Mount Hood

“Words from the Window Seat” review

Written by: Jude Bokovoy 

Whether it was a post from her blog, an Instagram post, TikTok, Youtube video or on an American Airlines flight, most people have come across Taylor Tippett. In case one doesn’t know, Tippett is in her mid to late 20’s, recently married, a bookworm, thrift store connoisseur and an outgoing flight attendant based out of Los Angeles, California. She is also one of the first successful influencers that has not let fame cross her mind. 

Tippett published her book, “Words from the Window Seat: The Everyday Magic of Kindness, Courage, and Being Your True Self,” on Oct. 12, 2021. 

She started the book by introducing her project; Tippett wanted to find a way to spread kindness to the next passengers joining the aircraft, her followers and to act as a reminder for herself. She wrote a simple note, reading “be kind to yourself,” and taped it up on a passenger window, snapped a picture and posted it. She went on to paste many notes with affirmations, reminders for self love and words to help during a hard time as well as things to reflect on. 

Tippett starts each chapter with a doodle of one of the notes that she has pasted on an airplane window. Each note segues into a story from her childhood, a problem that she’s learned from, her travels, her blogging/influencer journey and how Jesus has helped her along the way. A few notes included in her book are “remember your courage,” “grow BETTER because of hurt,” “you don’t have to be fully fixed to live fully free,” “you’re actually wonderful,”“always to love, not to understand,” “celebrate every victory, big or small” and “you didn’t WASTE your love, ever.” 

Taylor instructs her readers to take time to heal, find beauty in the ordinary and to spread love among one another and oneself just as Jesus did. 

As a reader, I found myself feeling refreshed, reflecting her words onto my life and shedding a few tears. Her book is full of beauty, heartbreak and wisdom without wasting a single page. I highly recommend purchasing this book to read or give to a friend. It goes for only $10.17 on Amazon. 

10/10

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

TikTok faces more privacy concern

Written by: Nicholas Sarysz

TikTok is a wildly popular social media platform that has taken the world by storm, surpassing over one billion active users worldwide in 2021. The app allows users to create and share short, looping videos of themselves or their environments TikTok has a variety of filters, special effects and music tracks, making it easy for anyone to create content that is both entertaining and engaging. It has become a cultural phenomenon — especially among younger generations— and has been credited with launching viral trends, dance challenges and even chart-topping music hits.

Within the past couple of years, the app’s parent company, ByteDance, has been hit with a wave of criticism in regards to user privacy. Specifically, the app has been accused of collecting a wide range of personal information from its users, including their location, browsing history and even biometric data such as facial recognition. Critics have argued that ByteDance’s close ties to the Chinese Communist Party may also be an issue in regard to the safety of Americans.

Most recently, Texas universities have banned TikTok from their networks and restricted access to the social media app on their internet networks. Several state governors, including Greg Abbott, issued executive orders that served as the impetus for the recent wave of campus TikTok bans. The Texas bans were some of the biggest to gain national media attention, as more than half of the U.S. states had already banned the use of the app on government devices and networks, to some degree.

In Congress, there is a large push to ban the use of the app nationwide to some capacity, which could include banning it solely  from all government devices, to banning it outright for everyone within the nation’s borders. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, has stated that they have been reviewing the potential risks of data-sharing by TikTok since 2019. On the other hand, ByteDance has spent over five and a half million dollars on American lobbyists for the company in 2022 alone and is looking to do whatever it can to convince the United States government that it is not a security threat.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Melody Barrett’s senior art exhibit

Written by: Gretchen Sims

The latest addition to the senior art exhibits in the Werner University Center is blowing viewers away with its stunning colors and cohesive designs. Artist Melody Barrett is the mastermind behind these breathtaking works that currently grace the second floor of the WUC. 

When discussing her series, titled “Finding my Artistic Voice,” Barrett addressed the following topics: 

Q: What does art mean to you?

A: This is a complicated question, and honestly I’ve been struggling to find an answer because art means many things to me. It’s the act of creating, and also the act of observing something others have created, or that mother nature has created. I can see the art of a tree or landscape as easily as that of a painting or sculpture or other medium. Art is something that touches my soul, makes me stop and pause and really look and feel. It’s one of the things I’ve loved about being here at WOU and working in the Galleries. I love seeing what other people create, what they are giving voice to and how they express themselves and the world around them.

Q: What first got you interested in art?

