Mount Hood

Three lively themed lunches to try

Get creative with these themed lunch boxes

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

If anyone is looking to spice up their lunch game, get creative with themed lunch boxes. Making food that sticks to a theme can make the assembly process more enjoyable, especially when friends join in. Try out these ideas for themed lunch boxes, and have some fun customizing.

FALL-THEMED LUNCH

2 slices of bread

Sandwich filling of choice

1 large bell pepper, yellow, orange or red

1 apple

Crackers or chips

Using a circle cookie cutter or a drinking glass, cut two circles out of bread. Use a knife to shape the circles into a point on one end. Place sandwich filling on one piece of bread, then place the second piece of bread on top. Cut out a semicircle from a heel of bread for the top of the acorn. Position on top and adhere with nut butter if desired. 

For the produce: cut a large slice of bell pepper, then use small leaf-shaped cutters to create leaves. Other products can be substituted to make leaves, like cheese, melon or fruit leather. Next, cut a large slice of apple and carve an apple shape into the peel.

Finally, arrange each element into a lunch box. On one side, add a desired crunchy snack like pita chips, crackers or pretzels.

Recipe from modernparentsmessykids.com

RAINBOW-THEMED LUNCH

2 red mini sweet peppers, sliced

1 mandarin orange, peeled and segmented

1 golden kiwi, sliced

½ cup sugar snap peas

¼ cup blueberries

½ cup red seedless grapes

1 large spinach wrap

2 ounces sliced turkey

½ cup baby spinach, chopped

1 tablespoon hummus

1 slice provolone cheese

Assemble lunch box with produce in rainbow order. Also feel free to replace produce with another ingredient of personal preference, like bananas for yellow or sweet potatoes for orange.

Lay wrap on flat surface. Spread with hummus and top with cheese, turkey and spinach. Roll up tightly and slice into one-inch thick rounds.

Recipe from healthyfamilyproject.com

For an additional recipe, check out this story on our website at wou.edu/westernhowl.

OCEAN-THEMED LUNCH

2 whole wheat bread slices

Sandwich filling of choice

1 cup blueberries

8-10 apple slices

1 lemon wedge

Cheddar and Mozzarella cheese, enough for six stars

½ cup brown rice or quinoa

3-4 snap peas

1 broccoli floret

Use a fish-shaped cookie cutter on two slices of bread. Add sandwich filling to these pieces. For the fish’s eye, cut a small circle from Mozzarella cheese. Put toothpick in blueberry, then through the circle of cheese and through the top of the sandwich.

Drop blueberries in the bottom half of the main dish and arrange apple slices above them to resemble the ocean surface. Rub apple slices with lemon wedge to help prevent browning. Place fish sandwich on top of blueberries.

Next, cut cheese into starfish shapes, and place in a side container. For the final dish, create turtles out of the broccoli and snap peas. Use the broccoli floret for the shell, and slice snap peas to resemble flippers and a head. Arrange these pieces over rice or quinoa to complete the turtle. 

Recipe from lunchboxdad.com

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

This week in completely made up horoscopes

The Western Howl Staff

Theme: Election Reactions

 

Aries 3/21-4/19  

I never liked oranges anyways.

 

Taurus 4/20-5/20

The pink nippled community is at it again.

 

Gemini 5/21-6/20 

lovely

 

Cancer 6/21-7/22

Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.

 

Leo 7/23-8/22

Look! Another powdery old white man won the old white man contest. WHAT AN UPSET!

 

Virgo 8/23-9/22

I’m blue da ba dee da ba daa

 

Libra 9/23-10/22

How ya doin’ champ? Go take a few laps and walk it off, we’ll be fine. 

 

Scorpio 10/23-11/21 

They wigged the ewection uWu

 

Sagittarius 11/22-12/21

Are we saved?

 

Capricorn 12/22-1/19

you’re fired lol

 

Aquarius 1/20 – 2/18

I’m tired and I hate it here. 

 

Pisces 2/19 – 3/20

I didn’t look at my phone once last week. 

IFC deliberates the winter term fee and another million dollar deal

Incidental Fee Committee meets to discuss budget and fee proposals for winter term 

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

During the summer, the Board of Trustees determined the Incidental Fee Committee could not apply their fee to students taking online classes in the fall.

Currently, members of the IFC are discussing their plans for the upcoming winter term in Zoom meetings they host every Thursday. In the three meetings attended, starting on Oct. 15, the committee has established a 50% budget for each funded area. For fall term, the IFC received 52% of its funding after ASWOU President NJ Johnson and Western President Rex Fuller made a million dollar deal. However, the deal was made with the intent to fund the IFC only for fall term.

“The online course fee is not designed, as a general proposition, to supplement incidental fees,” said Fuller. “Due to the unique situation of fall 2020 being almost 95% online, I offered to ASWOU a $1M allocation of online course fee revenue to ease the revenue shortfall to support student services funded by incidental fees.”

In the IFC’s third meeting hosted on Oct. 29 however, it was revealed by Johnson that after the IFC’s second meeting held on Oct. 22, he and President Fuller met to discuss potentially receiving another one million dollar stimulus package. From the third meeting’s transcript, Johnson explained that a stimulus package was possible but could not answer affirmatively. IFC Chair Juliana Cameron and Johnson plan to meet with Fuller to solidify the deal.

In addition to the million dollar stimulus, the IFC intends to apply their fee this term.

