Mount Hood

This week in completely made up horoscopes

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[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] Aries, you’re on your own now. The stars need a break from being so awesome. Check back in after Spring Break and maybe we’ll have some advice for you. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] Two more weeks… [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] Alexa, take my finals for me. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″]

*Two snow days last week*

Professors: More time to study and do homework, gives online assignments and extra reading

Students: Plays in snow and watches Netflix, crams all the extra assignments the day before

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[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] YESSAH BLESSAH, NEVER STRESSAH. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] Look, Virgo. All you have to do is make it through the next two weeks and then you get to do literally nothing but sleep for an entire week. We believe in you. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] When people say “take a risk”, it doesn’t mean starting an essay at 10 p.m. the night before, Libra. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] In this world it’s yeet or be yeeten. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] THE JONAS BROTHERS ARE COMING BACK. THIS IS BIG NEWS. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] When in doubt, take a nap. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] So close Aquarius, so close. Keep your spirits up in this dark time. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″]

HEAVY BREATHING IN A GYM WHILE STARING INTO A MIRROR.

-Gym bro

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Opinion: Western has a long way to go before it’s considered truly accessible

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Western Oregon University is privileged enough to have a disability services office that is fairly visible on campus and that is committed to giving students accommodations. The Office of Disability Services offers services such as test proctoring, housing accommodations, note taking services and provides all of the interpreters on campus. The buildings and layout of campus, however, leave accessibility wanting.

Western has existed since 1856, as many of students have heard during their tours and orientations. Although the buildings on campus have gone through various iterations and renovations since then, most of them aren’t accessible to differently-abled students and faculty.

Many buildings have the very basic elements of an “accessible” building, but simply meeting the base requirements does not equal accessibility.

Even the Richard Woodcock Education building — considered one of the most accessible buildings on campus — has its issues. For example, the front doors are automatic, but they open so slowly and irregularly that they rarely make anyone’s life easier. Additionally, you have to be so close to the doors to trip the sensor, they almost whack you in the face on the way in. How is that accessible?

The older buildings on campus present even more accessibility challenges. Many buildings are so old that their elevators and hallways simply aren’t big enough for a wheelchair to fit in comfortably. Several buildings, including Bellamy Hall, are only accessible to differently-abled students around the back of the building, which can cause extra time getting to and from a class. Extra time aside, able-bodied students aren’t limited to using one entrance or exit, so why should the burden be on differently-abled students?

Older residence halls are also not accessible. I lived in Landers Hall as a first-year, and it was difficult for two people to walk past each other in the outdoor stairwells and down the hallways because the paths were too narrow. Barnum and Gentle have the same issue. Landers doesn’t even have an elevator. In fact, many of the older buildings on campus do not have clearly marked elevators or signs indicating how to access them.

I can say with 100 percent certainty that there are even more accessibility issues that I am not aware of because I am privileged enough to not need to use the elevator everyday, or have to worry about how wide a hallway is. I can still see the glaring obstacles in the way of a truly accessible campus.

An institution is not required to make accessibility adjustments if they are considered an undue burden, which means “significant difficulty or expense” according to the ADA website, ada.gov. The undue burden loophole is a way that many businesses and other institutions try to dodge making themselves accessible — I’ve learned all about it in my three years at Western. So theoretically, the accessibility issues that Western has could be brushed off as being an undue burden to fix. However, seeing as the current renovation of Natural Sciences is budgeted around $6 million, which can be found through a google search on the university website, I don’t think Western as an institution can claim that it is out of their means to fix the issues they have.

For more information about parts of Western that aren’t accessible and parts that are, students can attend a tour through the Office of Disability Services Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 12-1 p.m. The tour is led by student Vanessa Rice and is meeting in the Willamette room the the Werner University Center.

 

Contact the author at cweedon16@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

How to save money when flying on vacation

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Spring Break is quickly arriving, making it hard to focus on the finals to come. Some have already started their planning, but for some, finances can be an enormous hinderance. This is especially true of air travel. Flying is the fastest and often easiest way to travel long distance, especially for students wishing to return to family for the break. However, it’s also the most expensive way to travel. Fortunately, there are a few ways to budget and be prepared enough to create an affordable vacation.

 

Be aware of timing: Most plane tickets become more expensive as the flight time approaches, meaning booking them as far in advance as possible is usually the cheapest way to go. According to Forbes, the exact number of days to buy in advance for the most affordable tickets varies by the season, but it’s usually around seven weeks.

Consider other fees: While a ticket might seem the cheapest in a side-by-side comparison, these often don’t factor in additional expenses. It can be worth it to include checking all fees as part of the research into which airline to choose. For example, if you need to bring extra luggage, something to consider might be which airlines charge the most for additional baggage.

