Mount Hood

Vocal performance major Virtue Cornelison discusses his passion for music

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Virtue Cornelison is a second year vocal performance major studying classical music. Hailing from McMinnville, Cornelison was drawn to Western because of its comforting environment. “Doing high school music stuff, there were a couple times that I actually got to perform in Rice here,” said Cornelison, “so I kind of knew already that I felt comfortable with the town.”

The atmosphere wasn’t the only reason Cornelison was drawn to Western. Many students from his high school came to the school for its music program as well.

“I wasn’t the only one from my high school to come here for the music department. There’s actually quite a few people from McMinnville,” Cornelison explained.

Cornelison started choir in his junior year of high school. Back then, he was thinking of pursuing psychology, but wasn’t sure.

“As soon as I did basically the first thing musical that I’d ever attempted, it just kind of clicked,” Cornelison commented. “Like, ‘oh, this is that thing people keep telling me about where … you could do this for the rest of your life without ever waking up regretful.’”

When asked about long term plans, Cornelison had a simple answer: “Just to keep making music.” The vocal major is happy to continue what he is doing right now — learning and making music.

“I’m very happy to be learning what I’m learning. I’m making plenty of connections in the music business, as things are,” Cornelison said. “I’m just learning a lot of skills which, even if it’s just me and a few friends, the ability to make music is alone so fulfilling.”

Cornelison studies more traditional classical music, but also likes jazz.

“It’s something that’s a lot closer to what’s popular nowadays, just in terms of it’s not so formal, but there’s still so much technicality with it, it’s something you still really have to study,” said Cornelison.

Cornelison takes part in almost all of the musical groups on campus, including the Chamber Singers and Western Oregon Voices, who are going to perform in Reno, Nevada in June. “The only group I’m not really with is Acapella club, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep myself out of that,” Cornelison joked.

Cornelison only had positive things to say about his experience with the music program so far. “We have some amazing professors that are able to teach… a very small class and get to know you personally. That’s great. But they’re still very prepared to teach you the material. The music department is so tightly-knit it’s really like another home,” Cornelison said.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Chrys Weedon

Book review: Wilderness thriller “The River” by Peter Heller

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Pinning down very specific and intricate details of the outdoors is often what makes or breaks a wilderness novel. In his new book “The River,” Peter Heller shows off his personal expertise and meticulous research cogently.

Heller, the best selling author of “The Dog Stars,” weaves the story of Jack and Wynn, two young men on their canoe trip down the Maskwa River, a remote stretch of water that slithers across rough Canadian landscape.

Jack is tough and gritty, raised on a ranch in Colorado, still struggling with his mother’s accidental death. Wynn hailed from Vermont, also tough but whose softness shone through his tendency to see the best in everyone and everything. Bonded over their mutual love of literature, the two boys decide to halt their studies at Dartmouth and take their dream trip 160 miles down the river to the Hudson Bay.

Heller writes these two characters much like the archetypes seen in old Westerns, which are often mentioned throughout the story. The skillful dark horse Jack, couples with Wynn who acts as a strong moral compass. The boys struggle against nature, quite realistically, as they coexist with a raging wildfire of seemingly unrealistic proportions. Safety and risk are always being balanced, as is true in any real-life survival situation.

However, nature isn’t the only threat. Jack and Wynn struggle against human forces as well: a pair of drunks and a couple heard through a bought of thick fog having a volatile argument. The boy’s wilderness capabilities are put to the test in a series of conflicts that build upon one another. Their flaws become more apparent through every hardship — hardships that at times feel unrealistic.

Tension is built exquisitely throughout the novel with Heller’s short, stream-of-consciousness style, but it seems a little too good to be true in a more morbid sense. It sometimes seems that through building suspense, Heller is layering so many terribly dramatic situations on top of each other that I was brought out of the story, interrupted.

Maia, the woman in the couple — whose fight become a central component of the story — is written very one-dimensionally, only being integrated to further the plotline. Throughout the story Maia is referred to as simply “she,” making her existence in the story seem flimsy, although Maia is meant to be one of the driving elements of tension. In this way, the plotline sometimes seems to get lost within the details of the story.

There are a couple more snags in Heller’s novel, such as a rushed feeling after reaching the climax of the action and some fogginess due to the third-person limited narration. However, the abundance of compelling details and Heller’s fast-paced style make the book a quick read. Although it doesn’t satisfy the “Hatchet” shaped hole in my wilderness-novel-loving heart, “The River” is a compelling read.

Overall rating: I would recommend this book to wilderness/suspense enthusiast, but anyone without a passion for the outdoors may become bored.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of peterheller.net

Get to know your Western athletes: Cheyanne Rimer

Mikaela Wong | Staff Writer

It’s typical for students to watch school sporting events and cheer on the athletes from the stands. However, it’s also easy to forget that the very athletes they are there to watch, are students too, who have lives outside of their sport.

Cheyanne Rimer, a senior and exercise science major, is one of these student-athletes, who plays third base on Western’s softball team. It can be difficult to see her outside of this lens, especially when she’s reaching high success with the team.

An example of this success came during the matchup against the Montana State University Billings on April 8. Rimer hit a grand-slam, which sealed her sixth homer of the year. Western conquered both games, 12-0 and 11-1.

When asked what got her first interested in playing softball, her answer was honest.

“I’m from Scio, Oregon and to be honest, there’s not a lot to do in Scio… My graduating class was 59 people and I knew most of them since pre-school.”

