Mount Hood

Amusement from the archives

Caity Healy | Editor in Chief

Paige Montgomery | The Lamron Archives

Happy 163rd birthday, Western. This year, to celebrate Western’s birthday, the Western Howl dug through the archives to find some real knee-slapping comedy from back in the day. What better way to ring in the very significant 163rd year of this school’s existence by resurfacing what Wolves used to find funny?

What we came across, believe it or not, actually made us laugh. Turns out humor has always been a thing? For your enjoyment, here are some of our favorite stories written in a recurring segment from the 1985-1986 volume of the Lamron titled, “Turn to Paige” by staff writer Paige Montgomery. We hope you enjoy these as much as we did. Happy birthday, Western.

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Opinion: On the Serena Williams controversy

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Serena Williams is an American professional tennis player who has won 23 Grand Slam Singles titles and has won a grand slam tournament for three decades in a row. Williams has earned the most prize money to date in the world of tennis; none of that money came from sponsorships or endorsements, either, but only from her winning record. She has won 743 matches as of May 2018, which is the highest number of won matches of any active tennis player (all statistics gathered from sbnation.com). Just google “Serena Williams statistics,” because there’s a lot more where that came from.

Certain aspects of Williams’ conduct during matches have come under scrutiny by public audiences and news outlets alike, even sparking the creation of a racist comic by Mark Knight. The biggest incident in question is during Williams’ match against Naomi Osaka. After some calls by the referee that Williams viewed as questionable, she argued against them.

“You stole a point from me. You’re a thief, too,” said Williams after getting penalized for throwing her racket onto the court. Later in the match, Williams is quoted as commenting: “this has happened to me too many times.”

I don’t believe that this one outburst can label Williams “aggressive” for the rest of her career. As my stint as an athlete, I can relate to Williams’ outrage. Sometimes, when your adrenaline is high and the game is high-stakes, you do things that you probably wouldn’t do when you are off the court.

Also, I would like to point out that many male athletes have argued questionable calls, saying worse things than Williams, and often they are lauded for “sticking up for themselves.” For example, NFL player Richard Sherman is famous for interacting with the referees, arguing penalty calls and getting hyped up about a game — fans love him for it.

Williams clearly has a passion for the game of tennis that has undoubtedly been one of the factors contributing to her success. I mean, you don’t become a world-renowned, top-ranking athlete by being lukewarm about your sport.

Take a look at Michael Phelps, for example. When he locked down a gold medal in the Olympics, he often yells, slaps the water, hugs his fellow American teammates. Of course he does, right? He is a record-setting athlete. Many athletes do it, and rarely do we hear about it, much less hyperfocus on it. Muhammad Ali often celebrated after winning a fight, and although he has faced much discrimination, no one denies that he is one of the greatest boxers of all time. He isn’t labeled aggressive because of his athleticism.

Yes, maybe Williams shouldn’t have blown up at the referee in her match against Osaka, but she most likely knows that by now. Hindsight is 20/20, and I’m sure the average person walking down the street doesn’t want to be forever identified by a mistake they’ve made in the past.

“Serena Williams, in her more than 20 year career, has completely remade women’s tennis,” remarked Liz Clarke, sports writer for the Washington Post, “she has changed what a women’s player serves like, what she hits like, she has changed the expectation of what a women’s player dresses like.”

I believe that someone who completely remakes a sport has the right to be excited about how they, literally, changed the way a sport is played. In my opinion, when I watch sports, it’s more enjoyable when I see someone heated, passionate, and excited about what they’re doing. And honestly, I see a little bit of a double standard when people say that Williams is “too loud” or “overly aggressive.” Why is it okay to criticize Williams for her behavior, while at the same time put these male athletes on a pedestal for the exact same display?

 

Contact the author at cweedon16@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of serenawilliams.com

The perspective of a first generation college student

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Western has a wide diversity of students from different kinds of backgrounds. Some come from a family of college graduates, while others are the first generation to take on the challenge. While the college experience can sometimes be boiled down in pop culture as a universal experience, the reality is that these experiences can be as diverse as the people.

For first generation college students like Madison Gaylin, a junior education major, there are some similarities and some differences between students who came from college-educated families. One similarity, in her case, is that she had high hopes from a young age.

“I decided when I was little that I wanted to be a teacher,” Gaylin said. “Everyone said it would be hard work and there wouldn’t be much money in it, but I was set on it.”

Gaylin has some other members of her family that attended college, but not in her immediate family. She attended a community college where she got her AA, then transferred to Western. The transfer took her away from home, the small town of Clatskanie east of Astoria, for the first time.

For many students, even though college and their career path was ultimately a choice that they should be deciding, there was always an unspoken pressure to get a degree. This is especially true when one or both parents have a degree. For Gaylin, there wasn’t pressure so much as a hope or an expectation.

“I think it always came down to me wanting to go (to college),” she said when asked about the pressure many students feel from their families. “If I hadn’t, there might have been some disappointment — but not anger.”

She also said this internal, rather than external, motivation helped keep her focus when things got rough and she considered dropping out.

“I just had to keep telling myself to keep going,” Gaylin added.

Along with many other students at Western, Gaylin is now on her way to a career in education. While her experience isn’t shared by everyone, she can relate to those who have worked long and hard to achieve a lifelong dream as a first-generation college student.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

What to look for in a new roommate

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

For most people, part of the college experience is finding and living with a roommate. Sometimes it’s a friend or acquaintance, but other times students have to wade through their options of strangers to find one they’re comfortable living with. In these cases, there are specific things to look for when considering living with someone. While not all roommates end up best friends forever, a living situation should be more than just tolerable. When looked for, these things can help turn a potential nightmare roommate story into a friendship one.

