Mount Hood

Western lacrosse thrashes Seattle University

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

The sun began to set over the hills as the Wolves broke from their huddle for the pregame lineup. Standing shoulder to shoulder in their icy white uniforms and matte black helmets, the Wolves looked ready to dominate in their first home match of the regular season on Feb. 16.

Hoots and hollers rang out from the Western bench as the players knelt for the opening faceoff. Within seconds of the starting whistle, it became obvious that the 0-0 score would be the closest the Redhawks would be to keeping this game close.

After winning the opening faceoff, the Wolves swept the ball around to the back of the goal to let senior attackman Andrew Barnett begin to pick apart the defense. Minutes later, the Wolves found their way onto the scoreboard.

From that point forward, it became evident that Seattle University was no match for Western. With every pass the offense threw, another Western player waved their stick to signal they were open. Once the pass connected, a blisteringly quick shot found its way to the back of the net. At the end of the half, Western stood tall over the Redhawks, 16-0.

With the game already essentially over, the Wolves started to ease up on Seattle University. The final quarters highlighted Western’s restraint and their drive to improve. After putting up 16 points, the Wolves shifted their focus from hammering the back of the net to improving their offensive gameplay.

In the two games leading up to the home-opener, the offense seemed to have been struggling, only able to put up an average of six goals a game. But now with score heavily in Western’s favor, the Wolves wanted to ensure their offense was running as it should.

“The ball movement was a lot better,” said senior history major Alex Eidler. “Everyone was on the same page, and there was not as much selfish play. It was good.”

“I think we’ve got a lot of work to do, but it’s starting to come together. Once we learn to come together as a team, we’ll start playing better,” added Barnett.

On the other side of the field, Western’s defense was also a main influence on the lopsided win. The first and only goal the Redhawks scored was deep into the third quarter on the heels of a fluke play.

After snatching the ball and rocketing down the sideline, first-year goalie Wyatt Livengood was knocked out of bounds, later to be flagged for a delay of game. Being sent to the penalty box, the Wolves were forced to play in a man-down situation with a backup goalie. A powerful shot snuck past the Wolves, leading to a single smudge on an otherwise perfect day for the defensive unit.

“It was a good game, but kind of boring. We weren’t on defense a lot but it was still good,” said Livengood on the blowout win. “I think the defense played really well. I think the defense is what kept us in the last two games as well as tonight.”

As the final horn sounded, the Wolves were on top 23-1. Five different Wolves posted hat tricks, having scored three or more goals. Further, Livengood was credited with a statistical shutout having had six saves and not given up a goal. This victory marks the first home win for the Wolves as well as the first regular season win.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Cora McClain

Western’s new club sport: Women’s Volleyball

Mikaela Wong | Staff Writer

Another recent development in Club Sports has emerged — Women’s Volleyball. Started by multiple students who were interested in playing year-round for fun, the club is off to a strong start.

In the weeks since its inception as an official club, Women’s Volleyball has gathered 13 players. The team has already found its way onto the court by hosting weekly practices in the Health and Wellness Center. Along with this, the team has acquired a coach, junior exercise major Michael Burns, and is currently looking into holding friendly scrimmages with other local teams such as Willamette University.

“We just want it to be fun and give a chance to people who are interested in volleyball to be able to do it. That’s our main focus,” said Tatianna Brock, a senior psychology major who helped start the club and is currently co-president.

“I think a lot of people … get really involved in volleyball in high school and then go to college and say ‘what now?’ Because yes, there are intramurals, but that only happens for a couple weeks out of the year,” added Brock about how the club hopes to be a good transition from high school competitive sports to more recreational activity.

Many of those who know the struggle of wanting to continue their love for their sport without playing for the school can relate to Brock.

“That’s what happened to me. I got out of high school and knew I loved volleyball but I didn’t really want to play competitively at a college — I’m not really at that level yet,” Brock explained.

At the end of Winter Term, Brock is graduating from Western, but hopes the team of mostly first-years carry on what has been laid down as foundation for the club.

“We want this club to get to the point where we feel confident playing other schools and in tournaments,” Brock added. “I wish there was something like this when I was a freshman.”

Currently, the club does not have any matches scheduled but does still practice regularly, offering perspective athletes the chance at something a little more competitive than intramurals. Students can join the club or learn more information on IMLeagues.com/wou.

 

Contact the author at mwong16@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Incidental fee proposed for 2019-2020 school year shows widespread cuts

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

When students receive their bills from the university each term, there is a charge entitled “incidental fees” that appears.

According to Western’s webpage, every student who is enrolled at the university for at least 12 credits is required to pay an incidental fee, and this fee is lessened for students who are only enrolled part-time.

While this fee may seem random and frustrating for those who don’t understand its purpose, it is actually something that students can have a say in creating.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the Incidental Fee Committee met on Feb. 15 to determine the preliminary budget for this fee: $375 per term per full-time student, a $12 increase from the 2018-2019 academic year.

Rachel Rhodes, a senior communications major and one of the seven members of the IFC, shared what the purpose of the IFC is at Western.

“We do a review of the budget proposed from all the department heads. And then we decide where the money should go,” said Rhodes.

When looking at the budgets for different organizations by various department heads, Rhodes also shared that there are two different types of budgets that can be proposed.

