The Western Howl – Page 3 – The Western Howl

A photo of Western’s mascot, Wolfie, posing in a dorm room. | Photo from @westernoregonuniversity on Instagram

Oct 8 2025 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

Moving to a new town or city can be pretty intimidating for anyone. Whether a person enjoys traveling or perhaps is a happy homebody, moving from a house or apartment to a dorm room can be really intimidating. It’s a big change for anyone, especially someone who might not be from the area, to learn to call this place home for the time being. It can also be really difficult to decide what to do with this little space someone is given and expected to call home for at least a year.

I remember the stress of preparing to move across the state to be able to attend Western. I read dozens of online threads from former students giving advice to new ones about what to bring or what to invest in for comfort. Packing was a nightmare, trying to figure out what could stay at home and what should come to the dorms.

After some research and a bit of my own first-hand experience, I have provided a couple of tips for those on campus who are struggling with the “move-in blues.” These range from how to live in the dorm and also get into how to get out of one.

Unpack — If there is any kind of advice that all students of all types will agree on, it would probably be to not procrastinate. As good as it feels to just lie down and doom scroll for hours on end, it can end up causing problems because of how time-consuming it is. Therefore, make sure that all belongings are organized in a way that feels comfortable. Personally, I found that having the freedom to organize in a way that I preferred was a great experience. It was a comfort to know nothing was going to be moved and placed somewhere else. Be sure to clarify with a roommate that what’s on one side of the room should not be touched, unless given permission to do so. That also leads to the next tip:

Roommate Communication — While I missed out on having a roommate during my time in Landers Hall, I did have to interact with others often while living in a shared bathroom and kitchen area. My biggest advice would be to be open and understanding. Explain each other’s preferences, limits and comfort levels. Let each other know what is okay to do and what isn’t. It can be awkward at times, but as long as there is mutual respect between everyone, getting along with each other shouldn’t be too difficult. If there is ever a big conflict that can’t be fixed with words, though, contact a resident assistant for further advice and instruction. Their phone numbers should always be visible somewhere in the building on a poster of sorts.

Bring things from home — Whether it’s simple items like blankets or bedsheets, or more unique personal effects, having things that have some kind of sentimental meaning or are just really comfortable can bring a sense of familiarity to an area that may lack it. Personally, I brought a lot of plushies into my dorm room when moving to Western. They are perfect to cling to during the stressful times of finals week. I also brought my own personal pillow. Not only did it save me the trouble of having to buy a new one, but it is a very comfortable item. I’m the type of person who doesn’t fall asleep easily in new areas, yet the pillow allowed for a night of easy rest. If someone isn’t as big of a plushie enthusiast as I am, other items to consider would be a favorite mug, a scrunchie, sweaters or some fuzzy socks.

Decorating — Decor is a very important part of any home, whether it be a house, apartment or a dorm room. Unless someone is a very committed minimalist, most people enjoy personalizing their space. It allows for creative freedom and can often be one of the first times in life that someone can decorate their room the way they want to. Items for desks could be a small stack of books, figurines, plushies, framed photos or a desk organizer. For walls, it can be a bit trickier, as it’s important to not damage the walls. Command strips are a common resource in dorm rooms, as they do not create holes in the walls, but keep in mind their various weight limits — they can send wall decor crashing to the floor if not careful. With that in mind, someone could hang some lights in the corners of the room, put up photos, posters or flags. It all depends on preference and whatever helps the room fit one’s tastes the most.

Snacks — Something I’ve learned in my time as a student is that stress eating is a real thing. While I don’t recommend overeating as a way to cope with stress, it still isn’t a bad idea to stock up on some snacks to munch on throughout the term. Some of my personal favorites that are sweet are peanut M&M’s, Snickers, Muddy Buddies and Hershey’s chocolate. As far as savory goes, I love lemon-lime hot Cheetos, Lay’s lime chips and Chex Mix.

Don’t stay in the dorm — I made that mistake last year. Staying in the dorm after being done with class, while relaxing, was also incredibly lonely. I strongly encourage anyone who is considering just staying in the dorm in their downtime to find events on campus to attend. Not only is it pretty exciting to see what is going on around Western, it’s a good way to meet new people and form relationships. Most of the time, there are a lot of signs or posters hanging around campus with information about an event. However, there is always the option to go to the website for the university and look at the WOU Calendar. Events of all sorts are visible on that page. There are also many clubs at Western that would love to have new members. For me personally, I found that most of the friends I made here at Western have been from classes. Speak to peers and connect with them, especially if they are in the same major.

No one should have to go through university alone. Make connections with those around and find a place here at Western.
Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

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Baby, that’s show biz

The cover for Taylor Swift’s newest studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” | Photo from @taylorswift on Instagram

Oct 8 2025 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

If there’s one thing singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is known for, it’s the Easter eggs surrounding her work. The lead-up to the release of her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” was no different.

On Aug. 11, 2025, the Instagram account @taylornation — run by Swift’s management team — posted a series of photos captioned “Thinking about when she said ‘see you next era….’” with the fire heart emoji. Each photo in the carousel featured an orange outfit Swift wore during the sets of her Eras Tour. That same day, a timer appeared on Swift’s official website, counting down to 12:12 a.m. Eastern time.

