Lake Larsen, Author at The Western Howl

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Here’s a fact that many of us know far too well: college is not cheap. For many, the stress of being a full-time student can be far too heavy to even consider finding a side job. And for those who have a job as well as being a student, sometimes you still don’t feel like you have enough money in the bank to live comfortably.

Luckily, being a college student allows for some opportunities to make money that are fairly low commitment. While nothing can come incredibly easy, there are ways that you can still make some cash without the stress of working hours every week. Choosing to take up any of these options allows you to focus on being a student first and lets you leave some of your financial stress behind.

-Be a note-taker in your classes, if applicable. You’ll already be there; doing this forces you to really pay attention to the lectures and jot things down. Not only will you be making money, but you’ll do better in school. You can apply in the Office of Disabilities.

-Sell things online. I’m not saying to sell everything you own, but think about what you have that you never use. Or, you could even buy things second-hand and resell it for profit.

-Tutor. Are you really good at your major? You can make money by helping others reach the skill level you are at. For more information and to apply, contact the Student Success and Advising Office.

-Babysit/petsit. Living in a college town, it can be hard to remember that we do live in a city where many families live. Many parents would love to hire a trustworthy and qualified college student versus an unqualified high school student.

-Freelance writing. Here at the paper, we would love to have talented writers share their voice; for more information feel free to contact me or any staff member.

-Use your talents. Can you knit? Sew? Paint? Are you good at making signs? People will pay for handmade, quality products. Start small by selling to people you know, and eventually you could branch out to different customers.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

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Review: “The Post”

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

Before going to see the film, I had heard relatively nothing about “The Post” or the Pentagon Papers scandal that it follows. Regardless, the film was an engaging and empowering political thriller that boasted impeccable acting.

The film follows the publisher and executive editor of The Washington Post — Katherine Graham, played by Meryl Streep, and Ben Bradlee, played by Tom Hanks — as they try and play catch-up with The New York Times in an effort to expose Vietnam era U.S. war secrets. Before The Washington Post can obtain enough evidence to write their own articles about the secrets, President Nixon tries to shut The New York Times’s articles down.

The release of this film couldn’t have come at a better time; “The Post” felt like an homage to the free press. The movie pits The Washington Post and The New York Times against each other, emphasizing The Washington Post’s involvement and stifling The New York Times’s. Though this made for a more intense and dramatic storyline, it felt unjust. I loved the sense of journalistic fervor presented throughout the storyline.

For the greater part of this film, I was ready for Spielberg to blow it with Graham’s character. True story or not, I almost resigned myself to the fact that Streep’s character would be lessened to the part of frail, flighty woman and that her male counterparts would have to intervene to save the paper. However, instead I witnessed an incredibly moving comeback. Streep could play publishers for the rest of her career and I would be content; her depiction of Graham was incredibly moving.

Hanks was extraordinary in his role as well; his character is driven and unrelenting.

One of my favorite things in “The Post” was the underlying sense of female empowerment. It would’ve been easy to make Graham the only speaking female role. However, the movie is powdered with minor female characters that emphasize Graham as a role model to women.

“The Post” was fantastic. It isn’t the type of movie that will keep you thinking about it for days after you see it. That being said, it’s memorable, it’s engaging and the acting is incredible.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

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Western welcomes Celtic music

Nikita Williams | Freelancer

On Jan. 13, musicians Eric Rigler, Dirk Freymuth and Kira Ott held an exciting and high energy concert as part of Western’s Smith Fine Arts Series.

Rigler and Freymuth had just come back from their 2017 PBS TV special “Celtic Journeys: Songs and Soundtracks,” where they created a musical panorama of the Celtic spirit and energy that revealed parts of the Celtic culture.Together, the three musicians played wonderful music from Ireland and Scotland as well as music from the movies “Braveheart” and “Titanic.”

Rigler is a legendary bagpipes player and has played in movie soundtracks such as “Braveheart,” “Titanic,” “Men in Black 3” and “Cinderella Man.” He has performed on “The Tonight Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” as well as other TV shows.

In addition to being a professor at Western, Freymuth is also a gifted player in guitar, lute, baroque mandolin and viola da gamba.

Ott is one of the most in-demand musicians of the Celtic scene in Los Angeles, California. Ott teaches, performs and records traditional Irish fiddle.

During “Celtic Journeys: Songs and Soundtracks,” Rigler played Irish Uilleann pipes, Scottish small pipes and whistles; Freymuth played acoustic guitars; and Ott played the fiddle. During the concert, both Rigler and Freymuth noted how much they enjoyed using a looping pedal both while recording traditional Celtic music and while playing it live. It was amazing to see something so intricate being played on the Rice Auditorium stage.

