Mount Hood

Wolves have good luck in first indoor meet of season

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Friday, Jan. 17, the Wolves Track and Field team headed up to Seattle for the start of their indoor season. After settling into their hotel, the Wolves were able to get some solid shuteye before their individual events on Saturday, Jan. 18.

University of Washington held all the events in their indoor facility, keeping runners warm and out of any harsh weather that may have appeared. The Wolves had multiple athletes competing in a range of events, from the 60-meter dash to highjump. 

Below are the results of the events that Wolves finished in the top-10.

In the men’s 400-meter dash, Gabe Arce-Torres, a sophomore, placed ninth overall with a time of 49.91, a split second from eighth place.

The 600-meter dash, a race only ran during the indoor season, came next with Wolves’ sophomore (indoor), Max Carmona, placing first in his heat and eighth overall — with a time of 1:22.37, a personal best from last year’s indoor season.

The men’s 800-meter dash was quite the competition, with four Wolves placing in the top 10 and taking the 11th spot as well. Derek Holdsworth, a junior, placed first with a time of 1:50.02 making it the third on the “WOU All-Time” list, followed by Adam Alnazer, a sophomore, Trey Reed, a junior, and Hunter Hutton, a sophomore, taking eighth through 10th.

Skipping to the relays, the Wolves placed fourth overall in the men’s 4×400 meter relay — a combined time of 3:19.47 — with a squad consisting of Arce-Torres, Lashaun Emile, a sophomore, Carmona and Holdsworth.

Two Wolves, Kalulusno Ngaido, a junior, and Jenelle Hurley, a first-year, tied for 10th place in the women’s high jump with heights of 1.60 meters.

Overall, the Wolves set their standards high for the rest of the indoor season. Next weekend, the Wolves will be competing closer to home — on Saturday, Jan. 25 and Sunday, Jan. 26, at the University of Portland.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of wouwolves.com

Late night dreams to real time reality, Dom Akina signs first pro rugby contract

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Dom Akina, a former Western Men’s Rugby player, who has signed a professional contract for rugby with the Austin Herd — spoke with me about his future endeavors. Akina was born in Kahuku, Hawaii and started playing rugby about seven years ago. Currently, Akina plays flanker, the player to stop the attack and take the ball away from the opposing team, and wing, those who attack and defend on the “outskirts” of the field. 

 

Hannah Greene: How has the transition been from playing club rugby at WOU to signing a professional contract and playing at the next level?

Dom Akina: A major change and (an) eye opening experience. (I) didn’t believe it was real until I actually moved into my apartment in Texas.

 

HG: What would you say has been a great inspiration and driving force towards pursuing pro?

DA: I have to say the driving force was creating a better opportunity, not just for myself but for my family and most importantly my brothers.

 

HG: Has this been a long time dream?

DA: NFL was actually my dream until about 6 years ago. I really started to love the game (rugby) after my first year when I got to know the game more.

 

HG: What are some expectations you foresee in going pro?

DA: I expect challenges from players and athletes. I know (the) fitness, physical and mental parts of the game are going to have to be elite in order to stay in the game. 

 

HG: Are there any fears or nerves in the upcoming season?

DA: “No fear.” I started living by that motto for a long time and I believe that’s how I got to where I am today. Just being able to not be scared and be confident. I was always the small guy growing up and I had to prove a lot and work even harder. 

 

HG: Who is your idol?

DA: My grandma. My grandma is my everything.

 

HG: Any last thoughts or things you’d like to say?

DA: Just want to thank Coach Arne Ferguson for everything he had helped me with in football, and just (for) making better choices in life. Thank you to the football program, athletes, and coach Metzgar for teaching me the fundamentals of lifting and helping increase my knowledge of lifting. Lastly just want to thank the Rugby program because I probably would have never played rugby if our school did not have a program. 

 

Follow the Austin Herd on instagram @austinherdrugby to catch highlights and regular updates.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Tava’e Sina Kalena Sofa-Kini

David Ribich, a former Western runner, makes the Olympic trials

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Former Western runner, David Ribich, qualified for the 2020 Olympic trials. Ribich is currently a professional runner for Brooks, a running company based in Seattle, and has achieved a goal most can only dream of. Come June 2020, Ribich will compete in the Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon. 

Ribich’s time at Western made for a good one — he set three records in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II and claimed two records in the NCAA DII national titles.

In 2018, Ribich ran three minutes and 37 seconds in the men’s 1500-meter run, which qualified him for the Olympic trials — but to meet the “Olympic A standard” Ribich must cut two seconds off his time to hit the mark of 3:35.00.

