Mount Hood

Monmouth Senior Center hosts first ever community Thanksgiving open to Western students unable to go home for the holidays

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor

For students unable to go home for the Thanksgiving holiday, or for those struggling with food insecurity in the community — the Monmouth-Independence Rotary Club is hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner at 1 p.m. in the Monmouth Senior Center on Nov. 28. The Monmouth Senior Center is located at 180 Warren St S.

Dubbed “Here for the Holidays,” the meal is a brand new service which, “started last spring when a local artist, Pam Sierra Wence” contacted Dr. Robert Troyer, an associate professor of linguistics and the Director of International Student Academic Support here at Western. Wence wanted “to see if there was any way to set up some kind of program for students who are here … and can’t go home to their families,” added Dr. Troyer.

While the original plan was designed to partner students up with community members, “the logistics of that were just … really difficult,” said Troyer, and thusly both he and Wence recruited Laurel Sharmer’s involvement in the project. Sharmer, who is the president of the Monmouth-Independence Rotary Club, applied for a grant to offset the costs of the event and, after receiving one, made the dinner entirely free to the community. 

All students have to do is confirm their interest in the event by filling out a form on the Academic Student Support website by Thursday, Nov. 21. This gives the Rotary Club an approximation on attendance in order to ensure that enough food is available.

For students who will be missing a feeling of community during the holidays, Troyer calls the event, “one of those rare things that is just simple and good.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Sage Kiernan-Sherrow

Left with an empty stomach, Men’s Rugby lose championship match to the Owls

Hannah Greene | Sports Editor

Western Oregon hosted Oregon Institute of Technology for the Championship match on the turf Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. The second time this season the Wolves faced the Owls — previously on Oct. 26, beating them 17-10.

With nerves and excitement, the Wolves showed up early to jump start their day. The eagerness to begin the game was present, the focus and seriousness of what was ahead was highlighted in all the eyes of the Wolves. 

The first half started and within five minutes, the Owls scored their first try — a wakeup call for the Wolves, setting the tempo for the final game. 

There was no return from Western as the Owls grabbed their second try of the split, the score 12-0. The Wolves gathered to talk and relight their fires, keeping each others’ heads up and in the game.

A gruesome battle of tackles, runs and hard hits led to the Wolves’ first try, completed by Keegan Echevarria, a first-year and past “Man of the Match” — finally adding some points to the scoreboard. The extra two points were kicked by Braedon Eltagonde, a sophomore returner, to make the score 7-12. The Owls were ahead, but the Wolves’ hunger was growing.

Before the first half concluded, time was added, and the Wolves punted the ball only to have it blocked by the Owls, who then snagged the ball and carried it downfield to the endzone, but not before Gabriel Wai, a junior returner, was able to tackle a few of the Owls’ players.

That ended the first half, with the scoreboard reading 19-7, Owls.

The second half started out as more of a scrap than a rugby match, with the ball going either direction down field and the players all wanting a piece of their opponents. 

Many hard tackles made by the Wolves created an unbreakable wall against the Owls. Wylie Cossitt, a sophomore returner, gained yards, but not enough to complete a try.

Ten minutes in with no scoring and multiple effective Wolves out of the game including Wai, Riley Bardes, a senior returner and Andrew Reyes, a junior returner — this that demanded players step up and bring their A-game.

Hakam Nagra, a sophomore returner, got handed the ball; he stiff-armed an Owl and gained yards for the Wolves, but still no completed try.

With eight minutes left in the final half, a chill fell across the field and entered the stands; the Wolves looked tired, but kept pushing themselves to score.

Two minutes later, the Owls made for a tricky try, scoring again and pulling ahead 24-7.

The clock counted down as the fatigued Wolves persevered, however they lacked the rabbits foot. 

The whistle blew to leave the “W” in the talons of the Owls.

Western Oregon Wolves never let their heads down and played a remarkable match — one to learn from and propel themselves into the winter season.

A few of the Wolves’ players were unable to withstand injury — Eltagonde with a broken nose and Reyes with a concussion — but continued to support their teammates. 

