2018 – Page 43 – The Western Howl

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

If you’re looking for an alternative to your regular routine workout, or just want a chance to get some fresh air, now’s the perfect time to take your workout from inside to outdoors. One of the best ways to do so is through hiking; it offers scenic views and vigorous exercise, making it the ideal way to get moving while making it as enjoyable as possible.

Luckily, the areas surrounding Monmouth offer a large number of hiking destinations all within a short drive’s reach. These spots can take you out of your regular workout routine and land you in some of the best spots that the area has to offer.
By talking with people from the area and through my own experiences, I rounded the list down to four of my favorite hiking spots. So, put on your hiking shoes, grab your water bottle and get a camera ready for some of the many views the Pacific Northwest has to offer and a guaranteed unforgettable experience.

Bald Hill Natural Area Loop
A hike meant for all skill levels, this walk offers you 3.8 miles of beautiful wild flowers and memorable views. While it can get a little bit muddy, it will never cease to provide a good time and adventure for you and whoever you choose to go with.

Mary’s Peak
The highest point in Oregon’s Coast Range, this hike can be started from lower on the mountain or from the parking area you can hike several different trails. Displaying beautiful meadows and, if you’re lucky, incredible views on a clear day, this hike will not disappoint. Categorized by oregonhikers.org as an “easy hike”, it loops around and offers you 1.5 miles of gorgeous sights.

Peavy Arboretum
A simple hike with three short loops to choose from make this an ideal spot for many. With a beautiful lake to picnic next to, easy dog-friendly trails to follow and rich history to learn about, this option makes for a quick day-hike to take when you have a few hours to spare.

Drift Creek Falls
If you’re looking to travel a little bit further for an amazing hike, find your way down to this spot and take this moderate, three-mile hike. This hike includes a suspension bridge, a waterfall and an unforgettable view, so make sure you have your camera so you can share this memory with everyone.

Contact the author at chealy16@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Caity Healy

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Wolves triple up Wildcats, split with Saints

Simson Garcia | Sports Editor

As the Wolves resumed a postponed game with Central Washington from March 18 — a home game halted in the second inning due to weather inclements — the Western players continued where they left off: at 4-0 en route to a 6-3 win on March 30.
Despite the home field change and advantage shift in CWU’s favor, the Wolves did not budge to the Wildcats’s two runs to start the game. A low liner from junior outfielder Cheyanne Rimer found its way into left field; a run-batted-in single to cap things in the seventh.
Keeping it going in games two and three with the ‘Cats, the Wolves clawed their way to wins in each game later that day. Both teams fought until extras in game one, but it was the Wolves who would score five runs in the top of the 10th to seal, 11-6. Earlier in the game, a double, then homer, helped add to run number six for Western, but the ‘Cats made sure they didn’t go down without much effort. Central Washington loaded up the bases to force extras. But Western again flipped the script, and got each player on base to score in the final extra inning.
The series’s final game earned the Wolves a 4-3 win and sweep. After Central got on the board to begin the first, four runs were in favor of Western in the third, just enough to hold off the ‘Cats.
Pitching senior Lizzet Dominguez remained steady at the plate after her performance in game two and earned herself back-to-back wins. Dominguez now carries a 10-3 win-loss record on the year.
Command at the mound turned to junior pitcher Haley Fabian in their fourth game of the weekend versus Saint Martin’s on March 31, for another win, 6-0. While both offenses were similar in skill at batting, pitching and fielding differed as Fabian played a complete game. Striking out five Saints while only facing 22 batters, as compared to 29 for the Saints, Fabian’s lockdown of home plate helped allow for Western’s consistent flow of offense that inevitably scored resulting in the shutout.
The arsenal of home runs, deep doubles and triples slugged by the Wolves in game four was an afterthought as SMU avenged their loss with a 9-1 conquering of the Wolves later that day. The Saints produced four runs in the sixth for a commanding lead as Western asked for a mercy rule soon after, ending the four game win streak.

