Mount Hood

Opinion: Thanksgiving deserves just as much love as Christmas

Cora McClain | Editor-in-Chief

So it’s November, which means the most family-centric holiday is right around the corner. It’s a wonderfully festive time that brings people together through love and thankfulness. That’s right — it’s Christmas (and other winter holidays).

Almost as soon as the Halloween decorations come down, they are replaced with dreidels, kinaras and stockings. Nov. 1 seems to signify the changing of holiday seasons as Michael Bublé’s velvety pipes belt out “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot  Like Christmas” over the speakers in public places. November has turned into a month-long preparation for the winter holidays, specifically Christmas, and overlooks a special little day on the fourth Thursday of November, where families gather around and gorge on carbs and turkey. 

While the origins of Thanksgiving are not the best — and poorly represented — the meaning of modern Thanksgiving has come to signify the gathering of family. Sure, Christmas is about gathering family too (as it is an aspect of any holiday) but just because Christmas is branded better, with more celebrity cover albums than I can count and a crazy man who climbs down chimneys and eats cookies as a mascot, it shouldn’t overshadow Thanksgiving. If anything, Thanksgiving just hasn’t been given enough branding to make it any more than a fly-over holiday. 

I mean, are there any Thanksgiving-themed songs? Adam Sandler’s “The Thanksgiving Song” doesn’t count. What about Thanksgiving-themed movies? Even if there is just one or two, they can’t possibly outweigh the massive amount of Christmas-themed-and-adjacent movies, TV shows and other entertainment media. Without these forms of media, it becomes easy to skip over Thanksgiving, as if it doesn’t exist. However, Thanksgiving still deserves recognition and celebration.

From good food to appreciation, Thanksgiving has a lot to offer as a holiday. Whether the Thanksgiving table is filled with mashed potatoes and gravy or kimchi and jeon, just being around a table of good food, no matter the food, honors the holiday. More important than the food on the table (I know, nothing is more important than food) are the people around the table. 

Extended family, close family and found family in friends all make the holiday what it truly is. Spending quality time with people, whether in constant contact or only seeing them every-so-often, makes Thanksgiving a holiday worth celebrating.

Finally, the “giving thanks” aspect of Thanksgiving allots the holiday its own spin on the “family gathering” facet of every holiday. Just like how Christmas’ gimmick is giving presents, Thanksgiving is all about taking a moment to reflect on the good things in life. Reflecting on the positivity like this is something special that Thanksgiving is centered on. While it may not seem important, taking a serious look at all there is to be thankful for can be very encouraging in troubling times, and maybe people need a little more positive reflection. 

So, don’t just let Thanksgiving fall to the wayside as Michael Bublé plays from the speakers, remember the fourth Thursday of November as a day to reflect and gather and eat.

 

Contact the author at cmcclain17@wou.edu

Photo by Mikayla Bruley

Check out Grills Gone Wild for a variety of food

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Grills Gone Wild is located near the Donut Bar, behind the New Life Ministries church. The food cart, owned and operated by Toto Hall, opened last month on Oct. 17. 

The first food truck she had started was an espresso truck about 20 years ago; from there, her business grew and evolved into the food truck that’s currently in Monmouth.

Hall had lived in Monmouth back when Western was still known as the Western Oregon State College. She had decided to open a food truck here in town after hearing about the food annex from an old friend, and thought the location held a lot of potential and great people.

The food truck’s menu consists mainly of grilled sandwiches, many of which contain bacon.

“I love sandwiches and I love bacon so I decided to design bacon related sandwiches,” Hall explained.

Grills Gone Wild also carries a diverse selection of fries, gyros, desserts and various other dishes. The reason for the large variation and occasional changes to the menu is because Hall likes to modify the menu according to what her customers are craving. 

“I (have) specials weekly or so and keep modifying my menu to bring food(s) locals want to eat,” Hall said.

The signature dish for Grills Gone Wild is the deep fried peanut butter, banana, marshmallow and Nutella dessert sandwich, which can’t be found on the menu, but can usually be made if prompted. The dish Hall recommends to first-time customers is either the garlic parmesan fries, or any sandwich that has bacon on it. 

In addition, Hall is in the process of expanding the gluten-free options available on the menu. Currently, Grills Gone Wild has gluten-free burgers, Philly cheesesteaks and cheesy melt sandwiches. Hall is attempting to find gluten free pita bread for chicken gyros as well, and tries to carry gluten free chicken tenders when she can.

Once winter season rolls around, Hall hopes to add soup as well to the ever growing menu.

When asked if she had anything else to add, Hall had a sentiment she wished to share.

“I love this small town and I hope to find more hungry patrons I can serve and hopefully make them happy or happier one bite at a time.”

Grills Gone Wild is open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12–6 p.m. The food truck can be found on Facebook by searching “WouHoo Grills GoneWild,” and is in the process of getting other social media accounts set up.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photos by Mikayla Bruley

Apple themed dessert recipes

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Thanksgiving is a time of giving and spending time with loved ones. It’s also a time for a lot of food, including delicious desserts. Here’s some apple themed sweets to bake for that next holiday gathering.

 

APPLE PIE

Start to finish: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Serving size: 8 slices

1 unbaked pie crust

7-8 Granny Smith Green Apples peeled and sliced thin or chopped into small cubes

¾ cup of brown sugar

2 tablespoons of cornstarch 

1 tablespoon of vanilla

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

 

Preheat the oven to 375 °F.

Peel and slice (or chop) the apples and place them in a large mixing bowl. 

In a smaller separate bowl, mix brown sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon together.

Add the small bowl of ingredients to the apples, mixing and fully coating the apple slices.

Drizzle the vanilla over the apple mixture. 

Add apples to a prepared unbaked pie crust, top with pie dough or crumble. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown.

