Mount Hood

Individualism in a state of togetherness

By: Kristin Norman
Copy Editor

Being in a healthy relationship can help someone learn about themselves and what they need from another person. As a young, recently married person, I have a lot of growing to do despite my personal relationship. In what many call a process of self-actualization, I will spend the rest of my life working to love and know myself more.

While it is great having someone hold me accountable for my actions, challenging me to be a better person and encouraging me in my efforts, the bottom line is that only I can decide to change.

Nobody else can do the difficult task of self-improvement for me. I’ve witnessed far too many people my age seek out self-fulfillment in others while forgetting that they are not who they date.

That being said, I don’t agree with the idea that people should only try dating as a means to understanding who they are and what they want. This way of thinking implies that singledom is something to be overcome instead of embraced.

It may sound overly cliché coming from a married person, but there are times when I miss the independence that comes with being single. Singleness provides the opportunity to explore avenues of life without the influence of another person. However, I also believe it’s possible to be with someone who doesn’t hinder your ability to explore those avenues.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, remember that being in college is a masterful balancing act that involves the process of self-actualization. If you’re single: be empowered and take the opportunity to know and love yourself. If you’re in a committed relationship: find time to better yourself with the help of someone you love.

Please contact the author at keck14@wou.edu.com

Loving thyself

By: Keith Mathew
Photo Editor

When do we think of ourselves as good people? Do we even think that at all? As a society that thrives on self-deprecating jokes, we start to believe the jokes we create for ourselves on a subconscious level. I see a large majority of people I know who don’t think they’re good people, or at least to the level of everyone else around them.

I am one of those people who doesn’t think highly of themselves. It has taken me a long time to get to the point of starting to improve myself. It takes an immense amount of effort to start the process and to continue it. The most common thing people say is “fake it until you make it.” It’s kind of true; having fake confidence in one’s self is a trial run of the ultimate goal. Fake confidence is the start of getting comfortable with the idea and feeling or acting confident.

I feel the reason most people have low self-esteem or a lack of confidence comes from the tendency to compare ourselves to other people: I’m not as smart as them, I’m not as cool as them, I’m not as masculine as them, I’m not as fit as them. These comparisons are harmful. They put us down because we aren’t at the level of another person. We think that because we aren’t at the same level we are lesser than, thus creating a negative self-image.

There is a common thought process for people with low self-image that they should be working on themselves before they start to date another person. It annoys me because it takes a lot to work on yourself and another person may actually help. Another person may open the mind to improving and the love of another person can help heal, repair, fix and improve.

The love of another person pushes the other to try and to become better. I bet no one was 100 percent confident in themselves when another person came along. That line of thinking just doesn’t help, having another person is not bad, it is good for loving one’s self.

With my experiences of low self-image, friends and family try to make me feel better by complimenting me however, because of the compliments I feel bad for not feeling better about myself. The problem is not whether I know I’m good or not, it’s the feeling. I know that I’m smart, I know I’m nice, I know that I’m amazing but the feeling is not there to back it up.

It is my goal this term to improve myself and to have real confidence, not just the fake kind. The best way to improve is to have a mantra, a saying to tell yourself how great and amazing you are. Sounds cheesy but it does help. Self-love is a process and it’s hard work.

Contact the author at kmathew14@wou.edu

Get to know a major

By: Paige Scofield
Campus Life Editor

Western offers a wide variety of degrees that students can major in, many of which students don’t know are offered, or know next to nothing about. This week, in “Get To Know a Major”: receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater.

Natalie Doerfler, a sophomore, is working towards receiving a BFA in theater with a focus in acting.

“Originally, I had gotten a scholarship to St. Mary’s, in Minnesota of all places. But, my twin sister, Meghan, wanted to come visit Western, so I tagged along with her,” said Doerfler. “As soon as I got on campus I knew that I wanted to go here. It’s small, and I thought, this is a place I could call home nine months out of 12.”

