Mount Hood

Salem Out of the Darkness Walk offers hope for suicide prevention

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Holding signs and wearing t-shirts with messages about lost loved ones, over 1500 people gathered together at the Oregon State Capitol on Oct. 13 to participate in the Salem Out of the Darkness Walk for suicide awareness and prevention.

After all the participants had checked in, the event’s organizers stood on the steps of the capitol and offered a message of hope and support to everyone in attendance.

“Did you know that the mission of (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) is a simple one? It’s only (10) words: save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. That’s it,” said Angela Perry, president of the Oregon Chapter board for AFSP. “Today is the perfect day to reflect, to remember those we have lost and to honor those who have struggled and are fighting to stay.”

According to AFSP’s 2018 statistics page, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for college-aged students in Oregon. Additionally, one person dies by suicide in Oregon every 11 hours. Because of statistics like these, Perry shared that AFSP is hosting nearly 400 community walks nationwide in order to raise funds for awareness of mental illness and suicide prevention.

“We’re all connected — connected by something none of us ever wanted a connection to,” Perry said. “Suicide is hard. It’s dark. But what we’re doing here today is bringing it out of the darkness: it’s okay to not be okay and you are not alone.”

Another speaker who shared her testimony before the crowd was 11-year-old Kelly Johnston, a middle school student who has become an advocate for suicide prevention, speaking at a number of AFSP events and even sharing her wisdom with graduate students at Lewis and Clark College.

“Two and a half years ago I lost my dad to suicide… every so often I would have dreams about how he had done it and what he may have been thinking. And often I’ve wondered where I would be if it wasn’t for counseling. Through counseling, I’ve been able to make speeches that I feel have made me mentally stronger,” said Johnston. “I love knowing that I might be helping someone out there — especially someone with depression. People who struggle with depression may feel that they will be judged if they ask for help or ask questions. Part of my mission is for people to know that it is okay to ask for help.”

After Johnston’s speech, the crowd was led through a traditional bead ceremony — a moment filled with emotion for many.

For each type of loss that a person had experienced, there was a different color of bead to wear. In turn, audience members raised red beads if they had lost a partner or spouse; gold beads if they had lost a parent; white beads if they had lost a child; orange beads if they had lost a sibling; silver beads if they had lost a military member or first responder; and purple beads if they had lost a friend or relative. Furthermore, there were also teal beads if their friend of relative struggles with or has attempted suicide, green beads if they themselves have struggled, and blue beads that showed their support for the cause.

To conclude, the crowd walked around the capitol building, taking time to remember their loved ones. At the end of the day, the event had raised $65,395.82.

For anyone currently struggling with the effects of suicide in some manner, there are resources that are available to help. Western students can call the Student Health and Counseling Center at (503) 838-8396 in order to set up a counseling appointment. Additionally, students can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline any time at 1 (800) 273-8255.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Western hosts speaker about injustice in Latin America

Flora Pugh | Freelancer

Witness for Peace is a “grassroots non-profit organization and our goal is to change unjust U.S. policies and corporate practices towards Latin America,” said Kris Hannigan-Luther, organizer of the group’s northwest region.

On Thursday, Oct. 11, a Latina speaker and Honduran journalist named Jennifer Ávila came and spoke at Western with Witness for Peace. Sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and hosted by the Communication Studies Department and Social Sciences Division, the speech was held at the Werner University Center in the Columbia Room.

Jennifer Ávila shared about the rampant injustice and violence in Honduras that threatens the safety of its citizens. Since 2009, a time when Honduras was considered one of the top ten most dangerous countries in the world, Honduras has become even more dangerous and full of violence.

Ávila also mentioned that the U.S. has helped illegal states remain in control, and since then, Honduras has become more militarized and unjust, with more fraudulent power being put in place. In its current state, Honduras has corruption, no healthcare and practically no education. Most Hondurans only are educated up to the eighth grade, and less than 13 percent of Hondurans end up attending a university. In addition, most of the universities in Honduras are only open to the elite, according to Ávila.

With that being the case, the majority of Hondurans prefer to work because they can’t afford to live and attend school. In fact, more money in Honduras is used to fund the elite, corporations and the military — which the U.S. helps fund — than to fund education and healthcare.

According to Ávila, 90 percent of drug trades pass through Honduras, which has resulted in many being afraid. And a number of people, such as women and children ages 12 to 18, are used as bait for things such as transporting drugs.

However, the LGBTQ community, and particularly trans women, are the most at risk in Honduras. Many trans women end up stuck working in sexual commerce because there is no identification law and very few job opportunities.

In the timeframe between 2009 and 2018, 292 people were murdered in Honduras. Ninety-two of those people were trans women. Ultimately, only 20 percent of the 292 murders were prosecuted.

On a more positive note, Ávila also spoke about how beautiful Honduras is and how we as U.S citizens can help the people in Latin America through voting, advocating and supporting Witness for Peace.  

