Mount Hood

Monday meditation methods to ease the soul

Sean Martinez  | Copy Editor

With midterms looming on the horizon, getting into a relaxed state of mind can be challenging for students. One of the more helpful ways of achieving that is through meditation. There are many different practices, ranging from sitting in one place to simply walking around the block. 

Dr. Lars Söderlund, the Chair of the English Department, leads a Meditation Club in the hopes of providing students with an outlet to reduce stress. 

For the past five years, Söderlund has utilized all kinds of meditations. The first method Söderlund explained was ‘concentration meditation.’ It’s one of the most commonly practiced meditations, which involves sitting in a comfortable place, with eyes closed and directing one’s attention to a single thing at a time. This can be breathing, posture, physical pain, anything. The aim is to be aware of the things the mind is focusing on. If the mind starts to sway off topic, try to shift the focus back to the initial focus.

“You can be more or less specific, you just want to make sure that you’re acknowledging what’s happening and moving back to the breath,” Söderlund said. 

Another form of meditation that Söderlund recommended is ‘loving-kindness.’ The ‘loving-kindness’ meditation, or Maitrī, is a Buddhist meditation method that wishes goodwill to oneself and others. Phrases can begin with ‘May I be happy’ or ‘May I be healthy and safe,’ but the phrases can be whatever is desired. These phrases can also be wished upon other people — loved ones, acquaintances, disagreeable people or even the whole world.

“And when I do that everyday I feel like a million bucks,” Söderlund added. 

Söderlund’s overall favorite meditation is called “do nothing.” The instructions are straight-forward — sit in one place and allow the mind to go wherever it wants to go. This strategy in particular can be helpful to students as it’s normal to have random, recurring thoughts happen in the middle of class. Dedicating some time to let these thoughts loose can be a huge relief. 

“I’ve had the greatest revelations while doing it,” Söderlund said. “You realize your brain kinda runs on autopilot.” 

These are just a few of several meditation methods. Söderlund also says that meditations can be done with apps — there are several — or they can be self-guided. Meditation Club takes place in Bellamy Hall room 122 every Monday from 5-6 p.m. 

 

Contact the author at howlcopyeditor@wou.edu

Photo by Kay Bruley

Get to know local college band Laundry in this Q&A

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Read on to learn more about the local college band, Laundry, in this Q&A style interview.

 

Can you tell me a bit about how this band got started?

We met in the UO dorms as freshman and all started going to house shows together. We started playing in the basement of our building near the laundry rooms — hence the name. 

 

Who is all in the band? What role does each musician play?

Cal plays bass and sings. Riley plays guitar and sings. Kiki plays guitar and sings. Nik plays drums. 

 

How would you describe your style of music?

We usually say we play dream rock, but we have a hard time answering that question — we have a lot of different influences. Please let us know if you have any idea what genre we are. 

 

What would be the perfect album for your band and what does that mean?

A perfect album has to be creative and consistent, while still being accessible enough to connect with listeners. There can’t be any filler tracks!

 

What is the process for producing music?

All four of us are songwriters, so Laundry songs wind up reflecting a ton of different influences. We take our songs to the band and all try to capture the original intent of the piece the best we can. Most of our songs wind up being played live for months before they make it into an album — we’re always trying out new material so we never get bored. 

 

What is the best part about playing your music live?

We’re just extremely grateful to have an audience who is familiar with our music and is willing to trek out to shows every weekend. The Eugene arts scene is crazy active and we probably wouldn’t be a band if it weren’t for all the local support. 

 

What is your goal when it comes to producing music?

We really love playing shows and making albums that people listen to. Our goal is to sustain that cycle as long as we can! 

 

Who are your role models or inspirations for creating music?

We have extremely diverse music preferences among our members — our songwriting heroes include Big Thief, Billy Joel, King Giz and everything in between. 

 

If your music was a color, what color would it be?

The Color Blue (Affirmation, 2019). 

 

Where can your music be found?

You can find our music on Spotify, Apple Music and all the major streaming services. We also have CDs and tapes available at our shows or via Instagram direct message @laundrytheband.   

   

Are you working on any projects currently?

We are in the late production stages of a new album that we all are crazy excited about. It’ll be out on Apr. 25!

 

Where will you be performing next?

We’re playing at Interzone in Corvallis on Feb. 8, WOW Hall in Eugene on Feb. 27, Cruz Room in Portland on March 31, and house parties in Eugene almost every weekend. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Roensch

Not quite an album, but enough to excite fans: Kaleo releases new songs

Emily Hedges  | Freelancer

Kaleo, an Icelandic band, released two new songs on Jan. 15, which shocked many fans considering the last album they released was in 2016. While fans may not have had new music for four years, Kaleo has still been performing around the world. The two songs “Break My Baby” and “I Want More” fit perfectly with their 2016 album “A/B.” A blues-rock feel with hints of folk/singer-songwriter, fans have been more than pleased with the new songs and hope for more soon.

