Mount Hood

Actor Bernard Hills dies at 79

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

The death of actor Bernard Hill was announced on May 5, 2024 by a representative of Lou Coulson Associates, the British talent agency of which Hill was a member. The agency’s statement did not include or mention his cause of death since Hill led a private life, despite his roles in major blockbusters. He was 79 years old.

Hill was a well-known actor in British television, specifically on the British Broadcasting Channel, BBC, but his biggest roles were that of King Theoden in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and Captain Edward Smith in “Titanic.” 

Hill is considered a movie icon by many. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and “Titanic” earned one billion dollars at the global box office: Hill was the first person to be in two movies that achieved these numbers. “The Return of the King” and “Titanic” both won 11 Oscars, which means Hill starred in two out of the three movies ever to achieve such success — the 1959 film “Ben-Hur” is the third.

Former co-stars of Hill’s took to social media to share their grief for the loss of the actor.

“So long to our friend, our king, Bernard Hill. We will never forget you,” actor Elijah Wood posted to X, previously Twitter. Wood then quoted “The Return of the King:” “For he was a gentle heart and a great king and kept his oaths; and he rose out of the shadows to a last fair morning.” 

Karl Urban also shared his grief for Hill on Instagram, “To the King. Rest in peace, Bernard.”

Urban and Wood starred in “The Lord of the Rings” alongside Hill, Urban playing Eomer, the nephew of King Theoden, and Wood playing Frodo Baggins, the trilogy’s main protagonist. Hill’s Titanic co-stars did not comment on the actor’s passing.

Hill worked for years in British theater and television. Those close to him said he would often claim his role as Yosser Hughes, from the 1980 movie “The Black Stuff,” as the role that changed his life. He would go on to reprise this role in a miniseries, “Boys from the Blackstuff.”

Hill was set to reprise his role in the BBC drama “The Responder,” starring alongside Martin Freeman, another actor in the Middle-Earth Cinematic Universe — Freeman played Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit” trilogy. 

“I don’t think anyone spoke Tolkien’s words as great as Bernard did,” said actor Billy Boyd,  who played Peregrin “Pippin” Took in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. “He will be sorely missed.”

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Beachy tunes

Written by: Ruth Simonsen | Digital Media Manager

“The Song You’ve Been Waiting For” — Coast Modern

“All Your Life” — Still Woozy

“Little Foot Big Foot” — Childish Gambino

“Lucky” — Rainbow Kitten Surprise

“Be Sweet” — Japanese Breakfast

“Guru” — Coast Modern

“Roly Poly” — Mt. Joy

“Why Do You Feel So Down” — Declan McKenna

“Summer’s Over” — Jordana, TV Girl

“Cinderella” — Remi Wolf

“Dive” — Coast Modern

“My Kink Is Karma” — Chappell Roan

“Feel It” — d4vd

“OMG” — Suki Waterhouse

“Westcoast Collective” — Dominic Fike

“1st Time” — Bakar

“Is It True” — Tame Impala

“Talk” — beabadoobee

“See The Light” — Stephen Sanchez

“Weekend Friend” — Goth Babe

“Sexy Villian” — Remi Wolf

“Window” — Still Woozy

“Hollow Life” — Coast Modern

“Alive!” — Bakar



Contact the author at howldigitalmediamanager@mail.wou.edu

Men’s lacrosse team resurrected

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

Western is home to nine intramural club sports teams that compete in organized intercollegiate competitions. While these sports generally perform well, they are not sanctioned by Western’s athletic administration, which often results in a lack of funding, recruiting and little to no recognition. 

In terms of public exposure, the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams alike have had a fair amount of success, but many club sports teams face challenges with recruitment that leave them with limited options for competition. While the Western lacrosse team has historically been a powerhouse program, their lack of players resulted in a forfeit of conference play last year. 

The team was even featured in an article written by Andrew Golden for the Lacrosse All-Stars, a media outlet and brand for the sport. The article, titled “What Happened to Western Oregon Lacrosse,” stated that, “About ten years ago, a school with under 4,000 students in a non-traditional area won their conference six straight times and still holds the record for most conference championships. That school is the Western Oregon Men’s Lacrosse program.” Golden observed that the last posted roster on the website was in 2022, so while the team did not appear to play in 2023, there is a chance they will come back the following year. His article proved to be true, and with a fresh coach and majority freshmen roster, they are rebuilding the program from the ground up. 

