Oct 22 2025 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
In 2024, the season finale of Amazon Prime’s “Fallout” — adapted from Bethesda Softworks’ video game series “Fallout” — left fans with plenty to speculate about. The last time we saw this nuclear wasteland, Hank — father to protagonist Lucy MacLean and played by actor Kyle MacLachlan — was headed for what appeared to be New Vegas, the titular setting for the sixth installment of the franchise.
The excitement surrounding this closing scene was immense. After all, in a recent poll by Bethesda, “Fallout: New Vegas” had an overwhelming response as participants’ favorite installment — 52.6% responded that “New Vegas” was their favorite, while “Fallout 4,” one of the more recent games in the series, came in second with 25.5% of responses.
Since the show’s release, the last year and a half has been full of speculation and fan theories, but an Oct. 12 post on IGN’s official Instagram, @igndotcom, only reignited these discussions.
In a reel, IGN shared stills from Season 2, which wrapped filming in May of this year. Among these stills, fans saw the Lucky 38 Casino, Dinky the T-Rex and other notable characters and locations from “New Vegas.”
I think, as a fan of the games myself, that the most important thing to note is the canonization of a specific faction ending of “Fallout: New Vegas.” In the game, the player’s character, known as “The Courier,” travels the Mojave interacting with various factions attempting to control the wasteland — most notably the New California Republic, Caesar’s Legion, Yes Man and the New Vegas Libertopia. As the game progresses, The Courier must side with one of these major factions, which decides the game’s ending at the Second Battle of the Hoover Dam.
Since the gameplay is open world and has a variable story, the developers never confirmed which ending was the correct one; however, the show “Fallout” confirms specifically the New Vegas Libertopia ending.
The show itself is set 15 years after the events of “Fallout: New Vegas,” and stills from the second season feature Mr. House, the enigmatic leader of the New Vegas Libertopia.
Dialogue from the game also supports the pairing of this ending with the stills. In “New Vegas,” the character Chief Hanlon, the commanding officer of the New California Republic’s ranger unit, states that “Even if we hold this dam, what then? Are we going to send the NCR’s men and women to die here for another five years? Ten? Patrol the whole length of the Colorado for hundreds of miles? Holding this dam. It’ll be the death of us.”
This dialogue, along with the facts that Caesar’s Legion is too brutal and authoritarian to retain control over the Mojave and that the Strip in New Vegas is still standing, supports the New Vegas Libertopia ending, which we should then see in the show.
Whatever ending the show confirms, we will just have to wait until Dec. 17 to actually see what happens. After all, fan theories are just theories until the show either confirms or denies them.
Season 1 of “Fallout” is streaming on Amazon Prime, where Season 2 will also launch this winter. I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the season’s debut.
And for other fans of the “Fallout” franchise, remember, the House always wins.
Graphic of Dax with love hearts | Graphic by Addison Watts
Oct 22 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
Dax food delivery robots, often remembered for their clunky white frames and expressive LED eyes, have since disappeared as a food delivery service on campus after a nearly five-year run.
But what happened to Dax robots, and where did they go?
Dax robots were first implemented on campus shortly after the coronavirus pandemic because students didn’t have access to the dining hall to get food. For this reason, Campus Dining utilized Dax to deliver food to students on campus to follow pandemic guidelines.
Ultimately, Dax delivery robots left campus last June because Dax Corporation ended its contract with Western. The reasoning behind this was likely that they weren’t getting enough sales from students on campus. After the pandemic ended, most students, especially last academic year, just preferred to go into Valsetz Dining Hall rather than get food delivered to their building. Additionally, the company increased the price of deliveries to $5, against Campus Dining recommendations. Campus Dining tried to communicate that with students living on campus, it needed to be an affordable delivery system, but the company still wanted to increase the price to earn revenue. This is also partially why the partnership between Western Campus Dining and Dax ended.
Another big question up for speculation by students was how Dax robots were controlled. When Dax first came to campus, the company programmed mapping, which is essentially a GPS. Dax had an electronic brain of sorts that this GPS tracking was programmed into, and Valsetz had GPS receivers on the roof. The company was also able to control Dax robots remotely, so if they fell over or got stuck, they could attempt to solve the issue without coming to campus.