The first song “I Want More” is filled with acoustic guitar and a soft melody of poetic lines. This song has a light-hearted feeling of wanting more in a relationship. Lead singer and guitarist JJ Julius Son, leads us through a relationship when the past was better and how he wants that back again; how he is willing to follow her wherever she goes. I would compare this song to “Automobile” which is on “A/B”; “Automobile” is a song about someone wanting to get away and go wherever the car takes them. Both of these songs bring a light-hearted and optimistic feel of wanting to get away or be with someone you love deeply.  

“Break My Baby” has a contrasting sound to “I Want More” with heavy drums and an electric guitar. JJ Julius Son’s voice, now deeper and soulful, sings about distrust and lies. This brings similarities to their song “Broken Bones” which talks about selling your soul to the devil to live a better life. 

Overall review: While after four years of no new music fans were a little disappointed that it wasn’t a new album, these songs still bring the same feel of the beloved “A/B,” leaving fans and new listeners two very different songs to listen to and enjoy. I would highly recommend these songs along with their 2016 album. 

 

Contact the author at ehedges15@mail.wou.edu

Album review of Halsey’s self-exploration album “Manic”

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Halsey released her third studio album on Jan. 17 by the name, “Manic” which featured her 2018 Billboard Hot 100 number one hit “Without Me.”

This album was a heavy-hitter; it covered mental health, emotionally abusive relationships and struggles with self-love; she didn’t hold anything back.

The first track titled “Ashley” is a real start to a new Halsey era, exposing her true identity “Ashley Nicolette Frangipane” and what she has gone through in her career. In the Spotify storyline feature, Halsey said, “This is an introduction but it’s also a cautious goodbye,” reflecting on how her audience would be affected should she ever “disappear.” This was a pretty dark song, but an essential way to start her album.

Halsey described her second song “clementine” via Spotify storyline feature as, “… a pinnacle moment for ‘Manic.’ It’s when I really saw my inner self and inner child come through in sound as well as the lyrics. You can hear two voices.” She refers to the calm and collected Halsey singing while Ashley yells impulsively in the background — a culmination of who she is and how she longs to be in the world.

The third song, “Graveyard” is one of my favorites. The catchy beat is inviting, and the meaning is deep. Halsey croons about loving someone who is in a bad place and without realizing, following them too far — far enough that it is detrimental to one’s own health.

“You should be sad” has an almost country twang to the guitar and vocals as Halsey sings about how happy she is to not have gone further in a relationship with someone who she describes as a terrible person. This is believed to be about her ex G-Eazy who was addicted to drugs and cheated on Halsey several times throughout their relationship.

While a lot of Halsey’s album focuses on the faults of her exes  that did more harm than good, she also acknowledges her own faults and battles, such as in her song “Forever… (is a long time)” which discusses how her paranoia and anxiety that can harm a relationship.

The three interludes in “Manic” cover three types of love, featuring three different artists. The first one, “Dominic’s Interlude” features Dominic Fike and is about brotherly love. The second “Alanis’ Interlude” with Alanis Morissette is about loving women and sexual and professional empowerment. And the third “SUGA’s Interlude” is where SUGA of BTS touches on self-love.

“I HATE EVERYBODY” is an important song for Halsey regarding her self-image. Her self-worth can often be equated by what other celebrities think is valuable, so she gets with them to earn that same respect that people have for such a star, and she is sick of it.

Halsey’s song “3am” is reminiscent to the style of the early 2000s with the heavy guitar and belting vocals, and touches further on her need for acceptance and love, and the fear of being alone and undervalued. 

One of Halsey’s most intimate and vulnerable songs on the album has to be “More” which ties in her longing for love — while not necessarily romantic — and to someone who does not exist. Halsey has opened up about having endometriosis and having several miscarriages, and has recently discovered she can have children; at the end of “More,” a sonogram can be heard beeping as the song fades out.

Overall Review: Halsey’s album “Manic” is a manifesto pushing past the heartache and pain she experienced in relationships to who she is as a person and how she has developed throughout the years. I resonated with what Western Howl staff member Ashlynn Norton said when she expressed that, “Halsey’s new album is the poetic self-help book for turning away love and people.” Every song on the album hits heavy while still being something to dance to or cry to; an all around great exploration of Ashley.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of http://www.manicthealbum.com/

Podcasts, convenient and endlessly entertaining:

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Podcasts are a form of fictional or nonfictional storytelling online, which have been around since at least 2004, but it wasn’t until 2017 that they started rising in popularity. The sheer amount of podcasts available can be daunting when approaching. So, I have compiled a list of what I believe are some of the best podcasts in 2020.

