Mary Geanelli Bernardo, Author at The Western Howl

By: Rex Fuller
President of Western Oregon University

Recently, my letter providing background on the higher education funding process appeared in the Western Journal. As a reminder, we are facing a budget shortfall and are considering three areas in which to make up the financial gap: raising tuition, cutting budgets and tapping one-time reserve funds. Today, I’d like to look ahead to what the changing funding landscape could mean for students.

We are committed to doing everything in our power to restrict tuition increases. There has been extensive conversation in an attempt to limit the rise this year, with groups such as the Board of Trustees and the Student Tuition Advisory Committee weighing in on the discussion.

Although the state budget for the next biennium likely won’t be decided until July, it appears the Legislature is unlikely to provide anything close to the funds we’ve requested. This means tuition will increase between 5 and 10 percent, which is an additional $8 to $16 per credit hour for students on the Traditional Plan. Currently enrolled students on the Tuition Promise plan are unaffected.

Another part of our plan to offset budget shortfalls is cutting costs across campus. I have asked all departments to propose reductions of 5 and 10 percent, and these suggestions will be presented to the University Budget Committee. I view this as an opportunity for all department heads to reassess their expenditures, staffing levels and course offerings. Throughout the process, our focus will remain on our shared goal: seeing our students obtain their degrees and become valuable members of their communities.

In addition to making budget cuts, tapping our one-time reserve funds for 2017-2018 enables us to keep tuition increases at or below 10 percent.
Because using reserves is not a long-term solution, by 2018-2019 we must develop a budget that is structurally balanced and that does not rely on the continued use of one-time reserves.

Although these measures are unfortunate, I believe adjustments can be made without compromising the mission and strategic initiatives outlined in our strategic plan. Western will always put student success first, no matter what challenges we face.

Again, I invite all of our students to get involved in the fight for more budget dollars from the state and against tuition increases. If you are an Oregon resident, please contact your legislative representative to voice your concerns.

Joining our voices can make a difference for Oregon higher education because together we succeed.

Contact the author at president@wou.edu

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The one where everyone’s a garbage person

By: Stephanie Blair
Editor-in-Chief

In the ‘90s, “Friends” was the annoyingly unrealistic, yet lovable show; six friends living in huge apartments in New York City while barely working and sleeping around to their hearts’ content. Now, a different idealized delusion has overtaken television and I have to say, I hate it.

The image of entitled, lazy, dysfunctional “millennials” seems to have sprouted from the very shows that I can’t stand. Shows like “The Office,” “Broad City,” Workaholics” and Netflix’s “Love” glorify settling for less and just scraping by. I know that the grind of getting to where you want to be isn’t glamorous, but I would argue that carrying a Ziploc bag of weed in your vagina to avoid getting caught by the cops isn’t glamorous either.

Is it too much to ask for one show about 20-somethings whose lives haven’t devolved into a haze of sleeping around, abusing substances and spending more time complaining about working than actually working? I don’t like to use the word “hedonism,” but I’m left with few alternatives for the philosophy of these self-serving, and otherwise unmotivated underachievers.

Say what you will about the slew of ‘90s shows that have people living in a magical world where rent is no object and they can spend more time eating with friends than working, but at least those characters have jobs and move forward in their lives. “Sex in the City” has all four main characters doing jobs they love, in “Friends” the friends all achieve some degree of success in their professional life, even “Seinfeld.”… Well, I suppose it’s just Jerry who’s successful, but still.

It was a flaw of writing at the time, but frankly, I’m not interested in how the writers expect shows to be financially realistic – it’s television.

However, I can’t let go of my grudge against these new “woe is me” young adults that dominate screens across America. The problem has shifted from unrealistically nice settings to unrealistically awful people in fairly realistic settings. It’s no longer a question of financial logistics, it’s turning a blind eye to the reality of how easy is to be fired or get an STD. The often illegal, always morally questionable antics that characters get up to fill me with anxiety and disgust.

While I can appreciate wanting to escape into a fantasy world, I like connecting with the characters I’m watching. I like being invested in the lives of fictional characters. I cared exponentially more about Rory Gilmore getting into Harvard than I did about the pranks Jim pulled on Dwight every week.

I want a character to aspire to, to be excited for. If I wanted to spend an hour a night with unmotivated-alcoholic Gen Y kids, I’d move back to Portland’s suburbs.

