Mount Hood

A Tale of Two Taco Tuesdays

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

On Jan. 5, three friends and I set out to review the choices of the local Taco Tuesday specials offered in town. Starting at 5 p.m. every week, both the Main Street Pub & Eatery and Rookies Sports Tap offer Tuesday specials.

Rookies sits on the east side of Pacific Highway. This location makes it just ever so slightly inconvenient, as it’s a bit too far to walk on a cold winter night from campus. The Pub’s location on Main St. is closer to many of the apartments around the university, mine included, which may explain why it usually gets more student customers than Rookies.

Rookies offers a bright atmosphere, a nice selection of beers on tap, and a foosball table. Despite this, everyone in my group agreed we didn’t like the environment, but we also admitted that it was the bar’s theme and décor that left us unenthused.

For $0.50 you can get a hard shell taco with generous portions of meat, cheese, lettuce. For $0.50 more, you can get a soft tortilla in place of the shell. The only meat available was beef, though the waitress informed us that next week there will be chicken.

Feeling adventurous? Order the $1.50 double decker for a soft shell taco glued to a hard shell by means of liquid nacho cheese. The taco sauce is spicy and flavorful, unlike the Pub’s ‘hot’ sauce.

The drink specials include $3.00 regular and strawberry margaritas and $2.00 domestic pints. Two friends ordered tasty, sweet strawberry margaritas, while myself and another friend got pints. Corona and other Mexican beers were not available, something that left my cheap beer-loving friend and I in a funk.

Having been to Taco Tuesday many times at the Pub, we could all say that the tacos at Rookies were tastier and more generously filled with delicious taco ingredients.

The Pub, like on most nights, was buzzing with conversation from fellow students. The dim lights create a kind of sanctuary for intimate discussion, something Rookies doesn’t necessarily provide.

The Pub offers $0.50 tacos with soft shells only, but their meat selection is much more varied. They offer shredded pork and chicken, and ground beef.

All the tacos come with sour cream, beans, lettuce and cheese. For the vegetarians out there, be aware: the Pub offers vegetarian beans, something Rookies does not.

The drink specials are a deal with $3.00 margaritas (fruit juice is an extra $0.50), $1.95 Corona Extras, and $4.00 long islands. We all agreed the drinks at the Pub were far stronger, so perhaps a better deal if you’re in need of a stiff drink.

In the end, our experience seemed unanimous: go to Rookies for tastier food, then head to the Pub for drinks and conversation.

A Time for Change

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

A new year, a new start. This attitude inspires people to create lists of resolutions, both realistic and farfetched, that they hope to accomplish within the next year.

While good-intentioned, sometimes some goals don’t get checked off of that list. The common example of this is the hoard of people who flock to the gym after Jan. 1, and the few that remain as the year progresses.

That being said, there are those that fulfill their resolutions and probably have a happier year because of it.

What about the resolutions made by WOU students? What are they, and will students be successful in accomplishing them?

Jocelyn Chavez, junior anthropology major, said she wants to “work on [her] mental health and keep a planner so [she] can go to sleep on time.” She later mentioned that she wanted to find more hobbies and go on a trip to New York later in the year.

After a period of silence during which Chavez looked at her phone, she also stated she wants to “go on one Tinder date! Just one though.”

Going to the gym is another goal set by New Year’s resolutioners. Justin Oehler, a senior education major, said, “My resolution is to work out more. Super cliché, I know.”

“I am also trying to eat healthier, I am taking a health class this term and it helped reinforce that I need to get into better shape,” Oehler continued.

Mariah Williams, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, said that she wants to get “super healthy and in shape, and to learn how to be happy being single.” She also wants to be able to let go of anger from the past and find inner peace.

Will they be successful? Only time will tell! Keep an eye out for next week’s issue, where we’ll revisit our three intrepid New Year’s resolutioners and see how they’re faring.

Inspiring Musings through Movement

By: Joleen Braasch 
Staff Writer

As part of the Smith Fine Arts Series, BodyVox, the dance company known for its creativity, physicality, beauty, and wit, will be performing “Reverie” in Rice Auditorium on Jan. 8, 2015.

Founded in 1997 and currently in its 17th season, BodyVox is a Portland-based dance company led by Emmy Award-winning choreographers Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland.