 

 

APPLE CRISP

Start to finish: 1 hour

Serving size: 4-6 pieces

6 apples — peeled, cored, and sliced

2 tablespoons of white sugar

1½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1 cup of brown sugar

¾ cup of old-fashioned oats

¾ cup of all-purpose flour

½ cup of cold butter

 

Preheat the oven to 350 °F.

Toss apples with white sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon in a medium bowl to coat, then pour into a 9-inch square baking dish.

Mix brown sugar, oats, flour and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in a separate bowl. Use a fork to mash the cold butter into the oats mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Spread over the apples to the edges of the baking dish and pat the topping gently until even.

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and the sides are bubbling.

Recipe from allrecipes.com

 

SWEET APPLESAUCE

Start to finish: 30 minutes

Serves 4 people

4 apples (preferably granny smith)

1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons of white sugar

 

Cut and core the apples. If desired, apples can also be peeled, but it’s not necessary.

Take a medium sized pot and fill with about an inch of water. Turn stove top on between levels 4 and 6. Once it’s set, place apples into the pot as the water begins to heat up. 

Begin stirring after water begins to boil. Continue stirring until apples are soft, then start mashing with stirring utensil. Mash apples until desired texture and thickness.

Turn off the heat on the stove and add in the sugar and cinnamon. More sugar and cinnamon can be added as preferred. Stir until fully mixed in.

Serve once cooled, or store in a container for later. The applesauce can be kept in the fridge for about a week and a half, and can last up to three months in the freezer if packaged in a freezer bag.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photos by Trinity Phan-Low (apples & applesauce)

Photos by Rylie Horrall (apple pie & apple crisp)

Simple DIY Thanksgiving decorations

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

As a child, you may have made Thanksgiving decorations in school, such as the classic hand turkey. Here’s some of those decorations that you can still use now.

 

Hand Turkeys

Hang a blast-from-the-past decoration that can be made into a chain. Start by tracing your hand onto a piece of paper and then cutting it out. Color the fingers to create feathers. Alternatively, trace your fingers on various colored paper, then cut and glue onto the fingers of the hand outline. Draw a face onto the thumb to make the head of the turkey.

To make the hanging chain, repeat the process as many times as desired. Take the finished hand turkeys and glue the head of the turkey onto another turkey just below the tip of the pinky. Hang where desired when finished.

 

Pinecone Turkey Centerpieces

Decorate your dining table with an easy-to-make centerpiece. Take a pinecone — which can be bought in bulk or potentially found outside for free — and glue googly eyes onto the front of it. Alternatively, eyes can be drawn on paper, cut out and glued on. Take some colorful paper and cut out oblong oval shapes to create feathers. Glue the makeshift feathers onto the pinecone near the back. Repeat this step to layer the feathers. Lastly, cut a small triangle out of orange paper and glue it on to make a beak.

 

Turkey Treat Bags

Organize your snacks and create a cute decoration in the process. Take a small plastic bag and fill it with Reese’s Pieces (or a different candy of your choice). Tie off the end with a string or hair tie. The end of the bag can be fluffed up to make a tail, or you can add to it by cutting feathers out of paper. Take an orange pipe cleaner and twist it to make a beak, leaving extra standing up in order to glue googly eyes on. Alternatively, you can use candy corn for beak and paper for the eyes. Take yellow pipe cleaners and twist them to create feet, or use paper glued to the bottom of the bag.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall (hand turkey)

Photo by Cora McClain (pinecone) 

Photo by Trinity Phan-Low (treat bag)

Get to know the musician Kali Das on his college radio tour

Never Retallack | Entertainment Editor

Interested in hearing music from a unique artist? Check out Kali Das, a musician living in New Mexico, reaching out to universities on his college radio tour so that his music travels far and wide.

 

Q: Tell me a bit about yourself, how long have you been making music? 

K: I have been recording music for over ten years. I mainly play synthesizer and guitar although I am more well-versed in synth.

Q: What inspired you to start creating music? 

K: I initially started playing music as a part of my spiritual practice. I did a lot of chanting music but have transitioned from that to more mainstream music. I still try to put out conscious messages that I feel will help the audience or make them think. I think though I wanted to have some separation from my spiritual practice and my music although I guess they are still interlinked in a more subtle way.

Q: What is your goal when it comes to producing music? 

K: My main goal is to be in the moment and expressive of where I am at for better or for worse. Musicians are either praised or ignored, and of course there is everything in between, but I think a true artist tries to express his own unique voice regardless of whether that voice is popular or not.

Q: How would you describe your music or your style? 

K: It is multi-genre. Like many artists these days, I have so many influences that I do not particularly feel comfortable in a box. So I have done everything from hip-hop to world music.

Q: Are you part of a band? How exactly do you write and create your music? 

K: I bring in musicians as needed. In terms of the writing process, I pretty much always write lyrics first if the song has lyrics. I try to focus on what I am trying to say. Once I have the lyrics and message, it becomes much easier to add instrumentation to drive the point home.

Q: Are you working on anything else besides music? 

K: I am also a healer and have an energy/body work practice. I plan on getting a masters degree at some point but have been procrastinating.

Q: What are your implications with your new EP? 

K: The lead song of the EP “Don’t Vote 4 Trump” is a call to move our country in a more progressive direction. Trump and what he represents are not conducive to moving forward in a healthy way. The other songs are mainly love dirges. “So Beautiful,” for example, is a song about a guy who falls in love with his dentist, yet he doesn’t feel he’s good enough for her. That one is supposed to be funny. “Pale Blue Moon” was with regard to an epic heartbreak, epic for me, not necessarily for anyone else… “Learn to Fly” is about letting go of those we love when the time comes. The title of the album “Don’t Vote 4 Trump and other love songs” implies that even the first song is a love song because love isn’t always about a partner, but it’s also about your commitment to the world.

