Mount Hood

‘Ghostbusters’ Returns to Big Screens This Summer

By: Ashton Newton
Staff Writer

We’ve all known for a long time what to do if there happens to be something strange
in the neighborhood. That’s common knowledge: Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters.
But this summer, a new team is putting on the jumpsuits and taking on the iconic
role in the ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot film.

The first trailer for the upcoming film debuted last week, featuring plenty of laughs,
ghosts, and slime. The reboot has all new, all female team. The film stars Melissa
McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones.
The film follows the scientists and a subway worker as they work together to defeat
a powerful demon who can take over the bodies of humans. The trailer also revels
that there is someone in the city who created a device that amplifies ghostly activity.
People are much more opposed to the idea of ghosts in the reboot’s New York than
in 1984 New York, which adds a new goofy dynamic to being a Ghostbuster.
The trailer put a lot of focus on the comedy of the movie, making it look like an over
the top modern day comedy film, instead of the classic ‘Ghostbusters’ style like long
time fans were hoping for.

Although the trailer stars out with a nod to the original, director Paul Feig has stated
that there are no narrative ties between the reboot and the original. Luckily, fans
can count on the original song being in the reboot, as well as a lot of nods to the
original ghosts.

The ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot sparked up some controversy when it was first
announced because of its all female cast, but Feig has since than talked about how
the all female cast is going to provide a new energetic dynamic to the classic
‘Ghostbusters’ concept and criticism has died down.

There has also been speculation that Bill Murray will reprise his role as Dr. Peter
Vankman, for he’s listed as a cast member on IMDB. Some people believe he’ll play
an important role in the movie, while others are saying he’ll simply be a cameo.

‘Ghostbusters’ will premiere worldwide this summer.

Primal fear over petty scares

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

When I saw the first trailer for “The Witch” over summer, I was hyped. A Puritan themed horror movie full of black magic and dancing goats was right up my alley. I saw it opening night, knowing it probably wasn’t going to be amazing, but a fun watch nonetheless.

Much to my surprise, I was wholly disappointed, but not because of the movie. No, the movie was good and full of the gloomy, mystical vibes I had so desired.

I was disappointed because of the audience, who complained and joked throughout the entire film.
Now, “The Witch” isn’t necessarily bad. It has an 89 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and that’s a better grade than what I’m getting in some of my classes this term.

While I understand it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, I have a hunch that the audience wasn’t adequately prepared for what they were going to see. I mean, sure, there were like three different trailers for it that they could’ve watched, but maybe there’s more to it than that.

When horror is mentioned, people expect scary.

They expect horror films to follow a certain formula that they have grown accustomed to, usually involving horror movie tropes and tricks like jump scares or twist endings that don’t seem much like scares or twists anymore because people come to expect them more often than not.

Horror, however, encapsulates a large array of films, the genre being defined only by its ability to make the viewers uncomfortable through feeding on their primal fears.

The first horror movies of the silent film era, like “Nosferatu” (1922) or “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1925), aren’t exactly terrifying, especially by today’s standards. They are, however, still super creepy due to their chilling visual effects and their ability to prey on fears innate in humanity, like the fear of supernatural creatures or of inevitable death.

In my opinion, the golden age of horror started in the late ‘60s and ‘70s, with classics like “Night of the Living Dead” (1968), “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968), and “The Exorcist” (1973), that focused on supernatural, ghostly, or satanic happenings.

Again, not super scary, perhaps even a bit comical. The group of elderly folk chanting “Hail Satan!” in “Rosemary’s Baby” isn’t particularly terrifying, but the film is still widely considered one of the best horror movies to date.

These paranormal themed movies have stayed strong, alongside the thrills and chills provided by the slasher crowd pleasers of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984) and “Scream” (1996).
The focus in popular horror has shifted from the inventive plotlines and visually arresting atmospheres of the early and mid 20th century to simply imitating other movies that have found a foothold in popular culture.

