March 2021 – The Western Howl

Oregon legislators working on passing new legislation that benefits college students

Chris Smith | Freelance write

In every even numbered year, the Oregon State Legislator has a long legislative session.

There are nine bills that directly affect Oregon students ⏤ four of which, if implemented, would bring significant change to Oregon college campuses. These are House Bills 2835, 2919, 2542 and 3012.

(HB 2835) Basic Needs Navigators

Finding aid for basic needs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and others is difficult for anyone. HB 2835 seeks $4–4.5 million for a new staff member at all 17 Oregon community colleges and seven university campuses for both years of the fiscal biennium that is specially trained to assist students navigating these federal aid programs. The staff member will connect and inform students on benefit programs that will increase their academic completion and reduce the hardship of food insecurity.

(HB 2919) Textbook On-Time Adoption

This will require faculty to make textbook information ⏤ including price ⏤ available to students at the time of course registration. This legislation will allow for students to get an idea for the complete cost of a course, thus financially plan better, and incentivize faculty to adopt no to low cost materials to help combat rising textbook prices.

(HB 2542) Mandatory Fees Transparency

Currently, students are billed fees without an explanation for where their money actually goes.

Under the proposed bill, public universities and community colleges are required to prominently display mandatory fees, defining every fee, noting fee expenses, where the money will go and the beginning and end dates of said fee. Additionally, public universities would have to provide the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) a report detailing their compliance with the requirement.

(HB 3012) Student Incidental Fee

The current Incidental Fee Committee statute ⏤ ORS 352.105 ⏤ is vague in its current language. Under this proposed bill student government and administrative roles would be clarified.

As of now, only HB 2835 has had a public hearing but, along with the rest of the bills, is currently in the Oregon House Committee on Education. If approved, all bills except for HB 2835 will go to the house floor for amendments, a floor vote and then sent to the Senate for the same process.

If approved by the required majority vote, the bills will go to the governor’s office to become laws upon her signature.

Contact the author at aswousenate@mail.wou.edu

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Winter storm damages Oregon’s storybook theme park

Enchanted Forest owners plan to reschedule spring reopening

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

Oregon’s family owned fairytale theme park, Enchanted Forest, was hit hard by the mid February ice storm, causing an estimated $500,000 worth of damage.

Already enduring the financial strain brought on by COVID-19, the Tofte family ⏤ the park owners ⏤ intended to reopen on Mar. 19 after holding various fundraisers to get them through the winter season last year. However, the planned grand reopening has been postponed as a result of the ice storm.

According to Susan Vaslev, an owner of the park and daughter of owner Rodger Tofte, this is not the first time the park has endured a weather related disaster.

“The park was through something similar but not as extensive about 12 years ago, also from a big ice storm,” said Vaslev. “This is much worse. It looked like a war zone initially with trees uprooted and limbs and debris so thick you could not walk through the park.”

After being notified by the park caretaker a day after the storm on Feb. 13, Vaslev reported immediately texting contractors the park had worked with in the past, such as Pfeifer Roofing, Dalke Construction and Carter’s Fire and Sprinkler. Over the course of the cleanup initiative, Vaslev said a lot of progress had been made on general cleanup efforts.

“Our own employees have worked for two weeks now on (cleaning up) and cutting trees,” said Vaslev. “Pfeifer Roofing has had crews out there solidly for two weeks repairing extensive damage to roofs. Dalke Construction has been out there daily working on reconstruction and tree/debris removal. (F&W) Fence is working on fences. Bethel Excavating is working on underground pipes. Carter Fire and Sprinkler recharged and inspected our sprinkler system.”

Park staples like Humpty Dumpty and the Witch’s Head were unharmed, however the park’s Kiddie Train was completely crushed by fallen tree limbs and the castle roof covered seating area at the theatre has been damaged. Vaslev reported that the big rides appear to have had only minor damage once all trees were removed.

“Thanks to fundraising like GoFundMe, insurance was paid in full,” said Vaslev. “There is a high deductible and it will not cover everything.”

At this time, the park is not taking volunteers to help with the clean up because, according to Vaslev, Enchanted Forest is not a nonprofit organization and any volunteers would have to be paid.

“Reopening date is unknown at this time,” said Valslev. “Hopefully before summer.”

