The Western Howl – Page 63 – The Western Howl

Written by: Nicholas Sarysz

Western’s Women’s track team closed out the 2022 spring track season with a conference championship in outdoor track. However, the team has never won an indoor conference meet in the program’s history.

This changed when both the men’s and women’s track teams took home the trophy at the Greater Northwest Athletic Conference Championship meet on Feb. 21. It was also the men’s first meet victory since 2012.

The women beat the second place Western Washington University Vikings by a narrow margin of just five points. They were led by numerous strong first place performances coming from Jenelle Hurley, who scored a Western school record of 3,585 in the pentathlon, Ujunwa Nwokoma, who jumped a Western school record 19-0 in the Long Jump and Ana Popchock, who won the triple jump with a distance of 38-2 3/4.

The men also narrowly beat Western Washington University for the top spot, winning by six points. They were led by Dominique Loggins, who took first with a time of 6.87 seconds in the 60m dash, Justin Conklin, who took first with a time of 0:8.33 in the 60m hurdles and Dayne Gordien who took first in the shot-put with a throw of 53-2 3/4.

“GNAC Indoor was a moment where we were all truly a team and not just competing in individual events,” stated Wyatt Smith, a sophomore who competed in the men’s second place Distance Medley Relay team. “There was not one WOU event where we were silent, and that electric energy carried into our performances. Everyone stepped up when they needed to and it all paid off with two team titles. Spokane is a great place to spend time in and it’s great that we will get to have our indoor champs there (in the newly constructed Spokane Podium) for the foreseeable future.”

Despite their historical efforts, competition in the GNAC this year was far weaker than many other NCAA Division II conferences and only Hunter Hutton was able to secure a bid to the NCAA national meet. Hutton currently ranks 13th in D-II in the mile with a time of 4:03.6 and will be competing for the top spot in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March 10.

Contact the author at howlsaffwriter@wou.edu

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Alternative worship

Written by: Jude Bokovoy

Any time is a great time to listen to christian music — once a week during church does not have to be the only time. There is a whole world full of different styles and artists waiting to be heard. Below is a list of christian artists paired with possible activities to complete while listening to them. A few included artists have featured popular musicians that don’t typically produce christian music, so if one enjoys the featured artist, one may also enjoy the christian artist.

On a morning drive

Antonie Bradford, featuring indie soul singer-songwriter Shua on “Seasons Change (Feat. Shua).”
Gatton
Nick Smith
Isla Vista Worship
Jonathan Ogden
Sarah Juers

While painting

Darla Baltazar
Issac Wheadon
Sean C. Johnson

While cleaning or studying

Khamir Music
Hillsong Instrumentals

To sing one’s heart out

Elevation Worship, their latest album was released in both English and Spanish.

Jesus Culture
New Life Worship

When getting ready on gameday

Lecrae, featuring artists such as John Legend, Ty Dolla $ign, Tori Kelly, YK Osiris, Marc E. Bassy, Jozzy, DaniLeigh, BJ The Chicago Kid, Gwen Bunn, Nija, Verse Simmonds, Jawan Harris, Jon Keith, Jordan L’Oreal and PJ Morton.
Hulvey, features artists Forrest Frank, Torey D’Shaun and SVRCINA.
KB, featuring Latin multi-genre artist Tommy Royale on “Libre (feat. Tommy Royale).”

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

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“Cocaine Bear” review

Written by: Mikayla Coleman

Content warning: this article contains spoilers and mentions of drugs

Directed by Elizabeth Banks, the comedy horror movie “Cocaine Bear” has taken theater-goers by storm. The narcotics-filled thriller, which was released Feb. 23, 2023, tells the story of those who encountered a black bear residing in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest who had consumed millions of dollars of cocaine.

The film included a large cast including some familiar faces. Margo Martindale dazzled as Ranger Liz, taking a literal claw to the a–. Jesse Tyler Ferguson played Peter, a wildlife activist inspecting the conditions of the forest, who suffered one of the many brutal death scenes. O’Shea Jackson Jr. was Daveed, a fixer who when searching for the lost cocaine came face to face with the cocaine bear. “Cocaine Bear” was the last movie of Ray Liotta, who died on May 26, 2022, shortly after filming wrapped.

The true events that inspired “Cocaine Bear” are much less thrilling than that of the movie. On Sept. 11, 1985, drug smuggler Andrew C. Thorton II, after dumping packages of cocaine for a drug ring via plane, realized he was being followed by authorities in the air. Thorton and a partner abandoned the plane by jumping out of it and Thorton became caught in his parachute, causing him to freefall and die within minutes of meeting the ground.

On Dec. 23, 1985, local authorities discovered a dead black bear who had consumed a large amount of the lost cocaine. That is where the story ends.

“Cocaine Bear” was a humorous and horrific depiction of what might have happened if the real cocaine bear — dubbed by fans and historians as Pablo Eskobear — had not immediately died from overdosing. There were a lot of plot lines to follow, which made things a little overwhelming, but it certainly kept things interesting enough to keep my attention.

