Mount Hood

Advice for Newbies

By: Amanda Clarke 
Staff Writer

The first year on campus can be a difficult one. Here are some helpful tips from other students for first-year students to make the transition easier:
1. Get involved!
Getting involved on campus can help combat homesickness. It can also lead to meeting new people and trying new things. “Get involved however you can!” said Kristen Case, a junior biology major. Joining clubs and going to events on campus can help create friendships and keep you active, both mentally and physically. College is the perfect time for trying new things; don’t miss out on the opportunities available to you.

2. Stay in touch with your family and friends back home.
“Text your parents, but not in class,” said Avi Goldberg, a sophomore early childhood education major. Keeping in touch with family and old friends after leaving home can be difficult with so much to do with regards to school work and everyday life on campus. Even just a quick text letting them know how you’re doing can ease their mind and maintain the important bonds of your support system.

3. Know your resources.
You can get textbooks from various resources to save money. Textbooks can be rented through Inter-Library loaning as well as directly through the library for up to 10 weeks, which can save money in the long run. You can also get textbooks from online retailers, local used bookstores, or peers who no longer need theirs. Most things you need to purchase on campus can be found off campus, frequently at far less cost. However, the campus community does provide a lot of avenues that should be taken advantage of. For example, the tutors in the writing center are always willing to help and the Stonewall Center is a good resource for the LBTQ+ community.

4. “Go to class!” – Austin Davis, sophomore criminal justice major.
You are paying for your classes, so get the most out of them by going to class, listening to the lectures, and involving yourself in group discussions. Not only will you be able to understand the material better, but professors will remember your name and the amount of work you put into their class. “Apply yourself!” said Shelby Worthing, a junior economics major. It could be the difference between a B and an A. Sometimes it’s hard to expend that much effort, but laziness and procrastination spell doom for the average college student.

5. “Stay on top of your graduation requirements!” – Megan Clark, senior English major.
Looking at your graduation requirements when you are a freshman will help you to look ahead at what classes you need to take in the future. Sometimes a class will only be offered every other year, which can make finishing graduation requirements hard if it isn’t offered until your junior year. Be sure to check in with your advisor, both to lift holds and check out your requirements, and be sure to keep tabs on DegreeWorks and the upcoming academic calendar.

6. Be considerate and keep up with your chores.
Your parents aren’t around to clean up your mess anymore. Forgetting your laundry in the wash can create a hassle for other people within the living quarters. If you forget your laundry, sometimes people will have to move it so they can do their own. “Set a timer for your laundry because the texting app is not always accurate and sometimes out of order,” said Jessica Donahue, a sophomore forensic chemistry major. Keeping up with chores can show your consideration for others and reflects well on your character. “Clean your room before your parents visit,” said Goldberg. While it’s important to make a good impression on visiting parents, cleaning your room, and keeping it clean, will create a more organized living space for you. This can cut down on anxiety, stress, and the terror that comes with losing something important in the chaos of your room.

7. Explore your off-campus options.
“Don’t be limited to on-campus experiences; look for fun things to do around town,” said Clark. While there are a lot of events that happen around campus, there are also community happenings off campus in the Monmouth and Independence area such as sporting events, movie nights, and concerts that the cities put on. Eating out all the time isn’t the healthiest or cheapest option, but neither is eating at the dining hall all the time. Try and go to the grocery store once in a while and pick up something cheap and healthy.

Comedian to preform on campus

By: Brianna Bonham
Freelancer

Comedian Billy Sorrells visited Western Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 and put on a stand-up show entitled “Friday Night Live.”

Sorrells is a comedian and filmmaker based out of Las Angeles, but his performance travels take him beyond California’s borders.

He has a YouTube channel (billysorrells) where he posts weekly videos, and he has appeared in the popular YouTube series “Sh-t Black Girls Say,” and he has been featured on BET interviewing celebrities on the red carpet.

In response to the audience’s reaction during his show, Sorrells said, “I got such a warm reception from you guys, and I’m very appreciative… I am definitely looking forward to returning to Western.”

Sorrells started his stand-up career by performing at college campuses. Given his origins on college campuses, he continues to enjoy performing at campuses around the country.

His show ran almost two hours in length, and an audience of about 60 students listened as he told stories about his childhood, past relationships, and experiences in his life.

Sorrells then held an interactive questions segment that students enjoyed. Students interviewed him and, in return, were given a short story. When asked to talk about the most interesting audience member he’s had, he told an elaborate, funny story about a couple that fought in the middle of his show.

“Find what you’re most interested in, find the best person doing it, and look at what steps they had to take to get there… make everything personal,” stated Sorrell, advising to people that want to be stand up comedians, or are looking at a career in entertainment.

He urged aspiring entertainers to make things personal so that the audience can more easily relate.