As a Western student, one can raise awareness about the injustice in Honduras as well as vote in favor of local businesses and non-damaging corporation in Latin America. Students can also help by voting on issues surrounding the Honduran people’s basic needs: justice, better education, health, peace and a safer environment to live and raise their children.

When asked what she thought of Ávila’s speech, Anna Cortez, a first-year biology major, commented, “It was really good. I liked the facts and picture and that they showed the good and bad, because it is important to show both.”

For more information on Honduras, Western students can look into Ávila and her friend’s media journal Contra Caliente on the website contracorriente.red. They can also learn more about Witness for Peace on their Facebook page, Witness for Peace Northwest.

 

Contact the author at fpugh18@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Western develops and introduces a sustainability major

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

With the start of the 2018-19 school year, a new major has come to Western.

Sustainability is an issue that geography professor Dr. Mark Van Steeter has been passionate about for a number of years, and his dream of having it as a major at Western has finally become a reality.

“I knew it was something that would be great for students,” said Van Steeter. “For their ability to understand the interconnections in the world and get employment and have hope about the future instead of dread.”

He shared that he committed to developing the major after meeting with President Rex Fuller three years ago.

“I said ‘Okay. I’ll do it.’ And one of my qualities and weaknesses is when I say I’ll do something, I actually do it. So, I made that commitment to the students, to the president and to myself. And so, I just started working on it,” said Van Steeter.

With the final design, students are able to choose one of two concentration areas within the sustainability major: environment or business.

The reason for this, as Van Steeter explained, is that “it can’t just be the environmentalists complaining; it needs to be corporations and businesses that are working for sustainability.”

In the core of the major, students will take classes in “business, economics, geography, political science, communications, philosophy (and) biology,” said Van Steeter. “We’re trying to put those things together, so they mesh and give people the ability to see reality and therefore do something positive, effectively.”

When asked about the importance of prioritizing sustainability both on Western’s campus and in the United Stated, Van Steeter said “by definition, if something is not sustainable it will cease to exist. And given current pressures on ecosystems and on society, we are starting to reap the dark outcomes of not acting sustainably. If we don’t integrate sustainable thinking into our practices and continue down the path we’re on, the world…is not going to be a place of great opportunity and freedom.”

If students are interested in learning more about the new sustainability major, they can find information on the university’s web page, or they can reach out to Van Steeter at vanstem@.wou.edu. They can also talk to his colleagues in the Geography and Sustainability Department — Dr. Mike McGlade, Dr. Shaun Huston, and Dr. Sriram Khé.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Oktoberfest put on by Western German Club

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

In the courtyard of the Werner University Center on Oct. 10, popular German music blasted through speakers and the smell of German food wafted through the air: the members of German Club had prepared a feast for the whole Western community.

“What we’ve got here is bratwurst — one of the most German things there is — and we’ve got some… curry sauce, which is like a German version of ketchup. Then we have German-style sauerkraut and potato salad… and we’ve got some German Apple Cakes,” said German Club President and sophomore German major Alyssa Jackson.

The only thing missing from this traditional Oktoberfest meal is beer, but the club doesn’t serve alcohol since their event is hosted on a college campus.

When asked about the significance of Oktoberfest to the club, Jackson said that “it’s fun, there’s lot of good food and it’s nice to just share the German culture.”

Although the event is exciting for the club members and those in the Western community, Jackson shared that the club also has another reason for selling Oktoberfest meals.

“All the proceeds are going to the German Club scholarship, which is $1,000 that gets awarded to one student,” said Jackson. And, when asked about how the scholarship recipient was chosen, she shared that “it goes off of what German means to you and why you’re studying it. Obviously, we want to put it with someone who has a connection to German rather than just someone who wants money.”

One thing that many students may not know is that Oktoberfest is a long-standing tradition on Western’s campus.

“I started here 37 years ago, and we’ve done it ever since,” said German professor Dr. Hoobler.

Reflecting on the way that the festivity occurs in Germany, Hoobler added that “October gets rainy, and so (in Germany) they do Oktoberfest in September.”

Hoobler concluded by saying that “what you see (here) is really what they do. It’s the end of the harvest festival, and they serve us this and it’s a chance for us to get together. Germans are very social — it’s all about the community — and so really all over Germany we’ll have Oktoberfest.”

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

Jacob Joliff band performs as a Smith’s Fine Art Series event

Jamari Gilbert | Freelancer

On Oct. 12, Jacob Joliff and his band came together and put on a concert for Western students. This concert was part of The Smith’s Fine Art Series, a collection that showcases many talents and performances here at Western. The artists perform from Oct. 5 through June 8 of 2019, with two events in January 2019, one event in April, and the final performance in June. This event was held in Rice Auditorium.

