2018 – Page 48 – The Western Howl

Byron Kimball | Staff Writer

Students attempting to avoid buying a parking permit may be in for a surprise. Recent changes to how parking will be enforced in downtown Monmouth are set to impact students parking at numerous local businesses around the city.

Among these changes: two-hour parking spots will be more strictly monitored by Monmouth police, bringing an end to students camping out in front of Yeasty Beasty in order to avoid paying for an on-campus parking pass.

“We always want to encourage faculty staff and student to park on our campus when doing business here. We have tried hard to keep our permit prices down as much as possible and still provide ample parking and maintain our lots,” said Darin E. Silbernagel, Director of Business Services for Western.

The change, according to Russ Cooper, Public Works Director for the City of Monmouth, was driven by local business owners.

“(Businesses) were asking for us to be more vigilant about enforcing parking,” said Cooper.

What can students do to avoid being cited? Buying a parking permit, namely. There’s no word on whether unmarked spots along Church Street and Stadium Drive are still safe, though students may still be able to park there without a problem.

“Students need to comply with the rules, both here on campus and in the City of Monmouth, depending on where they are at the time,” advised Silbernagel. “When students, faculty and staff are frequenting downtown business, it is completely appropriate to park downtown. When students are here on campus, we would like them to obtain the appropriate parking permit.”

Appropriate parking permits can be purchased online through WolfWeb and picked up at the Business Services office on the first floor of the Administration building. Permits are available for annual and per-term rates, with prices ranging from $47 for a per-term permit and up to $99 for a full-year hang tag permit.

Contact the author at bkimball16@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

The Western Howl

Home »

Western students to aid in natural disaster relief

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

For students that wish to make a meaningful impact by serving others, travel nationally or internationally and experience life outside of their comfort zone: Western’s Alternative Break program may be a great place to start.

The Alternative Break program, organized by the Service Learning and Career Development center, allows students to spend winter, spring and summer breaks serving others. This community service may be achieved regionally, nationally or internationally and aids in a wide variety of issues including working with children in impoverished areas, community beautification projects and animal conservation.

Two Alternative Break teams are preparing to aid in natural disaster relief efforts during spring break. A group of six students and two advisors are traveling to Houston, Texas to assist in community recovery from Hurricane Harvey. The other team, composed of ten students and two staff advisors, is traveling to the Columbia Gorge to help with relief from the forest fires that affected the area in fall of 2017.

“I want to help serve the Columbia Gorge community because the fires in that area were very devastating,” commented Tiffany Lewis, Alternative Break co-leader for the Oregon team. “Many people love the Columbia Gorge and I want to help restore that area in any way I can.”

All Western students are welcome to apply to be an Alternative Break team member. Students must be enrolled at Western in all terms between application and departure, and be in good academic and judicial standing.

Daisy Chavez, leading alongside Lewis, chose to get involved in this program to grow as a leader and challenge herself. Chavez has previously served on Alternative Breaks in Jamaica, Honduras and Peru.

“Being on these trips have taught me so much: new cultures, new experiences, and how to love service even more,” explained Chavez. “Service and exploring new places is something I really love, so participating in service trips really fulfills my passion for service and traveling.”

Chavez encourages students to get involved in the program and apply: “I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to do service as well as merge into a new community. Service teams have made my college experience so much better because they have helped me grow not only as a person but as a leader as well. I have also met so many great people and have created memories that will last a lifetime.”

Visit wou.edu/slcd/ab for more information on the Alternative Break program and how to apply for future service opportunities.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Alternative break program staff

The Western Howl

Home »

Staying motivated through apps

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

If you’re having trouble getting motivated for the gym, then congrats; you share that with the rest of us out here trying to find the strength to get ourselves that daily 30 minutes of exercise. For many, it can be a difficult thing to do; if you’re unable to hold yourself accountable to go, you’re in luck. There are many apps that you can download which will not only keep you motivated, but will also help you do better and succeed in the gym. So, download a couple of these, and get yourself back in there.

