Mount Hood

Find classic hits in this Valentine’s Day playlist

Add these classic love songs and heartbreaker anthems to a Valentine’s Playlist

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and this season of love can best be enjoyed ⏤ or not ⏤ with music. Jam out with these 40 songs, half being love songs and the other half being heartbreak anthems. These songs can create an upbeat tone during date night or enjoy quality alone time if flying solo this year. Or, hit shuffle, grab some ice cream and see how the night goes. 

The playlist has artists from Etta James, Prince, Cyndi Lauper, Oasis, and all the way to Soulja Boy and The Pussycat Dolls. This lively playlist can add some excitement to this year’s Valentine’s Day, no matter someone’s relationship status. Find the official playlist ready to stream on Spotify @thewesternhowl:

Love songs:

  1. “A Sunday Kind Of Love” — Etta James 
  2. “If I Ain’t Got You” — Alicia Keys 
  3. “Every Breath You Take”— The Police
  4. “Wonderwall” — Oasis
  5. “Cupid’s Chokehold / Breakfast In America” —  Gym Class Heroes
  6. “Kiss Me Thru The Phone” —  Soulja Boy, Sammie
  7. “Tainted Love” —  Soft Cell
  8. “She Will Be Loved” —  Maroon 5
  9. “Hopelessly Devoted To You” — Olivia John-Newton
  10. “Can’t Take My Eyes off Of You” —  Frankie Valli
  11. “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe” —  Barry White
  12. “Let’s Get It On” —  Marvin Gaye
  13. “My Girl” —  The Temptations
  14. “Love Her Madly” — The Doors
  15. “Kiss” —  Prince
  16. “More Than A Woman” —  Bee Gees
  17. “Lucky” —  Jason Mraz, Colbie Callait
  18. “Better Together” — Jack Johnson
  19. “My Stove’s on Fire” —  Robert Lester Folson
  20. “Baby, I’m Yours” —  Barbara Lewis

Heartbreak songs:

  1. “One Is The Loneliest Number” —  Harry Nilsson
  2. “I Hate This Part” —  The Pussycat Dolls
  3. “Everybody Hurts” —  R.E.M.
  4. “Jar Of Hearts” —  Christina Perri
  5. “I’m Not In Love” —  10cc
  6. “What a Fool Believes” —  The Doobie Brothers
  7. “Time After Time” —  Cyndi Lauper
  8. “Heartbreak Hotel” —  Elvis Presley
  9. “I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE” —  Tyler, The Creator
  10. “F*** Being Friends” —  Jessie Reyez
  11. “Bad Religion” —  Frank Ocean
  12. “Sign Of The Times” — Harry Styles
  13. “when the party’s over” —  Billie Eilish
  14. “Someone Like You” —  Adele
  15. “Fix You” —  Coldplay 
  16. “Baby Come Back” —  Player
  17. “Gonna Hurry (As Slow As I Can)” —  Dolly Parton
  18. “I Have Nothing” —  Whitney Huston 
  19. “My Heart Will Go On” —  Céline Dion
  20. “We’ll Meet Again” —  Vera Lynn, Sailors, Soldiers, & Airmen of Mer Majesty’s Forces

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Campus voices

Western students answer the question, “How are you spending this Valentine’s Day?”

Compiled by Stephanie Moschella |‌ ‌Digital Media Manager

Name: Willa Carstensen

Graduating Year: 2025

Major: Business 

“Sleeping ?” 

Name: Kendra Acker

Year: First year

Major: Education

“Single”

Name: Noah Miller

Year: Sophomore

Major: Music Education

“Watching a cute new video by The West of Us!”

Mix up some cocktails with Cupid

Four mixed drinks to whip up for Valentine’s Day

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Valentine’s Day offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy a mixed drink. Celebrate with a significant other or a group of friends, or test bartending skills individually with these four Valentine’s inspired cocktails.

KENTUCKY KISS

Start to finish: 3 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

2 strawberries, sliced

½ ounce lemon juice

½ ounce maple syrup

2 ounces bourbon whiskey

Splash club soda

In an old-fashioned glass, add the strawberries, lemon juice and maple syrup. Muddle well until the strawberries are mashed. Add the bourbon and fill the glass with ice. Stir well.

Add a splash of club soda and, if desired, garnish with a strawberry for serving.

Recipe from thespruceeats.com

RED WINE MILKSHAKES

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Yields: 3 servings

One 1.5-quart container vanilla ice cream

1 cup red wine

4 ounces vodka

Whipped cream, for serving

Maraschino cherries, for serving

In a blender, blend ice cream, red wine and vodka until smooth. Divide between glasses and garnish with whipped cream and cherries.

Recipe from delish.com

SEX ON THE BEACH

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

2 ounces orange juice

2 ounces cranberry juice

1 ounce peach schnapps

1 ounce vodka

½ ounce chambord or grenadine (optional)

Orange slice, for serving

Maraschino cherries, for serving

In a shaker add orange juice, peach schnapps and many ice cubes. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Pour into a glass and fill the glass with ice to the top, and add vodka on top of the ice.