As of right now, Ribich’s entire focus is centered around cutting those two seconds off of his time before entering race day at Hayward Field in Eugene. Shaving these two seconds would guarantee a spot on the Olympic team. If Ribich is unable to get those two seconds swiped off, he must place in the top three or win his race to make the Olympic team.

The Olympic Trials will be held at the Hayward Field from June 19-28 of this year. The first round for the men’s 1500-meter run will be on Thursday, June 25 at 6:04 p.m., where it is open to the public to view and be a part of.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of wouwolves.com

Students and faculty collaborate to create a mural commemorating the anniversary of the 19th amendment to be displayed in Hamersly Library.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

In the foyer of Hamersly Library, students and faculty met on Jan. 14 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. To commemorate the occasion, attendees were invited to add a rainbow cutout of their hand to a mural upon which the amendment was printed, symbolizing the diversity of individuals who fought for women’s suffrage and are still supporting women’s rights today. 

Throughout the room, the biographies of a multitude of important activists and allies were displayed, providing various historical perspectives. Among them were Western alumna Teresa Alonso Leon, the first immigrant Latina to represent Woodburn in Congress, and Kathryn Harrison, the first female chair of the Grande Ronde tribal council.

Professor Kimberly Jenson, who teaches a gender issues class at Western, helped organize the event and was one of three speakers including Mayor Cecelia Koontz — the first elected female mayor in Monmouth — and President Rex Fuller. The three of them spoke of Oregon’s historical ties to both current and historical feminist movements. 

Mayor Koontz shared her pride in being an Oregonian, stating that the state motto “she flies with her own wings” has been an inspiration for her. Additionally, she praised Western’s history saying that “it’s fitting to be here … because oral history has it that the pioneer women of the Monmouth migration of the 1850s only agreed to make the dangerous trek West if a school were founded when they got here … a place of learning for both men and women.” 

President Fuller added the historical knowledge that Oregon was among only one of 15 states to grant women the right to vote in 1912 before the ratification of the 19th amendment. 

Jenson continued by reminding everyone that “from the very beginning of our state’s suffragette activism, women of color have been there.” She concluded by stating that “we are strong because we have a state that has this history but it would be a mistake for us to overlook the many struggles that have continued, the very vital work that women leaders and men leaders and people leaders have done.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photos by Kay Bruley

Western makes history as the first base for a national ASL assessment service in the West.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Western has become the first establishment to offer a nationwide American Sign Language assessment service in the western United States after the Regional Resource Center on Deafness Director, Chad Ludwig, decided to restore an updated model of an old program. Officially titled the Signed Language Proficiency Interview, it “assesses a person’s skills in using a natural sign language for communication (function) and provides an analysis of a person’s sign language vocabulary, production, fluency, grammar, and comprehension skills (form),” according to the RRCD website.

A national organization in North Carolina that runs a similar assessment has become overwhelmed with the increasing demand for services. 

“That’s where we come into the picture,” said Ludwig. 

Discounted for Western students, the $160 basic assessment is essentially a 20-minute interview formatted as a casual conversation addressing three main topic areas: work or school, family and leisure activities or hobbies.

“It’s how you express yourself in ASL that helps our raters determine the level of fluency … our interviewer’s goal is to illicit the most fluency that they can from you,” stated Ludwig. 

After the interview concludes, the data is sent to two separate evaluators who then score the results before sending it back to the ASL coordinator. If there is a match, then the score becomes official; if not, then the evaluators either deliberate or it goes to a third evaluator. 

The assessment might appeal to a variety of individuals from state employees — who can gain differentials for proven competency in another language — to high school and college students interested in taking the assessment to test into a higher class.

Following the implementation of the program on Jan. 7, there have already been a myriad of questions, inquiries and requests, according to Ludwig, who also encourages students to visit the website or email rsla@wou.edu for more details. 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of the Division of Deaf Studies and Professional Studies at Western

PURE Insights, Western’s academic journal, connects students to faculty for collaborative research and publication opportunities.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Originally founded by Camila Gabladon, the collection development librarian at Western, PURE Insights is an annual publication of student work, both creative and research-based, which has been sponsored by at least one faculty member at Western. Currently on its ninth issue, the journal — which stands for Program for Undergraduate Research Experiences — serves to connect students to mentoring faculty members with the hopes of bolstering the student’s academic record.

“One of the really nice things about attending a small college is that you are in contact with actual professors doing actual research … the PURE organization was born of the idea that we weren’t seeing students take advantage of that,” said Maren Anderson, an adjunct professor at Western and Managing Editor of the publication.

Having a published research paper is an excellent thing to put on resumes and grad school applications because, according to Anderson, it’s proof that students know how to do research and work collaboratively with people. 

“Student-led research is particularly attractive to us,” Anderson stated, but as long as that research or body of work is submitted by the deadline, follows correct formatting and is sponsored by a faculty member, the work is eligible. 