The concert was high energy, fast-paced and interesting to watch. All three performers had an amazing on-stage connection with each other. Their movements while playing their instruments and their enthusiasm after the show had finished were evidence for how much each performer loved the music they played. It displayed their love of Celtic music and happiness in sharing it with the audience.

Rigler, Freymuth and Ott played with energy and enthusiasm — you could see their passion for this type of music. With a packed show and such wonderful music being played, it was truly a night to remember. The next show in the Smith Fine Arts series show is “Grégoire Maret: The Gospel According to Grégoire Maret,” on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.

Contact the author at nwilliams15@wou.edu

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Low-key shows to stream

Michelle Bonilla | Freelancer

“The OA”

When a young woman returns home after having been missing for the past seven years it becomes a joyous event for the once small town who have all but assumed her dead. However, everyone is shocked once they discover that the once missing blind girl who lived down the street has regained her sight. Her parents and the FBI plead for her to tell them about her disappearance but she just won’t talk. This trippy sci-fi show will have you questioning faith and reality as your mind reals to discover who is telling the truth and why are they lying.

“Castlevania”

She showed him kindness and love and they burned her at the stake. Inspired by the classic video game series by the same name, take a journey into this animated series in a midlevel land called Wallachia. The legendary Count Dracula takes his vengeance upon the town that brutally murdered and falsely accused his beloved wife. He unleashes an army of monsters upon the land and the only ones who can stop him is a disgraced demon hunter a magician and his exiled son. This show has a perfect mixture of dark humor and drama that perfectly in captures this gritty tale of vengeance and bloodshed if you like movies like Nosferatu and Berserk then you will have very high regards for “Castlevania.”

“Frontier”

Jason Momoa from “Game of Thrones” shines in this gritty and intense historical drama series as he plays a part-Irish, part-Cree outlaw named Declan Harp. Harp goes head to head against the Hudson Bay Company and their monopolization of the fur trade within the Canadian borders. Declan Harp is a smart and dangerous fur trader with a dark and mysterious past who enlist the help of an Irish pauper who doubles as a spy for both Harp and the english soldier in the New world. If you enjoy TV shows like “Outlander,” “Viking” and “Penny Dreadful,” then you will love Frontier.

North and South

“North and South” is a British television series based upon the Elizabeth Gaskell’s Victorian novel by the same name. The show follows a young woman named Margaret Hale as her and her family leave the quaint countryside in the south of England after her father leaves the church and moves up into the industrial city in the north. The family struggles to adjust themselves socially especially after they meet a predominant family known as the Thornton’s who own a successful cotton mill within the city. Margret is faced with many issues facing gender, class and social expectations. However, her feelings for the town’s people seem to clash with her unknown attraction towards the cold young bachelor Mr. Thornton, the owner of the mill. If you have ever enjoyed films like “Jane Eyre,” “Pride and Prejudice” or “Anne of Green Gables” then you will enjoy this romantic series that proudly features a strong female lead who is not afraid to question society and all of it’s injustices.

Contact the author at mbonilla17@wou.edu

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New club aspires for inclusivity

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Western offers over 60 clubs and organizations that students can choose to be involved in. These clubs are created and led by students to enrich the college experience. The newest organization on campus is the Western Oregon University Democrats club, whose purpose is to give all students a place to express their political views and raise awareness of political issues at the local, state and national levels.

After transferring to Western from Chemeketa Community College, senior political science major Steve Bell hoped to find a Democrats organization on campus.

“I noticed that there was a very strong Republican club,” Bell noted. “There’s also a really nice foundation of students that want to get involved that don’t have that outlet, if they have more of a Democrat minded perspective.”

Bell decided to take matters into his own hands and begin the process of starting an organization on campus. Collaborating with political science majors Rubi Tapia and Cristian Urzua, the students founded the club as a project for a civic engagement class. All three individuals have a background in political science, including internships with elected officials and student government positions.

When asked why this club is important, Urzua replied, “I feel like the club comes in handy in allowing students of any view to join in and speak their minds and get engaged on campus. That is part of the college experience.”

According to OrgSync, the purpose of the organization is to promote the principles of the Democratic Party, assist in the functioning of the Democratic Party at all levels of government and help its members develop political and leadership skills.

The club, which meets Fridays at 1 p.m. in the Rogue room of the Werner University Center, is an open space for everyone to share opinions and ideas.

“We are not exclusively just Democrats,” Urzua emphasized. “We accept every different political view. We’re open to deliberation, discussion and debate and we welcome everyone. Just because it says WOU Democrats, doesn’t mean it’s just Democrats.”

Find more information about the Western Oregon University Democrats on OrgSync.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

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Senator Ron Wyden addresses Polk County concerns

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

One individual asked the senator what citizens could do if the Over 200 citizens of Polk County gathered on Jan. 13 for a public town hall meeting with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. Wyden, who has a reputation for listening to the concerns of all Oregonians, holds town hall meetings in each of Oregon’s 26 counties every year.