Campus Dining has not yet switched to a new delivery system because it would have to go through a third party like Dax Corporation. It’s also important to Campus Dining that whatever system they choose in the future, if any, is affordable to students. As of right now, though, there is no delivery method in place. Jane Cameron, the director of Campus Dining, also added that there isn’t really a need for a new delivery system right now. She explained that Western is such a small campus, and increasingly has many dining location options, like Valsetz and the Summit, that students can visit a short walk away from their campus residence. With the new meal swipe system, many students also prefer to go in so they can load up with all they can carry rather than rely on a delivery system.
While Dax was still on campus, it was somewhat of a mystery to students, or an icon of sorts; many had heard different stories and lore about Dax. A big rumor many students reported was that Dax robots had the potential to make heart eyes at them — this was proven to be true, yet students weren’t sure if this was done through some sort of hand motion or voice command. Similarly, students believed their eyes changed based on the holiday, such as how they would make pumpkin eyes during Halloween. One student reports seeing a Dax robot slam into the window outside of Cafe Allegro, which caused its head to fully fall off. Students had commonly seen Dax robots getting stuck around campus, one of these times being when one was crossing the sidewalk from the Grove to the Werner University Center and got stuck in the divot because there was a giant rain puddle. This caused it to turn on hazard lights.
There are also reportedly many relatable stories of students getting into a standoff of sorts with a Dax robot, in which they tried to get around Dax, but it blocked them from walking. Dax robots also often got stuck in random spots and needed to wait for a staff member to come to the rescue. Rumors also spread that there was someone in the basement of Campus Dining controlling Dax, so they were intentionally doing all of these things. Another student said that they once flipped a Dax robot off, and it made sad eyes at them. Some students even felt targeted, in that Dax robots would go out of their way to run into them. Another notable report was that a Dax robot allegedly went up to a student putting up posters with information about a controversial political topic and shook its head while making a sad sound.
All in all, Dax robots have since disappeared from campus. While students have discussed many outlandish stories and allegations surrounding them, few can be fully proven true, and it’s up to students to determine for themselves what to believe and what not to in regard to Dax. What can be confirmed is that Dax Corporation no longer contracts with Western, and Campus Dining is leaning into in-person dining options around campus.
Aries: Runs ahead of you, waits for you at the exit and makes fun of you when you come out frazzled
Taurus: gets scared and lowkey assaults an actor
Gemini: way too friendly to the scare actors and keeps complimenting them and their costumes
Cancer: Holds your hand to make sure you’re all good.
Leo: Will shout behind you to scare you
Virgo: pees their pants out of fear
Libra: Goes on their phone to look at cat memes instead
Scorpio: convinces you to go with them but then pushes you in front to save themself
Sagittarius: Walks through the house scaring the scare actors
Capricorn: laughs the whole time because they have no soul
Aquarius: does not attend the haunted house
Pisces: Spends most of the time standing by the entrance debating whether they should go in or not. Tries to turn back multiple times once they finally decide to walk in.
Wolves women’s soccer team poses for a photo after winning against Northwest Nazarene and setting a new school record. | Photo by @wou_soccer on Instagram
Oct 15 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor
It’s an exciting time in Monmouth after the Western women’s soccer team took care of business Oct. 4 against Northwest Nazarene, setting a new program record of six wins in a row. During this time, the Wolves have big wins against then #1 nationally ranked Colorado School of Mines and formerly #18 ranked Seattle Pacific respectively. Currently, the Wolves sit at #2 ranked in the GNAC and are looking to build on their momentum going forward. “Our team was really motivated by the fact that we didn’t perform as well as we’d like to and we knew last year we had a great defensive unit,” said head coach Kacey Bingham. “It was really strong, and we knew that was going to be returning and I think big improvements have come from our attack. We’re seeing multiple girls score and be threatening and I think that’s been a huge change from last year.”
Part of that change has been led by first-year forward Olivia Boger. Boger currently leads the team in goals scored, which speaks to her quick adjustment to a new level of competition and a high-quality team culture that allows new players to feel empowered to make immediate impacts. “It’s something that we actually talked a lot about last spring — the culture we wanted going into this year — and the girls spent a lot of time and energy creating a culture they wanted moving into this fall. I think part of that is making sure that we take care of the new players, and I think they made it a point to make the new players feel welcome and important and that they were going to be a big part of our success this year, so I think that stemmed from our captains,” said Coach Bingham. “And then Olivia came in really at a high level and I think she came in understanding, one, how to take care of the ball, how to dribble the ball and then she’s just clinical in the final third. She knows how to go one-v-one, she knows how to serve the ball, she knows how to finish and she’s just come in and stepped up to the challenge.”