“I really enjoy the cross-pollination of student work on campus,” said Anderson, mentioning The Northwest Passage and the Academic Excellence Showcase as similar outlets who have published work also featured in the PURE Insights journal. 

The current issue included the winners of the Peter Sears poetry contest, as well as a couple of fiction pieces in addition to the traditional research papers, and the cover is always designed by a Western student.

Students interested in submitting can visit the PURE Insights webpage and click on the “submit article” link located on the left hand bar. If they’re not sure where to start, they can peruse the list of mentors and their past research topics in order to find someone who fits their objective. They also have the opportunity to explore the map at the bottom of the page, which shows the downloads of past submitter’s work in real-time. If students are still having trouble navigating the page or want more information, they can email the director at pure@wou.edu or the managing editor at insight@wou.edu

The next issue is set to publish in week 10 of the upcoming fall term and the deadline for submissions is June 22.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Western’s Digital Commons

Become captivated within the stunning views the Portland Japanese Garden has to offer

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Galleries are a staple within the realm of art, but for those interested in seeing art and nature combined, the Portland Japanese Garden is the perfect solution.

The idea for the garden was conceived in the 1950s by Mayor Terry Schrunk and members of the Portland community, in an attempt to soothe the tension between the United States and Japan after WWII and provide citizens with a garden of serenity and beauty.

On portlandjapanesegarden.org, it says, “Our mission is to bring the ideals of Portland Japanese Garden to the world: art of craft, connection to nature, experience of peace.”

Professor Takuma Tono of Tokyo Agricultural University designed the Garden, and his plan included five different garden styles laid out on 5.5 acres.

It officially opened in 1967, and the next year they started construction for the Japanese Tea House — where they host events for people to visit throughout the summer. 

It wasn’t until 1981 that they kept the gardens open all year round, and in 2015 the famous architect Kengo Kuma was enlisted to create a new visitors center, for the increasing amount of people coming each year.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Japanese Garden this month and the chilly weather did not hinder the experience at all. The intricate weaving pathways are interwoven with art features and an array of plants. There is a pond near a waterfall with large koi fish meandering within the depths. 

The routes that are available allow visitors to choose how they want to approach the gardens; this was helpful when it came to avoiding larger groups of people, keeping the experience serene and personal.

Located within Pavilion Gallery and Tanabe Gallery an art exhibit, “Spirits Rising: ひろしま / hiroshima” by Ishiuchi Miyako, opening Jan. 18 until March 15. This is the 75 year celebration commemorating the end of WWII. The exhibit will showcase the tattered clothes and belongings of those who experienced the atomic bombing in Hiroshima; it’s meant to remember what was lost and spark conversation as well.

They are open Monday 12-4 p.m. and Tues.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; for students with ID, a ticket costs $13.50. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of japanesegarden.org

Men’s Basketball soar and fall, during two GNAC games at home

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

During the first week back, the Men’s Basketball team held two home GNAC games.

Thursday, Jan. 9, the Wolves played against Saint Martin’s University.

The first quarter began and right away the Wolves took the lead and found their tempo. The Wolves continued their A-game from defense to offense, causing multiple turnovers from the Saints. From starters to bench players, every member of the Wolves were able to make an impact and even score. When the final buzzer rang, the Wolves brought home their third GNAC win, beating the Saints 108-73.

After winning a great game, the Wolves came back this past weekend to play Seattle Pacific University on Saturday, Jan. 9 — a battle that ended in overtime.

The Wolves and Falcons brought energy and desire to win, each team flipping the tables every quarter of the game. After ending the fourth quarter with a score of 76-76, the Wolves and Falcons entered overtime.

Though each time was on fire, the Falcons pulled away and were able to secure the lead to win the game. The Falcons flew home with a 10-point lead over the Wolves’ 88 points.

Up next the Wolves travel to play Simon Fraser University on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos by 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″] Okay, so out of my 326 News Years Resolutions, only about 2 are do-able, but then like who cares about resolutions anyway ?? I do what I want !! [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] You’re a bull, not an octopus, don’t try to do so many things at once… So what if you fail right… NOT [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] Scorpios were put into this world to create obstacles for you. So if you get into a fight with a Scorpio, no one will blame you. 😉 [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] My New Years resolution was to be a more responsible student. But so far I’ve dropped a class and skipped the other two. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] Is your class workload overwhelming you? …lol rip go do your homework [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] “WE WERE ON A BREAAAKKKK,” you scream, but it’s week 2 of classes and have you ever really taken a break in your life? [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] 2020 is turning out to be more like 2019 II [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] Does it feel like 2020 is gonna be your year? That’s cute. No really — adorable. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] New year, same you. Who says you have to change? Keep being your beautiful self. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] No one : 

