October 2020 – Page 5 – The Western Howl

Students participate in traditional sidewalk signing despite COVID

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

In the United States, many colleges have traditional ceremonies welcoming new incoming students. Due to COVID-19, many of these activities have been cancelled per social distancing guidelines.

In spite of COVID, Western upheld its tradition of first-years signing their name on the sidewalk by following social gathering regulations put in place by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Compared to prior years, the 2020 sidewalk signing required students to preregister for the event by selecting Oct. 3 or Oct. 4 to participate in the activity themselves, or have a member of PLUS team sign their name. The students who opted for the in-person option were scheduled fifteen minutes apart to maximize social distancing.

“There’s probably other universities that definitely wouldn’t have the sidewalk signing,” said first-year history major Wyatt Smith. “When I first came here my junior year (of high school) for state track, seeing all the names on the sidewalk was one of the things that drew me here in the first place.”

Smith went on to say that he believes a lot of universities wouldn’t put in nearly as much effort as Western has to ensure students living on campus still have a great time and are able to interact with other students in a safe way.

According to PLUS team, 163 out of the 750 students living on campus preregistered for the event and they as a team are happy to keep the tradition alive.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

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This week in completely made up horoscopes

The Western Howl Staff

Aries 3/21-4/19

Who else is getting up at 6 a.m. to run? Just me?

Taurus 4/20-5/20

Let’s not and say we did…

Gemini 5/21-6/20

Yeah, no I’m going back to bed, later.

Cancer 6/21-7/22

Morsmordre!

Leo 7/23-8/22

FABULOUS JUST FABULOUS

Virgo 8/23-9/22

Mercury is not in retrograde. You can blame Earth for your problems.

Libra 9/23-10/22

Have a lovely cup of tea and talk with a stranger

Scorpio 10/23-11/21

No Scorp…io

Sagittarius 11/22-12/21

Contact the author at smartinez17@wou.edu

Capricorn 12/22-1/19

Salad is just a vehicle for croutons, thanks for coming to my TED Talk

Aquarius 1/20 – 2/18

Don’t mind me, just going to go casually have a breakdown in the men’s room, thanks.

Pisces 2/19 – 3/20

“Suck it up and ask for help” – E.M. 2020

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Disney’s Affinity War

Discussing the controversy of Disney’s casting

Sean Martinez | Copy Editor

Now, I’m going to go on record and say that the most complicated relationship in my life is with Disney. As problematic as it can be at times, I still greatly appreciate the things I gain from it — namely Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar — but I also acknowledge that they have an unhealthy obsession with trying to make it to the top of the box office every year.

Coincidentally, this obsession landed the company in hot water.

Before Disney released 2020’s “Mulan” exclusively on Disney+ in early September, Disney fans attempted to boycott the film. The problem didn’t have anything to do with the fact that Disney launched a more accurate rendition of the story, or the fact there was an Asian female lead character. Rather, the problem had to do with the actress cast as Mulan, Liu Yifei, and her stance on what’s been happening in Hong Kong.

In June of 2019, residents of Hong Kong protested for pro-democracy when Hong Kong attempted to pass a law that would extradite residents of Hong Kong to China. However, things took a turn when the police retaliated. The situation has gotten so violent that protesters had to use umbrellas to shield themselves from tear gas and other chemical weapons.

In response to the police force’s actions, Liu Yifei shared a controversial post on Sina Weibo, a Chinese blog, that read, “I also support the Hong Kong police. You can all attack me now.”

Perhaps what’s most upsetting about this situation is that Disney finally cast a Chinese American woman to star in a groundbreaking film, but some believe the actress they chose does not represent Asian people in a positive light.

Sadly, this is not the only casting problem in 2020; another example is the casting of Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano in “The Mandalorian.”

Again I reiterate: the issue does not concern the fact that Dawson has a mixed diverse ethnic background — it’s about her beliefs.

In 2019, a lawsuit was filed against the Dawson family when they verbally and physically assaulted a transgender man named Dedrick Finley. Instead of facing consequences for her actions, she’s being rewarded by playing one of the most iconic and strong female characters in Star Wars.

