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“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”

By: Ashton Newton 
Staff Writer

2011 brought us the end of JK Rowling’s magical world of Harry Potter in cinemas with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.”

Since then, fans have been hungry for new Harry Potter material. Occasionally, on her website, Pottermore, Rowling will deliver with a new short story focusing in on a specific character.

Warner Brothers announced in 2013 that Rowling would make her screenwriting debut with the new Harry Potter spinoff “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” due out in 2016, which is set to kick off an entirely new series set in the wonderful world of Harry Potter.

The film follows Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”), a British wizard who arrives in 1920’s New York for a meeting with the Magical Congress for the United States of America.

Scamander carries around a briefcase filled with magical and dangerous creatures, and the story begins when the creatures are set free, threatening relations between the American wizards and the “no-maj” citizens (as muggles are called in America).

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is a common textbook in the Harry Potter universe. Scamander is the author, detailing the qualities of creatures in the wizarding world, and future films will explain how he became so knowledgeable.

After the box office failures that Warner Brothers faced with “Pan” and “Entourage” this year, the studio is really hoping for a 2016 homerun.

With the love that fans have for the Harry Potter series, allowing them to dive back into the universe once more should benefit Warner Brothers greatly.

Rowling is also coming out with a play titled “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” which premiers in London July of 2016 and is called “The eighth Harry Potter story.”

The play takes place over two parts meant to be watched in the same day, and it follows Harry Potter, now an overworked Ministry of Magic employee, and his son Albus Potter, who struggles with the weight of being Harry’s son.

As of right now, the only confirmed showing is in London, but with a subtitle like “the eighth Harry Potter story,” the play is bound to come to a theater near you eventually.

Fans can keep up with all the latest Harry Potter news on Pottermore. Rowling is also active on Twitter, where she loves answering Harry Potter questions.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be released in November of 2016.

Humans of Western

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

Corinne Garrett, Sophomore, Undecided

“I went on this ten week bike trip across the United State this summer. It started in Pacific City, Oregon […] and we biked to Yorktown, Virginia […] It was awesome, we met so many great people, and I actually fell in love with my boyfriend on that trip.”

“We met so many great people, they welcomed us into their homes, let us stay with them if they saw us. We never knew where we were going to stay, or what we were going to do when we got into a town […] I just felt so, like, loved and taken care of. We never had to worry about anything.”

Pacific Northwest poet visits campus

PoetColor

By: Rachael Jackson 
Staff Writer

Christopher DeWeese, Assistant Professor of Poetry at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, visited campus Thursday, Nov. 19 at 4:30 p.m. in Hamersly Library 107.

He read genre-bending poetry sure to evoke curiosity from those that attended.

DeWeese originally hails from Port Townsend, Washington, but he has spent the better part of this last decade teaching and working on his poetry all over the country.

Professor of Literature and Writing Dr. Henry Hughes said in an email to students that DeWeese is, “Influenced by Russian literature and space travel, and he reads like a meteor shower.”

His poetry is reminiscent of Transcendentalism, a mid-19th century American movement which focused on the interconnectivity of nature and man, with a modern twist that delves into the realm of science fiction.

DeWeese’s poem “The Happy Cloud” with accompanying author’s reading can be found on publisher Jubliat’s website.

Reading DeWeese’s poetry and hearing it are two wholly different experiences, through which different meanings can be gathered.

At first, “The Happy Cloud” may seem like a poem about the separate state of humans and nature, portraying humankind as being in constant battle against Mother Nature.

Hearing him read it also evokes dark worries of humanity’s place in the world, and, on a smaller scale, the individual’s personal struggles and worldview.

DeWeese’s writing shows the ability of poetry to cross genres just as prose often does. Even for seasoned poetry lovers, this poetry promises something unexpected and modern.

His poetry fulfills a niche that many may be interested in exploring.

