Campus Life – Page 16 – The Western Howl

By: Zoe Strickland
Staff Writer

Stevie Lamica, English Writing major, fourth-year.

“I have a dog. His name is Walter, he’s a black miniature schnauzer. He’s a puppy, so he’s six-months-old and learning how to be potty-trained. Because I live in Dallas and go to school here, I constantly come home to little doggy turds everywhere … I think I’m a cat person. I have a cat, he’s a Persian. He’s really cute. Everyone says he’s really ugly, but they just don’t know what’s cute. He’s like my little world … Edgar. Edgar and Walter. I almost got a cat two weeks ago, but the boyfriend talked me out of it.”

“The boyfriend and I have been together for four years, and we just moved in together last year. So it only makes sense to have a plan, because we grew up together and he was my best friend my whole life. We’re that high school sweetheart thing … his family is friends with my family, his brother grew up with my brother and they’re best friends. So we’ve always been comfortable enough to talk about marriage and having kids and we’re both on agreement.”

“[Writing] is one of the few things people have always encouraged in me. I’ve always known that I’m decent at it, I wouldn’t say I’ve been great at it. But it makes it so it makes me more confident about it, because my confidence was built up about it, it made me want to do it. And then I realized ‘oh, this makes me happy’ and ‘oh, look it I can change things with this’ and ‘make other people happy with it’… It makes me happy to write in my pastime, but if I wanted to support a family off of it one day, how much stability would it provide me with? [Poetry] is probably my favorite thing to write. I would like to write novels, but I don’t have time … it’s hard. I’m addicted to working, so that doesn’t help.”

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Dear Esmeralda

Dear Esmeralda,

I am an aspiring drag queen and would love some makeup tips! Since you seem to know what you’re doing anything you’d care to share? Thanks in advance!

Made up in Makeup

Dear Made up in Makeup,

HAHAHA! I literally know nothing much … just like Jon Snow! I usually go with the “mess-around with-it-until-it-looks-good” approach.

What I can say is this: colors matching your skin tone are important. As I started my performance career on stage I did my foundation a couple shades darker than my skin tone. Make sure you hit your neck and get a good even coating. Also, if you’re showing some body-ody, blend the color down to your neckline.

As for colors for eyeshadow and lipstick, there is literally no color drag queens can’t wear. Go crazy with it!! Fuschia and lime? Heck yeah! Mauve and taupe? Sure! Have fun with it!

Another pro-tip: don’t buy fancy makeup to start. Walmart brand works just as well! If you’re looking for a more serious tutorial on different makeup things check out my drag sister’s makeup channel: Fabulex Makeup. She knows makeup better than anyone! The best thing you can do is experiment and find your own style! Get it, girl! Hope to see you beating your face and serving fish!

XOXO
Esmeralda Dharma LaChance

Contact Esmeralda Dharma LaChance on Twitter @miss_ezi or find her on Facebook with your questions on love and life!

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Western hosts third annual Black Graduation

By:  Amanda Clarke
Staff Writer

Coming June, Western will be celebrating its third Black Graduation.
The event will be put on by John Wilkins from Campus Life and Student Activities, along with Lavender Graduation, according to Courtney Briscoe, junior psychology major, the current president of the Black Student Union. The Black Student Union on campus will cosponsor the event.

Black Graduation is rooted in African and Black cultural traditions, and is open for all participants who not only identify as African American, but also identify with other culturally Black backgrounds.

Briscoe said the Black Student Union contributes to Black Graduation “to recognize those students who identify as Black and their success of graduating from a four-year university. It is also important because these students are attending a predominantly white campus, and by contributing, BSU is meeting our goal of promoting Black excellence.”

“Black Graduation is an event for the African American community to come together embracing our culture through the celebration of our success in graduating,” said Thelma Hale, a member of the Black Student Union on campus.

During the event, participants can expect a keynote speaker, as well as the opportunity to speak. In the past, participants have received stoles from the Black Student Union.

