Mount Hood

ASWOU voter guide

Western students answer the question: “What is your favorite season and why?”

Camille Lenning | Entertainment Editor

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Spring term is election season for the Associated Students of Western Oregon University — Western’s student government. Campaign Week began on Monday, April 18 with a “meet the candidate” event in the Werner University Center Summit. On Thursday, April 21, there will be a candidate forum on Zoom at 5 p.m. Students will be able to vote starting April 25 until April 29 on Presence, through their Student Portal. 

In preparation for Campaign Week, candidates were asked why they decided to run and what they plan to do if elected, find their answers below: 

 

Candidates for ASWOU President:

 

Gheraldy Bobadilla-Cruz (he/him/his/el)

Major: education 

Current class standing: sophomore

 

A current ASWOU Senator, Cruz has wanted to run for President since he arrived at Western, and wants to give a voice to all students. 

“I’m running for ASWOU President because I believe (Western) is at a pivotal turning point when considering its future. I want to come in and work alongside our new President to help (Western) flourish in this new era… I will make sure that more support is given to all clubs and organizations here on campus. I will ensure that students are being fully appreciated and acknowledged for all the work they do to make (Western) a campus full of diversity and inclusion. It’s time to hold (Western) responsible as an institution to follow through and act on its statements of being a welcoming campus for all. It’s time to make (Western) more than just a school.”

 

Kodee Harwood (she/her/hers)

Major: communication studies 

Current class standing: junior 

 

Harwood has been interested in ASWOU since 2019, and hopes to bring clubs back in full force, while also working to improve accessibility. 

“I want to improve campus and campus culture. … There’s always room for improvement and I’d like to start improving (Western) and make students feel safe on campus and proud that they go to (Western). … If I get elected ASWOU president my office will always be open to any student(s) that have concerns or questions and I will try my best to make change happen and try to support you as best I can.”

 

Candidates for ASWOU Vice President:

 

Hunter Hall (he/him/his)

Major: mathematics

Current class standing: senior

 

As a student government veteran, Hall aims to use his skills to amplify student voices, with an emphasis on safety. 

“I’m running for ASWOU Vice President for a couple of reasons. The first and most important to me is I want to find ways to improve the safety of our campus. I want to do this while also addressing accessibility issues that students face here. … I have (four) years of experience within student government where I’ve worked in various leadership positions. During that time I have been able to learn a lot about what it means to be the student voice. I plan to use my experience to act as that bridge that connects the (Western) staff and students (together).”

 

Owen Hubers (he/him/his)

Major: business 

Current class standing: junior 

 

Passionate about club engagement, Hubers (pictured left) hopes to connect students through Discord and improve event planning. 

“I want voters to know that I am listening to literally everything they say and will work my very hardest to make sure college life at (Western) is the best it can possibly be. I will use every last resource we have to help students here thrive. I will always want to and be willing to talk with any student or anybody at all who is willing to provide me with feedback. I will do the best I can to work with the various members of ASWOU and (Western) as a community. I will do my best … to solve current or future problems and implement new resources or improve existing resources.”

 

Candidate for Senate President:

 

Connor Goehring (he/him/his)

Major: ASL studies and education

Current class standing: sophomore

 

As Residence Hall Association President, Goehring aims to use his leadership skills to improve communication and make campus better for students. 

“There is so much inequity here at (Western) and I don’t plan on trying to fix the broken system we have in place right now, but to rewrite the whole system entirely to make a better, working system that supports our students. … I’m qualified to make a difference and be the advocate you need to make (Western) a safe and inclusive environment for the (campus’s) diverse community.”

 

Candidate for Senate:

 

Samy Reyes (he/him/his)

Major: business

Current class standing: sophomore 

 

As a new student at Western, Reyes hopes to use the Senate position to gain experience in student government. 

“I would like to be further involved in our school and the community of our students. I believe it is a civic responsibility as students to be engaged and involved in our school’s topics and issues. I seek to hear student’s thoughts and concerns on our campus, as I am going to be a voice that represents them. I run for the senate not only to gain experience, but to work towards new policies that will benefit the interests of our fellow students.”

 

Candidate for Judicial Administrator:

 

Coral Davis (she/they)

Major: education 

Current class standing: first-year

 

A PLUS Team member and WOU Ambassador, Davis is excited to bring leadership experience to ASWOU and work with the Justices. 

“My goal for when I am elected for Judicial Administrator is to create a more inclusive campus. I feel that accommodations for students are not being followed through. I also want to try and bring more awareness to all of the clubs that we have on campus as well as bring light to all (of) what our university has to offer to its new and current students.” 