Black Rain: Confronting Memory and Language

By:Megan Clark 
Campus Life Editor

The art installation precariously hanging in Hamersly Library is part of a larger art installation that will stay at Western from Sept. 21, 2015 to Dec. 4, 2015. The art showcase titled Black Rain, was created by Yukiyo Kawano.

Kawano is a second generation Hiroshima bomb survivor, and works as an artist in Portland, Ore. The first floor installation features two low-hanging, large sculptures surrounded by origami cranes.

The two large structures are “Fat Man,” the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and “Little Boy,” the bomb dropped on Nagasaki at the end of World War II. The cranes are symbolic of peace; students are invited to fold one and contribute to the work.

On Oct. 7, 2015, the artist was able to come to Western and give a talk about her show.

Kawano discussed the victims of the bombings. There are a “vast amount of hibakusha (bombing victims) living in the shadow, who didn’t have a voice … I’m hoping that my art creates a safe environment to talk about these issues.”

When asked about her process – which Kawano said can be very messy – the artist also mentioned the feelings she experiences during the artmaking process. Kawano stated, “I ask myself, ‘Who am I really, to spend so much time on art?’” She dwells on the fact that she comes from a culture where women are expected to be domestic; breaking this social norm causes her a lot of guilt.

The artist’s work is very personal to her, which can be seen in the use of her own hair to sew together the bombs. When asked about this, she said, “My hair going down the drain, when I wash my hair is so horrifying for me … it links to a horror site that I saw again and again growing up in Hiroshima: the loss of women’s long black hair due to radiation sickness.”

A member from the audience asked her about the Fukushima nuclear disaster that happened in 2011. “Fukushima is happening now,” Kawano replied, “but it will be history very soon….part of the past is now contaminated.”

Her art pieces on the second floor are of a much smaller scale in comparison to the large bombs. One wall is lined with sketches of “Little Boy;” the pages feature the same repeated image of Kawano wearing her grandmother’s kimono, which had been used to make the bomb.

Across from this, the sketches for “Fat Man” lay out on a table, overlapped with a transparent sheet. Printed on the sheet are conversations that Kawano had had with bomb survivors, both in Japanese and the English translation.

Referencing how language and memory can be ever changing and easily distorted, Kawano said, “When changing the language, the meaning and nuance can shift, so there is a veil.”

In the past, “Fat Man” and “Little Boy” have been accompanied by Butoh, a style of Japanese dance theater that arose in 1959. According to Kawano, “The movement is capturing the unseen and listening to the silence.” The dance can symbolize konpaku, the space between life and death, which, according to Kawano, allows people to confront their own uncertainty.

She hopes to find dancers at Western who might be interested in Butoh, hinting that during the time the installation is at Western, a performance could accompany her piece.

In response to the first floor installation, Leona, a graduate student working on her master’s in teaching, said, “It’s interesting… it’s forcing me to look at art from a different angle.” Jerrie Lee Parpart, exhibit and archives coordinator, said that she felt Kawano’s art fit well with the other World War II era art being displayed at the library now and in the future.

Joleen Braasch, a senior education major, said, “I really appreciate Yuki’s work. She did a wonderful job at evoking emotion. And that’s what we need to avoid future nuclear situations; we need to remember.”

Getting reviewed: Associate Collegiate Press critiques The Journal.

MeganColor

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

Last year, The Journal submitted a selection of its work to The Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), an organization that critiques and gives rankings to collegiate newspapers.

Recently, the critique was returned and The Journal was selected for a merit award, and given mark of distinction in the category of Photos, Art & Graphics. In the category of Photos, Art & Graphics, the ACP marked the paper at 145 out of 150 possible points.

The paper was given an overall honor rating of 701. The honor rating of 701 places the paper in the second-class rank, the third best rating in the scale.

According to their website, ACP “promotes standards and ethics of good journalism” by offering reviews and comments about college and university newspapers.

The critique was broken down into multiple categories; The Journal scored well in Layout & Design and Coverage & Content, though it scored highest in Photos, Art & Graphics.

According to the judge, Shawn Murphy, The Journal should “keep up the photo coverage. This is a strength.” Though The Journal received high marks, there is still room for improvement in others.

Conner Williams, The Journal’s editor-in-chief, has also been selected as one of ten finalists for Story of the Year in the Editorial and Opinion category. Williams was nominated for his April 2015 opinion piece titled “Up in smoke: The ethical dilemmas of a convenience store clerk”.

When asked about the paper’s direction for the new school year, the Editor-in-Chief said, “For this year, we’re going to increase our social media and online presence, conduct investigative reports, especially in editorial pieces.”

Williams also focused on “making sure all stories go through rigorous copy editing to make sure all stories are as accurate as possible.”

With the judge’s comments in mind, The Journal hopes to improve its scores in the other categories and rank even higher for the next ACP review.

Western welcomes students back to a new year.

By: Amanda Clarke
Staff Writer

For Western’s New Student Week (NSW), which took place Sept. 20-26, first-year students were invited to walk the red carpet and learn more about WOU’s campus and their fellow students.