Me : Hey, did you know “?!” is called an interobang ?! [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] It’s not too late to add a new class to your schedule! Or maybe it is? I’m not the expert. Don’t ask me. STOP talking ABOUT IT! [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

Consider your own approach before cutting someone out of your life due to their “toxic” behaviors.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

New Year’s resolutions are a common trend in U.S. culture, and one of the more common resolutions I see is to “cut out” or avoid negativity and “toxic behavior.” While I believe that most people who have this as their resolution or general goal for their future don’t take it to the extreme, I find that the words “toxic” or “negative” are both conflated and overused as descriptors. Furthermore, that people would rather brand relationships or instances as one of the above instead of recognizing their own responsibility in a given situation or relationship is alarming to me. Wouldn’t people rather use their communicative skills to understand one another and mediate before cutting people out of their lives? 

I would like to be clear about some things right off the bat. One, I am in no way addressing abusive relationships in this article; I am not an expert and while all abusive relationships are inherently toxic, not all toxic behaviors make someone abusive. Secondly, of course I believe that people can be toxic. Everyone has the ability to be toxic — and that’s something that we should recognize about ourselves. Everyone also has their own perspectives; what is your reality is not another’s and you might very well be the villain in someone else’s story. And yes, I believe that you can get to a certain point where having an individual in your life is no longer healthy or productive. 

However, as I was researching this topic, I became increasingly aware that there is no specific definition of “toxic behavior,” yet there is a myriad of examples of that behavior — and I think that lends itself to some of the confusion. 

Let’s imagine some scenarios for a moment. There is a difference between a friend who constantly puts you down and makes you feel insecure and a friend who can’t support you during your big presentation because they have other obligations. I’ve seen the latter framed as “toxicity” more than once when of course, it isn’t, and even regarding the former, wouldn’t you rather sit that friend down and discuss your feelings before dropping them or ghosting them? I think there is a shard of hypocrisy in calling something toxic in order to avoid growth and it’s awfully convenient that you’ve removed your own responsibility in what could have been a shared misunderstanding. 

I believe that someone should have the chance to explain themselves in most scenarios. I also believe that it’s your choice whether or not to listen to their explanation. But maybe that friend you just labeled toxic isn’t aware of their behavior, or maybe they’re having a bad day, and maybe given a chance to change, they would. 

I think that’s the biggest tell-all for if you can truly address someone as “toxic” — did they change their behavior? Remember, change takes time — it doesn’t happen overnight and it’s dependent upon reflection. 

I’m not telling you how to feel, because everyone’s feelings are valid — I’m telling you to look at yourself and the situation holistically first. Maybe what would help your growth more isn’t avoidance and ostracization of the things that harmed you; maybe it takes vulnerability and effort to bloom.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Six nearby coffee shops for Western students

Rylie Horrall  | Lifestyle Editor

Getting up in the morning can be a challenge, especially when the previous night lasted into the early hours of morning. For some people, the best pick-me-up for this is a cup of coffee, whether it’s brewed at home or picked up from a coffee shop. Here are some locations in the Monmouth-Independence area to try and start the day off with coffee.

On campus, students have access to Caffé Allegro — located in the Werner University Center — and The Press inside the Hamersly Library. Both have smaller areas for patrons to sit and do work, and have a container of sweets and breakfast goods for early mornings. Caffé Allegro is open 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri., and 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturdays. The Press is open Mon.–Thurs. from 8 a.m.–8 p.m., and 8 a.m.–3 p.m. on Fridays.

Bugles Espresso is a drive-through coffee shop located at 444 Pacific Ave S. It’s a small establishment that’s located in a private parking lot, and their menu changes monthly. For the month of January, some of the drinks offered are The Avalanche, the Icicle White Mocha and the Frosted Chai — the beverages being a play on the cold weather usually experienced during this time. Bugles Espresso is open 6 a.m.–6 p.m. on Mon.–Fri., 7 a.m.–6 p.m. on Saturdays and 7 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sundays. More information can be found on their Instagram @bugles_espresso and on Facebook.

Java Crew is a sit-down establishment near Western, just off the corner of Main Street and Monmouth Avenue. In addition to regular coffee, Java Crew offers premium drinks that contain a large amount of caffeine — their coffee containing between three to six shots. The menu has a few basic drinks with an extensive list of flavors that customers can add in, and a variety of ways to drink the beverage, such as hot, iced or blended. It’s open Mon.–Fri. from 7 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Additional information can be found on their Instagram @javacrewmonmouth and their website javacrew.com.