Don’t forget the rest of the trip: Gas, rental cars, taxis and hotels might not be the biggest expense, but they can add up quickly. Finding the airport closest to the hotel, or vice versa, arranging for transportation to the airport ahead of time and researching the different modes of transportation of the place you’re going to are all ways to cut down on the costs of the rest of the trip. Also, bringing everything possible rather than buying the needed toiletries or other things can help cut expenses in places that have sales tax.

Consider connecting flights: It’s not always ideal, but it’s often cheaper to endure a layover. Depending on the place, a longer layover can be an opportunity to explore a new city; this typical inconvenience could easily be made into an exciting part of your vacation.

 

Vacations can be a struggle when they feel out of reach due to the overall costs. However, the right amount of planning can make a worthwhile holiday possible.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy Ashlynn Norton

Understanding and treating an unhealthy relationship with porn

Paul F. Davis | Managing Editor

When looking at the numbers, it’s clear that people like porn… a lot. According to the American Addiction Centers, more than 184 thousand dollars are spent every minute on porn. With our society’s ease of access, this spending is not going to stop ー it’s probably only going to increase.

Not only is it easy to access porn, but it is also more affordable and anonymous than ever before. Back when our parents were our age, the main means for purchasing porn was through some adult shop or by asking the person behind the mini-market counter for a Playboy. Now, any 11 year old with an unfiltered access to the internet can go online and find porn they could never even think to look up with one search of Pornhub.

It’s not that 11 year olds are the only people using porn. In reality, a large number of people are consuming porn. The American Psychological Association’s “Handbook of Sexuality and Psychology” states that between 50 percent to 99 percent of men and 30 percent to 86 percent of women have used porn in their lifetime. For many people, it can be a safe place to explore sexual fantasies alone or with a sexual partner in a new, interesting way. But for some, statistically men, porn usage can take a person down a dark, lonely path.

In an article titled “Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports” authored by Brian Clark and associates from 2016 in the Journal of Behavioral Sciences, men are reporting a sharp rise in erectile dysfunction, delayed ejaculation, decreased sexual satisfaction and diminished libido during partnered sex that cannot be explained by traditional causes. Although a direct line of causation has not been made to porn usage, a strong correlation has been documented.

In 1999, 5 percent of sexually active men, ages 18 to 59 had erectile dysfunction. By 2011 that same statistic had shot up to 28 percent according to the same article by Brian Clark. A major change in men’s sexual lives in that time was access to easy, anonymous and cheap porn.

What’s important to know is that it’s not anyone’s fault if they are having these problems. This is what porn does to your mind. Due to the huge dopamine dump that is associated with porn use, the brain fundamentally changes at the neuronal level which was found in the study “Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity Associated With Pornography Consumption”, and change is associated with tainted sexuality, increases secrecy, makes for less intimacy and increases the likelihood of depression. But the brain is plastic, it can change.

This problem doesn’t just affect the one addicted. It affects partners, too. Imagine a situation where you’re about to have sex with your partner, and they just can’t seem to get aroused.  For many, their thoughts then go straight to “they must think I’m not enough” and that stays with them, that hurts them.

This story isn’t just anecdotal. Sex researchers Destin Stewart, Ph.D. and Dawn Szymanski, Ph.D found in their 2012 study that “(female partners) experienced lower self-esteem, poorer relationship quality and lower sexual satisfaction” while in this position.

For those that think they may have a problem, the important thing to know is that it can be controlled, and help is available. Although there isn’t a scientifically proven way to treat an unhealthy relationship with porn, one way to start is by being honest and kind with yourself and accept that the problem exists and it can be controlled. Then, look for accountability; for those that have a sexual partner, be open with them about what’s going on so they won’t beat themselves up over something that they can’t control, and so they can help.

For those that don’t have a partner, support can be found from where the problem likely came from: the internet. There is an app called Fortify which provides support groups and that will help you create goals for yourself, monitor habits and congratulate you when porn use is reduced.

For those looking for resources that are on campus, Abby’s House is an option which is in the Werner University Center, Room 106. They can be contacted via email at abbyshouse@wou.edu, called at 503-838-821 or reached in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, the Student Health and Counseling Center always takes on new students; they can be reached at 503-838-8000 or in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

So, be kind with yourself, know that recovery is possible and know that if you have an unhealthy relationship with porn you deserve more from your sexuality than a computer screen.

 

Contact the author at pfdavis14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

How to be efficient at group projects

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Every term, students across campus have to tackle what’s considered one of the biggest challenges of college: group projects. Often worth a significant number of points, group projects can be incredibly frustrating for a number of reasons. However, as they are often inevitable, the skills to finishing them in an effective manner are important to learn.

One of the biggest challenges can be communication, or lack thereof. Not knowing when someone intends to finish their part, if they need any help or not or if they are even still in the class — yes, it has happened before — can make the project much more stressful than it needs to be. Unfortunately, we can’t control anyone’s communication except our own. Making a conscious effort to clear up any misunderstanding at the very least ensures that there will be a reduced chance of a mixup.