When the timer ended, a sneak peek of Swift on the Aug. 13 episode of the “New Heights” podcast — hosted by her partner, Travis Kelce, and his brother, Jason Kelce — announced that she would be releasing a new album titled “The Life of a Showgirl.” In this sneak peek, however, Swift had blurred the cover to keep suspense for the podcast’s release.

When the “New Heights” episode aired, it broke the record for most concurrent viewers on YouTube, with 1.3 million viewers tuning into the livestream. Swift’s Spotify also created a playlist titled “And, baby, that’s show business for you,” with songs from “reputation,” “Red” and “1989” highlighting the sound the album would take.

Alternate covers were posted to @taylornation the same day, and highlighted the showgirl aesthetic that the album was meant to take, complete with feathers, oversized jewels, fishnet stockings and kitten heels. The 12-song track list was announced the following day, Aug. 14.

When the album was released Oct. 3, it immediately broke records. In just the first 11 hours of its release, “The Life of a Showgirl” was streamed on Spotify by 1.2 million users, becoming the most-streamed album in a single day in 2025. Track one, “The Fate of Ophelia,” is the album’s single and currently sits as the most-streamed song.

Each song carries its own unique sound, which was created with the help of producers Max Martin and Shellback — who have previously collaborated with Swift on albums “Red,” “1989” and “reputation.” The songs that the duo produced from these albums were included on the “And, baby, that’s show business” playlist on Swift’s Spotify.

Now that the album has made its dazzling debut, it’s time to take a closer look at the songs that make “The Life of a Showgirl” one of Swift’s most ambitious eras yet.

“The Fate of Ophelia” — The album’s single is the first song that clearly alludes to her relationship with Travis Kelce. Using imagery relating to Ophelia from William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” the synth beat evokes a dreamlike feel while Swift sings of being saved from the fate of Ophelia. In Shakespeare’s play, Ophelia famously went mad after the death of her father, Polonius, and being rejected by Hamlet, whom she loved deeply. The imagery in the song suggests that Kelce saved Swift from meeting the same fate.

“Elizabeth Taylor” — This isn’t the first time Swift has referenced actress Elizabeth Taylor in her work. In the music video for her 2014 hit “Wildest Dreams,” Swift dresses as the Hollywood icon and falls in love with her co-star on set, just like Elizabeth Taylor and her ex-husband Richard Burton did on set for the 1963 film “Cleopatra.” The song talks about the downsides of fame, with lyrics that could apply to Swift or Elizabeth Taylor.

“Opalite” — Most Swifties know that Swift’s favorite gemstone is an opal, which means the fact that Kelce’s birthstone is an opal is even sweeter. “(An opalite) is a man-made opal and happiness can also be man-made,” Swift said during an interview with Capital FM Breakfast. “That’s what the song is about. The juxtaposition of those two.” Swift speaks of this “man-made happiness” in previous relationships for both her and Kelce, but suggests that now that they are together, “the sky is opalite.”

“Father Figure” — Fans are convinced that “Father Figure” is about Scooter Braun, Swift’s former manager. After Braun sold the rights to Swift’s masters without her permission, a years-long battle to reclaim them ensued. The song tells the story from the perspective of the father figure, and suggests betrayal and a lack of loyalty.

“Eldest Daughter” — Swift has referenced marriage multiple times in previous albums, with track five following the trend. The line “when I said I don’t believe in marriage, that was a lie,” seemingly alludes to Kelce and their recent engagement. She also criticizes the apathy of internet culture, and “Eldest Daughter” is the most vulnerable track on the album.

“Ruin the Friendship” — While most assumed that track six would address Swift’s apparent feud with actress Blake Lively, it actually speaks of a high school friend who passed. Her friend Abigail, who is referenced in “Fifteen” from Swift’s 2008 album “Fearless,” does receive a mention.

“Actually Romantic” — While the title suggests romance, the lyrics are actually far from romantic. Many interpret this track as a response to singer Charli XCX’s track “Sympathy is a Knife,” as well as addressing the brief and unconfirmed fling Swift had with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy. Charli XCX is married to George Daniel, who is currently the drummer for The 1975.

“Wi$h Li$t” — Track eight might have dollar signs in the name; however, the song rejects material culture and luxury goods. Instead, Swift speaks of what she really wants: Kelce, “a couple of kids” and to just settle down.

“Wood” — Another song about Kelce, this track is for sure the sexiest on “The Life of a Showgirl.” The steamy lyrics reference Swift’s intimate relationship with Kelce, going so far as to allude to his manhood.

“CANCELLED!” — While most thought “Ruin the Friendship” would be about Blake Lively, it is in fact track 10 that addresses their relationship. The track defends multiple members of Swift’s friend group who have been under fire at some point — without actually naming them. Some lyrics have allusions to Lively, while others seem to defend Brittany Mahomes, wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“Honey” — The fifth and final song on the album about Kelce, “Honey” talks about how pet names were always used passive-aggressively until their relationship began. The song is sugary and sweet, giving more bubblegum pop vibes.

“The Life of a Showgirl” — Featuring Sabrina Carpenter, the album’s titular song talks about the ups and downs of life as a celebrity. This is the first time Carpenter and Swift have collaborated on a song, even though Carpenter opened for the Eras Tour. “The Life of a Showgirl” focuses heavily on meeting one’s idols and being warned about following in their footsteps, but still doing it anyways.

“The Life of a Showgirl” is now streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

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Western 101

The wall of RWEC with a doodle of wolf and the caption “GO WOLVES.” | Photo by Hannah Field

Oct 8 2025 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

First-year students took to their dorm halls for the 2025-26 academic school year Sept. 22, with most students experiencing their first classes Sept. 29. Historically, PACK Welcome Week introduces new and returning students to campus and celebrates them with games, treats and events.

However, most students are still finding their footing well after their first class. Western has its secrets: vacant study spots, useful but secretive resources, need-to-take classes and more.

ASWOU president Morgan Pemberton is in her fourth and final year of classes, majoring in American Sign Language and psychology with a minor in social sciences. Her biggest tip for first-year students? “Don’t wait ‘til Sunday to do your homework.”

“I wish I knew about clubs my freshman year,” said junior Makayla Wright, and then for students living in dorms, “Take advantage of your meal card when you live on campus.”

Western offers a variety of organizations and clubs to join on campus, notably ASWOU, Multicultural Student Union, Abby’s House, the Tri-Alpha Honor Society, Black Student Union and many others. Western also offers activity-related clubs, such as a swim club, board game club and rock climbing club. Plenty of other opportunities are listed on Presence, otherwise known as Involve.

Beyond that, Western has an incredibly safe campus — Monmouth has previously made lists of the top ten safest cities in Oregon — and is very walkable. Only a few blocks from downtown Monmouth, students can safely walk and indulge in hotspot locations, such as Yeasty Beasty, one of Western’s most favored restaurants and pizzerias.

“My favorite place is to go to Yeasty Beasty for pizza,” said senior Faithe Howle. “And my favorite coffee place is Bugles.”

Pemberton recommended the Werner University Center’s own eatery, The Summit, and commended their burgers as an easy on-campus dining option.

Third-year student Lua Pierce mentioned La Uvita Feliz, Mexican food located downtown.

Favorite study spots vary from Hamersly Library to the WUC, with Howle adding, “I like the education center, the second floor with the swing chairs. I like it in (Abby’s House), people can study.”

Howle is the office manager at Abby’s House, majoring in criminal justice and minoring in forensic anthropology. “I’m really passionate about gender justice and working in a nonprofit field,” said Howle. “Especially when traditional criminal justice paths don’t really align with my goals and what I value with myself, so I find that (here is) a really good way to use my studies in criminal justice to actually impact direct communities, which is really fulfilling.”

Students have many opportunities to find work on campus with groups like Abby’s House. Other departments offering student employment include Facilities Services, Valsetz dining and Student Engagement.

“I would say my biggest tip is to reach out for help and support,” Howle said. “There’s resources everywhere and for every kind of issue you could possibly imagine. So if you’re struggling with something, just reach out (and) they can, at the very least, point you in the right direction.”

Howle also encouraged students to take classes from Taryn VanderPyl, her favorite professor, teaching as an associate professor of criminal justice studies.

“I have a lot of professors that I recommend people take classes with. First of all, linguistics with Rob Troyer, 110 percent,” said Pemberton. “He is my favorite. One thing I value about educators is (being) someone who has a passion for what they’re teaching you — Rob Troyer is super good about all that, he’s really involved in his classes … I would say CM Hall, she teaches a sociology class called LGBTQ Studies. She’s a great professor, very thoughtful.”

Pierce named David Szpakowski in the earth and environmental science department as their teacher of recommendation.

“I really like (Western). I think the campus is beautiful,” said first-year Lily Slish. “A lot of the people who go here are very nice, and the teachers and staff are really, really helpful and resourceful.”

Carley Vevers, friend of Slish and a first-year student, expressed similar notions: “I actually like it a lot. I chose it because the campus is so small and it’s so homey. It makes it a lot easier to bond with people … I mean, finding classes the first week was kind of iffy, but like I said, it’s a small campus, so it’s really easy to pick up on things.”

For first-year Silvia Honaker, the biggest roadblock was navigation. “My sense of direction is like the opposite of good. Google Maps has been my savior.”

Honaker picked Western for its affordability, community and location, being closer to Honaker’s home town. “And some people I knew from high school were coming here, which was a slight benefit.”

Honaker has singled out pre-physical therapy as her area of study, picking Western as her stepping stool into the field and graduate school.

Information worth noting about Western would be its most popular programs: ASL, education and criminal justice. After all, Western is the only place on the West Coast where an ASL major is offered, on top of formerly being named the College of Education.

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

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This week in entirely made up horoscopes….

Oct 8 2025 | The Signs as roommates

Aries: swears they don’t hate you but won’t follow you on insta

Taurus: NEVER wears their own clothes. Watch your closets, people.

Gemini: Do they even exist..? Never been seen.

Cancer: Constantly arguing on the phone with their significant other

Leo: Their 27 alarms will wake you up before it wakes them up

Virgo: Says you look great in a bad outfit

Libra: Never home and always going out

Scorpio: Eats all your snacks and refuses to Venmo you

Sagittarius: Has a new guy over every week

Capricorn: hotboxes the room 24/7 so you get contact high

Aquarius: 7+ bottles of wine in the recycling every week

Pisces: Super performative, room is decorated with vinyls they’ve never listened to and books they’ve never read and while they’ll never say it they think you’re inferior to them in every way.

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LeBron retirement rumors

LeBron poses for NBA Media Day. | From @kingjames on Instagram

Oct 8 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

Much has been said over the years about LeBron James and his historic longevity. Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, there is a significant portion of NBA fans who either cannot recall a time he was not in the NBA or weren’t even born when he was drafted. However, he obviously cannot play forever, and every year the questions and speculation have continued to grow.

On Sept. 29, the Los Angeles Lakers held their session for NBA Media Day, a chance for players and coaches to come together in front of the media and field questions about the upcoming season.

Of course, the question on many media members’ minds was whether LeBron James made any decisions over the summer about when he plans to retire. “I don’t know when the end is, but I know it’s a lot sooner than later,” he said. This aligns with recent statements he’s made on his future. Last summer, when asked about the possibility of him joining Team USA for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, like he did in Paris 2024, LeBron said, “No, I cannot see myself playing in Los Angeles,” but he continued, “I didn’t see myself playing in Paris 2024 either.”

In June, LeBron exercised his player option, keeping him under contract for the upcoming season. It is worth noting that after this season, he will become a free agent, and as of Oct. 8, 2025, it is anyone’s guess if he will sign another contract or choose to retire.

LeBron was also asked if he would wait to retire in order to play with his son, Bryce James, who is an incoming first-year guard for the University of Arizona and will be eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft. Fans may remember that LeBron had been quite vocal about wanting to play with his oldest son, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., and was able to achieve that historic goal last season, becoming the first active father-son duo in NBA history. If he did stick around to play with Bryce James, it would be a testament to his already otherworldly longevity.

But when it comes to delaying his retirement in order to make it happen, LeBron James said, “No, I’m not, I don’t know what his timeline is. He’s his own young man now. He’s down in Tucson. We’ll see what happens this year, next year, but he has his own timeline. I got my timeline, and I don’t know if they quite match. But we’ll see.” Despite being well past the age of what’s considered the “prime” of an NBA career, LeBron James has maintained a high quality of play. Last season, he finished sixth in MVP voting, made the All-NBA second team and averaged 24.4 points per game.

Regardless of what LeBron James decides in the future, the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans will have an exciting season ahead of them. It will be their first full season with Luka Dončić as a member of the team after a shocking deadline trade with the Dallas Mavericks brought the superstar to the franchise, creating arguably the most talented duo in the league between Dončić and James. The Lakers will start their season against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors Oct. 21 in Los Angeles.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

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The road home

Damian Lillard holds Trail Blazers jersey in a hallway. | From @damianlillard on Instagram

Oct 8 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

On Sept. 27, 2023, Portland Trail Blazers point guard and franchise legend Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal that broke the hearts of Blazers fans who had embraced Lillard since he arrived in 2012. Earlier that offseason, Lillard had requested a trade with hopes of having a better opportunity to compete for an NBA championship. The Bucks, who were two years removed from winning a title with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the team, seemed to give Lillard the best chance he’d ever had to do it.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite as planned. In the first season, internal struggles between Bucks players and the coaching staff kept the team from reaching its high expectations. In his second season with Milwaukee, Lillard was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and had to miss the final month of the regular season before returning just in time for the playoffs.

Unfortunately, in the fourth game of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Lillard fell to the ground and immediately reached for his leg. Further examinations would reveal that Lillard had torn his Achilles tendon, a notoriously hard injury to recover from, especially for a player who would soon be 35. The Bucks would go on to lose the series, falling short of expectations again. With pressure mounting to keep the team’s championship window open just a crack, the Bucks decided to waive Damian Lillard and free up cap space in order to add Pacers center Myles Turner.

From the outside looking in, it seemed as though Lillard’s career had hit rock bottom. He left Portland, the city that his family still called home and where he himself had spent most of his adult life, in search of the championship that had eluded him his entire career, only to come up short and be off the team two years later. Not to mention the long road he now had ahead of him to recover from his injury and begin playing again.

However, in what might’ve been his career’s darkest moment, something familiar found him again. The Portland Trail Blazers, who had spent the past two seasons trying to rebuild the roster after trading Lillard, offered him a three-year $42 million deal that would allow him to spend his rehab in Portland, alongside his children and an organization that he knew so well. Upon the news that Lillard was returning to Portland, Blazers fans who were heartbroken to see him leave just two years earlier and had watched the Blazers go through the growing pains of the post-Lillard era, were completely re-energized. During his introductory press conference, Lillard said, “It never felt right, not being home.” Last month, the organization held a rally in Pioneer Courthouse Square celebrating Lillard’s return, and it was obvious how much happier both Lillard and Blazers fans have been with him back in Portland. “Just being back in this city, you know, has brought a different type of joy back to my life,” Lillard said while addressing the crowd of thousands at Pioneer Square. While he won’t play until next season, Lillard’s return has injected excitement into a fanbase that surely cannot wait to welcome him back to the Moda Center as a member of the home team.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

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Trota, no camines

28 de Mayo del 2025 | Sadie Latimer | Editora de Noticias

En el 2024, sólo dos universidades de Oregón contaban con equipos ecuestres — la Universidad de Oregón y la Universidad Oregón State. Sin embargo, a partir del semestre de otoño del 2025, Western se unirá a la organización.

El nuevo equipo ecuestre de Western formará parte de la Asociación Intercolegial de Exposiciones Hípicas y competirá junto a OSU y UO. Los estudiantes pueden ser miembros de exhibición o miembros sociales. Los miembros de exhibición competirán contra otras universidades de la IHSA mientras que los miembros sociales pueden ser voluntarios en las exhibiciones y ayudar durante los entrenamientos, aunque no están obligados a hacerlo. Durante las competencias de la IHSA, los estudiantes demuestran sus habilidades con caballos, a menudo proporcionados por la universidad anfitriona o donantes.

Sara Glascock, coordinadora del Título IX de Western y entrenadora del equipo ecuestre, declaró, “(La competencia) es un poco más desafiante que si simplemente presentaras a tu propio caballo porque no sabes cómo será el caballo. Pero es un esfuerzo para nivelar el terreno de juego para que la gente no tenga que pagar un dineral para conseguir un caballo de lujo.” Ya hay 13 estudiantes que han declarado su intención de participar, y otros nueve que han expresado su interés. Estas cifras corresponden únicamente a los estudiantes actuales de Western, no a los nuevos alumnos de primer año ni a los estudiantes de colegios comunitarios cercanos. “Esperamos atraer a estudiantes que de otro modo habrían ido a una de esas escuelas sólo por un equipo ecuestre. Podemos atraerlos aquí porque les gustaría ir a una escuela más pequeña,” dijo Glascock.

Aunque el equipo no comienza oficialmente hasta el trimestre de otoño, Glascock y la capitana del equipo, Naomi Gomall, quieren empezar con ventaja.

“Estaremos en el desfile del 4 de Julio y en el desfile de Woodburn. Y luego, si tenemos suficiente gente disponible, esperamos hacer actividades de formación de equipo,” dijo Glascock.

No se requiere que los estudiantes tengan experiencia con caballos para unirse al equipo. “Si han visto un caballo antes, pueden subirse y hacer la clase de paso a trote,” dijo Glascock. Gomoll, estudiante de segundo año de educación primaria, comentó, “Pueden divertirse, formar un equipo, conocer gente nueva, y aprender un montón de cosas nuevas.” Los equipos ecuestres no solo permiten que los estudiantes se diviertan, sino que también los preparan para la vida fuera de la universidad. “Como padre y administrador universitario, creo que es fantástico porque los caballos y los deportes en general son una excelente manera de aprender responsabilidad y compromiso, y de aprender a trabajar en equipo,” dijo Glascock. Aprender a competir en concursos ecuestres también enseña a los estudiantes a ser pacientes y trabajar duro. “Si no tienes paciencia, tu caballo te lo hará saber enseguida,” dijo Glascock, “y te ayudará a aprender que es necesaria.” Los jinetes aprenderán a superar cualquier problema y a perseverar.

“Hay un chiste recurrente en la industria, ‘todo lo que realmente necesitas en tu caja de herramientas es cinta adhesiva y cordel para enfardar,’” dijo Glascock. Esas herramientas serán suficientes para que los jinetes encuentren la solución a cualquier problema que se les presente.

Contacta al autor en howlnews@mail.wou.edu

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Molly y los Swingset

21 de Mayo del 2025 | Sadie Latimer | Editora de Noticias

Molly and the Swingset es una banda de jazz local de la zona de Monmouth. A sus cuatro integrantes — Molly Hare, Lionel Brown, Diego Díaz y Adriel García — les encanta compartir su pasión por el jazz con su público.

Cada integrante aporta su propio talento único a la banda, con García al bajo, Díaz a la batería, Brown al teclado y Hare a las vocales.

“Siempre quise estar en una banda, pero no aprendí a tocar ningún instrumento de pequeña, y las bandas casi nunca buscan vocalistas,” dijo Hare. “Mi propósito de Año Nuevo este año fue crear mis propias oportunidades. Estaba cansada de sentirme estancada como música y decidí que era hora de un gran cambio de mentalidad.”

Este cambio de mentalidad incluyó aceptar nuevas oportunidades cuando se le presentaban, presentarse a nuevas personas y conectar con otros artistas.

El concepto de la banda surgió cuando Hare tuvo varias oportunidades de ser vocalista para un grupo de jazz de estudiantes de Western llamado Big Guy.

“Lionel y yo hablamos de las ventajas de un combo más pequeño y de formar un grupo vocal de jazz. Adriel y Diego se sumaron enseguida y desde entonces hemos estado tocando jazz con alegría,” dijo Hare.

El nombre de la banda es un ingenioso juego de palabras y un guiño a su estilo favorito de jazz. “Nos encanta especialmente tocar swing — de ahí el nombre,” dijo Hare. “También me encanta la imagen lúdica que asocio con un conjunto de swing. Diversión sencilla, infantil, con un rango que puede ser agudo o grave, súper rápido o lento, pero todo con la fantasía de hacerlo porque es nuestra pasión. Lo tocamos porque nos encanta.” Aunque la banda suele interpretar música swing, no les gustaba estar atados a un solo género. El nombre “Molly and the Swingset” puede cambiarse temporalmente si interpretan algo que no sea swing, como “Molly and the Soft Rock Set” o “Molly and the Bluegrass Set.” Hare siente una gran pasión por la música que ella y sus compañeros de banda crean, lo que a menudo se refleja en las personas para las que tocan.

“Lo que más me gusta de tocar es la conexión que se crea con los oyentes, aunque sea solo por un segundo. Podemos compartir arte, lo cual es un gran honor, y para mí no hay nada más hermoso que mi arte impacte a otra persona,” dijo Hare.

Crear una banda o cualquier otro grupo musical puede ser una tarea abrumadora, sin embargo, Hare sabe por experiencia propia que solo hay que cambiar la mentalidad. “Mi consejo sería que salgan y lo intenten. No hay una ‘forma correcta’ de empezar una carrera musical, empieza simplemente haciendo la música que te encanta y luego empieza a hacer contactos. Lo peor que puede pasar es que te digan que no,” dijo Hare.

Hasta ahora, la banda ha tocado en un centro de retiro de Salem y ha tocado varias veces en el Mercado de los Sábados Riverview de Independence.

“Esperamos más presentaciones en el Mercado de los Sábados, incluyendo el Mercado de los Sábados de Salem a finales de Mayo,” dijo Hare. “Siempre buscamos lugares locales con los que colaborar. Nos encanta la comunidad que se crea al actuar localmente.”

También planean lanzar música con muchos estándares de jazz. Para actualizaciones o anuncios, visita @molly_and_the_swingset en Instagram. Para más música de jazz interpretada por un grupo de estudiantes de Western, visita @bigguyjazband en Instagram.

“Melodías, ritmos, letras y armonías se combinan para contar una historia, para compartir una experiencia,” dijo Hare. “Para mí, el arte es arte cuando refleja cualquier emoción humana. Los sentimientos en sí mismos son arte. Si influimos en tus sentimientos, aunque sea por un segundo, transmitimos la belleza de la música, la narración y las experiencias únicas y a la vez conectadas de estar vivo.”

Contacta al autor en howlnews@mail.wou.edu

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21 de Mayo del 2025 | Kiera Roedel | Editora de Textos

El 15 de Mayo del 2025, más de 75 estudiantes, profesores y personal de Western viajaron al Capitolio estatal de Oregón para presionar a los legisladores, con la esperanza de incentivarlos a asignar más fondos a la universidad.

Alrededor de las 9 a.m., los asistentes comenzaron a llegar al Centro de Estudios de Posgrado de Western en Salem, Oregón. Inicialmente, los participantes se reunieron para escuchar discursos y un panel de exalumnos de Western.

Entre los oradores se encontraban Evan Sorce, expresidente de la Asociación de Estudiantes Asociados de la Universidad Western Oregon y actual miembro de la oficina del presidente de Western; y el presidente de Western, Jesse Peters. Sorce describió los objetivos del evento: minimizar los aumentos de matrícula y evitar recortes a empleados o programas como resultado de déficits presupuestarios. La meta de financiación era de 1.275 billones de dólares. Peters ofreció unas palabras de aliento antes de tomarse su característica selfie.

La presidenta de ASWOU, Brenda Rocío Martínez, presentó a tres destacados exalumnos de Western — Teresa Alonso Leon, Gustavo Guerrero y Travis Meuwissen. Respondieron varias preguntas de Martínez.

Cuando le preguntaron qué le diría a su yo más joven, Guerrero respondió, “Siempre que tengas dudas, di lo que piensas. Y cuando tengas algo que decir, dilo más alto — y el mundo cambiará.” Luego se indicó a la multitud que caminara hacia el Capitolio de Oregón, a pocas cuadras de distancia.

Tras pasar por el control de seguridad, los asistentes se reunieron en el vestíbulo del Capitolio. La mascota de Western, Wolfie, saludó a los participantes, saludando con un gesto de puño y haciendo flexiones para la cámara.

Un coro de estudiantes de Western dio inicio a la sesión legislativa. Los asistentes pasaron alrededor de media hora observando los procedimientos de la Cámara de Representantes y el Senado de Oregón antes de regresar al Centro de Estudios de Posgrado de Western para el almuerzo, que se ofreció. Después del almuerzo, comenzaría el verdadero trabajo.

Se asignaron grupos, cada uno compuesto por dos o tres profesores y dos o tres estudiantes. Cada grupo debía reunirse con diferentes legisladores para hablar sobre la financiación estatal para Western y sus programas. Las reuniones, con una duración de unos 15 minutos, incluían a representantes y senadores de ambos partidos políticos. Cuando el legislador no estaba presente, un miembro de su personal hablaba en su nombre.

Se indicó a los estudiantes que compartieran historias sobre lo que la educación superior había hecho por ellos, sus familias y sus comunidades, mientras que el personal y el profesorado aportaban estadísticas e información adicional. En total se celebraron más de 50 reuniones. En general, los legisladores se mostraron receptivos a las solicitudes de Western, pero dudaban de que se pudiera encontrar espacio en el presupuesto estatal, que ya está al límite. Oregón tiene un impuesto predial limitado como resultado de iniciativas electorales de la década de los 90, y no tiene impuesto sobre las ventas, lo que significa que a menudo es difícil para la legislatura encontrar fondos suficientes para todos los sectores.

Después de que un grupo se reuniera con tres legisladores, sus miembros pudieron regresar a casa.

“Creo que nuestros estudiantes hicieron un excelente trabajo al explicar por qué asistieron a Western, y nuestro personal y profesorado compartieron historias maravillosas sobre cómo dedican cada día a apoyar a nuestros estudiantes y a asegurarse de que hagamos todo lo posible para ayudarlos a llegar a la meta, y no solo a terminar, sino a prosperar,” dijo Sorce. “Creo que ha sido fantástico.”

Contacta al autor en howlcopyeditor@wou.edu

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14 de Mayo del 2025 | Hannah Field | Jefa de Editacion

Los Premios Wolf están a la vuelta de la esquina, y se llevarán a cabo el Martes 20 de Mayo del 2025 a las 5 p.m. Este evento anual destaca las contribuciones destacadas de los líderes estudiantiles de Western, nominados por el personal y el profesorado de diversos departamentos y áreas de Western, como la División de Asuntos Estudiantiles, Deportes, la Facultad de Educación y la Facultad de Artes Liberales y Ciencias. Los estudiantes fueron nominados por el personal y el profesorado en Enero, y posteriormente se les envió un correo electrónico con la invitación a postularse, incluyendo la evaluación de su promedio general, la identificación de premios, proyectos, presentaciones, publicaciones, empleo, participación en el campus, actividades extracurriculares, voluntariado y más.

Los Premios Wolf, que se celebran cada año en Mayo, ofrecen un espacio de celebración para que los estudiantes sean reconocidos por sus logros e impacto en Western. En el 2024, se otorgaron 45 premios a diversos miembros de la comunidad de Western, como el Premio al Liderazgo Multicultural, el Premio a los Líderes Estudiantiles Distinguidos, la Organización Estudiantil del Año, el Asistente Residente del Año, el Premio al Espíritu Estudiantil en los Medios, etc. La lista completa de los galardonados del año pasado se puede consultar en el sitio web de Western Student Engagement, en la sección de Liderazgo. Se espera que la lista de galardonados del 2025 se presente de forma similar.

En el evento, se sirve comida y se presenta una presentación de diapositivas para conmemorar a los ganadores.

Si bien el público desconoce la identidad de la mayoría de los ganadores, dos personas influyentes han sido reconocidas por sus logros y su insuperable impacto positivo con el Premio al Estudiante de Último Año Destacado.

Según la página de los Premios Wolf en el sitio web de Participación Estudiantil de Western, “(Se) otorgan importantes premios a los estudiantes de último año que se han esforzado al

máximo para demostrar su capacidad de liderazgo, su carácter impecable, y su dedicación al servicio de la comunidad de Western de Oregón.”

Además, Western declaró, “El Premio al Estudiante de Último Año Destacado es el máximo (honor) que Western otorga a sus estudiantes de pregrado. El (premio) se otorga a estudiantes que han tenido un impacto positivo en Western, son modelos a seguir positivos para sus compañeros, y cuentan con diversas experiencias de liderazgo en el campus, actividades cocurriculares, logros académicos, servicio comunitario y voluntariado.”

El premio ha cambiado de nombre varias veces y se ha adaptado para incorporar candidatos de cualquier género, pero comenzó en 1931 con el Premio Edna Starret como el Premio Julia McCulloch Smith. Solo mujeres recibieron el premio hasta 1954, cuando se empezó a nombrar a hombres para el Premio Delmer Dewey, hasta que ambos títulos se fusionaron en uno solo en el 2019.

Julia McCulloch Smith falleció el 6 de Mayo de 1930, junto con su esposo, John F. Smith, quien donó $500 a la Escuela Normal de Oregón para honrar a las mujeres destacadas de último año de la universidad y en apoyo a las estudiantes. En aquel entonces, las mujeres que recibían el premio debían poseer “gran competencia académica;” “gran éxito en las actividades estudiantiles;” “alto desarrollo del carácter y logros intelectuales;” “fuertes poderes de inspiración y liderazgo” y “nobles cualidades de feminidad.”

El Premio Delmer Dewey se entregó por primera vez en 1954, anunciado por “The Lamron” — ahora conocido como “The Western Howl” — para honrar y recordar al Decano de Hombres, Sr. Delmer Dewey, a raíz de una iniciativa del Club de Padres.

Esta tradición se ha mantenido vigente desde sus inicios hace más de 90 años. Las co-ganadoras del Premio al Graduado Destacado de este año son Jaidah García y Alexis Pachecho.

Ambas son nombradas “candidatas ejemplares” por el Comité de Selección del Premio a los Estudiantes Graduados Sobresalientes.

García es estudiante de primera generación, y también es la primera en obtener un diploma de bachillerato en su familia. En Western, García obtuvo una doble especialización en sociología y psicología, se unió a la Sociedad de Honor Tri-Alpha y ha desempeñado diversos cargos en el campus. En el 2024, García ganó la Iniciativa Maurice junto con Ángeles Reyes Mondragón, un premio de incentivo otorgado por Alfred Maurice con un premio en efectivo de $5,000. García y Mondragón “investigaron las posibilidades de establecer un Centro de Sueños en WOU para ayudar a estudiantes indocumentados, también conocidos como ‘Dreamers’ y/o beneficiarios de ‘DACA’” y presentaron su proyecto en la Exhibición Anual de Excelencia Académica de Western.

Uno de los logros de García incluye un proyecto de tesis de último año, centrado en personas latinoamericanas con discapacidades de aprendizaje. “Su tesis de honor se centra en proponer políticas legislativas dirigidas a abordar las discapacidades de aprendizaje entre los estudiantes latinos,” indica la descripción del premio de García.

“Vengo de un hogar de primera generación, con personas negras y latinas, donde la educación siempre se consideró un privilegio y una responsabilidad. Vi de primera mano lo difícil que puede ser acceder a oportunidades. Por eso me apasionan tanto la equidad, la educación y la defensa de los derechos,” dijo García. “Estoy sumamente agradecida de haber sido elegida como una de las ganadoras de este premio. Fue una validación no solo de mis propios esfuerzos, sino también de cada mentor, amigo, y familiar que me apoyó en el camino. Recibir este premio me recordó que los días difíciles valieron la pena. Me siento agradecida, orgullosa, y motivada para seguir adelante.”

Alexis Pachecho se graduará con una Licenciatura en Ciencias en Psicología y una especialización en Comunicaciones al final del semestre de otoño. Según Pachecho, se enamoró de Western inmediatamente. “Soy de primera generación, soy una estudiante de bajos recursos. Así que me costó mucho encontrar un lugar que realmente disfrutara y (en el que) me sintiera realmente valorada, y definitivamente encontré mi lugar aquí en Western.” A pesar de viajar desde McMinnville — a cuarenta minutos — Pachecho ha seguido participando en la comunidad y realizando una labor admirable. Cabe destacar que colaboró estrechamente con el Dr. Rob Winningham en un artículo para Topics of Geriatric Rehabilitations, lo que llevó a que “el editor (se diera) cuenta de que Alexis era solo una estudiante de pregrado y la elogiaba increíblemente por su trabajo,” según la descripción de Pachecho al anunciarla como ganadora del premio. “No me arrepiento en absoluto,” dijo Pachecho. “Fue una de mis experiencias favoritas.”

Además, Pachecho es la latina más joven de la Junta Directiva de la ISD en español de McMinnville y planea completar el programa de Doctorado en Terapia Ocupacional de Western como parte de la nueva Iniciativa de Salud Conductual.

“Trabajé como maestra sustituta, luego como maestra extraescolar, maestra de preescolar, y, bueno, no pensé que iba a volver a estudiar. Me tomé (uno o dos años sabáticos), pero, luego me sentí muy inspirada porque sentía que me faltaban los conocimientos para apoyar plenamente a los estudiantes que veía a diario con respecto a su salud mental o discapacidades de aprendizaje,” dijo Pachecho. “Al final, creo que el conocimiento, mi curiosidad y mis ganas de aprender más (pesaron más que ese puesto, y) descubrí el programa de terapia ocupacional que acababa de empezar en Western. Así que pensé, ‘sí, es perfecto para mí porque me permitirá trabajar en pediatría, y en rehabilitación individual con niños … Pensé, ‘sí, no puedo perder esta oportunidad. Es algo que tengo que hacer.’”

“Soy la mayor de cinco hermanos,” dijo Pachecho. “Así que quiero dar un buen ejemplo e inspirarlos, demostrarles que pueden — que siempre pueden superar sus expectativas y alcanzar sus sueños. Ha sido un honor para mí recibir este premio.”

“¿Mi consejo? No tengan miedo de ocupar espacio,” dijo García. “Hagan preguntas, formen su red de apoyo, recuerden de dónde vienen, y nunca subestimen el poder de su presencia en un espacio que no fue diseñado pensando en ustedes.”

García y Pachecho serán reconocidas en los Premios Wolf 2025, el 20 de Mayo del 2025, así como durante la ceremonia de graduación de Western, el 14 de Junio, por su honorable investigación y trabajo.

Contacta al autor en howleditorinchief@wou.edu

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