For this reason, she picked up the sport. But she didn’t want to quit, and she had a reason for that.

“Softball just happened to be my favorite sport, so I just kind of kept with it.”

While some may see her and think of her as only an athlete, there’s more to Rimer than softball. When asked to describe her personality in a nutshell, she explained it in simple terms: “I’m goofy, kind of loud, friendly, approachable,” Rimer said.

While there are many reasons to enjoy the sport, Rimer said her favorite part of playing softball actually has to do with her teammates.

“I never grew up with a sister, so I feel like I was kind of shorted out on that aspect,” said Rimer, “but I get that with them.”

Although it’s clear she built important relationships with the teammates she works so closely with on and off the field, Rimer also has traditions she keeps with her friends apart from those she made through softball.

“My roommates and I have ‘roomie nights’ where we all make something for dinner and then watch a movie together — usually classic ‘80s movies,” Rimer explained.

After the end of the season, Rimer will be graduating from Western. Upon her graduation, she has plans to hone in on her future career aspirations.

“I have an internship in the fall for Cardiac Rehab which is where I want my career to go,” said Rimer. “And then eventually (I’ll) move to Roseburg because I really like it down there.”

As for her potential to ever give coaching a try, Rimer’s stance wasn’t entirely certain.

“I would consider coaching but not right away because I want to focus on my career. But I can see myself going back to it in the future.”

Catch Rimer and the rest of Western’s softball team at their next game. April 13, Western will be playing a doubleheader at Concordia University, followed by another doubleheader against Concordia University at home on April 14.

 

Contact the author at mwong16@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Club spotlight: Rock climbing club

Paul F. Davis | Managing Editor

So often, sports involve the mastery of ball use or implement to be truly great in competition. However, climbing is different; it requires a mastery of one’s body instead. Dyno’s, side pulls and gastones could potentially be in the near future of those wanting to participate in a challenging, yet exhilarating, sport that always allows its competitors to improve. If this peaks your interest, then luckily, there’s a resource ready at Western for you: Rock Climbing Club could be your perfect fit.

Western Oregon University Rock Climbing Club started in 2015 and has been growing ever since.

Senior Kayla Baker, club captain, loves climbing because, “there’s a lot of problem-solving involved so it’s a really satisfying way to stay active … and there is always room to grow as a climber.”

Rock Climbing Club meets at Salem’s climbing gym Rock Boxx Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; Rock Boxx is located at 3895 Cascadia Canyon Ave SE, Salem, OR 97302.

For anyone who may feel nervous about joining, Baker noted that, “I don’t think there’s any group more welcoming than the climbing community.” Not only is the community extremely inviting, but the best time to join is right now. This is especially true for those interested in competing against other collegiate climbers in the Northwest Collegiate Climbing Circuit. This is because the last three competitions of the year are occuring in the next three weeks: April 13 at Portland State University;  April 20 at Whitman College; and April 27 at the University of Washington.

For those that have just started climbing, or for those that have climbed a majority of their life, feel free to email Baker at kmbaker15@wou.edu, so you, too, can start solving new problems and finding solutions to them as a part Western’s Rock Climbing Club.

 

Contact the author at pfdavis14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

Autism Acceptance Month: Student stories

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

April is Autism Acceptance/Awareness Month, a time each year when people with autism share their stories in order to spread both awareness and acceptance of autism — a condition that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 59 people has.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition that involves persistent challenges in social interaction, speech and nonverbal communication and restricted/repetitive behaviors.”

In order to learn more about autism, I spoke with a number of Western students with autism who shared their stories with me.

 

Katie:

Katie, who wasn’t diagnosed with autism until age 20, is a firm believer in the need for further research about autism. Since Katie’s autism was not recognized because she did not exhibit certain signs of autism — many of which are more stereotypical in males with autism — she is an advocate for people with autism who may not fall into this narrow mold.

“Autism in general is not very well researched, and it’s definitely not very well researched in anyone who isn’t a straight, white male,” Katie said.

Having also researched the intersection between autism and LGBTQ identities, Katie explained that sex education is often inferior for people with autism because they are erroneously not thought of as sexual beings; this problem is added onto by the fact that LGBTQ sex education is rarely taught as well.

Katie also described the social and stimulatory challenges she faces because of her autism.

“Every 10 minutes I’m outside without earplugs, it means 30 minutes of wanting to nap,” said Katie. “It’s the lights and sounds and there’s a lot of leaf blowers outside. Then, there’s lots of people talking, cars going by — it’s a lot all the time.”

In her view, people’s outlook on autism is often too negative, also.

“Autism is not a fate worse than death, I swear. I actually like how autism affects me most of the time,” said Katie. “Yeah, it does suck sometimes… but it allows me to focus on things for a long time and it allows me to do things that most other people might consider boring or repetitive.”

Katie then imparted a final piece of wisdom.

“When we listen to folks who have different perspectives, it makes our society better,” said Katie.

 

Kevin:

After earning his AAOT degree, Kevin transferred to Western with the goal of majoring in visual communication design. And, while there have been some challenges in getting to graduation, he has utilized the resources around him in order to be successful.

“I got in touch with disability services to get accommodations that would be best for my learning experiences,” said Kevin. “They really do come in handy, especially when you’re doing exams or quizzes. Those guys can really come in handy whether it’s at a university or a community college.”

Despite the fact that things like speaking and maintaining eye contact can be difficult for him, Kevin knows that having autism is an important part of who he is.