I’m sure there are countless more controversial casting decisions that I’m not yet aware of, but regardless, the message remains the same. Disney needs to prioritize casting accurate portrayals of their characters over the amount of money they wish to make. Casting someone who fits the character’s ethnic background isn’t enough. The problem with Yifei and Dawson is that they have no affinity to their respective characters. Mulan would not condone police brutality in her country, and Ahsoka would not assault someone just because they’re transgender.

My intention with this piece is not to persuade anyone to not watch these films. Like I said before, I’m a huge Disney fan, and I’m still going to enjoy watching whatever content they produce; it is because I’m passionate about the characters and stories that Disney has created that I want them to strive to do better and succeed, without a cynical penny being spent.

If Disney can let go of their obsession, and shine a brighter spotlight on characters they’ve misrepresented in the past, they could win back the respect from fans that have left. With a new generation watching these movies, young audiences will have proper role models teaching them valuable life lessons.

Contact the author at smartinez17@wou.edu

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Avatar the Last AirBender: What we can take from a childhood favorite

A review of the show from an adult’s point of view

Brianna Lelieur | Entertainment Editor

Two months into a self quarantine, it seemed like there was nothing more to watch on television. People had rewatched the same old favorite movies and shows, and binged the new ones. Yet, with so much time, it seemed like everyone had seen everything. Furthering that, tensions were definitely beginning to rise with the current state of the world; people were certainly emitting strong emotions and needed something to brighten their day again.

Thankfully, the world got a little brighter on May 15, when the children’s show “Avatar: The Last Airbender” was released on Netflix. After its release, the show exploded in popularity, especially among adult viewers. The show now has an even larger cult following than before; it has inspired thousands of fan creative art projects, merchandise, clothing, music and even food — all within the span of a few weeks since its release date.
Why the huge surge in popularity among adult viewers for a children’s show? Well, as a child who grew up loving “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” I of course admire it for the nostalgia; besides, who doesn’t love a show with characters that can manipulate the environment around them, a story of true friendship and stellar fight scenes? Although, after watching it as an adult, I’ve come to truly appreciate the show not only as a childhood favorite, but also for its writing of the story and characters, its research into the various cultures it’s inspired by, the music that supports the show and the subject matter it touches on.

During my rewatch, here are a few of the things I took from the show. The first is learning to maintain balance and peace within yourself, as this is an essential theme of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” When one aspect of life is out of balance, it entirely falls apart. It’s a genuine human struggle to manage balance, whether physically, mentally or in the everyday world.

Furthering the topic of internal balance, the show weaves elements of spirituality, introspectiveness and meditation. The main protagonist, Aang, is someone with immense special abilities; he can tap into another aspect of the world that not many others can in the show’s universe. He is the bridge between humans and spirits. Meditation is key for him as it allows him to search within his own soul to discover more about his past life and maintain his state of mind. Every time Aang is faced with a dilemma, at most points he meditates on what he is to do and to help him find peace.

Meditation was something I took from the show because, with so much going on in the world, it can be overwhelming and easy to lose focus of what is important to you. I wanted to find a way to start clearing my mind the way Aang practices, whether I’m dwelling on the past or the chaotic world.

There was a quote that resonated with Aang through his journeys from his mentor and great airbender, Monk Gyasto: “we cannot concern ourselves with what was, we must act on what is.”

Despite everything that happened to Aang, he ensured to never dwell on what was or let it haunt him. He makes it clear that with the right self motivation, meditation and support, you can make it through just about everything.

I learned a few interesting facts about the origins of the various bending styles within the show. Each fighting style comes from a different form of real life martial arts. For example, water bending is derived from Tai Chi; earth bending, Hung Gar; fire bending, Northern Shaolin; and air bending, Ba Gua Zhang. Each embodies a very different fighting style, technique, and rule set. For Northern Shaolin, one of the oldest forms of martial arts fighting, it is known to be immensely aggressive and is about long, strong movements that are meant to jab straight through your opponent. Within the Hung Gar fighting style, you are always meant to have a strong fighting stance and be connected to the ground below you for full force in your moves.

