Mount Hood

Breaking down student sport options

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

With the beginning of the new school year, many students may be looking to join and compete in athletics. There are two major ways for students to get involved athletically with the school: either joining an Intramural or a Club Sport. While both offer several benefits to joining, it’s important to note the differences. To make the choice between the two easier, I’ve broken them down to see which sports may fit the needs of each student.

Intramural Sports

Intramural sports are played by Western students against Western students. Intramurals give students the opportunity to form their own teams comprised of other students to battle it out against friends and foes from all over campus. Fall, winter, and spring terms are packed with full seasons of sports as well as single weekend tournaments. The winners of each championship are awarded a champions shirt.

Intramural sports give students the opportunity to compete athletically, while simultaneously allowing them to meet other students from all around campus that they otherwise might not have known. Intramural sports are very low demand on the schedule as there are no practices and no coaches. There are two types of play, full seasons with a postseason and single weekend tournaments. The leagues offer three combinations of teams: coed, which is comprised of half men and half women, open, which is a varying amount of men and women, and teams comprised of only men or only women.

To sign up and start or join a team visit IMLeagues.com/wou

Club Sports

Club Sports are essentially varsity level sports without the school funding. This means that club sports host weekly practices, have full seasons of games and play against other schools. Many of the club sports also have coaches or a coaching staff. There are two levels of club sports: Tier 1 and Tier 2. Tier 2 sports don’t normally compete and are more centered toward meeting new people that share the same athletic passions. Tier 1 sports are much more serious. They compete in national leagues and battle with schools all around the country.

Club Sports are a great way to continue playing sports at a high and competitive level. There are some restrictions on club sports such as maintaining a certain GPA or credit amount. These restrictions vary from sport to sport. However, there is no experience needed to join. All club sports are open to all students regardless of their experience level.

To join a club sport team visit IMLeagues.com/wou

 

Contact the author at lllarsen13@wou.edu

 

A bright new beginning

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

On the morning of Sept. 16, a group of students with diverse backgrounds and experiences moved to Western and began a new, exciting chapter in their lives. Throughout this first week, the PLUS team had organized days that were packed with fun and informative events, aiming to familiarize students with Western’s campus and community.

A few of the most celebrated events of New Student Week included the Dating Doctor, drive-in movie, hypnotist, WUC Premiere Night, magician, Freshman Bar and NSW Variety Show, along with many others.

One event which especially highlighted the necessity of hope and determination to this first-year group, though, was the New Student Sunrise — a recently-conceived tradition in its second year at Western.

As students gathered at McArthur Stadium early on Sept. 21, yawning and wrapping themselves in blankets, ASWOU president Evelyn Guzman and President Rex Fuller prepared to share wisdom with them about the college experience.

“My journey started on this campus right after high school,” said Guzman. “I didn’t know much of what I was doing here. I remember getting all of the mandatory registration done and coming to this campus without either of my parents because one lived too far and the other had to work and couldn’t afford to take time off…I remember feeling uncertain and, honestly, scared of what was coming.”

Since this sentiment is relatable to a large percentage of first-year students experiencing a similar life-changing transition, Guzman shared what helped her adjust to her new environment.

In her first year at Western, becoming connected to a number of on-campus organizations, such as M.E. Ch. A., Abby’s House, the Multicultural Representatives and ASWOU made her feel at home.

Throughout her journey, Guzman has developed a number of goals; beyond striving to make her family proud, she said that another goal of hers, in earning a degree, was to accomplish something on behalf of all people of color.

“Against all odds, here we are,” Guzman stated, reminding students it is possible to persevere, even in the face of great difficulty.

While these first-year students are sure to have a number of their own unique goals moving forward, they are also likely to have fears that they must overcome in the process.

Even though Guzman has struggled with anxiousness at times when thinking of all the people still being harmed or repressed in the world, she imparted the thought that keeps her going.

“How I overcame (the worry) every time was looking around me and seeing everyone pushing forward, in different areas, to make this world a better place. It’s understanding that maybe one person can’t accomplish everything to be able to do that, but every person at this university is doing something.”

President Fuller also encouraged students to take care of each other through all the difficult situations that come their way.

“When you have a bad day, reach out to somebody,” Fuller said. There is an abundance of groups on campus available to a wide variety of people, and he affirmed that it is important for students to be bold and to get involved in order to feel connected.

After the speeches were given, the new students ate a pancake breakfast and lined up to paint their names on the sidewalk — leaving a mark on Western that is sure to last for years to come.

Contact the author at bthompson15@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of: Paul F. Davis, Bailey Thompson