One example of the Wolves’ many great leaders is senior team captain and defender Jada Foster. When asked how she’s improved as a leader since becoming a captain, Foster said, “I think the biggest thing for me has always been communication and just kind of stepping up. I know Kacey’s given me the opportunity to last fall and taking the winter and the spring to really just grow and just learn with my teammates and also just learn I’m going to make mistakes, but know that my team’s there for me, and I’m just going to push everybody, but also know that we’re family, and I love each and every one of them that works hard, and I know that we can do anything we put our minds to at the end of the day.”
Foster scored a penalty kick in the 45th minute against Central Washington University, a match that ended in a 3-0 victory. It included a score by Ally Beavers from a penalty kick in the 51st minute and an 86th-minute goal from Katya Tercek, assisted by both Beavers and Maya Courtenay. The win tied the then-record five-game winning streak, setting up the record-breaking win against Northwest Nazarene two days later.
As Coach Bingham mentioned, the defensive unit has also been strong, as they only allowed two goals through the duration of the streak. Senior goalkeeper Bella Lopez has recorded five clean sheets so far.
Bingham also mentioned the seniors on the team as a group that has stepped up big time in the 2025 season. “There was a lot of girls in this senior group that were trying to have bigger roles last year that have stepped into really big roles this year, and we’re really proud of that group and how hard that they’ve worked and the resilience that they’ve shown over their time at Western Oregon. They’re perfect examples of what it is to come to a program and give it all and to genuinely put your time and effort into improving as an individual, but also helping your team improve and I think that’s the culture we want to set here.”
Students may not even know they’re missing out on critical moments at Western with the team’s latest win streak — and, if they do know, are likely going to regret it. They play a fun style of soccer and radiate a contagious, positive energy that shines through to everyone in the stands. “I think it’s been a lot, but in a good way, because I think a lot of the girls that came in new didn’t expect it to be this way,” said Foster. “We’ve brought in this standard that there’s so much fun to college soccer, but also we just love to be here and play the sport we love. So I think that’s been like the biggest thing, especially freshmen coming in. I love how they’re just so new and just want to experience the fun things like that.” Their next home game will be against Simon Fraser Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. on the Turf Field. Something to know about the team for new fans this season, according to Foster, is, “We definitely bring that competitive energy. We’re never going to be the ones to just get hit and stay on the ground. We’re always very loud.”
“This team can make big plays,” said Bingham. “On offense and defense, they never back away from the challenge, and they turn difficult moments into looking easy sometimes. I think that’s fun, and it’s just an exciting group to watch. It’s a very competitive group. So no matter who’s on the field, they’re always going to bring something special.”
As of Oct. 14, the winning streak has come to a conclusion, but after the game against Simon Fraser, the Wolves will have five regular-season matches remaining, capping it off with a Senior Day celebration versus Montana State Billings Nov. 8. From there, they will look to qualify for the GNAC championships and put together a successful postseason run.
Mark Fischback, or Markiplier, portraying one of his alter egos known as Wilford Warfstache | Photo by @markiplier On Instagram
Oct 15 2025 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor
Everyone has gotten nostalgic at some point in their lives. Recently, I’ve noticed a trend on TikTok of videos designed to trigger nostalgia for both millennials and Generation Z. There are compilations of old advertisements that used to air in between movies or shows, such as Zoo Pals, Pillow Pets, Chia Pets or Tooth Tunes. I’ve also seen videos containing still images of old creepypastas like Jeff the Killer, Candle Cove and Slenderman. There are intros to old TV shows or music from a different time in our lives that make us feel a bit warm and longing for those days.
For myself personally, the most nostalgia-triggering media that I’ve seen recently was the image that made the legend of Herobrine so popular back in the old “Minecraft” days. I used to watch video after video of “real sightings of Herobrine” back when I was younger. This trend made me curious about what exactly nostalgia is and why we, as adults and university students, crave that nostalgia so much.
What exactly is it? — Originating from the Greek words nostos (return) and algos (pain), nostalgia is defined by the University of Florida as “the sentimental longing for the past, often triggered when a person reflects on cherished memories or even difficult experiences.” Nostalgia has an interesting history, originating from the late 17th century to describe the feelings soldiers had about their former lives before enlisting. Now, it’s much closer to the definition of sentimentality — to remember the good times in our lives where things were simpler.
