Mount Hood

Grand opening of Western’s new Child Development Center location

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Western’s Child Development Center has been open since 1980, but on Jan. 7, it began its relocation to a new home behind the Campus Public Safety Office, where Western’s ROTC program used to be located.

To celebrate the move, the CDC hosted a grand opening event on Feb. 13 with a treasure hunt for students, tours of the new facility, a cake, visits with Wolfie and a speech from President Rex Fuller.

“This whole project came about because of a question I was asked during the State of the University Address a couple of years ago,” said Fuller. “’Hey, what about a better space for the child development center?’ After that, we did some analysis and started the project.”

Currently serving 51 students from the community ranging from ages 18 months to 12 years old, the CDC is open to children of Western students, staff and faculty as well as other member of the community.

When asked about the reasoning behind the move, CDC Director Tammy Gardner shared that Todd Hall was lacking some amenities and safety qualifications that the new site has.

“We were just finding it very cramped over there in Todd Hall. The building is very old, so there were some earthquake safety issues with us there to be able to evacuate a building,” said Gardner.

With their new facility, which has been heavily remodeled, Gardner celebrated a number of new amenities: big bathrooms, a spacious backyard, a lobby and nicer classrooms, amongst other things.

In addition to the facility, Dr. Fuller added that another strength of the CDC is its staff.

“We currently have a director, five teachers, 11 student staff, and six volunteers,” said Fuller. “They really do great work and go above scale in terms of providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for our students. It’s exciting to see that.”

Gardner added how excited she is to have staff members who are able to connect with the diverse group of children that they serve at the CDC.

“We’re very multicultural,” said Gardner. “We’ve got three bilingual staff members that are Spanish-speaking, and we’ve got two bilingual volunteers who speak Mandarin, so that’s really helped with some of our visiting scholars.”

Throughout her remarks, Gardner reaffirmed a number of times how caring and helpful different people and organizations from the university have been towards the CDC, and how grateful she is to be a part of this community.

“We feel very very supported and loved by the WOU community, from facilities to Valsetz and President Fuller. They’re our champions who really got this project going. It’s amazing.”

Gardner also shared that, for anyone who would like to get involved with the CDC, they can email her at gardnert@wou.edu or visit the volunteer link on their webpage.

“We’re open to volunteers, suggestions, or invitations,” said Gardner.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

The Howl staff attempts to draw outrageous prompts

Compiled by The Western Howl Staff

It’s like Drawful, a Jackbox party video game, but worse! In appreciation to our great designers, the Howl staff decided to put their drawing skills on display by composing a single image based off three arbitrarily picked prompts (that might or might not have involved a dart board and a blindfold).

 

Listed below are the prompts:

Opinion: Why the “school should be your job” mentality is toxic

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

A month ago, I was sitting in my apartment, reading over my Western graduate school application. The information included in the packet was what one would expect: class breakdowns, requirements for recommendation letters and the like. But as I was skimming, I came across something that shocked me: “graduate study is a commitment equivalent to a full-time job.” The application went on to say that at most, students should work 15 to 20 hours a week on top of their schoolwork and possible internships.

After asking around, I learned that many of my friends attending Western have experienced their programs of study strongly recommending that they do not have a job, but instead, focus all of their energy on school, internships and practicums.

I believe that this standard is unrealistic and unsustainable for a majority of students, unless someone has the privilege of having their college paid for without having to take out loans or work. It is ignorant to expect students to put school before everything else in their lives.

The average cost of rent in Monmouth per apartment is about $896, which is a 1.79 percent increase from 2018 and a 2.34 percent increase from just last month, according to rentjungle.com. A one bedroom apartment is on average about $788 per month, and a two bedroom is around $950. According to the same website, rent continues to rise. Minimum wage in Monmouth is $10.75 an hour. This means that someone living in Monmouth has to work over 20 hours a week just to make rent, assuming that they pay the full bill themselves — and that is not including the cost of utilities, groceries and other basic living expenses. Also not included is money to spend on luxuries.

So, a student has to work 20 hours minimum just to get close to making rent, and their program suggests they only work 20 hours per week at the most.

Many programs advertise themselves as a “full time job,” meaning students will invest 40 hours per week into their education. 20 hours minimum of work added onto the 40 hours of schoolwork adds to 60 hours per week of work. That is not even calculating the cost of food, or other unexpected costs like car maintenance or health care costs. Isn’t that asking too much?