 

  1. Communication:  Being a good communicator is a good sign that someone will make a good roommate in all stages of the search. This kind of person can be depended on to communicate when they decide to sign the lease, what they expect from their roommates and what will work best in their living situation. This may seem intimidating at times, but being straightforward will help resolve issues before they grow and start to become disruptive.
  2. Socialization levels: Everyone is slightly different when it comes to how and how much they socialize at home. Some like throwing ragers regularly with as many people as possible while others prefer to keep their homes relatively quiet and secluded. Neither is better or worse, but people on opposite ends of the spectrum are unlikely to agree on how open their home should be.
  3. Real life experience: Every so often, there is an encounter with someone unadjusted to living on their own. This may not be a dealbreaker for everyone, but it should be considered for those who might get annoyed by someone who doesn’t know how to cook for themselves or do household chores.
  4. Responsibility: Some students may look to their classmates when searching for a roommate. The opportunity that comes with this is to observe how organized or responsible they are with their schoolwork and decide whether this is a good indicator of what kind of roommate they will be. If their homework is consistently late, it may be a good idea to first make sure they won’t do the same with their rent.
  5. Independence: In an ideal world, roommates would always end up good friends that enjoy spending time together. However, some people just need someone to help pay the bills. During the initial search, clarifying the amount of involvement desired in each others’ lives can help eliminate future conflicts or misunderstandings. Also, while it’s good to be able to depend on roommates when in need, dependence at a certain degree can cause tensions.
  6. Pet peeves: One of the challenges of finding a roommate can be that everyone comes from different backgrounds, lifestyles and habits. As a result, something that might seem minor to one person can be extremely irritating to another. Cleanliness, whether lack of it or obsession with it, is the most common example of this that can lead to roommates falling out. Discussing pet peeves and lifestyle preferences before hand can save the trouble of roommate drama.
  7. Timeline: For students, it’s usually fairly easy to determine how long they’ll be needing to stay in one place based on how long they have until they graduate, or if they plan to stay in Monmouth after doing so. Sometimes, however, people need to leave or find a new place in the middle of the school year, when it’s hardest to find someone to replace them. Some graduate in a term other than spring, or take terms off and need to move. This can sometimes create a revolving door of roommates that only need temporary homes and can create anxiety from the inconsistency of having someone to help pay rent.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

The benefits of learning another language

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

It’s not uncommon for a certain number of language classes to be a requirement for graduation, both in high school and in college. It’s also not uncommon to hear people say “Yeah, I took a few years of Spanish a while ago but I don’t really remember much except ‘¿dónde está el baño?’”.

Like any other subject, a foreign language can be easy to dismiss from one’s mind if it’s not an area of interest. I hear phrases like the one above often when I tell people I am studying Spanish, and I can’t say I blame them as I have expressed similar attitudes towards subjects I was less interested in. It can seem like just another graduation requirement that won’t turn out to be useful.

However, there are actually many benefits to learning another language, especially when studied further past just a few terms. I believe this not only due to my own experience, but also thanks to some research on the subject I have done as my interest in foreign languages grew.

One of the more obvious benefits is the fact that being proficient in a foreign language can open more opportunities in the future. The world is now a very interconnected place, and being someone who can help further those connections looks good on nearly any resume.

My own job is just a part time, temporary position in food service that pays my rent and is not in my long term career goals. However, I have already found myself faced with the opportunity to communicate with speakers of other languages. I have been able to use my Spanish outside the classroom for once, and also gotten to know some Deaf customers that left me wishing I had taken advantage of Western’s many ASL classes.

Research shows that learning another language helps stimulate cognitive functions, such as finding patterns. Studies such as the ones cited in an article on BBC.com titled “The amazing benefits of being bilingual” show that being bilingual can help exercise “mental muscles”. This is especially true for those who started learning a second language from a young age, but it’s never too late to start trying to become bilingual. These kinds of skills can help with academic performance as well, another plus.

On top of that, learning a second (or third, or fourth) language almost always comes with the added benefit of immersion into another culture. A language is rarely just conjugations and sentence structure; it’s also an origin, a history and a connection to different places.

At Western, there are many opportunities to learn or brush up on Spanish, German, French and American Sign Language. For more information on classes, visit wou.edu/humanities/modern-languages.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Student artist spotlight: Madeline Weinstein

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Madeline Weinstein is a junior studying theater at Western Oregon. Originally hailing from Seattle, Washington, Weinstein didn’t have much enthusiasm for the idea of college after her graduation from high school.

“It’s really cheesy, but then I visited Western Oregon, I was very hesitant. And then I realized, this is a very friendly place. People are waving ‘hi’ to each other, even on the weekends,” Weinstein said.

After visiting Western, Weinstein knew she wanted to apply.

“My mom actually said something that is going to stick with me forever, and it’s: ‘pick a school where you feel comfortable walking into a room and feeling confident that someone would help you,’” commented Weinstein, “that was the deciding factor.”

Weinstein had plenty of acting experience when she started at Western. She acted in all twelve shows that her high school produced in her four years there. In fact, Weinstein’s main inspiration was her high school drama teacher. Because of that one teacher, she decided to get her bachelor’s degree in theater and then continue on to get her master’s degree in education.

Weinstein hopes to relocate back to Washington after graduating to teach high school drama; “I want to give back and inspire my high schoolers,” she remarked.

Since coming to Western, Weinstein has participated in multiple shows in a various number of capacities. As a first-year, she was responsible for the sound in Western’s production of “Shakespeare in Hollywood.” She has also been a part of paint crew, and has acted in one-acts and ten-minute plays.

