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Review: “Heartworms”

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

The Shins’ fourth album, “Heartworms,” was announced with the release of the song “Name For You,” an upbeat, groovy tune that felt very Shins.
“Name for You” is poppy, but delightfully unique addition to the album.

Unfortunately, “Name For You” is a rarity in “Heartworms,” many songs sound much like The Shins’ previous music but fail to be anything memorable. “Painting a Hole,” “Cherry Hearts” and “Fantasy Island” all fall into this category. They’re not bad songs, but they just zoom by and don’t catch my attention in any way. Neither the lyrics or the music stood out in any particular way.

The highlight of “Heartworms” is the song “Mildenhall.” This folky song tells an entertaining story with catchy lyrics and mellow music.
“Mildenhall” goes down for me as the best song on the album and one of the best songs that The Shins have ever released.

“Heartworms” lacks a song that will be remembered for a long time. Each Shins album prior has a song or multiple that has gone down as a classic, but “Heartworms” songs are just not memorable. The album doesn’t catch attention like some of the best Shins-songs.

That’s not to say that “Heartworms” isn’t a great album. The music is enjoyable, just not on the same level of The Shins’ previous albums.

Another great song off the album is the title song, “Heartworms.” The song really stands out from the other songs in the album with a unique sound which is almost Beatles-eque. The upbeat music is matched with very meaningful lyrics, making for an enjoyable yet engaging listening experience.

“Dead Alive” is the song I’d recommend to people looking for a song that matches the sound of previous Shins music the most. The lyrics are simple and catchy and the song is similar to songs in albums prior. If already a Shins fan, “Dead Alive” is the perfect new addition to their musical lineup.

Overall, “Heartworms” is a good album. There is nothing horribly wrong with the album, but it fails to be memorable, most of the music just blends together rather than being a continuous enjoyable listen. With a few songs that catch the ear and some that don’t, The Shins new album is worth the listen, but it’s nothing that will be mindblowing.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Reflecting on the life of Mary Maples Dunn

By: Jade Rayner
News Editor

March 19, 2017 marked the death of 85-year-old educator, scholar and historian Mary Maples Dunn. She is regarded as, “… a champion for women- and women’s history” according to Smith College.

Dunn did her graduate work in U.S. colonial history at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and began teaching there as she worked to complete her Ph.D. Her career at the women’s liberal arts college was extensive. Among other positions she held, Dunn took on the role of Dean in 1978, and ultimately became Academic Deputy to the president in 1981.

From 1985 until 1995 Dunn served as Smith College’s eighth president. During her time at Smith, she faced multiple challenges but left a positive impact by the end of her presidency.

The Smith College Archives note that the time of Dunn’s presidency was, “… an economically troubled period for the college. Campus diversity, internal communication flow, and socially responsible investment were also significant issues.”

Dunn’s hard work at Smith paid off: she helped the women’s college raise more than $300 million during her time there, which helped allow the opening of the Bass Science Center and the Young Science Library on campus. Five majors were added to the curriculum as well as the improvement of on and off campus communications. Her tenure at Smith saw the introduction of the internet, email and voicemail on campus as part of her process of getting Smith on the “Information Highway,” explains the Smith College Archives.

Approaching retirement in 1995, Dunn stated that, “… it’s true that acquiring budgetary accountability is among my most important achievements, but I hope I’ll be remembered as a president who helped open the college up to a more diverse population,” according to Grécourt Gate, Smith College news.

The New York Times reports that her work in diversity at Smith was partially prompted by a number of racist incidents that had occurred on campus. Following those incidents, Dunn’s administration instilled a number of programs, one of the most notable being the 1988 Smith Design for Institutional Diversity.

“By the time she stepped down in 1995, minority enrollment had risen to 571 from 342, out of a student body of about 2,800. And minority representation on the faculty had increased by about six teaching positions,” the New York Times stated.

The programs primarily dealt with race, but also touched on derogatory language, race and physical disabilities as noted in the Smith College Archives, adding, “… Dunn maintained a cheerful image and a sense of humor throughout, and persevered through the trials of her difficult position.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Review: “Ghost in the Shell”

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

“Ghost in the Shell” has been the center of some controversy over Hollywood whitewashing, after casting Scarlett Johansson as the main character, Major Mira Killian. Due to this, the film already had a bad public view, but despite the whitewashing, “Ghost in the Shell” is a beautiful, though poorly written, action movie.

From director Rupert Sanders, “Ghost in the Shell” is an adaptation of the manga by the same name. The story follows Mira Killian, who is trained as a cyborg counter terrorist after she almost dies in a cyber terrorist attack.

The highlight of the film is the unique artistic style. Bright colors and futuristic settings bring a unique feeling to the film. I never found myself bored of the visuals. Whether it was seeing a building through the lens of heat-sensing binoculars or seeing the advertisement-filled city streets, “Ghost in the Shell” is bursting with color from start to finish.

Another highlight of the film was Johansson’s compelling performance. She grapples with the humanity left inside her. “Ghost in the Shell” is easily one of Johansson’s most compelling performances in recent years.

The biggest drawback of “Ghost in the Shell” is the writing. Were it not for Johansson’s acting, the film would feel like a total mess.
Conversations between characters feel bland and boring, making me feel impatient toward the next action scene.

