Mount Hood

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”)

Analysis: “Birdbox” vs. “A Quiet Place”

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

In early April 2018, the box-office hit “A Quiet Place” premiered in theaters around the country. According to Forbes.com, the post-apocalyptic film made over $213 million dollars in less than a month.

Ushering in the end of 2018 was another movie about the end of the world along the same vein, “Birdbox.” Since its release on Dec. 23, “Birdbox” has been watched by 45 million Netflix accounts, according to Forbes.

Both films entertain the idea of an apocalypse in which humanity has to adapt to the “loss” of one of their senses; in “A Quiet Place” it’s hearing or sound.

“Many people in the deaf community (myself included) are cheering the film on…’” commented Pamela J. Kincheloe in her guest article on the Huffington Post website. While the movie is a refreshing take on horror, popular criticisms of the movie cite the fact that the film is catered only to hearing audiences.

“The scenes with ASL are captioned for the hearing audience, but the spoken scenes were not captioned for the deaf audience,” said blogger T. Frohock on his website tfrohock.com.

Another criticism of “A Quiet Place” centers on the closing scene of the film. In the end, mother Evelyn and her daughter Regan discover that the secret to killing the bloodthirsty aliens lies in Regan’s cochlear implant.

“It is the implant, not the signing deaf person, that is heroic,” said Kincheloe.

The biggest difference shown in “Birdbox” is that blindness, in the end, is seen as a true advantage in the new world. In this way, blindness isn’t portrayed as a disability, really. But where “Birdbox” improves upon “A Quiet Place” in certain arenas, it still falls flat in some ways.

“Instead of killing themselves in gratuitously gory ways… people with mental illnesses become literal agents of evil, obsessed with carrying out the monsters’ mission to destroy humanity,” commented writer Jess Joho in her Mashable article. So it seems that while “Birdbox” portrays one disability as a positive, it throws a whole other set under the bus.

While “A Quiet Place” and “Birdbox” are audience favorites, the way they portray disability leaves some wanting more.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of netflix.com (“Birdbox”), paramountmovies.com (“A Quiet Place”)

Western Women’s basketball stumbles to undefeated Northwest Nazarene

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

An undefeated and sixth ranked Northwest Nazarene University stood as the last opponent for the Wolves Women’s basketball before school came back in session for Winter Term. Since the beginning of break, Western had won two of the last three matches but the Nighthawks were a mighty opponent. Northwest Nazarene had won their last three matches by an average of 23 points.

In the first quarter, the Wolves looked up to the task against the Nighthawks. The relentless home court defense halted any attempt of an offensive run of more than just a couple of points. This flurry of defense was complemented by barrage of precise shooting. The unranked Wolves managed to find a multiple-score lead at the end of the first quarter.

Western’s women fought to hold this lead but after a three minute tug of war, the visitors showed why they are top ranked. The Nighthawks started firing on all cylinders to climb their way to a nine-point lead over Western. Their offense put up 16 points while their defense smothered the Wolves, giving up only a tight seven points.

After the half, the Wolves were in desperate need of something to slow the offensive momentum of Northwest Nazarene. Unfortunately for Western, the hopes of finding their way back into the game quickly grew to a much bigger task than they were ready for. Rebounds and steals by the Nighthawks helped extend their lead to 13 before the Wolves took a timeout to slow the momentum.

Halfway through the third the Wolves huddled together, looking for anyway to fight their way back into the game. Shortly after the timeout, Western saw a glimmer of hope. Back and forth steals between the teams followed with a couple of good layups for Western shrank the Wolves deficit to only nine before taking another team timeout.

Building off this small run, Western hoped to mount a comeback. The process of chipping away at the Nighthawks lead continued with a good three-pointer and a block for the Wolves. These brought the women to only eight points down. But another late quarter run smothered any hopes of a Wolves third quarter comeback.