“Even if I don’t get into the main stage shows, I know that there’s still a chance for me to act in the one-acts and the ten minutes,” said Weinstein.

Something that Weinstein loves about the theater program is that “they don’t always put the ‘perfect’ actors in there, they put people who they know can learn from the experience and… who can grow more.”

Overall, Weinstein’s experience in the artistic community at Western has been positive: “I’m not a number, I’m an actual person with a name.”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Podcast Review: “Just Break Up”

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

If anyone could claim that they were addicted to podcasts, it would probably be me. I am a self-diagnosed podcast addict, and I have an endless supply at my fingertips; it seems like everyone and their mother has a podcast, and of course they do: everyone believes they have something important to say. I mean, I review stuff. I’m pretty much roasting myself here.

A recent addition to my arsenal of podcasts that I keep up with regularly is a show called “Just Break Up.” True to its title, the show tackles topics related to relationships, including friendships, familial relationships and romantic ones.

The first episode of the podcast was released on July 15, 2018. The two co-hosts are Sam Blackwell and Sierra DeMulder, two English majors based in Minnesota. Sierra DeMulder is also published poet and author of four books of poetry.

“Sierra and Sam hope to convey what they’ve learned throughout their own romantic journeys to bring comfort and support to others who might be going through similar situations,” said the podcast website, justbreakuppod.com.

Anyone can be endlessly validating, but that is not always healthy, and may even cause an unhealthy situation to continue. In my opinion, sometimes being stern while giving advice or expressing a perspective on an issue is key. My love of “Just Break Up” stems from the fact that Sam and Sierra manage to be validating while also being brutally honest. The co-hosts accept submitted letters from listeners and formulate thoughtful responses providing advice and support.

“They’re affirming and validating, but not to the point where they’re making excuses for the way we can act badly about relationships,” said Western alumna Danielle Durand, who introduced me to the podcast. “I learn something new about myself every time… And I find myself looking forward to Mondays every week now.”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of justbreakuppod.com

Men’s Rugby’s hard work pays off

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

In the final match of fall term on Nov. 3, the Men’s Rugby team left the field after their lopsided victory over Willamette University unsure of the future. The team knew their only chance at playoffs was to win the bid for hosting the National Small College Rugby Organization’s Challenge Cup Pacific Coast Regional Championships. While they finished their fall season with back to back blow out wins, the loss in their first match on Oct. 7 against reigning conference champions Central Oregon Community College may have kept them out of the playoffs. But little did they know, massive news was in the making.

During the winter break, the national rankings were posted on the NSCRO website. Consisting of over 240 Men’s clubs, Western had never before found themselves ranked inside the top 40. However, due to their outstanding play, the Wolves were nationally placed at 30. This national ranking was especially notable as no varsity or other club sport team in the 2018-19 school year had been able to achieve an honor such as this.

But despite this historic achievement, the men of Western rugby remained fixated on the end goal of playoffs.

“We’re not trying to make it a big deal of it,” said head coach and Western alumni Sean Pomeroy. “We’re at the bottom of the rankings, we want to be up higher, so we’re trying to stay focused.”

This focus is of the utmost importance for the Wolves as alongside their news of a national ranking, it was announced that Monmouth would play host to the Challenge Cup Pacific Coast Regional Championships. Before leaving for winter break, the players and coaches were unsure if a post season would be in the picture due to only one team from the conference being invited to the challenge cup. But after the news that their bid to host was accepted, the playoffs would be be on the Wolves’s home turf, giving them an invitation to participate.

“If we didn’t host (the challenge cup) we wouldn’t have been in,” mentioned Pomeroy. “We started to hit our stride toward the end of the season… so we’re going to use this opportunity to turn some heads and show why we are nationally ranked.”

The NSCRO Challenge Cup Pacific Coast Regional Championships is set to be held March 30 and 31 on the intramural field on Western’s campus. With the winner of this tournament receiving an automatic bid to the National Championships, the Wolves are hoping they can use the home field edge for one last push.

“We want to see these stands filled. Our boys always play better with big crowds so we hope we can use the home field to our advantage,” finished Pomeroy.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Winter term sports preview

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

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

Feb. 9 1 p.m. @ UC Davis

Feb. 10 1 p.m. @ University of Santa Cruz

Feb. 16 5 p.m. vs. Seattle University

Feb. 17 1 p.m. @ Humboldt State University

Feb. 24 1 p.m. @ Central Washington University

Mar. 9 6 p.m. vs. Western Washington University

Mar. 16 1 p.m. vs. University of Portland

Mar. 22 6 p.m. @ Pacific Lutheran University

Mar. 24 1 p.m. vs. CU Denver

[/fruitful_tab]
[fruitful_tab title=”Men’s Rugby”]

Jan. 16 6 p.m. @ Oregon State University

Feb. 2 1 p.m. vs. University of Oregon

Feb. 9 3 p.m. @ Pacific University

Feb. 16 1 p.m. @ University of Washington

Mar. 2 11 a.m. vs. Eastern Washington University

Mar. 3 1 p.m. vs. Pacific University

Mar. 30-31 National Small College Rugby Organization Challenge Cup Pacific Coast Regional Championships in Monmouth, Oregon

[/fruitful_tab]
[fruitful_tab title=”Women’s Soccer”] Feb. 9 1 p.m. vs. Portland State University [/fruitful_tab]
[/fruitful_tabs]

