Mount Hood

NCAA women’s basketball champions

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

The University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball program recently beat the University of Iowa, clinching their third national title and second title in three years. After losing to Iowa in the Final Four last season, the South Carolina Gamecocks have not lost a game since — the tenth perfect season in National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s basketball history. 

Iowa started in the lead for the game, with Caitlin Clark adding 18 points on the board for Iowa and another record to her name. Clark was the NCAA Division One all-time point scorer across both men’s and women’s basketball. 

But even Clark could not stop the powerhouse that was the Gamecocks’ basketball program. After ending the first half up by three, South Carolina paced the game and Iowa could not pull ahead. Some South Carolina players called the road to the championship a “revenge tour.”

Tess Johnson led the Gamecocks with 19 points on the night, but senior Kamilla Cardoso was truly the most valuable player of the game, boasting a double-double of 15 points and 17 rebounds. Te-Hina Paopao and Chloe Kitts both followed closely with 14 and 11 points on the night. 

Clark was not the only one who broke records — the game itself was a record breaker. Airing on network television for the first time since 1995, the game surpassed the men’s game by 4.1 million views — 18.9 million and 14.82 million views respectively. 

“You’re seeing the growth in many places: attendance records, viewership and social media engagement surrounding March Madness,” University of California, Los Angeles coach Cori Close said. “I don’t think you can attribute it just to Iowa, though. A rising tide does lift all boats. But I think all those boats have been on many different waterways. The product is really good, and the increase of exposure is getting rewarded.” UCLA lost to third-ranked Louisiana State University in the Sweet Sixteen. 

This game was also one of the most watched non-Olympic women’s sporting events on United States television, second only to the 2015 Women’s World Cup final between the USA and Japan.

This year boasts a large class of players who have amassed large followings and prospects to go professional: LSU’s Angel Reese, Cardoso and Clark are all top prospects for this year’s Women’s National Basketball Association draft. 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

The newest men’s collegiate basketball champions: University of Connecticut

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

The University of Connecticut clinched back-to-back National Collegiate Athletic Association — NCAA — men’s basketball championships over Purdue University on April 8, 2024. 

The first half was a close match-up, but UConn went on a 15-7 run from a point deficit to pull ahead at the half. This deficit was the first time Purdue trailed after the first 20 minutes of play. 

In the second half, UConn’s run of 8-2 was used to bring their double-digit lead. But, most importantly for the team, they kept Purdue’s seven foot four inches tall center, Zach Edey, scoreless for a total of 12 minutes of play. UConn also limited Purdue at the 3-point line — the Boilermakers went one for seven in the second half. In the entire tournament, UConn only trailed for a total of five minutes and 42 seconds, never trailing by more than five points. 

“We were going to go to the well with Zach as much as we could at that point,” Purdue Head Coach Matt Painter said, talking about his team’s second-half trouble. “In a game like this, we had to be able to rebound defensively better, and then we had to have something balance that out. That was threes. They (UConn) stayed home with us. They did a really good job defensively.”

UConn is the eighth team to win back-to-back championships — the University of Florida was the last team to achieve this in 2007. This is also UConn’s sixth championship, becoming the fourth team to win six or more championships in their program’s history. This feat has been achieved by the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of Kentucky and the University of North Carolina. 

All of UConn’s championship wins have occurred since 1999, which is more than any other men’s team in that same span, and are second only to UConn’s women’s team, who have won 10.

Purdue has never won a national championship, despite appearing in the Final Four three times. They have only appeared in a championship game once, which was this most recent appearance. 

However, it was not a UConn player who led the game in stats. Edey claimed a double-double — scoring 37 points and 10 rebounds in Purdue’s defeat. Four of UConn’s five starters scored in double digits: Tristen Newton scored 20, Stephon Castle scored 15, while Cam Spencer and Donovan Clingan both scored 11. 

“Credit to my teammates and coaching staff for putting me in the right positions to make plays, score, get people involved and get the win tonight,” said Newton. Newton was selected as the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. 

“You can’t even wrap your mind around it, because you just know how hard this tournament is,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said post-game. “What a special group of people.”