  1. “And That’s Why We Drink”: This, in my opinion, has the perfect blend of genres to listen to. This podcast features two friends, Christine and Emily, who drink wine and milkshakes while discussing true crime stories and ghost stories, all while having playful banter and providing lots of comedic relief. A good laugh, while intertwined with dark and interesting history.
  2. “Spooked”: Hosted by Glynn Washington, this podcast immerses the listener with tales of the supernatural, while incorporating scary sound effects to create an absolutely chilling tale of horror. These are also based on nonfictional experiences, and the reactions of those dealing with ghosts is interesting to hear.
  3. “Sooo Many White Guys”: Contrary to the title of this podcast, it features those who are not white guys, allowing artists who are women and people of color on the show to discuss difficult subject matter, like obstacles which heterosexual white men can avoid. The host, comedian Phoebe Robinson, jokes casually with her guests, and makes listeners feel like they are sitting right there.
  4. “Gay Future”: This fictional podcast covers a hilarious dystopian society in 2062 where everyone is gay, except for Mikey Pence who must save the world from the authoritarian gay agenda. It flips homophobia upside down but isn’t hurtful or snarky. It is an interesting listen and incredibly fast-paced.
  5. “Blackout”: This is a post-apocalyptic thriller with Rami Malek as the host, intertwining authentic audio that instills fear into the listeners. This fictional tale set in New Hampshire after a nationwide power outage; is a truly unsettling podcast that is interesting every step of the way.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of https://www.andthatswhywedrink.com/

Wolves have first meet at the University of Portland

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

This last weekend, Jan. 25 and 26, the Western Track and Field team stuck closer to home, competing at the University of Portland. This was the first time any of the Wolves had ever competed here and what a surprise it was.

Entering into the facility, everything sparkled and seemed new and exciting until one saw the track. The track was not banked, having a slight tilt, and there were only three lanes, making each heat very small or too crowded. Spectators had a difficult time viewing the competitions due to the basketball stands being built on the outside of the lanes, causing blocked views all the way around. There were small gaps where viewers could see runners, and after a few seconds they were out of view. This track measured out to be 240 meters, comparative to University of Washington’s 307 meters and Washington State University’s which is 200 meters, making it difficult for runners to keep track of where they actually were in their race. Though the track was different the Wolves proved to overcome and make it the top results.

In the Men’s 800 Hunter Hutton, sophomore, placed second with a time of 1:56.4, followed by Emmett Klus, first year, and Trey Reed, junior, taking sixth and seventh. 

Hunter Mosman, a junior, placed seventh overall in the Men’s 3000 with a time of 8:41.83 — Mosman’s first time running the 3K since high school. The Wolves’ 4×400 meter relay men’s team took first with a time of 3:24.75, starting with Deshaun Stevens, a first year, to Reed, to Klus and finishing with Max Carmona, sophomore. The Wolves also had men that finished with top marks in the high jump, long jump and weighted throw.

In the Women’s 60 meter dash, Maya Hopwood, first-year, took first with a time of 7.62 and first in the 200 meter dash with a time of 26.10. Following those, Ana Popchock, a junior, and Bethanie Altamirano, sophomore, took ninth and tenth in the 400 meter dash. 

In the mile event, Jillian Greene, first-year, placed second with a time of 5:10.79. The 60 meter hurdles called for two Wolves placing, both Popchock and Jenelle Hurley, first-year. Kalulusno Ngaida, sophomore, took first again in the high jump followed by Hurley and Darian Wilson, a junior, in the long jump. Ending the women’s events was Moana Gianotti, junior, who threw 15.06 meters in the weighted throw, placing first overall.

Next week the Wolves head back up to Washington to compete in the University of Washington Invitational on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photo by Hannah Greene

Winter Guard getting ready for upcoming shows

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Winter Guard, color guard, was created by Kayla Dow, sophomore, through her passion — started last year with a group of eight members and since then are growing.

Color Guard is a uniformed group of individuals who choreograph and parade with their school or organization’s flag during ceremonial occasions. 

Dow participated in Color Guard all throughout middle school and high school, and was also a part of the Drum Corps International. 

Winter Guard will be performing during the Men’s and Women’s Basketball games during halftime on Thursday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 29. The team will also be attending the Strawberry Festival in Lebanon with Western’s Marching Wolves on Saturday, Jun. 6.

