Mount Hood

Is it to Early to Watch Christmas Movies?

Written by: Gretchen Sims

As the holiday season rolls around, many students cannot wait to rip into their boxes of Christmas decorations, pull out their stockings and sit next to a dimly lit tree while drinking a warm drink of their choice. Some prefer to begin this festive frenzy after celebrating Thanksgiving, but for many, the Christmas crazies begin long before that fateful meal. 

One of the most popular holiday activities is the ritualistic worshiping of the Hallmark franchise. Despite these movies being labeled as cheesy, stupid or even cringeworthy, these films have dug themselves into the very fabric of the holidays. 

Regardless of their popularity, these movies are just harmless, are they not? How could such sweet, happy movies full of true love and touching moments be damaging to society, backtracking the hard work of centuries? Is Hallmark spreading a message that is contrary to the success our generation has made toward inclusion and acceptance of those who were once considered outside the social norm?

It is common knowledge that the plot to every Hallmark movie is essentially the same: a girl meets a boy in some strange extenuating circumstance, the boy falls in love with the girl, something comes between them, but eventually love prevails and they live happily ever after. The end.

Is that it? Is that really the end? Or is there some dark beast lurking behind every happy ending? 

Hallmark promotes a straight, white, heteronormative love story that is actually very harmful if taken at surface value. Think about how many people know the classic Hallmark narrative — it’s a classic story. All of these people are being reached with a similar message; one regarding what makes for a happy ending. 

Hallmark is essentially presenting its audience with a recipe for success — what a relationship should look like if one wants to have an ideal partner to bring home for the holidays. However, no matter how “timeless” this may seem, it is the timelessness in itself that presents the issue with Hallmark movies. 

Hopefully, as society progresses, Hallmark will also progress in being more inclusive with its love stories. Inclusion of characters with genders outside of the typical gender binary, relationships that fall outside the traditional values or even inclusion of non-romantic relationships that can be just as satisfying. 

Truly fulfilling holiday adventures will not be complete until all voices are equally represented, especially in Hallmark movies. 



Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu 



Sip On This

Written by:Jude Bokovoy

Tired of the same cup of joe each morning? Let fellow Western students provide some inspiration. Read the responses to questions asked by the Howl below.

What is one’s go to coffee order? 

Macchiato: A classic macchiato is one part espresso and one part steamed milk. However, Starbucks creates its macchiatos just like an iced caramel latte, but layered. First, vanilla syrup is added to the bottom of the cup, followed by milk, ice, and espresso shots. Caramel is drizzled over the top of the entire drink, creating delicious, flavorful ribbons to be drunk from a sip lid. One student prefers to add vanilla bean powder to their Starbucks caramel macchiato. 

Latte: This drink is made with one to four shots of espresso and steamed or cold whole milk. One’s favorite alternative milk can be easily substituted. Students’ favorite flavor combinations include honey with cinnamon and hazelnut with coconut. Other alterations involve switching out espresso with different roasts, like highly-caffeinated white coffee, or replacing milk with half and half or even eggnog.

Chai latte: The name is easily deceptive. Believe it or not, there is no espresso included in this drink. Instead of espresso, this latte includes a chai tea base along with steamed or cold  milk, depending if one wants it hot or iced.

Dirty chai: To make a chai latte “dirty,” add a shot or two of espresso. 

Both the classic and dirty chai are very popular with students. One student turns their dirty chai into a breve by replacing the milk with half and half. Another adds white chocolate. 

Mocha: This drink is prepared just like a latte with the addition of a chocolate syrup or powder. To make a white mocha, swap out regular chocolate for white chocolate syrup or powder. Some students have their mochas with raspberry, peppermint or dark chocolate. 

Cold brew: The smoothest drink out there is a cold brew. Baristas will soak fresh espresso grounds with cold water and strain through a tea cloth and let it sit for 24 hours to gain potency. This drink is served plain over ice or with cream, as preferred by a student. 

White Russian: To transition from morning to night, one student of age likes to wind down with this adult beverage — made with vodka, coffee liqueur and cream over ice in an old-fashioned glass.

Students also submitted votes on their alternative milk of choice, as well as their temperature preference. 

Which alternative milk is the best?

