Mount Hood

Monmouth’s housing problems laid out in recent open house

Paul F. Davis | Managing Editor

Housing problems wouldn’t seem to be a thing in small-town Oregon. Monmouth is lacking the current culprit that is causing housing problems in large towns, gentrification, so what problems could there potentially be in Monmouth?

To discuss these issues, Suzanne Dufner, community development director, led an open house on March 20 which delivered an analysis of Monmouth’s housing needs. Approximately 25 people attended the event, located at Volunteer Hall, which was made up of both local citizens and city council members.

A majority of the information given came from Matt Hastie and Brendan Buckley, who work at  Angelo Planning Group and Johnson Economics, respectively. Hastie explained how the buildable land survey, a survey that shows how much land can be used and what it is zoned for,  was completed and commented on how much land is available for future housing.

Afterwards, Buckley provided an overview of housing needs in Monmouth and explained current housing trends and future needs that may arise in the area.

Hastie and Buckley’s analysis showed an overall surplus in the low-density housing, or traditional homes, and medium-density housing, or condo-style houses. However, there is a slight deficit in the high-density housing, or apartments. There is a projected shortage of available residential land within the city limits.

Brian Sparks, a citizen of Monmouth in attendance, asked, “Is a (urban area) expansion an option?” Hastie responded by saying under the state land use requirements require you to demonstrate a need to expand the UGB and currently there is a surplus of useable land. But, due to private owners unwillingness to sell unused land for high density housing, this creates a false surplus.

After Spark’s question, no other citizen’s asked any questions, but Councilor Christopher Lopez asked several clarification questions. When Lopez asked if the buildable land analysis took into account student growth expectations, Buckley replied that the student population was taken into consideration when developing the analysis.

After this question, the Monmouth Housing Needs Open House came to a close. More information on the open house or information from the open house can be found on the city of Monmouth’s website www.ci.monmouth.or.us.

 

Contact the author at pfdavis14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

Western hosts Rugby Pacific Coast Challenge Cup, takes third

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

The final two days of Spring Break were greeted with sunshine, warm weather and four teams coming together to go head to head for a bid to the big stage: the National Small College Rugby Organization National Championship Tournament. On March 30-31, Western was home to the Pacific Coast Regional Challenge Cup, which saw the Wolves, Azusa Pacific University, Humboldt State University and Central Oregon Community College battle each other out in a single-elimination tournament.

In order for Western to have the opportunity to act as host, they had to apply and fall under a number of specific qualifications.

“It was a comprehensive application process,” said Assistant Director of Campus Recreation Andy Main. “We had to outline everything from the size of your bleacher seating … the capability to do live stream … manage parking … manage the staff.” This information was outlined as clearly as possible for NSCRO, which is what Main believes won the Wolves the bid, along with their high level of organization which differentiated us from other schools.

When the bid was awarded to Western, excitement was felt for a couple of reasons.

“Not only were we excited for all the good things it could do for Western,” said Main, “but it meant that our team would be able to play in this tournament. If we hadn’t gotten the bid, we would not have been eligible for this tournament.”

The first semifinal of the tournament on March 30 saw the Central Oregon Bobcats take on the Humboldt State Lumberjacks. After 80 minutes of action, the Lumberjacks came out on top with a final score of 27-17, setting themselves up for the championship match 24 hours later. 

With game one of the tournament over, the Wolves made their way onto the rugby pitch to face the Azusa Pacific Cougars for the second semifinal, ready to see who would take the final seat in the championship match the following day.

From the opening kick, Western was met with a relentless offensive attack from Azusa Pacific. After four tries, three conversions and a 3-point play by the Cougars, the first half came to a close, posting a harsh score of 0-29.

As the second half began, Western was ready to turn things around. Nine minutes in, they scored their first try and conversion of the game, bringing the score to 7-29.

The Cougars were unyielding, but the Wolves weren’t ready to give up the fight. For the remainder of the game, Western put up a noble defensive blockade, holding Azusa Pacific from scoring at all in the second half. The game ended with a final score of 21-29, with the Cougars on top, earning their seat in the championship match.

The sun was shining brightly on March 31 as the four teams made their way to the pitch for day two. This seemed to stir up a sense of optimism in Western, who exhibited a clear hunger for victory as they got ready to take on Central Oregon.

“We came into the game with some energy,” said exercise science major Riley Bardes. “We knew we didn’t come into the game yesterday with energy, so we wanted to do the opposite of that.”

Right from the beginning, the Wolves came out firing. Within the first five minutes, Western scored two tries. The men continued a ruthless, offensive assault throughout the game, holding the Bobcats from scoring until the home-side had 17 points posted on the scoreboard.

The attack only got more brutal from there. The cheers from the audience continuously got louder as the ball seemed to live in the hands of the Western Oregon Rugby Men. Any attempts by the Bobcats to inch towards the goal-line were halted immediately by the Wolves until the game came to a close, 49-7.

“We finished (the season) well here today,” said Bardes, “that’s what we wanted to do… I’m really proud of today.”

In the final match of the tournament, Azusa Pacific came out on top over Humboldt State, 25-5, earning their bid to the NSCRO National Championship Tournament, which is set for April 27-28.