The theme of this year’s NSW was “HollyWOUd: Lights, Camera, Take Action!” Freshmen had the opportunity to learn more about Western through a variety of events held during the week.

Austin Davis, Peer Leaders Understanding Students (PLUS) Team Member and a sophomore Criminal Justice major, said that the theme for NSW was selected after vigorous brainstorming by the whole PLUS Team.

“There was so much you can do with this theme,” Davis said, “the theme we chose was very inclusive, we didn’t leave anyone out.”

The PLUS Team at WOU helps new students during registration, Summer Orientation Advising and Registration and NSW in order to ensure students feel more comfortable about starting college life.

Peer Mentors and PLUS Team members work together in order to help first-year students get to know one another. Freshmen were required to attend several events to teach them more about Western’s campus.

There were multiple hour-long sessions which helped students learn how to write essays, use DegreeWorks, and become certified in Leadership, as well as other events that involved other subject areas.

Some events promoted student bonding and teamwork, such as volleyball and capture the flag. There were also excursions to Portland and Lincoln City on Saturday.

Julianna Deckter, a freshman accounting major, said that the events on campus “have been fun. They’ve been very lively, and inclusive, and just fun in general.”

Students were also able to learn more about various clubs, job opportunities, and local businesses through several large-scale events, including the Welcome to Monmouth/Independence Fair in the Grove on Sept. 23.

The fair offered a wide range of free merchandise for students to take home including bags, posters, live goldfish, and food.

Allie Highberg, a first-year elementary education major, said, “I have really liked pretty much everything that we’ve done. All of the meetings we’ve had were fun and educational.”

Highberg also stated that she learned something new every time she attended events, of which there was a wide-variety.

Students also had a chance to sign their names on the sidewalk between the Grove and the Old PE building in Western’s colors: red, white, and black.

“It seemed like everybody so far has been very friendly, and I hope it impacts them to be more social and connect more,” Davis added. He said the week went well.

Some of the keynote events of the week included the Dating Doctor, David Coleman, a hypnotist, and the Variety Show, which took place on Saturday evening.

On the back of the New Student Session Booklets that were handed out, students were able to fill out a “VIP Pass” in order to have a chance to win a prize. Prizes included WOU swag, a TV, an iPad Mini, a GoPro, and a gift card to the campus bookstore.

The acts at the Variety Show included multiple dancers, an electric guitar performance, several comedy groups, a monologue from “Laughing Wild,” and a piano/voice performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”

The PLUS Team also put together a video of the various events that occurred during New Student Week and had an additional dance performance that followed. Throughout the Variety Show, drawings were done randomly by a PLUS Team member to announce the winners of the “VIP Pass” prizes.

Deckter said she feels like this year is “going to go easy.” Adding, “I definitely feel like the community is very welcoming and you’ll have support no matter what.”

 

Changing of the Guard.

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

This past summer, Western Oregon University appointed a new university president, Dr. Rex Fuller.

President Fuller’s past positions include provost and vice president of academic affairs at Eastern Washington University (EWU).

During his time at EWU, he developed a long list of achievements and recognitions, all of which can be found on his WOU webpage. In addition to his other numerous accomplishments, Dr. Fuller was involved with developing student success and community college dual admission programs.

Hoping to bring his expertise to Western, Dr. Fuller said “WOU has a reputation of being student focused…we hope to continue to build on the success we’ve already had.”

He has also stated that Western will undergo an accreditation process to help identify the strengths and weaknesses of current academics according to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities standards, which will then be addressed in 2016.

When asked about implementing EWU programs at Western, Dr. Fuller pointed to the dual admission program saying that it could be implemented; especially given the existence of the Oregon Promise.

The Oregon Promise financially assists students seeking a community college education.

President Fuller has also been supportive of interacting with the local community, both at EWU and at Western. “I believe the university is a vital component of the greater area and the community, in particular the city of Monmouth, but also the city of Independence, as well as the mid-Willamette Valley,” said Fuller.

He also mentioned that students could get involved with the community through service learning projects or clubs.

Fuller is also reaching out to Western alumni, with plans to “invite them back into the wolf den.” Fuller said that through the alumni and their associations with organizations, Western students can find greater opportunities for internships and employment.

Looking to the future, Dr. Fuller hopes to increase “our academic array and presence in Salem” in order to help working professionals pursue their graduate degree through “hybrid opportunities that involve face to face meetings and other means.”

When they are not occupied with university related business or unpacking from their recent move, President Fuller and his wife, Susan, can be found around the Monmouth community, trying the local cuisine and wineries.

Exploring the inspirations behind different art forms

By Katrina Penaflor
 Campus Life Editor

The Northwest Passage celebrated the release of its spring issue Tuesday, May 26 in Hamersly Library. The party showcased students’ published work with a reading and was accompanied with music courtesy of KWOU radio.