“We should charge a fee, not just to keep service and staff, (but) to give students a say. We should charge as little as possible,” said sophomore political science major and IFC member Quentin Kanta.

Cameron affirmed with Kanta, voicing potentially applying a $25 fee for winter term. All members were in agreement that the fee should be kept low. Before the IFC can apply their fee, the decision to give the IFC power to define a fee-paying student — made by the Special IFC in the summer — must be approved by the Board of Trustees.

All funded areas must present budgets reflecting 50% funding and include money left over from fall term. All fee proposals, budget outlines and stimulus agreements must be submitted to the Board of Trustees by Nov. 18. The IFC is not being required to go through a subcommittee this time. 

As more information is released this story will be updated.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

WOU unions vote to improve employee welfare

Western staff and faculty join together to advocate for improvement in employee treatment and the work environment on campus

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

Beginning in September 2020, Western staff and faculty unions — SEIU Sub-local082 and WOUFT — joined forces to collaboratively advocate for Western to improve treatment of employees, and revise the declining work environment witnessed by both parties over several years. 

“I’ve worked at WOU for about 15 years now,” said SEIU Sub-local 082 President and Library Technician Jackson Stalley, “and I would call myself Western Oregon University’s greatest cheerleader.”

Stalley voices his and his wife’s love of the university, citing Western as previously being of great value to students and a wonderful place to work. However, Western has lost what once made it a great community, according to Stalley.

“I used to hear from people how much they loved working at WOU and I don’t hear that anymore, I hear the opposite; people are unhappy. They don’t like how they’ve been treated, they don’t like how they’re being treated, and they don’t see it changing,” said Stalley.

On campus, there are over 200 staff workers, and many have expressed to Stalley how Western administration has made them feel like they are not heard or valued anymore. Stalley cites the most recent examples being the March COVID-19 cleanup staff lacking sufficient training, classified staff budget cuts over $1 million in comparison to unclassified staff budget cuts around $300,000 and three rounds of staff layoffs resulting in 31 jobs lost. During the first round of job layoffs that took place in late March, which was deemed unrelated to COVID by HR, Western covered employee health care. The second wave layoffs were cited by HR as COVID related per the second letter of agreement signed in August this letter explicitly states employees would not be laid off. Instead, all employee reductions would reflect a 20% furlough, but would still be receiving the health package provided by Western. 

According to Stalley, Western did not provide the health care they agreed upon until 700 people signed a petition demanding that Western return health care and provide COVID safety protocols for staff.

In the fall, faculty and staff had discussions about current and future leadership concerns. Because the unions identified similar concerns regarding Western, they formed a joint coalition. 

“We realized we had common concerns about the leadership at Western Oregon University,” said WOUFT Communication Officer and mathematics professor Scott Beaver. “We felt that we could potentially pursue actions on our own, but we would certainly be stronger together doing it. It would provide a stronger impetus for the board of trustees to take us more seriously.” 

After joining forces, the coalition created a ballot for members to vote on “no confidence” in President Rex Fuller and a vote on “censure.” The vote of “no confidence” indicates belief that a person in power no longer has the authority to be in that position while the vote of “censure” outlines a strongly worded objection to behavior or leadership; a person is not performing their job effectively.

Although the 240 members acknowledge Rex Fuller retiring, Stalley explains that it’s not only about Fuller.

“It’s about the viability of WOU as an institution,” said Stalley.

On Oct. 3, the results of the ballot indicated that 85% of the 240 respondents stated that they had no confidence in President Fuller’s leadership, and that 91% of the 240 faculty and classified staff wished to conduct a survey of possible censure for one or more members of President Fuller’s administration.

The members of the coalition expressed that their goal is to improve conditions at Western and also voiced strong objections to budget cuts Fuller intends to propose. There are currently tentative plans to cut a small number of class sections for winter and possibly spring terms, but Beaver explained that entire programs are being reviewed for potential cuts.

“He’s conflated the fiscal challenges related to COVID with what appears to be upper administration goals of ‘right sizing’ Western.”

Fuller is currently enacting the 15th article of the faculty Collective Bargaining Agreement, which states that under conditions of demonstrable financial exigency, program or discipline curtailment and retrenchment, administration can make faculty cuts. 

From this vote, the coalition hopes that the Board of Trustees will act accordingly after hearing the results of the ballots. At this time, the coalition has no formal plan to act if the Board of Trustees ignores the vote. They are hoping for the best in this instance.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Press Release: WOU Employees Reject President Rex Fuller

The staff and faculty of WOU press release on the vote of “no confidence” against President Rex Fuller

Dr. Scott Beaver | WOUFT Communications Officer

On Oct. 28, WOU faculty and staff unions initiated a vote of “no confidence” in President Rex Fuller in response to concerns raised by employees across the campus. Fuller recently implemented layoffs and announced plans for program elimination, after several years of declining enrollment and eroding shared governance under his leadership. More than 85% of the 240 respondents stated that they had no confidence in President Fuller’s leadership. The no confidence ballots also included a question asking respondents whether a survey regarding possible censure of other members of the upper administration should be conducted. The unions (WOUFT and SEIU Sub-local 082) cited failures of leadership, persistent management problems, and damage to the campus climate as primary reasons for conducting the no confidence and censure vote. The censure question indicated that 91% of the 240 faculty and classified staff wished to conduct a survey of possible censure for one or more members of President Fuller’s administration. This is the first time in institutional memory that a vote of no confidence has been conducted at WOU. Employees expressed their desire for the WOU Board of Trustees to take seriously their concerns about WOU’s leadership team and to take decisive action to correct the problems identified with the university’s upper administration. 