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Westerns women’s basketball update

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

The Howl previously covered the cancellation of the Western women’s basketball season. The article covered allegations of abuse and harassment from players at Western and also Salem University, where head coach Jessica Peatross and assistant coach Demetrius “DJ” Marlow led the women’s basketball program during the 2022-23 season. Following a legal investigation prompted by the athletic department, the administration has chosen to remove the coaches from administrative leave and reinstate both Peatross and Marlow for the 2024-25 season.

In the previous article, one anonymous source from the Western women’s basketball team went into depth on alleged National Collegiate Athletic Association — NCAA — violations, verbal abuse, sexually charged comments and a season-ending injury possibly caused by assistant Coach DJ Marlow. Multiple players from Salem University and another NCAA Division Two university located in West Virginia came forward to speak about their alleged experiences with Coaches Peatross and Marlow as well — many of the allegations followed similar patterns of verbal abuse, neglect, inappropriate behavior and a lack of response from their athletic administration. 

While the coaches have been on paid administrative leave since February, an investigation was initiated, though it is unclear who exactly hired the firm. The law firm, by the name of Littler Mendelson, specializes in employer clients and conducted the believed-to-be unbiased third-party investigation. The spokesperson for the firm released a statement saying that “the allegations against the coaches were not sustained.” The coaches were officially reinstated following the conclusion of this investigation. The Western women’s basketball players were then offered the option of entering the transfer portal, but in order to stay on the team they would need to meet with Coach Peatross individually.

The season cancellation caught the attention of sports commentator and Instagram personality Timothy Martin, who regularly posts content related to the NCAA and professional sports. Following the release of our previous article, Martin posted an update that garnered over four hundred thousand views. We reached out to Martin about the reinstatement of Peatross and Marlow, to which he said, “Based on the situations and stories from former athletes and those associated with the team — it’s shocking from an outsider’s perspective like myself to hear the results of the investigation from the university. For a Collegiate season to be cut short and nothing come of the investigation seems very odd. I’m an outsider and have no association with the university, but have been following this situation since it was announced over a month ago and honestly have more questions now than I did when the investigation started.” 

Derek Holdsworth is a Western track and field and cross-country alumni and current head coach of Growing Runners Track Club, a youth track club in Williamsburg, Virginia. During his time at Western, he broke the all-time Western record and all-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) record for the 800-meter run. Holdsworth has been keeping tabs on the status of the women’s basketball team after hearing the news about the season cancellation. “I always felt safe at (Western) with my coaches and staff around me, so it’s incredibly disappointing to hear that not only do students feel uncomfortable with their current coaches but their coaches lied about their experience to get the current positions that they have. It’s frustrating to hear this as someone who’s currently in search of a career outside of my athletic pursuits. I know the staff at WOU has the ability to do what’s best for their student-athletes, they just might need a little push,” Holdsworth stated. 

Multiple faculty and staff members at Western have expressed discontent with the decisions made by the athletic administration, but out of fear for their job security and safety, have declined to comment. One Western faculty member spoken to agreed to have their quote released under the condition that they remain anonymous. “I’ve worked with dozens of student-athletes in my time at WOU. Generally, this group of people doesn’t complain unless there are real problems. They are used to grueling schedules, high demands and hard work. They put up with a lot. Then they do it again the next day. It’s inconceivable to me that these students are being silenced and ignored. There needs to be better leadership from both athletics and WOU administrators. The least powerful and least protected people are essentially being told they don’t matter. That’s not what WOU represents.” 

Another faculty member also shared their opinion on the outlook of recruiting future athletes – “reinstatement of the women’s basketball coaching staff is a clear indicator of the absence of any wrongdoing. Recent history of the administration’s mismanagement of the situation can have detrimental consequences for recruiting down the line.”