All of this isn’t considering time off, either. A student overworked is a student that isn’t thriving. If a student is working 60-plus hours a week, then who knows when they have time put aside for themselves. Time for socializing with friends and investing in self-care are arguably two of the most important things for anyone, especially students. However, they are usually the things that are sacrificed first, for the sake of keeping up in school and at home.

I know that at an individual level, most professors and school administrators expect students to sacrifice their security in order to focus on school. But at an institutional level, I worry that there is an unhealthy expectation that students should not work, but instead pour all of their energy into school. In a perfect world, every student would be able to give 100 percent to school. But this is not an ideal world.

Personally, I often feel preoccupied with my financial situation. I am the kind of person who doesn’t want to be obsessed with money, but I’m regularly forced to be. Juggling classes, a job, and paying bills, I honestly don’t often have the time or the energy to do things that I enjoy. Time with my friends is usually the first thing I sacrifice, and when I do spend time with them I feel guilty that all I do is complain about how busy I am. In my studies, I often hear about burnout, and many times it is taught as an issue only professionals have to deal with. But I would argue that the majority of students, including myself, are actively experiencing burnout right now.

Many colleges and universities hold the same kind of “school should be your job” mentality. This mentality ignores the reality that most college students face: a reality where it is virtually impossible to survive without a job while they’re in school. These institutions do not have their student’s best interest at heart. It’s almost like they have an ulterior motive.

 

Contact the author at cweedon16@wou.edu

Illustration by Rachel Hetzel

Cocktail corner with Mikaela: AMF

Mikaela Wong | Staff Writer

Have you ever wondered what actually goes into your favorite cocktail, or how it’s made? While it may seem like you’re watching a magic trick when the bartender prepares your drink right before your eyes — or maybe it just feels that way once you’re a couple cocktails in — most drinks are actually pretty straightforward and require minimal effort. This segment will uncover the secrets of classic cocktails, and as a bartender, I’ll let you know what’s actually in those popular drinks.

One of the most common cocktails ordered, especially by college students, is called an AMF. It stands for Adios, Motherf—–, and it is regarded as one of the strongest drinks one can order. Many people consider this to be a staple drink for 21st birthdays and it has even been deemed from some as a “rite of passage”. 

The AMF is served in a pint glass (16 ounces) full of ice and is made of four different types of liquor, blue curacao, sweet & sour and Sprite or 7UP. Not only is this drink strong in alcohol content, but it also mixes different types of liquor together, which is discouraged as a general drinking rule. The drink is then topped off with a maraschino cherry, a lemon wedge and an orange wedge. There are also different flavors of AMF’s so make sure to ask your bartender for a different flavor if you would like something else.

Please drink responsibly, and only drink if you are 21+.

 

AMF

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

3⁄4 ounce vodka

3⁄4 ounce gin

3⁄4 ounce light rum

3⁄4 ounce tequila

3⁄4 ounce Blue Curacao

2 ounces sweet & sour mix

1⁄2 ounce Sprite/7UP

1 lemon wedge

1 orange wedge

1 maraschino cherry

 

Contact the author at mwong16@wou.edu

Courtesy of Caity Healy (Videographer), Kyle Morden (Video editor), Paul F. Davis (Photo)

A brief review of Main Street’s new food truck additions

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Sometimes it seems like there’s a revolving door of food trucks on Main Street. Where the short-lived Bobablastic truck once stood now features two different vendors. The newcomers are different in their food origins and styles, but what they have in common is that they’re both there to serve lunch or dinner in pretty decent portions for around $10 each.

For starters, we now have the purple Oishi Hibachi vehicle. This truck features a variety of Japanese cuisine, such as a few Teriyaki plates, shrimp, and for the braver people, ghost pepper chicken. There are small sides available, but most of the plates come with fried rice and veggies along with a choice of meat and a few sauces.  

As a broke college student, I was hesitant to drop $10 on a lunch. However, a plate full of fresh food — I could hear it start to sizzle a few minutes after ordering, which I considered a good sign — seemed pretty fair for the price. I did think there could have been a little more chicken as the rice seemed to encompass most of the meal, but the food itself tasted fresh and was exactly what I was expecting for an order of teriyaki chicken.

Next to Oishi Hibachi is the red Lonney’s Lunch Wagon, which specializes in Hawaiian food. Like Oishi, the main dishes are chicken or pork served with rice, and a full serving is $9. The menu changes daily and is listed on a chalkboard on the front of the truck. Additionally, many of their items are often pictured on their Instagram account @lonneyslunchwagon. Aside from their main dishes, also have a few options for sides of fries — but these are no ordinary fries. Rather, there are options such as roasted pork fries and fries with their signature hurricane sauce.