Northwest Passage is a literary magazine equipped with creations of poetry, short stories, writing, art, and photography all submitted by members of Western’s community.

Emily Pate, a senior English major, was among the presenters. Her poem “The Fishwife” was inspired by a conversation she had with the Northwest Passage editor in chief, Bethany McWhorter, where they discussed a piece of Pate’s fiction that included the term fishwife.

“I realized that it is a very interesting word, and wanted to write a poem that explored potential meanings not usually associated with it,” she said.

“‘The Fishwife’ is about growing older, and how that changes someone’s perceptions, both about themselves and the world around them. Aging transforms both the body and the mind, so I wanted to depict that,” Pate said.

Poet and fifth-year elementary education major Emily DuMond presented powerful poems titled “You are needed” and “Bravery” that depicted the topic of suicide.

“I hope that my writing will reach those who need hope, that it will raise their spirits enough so that they think this life is worth living,” DuMond said.

After the poetry readings, a slide show showcased the art and photography that was published.

The work ranged from colorful screen prints depicting the effects of socially accepted vices to photographs of Haystack Rock.

Senior art major Jeanine Newsome talked about her untitled oil painting of an unmade bed. She said the piece reflected the “soft and calming nature when you go to sleep.”

The publication’s success is all thanks to students actively submitting their work and the editing work of English major and Northwest Passage editor-in-chief senior Bethany McWhorter.

“It has been a difficult process publishing issues this year, but I have been surprised by the turn out of creative works displayed by the talented students at [Western],” McWhorter said. “I hope that student involvement continues to grow in the coming year.”

She added, “it has been a wonderful experience working on the Northwest Passage and the wonderful staff of student media.”

Northwest Passage release party

The Northwest Passage will celebrate the release of its spring issue, Tuesday, May 26 at 5:30 p.m. in Hamersly Library room 107. The literature and arts magazine is a collaboration of poetry, short stories, photography, and art all created by the Western community. The party will include students reading and showcasing some of their work published in the spring issue.

Bethany McWhorter, editor-in-chief of the Northwest Passage said, “It’s been an interesting journey this term with the production and now the release of this issue, but I’m very pleased with the final product. I’m looking forward to where the next editor takes it next year.”

Nuestra Fiesta Latina

The Multicultural Student Union organized a Nuestra Fiesta Latina or “Our Latin Party” celebration, Friday, May 15. The event featured live salsa, merengue, and bachata music in the plaza by performers Conjunto Alegre, along with games and a photo booth. Following was a speech about bilingual education by assistant superintendent of the Oregon Department of Education, David Bautista. The night concluded with a dinner, dancing, and more performances by Mariachi Calavera and Ballet Folklorico Tlanese.

“The Voyage of the Hokule’a”

By Jenna Beresheim
 Staff Writer

Students and Monmouth community members recently attended a trip through the Polynesian islands, eating authentic meals and watching traditional dances, all for under $20.

Saturday, May 16, Western’s Hawai’i club hosted their 9th Annual Lu’au, in tandem with the Nesian Club.

The Lu’au hosted over 20 dances ranging from Tahiti, Samoa, Aotearoa, and more. The evening started off with a dinner full of traditional foods such as Kalua pork, Poke, Mac Salad, and coconut cake.

Between rounds of dances, volunteers were called to the stage to participate in fun games, such as trying to pronounce Pidgin – an accent based off of English with its own Hawaiian flair.

“Performing at this year’s Lu’au was a really great experience for me, especially as a first year student,” Erica Sanchez, first year dance major, said. She choreographed three dances for this Lu’au.

Other choreographers were Kamaka Keawekane, Tolu Tafai, Nikki Ki, Tavae Sina, Melody Andrada, Kaua Kauahi-Daniels, Courtney Costa, and Gianne Pabustan.

“I feel that we did great, but the main thing is that we had fun,” said Tafatolu Naea, a junior pre-fire service administration student and president of the Nesian Club. “It’s always a pleasure to show others a taste of our Polynesian culture and dancing is a big part of it.”

Naea has participated in both Lu’aus the two years he has attended, saying that, “I’m glad we got to represent some of the different Pacific Islands such as Fiji, Aotearoa, Tahiti, Hawai’i, but especially my home land and the heart of the pacific islands, Samoa.”

The club’s energy and passion was showcased in smiling faces and powerful dancing, even with a few whooping “Cheehooos!” from the crowd and dancers alike.

“Shout out to a good friend Alyssa Carvahlo who’s a senior and in the Hawai’i club,” Naea added. “She played a huge role in putting the Lu’au together. You the one!”

This was the final year of Carvahlo’s participation as a Western student, as she will be graduating in a few weeks with the class of 2015. Carvahlo even created a dance as tribute to all of her friends and connections as a parting gift to the club.

Not your average fairy tale

By Katrina Penaflor
 Campus Life Editor

Hamersly Library will host a book signing and reading of Kate Ristau’s young adult novel “Shadowgirl,” Wednesday, May 27, from 4-6 p.m. in room 107.