If using chambord or grenadine, in a separate glass, gently mix chambord or grenadine with cranberry juice. Slowly pour this red mixture on top of ice cubes to create an ombre effect. Garnish and serve.

Recipe from flawlessfood.co.uk

VALENTINE’S DAY MIMOSA

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Yields: 4 servings

1 bottle pink champagne, chilled

1 cup pomegranate juice

In each champagne flute, add ¼ cup pomegranate juice. Fill the rest of the way with pink champagne.

Recipe from everydaymadefresh.com

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

Six stay-at-home Valentine’s dates

Unique date ideas for this quarantined Valentine’s Day 

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

For those who usually celebrate Valentine’s Day with an extravagant date night, this year might feel disappointing. But being stuck inside doesn’t mean date nights can’t still be exciting. Hunker down with a significant other and have some fun with these date ideas. 

  • Try cooking each other’s favorite meal, or tackle a new dish with one another. Make a challenge out of it by creating a dinner or dessert with only ingredients currently in the pantry. 
  • Still have the travel bug? A number of museums, aquariums and other popular destinations are offering virtual tours and livestreams. Get immersed in places like the Guggenheim, the Louvre, the Smithsonian, Disney World’s Main Street, the Eiffel Tower, nearby aquariums and more all from the comfort of home. 
  • Partners can get cozy with an at-home camping trip. Pitch a tent in the backyard, or build a blanket fort in the bedroom or living room. Enjoy some s’mores — which can be cooked over a gas stove burner or in the microwave — and hot dogs. After cooking up some goodies, put aside the electronics and enjoy each other’s company under the stars or by candlelight. 
  • Get fancy and host a black tie evening for two at home. Dress up and break out the champagne or bubbly apple cider for a fancy dinner or movie night. 
  • Game nights are a classic, and each new round is unique. Sit down to play a favorite board or card game, or learn a new card game like Egyptian Ratscrew, GOPS or Briscola. Video games are also a fun option — hold a one-on-one match in “Super Smash Bros.” and “Mario Party,” play co-op in “Minecraft,” “Animal Crossing” and “Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes” or host a Jackbox matchup. 
  • Psychologist Arthur Aron presented 36 questions that are proven to generate closeness in partners. Sit down with a partner, friend or even stranger and increase intimacy by discussing these 36 questions as outlined by University of California Berkeley. 

Looking for more ideas? Brainstorm a list of each person’s favorite activities and decide how to spend Valentine’s Day together. 

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

Booze & reviews: “Valentine’s Day”

A comedic romance in the perspective of three drunken reviewers

Kyle Morden | Head Designer

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

“Valentine’s Day” may not have scored high on Rotten Tomatoes, but it sure makes for a great drunk movie night. Read our full reviews in our online issue, which may contain spoilers. Please drink responsibly.

Kyle Morden | Head Designer

This needs to be put out there. If Allie doesn’t say this, SHE IS PISSING WHILE WRITING THIS> 

Love, cheating, thriller, jason, harry styles, queen beyonce, and valentines day — a day full of lonely a– b—–s who somehow get a love interest by the end of the day?? EVEN THIS LITTLE A– 7 YEAR OLD GETS HIS ONWN MOTHER BACK?? “Lmao im 7 and love sick” B—H WHAT ABOUT MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWSEFERSFDRSGFDRGFGFRGdfgfsjhfvsgfsjhghkjfbvdjkbfhjsdbhjvhbfhbhjvbjnkvbjnkfnk?????????fjkhsgjcgkhhbjkhjkgfbgjfhgfxhjgyibfhhsdjkbzakuhks. Btw. military families amitire? Love em. Thank god that military mom came back for her son. Btw tbh i only remember the actors name (bradley cooper hit me up)

Valentines day is a day where a lot of people get f—-d (up to your interpretation uwu)

Ok ok so “valentine’s day” a movie full of twist and turns and sharkboy and lavagirl — without the lava girl and shark. How the f–k do you get two taylors into one movie??? LET ALONE HAVE THEM DATE EACH OTHER??????????????????????

ANNIE HATHAWAT IS OKAY WITH PEOPLE WITH FETISHES, BUT BACK OFF. SHES MINE. SO IS BRADLEY COOPER — HE LOVES ME. B—H

I accidentally deleted my last paragraph, so go watch this movie yourself.

GAY COUPLES ARE THE ONLY COUPLES. ALSO DONT F—–G GROUP ALLIE WITH ME. SHES CRAZy. She said shes rolling, but idk if she means the drug or literally rolling on the floor? Dont do drugs, drink responsibly

How much do i need to type? I dont remember a word count. I KNOW HOW TO FINISH THIS.

Overall review: Let’s get naked~ uwu

Slide into my dms @_kylemorden on instagram 😉

Or contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Okay first of all i was NOT too into this movie i was just having fun. MY ROOMMATE was into it tho

I would like to preface my review with the fact that i know none of the characters names, only taylor and taylor. I am inept when it comes to celebrities

Rotten tomatoes is WRONG, I had an AMAZING time watching this movie even though I was really confused. Who’s at the airport??? Whos barely legal in high school??? I could not tell you I could not

But listen. Really. It’s a fun movie to watch drunk. Tbh itd probably be Bad if I was not intoxicated. But it was cute! It was nice! There was representation! Gay men and single mums! We support them all!!! GAY BRADLEY COOPER!!!!!!!