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

Feb. 8 2 p.m. @ Lewis and Clark State

Feb. 9 12 p.m. @ Lewis and Clark State

Feb. 9 3 p.m. @ Lewis and Clark State

Feb. 10 12 p.m. @ Lewis and Clark State

Feb. 14 12 p.m. @ Fresno Pacific

Feb. 15 3 p.m. @ Fresno Pacific

Feb. 15 6 p.m. @ Fresno Pacific

Feb. 16 11 a.m. @ Fresno Pacific

Mar. 2 12 p.m. vs. Montana State Billings

Mar. 2 3 p.m. vs. Montana State Billings

Mar. 3 12 p.m. vs. Montana State Billings

Mar. 3 3 p.m. vs. Montana State Billings

Mar. 9 12 p.m. @ Central Washington University

Mar. 9 3 p.m. @ Central Washington University

Mar. 10 12 p.m. @ Central Washington University

Mar. 10 3 p.m. @ Central Washington University

Mar. 16 1 p.m. vs. Concordia University

Mar. 16 4 p.m. vs. Concordia University

Mar. 17 1 p.m. vs. Concordia University

Mar. 17 4 p.m. vs. Concordia University

Mar. 22 3 p.m. @ Northwest Nazarene University

Mar. 22 6 p.m. @ Northwest Nazarene University

Mar. 23 1 p.m. @ Northwest Nazarene University

Mar. 23 4 p.m. @ Northwest Nazarene University

Mar. 27 2 p.m. vs. Lewis and Clark University

Mar. 30 1 p.m. vs. Saint Martin’s University

Mar. 30 4 p.m. vs. Saint Martin’s University

Mar. 31 12 p.m. vs. Saint Martin’s University

Mar. 31 3 p.m. vs. Saint Martin’s University [/fruitful_tab]
[fruitful_tab title=”Softball”]

MSUB Desert Stinger Classic

Feb. 1  4:30 p.m. vs. Colorado Christian University

Feb. 1  7 p.m. vs. Cal State Monterey Bay University

Feb. 2  4:30 p.m. vs. UC San Diego University

Feb. 2  7 p.m. vs. Hawaii Pacific University

Feb. 3  11:30 a.m. vs. Chico State University

Dixie State Tournament

Feb. 15  3:30 p.m. vs. St. Edward’s University

Feb. 16  10 a.m. vs. Adelphi University

Feb. 16  12:30 p.m. vs. St. Edward’s University

Feb. 17  12:30 p.m. vs. Adelphi University

Feb. 17  3 p.m. vs. Dixie State University

PFX Athletics Tournament

Mar. 1  9:30 a.m. vs. Kentucky Wesleyan University

Mar. 1  11:45 a.m. vs. Missouri University St. Louis

Mar. 2  9 a.m. vs. Findlay University

Mar. 2  11:15 a.m. vs. Minnesota State University Mankato

Mar. 3  9 a.m. vs. Tiffin University

Mar. 3 11:15 a.m. vs. Malone University

Mar. 4 6:15 p.m. vs. The College of Saint Rose

Mar. 9  12 p.m. vs. Simon Fraser University

Mar. 9  2 p.m. vs. Simon Fraser University

Mar. 10  12 p.m. vs. Western Washington University

Mar. 10  2 p.m. vs. Western Washington University

Mar. 13  1 p.m. vs. Northwest Christian University

Mar. 13  3 p.m. vs. Northwest Christian University

Mar. 16  12 p.m. @ Montana State University Billings

Mar. 16  2 p.m. @ Montana State University Billings

Mar. 17  12 p.m. @ Montana State University Billings  

Mar. 17  2 p.m. @ Montana State University Billings

Mar. 23  1 p.m. @ Central Washington University

Mar. 23  3 p.m. @ Central Washington University

Mar. 24  12 p.m. @ Saint Martin’s University

Mar. 24  2 p.m. @ Saint Martin’s University

Tournament of Champions

Mar. 29  2 p.m. vs. Sonoma State University

Mar. 29  4:30 p.m. vs. Cal State East Bay University

Mar. 30  2 p.m. vs. San Francisco State University

Mar. 30  5:30 p.m. vs. Stanislaus State University

Mar. 31  9 a.m. vs. California State University, Dominguez Hills

[/fruitful_tab]
[fruitful_tab title=”Track and Field”]

Jan. 12 @ UW Indoor Preview

Jan. 25 @ Husky Invitational

Jan. 26 @ Husky Invitational

Feb. 8 @ Husky Classic

Feb. 9 @ Husky Classic

Feb. 15 @ GNAC Championships

Feb. 16 @ GNAC Championships

Feb. 23 @ SPU Final Qualifier

Mar. 2 @ Willamette Opener

Mar. 8 @ NCAA Championships

Mar. 9 @ NCAA Championships

Mar. 9 @ Pacific Invitational

Mar. 17 @ Lewis & Clark Spring Break Open

Mar. 23 @ Willamette Invitational

Mar. 28 @ SF Distance Carnival

Mar. 29 @ SF Distance Carnival

Mar. 29 @ Stanford Invitational

Mar. 30 @ Stanford Invitational

Mar. 30 @ SF Distance Carnival

[/fruitful_tab]
[/fruitful_tabs]

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Western’s women are back on the rugby pitch

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

Coming back from a very short fall season of only two games, the women’s rugby team hoped to start the new term off right with an exhibition match against Oregon State University on Jan. 12.

Western’s squad was short a few players but due to the large roster of the Beavers, some Beavers donned the red and black to field a complete team. With a full 15 player lineup taking the field for both sides, the game was set to start.

The Wolves’s roster is packed with young players, and many were stepping onto the pitch for one of their first games. This lack of experience started to show when Oregon State began with a strong offensive drive. Within a minute of kick off, the Beavers were on the board. After giving up a try early, the Wolves hoped to fight back.