Men’s Rugby finished their season with a 5-1 record and their boots full.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos by Hannah Greene

This week in completely made up horoscopes

[fruitful_tabs type=”accordion” width=”100%” fit=”false”]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] The stars know you’re excited to deck the halls and listen to those sweet, sweet pipes of Michael Bublé, Aries, but don’t forget there’s a whole holiday associated to your favorite pastime ⏤ eating! [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] Life right now is going at ludicrous speed and you feel like you’re constantly catching up. Don’t be afraid to turn to Yogurt for guidance and spiritual wisdom, he may even lend you his ring to finish off these last few weeks. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] You’re tired? Take a nap, the stars have your best interest at heart. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] Can you guys turn your music down, and turnip that beet? [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] It’s definitely that time of the year to play holiday music really loud, and most likely lose half of your friend group to that decision. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] You mess with the bull, you get the horns. You mess with a Virgo, you get… them crying profusely. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] Get dat bread. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] Should you have listened? Maybe. Did you? No. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] My name is Kyle. Nice to meet you, Tiffany. I have a reminder for you: don’t forget to drink guacamole on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2019. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] Christmas is right around the corner, don’t be such a salty Bublé. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] Aquarius, eat much gud. Always. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] This week in history, the Xbox was released in 2001. Ah, good times. If I listen closely I can still hear the faint sounds of “GTA: Vice City”… “video killed the raaadio star…” [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

Campus Conspiracy Theories

The Portal

OK, hear me out. WHAT IF the art students are all in a cult? WHAT IF all the art on campus is strategically placed as part of a ritual to summon Cthulhu? WHAT IF those ridiculously flamboyant electric purple flowers outside of the Triple D–k (Ed) building are actually the beginning of the portal opening? WHAT IF… it’s already too late? 

 

Robots Among Us

They’re all over campus, impossible to miss. They seem harmless enough, innocent, perhaps even cute enough to feed. Don’t be mistaken, those fluffy little squirrels on campus are most likely animatronics planted by the university. I’m not saying that it’s 100% a fact, but think about it: it kind of makes sense.

 

The Wolf in the Walls

On Columbus Day of 1962, a major storm hit campus and knocked down the bell tower that was once on Campbell Hall, Western’s oldest building. It was too expensive to repair, so where there used to be doors, there is a now a bricked-in outline of the door frames. So my theory — the spirits of all the Wolfies (previously known as Waldo’s) of Western’s past live in those rebuilt walls … watching. Waiting. For what? Who knows. 

 

It’s Below the Leaves

During the seasonal change from fall to winter, a mysterious occurrence takes over the Western campus. The leaves fall rapidly, covering the ground below us making sure to cover up the mystery — our gardening staff work hard to try and uncover this everyday, but are never on time and it has moved. This mystery has been known to grab ankles, cause students and staff to trip, given cars flat tires and even snagged squirrels rummaging for food. There have been few accounts of where this mysterious thing has been seen, but those people are long gone, stuck in the old buildings of the Western campus to haunt and scare…

 

Illustrated by Rachel Hetzel

Opinion: Now is the time to end the stigma around STIs

Caity Healy | Managing Editor

Think back to when you were in middle school or high school, when one of your teachers, sat the class down and gave you the sex ed talk. Of course, this is assuming your school actually decided to give you said talk — my school district, Battle Ground School District just outside of Vancouver, WA, just decided to cut the requirement for sex ed. Which is absolutely ridiculous, but an argument for another day and not the point I’m wanting to get at here. So, back to what I was saying: think back to that sex ed class you (hopefully) had. 

When I think of my sexual education, I remember it pretty clearly — there were visuals, so they showed us what a condom looks like and how to use it; there was the explanation on how to have safe sex (although they did tell us the only way to really be safe is to not have it at all, which is a cute idea but you’re talking to a bunch of people who just hit puberty so… good luck with that); and, what I remember most was how there was a huge display on how having unsafe sex will spread sexually transmitted infections and diseases, and they made it sound like it would ruin our lives.

Let’s look at the facts; according to Western’s Health Center’s 2018 survey, “41.8% of students did not use any method of protection the last time they had intercourse.” On top of this, also in 2018, “34.1% used the “Withdrawal” method of contraception the last time they had intercourse,” or in other words, the “pull-out method.” 

When this many people are practicing unsafe sex, it’s inevitable that someone will contract an STI. In fact, according to CDC.gov, in 2017 a total of 1,708,569 chlamydial infections were reported to the CDC in 50 states and in the District of Columbia. Similarly, CDC.gov reported 555,608 cases of gonorrhea in the U.S. in 2017, as well. So the point is, these infections are happening. Regardless of whether a sex ed class teaches safe sex, STIs and STDs are still being spread. So wouldn’t it have been nice if your sex ed class taught you what to do if you actually contracted one of these diseases, rather than try to scare you away from the thought of them?