Oat: 69%

Almond: 15%

Cashew: 7%

Hot or iced?

Hot: 16%

Iced: 83%

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu



Oh Gnocchi You Don’t

Written by:Jude Bokovoy

Ever tried gnocchi? This comforting recipe will introduce one to a variety of flavors.

Chicken Pesto Gnocchi

Start to finish: 15 minutes

Yields: 2 servings

½ bag of gnocchi

¼ cup pesto of choice

½ cooked chicken breast

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 tablespoons balsamic glaze

5 tablespoons parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons red chili flakes

Start by heating a large pan with olive oil. Once the pan is warm, add gnocchi. Cook until the bottom is golden and then flip to brown the top. This should take about ten minutes. Chop the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces then add to the pan. Stir in the pesto along with red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese. Cook until fully warm, then plate. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and serve. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu



Wonderful Western

Written by:Jude Bokovoy

There are many things for Western students to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season. To practice gratitude, reflect on what there is to be thankful for here at Western. 

Education — Many people don’t have the opportunity to get a higher education. Being a student at a university is such a blessing, let alone a college as great as Western. There are a variety of majors and minors to choose from and there are always opportunities to experiment with extracurriculars. What makes Western unique when it comes to higher education, is their outstanding Teaching and American Sign Language programs. The teaching program ranks fourth in the nation, with American Sign Language following closely behind as seventh.

Resources — There are so many resources available to Western students. Whether it’s counseling, advising, healthcare or housing, Western has one covered. There are also amazing non-academic resources such as Western’s Food Pantry and the Stitch Closet.

Campus — Western’s campus is filled with activities to keep students engaged. There are a wide number of clubs and organizations, coed sports, fitness classes, games and campus activities year round. 

Experience fall — Western provides a unique experience in autumn. Students get to watch the leaves change colors, feel the weather cool and see sunsets much earlier in the day. 

Welcoming town — The beautiful town of Monmouth gives students the feeling of home with its plethora of family owned businesses. Many restaurants are within walking distance of the campus, giving students the opportunity to try something new while supporting the community. 

Location — Monmouth is the perfect place for students who like to travel — being that it is only an hour away from Portland, 45 minutes away from multiple beaches, 30 minutes away from Corvallis, 20 minutes away from Salem and only 15 minutes away from Dallas. Each of these places are different from each other and are full of restaurants, businesses, activities and beautiful sceneries. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu



Not Just Your Mothers Tears

Written by:Nicholas Sarysz

Imagine sitting around a table with one’s extended relatives, who are all giving their very bad opinions on what one should do with one’s life. While it may sound like some form of torture, it is actually what many consider “celebrating” Thanksgiving.

However, the holiday is not about being forced to spend time with one’s extended family. Instead, Thanksgiving is about coming together to celebrate the blessings we all experience. After all, if one is going to be forced to sit next to their politically-opinionated uncle, they might as well at least get a feast and a long weekend out of the ordeal.

Families will most commonly cook turkey for the holiday, sided by various dishes that may include mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce and more. Of course, many accompany the day with different activities, such as watching football, sharing what they are most grateful for or even preparing for a Black Friday extravaganza. 

Many others, who are unable to spend time with family during the holiday, celebrate “Friendsgiving.” When it boils down to it, Thanksgiving is all about tradition and being surrounded by the people you love.

The tradition dates back to November 1621, when the first American colonists shared a feast with the Wampanoag Native Americans after their harvest. While this appeared to be the groundwork for a great relationship and a glorious holiday for everyone, it only worked out that way for one of the parties.

Fast forward to 2022 and those that most closely resemble the colonists that arrived from Plymouth run prosperously throughout the country, while the Indigenous people are shoved into forlorn land that the government labeled as a reservation. Today, many people view these reservations as a novelty, where they are able to gamble at casinos and purchase illegal fireworks to set off in their suburban neighborhoods. 

The trajectory taken to get to this point is even worse, as the history between the two sides is nothing more than a long and bloody conflict that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.

The American Government acts as if none of this conflict ever existed and continues to marinate its national holidays in deceptive ways. 

