Mount Hood

Men’s soccer gets first win of season

Riley Buerk | Freelance Writer

The men’s soccer game on Oct. 13, ended with Western Oregon University getting their first win of the year, 2-1, over Portland State University. The first half was a defensive battle, and both teams went into halftime with zeroes on the scoreboard.  

Western has been working on defending more as a unit, according to head coach Mark Jorgenson.

“We’ve been working on our shape, and just defending as a unit rather than individually and there weren’t, maybe a couple dodgy moments, but much better than last week. We didn’t really have too much panic tonight, which was nice to see,” said Jorgenson.

The game got off to a late start after only a few of the PSU players showed up before 6 p.m. and most of them arriving shortly after six. This caused a 15 minute delay in start time.

The scoring opened up 15 minutes into the second half with number Tatsuya Koba for Western scoring off a deep pass from first-year left back Brent Walsh. In the 27th minute, Portland State tied the game up off a mistake by Western’s defense. The Wolves kicked the ball into an open middle field and the goalie had to run up to try and get the ball, which left the goal wide open for Portland State to score. This was the only major mistake the defense made.

However, this was the best game for the defense this year.

“We really worked well as a team. It’s a lot less stressful when we’re compact and moving as a unit instead of leaving a bunch of windows and open gaps,” said Walsh.

Western took the lead for good with 12 minutes left after striker Brandon Cortez managed to put a goal in past the goalie.

“It feels awesome to finally get a win, finally get a goal, been struggling with that all year and I feel like our team is finally coming together,” said Cortez.

Western Oregon travels to Corvallis on Oct. 21 to take on the Oregon State Beavers, and try and get a winning streak going.

Contact the author at rbuerk17@wou.edu

Review: “Beautiful Trauma”

Zoë Strickland | Managing Editor

Alecia Moore, more commonly known as P!nk, released her new album on Oct. 13. “Beautiful Trauma” is the artist’s first record in five years.

In true P!nk fashion, “Beautiful Trauma” is a tête-à-tête between upbeat pop songs and serious ballads. Her lyrics are deep and personal; like you’re sitting down with Moore and having the world’s most exciting conversation.

The first four tracks are a 16 minute romp, including “Revenge,” which features Eminem. “Revenge” is repetitive in the best way, and has lyrics with a feel reminiscent of Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” infused with a bit up rap and pop.

The bops transform into a two-song slow jam with “But We Lost It” and “Barbies.” Both tracks represent the softer, more honest side of P!nk. They’re a representation of my favorite strain of P!nk’s music — stripped down vocals paired with a singular instrument. Moore’s voice was made for slow ballads, her soulful cantor and impactful lyrics weight every line.

The bulk of the album contains fun tracks that make you want to belt out every lyric. The songs are sell-able and make perfect singles, while still bringing the lyrical depth that’s hidden under the surface of P!nk’s songs.

The album ends opposite of how it begins, completing the story of the album. The rocky relationship found in the lyrics of the titular track comes full-circle with “You Get My Love,” a slow tune in which P!nk turns the anger displayed in the first song into acceptance and openness.  

In recent years, P!nk’s discography has been caught up with the same general sound. She’s been circulating around heavy beats with an essence of EDM and a touch of one-instrument ballads for her past three albums. “Beautiful Trauma” wasn’t anything new to P!nk’s repertoire.

 

Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu

First-year student bucket list

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Being a first-year student at Western is an exciting, yet intimidating experience. For most, it involves living on campus in a dorm room that feels similar in size to a closet, immersing yourself in an entirely new group of strangers that are suddenly your neighbors, as well as learning the pros and cons to that 8 a.m. course you thought would be a good idea — trust me, it’s not the same thing as an 8 a.m. in high school.

Learning how to cope with these new circumstances is something that takes ample time and energy; being focused on that will result in the school year going by in the blink of an eye. With so much happening at once, it can be difficult to remember to stop every now and then and make the most of your beginnings at Western. Make sure that in your first year here as a Wolf, you manage to complete most, if not all, of our First-Year Bucket List.

