Mount Hood

Lights, camera, action: New video production club comes to Western

Byron Kimball | Freelancer

Tuesday nights at the Richard Woodcock Education Center might involve mastering a dolly or finagling with lighting — at least for students attending Film School by Q-Loop Productions.

Q-Loop, the College of Education’s video production team, opened its doors in spring 2017. Film School, run by Q-Loop production team members, began this winter.

Film School was the brainchild of sophomore Andy McDonald, who wanted to help aspiring film students at Western find a casual place to explore their interest in video production. Students who attend Film School experience anything from learning basic filming and production terminology to actually working on video projects.

McDonald is quick to stress that students of all skill levels, even those who have never really handled a camera before, are welcome to join in.

“My goal is to keep it fun. It’s never just like a class but, hopefully, you end up learning a lot,” explains McDonald. McDonald has been involved with Q-Loop since spring 2017, during the team’s initial inception. Hailing from a production background, advisor Mary Bucy describes him as “just the person we needed” to join the team.

Bucy, who spearheaded the development of the Q-Loop team in order to make use of the Richard Woodcock Education Center’s new video production lab, remains optimistic about the directions both Q-Loop and Film School are primed to take. “It’s an exciting opportunity for students and a great resource for faculty. I can’t wait to see this grow over the next year,” says Bucy.

Students who have visions of working in film after graduation ideally leave film school meetings with a deeper understanding about how the film industry works. “We’re working as though we’re in Hollywood and we’re using their sort of language,” explains McDonald. “That way, if you want to go to Film School, you’ll hopefully be able to apply those skills directly to Hollywood.”

“We have a lot of repeats that come back every week and they really enjoy being able to talk about film in a way that’s not just with the roommate,” says McDonald.

Interested students can check out Film School meetings every Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. in RWEC 129.

Contact the author at bkimball16@wou.edu

Photo by: wou.edu

Review: “Ugly Delicious”

Caitlyn Nakatsukasa | Freelancer

The word ‘food’ is sure to capture my attention whether I see pictures of it on social media or physically up close and personal. That is why Netflix’s new food-focused travel series “Ugly Delicious” undoubtedly seized my interest and increased my excitement for their anticipated release date on Feb. 23.

This show is about award-winning chef David Chang teaming up with director and producer Morgan Neville and food writer Peter Meehan to travel across the world and explore the different types of food and the cultural insights behind the food’s value. Each episode has a different food theme that Chang and his crew apply to different countries —  they try and see how each of the countries interpret the dish and cook it in a way that represents their culture.

Rather than giving cooking lessons and showing how food should be made, they listen to stories and the history behind how restaurants make their dishes and what makes each piece stand out from a traditional dish. The show depicts how people categorize different dishes to a specific country and establish a certain meaning behind them because of where they originated from. Chang and his crew work together to tackle the culinary stereotypes and see how they use their local ingredients and methods of cooking to create the themed food in their perspective.

I found this show to be quite interesting, as it wasn’t what I was expecting. I was expecting to see more on how different restaurants around the globe cook their authentic dishes. The show mostly focuses on the importance of the dish and how it can relate to everyone whether the food derived from that area or not. “Ugly Delicious” also gave me insight regarding how these other restaurateurs and cooks think when they create the food and how it led to the business’s success. Each episode also lets you get to know Chef Chang a little better. His candid jokes and remarks made scenes more compelling and his snobby attitude made me want to watch more so I could see what he had to say about the dishes he tried.

Throughout the episodes, he meets with celebrities such as actor Aziz Ansari and television host Jimmy Kimmel to try food with them. Their conversations are amusing because of their humorous comments and their insights regarding what they think of the food. It’s interesting to find these celebrities in a different genre of entertainment because I’m so used to seeing them in their own shows.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed “Ugly Delicious” because it highlights cultural contrasts and new facts about food. I found it entertaining how an Australian restaurant can make similar version of Italy’s acquired dish using Australian ingredients and culinary knowledge and vice versa. I’m amazed at the abundance of different alterations people can make for one dish and with it still being a huge hit.