The Jacob Jolliff Band is a Bluegrass ensemble that is comprised of four key members: Jacob Joliff, the singer and Mandolin player, Alex Hargreaves the fiddle player, Jeff Picker on the bass, and Stash Wyslouch, their guitarist. With their cooperation, the band put on a unique and entertaining performance.

Bluegrass is a style of country music, but with jazz and gospel influences. No banjos were used during this concert, although that’s what some people may think of when bluegrass is mentioned. Most of the songs focused on being instrumental but a few had some lyrics spread throughout to spice things up every now and again. The music was unique and complex, but can be defined as a fusion of jazz and country.

The excitement the Joliff band had to play in front the audience was palpable. The passion and hard work that went into each song could be felt as they were performed on stage. Before the artists started the next song, the pride on their faces was obvious when the audience exploded into a round of applause and whistled.

Watching how they all shared the space and the microphone, easily stepping out of the way when it was time for one of the other members play their heart out during their songs was arguably the best part of the performance. The Jacob Jolliff Band performed very well and the enthusiasm for the music they performed only made the experience better.

The Joliff band is worth a listen by anyone who is a fan of jazz or country, and by anyone who is looking for music that is full of spirit and energy. If students find themselves free and wanting to try something new, events from the Smith Fine Arts Series provide fun opportunities on campus. The series offers some truly unique experiences.

 

Contact the author at jgilbert16@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Local artists Harold and Sue Mason exhibit their work in Campbell Hall

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Locals artists Sue and Harold Mason are featured in a month-long exhibit in Western’s own Cannon Art Gallery, which opened on Sept. 26 and will remain open until Oct. 26. The exhibit is titled “Creative Partnership” and is located in the heart of Campbell hall.

When asked about the mission statement of the Cannon Art gallery, director Paula Booth replied that her goal was “to expose our students to a lot of different types of art and a lot of different types of artists… You know, things that they might not always think about.”

Booth said that the gallery is usually booked a year in advance, sometimes two years. The gallery has shown both national and international artists, and holds around six exhibits per year. Harold and Sue approached Booth a couple of years ago with the desire to show an exhibit together, and Booth scheduled them into the gallery rotation.

Harold and Sue have been creative partners for the last 56 years. They started making art in the San Francisco Bay area and became involved in the arts community there. Throughout their careers they have moved and travelled extensively, making art everywhere they go.

“We have a tendency to move someplace instead of going there and staying for weeks at a time” said Harold. Sue and Harold became more involved with the Native cultures of the American Southwest when they moved to the area and befriended the local Native community there, and the influence these communities had on their art is palpable.

The pair moved to Oregon about 15 years ago.

“We knew we wanted to live near a campus, and so we ended up just a block and a half from (Western),” commented Sue. Both Sue and Harold have taken art classes at Western, so they are familiar with the campus and well known by the faculty members in the department. “We’re both delighted to have a show here. We love the university. So when the opportunity came up, we were quite pleased,” said Sue.

On Oct. 3, the 700 square foot art gallery was glowing with bright show lights, and community members and students circulated around the ceramic sculptures and landscape paintings. During the reception, the Mason’s answered questions and connected with community members and students alike.

Harold’s art covered three of the gallery’s walls. Most were untitled.

“Harold didn’t want to label all of his work and Sue didn’t label all of hers either. So it’s kind of more of an impression of their work,” said Booth.

Harold’s art was a collection of watercolor paintings, sketches, and mixed media pieces. Many paintings were landscape scenes that exhibited exquisite detail. Colors in this paintings were soft and the scenes contemplative.

When asked if he had a favorite piece, Harold replied, “If you say one’s a favorite, it puts the other ones down, so I never have a favorite; they’re all favorites. Or else they wouldn’t be up there on the wall.”

Sue’s art consists of porcelain and stoneware works, relief prints, silkscreen prints and fetish pots. Fetish pots, according to the gallery description, “use materials of the natural world — clay, bone, hides, feathers, shells, etc. to show respect for nature and the world we live in.”

Sue’s stoneware sculptures and vases are very domestic and intricately designed; the pieces could be contemplated for a significant amount of time and new details would continue to be found.

“My aim is to inject joy, lightness and humor into each piece I make,” quotes Sue’s artist statement.

Her art is largely inspired by native cultures. Several sculptures are inspired by the Dio De Los Muertos celebrations in Mexican culture.

“I’ve always loved folk art, and just the way the art represents the (native) cultures,” Sue commented.

When asked what “creative partnership” meant to them, Sue summed up her relationship with Harold, “We’ve always been best of friends, as well as best of lovers, so best of both worlds.” Harold and Sue have always been a partnership, and support each other in all of their artistic endeavors. Each artist’s style is distinctive, yet complementary. Visitors to the exhibit can truly see the complexity of the artistic life Harold and Sue have built together. The pair’s devotion to living an artistic life and supporting each other is truly enviable. The couple is still actively making art. Sue sculpts and Harold is active with his painting and has added writing into his repertoire.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

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