The Western Howl, Author at The Western Howl

Written by: Mirella Barrera-Betancourt

April is National Celebrate Diversity Month, a month serving as a period of recognition and observance for the beauty of the world’s unique backgrounds, diverse customs and traditions.

On Apr. 28, 2023, Western’s Freedom Center will be celebrating the month through a community event, in collaboration with a few clubs and organizations on campus.

The Freedom Center was opened in the Werner University Center in 2021, and was designated as the campus lounge and hang-out spot for students of color, as well as students of various ethnicities. Moreover, the mission of the Freedom Center is to expand cultural diversity and competency among students on campus and also to serve as an instant student-led advising center for students.

Anali Godinez-Martinez is the co-director of the Freedom Center, alongside Malia Fernandez.

Martinez identifies as Mexican-American, which allows her to see the month as a beautiful opportunity to become in touch with — not only her culture and heritage — but with the cultures around her and of her peers.

“I think that (diversity month) is honestly such a beautiful month if you take the time to learn about other cultures and (the) backgrounds of other people,” said Martinez. “Maybe you don’t, like, realize how diverse our campus is, and so (the month) is just a good way to get different perspectives and come together.”

The event is scheduled to take place in the Grove on campus — outside, adjacent to Ackerman Hall — and will function as a chill hangout for students, allowing them the opportunity to engage and learn more about the featured clubs and organizations attending the celebration. As of Apr. 18, the organizations featured in the line-up of the celebration include the Multicultural Student Union, Stonewall Center and the Black Student Union. There will be music, as well as entertainment in the form of outdoor table games specific to each club and organization.

Furthermore, the event provides an opportunity for student artists to showcase their artwork. If students were interested in submitting artwork for the showcase, all they had to do was fill out and complete a Google Form. The form has since closed.

Martinez said, “We wanted to give the opportunity for students to showcase artwork that either ties into their cultural background or just any intersectional identity.”

During the event, attendees will be free to walk around the displayed stands showcasing student artwork.

There is no exact scheduled time for the showcase. The event is merely set to run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m on Apr. 28.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

The Western Howl

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Abby’s House takes part in #30daysfoSAAM

Written by: Mirella Barrera-Betancourt

Content warning: includes mentions of assault and violence

This year, in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Abby’s House is demonstrating support for survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault through a month-long series of events. In previous years, these events stretched out across a span of months. However, Abby’s House is integrating the events alongside a month of observance.

“The Clothesline Project” was the first event to arrive at Western for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The project consisted of an interactive information table in the Werner University Center, as well as a display of an array of t-shirts across the ceiling.

The display spotlighted a few very raw and honest confessions of assault, while many other expressions remarked about key elements of consent and self-love, such as: “Nobody is an object” and “You are whole, beautiful, and deserving of love.” The shirts are designed by survivors, allies and their loved ones.

There is a purpose and rationale behind the color and number of the t-shirts, as each color represents a different type of violence and assault.

In the grand display at Utah Valley University, the following are represented: white for the people who have died due to violence and assault; yellow for survivors of physical assault and domestic abuse; purple for the people attacked because of sexual orientation; red, pink and orange for survivors of rape or childhood sexual abuse; brown and gray for survivors of emotional, spiritual or verbal abuse; and blue and green for survivors of incest or childhood sexual abuse.

“The Clothesline Project” was not the sole new event to arrive at Western for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. On the evening of Apr. 16, Abby’s House hosted an independent event for students identifying as survivors of violence or assault, advocating for self-care and self-love in a time of healing. The event featured guest speaker, Laura Hasbun of Maracuya Botanicals.

Additionally, “The Bandana Project” — an awareness campaign aimed to address the issue of sexual assault among farmworker women — was one of the projects to be featured for the month.

On Apr. 18, Abby’s House set up an information table about “The Bandana Project,” including a display of bandanas decorated by students. The display can be found near the North entrance of the Werner University Center.

“Denim Day” — which is occurring on Apr. 26 — was established in Los Angeles in 1990 by Patricia Giggins to observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This day encourages supporters and survivors alike to demonstrate their solidarity by wearing denim with a purpose.

On Apr. 27, Abby’s House is to host one of the more widely observed events at Western: “Take Back The Night.” This event is an annual rally and speak-out against sexual and domestic violence stretching out in movements across colleges and universities in the country.

This year, the rally is featuring a speaker and candlelight march, as well as student testimonials. Participants are encouraged to share their voices through readings of poems and healing stories.

For more information on the remaining events for the month, as well as their scheduled times, check out the Abby’s House Instagram at @abbyshouse_wou.

The observance month may be finite, but Abby’s House always encourages everyone and anyone to advocate for victims of sexual and physical violence and assault.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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AI may not be as scary as it seems

Written by: Nicholas Sarysz

Most people will never be able to fully understand the scope of what artificial intelligence does because we don’t have attention spans that last any longer than a low-effort TikTok.