Anyone is able to join the Winter Guard by, either showing up to rehearsals — on Fridays in Maple Hall 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays in Maple Hall from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. — or by contacting a member already involved, by emailing Ben Prothero at protheroeb@wou.edu or Dow at kdow17@mail.wou.edu. There will be some fees, but none too expensive and they are more than willing to work with anyone, the last season’s cost was 35. “I want to stress that anyone can join the guard,” Dow said about those who may be undecided about joining. There are some group members who have “never touched a flag in their lives” but other members who have experience and won’t judge. Everyone is out there to have a good time and create “something beautiful,” according to Dow.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu 

Photo by Ashlynn Norton

Meaningful figures pass in helicopter crash

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Trigger Warning: This is a tribute piece for Kobe Bryant and the lives lost in the helicopter accident in Calabasas on Jan. 26. Though Kobe touched multiple lives and influenced countless people globally, his death has stirred mixed emotions from those who have been sexually assaulted or affected by the allegation/case against Kobe Bryant. This piece is to share the positives of his life and the ripple effect his efforts towards basketball and sports in general have made.

 

At some point in our lives we’ve all thrown a piece of trash away and shouted, “KOBE!” Today, this holds an entirely new meaning. On Sunday, Jan. 26, the world lost nine souls too early — from a hero, to a daughter who was on her way to shaping the future of women’s basketball and two of her teammates, their parents, a baseball coach and “the Mother of Defense,” — a coach for the Mamba Academy. 

Though many of us never knew him, he touched the lives and hearts of people across the globe. Kobe is an inspiration to athletes in any sport, students at any school, the young and the old. He shared his success with his family, his team and his fans, never holding back. Kobe made a name for himself and a repertoire that will go down in history. He uplifted the youth, created an after-school program that encouraged boys and girls to set goals for themselves and have the trust to achieve them. His support for women’s athletics, not only in basketball, reached beyond the stars and pushed many to follow their desires and dreams. 

Turning 24 just won’t be the same anymore.

Here’s to the impact those young future WNBA players could have created, to the inspiring words from the coaches, to the pilot and his efforts in trying to keep the passengers safe, to the parents and what they had planned to teach and build, to a mother and daughter, to Gigi who had her life ahead of her, and to Kobe — a basketball star that made other stars shine brighter.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Salem issues a city-wide camping ban resulting in homeless from surrounding areas congregating on the streets of downtown.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

As students drive into Salem as part of their daily route or for a day perusing the shops of downtown, they’re met by sidewalks lined with sleeping bags and valuables belonging to the Salem homeless community. 

The homelessness situation in Salem is a complicated one and the dates for each individual instance that escalated the current issue are difficult to place. In early May of 2019, the homeless community members residing in Wallace Marine Park were given an ultimatum to vacate the premises following dangerous floods that caused rescue efforts to become necessary for several homeless folks. Prior to that decision, the homeless were also told to vacate Salem’s Marion Square Park underneath the bridge that leads into historic downtown Salem where nearby, the city’s new $61.8 million police station — with a $3.3 million boost from the Salem City Council, according to the Statesman Journal — is currently being built.

Recently, Salem issued a complete citywide camping ban, and groups were forced to stop setting up camp outside places like ARCHES, a service provider whose goal is to “promote housing and self-sufficiency by navigating clients from homelessness to stable housing and then to self-sufficiency,” according to their website. 

Homeless folks from those areas had little choice but to congregate inwards towards the city center, first lining the walls of Rite Aid and later expanding into the mall vicinities where, now, every morning, the homeless of downtown Salem are asked to move in order for ServiceMaster Clean crews to purge the streets of human waste. Anthony Stevens, a member of the Salem homeless community, said that they were being treated better on the sidewalks compared to the sweeps through the parks which resulted in volunteers cutting up tents and tossing out people’s keepsakes.

“I’ve had friends lose their mother’s ashes and important documents,” Stevens stated. 

Stevens has a mental disability which prevents him from finding work and he said that he suspects that is the case for many of the other homeless in Salem.

A regular of City Council meetings and a spokesperson for the homeless community, Stevens said that the city is currently considering declaring a state of emergency and bringing in FEMA to address the current situation. Stevens relayed that the homeless community felt torn about this possibility, with some members feeling victimized and others hoping that it would bring them much-needed support. Regardless, Stevens said “if the camping ban lifted, these streets would be empty … normally, we’re out of the public eye,” and concluded by stating, “we’re regular citizens, we just don’t have homes.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu 

Photo by Sage Kiernan-Sherrow

Family Weekend invites students’ families to campus for a three-day weekend packed full of memory-making activities.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Becoming an annual tradition, Family Weekend brings relatives and chosen family of Western students to campus for a three-day bonding experience and the chance to learn what Western has to offer. This year’s Family Weekend took place Jan. 24-26 and was packed full of activities and entertainment. 

 

Day 1

Following a warm welcome issued by President Rex Fuller, students and their families headed over to the Werner University Center to engage in some pop-culture trivia spanning generations. Those uninterested in that escapade had the chance to play a giant game of Hide ‘N Seek in the Hamersly Library.

 

Day 2

The WUC had a myriad of activities set up on Jan. 25, including a photo booth, crafting DIY Wolfie ears, the opportunity to get caricatured, bracelet-making and origami. While waiting in line for the caricature artist, the Mahoney family said they had enjoyed going to The Donut Bar near campus and that they were “looking forward to the show tonight,” regarding Western hosting comedian Jonathan Burns. 