“There’s their operating budget, and then they can ask for enhancements… outside projects, an extra travel trip, an upgrade to their building, whatever that is for them,” said Rhodes.

With the 2019-2020 IFC budget in particular, Rhodes shared that there was a significant outside voice who helped to determine how much money would be spent: President Rex Fuller.

“We were actually asked by the president not to up the fee more than five percent, and he said that if it was up more than five percent than he wouldn’t approve it. So that was our goal,” said Rhodes.

Having constructed their preliminary budget, Rhodes also noted that people who look over the spending plan may notice significant cuts.

“We cut almost every budget operationally, and that’s because the inflation was so much that, if we fully funded everyone, the fee would have gone up way more,” said Rhodes. “I think becoming the most affordable school in Oregon means you have to make cuts that scare people — like cuts to ASWOU or cuts to athletics — cuts to areas that people might question or that people might not like, but we had to make some hard decisions.”

In addition to the rising costs for both building operations and student workers, due to an increasing minimum wage, Rhodes noted another cause for the fee’s increase.

“It’s a rough subject to talk about right now, but enrollment is down,” said Rhodes. “So, we’re looking at ways to bring in more students, but it’s hard for the same number of students to pay for what more students paid for last year.”

In looking at the new funding sources that they approved for the upcoming year, Rhodes stated that IFC was very selective in their enhancements.

“We wanted to be mindful that we’re cutting operational budgets but we’re giving other organizations money to enhance their programs,” said Rhodes. “So we granted some enhancements to new clubs … because we wanted to help foster those new clubs.”

Having decided the preliminary budget, the next step for the IFC is to host hearings so that members of the community could advocate for programs that are important to them. With this process ahead, Rhodes encouraged all students to make their voices heard so that it will not merely be those directly benefitting from a certain fund who are making their voices heard.

The two open hearings will be held on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Pacific Room of the Werner University Center, and Friday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. in RWEC 101. After these hearings, the IFC will present their budget to the ASWOU Senate, the Board of Trustees and President Rex Fuller before it can be finalized.

Students can also voice their opinions through a survey at wou.edu/ifc/news.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Infograph by Brittany Figueroa

RHA hosts first ever Sustainability Month

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

For the entire month of February, Western’s Residence Hall Association has been hosting events as part of their first ever RHA Sustainability Month with the help of both Green Team and National Residence Hall Honorary.

“Eliza (Sleezer, RHA president) was the person who spearheaded this project. What we wanted to do was, as a part of our sustainability theme, we wanted to get a lot of input from Green Team on this,” said Josh Salsbury, sophomore math major and RHA finance director. “It’s really just been a huge collaboration effort.”

As two members of the RHA Executive Board, Salsbury joined with Kaiana Bradley, junior elementary education major and RHA publicist, to talk about all that went into planning this inaugural event.

For the first week’s event, each member of the Executive Board participated in a challenge.

“Last week we had a zero-waste challenge, so everyone on Executive Board carried around a bag for the day and whenever they had to throw something away — whether it was food waste, paper towels from the bathroom, … wrappers and things you would physically put in the trash can — you put in a bag,” said Bradley. “And we all made posts as a social media campaign about how that experience was for us, challenging other people to be conscious of how much waste they produce in a day and how they could change that.”

Salsbury then shared why he actually enjoyed partaking in this challenge.

“When I did mine, I think the biggest thing I noticed was that it was really fun since I had to physically carry around a bag that my friends, when they saw me around campus, could ask what I was doing,” said Salsbury. “And I was able to explain to them about what we’re doing for sustainability month.”

Reaching out more directly to the Western community, a few of the events from the month involved the team providing students with resources that could help them be more sustainable: on Feb. 7, NRHH posted sustainable living tips in the various residential communities; on Feb. 11, RHA gave out five Hydroflasks; and on Feb. 25, RHA will be passing out reusable bags in Valsetz Dining Hall from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Finally, a couple of their more interactive events are their Sustainability Craft night on Feb. 21 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Mt. Jefferson Room in Valsetz Dining Hall and a recycling competition between each of the residence halls that is continuing throughout the entire month of February. As of Tuesday, Feb. 19, Landers Hall and Barnum Hall are in the lead for the competition.

Throughout this process, Salsbury and Bradley stated that their hope was to help provide students with tools and to cause them to think about how they can make sustainable choices.

“I’m just hoping that inspires people to maybe make changes to their life and be more conscious, and hopefully with the craft night people can see that you can upcycle and make things for your house — whether it’s decor or storage — out of things that that you already have,” said Bradley.

“It’s really important just to be aware of your impact on the environment. So, anything that we can do to make people just actively think about how they’re affecting the area around them is going to be beneficial,” said Salsbury.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

Grand opening of Western’s new Child Development Center location

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Western’s Child Development Center has been open since 1980, but on Jan. 7, it began its relocation to a new home behind the Campus Public Safety Office, where Western’s ROTC program used to be located.

To celebrate the move, the CDC hosted a grand opening event on Feb. 13 with a treasure hunt for students, tours of the new facility, a cake, visits with Wolfie and a speech from President Rex Fuller.

“This whole project came about because of a question I was asked during the State of the University Address a couple of years ago,” said Fuller. “’Hey, what about a better space for the child development center?’ After that, we did some analysis and started the project.”