Q: Why are a couple of your songs on the EP purely instrumental, or rather, why no lyrics?

K: I just thought they were great songs. I feel music sometimes captures what words never can.

Q: What is the reaction you are hoping to receive from your EP? I am hoping it helps encourage people to be more open and expressive about who they are and to question the political process which has been dominated by money for decades now. Our political lobbyist and election systems need a total overhaul to get money out of politics, which I believe is possible, but there (are) a lot of powerful forces against change.

Q: What is the most important element of creating music for you? 

K: Authenticity. There are a lot of talented people. A lot less authentic people. I have met a lot of people who will say something to your face, but something totally different is going on inside. I strive not to be that way. I strive to be authentic.

Q: Where can people find your music? 

K: On my website kalidasworld.com or gottaimpeach.com It will also be on Spotify and Youtube and all major digital platforms on the official release date November 15. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos by Kali Das

Western dancer and first-time choreographer gets involved in the arts community through an award-winning rock musical

Caity Healy | Managing Editor

With Western Oregon’s Creative Arts Division as robust and successful as it is, with several programs and departments, students involved in it often choose to get involved in the arts in their community beyond the ways they are offered on campus. One such student is Noah Nieves Driver. 

Nieves Driver is a senior at Western, currently in his second year of the ASL/English Interpreting Program. On top of this, he has been a dancer for nearly as long as he can remember. 

“I started dance when I was three. And I continued with that all the way until I was 9-ish, then I got back into it when I was 13,” Nieves Driver explained. While he can’t pinpoint the exact reason he stopped at age nine, he can remember exactly what inspired him to start again at 13.

“I saw Alvin Ailey perform in my hometown, Tacoma, Washington, and I was like, ‘I want to get back into this,’” Nieves Driver recalled.

While his history with dance has been long and extensive, an opportunity for him to do something new came up in the summer of 2019: choreograph a show titled “Next to Normal” — this was his musical choreography debut.

“I choreographed a play in high school … and I took the choreography sequence here at WOU, so I learned how to choreograph for myself,” Nieves Driver said. “But show-wise, this is the first actual show I’ve choreographed.” 

Nieves Driver has been involved in local theater in the neighboring communities to Monmouth for awhile, and when he heard that the Majestic Theatre in Corvallis, Oregon was putting on “Next to Normal” —  a show about a suburban household coping with mental illness, delving into the ways a mother navigates her illness and the treatments that go along with it, as well as the impact it has on her family — he contacted the director, Ruth Mandsager, to see if she’d be interested in him doing the choreography.

“I love the show, I love the people who are a part of the production, and I just had this vision for it and I was like, ‘I want to see this come to life,’” he added. Mandsager gladly accepted his offer, and they got to work. Nieves Driver explained that the songs are very grounded in reality, and therefore wanted to make sure there was a purpose to the choreography that he was planning.

“I just listened to the songs a lot … I tried to understand what the characters were feeling,” Nieves Driver said. “I was working with the music,” he added, asking himself things like, “‘okay what is the music doing here? Oh, it’s accenting that. Let me follow that or let me do the opposite to create some contrast with that.’” 

As a choreographer, Nieves Driver felt elated by how this process went, and explained that, ideally, this is just the beginning.

“I’m hopeful that I can get in — at least in this area — as a prominent choreographer, and then hopefully become a director so that I can cast more people of color in traditionally white roles,” he explained. “In this area, there aren’t a lot of opportunities for people like me, like black people, to get cast in stuff … so with traditionally white roles … why is it traditionally white? Is it connected to the story? Is it about race? If not, then why does that matter? So, there wasn’t a lot of work here for me as a dancer, so that’s kind of why I went into choreography. But I think I’m going to focus more on that, and less on the dance aspect.”

“Next to Normal” does have a content warning under the Majestic Theatre’s website, as it includes subject matter and language regarding depression, self-harm, drug abuse and suicide. 

For those interested in seeing the show, there are still a few more opportunities. It runs Nov. 13–16 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 17 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 for students, $18 for adults, and only $10 for those that go Thursday, Nov. 14. 

“Support local theater, we really need it,” Nieves Driver commented. “Everybody has been putting their full heart into this show and I think you can see that from just watching it.”

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Mark Hoffman (play)

Photo by Caity Healy (headshot)

Thanksgiving is not always traditional, Hulu’s “Into the Dark: Pilgrim” proves a much darker version

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Thanksgiving — a holiday with an iffy history at best, but an excuse to gorge oneself on all the delicious food one can imagine. It usually includes an immense amount of family time — wanted or not.

Hulu released their latest movie in their horror series, “Into the Dark: Pilgrim” (2019), written and directed by Marcus Dunstan.

This twisted tale introduces the audience to a dysfunctional family: a father who is always on his tablet, a stepmother who is seemingly cold, a daughter who struggles with abandonment issues and a charmingly naive young son. 

What could possibly go wrong when the stepmother, Anna, decides to hire a group of pilgrim reenactors to stay with them for Thanksgiving? Cody, the daughter struggling to accept Anna as her stepmom, is immediately hesitant to jump on the bandwagon, and expresses her discomfort.

The arrival of the Pilgrim reenactors is immediately disconcerting. Ethan is the Pilgrim in charge, seemingly cool and collected, while delivering each line with a gentle smile on his face. 

The impersonators are unsettling throughout, the female Pilgrims unwavering in their praise of Ethan and how he changed their lives with a sort of reverence that is similar to cult followers.

The movie builds tension, alluding to a sinister side of the Pilgrims’ plans, leaving the audience feeling uncomfortable and on edge for most of the movie.

While I don’t want to spoil the movie for those who have not seen it, I’ll tell you the goal of the Pilgrims in the plot. 

Ethan wants the family to appreciate what they have: food, shelter and each other. The means to which he teaches this lesson are unconventional and horrifying.

