The Western Howl, Author at The Western Howl

Update: June 3, 2019

ASWOU’s second statement, released June 3:

Students of WOU,

Since ASWOU’s last letter to you all on May 30, 2019, the situation surrounding Tuesday, June 4th’s controversial event has escalated. Third-party organizations not affiliated with WOU have begun targeting the WOU campus with calls to organize protests to the event. Also, WOU students have been targeted in social media posts from both supporters and protesters of this event.

Because of the aggressive nature of these supporters and protesters, ASWOU has serious concerns for the safety of any and all WOU students who attend either the event or it’s associated protest. As such, it is our recommendation that all WOU students stay away from the Werner University Center on Tuesday, June 4th. We strongly encourage all club meetings. advising meetings, and other events on this day be moved to a different University building, rescheduled, or canceled. While we hope that Tuesday evening’s event maintains an aura of basic civility, we cannot, in good conscience, advocate for any WOU student being in the vicinity of the WUC on Tuesday.

If you feel affected by this event, please utilize the services of the WOU Student Health and Counseling Center at (503) 838-8313. The Polk County Behavioral Health Monmouth office can be contacted at (503) 400-3550.

If at any point during Tuesday night you feel unsafe while traveling on campus, please contact Public Safety at 503-838-8481. If you witness an incident of bias on WOU’s campus please report it using the Bias Incident Report Form (https://wou.edu/student/bias-incident-report-form/). This form is used to report an incident of bias if it is an act of conduct, speech, or expression that targets an individual or group based on their actual or perceived race/color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity/expression, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Please contact the ASWOU President via the email address aswoupresident@wou.edu if you have any other questions.

In solidarity,

2018-2019 ASWOU Administration

2019-2020 ASWOU Administration

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A link to President Rex Fuller’s official statement can be found here: President Rex Fuller’s official statement

President Rex Fuller’s Statement:

Dear Campus Community,

As you might know, the College Republicans, a registered student organization on campus, has invited Joey Gibson to speak on campus on June 4.

As an institution of higher education, Western Oregon University supports free speech and open inquiry, which are essential to a comprehensive university experience and for students to form their own viewpoints and perspectives. At WOU, all student clubs and organizations follow an approved protocol for bringing speakers to campus and reserving space, which includes a review of the event and a contract with the proposed speaker. As a public entity, WOU may not deny access to meeting space on the basis of viewpoint.

The University’s obligation to the freedom of speech is animated not only by the First Amendment to the US Constitution, but the even-broader Article I, Section 8 of the Oregon Constitution. It states:

“No law shall be passed restraining the free expression of opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write, or print freely on any subject whatever; but every person shall be responsible for the abuse of this right.”

This clause has been interpreted many times to require tremendous breadth in ensuring and upholding the freedom of expression in Oregon—a role a public university must embrace to remain relevant in our changing times.

Upholding core freedoms—including the freedom of speech—does not mean, however, the University must turn from its values. WOU’s Strategic Plan outlines eight essential values that guide our practices and decisions. The Plan expressly includes: Diversity and Respect: Equity and inclusion; a fundamental basis in human diversity; appreciation for the complexity of the world; strength drawn from our variety of backgrounds, abilities, cultural experiences, identities, knowledge domains and means of expression.

Our values are who we are—we can be a place of diversity and respect, as well as a fierce defender of the freedom of speech and expression at the same time.

Thank you.

Rex Fuller, President

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A link to ASWOU’s statement can be found here:

Instagram: @aswou

Twitter: @ASWOU

ASWOU’s statement can also be found below:

ASWOU’s statement recommends students attend other events happening the evening of June 4. A full listing of events can be found on students’ OrgSync accounts.

Link to College Republican Club’s response to ASWOU statement — statement can be found in comments: @woucr

College Republican Club’s response to ASWOU’s statement:

“Our speaker is multiracial and our event is open to all people regardless of their race, gender, religion, or nation of origin. We encourage all students to challenge the information that is being spoken around campus by seeking out their own information. Search Joey Gibson on YouTube and you will find that he has never said a hateful or racist word. In fact, he preaches often about Unity and having Love in your heart for all people, even those you absolutely disagree with.”

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More updates from The Western Howl regarding this event will be coming soon.