Currently serving 51 students from the community ranging from ages 18 months to 12 years old, the CDC is open to children of Western students, staff and faculty as well as other member of the community.

When asked about the reasoning behind the move, CDC Director Tammy Gardner shared that Todd Hall was lacking some amenities and safety qualifications that the new site has.

“We were just finding it very cramped over there in Todd Hall. The building is very old, so there were some earthquake safety issues with us there to be able to evacuate a building,” said Gardner.

With their new facility, which has been heavily remodeled, Gardner celebrated a number of new amenities: big bathrooms, a spacious backyard, a lobby and nicer classrooms, amongst other things.

In addition to the facility, Dr. Fuller added that another strength of the CDC is its staff.

“We currently have a director, five teachers, 11 student staff, and six volunteers,” said Fuller. “They really do great work and go above scale in terms of providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for our students. It’s exciting to see that.”

Gardner added how excited she is to have staff members who are able to connect with the diverse group of children that they serve at the CDC.

“We’re very multicultural,” said Gardner. “We’ve got three bilingual staff members that are Spanish-speaking, and we’ve got two bilingual volunteers who speak Mandarin, so that’s really helped with some of our visiting scholars.”

Throughout her remarks, Gardner reaffirmed a number of times how caring and helpful different people and organizations from the university have been towards the CDC, and how grateful she is to be a part of this community.

“We feel very very supported and loved by the WOU community, from facilities to Valsetz and President Fuller. They’re our champions who really got this project going. It’s amazing.”

Gardner also shared that, for anyone who would like to get involved with the CDC, they can email her at gardnert@wou.edu or visit the volunteer link on their webpage.

“We’re open to volunteers, suggestions, or invitations,” said Gardner.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

The Howl staff attempts to draw outrageous prompts

Compiled by The Western Howl Staff

It’s like Drawful, a Jackbox party video game, but worse! In appreciation to our great designers, the Howl staff decided to put their drawing skills on display by composing a single image based off three arbitrarily picked prompts (that might or might not have involved a dart board and a blindfold).

 

Listed below are the prompts:

Opinion: Why the “school should be your job” mentality is toxic

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

A month ago, I was sitting in my apartment, reading over my Western graduate school application. The information included in the packet was what one would expect: class breakdowns, requirements for recommendation letters and the like. But as I was skimming, I came across something that shocked me: “graduate study is a commitment equivalent to a full-time job.” The application went on to say that at most, students should work 15 to 20 hours a week on top of their schoolwork and possible internships.

After asking around, I learned that many of my friends attending Western have experienced their programs of study strongly recommending that they do not have a job, but instead, focus all of their energy on school, internships and practicums.

I believe that this standard is unrealistic and unsustainable for a majority of students, unless someone has the privilege of having their college paid for without having to take out loans or work. It is ignorant to expect students to put school before everything else in their lives.

The average cost of rent in Monmouth per apartment is about $896, which is a 1.79 percent increase from 2018 and a 2.34 percent increase from just last month, according to rentjungle.com. A one bedroom apartment is on average about $788 per month, and a two bedroom is around $950. According to the same website, rent continues to rise. Minimum wage in Monmouth is $10.75 an hour. This means that someone living in Monmouth has to work over 20 hours a week just to make rent, assuming that they pay the full bill themselves — and that is not including the cost of utilities, groceries and other basic living expenses. Also not included is money to spend on luxuries.

So, a student has to work 20 hours minimum just to get close to making rent, and their program suggests they only work 20 hours per week at the most.

Many programs advertise themselves as a “full time job,” meaning students will invest 40 hours per week into their education. 20 hours minimum of work added onto the 40 hours of schoolwork adds to 60 hours per week of work. That is not even calculating the cost of food, or other unexpected costs like car maintenance or health care costs. Isn’t that asking too much?

All of this isn’t considering time off, either. A student overworked is a student that isn’t thriving. If a student is working 60-plus hours a week, then who knows when they have time put aside for themselves. Time for socializing with friends and investing in self-care are arguably two of the most important things for anyone, especially students. However, they are usually the things that are sacrificed first, for the sake of keeping up in school and at home.

I know that at an individual level, most professors and school administrators expect students to sacrifice their security in order to focus on school. But at an institutional level, I worry that there is an unhealthy expectation that students should not work, but instead pour all of their energy into school. In a perfect world, every student would be able to give 100 percent to school. But this is not an ideal world.

Personally, I often feel preoccupied with my financial situation. I am the kind of person who doesn’t want to be obsessed with money, but I’m regularly forced to be. Juggling classes, a job, and paying bills, I honestly don’t often have the time or the energy to do things that I enjoy. Time with my friends is usually the first thing I sacrifice, and when I do spend time with them I feel guilty that all I do is complain about how busy I am. In my studies, I often hear about burnout, and many times it is taught as an issue only professionals have to deal with. But I would argue that the majority of students, including myself, are actively experiencing burnout right now.

Many colleges and universities hold the same kind of “school should be your job” mentality. This mentality ignores the reality that most college students face: a reality where it is virtually impossible to survive without a job while they’re in school. These institutions do not have their student’s best interest at heart. It’s almost like they have an ulterior motive.

