The Western Howl – Page 78 – The Western Howl

Written by News Editor Mirella Barrera-Bentancourt

Oct. 18 was the last day to register for voting in the 2022 November general election in the state of Oregon.

A total of 470 seats in the United States Congress are up for election, with 35 Senate seats and 435 House seats. State executive offices up for election include 36 gubernatorial seats, 30 lieutenant gubernatorial seats, 30 attorney general seats and 27 secretary of state seats.

In the state of Oregon, there are six candidates running in the gubernatorial election. With long-term incumbent Kate Brown unable to run for re-election, the November election ballot will include a spot for Oregon governor.

Running for Oregon governor, and included in the ballot, are Democrat and Working Families party candidate Tina Kotek, Republican candidate Christine Drazan and non-affiliated candidate Betsy Johnson. Also running in the election are minor party, independent and write-in candidates Donice Smith from the Constitution Party, Paul Romero from the Constitution Party of Oregon, and R. Leon Noble from the Libertarian Party.

The ballot will also include four new ballot measures — #111, #112, #113 and #114.

If passed, ballot measure #111 will establish Oregonians’ right to healthcare.

As 1 of 10 states still allowing slavery and involuntary servitude in the constitution, Oregon ballot measure #112 will remove the outdated language from the constitution and remove slavery as an option for punishment for crime.

Ballot measure #113 will guarantee consequences for absent lawmakers.

Ballot measure #114 will strengthen rules and regulation regarding firearm safety by requiring completed background checks for all gun sales.

Tina Kotek | Political Party: Democrat

Kotek served as Speaker of the House from 2013 to 2022, where she pushed the agenda for affordable housing and the strengthening of tenant and home renter protection. She said she would aim to address the problem of homelessness, as well as “to provide mental health and addiction services to every Oregonian.” In 2015, Kotek passed the law to protect and advance reproductive rights, and expanded access to birth control for thousands of Oregonians. Kotek is the only candidate in the race endorsed by Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon and Pro-Choice Oregon.

Christine Drazan | Political Party: Republican

Drazan served as house minority leader from 2019 to 2021. Her plans include declaring a state of emergency regarding the issue of homelessness in Oregon and investing in public health services and public safety measures. Regarding abortion, Drazan is the only candidate in the election who stands alone in the fight for anti-abortion laws. She applauded the judge’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. Drazan is endorsed by the anti-abortion group Oregon Right to Life. Drazan has no plans to expand access to healthcare or strengthen COVID safety measures for Oregonians.

Betsy Johnson | Political Party: Non-affiliated

Johnson served in the Oregon State Senate from 2007 to 2021. She has repeatedly used her non-affiliation status as a way to move forward in the race, stating, “As governor, I’ll move Oregon forward by being loyal only to the people, not (to) any political extreme or special interest.” Much like Drazan, Johnson criticized Oregon Measure #110, Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative. Johnson also criticized Oregon’s Reproductive Health Equity Fund, which intends to support women’s access to abortion care. She stands firm in her belief that the way to a better, brighter Oregon is by holding those with personal issues accountable in the face of homelessness, addiction and crime.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home »

Pondering a Podcast?

Western’s guide to creating a podcast through Student Media

Written by Lifestyle Editor Jude Bokovoy

One of Western’s hidden treasures is that Student Media has a fully functioning podcast studio that is open to all students. If one has the desire to host a show, there’s nothing in their way. Any topic, duration or guests are welcome. The podcast studio is completely independent and student-run, which can provide a huge creative advantage. Simply sign up for a time slot to use the studio, then jump in to record after a quick technology tutorial by Sean Sullivan, the KWOU station Manager.

Last spring term I hosted my own podcast for credit as a communications internship. Working with Student Media is a great opportunity to get credit for a degree. I came into the studio with absolutely no experience. After a brief tour and some equipment training, the rest was up to me; writing the script, recording, editing, topics and bringing on guests. It took quite a while to get the hang of recording and editing. It would typically take around seven hours to complete a 15 minute episode from start to finish.

Now, having a season under my belt, I have plenty of advice. First, give oneself time when scheduling recording and editing time slots. This step is important because emotions show through the recording. Meaning, that if one is feeling rushed, stressed, tired, or in a bad mood that day, it will be obvious. If one finds themselves in a mood before going into the studio, they might as well reschedule or spend that time editing a different episode.

Next, YouTube is a good tool. There are countless tutorials on YouTube that can help with editing.

When finding a topic for a new episode, write out bullet points of what should be focused on before recording.

Lastly, line up as many guests as possible or even get a co-host. By bringing someone in there is another person to talk to, bounce ideas off of, and help lengthen the episode immensely.

Once one has completed a season that follows Western’s guidelines (which aren’t strict), they will be able to find their show on Spotify. All one has to do is submit all episodes to Sullivan and create a cover photo/graphic along with descriptions for each episode. After that it will be posted to the KWOU Spotify account along with other students’ shows to listen to.

