Lake Larsen, Author at The Western Howl

Kevin Reed | Entertainment Editor

Logic started off his rap career in Rockville, Maryland, growing up a biracial child with a dream. He was able to rise out of his hometown and become one of the most inspirational rappers in the game today. He’s grown his career not only by rapping about his life growing up, but also how he wants to spread a message of equality through his music. He recently put out a new mixtape album as a follow up to his “Bobby Tarantino,” released in 2016, called “Bobby Tarantino II.”

In contrast to his past music, his newest album “Bobby Tarantino II” was produced to be a more lighthearted theme in a trap mixtape style. It may be more fun, but the album is still full of meaningful messages. Logic reinvents how to settle disagreements with competition in “Yuck,” with lines such as, “Anyone that hate me, I wish you success.”

Logic has always been big on celebrities making cameos in his music, including world renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, amazing voice actor Steve Blum, Killer Mike, Lucy Rose and many more. In the intro track to “Bobby Tarantino II,” you hear the voices of popular Comedy Central characters Rick and Morty. I couldn’t help but smile when I listened to their voices in “Grandpa’s Spaceship.” It was, in my opinion, the best way to open up a feel good album. He also collaborates with artists like Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and other hip-hop artists.

Logic has a motto he follows throughout all of his recent music: “Peace, Love and Positivity.” He aims to send this message in many of his songs. In “Bobby Tarantino II” he works out the positivity side by making tracks that are feel good jams and not as heavy as some of his past music. Even when addressing his own conflict with other rappers, he takes the higher road. This approach is unheard of to many other rappers in the game currently. Hip-hop has a reputation of people like Drake and Meek Mill fighting it out in a series of roast tracks, or other rappers getting into fistfights at concerts. However, Logic wishes his competitors success in the future.

“Bobby Tarantino II” is a great feel-good hip-hop album. Logic’s overall flow and lyrics combine in a great way with the trap beats. I personally jam to this on my way to classes all the time. I was impressed with how Logic showed he could create both serious tracks like “1-800-273-8255” and more fun tracks like “Indica Badu.”

“44 more” is an absolute masterpiece and I recommend listening to that track first. I always look forward to Logic’s new music and I’m very impressed with this new album. I am excited for when he releases his upcoming projects.

Contact the author at kreed17@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Genius.com

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All clear, it’s time for more baseball

Simson Garcia | Sports Editor

No more rainouts, no more postponements and clear low 50 degree weather allowed for more spring baseball as Western split a four game series with the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks on March 30-31. In their first home field games of the season, the Wolves were the first to punch with a small dose, winning 1-0 on March 30.
A right field double run by senior right-fielder Jacob Martinez batted in sophomore pinch runner Torreahno Sweet in the fifth inning. Both mounds minimized batting at the plate in the game, but a walk to Sweet to begin his roundabout back home was all the Wolves needed for the lone score.
Their play in the back end of the first doubleheader fell on the wayside, however, as the visiting Nighthawks capped the day off with a 7-2 victory.
Three walks and 11 hits by the Nighthawks made for the sizable advantage. In all, the Wolves used six pitchers but couldn’t keep the opposition from reaching home.
Game three kept both teams off their heels as a walk-off double ran in Martinez for the clinching 3-2 win on March 31. In what went down as one of the longest games in GNAC history, the Wolves finally maneuvered in the 14th as sophomore infielder Connor McCord RBI’d Martinez.

“It was a constant mental grind because of how close we were to scoring in almost every extra inning,” said Jay Leverett, senior infielder.
The final weekend game came almost three and a half hours later with Northwest Nazarene getting the final say: 5-4. It was a climb for the Wolves being down 5-0 going into the bottom of the fourth. Leverett helped close the gap with an RBI single, and scored himself soon after to cut the deficit to two. But with two men on base in the sixth frame, a Wolf fly out ended the affair.