“Reverie,” a show that premiered in 2001 and was developed surrounding and influenced by the events of Sept. 11, 2001, has been performed throughout the U.S. and internationally in Germany, Mexico, and Japan.

The name of the show connotes being swept up and carried away, allowing viewers to become lost in the show and in the thoughts that the show inspires.

Hampton states that beauty is the central theme in the show, “art must prevail, humanity must prevail, culture, knowledge, and freedom of expression, indeed beauty must prevail.”

The complex tone of the show is aided by the use of colorful and creative costumes set against a darkly-lit stage. This creates a mood that is both serious and somber, while still being lively and eye-catching.

Dancers in this show utilize both quick and slow movements, and work together in many upside-down twirling positions and occasional wire-flying. These difficult moves and acrobatics reveal the troupe’s well-developed skills involving cooperation, strength, and technique.

The movements not only evoke laughter from the audience, shown in exaggerated gestures implying sexual innuendos and crazed minds, but also play on serious tones using ghostly movements and heavy, somber music.

Franziska Grevesmühl-v. Marcard, a managing director of the Norddeutsche Konzertdirektion dance company in Germany, says that “Reverie” “makes the audience feel they are part of another world: Full of dreams, colors and music. This is not only a performance— it is an instruction to be happier.”

Featuring more than 200 original dances, the company has also developed nine award-winning films, 30 original shows, and three operas.

The Oregonian called BodyVox Portland’s “most popular and internationally renowned dance troupe.”

BodyVox’s mesmerizing and inspiring performance will be held at Rice Auditorium on Jan. 8, at 7:30pm.

‘Story Time’ Shares Beauty with Students

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

Need something colorful to lighten up these gray, Oregon days?

“Story Time: Contemporary Urban Narratives” is a stunning new art exhibit that opened in Campbell Hall on Jan. 6. It features work done by Len Davis and Roll Hardy, artists from Los Angeles and Portland, respectively.

While the two artists have somewhat dissimilar styles and techniques, the art they produce is eye-catching and plays with contrasts and emotion.

This juxtaposition of disparate emotions and color is prevalent in these two artists’ work and lends an air of complexity and increases interest. Alicia Neal, a fifth year senior and art major, said, “If you keep looking, you keep finding stuff.”

One of the most intriguing pieces was a large oil painting titled “Mirage” by Roll Hardy. While it was set next to two of his other, equally large, pieces, it stood out due its beautifully serene scene.

“Mirage” pictures young people in an indoor swimming pool, the oil paint adding to the effect of water glistening on their skin. “It looks really liquid and its very lively without being overworked,” observed Elaina Glassock, a junior art major.

While the painting utilizes neutral colors for the scene, brighter colors seem to spill out of the painting, with water breaking the banks of the pool and explosions of green foliage burgeoning forth from the cement.

Another piece by Len Davis titled “The Biggest Surprise of a Man’s Life” juxtaposes the rigid figure of a man who appears to be falling head first through the frame, with the somber face of an older man.

There is a terrific outpour of emotion through Davis’ depiction of his subject’s facial expressions, which range from sheer joy to utter sadness.

Ashley Davis, a visitor to campus, said that Davis “captures individual’s moments, struggles, and experiences.”

This art exhibit will be open from Jan. 6 to Feb. 5. If you’re already looking for a respite from schoolwork, check out Davis’ and Hardy’s art as it will simultaneously soothe and excite your mind and eye.

Light it up

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By: Joleen Braasch 
Freelancer

On Friday Dec. 4, 2015, the giant Sequoia located on the lawn in front of Campbell hall will be strung with shining lights for the 48th time. It will once again be the center of WOU’s holiday spirit.

The Sequoiadendron giganteum, planted back when the college was still known as the Oregon State Normal School, was a given as a gift to Western by the senior class of 1887.

Nicole Larsen, a senior anthropology major, views the winter holidays as a special time for the WOU community.

“The holidays are a time where I realize how intertwined Western is with the city of Monmouth, and it’s another thing that makes attending college here so special,” said Larsen.

Marta Herring, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, loves that the giant sequoia plays such a central role in the holiday festivities at WOU.

“The tree itself is a historic part of the WOU and Monmouth story and it’s nice to acknowledge that it still plays a role on campus to this day,” Herring said.

The tradition of lighting the famous Western Sequoia began in 1967.