 

Contact the author at cweedon16@wou.edu

Illustration by Rachel Hetzel

Cocktail Corner: Mikaela’s AMF Recipe

Mikaela Wong | Staff Writer

Have you ever wondered what actually goes into your favorite cocktail, or how it’s made? While it may seem like you’re watching a magic trick when the bartender prepares your drink right before your eyes — or maybe it just feels that way once you’re a couple cocktails in — most drinks are actually pretty straightforward and require minimal effort. This segment will uncover the secrets of classic cocktails, and as a bartender, I’ll let you know what’s actually in those popular drinks.

One of the most common cocktails ordered, especially by college students, is called an AMF. It stands for Adios, Motherf—–, and it is regarded as one of the strongest drinks one can order. Many people consider this to be a staple drink for 21st birthdays and it has even been deemed from some as a “rite of passage”. 

The AMF is served in a pint glass (16 ounces) full of ice and is made of four different types of liquor, blue curacao, sweet & sour and Sprite or 7UP. Not only is this drink strong in alcohol content, but it also mixes different types of liquor together, which is discouraged as a general drinking rule. The drink is then topped off with a maraschino cherry, a lemon wedge and an orange wedge. There are also different flavors of AMF’s so make sure to ask your bartender for a different flavor if you would like something else.

Please drink responsibly, and only drink if you are 21+.

 

AMF

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

3⁄4 ounce vodka

3⁄4 ounce gin

3⁄4 ounce light rum

3⁄4 ounce tequila

3⁄4 ounce Blue Curacao

2 ounces sweet & sour mix

1⁄2 ounce Sprite/7UP

1 lemon wedge

1 orange wedge

1 maraschino cherry

 

Contact the author at mwong16@wou.edu

Courtesy of Caity Healy (Videographer), Kyle Morden (Video editor), Paul F. Davis (Photo)

A brief review of Main Street’s new food truck additions

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Sometimes it seems like there’s a revolving door of food trucks on Main Street. Where the short-lived Bobablastic truck once stood now features two different vendors. The newcomers are different in their food origins and styles, but what they have in common is that they’re both there to serve lunch or dinner in pretty decent portions for around $10 each.

For starters, we now have the purple Oishi Hibachi vehicle. This truck features a variety of Japanese cuisine, such as a few Teriyaki plates, shrimp, and for the braver people, ghost pepper chicken. There are small sides available, but most of the plates come with fried rice and veggies along with a choice of meat and a few sauces.  

As a broke college student, I was hesitant to drop $10 on a lunch. However, a plate full of fresh food — I could hear it start to sizzle a few minutes after ordering, which I considered a good sign — seemed pretty fair for the price. I did think there could have been a little more chicken as the rice seemed to encompass most of the meal, but the food itself tasted fresh and was exactly what I was expecting for an order of teriyaki chicken.

Next to Oishi Hibachi is the red Lonney’s Lunch Wagon, which specializes in Hawaiian food. Like Oishi, the main dishes are chicken or pork served with rice, and a full serving is $9. The menu changes daily and is listed on a chalkboard on the front of the truck. Additionally, many of their items are often pictured on their Instagram account @lonneyslunchwagon. Aside from their main dishes, also have a few options for sides of fries — but these are no ordinary fries. Rather, there are options such as roasted pork fries and fries with their signature hurricane sauce.

After hearing it hyped up by the cashier, I decided to try their Hurricane Katsu, a Japanese style fried chicken, with the above mentioned hurricane sauce. I have to say I am still haven’t quite decided how I feel about it; it’s certainly flavorful and not at all what I expected. The fried chicken was good by itself, and the sweetness of the hurricane sauce was an interesting addition. I get the sense it’s the type of flavor that tends to be quite divisive; people will either love it or hate it, with very little in between.

Though the two new trucks on the block have their own unique features, either one would be a good option for those looking for comfort food such as chicken or pork cooked in familiar and traditional ways, as well as for those feeling a little more adventurous.

Oishi Express is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday through Thursday and Lonney’s is open 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (or until they sell out) Tuesday through Saturday.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Short workouts for tight schedules

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults get both aerobic and muscular exercise regularly — specifically around 150 minutes per week, if said exercise is moderate in intensity. The recommended time may be more or less depending on how vigorous the exercise is, and if the goal is just general health or increased fitness. Additionally, exercise is just as beneficial when spread throughout the week in shorter spurts, as long as it’s at least 10 minutes long.

Fortunately, this means even people with busy schedules can find at least some time to incorporate some kind of physical activity into their routines. Sometimes it can be discouraging to not have the time to do the kind of intense, long workouts some people do, or to be constantly exhausted and not necessarily having the energy to do so. Adding just a twenty or thirty minute workout, and not even one that is super intense, can have multiple health benefits including reduced stress. On top of that, some don’t even require leaving the house.

 

Bike ride or short run: For those whose schedules involve hours of sitting in class or staying inside at work, adding one of these aerobic workouts a few days a week can help create a change of scenery. Also, according to the CDC, this activity can be a more intense workout, for example running instead of walking, meaning it doesn’t necessarily have to be done everyday to reap the health benefits. Seventy five minutes of intensive workouts can be as beneficial as the 150 minutes of moderate exercise.