While this movie was surprisingly dark and twisted, it was equally amusing. Dunstan managed to weave humor into many scenes, whether through utilizing slow-motion fight scenes, or Cody delivering dark jokes, there were numerous times where I caught myself chuckling.

Overall rating: I highly recommend this unique horror-comedy; it is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit — watching a family unite together to fight the evil that hounds them.

The end was not quite a twist, but did leave the audience wondering whether or not this movie was more supernatural than it appeared. 

This movie reminds people of what is truly important— appreciating the good things in life and accepting that families aren’t always perfect.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Wolves chomped down on the Bearcats in their last home game

Hannah Greene | Sports Editor

The night left the morning grass tickled with water, making for a slick game, the skies filled with gray — it was a perfect day for some soccer. The Western Oregon Women’s soccer team hosted Central Washington on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. for their final home game before leaving for GNAC Championships.

The first half consisted of a tough battle, both opponents doing whatever they could to keep the ball out of their half. Three minutes before the half concluded — Alyssa Tomasini, a junior forward, scored her second goal — a goal that defeated all odds, driving it in from a corner kick, Wolves ahead 2-1. 

Leading by only one, the Wolves’ defense began to play frantic and only kicked the ball forward creating multiple 50/50 chances, rather than playing the ball from side to side to maintain possession. The Wolves’ offense stayed knit and kept up the pressure to make for more shots on goal, testing the Wildcats goalkeeper.

The second half started with Western and Central giving the crowd more of a kickball game with the ball switching from end to end, no passes to feet or connection among either team. Many opportunities were generated, but no finishes. 

At 28 minutes, Central made consecutive substitutions to give their team fresh legs against the worn Wolves; this had no impact.

A few minutes later, the Wolves switched the ball to Isabelle Creighton, a senior forward, who then beat the Wildcats’ defenders to cross the ball into Kennedy Clay, a junior forward, who headed the ball into the back of the net — Wolves ahead 3-1. 

Central kept up their attack even though Western had all the momentum. Many chances were built up from the Wildcats’ defense, but their offense couldn’t find a finish. The Wolves’ defense held strong and stopped numerous attacks, creating a harder wall for the Wildcats to break through.

The countdown began: five, four, three, two, one — Western Oregon Wolves finished their final conference game with a 3-1 win in the bag.

The Wolves leave for Seattle to finish off their season in the GNAC Championship tournament on Nov. 14 to play Seattle Pacific University — a team they played twice during conference. The Wolves are returning to the tournament after a six year gap.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos by Hannah Greene

Knapp out of sight, cruisin’ into the NCAA Cross Country Championships

Hannah Greene | Sports Editor

On Saturday, Nov. 9, Western Oregon University held the NCAA Division II West Regional at Ash Creek — both the men and the women competed for the Wolves racing to get top positions overall.

The final results of the race were not as expected with Grace Knapp, a senior in her last cross country season, taking the sixth overall spot out of 187 other racers — only eight seconds away from placing second. The men on the other hand didn’t have a single finisher in the top 10, and their first racer, Andy Muha, a transfer junior, came in 45th place overall — just four seconds away from finishing in the top 40.

The women’s team placed 17th overall while the men placed 13th overall, out of 27 teams.

Knapp has officially qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Nov. 23. 

This was the final race for both the cross country teams, but the training doesn’t end there; with indoor track season on the horizon, the cross country team will hang up their running shoes and flex their spikes.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Women’s basketball bounce back from home opener, brings home first win of the season

Hannah Greene | Sports Editor

Women’s basketball started their season with a tough loss, but prepared for their next home game against California State University, East Bay on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m.

One year ago exactly, the Wolves matched up to the Wildcats, bringing home a loss.

This year, Western Oregon came back ready to win with a lot of depth within their team.

Testing the waters throughout the first quarter, a back-and-forth battle ensued with no scoring. But minutes later, the Wolves bagged their first points and jumped themselves ahead.

Western Oregon continued to push the ball forward, and took every opportunity, earning them a lead against East Bay.

East Bay started to come back and score, but not enough to catch up.

For the majority of the first half, the Wolves finished most of their chances —  East Bay, on the other hand, missed multiple opportunities, which caused many fouls against Western, and gave them even more points.

The Wolves’ guards, including sophomore Tresai McCarver, sophomore Rachel Rogers, junior Olivia Denton and junior Keyonna Jones, showed great ball skills and movement to stay open and finish plays.

Continuous subbing from both teams gave fresh legs to the court, keeping the speed of play fast and intense.

The first half concluded 37-21, the Wolves ahead by 16 points.

Coming into the second half, the Wolves brought more finesse and more points, staying up and not letting their guard down. Points continued to stay in their favor, leading to their first win and first win at home.

The game concluded with Wolves winning 65-49, keeping their 16-point lead from the first half. McCarver and Jones finished with 17 points each, making up almost half the score.

The Wolves’ next home game is Friday, Nov. 29 at 4 p.m. versus Texas A&M International University.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos by Max Carmona

Western hosts first speaker for the FEM-in-STEM series, representing women and underrepresented groups in STEM education

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor

“The skills that I’ve learned in getting a degree in chemistry have really helped me know how to break down problems into smaller pieces,” said Valerie Rippey, representing the first speaker for Western’s FEM in STEM series on Monday, November 4. Currently, Rippey is a Product Manager in an interior design company, where she uses her skills of organization and persistence — which she gained through her STEM education — to succeed and inspire future generations of STEM graduates.

In 2017, Breeann Flesch, an associate professor of computer sciences at Western, organized a lunch with students, faculty and staff who were all in the sciences. The purpose of that lunch, said Leanne Merrill, an assistant professor of math at Western, “was to just start a conversation and create a community.” The meeting led to an interest in having an organization which supports women in STEM majors at Western, and after obtaining a WOU Foundation grant for that specific purpose, the FEM in STEM speaker series was established. 