Dormitory students and a few other individuals raised the money needed to buy lights that would cover the giant tree, and the Monmouth Fire Department was responsible for putting up the first strands of lights that would become a tradition.

Currently, the campus Physical Plant has the honor of decorating the tree, and an essay winner from local elementary schools gets to flip the switch and light up the campus.

This is Herring’s favorite part of the festivities, and she believes that “it’s important to emphasize that writing and education is important, and to give the kid a chance to participate in their community in an exciting way.”

Savannah Hively, a sophomore majoring in exercise science, comes for the emotion. “[I love] the holiday magic that occurs when all the children’s faces light up as they light the tree,” said Hively.

Larsen said “[I] love the festivities and food! It’s a chance to connect with people from all over campus and also alumni and members of the community.”

The holiday parade begins at 6 p.m., and indoor activities will follow in the Werner University Center, beginning at 7 p.m.

The indoor activities include a tree decorating contest, cookie bake-off, arts and crafts, pictures with Santa, school choral performances, and a “Toys for Tots” donation site.

Looking for even more fun? Stop by Gentle House between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. for the Holiday Open House.

Singers and choir sing way into hearts

By: Rachael Jackson 
Staff Writer

Gospel and choral music were taken to new heights on Monday Nov. 30, 2015, with rousing renditions of choral classics sung by the Western Oregon chamber singers and concert choir.

The chamber singers took the stage first. They performed three modern compositions of familiar ecclesiastical pieces. While songs remained in their original Latin, their arrangement breathed fresh life into the classic tradition of chamber music.

The chamber’s first piece, “Ave Maria,” which features text that has been used in choral music for over a thousand years, was revamped in 2015 by composer Daniel Elder.

Another piece written in 2015, “Salzburg Missa Brevis,” was directed by Choral and Instrumental Conducting graduate student Miriam Means.

To finish out the set, the chamber choir sang arguably the most modern of their pieces.

It was a fun incarnation of the “Benedictio” prayer. Faster than the other songs, it also displayed a series of terse and jaunty notes.

After a short intermission, the concert choir took the stage with their conductor, professor Zsofia Csikos-Tardy. They performed four songs that followed the tradition of gospel music, full of enthusiasm and praise.

Csikos-Tardy explained that this choir formed at the beginning of the term on rocky footing; since it is a non-audition choir, all members were accepted, meaning they had varied degrees of musical knowledge.

Half the members did not know how to read music, and the lack of deep bass voices made it difficult to find music to perform that would fit the choir’s makeup.

“At the beginning it was a fear in me that we would not be ready,” Csikos-Tardy said. Finally a couple men joined with the bass voices they needed, and they all learned the music faster than she anticipated.

“But,” Csikos-Tardy said, “They were ready in the last three weeks so I just had to take care of the band.”

However, Csikos-Tardy’s fears were put to bed when the group received applause and appreciation from the gathered students, who had the opportunity to be exposed to possibly new and beautiful forms of choral and gospel music.

Electro swingin’

By: Joleen S Braasch 
Freelancer

Ever heard of electro swing? If you haven’t, then look no further than Western’s own campus to explore this exciting, multi-era musical genre.

Western Hemisphere Voices, a campus-based student vocal group featuring 11 vocalists, a rhythm section, and horns, put on a show in the electro swing style, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2015.

Terra Schwartzwalt, a conductor at WOU for fall term, describes electro swing as a new age genre, “capturing the traditions of jazz from the past and fusing it with pop and electronic music in the modern day.”

The concert arrangements were inspired by the band Caravan Palace, a Paris-based group influenced by Herbie Hancock and Daft Punk.

“Basically their music is sort of a collision of Gyspy Jazz and electronic dance music,” said Schwartzwalt, who arranged most of the music for the show.

The group performed three of Caravan Palace’s songs: “Je’Mamuse,” “Pirates,” and “Dramaphone.”

Some of the other selections included selections from other electro swing groups and renditions of well-known pops songs, such as “Burn” by Ellie Goulding and “Give Me Love” by Ed Sheeran.

As a showcase for these student musicians, almost every member of the group performed a solo during the night, and students Brandon Franko and Kathryn Powers even arranged the Ed Sheeran piece.

The band was also made up of students, and some of the members even switched from playing various instruments to singing.