I would definitely recommend “Ugly Delicious” if you’re a person that wants to learn more about different food around the world and listen to the personal stories behind them, or if you just love food like me and enjoy watching anything related to food. I also recommend grabbing some food to eat after watching this — you’re more than likely to get hungry and crave the foods you’ll see in these episodes.

Contact the author at cnakatsukasa15@wou.edu

Photo by: netflix.com

Indoor track and field stretch toward the finish

Simson Garcia | Sports Editor

The last rounds of NCAA final provisional qualifier marks, three in all, were picked up by Western’s track and field team on Feb. 24. Six personal records as well as a few changes to the school record books were also accomplished in the team’s visit to Dempsey Field in Seattle, Washington.
Two mile runners took advantage of the last chance qualifier as sophomore Justin Crosswhite and senior Nicole Maurmann reached provisional times. Crosswhite ran to a time of 4:08.79 in the men’s mile, while Maurmann finished the women’s mile with a 4:58.94 mark. Crosswhite’s run now places him fifth all-time among Western mile runners.
Senior Kennedy Rufener added more provisional qualifier times to her indoor season. After finishing first with a provisional qualifier in the 5k at Dempsey on Feb. 9, she returned to not only another provisional qualifier and win in the indoor 3k, but to a record breaking pace. Rufener broke her former school record with a new benchmark of 9:46.27.
Sprinting to the finish in the 200 meters, senior Aaron Whitaker took third for the men and attained a personal record of 22.49. And two more Wolves distanced the 200 as senior Sara Madden ran to her PR of 27.45 while first-year Michaela Yonkman passed the finish line in 27.7, also a PR.
Within the boundary that was the track, the field saw sophomore Mariah Gronbach weight throw to a career best of 16.72m (54.10ft), a measure that placed her second on the Wolf all-time list.
Ahead in track and field’s calendar is the Erik Anderson Memorial Icebreaker and the Willamette Opener, the first two outdoor events of the year, which will be ran from March 2-3.
The NCAA DII Indoor National Championships will be a week after, from March 10-11, and will take place in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

Photo by: wouwolves.com

Curriculum changes coming this fall

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Western is currently the only public university in Oregon that requires a minor for all students. However, beginning fall 2018, many students will have the opportunity to opt out of a minor while still working toward obtaining 180 credits.

This policy was proposed and approved by Faculty Senate, a representative group of faculty members who oversee the development of curriculum and strive to improve the learning environment for Western students.

The proposal for this policy change stated that required minors place a burden on many students, particularly transfer students, exploratory majors and individuals with military credit. Minors can create a barrier to graduation in four years and often result in students taking more than the required 180 credits.

Erin Baumgartner, senator and professor of biology, explained that the minor was created so that students can build a broad foundation of knowledge in multiple subject areas. But according to the policy change proposal, less than 40 percent of Western student graduates from 2013 to 2016 minored in a field that was significantly different from their major.

“The minor was no longer doing what we originally intended it to do,” commented Baumgartner.

Have no fear — minors aren’t completely going away. Instead, specific majors within departments will decide whether or not to keep a required minor for their students. Other students may choose to declare a minor if they wish. Students without a minor must still complete 180 credits for graduation, but they have more flexibility in the classes they choose to take.

“For many students, they are now going to have access to a set of credits that previously would’ve been part of a required minor,” Baumgartner explained. “A lot of students may still choose to do a minor … Now, they have a little bit more autonomy in making that choice.”

This policy change doesn’t only affect incoming freshman. All Western students have the choice to switch to the 2018 catalog year requirements by filling out a form in the registrar’s office. This may allow upperclass students to opt out of a previously required minor.

The committee hopes that this change will be positive for students.

“No one will delay their graduation because they didn’t finish minor requirements,” Faculty Senate Vice President Paul Disney remarked.