There was a lot of gore — some might even say too much. A lot of it was warranted, considering the massive bear was under the influence of very strong drugs, but there were moments that felt unnecessary. Viewers should be cautious if they have a weak stomach.

Overall, I very much enjoyed the exploration of the bizarre and tangible concept. It was very humorous, but also very disgusting. Proceed with caution.

7/10.

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

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“Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” review

Written by: Nicholas Sarysz

“Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey” is a film that takes place in the magical world of the Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends reside. However, unlike the classic children’s stories that we’re all familiar with, this movie takes a much darker and grittier turn — exploring themes of loss and violence.

Only a small percentage of reviews found the British independent slasher film produced by Rhs Frake-Waterfield to have any quality, and critical reception has been overwhelmingly negative. The movie has a pitiful approval rating of 5% based on 37 reviews, with an average rating of 2.3/10 on the aggregate review website Rotten Tomatoes.

Many shortcomings of the movie have been pointed out by critics, including a weak screenplay, subpar production qualities, lack of humor and an inability to connect with the fundamental source material. Several critics have commended the movie’s gore and intrinsic grotesqueness, yet, even these glowing assessments point out what they view as serious problems within the film.

Despite the negative reviews, the film’s producer revealed that a sequel is currently in development, as well as two additional horror films, “Bambi: The Reckoning” and “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare” — based on the beloved children’s stories “Bambi, a Life in the Woods” and “Peter Pan.” Frake-Waterfield further revealed in Feb. 2023 that Jagged Edge Productions intends to include crossovers starring the various characters.

I personally love horror movies and had high hopes as I walked into the Independence Cinema to watch the film. While the plot annoyingly consisted of typical bad decision-making from the main characters, it was far better than any critic had described it. The concept of the film is not only easy to understand, but provides an alternative ending to the friendship beloved by many. Certainly, nothing good can come of Christopher Robin leaving his friends to fend for themselves, right?

8/10.

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

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Howlin’ about Bagels

Written by: Jude Bokovoy

Who doesn’t enjoy a good bagel? The staff at the Western Howl got together to create a curated list of their favorite recipes. Scan through the list below to find inspiration for one’s next bagel for any time of the day.

Addie

Start to finish: 3 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 everything bagel

3 tablespoons cream cheese

Toast the bagel. Once the bagel is toasted to one’s liking, spread cream cheese on both halves and enjoy.

Caitlin

Start to finish: 3 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 asiago bagel

3 tablespoons cream cheese

Start by toasting the bagel. Once the bagel is toasted to one’s liking, spread cream cheese on each side and enjoy.

Gretchen

Start to finish: 7 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 jalapeno cheddar bagel

3 tablespoons cream cheese

1 egg

2 slices of bacon

Start by cooking the bacon in a skillet over medium heat and toast the bagel. While the bagel is toasting, fry an egg over medium heat. Spread cream cheese on both sides of the bagel. Add the fried egg and cooked bacon.

Jude

Start to finish: 12 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

½ plain bagel

2 slices bacon

1 egg

3 slices of brie cheese from a mini wheel

2 tablespoons raspberry jam

Start by cooking the bacon in a skillet over medium heat. While the bagel is toasting, cook one egg sunny side up with salt and pepper. After three minutes pop the yolk, place the brie over top then cover with a lid. By doing this the egg will be runny, but not overwhelmingly so, and the brie will be warm and creamy. Spread jam on the bagel then place the cooked bacon followed by egg and cheese over top.

Cami

Start to finish: 12 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 plain bagel

½ medium avocado

2 slices of bacon

1 pinch of arugula

2 slices of tomato

Start by cooking the bacon in a skillet over medium heat, then toast the bagel. Once the bagel is toasted, spread the avocado evenly over both halves of the bagel. Add the tomato slices, cooked bacon and arugula in between the bagel to create a sandwich.

Mirella

Start to finish: 10 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 asiago bagel

2 slices of swiss cheese

1 slice of bacon

1 egg

Sriracha

Fry the bacon over medium-low heat until crispy. In a separate skillet, fry an egg over medium heat. Toast the bagel. Once the bagel is toasted, spread a dollop of sriracha on the sliced halves of the asiago bagel. Combine the swiss cheese, egg and bacon with the asiago bagel for a perfect breakfast sandwich.

Juls

Start to finish: 3 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 asiago bagel

3 tablespoons whipped cream cheese

4 slices of salami

2 slices of turkey

½ an avocado, mashed

1 slice of an heirloom tomato

Pinch of salt

Start by toasting the bagel. Once the bagel is toasted, spread cream cheese on one half of the bagel, spread mashed avocado on the other half. On top of the side with cream cheese, add salami, turkey and tomato. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the avocado and sandwich the bagel together.