For more information, contact Dr. Scott Beaver, WOUFT Communications Officer by email at scottforrestbeaver@gmail.com or by phone at (503) 871-5444

Midterm letter from the Editor

A midterm look at the changes the Howl has made since issue one

Cora McClain | Editor-In-Chief

Well Western, we’ve made it halfway through the term and now stand on the precipice of a monumental election. As a way to manage my staff, I conduct what we call “midterm reviews,” where I sit down with each member of staff and talk about their progress so far, things that have changed and need to change. Think of this letter as a midterm review for The Western Howl, to you, our most valued readers.

More than most years, beginning this term and finding a routine has been difficult. Here at the Howl in particular, we have made some changes from what I had laid out for you in “The Western Howl: Vol. 3 Issue 1.”

Rather than reduce our content through only designing bi-weekly, the Howl staff have adjusted to continue designing each issue through the year. We are very happy with this, as we can continue to bring to Western the feeling of a produced, printed paper in an online format. 

These designed weekly issues can be seen on the right side-bar of the main page of our website and like always, the stories will still be uploaded online on the website.

With administration announcing that winter term will have similar modality to fall, the Howl will be distributing just as it has this term — we once again will not be printing. 

While IFC is still in deliberation and has not yet made their preliminary decisions, it is looking like our operating budget will not change much from fall. We will most likely be operating at the same capacity as we are now. This means we will only have the News, Entertainment and Lifestyle editor sections. Along with those, we will unfortunately not be able to meet one of our goals to expand to a 12 page paper by 2021, and continue to produce an 8 page paper into the new year. While I wish we could give you more content, Western, I hope that our current reporting is up to your standards.

Thank you, Western, for your continued support through these difficult weeks. Being able to serve this community and keep everyone informed makes all of this difficulty worth it. The Howl staff and I, appreciate you, Western; without you, our work would be meaningless. 

Once again, thank you Western, for making us at the Howl feel like we aren’t alone.

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Review: “The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope”

Good jumpscares, well-written plot and new mechanics makes “Little Hope” a big success

Cora McClain | Editor-In-Chief

Stephanie Moschella | Digital Media Manager

It’s hard to follow up on the explosive popularity “Until Dawn” had on the gaming community, which is why The Dark Pictures Anthology had a lot of hype to live up to. When “The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan” seemingly fell flat as a glorified movie-turned-video game, “The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope” had to blow its audience away in order for Supermassive Games to regain traction. “Little Hope” is an interactive horror survival video game released on the PS4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows on Oct. 30 for $30. 

Watching the trailer for the game, creepy kids, ghost towns and terrifying monsters were a given. However, there was a huge piece of plot that was well guarded and added a mysterious paranormal layer beyond what was already there. For spoiler purposes, we will not be disclosing this plot point, but know that it was a good spin on the “time-traveling” plot. 

Along with this, the ending was completely unexpected, at least for us. While some people might heavily dislike an ending like this, we found it an interesting twist with little clues all the way though. In fact, I would go so far as to say the plot of “Little Hope” far surpassed most horror genre video games and movies. 

Each new piece of information changed our perceptions and theories of what was going on; it was an intricately-woven tangled mystery that the game unknotted organically, without giving away all of the surprises too early. At the same time, the twists didn’t come out of nowhere and were based in the already-established lore and plot of “Little Hope.” For us, the story of “Little Hope” hit the mark.

Another high note for “Little Hope” was the great atmosphere of the game. As a person who played the game all the way through in five hours, there wasn’t a moment where the tense mood or suspension of disbelief was broken. Straight from the get-go, the player is thrown into intense action ⏤ unlike “Man of Medan,” which had a very slow build up. From the moment the characters arrive in “Little Hope,” tensions are high, and it feels as if anything can happen at any moment. 

The real sense of danger begins in act two, after all the monsters have been introduced; there is scene after scene of fighting monsters that don’t let up for about an hour of gameplay. The characters are in constant danger, and this adds to the sense of urgency for them and the players. 

Our consensus on the monsters are that they are some of the best monsters to be featured in a Supermassive Games title, even better than the infamous “Until Dawn” wendigos. They were varied, had a story-driven purpose for existing and were scary as hell — players don’t have a set of rules for them, they have to figure it out and infer along the way.

A main part of horror games are the jumpscares, which is where a lot of horror video games disappoint. But for “Little Hope,” they do an amazing job keeping it not only plot driven but continuously scary. Most games go back to the tropey and cheap jumpscares, but this game really drives it home with their abundance of well thought-out scares that keeps the player on the edge of their seat through the whole game.

As for the mechanics, “Little Hope” followed its predecessors by relying on choices, quick time events, aiming events and investigating the environment. There was a new implementation of warnings that let the player know that a QTE was coming up. It’s a nice addition that helped with the accuracy of making QTEs, but it takes away that constant edge of danger present in other Supermassive Games. 

Along with this, a player could control another character during a scene, in which they could very well kill another player’s character. While it does add to the importance of the multiplayer feature, it can also be quite devastating to lose a character when it is not even that player’s turn.

