2015 – Page 10 – The Western Howl

By: Megan Clark 
Campus Life Editor

Along with The Journal and KWOU, the Northwest Passage is an important branch of Western’s student media trifecta – the third musketeer in WOU’s band of student run, on-campus entertainment.

The Northwest Passage, according to Western’s website, has been “In publication in one form or another for 72 years.”

A vast amount of fantastic imagery and prose has passed through its pages, and its newest issue will follow suit.

The current editor of the Northwest Passage, Zoe Strickland, sophomore English literature major, stressed the importance of literary and art magazines saying, “It’s important to have student work published in an on campus literary magazine because doing so makes literature, art, and photography more accessible to students.”

Strickland continued, “It helps show people that being published (albeit in a small literary magazine) is an attainable goal.”

As the Passage’s ever supportive sibling, The Journal is running an excerpt from “A Ghost’s Home Videos,” a poem by sophomore English major, Cassie Farmer. Alongside it is printed the photograph of Mount Hood that will be used for the Northwest Passage’s cover, taken by Karlene Curtin, a first year who hopes to study education and ASL.

These are just two examples of what the Passage has to offer in its upcoming issue.

Strickland said, “We encourage students to submit their creations whether it be art, photography, poetry, drama, or fiction. By publishing student work, the Northwest Passage hopes to showcase the creative talents that WOU students have.”

The distribution date (when you can pick up your copy) for Northwest Passage is Nov. 20th, 2015. There will be release party held in Hamersly library at 6 p.m. on Nov. 23, 2015, that is open to the public.

During the release party, contributors will read their poetry, short stories, or display their art and photography. If you want to contribute to future publications, email northwestpassage@wou.edu.

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Self-Defense Against the Dark Arts

By: Joleen S. Braasch 
Freelancer

Every year, Campus Recreation and Campus Public Safety team up to offer free self-defense courses to the WOU community. On Wednesday night, Officers Trever Jackson and Scott Tennant worked with 10 women to prepare them against attackers.

“One of our biggest points in doing this class is building peoples’ confidence to let them know that they can fight back,” said Officer Trevor Jackson of CPS.

The course consisted of three parts: an informational PowerPoint on protecting oneself against physical assault, a training session on defense tactics, and a real-life, one to two minute scenario with feedback.

During the PowerPoint, participants were given statistics about physical assault and about how to stay safe. They also learned about some of the safety measures on campus, such as the safety paths (the white paw prints on campus), the University Escort Program and the emergency poles.

The safety paths see large amounts of foot traffic and are heavily patrolled by Campus Public Safety. With the Escort Program, students who feel unsafe can be accompanied by officers from one place on Western’s campus. There are also blue emergency poles located on the grounds that connect directly to the Public Safety office and allow you to speak with the staff, who, thanks to GPS, will know exactly where you are.

In the training session, students learned some defense tactics, such as the palm-heel strike, chokehold and bridging during ground fighting. With these new tactics, students then went on to participate in a real-life scenario.

Participants were both excited and nervous to go into the scenario. Payton W., a first year pre-ASL Interpreting major, was a little scared, but also optimistic, saying, “I don’t want to go into a dark room and be jumped on by somebody […] but it will prepare me for the real world.”

After the workshop, Western students and faculty felt much more prepared for potential dangers. Caity Arias, a senior English writing major, felt much more confident. Arias said, “I’m really happy I went; I learned so much […] I feel like it made me more confident knowing that even though I’m small I can still like do these things that will bring somebody down who weighs twice as much as me.”
Shawancee Woodall, a first year psychology major, enjoyed the course, saying, “It was fantastic. I definitely feel like there were things I didn’t know beforehand.”

Last year, Grants Financial Specialist at the WOU Research Institute, Jennie Smith, participated in the course and felt it really prepared her. She and her daughter both attended this year: “My daughter is actually the one in there [the scenario] right now. I took this last year and then I really wanted her to do it so I signed us both up.”