“Having autism is just part of life; there’s nothing really you can do,” said Kevin. “It’s not like being cancer-free. It just sticks with you for your entire life. Being autism-free would kind of take away your memories. If you do that, then I’ve forgotten who I was.”

Something that Kevin has found joy in is competitive swimming, an activity his mom originally signed him up with to help him with his autism.

At Western, one thing that has made him feel empowered having some people go out of their way to support people with disabilities.

“I know one of the members of the disabilities club is just an ally,” said Kevin. “She just likes being there to help students with disabilities in this club.”

Finally, while some of the other students preferred the term acceptance, Kevin has a positive association with the original wording.

“I like awareness more,” said Kevin. “Autism Awareness Month is a strong phrase for autistic people.”

 

Lyvonne:

Lyvonne is a non-traditional student at Western who went back to school after getting married and having a family. As a mom to a son who also has autism, Lyvonne is passionate about fighting for acceptance in the world that her son is growing up in.

While people can sometimes be quick to devalue skills of people with autism, Lyvonne described a few of the ways she has seen autism in a positive light.

“Autism to me is like having a super power,” said Lyvonne. “My autism makes me hyper-aware of what other people are doing around me. It also causes me to be hyper-focused on my school work and incredibly grades driven, which can cause me to put a lot of undue stress on myself. But my autism also lets me really get into my favorite books, movies or television shows.”

One such example that Lyvonne has observed in her son is that, even though he is only seven, he is already studying algebra.

One thing that Lyvonne wished people knew about autism was that it is a fluid spectrum, not a static one — meaning some days are easier than others.

“There are days where I can make a speech in front of a classroom full of people I don’t know, and then there are days where I can’t even make eye contact with my physician at a checkup,” said Lyvonne.

With this in mind, Lyvonne has a clear hope for the future: acceptance.

“People are aware that those with autism exist; what many fail to think about is how many situations push us out to the fringes of society,” said Lyvonne. “People are aware of our existence, but they don’t accept us in so many ways.”

Striving to combat the narrative that her son will be a drain on society or that employers will be unwilling to hire her due to her autism, Lyvonne explains that awareness isn’t enough. Acceptance is the vital next step that we need to take as a society.

[fruitful_alert type=”alert-info”]Editor’s note: Last names were kept private at the request of some of the students interviewed.[/fruitful_alert]

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Athletic Bands Director Ben Protheroe talks about current success and future growth

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Dynamic halftime performances, crowds singing along to the fight song and football games infused with the energy of much larger schools: these are things that Ben Protheroe, director of athletic bands, dreams of for the future of Western’s Athletic Band.

Although having a band is not something that is new for Western, the current aspirations of the group extends beyond anything that the Western Athletic Band has attempted in recent years.

“The Athletic Band has been around in some capacity for a long time. They used to have a marching band back in the ‘80s… it was a pretty big deal back then, and I’m not sure why it fizzled out,” said Protheroe.

Even though it can be challenging for the band to recruit at times since Western has a small Music Department and music majors aren’t required to participate, Protheroe still sees it as a valuable opportunity for many students as well as positive advertising for the program.

“An athletic band is a really good marketing tool for both the music department and the school,” said Protheroe. “When a lot of people look to where they want to go to school, especially if they have been involved with music, being in a marching band can be a big part of it.”

With this thought, he was even able to confirm with a student in the room that she was very close to not coming to Western initially because there used to not be a marching band. Over the span of this year, though, that has begun to change dramatically.

“We started the year with 10 members, which has been the norm for the past five years,” said Protheroe. “And at our biggest this year we hit 34 winds. If you add the drumline to that, it adds another 15.”

This determined group takes their work very seriously and takes pride in their work, but Protheroe shared that they also like to have fun in the process.

“Most everybody has gotten a nickname, and nobody goes by their real names for the most part,” said Protheroe. “And it’s usually something silly.”

Currently, the band only practices once a week for two hours on Sunday nights, but Protheroe explained that this could change in the future if the band continues to expand and take on more group commitments, like local parades or sporting event performances.

Protheroe also shared that it is not required that anyone audition for the band, only for those students who are applying for one of the 10 scholarships that are offered to band members.

“We’ll find a place for you. If you don’t know how to play something, we’ll find a place for you,” said Protheroe, reinforcing the idea that anyone can be involved if they have the desire to.

If students would like to learn more about the band, they can contact Protheroe at protheroeb@wou.edu.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Men take first, women take second at John Knight Twilight meet

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

McArthur Field was home to 17 different teams, six different levels and a full day of track and field events for the John Knight Twilight, held on April 5. With 38 different events taking place beginning at 1 p.m. on a stormy Friday, the Wolves were ready to come out on top.

The first event that the Wolves were able to capture the title of was women’s 400-meter dash. Olivia Woods of Western completed the race in 58.13 seconds, earning the Women Wolves 10 points.

Up next to the start line were the men, also taking on the 400. After completing the lap, Western’s Gabe Arce-Torres came out on top with a time of 49.38, taking first and adding 10 points to the men’s score.

Continuing on in the day, Wolves managed to come out victorious in the men’s 1500-meter run. With Western’s Justin Crosswhite completing the race in 3:53.42, he earned another 10 points to add to the men’s score.

30 minutes later, Wolves were ready to add another 10. The men’s 3000-meter steeplechase also deemed a Wolf victorious, with Western’s Hunter Mosman completing the race in 9:29.41, earning another full 10 points.