One new mechanic involved the characteristics featured in previous games; instead of just floating around the character’s head aimlessly, there were “locked” characteristics. A part of this mechanic is that through very specific and certain choices, more characteristics can be locked or broken. This mechanic is not explained at all during the game like all the others, even though it has the most devastating consequences. The fact that this mechanic leads to automatic character death in the third act without being explained in any way soured the game a bit for us.

Another problem the game presents is the obvious lack of diversity. In Supermassive Games’ previous installments, they made an effort in hiring women and people of color. However, in “Little Hope,” there is one throwaway Asian character and a Black man who is perceived as a danger to our white heros the whole game. This doesn’t deter from the plotline, but it does beg the question: why would they go with something like the witch trials and not mention the people of color that were also tortured and killed during them?

 

Overall Review: 

Stephanie: I would recommend this video game to anyone who is ready for some good jumpscares but are okay with mediocre endings. I commend their skill for being able to scare some eager horror gamers with a rating for 8/10. 

Cora: Before the auto-kill mechanic, I would have rated this game a 9/10, but it spoiled the game for me a bit. I would recommend it for any avid fan of the horror genre who doesn’t care too much about a bum ending. Overall, it is a great horror game that I thoroughly enjoyed and want to play again, and it gets an 8/10 from me.

Contact the authors at howleditor@wou.edu and howldigitalmediamanager@wou.edu

Geocaching: The latest way to beat the blues and boredom

Strap on some boots and explore the area with geocaching

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

Let’s be honest: cramming in last-minute assignments for online classes in the middle of a pandemic is stressful, and people need new ways to destress and get out and about. One way to appreciate the changing seasons and engage the mind and body is through geocaching, which is a fun way to involve and engage communities locally and globally. 

Geocaching — aka geostaching — was originally created in Oregon in 2000 and is a hunt for hidden caches or stashes of items. The location is laid out in coordinates, but recent apps allow for built-in maps. Over time, the items have gotten more difficult to find, making the hunt for the item well worth it.

One popular app to explore this activity is an app called Geocaching, created by Groundspeak Inc. No matter a person’s experience or knowledge level, the app is user-friendly and has a built-in navigation system that will make the phone vibrate when within 30 feet of the hidden geocache. 

In the app, instructions and information can be found on the selected location, and a place to rate and leave comments about the user’s experience. There’s some lingo that people use in the general geocaching community, as well as in the logbooks and on the app. They can be useful when first starting off, so here’s some quick shorthands:

  • BYOP: bring your own pencil/pen
  • FTF: first to find
  • Muggle: a non-geocacher 
  • Attributes: a form of communicating what to expect at a cache location
  • TFTC: thanks for the cache

Typically, geocaches are in weatherproof items, and some are hidden in small tins or bottles. Inside, there can be a variety of items; some caches are supposed to be difficult to find and only allow for a small booklet — known as a logbook — where people leave their names or nicknames, and the date when they found that stash. If the stash is big enough, people can leave small toys and trinkets. Some of these items have been there for an extended amount of time and may have light water damage or have been well hidden, but overall they are typically pretty easy to find and can range in difficulty for those who want to try harder ones.  

There is a basic etiquette and some basic tips to the game — like making an equal trade, no illegal items in the cache, hide it well and in the same area, be stealthy but not suspicious when rehiding the geocache, wear shoes and clothes that can get dirty and always put safety first. Geocaching is a fun way to get outside, but make sure to stay warm and safe, and find the hidden treasures that are just blocks away. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Find a well-loved book at Second Chance Books

Local second-hand bookstore with cozy charm has a book for every reader 

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

To get out of the house and escape the cloudy weather that’s been filling the skies, head on over to Second Chance Books, a local second-hand book store that’s been in downtown Independence since 2005. They’ve accumulated an impressively large amount of books through the years, ranging across a dozen and a half genres available at various affordable prices. It’s not uncommon to end up leaving with a book or three, especially since they often have deals on oversized books. 

In the times I’ve visited the store in the past, I enjoyed exploring the packed bookshelves and getting some really unique finds. Plus, taking a few minutes to check out stores in the area can occasionally provide a much-needed distraction from the busy and long days — which I’m sure a lot of people are trying to balance right now as we head to the end of the year.

Although the pandemic has been a difficult time for many communities and local businesses, there are plenty of new and returning customers who come in for some book recommendations or to just roam the cozy stacked shelves — all while safely social distancing and soaking in the strangely comforting smell that only books have. 

Second Chance Books accepts book donations during their business hours, which are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday to Saturday, and 12 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. They are located at 307 S. Main St. in Independence, and if there are any questions for their team, they can be reached at (503) 838-5279 or check out their website. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Go nuts for donuts at the Donut Bar

Monmouth’s Donut Bar serves up delectable treats

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

The Donut Bar has been serving fresh, handmade donuts to Monmouth residents since September of 2019. Since their one-year anniversary has passed, owner Eric Brown says their first year of business has gone very well.

“We’ve been really, really blessed,” Brown said. “Luckily, the community has been pretty awesome. They came through.”

Brown and his family first opened the Donut Bar as part of a lifelong dream. Monmouth’s need for a donut shop paired with the opportunity to help out his community at the Limitless Ministries church was what pushed Brown to create The Annex food truck lot and open for business. They are fulfilling their mission to serve the public in a number of ways, including hiring Western students, offering a space in The Annex for another local business, hosting Bible study groups Wednesday evenings — in person and over Zoom — and helping to fund their church.

