Campus Life – Page 15 – The Western Howl

By: Paige Scofield
Campus Life Editor

On Wednesday, Sep. 21, during the Student Organization Fair, the Werner University Center was buzzing with first-years. Greenhorns were eager to see the many clubs and activities Western has to offer. If you weren’t able to attend the Student Organization Fair, here’s a list of some of the clubs that attended:

AXO Sorority African Friends & Student Association Club

ASWOU University League Legends

Triangle Alliance International Students’ Club

WOU Food Pantry Women’s Soccer

Student Activities Board Men’s Soccer

Business & Economics Club Hawaii Club

Women’s Rugby Campus Crusade for Christ

Men’s Rugby Wolfpack Dance Team

Student Media Natural Science Club

Anime Club Western Lacrosse

M.E.Ch.A WOU Byte Club

Acappella Club

Not all clubs at Western were present, but if you are interested in or have questions about any of these clubs, search on wou.edu and go to Student Organization List for more information.

Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu

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Spotlights: Academic Excellence Showcase

By: Rachael Jackson
Campus Life Editor

The 11th annual Academic Excellence Showcase took place this year with over 300 presentations and a total of 390 students presenting.

The showcase gives students a chance to produce professional presentations while giving other students a chance to explore the scholarships of various departments across campus.

Alex Kampstra, senior medicinal chemistry major, was excited to share the information he and his partner found on Vyvanse, a new drug for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

His presentation, titled “The Unique Metabolism of Lisdexamfetamine (AKA Vyvanse),” attempted to demystify the drug.

“I liked informing everyone on this new drug, because people struggle with this condition. It is nice to get more information out there to people who need it,” Kampstra said.

His partner, Brian Hauenstein, senior medicinal chemistry major, was grateful for all the positive feedback.

“Seeing the response from people that genuinely care about this information, and didn’t have access to it, was great. You look on the internet and there is a lot of misinformation on how it works.”

Kwon Su, senior sociology major, shared his feelings on presenting his thesis about the availability of housing for homeless in the Salem area. The worst parts of presenting, in his opinion, were the nerves and stage fright.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, your heart is going to race when you get up there.”
However, the best part was the work he produced for his research project.

“I was able to show my work and show what I have done, and express people’s story. I showed what some people have endured, and yeah, that’s something,” Su said.

Derek Planell, an undeclared freshman, discussed using AES as a way to explore topics he is already interested in, but also using it as a way to find other possible majors.

“A lot of students, like myself, are undecided, and are looking around seeing what’s up,” Planell said. “It motivates kids to get out and get some easy extra credit. They go out and get to see more and dive in more, and hopefully that guides them a bit.”

Contact the author at rjackson13@wou.edu or on Twitter @rachaelyjackson.

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Campus Voices

By: Joleen Braasch
Staff Writer

Sara Earthman, junior, Psychology major Screen Shot 2016-05-23 at 7.51.17 PM
“Yeah, the coordinator is definitely making sure that the veterans are getting their voice known in the community here. And I’m from this coast, so it’s nice to be back; I missed a lot of things that the West coast represents more so than the East coast, where I was stuck for a long time.”

Kenneth Liebel, senior, Business Administration major
“I am coming from the East coast: New York, Florida, all those areas. So, it’s definitely a different change of pace over here. As a veteran, I guess, but my life hasn’t been all about being a veteran. It’s just one chapter in my life.”

Tiffanie Bowles, sophomore, Psychology major
“Yes, I feel like our school’s really inclusive and we try really hard to make sure everybody is accepted. So I feel like my identity is accepted and represented at [Western].”

Hannah Towle, senior, Communications
“I think that’s a difficult question to answer because I’m not just one identity. I’m not just white, I’m not just a woman, I’m not just a feminist, I’m not just a rugby player. I’m all of those things combined. I’m a survivor, I’m pansexual, I’m cisgendered, I’m 15 bazillion different things and some of those are more represented here than others, and others are still trying to find their way to the surface. And I think here at [Western], there’s such a diverse group of people that you can probably find just about someone that shares at least some of those identities with you, with me, with everyone that’s here.”

Harry Hill, senior, Earth Systems Science-Geology major
“About 74 percent. Well, it’s such an open community that it’s hard to miss. I don’t know, that’s hard to explain.”