Contact the editor at howleditor@wou.edu

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Western Rugby All-Stars reigned victorious

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

On the weekend of May 25-27, three Western Oregon Rugby All-Stars headed to Houston, Texas to battle it out and see which regional team would come out on top. A week prior to this game, the men were already aware that seniors Alex Treat and Joey Caver would be two of the All-Stars. However, another surprise arose just days before they were set to travel to Houston: senior Matt Cornish, who originally tried out, was invited to join.

Although he didn’t make the team initially, upon review, they decided he would be an asset to the team. So, he accepted. Cornish, Treat and Caver were ready for what was to come. But, they weren’t the only representation Western had. Their head coach, Sean Pomeroy, was invited to help coach for their Pacific Coast All-Star team. All four faces of Western headed out to Houston.

Streamed live, friends and families were able to watch the game from the comfort of their homes. Taking place at Aveva Stadium, which is the home of the Major League Rugby’s Houston SaberCats, fans were able to keep up with the action as the boys headed to the pitch.

The first match that the Pacific Coast Grizzlies played in saw the Grizzlies taking on South. At half, the game was tied 7-7. But ultimately, Pacific Coast came out on top, 29-7.

The second game that the Grizzlies played in had them matched up against Mid-South. Once again, the Pacific Coast team proved themselves winners, shutting out Mid-South completely, 36-0.

The temperature was heating up along with the competition as the Grizzlies took on the North East Rhinos next. The Rhinos couldn’t hold their own against the Grizzlies, and in the end, Pacific Coast came out victorious, 39-7.

Up next, the Grizzlies had to face the Lonestar team — whoever came out on top here would be sent to the Championship. The game was close; at half, the score was all tied up at 0-0. But, the Grizzlies pulled through, shutting out another team, 17-0. This meant that they’d be a finalist in the Championship, where they’d be paired against the Rhinos once again.

Last year, the All-Star Championship saw the Grizzlies versus the Rhinos. For the second year in a row, the two teams took the pitch. From the start, the game was neck and neck. At half, the Rhinos had the upperhand, sitting at 10-7. However, the Grizzlies weren’t ready to give up. They managed to hold the Rhinos to that same score until the end, bringing the final score to 40-10 — the Grizzlies were victorious.

The Pacific Coast All-Stars are the 2019 NSCRO National All-Star Tournament Champions; Treat, Caver and Cornish, along with Coach Sean, were able to come back to Monmouth knowing they made their hometown proud.

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Malina Foley

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Q&A: Lacrosse’s Jonathan Williams named MCLA 3rd Team All-American

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

This year, first-year lacrosse player Jonathan Williams, an exercise science major, was named 3rd Team All American under the MCLA. This is the first time since 2015 that a player has achieved an All-American ranking; a feat that Williams was able to accomplish in just his first year on the team, and first year in college. I was able to sit down with him to discuss what the season looked like for him.

When did you start playing lacrosse, and why?

My freshman year of high school. My brother started playing his freshman year, and he’s three years older than me. He started playing because his friend recruited him because we didn’t have that many players on the team. I was still playing baseball at the time, in middle school, but I went to a few games and watched him play, and I was always really interested in it. My freshman year I was like, ‘yeah this is what I want to do,’ instead of baseball.

How do you feel that the season has gone for you?

I think it went pretty solid. I think there’s some improvements that need to be made, but I think we’re right on the edge of being an upper-level team. When the season started, we were playing in California against top-ten teams. We played two games over the weekend, and I had five goals … I was thinking, ‘Okay. Two or three goals a game — doesn’t sound that bad first season.’ And then, I got into league play and it was five, six, the occasional seven (goals). So I thought, ‘If this is how the rest of the season goes I’ll be feeling pretty good.’

How did you find out you were chosen for the All-American team?

I woke up to a text at like 9 a.m. … from Coach Dan It was actually just a screenshot of my name on the list. I was still just waking up … so I had to go back and look at it a few times to make sure it was real.

What was your reaction when you realized that it was real?

I was pretty excited. Not as excited as I was expected to be, I guess. The third team part sound weird to me … but it was still really cool to realize that of everybody in the nation I was in the top percentage of them.

What does the future of WOU Lax look like?

We had a really strong freshman class this year … we’re getting I think six or seven more freshman this year … so we have a lot of young guys and really good talent. We just need to get them all together and on the same page and I think we’ll be pretty solid for the next few years.