Yet, it is unlikely that any of this will change. Many teachers will continue to white-wash the country’s dirty past by depicting a great relationship between the two sides, all while the students ignorantly craft hand turkeys out of construction paper and finger paint.

So the next time one is  listening to their Uncle Jim rant about this President or that Ballot Initiative, think about the pain and suffering that has gone into the making of the meal that is going cold in front of them— and not just one’s mother’s blood, sweat and tears.

By no means is spending time with one’s family an inherently evil act and neither is forming traditions with those you love. What may be, however, is continuing to pretend that nothing is wrong with the origins of Thanksgiving.

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@mail.wou.edu



Oregon Election Results

Written by; Nicholas Sarysz

Oregon had a lot on the ballot for this year’s midterm elections, which most notably included four ballot measures and a gubernatorial race.

The ballot measure results are as follows. Measure 111, which is meant to establish a right to affordable, effective health care in the state constitution, passed by less than 2%. Measure 112, which calls to modify the state constitution to remove slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment, passed with over 55% of the vote. Measure 113, which will disqualify lawmakers from re-election if they are absent from 10+ floor sessions, passed with a resounding 68.3% of the vote. Measure 114, which requires specific identification and permits to buy firearms, and limits the size of allowed ammunition magazines, barely passed with 50.7% of the vote.

Democrat Tina Kotek was the winner of the gubernatorial race. Kotek will take over as governor in place of Kate Brown, who was ineligible for re-election due to Oregon’s gubernatorial term limit. Kotek, the 56-year-old self-labeled “proven progressive fighter,” is most known for serving as the speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2013 – 2022. She will now have the opportunity as governor to work with a democratic majority in the state legislature.

Also on the ballot this election was one of Oregon’s U.S. Senate positions, as well as four positions for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Winning the senate position was Democrat incumbent Ron Wyden, who has held the position since 1996. Previously, Wyden served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981–1996.

The House of Representatives’ results are as follows. Oregon’s 1st district was won by Democratic incumbent Suzanne Bonamici, who was first elected to the position in 2012. Oregon’s 2nd district was won by Republican incumbent Cliff Bentz, who has only held the position since last year. Oregon’s 3rd district was won by Democratic incumbent Earl Blumenauer, who has held the position since 1996. Oregon’s 4th district was won by Democrat Valerie Hoyle, who is a former member of the Oregon House of Representatives, and the current commissioner of Oregon’s Bureau of Labor.

Oregon’s 5th district was won by Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who served as the mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon from 2010–2018. She also unsuccessfully ran for the Oregon House of Representatives twice in the last decade. 

Oregon’s 6th district was won by Democrat Andrea Salinas, who served in the Oregon House of Representatives since 2017.

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@mail.wou.edu



Strutting with Style

Written by:Mirella Barrera-Betancourt

On the evening of Nov. 17, the Stitch Closet held their second annual talent and fashion show. 

Though the Stitch Closet has been operating on the Western campus since 2020, they have not strayed from their foundational roots. Created to provide relief to the many college students lacking essential clothing needed to succeed in the academic and professional workplace, the organization’s mission is to provide quality clothing to students who may otherwise lack access to this basic need. 

This year’s fashion show, which doubled as a fundraiser, consisted of four segments: formal attire, casual attire, business attire and the recently added Disney inspired segment. 

Because the Stitch Closet runs primarily off of the volunteerism of students, the fashion show was made possible through the support of both former and current students. Before the show, students interested in volunteering were encouraged to apply for the opportunity to be a talent presenter or a model for the fashion show. 

In total, there were 12 volunteer student and alumni participants in the show — a major advancement from their first fashion show.

The Stitch Closet is integrated alongside Western’s diverse number of basic needs services, including Abby’s House and the Food Pantry. Consequently, this year’s Stitch Closet event saw numerous new faces, most significantly in their talent show line-up.

Dressed in vibrant Mexican skirts — a fashion statement in itself — sophomore student Brenda Martinez was one of the talented performers at the event with a traditional performance of ballet folklórico. 

Although Western alumni Liam Vance could not be physically present for the talent show, Vance shared a splendid guitar solo performance with the audience through a remote recording.

Abby’s House Director Kristen Perry was also present at the event. While Perry was not a talent presenter, she did evoke laughter in the audience with great jokes, to soothe the awaiting audience.