The early 2000s welcomed in a slew of found footage films, starting with “The Blair Witch Project” (1999) that has continued with the ever popular “Paranormal Activity” series.

Found footage films are pretty uncomplicated movies to make, considering the film’s grain and shaky footage excuses poor special effects or lack in production value. They follow a similar recipe for plot, using healthy doses of invisible, overpowered evils and helpless protagonists to evoke excitement from viewers.

A lot of movies have come out as being genuinely unique and exciting, such as “Insidious” (2010) or “The Conjuring” (2013), but the quality of these movies is diminished because the market is flooded with sequels, prequels, and offshoots that mirror the style and plot of previous films.

There are still really great horror movies that don’t rely on imitating other plots, like “It Follows” (2014) or “The Babadook” (2014), which also have social commentary alongside their wonderfully eerie storylines and visuals.

While plenty of good horror movies are still being made, the majority of horror movies currently out are heavily referential and uncreative. This may make horror movie audiences ill-prepared for movies that break the mold, like “The Witch” (which isn’t really scary, but pretty good if you like that sort of thing).

Contact the author at meclark13@wou.edu or on Twitter @WOU_campuslife

Tips for a safe spring break

By: Alvin Wilson 
Staff Writer

Spring break is just around the corner, and many of us are anxious to leave campus and celebrate our time off the college way: with alcohol.

But before you hop in your car and say bottoms up, you should probably stop to consider a few things.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) published a study that shows nearly half of all college students binge-drink.

Binge-drinking is defined as drinking five or more drinks within a two-hour period.

Trever Jackson, Campus Public Safety officer for Western, says that excessive drinking is a problem even when it’s not spring break.

“We get a lot of people who become too intoxicated and end up causing problems,” he says. “People will drink, then take it too far, and it becomes unsafe for them and other people. We end up having to deal with that quite a bit on breaks as much as any other time.”

Rebecca Chiles, director of Public Safety, says the biggest things to keep in mind are your choices concerning alcohol and drug use.

“I think we get a little relaxed, or comfortable, with groups of people when we’re having a good time,” she says. “Then you wake up the next morning and your phone’s missing, or your laptop’s missing, or your wallet full of money’s missing. I think just be vigilant about the people you’re with.”

Chiles says it’s important to surround yourself with people you feel safe with to reduce the risk of dangerous situations.

“People are going to drink, so my best advice is to do it with someone you know and love and trust,” she says. “Have a designated person who’s going to be the safety person and look out for everybody—someone who will have your back and take care of you if a safety situation arises …”

Allen Risen, Occupational Environmental Safety Officer for Campus Public Safety, says another important thing to consider is travelling.

He says that during spring break, most of the students leave campus.

“Campus is pretty much dead,” he says. “Most of the students who live on campus are gone … Usually everything’s pretty quiet.”

Risen says that if you choose to travel, pack a blanket and extra water in case of an emergency, and make sure your belongings are locked up tight at home.

Officer Jackson also offers some words of advice about travelling during the break:

“Be in contact with your loved ones. Let them know when you’re leaving, what route you’re taking, how you’re getting there, when you arrive. If you’re travelling in your own vehicle, make sure it’s travel-worthy.”

The last thing you want is to be stranded on a highway in the middle of nowhere. Jackson mentioned that some car shops will do free “trip checks” to make sure your car is able to handle a road trip.

Your local Les Schwab is one such place. They will check everything from your tires and brakes to your oil—all for free (but, of course, they won’t fix anything for free).

Contact the author at awilson15@wou.edu or on Twitter @awilsonjournal

2 New Digital Production Rooms in Library

By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

Hamersly Library recently constructed two new digital production rooms, found in HL 221 and HL 222. The first specializes in audio production, and the second in video. Both rooms come equipped with a Mac and Dell for user preference, and each computer holds various programs for manipulating audio and video.

“This whole space is a work in progress. We plan on opening up the area for a full service desk so that people can receive help whenever they need it,” said Scott Carter, digital production and publishing specialist for Hamersly Library.