This show has become very popular once more because it came again in a notoriously chaotic time, and people needed something lighthearted to help them get through it. This brings us to simpler times and helps us feel relaxed with sunset backgrounds and calming music. The characters make you wish you knew them in real life, and now, everyone wishes they had an Uncle Iroh.

Watching “Avatar: The Last Airbender” as an adult again is both an escape and an actual learning experience. It reminds us of our basic morals that often get lost in translation. Whether it’s learning to ask for help when you need it, spending time with friends and family or simply to appreciate life, make sure to live it up. As Uncle Iroh once said, “life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not.”

Contact the author at blelieur20@mail.wou.edu

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Put some pep in your meal prep

Tips for how to start meal prepping

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Having access to regular healthy meals can be difficult for college students; healthy ingredients can be expensive, and dorm living does not always offer the necessary amenities for homestyle cooking. However, meal prepping offers a great way to save money and eat delicious meals more regularly. Here are some ideas and tips to help get started.

Set aside enough time to make meals; this will depend on how many meals are cooked at once and could take up to a couple hours. Meals can be made for the next three to six days, depending on budget and refrigerator storage space. Collect enough plastic or glass containers or Ziploc bags to store each meal. If possible, buy ingredients in bulk to save money.

If a stove and oven are not accessible, pick foods that can be cooked in a microwave, are precooked or don’t need cooking at all. Potatoes, pasta, rice, quinoa and frozen vegetables are just a few foods that can be prepared in a microwave. Canned meats don’t need any cooking, and rotisserie chicken can be pulled apart and refrigerated for up to four days.

Keep in mind, certain foods will keep better in the fridge than others. Salads keep for about a week, especially when dressing and wet ingredients are layered at the bottom and greens at the top. Quinoa stays good for about a week as well, while rice and cooked potatoes and vegetables can be eaten for about four days. However, if a freezer is accessible, meals can be prepped and kept for much longer — anywhere from two to four weeks.

As for recipes to try, salads are easily customizable and add some variety to a set of meals. Burrito bowls are another meal with lots of choices available. Loaded baked potatoes, or sweet potatoes, are perfectly proportioned on their own for a lunch. If the means are available to cook soups, stews or ramen, there are many different recipes to choose from. For breakfasts, oats, parfaits and wraps are great options.

If this is the first time trying meal prepping, start small with just lunches or dinners, or only prepare a few days at a time. Don’t feel discouraged if a week is missed; as it becomes part of a regular routine, meal prep will get easier.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

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Plan the day away with a planner

How to start using a planner

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

With 95% of Western’s classes being held online for fall term, keeping up with a schedule is more important than ever. Students have to be their own regulators of their study time outside of virtual meetings. A great way to stay on track is by using a planner, and here are some tips on how to use one most effectively.

Start by picking a planner or printing out free planner sheets to put into a binder; daydesigner.com is just one site that offers free sheets in many styles. Pick a layout that has room to detail each class and associated workload. This may look like a weekly layout with columns on the side to expand on what assignments are due.

Next, color code assignments and classes. Use a highlighter or colored pens and markers. Some categories to code by are types of assignments, such as readings, discussion posts and projects, or class — whichever makes more sense personally. Also give a color to other tasks and events, such as work, vacations and trips to the gym or grocery store.

Now it’s time to pull out the syllabus. Write down class meeting times, assignment due dates and quiz and exam dates for the term with desired colors. Then add in other events as far ahead as is known. Finally, find some gaps in which study time for each class can be allocated. It is important to have designated times for studying and completing homework in order to keep up with classes. This time could be half an hour or several hours, but it should be set aside to do classwork uninterrupted.

Starting a planner is the first step, but keeping up with a planner takes more persistence. To help with motivation, check off tasks and days once they are completed. Focus on one to two weeks of work at a time if seeing the entire term at once is overwhelming. Set aside a few minutes a day to check up on upcoming events to make it part of a routine, and always feel free to update the planner as life happens.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.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.

Western’s sidewalk signing adheres to COVID guidelines

This week in completely made up horoscopes

Disney’s Affinity War

Avatar the Last AirBender: What we can take from a childhood favorite

Put some pep in your meal prep

Plan the day away with a planner

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