Mount Hood

Hobo Johnson’s newest album breaking barriers for typical rap

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Leave behind any expectations of what music should be — Hobo Johnson’s album “The Fall of Hobo Johnson,” released on Sep. 13, delivers unique songs that go against the idea of what musicians should create. 

Johnson is often perceived as a rapper, despite saying in his song “Peach Scone” on his previous album “The Rise of Hobo Johnson” that, “people like to say I’m a rapper, I’m actually not.”

The thing about Johnson is that his music is so different from what is popular that people struggle to define who he is — I’d argue that his music is essentially spoken poetry with back up vocals and instruments. 

In his new album, Johnson cleverly incorporates a broad scheme of themes into his songs, from jabbing at the shallowness of media, the vicious cycle of mankind, an anthem of how ugly he is and even a song all about the Subaru Crosstrek XV.

Beginning his album with “Typical Story” was a shock to many fans, myself included, as it was a lot different than the music he had previously released. It felt almost too put together to relate to his usually chaotic music.

His album transitions into a more humorous and chaotic style. His song “You & the Cockroach” essentially picks apart how humans are scared of dying and that leads to problematic solutions, and he even discusses — without naming names — that President Donald Trump will cause Supreme Leader Kim Jung-Un to launch missiles.

His song “Ode to Justin Bieber,” featuring Jmsey and Jack Shoot, took a stab at how superficial the world is, and his frustrations with not being as popular as Bieber, saying that it doesn’t make sense how horribly Bieber can treat others and still thrive in society.

Johnson’s last song on the 12 song album, “I Want a Dog,” is an interesting play on the American Dream of wanting a happy family, but also the unrealistic expectation for every aspect of life to be exceptional. He sings that he just wants a dog and a family, but that he also wishes his dog could talk and his son would be a prodigy.

 

An interesting detail arose when comparing his two albums. Johnson’s 2017 album cover for “The Rise of Hobo Johnson” features a drawing of him looking upwards, but in black and white. His 2019 album cover, “The Fall of Hobo Johnson” depicts him staring down, but he is awash in blues and his hair is sprouting colorful flowers. I am unsure if this was meant to contradict the name of his albums, because the cover for his second album somehow speaks of a more positive idea, while his first album cover seems devoid of emotion and empty.

Overall rating: Johnson’s new album was a rollercoaster of emotion; it did not simply keep one tone throughout. Instead, it switched tones from upbeat to humorous to introspective, all delivered with interesting beats and passionate spoken word. I highly recommend this album to anyone needing pump up music and craving music that’s a little different.

Contact the author at Howlentertainment@wou.edu 

Photo courtesy of Warner Records Press

Why go out this Halloween when we have a list of horror films to die for

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

The month of October is the perfect time to delve into the world of horror. Not sure what to watch? The staff at The Western Howl have compiled a list of different horror movies to watch to get into the Halloween spirit.

 

For those who prefer a good laugh while watching horror: “Young Frankenstein” (1974), “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” (1995), “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” (2010),  and “Scary Movie” (2000).

If you have an itch for psychological torture: “Midsommar” (2019), “The Babadook” (2014), “Candyman” (1992), “Mama” (2013), “Us”(2019), “Goodnight Mommy” (2014), “Lunacy” (2005), “Saw” (2004), “Teeth” (2007),  “Donnie Darko” (2001), “Silent Hill” (2006) and “The Blair Witch Project” (1999).  

Those who enjoy spooky possession and haunting movies: “The Devil Inside” (2012), “Insidious” (2010), “The Conjuring” (2013), “The Others” (2001), “Sinister” (2012) and “Paranormal Activity” (2007).

Sometimes a good horror movie is also a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat: “Resident Evil” (2002), “House of Wax” (2005), “My Bloody Valentine” (1981), “A Quiet Place” (2018), “Get Out” (2017), “Creep” (2014), “The Boy” (2016), “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996), “Gerald’s Game” (2017) and “You’re Next” (2011).

Don’t have time for a full movie? Check out these bone-chilling shows: “The Haunting of Hill House” (2018), “American Horror Story” (2011-2019), “Channel Zero” (2016-2019), “Two Sentence Horror Stories” (2019), “Another” (2012), “Corpse Party” (2013).

With so many recently released horror movies, it’s important to go back and watch the classics: “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974), “Halloween” (1978), “Silence of the Lambs” (1991), “The Lost Boys” (1987), “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” (1992), “The Shining” (1980) and “Psycho” (1960).  

For those who aren’t into being terrified but don’t want to be left out: “Hocus Pocus” (1993), “Halloweentown” (1998), “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993), “Ghostbusters” (1984) and “Corpse Bride” (2005).

 

Contact the author at Howlentertainment@wou.edu 

Knock knock, Men’s Rugby team knocking down doors to reach new endgame, bringing home a win against Oregon State University

Hannah Greene | Sports Editor

Saturday morning called for misty skies, hot tea and the first home game for Men’s Rugby. Oct. 5, the Wolves played Oregon State University as their debut match for the 2019 season, bringing home a well-earned win.

Stepping onto the pitch, players and spectators could barely see 10 yards in front of them, as the mist circled each player as they warmed up. The fog continued to lay across the field, claiming its stake.

“This is great rugby weather!” exclaimed the sir of the match. 