If you’re interested in participating in a self-defense workshop at Western, keep your eye out for future classes. There are usually three to four offered every academic year, including one co-ed class and one for faculty/staff.

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Musical jewels from Spain

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

Contralto Dr. Karen Esquivel and her husband, Dr. Gustavo Castro, came to campus to perform Spanish cante flamenco (flamenco singing) and operatic arias, on Tuesday Nov. 10, 2015.

Before performing, the duo gave a presentation of Spain’s history. They painted a picture of a complex history of dictatorships, wars, and the amalgamation of different cultures.

Dr. Castro explained during the presentation that, “Little by little, the popularity of Italian opera killed the chance of local operatic schools becoming the officially sponsored operatic art form by the Spanish court.”

They performed two cante flamencos to begin. “When you think of flamenco, you think of colors,” Dr. Esquivel addressed the singers in the audience. “You have to taste it.”

Throughout their performance, the English translation of the songs were displayed to help the audience understand the meaning of the music.

The first flamenco, “Poema en forma de canciones” by Joaquín Turina and Ramón de Campoamor, had arguably the happiest story of the evening – though it was still of heartbreak and longing, it was dealt with in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

The last movement of the piece, for example, is about the desire to have a short and crazy love rather than a traditional and content one.

While Dr. Esquivel performed, she used facial expressions and body movement to explain the feelings and content of the songs. During one song, she formed her fingers into claws that reached above her to display the anger of the narrator.

In another, she cried out and stood with a hunched back before ending with the lyrics, “Damn love and the one who made me understand it!”

The rest of the night was filled with arias.

They introduced the aria form with a piece from “Els Pirineus” by Felip Pedrell. It is a song is about a woman, Lisa, who has taken on the guise of a soldier so she could be close to the man she loves. Knowing she and the others will die the next day in battle, she sings to the other soldiers to calm their nerves and bring them peace.

The rest of the performance featured songs following the theme of heartbreak, usually with the woman dying at the end of the song. Also typical is the presence of a gypsy woman as the lover to an upper class man or even a royal court member.

Don’t miss the chance to support fellow students in their upcoming recitals this coming week. The first is Friday Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. with senior Kyle Harrington on the euphonium. Check out the schedule on the music department’s website for more performances.

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Humans of Western

By: Megan Clark 
Campus Life Editor

Adeshina Oladiti, Junior, Computer Science Major

“I played soccer in Nigeria. When I was at the age of 8, I started playing soccer in a group, like a club. We called it the Chicago Bulls […] I’m so passionate about it [soccer], after the club training I would take all the jersey home, wash them, dry them, and bring them back to the club, because I was the captain.”

What do you miss most about Nigeria?

“The food!”

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Portland Timber defeat Sporting Kansas City in 22 round shootout

By: Jamal Smith 
sports editor

In what is being heralded as one of the greatest Major League Soccer (MLS) playoff games of all time, the Portland Timbers, with a little bit of luck, came out victorious in the knockout round against Sporting Kansas City (SKC) on Thursday Oct. 26, 2015.

The sold out crowd at Providence Park got their money’s worth; the atmosphere was insane, there were ups and downs, phenomenal last minute goals, and one of the craziest double goal post penalty misses of all time.

It would take 90 minutes of regulation, two 15 minute overtime periods and 22 penalty kicks for the Timbers to become victorious and advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. The game was a draw at 2-2 with Portland winning the penalty shootout 7-6.

Portland came out firing on all cylinders in the opening minutes of the first half, but was unable to capitalize with a goal, and the first half ended with the score tied at 0-0.

Timber’s midfielder Rodney Wallace would find the back net in the 57th minute after a beautiful juggling flick pass from Timber’s midfielder Diego Valeri inside of SKC’s 18-yard box.

In the 87th minute, with just 3 minutes to play in regulation, SKC evened the score at 1-1 off a cross into the Timber’s 18-yard box which was headed in by SKC’s defender Kevin Ellis, causing the match to continue with two 15 minute overtime periods.