Not done on the road, the Wolves travel east to Idaho for a four game series with the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks from April 6-7. First pitch for game one starts at 2 p.m.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

Photo by: wouwolves.com

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Protesters demand congressional action on gun control

Byron Kimball | Freelancer

Standing in solidarity with the victims of the Feb. 14 Parkland, Florida shooting and other acts of gun violence, hundreds of protesters gathered on the capitol steps for Salem’s own March for Our Lives rally. The event also served to demand Congressional action on gun control legislation. Simultaneous marches across the country saw hundreds of thousands of protesters march upon various cities, including Washington D.C.

Salem’s March for Our Lives rally was organized by students from local high schools and Willamette University, with Willamette student Allison Hmura taking a prominent role in coordinating the event.

“I am very interested in this particular march because it is student-driven and we need politicians to endorse common sense gun laws,” said Hmura in the event’s press release.

Also, helping organize the event was Lila Gardner, a Western senior who coordinated Western’s walkout on March 14.

A number of speakers presented at the march, including student organizers, state representative Paul Evans, state senate candidate Deb Patterson, Marion county commissioner candidate and former Willamette University professor Shelaswau Crier and Levi Herra-Lopez, the Executive Director of the community advocacy organization Mano a Mano.

Students made impassioned pleas for stronger action on gun violence. Among their demands, March for Our Lives organizers called for age limits on gun purchases, universal background checks on firearm purchasers, bans on some semi-automatic weapons and demilitarizing police forces across the country.

McNary High School senior Raul Marquez called for intersectional racial justice.

“We will stand in solidarity with all who seek justice (against community violence),” said Marquez.

Julian Holman, a Howard Street Middle School student, emphasized the dangers that marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ community, face from gun violence; “Imagine cutting hate murders in half. Imagine the lives we could save,” Holman expressed.

Evans condemned the National Rifle Association for their role in lobbying members of Congress to halt gun control legislation, stating, “I believe (gun) rights come with responsibility. I believe it’s time for common sense legislation.” Evans recently supported House Bill 4145, a bill that was signed into law by governor Kate Brown on Feb. 16. The bill, which prevents convicted domestic abusers from legally obtaining firearms, was one of the first gun control bills to follow the Parkland shooting.

After a musical performance by Western first-year Zyel Crier, marchers took to Salem’s streets. A small group of counter-protesters, bearing rifles and signs, stood across from the large crowd of assorted March for Our Lives protesters as they walked down Court Street. The counter-protesters dispersed quickly as the march continued on.

Shelaswau Crier, mother of Zyel Crier and the Democratic candidate for Marion County Commissioner, emphasized the need for action in the face of gun violence. : “The time for us to act is now.”

Contact the author at bkimball16@wou.edu

Photo by: Oregonlive.com

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Brightening up your decor

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Birds are chirping, the weather goes from downpour to blue skies in a matter of hours, flowers are blooming and there’s a sense of optimism in the air. Spring has finally sprung, and with it comes the brightness and beauty of the season.

While this time of the year can offer you endless opportunities for pairing your outfits with either rain boots or sandals depending on the time of day, it can also offer an opportunity to brighten up your home with spring décor.
Of course, the option is always there to purchase your decorations, but instead I urge you to get crafty and make them yourself. It can offer a rainy-day activity to help liven up the space around you. So, get your art supplies out and get started on some of these projects.

Bright Chalkboard
Do some searching and purchase or find an old cheap mirror — I found mine at Goodwill for only $3. Apply tape to the border to make sure you don’t get paint on anything other than the glass. Use chalkboard paint and paint the surface. Apply two coats, and make sure to leave a good amount of time for it to dry in between coats. After this dries completely, paint the border of the mirror with a bright spring color, which can be any pastel. Once this dries, use colorful chalk to write fun messages on the board for your roommates or guests to see.