Off the track, Western also took home two first-place wins. The first one came at 4 p.m., with the women’s javelin throw. Western’s Darian Wilson threw 42.14 meters, earning 10 points for the Women Wolves. The second win off of the track also came from the women, with the Women’s Discus Throw. Western’s Moana Gianotti was able to pull out the victory, throwing a 10-point earning 43.24 meters.

By the end of the event, the Wolves had taken first in six total events. They pulled through second place in three other events, and third in six others. By the end of the day, Western men walked away with 116 points, earning them the first-place spot. They were 9 points above the second-place ranked Concordia University. Western women came out with 93 points, just 16 under the first place Southern Oregon University, earning them the title of second place.

The Wolves are on the road for their next event, at the Pacific Luau Invitational in Forest Grove, OR, on April 13.

 

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

This week in completely made up horoscopes

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[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] It’s time to flip a table Aries. The second week is coming to an end, but you have 10 assignments, two readings and a quiz due by Monday… which we both know you won’t start until Sunday night. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] What an emotional month we’re getting into. The final season of Game of Thrones and Endgame?? Prepare yourself, Taurus. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] all work and no play makes gemini a dull sign all work and no play makes gemini a dull sign all work and no play makes gemini a dull sign all work and no play makes gemini a dull sign [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] It’s raining, it’s pouring, you’re skipping your class in the morning. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] Those mini trees you see outside? Yeah, those are bushes. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] Whoever said that rolling backpacks aren’t cool was a liar and a hater of convenient storage. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] When your sleeping patterns are as erratic as the weather, it’s probably time to reconsider some things. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] If you haven’t been abducted by aliens yet, you’re not trying hard enough. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] SAGITTARIUS. CHILL. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] We love that the trees are blossoming and you still have fall decor out. Stay spooky, Capricorn. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] Don’t worry about over-exerting your schedule there, Aquarius. You totally have time for those five clubs and 18 credits worth of class, not to mention your job to boot. Go ape. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] Only veins have platelets, so don’t bleed out of an artery or you could die. K? K! [/fruitful_tab]

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Guest Opinion: Money matters

Lake Larsen | Alumnus

The world of finance and fiscal management is a stressful and scary place. Just the thought of budgeting will give many a thousand-yard stare. Because of this, far too many college students walk around playing a sort of Russian roulette with their debit cards. Just spending and spending until bam! You’re overdrafted.

Due to this fact, colleges should be required to give some type of basic “how to be an adult” class for students. As an accountant at a university, I deal with students on a daily basis asking questions about their finances. In and of itself, this is not the issue — I love helping students. However, some of the questions I receive baffle me and honestly upset me with the failure of our education system.

Instead of teaching students how to pay down the principle on their student loans, colleges instead force students to take classes unrelated to their major. Yes, it is important to be a well-rounded student. I also understand the benefits to some of the other courses and how they are advantageous to students. However, it’s kind of hard to focus on being well-rounded and to think of the benefits of some unnecessary class when you have $30,000 in debt with a 450 credit score. But hey, at least I have some random knowledge on a subject that will probably never come up again in my life.

If the goal of lower division core classes is to help students potentially find a hidden talent or help develop basic skills, then why not offer things that have a larger chance of actually helping in a student’s life?

This isn’t to say that students can’t or won’t find passion in one of these subjects. I realize that this is a possibility. However, I think it should be a student’s decision if they want to take these extra classes. In the end, it’s their money. It should be up to them entirely if they want to take extra courses.

Some classes need to be required, and I understand that. So why not add a very basic fiscal management course to the list? The skills students will learn in that class will benefit them for the rest of their lives. I can’t say that same thing is true for some of the other courses they’re forced to take.

If colleges want their students to be successful, give them the tools to do so. In a society where money is power, it’s time to teach students how to become powerful. Because in the words of Pink Floyd, “Get a good job with good pay and you’re okay.”

[fruitful_alert type=”alert-info”]Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in guest opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Western Howl. [/fruitful_alert]

Contact the author at llarsen13@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Top four senior photo spots on campus

Karlene Curtin | Freelancer

The journey towards receiving a degree is commonly regarded as difficult, rewarding and worthwhile. Once every graduation requirement has been fulfilled, the application to graduate is completed, and cap and gowns have been purchased, for many the next step is a fun one: senior photos.

After finding the perfect photographer, the next thing to think about is where around campus the photos will be taken.

Western Oregon is home to several different areas around campus where senior photos have the potential to look fantastic. Here is a list of the top four places on campus to head to for your next session.

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In front of Rice Auditorium

The brick design and the surrounding plants and nature create a stunning, yet simple, background for portraits.

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In front of Todd Hall

Leafy green plants serve for great backgrounds. In the spring, they sprout flowers, which adds to the beauty of the landscape.

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The Grove outside of Ackerman Hall

Gorgeous green hills and tall trees create great open lighting and a playful atmosphere.  

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Western Oregon University sign

This one is a total classic. It has locations on the three out of the four corners of campus. The sign beside Rice Auditorium has the least amount of foot traffic.  

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Contact the author at kcurtin14@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Karlene Curtin

Easy way to make delicious funfetti cookies gluten-free

Morgan Taylor | Freelancer

Changing your diet to wheat-free can, for many, be challenging; it can be hard to adapt and find enjoyable food to eat. This recipe is easy and simple — it is a delicious and fun twist on a childhood favorite treat.