Much like other various departments at Western, the Stitch Closet prides itself on being student operated and is almost always looking for volunteers and clothing donations. To remain updated, students should follow their Instagram at @stitchcloset.wou.



Study abroad opportunities on campus

Written by; Mirella Barrera-Betancourt

Western is home to over 300 on campus clubs and organizations. With such a diverse number of student services and organizations, it can be easy to overlook the fact that Western offers students one of the most fundamental opportunities for the college experience. 

The Center for Professional Pathways is the parent service for Western’s Study Abroad Program — housing four different study abroad providers including IE3 Global, Campus Internationalizations Solutions Abroad, Cooperative Center for Study Abroad and Global Education Oregon — and over 200 programs to choose from. Students who choose to study abroad during their academic experience can have their credits transferred whilst also exploring different cultures. 

There are requirements to determine whether a student is eligible. In order to be approved for Study Abroad, students must meet the following criteria: good academic and judicial standing, meet the language requirements for one’s program of interest, have a passport valid six months beyond the end date of the program, as well as completion of all application materials highlighted in the next section.

While some providers present study abroad opportunities in English-speaking countries only, some, such as IE3 Global, offer study abroad opportunities in Ecuador, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Japan, South Korea and Mexico.

Although the application process may appear daunting, CPP and the Study Abroad program on campus are there to help every step of the way. 

How it works: Students should first complete the program’s general intake form — a simple Google form that provides the program with basic information about the student. From the information provided on this form, the program’s committee decides whether the applicant is eligible to study abroad.

Once the student has submitted the form, they can begin procuring their online profile through Terra Dotta. When starting an application, a $50 fee will be assessed. It is at this stage that the student should plan to meet with their academic advisor to plan their future schedule. The earlier, the better.

It is important to also keep in mind that some programs, such as IE3 and CCSA, have a second form students must fill out. This form may require a separate application fee.

Choosing a Program: Before meeting with a study abroad advisor — the next step in the application process — students must first decide where they would like to study. 

There are two ways in which students can search for study abroad opportunities. If they already have a destination in mind, they could search based on country or region. If they do not have a destination in mind, they could search based on their major or area of interest. Either method will concur results preferable to a student’s particular interests.

Students have the choice to select their destination based on whether they would like to study abroad or undergo an internship. Western provides very specific types of study abroad programs to students, including studying abroad for the acquisition of a language, internships, direct exchange programs into university and third-party sponsored programs.

Students considering applying for the program should start planning approximately a year in advance. For reference, if students wish to study abroad in Fall of the 2023-2024 academic year, they should begin the application process somewhere around Winter term of the previous year.

For more information about studying and interning abroad contact Graduate Assistant for Study Abroad Programs, Jacen Miller, at studyabroad@mail.wou.edu. Students considering studying abroad are encouraged to schedule an appointment for further details about the application process. All forms can be found on the Study Abroad program’s website at wou.edu/study-abroad/.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu



WOU-underful Food Drive

Written by:Dakota Gange

The holiday season is known for notoriously tough times. The gray skies exacerbate seasonal affective disorders, which can lead to a plethora of life complications. The cold and rainy weather means higher electric bills. 

Western has a multitude of student support services to help combat these difficulties. Through visiting Abby’s House on the first floor of the Werner University Center, students can find resources to aid in housing, food insecurity and basic needs. At the Student Health and Wellness Center, students can find quick and easy access to simple medical care and counseling, including couples counseling.  

A unique benefit Western offers is the Food Pantry, located in the Welcome Center. One does not need to be a student to take advantage of the Food Pantry’s resources. The Food Pantry operates on a nearly no questions asked basis. There is no limit on how much one can take or how often one can visit. The process is completely anonymous, with only two questions to answer at checkout— how many people one is shopping for and whether one is a community member or Western student. 

However, the Food Pantry gets deliveries at the beginning of the month; so if one were to visit earlier this week, they’d find virtually empty shelves. 

In response, Hunter Hall —fourth year math major and ASWOU vice president— took to local businesses and ran a food drive. Ironically, though, the Independence Grocery Outlet was the only local business that agreed to collaborate in the effort by hosting a large container for community members to donate non-perishables. 

