Mount Hood

Giving a voice to student concerns

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Current Western students may have noticed a recent email in their inbox from university president Rex Fuller. The email emphasized Western Oregon University values such as community, diversity and respect, and introduced the recently developed Bias Reporting Form. But what is the Bias Reporting Form and what does it mean for Western students?

The form was created as a result of a bias-related incident that occurred in Monmouth last year. The individuals involved in the incident noted that there was not a clear path that they could follow to report what had happened. The university CARE Team, a team composed of staff members from various departments, took it upon themselves to create this form in hopes that it would simplify the process of reporting bias-related incidents for students and community members.

The Bias Reporting Form can be found on the Division of Student Affairs webpage on Western’s website. Students that have experienced or heard about a bias-related incident have the opportunity to complete the form online. Within the document, there is an option to remain anonymous and list details of the incident. The CARE Team then reviews the Bias Reporting Form and finds resources for the students involved.

“That’s our primary goal: to support students,” explained Tina Fuchs, Dean of Students and CARE Team Chair. “And continue to evaluate best practices in terms of how we address issues that might be coming up on campus.”

The CARE Team is made up of individuals from several campus departments including Campus Public Safety, the Student Health and Counseling Center, Student Success and the Vice President for Student Affairs. Fuchs explained the importance of this team, stating, “This gives us an opportunity to have all of those experts come in and look at that and do the best we can to support our students. I think by bringing multiple people together to do that, we’re giving them the best opportunities. We’re responding in the best way we can.”

Fuchs explained that the name “CARE” stands for Campus Assessment, Response and Education Team. In addition to supporting student concerns, the CARE Team also gives training and presentations to students regarding working with distressed individuals and responding to information on sexual misconduct. Fuchs emphasized, “We’re not just a response team. We’re also a team that educates.”

President Fuller hopes that the bias reporting form will be an easy and accessible method of incident reporting. When asked why the form is important to have available, Fuller replied, “The process is intended to support our campus values that were reaffirmed in the recent strategic planning process. These values are community, diversity and respect. I believe that all universities, especially Western, have a sacred trust with society to be places that are safe for all members of their respective communities.”

Find the Bias Reporting Form at wou.edu/student and contact Tina Fuchs at fuchst@wou.edu for more information.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Saving cash on coffee

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

At Home

The cheapest option for starting your day with that morning cup of coffee is ultimately to make it at home. While it may not be as convenient as getting it on the go, the amount you’ll save is incredible. Think about it, you spend maybe $3 to $5 per cup when purchasing one cup of coffee. That money will add up quick.

But even when you are making it at home, there are ways to make that cheaper as well. First of all, buy beans instead of ground coffee. Whole beans stay fresh for a lot longer than ground coffee, so you’ll be able to keep them in your cupboard even longer. One trick for keeping your coffee beans or grounds fresh is to keep them in an airtight container and away from any light, heat or moisture. Avoiding those few things will keep your coffee tasting better longer, and you won’t feel like you have to throw it away too soon.

If you find yourself drinking your coffee too quickly and having to constantly buy more, you’ll find it to be a cheaper option to buy your beans in bulk. Waremart offers this, and if you live further away, you can also find it at stores such as Fred Meyer.

Make just enough coffee that you’re planning to drink. Think about how often you make a full pot of coffee, and then find yourself only having one cups worth. So much coffee has been wasted this way, so think ahead of time and make yourself one cup at a time. Or, you can opt for a french press. Not only does this allow you to regulate how much coffee you make, it gives it a more robust flavor.

That being said, if you do have leftover coffee, save it. It reheats a lot better than you’d think. You could also freeze it and make coffee ice cubes, which is perfect for if you make yourself an iced coffee or any iced drink that you’d like to kick up a notch with a little bit of java.

Perhaps you’re craving coffee that has a little more flavor than your usual drip; there are definitely some at-home options for you too. Purchasing a bottle of flavored syrup that will last you awhile costs about the same as a Frappuccino. And, it allows you to be creative and mix and match different syrups at home.

Coffee Shop

Sometimes, you simply do not have enough time to brew yourself a pot of coffee. When this happens, and you really need that kick of caffeine, most find themselves heading to their favorite coffee shop. While this can undoubtedly get expensive, there are a few key ways you can get away without spending an arm and a leg.

Order your coffee or iced drink with light ice — doing this oftentimes means you will get more beverage for your buck. Places like Dutch Bros confirms this to be true. So next time you order that iced coffee, make sure to do it with less ice — and with more caffeine, preferably.