Bernard Barber — a senior for the Wolves, studying business with a focus in marketing — felt confident in himself and his team to start this season on the right foot. 

“We’ve done a lot of preparation… watched a lot of film. I believe every guy is prepared today, I believe we’re more confident this year,” Barber said. 

With a lot of seniors from the previous team now gone and a tough playoff loss in the previous season, the Wolves have something to climb for. 

“We want to come back and prove ourselves this year and be better than we were last year,” said Barber. The Wolves got an early start to the season by beginning their practices during the summer, as well as adding an extra day, making practice five days a week.

The start of the game was filled with energy and consistenecy from both teams. Oregon State University, a rival, has been a difficult opponent for the Wolves in the past. Throughout the match, the Beavers put up great battles to stop scoring opportunities for the Wolves. Oregon State University won some rough tackles and completed two unanswered tries before Western could put one down. 

The Wolves continued to push on to get some points on the scoreboard. 

Breakthrough player — first-year on the team, Keegan Echevarria — scored a try after an intense run, being tackled into the point. This was followed by a conversion of two points from kicker and player — a returning sophomore, Braedon Eltagonde — leaving the Wolves hungry for more. 

Keegan Echevarria scored the Wolves’s second try as well, catching them up to the Beavers. The Wolves kicker completed the second two-point conversion putting the team ahead of Oregon State University.

But the Beavers weren’t done yet. They answered the Wolves point with another completion, making their score 19. Unfortunately for the Wolves, Echevarria was unable to finish the game due to an injury sustained during play, leaving them a man down. That didn’t stop them, though, as they continued gaining momentum. 

Moments later, Trever Kahunahana — one of the Men’s Rugby team captains — left to the sideline after a strain in his right leg kept him from finishing the game, leaving the team to play two men down. 

This had no effect on the Wolves. They came back with another completion by Bernard Barber and a two-point completion by Braedon Eltagonde, making the score 19-21, Western. 

The last minutes of the game had everyone on the edge of their seats with the seconds ticking away. The final whistle blew as the Wolves rushed the field to celebrate their first season win. 

“We put it all together out on the field… makes me feel good, feel proud of everyone out here,” said Riley Bardes, a senior studying Exercise Science, in regards to their first win at home. “We have a pretty bright future — a lot to live up to — but we’re more than ready to do it.” 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photos by Hannah Greene

Men’s Soccer has a rocky start to season with big loss to University of Oregon

Hannah Greene | Sports Editor

A perfectly sunny day welcomed the Men’s Soccer team to the pitch for their first home game. Oct. 6 our Wolves played the University of Oregon Ducks — the team that has showed no mercy to Western in the past. 

As warm ups began, nerves were shaken out. The Wolves brought a squad of only 12 men including one goalkeeper, meaning only one substitute was available during the game. 

In the first three minutes of the game, the Ducks scored their first goal from a slip pass to an unmarked forward, making the score 1-0. 

The Wolves’s goalkeeper — first-year Wyatt Haak — heightened the energy with a tackle against a Ducks’s forward, not only taking the ball but taking out the forward as well. 20 minutes into the game, Western’s own forward stepped off of the field due to an injury leaving 10 players on the field, giving the University of Oregon a huge advantage.

The Ducks took a corner kick bringing the goalkeeper out for a 50/50 ball, leaving the goal wide open. Wolves’s defender made the save and kicked the ball out of the goal before it could cross the white goal line.

An offensive attack from the Ducks created another opportunity, making the defense work hard and save yet another goal by clearing the ball out. At the 31 minute mark Wolves’s goalie made another save against an unmarked Ducks’s forward, tackling the player and hitting the ball out. Western’s defense continued to maintain the tempo of the game to keep University of Oregon at only one goal.

The Ducks connected a one-two pass to the goal and shot the ball with a fast spin; Wolves’s defender went to stop the ball and it came off his foot wrong and right into Western’s own goal, making the score 2-0 Ducks.

The Wolves got multiple breakaways and transitions towards the Ducks’s goal, but were unable to find a way to finish. The last five minutes of the first-half, the Ducks gave high pressure and continued to take chances at the goal, causing panic among the Wolves, but the Wolves kept pushing forward to keep the first half 2-0.

The Wolves started the second half on the wrong foot; only 10 minutes in and the University of Oregon scored two more times to make the score 4-0. 

Both teams continued to show perseverance and effort, with strong battles to every ball. Even though the Wolves had no luck to score, they created multiple chances and kept a cool head in the game. 

Towards the end of the game, the Wolves began to show frustration with each other, with the defense unable to find any offense. Then, out of nowhere, the Wolves hit a long ball over the Ducks’s defense, leaving Western’s forward to shoot the ball, only to have it hit the keeper. The forward didn’t stop and kicked the ball again to see it to the back of the net. Western Oregon University now had one point on the scoreboard. 

The final score: University of Oregon 6 and Western Oregon University 1.

Although the Wolves lost their first home match, they made for a game that kept the audience on the edge of their seat. While only having 10 men on the field for a portion of the game and no subs, the Wolves stayed strong and left every bit of energy on the field.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu 

Photos by Hannah Greene

The Government proposes amending current SNAP eligibility; Oregonians and students may feel the effects.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor

Under the Trump administration, the Food and Nutrition Service department — a subset of the U.S Department of Agriculture — proposed a revision of the categorical eligibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on July 24. The proposal called for stricter criteria when determining eligibility as well as a nationwide program consistency. It would eradicate “a loophole that allows states to make participants receiving minimal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits automatically eligible to participate in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),” according to the USDA website, and is portrayed as a system that will heretofore ensure universal fairness. 

