Mount Hood

Homecoming week

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Every year for one week during the fall term, Western students come together to show off their school spirit. From Oct. 21 – 26, the campus was filled with many events, such as trivia games, a carnival and a dodgeball tournament. The week drew to a close with the homecoming football game Saturday, Oct. 26.

The week started with an event called “Paint the Town Red,” hosted by ASWOU. Many different clubs on campus were able to paint the windows of businesses on Main Street in Monmouth. Many clubs participated, including the Native and Indigenous Culture Club, Math Club, Public Health Club, ASL Club and M.E.Ch.A Club. 

On Monday evening, students gathered at Luna’s Café. They ordered drinks, socialized with their peers and got to use coffee to paint their canvases in aa relaxed and creative environment. This “Paint and Sip” event was hosted by Student Engagement. 

A trivia night was hosted Tuesday by the Residence Hall Association in the Summit in the Werner University Center — WUC. The theme for the event was “Under the Sea.” Students teamed up with each other to test their knowledge of ocean facts. There were snacks available for everyone and fun prizes for the winners, some students walking away with items such as a Squishmallow or a blanket. 

The Homecoming Carnival, hosted by Student Engagement, was Oct. 23 and occurred in the Grove. Students milled around the rows of carnival games and won prizes with others joining the long line to get a custom-made airbrushed hat or bag. Meanwhile, other students took full advantage of bounce houses propped up for their leisure. There was also cotton candy, shaved ice and popcorn available. Many people simply walked around and took in all of the sights. During the carnival, students also gathered to help re-paint Western’s emblem onto Church Street. 

“The Homecoming Carnival is one of my favorite traditions,” said Karina Barron, a videographer for the event. 

The club fair — Thursday, Oct. 24 in the WUC — was a great opportunity for students to learn about different organizations and clubs they could join. Tables and posters were set up all around the second floor of the WUC that showcased nearly all of the clubs and organizations that Western has to offer. Some clubs also advertised upcoming events that they were organizing. For instance, Student Veterans of America — SVA — promoted a display in the WUC from Nov. 1 – Nov. 14 of people who currently serve or have previously served in the military. Students can add their loved ones to the display by filling out the Google Form linked in the SVA’s Instagram account. ASWOU, who hosted the fair, helped encourage students to get involved on campus. 

Also in the WUC during the same time as the club fair was an event called “Stop Horsing Around: Cookies and the Code.” Students could pet a miniature horse and eat free Crumbl Cookies while learning about Western’s Code of Conduct. 

Abby’s House hosted a purple-out volleyball game Thursday, where fans showed up dressed in purple to support domestic violence awareness. It was a well-fought game with Western’s volleyball team winning 3–0 against Alaska Anchorage. 

A dodgeball tournament was held Friday in Old PE. The teams were random, and the winners got bragging rights and Wolfie keychains with different animals dressed in Western T-shirts.

Friday night, students gathered around a bonfire for a pep rally while Western’s cheerleaders performed their routines. Students enjoyed good music, the warmth of the bonfire, socialized and observed an energetic cheer performance. Even though it started raining, students still stayed to celebrate their school. Many people commented how the rain made the event even more memorable.

The football game Saturday, Oct. 26 was a lively event, despite the wet conditions. The tailgate before the game was filled with excitement and paired with free food. Before the game started, Western’s choir and band performed the national anthem and the alma mater. The cheers of students and fans could be heard all throughout campus. At halftime, Western’s dance team stepped into the spotlight to perform. Abbi Duhart, a sophomore and member of the dance team, said, “Dancing at the homecoming football game was so much fun, especially with the stands being so full. I love my team and the choreography the officers come up with is amazing.”

Homecoming royalty was also crowned during halftime of the football game. The three winners were Daryn Heim, Amari Hendrix and Malia Fernandez. The homecoming royalty are students who are chosen because they represent the values of Western. 

“Western is a great community and I love what they do for its students,” said Eli Mignano, a sophomore at Western.

Homecoming week was a great way for students to show off their pride in Western. “Having school spirit is important for students. It boosts morale and helps them feel more connected to other students,” said Mignano.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu  

Stephanie Juanillo exhibition

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Stephanie Juanillo’s art display, “Entre Colores: Un Homenaje a la Vida y la Muerte (Between Colors: An Homage to Life and Death),” will be displayed in the Cannon Gallery in Campbell Hall until the end of October.

Featuring various acrylic paintings on canvas as well as an ofrenda — an altar in homage to Juanillo’s abuelito Berna, with candles, marigold flowers and a beautiful painting — the display puts on an equally powerful and beautiful message, honoring family and loved ones who have passed.

According to the Western calendar page, “Stephanie Juanilo’s exhibition … is a personal, bold and colorful exploration of the coexistence of grief and joy and how they both permeate the topics most important to her, such as migration, community, family, loss, distance and intergenerational healing.”

Juanillo, being a first-generation immigrant, utilizes “bold colors, patterns and textures (inspired by) Mexican iconography, Latinx music, past memories, people and nostalgia. The act of creating — whether it be painting, printmaking, collage or installation — serves as a way for Stephanie to stay connected to her Mexican roots.”

Juanillo’s Instagram, @color.obsessed, explores Juanillo’s relationship with art and projects current and past. One post features a painting on display in Cannon Gallery, with Juanillo captioning it: “Flowers have a deep cultural and emotional meaning in the immigrant community, I wanted to honor that as much as possible. This is dedicated to the physical and spiritual connection that many of us experience through nature. What a special way to stay connected to our native homes, family and traditions.”

Another post, featuring a collage piece centering around Juanillo’s abuelito Berna, states, “I wanted to emphasize and capture his joy for life. When I was in Mexico visiting my family, I was always greeted by him with a smile that eventually turned into laughter and then a warm hug. He showed me his plants and took pride in his love. Leaving Michoacán was really hard, but I carry the image of his warm smile and loving spirit in my memory always.”

In the center of the room, facing Berna’s ofrenda and the accompanying installation, a plaque with a typed letter from Stephanie Janillo read: 

“When my father left his home country, he kissed the earth and cried. Days turned into months, months into years, our new life in the U.S. began. Any and every object, song, smell, food that reminded my parents of home filled our house. Distance and borders, both physical and metaphorical, were met with an abundance of my mami’s cooking passed on from her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, soothing our neverending nostalgic void. Our garden, so meticulously cared for by my dad, became a refuge, a beautiful love for flowers and plants. I don’t know when the grief stops, the grief of not watching your parents grow old, of missing out on family celebrations and milestones. The grief of a friend or family member you were not able to say goodbye to and hug for the very last time. I don’t think it ever really stops or goes away because it is an extension of the love we still hold for a person, place and moment in time. So as each November approaches and we get closer to (Dia de los Muertos), I take the time to sit with these feelings. Marigolds decorate our altars and homes, a guide to help the spirit of those who have passed find their way back home. The souls of our loved ones return in the form of a monarch butterfly. Photographs and favorite foods of the dead adorn the ofrendas. Stories are shared, (life that was lived and is yet to live is celebrated and cries and laughter synchronize. I’m reminded that) to love and to be loved is a gift and one of the greatest honors we get to experience as humans. I’m reminded of the value, power and resilience of keeping traditions alive.

So I ask you, if you had to leave your home today, if you had to leave your family, friends and everything you’ve ever known and loved, what would help you stay connected? What memories would you preserve? What pictures would you decorate your new home with? How would you (spend your last week with those you love? What would you leave unsaid? What would become a) physical representation of your grief and longing? How would your definition of home change?

May this show be a love letter to my family and all of the immigrants who are forced to leave their homeland. Their story and their sacrifice are always with me and woven into every piece I make. (May this show be an invitation for you to love more intentionally, to celebrate life and sit) with whatever grief you are currently experiencing.”