Contact the author at sblair13@wou.edu

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Editor’s picks

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

Editor’s Recommendation
NPR Music is a great place to hear all about new music, popular artists and music news. Their Tiny Desk Concerts feature a great diversity of artists that actually come to the NPR offices and perform a small concert.
Tiny Desk Concerts will feature anyone from T-Pain to Adele to Alt-J. They’re a great way to see high quality performances from popular artists and to discover new music. The sets can go anywhere from 10 minutes up to 30 minutes.
Each year NPR holds a Tiny Desk

D.R.A.M. performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Jan. 4, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR)

Contest, where musicians can submit their own Tiny Desk Concert and one will win a chance to go to the NPR Offices and perform. 2017’s winner was Tank and the Bangas. In addition to their Tiny Desk Concert, the group also gets to tour through the U.S.
Tiny Desk Concerts support local artists and provide great entertainment. Tiny Desk Concerts are available at npr.org/music and on NPR Music’s YouTube channel.

Editor’s Disparagement
“Doctor Who” has had a serious decrease in quality over the last few seasons. Episodes frequently feel rushed and supporting actors rarely give passionate performances. The story arcs don’t pack the same dramatic punch as they used to and the Doctor has changed so much in the timeline that he’s lost a lot of the core values that made up his character.
The newest season is no different. The addition of new companions helped to make the show less repetitive, but the episodes are still rushed and the storytelling isn’t nearly as strong as it used to be. The new characters are fun and add a new dynamic to the show, but they aren’t enough to save it from the unmemorable “monsters of the week” and the deus ex machina at the end of every single episode.
Due to it being Peter Capaldi’s final season, the show promises a dramatic season with some familiar faces, but four episodes in, the quality is still subpar.

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Review: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” was a huge success in 2014. Featuring a cast of obscure characters that fans instantly fell in love with, “Guardians” expanded the Marvel Universe and laid the groundwork for many films to come. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is a fun film, like the original, but set on a much smaller scale.

At the film’s start, the team is established and stronger than ever before. Where the first film had to set up a team dynamic, this film just enforces it. The focus is put on strengthening the bonds between the characters, rather than simply making them tolerate each other.

The movie has an expectation that viewers have already seen the original, allowing for them to jump straight into the action. There’s no hand holding as the movie picks up speed, but the character interactions and some jokes would have had very little effect without having seen the original.

That said, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” fails to match the original’s huge scale. The stakes are lower, the villains are weaker and there’s nothing that feels too risky in the film. The original movie expanded the Marvel Universe so much, with connections to other films and diverse locations, that the smaller scale in “Vol. 2” feels off-putting and takes away from the movie.

Marvel is criticized for having overpowered heroes and forgettable villains, but Marvel toys with this concept in new and exciting ways in this film. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” feels very different from other Marvel movies throughout based on its setup and dynamics.

The character interactions are definitely the highlight of the movie. The Guardians are each so unique and their actors have found their groove in such a way that the characters are both hilarious and sympathetic throughout. The newcomers, Yondu, Mantis and Nebula, offer even further depth and more laughs to the team.

Interactions between Starlord and Rocket Raccoon, as well as those between Drax and Mantis, stand out the most in the film. These characters were great foils of each other and added to the overall quality.

Just like the original, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is a fun and hilarious film. Even on a much smaller scale, the sequel offers some fantastic moments of character interaction and humor. It’s not the best or most memorable Marvel film, but that doesn’t stop it from being some great fun.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

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Saturday means community

By: Zoe Strickland
Managing Editor

Every Saturday from April to November, you can find a community of vendors in downtown Independence.

These vendors are either part of the Independence Farmers’ Market, located in the parking lot of Umpqua Bank, or the Independence Riverview Market, which is held in the Riverview Park Amphitheatre. The Independence Farmers’ Market has been around since 1993, with the Riverview Market joining the vending scene in 2012.

The Independence Farmers’ Market has a variety of vendors selling everything from homemade cat toys to produce. Both markets also have masseuse tents set up.

“It goes up and down. The most we’ve ever had is 15, and I think now we’re down to, like, 12,” said Marti Sohn, owner of TDM Acres, when asked about the size of the Independence Farmers’ Market. Sohn has been a vendor at the market since 1998.

While walking through the market, it’s apparent that there’s an encompassing sense of community within the vendors.

“I just … I love this atmosphere. All the vendors are real people. There’s nothing phony about a farmer’s market; it’s a good place,” said Cheryl Gaston, owner of Cheryl’s Cottage Bakery, who has been a vendor at the Independence Farmers’ Market for two years.

The same customers tend to visit the markets every week.
“I have some fans now,” said Gaston.