Baseball season may have started slow to begin but Western currently stands one game above .500 at 14-13 and have fared well since playing their conference games, boasting a 14-6 record.
Next up, the Wolves hit the road to face Montana State University Billings on April 6-7, in two sets of back-to-back doubleheaders.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

Photo by: wouwolves.com

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Anthropology student sheds light on Islam

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

At Bazaar International Market in Corvallis, a variety of food products from across the Middle East line the shelves, cuts of fresh halal meat are available daily and a collection of teas invite curious customers. This is where anthropology major Elliot Paulson spends a good portion of his time gathering research and information for his senior thesis titled “Mainstreaming Halal: A Growing Niche Market in an Oregon University Town.”

Paulson became fascinated with Islam while taking a Middle Eastern religions class and a Middle Eastern history class at Western. It was while he was enrolled in the Anthropology of Islam class that he was considering a topic centered around Islam for his senior thesis.

“Americans have one view of what a Muslim is,” Paulson explained. He claimed that many individuals think of Islam as solely a Middle Eastern religion and tend to stereotype the individuals that follow the faith. “What Anthropology of Islam taught me is that’s not the case.”

After much consideration, Paulson decided on the topic for his senior thesis: halal food availability in Corvallis. Specifically, Paulson aimed to find out why the halal food market is growing in Corvallis and what demographics are purchasing halal food.

Halal is an Arabic word that refers to anything that is permitted or lawful. It describes food that follows the dietary standards stated in the Qur’an and prepared according to Islamic law. Stated by the Islamic Council of Victoria, Islamic law requires the humane treatment of animals before slaughter, prohibits the consumption of pig products and holds several other high standards for halal food.

Paulson interviewed Muslim community members at the mosque in Corvallis and visited family-owned markets and large stores like Safeway to get an idea as to why halal food has been growing in popularity in Corvallis. Paulson speculates that the ethnic diversity of Corvallis may play a part, as well as many non-Muslim individuals seeking out halal products because of the humane slaughter of the animals.

Paulson hopes that his research can help inform people about the religion.

“There’s an element of fear that surrounds Islam,” said Paulson. “I think that a lot of it comes from just not being familiar. And something like food, especially something like halal, can be normalized.”

He also believes that visiting a mosque or talking to Muslim individuals can benefit many individuals; “I think everyone needs to step out of their comfort zone and just interact with people that you might not normally interact with. You’ll probably meet some fascinating people that way.”

Paulson added that the skills he gained working with diverse individuals at Western helped with his research, explaining that “the more that you can respectfully work with people that are not from your own circle, the better you’re going to do.”

Whether it’s trying halal food, visiting a mosque or taking a class about Islam, Paulson encourages everyone to learn more about the faith and explore Islam.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

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Finding fitness through bodybuilding