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu.

Friends and where to meet them

Written by: Taylor Duff | Lifestyle Editor

Making friends in today’s world is difficult with everyone glued to their phones for a sense of belonging and interaction. There are a few alternatives to making friends, or at least trying to, that aren’t boring or scary and will help build meaningful connections. 

Firstly, if in-person isn’t the immediate go-to, many apps such as Bumble BFF and Friender have people who are in similar situations looking for friends. These apps allow users to display their interests and preferences clearly and safely to help find similar people. Other apps like Eventbrite, Meetup and Facebook groups target in-person interaction with a larger group setting to allow for multiple people at once to get to know each other at an event they all have an interest in. 

Functions such as paint and sips, trivia nights, speakeasies, pottery classes, cooking classes, bingo and many more introduce fun and crafts to socializing. It all depends on what an individual wants to explore and can open the door for meeting new people. Social media communities, such as Discord, are also very accessible. 

Work may not be the easiest place to navigate, but making friends with co-workers can potentially allow for friendship in and outside of the workplace. If there are charity events or potlucks through work, that is a great place to further that connection. There is also networking for employees to learn about upcoming events and introduce themselves to higher-up employees.

Learning environments that offer plenty of opportunity for conversation, like taking up a new pastime in a classroom, are also excellent options and may be simple for oneself. Taking classes in-person or online gives students a chance to interact with each other and learn. 

Clubs such as book clubs, chess clubs and writers groups hold many event spaces for people to interact and get to know each other. In a similar space, if an individual is looking for a spiritual environment, there are many church events or groups held frequently. One could look for charity events or volunteering spaces to meet people, but also to help those in need. Charity events may include fundraisers and 5k marathons, and there are volunteering opportunities like helping at shelters for people and animals, beach clean-ups and food banks. 

Fitness clubs are also great opportunities to socialize while also working on fitness goals. Many gyms have different group classes such as Zumba, yoga, pilates, cycling and tennis, to name a few. This allows people to create a community within the gym and enjoy working out.      

Overall, finding friends takes a bit of searching and many conversations. It can be challenging with the rise of social media, but taking one step at a time and looking in the right places could be a great start. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Sweet like candy

Written by: Taylor Duff | Lifestyle Editor

Every year children knock on strangers’ doors to get that delicious sweet treat, and sometimes that treat is hit or miss. People browse the candy aisle at their nearby Walmart and see that there are so many options to choose from, but which are the best? What candy will kids stash so that their parents won’t take any? That is where this list comes in handy and the results might shock many.  

S++ Tier — 

  • Full-size candy bars of any kind

S Tier — 

  • Reese’s, specifically the ones in the gold wrapper, also known as the miniature cups; don’t get any of the shaped Reese’s; they are different from regular Reese’s 
  • Kit Kats, but the snack size, and the chocolate-to-crisps ratio is where it’s at
  • Snickers 
  • Gummy bears 
  • Butterfingers 
  • Twix 
  • Lindt brand Lindor truffles 

A Tier —

  • Snickers Peanut Butter 
  • Peanut Butter M&Ms 
  • Peanut M&Ms 
  • Crunch
  • Simply Caramel Milky Way
  • Sour Skittles 
  • Swedish Fish 
  • Trolli Sour Bite Crawlers 

B Tier —

  • Starburst 
  • Cookies and Crème Hershey’s
  • Whatchamacallit 
  • Sour Patch Kids 
  • Caramel apple suckers 
  • White Kit Kats
  • Life Savers gummies
  • Reese’s Pieces 
  • Werther’s originals 
  • Ghirardelli squares 
  • Ring Pops 
  • Pixy Stix

C Tier —

  • Milky Way
  • Smarties 
  • Hershey’s 
  • Hershey’s Kisses 
  • Almond Joy 
  • Rolos 
  • 100 Grand 
  • Nerds clusters 
  • Heath bars 
  • Rucker’s molasses peanut butter candy 
  • Strawberry hard candies 
  • Dove chocolate 
  • Blow Pops 

D Tier —

  • Skittles 
  • Airheads 
  • Dum-Dums 
  • Tootsie Rolls
  • M&Ms 
  • Peppermint patties 
  • Paydays 
  • Nerds
  • Tootsie Pops 
  • Fundips 
  • Jolly Ranchers 
  • Baby Ruths 
  • Mike and Ikes 
  • Runts 
  • Atomic Fireball round cinnamon candies
  • Chick-O-Stick 
  • Warheads 
  • Lemonheads 

Trash Can — 

  • Whoppers 
  • Candy corn 
  • Raisinets 
  • Mounds 
  • Three Musketeers 
  • Milk Duds, because they get stuck in your teeth 
  • Bit-O-Honey 
  • Dots 
  • Reese’s Take 5
  • Sno-Caps
  • SweeTARTS
  • Twizzlers 
  • Bottlecaps  
  • Jelly beans 
  • Gobstoppers 
  • Red Hots 
  • Sugar Babies 
  • Good & Plenty 
  • Hot Tamales 
  • Laffy Taffy 
  • Life Savers 
  • Apples 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

This week in entirely made up horoscopes…

The Signs’ Halloween Costumes

Aries: Lady Gaga dressing up as Lady Gaga

Taurus: The Queen of Hearts

Gemini: probably some version of Chappell Roan

Cancer: An inflatable shark costume

Leo: Birthday suit

Virgo: Knight armor that they smithed themselves

Libra: The Lorax who in fact speaks for the trees 

Scorpio: A dark, brooding shadow daddy

Sagittarius: Peter Pan because they’ll never grow up

Capricorn: Octavius from Night at the Museum

Aquarius: Jedediah from Night at the Museum 

Pisces: A hippy grandma that smells like pee

9-1-1, what’s your emergency?

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

“The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.” These are the opening lines of the 1951 radio show “Dragnet,” a program that followed the Los Angeles Police Department — LAPD — Detective Joe Friday and his partners as they conducted police work and solved crimes in the greater Los Angeles area. The show’s name was derived from the police term “dragnet,” which are measures used for apprehending criminals and suspects. 

“Dragnet” is considered to be the first police drama on any broadcasting format, and eventually evolved into a TV show. Other shows, like “Hawaii Five-O” and “Columbo,” soon came after and became more popular and iconic than their predecessor. 

“Hawaii Five-O” and “Columbo” occasionally resorted to outlandish premises and many fans have said that the acting and production were hardly ever on par, especially when compared to today’s shows, but the nostalgia factor is usually what brings people back to watch them again and again. After all, many people grew up watching reruns with their parents or grandparents and watched the remakes when they were released. 

The series “Blue Bloods” gained popularity in 2010, following a family involved in different aspects of law enforcement. This series introduced more personal storylines into the world of crime dramas, especially with family members working alongside each other in a dangerous line of work. 

Of course, the world of police and first responder dramas has evolved since the days of Detective Friday, with shows like “9-1-1” and “The Rookie” being two of the more popular modern shows. 

In 2023, broadcasting companies NBC and ABC had a combined number of seven first responder dramas on their channels, playing both reruns and new episodes. 

The most popular of these seven shows is the “One Chicago” franchise on NBC, which includes “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med” and “Chicago P.D.” In 2023 alone they amassed a combined total of 50 million viewers. 

“Growing up we’d watch them back-to-back-to-back when a new episode came out,” said Michael Hager, a former Western student. “My dad would usually record them so we could watch them all at once.”

Medical dramas are usually at the forefront of fan favorites, like “Grey’s Anatomy,” which has racked up 24 seasons since it first debuted in 2005 and has led to the spin-off show, “Station 19,” following the Seattle Fire Department. Police and first responder shows have become equally as popular, especially in recent years. So what makes these shows so entertaining?