Brew Coffee and Tap House, located at 211 S Main St. in Independence, has both indoor and outdoor seating for patrons, and serves food in addition to coffee and drinks as the name suggests. Founded in 2016, the business provides an extensive menu to choose from, with their coffee taking up one page on it’s own. Their social media pages — Instagram @brewcoffeeandtaphouse, Twitter @BrewCoffeeTap and Facebook — show the lively atmosphere the site appears to have. Brew Coffee and Tap House is open from 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 7 a.m.9– p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m.–9 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.–8 p.m. on Sunday, with more information found on their website brewcoffeeandtaphouse.com.

Rick’s Place is a coffee franchise that has been open since 1995, and can be found at 123 Main St. E. Along with a diverse selection of flavors for their espresso, they have many different sandwiches, salads, soups and bakery sweets to grab on the go. If a customer comes in on their birthday, they can receive a free $3 drink if they have their I.D. as proof. It’s open Mon.–Fri. from 7 a.m.–3 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m.–11 p.m., and can be found on Facebook.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu 

Photos by Kay Bruley

Study areas available on campus to Western students

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Want to start studying but aren’t sure where to go? Western has multiple areas on campus for students to comfortably do classwork. From residence halls to the public buildings, here are some areas to check out.

Hamersly Library is located in between the Old Education building and the Richard Woodcock Education Center, and has three floors available for students to study. The main floor contains small study areas along with a small computer lab. In addition, the Press is located towards the back for students to grab a cup of coffee before working on homework. People can talk at a normal volume on this floor, while the second and third floors are reduced to whispering and total silence, respectively. Both floors have open areas to sit and work and tables with desktops, as well as private study and conference rooms that can be reserved for larger groups. For late night studiers, there’s a 24-hour computer lab area near the front entrance.

The Werner University Center is near the center of campus; the top floor consists of a few dining options for students as well as the WolfStore, but the lower level has a large area for students to lounge and study. The bottom floor has many couches and chairs situated around tables in clusters of four to six. There’s also taller counters sprinkled around, along with smaller tables pressed against the walls. The upper floor does provide a little group of couches and chairs to study, and students are free to work on assignments in the Wolf Grill dining area.

The RWEC, located next to the library, serves as the building for most of the ASL and education classes, but also has compact study areas at each end of the building on both floors. At the front entrance, there are couches near a fireplace, so students can stay warm and cozy while studying. Upstairs, there is a large wooden table for bigger study groups to gather, swinging egg chairs to sit in and a little corner nook with a wrap-around couch and a table — great for secluded studying. At the far end of both floors, there are couches, tables and chairs placed miscellaneously around for use.

Various residence halls on campus — such as Ackerman Hall and Heritage Hall — have multiple study areas for students living in the building. For instance, Ackerman’s lobby area has private rooms that people are free to claim for individual studying or for groups, and can be accessed when the residence hall is unlocked for those who don’t live there. The doors lock at 10 p.m.

Try exploring the other buildings on campus as well, as there can be other areas students find ideal for studying that aren’t mentioned.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

First photo by Cora McClain

Second photo by Rylie Horrall

Which WOU Instagrams to follow

Rylie Horrall  | Lifestyle Editor

DISCLAIMER: There are some Instagrams I may have missed, so this shouldn’t be treated as a completely comprehensive list. I also opted to not use pages that have not been updated within the last year or so.

Instagram is a very commonly used app for people, businesses, schools and more. This applies to Western as well, as the university has many different handles it uses for multiple things that occur on campus. Here is a list of the Instagram handles that Western has.