 

GLUTEN-FREE FUNFETTI COOKIES

Start to finish: 20 minutes

Servings: About 24 cookies

 

Ingredients:

One box of gluten-free Pillsbury Funfetti cake mix, which can be found at Roth’s Fresh Markets

⅓ cup butter (melted)

2 eggs

4.5 ounces softened cream cheese

Powdered sugar to garnish cookies

You will also need a hand mixer, a mixing bowl and a baking sheet.

 

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray baking sheet with a nonstick spray.

In mixing bowl, with the hand mixer, combine the eggs, melted butter and softened cream cheese. Blend until smooth.

Slowly add the cake mix and mix with a mixing spoon until it reaches an even consistency.  

Roll dough into small balls, and coat with powdered sugar.

Place on baking sheet, and flatten each dough ball with the base of a glass.

Bake for 9-12 minutes, depending on the size of cookie.

Let cool and enjoy.

 

Contact the author at mrtaylor14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Morgan Taylor

Six quick tips for beginning gardeners

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Confusing weather patterns, allergies acting up and restless seniors are pretty good indicators that spring has arrived at Western. With the sun finally making some appearances again, it’s the time of year that plants begin to bloom.

Planting a garden, whether for purely aesthetic purposes, for growing fresh food or a little of both, is one of the many opportunities that comes along in springtime. Since everyone has to start somewhere, here’s some tips for those just starting out with their own gardens.

 

  • Make sure you have everything necessary for maintaining a garden. Is there enough space for each plant? Are there steady sources of water and sunlight?
  • Try starting small or easy. Some plants require more time and management to keep alive and healthy. According to finegardening.com, some of the easiest plants to grow include snap peas, sunflowers, cucumbers and zinnias.
  • Include the timing in the overall planning. It might be nice to imagine the whole garden blooming at once, but some plants peak in spring and early summer, like blueberries, while others grow best in late summer and fall, like squash and pumpkins.
  • Start building the habit of taking care of the garden. Add watering, feeding and checking for weeds to your routine to avoid forgetting to take care of plants and risking their health.
  • Do some research to find out if it’s a good idea to buy different soil or mulch for the garden. While not necessarily a requirement, they can make it easier to maintain the garden overall. Nutrient-rich soil can help plants stay healthy while mulch helps keep weeds away.
  • Be patient. Whether starting from seed or a small plant, produce plants often won’t yield much in the first year. They will need time to grow and a committed gardener. Flowers can be nice because they give the satisfaction of the quick and near guaranteed payoff of blooming, which can be encouraging to beginning gardeners.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

The Hot Club of San Francisco performs “Cinema Vivant” for Smith Fine Arts Series

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

For the last 43 years, the Smith Fine Arts Series has been providing Western students with live performances, outreach programs and master classes. The series makes world music, dance and art accessible for local communities and brings more artistic diversity to campus.

In another installment in the series, a group from Southern California will be visiting campus. Coming to Rice auditorium on April 6 is the music group The Hot Club of San Francisco, presenting “Cinema Vivant”, a performance of live self-proclaimed “Gypsy” swing music accompanied by vintage silent films. The movies features are the films of European filmmaker Ladislaw Starewicz, who pioneered stop-action animation.

According to the musical group’s website, hotclubsf.com, their music is strongly influenced by guitarist Django Reinhardt. Reinhardt is a French-Romani musicians who was active from the 1920s through the 1950s and incorporated aspects of American Jazz and his own Romani   culture into his compositions. The musicians are also inspired by Stephane Grappelli, a French jazz violinist that founded Quintette du Hot Club de France along with Reinhardt in 1934.

The Hot Club of San Francisco consists of five players: Paul “Pazzo” Mehling (guitar), Isabelle Fontaine (vocals, guitar), Evan Price (violin), Jordan Samuels (guitar) and Sam Rocha (bass). All members are accomplished musicians who tour both nationally and internationally.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Lenny Gonzalez

Staff favorites: Album edition

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor
Album: Demo by G.L.O.S.S. (Girls Living Outside Society’s S**t)

This album was my introduction to a world I never thought existed — the world of Queer Feminist punk rock. I was introduced to the music of G.L.O.S.S. at a crowded punk rock venue when I was in high school, and I have never been the same since. This album is angry, violent and unapologetically genuine. G.L.O.S.S. explores what it’s like to be a woman in a patriarchal world, and specifically examines the lives and experiences of trans women. The album touches on important topics and makes me feel like I have a space where I can be angry when I need to be.

Photo courtesy of girlslivingoutsidesocietysshit.bandcamp.com

 

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

Album: Either/Or by Elliott Smith

I’ve listened to this album more times than I can count, and each time, it evokes a sense of nostalgia and sends me through every emotion possible. From teary eyes, to bright smiles by the final song, this album is by far the most played in my collection. A Portland, OR native, Elliott Smith captures his truth in relation to the town in his song “Rose Parade” with lyrics that convey how he felt he fit in the city. It’s a powerful album that does what Smith set out to make it do — give you a true understanding of how he was feeling by making you feel those emotions, as well.

Photo courtesy of killrockstars.com

 

Kyle Morden | Digital Media Manager

Album: Lemonade by Beyoncé

This album is a true body of art. In a story about love, betrayal and redemption, Beyoncé gives us the monumental and breathtaking visual album, “Lemonade.” The album features talents such as Kendrick Lamar, Serena Williams and The Weeknd. It also includes a variety of genres such as pop, reggae, hip hop, soul and country. Throughout the album, Beyoncé delivers her songs in a powerful and poetic way. In “Formation” and “Freedom,” she inspires people to change their opinions from apathy to activism. “Lemonade” is an empowering album that covers concepts such as self-love and healing.

