The Western Howl

Guest Editorial: ASWOU endorses ballot measures

Nathan Soltz | ASWOU Senate President

Two weeks ago, ASWOU became the first student government in Oregon to endorse on ballot measures. We recommend the following: YES on Measure 102 and NO on Measures 103, 104, 105, and 106.

Before the ASWOU Senate considered endorsing, I reached out to the Oregon State Legislature Legislative Counsel. Legislative Counsel is the team of attorneys who draft legislation and answer legal questions for legislators and their staff. As I work for Senator Frederick, I asked them during the September legislative days if a public university’s recognized student government was legally prohibited from taking positions on ballot measures and I was told, essentially, that there shouldn’t be a problem. After that, we received a legal opinion from the Attorney General also stating that student governments have the legal ability to endorse ballot measures (Department of Justice opinion no. 8289). The Attorney General’s opinion referenced an opinion from the Attorney General in 1985 which stated that student governments could not take positions on ballot measures; however, it continued that since then, Oregon law has changed and the law in question no longer exists. Therefore, student governments are no longer prohibited from taking these positions.

With this guidance, on Monday, October 15th, the Senate unanimously passed the resolutions. On Wednesday, I received an email from WOU’s general counsel telling me that it was illegal for ASWOU to take positions on ballot measures. I responded with the Attorney General’s opinion and he said, in effect, that he doesn’t care what the Attorney General says. I then met with the ASWOU President, Vice President, and Senate President Pro Tempore and we all signed a letter I wrote stating that we are proceeding with the endorsements, as is our legal right and ethical duty. On Friday, we met with the general counsel and during that meeting, he essentially conceded that yes, the law in question has been changed, but he is still upholding an old legal opinion even though the Attorney General’s updated legal opinion is directly contrary. So, after about an hour, we presented him with our letter.

The ASWOU government is steadfast in its defense of student rights. The WOU Administration has also taken the stance that our student clubs and organizations cannot take action on the ballot measures either. However, in the opinion of the State of Oregon, we do have that right. If your club or organization would like to take action, please do and reach out with questions. ASWOU is leading this effort and other universities are looking to follow suit.

More information on the election – including our recommendations on measures and neutral information – is available at the ASWOU table upstairs in the WUC and in the ASWOU office downstairs in the WUC. The ASWOU government is your student government. If you want further information, including any of the documents I’ve referenced, would like to get involved in Senate, or want to learn more about ASWOU, please don’t hesitate to contact me. And don’t forget to VOTE BY NOVEMBER 6th!

Contact the author at aswousenpres@wou.edu

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in guest editorials are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Western Howl.

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Letter to the Editor

Nathan Soltz

I was glad to see the Howl covering the ongoing gubernatorial race. However, I became troubled when the column on Governor Brown very clearly pointed out what her “critics have complained about,” but nowhere did Buehler’s column state criticisms about him and one doesn’t have to look far to form a long list: wanting to repeal Oregon’s anti-racial profiling law, voting to take away health care from 430,000 Oregonians, and opposing increases in school funding are just a few of his umpteen questionable stances.

Additionally, Buehler’s column called him “a pro-choice candidate who both believes in climate change and supported the legalization of gay marriage.” However, both the Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon and NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon have endorsed Governor Brown and unambiguously stated that Buehler, who voted against the Reproductive Health Equity Act and supports stripping access to safe and affordable abortion services from 350,000 Oregonians, is not pro-choice.

Regarding “believing in climate change,” accepting scientific consensus is a low bar for praise and it should be noted that Buehler voted against Oregon’s Clean Fuels bill to reduce carbon pollution and he opposed a moratorium on fracking. He also received an “F” rating from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters while Governor Brown received their endorsement.

While Buehler supports basic rights for members of the LGBTQ community, he is running against the country’s first openly LGBTQ governor and has even questioned Governor Brown’s commitment to supporting the rights of the LGBTQ community. Also note that Governor Brown has received the endorsement of the Basic Rights Oregon Equality PAC.

While voters should be informed about the gubernatorial candidates and I appreciate the Howl’s article attempting to do that, it’s important that voters know the truth about the candidates instead of just what one would like people to believe.

The Western Howl

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Central High School showcases “Mamma Mia!” in its west coast debut

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

“We are actually the third high school in the country to do (“Mamma Mia”),” said Central High School’s production director Jeff Witt, “the other two are east of Texas, so we’re the west coast high school premier.”

In May of 2018, Jeff Witt — the vocal and music director at Central High School — teamed up with co-director Wendy Boyack to make their vision a reality. The theater program was originally planning on showcasing an entirely different musical, “Tuck Everlasting,” until they were notified that the rights to the musical had been restricted. That same day, Witt was made aware that “Mamma Mia!” was available.

Witt sent in the school’s royalty application — which cost $3,000 — and received the good news that Central High would be putting on the first production of “Mamma Mia” on the west coast.

“(The students) would not stop screaming,” Witt chuckled as he recalled the moment he revealed the decision to his students.

Rehearsals started in mid-August of this year.

“We’re here every Saturday, sometimes Sunday, putting that set together,” Witt said as he pointed to the looming 24-foot revolve nestled on stage left. The theater department was able to acquire the same walls used in Broadway Rose’s production of “Mamma Mia” in Portland; the walls sit atop the revolving base and forms three separate scenes that can be changed via the attached motor. The program spent an additional $8,000 on new microphones for the show.

“(‘Mamma Mia!’) fits the kids that I have. I always look for a show that fits the kids that I have, and when that happens they have a good time doing it,” director Witt commented.

The leading actors, Lillian Boyack as Sophie; Monique Eschette as Donna; and Seth Dickson as Sam Carmichael, definitely commanded the crowd’s attention. Each showed promising vocal skill and stage presence.

The secondary and tertiary characters also gave lighthearted, confident performances and cultivated an easy-going, fun-loving environment. The excitement of the whole cast throughout the show was palpable from the audience.

The production included disco choreography that is symbolic of ABBA’s career. There were a surprising amount of tender, teary-eyed moments along with the more frequent laughable ones.

There were a couple snafu’s and off-key moments, but considering that this show is a high school production, the performance was entertaining and proved to be a crowd-pleaser.

Future shows will be held November 1-3. Tickets are sold at the door or online on Central High’s website.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

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Three true crime podcasts to stream

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

“Criminal”

Launched in 2014, “Criminal” is an award-winning podcast that takes a holistic look at crime and how it intersects with sociology and history. The host, Phoebe Judge, has a journalistic style that always cultivates a profoundly human element in each episode. Judge’s voice is soothing, and her questions honest and vulnerable, carrying the listener safely through each story no matter how strange.

Where to listen: This podcast can be listened to anywhere podcasts are found, including thisiscriminal.com. There are original illustrations for every episode of “Criminal,” which can also be found on their website.

Photo courtesy of thisiscriminal.com

“True Crime Garage”

Co-hosts Nic and the Captain cover both solved and unsolved true crime cases on their podcast, launched in 2015. These two men conduct impressively in-depth research, and educate their listeners about every version of events and possible theory surrounding each crime they discuss. The tone of the show is more informal and comical, but the pair of hosts still remain respectful of the cases and their seriousness.

Where to listen: A complete anthology of episodes can be found of the Stitcher radio app. A select number of episodes are available for free on the website truecrimegarage.com and are available for purchase on iTunes.

Photo courtesy of truecrimegarage.com

“My Favorite Murder”

Similar to “True Crime Garage,” this podcast is self-described on their website as a “true crime comedy.” The newest of the three podcasts, “My Favorite Murder” was launched in early 2016 by Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff. The show is full of the host’s dry, blunt sense of humor and exhibits a number of female-centered stories. The co-hosts also include information about their personal lives, which balances out the heaviness of the true crime material and may be why they’ve made such a connection with their loyal fanbase.

Where to listen: This podcast can be found on iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Player FM.

Photo courtesy of myfavoritemurder.com

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

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Transportation options

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

College, on its own, is a stressful time for many. On top of this, some students have the additional problem of figuring out transportation. Those don’t own a car face the regular challenge of finding arrangements whenever they have need to get around or out of town. Though Western is conveniently placed near downtown, walking or biking may not be an option when the destination is farther away or later in the evening. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to do so that are available to Western students.

Wolf Ride

Wolfride is a free transportation service for Western students. All that’s needed is a current Western V number. Hours of operation are during afternoons and evenings. Full details can be found at https://wou.edu/student/wolf-ride/.

UCarShare

UCarShare is another option provided on Western’s campus. This service allows students to rent cars by the hour and include cards for purchasing gas if necessary. All that is required is signing up on the app, which is how students can pay for their rentals.

City Bus

Public transportation is another option for getting to locations in Monmouth or Independence. The city bus stops conveniently outside Hammersly library and takes riders through Monmouth and Independence. A full map and schedule is posted at the stop.

Amtrak and Greyhound

Amtrak and greyhound trains and busses, which can both be found in Salem, are inexpensive ways to do long distance travel. Their websites allow for reserving trips in advance and have various routes and schedules for each destination.

Contact the author at howlifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

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Tips for writing a cover letter

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Many students are reaching a point in their life where they’ve begun to think about the future and their careers. Some, however, may still feel somewhat unprepared for the job of pitching themselves to an employer. The skill of writing a cover letter is an important tool both for students starting out in their career and students who just need to pay the bills until they get there.

The first point to remember is to make sure a cover letter isn’t just a repetition of a resume. Employers usually ask for both, so being redundant won’t help applicants stand out. Instead, try to add something that didn’t really fit in a resume but is still relevant, such as long term goals with the potential employer. This is especially important when applying without much experience relevant to the position. If the resume is lacking in experience, the cover letter is an extra opportunity to present oneself as a viable candidate.

Another thing to remember is to make sure it’s conveyed that the position being applied for is fully understood. If possible, address the letter to the person in charge rather than ‘hiring manager.’ Be sure to also mention specific aspects of the job that relate to the skills or experience listed in the resume.

If still unsure about how exactly a cover letter should look, it can be helpful to look up examples. There are various templates that can be used as a starting point. These can be adjusted according to the position being applied for.

Resume and cover letter writing is an essential skill for young adults. Tackling an application can be intimidating, but with the right starting point it can be easier than it seems.

For more help, students can visit the Service Learning and Career Development center (SLCD). Information can be found at wou.edu/slcd.

Contact the author at howlifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

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Western volleyball loses to Alaska Fairbanks

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

Hopes were high for the Wolves coming into their final home game of the season. The season had been a rough road for Western as they had only found themselves in the winning column six times of their 23 games so far. Despite this, the Wolves looked to put on a show at home for the departing seniors.

Before the matches began, each of the leaving players were honored with a few gifts and words spoken about their athletic achievements at the school and hopes for the future. One of the players playing their last game in Monmouth was junior psychology major Morgan Haskett.

“Since I had just decided to graduate in three years, I feel pretty (bittersweet) about the whole situation. I’m pretty excited to be done with college and move onto bigger things, but I am so in love with so many aspects of the sport… so that’s going to be pretty tough to leave,” said Haskett.

The first match was utter dominance for the Wolves. Jumping out to a 3 point lead, Western looked unstoppable. University of Alaska Fairbanks trailed the entire first match. The Nanooks needed to take a couple of timeouts to attempt to slow the raging momentum of the Wolves, but this was to no avail.

After a dominating win in the first match, the Wolves momentum seemed to immediately die. The Nanooks took control of Western and led the entirety of the second match. Alaska Fairbanks warded off several comeback attempts and won the second match with ease.

The Wolves never saw themselves back on top for the rest of their matches. The Nanooks controlled Western’s offense and tore their defense apart.

“We started really strong and I just don’t think we played mentally tough enough to get the win that day,” said Haskett.

The Wolves continued fighting to tie up the score, but despite their best efforts they couldn’t get back into any of the matches.

While this isn’t the end the seniors were looking for, many will miss playing in Monmouth.

“I’ll miss playing at a place where a lot of my family and friends were able to come watch, they’ve been such a big part of my volleyball career,” said Haskett.

After this loss, the season looked to be over for the Wolves. Mathematically, Western stands a chance to make the postseason tournament. However, making the tournament would rely on other teams dropping matches; meaning, the postseason hopes of Western is not in their hands.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

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

Accessibility Public Records Privacy Student Consumer Information

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

Guest Editorial: ASWOU endorses ballot measures

Letter to the Editor

Central High School showcases “Mamma Mia!” in its west coast debut

Three true crime podcasts to stream

Transportation options

Tips for writing a cover letter

Western volleyball loses to Alaska Fairbanks

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