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

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“The Motown Throwdown” follow-up

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

On April 26, 2017, The Western Journal published a story titled “The Motown Throwdown,” written by our then Sports Editor, Burke De Boer. The story delved into the tradition that occurred each Spring at Western, then called Oregon College of Education, called the TKB Smoker. Hosted by the self-titled group Tappa Kegga Beer, the TKB Smoker was an annual, student-run boxing tournament that existed throughout the ‘70s. It ended for unknown reasons. But before the tradition could die out, it left one boxer famous for his tenacity in the ring: Lee Reed.

On May 7, I received a phone call from a man named Dave Clarke. He told me that he actually knew Lee Reed — and he had a lot of stories to share with me. So, he was kind enough to tell me all the memories he could recall of Reed, as a fighter and as a friend.

Clarke first heard of Reed through his brother, Robert. Robert attended Western Oregon State College in 1979, and when he came home, he told Clarke all about something called the TKB Smoker.

“He told me about a really “kick ass” guy he’d seen fight in the campus smoker — a guy named Lee Reed. Robert told me that he’d seen Lee knockout a couple of guys in less than a minute,” Clarke said. “My brother also told me that Lee taught a Taekwondo class on campus.”

From then on, Clarke wanted to become a martial arts sensation. He came to Western in 1981, and noticed a flyer posted near Barnum Hall advertising a class taught by Reed. So, he went to the Taekwondo class and met Reed first-hand.

“Class was very difficult, and Lee was demanding but always fair and interested … I just about worshipped him at the time,” Clarke said. “I didn’t get to know Lee better until I was in class for a few months.”

As Clarke began getting to meet Lee outside of his classes, he noted that Lee was a bit of a partier. Lee would host get-togethers at his apartment, where he’d cook for everyone. Clarke recalls the memory of one party.

“One day I was standing in Lee’s kitchen … he asked me to hold still for a second, so I did. He kicked off the flip-flop sandals he usually wore and did a perfect spinning wheel kick to my face. I could feel the bottom of his foot skim the top of my nose. This was in a space that was probably four feet wide — amazing,” Clarke recalled. “After that, he put his sandals back on and smiled at me. He said, ‘I just wanted to see if I could still kick a person as tall as you in the face.’”

When Clarke hosted parties, he felt lucky if he was able to find a few spare moments with Lee to get to know him better. It would be at one of these parties that he really began to understand Lee.

“He told me he was an orphan in Korea, and that he had to learn to fight to survive. He said … the other students would always want to fight him because of his mixed heritage.”

However Lee reached the point he was at now, Clarke only had kind words to share about him.

“Lee was always attentive to me, never once looked down on me , Clarke explained. “I sparred with Lee a few times. One time a backfist I threw touched Lee’s cheek. He paused and said, ‘That’s one of the best backfists I’ve ever seen — you should throw more of those.’”

Unfortunately. Clarke didn’t have any other information about why the TKB Smoker did come to an end, nor information on where Lee ended up. However, he knows that his memories of Lee will not fade.

“He remains in my memory as the most physically talented individual I’ve ever known,” Clarke concluded. “He was a great instructor, and I’ll always be glad to have known him.”

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of WOU Archives

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BillyAnn Stemple: Outstanding Graduate 2019

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in Lincoln City, which is on the coast not too far from here. I’ve always known that I wanted to be a teacher, so Western was an easy choice for me because of the ED program. I am going to be a middle school science teacher … I’m super passionate about teaching our adolescents — I think it’s an awesome age. They’re just goofy, and they need all the love in the world. So, I’m excited to just give that to them. And science is just awesome because of the wonder and the ‘Ah-ha’ moments that it gives those kids.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love visiting my family and my boyfriend … In the summertime and the springtime, I love to barbeque. That’s one of my favorite things to do. Sometimes I watch Netflix.

How do you feel about having been chosen for the Delmer Dewey/Julia McCulloch Smith Award?

Shocked, honored, humbled… I don’t know. I really didn’t expect to win. I knew I was nominated, and I wrote my cover letter and resume just being like ‘What an honor it is to be nominated. I’m so happy for whoever wins.’ But I totally wasn’t thinking it would be me at all. And then, it was. … I feel like I’ve done things that are just enjoyable and fun for me, so it was weird to be recognized for things that just seem like part of my existence and what I would no matter what.