“We’re fundraising the whole month of November for our church,” Brown said. They are selling $5 raffle tickets, one per customer, to enter a drawing for a free dozen donuts. “Without (Limitless Ministries), we’re not here,” he said.

The Donut Bar offers many services and great deals on top of giving back. They work with DoorDash to deliver their fresh donuts, and they fulfill pre-orders for all types of events. Stamp cards are now available, and anyone can receive a free donut on their birthday. Plus, for Western students, the Donut Bar offers a 10% discount with the presentation of a student ID card.

Not sure what to try first? The shop personally recommends the apple fritters, maple bacon donuts, Oreo donuts or s’mores donuts. Customers can even build their own donuts for endless flavor possibilities. If their extensive donut menu isn’t enough, they also offer a few different sandwiches.

Looking ahead to the future, Brown is planning to open another food trailer, The Loaded Grill, which serves deli-style sandwiches and barbecue. They hope to be open by the end of November. For The Annex, Brown has some ideas to upgrade the lot with ample seating and design it to create a hometown feel. Additionally, they have a long-term goal to open a permanent location Donut Bar cafe in town.

The Donut Bar is located at 191 Monmouth Ave. N at The Annex behind Limitless Ministries church. Visit them from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to check out their daily specials, and pre-order some donuts through DoorDash, Facebook Messenger or by calling them at (503) 798-1328.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

A-plus study tips for upcoming exams

Ideas to improve your next study session

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Midterms are looming and finals always come upon us too quickly to prepare for. It’s probably a broken record by now that cramming is not the best way to study, but it’s true; according to bbc.com, one long study session generally does not help to truly memorize the information. Instead, plan ahead and utilize these study tips for that big exam.

Firstly, delegate time within the week or so before a test to just study. Find a few one-hour windows to sit down and only focus on the exam material. During these times, get rid of any distractions that might take away from studying, like getting up to snack or checking phone notifications. Take a ten-minute break halfway through the study session if need be, but be sure to come back to it and finish strong.

As for how to study the material, different strategies work for different people depending on their learning style. If reading out of a textbook, try taking notes and writing the information in a new way as opposed to simply copying it. Annotate the readings with highlights, definitions, questions and summaries.

Another approach to try is making flashcards. This will allow for reviewing the key information all at once, and the process of writing or drawing the necessary terms will help the mind memorize them too. Students can also look over old homework, labs and assignments to see how the material was applied. Take the time to redo some earlier problems and questions from memory to identify what mostly needs to be studied.

If friends or family aren’t too busy, attempt to teach them the material. Explaining a concept to another person gives students the opportunity to organize their thoughts and information to help solidify the knowledge. This can be especially helpful for auditory learners to hear the information spoken aloud in a conversational format.

On the night before the exam, it is imperative to get enough sleep. During sleep, information gets consolidated or committed to long-term memory, meaning it can be recalled later on. Plus, fatigue makes it difficult to focus — exactly the opposite of what students need during their test. Study in the days before the test and head to bed early the night before in order to be best prepared.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

This week in completely made up horoscopes

The Western Howl Staff

Theme: Voting

 

Aries 3/21-4/19  

Don’t want to hear you whining if you didn’t vote.

 

Taurus 4/20-5/20

Are you ready to see another old white man as president again? 

 

Gemini 5/21-6/20 

no you can’t split your vote like your personality

 

Cancer 6/21-7/22

Hold onto your butts.

 

Leo 7/23-8/22

Just buy a few houseplants to like, help the vibe out, you know? 

 

Virgo 8/23-9/22

Don’t worry, next week’s issue will include destressing tips.

 

Libra 9/23-10/22

Wait, I was asleep. What happened? 

 

Scorpio 10/23-11/21 

If you didn’t vote, I hope you enjoy eternal darkness 🙂

 

Sagittarius 11/22-12/21

No matter what happens, we have each other — stay strong!

 

Capricorn 12/22-1/19

Ah, the elderly man contest, the most interesting time of year

 

Aquarius 1/20 – 2/18

By mail or booth, you best vote

 

Pisces 2/19 – 3/20

Vote, or else…

Halloween themed spirit week residents of Monmouth can participate in

Monmouth Business Association holds halloween themed spirit week for locals 

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

In years prior to COVID-19, local businesses in downtown Monmouth hosted a family friendly trick or treating event for Halloween. Due to health and safety guidelines currently in place, the event cannot be hosted. However, the Monmouth Business Association has come up with some week-long socially distanced alternatives so residents and local businesses can participate in the fun and spooky holiday.

 

Business decorating contest: Businesses of Monmouth are encouraged to decorate their establishments in family friendly Halloween decorations; all decorations needed to be up by Oct. 26. The business will be judged by a panel of judges, and the community will vote for People’s choice.

 

Halloween costume contest: This year, residents can upload pictures of their costumes to Instagram under the hashtag #monmouthhalloween. The contest will run from Oct. 26 to Oct. 31. The winner with the most likes will win some fun treats.

 

Scavenger hunt: On Oct. 27, the Monmouth Business Association will post on their Facebook page a list of items for people to find in downtown Monmouth. They can be found on Facebook @MonmouthBusinessAssociation.

 

This year the association is discouraging business from handing out candy this year, claiming in their flyer that they want people to stay safe.


Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Turning Point USA hosts viewing party for final presidential debate

Western students attend virtual viewing party of the final presidential debate

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

On Oct. 22, 63 million Americans tuned in to the final presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, according to nielsen.com.