There are also several other computers set up in the alcove with media production software on them, in case a full production room is not necessary.

“This is one place that anyone on campus can come without needing special permissions,” said Carter.

If you would like to reserve a room and experience the brand new production centers, go to wou.edu/dmc

Better Safe than Sorry

By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor


The first documented case of drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) occurred in February of this year.

Despite daily adherence to Truvada, a preventative drug against the contraction of HIV, a gay man has tested positive for HIV. The strain of HIV was reported as one that was multidrug resistant, which explained how it was contracted regardless of the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis.

This drug allowed people who are at very high risk of getting HIV to prevent infection by taking a pill every day. This included exposure to HIV through either sex or the use of injected drugs. 

The failure of this drug had not yet been reported in any other individuals, which made this case an exceedingly rare one.

According to POZ.com, none of the 1,400+ high-risk individuals taking pre-exposure prophylaxis through the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis program have contracted HIV to date, despite their very high rate of other sexually transmitted diseases.

“[Pre-exposure prophylaxis] has done very well so far with helping reduce the spread of HIV, and I think that what it’s done well also needs to be recognized,” said John Goldsmith, senior English major and Triangle Alliance President for Western.

On campus, Triangle Alliance partners with the Stonewall Center for World AIDS day on Dec. 1 to help raise awareness. Both of these organizations have also partnered with the Peer Mentor program for sex education programs.

In future years, there may be more events hosted by Triangle Alliance that focus on this topic. For Spring Term, Triangle Alliance meetings will occur in Ackerman 141 at 5 p.m. 

With any sexually transmitted disease, chances of being infected are severely reduced when precautions are taken. It is recommended that one get tested frequently and with every new partner, and to know your partner’s HIV status. 

Use condoms, avoid injecting drugs, and limit the number of sexual partners, if possible. And use other preventative measures, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis or sterilized injection tools, as needed.

“I think that this issue is not isolated to the LGBT*Q+ community, as anyone has the potential to contract HIV,” Goldsmith said. “All people who are sexually active need to take their sexual health more seriously.”

“My heart goes out to the person afflicted, and I hope they will receive all of the treatment they need,” said Goldsmith.

It can take three to 12 weeks for an HIV- positive individual’s body to produce enough antibodies for a test to produce correct results. Many individuals do not show signs or symptoms of HIV until much later, although some may experience flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks after infection.

HIV testing most commonly takes place in three forms: as a blood test, urine test, or as an oral swab. Testing is also highly confidential and is often paired with a consultation regarding HIV itself.

The Student Health and Counseling Center offers HIV testing for roughly $17. The result turnaround for an HIV test averages two days.

To schedule an appointment for testing, please contact the Student Health and Counseling Center at 503-838-8313.

Contact the author at jberesheim11@wou.edu or on Twitter @woujournalnews

Healthy food on a budget

recipe layout online

 

Caramel Apple Salad
By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

Ingredients:
2 Apples
2 Dates
½ Lemon

This salad makes a quick, easy, and healthy snack, or the foundation for a creative creation. It requires two apples (I prefer Granny Smith for the tartness, but any will do), two to four dates (depending on how sweet you want it), and lemon. The lemon is optional, but helps the apples from turning brown and also adds a sour to the sweetness of the dates. I would suggest soaking the dates for a short period of time beforehand to make them easier to cut – and remember to remove the pits as well. A simple slice down the center of the date will do to remove them and splay open the fruit. Dates are a great source of fiber, potassium, and copper, while lemons and apples are both cleansing foods great for detoxifying. This salad takes around 10 minutes to prepare, and can take on different flavor flares depending on what you’re in the mood for – try adding dried coconut for a contrasting texture and more tropical flavor. This snack is also easily adjustable for portions and taste preferences, all while costing under $10.

Lifter's Bowl
By: Conner Williams
Editor-in-Chief

Do you want to gain weight? Lose weight? Or maybe just actually have some food available to you when you have to be on campus for hours at a time so you don’t die? Then look no further!