Over in the Willamette Room making bracelets, LeAnne, the mother of Western student Hailey Struble, said that she was reassured “seeing the way that (her) daughter is thriving and that she’s made a home.”

The WUC wasn’t the only place holding events on campus; over at the Student Health and Wellness Center, first-year Nate Henninger’s mother, Tracie Henninger, and the rest of their family waited for their turn during the Cornhole Tournament. Tracie said that the transition of Nate going to college wasn’t too hard, as they live only an hour away. 

 

Day 3

Sunday was all sunshine and goodbyes following the Brunch Send-off catered by Valsetz and the conclusion of on-campus activities like the scavenger hunt and the look-alike contest. Even though students prepared for the upcoming school day and parents went back to their jobs, the possibility of future bonding events like Family Weekend was a reassurance as they departed.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photos by Kay Bruley

A plan long in the works, development has recently begun on Monmouth’s “S-curves.”

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

As one drives down Main Street towards Independence, there is a large chunk of land currently being developed to the right of the road. Many locals know this area as the “S-curves,” but Monmouth City Council building official, Larry Thornton, says the area will be known as the Ash Creek Station when it is fully developed.  

Salem resident, Jack Fox, purchased the land in 1999, which will be transformed into a small shopping center complete with nine buildings plus a medical facility. Thus far, three businesses have been confirmed as tenants: a larger and improved Roth’s grocery store, a Papa Murphy’s and a Tractor Supply Co. 

“This has been an ongoing process for quite some time,” Thornton stated, “Mr. Fox has been trying to develop the land for a lot of years. There was a Wetlands issue on the property and until those issues were mitigated, everything was basically put on hold.”

Fox originally applied for permits back in 2018, according to Thornton, and since they’ve received approval from the Corps of Army Engineers, they are now in the second stage of building — a technical process of “framing,” a process where concrete blocks are arranged to act as the buildings frame.

“Roth’s is further along. They’ve got all their walls up and they’re putting on the roof system … once the building is watertight, they can start working on a lot of the other issues like putting the concrete floor down and the wiring and plumbing,” said Thornton.

The prospect of a new grocery store is something Thornton thinks the community will be excited about as Monmouth hasn’t had their own grocery store for the past 15 years.

“There’s a need for these kinds of businesses in Monmouth … I think the general public is totally behind it and probably thinking it’s been a long time coming and we’re glad it’s here,” he said.

The project is expected to be finished sometime in April, according to Thornton, who also warns there might be delays due to the winter weather. 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Monmouth Community Development Director, Suzanne Dufner

Women’s Basketball takes two L’s during the weekend

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

The Women’s Basketball team had their work cut out for them this last weekend, holding two GNAC games at home. Thursday, Jan. 23 the Wolves played against the Northwest Nazarene University Nighthawks followed by the Central Washington University Wildcats on Saturday, Jan. 25.

In the Wolves’ first game, they were putting in the work for the win, but fell short in the final quarter. The Wolves continued to lead into each quarter, one step ahead of the Nighthawks, but lost footing throughout the fourth quarter. The Wolves were only able to put up three points on the scoreboard, allowing the Nighthawks to score 23 — a 20-point difference and a long finish to a loss that should have been a win.

The second game for the Wolves brought roadblocks at every turn. The Wildcats came ready with a strong defense and scoring offense. In two of the four quarters the Wildcats were able to score 22 points and maintain the Wolves at only 13 points, keeping a nine-point lead. 

Wildcats came off every break with energy and urgency to score, but the Wolves were able to successfully counter on multiple turnovers. The Wolves were tested and reached a breaking point, ending the game with the Wildcats ahead 70-50.

The Women’s Basketball team leave their home and head up to Canada to play against Simon Fraser University on Jan. 31. Their next home game is set for Feb. 4 versus the Concordia University Cavaliers.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Kay Bruley

This week in completely made up horoscopes

[fruitful_tabs type=”accordion” width=”100%” fit=”false”]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] 3 day weekends are great, until you spontaneously watch all of the Star Wars movies and now you’re behind 3 readings, 7 assignments, and 2 Papers… May the Force be with you, Aries. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] Cats don’t jump, they small… [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] The Stars have dIpPeD [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] We should start calling Oregon residents Organisms. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] The Stars no advice for you, Leos. Figure it out, man. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] You’ve known that Persephone was the heroine since before it was cool. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] Turn up [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] Remember when you were a kid and all you wanted to do was grow up, and now the thought of being a proper adult is absolutely nauseating. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] …aaaaaaaaaa yeet [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] Make sure you get that extra shot of espresso in your coffee, you’re going to need it. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] It’s the star’s birthday today… You forgot, didn’t you? Sigh. Well, it’s okay, I know you were too busy reading and working six weeks ahead to notice… Even more dramatic sigh. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] Brb catch me trying to mentally get over the fact that it’s literally Week 3 already and I still feel like I’m on break?? [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

Opinion: Call me C–T — the stigma behind the “worst” word

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Content Warning: This is an opinion piece that contains “sensitive content” and the opinion of one womxn. Reclaiming such a word is the choice of each individual, and it is their decision on whether to identify with this word. In the interest of the topic, the word from here on will be used without censoring. 