Haley Lancourt, a junior exercise science major, thought the concert was a “phenomenal idea.”

She had heard a couple of electro swing styles songs, but she had never thought to make a concert out of it.

Eli Schenk, a senior music major and member of Western Hemisphere Orchestra, 15 Miles West, and the Western Hemisphere Big Band, enjoys the musical diversity that the music program has to offer.

Shenk said, “Last year, I did everything from New Orleans Jazz, to Radiohead, to like everything […] It’s wonderful how diverse the contemporary programs are.” Now he can add electro swing to that list.

Humans of Western

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

Corinne Garrett, Sophomore, Undecided

“I went on this ten week bike trip across the United State this summer. It started in Pacific City, Oregon […] and we biked to Yorktown, Virginia […] It was awesome, we met so many great people, and I actually fell in love with my boyfriend on that trip.”

“We met so many great people, they welcomed us into their homes, let us stay with them if they saw us. We never knew where we were going to stay, or what we were going to do when we got into a town […] I just felt so, like, loved and taken care of. We never had to worry about anything.”

Pacific Northwest poet visits campus

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By: Rachael Jackson 
Staff Writer

Christopher DeWeese, Assistant Professor of Poetry at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, visited campus Thursday, Nov. 19 at 4:30 p.m. in Hamersly Library 107.

He read genre-bending poetry sure to evoke curiosity from those that attended.

DeWeese originally hails from Port Townsend, Washington, but he has spent the better part of this last decade teaching and working on his poetry all over the country.

Professor of Literature and Writing Dr. Henry Hughes said in an email to students that DeWeese is, “Influenced by Russian literature and space travel, and he reads like a meteor shower.”

His poetry is reminiscent of Transcendentalism, a mid-19th century American movement which focused on the interconnectivity of nature and man, with a modern twist that delves into the realm of science fiction.

DeWeese’s poem “The Happy Cloud” with accompanying author’s reading can be found on publisher Jubliat’s website.

Reading DeWeese’s poetry and hearing it are two wholly different experiences, through which different meanings can be gathered.

At first, “The Happy Cloud” may seem like a poem about the separate state of humans and nature, portraying humankind as being in constant battle against Mother Nature.

Hearing him read it also evokes dark worries of humanity’s place in the world, and, on a smaller scale, the individual’s personal struggles and worldview.

DeWeese’s writing shows the ability of poetry to cross genres just as prose often does. Even for seasoned poetry lovers, this poetry promises something unexpected and modern.

His poetry fulfills a niche that many may be interested in exploring.

Faculty Workshop Given by ODS

By: Emily Pate 
Staff Writer

Malissa Larson, Director of the Office of Disability Services (ODS) here at Western gave a presentation to Western faculty on working with students who have disabilities, Friday Nov. 13, 2015.

Though geared towards faculty and staff, much of what Larson said is also important for students to keep in mind.

“All the students we’re working with are qualified to be here,” Larson said. To her, this was the most important thing for faculty to remember.

The ODS’s website defines a disability as “an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. Examples of major life activities include walking, listening, reading, and learning.”

There are approximately 400 Western students currently registered with the ODS.

For both students and faculty, using the correct terminology is critical. The same with any identity, the individual should guide us in what language to use in relation to them.

The correct term to use, Larson said, is individuals with disabilities. Larson explained that other, more widely used terms, such as handicapped or disabled, have a long negative stigma attached to them, and do not acknowledge the person, only the disability.

“As with any underrepresented group, the language changes over time,” Larson said. It is the responsibility of each person to educate themselves on the current, appropriate language.

“It is important for students to know that the majority [of individuals with a disability] have an invisible disability,” Larson said. “So their friend, their classmate, their roommate may have a disability.”

“There isn’t a major, minor, or graduate program that we aren’t involved in. There’s no program that doesn’t include an individual with a disability,” she continued.
She advised faculty to “work with every individual as if they’ve got something going on.”

As for the presentation, Larson stressed how gaining knowledge about underrepresented groups can benefit Western as a whole.

“I would love it if more and more faculty were trained,” Larson said. “We want our campus to be inclusive and welcoming. And awesome.”

“In a place of higher learning, I think it’s everyone’s responsibility to learn about what other people are experiencing,” she said.