According to Western’s website, “FEM in STEM works on the Western Oregon University campus to connect and support female, non-binary, and other underrepresented and ally students in STEM fields. Our focus is on education, support, and community connection to tangible STEM role models who have a variety of careers and career paths.” 

“I think a lot of students at WOU are interested in Med school or grad school, but then there’s some who just want a bachelors degree and don’t necessarily want to continue on in academia,” said Merrill, regarding the importance of Rippey’s representation as someone who did not necessarily continue on in their field of study. 

However, the importance of FEM in STEM connections go beyond portraying the impact of STEM fields on career choices; Merrill affirms that, “women (and femmes) seeing other women in positions of power, leadership, and success is really useful,” and “gives people tangible role models.” This is important because while, “a lot of progress has been made … the fact is that there is still a gap in achievement at the post-grad level and beyond,” said Merrill, referring to the fact that more than 50% of Biology majors are women but don’t progress throughout their career as an example. 

Currently, the FEM in STEM series is set to host a minimum of one speaker per term, but there have been “discussions about having panels … and tentative plans for a peer-mentoring system and bigger-name speakers” in the future, according to Merrill, who also wanted to stress that these events are geared toward a general audience. 

“We are particularly excited to see male colleagues and male student allies at these events … part of changing the culture is teaching people to be better allies,” said Merrill, who concluded by saying “everyone can benefit from this.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Sage Kiernan-Sherrow

Western hosts a free speech discussion for open communication between students and the administration regarding last year’s controversial speaker, Joey Gibson

Compiled by Alyssa Loftis | Freelancer  &  Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor

“Hate speech is not free speech,” assured Western Oregon University’s President Rex Fuller, during the Nov. 7 event titled “Free Speech on Campus: Controversial Speakers, University Preparedness and Legal Considerations.”  Following a brief statement from President Fuller, ASWOU’s current President, Erik Morgan Jr., and Ryan Hagemann, Western’s Vice Chancellor of the Legal Counsel, allowed the audience to voice their questions and concerns. Most of the questions and concerns were regarding the controversy that stemmed from the College Republican Club inviting Patriot Prayer leader, Joey Gibson to campus last June, which was approved by the administration, despite student retaliation.

Much of the retaliation was due to concerns over safety. At the time of the presentation held on June 4, Gibson — who calls himself a “conservative activist” — had multiple court cases filed against him for inciting violence. Additionally, Gibson’s ideology clashes with Western’s student government values as portrayed through ASWOU’s statement released before the event. What’s more, students were told about the event on May 30, giving students little time to process and causing polarizing tensions to rise quickly. 

This was addressed during the free speech discussion, when one student asked: “you mentioned over and over that you had those weeks in advance of knowledge. You know that something like this is coming, and you know that there are going to be students that don’t feel welcomed … what is the administration going to do specifically to present a much stronger stance rather than just sending out a letter that sort of has these platitudes about how we value diversity (and) ensure that there is a fail safe resource available for students?”

On the day of the event, some professors urged their students to “stay at home,” in fear of violence ensuing. As anticipated, protests against the event — and against the administration who allowed it — occurred shortly thereafter, although they remained nonviolent. 

Director of Public Safety Rebecca Chiles defined her role here at Western, in addition to shedding light on the decisions and planning that goes into preparing for emergencies. Regarding future events like the one featuring Gibson, Chiles said, “we move forward with safety being our number one priority … always. The safety of our folks on campus is going to come first.” She later added that, “we need people to attend those things; first aid, CPR … get certified … that’s the best way to move forward, with all of us collaboratively to be a disaster-resilient university.”

For information regarding the June 4 event, refer to the previous article on wou.edu/westernhowl.

 

Contact the authors at aloftis18@wou.edu and howlnews@wou.edu

Photos by Mikayla Bruley

Monmouth Senior Center hosts first ever community Thanksgiving open to Western students unable to go home for the holidays

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor

For students unable to go home for the Thanksgiving holiday, or for those struggling with food insecurity in the community — the Monmouth-Independence Rotary Club is hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner at 1 p.m. in the Monmouth Senior Center on Nov. 28. The Monmouth Senior Center is located at 180 Warren St S.

Dubbed “Here for the Holidays,” the meal is a brand new service which, “started last spring when a local artist, Pam Sierra Wence” contacted Dr. Robert Troyer, an associate professor of linguistics and the Director of International Student Academic Support here at Western. Wence wanted “to see if there was any way to set up some kind of program for students who are here … and can’t go home to their families,” added Dr. Troyer.

While the original plan was designed to partner students up with community members, “the logistics of that were just … really difficult,” said Troyer, and thusly both he and Wence recruited Laurel Sharmer’s involvement in the project. Sharmer, who is the president of the Monmouth-Independence Rotary Club, applied for a grant to offset the costs of the event and, after receiving one, made the dinner entirely free to the community. 

All students have to do is confirm their interest in the event by filling out a form on the Academic Student Support website by Thursday, Nov. 21. This gives the Rotary Club an approximation on attendance in order to ensure that enough food is available.

For students who will be missing a feeling of community during the holidays, Troyer calls the event, “one of those rare things that is just simple and good.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Sage Kiernan-Sherrow

Left with an empty stomach, Men’s Rugby lose championship match to the Owls

Hannah Greene | Sports Editor

Western Oregon hosted Oregon Institute of Technology for the Championship match on the turf Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. The second time this season the Wolves faced the Owls — previously on Oct. 26, beating them 17-10.

With nerves and excitement, the Wolves showed up early to jump start their day. The eagerness to begin the game was present, the focus and seriousness of what was ahead was highlighted in all the eyes of the Wolves. 