An anonymous source from Salem University, who contributed to the previous article as one of the players in Peatross and Marlow’s 2022-2023 program, made a second statement to the Howl. “Honestly, I think it’s crazy. It just shows how bad the outside world doesn’t pay attention to athletes calling and seeking out help. In this world especially as college athletes, athletes in general — we overlook our mental health and in this situation, the staff at WOU overlooked theirs. I just hope that both coaches find it in their hearts to start off with a clean slate and allow the girls to come back and play. That school is their home.” This source was instrumental in gathering information and sources of all different opinions from Salem University.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

FAFSA needs to improve

Written by: Libby Thoma | Staff Writer

A college degree is necessary for many higher-level jobs that pay a fair and livable wage, but are inaccessible to many who are of lower income. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid — FAFSA — as most students already understand, is vital for receiving financial aid for college and therefore, for most, vital to being able to attend college. Although it is widely understood that FAFSA is the key to the future students dream about, it is overall unfair and discriminatory towards those in underprivileged communities. 

Before contemplating the prejudices of FAFSA, the technical issues must be addressed. FAFSA has an entire website page dedicated to its issues. These issues include not being able to find one’s school, parents not being able to access FAFSA after starting the form on behalf of the student, FAFSA saying the form is in progress even when completed and an entire list more. These issues can prevent students from accessing the financial aid they need, especially in a timely manner.

Completing FAFSA promptly is necessary due to the application being on a first come first serve basis. 

Along with these technical issues, FAFSA bases a student’s financial aid benefits based on their parent’s income. This is a problem in a multitude of ways. In the U.S., a person 18 or older is considered an adult, so it must be asked — why are adults’ financial aid being based on their parent’s income? How does being an adult not automatically make one an independent person? Due to many parents not paying tuition and possibly being unwilling to fill the required forms, shouldn’t fall into their hands either. Students looking to receive what they need to be able to attend college can make huge decisions, such as getting married or joining the armed forces, just to receive an often necessary education. Parents should not be in charge of a student’s financial aid, the student should be.

FAFSA puts those in underprivileged households or families, such as undocumented citizens, children without access to parents or legal caregivers who aren’t considered independent, at more of a disadvantage. Although FAFSA’s website states otherwise, students with parents missing an SSN were unable to complete the FAFSA without their SSN. Although this was seemingly fixed recently, FAFSA’s ‘first come first serve’ approach has caused students to miss out on financial aid opportunities because of this oversight. Along with this, students who are labeled as ‘dependents’ on their parents’ taxes but are not on speaking terms with their parents or caregivers are also at a disadvantage. In this case, students would not be able to receive financial aid through FAFSA unless they contacted their parents. People may cut ties with their families for many reasons such as abuse, unacceptance of their identity and so much more, and that should be honored and respected. Instead, FAFSA will not grant any financial aid to these students, limiting their educational opportunities. 

Contact the author at ethoma23@mail.wou.edu

Excessive healthiness can be unhealthy too

Written by: Libby Thoma | Staff Writer

Content warning: This article contains mentions of eating disorders

Health influencers and gurus have flooded social media exponentially over time, and an obsession with an ill-defined idea of physical health has been promoted to many consumers on a daily basis. These influencers give supposed “hacks,” ideas and even inspiration to lead a physically healthy lifestyle. This obsession with health and being perfect has caused some people to take it too far. 

Where do we draw the line when dealing with health? Too far, as described in this article, is any situation taken far enough to be considered an eating disorder. According to the National Institute of Health, an eating disorder can include any preoccupation — or obsession — with food, body weight or body shape. This leads to the conclusion that those who are extremely obsessed with being physically healthy, which includes the realm of food and usually weight as well, have an eating disorder.  

There are many examples of said preoccupation, and some include obsessing over natural foods. A person could scrutinize the correct amount of healthy calories and refuse, no matter the situation, to nourish their body properly. One could obsess over exercise — which tends to be one of the more problematic and more noticeable obsessions. 

Anything that gets in the way of daily tasks and enjoying daily life should be considered a disorder. While it is of utmost importance to be healthy, it is important to maintain that and not go overboard. Ideas of going overboard could include purposefully and drastically hurting one’s body and/or brain to exercise, including in sports. This could include an inability to go anywhere where a person is unfamiliar with the food served out of fear for eating something unhealthy. This could include refusing to go see one’s parents due to fear of losing out on time to exercise — the list goes on. 