For more information on Enchanted Forest, visit their website enchantedforest.com or follow them on Instagram @enchantedforest.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

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Dungeon Delving for Dummies: “Ghosts of Saltmarsh”

“Ghosts of Saltmarsh” is Wizards of the Coast’s most boring adventure guide

Stephanie Moschella |‌ ‌Digital Media Manager

For new dungeon masters, “Ghosts of Saltmarsh” is a suitable adventuring guide that lays out the groundwork ahead of time. However, for anyone that has played Dungeons & Dragons more than a handful of times, it is aimed extremely towards newbies and not seasoned players. There are many interesting moving pieces, including a haunted Shadowfell forest and hidden vampires; but, at the end of the day, it falls flat in comparison to some other campaign guides.

With seven adventures and three new factions, there really isn’t a lot of new content in this guide. It is much too similar to the “Tales from the Yawning Portal,” with an assortment of adventures that can be added to any campaign. There isn’t one Saltmarsh adventure that screams “sea pirate shanty.” If anything, things can be taken out from this book and put anywhere else. This guidebook doesn’t convey these adventures well at all, and there is little to no character or story when it comes to these adventures.

If DMs were planning on only running Saltmarsh ⏤ something that I tried to do ⏤ there will be a lot of times where they have to take full and utter control. With the lack of balance between adventures that are played in the lower levels compared to mid-to upper-levels, DMs have to throw a lot of freebies to their players. It’s hard to really push the boundaries of playstyle when it is almost set up for players to fail.

I don’t get why so many people are saying this is a great adventure sourcebook. I know it’s hard to review campaign guides already, but it’s even harder when the book just kind of sucks. The artwork is amazing, and there are some characters that when heavily expanded on, can be great set pieces in a campaign. But that’s just it, it relies too heavily on the DM making choices to change and improve upon characters, which in the end, only the character name is something Saltmarsh provides.

The location of Saltmarsh is cool I guess — the run down coastline town can be an interesting start to campaigns; but, honestly, within the first couple of sessions, it can become extremely small and claustrophobic fast. I just kept thinking about how glad I was for being born in the suburbs right next to a major city.

Overall Review: If DMs use parts of this adventuring guide in their own campaigns, it can add a fun and interesting twist. However, there isn’t anything new presented in this guidebook hence, it can just be dismissed. 4/10 would recommend to DM’s and players alike.

Contact the author at smoschella20@mail.wou.edu

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AppleTV+ presents Billie Eilish’s latest artistic creation

Billie Eilish’s debut documentary is an instant hit with fans

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

It’s no doubt that Billie Eilish continues to dominate the music industry with her creative and haunting music, but this time she took a new approach in highlighting her journey to fame with her debut documentary, “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry.” Released in select theaters and on AppleTV+ as of Feb. 26, the two-and-a-half-hour-long documentary covers everything that fans could want to know about the latest year in Eilish’s life.

Director R.J. Cutler provides an exclusive look at key moments from the crafting of her latest album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” to her subsequent winning of the Big Four awards at the Grammys.

In the documentary’s trailer, which is available on YouTube, the audience can hear Eilish steadily saying, “I look into the crowd, and I see that every single person in there is going through something, and I have the same problems. I was like, ‘Why don’t I turn this into art, instead of just living with it?’”

The film covers Eilish in a way the public hasn’t seen before, showcasing her personal relationships and creative process, along with the quick-paced world of the music industry and the pressure of staying authentic while in a position of superstardom. Viewers can gain a better understanding of her personal life, with the documentary containing vulnerable scenes and conversations with her family, and the toll that fame took on young Eilish’s mental and physical health. The film takes time to address her mental health struggles and battle with self-harm, and how she turns to her music and creative process to combat her depression and suicidal thoughts.

Diving further into her private life, Eilish speaks more on her relationship and breakup with rapper Brandon Adams, also known as 7:AMP, who is nicknamed “Q” through the film. There’s also plenty of footage from her concerts, tours and behind-the-scenes clips in her childhood bedroom turned music studio. At one point in the film, Eilish delves into her creative process with her brother Finneas O’Connell when forming the album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”

By the end of “Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry,” fans can fully appreciate the way director Cutler showcases Eilish’s journey of being an authentic and grounded person, while also being one of the most talked about and heavily awarded music artists in the industry.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, reach out to friends, family or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

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Grab some popcorn and catch these latest local plays

Western presents “Little Prisons: A Series of Short Plays by Portland Playwrights”

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

There are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy the performing arts from home, and local theater events are still happening throughout the year to provide some much needed entertainment. Beginning Mar. 6 Western’s theater students will be live streaming their upcoming event, “Little Prisons: A Series of Short Plays by Portland Playwrights,” which is directed by Jessica Wallenfels. This performance highlights four plays written by local playwrights, all of which will be free to watch. There will also be various streaming methods to accommodate different schedules — some will be pre-recorded, while others will be streamed live.