The first half started and within five minutes, the Owls scored their first try — a wakeup call for the Wolves, setting the tempo for the final game. 

There was no return from Western as the Owls grabbed their second try of the split, the score 12-0. The Wolves gathered to talk and relight their fires, keeping each others’ heads up and in the game.

A gruesome battle of tackles, runs and hard hits led to the Wolves’ first try, completed by Keegan Echevarria, a first-year and past “Man of the Match” — finally adding some points to the scoreboard. The extra two points were kicked by Braedon Eltagonde, a sophomore returner, to make the score 7-12. The Owls were ahead, but the Wolves’ hunger was growing.

Before the first half concluded, time was added, and the Wolves punted the ball only to have it blocked by the Owls, who then snagged the ball and carried it downfield to the endzone, but not before Gabriel Wai, a junior returner, was able to tackle a few of the Owls’ players.

That ended the first half, with the scoreboard reading 19-7, Owls.

The second half started out as more of a scrap than a rugby match, with the ball going either direction down field and the players all wanting a piece of their opponents. 

Many hard tackles made by the Wolves created an unbreakable wall against the Owls. Wylie Cossitt, a sophomore returner, gained yards, but not enough to complete a try.

Ten minutes in with no scoring and multiple effective Wolves out of the game including Wai, Riley Bardes, a senior returner and Andrew Reyes, a junior returner — this that demanded players step up and bring their A-game.

Hakam Nagra, a sophomore returner, got handed the ball; he stiff-armed an Owl and gained yards for the Wolves, but still no completed try.

With eight minutes left in the final half, a chill fell across the field and entered the stands; the Wolves looked tired, but kept pushing themselves to score.

Two minutes later, the Owls made for a tricky try, scoring again and pulling ahead 24-7.

The clock counted down as the fatigued Wolves persevered, however they lacked the rabbits foot. 

The whistle blew to leave the “W” in the talons of the Owls.

Western Oregon Wolves never let their heads down and played a remarkable match — one to learn from and propel themselves into the winter season.

A few of the Wolves’ players were unable to withstand injury — Eltagonde with a broken nose and Reyes with a concussion — but continued to support their teammates. 

Men’s Rugby finished their season with a 5-1 record and their boots full.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photos by Hannah Greene

This week in completely made up horoscopes

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

[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] The stars know you’re excited to deck the halls and listen to those sweet, sweet pipes of Michael Bublé, Aries, but don’t forget there’s a whole holiday associated to your favorite pastime ⏤ eating! [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] Life right now is going at ludicrous speed and you feel like you’re constantly catching up. Don’t be afraid to turn to Yogurt for guidance and spiritual wisdom, he may even lend you his ring to finish off these last few weeks. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] You’re tired? Take a nap, the stars have your best interest at heart. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] Can you guys turn your music down, and turnip that beet? [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] It’s definitely that time of the year to play holiday music really loud, and most likely lose half of your friend group to that decision. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] You mess with the bull, you get the horns. You mess with a Virgo, you get… them crying profusely. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] Get dat bread. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] Should you have listened? Maybe. Did you? No. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] My name is Kyle. Nice to meet you, Tiffany. I have a reminder for you: don’t forget to drink guacamole on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2019. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] Christmas is right around the corner, don’t be such a salty Bublé. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] Aquarius, eat much gud. Always. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] This week in history, the Xbox was released in 2001. Ah, good times. If I listen closely I can still hear the faint sounds of “GTA: Vice City”… “video killed the raaadio star…” [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

Campus Conspiracy Theories

The Portal

OK, hear me out. WHAT IF the art students are all in a cult? WHAT IF all the art on campus is strategically placed as part of a ritual to summon Cthulhu? WHAT IF those ridiculously flamboyant electric purple flowers outside of the Triple D–k (Ed) building are actually the beginning of the portal opening? WHAT IF… it’s already too late? 

 

Robots Among Us

They’re all over campus, impossible to miss. They seem harmless enough, innocent, perhaps even cute enough to feed. Don’t be mistaken, those fluffy little squirrels on campus are most likely animatronics planted by the university. I’m not saying that it’s 100% a fact, but think about it: it kind of makes sense.

 

The Wolf in the Walls

On Columbus Day of 1962, a major storm hit campus and knocked down the bell tower that was once on Campbell Hall, Western’s oldest building. It was too expensive to repair, so where there used to be doors, there is a now a bricked-in outline of the door frames. So my theory — the spirits of all the Wolfies (previously known as Waldo’s) of Western’s past live in those rebuilt walls … watching. Waiting. For what? Who knows. 

 

It’s Below the Leaves

During the seasonal change from fall to winter, a mysterious occurrence takes over the Western campus. The leaves fall rapidly, covering the ground below us making sure to cover up the mystery — our gardening staff work hard to try and uncover this everyday, but are never on time and it has moved. This mystery has been known to grab ankles, cause students and staff to trip, given cars flat tires and even snagged squirrels rummaging for food. There have been few accounts of where this mysterious thing has been seen, but those people are long gone, stuck in the old buildings of the Western campus to haunt and scare…

 

Illustrated by Rachel Hetzel

Opinion: Now is the time to end the stigma around STIs

Caity Healy | Managing Editor

Think back to when you were in middle school or high school, when one of your teachers, sat the class down and gave you the sex ed talk. Of course, this is assuming your school actually decided to give you said talk — my school district, Battle Ground School District just outside of Vancouver, WA, just decided to cut the requirement for sex ed. Which is absolutely ridiculous, but an argument for another day and not the point I’m wanting to get at here. So, back to what I was saying: think back to that sex ed class you (hopefully) had. 

When I think of my sexual education, I remember it pretty clearly — there were visuals, so they showed us what a condom looks like and how to use it; there was the explanation on how to have safe sex (although they did tell us the only way to really be safe is to not have it at all, which is a cute idea but you’re talking to a bunch of people who just hit puberty so… good luck with that); and, what I remember most was how there was a huge display on how having unsafe sex will spread sexually transmitted infections and diseases, and they made it sound like it would ruin our lives.