“Ghost in the Shell” definitely looks the part of a good sci-fi action movie. The stunts, the costumes and the setting feel very much tied to a different and exotic world. Even the society is completely alien toward our own, people getting cybernetic enhancements like it’s plastic surgery. One character enhances his liver so he can drink more.

These cybernetic enhancements raise big moral questions about humanity, questions that Major struggles with throughout the film. The film tries to make the viewer grapple with how they’d respond to the options of enhancements and raises questions about what it means to be human.

This would have a much stronger effect though if these questions were paired with better writing and a better performance by the supporting cast. It felt like Johansson was the only one putting 100 percent into her acting.

“Ghost in the Shell” is a mediocre film at best. The beautiful visuals and great performance from Scarlett Johansson aren’t enough to save the film from its bland writing and poor supporting cast.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

2/4
+ Incredible visuals
– Bland writing

21 and up

By: Paige Scofield
Campus Life Editor

Spring is on its way, and there’s nothing better than a nice refreshing drink on a sunny day. Let’s kick off spring term right, with a refreshing mojito cocktail. This recipe is fairly simple, but some of the ingredients might not be in everyone’s home, so a grocery store run may be in order.

 

What you need:

6 mint leaves
.75 ounces simple syrup
.75 ounces fresh lime juice
1.5 ounces white rum
1.5 ounces club soda

 

 

Directions:

In a shaker, lightly muddle, smash or grind the mint. Add the simple syrup, lime juice and rum, and fill with ice. Shake well and pour unstrained into a highball glass. Top with the club soda and garnish with a mint sprig.

This cocktail is sweet, simple and can be made simply for one person, but can also be made for more just as easily. This is the kind of drink that makes you want to find a good book and a nice chair in the sun to relax in. Please enjoy and drink responsibly.

Recipe courtesy of Dale DeGroff from Liquor.com.

Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu

New teams for veteran players

By: Burke De Boer
Sports Editor

It has been a whirlwind offseason for the NFL.

Teams are radically changing, as some move cities and others move schemes. The free agency opened with a blast and continues to roll. Teams that were nearly in the championship hunt last year look to make good on their “next year” promises.

Alshon Jeffery will change the game in Philadelphia, as Carson Wentz now has a legitimate number one target. Last year Jeffrey picked up 821 yards on 52 receptions. He will also be joined by Torrey Smith, a veteran receiver who reportedly turned down better offers in order to work with Carson Wentz.

Wentz, meanwhile, managed to prove himself both a durable and competitive quarterback last year, breaking the record for most completions by an NFL rookie. His receiving corps last year was a motley crew, which will be beefed up with the arrival of two new star targets.

The team making the most waves in the NFC North so far has been the Detroit Lions, though they haven’t been particularly flashy about it.

Offensive line signings generally don’t make headlines, but the Lions were abysmal at keeping their running backs healthy and keeping their ground game going last year. Rick Wagner was the best right tackle on the market, and he and T.J. Lang are the new additions to keep the Motor City Kitties’ engine running.

For other teams in the NFC North, the news is more about exits than entrances: Eddie Lacy is gone to Seattle, Alshon Jeffery to the Eagles and Cordarrelle Patterson and Jared Cook are becoming Raiders. Meanwhile, free agents Jay Cutler and Adrian Peterson still look to find homes.

Lacy in Seattle will surely help the Seahawks rediscover their hard-rushing roots. But the Packers are now short staffed and head coach Mike McCarthy knows it. At this point they’ll likely look to the draft for a solution. Though, for the right price, Vikings legend Adrian Peterson could become Packers legend Adrian Peterson.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

Thanks, Obamacare

By: Stephanie Blair
Editor-in-Chief

On March 24, fewer than 20 days after its initial release to the public, the bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and replace it with American Health Care Act was pulled from the House floor before being put to a vote.

“We did not have quite the votes to replace [Obamacare],” said Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-WI. “We are going to be living with Obamacare for the foreseeable future.”

The Affordable Care Act was passed in March 2010 and has provided insurance coverage for 20 million adults in its first six years, as estimated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The proposed bill would have discontinued the individual coverage requirement, which would also provide the demise of the ACA’s famous penalty for those who can afford coverage but do not have it. As stated on healthcare.gov, “The penalty is 2.5% of household income or $695 per adult … whichever is higher.” Penalties are paid through federal tax returns.

Students do not receive a special exemption from the aforementioned penalty. For students who are not listed on their parents’ insurance plan, finding healthcare coverage is required. Because Western does not offer a student health plan to domestic students, any uninsured U.S. students should either attempt to be added to their parents’ plan or fill out an application for insurance using the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Regardless of Oregon residency status, students should apply for insurance in the state they attend school in. The Oregon Health Plan has open enrollment, year-round.

Special coverage is available for those who cannot afford insurance and meet certain criteria: Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. These programs, “… provide free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities,” as stated on healthcare.gov.

The Oregon Health Plan and Medicaid can both be applied for online at oregonhealthcare.gov.

For more information about healthcare penalties, exemptions and more, visit healthcare.gov.

For information about resources specific to Oregon, visit oregonhealthcare.gov.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

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