Jovany Romero, senior, Spanish and Interdisciplinary Studies major
“Yes, I feel like [Western] is a very open space and very inviting community, as well as diverse and incorporates a lot of identities, cultures and backgrounds. This community is home-like and comfortable.”

Screen Shot 2016-05-23 at 7.52.46 PM Alexis Anderson, senior, Biology major
“I feel like my identity as a student is well-represented at [Western]. But I feel like it’s a lot easier to remain anonymous as an individual.”

Gabbi Boyle, senior, Interdisciplinary Studies major Screen Shot 2016-05-23 at 7.51.00 PM
“No. I do not think that there is enough resources for students within the LGBTQ community. I think that our campus tries, but there’s still not enough funding to go around to offer the proper support to all people within the community.”

James Kelson, freshman, Mathematics major
“Yes I do. Because we’re just surrounded people; I think we’re all just people, even with our separate parts or identities. We should just all respect each other. And I feel like people do that properly, even staff, faculty, and students.”

Gwendolyn Baker, freshman, Psychology major
“Yeah, I think so. I feel like there’s a lot of people here that have the same beliefs as me, who think the same way, and act the same way, and are very similar to me.”

Brendan Blunck, freshman, Undecided major
“Possibly, I really don’t know. I really just go to classes, chill out, work on homework sometimes. Other than that, I don’t really pay too much attention.”

Maira Torres, senior, Criminal Justice major
“In what aspect, though? I would have to say yes because there are Screen Shot 2016-05-23 at 7.53.35 PM various clubs and organizations I’m involved in that relate back to what I identity myself in. And [Western] does a really good job in opening new clubs and making you feel welcomed. If you’re still trying to find yourself, figuring out who you think you are, you’re
perfectly welcomed into joining different groups.”

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Independence food cart fails to disappoint

 By: Ben Bergerson
Designer

To tell the truth, I’ve been a vegetarian for five years. I never really crave red meat, so a few weeks ago when I suddenly had a hankering for a burger I was surprised. I took it in stride, however, and decided to take a break from my herbivore habit.

This sudden meat craving led me to Chow Thyme, a food cart in Independence. Their tagline is “like yo’ momma made it,” and let me tell you, my mom is a good cook, but this is a whole ‘nother level.

The Bacon Blue Cheese Burger I ordered was stacked with a half-pound patty and a generous helping of bacon, blue cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and some amazing house-made sauce. The house-cut fries that came with it were fresh and flavorful.

“They have the best fries in town,” said Jocelyn Chavez, junior anthropology major.

I thought they were reasonably priced at $8 a burger. By the time I was done with my meal I was full to the brim.

“I really like the Mushroom Swiss burger,” said Chavez. “I’ve had it a few times now.”

Open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Chow Thyme also has breakfast and entree options.

Check out their menu online at www.chow-thyme.com and you can catch them next to the Family Tresures Marketplace in Independence.

Contact the author at bebergerson13@wou.edu or on Twitter @ben_bergerson.

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Climate change impacts Northwest

By: Rachael Jackson
 Climate

Oregon State University professor Philip Dr. Mote teaches his students about earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences, but that isn’t his only credentials. He also serves as director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, and is the co-leader of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-funded Climate Impacts Research Consortium (CIRC).

Dr. Mote visited campus May 19 to speak about his work with the CIRC on uncovering the mysteries of climate change in the Northwest.

He explained it isn’t something often thought about because the changes in the Northwest aren’t that drastic, but they are still evident when the clues are investigated. He and his team at CIRC have indicated three large impacts of Northwest climate.

“The first thing is, our water system here in the Northwest is heavily dependent on when it falls from the sky, which is in the winter, which leads to snowpack, and then it melts in the summer,” Dr. Mote said.

“We don’t have snowpack like we used to. We don’t understand something like this until 2015 happens and suddenly we are in the middle of a drought,” Dr. Mote said.

Second is coastal erosion. If a major subduction zone earthquake were to happen (which some scientists have predicted could happen within the next 150 years), it could cause a five-foot decrease in the seafloor, meaning the water would rise just as much on the shore.

The last impact is damage to forests from fires and insects. These are the harder ones to gauge, but a recent outbreak of mountain pine beetles as well as large scale forest fires both follow along with the trends of coastal erosion and decrease in water supplies. The beetles devastate other insect and plant life.

Together, these three change habitats by depleting previously abundant sources of water, shelter for animal life, and fuel (gathered from trees).