  • @wounews : the official Instagram page for Western
  • @westernoregonuniversity : Admissions Office 
  • @wouhonors : Western’s Honors Program
  • @aswou : Associated Students of Western Oregon University
  • @woualumni : a page for Alumni to receive information on reunions and throwback posts
  • @woucampusrecreation : Western’s campus recreation
  • @woumail : Western’s mailroom and services
  • @woulibrary : Hamersly Library
  • @wou_shcc : Student Health and Counseling Center
  • @wouwolfstore : WolfStore
  • @wou.bites : Western’s Campus Dining
  • @thewesternhowl : Western’s newspaper
  • @nwponline : the Northwest Passage, Western’s art and literary journal
  • @wou.plusteam : information on PLUS Team, SOAR and New Student Week
  • @wouwolves : official Instagram for Western Athletics
  • @wouclubsports : official page for Western Club Sports
  • @wou_imsports : Intramural Sports
  • @woucheerleading : Cheerleading Team
  • @woulax : Men’s Lacrosse
  • @westernoregonmensrugby : Men’s Rugby
  • @wou_xctf : Cross Country and Track and Field teams
  • @wou_soccer : Soccer Team
  • @wou_danceteam : Dance Team
  • @wouwsocclub : Women’s Soccer Club
  • @wousoftball : Softball Program
  • @wou_mens_clubsoccer : Men’s Club Soccer
  • @wouwbb : Women’s Basketball
  • @woumarchingband : Marching Band
  • @woucolorguard : Color Guard 
  • @wou_internationalclub : International Club
  • @unidoswou : Unidos Club
  • @mechadewou : MEChA de WOU
  • @woubsu : Black Student Union
  • @wou_environmentalclub_garden : Environmental + Garden
  • @wou_mun : Model United Nations
  • @woumitu : Monmouth-Independence Tenants Union
  • @wouhawaiiclub : Hawai’i Club
  • @wousab : Student Activities Board
  • @wougsa : Gerontology Student Association 
  • @woumathclub : Math Club
  • @d.r.e.a.m_wou : Disabilities Rights Empowerment Awareness Mentoring club
  • @woucr : College Republicans
  • @wou_byte_club : Byte Club
  • @cruatwou : CRU Club
  • @wouasl : ASL Club
  • @msuwou : Multicultural Student Union 
  • @wou_ta : Triangle Alliance
  • @woudanceinfo : official page for Dance Department
  • @woudance_dept : student based page for Dance Department
  • @wou_psychpac : Psychology Peer Advising Center
  • @westernoregon_arotc : AROTC
  • @wouband : Wind Ensemble
  • @wouinterpretingstudies : Interpreting Studies Program
  • @woufinearts : Smith Fine Arts Series
  • @thewestofus : The West of Us A Capella Group
  • @wou_knights : Omega Delta Phi Fraternity
  • @kdchibetadelta : Kappa Delta Chi Sorority 
  • @wou_axo : Alpha Chi Omega Sorority
  • @wou_kappasigma : Kappa Sigma Fraternity
  • @woufsc : Fraternity and Sorority Council
  • @wourha : Residence Hall Association
  • @wouhousing : University Housing
  • @heritage_wou : Heritage Hall
  • @ack_pack : Ackerman Hall
  • @wou_veterans : Western’s Veterans
  • @wou_lab : Latino Advisory Board
  • @woumssp : Multicultural Student Services and Programs
  • @wousva : Student Veterans of America
  • @wou_sep : Student Enrichment Program
  • @wougreenteam : Green Team
  • @wou_tac : Tree Advisory Committee
  • @wouserve : Western’s Alternative Break
  • @student_engage : Student Engagement
  • @wounationalstudentexchange : National Student Exchange
  • @wouslcd : Service Learning and Career Development

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

“The Grudge” of 2020 fails to find new angle for the franchise

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor 

“The Grudge,” released on Jan. 3, written and directed by Nicolas Pesce is definitely an unnecessary evil for the new year. A spin-off from the original movie “Ju-On: The Grudge,” this continuation was disappointing as a viewer.

This version focuses on a mom, Officer Muldoon, who moves to a small town with her son after her husband passes away. It’s meant to be a fresh start, but several bodies are found all connected to one house: the house that the audience knows has the grudge.

For those who are unfamiliar with “The Grudge” franchise, a grudge is defined in the 2004 remake as, “when someone dies in the grip of a powerful rage… a curse is born. The curse gathers in that place of death. Those who encounter it will be consumed by its fury.”

It’s the same idea in this spin-off; the grudge has traveled to the states, moving away from its origins in Japan.

Pesce’s take on this film is nonstop violence and jumpscares. There is never a point where the viewer sits in suspense and wonders “What’s going to happen?” It forces the audience along for a predictable and bloody ride that lacks any development for the franchise.

While “Ju-On: The Grudge” was slow and, admittedly, the visuals are less scary, the storyline and tension is preferable over the 2020 film. 

Despite my issues with the methods for scaring the audience, I also am not a fan of the dialogue or the plot in general. A lot of the dialogue in the movie feels awkward or forced and quite frankly, out of place. A couple of characters, such as Detective Goodman, were given interesting arcs, but those ideas were never developed and it left the audience with bits of useless pieces.

Overall Review: I am not impressed by the newest rendition of “The Grudge.” It was unnecessarily violent, and every jumpscare was predictable. The visuals were creepy enough to keep me entertained, and there were scenes that sent shivers down my spine, but for the most part it was another disappointment in the horror scene. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Get comfortable and grab a glass of cocoa and settle into these three short stories full of tension

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

With the start of the new term, many students may already be overwhelmed with new schedules and workloads. Reading in college often becomes tarnished as a pastime because of the amount of homework and class readings that students are required to do; a solution for that is short stories. There are countless tales that leave one breathless, contemplative or unnerved, all accomplished within 15-20 pages. 