Once Doerfler learned more about the BFA program from the theater professors, she was ready to start her college years at Western. The Western website describes the program as, “a rigorous and competitive program of study for students interested in pursuing careers in the professional theater. This pre-professional program is designed to combine intensive training with a liberal arts education. All aspects of theater—art, craft, business and education—are examined, with a focus on theatrical production.”

The program offers many classes, from Theater History to Acting for the Camera.

“Some of the classes are more intensive in just acting, and learning and doing and performing. There’s classes like stage combat that you can take, it’s not required, but you can take them. It’s really cool, and I know how to properly fight with a broadsword now,” she said.

When asked what her favorite class was, Doerfler replied, “Movement II, because I got to study an animal, and see how animal movements can influence a character’s movement. You want your character’s movement to be different than how you move. Otherwise it’s not a full performance.”

“The BFA theatre program is almost all acting classes, and it’s less generic things. It’s specifically if you want to be an actor, and want to pursue it as a job,” continued Doerfler. “I’m glad I am able to be a part of it.”

Natalie Doerfler is currently in the Black Box production of “All in the Timing,” which performs on Feb. 9, 10, and 11 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on the 11th at 2:30 p.m.

Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu

Helping the environment: don’t just talk about it

By: Jade Rayner
News Editor

Many people talk about the importance of helping the environment but few know where to start. For those wanting to put their words into action, the Luckiamute Watershed Council is there to help.

“We’re a non-profit and our mission is to engage and assist landowners in restoration of the Luckiamute and Ash Creek Watersheds,” stated Kristen Larson, Council Coordinator of the Luckiamute Watershed Council in our interview at the council’s Burgerville fundraiser on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common body of water; Ash Creek Watershed starts in Dallas, travels through the Polk County communities of Monmouth and Independence and drains into the Willamette River.

When asked what the council does in the area, Larson explained that they, “do things like controlling invasive weeds to allow the native vegetation to thrive; we plant native trees and shrubs along stream banks and the rivers. We do restoration projects to help fish habitats …”

Volunteering for the Luckiamute Watershed Council can include a variety of jobs.

“We participate in the Fourth of July parade, and help clean up the litter after the parade: we always need help for that. In the summer season we have field opportunities to help with our temperature monitoring program, and also weeds, so in our planting areas there’s often times we can use people helping us clip weeds so they don’t drop seeds and spread,” added Larson. “We have space on our committees, and on our board and we’d love to have student engagement and organization itself.”

For those interested in learning more about the Luckiamute Watershed Council, meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.; locations of the meetings vary and can be found on www.LuckiamuteLWC.org. Volunteer interest forms can also be found on their website.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Community gathers to discuss race in Oregon

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

“Racism is an emotion filled topic,” Willamette University sociology professor Emily Drew began her lecture. “If we’re aware, we are feeling something.”

The night began as attendees gathered in the Anderson Room of the Salem Public Library for the first installation of Oregon Humanities’ “Conversation Project:” a series of lectures given by community leaders to engage members in a thoughtful discussion of the world around them.

Drew led the night discussing Oregon’s image on race in her presentation titled “Power, Privilege, and Racial Diversity in Oregon.”

The first discussion began with a quote by W.E.B. Du Bois, “The problem of the 100 years ahead of us,” Drew repeated, “is a problem of ‘the color line.’” With that quote in mind, the groups engaged in thoughtful conversation about perceptions of race during the Civil Rights Era to today.

Throughout the night the audience broke off into small groups to discuss with their peers about several topics including ideas such as the prevalence of “Sun Down Towns” within Oregon. Drew cited a study conducted by James Lowen and a team of graduate students that found a collection of “Sun Down Towns,” or a town within the state where minority groups may feel unsafe or unwelcome. The groups got together and expressed their surprise and concern with the list of Oregon cities seen today as “Sun Down Towns;” Drew led the discussion back toward the community, tied it into Portland’s presence not on the list and their vision of diversification.

A common perception of Portland has sources, such as The New Geographer, believing it has a lack of racial diversification. Drew, unshaken, proved otherwise stating recent studies.