This proposal would have a particularly strong effect on Oregonians as Oregon is the fifth state with the highest number of SNAP recipients. In 2017, 16% of Oregon’s population was reported to be on food stamps; that accounts for 681,000 individuals, of which 55% of participants are in families with children, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’s website. Under the proposal, an estimated 35,000 families would be losing their benefits in the state of Oregon. 

This affects students at Western, too. Bilingual Advocate Outreach Coordinator and Supervisor of the Food Pantry, Lisette Servantes, as well as two of the Coordinators from the Food Pantry, Josh Salisbury and Rachel Bayly discussed food insecurity on campus and how this new proposal might affect Western’s students. 

The Food Pantry is a free resource dedicated to alleviating food insecurity on campus. 

Servantes stated, “food insecurity happens at every college and we see that need … some students are missing meals to pay for books or classes. We definitely don’t want that to happen.” Of Western’s student population, Bayly had mentioned that “monthly we average around 900 visits and 350 people … if you break it down to students specifically, about 60% of people coming in are students, so about 200 people per month.”  

However, Servantes also wanted to highlight some of the positive changes made within the Western community to address and provide assistance to those suffering from food insecurity including “a new student voucher program” where if “Western students come have a quick conversation with (her) just to assess their needs and determine if it’s more of a long-term or short-term solution that we need to find … (students) are able to get a $25 certificate to Waremart or WOU Dining.” In addition to that, there is a “new student criteria where if students go meet with the DHS representative … and state their specific intentions and career goals … that waives their student criteria, (making) it easier for students to get approved for SNAP benefits.”

As a parting thought, Salisbury commented, “In our country for college students, we expect them to sacrifice a lot to go to college in terms of time, money, and energy — you shouldn’t have to add your nutritional health to that list. I think that even if our country as a whole doesn’t support our college students as a whole that doesn’t mean that we can’t try to make a difference on our campus.” 

 

Food Pantry hours and information: wou.edu/foodpantry

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Sage Kiernan-Sherrow

“Zones” are a new parking strategy created by public safety in response to affordability concerns.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor

Many changes have been made to Western’s campus, including a new parking system that has left Western’s students with mixed opinions.

The director of Campus Public Safety, Rebecca Chiles, released an email on Sept. 17 which introduced Western students to a newly-established parking system. Under this new system, students will be required to buy parking permits as they have been in the past, except this time there is more than one permit option. The system is based around parking zones, with  “Zone 1” — zones with higher demand — or “Zone 2 — which are zones with lower demand — representing the type of permits that students can choose from. 

Students wanting to park in higher demand Zone 1 areas will pay $150 dollars for a resident permit, a considerably higher rate than those who prefer lower demand Zone 2 areas, with their permits costing half the price at $60. Non-resident permits for “Zone 1” will cost $125, with “Zone 2” permits remaining $60. New parking rules also include free parking between the hours of 6 pm-6am, making campus events more accessible for all students. 

The email cites affordability and community solidarity as reasons behind the change. Campus Public Safety was put in charge of parking just last year, according to Rebecca Chiles, who asserted that she was charged by President Fuller with coming up with a new strategy that would prioritize “affordability for our students.” 

After attending multiple conferences including a “parking and transportation summit at OSU in March” and “talking to other universities,” Chiles stated that they were forced to accept that Western was “in the dark ages” in terms of how they were executing parking. 

Regarding the process of approval for the now newly-implemented system, Chiles said that there is “a parking review committee… (with) students on that committee,” and that they “presented the whole entire concept to them with maps and zones and layouts … and it was unanimously accepted.” 

Despite approval from the committee, Chiles cited that there have been some “growing pains” and acknowledged that there has been some lashback from students, particularly regarding accessibility. To set matters to rest, Chiles admitted that, “maybe (she had) not done a good enough job talking about disabled parking,” and wanted to clarify that, “anyone who has a state-issued government placard … can buy the cheapest permit and be able to park in any of the zones on campus.”

Chiles also expressed some frustration that there is an overall lack of understanding of the system, despite the university’s and Campus Public Safety’s best efforts to keep students informed. 

“We added a new thing on Portal this year where, to get your permit, you have to click that you have read the rules and regulations,” said Chiles, who also mentioned a brochure attached to the permit with the same information that she says often gets ignored. “We wish people would educate themselves with the materials that we have provided for them.” 

The consequences of ignoring such information can be huge, Chiles stressed. “You can get a citation… if you get enough citations, your car can get booted.” However, Chiles also encouraged students to know their rights and “take part in the appeal process” should they “believe something (has) happened unfairly.”

In the future, Chiles divulges that she would like to see the use of pay-stations on campus. She believes they would be helpful in cutting down the time spent on getting “permits for every single visitor” in a large group, something that they have to do every day. 

For the full Q&A, visit wou.edu/westernhowl

 

To read the full parking rules and regulations, refer to https://wou.edu/safety/parking-services/parking-brochure/. 