A: Two things really influenced me. The first of which was my mother. She sewed and crocheted and made a myriad of drawings and crafts throughout her life, yet never thought of herself as an artist. She looked at what she created as being ‘crafty’. It wasn’t until very late in her life that she painted just a few paintings and I was amazed at her talent. I think that is why I viewed my early artistic endeavors as ‘just playing’. I’ve always been creating something but thought ‘being an artist’ was something others did, not me. The second was when I was about 12 years old and my family went to Seattle. At the public market I bought two posters for 25.00 each which was an outrageous amount of my allowance to spend at the time. The first was a surreal image by Dominique Appia entitled Entre Les Trous De La Mémoire. In English Between the Holes in the Memory. It captured my attention and I felt it spoke directly to me. The second poster was a copy of an art exhibit poster, I can’t remember what city now, but it was a pink vase with pussywillow branches out of the top and the faint image of a bird in the center of the vase. Those were my first wall art type purchases, and they went with me everywhere for 20 years.

Q: What would you like others to take from your art?

A: I hope that everyone who sees my art can find something in some piece that they like, that touches them.   

Q: What inspires you?

A: Nearly everything! People, places, events, definitely other artists!

Q: What is your “why”? (what makes you the artist you are today)

A: So many things, but it might just boil down to curiosity and the desire to continually try new things. My art is an expression of thoughts, feelings, ideas I have kicking around inside me in an external form.

For the month of February, Western students and members of the community can come to see this display themselves. Be sure to check it out before it’s gone.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Scrumptious Student Suggestions

Written by: Jude Bokovoy

Show some love to local businesses by grabbing a bite to eat this week. Switch things up and try another student’s order at any of these restaurants. 

To participate in the next student survey, follow the Western Howl on Instagram @thewesternhowl.

The Sippery 

Vanilla latte — espresso, milk and vanilla syrup.

Iced white mocha with oat milk — espresso, oat milk and white chocolate over ice.

Green Peter — matcha, milk and peach syrup.

Blended chai latte — chai tea base, milk, ice blended.

Dirty chai with white coffee — chai tea base, milk and white espresso. 

Pendleton — chai tea base, milk and espresso.

Pendleton with brown sugar and almond milk — listed above with the addition of brown sugar syrup and substituting regular dairy milk for almond milk. 

Pendleton with oat milk and toasted marshmallow — a Pendelton with oat milk and toasted marshmallow syrup.

Pink Lotus with strawberry and pomegranate — Pink Lotus, strawberry and pomegranate syrup over ice. 

Smoothie —  strawberry, peach, blueberry, marionberry or banana are offered, along with a variety of milks and juices. 

Scone — gluten and dairy-free baked goods are supplied by Crumble & Glaze.

Veggie bagel —  choice of bagel toasted with hummus, cucumber, roasted red bell peppers, pickled red onions, arugula and their house peppered honey.

Signature bagel —  choice of bagel toasted with cream cheese, avocado, tomato, bacon and everything bagel seasoning. 

BTA bagel sandwich, substitute pesto for mayo — choice of bagel, bacon, tomato, avocado, mayo and arugula. 

Ham, egg and cheese sandwich — choice of bagel with ham, egg and cheddar cheese.

Bugles

Monthly menu — each month the Bugles staff comes up with a special drink menu that will be served throughout the month.

Cheese bagels — cheddar cheese bagel toasted with cream cheese. 

Iced French Kiss — espresso, milk, French Vanilla and coconut syrup.

Apple crumble muffin — a big muffin filled with thinly sliced baked apple, crumble and drizzle over top. 

Grain Station

Cinnamon roll french toast — original french toast with cinnamon roll toppings.

Grilled Turkey and Bacon Sandwich — turkey, bacon, swiss cheese, tomato and mayonnaise with grilled sourdough bread. 

Patty melt — smashed patty, cheddar cheese, tomato and grilled onions between two slices of marble rye. 

Chicken fried steak with chorizo gravy — this student adds a side of bacon and makes it a breakfast sandwich.

Pulled pork fries — pulled pork, cheddar cheese, bacon and jalapenos over fries topped with apricot barbeque sauce.

Grilled chicken wrap with no bacon, add avocado — Grilled chicken, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and Sriracha ranch wrapped in a flour tortilla. 



Starduster Cafe

Country skillet — eggs, chicken fried steak, cheddar cheese topped with gravy.

Anything on the light eaters menu — their breakfast menu with smaller portions for a cheaper price.



Casa Burrito

Carne asada street tacos — carne asada on two corn tortillas with build-your-own toppings, including cabbage, lime, cilantro and a variety of homemade salsas. 

Taco Tuesday — each Tuesday four kinds of street tacos are $1.50 each.

Chicken quesadilla — a blend of cheese and chicken between two grilled tortillas. 