9% of the U.S. population has an eating disorder according to ANAD, and if people with obsessions regarding exercise, being healthy or fit are included, as they should be, the statistic would rise.

If the reader feels that they are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to realize these feelings are valid and to seek help. If any of this sounds familiar, contact the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders at 888-375-7767.

Contact the author at ethoma@mail.wou.edu

LGBTQ+ Exhibition

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

The second traveling exhibition from the Stonewall National Museum & Archives has found a temporary home in the Hamersly Library at Western.

The exhibition, titled “Transcending Gender Bodies and Lives,” illustrates the stories of many LGBTQ+ figures and a timeline of gender identity across the globe. “Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have faced a long history of shared systematic oppression by gender and sexual norms,” said the exhibition’s description. “This exhibit examines ways that gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation intersect.”

The LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Grant, awarded to Western in partnership with Central School District from the Oregon Department of Education, paved the way for the exhibition’s showing. 

In the exhibition, a timeline of events spanning from the 1700s to the modern age highlights the growing understanding and acceptance of transgender people alongside many other monumental moments. According to Grant Coordinator Melody Barrett, the timeline allows for viewers to “walk from the past to the present and read about individuals and events which have shaped and impacted the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, and specifically those who are transgender in a chronological way in American history.”

One section of the exhibition, titled “The Teachable Moment,” explores the duality of increased acceptance but a continued lack of awareness. “The increased visibility of transgender people in the media has made wins in educating the public. However, beneath the stories of success and recognition, there remains an epidemic of serious issues in the lives of many trans people, including housing and job discrimination, poverty, HIV infection, drug abuse and suicide.”

“As gender expression, sexual identity and a sense of community are very important facets of LGBTQIA+ culture, the exploration of our similarities and differences can teach us how to support one another so that we may live our lives truly, and safely,” said the exhibition.

“By bringing these exhibitions to campus, our goal is to share, educate and expand understanding of gender diversity, expression and identity,” said Barrett.

The exhibition can be found in the main lobby of the Hamersly Library with a secondary LGBTQ+ exhibit found on the second floor.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

HSI Summit

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

The upcoming Hispanic-Serving Institution Summit will take place for the third annual time at Western from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024.

The event is free but requires registration in advance by Thursday, April 18. Western students are encouraged to come and listen to the two keynote presenters, Dr. Patrick L Valdez and Dr. Marissa Vasquez.

Valdez, coming from the University of Kentucky’s College of Education, has 25 years of experience in the execution and development of academic and student success programs. Vasquez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education at San Diego State University.

The Summit kicks off at 9 a.m. in the Pacific Room at the Werner University Center, leading into both speakers’ presentations, with breaks for food and a student panel taking up the brunt of the day.

Western is slowly but surely building a Hispanic-serving culture and community, as the student population ticks closer to 25 percent, a requirement for the school to receive the HSI designation.

Western would be the first public four-year university in Oregon to receive the Hispanic-Serving Institution designation — assuming another four-year institution doesn’t get there first, which is considerably likely as awareness of HSI designations has continued to spread and evolve.

Becoming a designated Hispanic-serving Institution allows opportunities to apply for federal funding and resources for the institution and students, such as support services and programs.

“The point of the event is to get all of these people in the same room to discuss how we can best support the Hispanic community,” said Sarah Lockwood, a member of the HSI Summit working group.

Anna Hernandez-Hunter, co-chair of the HSI Advisory Committee, has high hopes for the future of Western.

“I think for me, the biggest thing that I hope people take away from this is that it’s really going to impact the institution and everyone in a positive way,” said Hernandez-Hunter. “I hope that people take away that this is going to help us as an institution really, really focus on what helps students be successful.”

The term “servingness” is explained to be “a multidimensional and conceptual way to understand what it means to move from simply enrolling Latinx students to actually serving them” by the American Council on Education. The definition of what that means for each institution changes — as there are many ways to be Latino/a/e and every school will need different resources to better provide for that specific community.

Western shared a message regarding the event: “We are committed to engaging in this work with our entire community as Western continues to emerge as an HSI and focus on truly serving our students. We are stronger together.”


Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Meet Hunter Hall

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

A few things to note about Hunter Hall, the Associated Students of Western Oregon University President: his love for Western is reflected in a Naruto headband engraved with the Western logo, he works with graphic design and used to be deathly afraid of clowns.

Only two of those topics are relevant to his time at Western. 

Hall began his college career at Portland Community College and transferred to Western in 2020, with three years of experience in student government under his belt. During the pandemic, learning was online, and Hall was merely a virtual student. He had little resources and company on campus, but he knew one thing: he wanted to be involved with student government at Western.

His first and second years consisted of student work at the entry level: Destination Western and tutoring at the Math Center. Eventually, he found ASWOU, climbing the ranks to his current position as the President.

“I just slowly integrated myself and started working toward the things I wanted to do here,” said Hall. “I needed to be in a position of power so I could better help support the students like me, who might not have friends or family here, or like many people, to support them … I really tried to throw myself into the sandcastle elbows-deep and get super, duper involved — just (having) many jobs from my first and second years here that helped me get to where I am now.”

Technically, Hall graduated with his Bachelor’s in June of 2023: one in Mathematics, and then another in Interdisciplinary Studies with a double minor in Communications and Writing. Currently, Hall is a graduate student for a Masters degree in the Art of Teaching.

“I’m going to use my math undergrad and then my MAT to teach at the middle school level for about ten years. And then I hope to become a principal of a school, and then eventually a superintendent of a school district. It’s like I said: if you really want to make a change, you have to integrate yourself well.”

Another fact about Hunter Hall: he plans extensively for his future.

Although Hall won’t be ASWOU President next year, he’ll be on campus as a building manager and volunteering at Western’s garden — seeds he planted, a mark to be left behind as he continues to embark on his ten-year plan.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Meet Western’s Peer Development Coordinator

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Western’s Werner University Center houses many student resources, including the Center for Professional Pathways. The CPP offers a variety of services, including resume and cover letter assistance, a headshot station, information on the study abroad program and even a snack cart loaded with delicious food. Incredible opportunities are offered at the CPP that many students are unaware of. The Howl had the opportunity to interview the Peer Development Coordinator of the CPP, Jennifer Hansen.

The services at Western’s Center for Professional Pathways are individualized and adjusted to the needs of students. “As students have given us feedback over the years our events have evolved to incorporate that information. I feel we try really hard to meet students where they are at and try to provide a comfortable space for them to grow into their future,” Hansen said.

Undergraduate students may be unsure or concerned about their career or graduate school outcomes after attending Western, but the CPP is a resource that provides valuable insight and support. “With these tools they should be able to launch into their next steps after (Western) smoothly, and if they don’t, we are here to help them pick back up and try again.”  The CPP staff has helped students feel more secure in their plans, and knowing someone is rooting for them is always a confidence booster.

Hansen shared her philosophy when it comes to working with individual students. “Depending upon the nature of the person I can adjust my own demeanor to match so that I’m not as overwhelming… I’ve been told I have a big personality. I am an ENFP so I rely a lot on my intuition when it comes to reading a situation and can adjust well to the needs of others in the room,” Hansen said. The CPP provides students with a Myers-Briggs test to figure out what careers suit them best, whether they are an ENFP, INFJ or fit into another personality type. “I truly am here to serve the students, and want to help each of them reach success in whatever way that means to them,” Hansen expressed .

Choosing a career at Western wasn’t arbitrary for Hansen. “I am an alumni, so (Western), Western Oregon State College when I started, was an easy choice… once I got to campus and got through my interview it felt like coming home,” Hansen said. The programs offered on campus are designed to make students feel comfortable, so they can succeed in college and beyond.

In any career, roadblocks are inevitable — it just depends on how one chooses to deal with them. Especially following the pandemic, schools and companies had to restructure their systems to continue to provide services. “When COVID hit and we were all of a sudden remote and removed from the students, their needs didn’t stop… students still needed our services so I took the materials that we normally share in classroom presentations and learned quickly how to turn them into videos that we could share so that some of our basic information was still easily accessible,” Hansen said. The silver lining of this hurdle was learning new technological skills.