For one, they typically focus on an “emergency of the week” type of storyline, which offers thrills meant to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. S3E02 of “9-1-1,” for example, follows the LAPD and the Los Angeles Fire Department — LAFD — as they respond to a tsunami hitting Santa Monica Pier, and the stakes are elevated when one of the LAFD’s own becomes caught in the disaster while off duty. 

But the other reason shows like this have become so popular in the media is the way they offer insight into the lives of firefighters, police officers and 9-1-1 operators. Fans watch on-screen romances bloom, see rivalries become born of pure spite and even have to say goodbye to their favorite characters when they are written or killed off. 

One interesting thing of note is that first responder dramas are not simply limited to firefighters, cops and emergency services, they extend to shows like “Baywatch,” “NCIS” and “Bones,” which are shows that don’t fit the traditional sense of a first responder or medical drama. Even the popular children’s cartoon “Paw Patrol” is considered a first responder drama, seeing as it has cartoon dogs responding to local emergencies. 

Movies are even included on lists that are a majority of TV shows. “Mission: Impossible,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” and the “Kingsman” franchise are considered to be among some of the best first responder shows, even if they are mostly situated within the crime drama genre. In the ’60s and ’70s “Mission: Impossible” and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” started as TV shows, and it wasn’t until their movie counterparts were released in the 2010s that they gained a resurgence in popularity. After all, Tom Cruise is pretty cool as Ethan Hunt in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise. 

Most of these shows follow the idealized representation of the police force and other first responders and often utilize the “Rule of Cool” trope, which is the principle that allows for implausible or unrealistic elements to be included in the show if they are considered cool or interesting.

For example, in “The Rookie,” two of the most common events to happen are the kidnapping or assault of LAPD officers and detectives. This occurs at least once or twice a season among the main cast of characters and is also common in other first responder and crime shows. 

However, the FBI reported that in 2023, 60 officers were either assaulted or killed in the line of duty nationwide. While this does not account for the frequency of the kidnapping trope, it does show that the trope of officers being assaulted in the line of duty is not as common as these shows might suggest. 

For as often as these shows use the “Rule of Cool,” they do exhibit diverse stories. The main character in “The Rookie” is John Nolan, played by Nathan Fillion, who joins the LAPD as a rookie in his 40s. One of the main characters in “9-1-1” is Henrietta ‘Hen’ Wilson, an African American lesbian who has a foster child and attends medical school when she is not at the fire station. These shows do not write these characters for the sake of inclusivity, but rather to showcase how truly diverse police forces, fire stations and public safety answering points are. They are simply just people. 

Perhaps that is why modern crime and first responder shows have become so popular. The diverse stories they share help viewers see themselves as everyday heroes, and just maybe they will decide to enter the line of duty themselves.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu 

Hoop & Howl

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

Western men’s and women’s basketball programs shared the stage for the Hoop & Howl event Oct. 11. The night started with player and coach introductions, with the crowd raving in response. Notably, senior guards Bella Pedrojetti and Jason Gallant received favorable ovations from the audience as they walked onto the court to their selected songs. 

Fans were able to watch and even join in on some of the events on Friday night. The men’s and women’s basketball teams competed in a series of events — skills challenges, a three-point challenge and a dunk contest. 

During the skills challenges, players from each team were instructed to choose two individuals from the stands to help them take home the win. The fans that were chosen were happy to be picked and also spread a competitive spirit throughout the gym. They started by making a layup, a free throw and one three-pointer. From there, they began dribbling around a series of cones and then had to finish with another three-pointer to solidify the victory. 

After the skills challenges finished, Wolfie, Western’s school mascot, decided to get in on the action. Two fans from the audience were chosen to race Wolfie to halfcourt and back and, let’s just say, Western’s spirit animal took a big tumble. To wrap up the first sequence of events, the winners ended up leaving with more than just a smile on their faces — they were given an exclusive Hoop & Howl shirt for their performances and willingness to step up. 

The second half of events involved a three-point shootout. The men’s team was on one side of the court while the women’s team was on the other. The players were given five shots on five different spots around the three-point line, with one of these spots being a money ball rack. Each made shot counted as one point, but the money ball rack was especially important because the shots made at that spot counted as two points. 

On the women’s side, freshman guard Brianna Badonie got off to a hot start, scoring 15 points in the first round. Shortly after, senior guard Bella Pedrojetti responded with 15 points, forcing Badonie and Pedrojetti to compete in a tiebreaker. Both players chose two spots on the court to shoot from and attempted five shots from each. It was a close battle, but Pedrojetti took home the win after making six out of her ten total shots. On the men’s side, junior guard Carson Frinke scored 17 points,  allowing little room for any of his teammates to combat. Freshman Mario Williams Jr. put up a fight, but nobody was able to reach Frinke’s score, declaring him the winner.

The dunk contest, the most anticipated event of the evening, included contestants junior forward Anjay Cortez, junior guard Makaio Mims, sophomore guard Makaio Morphy and sophomore forward Hawthorn LaPierre. Although there were four competitors, one was able to shine above the others. In round one, the six-foot-eight-inch forward, Cortez, threw down a 360 alley-oop dunk from his teammate Gallant. This received a total of 49 points out of 50, making it a tough score to beat. Morphy and LaPierre showed off their impressive jumping ability in round one, but Mims threw down a reverse dunk that allowed him to surpass the two sophomores. The final two contestants boiled down to Mims and Cortez. Mims received a score of 45.8 after stuffing in a 360 off the backboard alley-oop that left the crowd in shock. Surprisingly though, his score was not enough to match what Cortez brought to the table. For his final dunk, Cortez performed an under-the-legs dunk that was so impressive it led to a perfect score of 50 from the judges. After a great showing from the contestants, the high-flying forward Cortez took home the dunk contest title. 

Lastly, the winner of the men’s three-point contest battled against the winner of the women’s three-point contest to showcase the better shooter. Carson Frinke and Bella Pedrojetti are both sharpshooters from long range, but only one of them could come out on top that night. The same rules applied — five shots at five spots with a money ball rack — and the two shooters proceeded to go at it. Frinke was on fire, only missing three out of his first ten shots. In contrast, Pedrojetti started slow but began to heat up around her second spot, and from there she didn’t slow down. Despite finishing with a score of 18, Frinke came up short and Pedrojetti’s insane performance of 20 points led her to victory.

When Alex Saindon, the assistant coach for men’s basketball, was asked about his thoughts on the event, he stated, “I think it was a great experience. Hoop & Howl is an important tradition here at Western, and I’m excited to see it grow from here … go Wolves.” 

Overall, Hoop & Howl was a great way to generate more fans to come out and support both the men’s and women’s teams as they start their seasons.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Dodgers take down the Padres

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

The Los Angeles Dodgers took down the San Diego Padres to advance in the Major League Baseball playoffs Oct. 11. 

The 2024 National League Division Series between the two California teams came to an electrifying end in Game 5, with the Dodgers securing a 2-0 victory and advancing to the National League Championship Series — NLCS. The game was defined by dominant pitching and crucial moments that made it an intense and thrilling match from start to finish.

Coming off a difficult Game 2, Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a stellar performance on the mound, pitching five scoreless innings. Yamamoto bounced back impressively, allowing just two hits while walking one and striking out two. He kept San Diego’s lineup at bay, silencing stars like Manny Machado and Fernando Tatís, who were crucial to the Padres’ success in earlier games.

The game remained tight, with both teams’ pitchers going at it. Padres ace Yu Darvish was equally impressive, keeping the Dodgers’ offense quiet for most of the game. He went six strong innings, allowing just two runs while striking out four. He even struck out Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who went hitless in the game. Despite his efforts though, it was not enough to overcome what the Dodgers brought to the table.