Photo courtesy of beyonce.com

 

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Album: Red by Taylor Swift

Within this album, Taylor Swift offers a raw glimpse at a wide range of human emotion — from the joy and hope of “Everything has Changed”, her collaboration with Ed Sheeran, to the vulnerable, autumnal “All Too Well” and “Red.” Although I acknowledge that people tend to hold polarizing opinions of her, one thing that has always drawn me to Swift, and this album in particular, is that she writes her songs in a way that invites the listener to share in her experiences and relate their lives to hers. “Red” is therapeutic, artistic and real, and I have listened to it on countless occasions.

Photo courtesy of taylorswift.com

 

Paul F. Davis | Managing Editor

Album: Channel Orange by Frank Ocean

Frank’s breakout album is a musical moment that you experience and you have to question if it was real. Frank accomplishes this once in a generation orchestration by creating soundscapes that inspire a feeling of riding a wave of emotion, up and down. Channel Orange also rises above all else because of its ability to work in all kinds of situations, from the spiritual experience of making love with someone you love to enjoying a drink with friends by a fire. This power resides in the album’s hard hitting melodies and Frank’s floaty tenor voice. Frank defines a generation of ears with his first album, so treat yourself to a good time, plug in your head phones, and let Frank take you to another land of his creation.

 

Ashlynn Norton | Photo Editor

Album: Mt. Joy by Mt. Joy

Being a huge music nerd, I have a broad taste in music. I tend to listen to movie soundtracks and artists ranging from Aretha Franklin, to Led Zeppelin and even Lady Gaga. So picking a favorite album is hard, but the one that I’ve been listening on repeat lately is Mt. Joy by the band Mt. Joy. It’s a nice break from listening to mostly classic 70s and 80s rock. Mt. Joy has more of an indie/folk vibe that puts you in the mood for a good road trip with the windows and the sun on your face.

Photo courtesy of mtjoyband.com

 

Rachel Hetzel | Designer

Album: American Beauty/American Psycho by Fall Out Boy

When it comes to music, I usually only like one or two songs in an album. There aren’t many entire albums I enjoy, but American Beauty/American Psycho is one of the exceptions. Fall Out Boy has gone from rock to more pop over the years, and this album is a nice in-between. Their songs always have memorable lyrics, but they really stand out to me in this album. All of the songs in this album are great, but my favorites are “Twin Skeletons”, “Novocaine” and “The Kids Aren’t Alright.”

 

Cora McClain | Copy Editor
Album: The Disappearance of a Girl by Phildel

I introduce the album which kicked off my interest into what my friends call “my weird music” ⏤ “The Disappearance of a Girl.” Phildel, the British singer/songwriter strips her songs down to the bones, her haunting vocals and piano while sprinkling in a hint of electronic manipulation. Beyond how truly beautiful her songs are (I highly recommend listening to my favorite song on the album, “Funeral Bell”) the beauty of the story she lays out through the 12 tracks causes both tears and smiles. Through her whimsical and haunting songs, she tells the story of surviving abuse she sustained as a child, and how she moved forward through the good relationships in her life while feeling the sorrow of having to detach from her family to escape the abuse. “The Disappearance of a Girl” transports you into a fantastical world of pain and at the same time inspiration.

Photo courtesy of phildel.com

 

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Album: Connect the Dots by Misterwives

There were a number of albums I considered before choosing my favorite, but I came back to this one because not only do I enjoy all the songs on the album, but the overall tone of it is very uplifting, even the more serious ones like “Revolution,” that can’t help but improve my mood whenever I listen to them. I listen to “Out of Tune Piano” when I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, “Machine” is one of my all time favorite songs and “Band Camp” and “Chasing This” make me excited and hopeful for my future plans.

Photo courtesy of misterwives.com

Ben Platt’s new album “Sing to Me Instead” gives audiences everything they want

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Since the premiere of the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” on July 9, 2015, Ben Platt has captured audience’s attention with his passionate performances and beautiful voice. After Platt left “Dear Evan Hansen” on Nov. 17, 2017, he performed at the 60th annual Grammy awards and released a mashup with “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Aside from these projects, Platt seemed to become more quiet, possibly taking a break from his intense work as Evan in “Dear Evan Hansen.”

But in January 2019, Platt announced his much anticipated debut album “Sing to Me Instead.” Four singles were released before the album’s official release on March 29.

Platt’s songs feature strong piano melodies reminiscent of his “Dear Evan Hansen” days, and soft, more muted guitar riffs that emphasize the heavy, intricate emotions this album is based on. The more simplistic technical aspects of this album could almost categorize the songs as pop, but their combination with lyrical intricacy creates songs that feel like ballads. Platt’s album could be easily characterized as empath rock due to the highly emotional content that reads like poetry.

The relative plainess of the instrumentals throughout the album only serves to support Platt’s killer vocal ability — his range is incredibly strong. Platt’s vocal runs, belts and the pure emotion injected into his voice are the true highlights of this album. Missing are the flashy, Broadway belting vocal moments, which benefits the album in my opinion.

Another highlight of this album are the lyrics. Platt co-wrote the songs on his album with a team, including Eg White, who co-wrote Adele’s “Chasing Pavements.” The songs lean more toward emotional ballads, but a couple songs have more upbeat lyrics, like “Share Your Address,” a song about wanting to take a relationship to the next level. Platt’s lyrics feel like looking through a window and getting a glimpse into his emotional life, like the listener is reading a diary entry.