Another quick break away by the Beavers brought them within ten yards of the goal line. However, the Wolves showed some promise by making an impressive goal line stand. Keeping Oregon State away from a score highlighted the potential of the younger players. But moments later, the Wolves surrendered another score.

Despite this match being a non-competitive match, the hard hitting nature of the sport took a toll on the players. Injuries riddled both teams, causing players to need to constantly switch between teams. The injuries kept piling up throughout the match, eventually resulting in the need to play 14 on 14 due to the lack of healthy players.

At the end of the match Western had been able to score twice but gave up a slew of points. While on paper the Wolves lost, the experience gained was very valuable to the young team. Being able to get back on the field for only their third official match hopes to prove positive for the future.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Monmouth officials begin their terms

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

“I, Cecelia Koontz, solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States, the constitution and the laws of the state of Oregon, the charters and the ordinances of the city of Monmouth, and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of the mayor of the city of Monmouth to the best of my abilities,” stated the new mayor of Monmouth upon being sworn in.

To open their Jan. 8, 2019 meeting, the Monmouth City Council welcomed three councilors and a new mayor: Councilor Jon Carey, Councilor Roxanne Beltz, Councilor Christopher Lopez and Mayor Cecelia Koontz. These councilors will join sitting city council members Byron Shinkle, Darin Silbernagel, and Laurel Sharmer for the upcoming year.

The city councilors were sworn in first, with Beltz and Carey returning to the council and Lopez beginning his first term.

Following them, Koontz was sworn in as the first female mayor elected in Monmouth’s history. In the past, Koontz has served on Western’s Board of Trustees and as the business manager for the Central School District.

On his way out of the mayor’s office, Steve Milligan decided to present Koontz with a time capsule that will be opened June 25, 2196 — the day of the next solar eclipse. Since the eclipse was a time of joy for Monmouth as a community in the previous year, Milligan stated that the time capsule would be a token to mark the progress that Monmouth has made in recent years that can be passed from mayor to mayor until the date of the next solar eclipse.

In light of this gesture, Koontz made sure to express her gratitude for the work of Monmouth mayors who have come before her.

“All of the former living mayors except two are with us tonight, and so I’m really really proud to join their company,” said Koontz. “Thank you gentlemen very much for the work you’ve done and for making this a great place to serve.”

Turning to Milligan specifically, Koontz took a moment to recognize his service and dedication to Monmouth.

“Steve and I have served on council together…he’s been a very faithful member of the Central School District school board and he’s done a lot of other work in our community,” said Koontz.

In response, Milligan made a final, reflective address:

“16 years ago tonight I was getting sworn in for the first time as a councilor,” said Milligan. “The services that I’ve had the privilege to do in this city with the citizens of this city have been immeasurable. Enough of you have been around here that in 2000 Main Street didn’t look at all like it does today…and it’s really been a pleasure to help participate and make decisions in the process of improving the city for countless generations in front of us.”

Moving forward, this new group of city councilors will continue to meet in Volunteer Hall at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, and members of the community are welcome to attend.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Bailey Thompson

Encouraging students to audition for drag show

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Of all of the student-run traditions on Western’s campus, Triangle Alliance’s Annual Drag Show is one that many students consider to be one of the most memorable and enjoyable events to attend. Going on its 23rd year, the drag show provides a large group of students the opportunity to bond over lip-syncing, expressing themselves and challenging societal expectations.

Although auditioning before an audience can be intimidating to some, there are a number of benefits that can come from putting oneself out there and trying something new.

“It is definitely in your interest to step out of your comfort zone a tiny bit,” said Ianassa Donegan, senior education major and the makeup, costumes and props director for the drag show. “(The drag show) is not something that is a high-risk situation. We strive to create this community that’s really loving and really accepting.”

So, if students are considering auditioning, Donegan explained what they could expect of the audition process:

“We do a walk where we play a masculine-type song and then a feminine-type song and everyone — one by one — walks across the room in a way that’s comfortable for them to show their personality,” said Donegan. “Then we also have a lip-syncing portion.”

The last element of the audition process involves the choreographers teaching everyone a section of a dance number to gauge their ability to pick up steps. There is also a separate dance audition for those who are interested in being in the more advanced, technical dances.

After the auditions are over, Donegan explained how the creative team goes about casting the show.

“For the most part, everyone gets in and they get to participate in a level or time commitment that works for them,” Donegan said.

If a student has a more limited availability, they have the option to be in fewer dance numbers than others who have more time to dedicate. However, Donegan shared that anyone interested in taking on a named character role must anticipate being asked to attend more rehearsals than those in the ensemble.

“Our rehearsals are set up so that on the weekend we have a space reserved from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.” said Donegan. “Then, during the week, each choreographer has their own night, so if you’re in their songs then you’re going to be there on that night.”

One other element of the drag show that might be exciting to interested students is this year’s theme: Harry Potter.

“There’s going to be a lot of those characters that you recognize from Harry Potter — Harry, Hermione, Draco,” said Donegan. “But it is a drag show, and it is put on by Triangle Alliance, so it is going to be queer-oriented.”

At the end of the day, Donegan wanted students to know that anyone can be a part of the drag show, no matter how they identify.

“Drag show rehearsals is a time where you can be yourself, be with your friends, and have fun,” said Donegan. “It’s like a family, basically.”

For anyone interested, there are three audition times available: Jan. 18, 19 and 20, with the technical dance audition happening on the final day. The drag show team would also like for people to fill out a registration form on Orgsync if they have the ability to.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ianassa Donegan

The National Student Exchange and Western

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

The National Student Exchange is a collegiate study away program that gives students the opportunity to pursue new academic, personal and professional experiences at one of 165 institutions within the U.S., the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam.