 

Candidate for Incidental Fee Committee Member:

 

Dennis Long (he/him/his)

Major: information systems 

Current class standing: senior 

 

As an IFC Chair, Long was able to work on the IFC Funded Areas web page, allowing anyone to see who received funding and why. 

“I hope to help organize a better training schedule so that new IFC members can feel prepared to make these difficult decisions. There are changes to be made in the bylaws to make this process smoother, and I hope to actively engage in supporting the future of IFC and (Western)! After serving as IFC Chair this year, I discovered that there were many different student voices feeling left out or ignored. As the IFC, we did what we could to ensure that those voices were heard through anonymous forms and Open Hearings. I did my best to reach out to students and tried to forward their feedback to IFC.” 

iCarly returns for season two

Paramount+ iCarly’s season two continues to look at life from the lens of adulthood, as well as welcomes back familiar faces

Mirella Barrera-Betancourt | Staff Writer

 

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

This article contains minor spoilers for season two of iCarly.

The reboot of the beloved Nickelodeon children’s series, iCarly, has returned for a second season with a release of three new episodes. Available for streaming on Paramount+ on April 8, iCarly’s new season will pick up right where season one left off, with Carly trying to adjust to adulthood while also working to gain traction for her revived web channel. While the first season was a hit amongst many fans of the early show, some were left with the question of whether season two will be just as notable. Here is this Staff Writer’s thoughts on the three recent episodes of the iCarly revival.

 

Episode 1: “iGuess Everyone Just Hates Me Now,” tackles the topic of “cancel culture” and the struggles female influencers and creators often encounter juggling their love life and careers. Viewers also get to see some of the old “Creddie” action present in the first series of iCarly in this episode, as Carly tries — and fails — to make viewers like her again. Thanks to the topic and message this episode covers, it easily became my favorite episode from the season so far, with seven more to go.

 

Episode 2: In “iObject Lewbert,” the iCarly gang’s escapades as children come back to bite them in the form of archnemesis and doorman Lewbert. Not going to lie, as someone who grew up watching the original iCarly show, it felt refreshing to see the iCarly cast finally face the consequences of their actions. This episode also features my favorite line of the entire season so far: “What kind of millennial hell is this?” I’m using that from now on.

 

Episode 3: “i’M Wild and Crazy” has Carly attempting to keep up with the adventures of her eccentric  best friend, Harper, in order to be less “boring.” I’m not saying I relate to Carly, but I relate to Carly. How many of us have tried to step out of our comfort zone in order to prove someone else wrong? While this episode wasn’t my favorite from the current bunch, it was entertaining and relatable.

 

The new season will also feature Paul, played by Josh Peck, as Carly’s manager for the iCarly web series. It will also allegedly reintroduce the beloved character of T-Bo, the quirky Groovy Smoothie manager in future episodes, according to teasers from Miranda Cosgrove. iCarly season two has a total of 10 episodes, with new episodes premiering weekly on Fridays. Don’t miss out. So far, it’s an 8/10.

Tips for concert etiquette

How to improve the concert experience

Mikayla Coleman | Managing Editor

Contact the author at howlmanagingeditor@wou.edu

 

Recently I attended two live shows back to back. I enjoyed both artists to the same extent, but each concert experience was distinct based upon the characters I was surrounded by. The crowd can make or break the concert experience. Use these tips to ensure that everyone has a fulfilling time seeing their favorite artists. 

 

Get to know people that are close. People are going to bump into one another. But since pushing and bumping into each other is inevitable, getting to know the people that are near can help ease the tension. Saying something before the concert starts like “I just want you to know that if I run into you, it is not deliberate and I am sorry” can be a good way to make sure that everyone nearby is on the same page. Asking where people are from, what their names are or how they feel about the performance can break the ice and make those interactions less awkward. At the second concert I attended, my friend and I were able to make friends with those who were around us and it was a major improvement. 

 

Take care of one another. The venue of the first concert was very poorly ventilated, which made the crowd an even more dangerous place to be. Attendees were passing out before the opener even played. Eventually the band asked for water bottles to be handed out to the crowd, but that does not always happen. Being aware of the state of people nearby is crucial in these types of settings. Concerts are as mentally and physically exhausting as they are incredible. When someone needs water or medical assistance, the crowd needs to alert the right authorities and make room so that person is able to get help as quickly as possible. A simple “Are you doing okay?” to check in usually does the trick. 

 

Think about the experience of others. Everyone loves to scream their favorite songs when they are being performed live. People also like to get videos of specific songs to be able to watch back later. If one is screaming louder than the performer, perhaps it is time to take a second to adjust the volume of their voice. This doesn’t mean that everyone should be quiet at all times or not enjoy themselves, but it is something to be aware of. The second concert was a better experience for me on almost all levels, except there was a person behind me who was screaming along to every song so loudly that my phone only picked up their voice instead of the actual performer, which was extremely disappointing. At the first concert, a person in front of me decided they were going to record the entirety of every single song on their phone, blocking the view of those behind us. I understand taking strategic videos so that there is something to look back on, but remember, these are live events and the whole point of going is to be able to live the experience, not see the entire thing through a phone. 