This grassroots operation of revitalizing the team’s former glory was not in vain — first-year Coach Wyatt Livengood actively recruited the vast majority of the team, and the newly minted group recently finished an undefeated season within their division of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association. 

Jack Livengood was a regular player during the season, and when asked about their absence from the MCLA last year and subsequent success during the 2024 conference, he stated, “Last season we didn’t have enough players to field the team, so we didn’t have a season. This year we barely had any players. We had 11 players, there’s 10 on the field, so that’s one sub. Always running around, that’s a lot of hard work. It kind of brought our team together, and we had the mentality that we just have to work together.”

Chris Skelton was a benchmark player for the team this season after his hiatus during the canceled 2023 season. Skelton described why he chose to return to the sport, saying, “I just saw a bunch of dogs out here and I thought, this will be fun. That’s all I saw. We’ve got a bunch of young kids, our team is mainly freshmen and we have no seniors this year, we just had a lot of potential and a lot of commitment — basically, a lot of energy out here. That was kind of what brought me back out here, it was a whole new team, mindset and coach, and it’s been so much fun this year.”

Will Panagakis, a freshman on the team, discussed his experience with facing competition within the club Lacrosse conference. “It’s kind of like, when you step up to the plate, you’ll realize that we’re in the big leagues and I gotta step up. When you step on the field, I don’t know how to explain it — it’s like a wake-up call really, because everyone is so much bigger than you’re expecting.”

When asked about the recruiting prospects for their following season, Skelton said, “We’re expecting a low amount of guys come in, but we’ve been searching up schools, going and watching their games this past week and a couple weeks ago, we’ve been talking to some of the (high school) seniors, and we’ve got a good amount of interest and kids actually want to come to Western next year, so that’d be fun to see what they actually do.” 

Panagakis added, “We were undefeated in the league, so if we get a couple more people we should be pretty good next year. In our league, we play Gonzaga, Central Washington, Puget Sound, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) and Pacific Lutheran University. Mostly California and Washington teams, but in the spring we’ll play the Ducks (University of Oregon) and the Beavers (Oregon State University).”

Caden Lampert implored students interested in club sports to test the waters: “If you want to go out and be active, just come out and try it. It doesn’t hurt to say you’re not going to but at least come out and see what it’s all about, because you may love club sports and you may want to keep playing it,” Lampert said. 

Panagakis encourages Western students to attend club lacrosse competitions: “If you want to attend a game, I’ve brought a couple of people and they said it was one of the coolest sports they’ve ever come and watched. You don’t understand it when you’re watching it, and that’s the best part — there’s a whole bunch of stuff going on at all times. Lacrosse is something that’s happening at all times, and that is why I like it so much. If you want to come to a game, they’re so entertaining and you should definitely come,” said Panagakis.

Skelton also had a message concerning the lack of coverage for club sports and what students can do to make a change. “Show up and show out, basically just that. I mean, rugby’s playing, swimming’s competing, soccer’s playing, lacrosse is playing, everyone should just show up and have fun and support your team. You all go to Western, so just support everybody.”



Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Formula One back in United States for Miami Grand Prix

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

The Miami Grand Prix hosted a plethora of talent in recent weekends, where Formula One and the Formula One Academy both held their most recent Grands Prix. Both races ended on the podium for McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Bianca Bustamante — first for Norris and second for Bustamante. However, there is an importance in the presence of the Academy racing in Miami, Florida. 

Historically, there have only been five female drivers in the male-dominated motorsport, and only two have ever completed a Grand Prix or scored points on a Formula One Circuit. 

Competing from 1958 to 1992, these drivers became pioneers in a sport where they were not initially welcomed. 

In 2004, Formula Women was created for female drivers and ran for three seasons before its ultimate cancellation in 2007, and in 2019 the W Series was also introduced, but was once again canceled and cut short after three seasons — both due to financial reasons.

However, following the cancellation of the W Series in 2022, Formula One announced it would be funding its own all-female racing academy, to promote and prepare young drivers for higher levels of competition.

There are currently 15 drivers in the Academy, with three drivers on one of the five teams. Additionally, 10 drivers are sponsored by one of Formula One’s teams, while the five not sponsored by a Formula One team are then sponsored by the series’ partners. 

While the first season’s races were not broadcasted — a decision that received pushback from fans — Formula One Academy received huge support from across the globe, as women and girls were finally able to see representation in the male-dominated sport.