Faculty Workshop Given by ODS

By: Emily Pate 
Staff Writer

Malissa Larson, Director of the Office of Disability Services (ODS) here at Western gave a presentation to Western faculty on working with students who have disabilities, Friday Nov. 13, 2015.

Though geared towards faculty and staff, much of what Larson said is also important for students to keep in mind.

“All the students we’re working with are qualified to be here,” Larson said. To her, this was the most important thing for faculty to remember.

The ODS’s website defines a disability as “an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. Examples of major life activities include walking, listening, reading, and learning.”

There are approximately 400 Western students currently registered with the ODS.

For both students and faculty, using the correct terminology is critical. The same with any identity, the individual should guide us in what language to use in relation to them.

The correct term to use, Larson said, is individuals with disabilities. Larson explained that other, more widely used terms, such as handicapped or disabled, have a long negative stigma attached to them, and do not acknowledge the person, only the disability.

“As with any underrepresented group, the language changes over time,” Larson said. It is the responsibility of each person to educate themselves on the current, appropriate language.

“It is important for students to know that the majority [of individuals with a disability] have an invisible disability,” Larson said. “So their friend, their classmate, their roommate may have a disability.”

“There isn’t a major, minor, or graduate program that we aren’t involved in. There’s no program that doesn’t include an individual with a disability,” she continued.
She advised faculty to “work with every individual as if they’ve got something going on.”

As for the presentation, Larson stressed how gaining knowledge about underrepresented groups can benefit Western as a whole.

“I would love it if more and more faculty were trained,” Larson said. “We want our campus to be inclusive and welcoming. And awesome.”

“In a place of higher learning, I think it’s everyone’s responsibility to learn about what other people are experiencing,” she said.

About responsibility, Larson also stated, “When there’s two people involved, they’re equally responsible for communication.”

One of the ways students can offer aid is to be note takers. “We’re always looking for note takers,” Larson said. “I encourage students to always come in and apply.” Students can apply at the Office of Disability Services at APSC 405.

Art faculty shows their skills

By: Emily Pate 
Staff Writer

When first stepping into Campbell Hall’s Cannon Gallery, my gaze was immediately grabbed by the plastic forms of Sung Eun Park’s piece titled “No One Will Take Your Crown.”
Made from many different elements, including a child’s wheelbarrow, plastic wine glasses, and Korean accessories called Norigae, this brightly colored work of art seems transported from a more fantastical world.

This work is just one of many that are part of the exhibit, called the “Art Faculty Biennial,” currently on display in Cannon Gallery. Each artist on display has their own unique and fascinating style.

In contrast to the repurposed and colorful elements of Park’s art, Ian Factor’s emotive charcoal portraits are realistic, and convey great depth in the greyscale shades that this medium allows.

Jodie Garrison gives her black and white portraits exuberantly patterned backgrounds, while Paula Portiga Booth works on birch boards, combining patterns painted in acrylic with textural photographs.

All of the artists are Western Faculty members, some of which also have their names on the signboard that lists the Art Department’s faculty directly across from the Gallery, on the other side of Campbell’s front door.

This exhibit is a chance for students to see what their teachers have created. The gallery context gives a new relationship between teacher and student as artists, one only possible outside of the classroom.

It also gives students an opportunity to look at their teacher’s art as they might look at any artist’s work, and also acts as a showcase for the skills of Western’s faculty.
Though the Cannon Galley is not a classroom, it provides the chance to learn more about art and those who create it.

WOU hosts XC Regionals

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

Western played host to the 2015 NCAA Cross-Country Regionals on Saturday Nov. 7, 2015 at Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, Oregon.

The men’s team finished 12th out of 23 teams. Sophomore David Ribich was the first to cross the finish-line for the Wolves, and placed 11th individually, earning him All-West honors and also qualifying him for the NCAA individual championships.

“As a team we came a long way from last year. We wanted everyone on the team to run the best race they could to give back to the seniors who deserved a good last race and to go out on a high note,” said Ribich.