Dakota

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 asiago cheese bagel

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 teaspoons yellow mustard

3 slices of turkey

5 sliced banana peppers

Start by toasting the bagel. Once the bagel is toasted, spread mayonnaise and mustard on both halves. Place the turkey then banana peppers in between the bagel, creating a sandwich.

Mikayla

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Yields: one serving

1 plain bagel

4 tablespoons marinara sauce (or pizza sauce of choice)

2 pinches of mozzarella cheese

Start by spreading the sauce over both halves of the bagel. Add cheese over top, then place in an air fryer at 350℉. Once the cheese is melted and the bagel is toasted, plate and add any additional toppings or seasonings one would on an ordinary pizza.

Nicholas

Start to finish: 3 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 Cinnamon raisin bagel

2 tablespoons nutella

2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips

4 tablespoons plain greek yogurt

Start by toasting the bagel. Once the bagel is toasted, put a thin layer of nutella on both halves. Top with chocolate chips and serve with yogurt for dipping.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

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Mealtime should be spent together

Written by: Nicholas Sarysz

Be it at a dining hall, or one’s own dining room, dinnertime routines vary drastically for everyone. While eating at a dining hall every evening is a unique situation, those that live with friends or family off campus are more likely to have a set routine, though that is not always the case. Those that do have family or friends that they live with should consider carving out time to eat with one another.

The ritual of having dinner together with family and friends has persisted for many years. With our hectic modern lifestyles, it can be easy to neglect this significant ritual, but there are a number of advantages to sharing a meal with friends or family for our mental, emotional and physical health.

A meal together with loved ones might be a chance for deep dialogue and greater communication. It provides a space for everyone to express their opinions and experiences, listen to one another and learn from one another while eating together. Over a meal, individuals can increase their understanding of one another and develop our bonds with each other, fostering a sense of connection and community that can have a positive impact long after the meal is finished.

Togetherness over dinner can also promote healthy eating practices. When we eat by ourselves, we could be more likely to select convenient food or eat without paying attention to the foods or portions we consume. In contrast, Yet, eating with others can inspire and hold people accountable for their food choices. Sharing a meal with others can also motivate us to adopt mindful eating practices, such as slowing down and savoring each bite.

After a stressful day, sharing a meal with people can also help us relax and reduce stress. We can be more in the present and concentrate on appreciating the company of those around us when we take a break from devices and other distractions.

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

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Western now has its own student-run Filipino American Club

Written by: Mirella Barrera-Betancourt

Western is home to over 70 clubs and organizations. One of the newest clubs on campus is the Filipino American Association at Western Oregon University. Established in Nov. 2022, FAAWOU is Western’s first and only student-run Filipino American organization.

The first meeting of the club was originally scheduled for Feb. 23. However, due to adverse weather conditions, the meeting was postponed to Feb. 28.

The agenda of the first meeting was to provide students the opportunity to meet the executive committee and learn more about the future and aspirations of the association.

According to Presence, FAAWOU’s purpose is to encourage the learning of the customs and culture of the Philippines among Filipinos and advocates, as well as promote friendship and coalition amongst Filipinos and Filipino Americans.

Carl Joseph Garon, senior interdisciplinary studies major, is president of FAAWOU. When asked why the establishment of the club was important, Garon said, “I think we, Western, have a diverse community and we often don’t see that enough … Oregon (specifically), is not known to have a lot of Filipino Americans, and not a lot of the Filipino Americans get to see themselves out there, so having this association makes them feel like they’re welcome.”

FAAWOU provides Filipinos and Filipino Americans with a “shoulder to lean on.” The club’s contact information can be readily accessed via Presence or Instagram, which is a great service for students to utilize in the situation where they could use support.

According to Garon, FAAWOU’s “Konseho” — executive committee — largely consists of upperclassmen. The executive members are willing to help fellow Filipino Americans — who may not have the support to find nor access certain services at Western — by pointing them in the right direction.

The biggest month for FAAWOU is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, to which they are currently in discussion with the Residential Housing Association regarding future events.

FAAWOU has made it clear that everyone is welcome to join their meetings, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Junior criminal justice major and Vice President of FAAWOU, Marione Corpus said,

“It’s not limited to Filipino Americans, not limited to minority groups, not limited to anyone at all. I really want anyone who is interested in learning about our culture or heritage to join us.”

Garon added, “Filipinos are welcoming people. We’re known to welcome everyone. We’re known to, like, be able to make friendships with everyone. So anyone who’s wanting to join … they’re welcome to join our small little family here (at) Western.”

Because the association is still in its development stage, the organization’s recurring meeting dates and location are yet to be announced. However, according to Garon, Tuesdays operate as the agreed and available arrangement for committee members involved.

For more information, and to stay updated on future developments regarding FAAWOU, follow their Instagram at @faa.wou or check out their organization on Presence.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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.

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Western’s track teams take home double win

Alternative worship

“Cocaine Bear” review

“Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” review

Howlin’ about Bagels

Mealtime should be spent together

Western now has its own student-run Filipino American Club

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