A large contribution came from the Formula One drivers, some including Lewis Hamilton, Charles LeClerc and Lando Norris and their brands promoting their sponsored cadets. These sponsored drivers wear the teams’ livery and colors on their cars, as well as participate in press conferences, media tours and dual race weekends at select tracks. The Miami Grand Prix was one such race weekend.

Both sets of drivers had practice sprints on the track, as well as qualifying races to see where in the grid they would be placed, before it cumulated in the Grand Prix race May 5. The Academy races once more than Formula One does, to give the drivers more experience on the track. 

With Formula One Academy racing at 11 p.m. EST in the final race that Sunday, May 5, they were set well ahead of Formula One’s race that evening at 4 p.m. EST. 

Alpine driver Abbi Pulling went two for two in Miami, pulling ahead of McClaren driver Bustamante by a margin of 3.8 seconds in the final laps. Bustamante was looking to right the mistakes she made in the first race, and ended up creating a seven-poll difference in her results — going from P9 to P2.

McLaren was also extremely successful in the Formula One race later that evening. Drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri began the race in P5 and P6 respectively, and while Piastri failed to finish in the top ten, Norris secured his first win. 

Before the race, it had been 539 days since a non-Red Bull or Ferrari driver had won a Grand Prix, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen leading the charge in wins, followed closely by Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles LeClerc. Sainz is currently not signed to a team for the 2025 season, with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton signing to Ferrari.

Norris was the only driver in the Formula One circuit to make podium appearances while also having no wins under his belt, a total of 16 appearances. In 2021, after a victory at the Russian Grand Prix slipped through his fingers, fans on Norris’ Instagram dubbed him “Lando NoWins,” a nickname he would ultimately change to “Lando NowWins.”

“About f—–g time! Finally! Finally! I’m so happy,” Norris had cheered to his race engineer. Formula One racers are connected to their engineers via radio comms. Norris is also the first McLaren driver to win in a United States Grand Prix since 2012 — Hamilton was the last driver to do this at the Austin Grand Prix. 

Two teams dropped new livery for the Miami Grand Prix for their vehicles: Scuderia Ferrari and Visa Cash App Red Bull — VCARB. 

On April 23, 2024, Ferrari began teasing their livery reveal by posting images to Instagram of Sainz, LeClerc and their vehicles in a 3D style with the caption “Coming soon.” Other posts soon followed of the team and crew wearing blue uniforms.

However, when the team released images of the livery May 1, fans were less than thrilled. Rather than the all blue car they were expecting, the livery now bore eight blue HP logos in varying sizes. Reactions to the livery varied, but all voiced their disappointment, “Ferrari and disappointing fans – the saga continues,” said Instagram user @desaiiiyash15. “(One) month marketing, (one) million posts, for this…” 

The chameleon livery that VCARB unveiled May 3 received a more positive response from fans of Formula One, the “oil slick” look inspired by the colors of Miami and the chameleon Cash App Visa card. 

“The suits. The livery. VCARB ate everyone up, I fear,” said Instagram user @khemkheang_art21. Many others shared this reaction and suggested the team use the livery for the rest of the season.

While Formula One Academy will not race again until June 21 – 23 in Barcelona, Formula One will be in Emilia-Romagna for the Italian Grand Prix May 24 – 26. Races will stream on the Formula One Network and ESPN+.  

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Tuition increase

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

All seven public, four-year universities in Oregon plan to raise tuition costs from three to five percent for the 2024-2025 academic school year.

Oregon State University’s in-state and full-time students will be expected to pay $14,400 per year; University of Oregon students are expecting more than $16,100; while Portland State University students can expect a $11,800 tuition. All three universities have the highest enrollment rates in the state.

Maureen Brakke, the director of marketing and communications at Western, made a statement in a post to the Western’s home website. “The Tuition Advisory Committee, which includes students, staff, and faculty, submitted a proposed five percent tuition increase, which was accepted by President Jesse Peters and presented to the Board of Trustees on April 17,” said Brakke.

In the same post, Peters shared his sentiment: “We take pride in offering students a tailored educational experience, fostering a sense of belonging, and delivering quality support services. We have worked hard to maintain affordability without compromising the exceptional quality of education and services that define Western,” Peters said.

Western, being the second least expensive public university in Oregon out of the seven, will increase tuition to nearly five percent for resident tuition and 4.86 percent for non-resident undergraduate tuition.