The Dodgers managed to break through in the second inning when Kiké Hernández launched a solo home run off Darvish’s pitch, giving his team an early 1-0 lead. It was Hernández’s second home run of the series. Darvish took that home run personally however and managed to keep the Dodgers scoreless until the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Teoscar Hernández delivered the game’s final blow with a solo shot to left field, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 advantage. This was his second homer of the series against the Padres, and it came at the perfect time. 

Relief pitchers Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia shut down the Padres in the late innings, with Phillips striking out key hitters like Machado and Jurickson Profar. The Dodgers’ bullpen was nearly flawless, closing out the game and the series without allowing a run. 

Unfortunately for the Padres, their offense, which had been explosive earlier in the series, went stagnant when it mattered the most, and the Dodgers punched their ticket to the NLCS. This Game 5 victory was a testament to the Dodgers’ depth and ability to perform under pressure. They now move one step closer to their World Series ambitions.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Remembering Lindsay Babb

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

Content Warning: this article contains mentions of domestic violence

In the fall of 2001, while she was president of the Oregon Sports Union, also known fondly as ORSU, Toni Fujiwara started a Women’s+ only collegiate rugby tournament, intending to show the team’s facility and introduce college players to the next level of rugby. 

The tournament ran at the beginning of the spring season, with non-rugby games between matchups and awards given to those who embodied the spirit of rugby. The teams had a social afterward, and ORSU connected with the college players to help them with the transition to the club level of play. 

This then evolved into the Jesterfest Tournament in 2005, an inheritance from the ORSU collegiate tournament which the club ran in the ’90s and 2000s. 

In 2005, the University of Oregon was still a relatively new club, and it was where Lindsay Babb played her collegiate career. She graduated with a sociology degree and continued her rugby career with ORSU. In Babb’s time with ORSU, the team went to their first Sweet 16 in a National tournament in 2006, a number six ranking nationally in 2007 and a membership in the brand new Women’s Premier League in 2009. 

“Babb and a few other college players joined ORSU in our epic bus tours to Canada for the Abbotsford Tournament and knew on that trip that ORSU was the club for them,” Fujiwara said. “Babb was such a bright light, both on and off the field. She was a tenacious competitor and the best of teammates.” Fujiwara credited Babb as a major part of creating the vibrant culture at ORSU. 

Unfortunately, tragedy struck  June 22, 2010. Babb was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in an extreme act of domestic violence the morning after she broke up with him. Five days later, Babb’s killer was charged with domestic violence murder. “Even in the end, Lindsay didn’t think her life was in danger,” said Mike Babb, Lindsay Babb’s father, at the sentencing.

That year, the rugby community across the entire nation came together in memory of Babb. For the 2010-2011 season, almost every team in the Womens’ Premier League wore a unicorn — ORSU’s mascot — on their sleeve to honor Babb. “It was a reminder that our community is so strong and truly has each other’s back, through thick and thin,” Fujiwara said. 

In 2011, the club renamed Jesterfest to Babbfest, keeping Babb’s memory and impact alive. It’s not about winning the tournament, but instead bringing the rugby community together for a day full of joy.

The tournament features speakers and sessions from Raphael House of Portland — Portland’s shelter for survivors of domestic violence — and Rose City Self-Defense, where Fujiwara works as the Youth Coordinator. Part of the proceeds from Babbfest are donated to Raphael House in continued support of survivors of domestic violence. 

“When we talk about (being) prepared to defend ourselves in the line of work I do, I always remember that you can be the most prepared, you can know how to defend yourself, you can be the toughest of tough people and the reality is it can happen to anyone,” Fujiwara said.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

What does OSU have that Western doesn’t?

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Reser Stadium, packed to the brim with orange and black, was full for the 2024 homecoming football game — and as a Wolf, I had no business being in the stands, but I was anyway. A friend invited me at the last minute when she scored an extra ticket and needed someone to accompany her and I volunteered, despite not knowing much about football or Oregon State University.

I was, however, shocked by the stadium’s student section, a sold-out sea of color, all moving with one another. We weren’t jammed in with them — I’m not a Beaver — but instead by a lot of former alumni, also chanting in tandem.

The game proceeded with a marching band, the school’s chamber choir and fireworks — literal fireworks — exploding over our heads after the national anthem. I was dumbfounded by the extravagance.

The massive screen to our right flashed camera shots of the crowd, students I recognized and didn’t. As an Oregonian, born and raised, a lot of my peers from high school eventually moved on to Oregon State, and, before I found Western, I expected to as well. After all, my dad went here, his dad went here — where else would I go?

There were fog machines, giveaways during breaks, two mascots, a massive cheer team and an even larger football roster. I took a photo for the two men in front of me, father and son, excited to be back at an OSU game, and looked around as other alumni recognized each other and connected again after years. And, honestly, we had a great time. The crowd was wild, the lights were blinding and the game was fun to watch.

And I thought: why aren’t Western football games like this? Or, better, why don’t they feel like this?

There’s the obvious, the sheer magnitude of OSU students and seemingly endless funding. That’s not something we can put on Western, nor the city of Monmouth for its smaller infrastructure — in turn, Western gains a lot from its close-knit feel and walkable campus, as well as the safety aspect of the school, with Monmouth being one of the safest cities in the state.

OSU’s shiny football games are well-known and televised, often discussed in the area, and especially the known rivalry games between the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. If you grew up here, you’ve probably been asked: are you a Duck or a Beaver?

They’re undoubtedly entertaining and central to the OSU culture, which appears far different from our beloved Western’s — especially in regard to party culture. OSU’s rampant binge drinking standard at events is infamous and lethal.

Supposedly, OSU suffers from a lack of personal connection between not only students but professors and their classes due to class size. On top of that, it may be well-kept, but it’s not as easy to navigate or cross campus on time. I’ve also heard reports of mediocre professors, not even to mention the monstrous price tag tacked on tuition. One of my Beaver friend’s classmates recently admitted to dropping out of OSU due to the cost, something that no person should ever have to do when pursuing higher education.

It makes me feel immensely grateful for Western’s resources and high acceptance rate. I’ve been offered a lot of financial aid, as well as exceptional staff who have been nothing short of supportive and passionate. Some of my professors work two jobs — not because they need to, but because they love teaching at Western. Besides that, I love the campus, the red brick of the buildings, the squirrel epidemic and the small class sizes. I get to learn first-hand, I can communicate with professors who know my name and I get to work here, for the newspaper on campus. And, if I wanted to, I could ride a bike on campus and expect it to remain where I left it — unlike at OSU, with its theft and parking shortage problems. Oh, man, the parking over there — expensive, with poor parking services and senseless fees and parking zones.

The job opportunities at Western are endless, chasing ever-growing accessibility and promoting diversity in each department.

I adore my major in American Sign Language studies and love mentioning the program to students at other universities. That was the whole reason I came here, but it’s not the only reason I stayed. I tacked on communications as a major due to its flexibility and online class availability with the help of an advisor, finding my footing finally in my third year of college.

I once felt that Oregon State University was the only option. Western worried me; I was worried I wouldn’t make connections that last or “have fun” the way the student section did at the OSU homecoming game. But fireworks can’t cover up an insane price tag, non-learning culture or unbearable parking services, no matter how shiny.

We left at halftime, a little hazy from the extreme volume and a bit tired. I was glad to return home and to resume my classes the following week, at a college that was taking care of me as well as all of my classmates and their professors and staff. I shed my borrowed Beaver gear, handed it back to my friend and bid farewell to a school I was better off without.

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu.

Domestic violence awareness

Written by: Taylor Duff | Lifestyle Editor

Content Warning: This article discusses violence, abuse, and sexual assault. 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month — DVAM — which was established in 1987 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. It is meant to raise awareness of domestic violence, assist survivors and push services and policies to prevent abuse. Educational activities, campaigns, ceremonies, fundraisers and collaborations between charities, local governments and communities are held throughout the month. Domestic violence became more widely recognized in the United States throughout the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to the feminist movement and the establishment of shelters for battered women. Domestic violence — DV — also known as intimate partner violence, is a pattern of violent behavior used by one person to gain or maintain control and authority over another in a relationship. It can happen to anybody regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. Teen dating violence refers to intimate partner violence that occurs throughout adolescence. 

Approximately 16 million women and 11 million men who reported intimate relationship abuse said it started before the age of 18. 1 in 10 men in the United States has suffered contact sexual abuse, physical abuse or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lives, and have reported some type of domestic violence-related harm. People from marginalized groups, such as racial and ethnic minorities, are more likely to experience DV. 

Some stats that shine a light on how common DV is are:  

– In the United States, 1 in every 3 women and 1 in every 4 men may experience physical abuse, sexual assault or stalking from a romantic partner at some point in their lives. 

– 1 in every 5 women and 1 in every 71 men have been raped at least once in their lives, most commonly by an intimate partner. 

– In the United States, around 20 people are physically assaulted by their intimate partners every minute, resulting in over 10 million victims yearly.

– Every year, 1 in every 15 children are subjected to domestic abuse, with 90% of them witnessing it firsthand.

Further, DV is a contributing factor to homicide in America: 

  • 1 in every 5 homicide victims in the United States is murdered by an intimate partner.
  • More than half of female killings are perpetrated by a current or previous intimate partner, and this percentage increases if they are pregnant.

As domestic violence is so prevalent, raising awareness is the most important thing individuals can do. Domestic violence can take many forms. Physical violence includes acts that inflict bodily harm such as punching, slapping or choking. Harassment, threats, humiliation and ongoing criticism are examples of emotional or psychological abuse. Sexual abuse is defined as pushing or coercing someone into unwanted sexual activity. Financial abuse refers to manipulating someone’s finances to limit their freedom. Digital abuse is defined as utilizing technology to stalk, harass or take over a relationship. 

Individuals who are in abusive relationships often tend to stay within the relationship due to fear of what might happen if they leave, such as further abuse, isolation from resources such as family or friends, financial dependence they have on the abuser, uncertainties regarding child custody if they have kids and the abuser’s methods of manipulation used to control them, making leaving appear extremely difficult or even dangerous. It is believed that domestic abuse victims miss over 8 million days of paid work annually, costing the US economy more than $8 billion in missed income, medical care and legal costs. Worse, only 34% of those harmed by intimate partners obtain medical attention for their injuries. 

Domestic violence is a nationwide issue that was only identified as a societal concern less than 40 years ago. Since Domestic Violence Awareness Month was founded, several activities and organizations have raised awareness among the public. The purple ribbon is DVAM’s official symbol, reflecting victims’ strength, survival and hope. Developing healthy, respectful and nonviolent relationships and communities can assist in minimizing the prevalence of violence against partners. It can also mitigate the negative and long-term consequences of domestic violence on people, families and communities. 

Many events, such as community walks or runs, are organized to raise awareness and finances for shelters and services. Social media initiatives allow for the sharing of information and encourage discussion. Workplace awareness programs train employees on how to spot abuse and assist the victims. Many candlelight vigils promote hope for change as survivors of DV gather to mourn the memory of those who were lost as a result of domestic violence. Domestic Violence Awareness Month continues to be an essential resource for survivors and raising awareness about the ongoing issue of domestic abuse. The objective is to inspire individuals, communities and elected leaders to act together to create a society free of fear and abuse.

There are many programs and resources available for individuals who are seeking help.

If you or someone you may know is suffering from domestic violence please contact 

Center For Hope And Safety Hotline: 503.399.7722 | 866.399.7722 (toll free) Website: www.hopeandsafety.org 

Polk County Victim Assistance Phone #: 503.623.9268 ext.3

Sable House Crisis Hotline: 503.623.4033 Website: www.sablehouse.org 

National Domestic Violence Hotline  800.799.7233 or Text BEGIN to 88788 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Wolf Ride

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

WOLF Ride is a Safe Ride program that any student can use as a form of transportation anywhere in Monmouth and Independence. It can accommodate up to six passengers in the WOLF Ride van. “The student fees that they pay alongside tuition goes towards WOLF Ride, so they get to utilize WOLF Ride completely free during their operating hours,” said Cameron Mortensen, who oversees the Wolf Ride program. The operating hours for the program are Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. For students who need rides during the day, it is available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Having a program like WOLF Ride on campus is integral to helping students feel safe. “Especially now as it starts getting darker earlier if they’re coming back from class, if they live off campus, or if they need to do something off campus and then come back, they have a safe way of doing that,” said Mortensen. 

WOLF Ride also helps students who don’t have a vehicle on campus. “It gives students more flexibility. It gives them more autonomy,” said Mortensen. “From an accessibility standpoint, we do have a wheelchair lift in the van, so for students who need to utilize that it could be a more easy and accessible way to get to where they need to go.” WOLF Ride is a reliable resource for students who normally would not have an easy way to get groceries or go to and from Monmouth and Independence.

This is the first year that the program has an app – “WOLF Ride for WOU Students” – for students to request rides. “They just put in where they are, where they want to go and then it can give students real-time updates on how long it will take the driver to get there. They can rate the driver at the very end.” 

The app is free to download and is easy for students to navigate.

Mortensen is very open to accepting feedback from students about how to improve WOLF Ride. “Even if you just try it once, just see how it is and let us know.,” Mortensen said.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Vote now

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

The 2024 presidential election is coming up, with Election Day being Nov. 5. In Oregon, ballots must either be in a ballot drop box or postmarked by Election Day. The deadline for voter registration has passed, however, people can check if they’re registered by going to the “My Vote” page on the Oregon secretary of state’s website. “Oregon has the ‘motor voter’ bill, so when you get your license you’re automatically registered to vote,” said Mary Pettenger, a professor in the Politics, Policy and Administration department at Western. 

After filling out a ballot, students can drop them off at the ballot drop box located on the second floor of the Werner University Center. The secretary of state’s website has a feature called “Track My Ballot” that allows people to check if their ballots have been received. 

Pettenger, along with Dr. Earlene Camarillo, believes in the importance of getting young people to vote. The two professors started the Empowered Communities Project in 2022. “Part of our goal is to get people more involved in their civic world,” said Pettenger. “(Voting is) one of the biggest ways people can really have their voice heard in a democracy.” 

The Empowered Communities Project has been a significant part of encouraging students to engage in their local communities. It also helps students learn about civil service, democracy and advocacy. “We’ve been having events, speakers and hosting training for how to be an advocate or a lobbyist,” said Pettenger. 

The voting process can be overwhelming for students who are participating for the first time, but Pettenger emphasized that it’s not something to worry about. “It’s not as hard as it sounds … And you don’t have to fill in each name, you can just vote for particular offices, too.”

For first-time voters, it may be difficult to sift through all of the information about the presidential candidates, but that’s where the secretary of state’s website can be useful once again. “(On the) website there’s a link to find the voter’s pamphlet, and then each candidate has a statement and you can see who supports them or not,” said Pettenger.

“We’re really privileged in our society to have a democracy. Being able to vote is part of being part of your community and caring about what happens,” said Pettenger.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Harold Mason: A retrospective

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

“Harold Mason: A Retrospective,” available for viewing at the Hamersly Library, opened June 8, 2024, to honor artist Harold Mason after his passing in August of 2022.