 

Weightlifting: The Health and Wellness Center has weightlifting equipment available, but for beginners or those who prefer home workouts, there’s also the option of buying weights from sporting stores to use for simple lifts such as bicep curls, that will also help for the muscle building aspect of exercise.

 

Yoga or pilates: One of the easiest workouts to do at home as it requires little to no equipment, yoga and pilates tends to focus on muscle strength and flexibility. Like aerobic exercises, however, the intensity varies, in this case depending on the poses.

 

Individualized at home workout routine: These are the kind that are fairly easy to find, or at least to find inspiration for. Searching for ‘workout routine’ on Pinterest alone has thousands of results. These usually focus on specific areas of interest to each individual person. For example, core workouts might include crunches or planks, leg workouts will have lunges, squats or wall sits, and arm and upper body workouts will have pushups or arm circles — all examples that don’t require spending money or time to take the trip to the gym and back.

 

For those that do prefer a gym, the Health and Wellness Center’s facilities are free to students. Hours can be found at wou.edu/campusrec.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

How to utilize time gaps in a class schedule

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

In a perfect world, our classes would always align with our preferred times and schedules. As many students know, however, schedules rarely end up as such. The “awkward class gap,” usually an hour or two, is a common experience in which there’s just enough time between classes for it to drag on, but for most, it’s just barely too short to dive into something more productive. There are options, though, that don’t require too much focus for those that aren’t sure how to use the in-betweens.

 

Read over notes: Sometimes full on studying doesn’t feel like an option during this time, especially for those that might study better at home and live off campus. Just taking a quick glance at notes, however, will help the information sink in, leaving less studying to do later.

 

Update your planner: The syllabus usually has a calendar, but it’s not uncommon for unforeseen circumstances to change the schedule up a bit. Things can change often in personal and professional lives as well, so taking a few extra minutes to make sure everything is still set straight can help with feeling more prepared.

 

Browse classes for next term: An option for pretty much everyone except seniors in their last term, making a rough drafts of schedules to come may not be very pressing at all times, but it may come in handy when the next registration date rolls around. Spring Term registration starts on Feb. 25.

 

Take a power nap: It’s not uncommon to hear at least one person say “I’m so tired” at least once a day, or hear stories of a term paper that took most of the night. Power naps may not be a solution, but they can certainly temper the problem. Many students live on or near campus, and even some that don’t are willing to crash for a few minutes in their car or reserve some time in the Rest and Relaxation room on in the Student Health and Counseling Center.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Western’s production of “Speech and Debate” starts a discussion about the secret life of teens

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

“Speech and Debate” follows three teens attending North Salem High School grappling with a sex scandal that is on the verge of imploding.

Madeline Weinstein, a junior theater major, attended the production.

“The characters (Diwata, an over-the-top wannabe high school actress pregnant with an unwanted baby, Howie, an openly gay high school student who goes on chatrooms with other gay men in order to hook up, and Solomon, a headstrong closeted gay student who is a reporter for the school newspaper) find their way into each other’s lives through the Speech and Debate club,” said Weinstein. Solomon, Diwata and Howie are brought together when Solomon, a tenacious reporter for the school newspaper, starts an investigation into the school’s theater teacher, Mr. Healy.

After hearing of the mayor’s inappropriate sexual contact with young men, Solomon starts building an article on the subject, much to the anger and chagrin of the school administration. Howie gets involved when he lets slip that he may have evidence against Mr. Healy. Diwata is reluctant to join in on the investigation, although she also has evidence against the teacher, and only agrees when the boys agree to become a part of the school’s new speech and debate club.

The play then follows Diwata, Howie and Solomon’s attempts to get the club funded by the school board, a process in which they have to prepare a mock debate presentation.

“The three students invite a reporter for the Oregonian newspaper to write about their presentation for Speech and Debate, and instead of addressing the actual problems that the students wanted, the reporter instead degraded them and said that this is what high-schoolers do in order to separate themselves from adults, and plugged her own book as well,” explained Weinstein.

The three students are all stubborn and strong-willed, and they bump heads often. Throughout the play, it is revealed that each of the speech and debate members have secrets of their own — secrets that could alter their lives in monumental ways.

This production follows tough topics such as sexual assault, sexual orientation and the lack of comprehensive sex education available to teenagers. “Speech and Debate” analyzes the ways in which American society fails it’s young people, refusing to speak to them frankly about substantial topics that affect their lives. The play tackles the important questions: is Oregon, and other states viewed as “liberal,” as open-minded as many people would like to believe? And are adults really keeping kid’s best interests at heart?

Some moments were laughable, while other moments were gasp-worthy. Overall, the production captures the essence of what it’s like to be a teenager: grappling with identity, personality and how they fit into the world — the subject matter is dark, but hauntingly realistic. The characters were familiar, with personalities that audience members may remember from their time in high school.

“I wasn’t so sure of what to expect when I went to see the show, so I came into the black box with an open mind,” said Weinstein. The main message, in Weinstein’s opinion, was: “to not be afraid of speaking up and doing what’s right.”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Scott Grim

Staff picks: Favorite romantic movies

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

“Call Me By Your Name” (2018)

Based on a book of the same name, “Call Me By Your Name” is a movie following a young man named Elio who falls in love with a graduate student named Oliver. Oliver is staying with Elio’s family in Northern Italy, studying ancient sculptures for the summer. This film was nominated for best picture in 2018, and for good reason. The cinematography is superb and many important topics are explored, such as Judaism and how LGBTQ love was seen as forbidden at the time. Timothée Chalamet (Elio) and Armie Hammer (Oliver) are at an acting skill level that is matched in few other films.