Western students interested in watching the debate were invited to a viewing party hosted on Discord by Turning Point USA  — a bipartisan political club on campus. During the viewing party students could comment on how each political candidate addressed moderator  Kristen Welker’s questions about Fighting COVID-19, American Families, Race in America, Climate Change, National Security and Leadership. 

“The candidates were much more civil this time with a lot less interrupting,” said junior business major and Event Coordinator of Turning Point USA Joe White, “at least in the first half anyway. It did seem to kinda fall apart towards the end.”

For the first presidential debate, the Commission of presidential debates received a lot of criticism from the American people regarding the lack of control the first moderator, Chris Wallace, had over the candidates remaining within their two-minute speaking time and their lack of civility towards one another. In White’s personal opinion — which he explains is not reflective of the club or the members associated with it — he felt the moderator in the final debate did a great job delegating each candidate’s talking time.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of interrupting from what I saw and it didn’t feel like two little kids fighting and having a teacher come break it up,” said White. “This time around, I felt the moderator was sweet, and she also had a spine; she wasn’t getting pushed around. It felt like she knew what she was doing but she also knew when to reclaim her time in a way.”

Although candidates were socially distanced and audience members were required to wear masks, in contrast to the vice presidential debate that utilized a plexiglass covering to protect candidates Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence, plexiglass coverings were not used in the final presidential debate despite Trump testing positive for COVID weeks prior.

 “You would think the more important a person is, the more you’re going to want to protect them,” said White. “I was surprised to not see plexiglass between them. I guess I didn’t really see a point unless they are facing each other. If they’re facing each other, I would understand it being there, but if they’re not then I would understand it not being there.”

In Oregon, it’s estimated by AP Election Research and Quality Control that the percentage of votes cast in advance compared to the General Election in 2018 is up 47.8%. It’s been estimated by Michael McDonald of the University of Florida’s Elections Project that around 52 million Americans have voted early as of  Oct. 27.

White hopes that after the election people respect who is voted in as president and respect the outcome of the election, whether it’s President Trump or former Vice President Biden.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Opinion: WOU students are treated like a joke

WOUmemes is more informative than WOUnews 

Stephanie Moschella | Digital Media Manager

It has been said many times before and needs to be said again: WOUnews is just a PR team that endorses the university. They have a couple of grown a-s adults sitting behind their computer and phone screens telling students how to wash their hands, when they should be informing them about what is actually happening on campus.

Rex Fuller leaving in a crisis, confirmed COVID-19 cases on campus, money being used to shut student run organizations up, upwards to a $1,000 added hidden fee, almost getting rid of the food pantry which feeds whole a-s families and WOUnews has said nothing about it. The only thing students do not have to pay for is the anxiety and depression that they will be too poor to get help for once WOU is finished draining students pockets. They siphon young impressionable students and their s—-y income to pay for their Netflix accounts and Amazon Prime. 

WOUnews is the official Instagram account for the university, but despite idiotically claiming this handle, they do not seem to post a lot of news. One glance at their mediocre feed displays the sheer lack of decency towards the students of Western, as they have posted nothing in regards to IFC, increased tuition, or the godforsaken online course fee. They do not respond to comments from eloquently spoken students expressing their concern and only reply to ones that blindly praise the school (most of them from parents). WOUnews forcibly bird feeds its students with posts about how campus looks during the fall and to bring “your own frisbee (and) try out the WOU disc golf course” all while ignoring the devastated students weeping in its corridors.

WOUmemes on the other hand, should have love letters pouring into their DMs as this is where students actually gather information about what is happening on campus. News about the COVID cases did not emerge until they openly and gallantly posted about it. They always respond to students who comment on their posts with questions — reaffirming and agreeing with their beliefs as well as consoling them in times of need — all while providing a spark of joy in unprecedented times. This student-run Instagram account, which only started a few months ago, has garnered more attraction and respect amongst students than the university’s legitimate account. 

Of course, The Western Howl has its own personal beef with WOUnews, as prior articles by Stephanie Blair stirred up controversy regarding the topic. But I am not talking about previous arguments or petty rivalry the school created to have its way, what I am saying is that this is not the first time this has happened. There has been a first, second and third, yet the school chooses to not do anything about it, to sit complacent and watch the students tick away the days left before they get to leave. A factory of students that is essential to it continuing; yet they act like we are all disposable, expendable, unnecessary.

WOUnews is not providing adequate information to their students. Students desperately need it during these uncertain times because they are already anxious about their livelihood due to COVID. WOUmemes is the one supplying more actual information that students care about whilst maintaining a humorous ease amongst students in comparison to the inadequacy of WOUnews. Right now, anxiety and depression in students are at an all-time high and WOUnews is not fulfilling its purpose at satiating the nerves of young students who have never encountered a worldwide pandemic. 

Anyways, go follow @wou_memes on Instagram.

Contact the author at smoschella20@mail.wou.edu

Nostalgic spooky movies to watch this Halloween

A list of spooky movies that are sure to please

Cora McClain | Editor-In-Chief

Stephanie Moschella | Digital Media Manager

Halloween is fastly approaching, but with social distancing guidelines, it seems as if the holiday has essentially been cancelled. Since there’s not much to do on All Hallow’s Eve this year, a movie marathon would be a nice alternative. Here are a few nostalgic movies to get comfy and watch on Oct. 31.