Dr. Mote recommended that the audience pay attention to the second impact, coastal erosion, as the danger of the earthquake looms over us all in our region.
Western doesn’t have many classes on this topic, something Brandon Pike, senior geography major, noticed.

“It could be good to get this topic into an LACC, teach something that is close to home and meaningful,” Pike said.

One audience member asked what we could do to try and lower our own carbon dioxide emissions, to which Dr. Mote said: drive less. If you can afford it, invest in a hybrid vehicle. If you can’t afford it, jump on public transit if it is available, or carpool to destinations.

Interested in learning about your own carbon footprint? Check out the carbon footprint calculator online at the Environmental Protection Agency’s website www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/.

Contact the author at rjackson13@wou.edu

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Cocktail Corner

By: Rachael Jackson
Campus Life Editor

Want to host a summer party and impress your friends, but you don’t want to buy the various (and expensive) ingredients to make it happen? Well then, these recipes are for you.

The Miami Vice
Traditionally served as a blended pina colada poured into the glass with a blended strawberry daiquiri, this is a sweet summertime drink. I am not sure where the name comes from, but I am guessing from the television show due to the color of the drink.

Ingredients:
Strawberry Daiquiri Sobe*
Pina Colada Sobe
Rum (I use Malibu, but Bacardi 151 is used in the original drink)

Fill a glass with ice, pour in a shot or three of the rum, and layer with the Sobe drinks. If you have a blender, you can blend them separately with the rum added to keep the colors from mixing together.

Moscow Mule
I replace the more expensive ginger beer with ginger ale and fresh ginger in this classic drink.

Ingredients:
Ginger ale
Ginger
Lime
Vodka

Shave off a bit of ginger into your glass. I like a lot, but I also like to torture my taste buds. You can add some sugar as well to tame the spiciness. Add ice over the ginger, pour in a shot of vodka, add ginger ale, then squeeze in half a lime.

Greyhound
Add sugar and club soda to make it spritzy.

Ingredients:
White grapefruit juice
Vodka

Pour vodka and juice over ice. Garnish with a slice of fresh grapefruit if you want to be classy.

Variations:
Make it a Paloma by using ruby red grapefruit juice and tequila instead.
Add salt to the rim and make it a Salty Dog.

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Bringing culture to the arts

By: Rachael Jackson
Campus Life Editor

Among friends, peers, and colleagues, four visiting scholars from China took the Smith Hall stage to showcase their talents. The scholars were a handsome group: two sopranos, Xin Zhang and Xue Chen, Tian Cao on trumpet, and Wei Jiang on the piano.

The four hail from the Guangxi Arts Institute in the city of Nanning. They are on campus as part of the Visiting Scholar and Faculty Program, and are here for tutelage and for the experience of a different culture.

Isabel Martinez, senior early childhood education major, made it out so she could support the parents of her students. It was surprising to see how skilled the performers were.

“I think they did really great. It is interesting to see them every day and then on stage. I had never thought they would be that talented. I mean, I knew they would be, but just … not like that,” Martinez said.

Liz Halligan, along with her husband, have been offering a place at their dinner table for visiting scholars every Friday night as part of the outreach program International Students Inc.

“The students that come, they are either in business or accounting or computers … to have this many artistic performers is exciting,” Halligan said.

It is new for most people of the western world to see anyone other than white opera performers.

“It was really great to see the different cultures come out. It isn’t something you see a lot of. I was impressed by the piano player,” said Shelby Morgan, employee of The Research Institute.

Though many songs were operetic, that is not all the singers performed. Zhang sang “Rejoice” by George Handel and a Chinese folk song titled “A Glass of Beautiful Wine,” while Chen gave a lively performance of “Glitter and Be Gay” from “Candide”.

The night was carefree and fun as the four played for a room of friends, but it was also inspiring to see what the international students are bringing to the university. It is a reminder to take part and see what students are doing around campus.

“I think the school is really taking good care of their international students. They are interested in them, and care about them, and support them. But international students always want to make more friends, they want Americans to reach out to them. They can get lonely,” Halligan said.

Contact the author at rjackson13@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.

Accessibility Public Records Privacy Student Consumer Information

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.

New Student Week

Spotlights: Academic Excellence Showcase

Campus Voices

Independence food cart fails to disappoint

Climate change impacts Northwest

Cocktail Corner

Bringing culture to the arts

Tools

Resources