How does it work? — According to Hal McDonald from Psychology Today, nostalgia has four different components that together create that rose-lensed memory of the better days of our lives.
The first part is self-reflection. This is the main defining trait of nostalgia. In a sense, everyone is their own “main character,” so our memories center around what happens to us. It’s the way we process our involvement with our past selves to our present ones in a way that generates a sort of reminiscent feeling.
Autobiographical memory is the next component of nostalgia. This is what gives us the context of our memories, the transcript of our lives and the way we remember living them. Think of it as the report of someone’s life instead of the movie, only we were the ones who wrote it. That accounts for some of us remembering things differently compared to a sibling or a parent.
Then, there’s emotional regulation. This is what causes the positive and negative emotions of nostalgia. While it is a mostly positive experience, with the memories of going to the store with grandma being fresh in our minds, there’s also the acknowledgement of not being able to do that with her as much anymore or even ever again, hence why this emotion is often described as a bittersweet sensation.
Finally, there’s the reward component. This part of the emotion is believed to be associated with the triggering of reward-related brain regions. Basically, the feeling from watching old YouTube videos is a free shot of dopamine straight to the brain.
What triggers it? — This varies from person to person, but there are a few common sources of our nostalgic kick. There are sensory triggers, such as the smell of cookies baking in the oven, bringing back memories of Christmas, or maybe the sound of a song brings back thoughts of a significant other. Sight, smell, taste, touch, sound are all possible triggers for the feeling of nostalgia. Aside from sensory triggers, there are also life transitions, such as moving into new spaces. A lot of students likely experienced an uncanny sense of nostalgia when packing to come to Western this year. Seeing a mostly empty room that used to have all sorts of things in it will often trigger memories of what happened in that space. Social interactions can stir up old memories as well, especially when reminiscing with family or friends. Personally, I always get nostalgic when I hang out with my friend group from high school.
Is it good or bad? — It can be a little of both. A survey conducted by Meta and Gallup found that 1 in 4 adults reported feeling a strong sense of loneliness. It’s also found that a lot of them were younger people in the age range of 19-29. One explanation for this is the fact that once a person reaches adulthood, they usually begin to break away from their childhood life at home. They begin to learn how to be an adult, which, as most know, can be quite difficult. However, it was found that nostalgia can offer a lot of benefits for a person. It can boost self-esteem, help find meaning in life, encourage authenticity and bring joy. According to the American Psychological Association, a study conducted during the holiday season found that feeling lonely actually helped people get out of the holiday blues. It was found that it aided them in finding purpose in their lives. It’s also fair to point out that it’s possible to be too reminiscent. Being too caught up in the past can make some unable to find any joy in the present. Other effects can occur, such as excessive sadness, a feeling of helplessness and even depression.
The best way to experience it — There was a time during a class when a student had mentioned the movie “Halloween Town.” A small group of students then began talking about it and what it meant for them growing up. It is a very nostalgic film for many and when experienced in a group, the effect was much stronger. According to Allen McConnell from Psychology Today, “People’s wistfulness reminds them of important moments and important connections to others.” Sentimental feelings can help strengthen their desire to connect more with others who share similar memories. I found my best friend because we can both quote Markiplier’s first “Five Nights at Freddy’s” series almost by heart.
Overall, nostalgia is much more than remembering the past when things were simpler. It’s a way to connect our past selves to our present. We became who we are because of these memories, whether it be the movies we grew up watching or the smell of spaghetti coming from a pot. While it’s important not to dwell on the past too much, there are benefits to being sentimental every now and then.
An AI-generated photo of glass pancakes for “ASMR.” | Photo from @theaisatisfying on Instagram
Oct. 15, 2025 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has become more and more prevalent as technology advances. What was once a science fiction storyline is now our reality; AI chatbots, videos and photos are all too common now.
Most of Generation Z and millennials have watched AI grow with them. Siri first launched with the iPhone 4S in 2011, while Alexa followed three years later with the introduction of the Amazon Echo. These AI assistants have grown with us from childhood to adulthood on our phones, tablets and computers.
When it comes to generative AI, most are now approaching the subject with the utmost caution and hesitancy. After all, it has been proven time and again that AI systems often steal art created by real people to “train” their models.