About responsibility, Larson also stated, “When there’s two people involved, they’re equally responsible for communication.”

One of the ways students can offer aid is to be note takers. “We’re always looking for note takers,” Larson said. “I encourage students to always come in and apply.” Students can apply at the Office of Disability Services at APSC 405.

Art faculty shows their skills

By: Emily Pate 
Staff Writer

When first stepping into Campbell Hall’s Cannon Gallery, my gaze was immediately grabbed by the plastic forms of Sung Eun Park’s piece titled “No One Will Take Your Crown.”
Made from many different elements, including a child’s wheelbarrow, plastic wine glasses, and Korean accessories called Norigae, this brightly colored work of art seems transported from a more fantastical world.

This work is just one of many that are part of the exhibit, called the “Art Faculty Biennial,” currently on display in Cannon Gallery. Each artist on display has their own unique and fascinating style.

In contrast to the repurposed and colorful elements of Park’s art, Ian Factor’s emotive charcoal portraits are realistic, and convey great depth in the greyscale shades that this medium allows.

Jodie Garrison gives her black and white portraits exuberantly patterned backgrounds, while Paula Portiga Booth works on birch boards, combining patterns painted in acrylic with textural photographs.

All of the artists are Western Faculty members, some of which also have their names on the signboard that lists the Art Department’s faculty directly across from the Gallery, on the other side of Campbell’s front door.

This exhibit is a chance for students to see what their teachers have created. The gallery context gives a new relationship between teacher and student as artists, one only possible outside of the classroom.

It also gives students an opportunity to look at their teacher’s art as they might look at any artist’s work, and also acts as a showcase for the skills of Western’s faculty.
Though the Cannon Galley is not a classroom, it provides the chance to learn more about art and those who create it.

Week-long opportunity for cultural exchange

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By: Emily Pate
Staff Writer

International Education Week is Nov. 16-20, 2015; the theme is “Access for All,” and the goal is to bring different cultural perspectives, diversity, and experience to students.

I have studied abroad three times during the course of my studies at Western, and each time has been more beneficial than the last.

It’s a scary thing to tear out your own roots and see what you can learn from travel, but exposure to other cultures has made me look at my own life in a new way, and made me a better person as a result.

Amanda Summers, senior International Studies major, is the new Global Ambassador for Western’s study abroad office, and spent the last academic year studying at the University of Roehampton in England.

“It was phenomenal, magical […] all those good words you can use,” Summers said about her time abroad. She also said that even though we went to a country that spoke the same language, “it was culturally enlightening,” and encourages everyone to try to study abroad.

Sawsan Alismail, a graduate student from Saudi Arabia who is majoring in MS Ed English/Language Arts, has been studying at Western for ten months. She believes that international study helps a person to grow.

“It adds to my personality a lot by being open-minded, flexible, and accepting variety of people and introduces me to different cultures and costumes,” Alismail said. “Also, it adds more for my family, especially my children where they are exposed to different cultures.”

Alismail continued, “It also gives you the opportunity to examine the culture more deeply and have a fair judgment about it. This also may help you adapting some good manners, attitudes, and lifestyles or anything else.”

For various reasons, not all Western students can study abroad, but they can still get the benefits from multicultural exposure here on campus during International Education Week.

Sarah Nagel, Study Abroad and J Visa Advisor, said, “The purpose of International Ed. Week is a celebration of the fact that we are a global society, a global campus.”

Nagel said that through participating in International Ed. Week, “students gain a greater cultural competence, meaning they have a better understanding of the different cultures that are out in the world.”

The full schedule of events can be found on posters around campus, including in WUC, and on the International Education Week webpage.

As someone who has been shaped by my experiences abroad, I encourage everyone to participate in this rare opportunity for multicultural sharing and celebration.

The Northwest Passage Fall 2015

By: Megan Clark 
Campus Life Editor

Along with The Journal and KWOU, the Northwest Passage is an important branch of Western’s student media trifecta – the third musketeer in WOU’s band of student run, on-campus entertainment.

The Northwest Passage, according to Western’s website, has been “In publication in one form or another for 72 years.”

A vast amount of fantastic imagery and prose has passed through its pages, and its newest issue will follow suit.

The current editor of the Northwest Passage, Zoe Strickland, sophomore English literature major, stressed the importance of literary and art magazines saying, “It’s important to have student work published in an on campus literary magazine because doing so makes literature, art, and photography more accessible to students.”