Let’s look at the facts; according to Western’s Health Center’s 2018 survey, “41.8% of students did not use any method of protection the last time they had intercourse.” On top of this, also in 2018, “34.1% used the “Withdrawal” method of contraception the last time they had intercourse,” or in other words, the “pull-out method.” 

When this many people are practicing unsafe sex, it’s inevitable that someone will contract an STI. In fact, according to CDC.gov, in 2017 a total of 1,708,569 chlamydial infections were reported to the CDC in 50 states and in the District of Columbia. Similarly, CDC.gov reported 555,608 cases of gonorrhea in the U.S. in 2017, as well. So the point is, these infections are happening. Regardless of whether a sex ed class teaches safe sex, STIs and STDs are still being spread. So wouldn’t it have been nice if your sex ed class taught you what to do if you actually contracted one of these diseases, rather than try to scare you away from the thought of them?

STIs are heavily stigmatized in our culture. When sex ed courses, or “the talk” with your parents, tries to scare you away from them, or make you feel like you’re a bad person for contracting them, it further enhances that stigma surrounding STIs. When someone does contract one, rather than wanting to take care of it, this stigma will lead to them feeling ashamed or embarrassed to tell their partner(s), a friend or their health care provider. 

I can think of several films or TV shows where the parent or a physician told a kid something along the lines of, “This is what your genitals will look like if you contract an STI.” It then pans to the child in absolute horror and disgust. But we never hear them say, “If this does happen to you, here are the steps you can take to make sure you get healthy again.” That last part is important if we actually want people to be healthy, and not just want to scare them away from sex and shame them for contracting an incredibly common infection. 

At the end of the day, that’s what an STI is: an infection. People get infections every day, and when they do, they go see their doctor and get it cleared up. STIs should be treated like any other infection. If you get one, it can be taken care of, and that’s the end of it. Based on the fact that it’s an incredibly common occurance, it’s really not as big of a deal as your sex ed might have made it sound; most clear up from prescribed medication from a doctor. That said, it can become a bigger deal if it is not taken care of or if it’s being spread haphazardly. 

If someone reaches out to you and tells you they have an STI, treat them the same as if someone said, “I think this cut on my hand is infected.” Don’t be disgusted; they’re probably scared and need someone to confide in — be happy they chose you. Then reassure them that they will be okay and show them ways they can get medical attention. Ultimately, we all have to work together to minimize this stigma surrounding STIs.  

If you or someone you know believes they might have an STI or STD, they can contact Western’s Health and Counseling Center at (503) 838-8313. It’s also a good idea to get checked for STIs and STDs regularly if you are sexually active or were recently, as sometimes they don’t present with symptoms. 

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Infographic by Caity Healy

Where to find late season apple picking farms

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

During the fall season, pumpkin picking isn’t the only autumn activity that’s available. Many farms offer a chance for customers to pick their own apples — whether it’s for recipes, or just a prime photo opportunity. While many have closed down for the season, here’s a few farms that are still open for apple picking.

Beilke Family Farm is located in Brooks at 4925 Rockdale Street NE, and is open through the month of November. The farm offers customers the opportunity to pick their own apples from a variety of 15 different varieties. They call their trees ‘dwarf trees,’ as they cut them to make sure they remain at a reasonable height for both adults and children to be able to reach. Twenty-five apples fill a bucket, and each bucket costs $12. If a visitor buys 10 buckets, the 11th one is free.

Currently, Beilke Family Farm is hosting an event called the Largest Apple Contest, where the customer that brings in the largest apple will win three free buckets of apples.

The farm is open on Monday–Saturday from 8 a.m.–6 p.m, and on Sundays from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. More information can be found on their website, beilkefamilyfarm.com.

Green Bridge Gardens, located at 3730 Jefferson Scio Dr SE in Jefferson, has not only apples available, but peaches, tomatoes, strawberries and peppers for customers to pick. Customers must bring their own containers to fill at this location, and availability of produce changes daily.

In addition to their u-pick produce, Green Bridge Gardens has a variety of jams, spreads and syrups for customers to purchase as well. They’re open daily from 9 a.m.–6 p.m., and can be found at their website, greensbridgegardens.com. The farm recommends following their Facebook page for updates on u-pick availability.

Three Cedars Farm has fresh apples each day for customers to pick up. Located at 5751 Wallace Rd NW in West Salem, their farm stand has apples available for $1 per pound, or a 20-pound box for $12. Additionally, they have fresh pressed cider obtainable for $8 a gallon or $5 for a half-gallon. Three Cedars Farm stand is open from dawn until dusk, and further information can be found on their Facebook page.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Step-by-step processes of fall inspired makeup

Ashlynn Norton | Digital Media Manager  Alyssa Martin | Freelancer  Cora McClain | Editor in Chief

 

Ashlynn:

Look #1 – The every day/night look to fall for

This is one of my go-to looks for fall. For me, it’s really fast and easy. I find that as a person with glasses, my makeup can get hidden by the shadows of my glasses, so going a little darker keeps my makeup from disappearing. 

 

Products:

MaryKay Eyeshadow: Auburn

Mary Kay Eyeshadow: Coal 

Milk Kush Mascara

 

Step 1: Take any copper color (I used Mary Kay’s “Auburn”). Put the color on your eyelid and take it a little above the lid.

Step 2: With black eyeshadow (I used Mary Kay’s “Coal”), take your finger and swipe the color onto your eyelid. I find that when applying a single color to your eyelid, using your finger really helps pack the color on, in comparison to using a brush. Alternatively, if you don’t want to use black, a dark brown would work just as good.