My Plate

Supplying a calorie counter, this app helps you track nutrition, while also showing you how many calories you’re burning through exercise. It will keep you pushing by showing you just how much more you need to do to get where you want to be.

Photo by: livestrong.com

Nike Training Club

This app comes equipped with different bodyweight workouts to get you moving quickly. Adhering to all different fitness levels and with specific muscle groups to hit, it’s sure to keep you active and ready for any day.

Photo by: nike.com

FitRadio

Depending on how you’re working out, this app will create playlists that work best for you — whether it’s lifting, running, cycling or anything in between. The music you choose to listen to will have an impact on how your workout turns out, so make sure you’re listening to what works best for you.

Photo by: fitradio.com

Gain Fitness

For this app, all you have to do is enter your fitness goals and it will create a workout plan for you based on the 1300 different workouts they have. It has something for everybody and really lets you track your progress, which will help keep you motivated and moving.

Photo by: Gainfitness.com

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home »

Music while you dine

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

Valsetz was bursting with the sound of acoustic guitar on March 2, when Cooper Anstett came to campus as part Valsetz Live, hosted by the Student Activities Board and Weekend Programs.

Anstett, a Michigan-based folk singer, found himself performing on the stage of the dining hall by way of the National Association for Campus Activities.

“We usually hire all of our performers from NACA,” said Matthew Ciraulo, Director of the Student Activities Board. “So, that’s just a whole weekend where people are performing and getting people riled up.”

Anstett’s performance was part of a push by the board to bring more musical events to campus.

“My executive board really wants this campus to be a musical campus — for people to really want to listen to music,” said Ciraulo. “We came up with the idea of Valetz Live.”

For Valetz Live specifically, they wanted to bring an artist who was both talented and dynamic — since the bustle of Valsetz can yield a hesitant audience.

The show boasted a moderate, but lively audience, who joined along with Anstett’s singing. The performance was centered around narrative nearly as much as it was music. Throughout the set, he interacted with the audience as well as provided commentary on each piece he was performing.

Anstett’s most famous song, “Move,” first appeared in a 2016 Chevy commercial. The song, though used to promote vehicles, was originally inspired by him having to take care of an intoxicated friend.

“The funny thing about this song is that it was in a Chevy commercial, which was really cool for me. But they had no idea it was about taking care of your turnt buddy,” noted Anstett before the performance.

Anstett’s latest album, “Cooper,” came out in 2016 and can be found on most digital music platforms.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

The Western Howl

Home »

Additions to your next game night

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Game nights are often a cheap and exciting way to spend an evening with good friends. But, if you’re anything like me, you might be looking for new activities to add to your repertoire besides “Cards Against Humanity.” Read on for my personal favorite games and enjoy them at your next game night.

Codenames

This four to eight player game is one of my absolute favorites. A grid of codenames, or random words, are placed in front of the players. The group splits into two teams and elects a spymaster for each team. The spymasters are the only ones who know the secret identities of the cards and must try and get their team to guess the correct codenames to win. This game is a ton of fun and the random placement of the cards means that combinations are endless. And even better, “Codenames: Deep Undercover” is the mature version of the game and usually costs less than $20 at most department stores.

Photo by: Codenamesgame.com

Jackbox Games

Jackbox Games are probably my favorite way to spend a Friday night. With four party packs to choose from, Jackbox Games are easily downloaded from a Playstation, Xbox or Steam and each player connects to their game through their phone. Trivia games like “You Don’t Know Jack” provide you and your friends with the opportunity to battle it out to see who knows the most useless information. “Quiplash” generates ridiculous prompts and allows you to come up with your own responses. “Drawful,” similar to Pictionary, challenges your drawing skills and awards points to the players that guess correctly. For less than $25 a pack, these party games are versatile, convenient and not your average board game.

Photo by: Jackboxgames.com

Heads Up

Board games can be expensive, but this classic app provides hours of entertainment for only 99 cents at the App Store. With different decks such as Act it Out, Animals Gone Wild and Accents and Impressions, this charades-like game involves one player guessing what’s written on the hidden card by using hints from the rest of their team. This inexpensive and simple game can be played anywhere with family, friends, or coworkers.