The Senator has been representing Oregon first in the U.S. House of Representatives and then in the U.S. Senate for a total of 37 years. He holds a ranking member position on the Finance Committee, the leading Senate Democrat on the Joint Committee on Taxation, and a member of the Selection Committee on Intelligence and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Polk County citizens were given the opportunity to have their voices heard and questions answered in the course of the afternoon. Many questions were regarding the state of the federal government and proposed policy changes by the Trump administration.

Concerns were stated from multiple citizens about the deportation of DACA recipients if the DREAM Act is not passed. Wyden expressed support for the DREAMers, explaining, “You meet with these students and you just walk away with a near breathtaking judgment that they represent all things that we like young people to be spending their time on: working their heads off to get good marks, helping their families, career interests that will clearly benefit all of us.” Wyden emphasized. “We are a better and stronger country because of immigration.”

One citizen asked a question about where the Selection Committee on Intelligence stands on investigating collusion in the 2016 election process. Wyden replied, “Our committee is supposed to tell the story of how the Russians, in effect, undermined our democracy… A big part of what our committee should be doing is not getting done.” He went on to explain that the investigation is one of his priorities as a ranking member of the committee. “I am committed to staying at this, and I will say here today at Western as I’ve said around the state, I am your guy on the Senate Intelligence Committee and on my watch this investigation is not going to get swept under the rug.”

Concerns were expressed about the offshore drilling proposed on the Oregon Coast. “I’ve been part of a group of about 35 senators that have made it clear that we’re going to fight this arbitrary politically hotwired process,” Wyden commented. “In terms of our land, air, and water, this is really big stakes stuff for Oregon. Once you sell off your treasures to exploiters, you don’t get them back.”

y are concerned about issues that affect them. Wyden responded that calling senators is an effective way to have your voice heard. “Always remember that those contacts, particularly something like a phone call, really make the difference,” Wyden offered. “Finding an issue where you have a particular interest and you can, in effect, educate others… Political change is not trickle-down. It’s bottoms-up. I really encourage you to be out and talking about what’s important to you.”

Visit wyden.senate.gov for more information on Sen. Ron Wyden and a schedule of upcoming Town Hall meetings.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

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Accepting the flow of new gym-goers

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

With the start of the new year, you can count on a few things. A new sense of hope amongst many, a thousand “new year, new me” posts on Instagram and a completely packed gym, full of excited and ready fresh faces. Each treadmill, stairmaster, squat rack and bench will be occupied, and everywhere you turn will be a new person.

For those who go to the gym daily or at least frequently, I can understand where the frustration is arising from. You’re used to your routines and you can count on the fact that when you get to the gym, the equipment you’re wanting will be available. With a new herd of people joining in, your routine is getting shaken up a bit. However, I want you to remember one thing: it’s not your gym.

Every single person who goes to Western pays to be able to take part in all that the Health and Wellness Center has to offer. They have just as much right as anyone else to be there and utilize it however they see fit. People who chose to start 2018 by going to the gym are likely making a conscious effort to try and improve their health and fitness. Who are you to say that it is not okay?

It’s also frustrating when frequent gym-goers say things along the lines of “well they won’t be here long,” or laugh at the fact that many people choose to stop going after a few weeks into the new year. That is the absolute opposite attitude you should be having towards them. You should be rooting on these new faces. You should be supportive, hoping that they continue to push for better fitness and a healthier lifestyle.

Just because you go to the gym frequently does not mean that you are any better than them. You aren’t. And you have zero right to make fun of them or belittle them for wanting to be there, doing the exact same thing you’re doing.

With all this being said, to the new gym-goers, make sure that you are being polite there, as well. Don’t use multiple pieces of equipment at once if they’re in high demand, be respectful of others, and keep your opinions and criticisms to yourself. However, if you’re being considerate of everyone, and you’re simply doing your own thing, then you are in the right and doing absolutely nothing wrong.

New gym-goers, congratulations on your decision to improve your health and fitness and I hope for nothing but success and positive outcomes for you. Frequent gym-goers, try to be understanding of the position they are in, and learn how to share the gym. It’s a place for everyone. Rather than tearing each other down and criticizing one another, we should be working together for the same goal: maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle. Make a conscious effort to be welcoming and accepting of everyone who is aiming to reach this outcome. Everyone is in the same boat; find it in you to not only be understanding of all the new faces, but happy for them as well.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

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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WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.

Small ways to make side cash

Review: “The Post”

Western welcomes Celtic music

Low-key shows to stream

New club aspires for inclusivity

Senator Ron Wyden addresses Polk County concerns

Accepting the flow of new gym-goers

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