The plays featured will have a wide range of topics and themes, the titles being: “The Third Prisoner” by EM Lewis, “A Wing and a Prayer” by Josie Seid, “Three Love Songs” by Anya Pearson and “Joy Fricken Hates her Stupid Dumb Room” by Sara Jean Accuardi.

These local art performances can be found on WOUTV and will be available to stream at 7 p.m. on Mar. 6, and will be available on demand until Mar. 8 at midnight. To learn more about the event and to support the local arts, check out the theater department’s Instagram, @woutheatredepartment, or their Facebook page, @WOU Theatre Department.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

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No oven required: two microwavable desserts

Simple and sweet treats to make in the microwave

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Looking for a decadent dessert without the oven and the mess? Simply use a coffee mug and a microwave to serve up a delicious sweet treat. Try these chocolate cake and apple crisp microwave recipes for dessert for one in minutes.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

Start to finish: 6 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

¼ cup all purpose flour

¼ cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

½ teaspoon baking powder

Pinch of salt

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

3 tablespoons whole milk

1 small egg

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ounce chocolate of choice, lightly broken up

1 tablespoon water

In a two cup capacity mug, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Add in melted butter, milk, egg and vanilla. Whisk well to combine. Place the chocolate pieces in the center of the mug, then drizzle water on top of the batter.

Cook in the microwave on full power for one minute and 15 seconds to one minute and 30 seconds. The center of the cake will look wet and shiny while the edges will look set. The cake will fall after it comes out of the microwave.

Let cool for about five minutes, and top with whipped cream, berries or ice cream if desired.

Recipe from cleobuttera.com

APPLE CRISP IN A MUG

Start to finish: 8 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

APPLE FILLING

1 apple, peeled and sliced thin

½ tablespoon melted butter

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon flour

CRISP TOPPING

2 tablespoons softened butter

1 tablespoon flour

3 tablespoons old fashioned oats

1 tablespoon brown sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

In a small bowl, mix apple filling ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together crisp ingredients, working the softened butter in with a fork.

Layer half the apples in a microwave safe mug. Top with half the crisp mixture. Add another layer of apples then the remaining crisp mixture. Place in microwave and cook for three minutes.

Serve warm with optional whipped topping or vanilla ice cream.

Recipe from yellowblissroad.com

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

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Flapjacks food truck now open for breakfast

New Monmouth food truck serves up flippin’ good pancakes and more

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

The Annex food truck lot is finally full, thanks to the brand new Flapjacks truck that opened on Feb. 15. Owner Karna Reynolds cooks up delicious and unique breakfast foods for the Monmouth community.

Originally from Medford, Reynolds moved to Monmouth for a change of scenery.

“I’ve had my food cart for 10 years,” Reynolds said. “Down there, I did tacos.”

Reynolds said it was time for her to venture out. She flipped her menu upside down to serve up something special for her new community in Monmouth.

Flapjacks has something for everyone — from specialty pancakes, to hearty biscuits and gravy, to hot oatmeal, to fruity smoothies, every entree is made to order. Already, the biscuits and gravy and the birthday cake pancakes are their best sellers, Reynolds said. Her homemade biscuits are topped with gravy loaded with sausage, bacon and tons of flavor; it’s her personal recommendation.

Fresh and creative food is what Reynolds prides herself in. Her menu promises high quality ingredients and food “made with love,” and she enjoys experimenting with a variety of fruits, seasonings and other ingredients to give customers something one of a kind.

“We like different as human beings,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds will even throw something new together on a whim, meaning each day may offer a unique menu.

“Today I made a … cinnamon banana swirl pancake,” Reynolds said in regards to her menu that day. “The other day, I came up … (with) a walnut pear pancake.”

For now, Reynolds hopes to grow her business at The Annex. Several years from now, Reynolds has dreams of opening a sister location in Independence — providing the community with the breakfast food truck they want, but small and local enough that she can still run her business independently.

Flapjacks is currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit the food truck at The Annex, 191 Monmouth Ave. N, and stay up to date with Flapjacks on their Facebook page, @Flapjacks.

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.

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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.

What students need to know about current Oregon legislation

Winter storm damages Oregon’s storybook theme park

Dungeon Delving for Dummies: “Ghosts of Saltmarsh”

AppleTV+ presents Billie Eilish’s latest artistic creation

Grab some popcorn and catch these latest local plays

No oven required: two microwavable desserts

Flapjacks food truck now open for breakfast

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