Ristau is a former writing instructor at Western who has always harbored passions for teaching and writing.

Some of her former works include a collaboration with multiple professors from the English and writing department on the coffee-themed anthology Coarse Grounds, and the book Commas: An Irreverent Primer, which she wrote with literature and writing instructor Maren Anderson.

Ristau said she enjoys writing young adult and middle grade fiction and loves incorporating her background in folklore into her work.

“Shadowgirl” was originally published by Lycaon Press and later by Parenthetical publishing. It was released May 21.

The novel is a young adult fantasy with incorporated elements of Irish folklore, and tells the story of a fey named Áine, whom Ristau said “crossed over from the fairy world to our world.” The book follows Áine’s journey to finding the truth about her family and past.

“It’s not a light fairy tale,” Ristau said and adding that the novel’s tagline is “this is not a fairy tale.”

Ristau said the novel raises the question: “if a fairy came to our world what would it really be like?”

Ristau’s “stories are tight and have a forward momentum that makes them fast, exciting reads,” Anderson said.

“Shadowgirl” is already raking in rave reviews on Amazon. One reader, Pam Killebrew, wrote in her review, “I inhaled this book — from the first chapter I was hooked; I couldn’t put it down. Interesting setting, intriguing characters, and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”

Aside from the upcoming signing in Hamersly Library, Ristau will also be at Annie Bloom’s Books in Portland May 28 from 7-8 p.m.

Ristau’s advice for students and writers is to continually write.

“Get a draft and get something out on the page,” she said. The next step is “you have to revise and edit,” and then: “you have to send it out.”

She added: “after you send something out, keep writing more.”

Ristau is currently drafting a sequel to “Shadowgirl,” and has two other novels in submission.

For more information about Ristau’s work, go to her website http://kateristau.com/

100 Years of Never Ceasing to Learn

By Elizabeth Lowry
 Freelancer

Withstanding the test of time, Western’s Information Technology Center is celebrating its centennial this year.

In 1882, the Oregon State Legislature — according to John C. Almack’s History of Oregon Normal Schools — passed a law that created state normal schools. Derived from the French term ecole normale, normal schools were institutions that provided training programs in the “norms” of teaching.

Western, named Christian College at the time, renamed to Oregon State Normal School. Four other normal schools were opened in the cities of Ashland, The Dalles, Weston and Drain.

However, 16 years later in 1898, legislature would pass The Daly Bill which took away the power to grant teaching certificates from both denominational and state normal schools. While the plan was to eventually give authority back to state schools, in 1909 state funding was pulled completely and all five normal schools closed.

Through the support of the Monmouth, Independence and Polk County communities, the Monmouth school was able to open its doors once again, renaming to Oregon Normal School (ONS) in 1911.

With the new lack of normal schools, ONS found itself in the predicament of raising student enrollment and decreasing space.

With only four classrooms in their model school, dubbed “the Patch School” due to its differing colors of exterior paint on its original floor subsequent addition of a second floor, ONS approached the Oregon State Legislature to request funds for a new training school.

In 1915, Legislature awarded ONS $50,000 and development for the Monmouth Training School was put on the fast track.

Under the supervision of skilled state architect John Virginius Bennes and Corvallis contracting firm Snook and Traver, construction for the two story building, which included a basement, began on Aug. 11, 1915. Using many Oregon-based materials, including stones mined from Oregon quarries, the Training School officially opened Feb. 14, 1916.

The finished building was comprised of a 210-seat auditorium, 7 classrooms with attached recitation rooms, restrooms, administrative offices and a 2,000-book library. The basement contained two playrooms, domestic science and art rooms and a children’s lunch room.

As the campus population continued to increase, the Training School went through several major changes in its 100-year history, including the addition of its northeast and southeast wings for increased classroom space in 1949 and 1959 respectively. In 1964, the Training School changed its name to Campus Elementary School (CES) to avoid confusion with the new Monmouth Elementary School. By 1986, CES had closed and the building underwent a structural remodel before being repurposed as the Instructional Technology Center (ITC).

Currently the ITC is home to Western’s computer and audio/visual centers. An architectural staple, the ITC holds a rich historical past and a bright indispensable future to Western’s campus.

The ITC exhibit “100 Years of Service: Never Cease to Learn” exhibit is located on the second floor of Hamersly Library and is available for viewing until June 30.

Speaker shares experiences of deafblind and LGBTQ communities

By Amanda Clarke
Staff Writer
Jasper Norman
Jasper Norman

Jasper Norman, a deafblind, transgender, Latino male from New York, shared his life story during a presentation in the Willamette room, May 11.

Norman is a first generation Latino American. He is also a pro-tactile signer, which is new in the deafblind community. This way of signing includes signing on the person’s back to whom he is talking so he can feel the reaction to what he says, and using both hands to sign.

When Norman was in the third grade, he said that was when he first began to feel that he identified more with males than he did females.