Opinion: Cancer is never the patient’s fault

It’s your fault you got cancer”: the blame game that never ends

Mirella Barrera-Betancourt | Staff Writer

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

I’m sixteen years old, enjoying a fat slice of cake when my dad says, “Stop eating so much junk food. This is why you got cancer in the first place.” 

The topic of cancer brings clear images and ideas about the typical cancer patient; what they look like, how they act and how they feel. This includes the stereotypical image often depicted in the media; of a sad and bald child in a hospital gown. 

While this image may not be far from actual reality, it has widely misrepresented the day-to-day experience behind having cancer. As a result, cancer patients are left in the dust, forced to take the blows caused by this exposure of distorted ideas.

For example, when people hear the word “cancer,” one of the first things they might think of are risk factors, and what they can do to prevent them. They might say, “I can never get cancer. I eat healthy and work out.” Consequently, they begin to act as if they know what’s best for you. After all, if they can dictate their own lifestyles, why shouldn’t they have a say in ours?

When you have cancer, you suddenly become this person who deserves to die because you neglected to apply sunscreen, or because you smoke, or didn’t eat enough vegetables. 

In my case, the constant remarks became so ingrained in my mind that I eventually believed them. I blamed myself for being a picky eater and having a fast metabolism, even when such things were outside of my control. When there wasn’t anything left to blame myself for, I blamed my parents. My dad for working in agriculture and exposing me to all types of harmful chemicals; my mom for not being there for me as a child and making sure I ate. Lastly, I blamed God. 

I guess I just wanted so badly to have a definite answer for my diagnosis that I eventually began to believe everyone and everything they said. We, cancer patients and cancer survivors, want a sense of closure, so we try to find blame within anything and anyone we can think of, whether that be our parents, God or ourselves. In my case, it took years to come to terms with the fact that I may never actually receive an answer because there might not even be one: cancer can happen randomly. You can have every risk factor and never get cancer and you can have zero risk factors and still get cancer. Cancer rarely develops in predictable ways.

Before making a snide remark to a cancer patient or cancer survivor, I suggest you go online and inform yourself through some reliable sources. Know the impact your words have. Cancer patients are also human and your thoughtless comments hurt.

Campus Voices: sharing their feelings on the mask mandate lifting

Western students answer the question: “What is your raw, honest, unfiltered, opinion about the recent lifting of the mask mandate?

Gretchen Sims | Freelancer

Contact the author at gsims20@mail.wou.edu

Name: Ruth Simonsen

Class standing: sophomore

Major: psychology

Pronouns: She/her

“I like seeing people’s faces. I like knowing when I smile at them that they will smile back. I like seeing the faces of people in my clases. Of course there are still fears, but I like being able to put a face to a name and a name to a face. I feel like when you can see people’s faces and can smile at them, it is easier to be friendly. It’s just a better vibe.” 

 

Name: Makaela Calonder

Class standing: first-year

Major: pre-education

Pronouns: She/her

“Personally, I am very excited about not having to wear masks. I work at a pool, so in general — in my daily life ⏤ it is nice because it gets very hot and sweaty in the mask. Here at WOU it is nice not having to worry about not having one on me at all times. Of course I respect everyone who still chooses to wear a mask, but for me it is really nice.”

 

Name: Kamryn Bolan

Class standing: first-year

Major: business

Pronouns: She/her

“So far this year, especially as a freshman, I have felt very distant from the community of students here. Over the past two years, it’s like we have forgotten how to socialize. I think there is so much personality revealed in a person’s face, so when you cover half of it up, you have trouble connecting with the person you just met. Going into spring term with masks off has given me a new sort of motivation for going to class. It’s crazy how much seeing the teacher’s face can amplify your engagement.” 

 

Name: Sienna Painter 

Class standing: junior

Major: American Sign Language studies

Pronouns: She/they

“Throughout the pandemic, I have been very cautious through shutdowns. (I) was not going anywhere other than like the forest during the shutdown. I started wearing a mask in January of 2020 — long before everything. I already had masks because I have been wearing masks since like 2018 whenever I felt sick or whatever, so I was already really comfortable with masks to begin with. For mask mandates being lifted, right now, I am very skeptical–mainly because of Spring Break. We lifted the mask mandate in all of Oregon, California and Washington right before Spring Break — right where all of WOU students would be traveling too. That’s why I am still wearing a mask to all of my classes and will be especially more cautious over the next two weeks. Also, I am like f—–g scared of COVID because of all of the variants and waves and stuff. I have never really minded with masks, but I do think because of our (WOU’s) high vaccination rates, and WOU is a pretty small campus, and people are fairly responsible, I am fairly comfortable with other people not wearing their masks. I also have not felt pressure to take my mask off. I was afraid I would be the only person in my classes not wearing a mask, but people have been pretty chill.”