Ombre Vase
Find a cheap vase that you can paint on — I found mine at JoAnn’s Craft Store for $3. Find a bright acrylic paint, and mix it with white several times to create six different shades of the same color. With your vase, paint stripes on it one by one, but quickly enough as to not let them dry completely and letting the two blend together. You can stop the design at any point or carry it to the top. However, if you want to stop it, use tape to make sure you get an even line. Fill with flowers, real or fake, that match the color you painted on the vase.

Spring Garland
On white cardstock, cut into six separate squares, spell out “spring” using bold, large letters. Using separate colored cardstock, which can be of any bright spring hue, cut it into six larger squares. Paste the letters onto these squares. Using six separate clothespins, paint them a different shade that will match well with the colored paper you used previously. With a long piece of twine — which can be any size depending on how long you want the garland to be — pin the letters onto the string.

Contact the author at chealy16@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Caity Healy

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Review: “Bobby Tarantino II”

Kevin Reed | Entertainment Editor

Logic started off his rap career in Rockville, Maryland, growing up a biracial child with a dream. He was able to rise out of his hometown and become one of the most inspirational rappers in the game today. He’s grown his career not only by rapping about his life growing up, but also how he wants to spread a message of equality through his music. He recently put out a new mixtape album as a follow up to his “Bobby Tarantino,” released in 2016, called “Bobby Tarantino II.”

In contrast to his past music, his newest album “Bobby Tarantino II” was produced to be a more lighthearted theme in a trap mixtape style. It may be more fun, but the album is still full of meaningful messages. Logic reinvents how to settle disagreements with competition in “Yuck,” with lines such as, “Anyone that hate me, I wish you success.”

Logic has always been big on celebrities making cameos in his music, including world renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, amazing voice actor Steve Blum, Killer Mike, Lucy Rose and many more. In the intro track to “Bobby Tarantino II,” you hear the voices of popular Comedy Central characters Rick and Morty. I couldn’t help but smile when I listened to their voices in “Grandpa’s Spaceship.” It was, in my opinion, the best way to open up a feel good album. He also collaborates with artists like Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and other hip-hop artists.

Logic has a motto he follows throughout all of his recent music: “Peace, Love and Positivity.” He aims to send this message in many of his songs. In “Bobby Tarantino II” he works out the positivity side by making tracks that are feel good jams and not as heavy as some of his past music. Even when addressing his own conflict with other rappers, he takes the higher road. This approach is unheard of to many other rappers in the game currently. Hip-hop has a reputation of people like Drake and Meek Mill fighting it out in a series of roast tracks, or other rappers getting into fistfights at concerts. However, Logic wishes his competitors success in the future.

“Bobby Tarantino II” is a great feel-good hip-hop album. Logic’s overall flow and lyrics combine in a great way with the trap beats. I personally jam to this on my way to classes all the time. I was impressed with how Logic showed he could create both serious tracks like “1-800-273-8255” and more fun tracks like “Indica Badu.”

“44 more” is an absolute masterpiece and I recommend listening to that track first. I always look forward to Logic’s new music and I’m very impressed with this new album. I am excited for when he releases his upcoming projects.

Contact the author at kreed17@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Genius.com

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All clear, it’s time for more baseball

Simson Garcia | Sports Editor

No more rainouts, no more postponements and clear low 50 degree weather allowed for more spring baseball as Western split a four game series with the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks on March 30-31. In their first home field games of the season, the Wolves were the first to punch with a small dose, winning 1-0 on March 30.
A right field double run by senior right-fielder Jacob Martinez batted in sophomore pinch runner Torreahno Sweet in the fifth inning. Both mounds minimized batting at the plate in the game, but a walk to Sweet to begin his roundabout back home was all the Wolves needed for the lone score.
Their play in the back end of the first doubleheader fell on the wayside, however, as the visiting Nighthawks capped the day off with a 7-2 victory.
Three walks and 11 hits by the Nighthawks made for the sizable advantage. In all, the Wolves used six pitchers but couldn’t keep the opposition from reaching home.
Game three kept both teams off their heels as a walk-off double ran in Martinez for the clinching 3-2 win on March 31. In what went down as one of the longest games in GNAC history, the Wolves finally maneuvered in the 14th as sophomore infielder Connor McCord RBI’d Martinez.