It was not until later when he was attending college in Ohio, to receive a degree in web design, where he saw the transgender speaker, Joseph Gartner, that he realized his true identity as a male, Norman said.

In college, his vision became so bad that he was unable to finish his degree. He then decided to move to Seattle to seek a better transgender community.

Norman presented the video of his first testosterone injection during the presentation, and also added that he shows it at workshops as well. Norman takes testosterone injections weekly and has been doing so for the past two years.

This event helped people to understand and learn more about the LGBTQ and deafblind communities as well as how they are accepted depending on their sexual identity in the world.

Norman gave time after his presentation to let audience members ask questions. They were done in a variety of ways, such as signing, speaking out loud, or anonymously via text to James Parrish, a first-year criminal justice major, who helped run the program.

“I don’t actually know a lot of people in the trans community,” Parrish said. “It is nice to go somewhere and feel like I belong.”

“My goal is to spread awareness,” Norman said. There is a “lack of news and understanding about LGBTQ […] because it’s such an old thing.”

He also mentioned that with pronouns, people should, “ask first, instead of guessing.”

Norman said that being deaf and blind is a bigger challenge than what he faces being transgender, especially because of the difficulty of finding employment with a disability.

His talk at Western is one of his firsts, but he is willing to present more in the future, “not just for myself but for others who may benefit,” he said, as well as the “need to address the lack of information [with LGBTQ].”

Sarah Tabor, a first-year psychology major, said it was a great to “hear about his life stories as well as some struggles, and it was very eye opening.”

Norman said he is looking to finish his web design degree, and help deaf and blind people. “A lot of deafblind people are isolated, and they stay home,” he said, because “they don’t have the accommodations they need.”

Madison Adrian, a first-year early education major, said it “was really interesting. It was good to see his perspective and take on things and I learned a lot from it.”

Fundraising for Nepal

By Katrina Penaflor
 Campus Life Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMRID ARYAL
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMRID ARYAL

A 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal April 25, resulting in a devastating toll of over 8,000 deaths, according to www.npr.com.

NPR later reported that the disaster continued when a recent 7.3 earthquake struck Kathmandu, Nepal, May 12, just weeks after the first. Continuous aftershocks
occurred with magnitudes of six and five.

With the need for help being urgent, students and faculty around campus, some of which have a direct connection to Nepal, have made the effort to fundraise in support.

“My family, friends, and people back home are directly impacted from this earthquake,” said Samrid Aryal, an information systems major. “So, I decided to do what I can from here and approach the WOU community for help.”

Another student, Samhita Dixit, an international studies major, felt a personal impact from the earthquake, which drew him to get involved.

“I remember looking at the news all weekend long and just crying,” Dixit said. “It was really hard not being able to contact family and friends.”

Fundraising for the campaign, referred to as #woustandswithnepal, began with tabling in the Werner Center for two weeks, and extended to students asking the community to help.

The International Club donated $1 from each of their tickets sold for their annual International Night, and additional money was raised during henna tattoo sales at the event.

Students from Western who were involved with the fundraiser spoke with and thanked local organizations who were making their own efforts to help Nepal, like the Salem Rotary Club, who made an approximate donation of $10,000 to the Nepal Red Cross.

Volunteers have received a lot of support around campus.

Vikas Sharma, an information system major said: “We got a really good response from all the WOU community including students, staff and faculty.” President Mark Weiss and dean of students, Tina Fuchs, are among the many who donated.

“We would like to thank everyone who made this fundraising possible,” Aryal said. “The funds that we collected will make a direct and immediate impact to the people of Nepal.”

To donate, go to wou.edu/give and click “Support WOU,” followed by “Others (Nepal Relief).” Checks can be made out to the WOU Foundation, Nepal Relief Fund and dropped off at Western’s foundation office.

NOH8

By Emily Pate
Freelancer

November 4, 2008, Proposition 8 was passed in California, amending the state constitution to ban the legal right of same-sex couples to marry. The NOH8 (no hate) Campaign, created by photographer Adam Bouska and partner Jeff Parshley, rose up in protest.

According to the campaign’s website, http://www.noh8campaign.com, NOH8’s mission is: “To promote marriage, gender and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest.”

This Friday, as a part of Western’s Pride Month Celebration, NOH8 will come to our campus.

This visual protest will take place in the Werner University Center, May 15, 12 to 3 p.m. There will be a photo shoot in the second floor lobby to document the support of Western students for their fight against hate.

NOH8 is a silent protest. Subjects are photographed with duct tape over their mouths and NOH8 painted on their faces to represent the voices being silenced by Proposition 8 and legislation alike.

Amanda Murray, a senior and interdisciplinary studies major, expressed her excitement at participating in the photoshoot, and for the NOH8 Campaign in general.

“I don’t think it’s needed so much at Western, because we’re already such an accepting community,” Murray said. “However, I think it’s great when the NOH8 Campaign comes here. Not only is it fun, because I always have a blast, but it spreads awareness of the LGBTQ+ community’s struggles.”