Contact the author at cweedon16@wou.edu

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

“My Bloody Valentine” (1981)

For those who know me, this choice comes at no surprise. I’ll take any opportunity I get to promote a classic horror film. Not a huge fan of romantic movies? This might just be your perfect Feb. 14 flick. It’s everything one could want in a cheesy 80s slasher — the holiday-hating deranged murderer wielding a pickaxe, who, in this case, has it out for anyone celebrating Valentine’s Day; the cliche one-liners, which in this movie come in the form of Valentine poems to warn of an imminent death; and the absolutely unnecessary amount of gore. What’s not to love?

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Kyle Morden | Digital Media Manager

“Crazy Rich Asians” (2018)

As a fellow Asian American, it is only befitting for me to recommend this movie. This film features an all-Asian cast, and it captures the true essence of what it is like to be a part of an Asian family — always having to live up to expectations. The story follows Rachel Chu as she meets her boyfriend’s crazy-rich family. Throughout the film, Rachel struggles to live up to the standards of her boyfriend’s mother. Although this movie might sound pretty dramatic, it’s a romantic comedy. You will be shedding tears of sadness and joy.

Contact the author at kmorden17@wou.edu

Rachel Hetzel | Designer

“The Princess Bride” (1987)

One of my all time favorite movies, “The Princess Bride,” is a witty fairy-tale adventure movie based on a novel by William Goldman. Buttercup is separated from her true love by Prince Humperdink, who plans to murder her and blame it on an opposing country to start a war. Her true love, Wesley, sets out to rescue her. Once reunited they must overcome the three dangers of the Fire Swamp: find the six fingered man, acquire a miracle and crash a wedding. This movie is inconceivably amazing, and I highly recommend it.

Contact the author at rhetzel18@wou.edu

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

“While You Were Sleeping” (1995)

If anybody is looking for a good old-fashioned romantic comedy that is not “The Notebook” or “When Harry Met Sally,” look no further than “While You Were Sleeping.” This hilarious and heartwarming story follows Lucy, a lonely ticket booth worker with no one in her life, as she finds a new family in the unlikeliest of ways. After saving a man’s life at her work, Lucy is mistakenly believed by his family to be the man’s fiancé. In the number of twists and turns that ensue, Lucy’s journey is one that will make you laugh, reminisce and admire the wonderful Sandra Bullock.

Contact the author at bthompson15@wou.edu

Ashlynn Norton | Photo Editor

“How to Be Single” (2016)

When it comes to Feb. 14, I’m the person who says “Happy birthday, Oregon” rather than “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m a romantic at heart, but I’m perpetually single so Valentine’s Day is not my fave. That’s why I recommend the rom-com “How to Be Single”. This movie is about four single women who are trying to go through life while being single. I love this film because it’s about finding yourself and how love looks differently for every person. You don’t have to be in relationship to be happy or feel love — just do what makes you happy.

Contact the author at anorton17@wou.edu

 

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

Review: Netflix original “Velvet Buzzsaw” breathes life back into the slasher genre

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Are you ready to be thrown back in time, to the age of slasher flicks with their dramatic cinematography and sense of impending doom? “Velvet Buzzsaw,” released on Jan 31, does just that. Featuring the talents of Jake Gyllenhaal, Toni Collette and Rene Russo, “Velvet Buzzsaw” brings old-school horror to a modern setting — the world of elite art.

This film begins with the secretary for an artist manager, Josephina, finding a collection of mesmerizing paintings when her elderly upstairs neighbor, Vetril Dease, dies. After being revealed to her boss Rhodora, the paintings are sold and showed in galleries, and Vetril Dease becomes one of the most talked-about artists in the scene.

In the beginning, all the audience knows about Dease is that his final wish was for all of his art to be destroyed. As Dease’s background is slowly revealed, he posthumously begins to take his revenge. Every person who used Dease’s art for personal gain is killed in a new and gruesome way.

“Velvet Buzzsaw” takes a satirical look at the world of the rich art elitist and adds in elements of suspense and murder, creating a slasher flick that was as nostalgic as it was unique.

For a Netflix original, the CGI was impressive. The cinematography was great, with its combination of wide shots and close-ups, along with dramatic zooms.

The sterile image of art galleries and the homes of the ultra-rich stood in stark contrast with the darkness and dirtiness of Dease’s art. The art focused heavily on the eyes — all of the figures in his paintings had their eyes closed or blurred out, almost like they had been gouged. Images of fire and smoke throughout the film were also significant, seen through the destruction of Dease’s pieces by fire and the abundance of smoking amongst the characters.

The dramatic imagery, obsession with revenge and satire within “Velvet Buzzsaw” made the movie an instant winner in my opinion. It had all the right qualities to make it a classically cheesy slasher film without seeming like just another sub-par remake. Also, It didn’t hurt that Jake Gyllenhaal was in it.