The fourth quarter showcased a tremendous offensive effort by the Nighthawks. With a comfortable 16-point lead over the Wolves, all hopes of a comeback seemed like a longshot. Although the Wolves never stopped fighting, they never saw Northwest Nazarene’s lead shrink to less than 14 points. With only seconds left, the Wolves sank back to back free throws. The final score settled at 90-70.

Western heads up to British Columbia for their next match against in-conference opponents Simon Fraser University. While the Wolves have seen a slow start to their season up to this point, having four wins to their six losses, the next match with the Clan looks to be a big one for the Wolves. The 6-5 Clan sits directly above the Wolves in the GNAC rankings.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Winter break sports recap

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

Dec.10 Western Men’s Rugby ranked 30 Nationally

After being named the Co-Champions of the Northwest Conference, Western Men’s Rugby obtains the national ranking of 30. This is the first time in program history they have been nationally ranked.

Dec.10 Women’s basketball cruises past Northwest Christian University 79-62

Dec.14 Bo Highburger of Western Football named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award

Senior economics major Bo Highburger was named a finalist for the award that recognizes defensive players achievements from schools in the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA. Highburger was one of two GNAC players to receive this honor after a record-breaking senior season for the Wolves.

Dec.14 Men’s basketball comfortably beats Hawaii University at Hilo 80-69

Dec.16 Men’s basketball continues streak in Hawaii against Emmanuel College 76-64

Dec.17 Men’s basketball member Riley Hawken named as GNAC Player of the Week

Junior business major Riley Hawken earned the title after his double double against Emmanuel College.

Dec.17 Men’s basketball team named as GNAC Team of the week

The Men’s basketball team earns the honor of GNAC Team of the week after they continue on a five game win streak in Hawaii.

Dec.17 Men’s basketball falls to #7 ranked University of California San Diego 73-63

Dec.18 Women’s Soccer names a new head coach for upcoming season

After a subpar season finishing at 5-9-3 the Women’s Soccer team named Kacey Bingham as the new head coach. Bingham has a total of 12 years experience as a collegiate head coach. She has a overall record of 219 wins, 53 losses and 13 ties at the head coach position.

Dec.18 Men’s basketball finale against Dallas Baptist University in Hawaii cancelled

The head coaches of Western and Dallas Baptist University mutually agreed to cancel their match scheduled for Dec.18. This cancellation was due to a medical emergency from the match prior to Western and Dallas Baptist’s game.

Dec.19 Women’s basketball earns big win over Notre Dame de Namur 79-60

Dec.19 Volleyball hires a new head coach for the upcoming season

After their sixth consecutive losing season, the Wolves’s volleyball program hired new head coach Stacy Metro. Metro is stepping up from coaching at the high school level to take the helm of Western’s program. She has 19 years of experience including several years as the assistant coach at the University of Oregon.

Dec.29 Men’s basketball massacres Portland Bible College 129-33

Jan. 3 Women’s basketball falls at home to Central Washington University 65-78

Jan. 3 Men’s basketball loses close match in Alaska to Alaska Anchorage 57-61

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Upcoming on-campus entertainment

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Jan. 11:

Event: Rainbow Dance Theatre

Description: The Rainbow Dance Theatre group returns to Western with two works entitled “iLumidance” and “The Garden of Earthly Delights.” The performance will feature dancers using ultraviolet light and electroluminescent wire. Western students get in for free. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the show. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Location: Rice Auditorium

 

Jan. 17:

Event: “Mama Mia! Here we go again” sing-a-long movie night

Description: A showing of the second movie in the “Mama Mia!” franchise will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free popcorn and snacks will be provided.

Location: Werner University Center Willamette Room

 

Jan. 18:

Event: Visiting artist John Gorka

Description: John Gorka is a folk musician who released his 14th album in January of 2018. From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Gorka will hold a free songwriting workshop in which attendees will get his take on the craft. RSVPs are encouraged and can be found on the WOU event calendar webpage.