Eastern Oregon University, the least expensive public four-year university, will be resting at about $1,000 less than Western, with students expected to pay approximately $11,000 for in-state, full-time enrollment tuition.

Graduate tuition will rise by five percent, with no variation regarding residency. Summer 2024 tuition rates will be increased at the same rate as the 2024-2025 academic year cost.

In 2023, tuition at Western was raised by 3.09 percent for the 2023-2024 academic school year. Pre-pandemic, the 2017-2018 school year increased tuition by 6.4 percent, with the 2018-2019 school year having a proposed 4.03 percent increase, although it has not been confirmed whether or not this increase occurred. 

The 2019-2020 school year was approved for a 2.33 percent raise, equivalent to four dollars per credit, alongside the 2021-2022 school year receiving a 2.17 percent increase in tuition for resident undergraduate students.

The next academic year will leave Western at a higher tuition rate of about 18.85 percent at least since 2017 at the earliest, not including the suspected 4.03 percent increase from 2018-2019, and leaving out nonresident rates, which tend to be higher than resident tuition.

Statistics from Datausa.io reflect Western, in 2021, as having a 91.6 percent acceptance rate for incoming students but a graduation rate of less than half, at 48.3 percent. The same website lists Western’s tuition is $14,724 less than the national average overall from all Masters Colleges and Universities in the country.

Nationally, college average costs inflated nearly 12 percent annually from 2012 to 2022 according to educationdata.org.

It should be noted that the Incidental Funding Committee approved all requested base-level funding and additional funding requests at Western without raising student incidental fees. When discussing tuition rates, this excludes all fees such as health service fees, building fees, access to the recreational center, room and board costs, late payment fees and online course fees, alongside any other expenses students may be expected to pay.

“This slight tuition increase reflects our dedication to sustaining the excellence that makes us truly extraordinary,” said Peters in the latest statement — last year, when tuition increased by 3.09 percent, he said, “Our students are not just numbers; they are the future leaders of Oregon and the world, and we always look for new and innovative ways to support them.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Students protest on college campus

Written by: Libby Thoma | Staff Writer

Content warning: this article contains mentions of police violence.

 

Pro-Palestine protests have been taking place all over U.S. college campuses. According to NPR, students are asking for campuses not to support businesses that diverge with Israel. Campuses include the University of New Mexico, The University of Chicago, Columbia University, UCLA, California State Polytechnic University and more. 

These protests have led several colleges to instill holds on graduation ceremonies and, in some cases, police have been called, forcing a discussion regarding police violence towards student protestors. 

School-wide graduation ceremonies at colleges such as Columbia University and the University of Southern California have been canceled due to campus unrest and police activity. Police activity has been an ongoing issue on campuses where protests have taken place. Some are comparing the events at these protests to the Vietnam protests at Kent University, in which four students died due to police violence. 

Although no fatal incidents have occurred in these protests, colleges are actively trying to mitigate violence or illegal acts perpetrated by protestors and police alike. While peaceful protests are ideal, there have still been some violent events surrounding these recent protests. 

There have been instances of violence occurring between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protestors, entailing shoving, kicking and the groups beating each other with sticks. Additionally, there is the ongoing issue of students committing illegal acts on campuses such as trespassing and vandalism. Police have arrested more than 2,000 student protestors for various reasons, and there has been a circulation of videos online depicting police violence towards these protestors. Police on campuses, such as UCLA, came prepared for potential altercations in riot gear. 

The thin line between protesting and civil disobedience and what the police should and shouldn’t do has been debated throughout these protests. The importance of students, police and other civilians’ safety shouldn’t be underestimated, and these situations must be handled carefully. 

Contact the author at ethoma23@mail.wou.edu

 

Psychology grad school fair

Written by: Forest Schostalo | Freelancer

The Psychology Peer Advising Center, PsychPAC, will hold a graduate school fair on May 21 in the Werner University Center. The event will run from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Columbia Room and will have at least 13 programs in attendance. 

When asked about the importance of this event, John Thoma, PsychPAC’s graduate school coordinator, said, “Many people don’t know how to go about grad school; this is their very first time showing interest. The mystery creates a lot of questions, but you don’t always know which ones you are supposed to ask.” 