“Cathedral” by Raymond Carver (1981): This suspenseful tale is from the perspective of a jealous husband when his wife’s blind friend visits them in their home, and unsettles readers. The discomfort that the husband feels by the intimacy of his wife and friend makes one wonder how the story will build, leaving the reader quietly anticipating each move. It can be found online here: http://www.giuliotortello.it/ebook/cathedral.pdf

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Stetson (1892): This is by far one of my favorite short stories out there. Each time I read it, I discover something new, and the unease that I feel doesn’t ever end. It is a complex tale that shows the distress of a woman in her new house where she seems to unravel as she becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in a room. Reality becomes distorted and it’s impossible to sort if what she is seeing is actually happening or not. It can be found online here: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/theliteratureofprescription/exhibitionAssets/digitalDocs/The-Yellow-Wall-Paper.pdf

“The Lottery” by Shirely Jackson (1948): Another one of my favorite short stories is based in a small village that must partake in “The Lottery,” and there is a general discomfort or fear with the characters. Each page makes the reader more and more anxious, waiting in anticipation for what could possibly happen. It can be found online here: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1948/06/26/the-lottery

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Start the year with an album that encourages to put yourself first

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Selena Gomez released her new album “Rare” on Jan 10 of 2020, the first album she has released since 2015. The former Disney star goes deeper with this album, singing about the heartache she went through with Justin Bieber and the depression and anxiety she has struggled with, as well as touching on the stress of being famous.

The album starts with the title track “Rare,” a catchy pop tune that breaks down a relationship where the person she is with doesn’t appreciate her. The main point is that he doesn’t understand that she is “rare.” This is a powerful song to encourage women to never settle for someone who doesn’t see how special they are.

The next song on her album, “Dance Again,” is about her moving on from her trauma and opening herself up to having fun again and trying to find happiness. She sings about how she feels high without emotional baggage weighing her down.

Gomez’s song “Look at Her Now” refers to herself in the third person and once again touches on a toxic relationship. She discusses how she was hurt and how she bounced back and grew from her troubles.

One of my favorites on her album is “Lose You To Love Me.” With slow vocals and a gentle instrumental, she croons about only loving herself after her breakup.

So much of her album covers her heartache — which shows that she is struggling to process everything — but I think that her self-love focus will be very helpful for countless listeners who are dealing with toxic relationships. Similarly, it could help those who are dealing with depression and anxiety which she touches on in several songs.

Overall Review: This album, while not totally soulful, I think has some really important songs that can help those who listen. I recommend this album to those who want a bop that has some more meaning behind the lyrics.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of selenagomez.com

Ready, set, go: intramurals and club sports are back

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Winter term means new teams to join or create for intramurals. Gather your friends or foes to battle it out on the courts and have some fun. 

For the remaining of January IM’s offers teams in basketball and futsal. Basketball offers teams in men’s competitive, men’s recreation, women’s and co-rec. Futsal, indoor soccer, offers teams in men and co-rec. 

Currently all sports are open to join and the last day to join is Jan. 20 by 11:30 p.m.

Each team costs $50 to join, but split between all your teammates it won’t cost much at all. 

Sign up now and join some on campus activities.

This winter, Club sports are also back in action — for students looking for more competitive play, a stronger team-like experience and the possibility of traveling for games, club is a great option. Currently, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Rugby, Men’s Rugby, Men’s Lacrosse, Climbing Club and Women’s Volleyball. All teams are still accepting members and can be contacted through the IMLeagues website or by going to the club sports page under campus recreation on the WOU website — here one can find all the contact information for each team.

Join today.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Smashing barriers, Women’s Basketball topple the Yellowjackets

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Women’s Basketball played in their sixth GNAC conference game on Saturday, Jan. 11 against the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets. 

At 2 p.m. the start of the first quarter began and the Wolves gained the lead. Not long after, the Wolves hit a roadblock and allowed the Yellowjackets to come back.

Later, the Wolves thrashed through their stoppage and scored enough points to put them back on top.

Standout player, Shariah Green, a senior forward and center, came off the bench to add rebounds and finished in double figures — making this her collegiate best in scoring.

This game proved to be a highlight for the Wolves’ defense, which has struggled in the past. 

Two other Wolves that made differences on the court were; Amber Winkler, a sophomore forward, and Keyonna Jones, a junior guard. The Wolves were able to work together as a team and therefore bring home a win.

The final quarter showed for the offense and defense putting in work for each other, and remained consistent to pull through until the end. Wolves took home the dough, and won 64-56.

Women’s Basketball leave home to challenge Saint Martin’s University on Thursday, Jan. 16.