“[The team] fell short on making nationals, but I qualified as an individual which will take place next Saturday on the 21st in Joplin, Missouri,” Ribich said.

Ribich became the first WOU cross-country athlete to qualify for the NCAA individual Championships since Connor Kasler succeeded back in 2011.

Ribich finished the 10K race with a blazing time of 30:11.95.

“During the race I felt pretty good. I was expecting the Anchorage, Alaska competitors and the Chico competitors and Oliver Jorgensen from Simon Frasier to go straight to the front, and that’s where I wanted to be,” said Ribich.

Ribich continued, “The race was really packed up and I couldn’t get my full stride because of how close everyone was to each other.”

“At about 6K, Chico and Alaska started picking up the pace so at that point I had to give it my all because if I dropped off from the lead group there would have been no way to catch back up,” added Ribich.

“So I hung on till about 8500 meters and then I started struggling. But with the support of the fans, community and my family; when I heard the cheering, it gave me a second wind,” Ribich concluded.

The Wolves had three other male athletes place in the top 100. Senior Zach Hollaway placed 43rd with a time of 31:23. Junior David Cornish finished in 67th place and freshman Tyler Jones finished 91st.

The women’s team placed 15th out of 28 total teams.

Junior Nichole Maurmann had the Wolves’ best time of the day, finishing the 6,000-meter race in 37th place with a time of 22:07. Senior Stephanie Stuckey finished the race three seconds later to place 40th.

“We were all really excited that it was a home meet for regionals. We had so much support from the track team and the other sports teams,” said Stuckey.

Stuckey added, “As a team we went out and did our best, but we didn’t finish exactly where we wanted to be. But at the end of the day, we ran the best race we could. I had a lot of fun and was able to run with Nichole and it was really cool that we got to work together.”

The 2015 NCAA Championships is on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 at 11 a.m. in Joplin, Missouri. Ribich looks to build on his successful season and accomplish is macro and micro goals.

“My focus goal is to place in the top 40 to gain an All-American medal,” said Ribich, “My macro goal is to just go out there and run the best race I possibly can and represent the GNAC and Western Oregon.”

Women’s basketball drops opening exhibition games

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

The women’s basketball team opened up their exhibition schedule on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015 on the road against Weber State University. The Wolves were out-matched and lost to the Wildcats 42-71.

Redshirt-junior Kelsey Henry (F) led the Wolves in scoring and finished with 14 points and 4 rebounds.

Senior Emily Howey (C), junior Jordan Mottershaw (G) and first year Kaylie Boschma (G) each finished with 6 points for the Wolves.

Both teams shot 48 percent from the field, but the score discrepancy came down to turnovers and missed free-throws.

WOU racked up a total of 31 turnovers which led to 41 Wildcat points, giving Weber State an extra 25 field goal opportunities.

Two days later, the women’s basketball team concluded their exhibition schedule in a tough fought 56-73 loss to Idaho State University Saturday Nov. 7, 2015.

Sophomore Jasmine Miller (G/F) led the way for the Wolves, finishing the game with 16 points while shooting 6-of-9 from the field.
Miller also tallied 8 rebounds. WOU’s center Howey continued to play solid, tallying 10 points and 5 rebounds.

The Wolves shot a respectable 40 percent from the field, but just like in Thursday’s game, they struggled from the free-throw line, converting just 12 of 27 from the charity stripe. Idaho State also held the rebound advantage of 45-38, and outscored the Wolves 40-24 in the paint.

It is worth noting that exhibition results do not impact the team’s record.

The Wolfpack look to rebound in Western’s first regular season game on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 at 4 p.m. against California State University Easy Bay in Hayward, California.

Their first home game is on Saturday Nov. 21, 2015 against California State University, Chico at 2 p.m. in the New P.E. Building.

For tickets and game information, visit the ticket office during regular business hours in the New P.E. Building, or call 503-838–8917.

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Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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