For students at Western, the requirements to participate in this program are to have a 2.5 GPA, to be in good standing at Western and to have at least 45 credits completed. If these are met, there is a three-step process to participate in NSE: research different universities, apply, and get placed.

To help students learn more about available school, Western’s NSE Coordinator Emmanuel Macias shared that there is a comprehensive resource online which offers an overview of different locations.

“The website nse.org is really helpful because, when you click on it, it has the map of the United States and all of the universities,” said Macias. “If you click on a university, it’ll give you a profile with all kinds of information about them.”

Through NSE, students have the choice of universities with a variety of cultures, sizes, structures and locations that can provide them with whatever unique experience they are looking for. And on top of that, students confer with their advisers to make sure that the courses they take will count for some course requirements that they already are working towards.

“We ensure that the classes they are going to take will satisfy something here at Western — it could be a major requirement, minor, maybe general education or elective,” said Macias. “Either way, they will work with their adviser to identify that.”

Another selling point for NSE is the cost. Students are offered two different payment plans, and they are able to choose the one that works best with their financial aid.

“Plan A means that you pay the university where you’re at, and Plan B means that you’re paying Western tuition but you’re taking classes over there,” said Macias. “So maybe students are getting Western-specific scholarships or they’re getting the Oregon Opportunity Grant. They wouldn’t be able to use that money with Plan A because their financial aid would be coming from another university, but under Plan B everything would stay the same because the money would come to our financial aid office.”

For any students who would like to learn more about NSE at Western, they can go to nse.org or find NSE on social media: @NSEWOU on Facebook and @wounationalstudentexchange on Instagram. Students are also encouraged to attend the final information session for NSE on Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Rogue Room or to visit Macias in his office in the Vice President for Student Affairs Office, both of which are in the WUC.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Bailey Thompson

Rainbow Dance Theater

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

On the evening of Friday, Jan.11, students and community members alike packed into Rice Auditorium to experience the Rainbow Dance Theater. The RDT has been performing at Western since the year 2000, after the dance company moved from Honolulu, Hawaii, where it was founded.

Friday’s performance consisted of two separate dances, each telling a separate and unique story. Both dances were choreographed by Valerie Bergman and Darryl Thomas.

Act one, titled “Origins,” follows the development of life on Earth, starting within the darkness of the deep ocean. The audience witnesses the birth of single-celled organisms and their metamorphosis into more complex multi-celled beings and eventually primitive humans. The whole first act is submerged in complete darkness, with performers illuminated with suits of light. This type of dance is called “iLumiDance” by the dance company.

Act two, “The Garden of Earthly Delights” is a dance that was performed at the Spring term 2018 dance concert.

“Both music composition and choreography were inspired by the eponymous early 16th-century triptych by Hieronymus Bosch,” explained the program. This piece was set to an original scored by Leroy Osmon that was commissioned by the Salem Concert Band to be performed in early 2018.

This second act opens with Eve in the paradise that is the Garden of Eden. The audience follows as Eve loses her innocence, meets various animals and magical beasts and travels with Noah through the great flood. Throughout the dance, Eve is introduced to a world filled with eroticism and animal lust.

The end of act two sees Eve reappear, transformed into a peaceful and strong figure bringing the hope of peace and beauty in the chaotic world that was displayed throughout the performance.

Since its inception, the Rainbow Dance Theater has toured the globe, performing on multiple continents and throughout the United States. During a regular touring season, the RDT performs over 60 concerts. According to the concert program: “The Company celebrates diversity with its virtuosic style that fuses West African Dance, Haitian Dance, Hip Hop, Martial Arts with American Modern Dance.”

Earlier in the day on Jan. 11, the RDT gave a special performance for around 200 students aged from kindergarten through eighth grade. This interactive concert was performed as a part of the Smith Fine Arts’ Education Outreach initiative. The young students participated in a special demonstration that showed them how STEM processes are used to create new technologies within the dance world. A number of students were given the opportunity to create their own dance with a light-wire puppet.

RDT’s most recent performance is innovative kinesthetically and creatively. The technical complexity of the first act is truly amazing, as is the skill level of the dancers. Although the second act is a dance that Western has seen before, it is still just as complex and interesting as the 2018 performance.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@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 perfect horoscope doesn’t exi-… oh wait, Sagittarius knows what’s up. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] We are but specks of dust to the universe. Live life inconsequentially. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] The stars watched as you did homework for a full two minutes, opened a new tab, and started looking for hotels and flights for a spontaneous vacay. Stay focused, Gemini. [/fruitful_tab]

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

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] Treat yourself! Go make yourself some skillet potatoes. You will never regret it. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] Don’t forget to eat breakfast. Otherwise you’re gonna be that one kid whose stomach rumbles really loudly in class and you’ll play it off really awkwardly like, “what was that noise??” but in reality we literally all heard it come from your stomach, Virgo. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] Don’t look at the stars like that, Libra. We didn’t tell you to start your essay at 11 p.m. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] You’re already procrastinating on your homework, Scorpio? You really are on another level. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] The stars demand that you get more than five hours of sleep this week. But this is definitely one of those “do as we say, not as we do” moments… [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] Remember that movie “Surf’s Up” with all those penguin surfers? Me neither. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] Way to keep up with all your work this first week Aquarius! Now you only have 10 mo— wait, where are you going? Aquarius?! [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] Just because there is a free big gulp behind 7-Eleven doesn’t mean you should take it, Pisces. [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

 

Opinion: Higher taxes for the rich is what we need

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

Since the swearing in of the new Democrat majority into the Congressional House, there has been one congresswomen that has seen a near constant stream of headlines — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the representative of the 14th District of New York. One of the largest headline grabbing moves of Ocasio-Cortez has been her radical tax idea. On Jan. 5, Ocasio-Cortez proposed an idea that set many right-wing economists and republicans ablaze — tax the ultra-rich 70%.