STIs are heavily stigmatized in our culture. When sex ed courses, or “the talk” with your parents, tries to scare you away from them, or make you feel like you’re a bad person for contracting them, it further enhances that stigma surrounding STIs. When someone does contract one, rather than wanting to take care of it, this stigma will lead to them feeling ashamed or embarrassed to tell their partner(s), a friend or their health care provider. 

I can think of several films or TV shows where the parent or a physician told a kid something along the lines of, “This is what your genitals will look like if you contract an STI.” It then pans to the child in absolute horror and disgust. But we never hear them say, “If this does happen to you, here are the steps you can take to make sure you get healthy again.” That last part is important if we actually want people to be healthy, and not just want to scare them away from sex and shame them for contracting an incredibly common infection. 

At the end of the day, that’s what an STI is: an infection. People get infections every day, and when they do, they go see their doctor and get it cleared up. STIs should be treated like any other infection. If you get one, it can be taken care of, and that’s the end of it. Based on the fact that it’s an incredibly common occurance, it’s really not as big of a deal as your sex ed might have made it sound; most clear up from prescribed medication from a doctor. That said, it can become a bigger deal if it is not taken care of or if it’s being spread haphazardly. 

If someone reaches out to you and tells you they have an STI, treat them the same as if someone said, “I think this cut on my hand is infected.” Don’t be disgusted; they’re probably scared and need someone to confide in — be happy they chose you. Then reassure them that they will be okay and show them ways they can get medical attention. Ultimately, we all have to work together to minimize this stigma surrounding STIs.  

If you or someone you know believes they might have an STI or STD, they can contact Western’s Health and Counseling Center at (503) 838-8313. It’s also a good idea to get checked for STIs and STDs regularly if you are sexually active or were recently, as sometimes they don’t present with symptoms. 

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Infographic by Caity Healy

Where to find late season apple picking farms

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

During the fall season, pumpkin picking isn’t the only autumn activity that’s available. Many farms offer a chance for customers to pick their own apples — whether it’s for recipes, or just a prime photo opportunity. While many have closed down for the season, here’s a few farms that are still open for apple picking.

Beilke Family Farm is located in Brooks at 4925 Rockdale Street NE, and is open through the month of November. The farm offers customers the opportunity to pick their own apples from a variety of 15 different varieties. They call their trees ‘dwarf trees,’ as they cut them to make sure they remain at a reasonable height for both adults and children to be able to reach. Twenty-five apples fill a bucket, and each bucket costs $12. If a visitor buys 10 buckets, the 11th one is free.

Currently, Beilke Family Farm is hosting an event called the Largest Apple Contest, where the customer that brings in the largest apple will win three free buckets of apples.

The farm is open on Monday–Saturday from 8 a.m.–6 p.m, and on Sundays from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. More information can be found on their website, beilkefamilyfarm.com.

Green Bridge Gardens, located at 3730 Jefferson Scio Dr SE in Jefferson, has not only apples available, but peaches, tomatoes, strawberries and peppers for customers to pick. Customers must bring their own containers to fill at this location, and availability of produce changes daily.

In addition to their u-pick produce, Green Bridge Gardens has a variety of jams, spreads and syrups for customers to purchase as well. They’re open daily from 9 a.m.–6 p.m., and can be found at their website, greensbridgegardens.com. The farm recommends following their Facebook page for updates on u-pick availability.

Three Cedars Farm has fresh apples each day for customers to pick up. Located at 5751 Wallace Rd NW in West Salem, their farm stand has apples available for $1 per pound, or a 20-pound box for $12. Additionally, they have fresh pressed cider obtainable for $8 a gallon or $5 for a half-gallon. Three Cedars Farm stand is open from dawn until dusk, and further information can be found on their Facebook page.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Step-by-step processes of fall inspired makeup

Ashlynn Norton | Digital Media Manager  Alyssa Martin | Freelancer  Cora McClain | Editor in Chief

 

Ashlynn:

Look #1 – The every day/night look to fall for

This is one of my go-to looks for fall. For me, it’s really fast and easy. I find that as a person with glasses, my makeup can get hidden by the shadows of my glasses, so going a little darker keeps my makeup from disappearing. 

 

Products:

MaryKay Eyeshadow: Auburn

Mary Kay Eyeshadow: Coal 

Milk Kush Mascara

 

Step 1: Take any copper color (I used Mary Kay’s “Auburn”). Put the color on your eyelid and take it a little above the lid.