Baumgartner mentioned, “I think all of us are going to reexamine our minors and think about — What are we offering in these minors that will really be meaningful and attractive to students and really add value to their degrees? … It gives us a chance to reflect and engage in that continuous improvement that’s really important to offering the best possible programs we can.”

For more information, contact Faculty Senate President Adele Schepige at schepia@wou.edu.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Care guide for winter skin

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

As the high temperature of the day in Monmouth remains consistently around the mid-40s, this can lead to the inconvenience known all too well by many: winter skin. The chilly weather plays a large part in the way our skin feels and looks, which can often lead to incredible discomfort and displeasure. For that reason, it’s important that during this time of year we put extra effort into making sure we are taking proper care of the skin we’re in.

Think about your daily skin routine if you have one. There are some changes you might want to consider making to it. And if you don’t have a skin routine, now is an important time to pick one up. How often do you exfoliate your skin? During this time of year, if you have particularly dry skin, you might want to consider lessening it or stopping altogether.

“Exfoliate less than you would normally,” Dr. Michele Farber, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group, noted on huffingtonpost.com, “because your skin barrier is going to be a little bit compromised because of the dryness and the cold air.”

On top of that, make sure you’re using gentle products on your face and body. As often as many enjoy using ultra-fragranced products, they can wreak havoc on your skin. Your best bet is to opt for something more gentle and bland, and stray from any heavily scented soaps or moisturizers. Foaming soaps are great as they don’t strip moisture away from the skin.

Your shower routine can also have negative effects on the skin. If you choose to take overly hot showers, the hot water will evaporate very quickly. Because of this, you need to moisturize your skin immediately after, otherwise the water will actually dehydrate your skin — this can be painful and lead to dry patches. Also, do not go outside right after showering or washing your hands. Make sure you’re completely dry, otherwise your skin will chap.

Finally, make sure you’re moisturizing properly. After you shower, you should pat your skin dry, then apply a thicker moisturizer that is higher in oil content while your skin is still damp. Again, avoid fragrances as they can irritate or further dry out the skin. And make sure you don’t go overboard on how much you use, as your skin can become dependent on it and won’t work to maintain its own natural hydration.

Contact the author at chealy16@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Bringing eastern Texas to Western Oregon

Stephanie Blair | Staff Writer

On March 1, the “nicest little whorehouse you ever did see” will be open to the public at Rice Auditorium. Under the direction of dance professor Sharon Oberst, actors and techs have been preparing Western’s production of “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” a Tony Award-winning musical best known for the 1982 film adaptation.

The show, both wild and western, tells the story of conservative ideals battling it out against a century of tradition in Texas. After popular television personality Melvin P. Thrope, portrayed by junior BFA acting major Nicholas Hulscher, condemns a whorehouse, the town goes into a frenzy. Some trying to close it, others fighting to keep it open.

At the center of the conflict is brothel-owner Miss Mona — the iconic role portrayed by Dolly Parton in 1982, here played by Lindsay Spear — and the abiding Sheriff Dodd, who regular attendees of Western theater will recognize as senior BFA acting major Gabriel Elmore. It seems like a simple plot, but the two-hour long production tackles a number of themes.

“This show is much more than it presents itself to be. There are societal overtones to it which I believe are still prevalent today,” said Elmore. “The deep-seated tragedy of watching something unfold before your very eyes, knowing damn well that there’s nothing you can do to stop it, is something which isn’t addressed in everyday life.”

The musical is still primarily a comedy, however, and a mature one, at that. Parents who are unfamiliar with the show may wish to see it before bringing their children. On the doors of Rice Auditorium, signs can be found warning of adult themes, including alcohol use, strong language and mild sexual content, in stereotypical Texan language: “Howdy y’all! This here show has some cussin’ and some rootin’ tootin’ shootin’ in it. There’s a piddlin’ of hop juice an a tad bit of spoonin’ and carryin on.”

From the 26-person cast to the box office workers, the set builders to the costume crew, the amount of work put into the production gives the show a feeling of authenticity and passion in every detail.