Strickland continued, “It helps show people that being published (albeit in a small literary magazine) is an attainable goal.”

As the Passage’s ever supportive sibling, The Journal is running an excerpt from “A Ghost’s Home Videos,” a poem by sophomore English major, Cassie Farmer. Alongside it is printed the photograph of Mount Hood that will be used for the Northwest Passage’s cover, taken by Karlene Curtin, a first year who hopes to study education and ASL.

These are just two examples of what the Passage has to offer in its upcoming issue.

Strickland said, “We encourage students to submit their creations whether it be art, photography, poetry, drama, or fiction. By publishing student work, the Northwest Passage hopes to showcase the creative talents that WOU students have.”

The distribution date (when you can pick up your copy) for Northwest Passage is Nov. 20th, 2015. There will be release party held in Hamersly library at 6 p.m. on Nov. 23, 2015, that is open to the public.

During the release party, contributors will read their poetry, short stories, or display their art and photography. If you want to contribute to future publications, email northwestpassage@wou.edu.

Self-Defense Against the Dark Arts

By: Joleen S. Braasch 
Freelancer

Every year, Campus Recreation and Campus Public Safety team up to offer free self-defense courses to the WOU community. On Wednesday night, Officers Trever Jackson and Scott Tennant worked with 10 women to prepare them against attackers.

“One of our biggest points in doing this class is building peoples’ confidence to let them know that they can fight back,” said Officer Trevor Jackson of CPS.

The course consisted of three parts: an informational PowerPoint on protecting oneself against physical assault, a training session on defense tactics, and a real-life, one to two minute scenario with feedback.

During the PowerPoint, participants were given statistics about physical assault and about how to stay safe. They also learned about some of the safety measures on campus, such as the safety paths (the white paw prints on campus), the University Escort Program and the emergency poles.

The safety paths see large amounts of foot traffic and are heavily patrolled by Campus Public Safety. With the Escort Program, students who feel unsafe can be accompanied by officers from one place on Western’s campus. There are also blue emergency poles located on the grounds that connect directly to the Public Safety office and allow you to speak with the staff, who, thanks to GPS, will know exactly where you are.

In the training session, students learned some defense tactics, such as the palm-heel strike, chokehold and bridging during ground fighting. With these new tactics, students then went on to participate in a real-life scenario.

Participants were both excited and nervous to go into the scenario. Payton W., a first year pre-ASL Interpreting major, was a little scared, but also optimistic, saying, “I don’t want to go into a dark room and be jumped on by somebody […] but it will prepare me for the real world.”

After the workshop, Western students and faculty felt much more prepared for potential dangers. Caity Arias, a senior English writing major, felt much more confident. Arias said, “I’m really happy I went; I learned so much […] I feel like it made me more confident knowing that even though I’m small I can still like do these things that will bring somebody down who weighs twice as much as me.”
Shawancee Woodall, a first year psychology major, enjoyed the course, saying, “It was fantastic. I definitely feel like there were things I didn’t know beforehand.”

Last year, Grants Financial Specialist at the WOU Research Institute, Jennie Smith, participated in the course and felt it really prepared her. She and her daughter both attended this year: “My daughter is actually the one in there [the scenario] right now. I took this last year and then I really wanted her to do it so I signed us both up.”

If you’re interested in participating in a self-defense workshop at Western, keep your eye out for future classes. There are usually three to four offered every academic year, including one co-ed class and one for faculty/staff.

Musical jewels from Spain

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

Contralto Dr. Karen Esquivel and her husband, Dr. Gustavo Castro, came to campus to perform Spanish cante flamenco (flamenco singing) and operatic arias, on Tuesday Nov. 10, 2015.

Before performing, the duo gave a presentation of Spain’s history. They painted a picture of a complex history of dictatorships, wars, and the amalgamation of different cultures.

Dr. Castro explained during the presentation that, “Little by little, the popularity of Italian opera killed the chance of local operatic schools becoming the officially sponsored operatic art form by the Spanish court.”

They performed two cante flamencos to begin. “When you think of flamenco, you think of colors,” Dr. Esquivel addressed the singers in the audience. “You have to taste it.”

Throughout their performance, the English translation of the songs were displayed to help the audience understand the meaning of the music.