Patrick Harish, a junior business major, said he believes in the importance of the NOH8 Campaign’s message.

“I think that it is important due to the fact that when we are born, we are all created equal and it should stay that way,” Harish said.

Like Murray, he plans on getting his photo taken in support.

“I am going to the photoshoot on Friday because I personally want there to be love and not hate,” Harnish said.

The photoshoot is a way for anyone to get involved in NOH8’s message of equality. NOH8’s website reports that the Campaign has photographed nearly 33,000 faces, a number that includes Western students.

While it started as a reaction against the banning of same-sex marriage, NOH8 has become a protest against all discrimination, a cause aided by campuses like Western.

Book Review: “Hemlock Grove” is howl-worthy horror

By Jenna Beresheim
Staff Writer

If you’re craving an enticing novel full of the supernatural, look no further than “Hemlock Grove” by Brian McGreevy.

This horror-thriller novel was published in 2010 and only recently began to peep out of the underground after the release of a Netflix series adaptation in 2011.

Both the novel and series complement one another, so it is advised that you read the novel and use the series as supplemental information. Netflix has signed on for a total of three seasons, allowing viewers to follow favorite characters long after the end of the novel.

Vampires, werewolves, witches, oh my! “Hemlock Grove” has it all, and more. But this is not your typical supernatural series.

McGreevy focuses on the macabre: vampires replaced by Upirs, a stronger, darker breed than what we are accustomed to. Lycanthropy is hereditary, with dire consequences following those who attempt to become one outside of natural law. This book is full to the brim with blood, impressive imagery, and complicated characters.

Peter Rumancek, a werewolf from a gypsy family, moves to Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania to start a new life with his mother. There, a string of grisly murders lead townsfolk to instantly blame him, assuming the newcomer is the base of all their problems.

With Peter trying to clear his name, fate would have it that he befriends Roman Godfrey. Known for his wealth and influence as the spoiled son of Godfrey Institute, the town’s largest company, Roman plays a key role in the two’s investigation.

Ultimately, this book has its ups and downs. If you can keep track of an entangled web of characters and how they are all connected to one another, this is the book for you. If you are not squeamish and enjoy a good, dark read, McGreevy delivers to a whole new level.

Next time you are craving vampires and werewolves, flavored with variety and seasoned with a hint of Gothic literature, look no further than “Hemlock Grove.”

Lu’au

By Jenna Beresheim
Staff Writer

Western students will have a chance to break away from the drab Oregon weather, entering a cultural snapshot of Polynesia and beyond at the Hawai’i Club’s ninth annual Lu’au, Saturday, May 16.

The event spans over five hours, with doors opening at 4:30 p.m., dinner beginning by 5:30 p.m., and rounding out the evening with a reggae concert by Steadyriots at 9 p.m. The main attraction, the dance show, will take place between these two events, starting at 6:30 p.m.

“There will be Tahitian dancing, Samoan dancing, Maori dancing, and Hula dancing,” said Hawai’i club president, Kamaluhiaakauanani Kauahi-Daniels, a second year communications major. “It will be filled with lots of fun, and you can experience a whole lot of different cultures of the Pacific.”

If none of these dances are familiar to you, or you have never experienced the culinary culture of Polynesia, this event may be for you. Do not be fooled that this event will only focus around Hawaiian culture — the variety of dances show that many cultures will be exhibited in this fun-filled night.

“We put on the Lu’au so we can show and teach the world of the many Polynesian cultures that run through our islands,” said Alyssa Carvalho, a senior business major and vice president of the Hawai’i club. “The dances we dance have meaning and history behind it. It’s the stories of our ancestors and islands. It’s not all about grass skirts, palm trees and bright colors.”

Students should also expect to engage in games, a photo booth, and even a bake sale outside of the main show. These events will be going on during the breaks before dinner and in between the dance presentation.

“For this year, we hope to reach out to others and teach them of our cultures and get them wanting to come back to our future Lu’aus,” Carvalho said.

Tickets are still available for pre-sale through Friday, and start at $5 for students and $15 for non-students. At the door on Saturday, they will raise by $2 each. Kauahi-Daniels heavily encourages students to attend “to learn more about the Polynesian culture. There will be lots to do there!”

If you are interested and wish to purchase your tickets, contact the Hawaii Club at hawaiiclub@wou.edu.

Strolling through Yard Shows

“The Stroll” is the dance of choice by Western and Oregon State Greek life members who participated in Wednesday’s Yard Show. PHOTO BY MATT COULTER
“The Stroll” is the dance of choice by Western and Oregon State Greek life members who participated
in Wednesday’s Yard Show.
PHOTO BY MATT COULTER
By Jenna Beresheim
Staff Writer

Amassed in a flock of vibrant colors and distinguishing markings, sorority sisters and fraternity brothers clad in representative garb gathered in the Werner University Center plaza April 6 for Spirit Week.