“Best challah bread around, makes the best french toast ever!” interjected a passerby.

“That’s my favorite part. I mean, people like what I do. You can’t beat that,” continued Gaston.

The Independence Riverview Market had an equal number of vendors, but a more independent atmosphere. The vendors were primarily selling homemade goods, with only two stands selling produce.

“For us, our farm is five minutes away. So being able to connect directly with the people that our produce and meats are feeding is amazing,” said Malinda Bermudez, of Bermudez Family Farm. “I like being able to educate people on where their food is coming from, and a lot of people really appreciate that connection … it’s very rewarding,”

The best piece of advice that the vendors had to offer? Sohn suggested that college students should just “come on down.”

Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu.

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A look into the past

By: Zoe Strickland
Managing Editor

Depending on where you are, the first day of May may be known as either International Workers’ Day or the pagan holiday devoted to celebrating the start of summer. From 1902 until the 1940s, Oregon State Normal School, now Western, celebrated the latter form of May Day.

According to the University Archives, May Day was thought of as “the most anticipated social event on campus.” During the festivities, students celebrated in multiple ways: participating in vaudeville acts, music, pageants, dances and the crowning of a May Day Queen.

One of the most notable events was the annual performance of the Maypole dance, which was recreated in 2014 as a part of the 100-year anniversary of Maple Hall. During the dance, students dressed in white dresses and flower crowns danced around a large wooden pole while holding multi-colored ribbons that were attached to the top.

Though May Day was celebrated on campus for around 40 years, there were years where the administration had to cancel the celebration because of World War I, influenza and smallpox. Nevertheless, the events restarted after the hardships were over.

May Day primarily involved students and faculty from campus, but also served as a community affair. Event invitations were dispatched in local newspapers and people from surrounding Polk County towns attended.

“More than 1,000 persons gathered in the Oregon Normal School campus … considering that there were only approximately 300 students enrolled at ONS, it was quite a crowd,” read the May 3, 1915 issue of The Morning Oregonian, a newspaper that went out of print in 1937.

Every event had a strong sense of pageantry; something that Miss Laura Taylor, a physical education and health instructor at OSNS, began to promote in 1914.

“Every event showed painstaking preparation and the facility with which they were performed spoke of many hours of tedious practice,” reported the May 5, 1924 issue of The Lamron, the student-run newspaper at the time.

In the 1930s, campus renamed the May Day celebration to “May Fete.” However, the event ended up losing the pageantry gusto that it held before.

Though the May Day activities were well-attended, the event was inevitably restructured into what is now known as homecoming.

“[The] transition was from May Day when alumni would come back to visit campus for the celebration with a series of weeklong events,” said Jerrie Lee Parpart, Exhibits and Archives Coordinator.

Though May Day is no longer celebrated on campus, students can still feel its echoes every fall.

Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu

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The final countdown to vote

By: Jade Rayner
News Editor

The Associated Students of Western Oregon University are encouraging all students to have their voices heard.

As of Tuesday, May 9 the ASWOU elections for the 2017-2018 school year have extended the opportunity for students to vote until Friday, May 12 at noon.

Positions being ran for are ASWOU president and vice president, as well as senate president, judicial administrator, senator and Incidental Fee Committee member.

Being elected president of ASWOU comes with numerous responsibilities, one of which is “to represent the students of Western Oregon University to not only the WOU administration, but at a local/state/federal level as well. To properly address the representation at a statewide level, the ASWOU President sits on the Oregon Student Association’s (OSA) Board of Directors (BOD) along with other Oregon university and community college representatives,” according to the ASWOU General Election Form found on OrgSync.

Both Cynthia Olivares and Jessica Freeman are running for the role of ASWOU President.

Those running for the second in command position of vice president of ASWOU are Evelyn Guzman and Felicia Dickinson.

Senate president, judicial administrator, senator and the incidental fee committee member positions are all running unopposed. Lila Jones, Logan Doerfler, Roger Deleon and Eric Frey are running for these positions.

ASWOU is asking all students that have yet to vote do so, saying “We still need your vote! We still need you to vote in the ASWOU Election!” in a Twitter post on May 9.

Students can vote by logging on to their OrgSync account, and clicking on the ASWOU elections icon on OrgSync’s homepage.

Disclaimer: The Western Journal does not endorse any candidates or their policies. Photos were made available by individual candidates.

Contact the author at journalnews@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.

Office of the President guest column

The one where everyone’s a garbage person

Editor’s picks

Review: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”

Saturday means community

A look into the past

The final countdown to vote

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