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

A fitness competition beginning in the early 20th century, bodybuilding has been around for over a century. As it’s becoming a more approachable and reasonable sport for anyone to take part in, I spoke with junior ASL/English Interpreting major Kailee Goodrich on her work in it so she can share her experience with anyone considering taking it on. Overall, the sport has multiple categories: bikini, figure, physique, fitness and bodybuilding. Goodrich was a bikini competitor, which is characterized as a competition of judging women’s bodies based on the physique, scored on proportion, symmetry, balance and shape.
Why many choose to start varies, but Goodrich began hers “because of a bad break up … it was so terrible, I decided I wanted to do something for myself. My great idea was to get into the best shape of my life.”
Once she made this decision, she immediately found a coach and paid without questions first.
“This was a terrible idea… I hired a coach that wasn’t qualified. She gave me a cookie cutter diet (which) consisted of five egg whites in the morning with ¼ cup of oatmeal, four meals of 4 oz of tilapia and asparagus and my last meal of one protein shake with 15 almonds,” Goodrich said.
After prepping for 13 consecutive weeks that consisted of working out every day, multiple times a day, Goodrich noted that towards the end of her prep she was “unable to train because (she) was so fatigued.”
After registering for the show, buying the bikini, and learning to pose with her coach, she spent around $2500.
As for how competing made her feel, at first, she thought it was a great idea, noting that “I felt really proud of my willpower to stick to the diet and train for so long.” However, this only lasted so long.
“I was unaware of how much weight I was losing at such a fast rate… I didn’t know that I was developing an eating disorder known as overeating. I was able to overcome this struggle, but I rebounded with my weight once this competition was over.”
Her advice to anyone considering taking up bodybuilding as their potential fitness journey is “do your research about coaching…don’t be afraid to ask questions; as a consumer, you must be picky and do what is best for you.” She also notes that she would only recommend it “if the person was serious about wanting to push their physique.” However, “if they were just getting started in their fitness journey I wouldn’t recommend it…the decision to compete should be well thought out and planned.”
While bodybuilding can offer an incredible option for those wanting to push themselves harder than they ever have, it can definitely have both pros and cons; as mentioned by Goodrich, it’s not for everyone. As for her, it helped her feel more comfortable at the gym, but simultaneously it gave her a negative relationship with food that she struggled with afterwards.
Goodrich mentioned that she may compete again, but it would be in figure rather than bikini as it is more about your “physique than your good looks,” as noted by her. But for now, she’s happy with where she is at in her fitness journey. “I found flexible dieting and I haven’t looked back since.”
If you’re considering the sport, make sure you’re well researched and weigh the pros and cons of what it may entail. While everyone’s experience differs, it’s important to make sure that however you choose to go about it, you do so in a healthy way that works well for you and your lifestyle.

“It impacted my student life”, Goodrich mentioned. “I learned to overcome obstacles and persevere.” Through bodybuilding, she gained skills that she could later take and apply to her everyday life and use to help persist through hardships. “I proved to myself that I could do anything I set my mind to.”

Contact the author at chealy16@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Kailee Goodrich

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Review: “Behold the Dreamers”

Kevin Reed | Entertainment Editor

“Behold the Dreamers” — a book written by Imbolo Mbue in 2016 — revolves around two Cameroonian immigrants travelling from Limbe, Cameroon to New York City. They deal with both the hardships of immigration and discrimination in their new home.

The book is written about a young couple, Jende and Neni. Jende is happy to have recently gotten a new job as the chauffeur of a wealthy stock investor named Clark Edwards. Neni is a student in community college studying to be a pharmacist. They live together in a one-room apartment with their son, Liomi.

Over the course of the book, Jende sees that coming to America was not the simple answer to all his troubles that he had hoped it would be. His family back home is still struggling to pay for even the basic necessities, his battle to be a legal citizen is tiresome and he works long hours for very little pay.

Jende and Neni also get a deep look into the Edwards family life. They see that despite the vast gap in the two family’s wealth they share one thing: adversity. Overtime it becomes more and more clear that the Edwards wealth doesn’t protect them from struggles in their lives. Everyone has troubles no matter how rich they are.

This book really shows the gritty truth about the “American Dream” that so many immigrants fantasize about. It’s a fact that nobody will ever appreciate how amazing America is as much as an immigrant coming into this country to start a new life. At the start the two Cameroonians look at New York City as a haven for them to escape their lives in Limbe. Over time they realize that this country may bring opportunity and wonder to their lives but it also brings new hardship.

They work so hard; endlessly fighting to reach a dream that, for them, may or may not be attainable at all. They are struggling to reach a wealthy life in America; free from the struggles they felt back in Cameroon. However, as they see from the Edwards, wealth may mean stability and a lavish lifestyle but it doesn’t mean happiness.

After reading this book it gave me a huge appreciation for how amazing this country is and how many opportunities I have in my life. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day struggles and it’s important to be thankful of the life we live here in America. There are people across the world who could never dream of going to college, being or being able to read. “Behold The Dreamers” inspired me to take advantage of every opportunity I have. I recommend this book to anyone wanting — or needing — to feel a new gratitude for the country we live in.