Al pastor tacos –- Al pastor on two corn tortillas with build-your-own toppings, including cabbage, lime, cilantro and a variety of homemade salsas. 



Koyotes Tacos

Carne asada fries — carne asada, beans, sour cream and a blend of cheeses over crispy fries.

Carne asada tacos with rice and beans — carne asada street tacos with a side of rice and beans.

3 mini chorizo tacos with a horchata — two mini corn tortillas filled with chorizo, white onions and cilantro, with a horchata, a drink made from rice, milk, water, sugar and cinnamon.

Momiji Sushi 

California roll — cucumber, crab salad and avocado.

Edamame — steamed soybeans, topped with salt served in the pod.

Bento 3 — Chicken katsu, six piece Salem roll, tempura shrimp, house salad and white rice. 

Salem roll — avocado, cream cheese, surimi, deep fried and topped with spicy mayo eel sauce.

Blackened ahi tuna roll –- seared tuna, avocado, cucumber, cream cheese, sesame seeds, black pepper and ponzu sauce.

Vegas roll — smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber, spicy sauce, eel sauce and sesame seeds. 

Gyoza — Japanese dumplings filled with vegetables and chicken with gyoza sauce on the side. 

Sesame balls — Japanese pastry filled with red bean sauce covered with white sesame seeds.

Gilgamesh Brewing: The River

Pepperoni and pineapple pizza — pizza topped with pepperoni and pineapple. 

Gilga-Burger — cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, sliced dill pickles, and IPA aioli on a brioche bun. Served with fries.

Caesar salad with grilled salmon — chopped romaine lettuce, shredded parmesan cheese, house croutons, Caesar dressing and salmon. 

Metolius pizza — tomato sauce, basil and mozzarella cheese, topped with garlic-infused olive oil.

Yeasty Beasty

Drunken Goat — house pesto, mozzarella cheese blend, artichokes, wine-marinated mushrooms, fresh basil and goat cheese.

Pepperoni and pineapple pizza — pizza topped with pepperoni and pineapple.

Baked potato pizza — garlic olive oil base, mozzarella cheese blend, bacon, red onions, green onions and mashed potatoes.

Margarita pizza — tomato sauce, dollops of mozzarella cheese, grape tomatoes and fresh basil, topped with a balsamic reduction.

Build-your-own: this student orders their pizza with pesto, chicken, mushrooms, spinach and balsamic glaze.

Build-your-own: this student orders their pizza with pesto, sun dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, chicken and mozzarella cheese.

Habebah

Chicken plate — grilled chicken, garlic sauce and seasoned basmati rice, along with two sides.

Gyro plate — marinated lamb and beef drizzled with house Tzatziki sauce over seasoned basmati rice, along with two sides.

Student’s favorite sides — house hummus, house baba ganoush, pita bread and fries.

Baklava — phyllo pastry filled with crushed pistachios and honey.



Greece Lightning

Gyro — beef and lamb with tomatoes, red onion and Tzatziki sauce wrapped in warm pita bread.

Greek fries — fries topped with feta cheese, beef and lamb, greek seasoning and squeezed lemon juice.



Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Bird flu outbreak enters its second year

Written by: Mirella Barrera-Betancourt

It has been a year since the outbreak of the avian influenza, which rocked egg inventories and raised wholesale egg prices. In January 2023, Oregonians saw the prices of eggs spike higher in percentage than any other food item, such as chicken or turkey.

The avian flu, also known as the bird flu, had a devastating effect on flocks of hens across the country, forcing farms to kill more than 43 million hens by the end of December 2022 to limit the spread of the disease and costing the government roughly $660 million. The outbreak hit in two separate waves, from February to June and from September to December.

The avian flu is a highly contagious virus, spread easily through wild bird droppings and nasal discharges, making it incredibly difficult for farmers to contain the spread of the disease. 

Though this specific virus does not significantly pose a threat to human health, as a reminder, poultry should be cooked to 165℉ to ensure any present viruses are eliminated.

The outbreak, combined with soaring inflation, fuel and labor costs are grounds for havoc from consumers. Amid a national supply shortage, grocery stores in and around Oregon are continuing to face struggles with meeting the market demand for eggs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Investigation, the consumer price of eggs rose 8.5% to an average price of $4.82 per dozen this past January.

The limited supply of eggs is prevalent for many individuals, including college students. 

At Western, Valsetz Dining Hall — students’ main source for easy, on-campus dining — had to resort to charging diners for the difference in supply and demand. At their registers, a sign has been put on display informing diners of the raised prices for meals containing eggs.

Currently, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately for consumers, there is no guarantee that egg prices will go back to being one of the cheaper, more nutritious food options.