To contact Parking Services, call 503-838-8267.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

Students may have noticed that former student involvement and outreach program Orgsync was replaced by WOU:Engage. Here’s what happened:

 

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor

Fall term has ushered in many changes for the students of Western. One such change began over the summer when the student engagement portal formerly referred to as “Orgsync” was disbanded after the company was bought out by CampusLabs. Following the disbandment, a new portal deemed “WOU:Engage” has replaced Orgsync as the main mode of relaying information regarding clubs and organizations on campus. 

Students are encouraged to use WOU:Engage to “find out where club meetings are, events, updated info on clubs and organizations,” explained Megan Habermann, who is the associate director for Student Engagement. However, she noted that “it’s different (from Orgsync) in the fact that it’s a lot simpler and because it’s simpler,” adding that “it does things … more efficiently.” 

One of the previously popular features of Orgsync was the blog designed to help students connect with one another regarding subjects like finding a roommate. Habermann assures that this feature still exists and is now being called a “news post.” Students wishing to make one of these posts can find more information on WOU:Engage by following the “latest news” category and then clicking on “classified ad.” 

The function of the WOU:Engage is almost identical to the original but, as Habermann points out, there are a few unique differences. One of the primary differences is an app called CORQ which is situated within WOU:Engage which allows students to make events open to the general public should they choose to. Another difference is the ability to use filters and keywords to get more precise search results; entering in the keyword “free food” will show students every event with a free food component. Lastly, WOU:Engage boasts a “really robust form system” that Habermann remarked will become an asset to clubs and organizations as “future execs will have access to (any form created) because it will attach to your organization,” adding that there’s “no more starting from scratch.” Despite these positive changes, Habermann says that Student Engagement “appreciates feedback” regarding the site, as it is still in its early stages. To contact Student Engagement, email seoofc@wou.edu.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Tucky’s food truck review

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Tucky’s Southern Kitchen and Pantry is a food truck located across the street from City Hall in Monmouth. It’s owned by chef Brian Etienne, who opened the food truck here in early 2019.

Etienne initially wanted to create a brick and mortar style eatery that would be located in a refurbished gas station, but decided to put the idea on the back burner in order to branch out. He began doing catering along with focusing on wineries and craft breweries, however felt he was still lacking a connection to his own food.

Etienne decided to set up Tucky’s in Monmouth after moving here in December 2018. Monmouth itself houses many different small businesses that are supported wholly by the town’s locals, which is one of the things he loved about the town. 

“I’m a city boy by nature but have always held a place in my heart for country living, simpler things and that storybook small town. I felt Monmouth was that town,” Etienne said.

Tucky’s is a food truck that sells southern style comfort food that is made to “warm the heart and feed the soul,” according to their website’s philosophy statement. According to Etienne, their signature dish is all around their fried chicken ⏤  which you can get on its own, in a sandwich or combined with the mac & cheese bowls.

For first time customers, Etienne recommends both the Crazy Rooster Sandwich and the Mac & Cheese. The Crazy Rooster is a unique take on classic southern fried chicken, thrown together into a sandwich with a “light and bright” slaw and house made pickles. The Mac & Cheese is made with a gluten-free cheese sauce that’s rich and creamy. In the future, completely gluten-free mac & cheese will be available.

Tucky’s offers a secret menu that gets posted only to their Instagram, however Etienne prefers for the secret menu items to be passed around through people, saying that it’s more fun that way. A previous item they had on this menu was the Wolf Pack Attack, which is a 10” tall burger made with grilled mac & cheese buns, meatloaf, barbeque, pulled pork, sweet onion jam, sriracha pimento cheese, fried chicken skins and house pickles served with a five cheese dipping sauce. Currently, there’s no new secret menu items, but he hopes to have some more in the near future.

Along with serving food, Tucky’s also gives back to the community through drives and small things for customers. Right now, they offer a Redemption Card program that allows customers to get discounts on their food. In addition, Tucky’s will also be doing a Food for Food program where customers will get a discount on their meal in exchange for donating non-perishable foods that will be donated to Western’s Food Pantry. 

“I am all about giving back to my community,” Etienne said. “We always post on social media our current goals or drives we create to give back.”

Tucky’s can be found on Instagram with the handle @tuckyskitchen, on Facebook and on their website tuckyskitchen.com. The business is open Monday–Friday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. while supplies last.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photos by Cora McClain

This week in completely made up horoscopes

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

[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] Second week, you’re already wishing school was done… but wait, there’s more.

 [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] Only one week in, and you’ve already lost all your new pens and pencils huh, Taurus? [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] The stars know you’re not really into school spirit, but would it hurt you to say “’Sco Wolves” every now and then? [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] I know you’re full of salt, Cancer. Just remember that some people are slugs. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] It’s time for some “you time” — eat a burrito if you need to. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] Do you have all of your notebooks color coordinated for classes? Of course you do, you’ve had this planned for weeks. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] You’re still mad that someone stole your seat, even though it’s only the second week of class. [/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″] Don’t forget to drink water responsibly. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] Do you remember? The 21st night of September? Of course you don’t. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] You wish you had that Beyonce vibe right about now… But you don’t. #farfetcheddreaming [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] Me: Just trying to get through Week 2.

My last two brain cells: HE WAS A ONE-EYED ONE-HORNED FLYING PURPLE PEOPLE EATER ONE EYED ONE-HORNED FLYING PURPLE PEOPLE EATER ONE EYED ONE-HORNED FLYING PURPLE EATER suuuRE LOOKS STRANGE TO ME!!!! [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

Navigating Handshake and career help

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

During my first year of college here at Western, one of my biggest concerns was trying to find a job on campus. I had only worked two jobs in my lifetime, and the idea of applying for one in a new and unfamiliar area was extremely nerve-wracking. Luckily, I was able to find one ⏤ but it didn’t pay much, which lead me to try finding other opportunities here on campus.

Handshake is one of the options all students have available on their Portal accounts. It’s an easy opportunity to see the events happening not only at Western, but at many other public universities in Oregon. Setting up an account instantly provides suggestions for jobs and internships in Monmouth and surrounding areas.

To access Handshake, students need to log into their Portal accounts. Once in the system, click the icon that looks like a wolf’s head labeled “WolfLink” in the row of icons in the left corner. This will redirect students to the website where it starts creating the account. Fill out each question and section completely, and Handshake will bring up suggestions based on the completed profile. 

If you have any trouble with Handshake, you can head over to the Service Learning and Career Development Center (SLCD) located in the Werner University Center in room 119 on the first floor. The SLCD is a not only a great resource for Handshake, but also for anything pertaining to job searches and post-graduation career preparation. 

One option the SLCD has available to students are mock interviews, which have proven helpful. Jennifer Hansen, the career development coordinator, stated the mock interviews were helpful to students who may fidget during interviews but were unaware of it. 

“(It’s) something that we can point out so that the employer can focus on your answers and your personality, as opposed to whatever that tick may be,” stated Hansen.

The SLCD is open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, and provides times from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. for anyone to drop in and have resumes or cover letters reviewed.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Overview of new food trucks in Monmouth

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

College is often a major transition for students. You’re suddenly living on your own, paying your own bills, and, on top of all of this, you have to pay for your own food. It takes a lot of mental energy to figure out what to eat each and every day ⏤ energy that could be better spent studying or ignoring your homework ⏤ because let’s face it, we’ve all been there. Although Western provides a dining hall on campus, Monmouth itself is filled with many other food establishments within minimal walking distance from campus.

As soon as Main Street comes into view, it’s surrounded by assorted restaurants with small businesses sprinkled in between buildings. There are quick bites like Yang’s or Koyote’s, or sit-down restaurants such as Yeasty Beasty and Sing Fey’s. However, Main Street isn’t the only area where incredible food can be found.

This year has provided an influx of food trucks, both new and not. Currently, there are a few that are parked across from City Hall all day and night with a few more in different areas throughout town. They provide an easy food option that is full of diverse dishes and, best of all, it’s affordable.

Most provide their locations for the day or week across various social media platforms, so customers always know where exactly to flock to for some great food for even greater prices. The food trucks have their individual hours posted on websites and social platforms along with their menus.

Across from the Academic Programs Support Center off-campus, an annex will be opening up where more food trucks can group.

I plan to go to the various food trucks located here in this lovely little town and provide a more in-depth review of each of them. Each week will provide an opportunity to learn about the food they have at their establishments, what the staff recommends, links on where to find them, and even some background information on each of them. Be sure to check out next week’s issue for an overview of Tucky’s and its southern style food.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Analysis of “It” 1990 vs. 2019

Never Retallack | Entertainment Editor

Remakes — they have been all the rage within the past few years. Consider all of these: Disney reanimations, “Ghostbusters,” “Men in Black,” “Oceans 8” and more. With the recent release of Stephen King’s “It: Chapter 2,” I decided to rewatch the 1990 version to see how the original and newer version contrast.

The original “It” adapted from Stephen King’s novel of the same name was a horror miniseries directed by Tommy Lee Wallace and written by Lawrence D. Cohen. 

According to IMDB, Wallace and Cohen originally planned for it to be a four-part, eight-hour series, but with ABC’s time limitations Cohen condensed the 1,138 page novel into a mini-series of about three hours in length. That is one large difference between the original and the new version — the amount of time dedicated to the story. The newer version of “It,” released in 2017, and “It: Chapter 2,” released in 2019, directed by Andy Muschietti and written by Gary Dauberman, are both nearly three hours in length. I believe having the extra screen time allowed Dauberman to fit more content into the film than Cohen was able to.

For those that have not seen the film or read Stephen King’s novel, “It” tells the tale of an interdimensional monster disguised as a clown named Pennywise. He terrorizes seven children in the town of Derry, Maine. This flesh-eating clown uses his powers to manipulate the children, using their fears against them while they try to stop him from killing other children in their town or themselves.

In the 1990 version, the audience first meets the main characters as adults; throughout the first half of the movie, flashbacks show the children fighting Pennywise. 

In Dauberman’s 2017 “It” film, he focuses on the seven main characters as children. In the 2019 version they are reunited as adults, with occasional scenes showing them as children. 

The different timelines in the original and new version create different paces for the films; the original feels fast paced, almost rushing to give the audience the necessary details to understand the story. 

I think having two three-hour films allowed the audience to get to know the characters better and fully grasp the complexity of King’s story. 

Western senior, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies, Emily Hedges said, “The newer film’s plot was much easier to follow than the old one.”

One key difference to note between the original and newer versions is the filming styles and technology available. In Cohen’s 1990 version, Tim Curry as Pennywise was terrifying, but like many classic horror films it felt campy and cheesy. No gore or guts were ever shown; any pivotable scary moments with Pennywise were paired with loud music, slow motion and abrupt fade ins and outs. This style is like that of “Psycho,” “The Omen” and other classic horror films. In Dauberman’s newer versions, intense CGI — even altering Bill Skarsgård’s face as Pennywise — creates a modern and horrific image. 

Overall I find both the original and new versions to be entertaining. Depending on the style of horror one prefers; classic versus special effects. While I am still not sure if remaking films is benefiting the film industry at all, I highly recommend both versions of the classic tale of a terrifying clown.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

 

A list of events to attend this fall

Never Retallack | Entertainment Editor

This fall, Western Oregon University and different organizations in Monmouth and Independence are orchestrating many events to look forward to in the upcoming weeks.

 

The following is a list of upcoming events within the next few weeks on or near Western’s campus free for students with their student ID.

Friday, Oct. 4: History and Mystery: Held in Main Street Park at 7 p.m., participants are encouraged to bring their own chair and flashlight for an evening unveiling Monmouth’s mysteries.

Saturday, Oct. 5: Independence Downtown Association’s Ghost Walk: Located in downtown Independence at 7 p.m., guided through different shops and historic buildings. 

Sunday, Oct. 6: Cascadia Concert Opera: Playing in Smith Music Hall starting at 3 p.m., featuring a set of guest artists performing selections by Gilbert & Sullivan.

Tuesday, Oct. 8: WOU Faculty Jazz Concert: Performing in Smith Music Hall starting at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 11: Human Hands: They will be playing bluegrass and hot jazz mashup in Rice Auditorium, with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 11: “Toy Story 4” Movie Night: A free movie showing at the Monmouth Public Library at 2 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 27: Trunk or Treat: The First Baptist Church is hosting an event with games, candy and snacks from 5:30-7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Independence.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Varsity sports summer season catch up, what you missed

Hannah Greene | Sports Editor

Men’s Football started Fall Term with 125 total points, averaging about 31.25 points per game, equivalent to about four touchdowns. In the game against Azusa Pacific on Sept. 21 — our first GNAC conference opponent — the Wolves put up the fight for a win, making their record 1-2. It was a touchdown-difference game with the Wolves finishing at a 42-36 score. 

The team moved on to Saturday, Sept. 28 and played Central Washington University, bringing home another win to make their record a 2-2. In the past, Central Washington has put the Wolves to quite a test, beating them twice during conference play last year by nearly five touchdowns per game. This is the first win against Central in Ellinsburg since 1998.

Coming up — Oct. 5 the Wolves play at home against our neighbor Canada, Simon Fraser. 

The team will face a new opponent — Oct. 26 against the Mustangs from Midwestern State Texas, and will no longer be competing against Humboldt State University as they have left the GNAC conference.

The men’s and women’s Cross-Country teams, who are consistently successful at Western, began their seasons with strong performances at the first annual Ash Creek Invitational. The women placed second overall behind Division I University of Oregon, keeping strong throughout the entire race to stake eleventh-place, fifteenth-place and seventeenth-place. The men placed eleventh overall with an average time of 21:04, comparatively to University of Oregon’s 17:58. 

To continue their streak, at the Sundowner Invitational, both men and women placed in the top five. Their next race is not far from home at Willamette University on Oct. 5.

New year, new coach, new team? Women’s Soccer gained a new head coach, Kasey Bingham,  who is turning the program around. They started off their season strong with three consecutive wins before two losses to Adams State University and Cal State Monterey Bay, losing only by one goal each game. The team faced one tie and continued to heat up with two wins at home game matches, finishing in overtime against California State Dominguez Hills. This past week, Sept. 26 and 28, the Wolves left home to start their conference play against MSU Billings ending in a 1-0 loss and a 1-1 tie against Northwest Nazarene. 

Will women’s soccer continue to only win at home, or will they bring their A-game on the road?

Women’s Volleyball started their season slow with many hiccups, losing eight games and winning only two. GNAC started early for the volleyball team on Sept. 17, resulting in a loss against Concordia. Following that loss, the Wolves continue to lose their conference games, holding a record of 0-4. Their next home matches are Oct. 10 and 12 against Alaska and Alaska Anchorage.

Women’s softball is currently preparing for season that will begin Oct. 12 against Clackamas Community College.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Club sports are back in session for fall

Hannah Greene | Sports Editor

Western Oregon offers a variety of club sports, some being Tier I — competitive play with seasons and multiple games/tournaments — and Tier II which do not normally compete and are more of a gathering of people with similar interests. Western has many teams returning hungry for more wins, championships and titles. 

Men’s Rugby returns this season after an extraordinary year full of victories and achievements. This team has a strong tradition of success and recognition across the pitch; they are nationally ranked 30 out of 240+ teams. Men’s Rugby is an excellent choice for anyone looking to step on the gridiron and battle it out.

Women’s Soccer is back and ready for more grueling battles, hopefully able to put away a win against the only team that beat them in their previous season: University of Oregon Gold. This is Women’s Soccer first year as an IFC funded club team, thanks to the hard work and perseverance of graduated player and club founder, Haylie Shinsato. 