The exhibition showcases some of Harold Mason’s paintings and artworks, but is not able to encapsulate all of Mason’s lifetime spent creating masterpieces. Throughout his life, he mainly pursued watercolor painting, etching, lithographs, collages and pencil drawings. “Harold Mason: A Retrospective” includes a variety of his different mediums, including pencil sketches of instruments, watercolor seascapes and painted traditional Native vases. Both Harold Mason and his wife, Sue Mason, a fellow artist and potter, drew a lot of inspiration from historic pottery and sought them out in their life together.

Sue described her husband as having a “cute sense of humor” and being a lovely man. “Like so many artists, he was very sure of himself and yet completely unsure all at the same time — but he had a good career.”

“One interesting thing is the seascapes,” said Sue Mason. “He never did seascapes because he had a good friend who went out on his own at about the same time Harold did, and he did nothing but seascapes. He lived in Mendocino, California, right on the coast, and we were friends with him and his wife, our kids and their kids grew up together. Well, (one day), Harold decided he wanted to get a hold of John, and he found out that he had passed away, so out of consideration for their friendship, he did a seascape… and he enjoyed it so much that he did a number of them.”

For a decent amount of time, Harold and Sue lived in Carmel, California, which sits right on the coast. Sue described the ocean as very dear to their hearts.

Having married in Switzerland in 1961 due to Harold being drafted into the army and consequently moved to Germany, the two of them spent 61 years living as artists and moving from place to place. They previously lived in California, Maine and New Mexico before settling in Monmouth, Oregon, in a quaint mid-century modern house with a spiral staircase and personal artwork on every wall, almost all handmade by either Harold or Sue.

“And then when we came home (from Germany and Switzerland), we started a family, and when our children, our son was about four and our daughter was about two, we decided it was time for (Harold) to go out on his own and he never looked back,” said Sue regarding his career. “He made his living from his art. We’re not wealthy, but we had a wealthy life. The arts have been our life.”

Harold Mason started exhibiting his art in 1968 and stopped around 2008 from galleries, but did not quit painting or art. “He painted up almost until he died,” said Sue. “That August, the gallery in Independence had asked us to do a show together — I’m a potter — and he was too ill to even hang the show, but they hung it for him. So, really, he exhibited forever.”

In four decades of exhibiting, Harold became a nationally recognized watercolor artist with a talent for landscape and wildlife, and had his art featured in various shows and museums. He held fourteen one-man shows in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ; San Francisco, Oakland and Carmel, CA; and Seattle, WA. The Carnegie Museum of Art in Chicago continues to keep one of Mason’s watercolors in their permanent collection, with the Albuquerque Museum of Art and the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco having featured his work previously.

This exhibition is expected to be the last of Harold Mason’s work — with half of all sales from the artwork on display going to produce art scholarships for Western students looking to further their craft by entering higher education, which Sue Mason highly encourages.

“I loved my husband’s art just about as much as I loved him,” said Sue Mason, always advertising not only Harold Mason’s work but fellow local artists and their galleries. Sue, still in the art scene and involved with Western, stays on top of who will be exhibiting with the college at Cannon Gallery and with the city of Monmouth.

Western has printed multiple copies of an illustrated poetry book, art done by Harold Mason and poems by a family friend, Grant Hoyt, for Sue Mason, with the goal being to eventually publish “Circus Circus.” The book, in loving memory of Harold Mason, showcases various colored and black and white illustrations of hopping dinosaurs — the final passage being Sue Mason’s favorite and the last lines stating, “Celebrate our circus, share your memories with a friend / May the fantasy and wonder live on and never end.”

It remains to be seen when “Circus Circus” will be available for purchase. Until then, Harold’s artwork may be viewed on the second floor of the Hamersly Library until the end of October.

“Harold — he never had to do anything other than his drawings and paintings, and I think that’s worth celebrating. So I wanted to show students that if their art is their thing, to believe in themselves,” said Sue Mason.

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu.

Hurricane season

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

The National Ocean Service says that a hurricane is a “rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms.” They form over the tropical warm waters of an ocean. “(Hurricanes) often (begin) as a tropical wave — a low-pressure area that moves through the moisture-rich tropics, possibly enhancing shower and thunderstorm activity.” When hurricanes move inland, they typically lose power due to the lack of warm water that acts as fuel for the storm. 

Hurricanes are split into five categories, with Category 1 being the least powerful and Category 5 being the most. “The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based only on a hurricane’s maximum sustained wind speed. This scale does not take into account other potentially deadly hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, and tornadoes,” said the National Ocean Service.

Hurricane Helene hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane Sept. 26. It diminished to a tropical storm as it traveled inland through Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia and then Tennessee. Most of those states saw severe flooding, with Florida receiving storm surges of up to 15 feet. 

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida Oct. 9. Although it decreased from a Category 5 to a Category 3 as it hit land, it was still vastly destructive. It moved from Florida’s west coast across the state and into the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricanes were disastrous by themselves, but they also spawned multiple tornadoes. As of Oct. 16, there were at least 268 casualties from both hurricanes combined, with Helene being much more deadly.

During Hurricane Helene, the city of Asheville, North Carolina — known for its beautiful art and architecture — was decimated. The city is home to two intersecting rivers, which makes it susceptible to major flooding. Roads were buried by mudslides or washed away by the floods, and residents were isolated without power or cell service for at least two weeks.

For both hurricanes, many counties had mandatory evacuation orders. Some people, however, decided to stay and brave the storms. Jane Castor, the mayor of Tampa, Florida, issued a warning to people in mandatory evacuation zones. “I can say this without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die,” said Castor. Before Hurricane Helene, Taylor County, Florida, notified residents that if they chose not to evacuate, they needed to write their personal and important information on themselves with a permanent marker so they could be easily identified.

Joseph Malinowski, who is also known as “Lieutenant Dan” on TikTok, hunkered down in Tampa Bay on his boat during Hurricane Milton. “The safest place to be is on a boat in a flood,” Malinowski said in a video posted by the TikTok account “Daily Mail.” Miraculously, he was found alive in his boat after the storm had passed.

One person known on TikTok as Ashly Cox posted a video that quickly became controversial. “When you live in a mandatory evacuation zone but your boyfriend says ‘we’re staying,’” the video said. Many people online warned her about the dangers of Helene, with some people even telling her to not only leave her home in Tampa, but leave her partner as well. Cox then posted a follow-up video clarifying that she is the decision-maker, and if she had wanted to leave they would have left. She gained even more criticism because of that video from viewers who turned their hate away from her boyfriend and onto her. One day after the hurricane hit, she posted another video to let people know that she was safe.

Another TikTok user, “Kricketfelt,” first posted about staying on the Gulf of Mexico in a mandatory evacuation zone during Hurricane Helene. “Because my house is three floors and solid concrete, we are not evacuating,” she said. “Kricketfelt” posted videos during and after Helene, documenting the aftermath of the strong winds and flooding. When Hurricane Milton hit, she and her family decided to ride out the storm once again, despite being given evacuation orders by the police. She posted continuous videos showcasing Milton before it made landfall. Her posting ceased when it made landfall Oct. 9, causing concern amongst her viewers, however reports were made from individuals who drove by her house and found it still standing with the power on.

The American Red Cross has been a significant contributor to the hurricane relief being provided in the areas affected by Helene and Milton. They have sent volunteers to ensure that people are being given food, shelter and medical attention. To donate to The American Red Cross’ hurricane relief fund, go to https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

This week in entirely made-up horoscopes…

The Signs responding to a 2 A.M. “you up?” text

Aries: Notification wakes them up, leaves it on read

Taurus: Is up watching TikTok but doesn’t answer

Gemini: too busy stealing stop signs to respond

Cancer: “I’m already here… check the closet ;)” 

Leo: No.