Mbue builds relatable characters and makes you feel every bit of emotion and suspense that they do. In the opening scene where Jende is interviewing for his new job, I felt really stressed out afterwards — as if I was interviewing for the job myself. And, in a way I relate with Neni and how she dreams of a better life in America even through some of the darkest parts of the book, she perseveres through it all to make a better life for her family.

Mbue is a really great writer. She builds fantastic relatable characters who are in depth and very three dimensional. Mbue came from Cameroon herself, and experienced many of the things that the characters in her novel go through first hand. This makes her writing and the situations in the book feel so real and personal to the reader. Throughout the book she uses traditional language and sayings from a cameroon. Her use of the language makes you really feel how different the culture is there and get a taste of Cameroon.

This book is very thought provoking and it made me analyze how unappreciated our country is but also how inadequate our system of immigration is. The novel widened my understanding of what it is like to be someone coming to America with little to nothing. I recommend this book to anyone wanting a thought provoking novel that will open your eyes to the world of an Immigrant.

Contact the author at kreed17@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Audiobookstore.com

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Let’s talk about sex

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

As a graduating senior, I’ve spent my 180 credits exploring all the subjects that Western has to offer. From dance to psychology, my elective credits were put to good use in investigating fascinating subjects that help explain the world around me. My favorite of these classes was Human Sexuality, and I implore every Western student to take this class at some point in their college career.

I signed up for this class because I had mutual friends taking it and figured the subject would be interesting. In today’s society, sex isn’t something that’s discussed in a healthy and honest way. This class looked like a good opportunity to have an open discussion about a topic that most individuals are discouraged from talking about.

The class that I was in, taught by Amy Hammermeister Jordan, addressed many aspects of human sexuality. One topic discussed in the class was gender stereotypes and the harm that can come from placing harsh expectations on kids from the time they’re toddlers. Expecting boys to be emotionless, strong and dominant, and girls to be submissive, dainty and polite can restrict how they view themselves and express themselves to the world.

The three biggest influences on young kids are parents, peers and the media. Kids start to learn how they should be behaving, what restrictions they have on their life choices based on their gender and how to conform to society’s expectations by rejecting their true self.

I’ve personally felt the weight of gender stereotypes my entire life. Being expected to dress a certain way, sit like a lady, smile, don’t talk out of turn: these messages can be extremely harmful. From this class, I learned how not to perpetuate these stereotypes and how to encourage the next generation to be their true selves.

Human Sexuality introduced a topic that hadn’t considered before taking this class: talking to kids about sex. Sexual education in schools is extremely limited and often nonexistent. Some schools and communities believe that, by not exposing kids to the topic of sex, they are less likely to engage in it. Unfortunately, this view of sexual education is common, but the reality is that education is powerful, and when young adults have accurate information and honest communication about sex, they have the tools to make positive decisions. When sex is a taboo topic, kids seek out less reliable sources of information and are more likely to make harmful choices.

With the topic of human sexuality, it was important to address all different types of sexuality. An open discussion about the LGBTQ+ community provided a safe space to ask questions, clarify definitions and educate students about the community. If you’re like me and have no idea what queer, pansexual or intersex means, this class helps explain these terms to create a more educated community at Western.

The most important thing that you can learn from this class is the definition of consent. While talking with friends and people that are close to me, it’s obvious that they have a very unclear definition of consent, and this is because education about consent is often not taught in schools, leading most people to only have a slight idea of what the word means. While many individuals rely on vague and often misleading body language and physical cues for consent, they don’t realize that consent is verbal, affirmative and ongoing.

Unfortunately, we can’t talk about sex without talking about sexual assault. Sexual assault occurs far too often and can have a tremendous impact on an individual’s physical and mental health. Something anyone and everyone can take away from this class is how to help a survivor of sexual assault who has confided in you.

First, let them know that they have options, but never choose their path of healing for them — they can choose to report the crime, see a mental care specialist or they may do nothing at all. Listen to them, believe them and don’t question them. The first person that an individual confides in after sexual assault can change their path of healing for the rest of their life.