After hearing it hyped up by the cashier, I decided to try their Hurricane Katsu, a Japanese style fried chicken, with the above mentioned hurricane sauce. I have to say I am still haven’t quite decided how I feel about it; it’s certainly flavorful and not at all what I expected. The fried chicken was good by itself, and the sweetness of the hurricane sauce was an interesting addition. I get the sense it’s the type of flavor that tends to be quite divisive; people will either love it or hate it, with very little in between.

Though the two new trucks on the block have their own unique features, either one would be a good option for those looking for comfort food such as chicken or pork cooked in familiar and traditional ways, as well as for those feeling a little more adventurous.

Oishi Express is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday through Thursday and Lonney’s is open 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (or until they sell out) Tuesday through Saturday.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Short workouts for tight schedules

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults get both aerobic and muscular exercise regularly — specifically around 150 minutes per week, if said exercise is moderate in intensity. The recommended time may be more or less depending on how vigorous the exercise is, and if the goal is just general health or increased fitness. Additionally, exercise is just as beneficial when spread throughout the week in shorter spurts, as long as it’s at least 10 minutes long.

Fortunately, this means even people with busy schedules can find at least some time to incorporate some kind of physical activity into their routines. Sometimes it can be discouraging to not have the time to do the kind of intense, long workouts some people do, or to be constantly exhausted and not necessarily having the energy to do so. Adding just a twenty or thirty minute workout, and not even one that is super intense, can have multiple health benefits including reduced stress. On top of that, some don’t even require leaving the house.

 

Bike ride or short run: For those whose schedules involve hours of sitting in class or staying inside at work, adding one of these aerobic workouts a few days a week can help create a change of scenery. Also, according to the CDC, this activity can be a more intense workout, for example running instead of walking, meaning it doesn’t necessarily have to be done everyday to reap the health benefits. Seventy five minutes of intensive workouts can be as beneficial as the 150 minutes of moderate exercise.

 

Weightlifting: The Health and Wellness Center has weightlifting equipment available, but for beginners or those who prefer home workouts, there’s also the option of buying weights from sporting stores to use for simple lifts such as bicep curls, that will also help for the muscle building aspect of exercise.

 

Yoga or pilates: One of the easiest workouts to do at home as it requires little to no equipment, yoga and pilates tends to focus on muscle strength and flexibility. Like aerobic exercises, however, the intensity varies, in this case depending on the poses.

 

Individualized at home workout routine: These are the kind that are fairly easy to find, or at least to find inspiration for. Searching for ‘workout routine’ on Pinterest alone has thousands of results. These usually focus on specific areas of interest to each individual person. For example, core workouts might include crunches or planks, leg workouts will have lunges, squats or wall sits, and arm and upper body workouts will have pushups or arm circles — all examples that don’t require spending money or time to take the trip to the gym and back.

 

For those that do prefer a gym, the Health and Wellness Center’s facilities are free to students. Hours can be found at wou.edu/campusrec.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

How to utilize time gaps in a class schedule

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

In a perfect world, our classes would always align with our preferred times and schedules. As many students know, however, schedules rarely end up as such. The “awkward class gap,” usually an hour or two, is a common experience in which there’s just enough time between classes for it to drag on, but for most, it’s just barely too short to dive into something more productive. There are options, though, that don’t require too much focus for those that aren’t sure how to use the in-betweens.

 

Read over notes: Sometimes full on studying doesn’t feel like an option during this time, especially for those that might study better at home and live off campus. Just taking a quick glance at notes, however, will help the information sink in, leaving less studying to do later.

 

Update your planner: The syllabus usually has a calendar, but it’s not uncommon for unforeseen circumstances to change the schedule up a bit. Things can change often in personal and professional lives as well, so taking a few extra minutes to make sure everything is still set straight can help with feeling more prepared.

 

Browse classes for next term: An option for pretty much everyone except seniors in their last term, making a rough drafts of schedules to come may not be very pressing at all times, but it may come in handy when the next registration date rolls around. Spring Term registration starts on Feb. 25.

 

Take a power nap: It’s not uncommon to hear at least one person say “I’m so tired” at least once a day, or hear stories of a term paper that took most of the night. Power naps may not be a solution, but they can certainly temper the problem. Many students live on or near campus, and even some that don’t are willing to crash for a few minutes in their car or reserve some time in the Rest and Relaxation room on in the Student Health and Counseling Center.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of 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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