Overall rating: I would recommend this film to horror fans and newbies alike.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Winter Intramural leaderboard

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

Basketball
Co-Rec W-L
Backdoor buddies 4-0
big girls don’t Kawhi 3-1
Ball is Life 1-3
Wienie Hut Jr 0-4
Men’s Competitive W-L
Lake Show 2-0
Rimshots Only 2-1
DB’s are here 2-1
Show Your Worth 1-2
The Sailor Cats 1-2
off in the woods 0-2
Men’s Recreational W-L
Butterbuckets 3-0
Dino Nuggets 2-0
King’s in The North 2-0
11 HC’s 3-1
Bye Week 2-1
Los Treys Leches 1-2
Air Ballers 0-2
Confused Athletes 0-2
Backcourt Violators 0-2
Team Name 0-3
Women’s W-L
CA$H Money 3-0
SWISH 2-1
Hoop There It Is 1-2
LeBrontourage 0-3

[fruitful_sep]

Futsal
Men’s W-L
Los Busties 3-0
The Republic 2-1
The OGs 1-2
Burger King 0-3
Open W-L
Dunder Mifflin 3-0
Landage 3-0
Italy 2-1
Kekambas 1-1
Ball Kickers 1-2
Fury 3-0
Grace & The Funky Bunch 0-2
Team Name 0-1

 

 

Men’s Rugby takes a snow-covered victory over Pacific University

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

The Wolves couldn’t escape the impending blizzard as they headed to Pacific University for their next match. Ready to play in the frigid temperatures, Western stepped onto a snow covered field on Feb. 9. With a large number of first-year players making the start, the Monmouth men were apt to build off of their previous win over Oregon just a week before.

The advantage seemed to be with the home team early in the match as Pacific quickly drove down the field, scoring a pair of tries with successful conversions. Shaking off the snow, Western responded with a try and successful conversion of their own to bring the game back to just a single score deficit. Despite the Wolves’s ferocious defense, the Boxer’s found their way down the field to put up another score and tacked on the conversion.

At the half, Western was two scores behind with a score of 12-21. A cloud of frozen breath steamed out from the Wolves huddle as they discussed how to climb out of the hole that was dug in the first half.

With the opening of the second half, the Wolves looked up to the task. Western bashed their way down the field, fighting for every inch. The Wolves tenacity shrank the lead to only two points after scoring a try and conversion.

Pacific wasn’t ready to roll over yet. After Western had brought the game back to only a single possession, the Boxer’s forced their way back down the field. Just as in the first half, a pair of Pacific tries knocked the Wolves back into a deep hole. With the clock working against them, Western knew they needed to score, and quickly.

The crunching of snow and the grunts of Wolves could be heard as Western fought back down the field. The defense of Pacific showed cracks that the Wolves were able to slip through to score their first try of their comeback attempt. But after the missed conversion, the Wolves were still down 24-33.

Players from both teams kept an eye on the clock as Western again trucked their way down the field. The tired Boxer defense again let the Wolves slip through, scoring another try. With only minutes to go, Western had shrunk their deficit to only four points.

As the Boxers fought to hold off the Wolves, the time continued ticking away. But the Wolves kept their heads down and drove. Pitch after pitch, the Wolves continued to advance the ball until finally they were able to break through once again. The final try was scored and the successful conversion put the Wolves on top 36-33. The last seconds ticked off the clock and the miraculous comeback was final. The Wolves pulled off a snow-covered come from behind victory.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Andy Main

I <3 Female Orgasm comes to Western

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

After much anticipation and hard work from the numerous campus organizations who sponsored the event, renowned sex educators Lindsay Fram and Marshall Miller brought the program “I <3 Female Orgasm” to Western on Feb. 7. This event packed the Columbia Room in the Werner University Center, with a number of seats being added and still having several people standing in the back of the room.

“Presented over 500 times to over 100,000 people in 44 states, the female orgasm program has become one of the most popular college sex-education programs in the country,” said Abby’s House Peer Advocate and senior community health education major Keith Mathew while introducing the program.

From the get-go, Fram communicated that this event would cover things that were lighthearted, but also serious at times.

“This is a fun topic, but it’s not only a fun topic. There are a lot of really important health reasons that we all need access to good information about our bodies and our sexuality,” said Fram. “There’s this lie all around us that there’s just one way to be sexual. That all of our bodies work the exact same way — that we all want the exact same thing. Or even the lie that says that we’re all interested in being sexual. Because if we can reclaim our pleasure … that’s a huge act of resistance.”

In this way, the talk began by acknowledging the diversity of experience that would likely be in the room — both in terms of sexuality and gender identity.

“One of the questions that some people may have had even before they got here tonight is ‘how are they going to define female?’ And we define it super inclusively,” said Fram. “We’re going to talk about people who were assigned female at birth, people who identify as women — we know sometimes those categories overlap and sometimes they don’t.”

With this established, Fram and Miller set out to explain a variety of things about the female orgasm: the science behind it, the different strategies to achieve it and the myths that surround it.

One thing that the presenters said was valuable for people to note is that there is a physical difference that exists surrounding orgasms for males and females, which some women may not fully realize.

“On average, it takes someone with a vulva and clitoris about 20 minutes of direct stimulation in a way that feels good to them to reach an orgasm,” said Fram. Miller then contrasted this idea by saying that, “it takes a person with a penis two to five minutes.”

Taking this into consideration, Miller and Fram expressed that it is important that partners are willing to take the time to make sure that they are both being fulfilled when they are intimate.

“It’s really important to do the hard work and listen to what your partner is trying to say and to try and see things from their perspective. That can really give a huge boost to your sex life,” said Fram.

However, the pair also emphasized that this kind of experimentation with pleasure is also something that people can pursue on their own.

“If you have never had an orgasm before and you are interested in learning how, a lot of people say that masturbation is the fastest and easiest way to learn,” said Fram. “By the age of 15, only about half of people with vaginas have figured out how to have an orgasm, but a lot of people with penises have figured that out. So, it’s totally normal to be college-aged and still figuring out how to have an orgasm.”

The overarching message of this presentation was that there are many ways to experience pleasure, so people should not get too caught up in the rules and limitations that they have heard from society.

“We really hope that you’ll say goodbye to taboo and hello to more pleasure because, whether it is by yourself or with someone who you respect and respects you back, orgasms are awesome,” said Fram. “They reduce stress, they relieve headaches and menstrual cramps, they burn calories, they relieve junk food cravings and they are a great way to spend a Thursday night.”  

For anyone who is interested in learning more about the “I <3 Female Orgasm” program, they can find additional information at ilovefemaleorgasm.com.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Out and Proud educates students about STDs

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Out and Proud has been an event that has celebrated intersectional LGBTQ+ issues at Western since 2009. Ten years later, the MSU-sponsored event was able to have one of the founders of the original Out and Proud event, Joseluis “Louie” Antonio Arce, come and speak before a new generation of Western students.

“I created Out and Proud 10 years ago in 2009 when I joined MSU. I was a freshman, and I saw a bunch of things on campus — I saw MEChA, I saw MSU, I saw Triangle Alliance — and all of them were me,” said Arce. “These are all a part of who I am as a person, but there was nothing for gay people of color. So, I decided to work with my club … and I created Out and Proud. And I’m so glad that it’s (continued) for 10 years.”

Arce then shared that his journey has been one of a gay, Latino male who became HIV positive nearly 12 years ago and who is driven to use his platform to educate young people about safe sexual practices.

Starting off his story, Arce began by remembering a phone call he received on the day he was diagnosed.

“This day was different because I know it was my doctor’s office, and they had my results,” said Arce. “My honest-to-God first thought was, ‘I have it. I have AIDS, and I’m going to die.’”

After he was given the news, though, Arce shared how his perspective changed.

“All I could do to keep from losing it was laugh,” said Arce. “I felt alive. I had just received the worst news I had ever heard in my life, but for the first time I was living in the moment.”

Beyond that day, Arce shared that he invested time to learn things about HIV that he didn’t know before.

“I was learning so much. I always thought that AIDS was an actual virus, but … HIV is one thing, and AIDS is the status of your virus,” said Arce. With this in mind, he has worked to take care of himself and to keep his CD4 count low.

“I have been fighting to stay positive — both inside and out,” said Arce.

In light of this story, the organizers of Out and Proud also had representatives from Polk and Marion County Health and Human Services to talk with attendees about their sexual health.

“Because of Louie’s story, we just want you guys’s input about what we can do at the health department to promote testing and to make sure that you’re aware of STDs and HIV and what you guys can do for prevention,” said one of the health department representatives.

Overall, both Arce and the representatives wanted to make sure that students knew that there are resources available to them, including the Student Health and Counseling Center, online resources, Planned Parenthood and Marion and Polk County Health and Human Services.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Western holds 63rd annual Family Weekend

Ashlynn Norton | Photo Editor

Families from various locations and walks of life came to Western’s campus from Feb. 8-10 to partake in the 63rd Annual Family Weekend put on by Student Engagement.

The weekend’s festivities started off with a dinner Friday night to welcome families. President Rex Fuller began the festivities with a welcome speech and then gave the floor over to the entertainment of the night: a murder mystery improv show. Guests were given name tags displaying the names of celebrities and interacted with the actors while they tried to find out who the murderer was. In the end, when all was said and done, only one table correctly guessed that it was Taylor Swift who was in fact the murderer.

Saturday was a chock-full of events for every age.

For those 21 and up, there was wine tasting out at Eola Hills Wine Cellars. Family Weekend guests were able to travel to the winery and not only taste wine, but also be educated about the different types that were available.

Back on campus, there was rock painting, a photo booth and a caricature artist in the Summit inside the Werner University Center. At the same time, over in the Health and Wellness Center, the 2nd Annual Cornhole Tournament was underway. There were educational seminars sprinkled throughout the day where families could learn about how to better communicate with their first-year student, get a crash course in how money works, or even how to journal.

The night ended with a doubleheader of men’s and women’s basketball games.

The weekend came to a close on Sunday when families gathered once more in the Pacific Room for brunch while winners of various activities were announced.

Trina Lowther from Forest Grove, Oregon, visiting her first-year daughter Abi Lowther, a psychology major, said her favorite thing about Family Weekend was, “that we got to spend so much time together, like as a family.”

Western will also be holding its first ever Siblings Weekend in May for siblings who are in grades 8-12. Registration for this event will open in March.

 

Contact the author at anorton17@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of 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.