Mount Hood

Top four senior photo spots on campus

Karlene Curtin | Freelancer

The journey towards receiving a degree is commonly regarded as difficult, rewarding and worthwhile. Once every graduation requirement has been fulfilled, the application to graduate is completed, and cap and gowns have been purchased, for many the next step is a fun one: senior photos.

After finding the perfect photographer, the next thing to think about is where around campus the photos will be taken.

Western Oregon is home to several different areas around campus where senior photos have the potential to look fantastic. Here is a list of the top four places on campus to head to for your next session.

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In front of Rice Auditorium

The brick design and the surrounding plants and nature create a stunning, yet simple, background for portraits.

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In front of Todd Hall

Leafy green plants serve for great backgrounds. In the spring, they sprout flowers, which adds to the beauty of the landscape.

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The Grove outside of Ackerman Hall

Gorgeous green hills and tall trees create great open lighting and a playful atmosphere.  

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Western Oregon University sign

This one is a total classic. It has locations on the three out of the four corners of campus. The sign beside Rice Auditorium has the least amount of foot traffic.  

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Contact the author at kcurtin14@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Karlene Curtin

Easy way to make delicious funfetti cookies gluten-free

Morgan Taylor | Freelancer

Changing your diet to wheat-free can, for many, be challenging; it can be hard to adapt and find enjoyable food to eat. This recipe is easy and simple — it is a delicious and fun twist on a childhood favorite treat.

 

GLUTEN-FREE FUNFETTI COOKIES

Start to finish: 20 minutes

Servings: About 24 cookies

 

Ingredients:

One box of gluten-free Pillsbury Funfetti cake mix, which can be found at Roth’s Fresh Markets

⅓ cup butter (melted)

2 eggs

4.5 ounces softened cream cheese

Powdered sugar to garnish cookies

You will also need a hand mixer, a mixing bowl and a baking sheet.

 

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray baking sheet with a nonstick spray.

In mixing bowl, with the hand mixer, combine the eggs, melted butter and softened cream cheese. Blend until smooth.

Slowly add the cake mix and mix with a mixing spoon until it reaches an even consistency.  

Roll dough into small balls, and coat with powdered sugar.

Place on baking sheet, and flatten each dough ball with the base of a glass.

Bake for 9-12 minutes, depending on the size of cookie.

Let cool and enjoy.

 

Contact the author at mrtaylor14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Morgan Taylor

Six quick tips for beginning gardeners

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Confusing weather patterns, allergies acting up and restless seniors are pretty good indicators that spring has arrived at Western. With the sun finally making some appearances again, it’s the time of year that plants begin to bloom.

Planting a garden, whether for purely aesthetic purposes, for growing fresh food or a little of both, is one of the many opportunities that comes along in springtime. Since everyone has to start somewhere, here’s some tips for those just starting out with their own gardens.

 

  • Make sure you have everything necessary for maintaining a garden. Is there enough space for each plant? Are there steady sources of water and sunlight?
  • Try starting small or easy. Some plants require more time and management to keep alive and healthy. According to finegardening.com, some of the easiest plants to grow include snap peas, sunflowers, cucumbers and zinnias.
  • Include the timing in the overall planning. It might be nice to imagine the whole garden blooming at once, but some plants peak in spring and early summer, like blueberries, while others grow best in late summer and fall, like squash and pumpkins.
  • Start building the habit of taking care of the garden. Add watering, feeding and checking for weeds to your routine to avoid forgetting to take care of plants and risking their health.
  • Do some research to find out if it’s a good idea to buy different soil or mulch for the garden. While not necessarily a requirement, they can make it easier to maintain the garden overall. Nutrient-rich soil can help plants stay healthy while mulch helps keep weeds away.
  • Be patient. Whether starting from seed or a small plant, produce plants often won’t yield much in the first year. They will need time to grow and a committed gardener. Flowers can be nice because they give the satisfaction of the quick and near guaranteed payoff of blooming, which can be encouraging to beginning gardeners.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

The Hot Club of San Francisco performs “Cinema Vivant” for Smith Fine Arts Series

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

For the last 43 years, the Smith Fine Arts Series has been providing Western students with live performances, outreach programs and master classes. The series makes world music, dance and art accessible for local communities and brings more artistic diversity to campus.

In another installment in the series, a group from Southern California will be visiting campus. Coming to Rice auditorium on April 6 is the music group The Hot Club of San Francisco, presenting “Cinema Vivant”, a performance of live self-proclaimed “Gypsy” swing music accompanied by vintage silent films. The movies features are the films of European filmmaker Ladislaw Starewicz, who pioneered stop-action animation.

According to the musical group’s website, hotclubsf.com, their music is strongly influenced by guitarist Django Reinhardt. Reinhardt is a French-Romani musicians who was active from the 1920s through the 1950s and incorporated aspects of American Jazz and his own Romani   culture into his compositions. The musicians are also inspired by Stephane Grappelli, a French jazz violinist that founded Quintette du Hot Club de France along with Reinhardt in 1934.