Even through the confusion i was extremely satisfied w/ the ending. Through the MULTIPLE PG-13 sex scenes, there was still a sweet undertone where everyone got a happy ending uwu Not that I shouvlde expected ANY less from a 2010 rom com. Google “romcom drinking games” and watch this movie, you’ll have a fantastic time.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu or don;t

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

Okay so this what I got from this, please note this is my first time being drunk in my life. There were a lot of straight people but at some point we were gay and it was beautiful. I’m convinced all of these people were stunt doubles cause there absolutely no way all these famous people got together. The stunt doubles failed to give me wolf man and sharkboy there was sex scenes sometimes which was fine but i wasn’t really paying attention because I was busy eating my chili fries there was a little boy with a lot of angst for no reason over a cougar woman In conclustion roses are expensive af, and this mans was throwing them in the lake to feed ducks and thats acceptable.  THE MILITARY MOM CAME BACK AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. Im going to bed 

Dont email me, i wont’ reply email thank you

This week in completely made up horoscopes

The Western Howl Staff

Theme: Romantic Advice!

Aries 3/21-4/19  

Gyrating hips.

Taurus 4/20-5/20

Have you read Killing Stalking? It had a lot of helpful tips

Gemini 5/21-6/20 

Don’t change who you are as a person just to please a crush

Cancer 6/21-7/22

Sometimes, in life and in love, risks must be taken.

Leo 7/23-8/22

Find a sugar daddy on Omegle and call it a day

Virgo 8/23-9/22

Romance is dead. Lie in your grave

Libra 9/23-10/22

Idk Mercury is in retrograde or something, good luck I guess

Scorpio 10/23-11/21 

Honestly just shoot your shot, the worst thing that can happen is they say ‘no,’ right?

Sagittarius 11/22-12/21

get drunk and watch a movie with your partner, RESPONSIBLY

Capricorn 12/22-1/19

You don’t have to be in a relationship right now to know your self worth, let life progress naturally. You might be surprised what comes your way.

Aquarius 1/20 – 2/18

Listen to boyfriend ASMR in the dark and pretend that you’re not lonely

Pisces 2/19 – 3/20

Most times love will lead to tears. I cry everyday anyway so it’s worth the risk.

Western prepares for spring sports season

Western athletics is moving forward with plans to begin a socially distanced season of  games

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

Western’s athletics department has announced the return of spring sports pending any changes from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

“Spring sports — baseball, softball and track — are expected to be allowed to have games/meets starting next month,” said Western’s President Rex Fuller in a spring term email update sent out on Jan. 21. “We don’t know to what degree spectators will be allowed, but if they are, we encourage you to come out and support your WOU Wolves!”

Western is currently the projected host for GNAC championship games for softball and track and field this coming May, according to the GNAC website.

“We are so excited to host the championships this year,” said softball coach Lonny Sargent. “Being able to go to tournaments all summer and most of the fall is a normal year for us and this year that wasn’t possible.” 

Currently, Western’s athletics department is reflective of Phase Two of the National Collegiate Athletic Association revised three-phase plan — the Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Sport. In Phase Two, groups larger than 50 must have measures of physical distancing and sanitization, restricted staffing, workout areas and facilities must be sanitized and nonessential travel is permitted. In preparation for the conference schedule this year, teams will continue with socially distanced practices and personal scrimmage matches. 

“We haven’t been indoors at all this year due to the strict guidelines,” said Sargent. “Since we are an outdoor sport and can stay socially distant from one another, we have been able to have practices.” 

According to Sargent, player safety is a priority.

“Our players wear their masks, all their equipment bags are at least six feet apart from one another and each player is required to do a health check every morning by 10 a.m. on days they will be on campus,” said Sargent.

Traditionally, athletic teams practice as an entire group, but the department has broken the players down into smaller groups. Practices will be held at various times throughout the day to ensure maximum social distancing and limited contact. 

“It’s very exciting,” said sophomore undecided major and Western baseball pitcher Matthew Dunaway. “We’ve been working hard in the fall, and hopefully we play this spring.”

According to Dunaway, the team has been participating in more scrimmages this winter in comparison to fall term. Dunaway explained that players had been assigned to arrive at certain times for small team meetings.

“Our athletic department has put together a great plan and we’ve been able to follow the protocols to ensure safety,” said baseball coach Kellen Walker. “Our players have done a great job of being flexible with changes to practice times and locations. We’ve obviously had to make adjustments to get our work in, we’ve been creative in making sure our guys are staying as healthy as possible while getting back into shape and ready to compete in the upcoming season.”

Going forward into spring term, the GNAC Senior Management Council will be evaluating whether students will be permitted to gather at upcoming functions.

“We hope to have the fans of Monmouth come out and support us this spring,” said Dunaway.

To learn more about the games, visit wouwolves.com/calendar.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

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