While you’re at it, Dutch Bros also confirms that adding extra sweetener to your drink comes at no cost. If you’re worried about getting the best deal, might as well amp it up with some extra sweetness, as it won’t have any effect on your wallet.

You can also save money by purchasing your coffee on campus. Both Caffè Allegro and The Press will give you a 25 cent discount if you bring in your reusable coffee cup. While that might not seem like a lot, it can quickly add up if you’re someone who buys frequently.

Get creative with the drink you are purchasing. Sometimes, some shops will have cheaper deals of the day, why not try those? Caffè Allegro gives 25 to 50 cent discounts on their daily specials which are always changing. You can also try to mix up the drink you’re used to getting. For instance, if you like to order a grande iced white mocha at Starbucks, instead order an iced grande triple espresso with four pumps of white mocha. The first one only has two shots of espresso, and is over $4 — while the latter has three shots and is roughly $3. If you choose to get less flavor, it would be even cheaper. Try testing out different combinations like this to get the cheapest option for the same coffee taste you know and love.

And of course, you can always opt to just get a drip coffee, as they are cheapest at any shop. Then, most will supply coffee creamer you can just use for free. During the winter, I would purchase a drip coffee on campus and use the peppermint mocha creamer they had for free. It tasted just like a peppermint mocha, only it was $2 cheaper.

Contact the author at chealy16@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Dear Ezi

 

Dear Lazy is the New Black,

Oooo kitty friend! I get you! Senioritis is real, heck even Google Docs recognizes it as a word! I’m not sure if senioritis is what you are experiencing but it sashays on to folks hard during winter term! I know the best way you can combat that is just forcing yourself to start something — other than a new show on Netflix — and stick to it. Once you start something don’t stop till you have a good portion of it done! Starting something is honestly the hardest part, once you get passed that things may be easier!

There are also more complicated things that could be at play, if you feel comfortable I’d make an appointment at the counseling center! If you are a full-time student it is free! The ole’ brain wranglers over there can help with many mental things! They are wonderful and they could help you better than this humble drag queen could ever. I am trained in death drops and lipsync; they are trained in all the things that go on in the old wig holder!

There is no perfect option for anyone, but for some people once they get motivated they don’t stop. Try bribing yourself with coffee or your treat of choice. The caffeine and sugar can help give you energy to do things! Best of luck my dear!

Ezi

P.S Once you get some stuff done you should watch Grace and Frankie, it’s great! BUT only after you get your stuff done.

P.S.S. I am serious!!!

 

Got a question that you’re dying to ask Ezi? Send them to chealy16@wou.edu.

The people behind the people that changed the world

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Clever, complex and filled to the brim with emotion: prepare for a journey through time in Western’s newest production, “The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence.”

The play, written by playwright Madeleine George, centers around four different characters named Watson: the supercomputer that became a “Jeopardy!” champion, Sherlock Holmes’s faithful sidekick, Alexander Graham Bell’s assistant who helped build the first telephone and a modern-day computer repairman on the search for companionship.

Senior and Bachelor of Fine Arts student Stephen Nielson portrays all four Watsons throughout the show. When asked what his favorite thing about this show is, Nielson commented, “This show is really cool to me because it’s this story about wanting to be helpful … It’s very fun to be able to use me as a starting point for a character like Watson, who is so weird and varied.”

Modern-day Josh Watson is hired by a local politician Frank Merrick, played by sophomore Bill Evans, to spy on Merrick’s ex-wife Eliza, portrayed by sophomore Selena Moreno. The stalking quickly turns into an emotional love affair between Eliza and Watson.

The play consistently jumps from 2011 modern America to 1889 Victorian England where another Eliza meets Sherlock Holmes’s trusty sidekick, John Watson. A third timeline in 1931 involves a radio interview between a third Eliza and Alexander Graham Bell’s assistant, Thomas Watson, on the invention of the telephone. The complex storyline ties three centuries together and makes the audience consider the underlying characteristics that make us all human.

“This show is about the people behind the people who change the world,” Director and senior Western student Matthew Miller explained.

Working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts in technical theatre, Miller is passionate about directing. “Directing is a weird art. It’s different from painting where you just do the thing by itself and people see it. With this, you are taking other peoples art and making sure it all fits together in the best possible way. It’s kind of like a giant puzzle.”

Miller described his favorite thing about this show: the hidden heros. “We look at Thomas Watson, who assisted Alexander Graham Bell in the invention of the telephone. And John Watson who is Sherlock Holmes’s fictional assistant. Everyone knows who Graham Bell is, not everyone knows how important Watson was to that. As someone who usually works behind the scenes and doesn’t get seen the same way actors do, this show speaks to me on that level.”