“The Coalition of Communities of Color studying Multnomah county,” Drew said, “1-out-of-3 people living in Multnomah county are people of color.”
Before the final group discussion, a U.S. Census Data report was displayed for the audience to see the diverse makeup of those living in Salem and had audience members engaged thinking critically of the identities of those on the census.

Drew closed out the discussion looking for community thoughts on how to create a more equitable and inclusive community, prompting more group thinking and reflection. Each group shared their insights as they worked together toward a common goal of creating a holistic environment for all.
The Oregon Humanities’ Conversation Project continues their series on Feb. 2, with speaker Kerani Mitchell and her presentation titled “Where Are You From?”

For those interested in being a part of the community discussions, the event will be held at the Salem Public Library, Thursday Feb. 2 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

To learn more about Oregon Humanities’ Conversation Project, go to www.oregonhumanities.org/programs/conversation-project

Gain the confidence to go after the jobs you want

By: Paige Scofield
Campus Life Editor

On Western’s campus, there is a wide variety of jobs and volunteer work available to students. Not only is it convenient, but also easy to access, because the work is on campus. Building up job experience or volunteer work can be difficult to manage when also going to school full time, but Western offers many positions that work with and for its students.

Cheyanne Burt, a senior interdisciplinary studies-health education major has been volunteering for Abby’s House as an advocate volunteer since fall term of this year.

“The past director of Abby’s House came into my violence and public health class the spring term of 2016, and was talking about Abby’s House,” said Burt, “I just got really interested and I wanted to make an impact as well, so I applied to be an advocate. After summer training I started fall term.”

When asked why it’s important for students to work for their school, Burt replied, “I think it’s a great experience in a controlled environment. So we’re gaining that experience, and gaining that work experience, and volunteer experience, with people who are willing to help us, people who are wanting to see us succeed. They provide us with the tools to do that when we graduate.”

If thinking about whether to work for Western or not, Burt says, “The more experience you have the better. All the work and volunteer work I’ve done at campus will help me to pursue the careers I want to, and have that confidence in what I have done the last four years to get a good job.”

If interested in looking for work or volunteer work at Western, visit Service Learning and Career Development downstairs in the Werner University Center. They have job applications for part-time and full-time jobs, as well as volunteer work opportunities.

Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu

By: Brian Tesch
Advertising Manager

For all of our lives, we were taught to use water to brew a cup of coffee
in the morning. Let’s admit it: after a while, black coffee can be a bit dull. Until now, your only option was to buy either an expensive Keurig or espresso machine, maybe you add a bit of syrup after your coffee is brewed. Or maybe you’re just a dull person and drink black coffee every morning.

My question is simple, can you brew coffee with liquids other than water to spice up your mornings? The Journal decided to do some experimenting to find the answer.

#1: Coffee Brewed with Coca-Cola Vanilla 6/10
My first reaction was to remark on the delightful smoothness of the drink. The Coke seems to brilliantly mask the coffee without covering the flavor too much. A hint of vanilla seals the deal. This drink is almost comparable to the adrenaline rush of wrestling grizzly bears. That is, until the bear notices you and rips your head off.

#2: Coffee Brewed with Dr. Pepper 2/10
This depends on your interpretation of fresh sewage. You may find this drink bearable if you’re the type of person who digs through rubbish bins, finds half eaten cans of old spam and thinks “jackpot.” If you wake up in the morning believing you are a potato trapped in a human body, I’d recommend this drink for you.

#3: Coffee brewed with Raspberry lemonade 7/10
This is by far my favorite one of the mix, a very sophisticated flavor of cooked raspberry with a side of coffee. This cup is for thrill seekers only, if you are the type of person who rides roller coasters for the initial view, steer clear. If you drink this regularly you may lose most of your friends to extreme jealousy.

#4: Coffee Brewed with Sunny D 1/10
Initially, the smell is appalling, but only after you take your first sip do you realize the scale of the mistake you have just made. It smells and tastes like a pidan egg. I would drink this cup if I was the sort of person who enjoyed shoving furious rodents into my mouth in the morning. Recommending this drink would be as misguided as recommending an adult film for its plot.

Contact the author at journaladvertising@wou.edu

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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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