The first flamenco, “Poema en forma de canciones” by Joaquín Turina and Ramón de Campoamor, had arguably the happiest story of the evening – though it was still of heartbreak and longing, it was dealt with in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

The last movement of the piece, for example, is about the desire to have a short and crazy love rather than a traditional and content one.

While Dr. Esquivel performed, she used facial expressions and body movement to explain the feelings and content of the songs. During one song, she formed her fingers into claws that reached above her to display the anger of the narrator.

In another, she cried out and stood with a hunched back before ending with the lyrics, “Damn love and the one who made me understand it!”

The rest of the night was filled with arias.

They introduced the aria form with a piece from “Els Pirineus” by Felip Pedrell. It is a song is about a woman, Lisa, who has taken on the guise of a soldier so she could be close to the man she loves. Knowing she and the others will die the next day in battle, she sings to the other soldiers to calm their nerves and bring them peace.

The rest of the performance featured songs following the theme of heartbreak, usually with the woman dying at the end of the song. Also typical is the presence of a gypsy woman as the lover to an upper class man or even a royal court member.

Don’t miss the chance to support fellow students in their upcoming recitals this coming week. The first is Friday Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. with senior Kyle Harrington on the euphonium. Check out the schedule on the music department’s website for more performances.

Humans of Western

By: Megan Clark 
Campus Life Editor

Adeshina Oladiti, Junior, Computer Science Major

“I played soccer in Nigeria. When I was at the age of 8, I started playing soccer in a group, like a club. We called it the Chicago Bulls […] I’m so passionate about it [soccer], after the club training I would take all the jersey home, wash them, dry them, and bring them back to the club, because I was the captain.”

What do you miss most about Nigeria?

“The food!”

Western Art and Design Club welcomes new members

By: Emily Pate 
Staff Writer

The Art and Design Club meets every Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. on the third floor of Campbell Hall. They also hold free life drawing sessions on Tuesdays.

Wednesday, Nov. 4, the club spent their meeting finger painting on wooden boards procured by club president Max McEvilly.

McEvilly, a senior and art major, said that one of the goals of the club is to broaden horizons and give club members a chance to experiment with new mediums and styles.

He also wants to use the club to quell the anxiety art majors feel about their post-graduation careers.

The club is not just for art majors as they offer a helpful, relaxed, and nonjudgmental environment for anyone who wants to try their hand at creating art.

“It’s a small enough club that an individual can come up with an idea of what to do and we can just do it,” McEvilly said.

Raquel Graham, a first year psychology major, especially enjoyed a collaborative project when a dance instructor asked the club to make masks for a dance show. “It was cool that my work got to be shown,” she said. She encourages other non-art majors to join the club.

The Art and Design Club hosted a popular Halloween event last month. “I’m pretty proud of what we did,” McEvilly said, “I hope we can do something even bigger next year.”

McEvilly has a lot of ideas for the future for the Art and Design Club, including a commission booth in Werner and a painting wall. He encourages Western students to come give the club a try. “It’s a no strings attached kind of club,” he said.

“If you like art, it’s a good place for you,” Graham continued. “You have a lot of fun. You do a lot of things that you normally don’t get to do.”

One Month, One Novel

By: Stephanie Blair 
Photo Editor

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a creative writing Internet sensation started by author and Stanford professor Chris Baty in 1999.

What started as a project undertaken by 30 people has now grown in both renown and participation, clocking in at over 325,000 registered “wrimos” around the world last November. In fact, participants can be found on six of the seven continents.

As stated on the official NaNoWriMo website, NaNoWriMo is “a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.” However, it’s not just a fun annual event; NaNoWriMo is also a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

While companies such as Evernote, Kindle Direct Publishing, and Nook Press officially sponsor NaNoWriMo, participants are given the opportunity to fundraise for the non-profit programs as well.

NaNoWriMo has three nonprofit programs: Camp NaNoWriMo, the Young Writers Program, and the Come Write In (CWI) program.

The purpose of these, nanowrimo.org says, is “to empower and encourage writing and vibrant creativity around the world.”

Camp NaNoWriMo is a month long “virtual writing retreat” meant to help writers complete projects at any time of year, but with the same support and structure as NaNoWriMo.