Hall did not let the lack of local business support keep him down —he and his small team of volunteers collected enough non-perishables to practically fill a third of his office.

“It’s my job to set into motion events like this; I want to help my people,” said Hall. “It feels good to give back; bringing in all the food to the pantry, it puts into perspective how much we actually got.” 

A pile of vividly colored food boxes and cans await distribution to the Food Pantry shelves, which could be as early as Thursday, making it available to the public after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The drive brought in 496 pounds of food. 

Hall put together a seven page guide that he hopes will be used in the future for annual fall food drives, with plans to run for ASWOU president for the 2023-24 school year. Maintaining open office hours, those desiring to engage with Hall can easily reach him in person or over Zoom. Hall encourages anyone who wants to talk with him to not hesitate to reach out — “My door is always open,” he added.

Hall’s updated office hours can be found posted on the front door of the ASWOU office in the Werner University Center, but are typically Mon from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m., Tue from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Wed 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., and Thu 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

For more information, frequently asked questions, or to volunteer at the Food Pantry, visit their website at https://wou.edu/foodpantry/.

Contact the author at howlmanagingeditor@wou.edu



WOU Cross Country Recap

Written by:Nicholas Sarysz

Western’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams toed the line of their home cross-country course for the Greater Northwest Athletic Conference championship meet on Sept. 5. Despite higher hopes, both of the teams finished in fourth place.

Western Washington University won the men’s meet with a score of  31 points —they have not lost to a conference opponent the entire 2022 season.

Western Washington also won the women’s meet with a score of 64 points, having all of their scoring runners finishing within one minute of each other.

The men’s side was led by Hunter Hutton, who finished the 10-kilometer race in 24 minutes and 23 seconds. The other scorers on the men’s team were Bailey Smith, 22nd, Easton Pomrankey, 25th, Logan Parker, 27th, and Miguel Villar, 31st.

Caitlin Heldt, in just her second race of the season, led the women’s team with her third-place finish. Heldt  ran the 6-kilometer race in 21 minutes and 9 seconds. The rest of the scorers on the women’s side were Luz Garcia, 12th, Riley Smith, 13th, Holly Hutton, 29th, and Lindie Larson, 30th.

This was the first full-length cross-country season for the National Collegiate Athletic Association since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked about how that has affected the group, Senior Bailey Smith only had good things to say. 

“From the start of the season, the group of guys has been really focused. This season is two weeks longer than last year’s which requires a lot of focus on taking care of ourselves. Coach Holloway has done a great job of keeping us fresh and feeling like we can get ready for both the 8k and 10k.”

Throughout all of the ups and downs of the season, the comradery of the group has remained strong. A key part of this team’s comradery has been transfer sophomore Kolby Spink, who had a lot to say when asked about his transition into being a Western Oregon University athlete.

“Transitioning from my previous institution to WOU has been really great. When I got to Western the guys’ team was very welcoming and supportive of anything that I needed. If I needed help taking my bags to the dorms, everyone would be there willing to help. If I was ever not feeling too good on a workout my teammates would be there to tell me ‘you got this’ and to keep working towards our goals. Our team is like a family, we’re always there to support one another and be there for each other. The coaches here have been really good at helping me get better as an athlete. When I was at my previous institution I kind of struggled with being able to get to my goals and some of the training got to be too much. Here I’m able to trust the coach with the training and I’m able to achieve the goals that I want while pushing myself and not having that be too much. The races have been a lot of fun so far. Our team is so close to each other each time that our 3-7 runners change almost every race. Our team is looking pretty strong as we head into Regionals in Billings Montana. We are hoping to be able to qualify for Nationals. The team has what it takes and we are looking ready to take on the competition. We took 4th in GNAC a couple of weeks ago but we know as a team we can run better and beat some of these teams,” said Spink.

The Wolves look to bounce back this upcoming Saturday, November 19th, as they travel to Billings, Montana for the NCAA Division II West Regionals meet. There, the Wolves will compete against the other 20 teams in the region. The men were ranked 10th in the preseason polls, but have since fallen out of the rankings, whereas the women have never ranked in any of the top spots.

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu



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