In a March 27, 2019 USA Today article by Patrick Ryan, Platt is quoted: “the whole point of this (album) is to be honest about my own experiences and talk about things that have happened to me. A lot of those things just happen to be with men that I’ve been in love with.”

 

Overall Rating: I would strongly recommend this album.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ben Platt

Men’s basketball 2019 postseason, 2-2

Paul F. Davis | Managing Editor

A year after one of the most successful seasons in Western Men’s Basketball history,  this year’s team was not expecting to be nearly as dominant as last year; the Wolves had graduated a majority of their most highlighted players from the year prior. Still, the basketball team showed that even though this may be true, the newer and less experienced team could still take home wins in the postseason.

The GNAC’s fourth-ranked Western Men’s team started the postseason at the GNAC Championship Tournament, located in Bellingham, Washington on March 7, by playing the fifth-ranked Montana State Billings. The game ended in a close 79 to 72 win for the Wolves.

In the semifinals of the tournament played on March 8, Western faced a team which they had already lost to twice. In this game the Wolves faced first ranked Saint Martin’s University. In the beginning of the game, odds were not in Western’s favor and neither was the score. The Saints started the game by holding Western scoreless for almost five minutes. The Wolves eventually did score, but at half they were down 23-33.

The Wolves, who trailed the entire game up this point, came back fired up and ready to control the odds. Only the players and assistant coaches know what Coach Jim Shaw said during half time, but one can assume it turned a switch in the Wolves.

At the third minute of the second half, the five players on the court started to light up Saint Martins. In the next six minutes, Western went on a 22-6 run which clinched Western’s first lead of the night. From this moment on, Western kept the lead and won with dominance over the first seeded saints 70-53.

In the final game of the GNAC tournament, on March 9, Western’s mental grit was nowhere to be found. They played the second-ranked team, Seattle Pacific, and fell short in a loss of 66-78.

With their impressive performance at the GNAC championship the Men’s basketball team was invited back to the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament. They came into the tournament ranked eighth in their bracket and that meant facing first seeded Point Loma. Facing a team with a 27-4 record proved too much for the inexperienced Wolves in a game that ended with a score of 58-70.

After splitting wins and losses in the postseason, the Western Men’s team came home with more postseason experience and hopefully that will translate to them coming back next year ready to win.

 

Contact the author at pfdavis14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Club vs. Varsity: An unprecedented battle

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

The skies darkened and the clouds rolled in as the two teams made their way to the turf. Raindrops rolling down their cheeks as the unforgiving showers would not surrender, the women showed their game-faces, signaling that they’d fight with the same tenacity as the storm overhead. On April 1, the ladies went head to head to start an unprecedented battle: Women’s Club Soccer versus Women’s Varsity Soccer.

Though the scrimmage, which was spearheaded by Women’s Club Soccer’s captain Haylie Shinsato and their coach Robert Oretaga took place on April Fool’s Day, there were no laughs; both teams meant business. According to Rip Horsey, Director of Campus Recreation, this was the first time in his 10 years at Western that a club sport played against a varsity one. Nobody was sure of what the result would be.

“Our team was really nervous … but also excited because it was a nice opportunity to be able to play each other and support each other,” said junior Spanish and art and design major Hannah Greene, who played for Club.

Meanwhile, Selene Konyn, junior pre-early childhood and elementary education major and Varsity player, noted a different energy as their team went into the game.

“Our energy was really high. We just got a new coach and we feel like we created a new identity as a team and we just really wanted to go out there and prove to everyone and prove to ourselves that we are good soccer players,” Konyn said.

From the beginning, the action started off slow. Both teams found themselves running up and down the field, playing an equal share of offense and defense. As the game progressed, Varsity was able to make their way down the field, forcing Club onto defense for a substantial portion of the half.

Despite this, Club wasn’t ready to wave their white flag; their defense was able to prevent the ball from reaching the goal in the face of the relentless attempts by Varsity’s offense. This kept up until, near the end of the half, Varsity made their first goal of the game. As the horn signaled the half, the scoreboard displayed 1-0, with Varsity in the lead.

Once the women made their way back to the field, Varsity seemed to have picked up momentum, as they were able to keep Club on defense for almost the entire half. Though Varsity’s offense was fierce, so was Club’s defense. Numerous goals were attempted; most were prevented. By the end of the half, Varsity was eager to win, and Club seemed to have lost their momentum. After two more goals were snuck in by Varsity, the scrimmage came to a close, 3-0.

Afterwards, Greene discussed what this scrimmage meant for her and her team.

“Our school is united and supporting each other, which I really appreciate … this showed that we can play but still be a team after all,” said Greene. “I hope it becomes (a tradition).”

 

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Introducing the English Studies major

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

In fall of 2019, Western will welcome the English Studies major. This program, while distinct and innovative in its own right, is nestled within the umbrella of the English major. At a time where many curricular reforms are coming to Western, the Humanities Department took this opportunity to restructure the programs that they offer.

As one of the professionals who was instrumental in bringing this program about, Dr. Cornelia Paraskevas, linguistics professor, shared what the faculty’s intent was in implementing this change.

“Our students were graduating with about 210 credits on average, and that was a problem,” said Paraskevas. While 180 credits are needed to graduate from Western, the multitude of requirements for English majors has been tacking on additional time and financial burden to students.