Sometimes, that mixup will occur anyway, which brings us to our next point. Another big source of stress is when other group members don’t seem to pull their weight. No one wants their grade to suffer, but no one wants to be unsure of how much work they really have to put into it. I have witnessed many people stress over whether or not to work on an unfinished portion of a project that wasn’t assigned to them. Fortunately, many professors are fully aware that this sometimes happens. Making a plan to talk to the professor instead of continuously trying to contact an unresponsive group member makes it easier to focus on your assigned part of the project and leave behind a lot of stress.

Less common, but still prevalent, is the occasional tendency of leadership styles or ideas to clash in divisive ways. These are those “pick your battles” instances that are often raised: is it worth fighting someone else’s idea if you think it won’t get as good of a grade? This dilemma surfaces every so often, and there’s no easy answer to it. The organization of the group is something to consider, however. If there’s enough solid leadership within the group that whatever topic that’s chosen can be made to work, it might be worth it just to roll with the group.

Many people dread having to face group work every term. Sometimes we get lucky and the members work well together, but other times we have to make the best of the situation.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Wizard World Portland brings together pop-culture lovers at the Oregon Convention Center

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Wizard World Comic Con’s 2019 celebrity guest list included the likes of Jason Momoa, known for “Game of Thrones” and “Aquaman”, Melissa Benoist, star of “Supergirl”, and many others. The Comic Con was held on the weekend of Feb. 22-24 in the Oregon Convention Center.

Wizard World is a comic convention that provides fans and cosplayers an opportunity to socialize and meet their favorite superhero and sci-fi celebrities. The convention also allows artists and other vendors a chance to increase their visibility within the community.

The Convention Center was teeming with cosplayers and vendors on Feb. 22, the first night of the convention. Many characters made appearances in many different iterations thanks to dedicated fans that took the time to create their own costumes. Among the characters present were Jack Sparrow, Professor Snape and Mad-Eye Moody, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy and many others. Even Darth Vader was there — wearing a kilt, riding a unicycle, and playing the bagpipes.

While attendees milled about the ballroom waiting to meet and greet with different celebrities, there were many vendors to keep them company. Typical t-shirt and collectible booths that attend every street fair and convention were there, but there was also a plethora of artist booths present. Most any movie or show imaginable was represented: there was fan art, comic books (both originals and collectibles) and most everything else.

“I actually do comic conventions and fandom conventions once every two or three weeks, like, all year round,” commented Misty Figs, an artist at the convention. Figs makes stickers, pins and online art through mistyfigsgiftshop.com.

“I get to meet a lot of the people that I interact with online, that buy my art or give me ideas for art. So getting to put a face to a twitter or instagram username is really cool, and I’ve met a lot of artists that way as well,” said Figs.

Aside from art vendors, there were also sections with computers for gaming and a virtual reality booth in which volunteers could try a VR game. Several tattoo booths were in attendance, one of which was called “Ink Bus”: that was a old bus turned studio. Another booth was born out of a partnership between Wizard World and Transition Project, a Portland-based company, to put comic books and other reading materials into the hands of people transitioning out of homelessness.

The Wizard World convention brought together many people from different walks of life that were able to bond over a similar love of movies and art. It has not yet been revealed if the convention will return in 2020.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Chrys Weedon

Accomplished pianist Paul Roberts visits Smith Hall

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Paul Roberts can be described as many different things: a writer, lecturer, teacher and pianist. Piano expert Bryce Morrison wrote that “Paul Roberts is an exceptional musician, a fine and deeply sensitive pianist, teacher and an author of the greatest distinction.” Morrison added that “his books on Debussy and Ravel are quite simply the most outstanding and perceptive I have read.”

Roberts has regularly performed in Portland since 1999, according to his website paulrobertspiano.com. Roberts is the artistic director for the international piano summer school, Music at Chateau d’Aix, in France, and also teaches at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. Roberts has written three books and is in the process of writing a fourth.

On Feb. 20, Paul Roberts came to perform in Smith Music Hall. In a performance of two acts, Roberts played selections by Debussy, Liszt and Albeniz.

The first half of the performance consisted of pieces composed by Debussy, an Impressionist composer from the late nineteenth century. The second act consisted of compositions from Liszt and Albeniz. Liszt is a composer from the Romantic era; Albeniz, the post-Romantic era.

Before each section, Roberts explained the individual pieces he was going to play, so the concert was a mixture of lecture and actual performance. On Portland Piano International’s website, portlandpiano.org, founding artistic director Harold Gray wrote that Roberts’s “public lectures immerse the listeners in a magical world of images and ideas … his communicative abilities, whether as performer, writer or teacher, are without equal.”

Roberts’s playing style is passionate and highly expressive. His’ clear enthusiasm for his work brings to mind the concept of “a calling.” Roberts plays with his entire body and moves along with the pieces he plays. He paints a clear picture with his musicality and captivated the audience with his lecture of the history behind each piece.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy Ashlynn Norton

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

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