However, new flocks of hens have begun repopulating farms, which may indicate a significant advancement toward replenishing the United State’s egg supply.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

New buisness opens on Monmouth Ave. in Monmouth

Written by: Mirella Barrera-Betancourt

Last October, a new business opened in Monmouth’s downtown area. La Uvita Feliz, a Mexican restaurant also dishing out classic American cuisine, is now serving the Monmouth community.

Some of the dishes at La Uvita Feliz are heavily influenced by the style of Michoacán cuisine — the birthplace of its owner, Dulce Galvan. Galvan has 20 years of experience working in the food industry. 

According to Galvan, the name “La Uvita Feliz” was taken as inspiration from the restaurant chain in Apatzingán, Michoacán called “La Uvita.” 

“I consider myself a good cook, and from there, the idea of the restaurant arose,” said Galvan.

At La Uvita Feliz, there is something for everyone. Aside from the Mexican dishes, which range from pozole to quesabirria tacos, the menu offers American fare such as burgers and hot dogs, and beverages such as milkshakes and fresh fruit juices. Additionally, to cater to a broader audience, La Uvita Feliz offers both authentic handmade flour and corn tortillas.

For first time customers, Galvan highly recommends the Michoacán dish, chavindecas — a type of quesadilla consisting of two tortillas over cheese and meat. In Michoacán, chavindecas are incredibly popular, with the most popular choice of meat being roast beef.

“If you like handmade tortillas, I always recommend chavindecas (if) it’s your first time,” said Galvan. “Green enchiladas are sold a lot, as well as the enchiladas made out of mole (and) the Michaucán enchiladas, (which is) another dish typical of (Michuacán).” 

La Uvita Feliz prides itself on offering the best of homemade ingredients and service. They are willing to take orders for dishes not currently offered on the menu, such as red enchiladas — made with red chillies rather than green chillies and jalapeños — and more traditional American soups. Additionally, Galvan will happily cater to vegetarian diets by substituting or removing certain ingredients from a dish, if requested.

For students, La Uvita Feliz offers a 10% discount off any item on WOU Wednesdays. However, Galvan is happy to provide students with a discount any time, provided they can show their student ID.

For the time being, Galvan is focusing on garnering a loyal group of clientele and cementing her business in the Monmouth community. She hopes she can amass enough to where she can remodel the restaurant to exhibit more traditional Mexican design elements.

La Uvita Feliz is currently open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m, and is located at 145 Monmouth Avenue. Find their menu and stay updated on Instagram at @lauvi.tafeliz or Facebook at @La Uvita Feliz.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Sampling or Stealing?

Written by: Mikayla Coleman

Rapper Matthew Raymond Hauri, infamously known by fans as Yung Gravy, has been releasing music since 2016. Hauri began releasing music for fun on SoundCloud while attending college. Since then, Yung Gravy has become a memorable name around college campuses, encapsulating a carefree, laidback attitude often paired with college life and encouraging its audience to not take life too seriously. 

With popular songs such as “Mr.Clean,” “Gravy Train” and “C’est la Vie,” Yung Gravy’s music combines modern trap music with callbacks to older, well-known soul songs, creating a  unique and fun sound that captivates young audiences today. These borrowed, older songs, while being a pillar of what makes Yung Gravy’s music charming and recognizable, have landed Yung Gravy into some treacherous waters, namely, being sued by “Never Gonna Give You Up” singer, Rick Astley. 

The song in question is Yung Gravy’s newest single, “Betty (Get Money),” released in June 2022. Included within the song is a brief hook including a vocal replication that sounds similar to the voice of Rick Astley, as well as an instrumental recreation of Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” 

Astley alleges that Yung Gravy and the studio engineers involved in the song’s creation impersonated Astley’s voice and falsely stated Astley’s approval of the project.

To avoid having to jump through the hoops of getting the song licensed for sampling within “Betty (Get Money),” Yung Gravy and studio engineers involved in the song’s creation attempted to recreate the instrumental. 

Yung Gravy explained this thought process in an interview with Billboard in August 2022, “My boy Nick, who does a lot of sample replays and recreating original samples, we basically remade the whole song. Had a different singer and instruments, but it was all really close because it makes it easier legally.” 

Unfortunately, Yung Gravy’s understanding of this system may have been mistaken. Astley is seeking an unspecified amount of money for damages, including all gains and profits of their violation and attorney’s fees. It is expected that the lawsuit will amount to millions. 

The ruling of this case will set the precedent for artists that use sampled music or recreations within their work, a fairly common practice, especially in less popular music circles. 

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu