Mount Hood

Western has a new mobile app letting students carry campus with them wherever they go; plans for a future more advanced app are underway

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor

Through the new MyWOU mobile app, Western’s students now have a way to carry campus with them wherever they go. As of now, approximately 1,200 students have downloaded the app, with 990 of them using the app through iOS and the rest through Android.

Director of University Computing Solutions Bill Kernan, and Web, Mobile and Systems Programmer Tony Manso are two of the people responsible for cultivating and modifying the app to give it that “Western look.”

“The idea actually started maybe 2 and a half years ago … Elucian, the provider of Banner, approached Western, Southern, Eastern and OIT and asked if we were interested in a mobile app and I said ‘we are,’” Kernan said.

MyWOU functions much like portal — students can find all of the information on portal built into the app but Kernan said, “the current portal isn’t responsive, so we are in the initial planning stages for portal 3.0 … MyWOU isn’t ever going to be a replacement for portal, but will hopefully work in a similar fashion.” 

However, unlike portal, MyWOU is customizable, more accessible for daily use and has a few unique features currently in development. 

One “cool feature is College Scheduler … (a) mobile app to do planning with. You can put your schedule in and then say ‘I want to take these types of classes’ and then it will fill it all out so you can use that when you apply for classes,” Kernan commented. That will be linked into the MyWOU app within the coming months. 

“We also have the campus map,” Manso added, “since it’s running on a mobile device, the device has GPS capability, so we could actually do things according to your location on campus, so as soon as somebody comes up with a reason to do that, we will probably have that functionality on the app.” This function could serve to give students information about events being held in different buildings on campus, or interesting fun facts about the art and architecture of Western. It’s like Pokemon Go, but for learning about the campus.

The biggest feature that has already been implemented, however, is notifications. 

“It’s really hard to get ahold of students because it seems like the current generation of traditional students that are in college don’t use email much anymore, they use social media more,” Kernan said, “we’re thinking this is one more communication tool to get information out to students in a timely manner, such as reminders that it’s time to see your advisors.”

However,  MyWOU is still in its early stages of development. 

“We’re hoping it can be a tool for success,” Kernan said, but “if students have feedback about the usability or additional functionality they’d like to see … we’ll take it to that subcommittee in UTAC and we can go from there.”

Manso concurred, “there’s a lot of possibilities … once the students get ahold of it, we need to learn from them, what they want to see it do and let them define it from there.”

For students interested in providing feedback, contact Tony Manso at monsot@wou.edu.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Sage Kiernan-Sherrow

Wolves besmirch the Ducks in season opener, Women’s Club Soccer looking stronger than previous team

Hannah Greene | Sports Editor

Death stares are exchanged as the Wolves and Ducks take the pitch to start the 2019 season. The University of Oregon Gold Women’s club team has repeatedly beat the Western Oregon University Women’s club team — but not this weekend. 

The game started out intense, everyone pressing every ball and going into every tackle strong and wanting to win. The battle was even with many transitions between both the Wolves and Ducks, neither team finding the back of the net. The first 25 minutes of play are clearly dominated by the Ducks, but they were unable to capitalize on multiple opportunities. 

The Wolves struggle to get offense going; luckily the defense continued to confidently hold their wall in front of game changer goalkeeper — Reilly Penziol, a junior and third year player for the Women’s Soccer club.

The first half ended with a score of 0-0, neither team able to connect ball to goal. At halftime, the Wolves talked game plan and tried to prepare for the second-half by changing the lineup ever so slightly. 

As the players take the field for the final portion of gameplay, nerves are no longer of concern —  scoring is all that is on mind.

A free kick opportunity was given to the Wolves due to foul play by the Ducks. Center defending midfielder — Hannah Greene, a returning player from last season — takes the free kick posing the first threat against the Ducks’s goalie. No luck — the shot was saved and the game preceded.  

Multiple subs were brought in and out, giving many Wolves’s players rest, while also trying to see where each athlete plays best. 

Towards the end of the game, the Ducks put high pressure against the Wolves, causing the Wolves to drop back and play a defensive game without any transitions to attack on goal. Lacey Knutson, a returner; Sydni Manuel, new addition; and Ming Ng, a returner, kept the wide unbeatable, leaving the Ducks to attack through the middle. The Ducks’s strongest player was left to play by herself as the Wolves anticipated multiple moves and marked up well. Chances were created through the middle, but Hannah Greene, returner, Kawehi Taniguchi, returner, Sarah Texter, returner, and Seidree Kealoha-Albarado, new addition, were there to stop any attack.

Although the battle fell to the Wolves half for most of the game, Western held strong and unwavering. The final score ended in a tie with zero goals for both teams. 

For the Women’s Club team, this was a great result and true test for the upcoming season — leaving the pitch bruised and burned but without a loss against their hardest opponent in the past. 

To finish the weekend, the Wolves played against Willamette University Bearcats, ending the game in another tie, with the final score of 1-1. No wins to start their season but no losses as well. The Women’s Club Soccer team plays against the University of Oregon Green next weekend, Oct. 19, in Eugene at 1 p.m. The Wolves’s next home game will be on Nov. 12 on the turf at 4:30 p.m.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photos by  Max Carmona

Opinion: Pumpkin spice is back, and so are the monotonous, dull jokes about being “basic”

Caity Healy | Managing Editor

October is here, fall has officially begun, and with it, the celebrations and festivities that often come with it. Pumpkin spice is back in rotation at most coffee shops, those little Pillsbury sugar cookies with the ghosts and pumpkins poorly printed on them are back in stores — though, from my experience, they sell out in like, two seconds… so get ‘em while you can — and Halloween decor is making its appearance. And, of course, the tweets and memes about “basic b*****s” are making themselves comfy on our social media feeds once again. 

Look, I get it. A single leaf falls and suddenly these “basic witches” (I changed the word so I don’t have to keep using asterisks, but you know what I mean) seemingly show up out of nowhere, just crawling out of the sewers like they’re Pennywise or something. A person steps on a perfectly crunchy leaf and the next thing you know they’re wearing a sweater that says something like “pumpkin spice and everything nice” written in Rae Dunn font and probably covered in glitter. Before you know it, the basic witch invasion has begun. And it must be so incredibly hard to see several people post about Starbucks’s new pumpkin spice cold brew and NOT say anything at all. So, so hard. But here’s an idea: just… actually try not to?

It feels like we’ve come to a point where we just can’t let people enjoy the things they like. So someone chooses to put their Halloween decorations up before the official first day of fall (it’s me, I’m that someone), is that hurting anyone? Unless they’re putting those decorations up in your space, then you don’t really have a right to say anything at all. 

So someone chooses to literally search for when pumpkin spice is back in rotation at their local Starbucks so they can order their drink the first day it’s back (as you can probably guess, it’s me, I’m still talking about myself), does that have any effect on you whatsoever? If someone can genuinely tell me a way that it is creating a negative impact, short of buying into the commercial schemes that most of us are still guilty of buying into in some way or another, then I’d genuinely like to know. Until then, what right do you have to make people feel bad about it? Because, while I do understand that it is a joke, I definitely still feel a little self conscious when I go to The Press and, under my breath, tell the barista that I want a grande PSL (if you abbreviate it, people in line behind you might not know what you mean. Pro tip). 

To be clear, I’m not advocating for the end of all criticism of things we consume. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We should be critical of our consumption, and it’s definitely okay to not like something or actively want to partake in it. But the difference between that constructive critical mindset and what is actually happening is that the former would involve a conversation about how we as a society can be better and would respectfully assert your opinion, and the latter is people recycling the same jokes, usually aimed at judging women, that truly just are not funny.

We see this trend all the time. “You’re playing Christmas music before we even sat down for our totally unproblematic American holiday of Thanksgiving?! How dare you!” The non-existent PNW snow melts and spring arrives.“You’re actually wearing shorts when it’s barely above 60 degrees outside?! Ridiculous!” Or, of course, “You like Nirvana? Lol you probably just like their logo — name every single song on every album ever made. By Nirvana and every other band, too, while you’re at it. Fake fan.” 

All jokes aside, I really think everyone should make a conscious effort to just try and let people enjoy the little things. Life isn’t easy. I don’t know about everyone else, but college has been nothing short of a struggle for me. So if a festive beverage or a spooky shirt, or an occasional trip to Target’s dollar section for a pair of pumpkin-covered socks makes me feel a little better, just let me have it. Let the basic witch in me live. Because in the end, it’s not hurting anyone… except maybe my bank account. But we don’t have to talk about that. 

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

Alternative Break information

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Looking for a way to spend spring break for this year? Check out the Service Learning and Career Development’s Alternative Break program.

Alternative Break is a project that gets students out and helping different communities ⏤ both global and/or local ⏤ through different volunteer and community organizations. According to the program’s mission statement, “(it) connects students with transformative hands-on experiences.”

The program is designed to help students grow personally and professionally, while giving them hands-on experiential learning, which involves using reflections on what a person has learned before, during and after participating in an event or activity.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to go out and do good somewhere else,” stated Jennifer Hansen, the career development coordinator at the SLCD. “(Many) students come back from them and go ‘That was life changing’ and … I would definitely agree with that statement.”

Applications to sign up for the Alternative Break program during spring break 2020 open on Oct. 7 and can be found on the Western website. Type “Alternative Break” into the search bar for quick access. Grad profiles of students who had previously signed up and participated in the program can be found with more information on the site. According to Samantha Dunaway, a previous attendee from 2017, “It was a one of a kind experience. It helped me understand and explore an entirely new culture while giving me the tools to help at-risk youth in the community of La Carpio, Costa Rica.”

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Sam Dunaway

Deals available to Western students

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

College is a wonderful but financially painful time for many students. When all of the bills are released and the bank accounts become borderline empty, it’s nice to be able to go to a location that gives students a little break. Maybe a discount?

Two locations in Monmouth and the neighboring town Independence offer students a deal at their places. The Tap Station in Independence offers a dollar discount to Western students who have their school ID, while Main Street Ice Cream Parlor has a double punch card deal.

The Tap Station is located at 87 S Main Street in Independence, the establishment being an old gas station turned restaurant and bar. Wednesday is known as “Western Wednesdays,” which involves an all-day happy hour with $1 off of the final tab if students come in with their Western ID. 

The deal applies to not only drinks at the bar, but also works with non-alcoholic beverages for underage students as well. The “Western Wednesday” deal also applies to cowboys. Students of all ages are welcome in the establishment, and the folks running the Tap Station hope to see more students come to grab a bite or drink.

Main Street Ice Cream Parlor is also located off of Main Street but in Monmouth ⏤ 109 Main Street E, within walking distance of campus. The business offers a punch card program, and gives two stamps for the price of one on Mondays. This is applicable to Western students and others from surrounding universities. Once the punch card is full, the holder gets their ice cream for free and the option to start the cycle over again. This offer was made for students to get a benefit for being at the ice cream parlor⏤ along with a chance to get free ice cream quicker.

Main Street Ice Cream Parlor also offers other deals for those that follow their Instagram page.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

WOU-Hoo: Getting pumped for Homecoming

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

This year’s homecoming game is readily approaching, and with it comes Homecoming week, filled with fun events and activities for students to participate in every day.

The Kickoff Carnival is filled with fun games and prizes to win, including this year’s Homecoming t-shirts. At this time, students have an opportunity to take part in the “Paint the Wolf” event, a tradition that has gone on for years, as another way to leave their mark.

Students can get pumped up with the “Paint the Town Red” event, which involves partnering with local participating businesses to make Monmouth more festive for the week.

The decorating continues with various offices being wildly decorated around campus. While checking those out, students will have a chance to win prizes if they show their spirit by decking out in Western gear.

The hoedown allows students to fully participate in this year’s theme – Wild Wild Western. Students have a chance again to get a free t-shirt and have a fun time at the themed dance.

The Bonfire Pep Rally gathers Western’s students around to chat and have a good time before the “W” burns, a tradition that happens the night before the Homecoming game that most students enjoy being a part of.

The energy continues right before the Homecoming game with the All Student Tailgate, where students get pumped up and spirited before entering the stadium. 

Get prepped for the big game throughout the week by attending events and gaining prizes. Students can get ready for the game by decking out in Wolf gear from the WolfStore ⏤ take advantage of the 30-70% off sale. If students choose to really go all out and paint their faces, be sure to use paint that can go on skin.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo by Paul F. Davis

Get to know Associate Professor Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner and learn about her beliefs on social justice in relation to dance

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Can you tell me your name and your position here at Western?

Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner, and I’m an associate professor of Dance here in the Theater and Dance Program.

Can you tell me a little bit about your dance background?

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, so my initial dance training was in Ballet Folklorico which is Mexican folk dance. So that really established for me a sense of not only a deeper understanding of my cultural background as a Mexican American, but also in a sense that dance can create a real experience of community. It was a real family experience; it had a major impact on me. Once I got to a studio I started studying the typical things: ballet, jazz, tap. It wasn’t really until in college getting my undergrad that I studied modern dance.

 

Why do you think dance is important?

I think dance is important because it allows the participant —  whether they’re just doing it for fun, or whether they’re pursuing it more professionally — the connection of the mind, body and spirit. Dance really is a vehicle for more exploration, for emotional expression, creative expression and just using your imagination. Connection to other humans makes my life so rich, and dance allows that to happen. Dance can also be used as a form of social justice and is more than just entertainment. It also opens other doors of opportunity, dance will never be a waste of a degree, do what you love and make it count.

Are you working on anything else outside of Western right now?

Yeah, so I have a company based in Eugene. It’s called Company Movimiento, and we had our debut concert last summer. We have a show coming up Oct. 18 and 19 at the Oregon Contemporary Theater, and it is called LatinX Voices, and it is work centered around themes of cultural identity and social justice issues. Some of the pieces are responses to headlines, things that are happening in the world right now, and others are more personal things from my own life. It will include both modern and jazz dance, and I have a cast of about 16, and some of them are current (Western) students, and some of them are (Western) alumni and some are professional dancers in Eugene. 

Why do you direct?

As a person of color you are always aware if you are the only person of color in a room, and as an artist that becomes even more highlighted because there is privilege in art and privilege in dance if you are able to take classes and continue training, and I was always the only one that looked like me in the room. And there wasn’t a problem with that, but I always wondered, why isn’t there more diversity? It’s 2019 and it’s still a problem, so producing for me also feels like I’m doing my part to contribute to that representation, because it’s bigger than me.

 

If you have any questions for Professor Gutierrez-Garner, her phone number is (503) 838-9513, her email is garnerc@wou.edu and her office is located in OPE room 210.

 

Contact the author at Howlentertainment@wou.edu 

Photo courtesy of  V. Paul Virtucio (Head Shot)

Photo courtesy of Jennifer James- Long (group shot)

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

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