“It was a constant mental grind because of how close we were to scoring in almost every extra inning,” said Jay Leverett, senior infielder.
The final weekend game came almost three and a half hours later with Northwest Nazarene getting the final say: 5-4. It was a climb for the Wolves being down 5-0 going into the bottom of the fourth. Leverett helped close the gap with an RBI single, and scored himself soon after to cut the deficit to two. But with two men on base in the sixth frame, a Wolf fly out ended the affair.

Baseball season may have started slow to begin but Western currently stands one game above .500 at 14-13 and have fared well since playing their conference games, boasting a 14-6 record.
Next up, the Wolves hit the road to face Montana State University Billings on April 6-7, in two sets of back-to-back doubleheaders.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

Photo by: wouwolves.com

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Anthropology student sheds light on Islam

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

At Bazaar International Market in Corvallis, a variety of food products from across the Middle East line the shelves, cuts of fresh halal meat are available daily and a collection of teas invite curious customers. This is where anthropology major Elliot Paulson spends a good portion of his time gathering research and information for his senior thesis titled “Mainstreaming Halal: A Growing Niche Market in an Oregon University Town.”

Paulson became fascinated with Islam while taking a Middle Eastern religions class and a Middle Eastern history class at Western. It was while he was enrolled in the Anthropology of Islam class that he was considering a topic centered around Islam for his senior thesis.

“Americans have one view of what a Muslim is,” Paulson explained. He claimed that many individuals think of Islam as solely a Middle Eastern religion and tend to stereotype the individuals that follow the faith. “What Anthropology of Islam taught me is that’s not the case.”

After much consideration, Paulson decided on the topic for his senior thesis: halal food availability in Corvallis. Specifically, Paulson aimed to find out why the halal food market is growing in Corvallis and what demographics are purchasing halal food.

Halal is an Arabic word that refers to anything that is permitted or lawful. It describes food that follows the dietary standards stated in the Qur’an and prepared according to Islamic law. Stated by the Islamic Council of Victoria, Islamic law requires the humane treatment of animals before slaughter, prohibits the consumption of pig products and holds several other high standards for halal food.

Paulson interviewed Muslim community members at the mosque in Corvallis and visited family-owned markets and large stores like Safeway to get an idea as to why halal food has been growing in popularity in Corvallis. Paulson speculates that the ethnic diversity of Corvallis may play a part, as well as many non-Muslim individuals seeking out halal products because of the humane slaughter of the animals.

Paulson hopes that his research can help inform people about the religion.

“There’s an element of fear that surrounds Islam,” said Paulson. “I think that a lot of it comes from just not being familiar. And something like food, especially something like halal, can be normalized.”

He also believes that visiting a mosque or talking to Muslim individuals can benefit many individuals; “I think everyone needs to step out of their comfort zone and just interact with people that you might not normally interact with. You’ll probably meet some fascinating people that way.”

Paulson added that the skills he gained working with diverse individuals at Western helped with his research, explaining that “the more that you can respectfully work with people that are not from your own circle, the better you’re going to do.”

Whether it’s trying halal food, visiting a mosque or taking a class about Islam, Paulson encourages everyone to learn more about the faith and explore Islam.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

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Finding hikes near Monmouth

Wolves triple up Wildcats, split with Saints

Protesters demand congressional action on gun control

Brightening up your decor

Review: “Bobby Tarantino II”

All clear, it’s time for more baseball

Anthropology student sheds light on Islam

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