 

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

This week in completely made up horoscopes

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

[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] The Stars are still in a “suns out guns out” kind of mood right now. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] Hey Taurus, I hope you’re ready to SPRING into a new term. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] Glad to see you spent the entire Spring Break sleeping. You do you, I guess? [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] Suns out, procrastination out. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] I know it’s spring, but I’m still hoping for another snow day. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] Aight, let’s do this, Virgo. Ten more weeks ‘til freedom. Unless you’re taking summer classes. In that case, RIP. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] As the superior zodiac sign, we will avoid using “spring” puns in our horoscope unlike SOME signs. Now, are we ready to make Spring Term a breeze? [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] Have you ever met someone who is the human version of getting rick rolled? Or are YOU that person? [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] Over break, Eugene from the Try Guys named you the second best sign. He knows what’s up. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] Go ahead and order a large coffee with three extra shots of espresso on us, Capricorn. You’re gonna need it. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] It’s spring Aquarius, and you know what that means *ungodly gross sniffling sound* allergies. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] If they say bless your heart they think you’re stupid… *cries over cheeseburger* [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

Opinion: Parking ticket pandemic

Ashlynn Norton | Photo Editor

It’s a common consensus across campuses that tuition is too expensive. When beginning to look at how all the fees are broken down, some of it doesn’t make sense, particularly parking fees.

As a current first-year student, I have to live on campus since my hometown is too far away to commute to and from every day. Which is fine, I enjoy living on campus. But one thing I find a little ridiculous is the fees that are tied around parking here at Western Oregon University.

Since I live on campus, I am required to have a parking pass for my car. The parking pass alone was 80 dollars that I had to pay out of pocket. I don’t think I have to remind you that I am a poor college student who doesn’t necessarily have that kind of money. Students pay thousands of dollars to attend this university, so why should students need to pay for a parking pass that doesn’t even let them park anywhere on campus? Students with a resident parking pass are only allowed to park in two locations: J lot and J loop.

The point I am trying to make is that I think if you pay for a parking pass, you should be able to park anywhere on campus without getting a parking ticket. Student employees should also get free parking passes. If an RA can have their housing paid for, why can’t a student employee get a free parking pass?

I received a parking ticket and the fee was 25 dollars. Again, poor college student here who has two jobs and lives paycheck to paycheck. I only get paid once at the end of each month, along with all the other students who work on campus. When I do get paid, all of my money goes to insurance, loans, bills, etc.; I barely have enough money left to buy myself gas for my car. Yet, the school expects students to pay their parking ticket within ten days, or else the fee increases.

Parking tickets and fees of that sort are just another way for the university to suck money out of its students.

This isn’t just a problem here at Western Oregon University. This “Parking Ticket Pandemic” is at institutions like University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and even campuses out of state.

The parking situation at OSU is so bad that there is a waitlist for parking passes. So some students aren’t even able to park on campus. Sahalie Ellickson, an Environmental Sciences major at OSU stated, “parking is really inconvenient and as a college student it is not even worth the hassle to bring a car. They make it almost impossible to drive on campus and it is not affordable by any means. It’s horrible for not only the students but the people that work here too.”

Whereas, at the University of Oregon, students have to pay a monthly fee for their parking passes. Payton Swartout, a student at the University of Oregon, said that “to have to deal with the struggle of finding a parking spot on campus, even after paying 90 dollars a term for a parking pass, is ridiculous when we are forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars to even attend the school itself.”

The way parking tickets are distributed and their fees need to be reevaluated. It’s getting to a point where it puts more stress on the students, and we already have enough as it is. The best solution to the problem here at Western Oregon University is to take away the fee increase if a parking ticket is not paid within ten days. The expectation of having a student pay a parking ticket within ten days is unrealistic and puts too much pressure on said student. Taking away the fee increase would be the first step in the right direction to make parking, and life, a little less stressful here on campus.

 

Contact the author at anorton17@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Salem delivers unique eating spot with The Yard

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Ever wonder what happened to the Bobablastic truck which once sat on Main Street? I found out this week when I visited Salem’s new dining spot, The Yard. Named as such because the main food options are located outside of the building in the form of different food trucks. The Yard is a rustic, laid-back location with a wide range of options.

Inside the main building is the main seating area, a cafe and a small 21+ area which includes a bar. On either side of the building are glass walls that showcase the wide range of food available including: funnel cakes, pizza, Greek food and of course, the red bubble tea truck.

Deciding to try some of The Yard’s options, my friends and I got food from three different trucks. From the first, we got a slab of pepperoni pizza, which was big enough to be cut into three slices. Not only was it layered with enough cheese to cover the pepperoni slices, convincing me for a moment that they had actually messed up my order, but the flatbread-style crust is a gluten-free option. The vendor informed me that most people can’t tell this about the pizza, but lovers of thin crust pizza will enjoy this option.

From the creatively named Bite Me Foods, which sells the type of classics one might find at a county fair, such as hot dogs and corndogs, we got a dessert. “The lovers”, as it’s called, is a waffle topped with whipped cream, rich chocolate sauce and strawberries. The waffle itself also tasted very fresh, and it was a tasty follow-up to lunch.

Additionally, as if to showcase the variety at The Yard, my friend ordered from North Fresh Sushi, which I left too soon to try, but from what I heard it was also a hit.

Though the main part of The Yard is the new-looking, tastefully lit inside, the small backyard also has a firepit and a few outdoor games. Though the weather is not always ideal at the moment, I can see this being a great spot for summer evenings.