Location: Rice Auditorium

 

Event: John Gorka performance

Description: After his workshop, Gorka will perform his original music. Tickets are free for WOU students. Otherwise, they are $25 in advance and $30 the day of. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Location: Rice Auditorium

 

Feb. 4:

Event: Todd Davis poetry reading

Description: Environmental writer Todd Davis will come to WOU to meet with students and give a poetry reading. The reading is open to the public and starts at 4:30 p.m. This event is free.

Location: Hamersly Library room 107

 

Feb. 20:

Event: Paul Roberts concert

Description: WOU has invited musician Paul Roberts to perform for students and community members. Western students get in for free, and general public tickets are $8. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

Location: Smith Music Hall

 

March 5:

Event: Chamber and Guitar Ensembles

Description: The Chamber Ensembles, directed by Dr. Keith Karns, will perform in a concert with the Guitar Ensemble, directed by Christopher Woitach. The performance will start at 7:30 p.m. Western students are admitted for free, and the general public can purchase tickets for $5.

Location: Smith Music Hall

 

March 15:

Event: Western Oregon Voices

Description: Western Oregon Voices will perform their winter term concert. The ensemble’s performance will be directed by Dr. James Reddan. The concert starts at 7:30 pm. Public tickets are $5, and Western students get in for free.

Location: Rice Auditorium

 

This is not a comprehensive list of all the winter term arts events. To see more events, visit the Western events calendar at http://calendar.wou.edu/.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

In memory of Dr. Hautala

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Dr. Robert Hautala, or “Dr H.” as he was affectionately called by his students, was for many a beloved professor of exercise science at Western who passed away on Dec. 14, 2018. Dr. Hautala spent his final days visiting family for the holidays in Rhode Island.

As was written in his obituary in the Glaucester Times, Dr. Hautala was born Jan. 19, 1948 and grew up in Rockport, Massachusetts. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Springfield College, his master’s degree from The University of Denver, and his doctorate at The University of Northern Colorado, Dr. Hautala had a successful career teaching physical education at a number of institutions.

For the last 14 years before his retirement, Dr. Hautala worked at Western Oregon University. Some of the communities that Dr. Hautala was especially connected to at Western were the Division of Health and Exercise Science, the Western athletics program and the Honors Program.

Before retiring in 2018, Dr. Hautala gave an interview with Lisa Catto which stated that Dr. Hautala “served as a faculty senator and on a lot of committees, including the Executive Committee, the Pastega Awards Committee, the Interdisciplinary Studies Committee, two University Professional Learning Communities, the Honors Committee, the Maurice Initiative Prize Committee and the University Center Advisory Committee.”

An active member of the Western community, Dr. Hautala was known by many to be faithful in watching nearly all of the athletics events and every one of the women’s basketball and volleyball games during his 14 years at Western. Outside of his life in Monmouth, Dr. Hautala was also very passionate about fly-fishing and learning about his Finnish heritage.

As one of his colleagues and his close personal friends, English professor and Honors Program Director Dr. Gavin Keulks has an extremely high regard for the character of Dr. Hautala.

“Bob was an honest and loyal man who lived, like his mentor Thoreau, close to his values,” said Keulks. “He valued his children, students, and friends, and was always available for a talk or a drink. More than that, he was present. He never made you feel like he had something better to do when talking with you.”

In addition to his many qualities as a friend, Dr. Keulks also expanded on the ways that his presence was impactful to the school as a whole.

“His attendance at the gym, faculty senate, arts performances and sporting events was steadfast and definitely made Western special,” said Keulks. “He will be missed by many, and I still struggle to accept he’s gone.”

In order to honor the legacy of Dr. Hautala at Western, a scholarship fund has been set up in his name and a celebration of life will be hosted during Winter Term, although the exact date has not been decided upon yet. Dr. Hautala’s wishes were that there would not be a funeral, so a memorial service will be held instead.

For those interested in donating to the Bob “Dr. H.” Hautala Student Success Fund to honor Dr. Hautala’s memory, they can send a check with “Dr. H” or “Hautala” written on it to the WOU Foundation, or they can donate online at https://wou.edu/give. On the donation page, use the drop-down menu to select “other” and write Dr. Hautala’s name in the tribute section.