The event was known as a Yard Show, where various members from the houses get together and “stroll,” a form of dancing where contestants line up and perform a coordinated dance in that line. Lines ranged from three people long to over 12.

Six houses showed up to this competition, hosted by Omega Delta Phi – a Western fraternity that started the event last year after attending one hosted by Oregon State University.

“It was really fun and we wanted to do it again, make it a tradition,” said Kevin Alejandrez, a third year sociology major and president of Omega Delta Phi. “It’s just a fun way to hang out with each other and dance.”

This Yard Show has a main focus on having fun and hanging out, with competition taking back seat to mingling with friends. Even a sorority from OSU, Gamma Alpha Omega, came to this event.

“We come back to support Greek unity at WOU,” said Courtney Calleros, a biology senior from OSU and president of Gamma Alpha Omega. “It takes a lot of time and effort to put on these events.”

Alejandrez said they hope to continue this throughout the years, allowing the houses to get together and have fun, mingled with a little healthy competition.

“No Days Off”

From left to right: performers Belaf, Ruslan, and John Givez of the group Dream Junkies PHOTO BY EVELINA RAMIREZ
From left to right: performers Belaf, Ruslan, and John Givez of the group Dream Junkies
PHOTO BY EVELINA RAMIREZ
By Evelina Ramirez
Staff Writer

“Their lyrics touched my heart; they give knowledge to the crowd, and [they] say things as they are in the world,” said business major Diana Flores.

Music group Dream Junkies came to Western Tuesday, May 5, in honor of Spirit Week, to perform soulful spoken word rap and energetic hip-hop music.

Dream Junkies consists of performers John Givez, Beleaf, and Ruslan.

Born in Southern California and raised in the North San Diego County, rapper Givez stays true to his South California roots and merges hip-hop and R&B to create a unique listening experience.

To help promote the event on Tuesday, performer Beleaf visited Valsetz dining hall and passed out fliers to students with the group’s performance information.

“He gave my friends and me a flier to go see his show and some of my friends and I ended up going,” Flores said.
Student Activities Board director and interdisciplinary major Cheyenne Standing-Elk said, “Something we noticed on campus is that we don’t have rap and R&B performances, and we wanted to bring him because we really liked him.”

Campus Greek life took part in organizing the event.

“Omega Delta Phi got involved, and they provided the Dream Junkies with a hotel,” added Standing-Elk.

Some of the songs the Dream Junkies performed were “Black Sugar,” “No Days Off,” “West Side Blues” and “Out of It.”

“I’ve never heard them before so it was different, but overall I really liked it because they were really fun to listen to,” said public health major Olivia Ramirez. “I like that they spread a positive message.”

After the performance, the Dream Junkies had their merchandise on sale, which included: t-shirts, CDs, and hoodies. To get updates from the Dream Junkies, check out their social media accounts @ruslankd, @beleafmel, and @johngivez or visit kingsdreament.com for more information.

WOUstock rocks the weekend

By Amanda Clarke
Staff Writer

Students flocked to the Grove to enjoy a day of sun, music, and carnival games during WOUstock.

The event was held Saturday, May 2, and was put on by the Ackerman Hall Government. The General Assembly, Triangle Alliance, Residence Hall Association, Weekend Wolfpack, and Green Team helped sponsor.

KWOU DJed the event with music from the 60s and 70s, as well as more modern music. At 2 p.m., live singer Keenan Welsh Richmond, a senior music major, sang covers of the Beatles songs including “Day in a Life” and “Blackbird” as well as “Here Comes the Sun.”

“I’m a really big fan of their music,” Richmond said.

There were multiple events including a sack race, a bounce house race, face painting, a backdrop where people could take their pictures to be put on the WOUstock Facebook page, volleyball, tie die, a dunk tank to dunk RAs, and prizes given away through a raffle.

There was also a carnival and barbeque in the Grove outside of Ackerman as well as the various activities the students could participate in.

“I really enjoyed the dunk tank and the face painting,” said Ashley Flores, a junior pre-psychology major.

A potato-sack race to the finish line between two students at the Grove. Photo by Shannen Brouner
A potato-sack race to the finish line between two students at the Grove.
Photo by Shannen Brouner

Flores added that she enjoyed the event because of “the atmosphere. It was really welcoming to everyone.”

From 7-10 p.m., there was a bonfire by the library where participants could make S’mores.

Prizes included “a sustainability basket, a beach basket, a movie basket, an academic basket, and a WOU basket full of WOU gear,” said Sophie Owings, a first year communication major.

The Ackerman Hall government president and first year theatre major, Matt Miller, helped to coordinate the event.

He said that there were “way more [people] than we expected,” and that it was more successful than any of the volunteers could have hoped.

This is the third year for the WOUstock event.

Miller said they took what was done in previous years, “and modified it to make it more successful.”

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