The Hot Club of San Francisco consists of five players: Paul “Pazzo” Mehling (guitar), Isabelle Fontaine (vocals, guitar), Evan Price (violin), Jordan Samuels (guitar) and Sam Rocha (bass). All members are accomplished musicians who tour both nationally and internationally.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Lenny Gonzalez

Staff favorites: Album edition

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor
Album: Demo by G.L.O.S.S. (Girls Living Outside Society’s S**t)

This album was my introduction to a world I never thought existed — the world of Queer Feminist punk rock. I was introduced to the music of G.L.O.S.S. at a crowded punk rock venue when I was in high school, and I have never been the same since. This album is angry, violent and unapologetically genuine. G.L.O.S.S. explores what it’s like to be a woman in a patriarchal world, and specifically examines the lives and experiences of trans women. The album touches on important topics and makes me feel like I have a space where I can be angry when I need to be.

Photo courtesy of girlslivingoutsidesocietysshit.bandcamp.com

 

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

Album: Either/Or by Elliott Smith

I’ve listened to this album more times than I can count, and each time, it evokes a sense of nostalgia and sends me through every emotion possible. From teary eyes, to bright smiles by the final song, this album is by far the most played in my collection. A Portland, OR native, Elliott Smith captures his truth in relation to the town in his song “Rose Parade” with lyrics that convey how he felt he fit in the city. It’s a powerful album that does what Smith set out to make it do — give you a true understanding of how he was feeling by making you feel those emotions, as well.

Photo courtesy of killrockstars.com

 

Kyle Morden | Digital Media Manager

Album: Lemonade by Beyoncé

This album is a true body of art. In a story about love, betrayal and redemption, Beyoncé gives us the monumental and breathtaking visual album, “Lemonade.” The album features talents such as Kendrick Lamar, Serena Williams and The Weeknd. It also includes a variety of genres such as pop, reggae, hip hop, soul and country. Throughout the album, Beyoncé delivers her songs in a powerful and poetic way. In “Formation” and “Freedom,” she inspires people to change their opinions from apathy to activism. “Lemonade” is an empowering album that covers concepts such as self-love and healing.

Photo courtesy of beyonce.com

 

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Album: Red by Taylor Swift

Within this album, Taylor Swift offers a raw glimpse at a wide range of human emotion — from the joy and hope of “Everything has Changed”, her collaboration with Ed Sheeran, to the vulnerable, autumnal “All Too Well” and “Red.” Although I acknowledge that people tend to hold polarizing opinions of her, one thing that has always drawn me to Swift, and this album in particular, is that she writes her songs in a way that invites the listener to share in her experiences and relate their lives to hers. “Red” is therapeutic, artistic and real, and I have listened to it on countless occasions.

Photo courtesy of taylorswift.com

 

Paul F. Davis | Managing Editor

Album: Channel Orange by Frank Ocean

Frank’s breakout album is a musical moment that you experience and you have to question if it was real. Frank accomplishes this once in a generation orchestration by creating soundscapes that inspire a feeling of riding a wave of emotion, up and down. Channel Orange also rises above all else because of its ability to work in all kinds of situations, from the spiritual experience of making love with someone you love to enjoying a drink with friends by a fire. This power resides in the album’s hard hitting melodies and Frank’s floaty tenor voice. Frank defines a generation of ears with his first album, so treat yourself to a good time, plug in your head phones, and let Frank take you to another land of his creation.

 

Ashlynn Norton | Photo Editor

Album: Mt. Joy by Mt. Joy

Being a huge music nerd, I have a broad taste in music. I tend to listen to movie soundtracks and artists ranging from Aretha Franklin, to Led Zeppelin and even Lady Gaga. So picking a favorite album is hard, but the one that I’ve been listening on repeat lately is Mt. Joy by the band Mt. Joy. It’s a nice break from listening to mostly classic 70s and 80s rock. Mt. Joy has more of an indie/folk vibe that puts you in the mood for a good road trip with the windows and the sun on your face.

Photo courtesy of mtjoyband.com

 

Rachel Hetzel | Designer

Album: American Beauty/American Psycho by Fall Out Boy

When it comes to music, I usually only like one or two songs in an album. There aren’t many entire albums I enjoy, but American Beauty/American Psycho is one of the exceptions. Fall Out Boy has gone from rock to more pop over the years, and this album is a nice in-between. Their songs always have memorable lyrics, but they really stand out to me in this album. All of the songs in this album are great, but my favorites are “Twin Skeletons”, “Novocaine” and “The Kids Aren’t Alright.”