“The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence” will be performed at Rice Auditorium on Feb. 8, 9, and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 10. An interpreted performance is on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The show runs about two and a half hours long and is $8 for students, $14 for general admission and $10 for seniors, faculty and staff.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Review: “I Like Fun”

Darien Campo | Designer

Why is the world in love again? Why are we marching hand in hand? The ambassadors of love have brought us a brand new record for 2018: They Might Be Giants brand new album “I Like Fun.”

John and John’s 20th studio album further cements their place as one of rock’s most delightfully eclectic bands. While usually “experimental” music is confrontationally so, the Giants have spent over 30 years perfecting their own unique flavor of songwriting that invites listeners as much as it intrigues them.

The opening track title, “Let’s Get This Over With,” almost feels like the mission statement for the record. From the first note the Giants hook us with those catchy piano chords and bring us through a 15-track journey of non-stop pop energy with no filler tracks left. Each song sounds equally and lovingly crafted as if it were the lead single. And honestly, most any of these tracks could work as the single, the songwriting quality never seems to dip at any point as most pop records tend to do — usually around the 66 percent mark of the record.

“All Time What” proves once again that John Flansburgh secretly wants to be in a pop-punk band. “Lake Monsters” ends in one of the catchiest refrains about mass hypnosis ever written. “By the Time You Get This,” a letter to the future, is my favorite track on the album. I’ve never heard a song before that can inspire equal parts feelings of positivity and utter defeat. The record starts with high energy and carries that through for 13 songs until “The Greatest,” which is the first breather we get. The song feels like a Damon Albarn pastiche, and Flansburgh’s vocals perfectly capture that quiet power. The bizarre music video starring Nick Offerman is well worth the watch.

It wasn’t until the chorus of “Last Wave,” the final track, that I realized what a morbid record I had just listened to. I immediately spun the album a second time to discover the grim themes and lyrics that had been hidden by bright and poppy instrumentation.

“I Like Fun” follows in the path of previous Giants records like “Mink Car” and “The Else” with its relentlessly catchy songwriting masking darker lyrical tones. This is my favorite Giants record since 2013’s “Nanobots.” The only issue I had with the three albums that came out compiling their 2015 Dial-a-Song tracks is the lack of cohesion within the album. “I Like Fun” tells a cohesive, though esoteric, story that brings the record together into one full piece.

If you’ve never listened to the Giants before, they have once again cut a record that is just as good a place to start as any other. They are a persistently memorable and haunting songwriting duo, unmatched in their unique sound and always outdoing themselves. “I Like Fun” is a record full of love, fear and pop that feels “complete, completely, completelier.”

Contact the author at dcampo13@wou.edu

Photo by: theymightbegiants.com

A family tree of podcasts

Stephanie Blair | Staff Writer

In 2010, three brothers sat down to make a podcast in order to stay in regular contact after two of them moved a couple states away. The podcast: “My Brother, My Brother and Me.” The hosts: Justin, Travis and Griffin McElroy.

Fast-forward to 2018, the McElroys have established an enormous audience and created dozens of podcasts. Mainly playing on their comedic skills, the brothers have toured around the country multiple times, gotten a shoutout in the lyrics of Hamilton and garnered an audience of thousands upon thousands.

And while their main show is a comedy/advice show, the McElroy family of products has something for everyone. For a sampling of their shows, read on.

“Sawbones”

If you’ve ever wondered how we figured out that we should use mold to treat an STI, this show is for you. In this podcast, Dr. Sydnee McElroy takes her husband Justin and their listeners through “all the odd, weird, wrong, dumb and just gross ways we’ve tried to fix people over the years.” She’s smart and he’s funny, you get to laugh, learn and cringe — that’s the show. As just a taste, a scientist once drank cholera-filled poop water in the name of science and that’s not the grossest thing they’ll tell you about.

“Bunker Buddies”

Lots of people worry about what they’ll do after an apocalypse, but few make a weekly podcast discussing it. “Bunker Buddies,” is hosted by Travis McElroy and Andie Bolt and, as their show summary says, “they’re not preppers, they’re comedians” which lends the podcast some levity in the face of a grave subject. For people who like practical information and like to worry about everything, this show may prove cathartic. Some potential apocalypse scenarios that Travis and Andie have covered are: an alien invasion, a robot uprising, the Rapture and the sun suddenly disappearing and leaving the world in an eternal night.

“Wonderful!”