If interested, contact Sean Sullivan his email kwou@mail.wou.edu.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home »

Western Equity

NAT-WOU Initiative is a trailblazing act set on reforming equality

Written by Entertainment Editor Gretchen Sims

Monmouth, along with Western Oregon University, is located on the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. The Kalapuya people were forcibly removed from their lands to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation after the Willamette Valley Treaty in 1855 (1). Western has, for a long time, recognized this devastating travesty.

In part, recognizing its past has pushed Western to adopt a new program known as the NAT-WOU initiative.

The NAT-WOU Initiative (Native American Tuition Initiative) makes it possible for all Native American and Indigenous persons to qualify for in-state tuition. Instead of paying an approximate $28,000 a year, Native American and Indigenous students are now eligible for a tuition reduction of almost $20,000.

Interim Vice President/Dean of Students, Tina Fuchs, states why this initiative can have a lasting positive impact,

“We adopted the NAT-WOU initiative to assist Native American students with enrollment and graduation. Nationwide, approximately 24% of Native American students are enrolled in college (National Center of Education Statistics). In Oregon, that number is 48%, about 15% less than the rate for all high school graduates in the state. Financial barriers significantly limit access to college. The NAT-WOU initiative allows for out-of-state members from federally recognized tribes to attend WOU at a more affordable rate. Furthermore, we are supporting and encouraging our students from Oregon-based tribes to apply for the HECC’s Oregon Tribal Student grant which will offset the cost of attendance at WOU.”

Any person with documentation confirming their position in a federally recognized tribe is eligible for NAT-WOU benefits. Western does not accept ancestry documents and requires the applicant to be currently enrolled in a recognized tribal nation. Western accepts Tribal Identification Cards or a letter issued by a Tribe’s Enrollment Office as verification of membership.

For more information, contact Western Oregon’s Office of Admissions at admissions@wou.edu. Or call 503-838-8211 or this toll free number 1-877-877-1593.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

https://libraryguides.lanecc.edu/kalapuya (1)

The Western Howl

Home »

The Disney Company’s recent controversy

The company that brought you the “happiest place on Earth” is worse than you thought

Camille Lenning | Entertainment Editor

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

We’ve all enjoyed a Disney movie or two. How could we not? They own everything from Star Wars to Marvel to Pixar, and cornered the market on fairytale princesses. Disney is everywhere, and that’s the problem.

The company has faced numerous controversies since its founding in 1923 by Walt and his brother Roy O. Disney. Allegations of perpetuating harmful stereotypes, sexism and even plagiarism have plagued the company for decades. Most recently, the actions of the company’s CEO, Bob Chapek, in the case of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act has thrown the company into further scandal.

The bill, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by opponents, was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on March 28. If it remains unchallenged until July 1, it will ban elementary classrooms from having discussions about LGBTQ+ issues and gender expression.

Disney World dominates Florida’s economy by bringing in billions per year in tourism, so the corporation’s political power is unmatched in the state. With this in mind, supporters of the Disney Company expected to hear a denouncement of the bill when it passed in the Florida Senate on March 8. Disney was vocal about making strides in producing more diverse entertainment, so surely they would disapprove of this seemingly anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Yet the company made no public response, and only passed internal memos to shareholders informing them of the situation. That was, at least, until public outcry forced their hand. On March 11, Chapek released a statement apologizing for their silence, saying he and the company now understood the detrimental effects the bill could have, and that they were “pausing all political donations in the state of Florida pending this review.”

Disney so far has kept up with that promise. However, their existing contributions to the Florida GOP this quarter, totaling $125,000, remain as a glaring reminder that Chapek and the Disney Company seem to only adhere to progressive values when they’re forced to.

Similarly, in 2020, the same year they released such works as “Out” — a short film about a boy coming out to his parents — individuals within Disney donated $10,500,030 to the America First Action super PAC, which backed the Donald Trump campaign in the election. While the company made donations to Democratic campaigns as well, the amount was far less substantial.

The fact that Disney higher ups were funding these Republican campaigns and interest groups at all is telling of where the company really stands. While they are slowly introducing diverse characters in their shows and movies, they support politicians who intend to limit how LGBTQ+ people are represented in real life.

It’s important to remain informed of the decisions the Disney Company makes. They play a bigger role in our lives than many realize. Their political contributions alone can greatly affect who we see on the ballot, and their power in Florida, a prominent battleground state, cannot be ignored.

That being said, you are not a bad person if you watch Disney movies. What the multi-billion dollar corporation does with their money isn’t your fault. They have a monopoly on entertainment, and we as consumers should not be faulted for existing in the system they created.