More details about Dr. Hautala’s celebration of life will be released at a later date.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Gavin Keulks

Public policy and administration major profile

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

As someone who is passionate about politics and working towards positive change in his community, student NJ Johnson has found that the public policy and administration major has just what he needs to help him achieve his goals. A sophomore at Western, Johnson is very involved on campus and appreciates having so many opportunities to expand on the skills he learns in the classroom.

“Growing up in a small town and going to a school with an atmosphere like Western, I’ve always had a passion for developing small communities,” said Johnson. “And I started out as a political science major when I came to Western, but with public policy I thought it just allowed me to get a little more focused on the kind of work I want to do one day.”

Hoping to become a city manager in the future, Johnson has a concentration in city and county government — one of the many concentration areas that students can choose within the public policy and administration major. Johnson added that his advisor, Dr. Mark Henkels, was instrumental in helping him find a concentration that would work well for him.

The other concentration options available include state and federal government, management, human resources, health policy and administration and corrections and law enforcement.

One thing that Johnson appreciates about having a concentration is that it provides him with the opportunity to take a variety of different classes, whereas the political science major has a bigger core that leaves less room to explore.

In his second year, Johnson is just beginning to take upper-division classes, and he is enjoying the environment of those smaller, discussion-heavy classes.

“It was small enough where we could share ideas with each other, ask really good questions, and have a class discussion that was big enough where you were getting a lot of diverse viewpoints to listen to and ask follow-ups on,” said Johnson.

In addition to providing him with an engaging class atmosphere, Johnson also notices a number of ways in which his major requirements connect to his work and leadership experiences on campus.

“For me, it all comes back to the major theme of helping people,” said Johnson. “On campus I work as a Resident Assistant in Heritage Hall (and) I serve on the Honors Committee as the Sophomore Representative. And, with both of those, it involves working on a team to help a larger group of people, which is ultimately what I aim to do with my public policy degree.”

For any Western students who might be considering a degree in public policy and administration, Johnson wants them to know that public policy and administration is a more versatile major than people might expect.

“Depending on your concentration, you can do a lot more with it than just work in government or even in the public sector,” said Johnson “Every corporation in the private sector needs a policy analyst, so there’s a lot more that you can do with it than just governmental things.”

If students would like to learn more about the public policy and administration major, they can find information at wou.edu/publicpolicy.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Western’s winter festivities

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

As students return from Winter Break, the numerous events of Winter Term are just getting started. Although not all events for this term have released information yet, there are several that Western students can put on their calendars now to look forward to during the rainier months in Monmouth.

 

Western’s 163rd Birthday — Jan. 18

From 12-2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18, Student Engagement is going to be hosting a celebration in the Werner University Center in honor of Western’s 163rd Birthday. To commemorate this occasion and all that has been accomplished since the school’s founding, students can enjoy free cake and a photo opportunity with Wolfie.

Anti-Hate Planning Committee and March — Jan. 26

In response to the hate speech found near campus Fall Term, several campus organizations and Monmouth PD are coming together to organize an anti-hate march that will take place on Jan. 26 from 10:30-12 p.m. To prepare for this, there will be a planning committee that meets Jan. 9, 16, and 23 from 3-5 p.m. in the Werner University Center’s Santiam Room that anyone is welcome to join.

Lots of Love for the WOU Food Pantry fundraiser — Feb. 1-28

For the whole month of February, the Student Veterans of America at Western Oregon University will be hosting a food drive competition that will benefit the WOU Food Pantry. Various clubs on campus will compete to raise the most non-perishable food items for the food pantry on campus.

Out and Proud — Feb. 5-8

The Multicultural Student Union is presenting a number of events from Feb. 5-8 in celebration and support of the LGBTQ+ community. Amongst these events, there will be a Queer People of Color Panel, a night of presentations and dinner with keynote speaker Mia Vargas, a movie screening and the Black and Red Ball.

