not dependent on the cheap labor that is supplied by a largely Latino-based workforce, like agriculture and service-based jobs that are essential to growing and supplying crops that feed the populace.

We will not fix the spiraling-out-of-control issue of income inequality by debating the Constitutional validity of the federal legalization of gay marriage, or the potential federal legalization of recreational marijuana use.

We will not change the broken higher education system that sends thousands of young people into crippling debt every year by threatening to shut down the government if a women’s healthcare organization is not defunded.

We’ve got to focus on the real issues at hand, not the click-bait surface material that the outlandish Republican Party so loves to provide the media.

Each one of us needs to properly educate ourselves about the issues facing all of us, and we need to make sure that we choose to elect a candidate that represents our interests, and not the issues of a few super-rich individuals.

ASWho?

By: Brianna Bonham 
Staff Writer

According to their page on OrgSync, ASWOU promises to encompass all students of Western Oregon University and to advocate for their rights to the administration, the state of Oregon, and to the nation.

I am a first year student here at Western and I, like many others, am starting to finally settle in here on campus.

I have been writing and taking photos for The Journal since I’ve been here, and I was to write an article this week describing specifically what ASWOU does for the community of Western, and the changes they are making this year to better serve our campus community.

I went down to the office on Monday morning to interview a member of ASWOU and walked back to my dorm empty-handed. There was no one available to talk to, and the president’s hours conflicted with my class schedule.

Tuesday was the same story. At this point I was nervous because the deadline for my article was fast approaching, and I had yet to write a single word.

Wednesday afternoon I finally found two members of ASWOU and felt a wave of relief. I talked to them and was then told to talk to the president, Corbin Garner, who was in a meeting at the time, or to talk to the vice president. Coincidentally, the vice president of ASWOU does not exist at the moment as they were previously unable to fill the position in the last elections.

ASWOU, like The Journal, is funded by the Incidental Fees Committee and receives a portion of the fees collected from students every term. However, someone from The Journal is always available upon entrance to Terry House, or can be reached easily with a quick phone call. I personally believe that if a student organization like ASWOU benefits from student fees, even if that amount is small, at least one person should be willing and able to serve the students of Western.

All I know about ASWOU is that they promise to be a representative voice of the students of Western, and they encourage students to let their voices be heard.

How are we supposed to be heard when ASWOU is not listening? The frustration of not being able to complete my job should not be an issue, especially when it involves people that promise to be leaders and communicators.

President visits Roseburg

By: Katrina Penaflor 
Managing Editor

President Barack Obama travelled to Roseburg Ore., Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 to visit Roseburg High School and met with families of victims from the recent shooting at Umpqua Community College (UCC).

Obama arrived along with U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (OR-D) and Ron Wyden (OR-D) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-D).

There was no planned public meeting; the exchanges took place in private and lasted approximately one hour total.

The president’s visit resulted in conflicting opinions among residences – some were in favor of the arrival, while others heavily protested.

A banner was hung at the airport where President Obama arrived, reading “Obama Go Home,” according to oregonlive.com.

The protestors were angered by the White House’s stance on stronger gun control, which was addressed during the statement made the day of the shooting.

“I think he should stay away,” said protester Gary Shamblin. “He made it very plain, 15 minutes after the shooting happened. I think he politicized it. The bodies weren’t even cold.”

Among the demonstrators there were also many in favor of the President’s arrival. They saw it as support for the victims and not as a stance on gun control.

“I want to support our president,” said Phil Benedetti, a Roseburg physician.

“This isn’t about gun control, it’s about caring about the welfare of the small town and every small town when tragedy happens,” said Benedetti in conversation with the Seattle Times.

One of the select residents who joined the meeting with the president was Roseburg High School Principal Jill Webber, who The Oregonian reported as saying, “It was about the families,” adding “That was what it was about.”

While leaving, President Obama told reporters “We’re going to have to come together as a country, but today is about the families.”

Classes resumed at UCC Monday, Oct. 12, 2015. There were counselors and volunteers available for students’ during their return.

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Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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