Years ago, the idea of robots doing work for humans felt like a far-out euphoric concept. Today, most of us are scared of it. The concept of Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to as AI, and how far it has come within the past couple of years has been discussed endlessly, but that is because it is still in its beginning stages.

The diminishment of jobs, uncertainty and the often overplayed “robot takeover” are all reasons for concern, but the fact of the matter is, we aren’t doing anything of great value anyway.

Just look at this country, we fight over “job” creation that has people pumping gas or working in coal mines, pick our leaders from two separate sides of the same rotten tree that we call politics and point fingers at each other while the economy continues to plummet. These are just a few issues within our own borders because issues outside of that aren’t even civil enough to poke fun at.

Put simply, Artificial Intelligence is scary to us because other humans have access to it. So much of the public finds themselves worked up about how we can stop AI from helping students plagiarize homework, how to watermark AI deep fakes or art pieces or how we can limit access to AI overall. Public conversations surrounding the topic have begun to focus on how we can dumb down the software to limit our own shortcomings, rather than improve it to make headway on serious issues that AI assistance can be beneficial to.

Almost every single one of these issues is not truly a matter of Artificial Intelligence, they are people issues. Artificial Intelligence is a tool, and just like every tool, it has multiple uses, many of which can be negative. Take motorized saws for example, we would not be as far along as a civilization if it was not for them and their evolution from simple blades to rotary tools. If we tried to keep saws as simple as we could for human safety, present-day commercial construction would be merely impossible.

For now, there is little reason to do anything more than be cautious and enjoy the funny videos of politicians playing Minecraft. As we navigate the future of Artificial Intelligence, let’s not forget that we hold the power to shape its impact on society.

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

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John Wick movies ranked

Written by: Mirella Barrera-Betancourt

Content warning: contains spoilers for “John Wick: Chapter 4”

The “John Wick” movie universe returned on March 24 with the release of the fourth installment, “John Wick: Chapter 4,” which left audiences reeling with unexpected shock. Here are all four movies in the franchise — ranked from worst to best, by the News Editor — as audiences question whether or not to mourn the beloved protagonist.

4 — “John Wick: Chapter 2” (2017)

Ranking on Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

The second installment of the franchise continues right after the violent events of the previous movie, which arrive to haunt John Wick and permanently kick him out of retirement. As far as sequels go, I thought the movie was good. There were significantly fewer action sequences than in the first installment, which was disappointing. Frankly, the middle of the movie left me on the brink of snoring. However, I have to give them credit for the fight sequence in the mirror cabinet, as well as the shocking and bleak ending that plagued me for weeks.

3 — “John Wick” (2014)

Ranking on Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

The inaugural movie which introduces the audience to the character of John Wick received mixed critic reviews. This was the film that established John Wick as the bada–, titular character known as “Baba Yaga,” successfully managing to instill fear amongst audiences and the assassin underworld. Even though it was the lowest-rated movie in the franchise, the movie was heavily packed with both action and emotion, which I believe makes it a strong contender for the position as one of the top three movies in the series.

2 — “John Wick: Parabellum” (2019)

Ranking on Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

This movie cements the legacy of the John Wick universe as possibly the best action or neo-noir film series. In my opinion, the most daring and unrestrained movie in the series — “John Wick: Parabellum” goes heavy with gore and violence, which functions well in adding to the thrilling intensity of the stakes at play. This was the film that truly left me terrified for John Wick’s survival.

1 — “John Wick: Chapter 4” (2023)

Ranking on Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

In the alleged “final” installment of the franchise, “John Wick: Chapter 4” follows John Wick on the run from the villainous “Powers That Be” — the High Table. The movie put to rest a long-standing debate regarding the shocking betrayal by the character of Winston Scott, the manager of The Continental Hotel, in the third film. This was the perfect movie to wrap up the beloved franchise, as well as the story of the weary and heartbroken but formidable assassin — even if, at times, I felt the long runtime to be excessive. Moreover, the fight scenes and long-range shots were excellent, appearing straight out of a video game.

Keanu Reeves is a fantastic actor, and a perfect casting for a character in a franchise that grew with time in size, scope and success. I am content with the ending of the series. However, if Keanu Reeves decides to return with the mantle, I will happily line up to watch him in theaters once again.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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Instrumental beats

Written by: Gretchen Sims

“Satellites” — Cavement

“Out For a Walk” — Same as Different

“Sidewalking” — Jazzdroid

“humify” — hope mona

“When You’re Gone” — Piano Guys

“Purple love” — Discant Of Venus

“Titanium – David Guetta” — Eklipse

“Happy Ending” — rjoseph

“A Thousand Miles” — Josh Vietti

“Travel by Night” — Itsuju

“Time After Time” — Celestial Aeon Project

“All of Me” — The Piano Guys

“For the Love of a Princess” — 2CELLOS

“Soul Dreaming” — Zmeyev, flowless

“Afterglow” — AWL

“Close To You” — Tang Jia

“Curious” — Lushi

“The Martian Nextdoor” — Keyser

“10,000 Hours (Instrumental Version)” — Laura Sullivan

“Pirates of the Caribbean” — 2CELLOS

“Angel of Music” — Laclede Quartet

“All I Ask of You” — Laclede Quartet

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

The Western Howl

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Ghibli in theater

Written by: Gretchen Sims

Anime fans across campus listen up. It is everyone’s dream to go back in time and be able to watch their favorite anime for the first time all over again. What if one is now able to achieve the next best thing?

Studio Ghibli movies are often a staple, almost a gateway drug, for most anime fans — usually the first film an experienced viewer will recommend to an anime viewer. These heartwarming films may even be a core memory in many childhoods. What if the fantasy of traveling back in time to watch one’s favorite Studio Ghibli film for the first time is practically achievable?

Fathom Events, a leader in the entertainment industry and a top distributor of content to movie theaters, hosts an annual Studio Ghibli Fest to showcase all the groundbreaking films by Hayao Miyazaki. This Fest is meant to celebrate the ongoing impact that Studio Ghibli continues to have on the animation industry. These unique and beautiful animes are beloved by fans across the world.

This year, Studio Ghibli Fest 2023 is showing at local cinemas. Here is a list of one’s favorite Studio Ghibli films that one can attend as well as their showing times.

“SPIRITED AWAY: Live on Stage” — April 23 and 27

“Ponyo 15th Anniversary” — May 7, 8 and 10

“Kiki’s Delivery Service” — June 11, 12 and 14

“Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” — July 9 and 11

“Castle in the Sky” — July 10 and 12

“Princess Mononoke” — Aug. 5, 7, 8 and 9

“Porco Rosso” — Aug. 20 and 22

“The Wind Rises 10th Anniversary” — Aug. 21 and 23

“Howl’s Moving Castle” — Sept. 23, 24, 25 and 27

“Spirited Away” — Oct. 28, 29, 30, 31 and Nov. 1

Showings may either be in Japanese with English subtitles or dubbed. Depending on one’s preference, be sure to check out these showings in a theater near you or visit Fathom Event’s Studio Ghibli Fest homepage at fathomevents.com/series/studio-ghibli-fest.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

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Welcome home, neighbor

Written by:Mikayla Coleman

Content warning: this article contains themes pertaining to psychological horror

Nostalgia — derived from the Greek words “notos,” meaning return, and “algos” meaning pain — has been a hot commodity in the contemporary art, horror and gaming scenes. Modern games such as “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “Undertale” have enthralled audiences with the feeling of longing for the past and simultaneously terror-filled experiences. A new alternate reality game has hit the scene with a wonderful harmony between the horrific and the familiar — “Welcome Home.”

“Welcome Home” is an interactive horror alternative reality game, or ARG, where users explore a website by clicking, highlighting and isolating images to unravel the mystery surrounding a beloved and forgotten 1970s children’s television show.

“You are to accompany a colorful cavalcade of puppets as their beloved neighborhood begins to skew and distort into a nightmarish memory that they can barely recall. Through illustrated books, recordings and an array of old merchandise, you will find what dwells within this colorful home,” says the project’s creator, Clown.

Despite its bright and friendly appearance, through exploring, audiences will become attuned to the dark underbelly of the world of the neighborhood.

The game’s cast consists of several muppet-inspired characters with their own unique quirks, including Eddie Dear, Howdy Pillar, Barnaby B. Beagle, Frank Frankly, Julie Joyful, Sally Starlet, Poppy Partridge and the series’ beloved main character, Wally Darling. A thorough description of each character, detailing their individual attributes, interests and relationships, is listed on the project’s website, which can be accessed at www.clownillustration.com/welcomehomeyou.

Clown, the artist behind ClownIllustrations, is a Northern Californian artist specializing in illustration and character design. Clown is currently working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio arts. Their artistic interests are vast, including sewing, building puppets and creating stories and art that blur the line between macabre and delightful topics.

“Welcome Home is a way to explore what I can do as an artist and try out new things, especially with limited materials” says Clown.

The production of “Welcome Home” has been in progress since 2018, and with good reason. Clown’s immense attention to detail is what gives Welcome Home an immense amount of utterly-70s charm and believability.

Recently, “Welcome Home” has gone viral on a multitude of social media platforms, particularly Tiktok and Youtube, where fans of the game have shared their theories and findings while poking around on the project website. The project is still in-progress, but has a massive audience waiting for the continuation of the friendly and freaky friends that make up “Welcome Home.”

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

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

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Celebrating diversity

Abby’s House takes part in #30daysfoSAAM

AI may not be as scary as it seems

John Wick movies ranked

Instrumental beats

Ghibli in theater

Welcome home, neighbor

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