What are some of the ways that you have been involved here at Western?

I started off in hall government as Activities Director … Then I was on the Residence Hall Association for half of my freshman year and all of my sophomore year as a programming coordinator. And then kind of at the same time that I started that position, I got a volunteer position at HART, which stands for Horses Adaptive Riding and Therapy. So, we do work with toddlers all the way through older adults who are experiencing physical or cognitive disabilities, mental health diagnoses, trauma — a variety of reasons why they might come in and ride the horses … And meanwhile, my junior year I got a position in University Housing as the Residential Programming Program Assistant, and that involved planning more social events and fun things for students to do over the weekends. I’ve been an ambassador … I was part of the Faculty Senate Honors Committee… and recently I’ve gotten to be a part of revising the Honors curriculum, which has been a lot of work but also a lot of fun.

Can you tell me a bit about what your experience has been like at Western in general?

My experience at Western has been great. I think they do a really good job of pushing you to try new things that are outside of your comfort zone and opening your mind to the world. I grew up in a pretty small town, so I didn’t have a lot of experiences with the things that I think Western is really good at exposing us to, and so my world just grew because of Western.

What is the thing that you are most proud of during your time at Western?

I think I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve made and the people I’ve surrounded myself with. I feel like after I leave here, I’m just going to have a whole slew of people who are supporting me and cheering for me, and that feels really good. I’ve made connections that drive me to be a more positive person — a person who wants to make positive change in the world — and I definitely think I’m influenced by those people every day.

If you could go back and do one thing differently, what would it be?

There’s lots of things … but I guess I might focus a little harder on classes. I’ve done really well academically, and my grades reflect that, but I might just tell myself to find a little more purpose in the things I’m learning and just hold on to it a little bit more. Now that I’m in the ED program, I’m realizing how applicable a lot of the stuff that they teach us is… and I wish I would have just taken some time to appreciate and absorb that information a little bit more.

What advice do you have for underclassmen at Western?

I would say that you should say yes when the opportunities come around — when someone asks you ‘do you want come to this event on campus?’ or ‘do you want to join this intramural team?’ or ‘do you want to go grab pizza at Yeasty’s?’ — just say yes because those opportunities sometimes lead to really great things and really great relationships. And, had I not said yes to a couple of things, I wouldn’t be here … That’s super cliché, but I think it’s what’s gotten me here.

What are you going to miss most about your time here?

I don’t know. Everything. I guess I’m just going to miss being around all the like-minded, positive people who are here, encouraging everyone to just be themselves and try new things. The world isn’t always like that… but that’s the kind of influence I hope to have on my students in the future. But I’ll definitely miss that culture of acceptance here at Western.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I recently accepted a position at Estacada Middle School teaching science — probably 6th and 7th grade. I’m headed to live in Lake Oswego with my boyfriend, and I’ll be commuting to Estacada for work … it’s about 30 minutes east of Lake Oswego.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of BillyAnn Stemple

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Borderless Stories highlight inspirational migration accounts

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Carrying on a new campus tradition, M.E.Ch.A. and Unidos Club came together and hosted the 2nd Annual Borderless Stories event, an evening designed to share the stories of immigration parents in the Western community and to create a sense of unity among those present. This event was organized for May 20 in the Pacific Room of the Werner University Center.

To start off, the emcees told guests that they could go and serve themselves a free dinner from catering that they could eat and enjoy as they listened to the stories being told. Then, once everyone had gotten the chance to go through the line once, the stories began.

The three speakers for this event shared stories of hope, challenge and perseverance as they journeyed to the United States from Mexico in their youth. While they each had their own motivation that kept them going and unique trials that they encountered along the way, they have all found success and happiness in the United States.

As each speaker shared their story in Spanish, Monica Cerda Ortiz, a junior Spanish Education major and one of the emcees for the event, interpreted their story into English. The other emcee for the event was Xochitl Denisse Carrasco, a junior political science major.

When the first storyteller took the stage, she shared how she first came to the US in 1990 because her husband was already there. And, while she had support in him, she still struggled with things like finding opportunities in an unfamiliar country and adapting to day-to-day differences like those in transportation.