“I love musicals, and it’s been wonderful to have a chance to get to know some people and create some really gorgeous music with them,” said Hulscher. “A lot of work went into this show from a lot of different people, and I really hope anyone who comes to the show can see how much effort was put into it.”

Elmore echoed that sentiment, saying: “The amount of work that the ensemble has to put into a show like this is obscenely difficult, and every second counts. To watch them push themselves past what they thought possible is a wonderfully beautiful experience.”

The show opens on March 1, and continues through the week until Saturday with performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4 will have a matinee at 2 p.m. and then the schedule returns to normal, with March 7 through 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office in person, or by calling the office at 503-838-8462 or emailing boxoffice@wou.edu. General admission is $14; senior citizens receive a discount, making their tickets $10; and students can purchase tickets for $8 with ID.

With eight performances slated and a 600-seat house, there is plenty of opportunity to see the musical, however purchasing tickets in advance is always advised. It’s also worth noting that, though the next two main-stage productions are dance-centric, this is the only musical of the year.

 

Contact the author at sblair13@wou.edu

Photos by: Paul F. Davis

Lacrosse and rugby get two big wins

Simson Garcia | Sports Editor

The Wolves won big, then bigger, as Western’s men’s rugby and lacrosse teams outperformed their competition after picking up a few wins in the month of February. Rugby not only won, but trounced Oregon State, 41-12, on Feb. 17, while lacrosse jumped on San Jose State and put them down, 24-9, on Feb. 18.
Lacrosse added to the momentum with two more wins the following week, from Feb. 24-25, with another blowout victory versus Pacific Lutheran University, 30-7, and an 18-12 outcome against the University of Portland.
After many forfeits and weather postponements, rugby finally got their season back up and running. They faced a familiar foe as the Beavers defeated them back on Nov. 11, for the only Wolves loss on the season.

“As a team we’re extremely happy with the outcome. It’s always our biggest game because Oregon State has been our rivals for many years,” said junior back Dominic Akina. “It’s a good feeling beating a DI school, but we had to look at it as another game on our schedule.”
Whenever and against whoever, the team according to Akina, was just relieved to play in full contact again and it showed in the first five minutes of the game. The team created a turnover off a huge defensive play, transitioned that into offense, and off senior back Ryan King’s run, created a gap in the defense that allowed for Akina to score the first try.
Energized afterwards, the game became more physical with big hits throughout. What was supposed to deter the Wolves rather fed them momentum that transferred into try after try.

“Our forwards played really well, made huge stops, and caused game changing turnovers,” said Akina. “With those turnovers, our offense, forwards and backs, moved the ball very well. Our forwards created space for the backs to run the ball.”
With the win, Western’s club is now 5-1 on the season, and will wait a few weeks before playing their next game on March 17 against Southern Oregon University.
Lacrosse faced off with San Jose for their first game of the season on Feb. 18. The team thought it was going to be neck and neck and had a big week of preparation prior. But as they took the field, they became primed and ready. The Wolves rapidly put up four goals before the Spartans could initiate their offense and kept their foot down on the Spartans.
Juniors Andrew Barnett, an attackman, and Alex Eidler, a midfielder, were a common one-two punch in the first half as the duo connected on four goals to add to a first half score of 13-2. The game was over even as Western relentlessly scored more goals, but Western didn’t let loose and the scoring continued into their second game against Pacific Lutheran University.

Western leaped to a 14-1 lead and the Lutes were no match for the Wolves’s offense as they had many shots on goal and made most of them en route to a 30-7 victory. Barnett broke the school record for points (15) with eight goals and seven assists.
Barnett kept it going in the third game against Portland scoring two quick goals but Portland wasn’t the team they faced the day before as the game was tick for tack going into the third quarter at 9-8. But a 10-3 upheaval run by the Wolves ended affairs.
The 3-0 lacrosse team now looks forward to their next game against Central Washington which will be played on March 3. Face off begins at 3 p.m.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

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