Classic

“Beetlejuice” (1988) (Amazon)

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1992) (Amazon)

“Casper” (1995) (Amazon)

“Corpse Bride” (2005) (Amazon)

“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) (Amazon)

“Ghostbusters” (1984) (Amazon) 

“Goosebumps” (1998 ) (Netflix)

“Gremlins” (1984) (Amazon)

“Halloweentown” (1998) (Disney+) 

“Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge” (2001) (Disney+) 

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001) (Amazon)

“Hocus Pocus” (1993) (Disney+) 

“House on Haunted Hill” (1999) (Amazon)

“Matilda” (1996) (Amazon)

“Mean Girls” (2004) (Amazon)

“Return to Halloweentown” (2006) (Disney+) 

“Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969) (Amazon)

“Sleepy Hollow” (1999) (Amazon)

“Teen Wolf” (1985) (Amazon)

“The Addams Family” (1991) (Netflix)

“The Craft” (1996) (Amazon)

“The Haunted Mansion” (2003) (Disney+)

“The Night Before Christmas” (1993) (Amazon)

“Twitches” (2005) (Disney+)

 

Horror

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984) (Amazon)

“Annabelle” (2014) (Amazon)

“Blair Witch Project” (1999) (Amazon)

“Carrie” (1976) (Amazon)

“Child’s Play” (1988) (Amazon)

“Children of the Corn” (1984) (Hulu) 

“Halloween” (1978) (Amazon) 

“It” (2017) (Amazon)

“Monster House” (2006) (Amazon)

“Paranormal Activity” (2007) (Amazon)

“Pet Sematary” (1989) (Amazon) 

“The Amityville Horror” (1979) (Amazon)

“The Conjuring” (2013) (Amazon)

“The Conjuring 2” (2016) (Amazon)

“The Exorcist” (1973) (Amazon) 

“The Nun” (2018) (Amazon) 

“The Shining” (1980) (Amazon) 

“The Sixth Sense” (1999) (Amazon) 

“The Ring” (2002) (Amazon)

“Scream” (1996) (Amazon)

 

Honorable Mention

“The Haunting of Hill House” (2018) (Netflix)

Contact the authors at howleditor@wou.edu and howldigitalmediamanager@wou.edu

Horror podcasts to scare and entertain

Tune into these scary podcasts just in time for spooky season

Rylie Horrall | Managing Editor

Podcasts come in many different genres, such as true crime, lifestyle or business, to name a few. One specific genre that becomes popular during fall is horror storytelling — both fiction and nonfiction. In preparation for the spooky season, here are some horror podcasts to tune into.

“Lore” is a podcast that runs bi-weekly and covers historical stories with a dark theme. Each episode features pieces of history that involve tragic events, unusual circumstances and events, strange places and even mysterious creatures. Not only is it a podcast, but it also has a TV show and book series to go with it.

For those who prefer scary stories that aren’t based on real events, “The NoSleep Podcast” provides hundreds of episodes of eerie tales with accompanying atmospheric music. The podcast’s website provides a list of “sampler episodes” for new listeners to check out before delving into the rest of the episodes, and also issues a disclaimer that the stories are not for the faint of heart.

A first-hand account of a journalist’s search for the truth, the podcast “The Black Tapes” covers the mysterious past of her subject and delves into the “literal and figurative ghosts that haunt them both,” according to the show description.

“Spooked” is a seasonal podcast presented by “Snap Judgement,” a podcast that occurs year round. It features real-life accounts of supernatural events told by those who experienced them, following the theme of “Snap Judgement” but with a spooky twist of ghosts and the paranormal added to the mix.

For more true scary stories, “Radio Rental” provides another outlet for people to share their accounts of bizarre and startling events from their lives. The episode list isn’t very long, due to the creators taking a hiatus after only 6 episodes, but is now back to updating regularly.

Many of the podcasts listed have their own websites for viewers to tune into; however, there are a few apps where people can listen to for free or with a subscription, such as Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Have some skele-fun at these fall spots

Get out of the house to celebrate Halloween

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

There are many fun activities to do come Halloween — corn mazes, pumpkin picking and carving, apple picking and enjoying the decor are just a few that anyone can get out and enjoy. Get dressed up or bundled up and explore these fun fall spots.

Fordyce Farm in Salem checks all the boxes. U-pick pumpkins are available for $0.40 per pound, and their apple orchards are also open for picking. They sell a variety of fall decorations as well, like hay bales, gourds and mums. Give their corn maze a try for an admission fee of $4.95, or wait until dusk on Friday or Saturday to brave their haunted “Dark Oregon” corn maze for $13 per person. Find Fordyce Farm at 7023 Sunnyview Road NE in Salem.

The Melon Shack at Winn Farms in Corvallis is another location with a great range of activities. Through Halloween, they sell pumpkins and squashes along with fall decor like corn stalks and hay bales. Their daytime corn maze is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., for $5 per person. Their haunted corn maze opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday; tickets cost $14 on Fridays and Saturdays, and $10 on Sunday. The Melon Shack is located at the corner of NE Garden Avenue and Highway 20.

St. Helens hosts its annual Spirit of Halloweentown celebration through Nov. 1 if anyone is up for the two-hour road trip from Western. Explore where “Halloweentown” was filmed, take advantage of the photo ops, check out local vendors and more. Admission is free on weekdays, but tickets are being sold online for events and parking due to COVID-19. Spirit of Halloweentown is also hosting a virtual party on Oct. 31 for $2 per ticket. Find all this information and more at discovercolumbiacounty.com.