“The Young Writers Program promotes writing fluency, creative education, and the sheer joy of novel-writing in K-12 classrooms,” the website states. More than 2,000 classrooms receive free classroom kits, writing workbooks, and other educational materials to assist in this effort.

The CWI program, which had 849 centers last year, is NaNoWriMo’s way to connect neighborhood spaces such as community centers, libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops with “wrimos” to create safe and supportive writing spaces.

CWI locations receive a “Come Write In kit”, which includes a window cling, a poster, and bookmarks to help promote the event. Additionally, NaNoWriMo connects CWI locations with others who are hosting events through an online forum, and local volunteers to help publicize, co-host events, as well as keeping the center informed about other events in the region.

This year, Western’s Writing Center, located on the third floor of the APSC, will be holding weekly meet-ups every Wednesday at 5 p.m. for “wrimos” on campus as a CWI center.

Among this year’s participants are “BookTube” stars Kat O’Keeffe (youtube.com/Katytastic) and Sasha Alsberg (youtube.com/abookutopia), as well as The Journal’s Managing Editor Katrina Penaflor, author of “Under the Surface,” and Staff Writer Emily Pate here at Western.

Although the month has already started, all who are interested are encouraged to join in. NaNoWriMo happenings, and more information, can be found on facebook.com/nanowrimo, twitter.com/nanowrimo, and nanowrimo.org.

Humans of Western

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

“I was a correctional officer for many years, and, uh, I think I stuck with it because I felt like I was perhaps making a difference in people’s lives. If they made poor decisions and they ended up in prison, maybe my role-modeling made a difference to them. But at the end of the day, I felt like I wasn’t making enough of a positive difference, so I wanted to change my life.”

“My mom had been clean and sober for twelve years, and then in April she fell off the wagon … Right now, I go back and forth between being really upset with addiction … and then also thinking about how lucky I was to have gotten to have those times with her in those twelve years.”

“The most memorable thing [about being a correctional officer] for me was an interaction with an inmate … she had made significant changes in the way she saw the world around her, what we call in the system ‘criminal thinking’… she got out, and it was probably about four months later, I saw her in a commercial for Goodwill and she had gotten a job and became a spokesperson for the company, and it touched me.”

Flugelhornist Works Jazz Magic

FlugelBW

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

Renowned flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny came to the Smith Recital Hall on Nov. 4 to perform with a local jazz trio. The trio consisted of Western instructor Dan Gaynor on the piano, Todd Strait on the drums, and Chris Higgins playing the bass.

For those unsure of what a flugelhorn is, Matheny explains, “A flugelhorn is like a trumpet that sounds good.” The response yielded laughter from the audience and helped set a casual mood for the concert.

The four musicians played a light and airy bossa nova by Bruno Martino, as well as “Stormy Weather” by famous composer Harold Arlen. Matheny left the stage for the next song so the trio could showcase their talents.

The trio played “Fried Pies” by Wes Montgomery. Both of Gaynor’s feet were occupied, one busy with the piano’s pedals, the other tapping in time to the rhythm of the song.

An unexpected mixture of breaks and solos characterized the song itself, and the stage came alive as all of the musicians grooved to the music.

Matheny rejoined the stage for “Red Reflections,” a song off his album “Sagebrush Rebellion” that they played as a double-timed samba. The song was inspired by sitting in traffic during a rainy day.

“You’ll see the reflections from the taillights of the cars in front of you, and on the pavement,” he explained. “You can get stressed out about that, or you can think, ‘Oh, this is a hip vibe.’”

The highlight of the night was when they played Eclypso, a piece arranged by Matheny’s former teacher, the late Art Farmer. The song was a fast tempo ditty that rang throughout the hall, but something was missing—dancing.

“Jazz has always been a social thing, people should be dancing to music like this, always,” mused Nick Nielsen, a bassist, and junior music major.

Emily Lowry, senior business major, had been unsure about whether she would enjoy a jazz concert, as she had expected that jazz would be far slower.

“The faster and upbeat tempo was unexpected. It makes you want to dance,” Lowry remarked.

The night ended with a bang as the jazz trio and Matheny performed their rendition of “Golden Lady” by Stevie Wonder.

Missed this show and feeling sore? Come hear Spanish Song Treasures in the Smith Recital Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Check out the Music department’s website for even more events and ticketing information.

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