Though at first I was skeptical that a hodgepodge collection of food trucks would be a place I’d like to go for dinner or brunch, The Yard had me pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere in the actual building is laid back and warm, and it also has just about everything one could ask for. I would recommend The Yard anytime, but especially once we start to get warmer weather.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

Five simple last minute spring break ideas

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

With tests, projects and essays consuming most of students’ time, some people find themselves facing Spring Break, a time most people like to use to escape from the stress of finals, with no plans. While some prefer doing absolutely nothing besides relaxing, others see free time as an opportunity to get away, both physically and mentally. Planning something with little time can seem pointless or stressful, but it can be done — even without breaking the bank.

Here are some simple ideas to get you started.

 

  1. Take a train up to Seattle. Cheaper than plane tickets but still time efficient, a round trip ticket to a big city can be less than 100 dollars. The AmTrak station is in downtown Salem at 500 13th Street SE, and tickets can also be purchased on their website.
  2. Do an Oregonian go-to, like spending the week in a rental cabin in Bend. The area has no shortage of things to do, from hiking to river rafting to climbing the Cascade mountain range. Rentals can be pricey, but sites like AirBnB have deals that can bring down the cost.
  3. Another classic Northwest way to have a laid-back vacation is renting a beach house and spending a week on the Oregon coast. There are beautiful attractions all up and down the coast, from lighthouses to aquariums to easily accessible tidepools. Lincoln City, a popular town on the coast, is only an hour away from Western, but for those willing to travel longer, there’s beaches in Newport and Florence to the south.  
  4. Visiting a national park is another great way to enjoy the outdoors in a new setting. There are a number in neighboring states, such as Redwood National Park (a drive that’s just under five hours from campus) and Yosemite(12 hour drive) in California and Olympic National Park (four hour drive) in Washington. And, of course, there’s Oregon’s only national park, Crater Lake (three and a half hours from campus), which has in park campsites.
  5. For those just looking for a new experience, there are a few locations only a short drive away where you can go skydiving. Doing this might hit your wallet a few hundred dollars, but at as facilities are located in Molalla (Skydive Oregon located at 12150 OR-211) and Eugene (Eugene Skydivers at 83505 Melton Rd, Creswell),  there’s minimal added cost of travel.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

What to know before going gluten-free

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

In recent years, gluten-free lifestyles, whether due to medical reasons or personal choice, have been increasingly more accepted and even popular. People with Celiac Disease, for example, are highly sensitive to gluten consumption, as it causes the body to treat gluten as a foreign threat, according to Healthline.com.

However, cutting gluten from the diet can prove difficult, as it’s found in most grains like wheat and oats. Up until recently, things like gluten-free bread and pasta were nearly impossible to find. While it has become more simple, it can still be challenging as well as more expensive to find the right food — not to mention trying to find recipes that can be made at home.

The first thing to do when ditching gluten, like with any other drastic diet change, is to do a bit of research. Even though in many cases going gluten-free can lead to a healthier lifestyle, there are still things to be aware of. For example, eating less wheat might mean needing another source of fibers.

Another good thing to research is basic food substitutions. Zucchini as noodles, or zoodles, is a popular example of go-to gluten substitutions for homemade recipes. There are also different types of flour, such as coconut flour, that can become a kitchen staple. However, there are rarely ingredients that can be exact substitutions, so it would be worthwhile looking up specific gluten-free recipes — especially when baking.

Another thing to take into account is to budget accordingly, both time and moneywise. Unfortunately, some gluten-free products, such as bread, can be more expensive and are not sold everywhere. It also means having to look up most places before going out to eat to make sure they have gluten free options. There are a few places that serve specialized gluten-free cuisine in the Monmouth area, such as Yeasty Beasty and Mangiare Italian Restaurant, as well as on-campus with Valsetz Dining Hall and Wolf Grill.

Going gluten free can be a difficult commitment sometimes, but for some, the health benefits make it well worth it. For those considering making the switch, it might be worthwhile to consult a dietitian to see what a professional recommends.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

Campus Voices

“If you really want to go to a place, look up how much it will cost and make a plan. Sometimes if I don’t have money for it at the time, I’ll pay with my credit card and make a real effort to pay more on in next time.” Margot Meehan, junior economics major

“Eat in more – don’t go out every night. If you’re staying in a hotel, try and stay somewhere with a kitchen.” Steve Richmond, sophomore public policy major

“Don’t go anywhere too extravagant, too far away. Look for adventures a little closer to home.” Macaela Gertz, early childhood education major

“Collect cans…there’s also lots of dog walking apps, you can make some good extra money that way.” Eli Foster Griggs, senior ASL/English interpreting major

The Willamette Heritage Center highlights the valley’s passionate history through exhibit

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

The Willamette Heritage Center is located in Salem at 1313 Mill St. A cluster of buildings tucked into a scenic corner of the city, the center features permanent exhibits such the historic houses of some of the first families to settle in the Willamette valley, a Thomas Kay Woolen Mill exhibit and Portland General Electric Waterpower exhibit. “The Willamette Heritage Center connects generations by preserving and interpreting the history of the Mid-Willamette Valley,” states willametteheritage.org.

The center also features special, impermanent exhibits. Opening Jan. 24 and lasting through April 20 is an exhibit titled “Romance: Stories of Love and Passion in the Mid-Willamette valley”. The exhibit consists various different displays curated by several different heritage centers in the region that focus on stories of love in the Willamette Valley.