At first glance, a tax of 70% sounds absolutely absurd. The lyrics “that’s one for you, nineteen for me” from The Beatles “Taxman”  start to seem all too real. However, actually understanding the proposed plan and not just adhering to a knee-jerk reaction in very important.

The mere thought of a 70% tax bracket sounds like — dare I say it — socialism. The government stealing money from hard working Americans. But in reality, this plan would only be for individuals making over $10 million annually.

One might think that, if the government taxes the rich that much, they might raise the middle class tax percent. This idea in and of itself is ludacris. Taxing the rich helps raise government funding without hurting the economy due to the ultra rich being able to afford the added tax. Raising taxes for someone making $60,000 annually will hurt their disposable income, thus lowering their spending and hurting the economy.

While it might be easy for staunch capitalists to adhere to the belief of “there’s no way this high of a tax would work in America,” it would be important to know that good-ole capitalist United States of America also had taxes this high and at one point, higher. In 1917 the highest tax rate was 67% for those making over $1,000,000 annually ($21,000,000 when adjusted for inflation) per taxfoundation.org. The highest rate was during the second world war were the rate was 94% for those making over $200,000 annually ($2,900,000 when adjusted for inflation) per taxfoundation.org.

At the surface level, it might seem that taxes this high would cause people to go broke with the extreme tax burden. But just remember that unless you win the Powerball, you likely will not find yourself in this tax bracket anytime soon.

Lastly, the idea of taxes being a horrible, overbearing government stealing for the masses is just simply not true. Many countries have high taxes and because of them, don’t struggle with outrageous healthcare costs like America. A large number of European countries tax their citizens large percentages and in return everyday people get to enjoy things such as: being able to visit a doctor without fear of their healthcare provider not covering it, going on vacation for more than a week a year, and being able to go to college without burying themselves in debt. Crazy, right?

Overall, just remember that when we pay taxes, we are paying for things. Things like roads, bridges, a military, and maybe one day, universal healthcare. Ocasio-Cortez’s idea is just asking the rich to stop hoarding money and pay their fair share to society. You might not agree with how and where our tax money is being spent, but that’s why you vote. And in a world where our President seems to only help the rich, it’s refreshing to see someone in power fight back.

 

Contact the author at llarsen13@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Great places to eat in Salem

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

One of the upsides of living near Western is the proximity to cities like Salem that offer an abundance of options for going out. However, this can also mean an overwhelming amount of options when faced with making a decision of where to go. To simplify this problem, I’ve compiled a list of hidden gems to consider when going out in the state’s capitol, both for dinner or for breakfast/brunch.

 

Gamboretti’s

Located near Salem’s riverfront, this Italian restaurant is a great place for people in the mood for Italian cuisine at a reasonable price. The warm ambiance, variety of dishes and delicious food are all reasons to try out this location.

Location: 325 High St SE.

Bo and Vine

Located in downtown Salem, Bo and Vine Burger Bar is a place for a different type of dinner, but still a unique and delicious one. Their menu, while simply split mainly into burgers, greens and shakes, still provides a classy atmosphere.

Location: 176 Liberty St NE

Best Little Roadhouse

More than a restaurant, this fun location also offers mini golf. A more casual location, their menu offers classics like chicken tenders, steaks and nachos.

Location: 1145 Commercial St SE
Annette’s Westgate Cafe

Offering all day breakfast, Annette’s is a great place for brunch or breakfast. They also offer a salad bar, burgers, and sandwiches as well as beer, wine and cocktails.

Location: 1311 Edgewater St

Word of Mouth

A small local bistro that serves breakfast and sandwiches, this location is a great place for a relaxing brunch. According to their website, hours may be shortening soon due to availability and business on the staff and owners, so visitors should check their website, wordofsalem.com, for updates.

Location: 140 17th St NE

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Stylizing learning

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

If school teaches it’s attendees anything, it’s that the same thing doesn’t work for everyone. Whether it’s studying, writing or creating presentations, different people choose to tackle the task differently. These usually relate to learning styles and how they’re used. For students, understanding personal learning style can be especially helpful when finals come around. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that learning styles can be assessed and therefore utilized.

VARK is one way of assessing learning style. According to vark-learn.com, the acronym stands for Visual, Audal, Read/write and Kinesthetic. The website offers a questionnaire to help determine which of these most effectively conveys information to different people. Though it doesn’t explain how each type should study, it does give an idea of how studying a topic might make it stick more.

For example, visual learners would learn better from charts or diagrams while a read/write person would absorb it better by reading about the topic. For audal students, they learn best by hearing information — for example, during lectures — and kinesthetic learning students benefit most from demonstrations.

Another theory is that of human behavior specialist Scott Black, according to skillsyouneed.com. This way of approaching learning styles is slightly more complicated, with eight instead of four. They are: linguistic, or writing, reading and listening; naturalist, or interacting with and observing the environment; musical/rhythmic, or using rhythms such as whistling or tapping to focus; kinesthetic, or learning by doing; visual/spatial, or using visual aides;  logical/mathematical, or categorization and finding patterns; interpersonal, which relates information to others; and intrapersonal, or processing better alone.

This longer list delves slightly deeper into psychology. While learning and separating all the terminology may be more intimidating, it might be especially beneficial to look into for students who are undecided or questioning their major or career as each learning style includes a description as the types of jobs that correlate strongly with it. For example, a kinesthetic learner might consider a job that requires hands-on experience, while a logical learner could thrive in a technical field.