        • Go to Midnight Movies at least once. It’s cheap, and usually an unforgettable experience if you’re going with the right people
        • Attend those Residence Hall Association events. A lot of work went into making those as fun as possible for students — plus you’ll usually get free things.
        • Borrow the keys to the kitchen and make your friends and yourself a homemade meal. Sometimes you just need to get away from Valsetz for a night.
        • Sleep in a dorm that isn’t yours for a night. It’s hard to explain why, but it’s always more fun and ends up feeling just like a slumber party.
        • Go to a sporting event you wouldn’t normally go to. Games are happening constantly: grab a group of friends and head to one.
        • Join a club or organization. By the end of the year, you’re going to want to have more friends than those you made in just your dorm or classes. It’s a good way to meet new people.
        • Have a movie night with your hall. It can be such a memorable experience to get together, eat popcorn and watch some B-List Netflix horror flick that will leave you laughing when you should be screaming.
        • Take a spontaneous road trip with friends. On a personal note: my first night hanging with my now best friends, they took me to the beach at 12 a.m. — I will never forget that night.
        • Pull an all-nighter. If not for homework, sometimes it’s worth it just to stay up for a classic Monmouth sunrise. They’re truly beautiful.
        • Take a free class at the Health and Wellness Center. Zumba, anybody?
        • Adventure around Monmouth on your own. You never know, you might fall in love with a coffee shop and become a regular.
        • Take pictures. Lots of them. You’re going to want to print those out later.
        • But also, don’t live on your phone. Sure, snap that photo, then put it away. Live in the moment.
        • Take a late night walk around campus with a friend or group. Another personal note, doing this with my now boyfriend of 11 months is how I fell for him.
        • Get to know some upperclassmen. They know so much about several aspects of Western and most would be glad to give advice.
        • Go to a party. If parties aren’t your thing, host a party alternative on your own where you spend the entire night doing things you love.

        Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

        Walking to fight suicide

        Sam Dunaway | News Editor

        On Oct. 14, thousands gathered at the Riverfront Park in Salem for the Out of the Darkness Community Walk. Organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the walk’s mission was to raise awareness and support individuals affected by suicide.

        According to the AFSP’s website, suicide claims more lives than war, murder and natural disasters combined, and through early detection and treatment of mental health conditions, many suicides can be prevented.

        Through sponsorships and fundraising, the AFSP is able to fund scientific research, offer public educational programs about suicide prevention and promote legislation that impacts suicide prevention.

        The community walks are quickly gaining momentum: since the first walks in 2004, the number of participants has increased by nearly 240,000 individuals.

        People walked for family members, loved ones, children and siblings. Signs and t-shirts were made that displayed those lost to suicide. Individuals that had personally struggled with suicide took part in the community walk. It was a powerful display of strength and hope for a better future.

        Tori Edwards-Zartman is a senior at Western and attended her second Out of the Darkness Walk in Portland on Oct. 7.

        “These walks are so impactful because people are able to be honest about their losses and personal struggle, which so many people are afraid to talk about,” Edwards-Zartman said. “They have a place you can bring pictures, posters and letters of loved ones who have died by suicide and when you walk through it and see all the different people that have been affected, it makes you want to get involved and make a difference.”

        “All the money the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention raises from the walks goes to great resources and programs on college campuses, in high schools, and funding support groups that advocate for those who struggle with suicide,” she continued. “I think that it is an incredible experience and that if you are unsure about attending one, you would not regret going.”

         

        Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

        New exhibit showcases the power of literacy

        Sam Dunaway | News Editor

        Positioned on the third floor of Hamersly library is a new and powerful exhibit titled “In The Picture, Revisited.” This gallery, created by Dr. Hank Bersani and Dr. Chloe Hughes, and updated by Hughes, analyzes the representation of ableism in children’s literature.

        Ableism is a form of discrimination which favors able-bodied individuals. The exhibit investigates how characters with disabilities are portrayed in Caldecott-Medal-winning children’s books.

        According to the exhibit, the examples of ableism showcased in illustration books may have a deep impact on the way children view disability in society. Characters that have a disability are often treated as weak and inferior, or they are physically separated from those without disabilities.