Displays included vignettes on the history of marriage ceremonies from the 19th and early 20th centuries, which didn’t always include a white dress; many brides wore dresses in a variety of colors, such as blue, grey, yellow and even practical colors like brown. An intricate red wedding dress was also on display in this section of the exhibit.

Also included was a collection of artifacts describing the scandalous social dances of the 1800s. Featured were the card and books in which dancers could keep track of their partners, and editorials published in the Oregon Statesman and the Willamette University Newspaper discussed the inappropriate nature of social dances.

The latter newspaper published an editorial by Minnie Frickey in February of 1891, which touched on the subject.

“Thus on every hand stands some monster evil that would destroy all honest, genuine affection, dancing and intemperance alike in fascination and destructiveness,” wrote Frickey, “luxury who would have people so intensely refined that they are unfit for any of the practical duties of life.”

Also included where artifacts such as love self-help books, wedding rings, photographs of young couples and marriage certificates. On display was a law book which included Oregon’s marriage laws over the years. In 1862, Oregon passed a law that made interracial marriage illegal, which wasn’t overturned until 1951. More recently — 2014, to be exact — Oregon passed their same-sex marriage law.

The exhibit at the Willamette Heritage Center brings history into the present, and reminds visitors that love now isn’t much different than love back then.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Chrys Weedon

Oscars 2019: Big wins and controversy

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Feb. 24, 2019 marked the first time in 30 years that the Academy Awards went on without a host. After Kevin Hart was looked over as a host after several homophobic tweets were rediscovered on his account. These tweets were posted by Hart between the years 2009 and 2011. According to cnn.com, Hart apologized and stepped down as host.

Instead, the 91st Academy Awards were hosted by a revolving door of celebrities including: Amy Poehler, Melissa McCarthy, John Mulaney, Jason Momoa, Serena Williams and many others.

Each year, the most highly anticipated categories are best picture, best actress, actress in a supporting role, best actor and actor in a supporting role.

The ceremony started with Queen performing two of their most popular songs with Adam Lambert filling in for legendary frontman Freddie Mercury, in honor of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which was nominated for numerous awards, best picture being one of them. Other performances during the awards ceremony featured Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper singing “Shallow” from “A Star is Born”, Jennifer Hudson singing “I’ll Fight” from the documentary “RBG”, Bette Midler performing “The Place Where Lost Things Go” from “Mary Poppins Returns” and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings playing “When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings” from “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”.

The ceremony came to a head when the winner of the best picture award was about to be announced. Finally, “Green Book” was presented as the winner of arguably the most anticipated awards of the show. This award has sparked much controversy — according to the Washington Post in an article posted Feb. 25 of this year, Don Shirley’s (the musician played by Mahershala Ali in the film) family contacted the media claiming that they were not contacted until after the movie was released, and that how the movie portrayed Shirley was inaccurate.

The same Washington Post article also discussed controversy surrounding Viggo Mortensen, who played the driver of Shirley, Tony Vallelonga. Washington Post also wrote Mortensen is reported to have used racial slurs while promoting the film.

“Green Book” winning best picture has proven to be a controversial decision, but does not overshadow the other awards of the show. “Bohemian Rhapsody” won four awards, including Rami Malek taking home the award for best actor, and “Roma” was presented with three awards.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@gmail.com

Marie Kondo’s decluttering controversy: Prescriptivist vs helpful

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

In 2011, Marie Kondo published a book titled “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing”. In 2014, the hardcover English translation was released and quickly became a New York Times bestseller.

In her book, Kondo lays out what she calls the KonMari method, an organization method uniquely created through Kondo’s work as a professional organizing consultant. Severely simplified, the KonMari method asks the reader to sort through all their belongings and see what sparks joy — if an object doesn’t spark joy, it should be disposed of. A very important part of the process is thanking an item for its utility before giving the item away or throwing it out.

Kondo has been named on of the New York Time’s 100 most influential people, and many swear by her organization method.

Several celebrities have informally reviewed Kondo’s book as publicity. “I recommend it for anyone who struggles with the material excess of living in a privileged society,” commented Jamie Lee Curtis on the Amazon page selling the book. B.J. Novak also swears by Kondo’s book.

Kondo’s publication has been so successful that Netflix aired a show centered around her and the KonMari method. In the original show, “Tidying up with Marie Kondo”, Kondo visits different families and assists them in decluttering their life. Although this method can be compared to minimalism, they are distinct — hence why Kondo has specially labelled her own method.

However, an incident in episode five of Kondo’s Netflix original show sparked a debate on the internet.

Kondo advised a couple on how they should declutter their books. In a summary of Kondo’s philosophy on books, a Jan. 12, 2019 article by Deseret News wrote that Kondo believes that the true value of books lies in the information within them. Kondo suggests that having books that someone will never read adds clutter to that person’s life. Instead of stockpiling books, Kondo suggests that someone only keeps the books that spark joy, maybe only keeping sections of books that are special.

Many Twitter users were outraged. User Cleve Arguelles, @CleveArguelles, posted: “I’m not sure whether I should love or hate Marie Kondo right now. But she did advise that one can rip out pages from their favorite books & throw away the rest so they can… ‘keep only the words they like.’ So, hate it is.”

Author Jennifer Wright even posted “this woman is a monster,” in reference to Kondo. That tweet has since been deleted.

Danielle Durand, a Western alumna of the psychology program, explained her opinion on the subject.

