October 2018 – Page 11 – The Western Howl

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Throughout his time at Western, Director of the Veterans Resource Center Andrew Holbert has diligently helped student veterans acclimate to the college environment and provided them with a home at the Veterans Resource Center. Under his guidance, the WOU Student Veterans of America won a national award and Western was able to legislatively assist in the betterment of veterans’ programs all across Oregon. He will be sorely missed by veterans and non-veterans alike after his departure on Oct. 5.

Q: How long have you been working at Western?

A: “I’ve been here since September of 2015. So, that’s almost three years.”

Q:What is your current position?

A: “I’m the Director of the Veterans Resource Center, so I oversee all of the programming… I’ve also been the advisor for the Veterans Club since I got here. When I first started I brought that back and I’ve been advising them. And last year… they were the National Club of the Year. Our vet center and vet program are the best in the state right now.”

Q: What’ve been your favorite things about working with the Veterans Resource Center?

A: “I get to work with my own population, my own culture… There are so many negative narratives out there for veterans: the homelessness and the drug abuse…those aren’t the realities… if non-veterans are hearing those narratives, then you better believe veterans are going to hear them as well…I’m challenging them to know that there’s a better narrative — that they don’t need to be a part of these other narratives. This isn’t what defines you. You can pave your own way.”

Q: What do you feel is the biggest thing you’ve learned while working in this position?

A: “I did a lot of legislative work… I ended up going and testifying on senate bills that involved veterans’ education. And, most recently, Senate Bill 143… That grant ended up saying ‘here’s money to make a vet center and hire (a full-time director)’, so for that to be the reality for the entire state now, that was really cool.”

Q: What are your future plans for after you leave Western?

A: “I’m going to be working for a senator’s office out in Las Vegas and I’ll be his veteran aide. I’ll go from working with 200 veterans to working with 32,000 veterans… It’s not necessarily where I want to go…but I wanted to stay in veterans’ advocacy. Getting hired (at Western) to do that full time…was the best job I’ve ever had. I used to say that about the Marine Corps, but no, this

is the best job.”

Q: What’s one thing you’re going to miss about the Western community?

A: “Everything. It is very, very difficult for me to leave… There were days that I’d just walk around the vet center and try to just be really slow and methodical and look at everything –take it all in—because the vet center has changed. It was just a stark room with a few pieces of furniture, and now it’s just incredible. It’s a community center. It’s changing how veterans are participating in college… we do LGBTQ veterans events, we’ve done women veterans events… I’m going to miss how our community is so tight here on campus that you can make a real-world impact.”

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

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New year, new Moodle

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

With the first week of classes under their belts, many students have likely have noticed that Moodle, the website where they access their classes online, has profited from a substantial update. Although many things remain unchanged, there are a number of differences that are useful to note.

“I think the most obvious thing for students to see will be the dashboard. So, when you are logging into Moodle right now, instead of seeing the old categories, you are seeing the time of when things are due and then the course tab,” said Academic Technologist Weiwei Zhang, who heads Moodle Support.

In the newest version of Moodle, students are able to see their current classes by default, but they will also be able to see past and future classes beginning in winter term. Additionally, the files for any classes predating Fall 2018 will now be kept in an archived version of the site, which is accessible via a link on the right-hand column of the update.

“The reason for this archive site is really not to make people’s lives more difficult. It’s because we self-host Moodle, and every two years the database is about to get full. We wanted to make sure Moodle doesn’t crash on anyone and the speed is still good, so our University Computing Services came up with a solution,” Zhang commented.

Even though it is challenging for Moodle Support to explain everything about the new update in advance, Zhang emphasized that students are welcome to reach out if they have any questions with the technical aspects of Moodle.

“We are building our website, so eventually we will have more tutorials for students,” Zhang shared. “We have great (graduate assistants), so they help answer a lot of emails…if students have any questions they can just call.”

The phone number for Moodle Support is 503-838-9300 and the email address is moodle@wou.edu. Students can also make appointments to meet with Moodle Support in ITC 204 if they have any further questions.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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Patching things up

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Fall has officially arrived, and it’s not hard to see why it’s many people’s favorite season. The trees on campus turn beautiful colors, the weather turns back into what most Oregonians are used to, and, of course, pumpkin themed everything appears.

This month, it also means Halloween movies on TV and people on social media showing off elaborately carved pumpkins.Whether you love the fall aesthetic or the anticipation of spooky Halloween activities, visiting a pumpkin patch is a fun way to embrace the season of scares and spice. For all the festive students out there, here are some nearby pumpkin patches to visit for all your jack-o-lantern needs.

Airlie Hills Farm

The closest pumpkin patch is Airlie Hills Farm, which is not far off of Highway 99 just south of entering Monmouth. Open on weekends, this location offers you the opportunity to pick your own pumpkin or select the perfect pre-picked one. While there, visitors can also enjoy some of the refreshments available or other activities such as hayrides and mazes.

Vince Woods Farm

Another option can be found in Salem. Vince Woods Farm, in addition to offering the classic pumpkin patch and corn maze, also contains the pumpkin forest featuring an old Southern Pacific “gently haunted” caboose. Hours of operation are 10 a.m to 6 p.m.

Davis Family Farm

Located on Highway 20 in Corvallis, Davis Family Farms not only offers the essential October produce but also has a nursery and sells other farm-fresh produce. Regulars also know them for their fresh, homemade donuts available for purchase. Of course, no pumpkin patch is complete without the hayride or corn maze, which you can find here as well. The farm is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sauvie Island

This farm, located in Portland, is a longer drive but makes for a fun day trip. Many of its activities, like the haunted corn maze and hayrides, are free. This location is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

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Editor’s note

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

Welcome back, Western. Let’s be real — that summer just dragged on. I, for one, am so glad to be back. It’s finally my favorite time of year. Mornings become crisp, the leaves transition from vibrant summer hues to the warm shades of autumn, and there’s a sense of optimism amongst everyone. It’s a new season, and change is in the air. How we choose to embrace that change will affect our perspective on this upcoming term.

New changes are being welcomed with a warm embrace by myself and the rest of the staff here at The Western Howl. If you haven’t noticed by now, or if that last sentence wasn’t a blaring clue, we’ve rebranded. We’re no longer called The Western Journal. This was a decision made for a list of reasons — amongst these, our previous title being associated with a different news source that we have zero relation to — but nonetheless, we are excited to share this moment in The Western Howl/The Western Journal/The Journal/Lamron, etc. history with the students of Western.

Ultimately, we are still the same paper we’ve always been since our inception in 1923. But 95 years and over eight name changes later, we were due for another change.

It’s a year of new and exciting changes for the paper, and likewise, a year a of new changes for myself. As the new Editor-in-Chief of this newssource, let me just make clear that I am nervous, thrilled, scared and overall, optimistic about the upcoming year. It’s a huge change for me to go from Lifestyle Editor to Editor-in-Chief, but I am ready to take on that challenge and give it every piece of me that I have. That being said, I’m not perfect. So, prepare to adjust into this new change with me as well.

I am choosing to embrace every adjustment that this paper is making. My staff and I are embracing the changes each and every one of us is making as we become comfortable in our new roles here at The Western Howl. Being comfortable with change is what makes life so exciting — I urge every one of you to go into this upcoming year with that same mindset. Who knows where it will take you.

Good luck with whatever is to come, Western. From your new Editor and the rest of the staff, we want to thank you for embracing this year of change with us.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

A legacy of support

New year, new Moodle

Patching things up

Editor’s note

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