I mean, it was only April when Studio Ghibli founder and animator Hayao Miyazaki begged fans of his movies not to use the technology to recreate their photos in his movies’ style.
Miyazaki described AI technologies as “utterly disgusting” and “an insult to life itself” before stating he would “never wish to incorporate this technology into (his) work at all.” Unfortunately, this didn’t stop users from “Ghiblifying” their photos on OpenAI’s platform ChatGPT, with thousands of accounts and users sharing these images on social media — even @WhiteHouse on X, formerly known as Twitter, shared “Ghiblified” images.
The exploitation of artists isn’t the only issue posed by AI. Data centers across the world use billions of gallons of water to cool the servers. 2022 saw major tech companies use 580 billion gallons of water for their AI operations, while in 2024, a Google center in Iowa consumed 1 billion gallons alone. When a user interacts with any AI system, be it Google Gemini, ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, it uses one-tenth of a gallon or 12.8 fluid ounces of water — almost a full cup.
While most adults can actively choose whether or not to consume AI-generated content or to interact with the models, it’s much more difficult to teach children how to distinguish between what is and isn’t AI-generated.
I don’t think I ever fully understood how AI was being aimed at children until I began student teaching. My class was working on an “I Am” poem where they described who they were before choosing images that represented them.
The end result? So many students found AI-generated photos that they liked for their project.
For one, it’s not their fault. The images they used were very clearly marketed to children — magical cats, animals playing sports, even some that related to the wildly popular Netflix movie “KPop Demon Hunters.”
At our weekly assembly time, it became much more evident how AI was being marketed towards children. For a reminder on how to behave in line in the hall, a parody of “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” was shown — once again, the popularity of the movie is capitalized upon by AI, complete with AI-generated images, animation and singing.
This video has already amassed 463,000 views in just one month of being posted to YouTube, with educators and students alike sharing and watching to learn about the basics of being in line.
It doesn’t stop at “KPop Demon Hunters,” however. A good majority of YouTube Shorts meant for children feature AI.
When scrolling through YouTube Shorts, I found that a majority of the videos that were created using generative AI had the hashtags “YouTube Kids” and “kids animation.” These videos typically feature anthropomorphic cats and have one of three subjects: cheating, revenge or pregnancy. Sometimes all three are featured in one video.
Pairing this normalization of AI in children’s spaces with generated ASMR — glass fruit spreading, gemstone cutting and slime videos — being highly popular on apps like TikTok and Instagram creates a can of worms that nobody is ready to open.
However, we’re not here to talk about the consequences of AI. We’re here to talk about what we can actively do to slow the usage and consumption of AI.
Use a critical eye — One of the biggest pieces of advice I could give is to look at suspicious content with a critical eye. Count the number of fingers on hands and look at the way that the eyes look. Even as AI improves, it cannot perfect the way our hands and eyes look, proving that those are what truly make us human. If those aren’t a dead giveaway, watch the movements. They are often too smooth or too robotic. Text is another dead giveaway — AI models, no matter how sophisticated, can never get letters or logos quite right.
Don’t give the account the views they want — Most accounts that post AI-generated photos or videos want engagement, which is the most obvious thing I think I have ever said. However, it’s the truth. These accounts want people to watch their videos. The more views and engagement they get, the more they get to say, “Look, the people want this. We should make more of this.” It encourages the models’ creators as well because they see the engagement that these videos receive and work to make their models more widespread and normalized. My best advice when one sees these videos is to swipe away or click “not interested.” This will put less AI-generated content on one’s feed, thus lessening the views these accounts receive.
Monitor what children are consuming — With how common AI-generated media is in children’s spheres, it’s best to pay attention to what children are consuming, as it is with all content they interact with. Have a conversation with children about AI-generated content in ways that are appropriate. Kids are smart and they’ll understand what’s going on. I know I’ve had wonderful conversations with my students about AI and its consequences — granted, they are fourth and fifth graders, but still, talking with children in an age-appropriate way about the dangers of AI is better than not educating them at all.
Teach the older generations to recognize AI-generated content — Generation X and baby boomers are two populations that are also susceptible to AI-generated content. Facebook is rife with AI-generated photos and videos, and the generations that weren’t raised on this kind of technology have a harder time telling reality from AI. Along with educating younger generations about AI and its dangers, it’s also important to help the older generations — our parents and grandparents — understand how to recognize when something isn’t real. Show them how to identify an AI-generated video. Talk to them about the consequences.