 

Cora McClain | Copy Editor
Album: The Disappearance of a Girl by Phildel

I introduce the album which kicked off my interest into what my friends call “my weird music” ⏤ “The Disappearance of a Girl.” Phildel, the British singer/songwriter strips her songs down to the bones, her haunting vocals and piano while sprinkling in a hint of electronic manipulation. Beyond how truly beautiful her songs are (I highly recommend listening to my favorite song on the album, “Funeral Bell”) the beauty of the story she lays out through the 12 tracks causes both tears and smiles. Through her whimsical and haunting songs, she tells the story of surviving abuse she sustained as a child, and how she moved forward through the good relationships in her life while feeling the sorrow of having to detach from her family to escape the abuse. “The Disappearance of a Girl” transports you into a fantastical world of pain and at the same time inspiration.

Photo courtesy of phildel.com

 

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Album: Connect the Dots by Misterwives

There were a number of albums I considered before choosing my favorite, but I came back to this one because not only do I enjoy all the songs on the album, but the overall tone of it is very uplifting, even the more serious ones like “Revolution,” that can’t help but improve my mood whenever I listen to them. I listen to “Out of Tune Piano” when I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, “Machine” is one of my all time favorite songs and “Band Camp” and “Chasing This” make me excited and hopeful for my future plans.

Photo courtesy of misterwives.com

Ben Platt’s new album “Sing to Me Instead” gives audiences everything they want

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Since the premiere of the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” on July 9, 2015, Ben Platt has captured audience’s attention with his passionate performances and beautiful voice. After Platt left “Dear Evan Hansen” on Nov. 17, 2017, he performed at the 60th annual Grammy awards and released a mashup with “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Aside from these projects, Platt seemed to become more quiet, possibly taking a break from his intense work as Evan in “Dear Evan Hansen.”

But in January 2019, Platt announced his much anticipated debut album “Sing to Me Instead.” Four singles were released before the album’s official release on March 29.

Platt’s songs feature strong piano melodies reminiscent of his “Dear Evan Hansen” days, and soft, more muted guitar riffs that emphasize the heavy, intricate emotions this album is based on. The more simplistic technical aspects of this album could almost categorize the songs as pop, but their combination with lyrical intricacy creates songs that feel like ballads. Platt’s album could be easily characterized as empath rock due to the highly emotional content that reads like poetry.

The relative plainess of the instrumentals throughout the album only serves to support Platt’s killer vocal ability — his range is incredibly strong. Platt’s vocal runs, belts and the pure emotion injected into his voice are the true highlights of this album. Missing are the flashy, Broadway belting vocal moments, which benefits the album in my opinion.

Another highlight of this album are the lyrics. Platt co-wrote the songs on his album with a team, including Eg White, who co-wrote Adele’s “Chasing Pavements.” The songs lean more toward emotional ballads, but a couple songs have more upbeat lyrics, like “Share Your Address,” a song about wanting to take a relationship to the next level. Platt’s lyrics feel like looking through a window and getting a glimpse into his emotional life, like the listener is reading a diary entry.

In a March 27, 2019 USA Today article by Patrick Ryan, Platt is quoted: “the whole point of this (album) is to be honest about my own experiences and talk about things that have happened to me. A lot of those things just happen to be with men that I’ve been in love with.”

 

Overall Rating: I would strongly recommend this album.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ben Platt

Men’s basketball 2019 postseason, 2-2

Paul F. Davis | Managing Editor

A year after one of the most successful seasons in Western Men’s Basketball history,  this year’s team was not expecting to be nearly as dominant as last year; the Wolves had graduated a majority of their most highlighted players from the year prior. Still, the basketball team showed that even though this may be true, the newer and less experienced team could still take home wins in the postseason.

The GNAC’s fourth-ranked Western Men’s team started the postseason at the GNAC Championship Tournament, located in Bellingham, Washington on March 7, by playing the fifth-ranked Montana State Billings. The game ended in a close 79 to 72 win for the Wolves.

In the semifinals of the tournament played on March 8, Western faced a team which they had already lost to twice. In this game the Wolves faced first ranked Saint Martin’s University. In the beginning of the game, odds were not in Western’s favor and neither was the score. The Saints started the game by holding Western scoreless for almost five minutes. The Wolves eventually did score, but at half they were down 23-33.

The Wolves, who trailed the entire game up this point, came back fired up and ready to control the odds. Only the players and assistant coaches know what Coach Jim Shaw said during half time, but one can assume it turned a switch in the Wolves.

At the third minute of the second half, the five players on the court started to light up Saint Martins. In the next six minutes, Western went on a 22-6 run which clinched Western’s first lead of the night. From this moment on, Western kept the lead and won with dominance over the first seeded saints 70-53.

In the final game of the GNAC tournament, on March 9, Western’s mental grit was nowhere to be found. They played the second-ranked team, Seattle Pacific, and fell short in a loss of 66-78.

With their impressive performance at the GNAC championship the Men’s basketball team was invited back to the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament. They came into the tournament ranked eighth in their bracket and that meant facing first seeded Point Loma. Facing a team with a 27-4 record proved too much for the inexperienced Wolves in a game that ended with a score of 58-70.

After splitting wins and losses in the postseason, the Western Men’s team came home with more postseason experience and hopefully that will translate to them coming back next year ready to win.

 

Contact the author at pfdavis14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

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