SKC ripped the heart out of the Timber’s faithful in the 97th minute when forward Krisztian Nemeth’s hit a ridiculous top-corner goal which Timber’s keeper Adam Kwarasey had no chance at saving.

In the second overtime period, with just two minutes remaining, Portland super-sub Maximiliano Urruti (F) tied the game at 2-2 after a Wallace cross found its way to Urruti and he calmly blasted it past SPC’s goalkeeper Jon Kempin.

Still, even after the overtime periods, the match would be decided with penalty kicks. The team with the most goals after five rounds would be crowned the victor, but even still, the match would continue into sudden-death.

After Portland failed to covert in the 8th round, SKC’s defender Saad Abdul-Salaam’s shot on goal unbelievably bounced off both goal posts and somehow didn’t go in.

“Our crowd, our fans, our supporters, the Timbers Army, I think they were the ones who kept that last ball out of the net,” said head coach Caleb Porter at the postgame press conference. “It was either them or God because the thing bounced twice, and I don’t know how it didn’t go in. But it didn’t.”

“Something kept that goal out. I don’t know what it was; maybe it was them from them yelling so much,” added Porter. “Something did, something kept it out. So I’m going to credit the Timbers Army.”

With every penalty make from the Timbers, the crowd went into a frenzy, but SKC would answer every time. With every miss, the crowd collectively held their breath, but SKC would fail to convert.

The eleventh round pitted Timber’s keeper Kwarasey against SKC keeper Kempin. Kwarasey would convert on his penalty kick, and then make the save against Kempin to the estatic delight of the Timber’s Army.

“It was like a movie,” said Kwarasey after the game. “I didn’t expect it to go to penalties. I didn’t expect to take a penalty. I’m still a little bit exhausted. It’s a wonderful feeling.”

With the incredible victory, the Timbers advanced to Western Conference Semifinals against no. 2 seed Vancouver Whitecaps, a two-leg series with the first game played in Portland and the second in Vancouver, B.C.

Note: On Sunday Nov. 1, 2015, the Timbers finished the match with a 0-0 draw against the Vancouver White Caps. The decisive next match will be played in Vancouver, B.C. on Sunday Nov. 8, 2015. With a victory, the Timbers would advance into the Western Conference Finals against the winner of Seattle vs. Dallas.

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Soccer finishes the season with double overtime thriller

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

The woman’s soccer team wrapped up their season with a 2-1 overtime victory on the road against Simon Fraser University (SFU) on Saturday Oct. 31.

The Wolves spoiled SFU’s post-season aspirations, which with a victory the Clan would have finished in fourth place in the conference ensuring a berth in the GNAC Woman’s Soccer Championship.

SFU came out determined in the first half, and put pressure on Western’s defense. The Wolves survived a barrage of 14 first half shots. Despite SFU’s offensive flurry, the match was scoreless going into half time.

In the 54th minute, WOU senior Brooke Steinberg (D) scored her first goal of the season with a free kick to the near post.

Western would only have the lead for 34 seconds, though, as the Clan would equalize the score at 1-1 after a loose ball found its way into the back of the net.

After 90 minutes and the score still even, the match would continue into overtime. The Wolves had a chance to win just two minutes into overtime when senior Vicky Cruz Rosales (M) took a shot that went just over the top of the crossbar.

Still scoreless after the first overtime period, the match would continue to a second. In the 107th minute, the Wolves were rewarded a penalty kick from just outside the 18-yard box. Junior Taylor Higa (F/M) stepped up to take the penalty kick and sent it past SFU’s goalkeeper. Higa’s game winning goal was her second of the season.

Rosales and junior Dani Payne (M) led the Wolves with three shots on goal. SFU outshot WOU 25-19.
With the victory, the Wolves concluded their season with an overall record of 8-8-1 and 4-7-1 in GNAC play and finished in 7th place in the conference.