Each week, for a little under an hour, Griffin and Rachel McElroy take turns sharing things they find to be wonderful. There is no other criteria for what can be featured, which has resulted in albums, poems and french fries being shared. It’s a show about enthusiasm and positivity and because the two record this podcast while their infant son sleeps, their voices tend to be lowered which is quite soothing. Whether you’re into ASMR, looking for something to fall asleep to or just enjoy positive conversation, this is the show for you. It’s really wonderful!

“The Adventure Zone”

The premise of this show is a little harder to convey; it’s a podcast where the McEl-brothers play Dungeons and Dragons with their dad, but it’s not even a little bit about playing Dungeons and Dragons. Through the development of the show and the relationships that the hosts play on while making decisions in-game, the Boys made a story that captured their biggest audience yet. If you don’t know anything about D and D — perfect. At the beginning, neither do they. Get ready to cry about high fantasy characters and their tragic backstories.

Contact the author at sblair13@wou.edu

Photos by: Maximumfun.org

The unfortunate reality of TV show revivals

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Have you ever watched the ending of a TV show and craved more? Do you watch shows from twenty years ago and wonder what life in that universe would be like now? Curiosity and desire are common occurrences, and this innate craving for more is what leads television industries to continue on with a previously established plotline. This is known as a revival.

In theory, revivals sound amazing. Your favorite TV show that you’ve seen a thousand times, only new and improved? Yes, please. Unfortunately, the reality of TV show revivals is far from that.

There is one thing that drives our desire for classic TV show revivals: nostalgia. Ever wonder what happened to the Tanner family after the end of season eight of “Full House”? Bring on “Fuller House.” Dying to see more drama surrounding Lorelai and Rory in “Gilmore Girls”? Cue the miniseries on Netflix. Does your love for the 90’s classic “Boy Meets World” ever lead you to wonder how Topanga and Cory survive through their adult years? Perfect, you can watch their kids carry on the hilarious hijinks in “Girl Meets World.”

But the problem with nostalgia is that we can’t go back in time and continue the series where it left off just for our viewing pleasure. Instead, revivals are often filmed decades after the original with a fraction of the original cast and often completely different writers. Our heart still tells us that it’ll be the same, and it almost never is.

A major problem that I have with revivals is the lack of consideration for the storyline itself. You mean we can make a revival of “Roseanne” with almost the entire cast and people will go crazy for it? Then why not? Pay no mind to the fact that the father, Dan, died at the end of the original series. We’ll hope people forget about that and bring him back for the revival. Everybody wins.

One of the most disappointing examples of a failed revival is season four of “Arrested Development.” Fans were heartbroken when the series was cut off after three seasons, so a revival was what diehard fans craved. It was announced that all 15 episodes of season four would premiere as a Netflix Original in 2013, and it was far from what fans expected. The subtle, oddball and perfectly crafted humor of the first three seasons was nowhere to be found in season four. Instead the humor felt overdone and fell flat.

“Fuller House” was a revival that had a lot of promise. The fans of the original series dealt with the cheesy life lessons and dramatic narratives because it was a family-friendly hit. I spent many afternoons growing up alongside the Tanner daughters and laughing at the classic plotlines. You’d think a revival with the family back together again would be great, right? Not exactly. The once cute daughters are now adults, and their dimples and “you got it, dudes” are not enough to make up for their lack of depth. The show tries way too hard to be modern, with jokes about selfies, Donald Trump and constant references to the Olsen twins’s absence. Honestly, the only thing “Fuller House” has going for it is that John Stamos is still nice to look at. You win some, you lose some.

Rumor has it that NBC has plans to bring back “The Office,” premiering in the 2018-2019 season. As someone who watches “The Office” nearly every day, I have a special place in my heart for Dunder Mifflin. The best part of my day is watching Jim play pranks on Dwight, witnessing Michael and Holly’s love unfold and learning more and more about the mystery that is Creed Bratton. But a revival of “The Office” is the absolute last thing I want. Yes, it would be amazing to have the cast all together again. But more likely than not, it’s going to be a select few actors that haven’t found much else to do in the past five years and a bunch of other people that we don’t know. The show will probably have different writers as well, so the witty humor that I once loved will probably be disappointingly different. And honestly, who even enjoys the end of the series after Michael leaves? No one. The revival is more than likely going to be another season nine. Do we really need that in our life?

If your favorite TV show is getting a revival, I wish you all the luck in the world. But my advice would be to re-watch old seasons and continue imagining life after the finale without actually having to watch it.

Contact the author at sedunaway13@wou.edu

Photo by:fullhouse.wikia.com, netflix.com

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