Cunt. Say the word in your head, how does that feel? And again… This time say it out loud. Feels like a bad word, right? — that’s because our society has built a stigma around the word cunt. 

In the beginning cunt was considered a good word, representing empowerment and liberation among womxn and was used throughout history around the world. From Ptah-Hotep, an Egyptian vizier, a high official in Muslim countries, who had written cunt, “k’at,” meaning “the body of her,” giving the power of the word to womxn — to the Hindu goddess Kunthi, pronounced “kunti,” who was the Mother to many gods, one of the most respected characters in the Mahabharata, and to this day a common baby name.

In the past, the use of the word cunt was given to womxn and mothers with the highest regard — unlike today where the word is barely spoken and is considered vulgar and, by some, the worst word in the English language, considered an insult or crude way to describe womxn’s genitalia.

Moving into the Middle Ages, we have the wonderful Christian clergymen to thank for banishing the idea of womxn’s empowered bodies and preaching the idea that womxn’s genitals were a source of “unspeakable evil” — ending womxn’s freedom of expression around sexuality and power, and the creation of the redefined word that must not be spoken… cunt. 

Because of these vernacular changes, most people refer to womxn’s genitals as ‘vagina’ (even though that is just the inside of the vulva, what we see “down there”), and generally speaking this may not seem particularly bad. However — the Latin roots behind the word vagina literally translates to “sword sheath.” Not misogynistic whatsoever, right? Wrong. Why is such a sacred place on a born female’s body named specifically in reference to where a penis goes during penis/vagina sex? Why do we womxn have to use a word for our own body part that encompasses the protection of a sword, a penis? Because men rule our world and have chipped away at the empowerment, rights and independence of womxn for a long time. Thank you, men and Christianity.

It’s time we, womxn, take back this word and reclaim it as the powerful word it is, using its truth, respecting its meaning and taking the next step in defining our own bodies so that no one else can make the rules. Cunt embraces the entire female as a whole, including but not limited to, our genitalia, the vulva, labia, clitoris, vagina — accounting for her power and her pleasure. Cunt is not a bad word, cunt is a word that was taken away from us to soften our blows and our value in this world. 

Cunt belongs to all womxn, it is our word, it represents our power and strength, it honors Hindu goddess Kunthi — and represents our freedom to do as we choose with our own f—-ng cunts.

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Guest Opinion : Thinking honestly about waste at western

Nicholas Prazniak  | Guest Contributor

Let us for a minute assume that the world is perfect. No poverty, no war, no hate. This could be the truth, but greed has led us down the other path. It seems no matter what we do, we are living in an ever faster dying world. It is a crime to the planet we have committed — the guilt we must face — and the honesty we must accept of ourselves. We have become the last generation. More people, more problems. How to live with this has become the task we are all working on. It is not impossible, as nothing is, but it is very hard. 

Look at this planet: garbage has reached the deepest part of the ocean, our atmosphere is choked by smog, diesel fumes and pure ignorance for the air that keeps us alive. I write this in response to the waste that I see produced by this institution on a daily basis. There is definitely something we can do, but we have resorted to focus on distractions rather than this problem. 

We let the dumpsters fill up without any regard; we don’t look for a second chance at the things thrown away. I crawl through the dumpsters at the end of every year and find car loads of unused journals, unopened ramen packs, laptops, printers, chairs, laundry baskets and textbooks. It scares me that I find textbooks. We are literally throwing away knowledge that we have paid thousands of dollars for. 

I have formed the basis for this opinion piece by finding these physical things. There is no explanation for this wasteful habit except for the one and only reason that we are lazy. I have asked what solution there is to this and the scripted answer I get is “we are finding a solution.”

I’m shocked that for a school that has been around for so long, we have not found a solution for this problem, and instead turned our backs on it. We are wasting knowledge.  

 

Contact the author at nprazniak17@mail.wou.edu

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in guest opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Western Howl.

Easy homemade microwave meals for people that live in the residence halls

Rylie Horrall  | Lifestyle Editor

One of the biggest struggles many college students face is having access to home cooked food. Often the residence halls do not have access to a kitchen, only access to microwaves. Luckily, there are many residence hall-friendly recipes that are easy to make for all of those living off of dining hall food and crackers.