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Running game and stingy defense key to victory over Azusa Pacific

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

WOU Football hosted Azusa Pacific University (APU) on Saturday, Oct. 31 at McArthur Field, and defeated the Cougars 17-14.

The victory marks the fifth consecutive win for the Wolves and improved their overall record to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in GNAC play.

Both teams were held scoreless in the first quarter.

APU failed to convert two field goals in the first 17 minutes of the game. The first field goal bounced off of the left upright, narrowly missing three points by a matter of centimeters, and the second careened to the far right after catching a gust of wind.

WOU established their running game in the late first quarter and redshirt-sophomore Phillip Fenumiai (QB) lead the Wolves downfield and into the Cougars’ red zone.

After failing to convert a touchdown, senior Jesse Correa (K) kicked a 21-yard field goal to give the Wolves a 3-0 lead, just minutes into the second quarter.

After stopping APU on their next two drives, the Wolves raced downfield with runs from Fenumiai and from first year Malik Braxton (RB), who was excellent at grinding for extra yards after contact.

Braxton, who was awarded last week’s GNAC offensive player of the week, finished the game with 105 yards rushing.

Fenumiai would cap off the 12 play 59-yard drive with a 1-yard rush on a quarterback sneak, increasing Westerns’ lead to 10-0.

“The offensive line gives us everything they have every play, and we needed to give back,” said Braxton after the game. “Between me, Ambrose and Joe, we just want to get in there and hit the hole that the O-Line gives us.”

After the Wolves’ defense forced a three-and-out on APU’s ensuing possession, the Wolves would start their drive with great field position near midfield.

In his second game back from injury, senior Trey Shimabukuro (QB) would step in for Fenumiai and show his abilities at throwing the ball. Shimabukuro connected with redshirt-sophomore Paul Revis (WR) for a 16-yard touchdown, which increased the Wolves’ lead to 17-0 going into half time.

“Our offense controlled the clock in the first half,” said head coach Arne Ferguson. “We had the ball for twenty minutes which allowed our defense to make some key three-and-outs and play very aggressive.
In the third quarter, the Cougars showed grit and determination, scoring two unanswered touchdowns to tighten the score to 14-17. But the Wolves’ defense refused to give up.

Senior Breeon Moreno (DB) made an incredible play in the fourth quarter, breaking up a third down pass attempt in the secondary. Moreno would finish the game with two pass breakups and nearly come down with an interception.

¬¬“As a senior, I had to come out and make big plays for our defense and for our team to help us win,” said Moreno after the game. “Last year they beat us because of one big play and we came into the game wanting to stop them from converting on the big play, and make some ourselves.”

After failing to score in the fourth quarter, the Wolves found themselves in a familiar situation: just minutes left in the game and the ball in the hands of APU with a chance to even the score with a field goal or go ahead with a touchdown.

APU would start their final drive at their own 18-yard line.

With a balanced attack of passing and rushing, the Cougars marched downfield and into WOU territory. The Wolves’ defense held the line and forced APU into a fourth down with 4-yards to keep their drive alive. On fourth down, APU handed the ball off to their running back and he was stopped 3-yards short of the first down marker by senior Jonathan Breland (LB).

The Wolves would take over on downs and finish the game in the victory formation.

“I’m very proud of our defense. It has been a few weeks in a row making those plays in the fourth quarter,” Ferguson added.

WOU’s final two games of the season are both home games played at McArthur Field.

First, Western hosts South Dakota School of Mines & Technology on Saturday Nov. 7 at 3:30 p.m. The last game features Humboldt State University, the first place team in the GNAC, on Saturday Nov. 14 at 1 p.m.

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
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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The Northwest Passage Fall 2015

Self-Defense Against the Dark Arts

Musical jewels from Spain

Humans of Western

Portland Timber defeat Sporting Kansas City in 22 round shootout

Soccer finishes the season with double overtime thriller

Running game and stingy defense key to victory over Azusa Pacific

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