Virgo: definitely awake doing their seasonal midnight deep-clean

Libra: Yep playing minecraft  

Scorpio: “only if you agree to be my sacrifice”

Sagittarius: can’t answer because they lost their phone somewhere

Capricorn: phone is on DND

Aquarius: The one who sends the “you up” text

Pisces: Nope avoids that completely

“The Simpsons” place in pop culture

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

When the Simpson family first appeared as an animated short in 1987, nobody could have predicted the series’s influence on pop culture.

Created by cartoonist Matt Groening, “The Simpsons” originally started as a 30-second short on “The Tracey Ullman Show” — a variety program akin to “Robot Chicken” — airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company. Eventually, it expanded to half an hour and aired Dec. 17, 1989, as a Christmas special titled “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.” The rest of season one began airing regularly in January 1990.

Oregon-born Groening partnered with seasoned producer-director James L. Brooks as the show’s executive producer with Sam Simon attached as a writer. Brooks is best known for “Mary Tyler Moore” and “As Good As It Gets,” while Simon is known for “Friends” and “Cheers.”

The show centers on a family with all the dysfunctions of the modern world but with the demographics of the 1950s: two married parents, two preteen children, an infant and plenty of living extended family. Springfield — named after Springfield, Oregon — is filled with all kinds of strange residents, ones that often fulfill stereotypical roles seen on television. An endless rollout of walk-on guest stars eventually joined the show and were voiced by their real-life counterparts — former President George Bush and astrophysicist Stephen Hawking were among these guest stars. 

In the ’90s, the show’s popularity skyrocketed and was so successful in its first two years that the term “Simpsonmania” was coined and used to describe the show’s rise to fame. In 1990, as many as one million Bart Simpson shirts were sold in a day, and Simpson merchandise generated $2 billion in revenue for the series. “The Simpsons” was Fox Network’s first television series to rank among the top 30 highest-rated shows in 1990.

As time went on, “The Simpsons” began to pass other shows in terms of series longevity. “The Simpsons” surpassed “The Flintstones” as the longest-running prime-time animated series in the United States Feb. 9, 1997. In 2004, the series surpassed “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” which ran from 1952 to 1966, as the longest-running sitcom — animated or live-action — in the United States. “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” was also originally the leader in number of episodes — a whopping 453 — but in the spring of 2009, “The Simpsons” surpassed it. 

“The Simpsons” and “Scooby-Doo” battled it out in October of 2004 for American animated show with the highest number of episodes, but when network executives canceled “Scooby-Doo” again the following year, “The Simpsons” reclaimed it with 378 episodes at the end of season 17. By season 18, the series had 400 episodes. It is now recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest-running sitcom.

“The Simpsons Movie” was released July 27, 2007, and grossed $536.4 million worldwide,  becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2007, the second-highest-grossing traditionally animated film —  second only to Disney’s “The Lion King” —  as well as the highest-grossing film based on an animated television series and the highest grossing adult animated movie of all time. The film was nominated for numerous awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

The movie, much like the series, includes celebrity cameos, with Tom Hanks and the members of Green Day playing themselves. 

However, by the time “The Simpsons Movie” was released to theaters, critics began calling the show “tired” and fans were becoming disillusioned with the series. Jim Schembri of The Morning Herald believed the show’s decline was due to an abandonment of character-driven storylines and overused celebrity cameos and references to popular culture. 

“The central tragedy of ‘The Simpsons’ is that it has gone from commanding attention to merely being attention-seeking. It began by proving that cartoon characters don’t have to be caricatures; they can be invested with real emotions. Now the show has in essence fermented into a limp parody of itself. Memorable story arcs have been sacrificed for the sake of celebrity walk-ons and punchline-hungry dialogue,” Schembri said. 

Many fans and critics say the show’s golden era was in its first ten seasons and claim that when showrunners Mike Scully and Al Jean were added to the roster, then began the show’s true decline. 

Groening was quick to defend the show, as well as his showrunners, saying: “I honestly don’t see any end in sight. I think it’s possible that the show will become too financially cumbersome but right now, the show is creatively, I think, as good or better than it’s ever been. The animation is incredibly detailed and imaginative, and the stories do things that we haven’t done before. So creatively there’s no reason to quit.”

Currently, viewership of “The Simpsons” has been on the decline since season 21, which first aired in September 2009. While season one had an average viewership of 13.4 million viewers, season 21 had a dismal average of 7.2 million viewers. The first two episodes of season 36 have even worse numbers — episode two did not even break a million viewers, currently stagnant at 886,000.

Although, even as the show’s viewership declines, fans still come together to share their love of “The Simpsons,” especially the first ten seasons. Instagram accounts such as @bortposting, @the_simpsons_man and @bortofdarkness regularly post memes about the show’s golden era and all three accounts have a combined following of 281,200. r/Simpsons on Reddit has 43,000 members and is among the top three percent of Reddit pages.

Critics and fans alike do have hope for season 36. The season’s premiere began with a fake series finale and featured altered clips from classic episodes that were given tragic outcomes. On X (formerly Twitter), user @tonygoldmark shared their theory that the show’s recent quality could be because “the show is now being run by people who grew up watching it, and precisely understand the memetic impact it’s had.” Many fans also attributed this increase in episode quality to Matt Selman taking over as the primary showrunner starting in season 33. And although the season premiere was very standalone, its references reminded viewers that it is still the same show they loved watching years ago. 

Episode three of season 36 aired on Fox  Oct. 20 and is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Witches through the years

Written by: Taylor Duff | Lifestyle Editor

The spooky season brings many frights, imagination and of course, costumes. Girls around the world might be dressing as witches this Halloween season, or they have done so in the past, or they just know that witches are generally associated with Halloween. When people think of a witch, they most likely appoint an old decrepit woman who rides a magic broom, casts spells and has a diet that consists of children. This depiction is far from what witches are, so where did the term “witch” come from? Where did they come from? 

It is believed that the term “witch” was a moniker given to women who practiced witchcraft and satanic rituals and ate children — but that is just what the fairy tales say. One early concept of what a witch is says that in mythology, witches were healers, shamans and spiritual workers who could affect the physical and the spiritual world. They used what is called “herbal medicine,” which is healing people with hand-crafted herbs. Not so different from what everyone in ancient times would do, however, witches were believed to have a special talent for healing. Some of the negative connotations come from Greek and Roman mythology: Deities like Hecate and Circe were goddesses that possessed magic and posed potential threats because of their power. 

Whether or not mythology is accurate, the witch hunts during the 15th-18th centuries caused significant harm. These included the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, precipitated by a real-life hysteria that affected many women during the time. A group of teenage girls from Salem, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused multiple local women of witchcraft. The trials resulted in the deaths of 25 innocent women, men and children. The purported witches were hung or crushed, not burned, which is a common misconception, as that was done in Europe during the Middle Ages. There is a museum in Salem, Massachusetts, where visitors can see just how the trials began and ended. 

Folklore and stories like “The Crucible,” a play by Arthur Miller, started to paint women as villains and self-absorbed, claiming they were witches. Fairy tales did the same, such as “Hansel and Gretel,” where two siblings travel in the woods and stumble across a witch’s house; she ends up eating them. Witches during this time were generally portrayed as old, bumpy and green; they were meant to look like they arrived out of the devil’s chambers and needed to take sources of life. Green witches appear often in fiction, most famously in “The Wizard of Oz” and its prequel “Wicked,” where the Wicked Witch of the West became the bad guy, and everyone was petrified because she was robbed. In Gothic literature, things looked a little different —  witches were usually painted as seductive and beautiful. But even then, they would use their beauty and seductive nature to lure men and hurt them. 

Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell — WITCH — was a 1960s feminist group that used guerrilla theater and public rallies to criticize patriarchy and capitalism. Feminist witchcraft movements in the 1970s reclaimed the image that represents the witch as a powerful monarch. Wicca is the largest modern Pagan or Neo-Pagan religion. Its adherents, known as Wiccans, commonly identify as witches and derive inspiration mostly from pre-Christian customs in Europe. Dianic Wicca, which concentrates upon the worship of a goddess figure, or female deity, and publicly supported feminist values, frequently gained influence from the emerging women’s rights movement of the time. Because of this movement, witches are now more popular in pop culture. Movies such as “The Craft” and “The Love Witch” show women usually painted as outcasts or weird embrace their individuality and sex appeal to contradict the patriarchy. Shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “American Horror Story, Coven” showed witches as everyday people who were just trying to navigate the world, and because pop culture sparks, the public made witches more approachable. This also opened up self-expression for LGBTQ+ characters, such as Willow Rosenberg from “Buffy,” emphasizing the connection between magic and gay identity. As environmental problems, feminism and LGBTQ+ rights continue to dominate public discourse, the witch remains a symbol of resistance and self-empowerment. 

TikTok, which has #WitchTok; Pinterest; Instagram and more platforms show modern-day people participating in witchcraft. Many creators provide spells, rituals, tarot readings and astrological insights. They show their lifestyles with aspects such as decor, clothing — witch-inspired Gothic apparel with Bohemian and crystal-laden looks, — black hats, pentagrams, jewelry, tattoos, books and much more. Halloween, in particular, has converted the witch into a fun, approachable figure for people of all ages. The internet enables individuals to combine cultural traditions, such as Wicca, Hoodoo and New Age practices, and participate in virtual covens or communal rituals. 

Overall, the witch isn’t one type of person. A witch can be multiple types of people, they can be friends, family, teachers, parents and your next-door neighbor. They are someone who embraces their faith and individuality and wears it proudly. Witches just want to be accepted and painted in a light that isn’t demeaning or harmful. The witch is a symbol of feminism and strength and has spent too many years not being understood. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Deadpool takes on the Multiverse

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

Content warning: this article contains spoilers

Even Deadpool himself couldn’t have been prepared for the chaos he met in “Deadpool and Wolverine.” Between Charles Xaviers’ psychotic sister, his universe on the chopping block and one reluctant Wolverine, the titular anti-hero certainly has a lot on his plate. 

In this third installment in the “Deadpool” universe, movie watchers will see a continuation of Marvel’s “Multiverse Saga,” which began with the series “WandaVision” and will be completed in 2027 when “Avengers: Secret Wars” hits theaters. 

When the Time Variance Authority — TVA — knocks on Deadpool’s door, he learns that his universe’s anchor being is dead and his timeline has been fading ever since. The TVA offers to put him in the “Sacred Timeline,” or the timeline most people think of when they think of Marvel, but Deadpool refuses. Instead, he goes searching across the multiverse for a replacement anchor being, which is revealed to be Wolverine.

When Deadpool finally finds a suitable replacement for his anchor being, the unlikely duo is sent to the Void — where variants are sent for misbehaving in the multiverse or when their universe is destroyed. There they meet variants of superheroes who have already graced the screen or whose movies did not come to fruition, and of course, the fourth-wall-breaking Deadpool knows all about them.

Many of these variants are already well-known. Jennifer Garner returns as Elektra, Wesley Snipes as Blade and Dafne Keen as X-23, a Wolverine variant. Even the canceled 2014 “Gambit” movie was referenced, with Channing Tatum filling the role he was originally intended to play. 

A plethora of memes have arisen from the movie, as well as collaborations with the popular video game Fortnite, fast food company Jack in the Box and motorsport company Alpine Racing. Ryan Reynolds has a stake in Alpine Racing, explaining the connection.

“Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC and “Like a Prayer” by Madonna were both played in the movie, and both have once again found themselves on Billboard’s Top 30 chart, with “Bye Bye Bye” sitting at number eight and “Like a Prayer” resting at number 16. Their streams have increased globally by a total of 50% and 62% respectively, thanks to social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, as well as the use of “Bye Bye Bye” as an emote and jam track in Fortnite. 

“Deadpool and Wolverine” grossed $211 million on its opening weekend at the box office and has earned $1.305 billion globally. It is currently the seventh highest-grossing Marvel movie in both domestic and global earnings. 

It has not yet been announced when “Deadpool and Wolverine” will hit streaming services, but fans anticipate a late October or early November date.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

San Jose State’s volleyball program facing controversy

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

The San Jose State University volleyball program has recently gained significant media attention due to the potential inclusion of a transgender player on their roster, and in just three weeks, four universities have forfeited their match against San Jose State. These schools include the University of Wyoming, Boise State University, Southern Utah University and Utah State University, which recently canceled their Oct. 23 match against San Jose State University — SJSU. Surprisingly, none of the schools came out with any statements explaining their reasoning behind the decision to forfeit.

The rumors about the SJSU player’s gender identity started in April 2024, when a website by the name of Reduxx published an article titled “Biological Male Quietly Joined Women’s NCAA Division I Volleyball At San Jose State University.” The player mentioned in the article is Blaire Fleming, a redshirt senior who transferred from Coastal Carolina University to SJSU in 2022. As of the 2024 season, Fleming has put up impressive numbers, ranking fourth in kills and fifth in service aces in the Mountain West Conference. 

One of Fleming’s teammates, Brooke Slusser, a senior setter who transferred to SJSU from Alabama in 2023, has also been having a standout season. She is ranked third in assists, and tied for tenth in digs in the Mountain West Conference, but Slusser’s impressive stats aren’t the only reason she’s making headlines.

On September 23, Brooke Slusser filed a lawsuit against SJSU and the NCAA —  “Slusser v. NCAA and San Jose State University.” The lawsuit, centered around Slusser’s teammate, Blaire Fleming, claimed that the university failed to inform her and her teammates that Fleming was transgender. Slusser also claimed that she roomed with Fleming on road trips without knowing about her gender identity, and in April 2024, Fleming allegedly disclosed to Slusser that she identifies as transgender. In a nutshell, Slusser argues that Fleming’s participation raises concerns about fairness and safety for female athletes, and she isn’t alone in this viewpoint. After all of this information surfaced, more than a dozen female college athletes accused the NCAA of violating sex based discrimination laws. 

In regards to Fleming’s performance on the court, Slusser claimed that Fleming’s spikes were recorded at over 80 mph, which, according to her, is way faster than any female player she has ever seen. The lawsuit also shows that some players on the team were even concerned about getting concussions due to Fleming’s hard hitting spikes.

After noticing the attention the university was receiving, the Senior Director of Media Relations for SJSU, Michelle Smith McDonald, stated that the university will not publicly address the gender identity of any student due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. In a statement by the university, McDonald stated, “It is disappointing that our SJSU student-athletes, who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, are being denied opportunities to compete. We are committed to supporting our student-athletes through these challenges and in their ability to compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment.”

Under current National Collegiate Athletics Association — NCAA — rules, transgender women are allowed to compete on women’s teams if they have undergone at least one year of hormone therapy to suppress testosterone levels, which is believed to reduce any potential competitive advantage. The NCAA’s guidelines are based on the belief that hormone therapy levels the playing field between transgender women and cisgender women. However, despite these regulations, the debate centers on whether the physical differences, even after hormone therapy, provide an unfair, competitive advantage. 

Slusser and her legal team argue that the “Slusser v. NCAA and San Jose State University” lawsuit is about fairness and safety. It raises the question of whether previous policies properly protect female athletes from what they believe is an uneven playing field. This case doesn’t just highlight the debate within SJSU’s volleyball program, it highlights a debate that is playing out across all levels of competition around the globe. Depending on how this lawsuit goes, it could potentially lead to a new legal precedent or even a new set of rules within the NCAA, but as of right now, the debate over whether transgender women should be allowed to compete in women’s sports continues to stir controversy.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

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