The Western Howl

Home »

New hours available for fitness classes and facilities

The Health and Wellness Center releases fitness schedule for spring

James Fowlkes | Freelancer

Contact the author at jfowlkes18@mail.wou.edu

The fitness schedule for spring term 2022 is now active at Western’s Health and Wellness Center. Available fitness classes vary from yoga, cardio, spin, pilates to full body, lower body, paddle board yoga and more. Most fitness classes range from 45 – 50 minutes, which is just enough time to get a good workout — whether one wants to focus on cardio, core, mind or full body. To sign up for classes, use the IMLeagues app to reserve a place in a class. Make sure to bring a water bottle and a sweat towel — it’ll come in handy.

The fitness schedule for spring 2022 is presented as planned:

Monday:

Detox Yoga: HWC room 253 from 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

Cardio: Indoor Track from 4:30 – 5:20 p.m.

Spin: HWC room 201 from 5:10 – 6 p.m.

Pilates: HWC room 201 from 6:30 – 7:20 p.m.

Tuesday:

Pilates 101: HWC room 253 from 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

Yoga: HWC room 201 from 4:30 – 5:20 p.m.

5k Social: Outdoors from 5:10 – 6 p.m.

Full Body: HWC room 201 from 6:30 – 7:20 p.m.

Wednesday:

Pilates HIIT: HWC room 253 from 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

Pilates: HWC room 201 from 5:10 – 6 p.m.

Spin: HWC room 201 from 6:30 – 7:20 p.m.

Thursday:

Lower Body Barre: HWC room 253 from 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

Women Lift Intro: HWC room 201 from 4:30 – 5:20 p.m.

Yoga: HWC room 201 from 5:30 – 6:20 p.m.

Paddle board Yoga: Pool from 6:30 – 7:20 p.m.

Friday:

Spin: HWC room 201 from 12 – 12:45 p.m.

New operating hours for the Health and Wellness Center facility are also available, along with new hours for the Aquatic Center and the wall climbing area.

Health and Wellness Center:

Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Friday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday from 12 – 5 p.m.

Sunday from 12 – 4 p.m.

Aquatic Center:

Monday – Wednesday from 2:30 – 3:50 p.m. and 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Thursday from 2:30 – 3:50 p.m. and 7:40 – 9:30 p.m.

Saturday from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Wall Climbing:

Monday – Thursday from 4 – 9 p.m.

Saturday from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.

The Western Howl

Home »

Local options for getting comfortable with outdoor biking

This Independence restaurant experience is worth the price

Jude Bokovoy | Lifestyle Editor

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Mountain biking is one of many outdoor activities that Oregon has to offer. Searching for new trails helps people look forward to being outdoors and gets them excited about participating in a good workout. For some, mountain biking can seem intimidating, but this article provides three trails near Western’s campus to ease one into the sport.

Dallas Creek Trail is surrounded by a river, trees, wildlife and is also paved. These inclusions give an easy going feeling of mountain biking without obstacles such as roots, rocks and hills. Since the trail can be accessed through a safe neighborhood, it can be used while the sun sets.

The McDonald-Dunn Forest in Corvallis offers a variety of open trails that are perfect for beginners. The smooth trails allow people to adjust to the feeling of biking on dirt for the first time. This also allows beginners to work on switching gears on their bikes as they go up hills. While riding on these beautiful trails, people can take pit stops or even turn around when needed because of the wide paths.

Last is the Calloway Trail in the McDonald Research Forest Oak Creek Access, which is for bikers that are ready to take on a more challenging trail. The narrow path is enclosed by greenery, has sharp turns, roots, and hills, which makes for a whole lot of fun. Bikers can speed though the trail while going across bridges and avoiding obstacles. There are many other trails located in the same area when one feels ready to level up. After a ride, stop across the street at Cookie Binge for a post-ride sweet treat. They offer a variety of cookies, milkshakes, ice cream and more–perfect to fuel up a hungry biker.

The Western Howl

Home »

ASWOU voter guide

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

Camille Lenning | Entertainment Editor

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

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

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

Candidates for ASWOU President:

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

Major: education

Current class standing: sophomore

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

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

Kodee Harwood (she/her/hers)

Major: communication studies

Current class standing: junior

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

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

Candidates for ASWOU Vice President:

Hunter Hall (he/him/his)

Major: mathematics

Current class standing: senior

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

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

Owen Hubers (he/him/his)

Major: business

Current class standing: junior

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

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

Candidate for Senate President:

Connor Goehring (he/him/his)

Major: ASL studies and education

Current class standing: sophomore

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

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

Candidate for Senate:

Samy Reyes (he/him/his)

Major: business

Current class standing: sophomore

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

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

Candidate for Judicial Administrator:

Coral Davis (she/they)

Major: education

Current class standing: first-year

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

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

Candidate for Incidental Fee Committee Member:

Dennis Long (he/him/his)

Major: information systems

Current class standing: senior

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

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

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.

The Race for Oregon Governor Begins

Pondering a Podcast?

Western Equity

The Disney Company’s recent controversy

New hours available for fitness classes and facilities

Local options for getting comfortable with outdoor biking

ASWOU voter guide

Tools

Resources