Although it wasn’t easy, she is proud of all that she and her children have accomplished — with three of them having graduated from college.

The second speaker came to the US in 1998 at 19 years old. When his family had tried to come the first time, they were scammed and left with only $3. Then, when he finally was able to come over, he was brought to work on a farm in Hillsboro. While he adapted to this in time, it was challenging for him to be separate from his wife and son who had to stay in Mexico because she didn’t have the necessary paperwork to come with him.

Then, when his son had kidney complications and needed emergency medical treatment, he also experienced the struggle of trying to pay for his medical bills. Because of this, his encouragement to children of immigrants was to get a degree so that they could more easily help their families when they need it.

The final speaker of the event shared how he travelled with his cousin and uncle up through the desert in order to get to the US — a crowded, exhausting trip which involved them getting stopped by soldiers, running out of water and being separated from loved ones. While it was heartbreaking for him to be separated from the only two people he knew there, he eventually made it to his destination and found a job.

After working for seven years in a field, he procured a job in construction — something he is much happier doing. And, much like the second speaker, he urged young people to work hard and, if possible, to continue their education.

To close the event, the emcees shared a letter that President Fuller had written in November of 2016 about Western being a sanctuary campus for all students:

“Western Oregon University is a sanctuary for all of our students and we will remain a place where every student enjoys the sense of belonging to a committed community of students, faculty and staff,” wrote Fuller. He also affirmed that “Western will remain actively engaged in national conversations, including support of national educational associations, regarding DACA and related programs designed to protect students and their pursuit of educational opportunities.”

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Bailey Thompson

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Identity Theft event structures discussion around identities

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Although it can be difficult to completely understand how another person feels, one valuable first step is to talk with them. This is something that Triangle Alliance — Western’s LGBTQ+ social club — and Heritage Hall Government orchestrated on May 23 in the Richard Woodcock Education Center.

Their event, Identity Theft, sought to open a conversation with the campus community about the ways that both sexual identities and gender identities can influence a person’s life — and, more specifically, the way that myths about these identities can be harmful to perpetuate.

Six panelists, holding a variety of LGBTQ+ identities, dedicated their time to talk with members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their allies, about the unique perspectives that they have gained because of their identities and their other life experiences.

Throughout the course of the panel, a wide range of topics were addressed — from stereotypes about certain identities, to people who are questioning their identities and more.

All in all, the consensus of the group was that these experiences and the discovery of these identities were things that varied from person to person, even if there were a number of common themes running throughout the group.

For instance, when the panelists were asked about when they knew that they identified as something other than heterosexual or cisgender, some of the individuals stated that it was a long process for them to come to this conclusion, some said that they felt confident in their identities from an early age and still more said that they were not sure that the identities that they currently held were the ones they would always identify as.

Related to this, when the panelists discussed their coming out stories, if they had come out to their families at this point in time, their experiences varied, largely depending on how accepting they anticipated their families would be towards them.

The panelists also spent time discussing stereotypes that have impacted them on a day-to-day basis. Among these, panelists shared that it was difficult for them to not fit into the mold that others expected them to — whether this is bisexuals in hetero-passing relationships who feel invalidated in their bisexuality, transgender people who feel the need to dress a certain way in order for people to respect their pronouns or something else along these lines.

On the flip side of this, however, the panelists also shared that there is nothing wrong with enjoying things that may be stereotypical of people in the LGBTQ+ community.

Nearing the end of the panel, when an audience member asked the panel about ways that she can support her sister as someone who has grown up in a religious household, the panelists were clear in their responses: what LGBTQ+ youth need is love and support. While they may not always get the kind of support that they would hope for, having people affirm that they will always care about them can go a long way.

If students at Western would like to attend Triangle Alliance to learn more about this and meet new people, they can visit Triangle Alliance’s Facebook page to determine when they will be meeting during Fall Term.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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.

Accessibility Public Records Privacy Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.

Updates on College Republican Club June 4 event

Western Rugby All-Stars reigned victorious

Q&A: Lacrosse’s Jonathan Williams named MCLA 3rd Team All-American

“The Motown Throwdown” follow-up

BillyAnn Stemple: Outstanding Graduate 2019

Borderless Stories highlight inspirational migration accounts

Identity Theft event structures discussion around identities

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