Photo by: warnerbros.com

Ticket to Ride

This game requires at least an hour or two of invested time, energy and strategy. Players take turns attempting to claim railway routes that connect cities on a map of the United States, and the longer the route, the more points you can earn. But unfriendly players may choose to sabotage your routes in process. I’m the type of person that gets discouraged with intense rules and confusing plotlines but, fortunately, Ticket to Ride is fairly easy to learn and jump right into. This game is a little more expensive, usually $25 to $35 depending on which edition you buy, but it also provides hours of entertainment that makes it worth the price.

Photo by: daysofwonder.com

Dutch Blitz

Prepare to be stuck playing round after round of this addicting card game. Incredibly fast-paced and at times fairly challenging, the objective is to essentially get rid of all of your cards by creating “Dutch Piles.” Prepare to feel the stress of looking for that one card you need in time before someone yells out “Blitz!” which signals that they have beat you to the point. While the game is designed for four, expansion packs can also be purchased if you want to include more people.

Photo by: Dutchblitz.com

The Oregon Trail Card Game

For this game, we’re traveling back to 1848. It’s time to see if you and your party can hitch up your wagons and make it all the way to Oregon. This card game is based on the original computer disk game and will leave you feeling nostalgic with every “Broken Axle” or “You Have Died of Dysentery” card you draw. Pulling cards from the deck that will oftentimes frustrate you, this game can be a lot more difficult than one would assume.

Photo by: pressmantoy.com

Contact the authors at journalnews@wou.edu and chealy16@wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home »

A glimpse from behind the counter

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Earlier this school year, for the first time, I decided to get a job working in the food service industry. It was the first real customer service position I had ever gotten, and it has already taught me so much.

In the few months I’ve worked this job, I have experienced a plethora of questionable interactions with people; I’ve had people come up to me at the front counter and pretend to “make it rain” with dollar bills, I’ve had a woman come up to me and scream in my face for something I didn’t do, I’ve had endless sighs and comments such as “really?”, or “you’ve got to be kidding” thrown at me due to the fact that I didn’t have specific food ready — that we don’t even advertise as having ready. Not to mention, numerous inappropriate comments about my appearance, prank calls and eye gazes have been gestured towards me.

I want, for just one second, any one of these people to step into my shoes — my incredibly uncomfortable, non-slip shoes, that is. Then they might understand why none of this is okay. They’d understand what I go through on a daily basis; I work anywhere between six to 10 hours in a given shift, my breaks are short, I’m running all over the place trying to get things done quickly and, all the while, I have to make sure that I have a smile on my face and that customers are being served very quickly. When you have the added factor of difficult customers that are for some reason “always right,” it can be exhausting.

In no way am I trying to throw myself a pity-party — I chose to take on this position and this workload. That being said, I honestly think that if at some point in everyone’s life they worked a customer-service job, I wouldn’t have to deal with these kinds of problems.

Working customer service is a great way to learn about several important aspects of life. You learn how to be more patient. Being on the other end of the counter teaches you how things work. There are times where I have 10 orders in front of someone, and they get upset if they have to wait 10 minutes. I’m sorry, did you want me to just magically make those tickets disappear? You have to wait your turn, and if you were in my position, you’d understand that.

You also learn how kindness can go a long way. A nice comment or a “keep up the good work” can actually put a genuine smile on my face. And finally, you learn why you should be understanding and respectful of the people who are serving you.

On the other hand, customer service can offer so many other great things. You learn about the lives of people that you otherwise wouldn’t have known. For instance, I’m beginning to learn the names of several regulars and about the many things that go on in their lives. Just asking “how has your day been?” has led to several conversations with random people, and often times it really brightens their day to have someone to talk to. It can be an incredibly rewarding experience that you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.

While I have had several experiences that make me question why people are the way they are, I’m beginning to notice a pattern. Most of my frustrating experiences have been with people of an older generation. The younger ones are typically more respectful and willing to wait and work with me rather than just immediately get upset and throw a fit. It almost feels as if the older generation has become so removed from what it means to work a customer service job that they have higher expectations than what can actually be met. However, the consideration coming from the younger customers seems like a positive sign to me; the future is bright and the younger generation has a more empathetic attitude that is understanding and respectful towards customer service employees. I hope that carries on over time.

As for everyone else, you may want to consider picking up a customer service position at some point. Maybe then you can begin to understand why things happen the way they do, and why you shouldn’t be blatantly impolite toward the people who are serving you. But, hey, if you’re going to be disrespectful, at the very least, could you leave a tip?

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

The Western Howl

Home »

Letter To The Editor

Nathan Soltz

In response to Eric Frey’s editorial published Feb. 28:

Thank you for your letter to the student body regarding the IFC process; however, I do have quite a few concerns. For the sake of length, I’m not going to address all of them as in-depth as I would like to, but I am going to make a very specific concern known for the sake of the student body.

Your letter makes it sound as though the timeline for cutting ASWOU began with the IFC telling ASWOU that the budget was going to be cut $28,000 for OSA, and then ASWOU deciding that they would, instead, gut clubs and organizations with that cut.

Simply put, this is factually inaccurate. The IFC mandates that all the IFC-funded organizations present what a 5 percent and 10 percent cut package would look like. In ASWOU’s 10 percent cut package, it was made very clear that the only flexible budgets for a cut that significant would be the clubs and organizations that it funds. All along, the IFC knew that a 10 percent cut would be devastating to Western’s clubs and it, at its sole discretion, decided to make that cut.

The way the IFC has been representing this process to the students of Western Oregon University has been misleading, deceitful and displays a gross aberration for the democratic processes that the IFC members are supposed to be upholding. Trying to pit the students of Western against ASWOU because the IFC has decided to slash funding to their clubs is irresponsible and egregious.

I’ve seen all of the publicly-available responses submitted by students regarding the preliminary budget and I am aware of several more which have been sent directly to you by students who have expressed their concerns to me. The clubs which you are gutting know very well what your budget does and will not be fooled by the red herring explanation the IFC has given regarding the cuts.

In an annual budget which represents an overall budget reduction of 0.3 percent, a net reduction of $12,644, your cut to ASWOU — and, by extension, the clubs and organizations of Western — is roughly 10 percent. The cut to ASWOU of $28,000, a net of $23,103, is near twice the next largest net cut — $12,374 to Creative Arts, which the department itself asked for.

As a percentage, the ASWOU cut is more than double the next largest cut. Not to mention that ASWOU aside, the average cut, to those organizations which were cut, was 1.8 percent. Perhaps more strikingly, half of all the budgets stayed completely unchanged, including over $1 million allocated to Athletics —$1,284,159 to be exact — the single largest line-item in the IFC’s budget. Note that Athletics also receives funding from both the general fund and the Foundation — the only department or organization on campus to do so.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is quoted as saying “budgets are moral documents.” Maybe you were totally oblivious to the grave impact your proposed ASWOU cut would have on the clubs and organizations on our campus and the students they represent — I dare not infer what the IFC’s thought process was if you were aware of this impact and proposed the cut anyway.

Now that there is no way you can still claim ignorance to the consequences of this action, I have faith that the IFC will reconsider this gross neglect of duty to the students it alleges to represent. I have faith that the IFC will not cut the Associated Students of Western Oregon University and, by extension, every single student on this campus. This is a moment of truth. When the dust settles, where will the IFC stand: with students or against them? As it is now, the IFC is looking pretty alone.

To publish a response, contact the editor at journaleditor@wou.edu

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.

City of Monmouth clamps down on unlawful parking

Western students to aid in natural disaster relief

Staying motivated through apps

Music while you dine

Additions to your next game night

A glimpse from behind the counter

Letter To The Editor

Tools

Resources