Men’s Lacrosse, another highly successful club sport at Western, returns this year after a national ranking with multiple individual honors. They begin practicing this fall to prepare for their season during Spring Term. 

Along with these fall teams are Women’s Rugby, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Basketball, the Rock Climbing Team, and Dance Team which performs at halftime during every home football game. 

Tier II club sports include a running, tennis and wrestling team. 

For those looking for something active with no big time commitment or a lot of traveling, club sports is the way to go. Some club sports are free to join while other teams fundraise throughout season to help with any costs that may be needed. Club sports offer a way to exercise, have fun and meet great people while being a part of the school and getting the chance to rep Western’s red and black proudly.

For more information about club sports, how to join, teams schedules and more, visit wou.edu/campusrec/programs/club-sports/ or follow their social media pages on Instagram. Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

 

Strike Cancelled: Oregon public university workers succeed in reaching settlement

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor

After many months of debate, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has reached a temporary two-year agreement with university management, narrowly avoiding a strike that was authorized to occur on Monday, Sept. 30, which would have otherwise clashed with the first day of classes for many of Oregon’s public universities, including Western Oregon University. 

The strike was set to ensue should university management not agree to the demands of their workers, which includes over 4,500 classified workers representing the lowest-paid faction. The terms and conditions of the settlement are detailed in a document published by Di Saunders, a spokesperson for Oregon’s public universities; they include a commitment to keeping all universities’s entry-level wages above the minimum wage of Portland-metro area universities by eliminating steps of the salary schedule that are below that rate, as well as a 3.0% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase for all classified employees which goes into effect July 1, 2019. 

“This is the highest increase in over a decade,” remarked Western Oregon University Union Representative and Hamersly Library Resource-Sharing Coordinator Lori Bullis. “The cost of living in our region has increased, but we are met with constant tuition raises and pay cuts…we would rather not get to this point because we like what we do and recognize our promise to public service…but everyone deserves to be paid a living wage,” she continues, asserting that many of the classified employees that she works with rely on government aid.

Analogizing the university system’s structure to a three-legged stool, representing the administration, faculty and classified employees, Bullis called the unification of all three elements “essential to students receiving their education,” as the loss of one would cripple the entire foundation, and affirms that this philosophy was central to the negotiations. 

In fact, the quality of education was a primary motivation of the settlement as both sides were eager to reach an agreement before the beginning of classes. A statement released via email on Saturday, Sept. 28 on behalf of President Rex Fuller announced that, “Monday, we will welcome students to campus for the first day of classes of the 2019-20 academic year. I am proud that we will be doing this as a united campus…,” and went on to thank “members of both bargaining teams for their long hours, late nights, and hard work.”

However, despite the President’s message of unification, Western Oregon University’s Chief Steward for the Classified Staff, Jackson Stalley, remained critical, stating that the situation had reached a level of such high severity that, “even people who were previously anti-union said ‘I’m done.’” Stalley called the administration’s use and distribution of money, “disturbing,” and commented that, “WOU has the largest budget it ever has. Where is that money going? I can look back over the course of the last ten years and see a burgeoning of admin positions being paid significantly more than the rest of us…we get paid less compared to other state employees because we work in higher education…and this is public information.” When asked how the university could better utilize the budget, Stalley asserted that he, “would prefer to see a reinvestment of time and money into student services and faculty in order to foster student success.” 

Nevertheless, this is an accomplishment for the SEIU and the settlement will remain in place at least until 2021. For the full Q&A with both Bullis and Stalley, visit wou.edu/westernhowl. 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

WOU’s campus expansion into Salem establishes new degree programs and ease of accessibility

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor

Western Oregon University’s campus has officially expanded into Salem after the WOU Board of Trustees unanimously voted to purchase the historical downtown Vick building on Sept. 11. This $2.735 million decision established Western as the only public university in Oregon with face-to-face instruction in the state capitol and will inaugurate two new degree programs unique to the Salem campus: a M.A in Organizational Leadership and an A.B in Liberal Studies. 

In the FAQ section of the statement issued by President Fuller on Sept. 13, the purpose of Western’s expansion “reflects (Western’s) mission of delivering transformative education and personalized service in our region, including providing convenient and flexible degree programs for working adults where they are.”

WOU:Salem, as the campus is being referred to, is designed to provide accessibility to the numerous amounts of working and commuting students from the Salem area, with many classes strategically being offered during the evening in an attempt to accommodate working students’s busy schedules. 

One such Tuesday evening hybrid class is being taught by Dr. Lars Söderlund, who called it “a thrill and an honor to teach at an institution where it feels that our commuting and non-traditional students can benefit from hybrid-format classes which maximize both time in the classroom and time spent reflecting.” Dr. Söderlund hopes that his Professional Editing class will “be more easily connectable to student’s professional lives.” 

Renovations are still being completed at the Vick building which is set to open in 2020; in the meantime, Western students with Salem-based classes like Dr. Söderlund’s on their fall schedules can expect to continue to receive instruction at the Willamette Education Service District (WESD) Marion Center. Until the Vick building’s official opening, preview photos of the space as well as additional updates can be found on Western’s various social media platforms. 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Western welcomes the class of 2023 with annual New Student Week events

Compiled by Sage Kiernan-Sherrow and Caity Healy

Following move-in day for returning and new students, which occurred on Sunday, Sept. 22, Western began New Student Week, a tradition focused on welcoming students through numerous informational presentations, promotions from student organizations and entertaining events. This week began with this year’s convocation speaker, Monti Washington, inspiring students by detailing how he faced life’s obstacles and ended with new students signing their names in a sidewalk they will likely be strutting along for the next four years.