Women of Culture Celebration — March 4-8

Aiming to honor diversity in women from a variety of different communities, the Multicultural Student Union is hosting its annual event that will feature presentations and activities throughout the week. For their 2019 event, Shelaswua Bushnell Crier will be the keynote speaker at the Women of Culture Celebration Dinner on March 6 from 6-8 p.m. in the Columbia Room in the Werner University Center.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

This week in completely made up horoscopes

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

[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] Christmas sweaters are so last year, Aries. It’s time to put the sweaters away. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] Hey Taurus, lets just pretend 2018 never happened. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] Look, Gemini. We tell you your horoscope EVERY WEEK. And what do we get in return? Literally not even so much as a THANK YOU CARD? 2019 is the year of reciprocity. Maybe think about giving back to the stars who devote so much time to you… [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] Set your alarm clock one hour before you have to get up, we know it will take you that long to decide it’s worth it. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] NOOOOOooOOOOooooOooOOOoOOOoo0oooo. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] The stars suggest you make your resolution include something about actually attending class this year. Or nah. You do you. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] The stars have a resolution for you, Libra: try actually listening to us this year. Not that you’ll stick to it. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] The stars almost forgot to submit your horoscope this week, Scorpio. Big mood, right? [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] New year, new term, new you, right? Wrong! You know you’re still the same stone cold fox you always have been, Sagittarius. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] School’s back. Time to learn how to read and write again, Capricorn. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] New Year’s resolutions are a nice way to fix regrettable decisions made on New Year’s Eve. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] I know all that small talk over the holidays killed your soul but get ready, there’s more! New classes love small talk and small talk loves to crush your soul. Enjoy <3 [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

Wolves Men’s Basketball bounce back against Nanooks

Lake Larsen | Sports Editor

With a break full of up and down games, the Wolves were in need of another win to help climb the GNAC rankings. After a narrow loss to Alaska Anchorage University in the days leading up to their match with Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 5, the Wolves hoped to end their trip up north with a win. The Nanooks had recently edged out Alaska Fairbanks in one of their previous games, showing the Wolves that this match shouldn’t be a walk in the park.

Right out of the gates, the Wolves established dominance over the Nanooks. Western quickly soared to a staggering double digit lead before Alaska Fairbanks scored a single point. Western’s offense had hit their stride before the Nanook’s defense had a chance to adjust. Just four short minutes into the game, the Wolves jumped to a 15 point lead.

While the Wolves started to run away with the game since the first whistle, Alaska Fairbanks didn’t just roll over. Halfway into the first half the immense lead owned by the Wolves had been cut to only seven. This may have looked like the beginning of a comeback, but minutes later showed it was anything but.

The Monmouth men’s lead never dipped that low for the rest of the half. Precision shooting resulted in another run for the Wolves midway through the half. With a 20 point lead, the Nanooks offense finally woke up and started fighting back. But another run took the lead back to 20 before settling at 18 at the end of the half.

The second half showed no signs of Western’s offensive momentum slowing. While Alaska Fairbanks was finally starting to establish an offensive presence, any hope of a comeback seemed squashed by the unrelenting offense of the Wolves. Western stretched their lead to massive 23 points. At the end of the match Western finished on top 97-80, never having trailed.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Smack dab in the middle of a Western jazz concert

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Western Oregon Voices gave a warm and cozy end to a rainy, festive night with their jazz-themed concert, “Pass Me the Jazz.” Following the 51st annual Holiday Tree Lighting, the auditioned ensemble of 13 students, accompanied by a jazz combo, performed five jazz pieces and one traditional Christmas song, “Carol of the Bells.”

The accompanying jazz combo included Noah Adams on drums, Jacob Marsh on bass, and Julia Harrington on piano.

Dr. James Reddan directed this concert, his second performance in one week. Dr. Reddan is a nationally and internationally acclaimed conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. Reddan has also won two awards: one for “Excellence in Music Education” from the American Prize in Choral Music and one for being the conductor for the first “Honored Artist Choral Ensemble” by the American Prize.