Though many students at Western claim they have busy schedules, and it may be true, utilizing campus resources is worthwhile. “Come see us.  Really, come see us. I cannot tell you how many times students come in, get help, gain answers, leave with some information, and as they are leaving say, ‘why didn’t I come see you sooner?’” Hansen said.

Hansen used a helpful analogy to describe gaining new experiences — “It’s like buying shoes on Amazon for the first time, you truly don’t know they are going to fit until you try them on. It’s so much easier to change direction while you are still a student if you decide what you thought you wanted to do isn’t right.” If one has an aspiration for a certain career, do not be afraid to branch out and take it for a test run. Make connections, and figure out what is the best fit depending on one’s interests.

The starting point to figuring out one’s next steps in a professional field may be simpler than it seems at first. “Really know what your values are when starting out, and know your ‘why,’” Hansen said. “What you value, such as location, or amount of time you spend at work vs. home, or compensation, or team dynamic, can truly play a part in your happiness in your career … knowing your “why” will keep you afloat on the hard days, and there will always be hard days no matter what field you are in,” Hansen said. Continuing to discover oneself will provide necessary knowledge in order to overcome obstacles and hardships.

“As long as most days you are achieving your ‘why,’ then the hard days are a little easier because tomorrow is always a new day and a new chance to fulfill that ‘why’ once again,” Hansen finished. The Center For Professional Pathways is the place to be if students are looking for additional advice.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Picnic recipes

Written by: Sierra Porter | Staff Writer

Spring has arrived, and along with it comes beautiful flowers, sunny days and markets with the freshest fruits and vegetables. Take advantage of this beautiful season with homemade snacks perfect for any picnic: 

HOMEMADE HUMMUS: 

Start to finish: 20 minutes

*This recipe requires a food processor*

Chickpeas 

Tahini 

Fresh lemon juice 

Fresh garlic

Ground cumin and salt 

Olive oil 

Optional: Roasted red peppers 

Start by adding lemon juice and tahini to the food processor and allow them to run for a minute or two, eventually turning into a paste. Peel the chickpeas for a more creamy texture and separate them into two batches for easier processing. Blend the first batch of chickpeas along with the cumin, salt, olive oil and roasted red peppers, then add the second batch. Add a splash of olive oil on top and serve with crunchy veggies, pita bread or even on a tasty sandwich. 

ELOTE-INSPIRED PASTA SALAD

Start to finish: 30 minutes 

200g pasta noodles, any kind

3 tsp olive oil 

2 cans of sweet corn 

6 spring onions, finely chopped 

40g coriander 

200g feta cheese 

150g Mayonnaise 

3 limes, juiced

2 tsp chili powder 

Begin by cooking the pasta noodles in heavily salted water, drain and then add 1 tsp of olive oil. Heat the remainder of the olive oil in a skillet, add the sweet corn with a dash of salt and cook for 5-10 minutes or until slightly charred. Put the corn in a large serving bowl, add the pasta, spring onions, most of the coriander, crumbled feta cheese and mix well. To make the dressing, combine mayonnaise, chili powder, lime juice and salt into a bowl to pour over the elote pasta. Top with extra feta, corn, a chili powder and go ahead and set it on the picnic table.

SWEET RASPBERRY LEMONADE 

Start to finish: 15 minutes

8-10 large lemons = 1 ½ cups lemon juice 

½ pound of raspberries

5 cups water

1-1 ½ cups sugar  

Lemon wedges, for serving 

Fresh mint, for serving

Every picnic needs a sweet drink to sip on and a homemade raspberry lemonade is just the thing to quench your thirst. Start by squeezing all the juice out of the lemons, acquiring at least 1 ½ cups of juice. Combine raspberries and ½ cup of lemon juice in a blender; puree until smooth, then pass the mixture through a sieve to separate out seeds. The fastest way to eliminate seeds is by pressing down on the strainer with a large spoon or ladle, pushing the seeds into the spoon to scoop out with ease. Add remaining lemon juice, water and sugar to the bowl and stir until completely dissolved. Taste test and add more sugar or lemon if needed. Pour in glasses with ice, top with lemon wedge along with the fresh mint, and enjoy the perfect picnic drink. 

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu