Mount Hood

Homecoming schedule and events

Written by: Gretchen Sims | Editor in Chief

Homecoming. While some view this as a chance to revel, others roll their eyes at this throwback to high school. However, campus-wide events like homecoming can be an excellent way to bring Western students together and get them acclimated to campus life. 

Western’s 2023 Homecoming kicked off on Oct. 16 and will conclude this Saturday, Oct. 21, with the Homecoming Game against Midwestern State University Texas. 

Although it seems routine, Homecoming marks the first campus-wide event of the academic year — making it the first opportunity for students to bridge the gap between coming to campus exclusively for classes and getting involved with campus life. 

Besides, Homecoming is nostalgic. It gives first-year students comforting high school flashbacks and helps make college seem less intimidating. 

As college students begin to feel comfortable with their new lives, they adopt an identity through the school — accumulating school spirit and pride in their university and peers. 

One of the best ways to outsource that pride is through school-affiliated sports. Homecoming gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in spirit alongside their peers and fosters a sense of community and belonging.

Within this sense of belonging lies the true roots of community that Western supports in its students. 

Katelin Granger, the coordinator of Student Activities and Inclusion, said that the connection between Western students makes Homecoming, Homecoming. 

“Western draws such unique students that have such diverse qualities and interests that it’s a unique place where you can find a home for you and I think that is where it becomes important that you feel connected to our campus, and you feel like you embody what it is to be a Western Wolf,” Granger said. 

Encouraging such diversity allows for students to find a place where they can call home — despite the constant turmoil that frequents daily life for college students. 

A recent alteration to the Homecoming tradition of Homecoming King and Queen accentuates Western’s devotion to diversity. Western now chooses two graduating seniors, regardless of gender identity, and crowns them Wolf Royalty. 

Voting for Wolf Royalty will be open until Friday, Oct. 20. 

Diversity has always been a staple in Western’s core beliefs, so much so that remnants of it can be seen even in something as trivial-seeming as Homecoming.

Western’s Homecoming offers a variety of activities for everyone — to help foster that relationship of students connecting with other students. 

Though this year’s Homecoming is already underway, there is still time to join in on the festivities and add your unique voice to Western’s diverse community. 

Thursday 

7–8:30 p.m. — I Love Female Orgasms, hosted by Abby’s House, “Join us to learn and laugh about the ‘Big O.’”

Friday 

6 p.m. — Wolf Wars: Class vs Class Dodgeball Tournament, in Old PE

8:30 p.m. — Bonfire Pep Rally, on the Field by the Public Safety Building 

VOTE FOR WOLF ROYALTY

Saturday 

12 p.m. — Homecoming Football Game

                  Tailgate and Spirit Table

                  Wolf Royalty Announcement, during Halftime

Be sure to vote for the Wolf Royalty Court. Use this link until Oct. 20 https://wou.presence.io/form/wolf-royalty-voting-2023.

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu 

Cross country on a steady pace for the season

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

Western’s cross country team is holding steady on course for this season. The team secured a pair of sixth-place finishes in San Francisco on Oct. 6 — following a pair of first-place wins at their home meet on Sept. 22.

Senior, Caitlin Heldt, came in seventh place to bring the women’s team to 144 points and secure the sixth-place win — Heldt completed the 6k race in 22 minutes, 0.4 seconds. For the men’s team, Freshman, Konoa Blake, finished 28, completing the 8k race in 26 minutes, 3 seconds and bringing the team to 167 points. 

Heldt and Junior, Olivia Flack, had positive attitudes about their team’s success and training environment.“Our team is very competitive and I think we work very well together in practices,” Flack said. This is Flack’s second year at Western. “This is the first year overall that we actually have been able to have a big group during workouts,” she also said. She feels it helps the team environment and fuels competitiveness.

“This year we’re a lot more positive in what we say to each other and ourselves,” Heldt added. She talked about how the team uses mantras and affirmations to remain positive. “We’re more competitive this year, so we’re always in packs and competing better than last year.” 

Both Heldt and Flack have goals to race in Nationals and to place high in the GNAC championship race in Anchorage, Alaska and the NCAA West Regionals, hosted at home at Western. 

“Zach is a great coach, he’s really good at knowing where we’re at and communicating with us,” Flack said about their head coach Zach Holloway — this is his first year as head coach, after four seasons as Western’s assistant coach.

“He’s very young, so I feel like it’s very easy to talk to him and I feel like he understands us,” Heldt said.

Flack was also among the 21 cross country runners named for the GNAC All-Academic Honors. To receive this honor, athletes must have a grade point average of at least 3.2 and have competed on an official course during the 2023 season. Three students on the list had a 4.0 GPA: Juniors Josie Ackerman, Kaitlyn Kruse and Rami Dear — Ackerman and Kruse had both been on the honoree list the previous year. 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

What’s up next for athletics?

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

Thursday, Oct. 19

12 p.m. — Men’s Soccer, HOME v. Northwest Nazarene University

3 p.m. — Women’s Soccer, HOME v. Seattle Pacific University

Saturday, Oct. 21

All Day — Cross Country @ GNAC Championships,Anchorage, Alaska

All Day — Women’s+ Rugby, HOME JAMBOREE

11 a.m. — Women’s Soccer, HOME v. Montana State University Billings

1 p.m. — Men’s Rugby, HOME v. Oregon Institution of Technology

1:05 p.m. — Football, HOME v. Midwestern State University Texas, HOMECOMING

Halftime — Western Oregon Dance Team Performance

4 p.m. — Men’s Club Soccer @ Willamette University

5 p.m. — Volleyball @ State Martin’s University

Thursday, Oct. 26

4 p.m. — Men’s Soccer @ Western Washington University

7 p.m. — Volleyball, HOME v. Northwest Nazarene University

7 p.m. — Women’s Soccer @ Western Washington University

Saturday, Oct. 28

All Day — Women’s+ Rugby @ Oregon State University

1 p.m. — Women’s Soccer @ Simon Fraser University, British Columbia

1 p.m. — Volleyball, HOME v. Central Washington University

1 p.m. — Men’s Soccer @ Saint Martin’s University

1 p.m. — Men’s Rugby @ University of Oregon

4 p.m. — Football @ The University of Texas Permian Basin

Sunday, Oct. 29

All Day — Cross Country v. Stumptown Youth Cross Country Championships

2 p.m. — Men’s Club Soccer, HOME v. University of Portland

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Men’s soccer on winning streak

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

Men’s soccer is having a smashing start to their season. After going three and two in the preseason, the team did not let this stop them. Starting conference play with a 1-1 tie against the University of Simon Fraser, British Coloumbia, men’s soccer quickly bounced back and are now on a win streak of six — three of these six games were shutouts. 

These wins come as a massive improvement from the 2022 season, where the team had only two wins compared to 13 losses and two ties. This improved record means higher points on season; giving the team 21 points on the season thus far. This is 11 points higher than their total of eight points from last season. 

Freshman Center Back, Olaolowua Balogun, attributed the team’s success to the tight-knit environment the team has.

“We’re like a family and do everything together and no one’s left out,” he said. “Our coach treats us like family, like he’s our dad.” 

Head Coach Michael Behonick started his first year of coaching for Western this season. Previously, Belhonick spent seven seasons as the assistant coach for the University of Pittsburgh men’s soccer team.

Balogun has high hopes for the team this season. “I see us winning GNAC and going to playoffs and going far and better things to come,” he said. Western’s men’s soccer has recently had a limited history in terms of GNAC competition — only officially becoming an intercollegiate team in the 2022 fall season.

“We had recruits come over and we treated everyone as family, even if we didn’t know who the person was, it’s a good environment to be in and everyone’s welcome,” Balogun said.

Against Western Washington University this last Thursday, men’s soccer won 2-1, officially bringing their win streak up to six. Both of Western’s goals were scored in the first 20 minutes of play and within five minutes of each other.

Junior transfer, Gabriel Silva, scored off an assist from Sophomore, Alex Gringon, and Junior, Andres Labate. Five minutes later, it was Gringon who scored the final goal for the team, assisted by Junior, Moises Cisneros, and Freshman, Yahir Ocampo.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Basic needs and fun games — what more could you need?

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Abby’s House, the gender equity center located in the Werner University Center, provides students with resources for basic needs and other sorts of support — such as food and transportation. At Western’s Pack Welcome Week Game Night on Sept. 25 Abby’s House introduced students to a quirky card game called “Radical Queer Witches.”

The game is played almost exactly like “Cards Against Humanity,” but appeals to a more female, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ audience. The goal of the game’s creator was to address issues of oppression in a humorous fashion and avoid the offensive aspects of Cards Against Humanity. Examples of response cards include “gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing” and “dissociating in the grocery store.” 

Hailee Carmody, the Basic Needs Peer Educator of Abby’s House, commented on the importance of the game: “It takes out a lot of insensitive answers and puts in some modern and way more fun ones,” Carmody said. 

Carmody and other Abby’s House employees are fervently trying to increase student involvement. “If you like Taylor Swift and games, please come to Abby’s House.”

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Back to school tunes

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

“There She Goes” — The La’s

“Bus Stop” — The Hollies

“You’re On Your Own, Kid” — Taylor Swift

“we fell in love in october” — girl in red

“mona lisa” — mxmtoon

“Call Your Mom” — Noah Kahan, Lizzy McAlpine

“Campus” — Vampire Weekend

“ballad of a homeschooled girl” — Olivia Rodrigo 

“4runner” — Brenn!

“Anything But” — Hozier

“Everyday” — Buddy Holly

“Acai Bowl” — Dominic Fike

“Come On Eileen” — Dexys Midnight Runners

“Long Way From Home” — The Lumineers

“Ghost in the Machine” — SZA, Phoebe Bridgers

“Not Strong Enough” — boygenius

“Textbook Love” — Fleet Foxes

“Sugar” — Remi Wolf

“Zombie” — The Cranberries

“Life in a Northern Town” — The Dream Academy

“Send Me on My Way” — Rusted Root

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Netflix’s interactive rom-com changes the rom-com game

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Content warning: this article contains spoilers

Three handsome, single men are fighting for a young woman’s affection… Now, the woman’s dilemma has become choosing just one — the current lawyer boyfriend who just proposed, the famous rockstar or the schoolteacher with a history? Such is the predicament of Cami Conway, the protagonist of the Netflix hit, “Choose Love.”

What separates “Choose Love” from other modern romantic comedies is that the viewers have a say in choosing the perfect man for Cami. Watch with friends and they will be fighting over the remote to pick either Paul, Rex or Jack. 

Karis D’Orazio, a sophomore at Western and a rom-com fan, said she appreciated this aspect. “You got to pick the guy you liked, instead of watching the whole movie with a guy you didn’t like,” D’Orazio said.

A fun aspect of the movie is that the viewers may go back and undo their choices to receive different endings. The movie has six different endings depending on the decisions the viewer makes on behalf of Cami, however, the many options “took away from the story a little,” said D’Orazio. “You didn’t feel that fulfillment that you feel when you usually watch a rom-com.”

Fans of “Choose Love” have utilized popular social media apps, such as TikTok, to recommend it to others. “It popped up on my For You Page enough for me to be like, okay, I’m going to go look at this movie,” D’Orazio said. Watchers have shared what they would have changed about the movie to make it more enjoyable: “I feel like it could have been a series instead of a movie. You didn’t get to know the characters very well,” said D’Orazio.

This movie is just a gateway for the other interactive content Netflix has to offer. If a rom-com doesn’t resonate, there are interactive adventure, horror and animated shows. These shows and movies can generate feelings of authority in times when everything seems out of control. 


Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

The signs are ready for the school year to be over

Aries: Screaming into the crusty dorm carpet during their “floor time”

Taurus: Hating group projects, talking to people, listening to people, interacting with people… people.

Gemini: Being asked to put your phone away in class won’t stop your eight hours of daily screen time, but at least they tried.

Cancer: Wanting to go home and cry in the bathtub with a glass of red wine after every school day does not make me an alcoholic

Leo: I’m tired of being the bigger person — time to ghost my group members the way they ghosted me.

Virgo: You should totally go get a little sweet treat. 