“She’s not trying to rid people of sentimental items or tell people how much junk they’re allowed to have. She just wants us to be able to recognize what brings us happiness and joy…”

In fact, this is also what Kondo describes in her book. Kondo’s informal motto has become “only keep belongings that spark joy.” Kondo stresses the importance of donating usable books to charities, libraries or schools.

Outraged tweets claiming Kondo wants everyone to get rid of their books may be unfounded. Reading the book and watching Kondo’s show seem to explain her position on decluttering very clearly.

Cait Munro from Refinery29 interviewed Kondo on the subject on Jan. 11. Kondo said, “I think if you’re truly comfortable with clutter in your home, then that’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I will recommend that you still … understand how much quantity of each category of things you have and need. I think that’s an important awareness to have.”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of konmari.com

 

Wolves stomp Eagles, fall to Boxers

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

For the final time before the Challenge Cup, the Wolves took the field for back-to-back home matches on March 2 and 3. Their first of the two opponents was Eastern Washington University. Due to the Eagles being short on players, the Wolves agreed to adjust the match from the typical 15 vs 15 contest to only 10 vs 10. But regardless of the numbers, the Wolves were ready.

From the opening whistle it became clear that this game was far from typical rugby.

The Wolves blew past the Eagles and were off to the races on a seemingly regular basis. This supposed rugby match quickly became a track meet as both sides were able to make a single tackler miss and sprint to the goalline for a try.

As the game continued on, the only thing running faster than the clock was the score. With the Wolves on top by an amazing twenty points, the scoreboard began to look like that of a basketball game. Players could be heard laughing and joking with each other as the points kept piling on.

By the final whistle, Western put up an astonishing 73 points. Eastern Washington had put up a valiant fight as they finished with 53, leaving the teams to combine for a total of 126 points — an unofficial record for the club. But now the Wolves looked forward to their next opponent, Pacific University.

“We know we’ll have a really physical game” commented senior criminal justice major Chris Davis. “They’re a well conditioned team and communicate well so it will be a good game.”

As the Wolves stepped back onto the field for the second time, it became clear that today’s match would pale in comparison to the previous. The once high-scoring heroics of the offense would have to shift to hard-hitting defense for the Wolves to win.

No team had an advantage over the other as both sides stood their ground. The defensive powers collided over and over like the rumble of thunder. But finally, a crack a lightning struck the Wolves.

A firm Western pass out to the wing was intercepted by an opposing Boxer. The Wolves quickly changed their direction and began their pursuit, but it was too late. Pacific found its way onto the scoreboard first, leading 0-7.

The first half wore on, deprived of another score. Both teams knew that whichever side follied first would suffer. With only 11 minutes left to play, a slick juke followed by a hard cut let to a Boxer breakaway and another score. The Wolves now trailed 0-14.

With only a couple minutes remaining before the half, Western was in desperate need of a score. Thrice before the Wolves had seen their offensive push foiled by Pacific, but with only two minutes remaining, the Wolves caught a break.

Throwing down a would-be tackler with a violent stiff arm, senior Matthew Cornish broke away and flew down for a try. But with a nearly 40-yard conversion try falling short, the Wolves still trailed by two scores, 5-14.

With the second half underway, the abundance of scoring from the previous day showed to be more of a liability than an asset. Out of breath, the Wolves were unable to match pace with the well-rested Boxers. Tries began to pile up on the Wolves as they seemed to have no answer. In the echo of the final whistle, Western eked their way to one last try and conversion. But the match was all but over with Western having fallen 35-11.

After splitting the weekend 1-1 the Wolves look forward to some much needed rest. With their final regular season games now behind them, they prepare to host the Challenge cup on March 30 and 31.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Women’s basketball gets slaughtered on senior night

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

March 2 marked the final time the Wolves would take their home court for the 2019 regular basketball season against Saint Martin’s. Fresh off of a 60-53 win over Seattle Pacific on Feb. 28, the Wolves were ready to finish their season off with a win on senior night. With a pregame ceremony for the graduating senior players as well as for the senior dance team members coming to an end, the Wolves focused on the game ahead of them.

Due to the abysmal 8-17 record for the Wolves leading up to the night, there would be no chance for a postseason. But despite this reality, Western still took to their court with a vengeance.

The Wolves wasted no time as they jumped out to a massive lead half way into the first. A flurry of good jumpers slung Western to a 12-6 lead. This dominating burst was short-lived, however, as the Saints came marching back in the closing minutes of the first. By the end of the opening quarter, Western clung to a one-point lead.

The second quarter showed no team had a clear advantage over the other as both teams swapped the lead back and forth. Each good bucket was met with another by the opposition. But as the minutes dwindled down, Saint Martin’s went on a hot streak that carried them into halftime with a seven point lead.

The momentum gained in the closing of the first half carried into the second as the Saints again buried with Wolves with shot after shot. Saint Martin’s had taken their seven point lead and pushed it to a high of 12 before finally settling at eight.

The fourth quarter showed signs of an all too familiar final quarter of the Wolves. What started as a close match quickly devolved into utter chaos as the Saints pushed their lead higher and higher. With little resistance from Western, the score quickly got out of hand. The final buzzer had the Wolves leaving with their tail between their legs, with the final score reading 82-58.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Sharing experiences with the ROTC program

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC, is a program for pre-commissioned officer education and training that students can be involved in during their years in college. By choosing to participate in this program, they can prepare to become officers in the Army once they graduate, but they can also take the basic classes on an exploratory basis while they determine whether or not they want to make a longer commitment with the Army.

Leading the ROTC program at Western, Major Joel Springstead and Captain Devin Argentina, assistant professors of military science, reflected on the qualifications required for the program as well as the benefits that are available to students.

While there are number of requirements that ROTC Cadets must meet — being a full-time student, having a GPA of 2.5 or higher, being a U.S citizen, being between the ages of 17-26 and meeting the physical standards, amongst other things — it has a number of benefits that can help make getting a degree more affordable.

From a financial angle, ROTC students who receive a commission are given a scholarship for up to $10,000 for either tuition or for room and board, and they also receive $1,200 annually for books and $420 as a monthly stipend.

On top of this, ROTC is an opportunity for these students to develop a number of military and leadership skills that will serve them well, whether or not they continue on in the Army.

“Army ROTC is one of the best leadership courses in the country and is part of your college curriculum.  During classes, leadership labs, physical training and field training exercises, you learn firsthand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups and conduct missions as an officer in the Army,” said Major Springstead. “Upon graduation you are commissioned a Second Lieutenant and serve as an officer in the Active Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard.”

Students in the ROTC program at Western and Corban University, one of ROTC’s partnering schools, shared about their experience completing a recent field training exercise, or FTX, at Camp Rilea near Seaside, Oregon.

Chad Crook, Western Oregon University student, shared his experience:

“When I first joined Army ROTC, I had no idea what to expect. I figured that it would mostly be morning workouts and classroom discussions, but our first Field Training Exercise changed my mind about that … Not only did we get to shoot a variety of weapons, but we got to do an obstacle course and a rappel tower, which was a challenge for those who have a fear of heights.

The weekend was not all fun and games, however. We walked for miles and miles with a heavy rucksack on, carrying all we needed for the weekend. We ate MREs (meals ready-to-eat), and anyone that says that those are good is lying. Sometimes we sat in the rain for hours as the leaders planned out our missions … The first night we were under attack the entire night, as we occupied a cold concrete building. Morale was low when we were rucking several miles in sideways rain.

We could complain all we want, since it was a challenging and uncomfortable experience, but looking back on it, the Field Training Exercise has been one of the most interesting and valuable experiences of my life. If I was not a part of ROTC, I never would have been able to fire heavy weaponry, learn tactics and build bonds with people from a variety of schools. In the worst of times, friendships are made almost immediately … Although there were many times during the three days where I felt like I wanted to quit, the feeling from pulling through and completing the training was priceless.”

Alea Pena, Corban University student, shared his experience:

“Attending my first fall FTX as a (Military Science Level One) pushed me to limits I would’ve never gone to on my own. Looking back on the experience, I could say I loved almost every moment, including the miles of walking with my rucksack from location to location.

FTX offers me a new perspective of myself when I look toward future challenges because I remember that it was me who shot the 240 and 249 machine guns, who repelled for the first time off a 65-foot wall and who survived a weekend with eating only MREs and getting little sleep … I learned the importance of teamwork when I was in a squad the whole weekend and was personally responsible for my battle buddy. Through rain, cold, no sleep and exhaustion from rucking around all day, my squad never failed to make me laugh and keep good morale.

I grew closer with my fellow cadets as we low crawled through forests to ambush our objective and learned so many strategies and maneuvers in which I can guarantee I will be using when serving in the Army. Fall FTX was exhilarating, tiresome and a life-changing experience.”

If students are interested in joining, they can do so even if they are not first-year college students, but they will have to complete an accelerated program in order to catch up on all of the requirements. They can also reach out to Major Springstead at springsteadj@wou.edu or Captain Argentina at argentinad@wou.edu if they would like to learn more about the program.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Major Joel Springstead

Campus spotlight: WOU Food Pantry

Natalie Dean | Freelancer

Western Oregon University has many support programs for students, staff and community members. One of these impactful resources is the food pantry, operating since 2012 and serving over 50 households and 120 individuals per month.

The WOU Food Pantry is open to Western students and staff, as well as local community members; data shows that 65 percent of their customers are students and 30 percent are community or staff members.

“(The food pantry) is a resource for individuals facing any level of food insecurity; so whether you need something before school or your meal plan ran out, anyone can come in for any reason and use our services,” said senior Libby Vigil, the outreach coordinator for The WOU Food Pantry. “Our motto is: take what you need, but be mindful of other customers.”

Their hours of operation, which change every term, can be found by checking on the door of the food pantry, their Facebook page “WOU Food Pantry” or by checking their website, wou.edu/foodpantry.

When going to the pantry, people either use reusable bags or the bags provided and then they take needed items from the shelves, two refrigerators and two freezers. After finding the items they’re wanting, everything is weighed on a scale and complete a quick three-minute survey is given on your experience.

“The survey has been very helpful so far. We’re partnered with Marion Polk Food Share, so every month we provide data on the number of customers and volunteers,” said junior Rachel Bayly, the student director for The WOU Food Pantry. “It also allows us to ask more questions, like if we’re helping students primarily on or off-campus. This lets us know what type of items to look for and how to best serve our customers.”  

For people looking to support their efforts, any non-perishables or hygiene product donations can be brought directly to the food pantry, located at the corner of the Oregon Military Academy building; or left in the barrels, which can be found downstairs in the Warner University Center, the Hamersley Library entryway or the second floor of Bellamy Hall.

Food items must be sealed, labeled, non-expired and USDA approved if applicable. Any cash or check donations should be brought to Abby’s House, located in WUC 106.

One way that the Western community has supported The WOU Food Pantry recently is that, during the whole month of February, the WOU Student Veterans of America hosted a food drive competition to benefit the pantry. Nine campus organizations — including WOUSVA, ASWOU and Kappa Sigma, amongst others — faced off to see who could bring in the most donations for the pantry, with colored collection bins housed in the Veterans Resource Center.

For anyone searching for additional information on The WOU Food Pantry’s services, check their Facebook page for regular updates or reach out to one of the community coordinators at foodpantry@wou.edu.

 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

How students can get involved in city government

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

For anyone interested in expanding their leadership experience or giving back to their city, one option can be found as near as Main Street. The City of Monmouth has 10 Boards and Commissions, all of which Western students are eligible to serve on.

Phyllis Bolman, Monmouth City Recorder, shared that this opportunity is one that the city would be happy to have students involved with. However, Bolman fears that many college students don’t know that these groups exist, or they don’t know that there aren’t any specific restrictions for applicants based on age or qualification.  

“(Students) have always been able to, but getting the word out is the hard part,” said Bolman.

Amongst the possible Boards and Commissions that students can apply to be a part of, some of the options include the Arts & Culture Commission, the Library Board, Monmouth Engaged Community Gathering Committee, University/Community Connections Committee and the Senior Advisory Board.

One of the benefits about being on any of these boards is that there is a relatively low time commitment involved.

“Most of our boards and commissions meet once a month for an hour … Traffic safety is once a quarter for an hour, so it’s pretty minimal,” said Bolman. “This is just putting your toe in the water a little bit, but it still gives you a feeling for what it’s like.”

While a number of the Boards and Commissions listed say that the positions are two or three-year terms, Bolman stated that this is not something students should worry about if they are wanting to apply.

“They don’t have to be here for the three years, honestly. We do have turn-over because some people move or pass away,” said Bolman.

Reflecting on some of the benefits of students being involved in these various groups, Bolman shared that having younger voices is valuable because it provides a distinct outlook that could be missing.

“It gives the people already on the board a different perspective, bringing in somebody different with a different way of looking at things,” said Bolman.

Scott McClure, Monmouth City Manager, also chimed in that taking advantage of this kind of opportunity can have a number of benefits for students as well.

“I think this is a good leadership opportunity. That’s a huge one,” said McClure. “If you go out and you’re working your way towards applying for scholarships or a job, and you’ve actively participated in a city committee, you’ve set policy, you’ve made decisions and participated; I’d play that up.”

If anyone would like to learn more about any of the Boards or Commissions or apply for one of them, there is both additional information and applications on the City of Monmouth’s website, monmouth.municipalcms.com. They can also contact Bolman at pbolman@ci.monmouth.or.us if they have any questions.

Completed applications can either be emailed to Bolman or turned in physically at Monmouth City Hall.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Bailey Thompson

Western baseball hits a walk-off home run, saves game


Sarah Pitz | Freelancer

A bright sunny Saturday afternoon proved a perfect day for baseball. Add to that an excited crowd of 150 spectators, and it was evident the Wolves were ready to bring home a win in their doubleheader against Montana State Billings Yellowjackets on March 2.

The first inning showed some solid hitting by both teams, but none that were able to bring in runs. Pitchers rallied in the second inning. Despite almost getting hit in the face by a pitch in his previous at bat, Western’s Alex Roth delivered with two strikeouts in a row.

Montana State countered, also delivering a pair of strikeouts. With the game scoreless until the fourth inning, things began rolling for the Wolves when Collin Runge scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch.

By the sixth inning, Montana State was scrambling to score. That finally occurred with a run by the Yellowjackets’s Conner Linebarger due to a throwing error by the Wolves. That was rapidly followed by runs from Montana State’s Jalen Garcia, Brandon Koszuth, Daniel Cipriano and Matt Dillion. By the end of the inning, Montana State University had collected five runs.

While the Wolves turned around collecting three more runs of their own — Jared McDonald, Thomas Ahlstrom and Connor McCord all scored — Montana State dominated with an ending sixth inning score of 5-4.  

In the seventh inning, both teams were able to hold their own. But that changed in the eighth inning when Montana State’s Andrew Schleusner picked up yet another run.

However, it was the ninth inning that proved to be the game-changer as Montana remained scoreless and Western pushed ahead.

The break came for the Wolves when Patrick Chun sent a ground ball to second base allowing Derek Maiben to score. Later in the inning, it would be Jared McDonald who hit a home run ball to right center field, bringing home Griffey Halle and Collin Runge. The three run play brought the crowd to their feet and clinched the win for the Wolves.

The 8-6 victory marked Western’s second continuous win and their first home win of the season. The Wolves would continue to end up on top in their four game series with the Yellowjackets with three wins and one loss.

 

Contact the author at spitz18@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

This week in completely made up horoscopes

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

[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] Aries, you’re on your own now. The stars need a break from being so awesome. Check back in after Spring Break and maybe we’ll have some advice for you. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] Two more weeks… [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] Alexa, take my finals for me. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″]

*Two snow days last week*

Professors: More time to study and do homework, gives online assignments and extra reading

Students: Plays in snow and watches Netflix, crams all the extra assignments the day before

[/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] YESSAH BLESSAH, NEVER STRESSAH. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] Look, Virgo. All you have to do is make it through the next two weeks and then you get to do literally nothing but sleep for an entire week. We believe in you. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] When people say “take a risk”, it doesn’t mean starting an essay at 10 p.m. the night before, Libra. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] In this world it’s yeet or be yeeten. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] THE JONAS BROTHERS ARE COMING BACK. THIS IS BIG NEWS. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] When in doubt, take a nap. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] So close Aquarius, so close. Keep your spirits up in this dark time. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″]

HEAVY BREATHING IN A GYM WHILE STARING INTO A MIRROR.

-Gym bro

[/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

Opinion: Western has a long way to go before it’s considered truly accessible

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Western Oregon University is privileged enough to have a disability services office that is fairly visible on campus and that is committed to giving students accommodations. The Office of Disability Services offers services such as test proctoring, housing accommodations, note taking services and provides all of the interpreters on campus. The buildings and layout of campus, however, leave accessibility wanting.

Western has existed since 1856, as many of students have heard during their tours and orientations. Although the buildings on campus have gone through various iterations and renovations since then, most of them aren’t accessible to differently-abled students and faculty.

Many buildings have the very basic elements of an “accessible” building, but simply meeting the base requirements does not equal accessibility.

Even the Richard Woodcock Education building — considered one of the most accessible buildings on campus — has its issues. For example, the front doors are automatic, but they open so slowly and irregularly that they rarely make anyone’s life easier. Additionally, you have to be so close to the doors to trip the sensor, they almost whack you in the face on the way in. How is that accessible?

The older buildings on campus present even more accessibility challenges. Many buildings are so old that their elevators and hallways simply aren’t big enough for a wheelchair to fit in comfortably. Several buildings, including Bellamy Hall, are only accessible to differently-abled students around the back of the building, which can cause extra time getting to and from a class. Extra time aside, able-bodied students aren’t limited to using one entrance or exit, so why should the burden be on differently-abled students?

Older residence halls are also not accessible. I lived in Landers Hall as a first-year, and it was difficult for two people to walk past each other in the outdoor stairwells and down the hallways because the paths were too narrow. Barnum and Gentle have the same issue. Landers doesn’t even have an elevator. In fact, many of the older buildings on campus do not have clearly marked elevators or signs indicating how to access them.

I can say with 100 percent certainty that there are even more accessibility issues that I am not aware of because I am privileged enough to not need to use the elevator everyday, or have to worry about how wide a hallway is. I can still see the glaring obstacles in the way of a truly accessible campus.

An institution is not required to make accessibility adjustments if they are considered an undue burden, which means “significant difficulty or expense” according to the ADA website, ada.gov. The undue burden loophole is a way that many businesses and other institutions try to dodge making themselves accessible — I’ve learned all about it in my three years at Western. So theoretically, the accessibility issues that Western has could be brushed off as being an undue burden to fix. However, seeing as the current renovation of Natural Sciences is budgeted around $6 million, which can be found through a google search on the university website, I don’t think Western as an institution can claim that it is out of their means to fix the issues they have.

For more information about parts of Western that aren’t accessible and parts that are, students can attend a tour through the Office of Disability Services Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 12-1 p.m. The tour is led by student Vanessa Rice and is meeting in the Willamette room the the Werner University Center.

 

Contact the author at cweedon16@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

How to save money when flying on vacation

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Spring Break is quickly arriving, making it hard to focus on the finals to come. Some have already started their planning, but for some, finances can be an enormous hinderance. This is especially true of air travel. Flying is the fastest and often easiest way to travel long distance, especially for students wishing to return to family for the break. However, it’s also the most expensive way to travel. Fortunately, there are a few ways to budget and be prepared enough to create an affordable vacation.

 

Be aware of timing: Most plane tickets become more expensive as the flight time approaches, meaning booking them as far in advance as possible is usually the cheapest way to go. According to Forbes, the exact number of days to buy in advance for the most affordable tickets varies by the season, but it’s usually around seven weeks.

Consider other fees: While a ticket might seem the cheapest in a side-by-side comparison, these often don’t factor in additional expenses. It can be worth it to include checking all fees as part of the research into which airline to choose. For example, if you need to bring extra luggage, something to consider might be which airlines charge the most for additional baggage.

Don’t forget the rest of the trip: Gas, rental cars, taxis and hotels might not be the biggest expense, but they can add up quickly. Finding the airport closest to the hotel, or vice versa, arranging for transportation to the airport ahead of time and researching the different modes of transportation of the place you’re going to are all ways to cut down on the costs of the rest of the trip. Also, bringing everything possible rather than buying the needed toiletries or other things can help cut expenses in places that have sales tax.

Consider connecting flights: It’s not always ideal, but it’s often cheaper to endure a layover. Depending on the place, a longer layover can be an opportunity to explore a new city; this typical inconvenience could easily be made into an exciting part of your vacation.

 

Vacations can be a struggle when they feel out of reach due to the overall costs. However, the right amount of planning can make a worthwhile holiday possible.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy Ashlynn Norton

Western Oregon University

Facebook  Instagram  YouTube LinkedIn

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

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

Tools

Bookstore
Campus Maps
Canvas
Find People
Portal
Technical Support
WOU Email
Technical Support

Resources

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

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

Accessibility    Public Records    Privacy    Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.