Their next home game will be Thursday, Jan. 23 at 5:15 p.m.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Grease fire in the Alderview Apartments on campus draws a crowd but is quickly dealt with.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Dean of Students and Director of Housing, Tina Fuchs, sent out an email relaying her gratitude towards our campus community last Thursday, Jan. 7, after a fire occurred in one of Western’s Alderview apartments.

Public Safety Officer Anthony Fitch was just getting back from handling a vehicle accident that had occured in Lot H when he was called to respond to a fire alarm in the Alderview apartments. “We get a lot of fire alarms,” Fitch said, “so my thought was ‘is this a fire or not’?” 

But after being waved down by a neighbor, he realized the situation was more serious. Running through the house to confirm that no one was still inside, he noticed that there was a pot of grease on the stove and that the stove had been charred.

“Before entering, I radioed our dispatcher so that she could call the Polk County Fire Department,” Fitch stated, adding that dispatch was a crucial part in aiding the investigation.

When the fire department came, onlookers began gathering, but as Fitch said, “we didn’t have to scoot anyone back … I think the rain deterred a lot of students from straying outside.”

The fire department turned off the sprinklers which were instrumental in the outcome of the incident. 

“We’re lucky we had the sprinkler system, because if not, there’s not telling how big (the fire) would have gotten and I don’t know how much I would have been able to do with my small fire extinguisher,” admitted Fitch. 

And, although he initially had a difficult time finding out who lived there, a lady and her son later came forward, who “have a place to stay and will be relocated to another unit soon,” said Fuchs in her email.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Kay Bruley

Speaker Kim Potowski came to Western to celebrate bilingualism and educate about ways to increase it

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Professor Kim Potowski of the University of Illinois began by stating the facts: that out of roughly 7.7 billion people in the world, an estimated 60% of them are bilingual as opposed to the United States’ 20%. Potowski’s research aims to promote positivity towards bilingualism with the hopes of dispelling language myths and increasing bilingual education. 

“It’s normal to be bilingual,” Potowski asserted during her presentation “No Child Left Monolingual” — also featured as a TedxTalk — given at Western on Jan. 9 in the Werner University Center. 

So why is the U.S. falling behind? 

“Our nation has policies whether implicit or explicit that aim to erase (children’s) Spanish, Chinese, Korean … whatever it is that they speak at home,” Potowski stated. A child who is a heritage speaker enters kindergarten and is typically placed into one of two programs: they are either given ESL support, which removes the child from the rest of the class and, as explained by Potowski, ostracizes and belittles their language, or they are put into a “bilingual program,” which is essentially a transition program designed on having the student speaking solely English by the third grade.

Potowski is in support of a third option — dual-language schools — in which 50-90% of instruction is in a language other than English. Citing various research studies that support the induction of these programs, Potowski noted that the dual-language programs ensure that students who speak a language other than English don’t fall behind their English monolingual peers, that the cognitive benefits of the programs are numerous and that, most importantly, dual-language programs are respectful of language and identity. 

The evidence shows that students enrolled in a dual-language school did better in all content areas — including English — as compared to students enrolled in a normal public school. 

“So what I conclude is that if you don’t want to do this, you’ve got some kind of political agenda going on,” said Potowski. However, she also acknowledged the fears created by linguistic bullying and systematic racism which prevents parents from supporting their children’s bilingualism.

“These parents have suffered for their lack of English, the last thing they want is for their children to suffer for a lack of English,” said Potowski.

However well-intended, Potwoski wants parents to know that their fears, while understandable, are somewhat misplaced. Myths that one language will hinder the development of another or create confusion for the child have since been debunked.

 “Codeswitching,” as the phenomenon is called, “is normal, follows linguistic patterns, indicates strength in both languages, and is a marker of a bilingual identity,” stated Potowski. 

The real issue, then, is the previously mentioned systematic racism and linguistic bullying, which “happens way more often than just the stories that make it to the news … and contributes to this culture of linguistic repression and fear,” Potowski asserted. While the U.S. has no official national language, states have the power to pass English-only laws, and, while Oregon has not, 31 other states have. All of these factors combined “contribute to intergenerational language shifts,” said Potowski. “What you’re getting is parents who can’t talk to their own children … and it doesn’t have to be this way.” 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photos by Kay Bruley

Western Oregon University

Facebook  Instagram  YouTube LinkedIn

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
345 Monmouth Ave. N.
Monmouth OR 97361

503-838-8000 | 1-877-877-1593

Tools

Bookstore
Campus Maps
Canvas
Find People
Portal
Technical Support
WOU Email
Technical Support

Resources

A-Z Index
Accessibility
Academic Calendar
Class Schedule
Net Price Calculator
Jobs at WOU
News
Explore WOU
Partnerships
Student Services
Freedom of Expression
Immigrant Resources

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

Accessibility    Public Records    Privacy    Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.