Libra: Please DO NOT go to Claire’s to get an impulsive piercing. Please. 

Scorpio: Staying in bed all of  2024… Starting now 

Sagittarius: What a year this week has been.

Capricorn: I’m gonna do what’s called a “pro-gamer move” *has a panic attack*

Aquarius: How many classes can I skip without my professor noticing? The answer is probably none. 

Pisces: Screaming at video games instead of doing homework isn’t a personality trait

October opportunities and activities

Written by:  Sierra Porter | Staff Writer

As students jump into the school year this fall, heads will be filled with priorities of homework, classes, jobs and of course, the pressures of everyday life. Oregon has a tremendous amount of October opportunities of all sorts stemming from screamingly scary to family friendly. 

When it comes to the scariest Oregon has to offer, Fear PDX, Nightmare Factory and the Halloween Train are the best places to look. 

Fear PDX Haunted House takes place every weekend from Sept. 29  until Nov. 1 and is the largest Halloween event in Portland. Fear PDX offers up to eight different terrifying attractions that include gore, chainsaws and escape games. 

The Nightmare Factory is at the Oregon School for the Deaf and is held every weekend in Salem from now until the end of November. Deaf students, alongside volunteers, provide a heart-racing experience with interactive lights, displays and scary characters. Proceeds from the Nightmare Factory contribute to the yearly funds for the Oregon School for the Deaf and help support the longest-running haunted house in all of Oregon. 

Mt. Hood offers the Phantom of the Rails Halloween Train — available to book online Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 27-28. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, the Halloween Train provides a two-and-a-half-hour ride filled with ghosts and spooks. 

Oregon has more than just spooky attractions and has a variety of events perfect for people of all ages and scare levels. Bauman’s Farm puts on a harvest festival each year from Sept. 23 through Oct. 29 that includes hay rides, pumpkin picking, a dark maze, an animal petting zoo and kids’ play areas. 

If you’ve never seen a giant pumpkin you may have a chance this October… 

From Oct. 20-21, the West Coast Pumpkin Regatta is taking place with dressed-up members of the community paddling in giant pumpkins in the Regatta Race. 

Eastern Oregon is also celebrating its fourteenth annual film festival during Oct. 19-21 — supplying various films and documentaries for the community to enjoy. 

Don’t stay cooped up in your dorm this October, and take advantage of all of Oregon’s best October opportunities.

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

How Washington and Oregon shape culture in the PNW

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

The first things that come to mind when asked about the Pacific Northwest are somewhat stereotypical — trees, coffee, cult classics like Twilight and Grey’s Anatomy and the inevitable rainy sky. 

Taken at face value, all of these subcomponents of Pacific Northwest society seem one-dimensional, however, our little corner of the world has a rich, encompassing culture, filled to the brim with small moments of joy. In a place where cloudy days consume 222 days of the year, we have managed to create a special space where art, caffeine and the environment coincide to procure the comfortable place we all call home.

We are approaching those times now. The residents of the Northwest are prone to seasonal depression — most of the time shut in by circumstance. As a result, we create sanctuaries to nurture our minds and enjoy the creative and diverse individuals around us. Locals light up indoor spaces with their art. Social events, clubs, family and friends tuck us into close proximity, making our days just a little more bright. Our region’s rich and deeply enmeshed relationship with coffee brings many of us warmth and energy. 

Many of us line our rooms with plants, real or fake, to bring the outdoors to our bedside. Many of us watch comfort shows, and to no surprise, a few of those hit close to home. Movies like Sleepless in Seattle, The Twilight Saga, Ten Things I Hate About You, Halloweentown and The Goonies show off our little corner of the world, and we find solace in our sparse representation. 

Although the population of this area is vast and numerous, our cities and towns remain close. There is a sense of togetherness when the rain drones on for days because we know that it is dancing on everyone’s rooftop, muddying every shoe that steps outside. Millions of people ordering coffee from their favorite shop; millions of paintings and posters lining the walls of shops and institutions; millions of warm moments spent with those who are close to us — 

While we cherish those times when the sun shows herself, we do not need her to create light for us. We can do that for ourselves.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

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