 

MUGARONI

Start to finish: 5 minutes

½ cup macaroni (or pasta of your choice)

½ cup water

¼ cup cheese

Splash of milk

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper

In a mug, add in the macaroni, water and salt. Mix it all together and place in the microwave for 2–3 minutes. 

Remove from the microwave and add in the milk, cheese and pepper. Mix again and microwave for another 30 seconds. Take it out, stir one last time and enjoy.

Recipe from Buzzfeed Tasty

 

MUG OMELETTE

Start to finish: 2 minutes

2 eggs

1 tablespoon water

Optional ingredients:

½ bell pepper

¼ cup spinach

Shredded cheese

Hame, turkey or bacon

Pinch of salt and pepper

Spray a microwave-safe mug with nonstick cooking spray. 

Crack two eggs into the mug. Add one tablespoon of water. Stir well with a fork. 

Season eggs with salt and pepper. Add in desired fillings. Microwave for 1-2 minutes (until eggs are cooked through and fluffy.)

Recipe from thecountrycook.net

 

BAKED POTATO

Start to finish: 12 minutes

1 russet potato

1 tablespoon butter (or margarine)

3 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese

3 teaspoons sour cream

Salt and pepper to taste

Scrub the potato and prick several times with the tines of a fork. Place on a plate.

Cook in the microwave for five minutes. Turn over and continue to cook for five more minutes. When the potato is soft, remove from the microwave and cut in half lengthwise. Season with salt and pepper, and mash up the inside a little using a fork. Top the open sides with butter and two tablespoons of cheese. Return to the microwave, and cook for about one minute to melt the cheese.

Top with remaining cheese and sour cream, then serve.

Recipe from allrecipes.com

 

EGG “FRIED” RICE

Start to finish: 10 minutes

½ cup rice

1 cup water

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

2 strips of bacon

½ cup frozen peas and carrots

2 eggs

Pinch of salt

Add rice, water, soy sauce, sesame oil and chopped bacon into bowl and stir. Place a small plate over the top of the bowl and microwave for 6–8 minutes.

Stir once done, and add in the frozen peas and carrots. In a separate mug, whisk two eggs and salt together. Place both the bowl and mug into the microwave for 1 minute.

Break up the cooked eggs by stirring with a fork and add to the bowl. Mix it all together and enjoy.

Recipe from Buzzfeed Tasty

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photos by Rylie Horrall

Ways to stay warm and cozy for the winter season

Rylie Horrall  | Lifestyle Editor

Winter can be a beautiful season: the snow falling and crunching beneath footsteps, icicles hanging from the rooftops and not to mention the aesthetic pictures that come with it. Unfortunately, being in Oregon means that the snow doesn’t happen too often, but the winter still brings cold temperatures and potential sickness. Staying bundled up during this frosty season is simple, easy and cozy.

When leaving the house, make sure to wear layers; they can be fashionable and keep in warmth, serving as a double positive. Layer up with an undershirt, a sweater and a scarf, and pair it with a cute set of leggings or jeans. For shoes, some fashionable fuzzy boots will be warm and cozy, or even some sneakers could complete the outfit. Throw a coat on top of the finished outfit to prevent from freezing while out and about.

On the days where it’s particularly rainy — or even snowy — a pair of gloves will keep hands nice and toasty for frigid days, afternoons or mornings. Match the gloves and scarf with a stylish beanie, or even downy earmuffs or a fleece headband; all three options can be mixed and matched with various outfits.

For a quiet night at home, toss on some comfortable pajamas — whether that’s a t-shirt and some shorts, fluffy pajama pants with a matching top and socks, or even a full-on onesie with an animal hood. Snuggle up with a favorite warm blanket and lounge on the couch for those nights that are way too cold to go out.

Both of these options can also be paired with a warm beverage, and there’s a variety to choose from. A cup of coffee can wake up the brain and keep hands warm on morning walks to class. A mug full of tea is perfect for winding down the night with a good book. Apple cider can provide a cozy feeling of warmth during a study break, or hot chocolate can be the perfect sweet treat after afternoon classes.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall

Ways to save electricity, water and money

Rylie Horrall  | Lifestyle Editor

It can be easy to forget to turn off the lights in the house, or even to turn the water off when answering a text while doing the dishes. While little things like these don’t seem too big at the time, they can unfortunately add up to a larger bill — and ecological footprint. However, it’s easy to keep track of a few simple things to save electricity and water.