College life is known by many to be a time of great stress, but also of self-discovery. For some, this just means adapting their method of studying —  for example, watching a demonstration video instead of reading more paragraphs on a subject. Once an understanding is reached on how information is best processed for each individual, it may help ease the stress that comes with acquiring new knowledge.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Simplifying resolutions

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

It’s officially 2019, and while some still have to adapt to not writing dates that end in ‘2018’, some of us are also trying to make other changes to our lives. While some don’t do resolutions, others set high expectations for themselves, and meanwhile others aren’t so sure either if they should participate in setting resolutions or question if they can be successful.

For the people who are in a state of undeciding, a good place to start is by setting the simple and easily attainable goals first and then deciding whether to work up to bigger things. These simple resolutions can be related to any aspect of life that could use improving.

Many people start with resolutions that have to do with health. While starting a new diet or a new rigorous workout regime might not be for everyone, there are smaller changes that can be made that will still improve overall health and wellness.

For example, one resolution can be merely drinking more water and staying hydrated or walking somewhere that’s usually a two minute drive if possible.

Some people resolve to make drastic changes to their diet to be more healthy, but those who might be intimidated by such changes can start with smaller ones, such as replacing one unhealthy snack with a healthier one but otherwise staying the same.

Other lifestyle-related changes that can be made can be things that are more relevant to academic or social life. Old habits may die hard, such as putting off work until the last minute, but resolving, for example, to read at least one chapter or write one paragraph everyday can help build a less stressful routine when the due date arrives.

If the hope is to create more meaningful connections or to strengthen existing ones, a good resolution might be something like deciding to explore the school’s club options or to take more initiative in starting conversations rather than waiting on others.

As usual, jokes can be expected about the New Year’s resolutions lasting only until the end of January. However, surviving the first month can be made more simple by starting small. Resolutions aren’t for everyone, but even small steps can bring positive change.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

A year in review: Movie edition

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

According to the Motion Picture Association of America, an average of 600 movies are released every year in the United States. Out of those movies, only a handful of them stand above the rest. Although I couldn’t have possibly seen every movie released this year, I did make it a goal to see as many as I could. Below I will discuss four of my favorite movies of 2018. Reader beware: there may be spoilers.

Fourth place: “A Star is Born”

So, in the interest of complete transparency, Lady Gaga could record herself watching paint dry and I would absolutely love it. With that in mind, I enjoyed this movie immensely. The movie is the fourth remake of the original 1937 movie starring Fredric March and Janet Gaynor. This new version is widely different from the previous versions, but it works.

Lady Gaga’s talent makes the film. I believe that many people went into theaters not expecting much from Gaga, as I did myself. I was very surprised to find, however, that she matches veteran Bradley Cooper’s acting skills. Her singing skills, however, blow Cooper’s out of the water. In my opinion, the only detriment to the movie is Bradley’s mediocre singing.

But where Cooper’s musical skills fall behind, he makes up for with his directorial vision. The cinematography is beautiful and accentuates the chemistry between Gaga and Cooper. Not only is the acting full of emotion, the way the movie is shot accentuates that emotion and drew me into the film.

Overall, I would give the movie a four out of five stars.

Third place: “BlacKkKlansman”

I consider this movie in my top four of 2018 not because it was fun to watch, but because it was hard to watch. The movie was difficult to digest because while it portrays the prevalence of the Klu Klux Klan in Colorado Springs in the 1970s, it connects the the present, in which racist rallies are still being held.

The movie was so impactful in my opinion because although it ends with a victory for the main character (based on a real person), there really is no happy ending. The movie ends with four minutes of video of the racist rally in Charlottesville in 2017. It really accentuates the political tension we are feeling in America today; it made me wonder how far we have really come.

I would rate “BlacKkKlansman” four out of five stars.

 

Second place: “Hereditary”

The release of “Hereditary,” I believe, raised the bar for the entire genre of atmospheric horror cinema. As someone who enjoys horror movies that do not rely too heavily on jumpscares (I have a higher tolerance for body horror, and I think less of movies that use jump scares as a crutch) I enjoyed this movie tremendously. Every element of the film came together perfectly and was executed with a level of skill that I believe is hard to match. The acting was superb (Toni Collette, you’re doing so good sweetie), and the use of color, depth of field and the development of three-dimensional characters combine to create a movie unlike what the horror genre has ever seen before. The film is a slow burn; a descent into madness.

The movie tackles so many complex things and weaves a story that isn’t too cluttered or too simple — easy mistakes to make in the horror genre. It is rare for a singular movie to change the landscape of a genre forever, but I believe that is what “Hereditary” has done.

Overall, I would rate this film five out of five stars.

First place: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

I didn’t expect to be impressed by this movie, much less find it to be one of my favorite movies of the entire year. I’m not even much of a Spider-Man fan. But aside from the plot or characters, the animation alone would have shot this movie into my top four. I felt like I was inside a comic book. The animation is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and the pure artistic talent within the movie is astounding.

Even though I am fairly new to the Spider-Verse, the movie was easy to become involved in, as the storyline is pretty accessible to people new to the Marvel universe. I even caught on to some of the smaller details from watching other, smaller Marvel shows, such as Daredevil. The Spider-Man humor is right up my alley and watching all the Spider-People interact was incredibly fun. John Mulaney is in it; who wouldn’t love that?

Overall, I would give this movie a five out of five stars.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of livenationproductions.com (“A Star is Born”), focusfeatures.com (“BlacKkKlansman”), sonypictures.com (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”)

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