In addition to re-designing the English major with fewer credits required, having an English studies major is giving students the chance to get a balance of literature, writing and linguistics classes — something that has been rare until recently.

“Historically, English programs were literature programs,” said Paraskevas. “The English Studies goes back to the idea of the tripod; that an English degree consists of three parts of equal value — writing, linguistics and literature. So, I think it will be a popular major.”

While students interested in pursuing an English degree will still have the option of concentrating in one of these three areas, they will also be able to do an English Studies major, which offers a balanced selection of all three.

All in all, while the altering of these concentration requirements and the addition of the English Studies major may not seem very different from the status quo, it shows a regard for student time and money as well as the things that they are wanting to learn.

“A bunch of students I’ve talked to are very excited about it. Very excited. And a lot of English programs are going this direction because the concentrations are not working for students,” said Paraskevas. “To compare right now, the (English Studies) major is 61 credits. (An English major) used to be … 77 credits. That’s a term less. It makes a huge difference financially.”

Paraskevas also shared that the title of this major is something that many employers and graduate programs will be familiar with, so it will be treated just the same as other types of English degrees would in those arenas.

For any students who are interested or would like to learn more, Paraskevas suggested talking to her — she can be reached at paraskc@wou.edu — or any of the other English faculty, as they all have the information for this new major.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Analyzing the 2019-2020 IFC final decision

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

After months of deliberation, Western’s Incidental Fee Committee finalized their decision for the 2019-2020 school year IFC fee on March 6, nearly three weeks after their Feb. 15 preliminary decision. In the weeks between these two budget decisions, the committee held open hearings on Feb. 21 and 22 for members of the Western community to express their opinions about the budget, and they also tabled in the Werner University Center to get student feedback.

With this information in hand, Rachel Bayly, junior interdisciplinary studies major and IFC Chair, discusses what her experience was like in leading the committee to a final decision.

“This year was a tough year. With inflation and with enrollment dropping next year, there was going to have to be a huge increase in the fee just to keep everything funded where it’s at,” said Bayly. “We had to make cuts — that was known going in. So, going into the preliminary decision, we went for our worst-case scenario; this is the most cuts we want to make, and hopefully for our final decision we can add some back in based on what we hear from students.”

Reflecting on the open hearing process, Bayly shared how much she appreciated students being so respectful and understanding about the difficult decisions that had to be made.

“Some people were even saying, ‘thank you for only cutting us three percent.’ There was that much understanding, which I thought was so great,” said Bayly. “Another thing that struck me was people saying ‘I’m not involved in that, or I’m not involved in these departments, but I see the benefits that they bring. And I know people who are involved.’ And that interdepartmental support between students was so great.”

When it came time to make their final decision, the committee utilized this student feedback to add back funding to a number of the departments’ budgets.

Bayly then conveyed the significant changes that IFC made between the preliminary and final decisions.

“The biggest change was that we put quite a bit of money back into campus recreation. With the cuts that we had applied, they were looking at having to cut quite a few hours of the wellness center,” said Bayly. “They got the most money added back into their budget, but almost every budget got money added back in. And we were even able to add back in a couple of enhancements — extra things for people to get to do next year.”

With these changes, the fee is now set to increase 16 dollars from the 2018-19 to 2019-2020 school years, from 363 to 379 dollars per term. This is four dollars more than the preliminary budget was originally set at.

If students would like to learn more about the IFC process or final decision, Bayly recommended reaching out to anyone on the committee for more information. Bayly can be reached at rbayly16@wou.edu.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

New writers group on campus

Sean Martinez | Freelancer

Whether you are a writing major or enjoy writing during your free time, the Writer’s Crucible is the ideal group to join. Writer’s Crucible is a new, small on-campus group of writers formed by junior English major Natalie Dean during Winter Term, in the hopes of improving their writing skills together.

According to Dean, Writer’s Crucible focuses on two main aspects: providing feedback and embracing writing. Western’s campus provides many opportunities for students to improve upon their writing through the Writing Center or getting published in the Northwest Passage, the university’s exclusive literary magazine, and the Writer’s Crucible is another opportunity that students can now take advantage of.

Writer’s Crucible dives deep into the writing process. This includes sharing, critiquing and most importantly, offering a safe place to share with similarly-focused minds. It can be intimidating to share intimate and personal ideas, but since the group is fairly new, it means it is not a large group.

“We sit in a circle, everyone has a physical copy of their work, we read it out loud, and then we critique,” Dean explained. The advantage to having a small group means people can be open and honest with each other.

People can bring in works from any genre. The writing does not have to be school-related; writers can bring in anything, no matter what state it is in. The group can help the writer with brainstorming, rough drafts or final drafts. The point of the critique process is not to talk badly about someone’s work — it is about helping the individual become a better writer. And talking about the writing may help the writer realize what direction they want to take it in.

One of the main goals Dean expects from the Writer’s Crucible is to boost writers’ confidence. “I want people to be able to take their own work seriously and learn how to stand behind it and present it for what it is,” Dean said about her hopes for the group.

Writer’s Crucible will meet every Thursday during Spring Term 2019 from 4-5 p.m. in one of the Hamersly Library study rooms, which may change from week to week. It is a great way for students to surround themselves with other passionate writers so they can grow and improve together. Anyone interested in attending this group and would like to know where they are meeting can contact Dean at ndean17@wou.edu.

[fruitful_alert type=”alert-info”]Disclaimer: Natalie Dean is a Student Media Board member[/fruitful_alert]

Contact the author at smartinez17@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

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