This will be the second-ever graduate school fair that PsychPAC has hosted, following the success of last year’s event. According to Thoma, the event will be a great way for students interested in graduate school to not only learn more about graduate school but also become acquainted with the people who work at these schools. “Go in representing yourself and the best person that you are. These are the people who could be interviewing you when you apply, that’s how it was for me at Geroge Fox,” said Thoma.

In preparation for the Grad Fair, PsycPAC curated a list of Dos and Don’ts for students attending the event. They suggest preparing several questions in advance to get a full picture of what the school has to offer. They also suggest talking to the school one is most interested in last to get some practice before seeing them. Finally, they suggest wearing something that is more professional. If one doesn’t have anything professional, the Stitch Closet on campus can help.

PsychPAC also puts forward some don’ts. Don’t only look at the information on the table, instead talk to the attendants to obtain a full understanding of what they have to offer. Don’t leave mid-conversation if you discover you aren’t interested in the school, finish the conversation, and politely excuse yourself and thank them for their time. Finally, don’t save questions for a later time —this is a good opportunity to ask any questions, including about topics like financial aid or what they are looking for in an application, as some topics are better off not mentioned in an interview. 

PsychPAC serves as a way for psychology majors at Western to get advice from their peers who are also involved in the psychology program. The advisors include people at various levels within the major, with varied career aspirations and who have taken different courses within the program. They can help with registering for classes, removing advising holds, understanding degree tracks and more. They are located in Todd Hall, Room 339, and are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Several advisors from PsychPAC will be at the event ready to answer questions from students. “This is a perfect opportunity to gain information about grad school. You can then immediately come over to our table to make a plan to make that goal happen,” Thoma said. “We can help make a schedule for next year or figure out what classes or volunteer opportunities you should focus on.” 

The center will also be open during its normal hours on the day of the event for people who have any questions.

Many of the colleges with psychology-related graduate programs from across the state will be in attendance at the fair: private universities like George Fox and Pacific University, Public universities like Oregon State and the University of Oregon and even Western Oregon and its new Occupational Therapy Program will be represented. 

A full list of the universities that will be represented at the fair, what programs they offer, if they are accredited in any way and what makes these programs unique and special is available on the PsychPAC website.

For anyone who may be nervous about attending an event like the Graduate School fair, Thoma has some advice. “It’s okay to not know everything, that’s why we do these things. You can talk to these people and say it’s your first grad school fair and just by doing that you’ll learn what kinds of things you need to ask, don’t be afraid to not know.” 

Any questions about the event can be directed towards the PsychPAC email: peeradvising@mail.wou.edu or can be asked in person during their operating hours.

Contact the author at fschostalo21@mail.wou.edu

AANHPI Month

Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer

The month of May celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage. The celebratory month began its process of becoming federally recognized in 1977, when two members of the House of Representatives — Frank Horton and Norman Mineta — declared to the President that the first 10 days of May should be Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. 

The following year, President Jimmy Carter called for Heritage Week to be annually celebrated. Then, 12 years later, President George H.W. Bush extended the week to be an entire month. 

In 1992, it was signed into law that May would be AANHPI month. The first Japanese immigrants came to the country in May of 1843, which makes the month significant to AANHPI history. 

The Filipino American Association at Western shared what AANHPI Heritage Month means to them: “Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month taught me how to embrace my heritage and has allowed me to be more comfortable with representing my cultural identity. This month is a reminder of the rich diversity of the country and that it is important to celebrate that,” said Carl Garon, a graduate student at Western. 

Briar Durias, a senior at Western said, “This month, for me, is not only honoring my identity but also honoring, remembering, and being thankful for those who have given me the opportunity for the life I have now.” 

The theme of AANHPI Heritage Month this year is Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future. “This year’s theme means enrichment and inclusivity to me,” said Garon. 

“The theme of this year is a reminder to everyone that history is there to help us understand the hardships many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders faced and currently face. Most importantly, it speaks to the importance of understanding where we come from and recognizing the legacies and impacts of history on our present realities — this theme encourages reflection on how our ancestor’s actions shaped the world and how our actions, as a collective community, can help shape the world for the next generations to come.” 

When asked about how one can support the AANHPI community, Marione Corpus — a Western senior — explained, “It’s also important to continue educating yourself on what’s happening around the world. It’s important to stay educated and to find ways you can help whether it be through educating yourself, donating, supporting and advocating.” 

“Understanding the experiences and backgrounds of AAPI members is a big step in fostering a stronger bond between us and those who are not AAPI,” said Western junior, Micah Larioza.