It doesn’t seem like AI generation models are going away. In recent research, Forbes has found that AI servers and prevalence have multiplied 14 times since 2000. While some AI is beneficial — Siri and Alexa, especially — the wave of generative AI has become increasingly detrimental to both the environment and the social media landscape.
As the generation currently leading the workplace and social media sphere in the digital age as influencers, educators and artists, it’s increasingly important that we slow the wave of generative AI. We can do this by educating ourselves and other generations and not giving the AI models what they want: our attention, our art and our money.
Photo of a Northwestern Pond Turtle | Photo courtesy of the Oregon Zoo
Oct 15 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
Northwestern pond turtles, one of Oregon’s only native freshwater turtle species, are currently classified as an endangered species in Washington and a threatened species in Oregon. These turtles are unique to the Pacific Northwest and it would be a devastating loss if they were to go extinct. Biologists are working to preserve them, and have had success so far, but they call on residents of the Pacific Northwest to be on the lookout, so together the extinction of this species can be prevented.
The northwestern pond turtles used to be very common from Baja California to Puget Sound, but have become increasingly lower in numbers. By 1990 only two pond turtle sites were left in Washington, encompassing fewer than 100 turtles. Since then, biologists at the Oregon Zoo partnered with the Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1998, and have worked hard to increase populations up to six sites established from Puget Sound to the Columbia River Gorge.
This species faces many threats to their survival, including habitat loss, shell disease and invasive predators and plants. Their natural habitat is slowly decreasing due to the draining and filling of wetlands and the building of dams. Both decrease the water area that these turtles need to build their nests and lay eggs. Additionally, the northwestern pond turtle suffers from a shell disease that leads to paralysis and death in the later stages. Currently, scientists don’t have a lot of information regarding the disease and are focusing their efforts on keeping the turtles safe from predators. Invasive species that threaten these turtles include American bullfrogs and largemouth bass because they often eat turtle hatchlings before they can grow. Invasive plants also threaten them because plant growth limits areas where turtles can dig nests to lay eggs.
Biologists at the Oregon Zoo are helping northwestern pond turtles first by monitoring their nests and fencing them off with wire so that predators can’t get to them. Once the baby turtles hatch, they collect them and take them to the Oregon Zoo to live. The turtles stay at the zoo for around a year, at which point they are released back into the wild. After a year, they are large enough that predators like the bullfrogs can’t eat them and they are safer in the wild. These tactics have proven effective, as the turtle population has been slowly rising since 1990.
While biologists at the Oregon Zoo are working hard to protect the native turtles, they also list some ways that residents of the Pacific Northwest can help. The primary way is by reporting turtle sightings. This can be done through an online tool listed on the Oregon Zoo website. The website where residents can submit a sighting was developed by Western along with Port of Portland and Oregon Native Turtle Working Group. If residents see a turtle to report, the Oregon Zoo urges that they take pictures without disturbing or moving the turtle. After submitting a picture through the website, they would then drop a pin on a map provided to give the approximate location, try to identify the turtle by pictures and options listed, and finally leave their contact information in case biologists need to follow up.
If residents see a turtle trying to cross the road that is in danger of being hit, they are advised to move the turtle to the other side of the road in the direction it was going. Unless they are in danger, the Oregon Zoo asks that people not move turtles even if it appears they are lost. Ultimately, the turtles know where they are going and are likely looking for a spot to dig a nest. If a turtle must be moved, don’t turn it in a different direction, because it will get confused and likely lost.
The survival of the northwestern pond turtles continues to look hopeful as biologists work to restore populations around the Pacific Northwest. When needed, residents of Oregon and Washington can be a part of this rehabilitation and should follow the steps listed to help save the northwestern pond turtles.
Photo of Ruth Lautenbach at her desk. | Photo by @westernoregonuniversity on Instagram
Oct 15 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor
Students returning to Western this fall may notice that the Old PE building is now Ruth Lautenbach Hall. This change came after an announcement Sept. 29 saying that it would be named after Ruth Lautenbach. Lautenbach was at the university, then known as Oregon College of Education, from 1940 to 1974 and was “the pioneering female physical education teacher and advocate for women’s sports,” as described by the university in a statement about the change. Dr. Carol Brownlow, a colleague of Lautenbach and inductee into the Western Oregon Hall of Fame, described her as a “professional at her core,” and called her “one of my favorite lifetime people.”