This recipe isn’t anything flashy; it’s literally chicken, green beans, and rice. Exciting stuff, I know, but it’ll beef you up or lean you out depending on how much and how often you eat it. It’s also super cheap to buy in bulk and prep your food ahead of time, and if you’re like me, you’re a cost-conscious college student. Or maybe not. Kudos to you. If you do it right, each meal comes out to less than $2. If you eat three or four times per day, that’s pretty cheap. I recommend shopping at Costco, since they hands-down have the best deals, and you can buy in major bulk. you’ll also want some tupperware for storage and transportation. I recommend ones that hold at least 16 ounces of food. Now let’s get started.

I cook about 1.5-2 pounds of chicken per day and eat 4-5 of these per day, excluding breakfast. I weigh out all of my food so I can distribute it evenly, but eyeballing it works too. So, each meal has about 6-7 ounces of chicken in it, bringing in around 45 grams or so of protein. Keep in mind that raw chicken weighs a bit more than cooked because of the loss of retained water and salt. That takes care of our protein. For carbs, I usually stick to rice (brown or white is left up to your preference and goals) because it’s easy to cook and store. I eat about 1 cup of white rice per meal, which is about 40 grams of carbs per meal. I recommend getting a rice cooker/steamer because it will make your life a hell of a lot easier when preparing food, but steaming in a pot on the stove works as well. For veggies, I do green beans because they’re pretty cheap, and all you’ve got to do is toss 2 cups in the microwave for 5 minutes and you’re good to go. For healthy fats, add about 2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil into each meal.

Ingredients for 4 meals:

Chicken breast: 16 ounces – $2 per pound at Costco (buy frozen)

Rice: 4 cups cooked – about $8 for a 25 pound bag at Costco

Green beans: 2 cups – about $1.25 per pound at Costco (buy frozen)

Extra virgin olive oil: 8 tbsp – about $12 for a gallon at Costco (will last forever)

Seasoning – your discretion, but I use stuff with low sodium

Now cook your food. For the chicken, you can toss them in the oven or grill them on the stovetop. I choose the stove because I think it tastes better and cooks faster. Chop the raw meat into cubes first, and it’ll cook in about 8 minutes. Start the rice beforehand, because it’ll take about 20-25 minutes to cook, and the veggies will take about 5 minutes. Once you become a pro, you’ll be able to time it all out.

May the gains be with you!

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu or on Twitter @journalEIC

Musings from a woman on the edge

By: Katrina Penaflor 
Managing Editor

It’s dead week and, yes, I’m completely, 100 percent, totally dead.

The burnout of week 10 has hit me the hardest this year. Maybe it’s because I’m a senior, maybe it’s because I only have one more term left after this, or maybe it’s because the work load for my classes has piled up so high I can’t see past it.

I always thought dead week was the time where classes basically stopped and my only focus was worrying about my upcoming finals the following week.

But sadly, that isn’t the case. I’m still chipping away at a paper due in two days that I have a substantial amount of work left to do, organizing a term’s worth of homework for a 100 level LACC—yes, I am the senior who put these kinds of classes off until the last minute—and struggling to start or even think about any of the things I have to turn in next week, or the tests I have to take.

I can only imagine the struggle of the students who are graduating at the end of this term. By week 10 of spring term I imagine the last thing on my mind will be the homework and projects I need to turn in before graduating.

I understand my column this week is basically me just complaining—okay, it’s totally me just complaining—but sometimes when it comes to school, students just run out of juice.

I can only handle so many eight page papers and class projects. I can only handle so much reading and writing. I have all this to worry about and work on top of that, as well as everything else going on in my life.

Just a week’s more worth of work before spring break. That’s it. Dead week you’ve temporarily killed me again, but I’ll be up and running again at the start of week term.

Countdown to graduation: three more months.

Contact the author at kpenaflor12@wou.edu or on Twitter @journalkatrina

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