In celebration of the month, Western is hosting events and exhibits to share the culture and heritage of our AANHPI community.

Hamersly Library houses a book and film display filled with culturally significant media to celebrate the month. There is a range of educational to recreational materials for all ages. Some noteworthy titles include the following: “The Magic Fish” by Trung Le Nguyen, “To Paradise” by Hanya Yanagihara and “In the Mood for Love” directed by Wong Kar-wai. 

On May 31, the Hawai’i Club is hosting Ho’ike, a celebration of Hawaiian culture through food, music and dance. 

Ho’ike is taking place in the Pacific Room of the Werner University Center with tickets selling for $12 for Western students and $15 for the community. Doors open at 5 p.m. to a beautiful display of celebration and admiration through cultural performances, a Hawaiian dinner, games and more. 

A very special thanks to the Filipino American Association here at Western. 

Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu

Holocaust memorial

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

In commemoration of the lives lost in the Holocaust and violence tied to World War II, Western continued their annual tradition by placing thousands of flags along Monmouth Avenue from May 3 – 7.

Western’s description of the event on the school-wide calendar directly quoted the Holocaust Encyclopedia for a definition: “The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million European Jews by the Nazi German regime and its allies and collaborators. The Holocaust was an evolving process that took place throughout Europe between 1933 and 1945.”

“These flags are meant to be a large, powerful display representing the lives of millions lost,” said Western’s calendar description. “There are different colored flags that represent the lives lost of certain peoples. The yellow flags represent the biggest number of Jewish lives lost.”

Multiple other flag colors lined the streets during the event, such as blue, red, white, green, brown, orange, purple, pink, lime green and light blue. In order, the communities they represent are as follows: Soviet civilians, Soviet prisoners of war, Polish civilians, Serbian civilians, Romani people, people with disabilities, repeat criminal offenders, LGBTQ+ people, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Spanish republicans.

The flags, although disrupted by the construction along Monmouth Avenue, shined bright against the backdrop of Western’s spring campus and were eye-catching to passersby.

“Every year for Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaShoah, we place thousands of flags along Monmouth Avenue to commemorate the lives lost,” said Western in an Instagram post. “This display provides an opportunity for reflection as a community… Thank you to the volunteers and (Western Student Engagement), who helped with the flags for this year’s remembrance.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

The lives of book readers

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

Avid readers have many nicknames: bookworm, book rat and ink drinker being commonplace titles. Whether one is a casual or consistent reader, there is a consensus that books are a lifestyle for many. 

Countless online book communities have risen in popularity on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and the anonymous message board app, YikYak. These apps have become places where readers of all ages and genres can come together and discuss what they have read. 

The most famous of these, coined “BookTok,” is a hashtag on TikTok where readers can post book reviews and content, show off their bookshelves and promote merchandise they have purchased or made. It is also common for BookTok to be used as a platform where authors can promote their works. 

A reader’s favorite part about the lifestyle is, well, reading the books. In an anonymous online poll with 95 participants, 81 percent said their favorite part was reading books. Very few participants’ favorite was discussing or collecting books — only a combined 16 percent of respondents chose either of these options. 

“I love opening a book and being immersed into a story,” said sophomore Hailey Cook. “I tend to feel strongly about each book I love and I think it makes me enjoy books even more.”

However, there can be issues within these communities.

One of the most prominent is the discourse surrounding the author Colleen Hoover, smut in books and what exactly qualifies as a “good book”; often, all three topics are discussed hand in hand.

Other authors who have come under fire in these discussions include Sarah J. Mass, author of the “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” “Crescent City” and “Throne of Glass” series, and Rebbeca Yarros, author of the “Fourth Wing” series. 

Maas, Yarros and Hoover have all been accused of “mediocre writing” that glamorizes harmful stereotypes, tropes and relationships.

However, fans often come to their defenses, stating these books are more like beach reads in the fantasy genre. They believe that the truly harmful books are those that are labeled “Dark Romance,” which often have explicit scenes of violence, assault and abuse, such as “Haunting Adeline” by H.D. Carlton. 

But, regardless of this discourse, many sections of book communities remain positive. 

“(I’ve had) positive experiences,” Cook said. “I love when I can have a genuine conversation about a book with other readers and understand why they may think a different way than me.”

Despite the discourse, book readers connect, creating and turning a hobby into a lifestyle that all can enjoy. 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

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