“I chose to focus on jazz specifically because of the many musical doors it opens for the singers in this ensemble,” said Dr. Reddan. “The skills that the students learn from singing vocal jazz repertoire translates extremely well and benefits them when performing in all other styles of vocal music,” he added.

Despite some difficulties with sound, the concert went down without a hitch, and the smooth uniform style of the performers added exponentially to the overall ambiance of the performance. The song choice included pieces that were recognizable but not naggingly cliché.

Starting Winter Term, Western Oregon Voices will be performing in and around Salem. Auditioning for an international festival and performance is also on their radar.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Great American band music comes to Western

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Western’s wind and percussions ensembles and the Chemeketa wind ensemble paired up to perform a substantial concert on Thursday, Nov. 29.

Chemeketa’s ensemble, directed by J. J. Meyer, opened the performance. They played five pieces, all of which sounded impressively full despite the small size of the band. Songs played included “American Folk Rhapsody No. 2” by Clare Grundman, “Cajun Folk Songs 2” composed by Frank Ticheli, “Foundry” created by John Mackey, and “Down in the Valley” by Pierre La Plante.

Following Chemeketa’s performance was a set of performances by Western’s percussion ensemble. Two pairs of musicians played two movements each composed by Mark Mellits as part of a multi-movement project. Percussionists were Bailey Schafer, Noah Adams, Evan Saab, and Elijah Thompson.

Western’s wind ensemble was next in the line-up, directed by Dr. Ike Nail. Playing seven pieces, Western’s ensemble was slightly bigger than Chemeketa’s, but not by much; they still showed a great amount of musicianship and displayed a rich sound. Two songs, “Carnival of Venice” and “Reverie,” featured Keith Karns, a trumpet player and arranger. Karns is also the new Director of Jazz Studies at Western.

The final performance of the night combined both ensembles, finally filling all the stage seats and creating a truly large, triumphant, traditional-sounding group. “El Capitan, March” by John Philip Sousa was the closing song.

Both ensembles avoided the trend of playing holiday pieces, tempting being that it is that time of year. Despite the regular amount of missed notes and hiccups that any ensemble knows too well, the concert had a lively pace and there was rarely a lull in the action. Western’s wind ensemble exhibited a collegiate level of musicianship, as did Chemeketa’s even though their numbers were noticeably smaller. Coming together at the end gave the concert a sense of closure and the characteristically full sound of a classic American ensemble.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

“Music of the Spheres”: Dr. James Reddan’s Western directorial debut

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

The “Music of the Spheres” concert choir and Chamber Singers concert on Nov. 27 gathered together a large crowd of friends, family, students and community members.

Western’s concert choir is the institution’s largest ensemble, according to the event program.

Songs from various parts of the world were performed, including “Tshotsholoza,” a South African freedom song that was sung when Nelson Mandela was released from prison. According to Director Dr. James Reddan, this song was chosen to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Mandela’s release.

Also performed was the Austrian carol “Still, Still, Still,” “Sanctus” by Mozart, “Sure on this Shining Night” composed by Lauridsen and “Make Our Garden Grow” created by Leonard Bernstein.

The Chamber Singers are an ensemble comprised of around 24 students that performs mainly A Cappella music. Highlights included “Deck the Halls” performed in 7/8 time, “Babethandaza” which is another traditional South African song, and “Shalom Chaverim,” a traditional Hebrew song.

“In this concert, we celebrated music from different parts of the world, traditions, philosophies, religions, and ideologies,” said Dr. Reddan regarding the title of the concert. “Especially, at this time of year, it is important to celebrate our presence together and our ability to work together for more understanding for each other and the world around us.”

Dr. James Reddan is the director of all three on the choral ensembles at Western and only started approximately 10 weeks ago, as this is his first term as Director of Choral Activities. “Being new at WOU, everyone had to get used to me and me to them,” said Dr. Reddan, “choosing the music this summer was a great adventure, but more importantly, seeing the ensembles take ownership of the music to being it to life has made all of the hard work well worth it.”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

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