Step 2: With black eyeshadow (I used Mary Kay’s “Coal”), take your finger and swipe the color onto your eyelid. I find that when applying a single color to your eyelid, using your finger really helps pack the color on, in comparison to using a brush. Alternatively, if you don’t want to use black, a dark brown would work just as good.

Step 3: I like to finish this off with winged eyeliner and my favorite mascara by Milk.

Optional: I think this look pairs well with a nude brown lipstick, but would also go well with a dark brown or red.

 

Look #2 – The punk/more colorful autumn

I love super colorful makeup. I was inspired by the amazing fall sunsets to create a look that is a little more on the colorful side but is also still pretty simple. This look is great for pretty much everyone.

 

Products: 

BH Take Me Back to Brazil Eyeshadow Palette

Milk Kush Mascara

 

Step 1: For this look, you will want to use a lighter copper color and put that on your eyelid and a little above that. (Unfortunately, the palette I used doesn’t have names for the shades so I can’t tell you exactly what colors I used.)

Step 2: Using your finger, take a dark purple and apply that on your eyelid.

Step 3: Take a dark brown shade and put that in your crease to add dimension. 

Step 4: Again, I finish this look off with winged eyeliner and my Milk Kush mascara.

Optional: I really like to finish this off with a bright red lipstick, but this would also look good with a dark brown.

 

Cora:

Look: The just-out-of-the-oven-pumpkin

This is my first experimentation with warm-toned eyeshadow. What started as a fun, bright orange soon turned smokey with a touch of dark brown. Using a bold lip can help balance out the darkness of this look.

 

Products:

Elf Rose Gold – Sunset Eyeshadow : Auburn

Elf Rose Gold – Sunset Eyeshadow : Brown

Elf Rose Gold – Sunset Eyeshadow : Gold

Wet n Wild Matte Lip : A362

Loreal Paris mascara : Voluminous Original 

 

Step 1: Use a light matte auburn color as the base of this look. Cover your lid completely.

Step 2: To add some depth, take a matte dark brown and lightly add the color to the outer edge of your lid and along your crease. If it ends up outside of your eyelid, you can use concealer or foundation to clean up any mistakes once you’re done.

Step 3: Blend the two colors together; this should soften the harsh lines between the brown and auburn and soften the boldness of the brown. Usually this is best done with a soft brush with longer bristles, so I recommend using a blending brush.

Step 4: I like to highlight the middle of my lid in most of my looks, so I use a glittery dark gold to make my smokey eye pop. Highlighting the inner eye with this color can also make your look pop.

Step 5: Finish your eyes off with whatever mascara you like, either a black or brown color can work with this look. I generally like doing this instead of curling my eyelashes since it puts less stress on them.

Step 6 : Use a bold lip to balance out the bold eye, I used the “looking for truffle” color of Wet n Wild. 

 

Alyssa:

Look: The ‘Carmel Apple’ look is perfectly scrumptious to wear day or night……..

I am far from a makeup guru so this look is easy and quick. I like adding a more shimmering color as an accent but you can definitely do this look with a matte finish. 

 

Products:

Lashes – Lash Sensational by Maybelline New York

Lips – 120 Go Wild by Almay 

Eyes – Base: BB Cream-Nude by NYX 

Eyeshadow: A362 Looking For Truffle Velvet Matte Lip Color by Wet n Wild 

Accent Eyeshadow: Color Wonderland Palette (on the ‘Neutrals’ side) by Sephora 

 

Step 1: I use a small soft paintbrush to apply BB cream onto my eyelids but you can use your finger or whatever else works for you. Apply a thin layer of BB cream onto the desired area of the lid just enough to coat the entire area you want. This will help the color stay on the lid. 

Step 2: Dab the eyeshadow onto the base, evenly applying the color onto the lid. I am using a matte lipstick as the eyeshadow, but hey, when it works, it works. Continue applying the color onto the lid until you get the desired brightness. 

Step 3: Apply a small amount of BB cream at the inner corners of the lid and going until a little less than halfway across the lid. This will help the accent color pop out more. 

Step 4: Dab the accent eyeshadow directly onto the new BB cream and blend where the two eyeshadows meet.

Step 5: Apply mascara onto both the top and bottom lashes. 

Step 6: To finish the look, apply lipstick and you are done! Now you’ve got a look that can be both festive and cute. 

 

Contact the authors at amartin17@wou.edu & anorton17@wou.edu

Photos by Ashlynn Norton, Alyssa Martin, and Cora McClain