Step 3: I like to finish this off with winged eyeliner and my favorite mascara by Milk.

Optional: I think this look pairs well with a nude brown lipstick, but would also go well with a dark brown or red.

 

Look #2 – The punk/more colorful autumn

I love super colorful makeup. I was inspired by the amazing fall sunsets to create a look that is a little more on the colorful side but is also still pretty simple. This look is great for pretty much everyone.

 

Products: 

BH Take Me Back to Brazil Eyeshadow Palette

Milk Kush Mascara

 

Step 1: For this look, you will want to use a lighter copper color and put that on your eyelid and a little above that. (Unfortunately, the palette I used doesn’t have names for the shades so I can’t tell you exactly what colors I used.)

Step 2: Using your finger, take a dark purple and apply that on your eyelid.

Step 3: Take a dark brown shade and put that in your crease to add dimension. 

Step 4: Again, I finish this look off with winged eyeliner and my Milk Kush mascara.

Optional: I really like to finish this off with a bright red lipstick, but this would also look good with a dark brown.

 

Cora:

Look: The just-out-of-the-oven-pumpkin

This is my first experimentation with warm-toned eyeshadow. What started as a fun, bright orange soon turned smokey with a touch of dark brown. Using a bold lip can help balance out the darkness of this look.

 

Products:

Elf Rose Gold – Sunset Eyeshadow : Auburn

Elf Rose Gold – Sunset Eyeshadow : Brown

Elf Rose Gold – Sunset Eyeshadow : Gold

Wet n Wild Matte Lip : A362

Loreal Paris mascara : Voluminous Original 

 

Step 1: Use a light matte auburn color as the base of this look. Cover your lid completely.

Step 2: To add some depth, take a matte dark brown and lightly add the color to the outer edge of your lid and along your crease. If it ends up outside of your eyelid, you can use concealer or foundation to clean up any mistakes once you’re done.

Step 3: Blend the two colors together; this should soften the harsh lines between the brown and auburn and soften the boldness of the brown. Usually this is best done with a soft brush with longer bristles, so I recommend using a blending brush.

Step 4: I like to highlight the middle of my lid in most of my looks, so I use a glittery dark gold to make my smokey eye pop. Highlighting the inner eye with this color can also make your look pop.

Step 5: Finish your eyes off with whatever mascara you like, either a black or brown color can work with this look. I generally like doing this instead of curling my eyelashes since it puts less stress on them.

Step 6 : Use a bold lip to balance out the bold eye, I used the “looking for truffle” color of Wet n Wild. 

 

Alyssa:

Look: The ‘Carmel Apple’ look is perfectly scrumptious to wear day or night……..

I am far from a makeup guru so this look is easy and quick. I like adding a more shimmering color as an accent but you can definitely do this look with a matte finish. 

 

Products:

Lashes – Lash Sensational by Maybelline New York

Lips – 120 Go Wild by Almay 

Eyes – Base: BB Cream-Nude by NYX 

Eyeshadow: A362 Looking For Truffle Velvet Matte Lip Color by Wet n Wild 

Accent Eyeshadow: Color Wonderland Palette (on the ‘Neutrals’ side) by Sephora 

 

Step 1: I use a small soft paintbrush to apply BB cream onto my eyelids but you can use your finger or whatever else works for you. Apply a thin layer of BB cream onto the desired area of the lid just enough to coat the entire area you want. This will help the color stay on the lid. 

Step 2: Dab the eyeshadow onto the base, evenly applying the color onto the lid. I am using a matte lipstick as the eyeshadow, but hey, when it works, it works. Continue applying the color onto the lid until you get the desired brightness. 

Step 3: Apply a small amount of BB cream at the inner corners of the lid and going until a little less than halfway across the lid. This will help the accent color pop out more. 

Step 4: Dab the accent eyeshadow directly onto the new BB cream and blend where the two eyeshadows meet.

Step 5: Apply mascara onto both the top and bottom lashes. 

Step 6: To finish the look, apply lipstick and you are done! Now you’ve got a look that can be both festive and cute. 

 

Contact the authors at amartin17@wou.edu & anorton17@wou.edu

Photos by Ashlynn Norton, Alyssa Martin, and Cora McClain

Catch a bite to eat at Greece Lightning Express

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Greece Lightning Express is located at 156 Catron St in Monmouth — specifically on the corner where Catron meets Jackson Street. It’s owned and operated by Pete Kalogeras, who chose to open a food truck due to their apparent popularity in Oregon.

The food truck opened on July 20, 2017, making it open for nearly two-and-a-half years. Kalogeras decided to open in Monmouth because of the town’s growing size, and chose to serve Greek food in respect  to his personal heritage.

“There are very few Greek food carts and (coming) from an ethnic Greek background I decided to open one up.” Kalogeras said.

The dish he recommends to first-time customers is a traditional beef and lamb gyro, and the truck’s signature meal is the Original Gyro. The Original Gyro consists of beef and lamb cooked with seasoning on a spit with tomatoes, red onions and tzatziki sauce all served on warm pita bread.

Greece Lightning Express also carries a Veggie Gyro, which comes with feta cheese, red onions, tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives, tzatziki sauce and lettuce put together onto pita bread. Other than gyros, the truck additionally serves fries — regular and Greek-style loaded fries. Both are made from fresh-cut potatoes, but the Greek fries have feta cheese, Greek seasoning and lemon.

If customers want something sweet, the food truck offers Baklava, a dessert that’s made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey.

In addition to staying in Monmouth, Greece Lightning Express occasionally moves to Dallas and travels for events. Their hours of operation are 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in Monmouth, and the same hours on Tuesdays in Dallas in the parking lot of the “Some Things” furniture store. Kalogeras posts events that the food truck will be at, along with additional information on Facebook and Instagram (@greecelightningexpress).

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Cora McClain

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