Most of Dr. Lautenbach’s work came before Title IX, a federal law passed in 1972 that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Because of this, Lautenbach had to advocate fiercely for women’s sports, making sure they had adequate and equal resources. Jon Carey, a former administrator, women’s basketball coach and athletic director, mentioned that when he started his career at OCE in 1975, the women’s sports programs were much more sophisticated than other universities. “I attribute that in large part to the influence of Dr. Lautenbach,” Carey said. Carey explained that many universities did not have a dedicated crew like OCE did to set up women’s athletic events, and athletes at other schools would have to set up their own events. In addition, participants in women’s sports at OCE in the 1940s were able to receive a “letter,” a form of recognition for achievement in a sport, and then eventually a letterman jacket under the same criteria as men. This was nearly unheard of at the time, but was the case at OCE due in large part to advocacy from Dr. Lautenbach.
Dr. Lautenbach was also described by Dr. Brownlow as “hard as nails, soft as a pillow.” Sharon Baugh, an advisee of both Dr. Lautenbach and Dr. Brownlow, agreed, adding that she was “straightforward and no-nonsense.” Baugh noted that upon her first meeting with Ruth Lautenbach, she encouraged her to be better academically than she had been to start her college career. “She set me on the right path the minute she met me,” Baugh said.
Baugh, who went on to get her master’s degree and have a career as a principal, wonders if she would’ve given the effort that she did if she had never met Dr. Lautenbach. Baugh also mentioned how Dr. Lautenbach had inspired her to fight for women’s sports herself, telling a story about how she stood up for the girls’ teams at a middle school she was working at, who had next to nothing in terms of resources. Baugh, like Lautenbach, stood up firmly and was able to secure equal funding and resources for both girls’ and boys’ sports at the school.
Dr. Brownlow believes that Dr. Lautenbach would be very humbled by the honor, saying that she was very modest and didn’t like to have a big fuss made about her. Baugh brought up how much time Dr. Lautenbach must’ve spent in the building that now shares her namesake, as well as saying that she is “super proud of what we’ve been able to do for Dr. Lautenbach.”
Screenshot of the new Experience tab in Portal | Photo by Abbi Duhart
Oct 15 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
Starting next calendar year, students at Western will be facing a major upgrade in their Portal experience with just that — “Experience” — taking Wolf Web’s place. Experience is accessible to students right now, and contains key information students need for university resources.
Contrary to popular belief, the decision to make the change from Wolf Web was not university-wide; rather, it was a decision made by Ellucian, the parent company of both Experience and Wolf Web. Ellucian is not part of the university, but manages softwares like the Portal through their Banner service. Essentially, Ellucian decided to make the change from Banner 8, which included Wolf Web, to Banner 9, which will replace Wolf Web with Experience. In simpler terms, this means that Western’s Portal will be transitioning from one version to another. All in all, the reasoning behind adding Experience to the Portal was due to the fact that Wolf Web will no longer exist.
Experience is fully functional right now, but things are still being added to it as the year progresses. University Computing Solutions, the department in charge of the change, decided to keep Wolf Web active along with Experience until the end of the year so that students and faculty can adjust to the change without being thrown headfirst into using Experience. Ultimately, Wolf Web will completely disappear Dec. 31 and be fully replaced by Experience.
The biggest issue with Wolf Web is that it’s just very outdated. It was created 20 years ago, so it is not up to the standards of today’s technology. One of the goals of UCS was to enhance Experience to look much better and cleaner than Wolf Web did. Christopher Lopez, the web applications developer, explained that a large goal was to make sure it looked more aesthetic with better usability, meaning it will be easier for students to find the information they need. While the change is necessary because Wolf Web will disappear, the switch is also seen as an improvement in order to modernize the Portal.
A big way that Experience is aiming to improve over Wolf Web is by becoming more user-friendly. Rather than having to click through multiple links in Wolf Web to find a page, Experience will have a section for each important resource. For example, to register for classes, students can navigate to Experience and find the specific section for it, rather than using Wolf Web and needing to go to the student menu, then registration and schedule, then register for classes, then hunting down a CRN code on top of everything else. Experience will create a much easier and quicker process. Additionally, Wolf Web has multiple obsolete links that are not needed.