  • Keep unused appliances unplugged. When the coffee is done brewing or the toaster is no longer in use, make sure it’s unplugged. Even when the contraption isn’t being utilized, it will still use up electricity just from being plugged in. This also applies to extension cords, chargers and similar plugins.
  • Turn off the lights when leaving a room. While some people may have heard this multiple times from parents and guardians growing up, it does have its benefits. By remembering to switch off the lights, up to $15 can be saved on an energy bill, according to bchydro.com. If it’s daylight, open the curtains or blinds and bask in some natural light until it’s necessary to turn on the lights inside. On another note, switch to LED bulbs if possible, as they use over 75% less energy.
  • Air-dry clothes when it’s possible to do so; dryers can consume a lot of energy, so try hanging clothes on a rack or in the bedroom to air-dry. Avoid putting clothes on a radiator, as it restricts the heat from warming up the room and causes it to work harder, according to goodenergy.co.uk.
  • For those who own a dishwasher, only run it when it’s completely full. According to sustainability.ncsu.edu, the dishwasher only uses about four gallons of water during its cycle, but handwashing can use up to 20 when there’s a large load of dishes. Alternatively, shutting off the water in between rinses or filling up one side of the sink with water also work for those who don’t have a dishwasher.
  • Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. It’s recommended that brushing your teeth for two minutes is best, but by shutting off the water while doing so, up to 200 gallons of water can be saved per month.
  • Shower instead of taking a bath; while baths can be relaxing for some, they can also use much more water than is necessary to get clean. Now that doesn’t mean that baths should be completely cut out — especially for those who use them to relax. That just means maybe limit the amount of baths taken each month, or just get the most out of one when it’s used.
  • Use cold or warm water when washing clothes, and make sure the setting size is correct for the load. Continuing from that, try to do laundry when there’s a full load like the dishwasher. Running one large load can save more water than multiple small loads. Flip off the ‘extra rinse’ option if there is one as well.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall

How to get involved in dance within Monmouth

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Western has a great number of dance classes available, but for those who have never taken the plunge and are still interested in dancing, there are opportunities in Monmouth.

The “Swing Dance Club” is a free opportunity on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. in room 212 in the Old P.E. Building. On wou.campuslabs.com it says, “The purpose of this organization is to encourage students to participate in swing dancing, an easy-to-learn high energy social dance.” 

Beginner lessons start at 6 p.m. and the regular dancing starts at 7 p.m. This is a great way to get involved with the Western community and have some fun.

The Health and Wellness Center provides many free exercise classes throughout the week, one of which is Zumba. The Zumba class is available in room 253 from 12:05-12:50 p.m. on Fridays. On wou.edu, the activity mentions that “Zumba classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats … It’s easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating, often building a deep-rooted community among returning participants.” 

As for experiences outside of Western’s campus, Monmouth Dance Studio offers a wide variety of dance classes every week, and has a monthly charge depending on the length of the class. The cheapest option is $45 per month for a 30-minute class once a week, in addition to the nonrefundable $30 deposit. For many college students, this is a steep price, but this may be a good option for those who are interested in cultivating their dance skills outside of Western.

While getting involved in dance can be intimidating for those who have never danced before, the dance community is not only inviting, but an amazing opportunity to combine exercise and friendship.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Art that tells a story: On Western Campus

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Campbell Hall currently has an exhibit up, called, “Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts: Selections from the Permanent Collection” featuring 26 artists. 

The artists shown are Rick Bartow, Marwin Begaye, Pat Boas, Joe Cantrell, Corwin Clairmont, Jim Denomie, Demian DineYahi’, Vanessa Enos, Joe Feodorov, George Flett, Ric Gendron, Jeffrey Gibson, Don Gray, James Lavadour, James Luna, Brenda Mallory, Larry McNeil, Whitney Monthorn, Lillian Pitt, Wendy Red Star, Sara Siestreem, Kay Walking Stick, Marie Watt and Shirod Younker.

According to the “Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts at 25” by heather ahtone, Rebecca J. Dobkins and Prudence F. Roberts, the art institute in Pendleton, Oregon was founded by the Oregon painter and printmaker, James Lavadour (Walla Walla), who “envisioned a Native printmaking atelier on the Umatilla Reservation … that would provide a creative conduit for educational, social, and economic opportunities for Native Americans through artistic development.”

The company started out small in 1992 and has now grown into one of the most important printmaking locations in the country that brings together Native and non-Native artists to create with the guidance of master printer Frank Janzen.

Entering the Campbell Hall gallery, the first piece is colorful and bold, featuring two young girls dressed in Native American dresses.

All of the art pieces are either lithograpic or monotype — both are forms of printmaking. The interesting factor of having a collection of different artists all doing the same form of art is the diversity in style and color. Some pieces are neutral colors while others are more bright; all of the pieces are bold in their imagery and meaning.

It is apparent that the connection to Native American roots plays a large role for the artists, showing landscapes, traditional dress and more.

The flow of the gallery is easy to follow and provides a nice contrast between each piece as a viewer walks through.

This gallery is an opportunity for people to learn about Native American culture. The art is expressive and a book is provided that gives background information about the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts, which can be found on the windowsill in the gallery.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos by Never Retallack

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