If anyone is worried about social distancing or doesn’t have time to get out and see these fall spots, there are other festive activities to supplement. Drive around nearby neighborhoods and take in the spooky decor. Host a virtual costume competition with friends online. Buy pumpkins from a local grocery store or market and carve them at home, or simply set them on the front porch.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

Celebrate Halloween with festive Franken-foods

Spooky snacks and sweets to prepare this Halloween

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Halloween means it’s time for treats. Candy is great, but homemade goodies allow for more creativity. Check out these appetizers and sweets to make for oneself, friends, roommates or family. 

 

  STRAWBERRY GHOSTS

Start to finish: 20 minutes

Yields: approximately 16 

2 cups strawberries

1 ½ cups white chocolate, melted

1 teaspoon coconut oil

¼ cup mini chocolate chips

1 cup chocolate chips, melted

Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine melted white chocolate and coconut oil and stir until combined. 

Dip strawberries into white chocolate, then place two mini chocolate chips on the top half of the strawberries for eyes. Place strawberries on prepared baking sheet and let harden in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes.

Place melted chocolate chips in a plastic sandwich bag and pipe mouths on the strawberries. Let cool again in the refrigerator for five minutes before serving.

Recipe from delish.com

 

 

GRAVEYARD BROWNIES

Start to finish: 1 hour

Yields: approximately 20 

1 box of brownie mix (plus additional ingredients listed on the box)

20 Milano cookies, cut in half

2 cups crushed Oreo cookies

3 cups sugar cookie icing, green and black

20 candy pumpkins

Bake brownies as directed, and let cool completely before slicing into squares. If using homemade icing, color half the batch green and the other half black. Load each into a pastry bag with a small round tip or into a sandwich bag with a small hole cut in one corner. Frost squiggly pumpkin vines on the top of each brownie square with green icing. Crumble crushed Oreos on top of the green icing. 

Pipe letters onto the halved Milano cookies with black icing to create headstones. Adhere Milano cookie to the brownie with some black icing. Add a dab of green icing to the bottom of the candy pumpkin and place one on each brownie.

Recipe from adventuresofmel.com

 

 

WITCH’S FINGERS BREADSTICKS

Start to finish: 25 minutes

Yields: approximately 15

1 roll refrigerated soft breadsticks dough

Marinara or pizza sauce

Sliced almonds, or…

1 bell pepper

¼ cup cream cheese

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and preheat the oven to the temperature indicated on the breadstick dough packaging.

Unroll the breadsticks onto a large cutting board, and using a pizza cutter, slice each breadstick to be about 3 to 4 inches long and ½-inch to 1 inch wide. Roll the dough around a bit to form a finger shape, and use the pizza cutter to press a few horizontal lines in the middle to resemble a knuckle. Transfer breadsticks to the baking sheet.

Indent the more narrow end of the breadstick for the fingernail bed. If using sliced almonds, press one into the bed before baking. If using bell peppers and cream cheese, adhere them after cooking. Bake according to package instructions or until puffy and browning at the top.

Let breadsticks cool completely on a wire rack. Now for the bell peppers: slice them into narrow triangles, add a dab of cream cheese to the tip and stick the pepper on. Serve the finished breadsticks with some marinara or pizza sauce.

Recipe from kitchentreaty.com

 

 

PUMPKIN DEVILED EGGS

Start to finish: 35 minutes

Yields: 24

12 large eggs

½ cup mayonnaise

Juice of ½ lemon (about 1 ½ tablespoons)

1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard

Kosher salt

Black pepper

2 tablespoons paprika

4 chives, cut into small pieces

Hard boil the eggs by placing them in a single layer in a saucepan and adding enough water to cover them with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook covered for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let sit, still covered, for 14 minutes. Then rinse and carefully peel shells off under cool running water. Halve eggs lengthwise. Spoon out yolks into a small bowl and place whites on a serving platter. 

Using a fork, mash the yolks, then stir in mayonnaise, lemon juice and Dijon, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon mixture evenly among egg whites and smooth the tops. Carefully dust paprika to completely cover the yolk mixture. Using a knife, make ridges down the paprika-dusted yolk to look like a pumpkin. Place chive slice above yolk mixture to resemble a stem and serve.

Recipe from delish.com

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

 

Dress up in pawsome matching costumes

Perfect costume pairs for pet and owner

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Halloween may look a little different in 2020. There will likely be some who venture out to trick-or-treat, but others like me will be social distancing at home. Staying in on Halloween doesn’t have to be a boring night, however, especially with the company of a furry friend. Celebrate with a pet by dressing up in matching costumes like these.

Ash Ketchum and Pikachu from “Pokémon”

Pikachu onesie — onesiemania.com, $12 to $15

Solid T-shirt — Walmart, $6

Blue vest —Amazon, $17

Red cap — Amazon, $8

 

Angel and devil

White dress — Goodwill, $10

Halo headband — Party City, $5

Pet devil horns — petcostumecenter.com, $3

 

Bandits

Black bandanas — Party City, $2

Black and white striped shirt — Goodwill, $8

Black beanie — Target, $5

If searching for other costume ideas, pick a character that a pet resembles and match with them. An orange tabby could be Rajah the tiger paired with Princess Jasmine, or a small black dog could be Toto matched with Dorothy. Dress as Rapunzel and let a pet gecko or lizard be Pascal, or be Russell from “Up” with a pet golden retriever as Dug. 

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

 

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