Experience will have all the same features, but will look much more modernized and clean. Students won’t lose any of the features that were previously found in Wolf Web, rather, they will just be found in a new spot. Students can use Experience to access their registration, billing, financial aid, barcode and other university resources. One new feature unique to Experience is the student barcode. Students can go to their account and see their WOU barcode, which acts the same as student IDs and can be used at places like the Health and Wellness Center and Hamersly Library. Unlike Wolf Web, students can also go into Experience and customize their dashboard to include easy access to things they use often.
University Computing Solutions is slowly working to add Portal functionality in general to Experience. Many things accessed from the Portal, such as Canvas and Zoom, are slowly being integrated into Experience in the hopes that one day the entirety of Portal will be swapped for Experience. While this is a goal of UCS, it has no confirmed timeline. Experience is being added, but the Portal is notgoing away at the end of the year, only Wolf Web is. Lopez explained that this is a common misconception with students right now.
While change can be hard, UCS firmly believes that not only will these changes help the Portal look better, but they will also help students access vital resources faster and more smoothly. The transition from Wolf Web to Experience will be beneficial to both students and faculty after the adjustment period.
Photo of HWC’s entrance with scanners | Photo by Hannah Field
Oct 8 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
Buzz has been happening around campus about the new method of getting into the Health and Wellness Center. Students are using an online barcode found in Western’s Portal to scan at the entrance. In reality, this system of entry has been present since Fall 2024, but is now more widely implemented and known.
University Computing Solutions started the Banner optimization project, aiming to move Western to the use of Experience within the Portal. This was the start of the transition from using student ID cards to being able to use the barcode found in the Portal. Students can still use their Western ID cards in addition to the barcode. The use of the barcode through Experience enhanced the system that the HWC was already using. The decision to optimize Banner was university-wide, not just within the HWC.
To access this barcode, students should log in to their Portal — most likely on their phone — and then navigate to the Experience tab at the top next to Wolf Web. Students who have never used Experience before will be prompted to login with their Portal information and go through a tutorial. Using the options at the top, students can go to the tab “My Account,” which will include a box titled “WOU Barcode.” This is where students can access their barcode in order to get into the HWC.
Additionally, students can bookmark their barcode so it appears on the home page in the Experience tab, making it easier to access. The barcode can also be screenshotted and will still work when accessed from the camera roll. While the barcode is an option, students can also still use their Western ID cards to get into the HWC.
After entering the Experience tab, students can also navigate to “Services” and explore many of Western’s helpful resources, such as Financial Aid and the Writing Center. Students can also easily access different building schedules, like open hours at the Health and Wellness Center, encompassing the rock climbing wall, gym and pool.
When asked how she felt about the addition of the barcode as a way of entry, Diana Gray, a WSI swim instructor and guest services specialist at the HWC, said, “At first I struggled because it’s just new technology and I feel like a grandma sometimes. But now I appreciate it, learning where everything is in Experience, learning that all your services are all right here. Having access to everybody’s hours in one place without tapping all the apps in Portal is amazing. Change is hard and that’s okay.”
The barcode can be used in other places around campus, primarily Hamersly Library. Students still have to use their ID cards to swipe into athletic events, such as football games.
Campus Recreation has gone through other changes as well. The HWC director, Rip Horsey, explained that the HWC was able to implement more hours of operation for this term based on how well they did last year. The new hours so far this term include normal operation hours all days of the week, bouldering for the majority of the day, and top rope hours in the evening, but not on the weekends. In order to top rope, students must do a belay certification course first. Finally, the aquatic center has various hours throughout the day for lap swim, open swim and therapy pool. Aquatic hours were most adjusted this term to add more lap swim time and add two more lap swim lanes.
Horsey also said that the HWC is looking to add new equipment to the facility. A lifting area is being integrated downstairs. The HWC is also analyzing their budget, looking to add a couple of new stair climbers and slowly starting to phase out some of the older treadmills in favor of newer ones.
The HWC has various events happening throughout the year, such as squat and bench press competitions, hamster ball and Hoopfest. The marketing department is also looking to add a couple of other exciting events throughout the year. Students are encouraged to follow the Campus Recreation Instagram — @woucampusrecreation — to keep tabs on these events.
All Western students are encouraged to use the HWC whether they’re an athlete or not. There are many different amenities available for any type of student and many fun events that any student can participate in. Horsey encouraged, “We’re trying to do as much as we possibly can to try to engage folks, and not so much always in the traditional sport because sometimes it’s fun just going out to play.” Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu
