April 2016 – Page 5 – The Western Howl

By: Jenna Beresheim

Question: How do you feel about gender neutral restrooms?

“I think they’re great – you can use them whenever you want without worrying about a line for a specific gender bathroom.” Jesus Hernandez, junior early
childhood special education major.
“I like them better because they’re more private.” Mark Drevdhl, first year education major. (*We have already had him in an issue, I believe, so let me know if this is still acceptable or not. Thanks!)
“Genderizing single bathrooms is stupid.” Asia Cohen, junior ASL studies major.
“I don’t even know.” Shelby Keesler, junior pre-interpreting major.
“I think all bathrooms should be gender neutral, everyone has to go to the bathroom – it doesn’t matter which parts you’re using to do so.” Jenesa Ross, senior biology major.
“Great idea. I think we need to be an all-inclusive campus.” Martha Kools, fifth year criminal justice major.

The Western Howl

Home »

Humans of Western

By: Rachael Jackson
Campus Life Editor

Brandt Van Soolen, senior philosophy major and veteran.

“… Whatever you may study, be it earth science, political science, at the base of all those things is philosophy. Philosophy is a way to understand the world.

… I really love [Martin] Heidegger, the German philosopher. He comes with baggage because he became a full-blown Nazi there at the end. His idea of what philosophy is is a good starting point. He says that philosophy is the study of beings, so I think it is a good place to start.

… A lot of the time when I say I study philosophy, people will start asking me questions on religion. They are thinking about moral philosophy – ethics – but before you can even start that discussion, you need to try and understand what a human being is so you can discuss these things.

… There are [existentialist] ideas that your life’s goals are achieved after you die, so really your life here doesn’t have a purpose until you die. But what if we are born with certain things that are basic knowledge to being human, like you understand certain things and that is how you perceive the world. It is when you recognize the person besides you as a human being that you start to understand yourself, start to ask questions about what it is to be human.

… [Dr. Hickerson] teaches classes that other people won’t teach, like phenomenology and continental philosophy [which is defined by its opposition to analytic philosophy]. But, more than that, he makes it accessible and really tries to help his students.”

… In the military, you get trained to focus less on yourself and more on protecting the group. What is good for the whole is most important. A person jumping on the grenade to protect five other people and sacrificing himself is seen as heroic … but really they are just reacting to their social training. They are trained that that is the right thing to do. The actual desire is just a result; the person has been trained to sacrifice themselves. One person suffering so everyone can be happy is not the world we should want to live in.”

The Western Howl

Home »

Dear Esmeralda

Dear Esmeralda,

One of my close friends may be “ghosting” me. She and I have known each other since middle school. We roomed together during our freshman year of college. I was the first person she came out to. I helped her move into her new apartment last summer.

Over winter and spring break we both went back to our hometown and I was excited that we could see each other. I had reached out to her on multiple occasions, but my texts usually go unanswered. When I do get a response, it’s typically, “Sorry! I’m just too swamped!” I know she made time to see another friend who ranks higher than I do in the “who to see” list. It still hurts.

Am I being too sensitive? Too self-centered? I’m worried that this is her way of breaking ties with me and I’m just not taking the hint. An outsider’s point of view would really help, even if it’s a harsh truth.

Sincerely,
Lost in Life

Dear Lost in Life,

Long lasting friends are always the hardest to lose. I get you there, friend. Deep breaths! Coming out to a friend is a big deal however, people do change (especially in college). Looking around at the people I know from high school (thankfully, I don’t know many of them now) and even the first year here at WOU! God! I came into college as a straight cis male! Look at the goddess that is me now!

Schedules are complicated and maybe the other friend’s schedule fit in better to hers? Maybe this is someone she’s interested in? Not sure how your friend identifies or the gender of their friend but that is a very good possibility that this person could be her boo-thang.

Personally I don’t think you are being too sensitive- no tea, no shade, no pink lemonade. I do think you’re going to have to realize that your friendship may be over with this person … I’m so very sorry for you dear. Sometimes even the closest friends grow apart. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, dear. I wish you the best!

All my best,
Esmeralda

The Western Howl

Home »

Club Spotlight

By: Rachael Jackson
Campus Life Editor

Lee Lindley, senior earth science major, is a reluctant leader of the Environmental Club. Started a little less than two years ago, the club hasn’t gained much traction in the way of student participation.

Lindley was ecstatic to have my group join him. Usually it’s just him.

With my group of miscreants, we made an even four. We drew posters, discussed solar panels, and joked about being Planeteers (from the ‘90s show, “Captain Planet and the Planeteers”).

Making posters isn’t exactly the purpose of the club; Lindley would prefer having a chance to get out and hike with the group, or go to places in Oregon that are in danger due to human encroachment.

“I have been a member since last Spring. It has always been pretty low attendance. Beth [Bello, political science major] was the leader previously, but work has made it so she can’t be as active. I don’t really have time for the group either, but it has to be done. We need to keep the group going so we can try and get funding for things like composting bins in every building.”

Lindley is hoping he can get more members soon through recruiting at campus events, but he needs help.

“A group has to stay active for two years to get funding, but with just me it doesn’t really feel like a club. We need to get more young people into the group. I really need people to help with tabling during new student week and spirit week.”

Interested in joining? Meetings are in HSS 230 at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Find them on Facebook at “WOU Environmental Club.”

Contact the author at rjackson13@wou.edu or on Twitter @rachaelyjackson.

The Western Howl

Home »

Cocktail Corner

By: Rachael Jackson
Campus Life Editor

Bloody Marys are a brunch tradition. Though perhaps not as flashy as their sweeter counterpart, the mimosa, they remain symbolic of this late morning meal. Also going for them is their ability to squash the most debilitating of hangovers. Fight fire with fire, I always say.

Olivia, my eldest sister, loves a good Bloody Mary and as such has a quick and easy recipe. Not exactly my go-to drink because of the savory quality, there remains something enthusiastically social about the Bloody Mary that begs to be shared with close friends in large quantities.

Here is the basic recipe she goes by: Clamato (or V8), Demitri’s mix, Worcestershire sauce, and vodka.

Olivia prefers Clamato over V8 because it’s not as thick and provides a better flavor. Add Demitri’s mix (find it at the liquor store) to the Clamato, add in a few extra splashes of Worcestershire. Demitri’s has Worcestershire in it already, but add a couple extra splashes because it’s good for you (probably).

Just pour it all into a pitcher, eyeballing the ingredients and tasting the mix as you do. Add ice to the pitcher, your glass, or both.

If you’re having a brunch with friends then I suggest you all split the cost on a bottle of Kettle One vodka for your bloodies. It isn’t the economical choice, but choosey day drinkers choose Kettle One. Trust me on this.

Most importantly, unless you are some kind of animal, you will need to garnish your drink.

Some suggestions for garnishes include: bacon/salt rim, celery, bacon, jerky, shrimp, olives, pepperoncinis, pickled asparagus, pickled beets … the possibilities are boundless. We popped in fake bacon for my vegetarian roommate, even. Set up a garnish bar and have your friends ride their very own trains into flavor station.

Send your Bloody Mary recipes and pictures to the author at rjackson13@wou.edu or via Twitter @rachaelyjackson.

The Western Howl

Home »

Celebrating Native Culture for 23 years

By: Amanda Clarke 
Staff Writer

Western Oregon University celebrated its 23rd annual “Multicultural Student Union Pow Wow” with the theme “We Live By The Beat of Our Drums.”

A pow wow is a Native American cultural celebration that is conducted through song, dance, and food as a means to bring community together. Represented at the event were those of the Siletz and Grand Ronde tribes.

The pow wow allows Western students and the community to learn about the Native American culture. By witnessing and partaking in activities, students and people within the community are given a chance to experience the culture in a different perspective that perhaps they haven’t had before.

Although the Multicultural Student Union has been holding the event for 23 years, there have been other club sponsored pow wows held in the past. In 1937, the Eastern Oregon Club, which was composed of students from east of the Cascade Mountains, held a powwow at Western as well.

The Multicultural Student Union Pow Wow is held in order to allow students to experience traditions of the Native American community, which includes different forms of dancing, such as traditional dancing, grass dancing, and other categories.

“In my opinion with serving the Multicultural Student Union, it is important for anyone in the local community and Western to be educated on the Native American culture,” said Samantha Valdez, a member of the MSU and one of the co-coordinators for the pow wow.

The event hosts dancers, vendors who sell traditional Native American supplies, and drums. Every year, the event is open to everyone and includes a competition for people of all ages.

Raffle tickets were given out and amongst the prizes were paintings, a Pendleton blanket, and jewelry.

Contact the author at aclarke14@wou.edu.

The Western Howl

Home »

My Slightly Diatribic Soapbox

By: Jenna Beresheim

Okay, everyone, today’s topic makes me roll up my sleeves and dust off the old soapbox for a good cause in need of advocating. This hot topic is especially close to my little gendernoncornforming heart, so buckle up, buttercups.

The issue at hand is in regards to people being so uncomfortable with their bodies (and those bodies around them) that god forbid they have to deal with a transgendered* human sharing the same restroom. What is the fear here stemmed from? In my lifetime, I have never seen another human’s bits while using the restroom, and if I have, it was my own fault. The only occurrence I could think of would be accidentally stepping into a stall that was not locked properly, in which we both made mutually shocked faces at one another and apologized in such a stream of syllables that I had no chance to actually see anything besides the whites of their eyes. Nor did I want to see anything, mind you.

Certain states are so uncomfortable with the thought of letting someone pee that they have began to ID individuals at the door. I mean, kudos for creating the completely useless job of a bathroom bouncer. But if you were going to employ someone to check your genitals, why not simply employ someone to keep it safe from the assumed (and completely nonexistent) threats of the Trans* community? Some have even gone so far as to encourage children in schools to rat out Trans* humans using the restroom that does not correlate with their assigned birth gender.

Hold up.

So, instead of letting someone use the restroom like a human being, we are now blocking and even denying, a basic human right. Trust me, transgender* individuals just want to use the bathroom – get in and get out. Just like everyone else. Especially as the gender that said individual identifies with. Imagine being forced into the opposite bathroom of what you identify with – it would be loads of uncomfortable for both parties. You’re a girl now crammed into the guy’s restroom, and vice versa. There would be heated looks, crude comments, and no doubt a shriek or two.

As a human who identifies as genderfluid, my gender fluctuates on the daily and often ranges anywhere from masculine to feminine, and wherever the hell I feel like in between. It’s a nightmare for my wardrobe, but it’s how I feel, and it took me years to develop enough understanding of myself to be okay with that. If I am dressed in masculine attire and identify more along that gender, I typically choose gender neutral restrooms. Even outside of the restroom it can be tough – I have had dressing room attendants inform me that I had picked out male pants (probably because their measurement system is much better, duh) and little old women explain to me how I would look much better in a dress and some makeup.

Thankfully Western is fairly accommodating and the people around me are understanding, but other areas are not so trusting or understanding. I may be a lesbian, but I use the bathroom like everyone else (not to dispel rumors that all LGBT*Q+ individual’s waste is rainbows and sprinkles). And, like everyone else, I use the bathroom just for that. To go to the bathroom, maybe check quaffed hair meticulously like a neurotic parrot, fix clothes, and strut out like I own the place. Sometimes I cut down the steps if I’m in a rush, but note that at no point was I a threat to, or even interacted with, anyone else.

This is exactly the problem. The focus is on a completely nonexistent issue. Sexual predators typically do not choose bathrooms of all places to attack someone, and it is a typical event for people who do not even identify in the specific gender-assigned bathroom to use it in emergency situations. How many times have you seen a girl give up waiting in the line of 20 plus people and just hop into the men’s instead? If we can choose to use whichever one we want to, why can’t the Trans* community have that same choice?

Everyone has to pee, so get over it. There is no statistical evidence regarding all of this “bathroom bill” hubbub. So, go about your business, and only yours, and flush your bias on the way out.

Contact the author at jberesheim11@wou.edu or on Twitter @woujournalnews to share your thoughts and feels

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.

Accessibility Public Records Privacy Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.

Campus Voices

Humans of Western

Dear Esmeralda

Club Spotlight

Cocktail Corner

Celebrating Native Culture for 23 years

My Slightly Diatribic Soapbox

Tools

Resources