It would take much more than a page-long article to explain all the tremendous things that this class taught me. But all in all, talking about sex is important. Open, honest communication can lead to a healthy view of human sexuality, accurate knowledge of consent, better communication with a romantic partner and sexual education in schools that emphasizes knowledge instead of ignorance.

If you have a few extra elective credits to use, I’d highly recommend taking this class. You won’t be disappointed.

Contact the author at sedunaway13@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

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Commemorating 100 years of women’s suffrage

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment of the United States Constitution was ratified to prohibit the government from denying voting rights based on sex and allowed white women the right to vote. Nearly 100 years later, the Oregon 2020 Kickoff event at the Oregon state capitol began the commemoration of women’s voting rights.

“The vote is an opportunity to become a part of our own destiny,” expressed republican leader of the Oregon state Senate Jackie Winters. Winters was just one of the important public figures in Oregon that discussed the importance of the vote; others include Eliza Canty-Jones of the Oregon Historical Society, former Oregon governor Barbara Roberts, Judy Margles from the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education and Willamette University Professor Emerita Linda Tamura.

Western history professor Kimberly Jensen explained the historical context behind the ratification. Voting rights for women were placed on the ballot a total of six times in Oregon, more than any other state, and was finally passed in 1912, eight years prior to the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

“It was because of grassroots activism, diverse communities, and the men who voted to share the vote with women in 1912,” Jensen explained. Clubs and organizations helped to educate women on policies and legislation prior to voting. Several women became candidates for office as soon as suffrage was achieved.

Jensen expressed that, “Just as we commemorate the determined work of other Oregon women to achieve and use their voting rights, we acknowledge their part in achieving civic progress as we also understand that we must fight to protect and maintain those civic rights that they worked so hard to gain.”

Roberts, the first female governor of Oregon, reflected back to the time when women in leadership and political positions were few and far between. But now, Roberts explained, Oregon has come a long way. With five women elected to Congress, four female Secretaries of State, three women mayors of Portland and two female governors.

“We weren’t satisfied, though, with being the token woman on the school board or city council or Ways and Means Committee, or the lone woman on a court bench. We’ve worked and we have won majority status on those school boards, those city councils, and those court benches,” Roberts added, “Our votes are a value asset. We should use our votes wisely and be informed voters. And we must always remember that democracy is not a spectator sport.”

In addition to the speakers, the event included fourteen Western students that had the opportunity to capture a piece of history and create a lasting online exhibit centered on women’s voting rights. As part of Jensen’s Nineteenth Amendment Centennial in Historical Context: Oregon and Beyond class at Western, the honors students created research projects that shed light on the women’s suffrage movement and various aspects of the time period.

While the research topics ranged from international suffrage in the Philippines to Oregon legislator Sylvia Thompson, others discussed women’s suffrage closer to home. In her project titled “Normal School Extracurriculars,” sophomore Rachel Bayly explores how being involved in extracurricular activities at Oregon Normal School, now Western Oregon University, provided college women with the skills to be successful teachers and activists after leaving school. This, Bayly explained in her documents project, “gave young women from rural and working-class backgrounds an opportunity to contribute to the positive changes being made in society during the early 1900s.”

When asked what she hopes others take away from this work by students, Jensen replied: “I hope students and community members will gain knowledge about the diverse Oregon women who were part of the struggle to gain the vote, the continuing barriers to voting, and the other activist projects in which Oregonians engaged and continue to work to achieve social justice. Grassroots activism and inclusion have been keys to success in Oregon and the nation.”

For more information, view the class’s online research documents at oregonwomenshistory.org and learn more about the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment and women’s suffrage.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: oregonencyclopedia.org, Sam Dunaway

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.

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Review: “Bobby Tarantino II”

All clear, it’s time for more baseball

Anthropology student sheds light on Islam

Finding fitness through bodybuilding

Review: “Behold the Dreamers”

Let’s talk about sex

Commemorating 100 years of women’s suffrage

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