 

Name: Max Brayton 

Class standing: first-year

Major: psychology

Pronouns: They/Them

“My parents are more conservative and Republican so they have been against the masks since the beginning and it’s nice to not hear s–t from them anymore. But, you know, with them as my parents, I see different perspectives which is interesting. Although I don’t agree with them, it is nice to have that perspective. I am from southern California and even down there, they are not being as safe as we are (in Oregon). I feel more comfortable not having my mask on here because I know, at least at our school, that more than ninety percent of people are vaccinated. Everyone has been really safe and respectful. Like I feel comfortable wearing, or not wearing, my mask here. I feel like this community has been very welcoming and inclusive and I feel like it’s about time (the mask mandate was lifted). I am a little nervous though. I saw a New York Times article this morning that a new COVID wave is hitting, but I feel like as long as everyone is being safe, I like to have my mask off ⏤ you really connect to people more.”

Honoring our graduating track and field Wolves

Western track and field team hit personal bests

Mollie Herron | News Editor

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Western hosted its only home track and field meet on Friday, April 8. John Knight Twilight was the only outdoor home meet that the Wolves held for the 2021–22 season, in which they invited universities from all over Oregon as well as multiple running clubs.

They honored 11 seniors for senior day: Gabe Arce-Torres, Kaylin Cantu, Samuel Cole, Owen Collins, Justin Crosswhite, Moana Gianotti, Austin Goldstein, Aaron Hanible, Devin Hasher, Logan Jackson and Taryn Wilson.

Collins placed second in shot put with a distance of 46-4 and hit a new personal record in the hammer throw. He threw a distance of 165-7 earning him runner up behind Western’s own Samuel Cole who threw 166-8.

Crosswhite won the 800 meter with a time of 1:53.55 and joined runners Emmet Klus, Timothy Rambo and Keeton Sanchez in the 4×400 relay to end the day. The group finished first with a time of 3:27.35 with everyone left on the track cheering them on.

Goldstein placed first in men’s javelin with a distance of 194-10. The crowd cheered Goldstein with a slow clap that increased in speed as he ran with the javelin turning into a full cheer as it soared through the air.

Hanible ran a time of 56.67 in the 400 meter hurdles which put him in first place. He also started the men’s 4×100 with Danny Cossette, Amari Hendrix and James Mazzio where they won with a time of 44.69.

Maya Hopwood, Taryn Wilson, Ana Popchock and Maliyah Thompson ran a time of 48.91 placing them in first for the women’s 4×100 relay. Western also won the women’s 4×400 relay with runners Macy Clemens, Amity Deters, Jenelle Hurley and Jessy Hart completing it in 4:17.44.

The Wolves will compete in the Mt. Sac Relay, Long Beach Invitational and the Bryan Clay Invitational from April 13 – 16 in California.

Vibrant Black identities in art

An exhibition of Black identities through a variety of materials

Camille Lenning | Entertainment Editor

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu 

The colors of spring have slowly washed over campus, and in response, the Cannon Gallery of Art has debuted a vibrant exhibition, “thank you, black materials.” The pieces on display — curated by award winning Portland artist Intisar Abioto — feature six Oregon artists expressing the Black experience through their mediums. 

The inspiration behind this exhibition came to Abioto through her ongoing research on Black artist culture in Oregon. This research allowed her to interact with elder Black artists and develop an appreciation for their resilience, ingenuity and the materials they used in their work. 

Though the majority of her work has focused on these elder artists and their impact, “thank you, black materials” features poignant modern creators with connections to Abioto herself. 

“With this (show) I just decided to focus on artists who I admired, and who I felt that — even though they’re not doing the same thing — I felt that there was some kind of kinship in …  their approach,” Abioto said of her decision to include contemporary artists. “I just think they’re doing insightful things. It was also the show that I wanted to see very much.” 

Abioto’s selections for this exhibition include acrylic portraits, ceramics, prints and performance art by artists Jeremy Okai Davis, Nikesha Breeze, Ni Abioto, Rob Lewis, Ebin Lee and sidony o’neal. 

“I just think these are vibrant thinkers,” Abioto said. “I hope (viewers) are able to approach with curiosity and are able to sense something of truthful relevance for them.” 

The “thank you, black materials” exhibition will be open in the Cannon Gallery until May 6. Stop by between building hours 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. to experience these works firsthand.

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