 

Welcome to Monmouth & Independence Celebration: On Tuesday, Sept. 24, businesses from all around the Monmouth-Indy area headed to Western to have the opportunity to get to know the new students. With Independence Cinema passing out their old posters, Jack’s Pub grilling up some grub and prizes being won everywhere, no student left empty-handed. 

 

Student Organizations & Activities Fair: The quickest way to get to know the clubs and organizations on campus, this Wednesday, Sept. 25 event was a hit in The Grove. Students had an opportunity to walk around and see all that Western has to offer outside of classes, while meeting some of the students who potentially have similar interests to them. 

WUC Premiere Night: As the New Student Week website notes, “Werner University Center’s biggest night” occurred on Thursday, Sept. 26. With every room in the building hosting different events, students could go through and get stamps, which they could later trade in for a bingo card to win some prizes. With free photobooths, caricatures, food and merch, students were able to get to know the WUC while having a good time. 

New Student Sunrise Breakfast and the Signing of New Student Week Walk: While the sunrise (and of course, free breakfast) was a new addition as of just last year, it’s already become a favorite for students, as they were able to do it again on Friday, Sept. 27. Afterwards, the sidewalk signing, a tradition that ages back for decades, was an opportunity for these students to literally make their mark on campus. Painting their names in the classic colors of the Wolves, it was a picture-perfect way to celebrate becoming a student at Western.  

 

Variety Show and Video: Taking to the stage Saturday, Sept. 28, students showcased their various talents in the annual Variety Show. One of Western’s traditional New Student Week events, the Variety Show allows students to display a diverse line up of talents, from dancing to singing a song. At the end of the student performances, PLUS Team showcased a little something of their own. Full of highlights and bloopers from the week, the New Student Week video made its premiere showing before being released to Western’s YouTube channel. 

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

This week in completely made up horoscopes

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

[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] Ooouh, Aries, all of your new pens are so nice. The stars wonder how long it’ll take this year before you lose them all.

 [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] With the start of a new month and a new school year, it may seem like a lot has filled your plate fast; your stubborn attitude will make everything else that much more difficult. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] We all know you’re going to show up to class and make professors think you’re a good student, just so they don’t see your other (unproductive/procrastinating) side. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] Don’t worry, you aren’t the only one having a breakdown one the first day of classes. Just keep down the crying and your day should go smooth. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] This is the time for you Leo to really outgrow the expectations you have for yourself; you CAN eat that pint of ice cream and finish an entire season of “Friends” in two days. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] Hey Virgo, it’s absolutely OK if you add a little more spice than the recipe requires. I see you over there holding the measuring cup under a magnifying glass. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] Oh no, here we go again. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] It’s no shocker that people view you the way that you do, because you know you act a certain way. But with where the planet is at, you also know that will cause other things to happen for you. Keep that in mind with the start of the new term. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] LET’S BRING BACK ROLLING BACKPACKS. WE CAN RIDE EACH OTHER’S BACKPACKS AND CREATE A TRAIN [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] Make sure you sit at the very front of the class. That way, your professor can hear you loud and clear when you fact check every part of the lesson. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] The stars know that you’re excited to be starting classes… oh, it’s the pumpkin spice lattes you’re excited about… hey, at least you’re excited for something, Aquarius. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] Yo, Pisces. I see you didn’t even clean the old papers out of your backpack from last school year. Or from… two years ago? Three?! You monster. [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

 

SOLVE your summer volunteering problem

Cora McClain | Copy Editor

Now that summer has rolled around and class is out, a good bit of relaxation is in order. However, if the extra time might be a bit too boring, then give volunteering a try. From the local library to the community garden, there’s bound to be a plethora of opportunities for volunteering. But if you’re looking to do something a bit bigger than shelving books, perhaps cleaning up your local environment is more up your alley.

It’s easy to say that the earth has a few problems — trying to solve those problems is a bit more challenging. Luckily, there is an organization that makes solving these problems a little easier.

SOLVE is a volunteering opportunity organization that is dedicated to “taking care of Oregon.” On their website, solveoregon.org, there is a simple search engine that allows anyone to search for local volunteer opportunities in beach, city-wide and creek clean-ups as well as invasive plant removal and native tree and shrub planting. The easy-to-use platform also gives you the date and location of the event, and even a contact for the organizer of the event to answer any questions. Often, the volunteers are provided with gloves, safety vests, trash bags and even lunch on-site.

So, if you decide that you want to take an afternoon to help out the environment, try SOLVE and see if there are any clean ups in your area. If not, any interested person could also organize a clean-up through SOLVE’s site. Visit solveoregon.org/create-your-own-event to learn more.

 

Contact the author at howlcopyeditor@wou.edu

Photo by Cora McClain

Western Oregon University

Facebook   Instagram   X  YouTube

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

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

Tools

Campus Maps
Canvas
Find People
Portal
WOU Email
Technical Support

Resources

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

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.