        In the book “Rapunzel,” by Paul O. Zelinsky, the once handsome prince loses his eyesight and is considered “wretched” from then on. Language such as “dumb-struck,” “deaf as a post” and “blind as a bat” are used in children’s literature; and the illustration book “So You Want To Be President” ignores Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s paralysis entirely.

        The exhibit asks important questions when defining ableism in these books; does the book ignore people with disabilities? Are characters with disabilities portrayed as three-dimensional people? Does the book promote positive self-image for people with disabilities?

        Hughes is quoted in this exhibit, stating, “Literacy is agency in our society. Literacy has the power to transform who we are, what we believe and how we cope with our ever-changing world. We all need to find texts with which we can identify, and we all need to find our voice through written expression. Without authentic literacy experiences, people with disabilities will continue to be unheard, marginalized, and treated inequitably. We cannot afford to perpetuate such discrimination.”

        Visit “In The Picture, Revisited” to learn tools for further investigating disability and ableism.

         

        Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

        Review: “Blade Runner 2049”

        Alexandra Martin | Entertainment Editor

        It is the year 2049; do you know where Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford are? Gosling, otherwise known as “K,” is spending his time working for the LAPD as a “blade runner.” Gosling’s main purpose is to hunt his own kind, other bioengineered humans, and “retire,” which is a nice way of killing, his rogue brethren. Harrison Ford plays a straight-shooting egotist and former blade runner by the name of Rick Deckard.  

        Ford was also featured in the predecessor to this year’s “Blade Runner 2049,” the 1982 film “Blade Runner.”

        If you’ve never seen the original, which I hadn’t until recently, this year’s adaptation is bound to leave something to be desired if you go in blind. Typically, I don’t put too much concern into understanding the plot or what I may be missing when a movie is based on a book or is a remake, or maybe a sequel that has taken 20 years to come to fruition. This time, I am earnestly grateful that I heeded the recommendation of my significant other to give it a go and educate myself prior to attending the movie.

        “Blade Runner 2049,” was a quality film. Aside from the stellar acting and incredible cinematography, the story in and of itself was impeccably told. It is deeply philosophical and retains just enough of the original “Blade Runner” to weave the two movies together with ease, allowing the viewer to be able to experience the movie, not just watch it.

         

        Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

        Review: “How to Murder Your Life”

        Alexandra Martin | Entertainment Editor

        Life is just too hard. Well, it can be. As we attempt to trudge through all that is “existence” in modern society, what with our social envy, serial relationships, crippling college debt and picturesque meals littering Instagram. All the while waiting to be buried or burned by yet more debt, steep mortgages and praying that somehow we can say, “I lived a good life” at the end of it all before we take a dirt nap or we fade into some vaporous eternity.

        For some, we disguise the everlasting embers of pain and anger, feelings that we can’t choose, with hard exteriors and “resting b—- face.” Maybe taking any hard-earned cash and blowing it all on a barely-there ensemble to exemplify just how barely-there our mind is during the hours of lectures wondering, “what good is this information?” Others, we turn to intoxicants, spending endless hours at cheap apartment parties with underage peers or local karaoke nights at surrounding businesses coveting the bitter water of death and lusting for the misty moment when it floods us from head-to-toe.

        “How to Murder Your Life” is 350-plus vainglorious pages of raw, dizzying dazzle written by a petulant privileged American girl, Cat Marnell. This literature, if you can even call it that, is a memoir peppered with such a blatant lack of self-pity that a person almost finds themselves sympathizing with the writer. Almost.

        Marnell memorializes her existence beginning with the shining and always memorable teen years. She writes about her academic life attending a posh private school and how her father, a budding psychiatrist, gave her that first bottle of ADHD medication beginning the long descent down the deepest of drug-addled rabbit holes.

        A tourist of her own life, Marnell finds herself with a bottomless dependence on any and all flavors of second hand pick me ups, detailing accounts of abusive relationships and recollections of nights spent in New York City smoking crack at a rooftop party. She describes the demented thrills of the uppers and the ghastly downs that follow a thrill seeker.

        This memoir is a stimulating account of an “existence” that is all too familiar for many readers. “How to Murder Your Life” is just as riveting as it is frustrating.

         

        Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

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