An award that may be given is the “kente cloth,” which is a symbol of “history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, religious beliefs, social values, and political thoughts,” Briscoe said. Briscoe also said students will receive awards which “recognize their efforts on campus.”

Black Graduation is expected to take anywhere from one hour to an hour and a half.

“[It] is usually a small event, but the students who are graduating invite their family and friends to come celebrate with them,” Hale said.

“This event does not replace traditional [graduation], but it is an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends,” Wilkins said.

Black Graduation will take place June 10 at 3 p.m. in the Willamette room of Werner University Center.

Students who wish to participate can register on the forum on OrgSync by 11:59 p.m. May 29. Anyone is allowed to attend; however, Black Graduation is typically an intimate event between graduates and their families.

“Usually we would like to keep this reserved for the students, their families, and their guests,” Briscoe said.

For more information about the event, contact John Wilkins at wilkinsj@wou.edu.

Contact the author at amnclarke@gmail.com

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Maria Dantas-Whitney

By:Chelsea Hunt
Guest Contributor

A large poster of her hometown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, leans up against a wall in Maria Dantas-Whitney’s office. Lining surfaces are colorful, miscellaneous objects given by international students to this professor of both English for Speakers of Other Languages and Bilingual Education.

They reflect her colorful personality, said friend and colleague Tracy Smiles.

“She’s always bright and friendly,” said Smiles.

From her professional pursuits to her mentoring, collaboration is just the way Dantas-Whitney lives her life. It’s one of the reasons she came to Western Oregon University to teach. She felt that she would work well with the other professors.

“This was a really good fit,” said Dantas-Whitney.

While at Western, Dantas-Whitney has collaborated with her colleagues to bring in grant money for different projects, most recently the SPELL grant which is now in its final year.

A colleague congratulated Dantas-Whitney a day before she got the official notification that the grant had been approved to the sum of nearly $2 million.

“It was a big surprise,” said Dantas-Whitney.

Although Dantas-Whitney is the project director, it was a group effort. Ella Taylor from the Teaching Research Institute helped write the grant, and Carmen Caceda, professor of Teacher Education, has helped with the grant work.

Project SPELL, which stands for Sustainable Practices for English Language Learners, is a five-year grant that provides federal funding for teachers from Salem-Keizer and Woodburn to get an ESOL endorsement through Western.

More students today have first languages other than English, so teachers need to know how to help these students succeed, Dantas-Whitney explained.

Amanda Larsen, who taught in Salem-Keizer, was one of the people who participated in the program.

“Having an endorsement in ESOL allows me to use some of the knowledge I gained and help those English language learners that are in my classroom,” said Larsen.

Larsen found Dantas-Whitney to be an effective advisor for her thesis as she worked towards getting a master’s in ESOL.

“Immediately you get the impression that she is competent and on top of things,” said Larsen.

In addition to her competency, Smiles said that Dantas-Whitney’s warm personality sets her students at ease.

“I’ve met few people who are as charming and responsive as Maria,” added Smiles.

For Dantas-Whitney teaching and mentoring are collaborative efforts and this influences the way that she works with students who are writing a thesis.

She first asks them to look at the areas that interest them because they need to be passionate and curious about their topics.

Because she is a humble person, as her son Thomas Whitney put it, Dantas-Whitney does not see herself as someone who tells students what they should do.

“I consider myself a mentor,” said Dantas-Whitney.

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Dear Esmeralda

Dear Esmeralda,
My parents showed up unannounced at my apartment the other day. They ended up seeing my giant bong. Now they are threatening to cancel my trip to France this summer. What do I tell them to understand and let me go?

Signed,

Desperate for that Parisian Kush

Dear Desperate for that Parisian Kush,

First of all that is the weirdest name I have ever been made to read with my own two eyes, so props to you for that kitty girl! Now, I, myself, do not take part of the devil’s lettuce so I can’t say this has ever happened to me and as you may know I pretend to be French when it suits me.

However, according to my research (aka typing some jargon into Google and scanning the first result), whacky tobacky is illegal in France so, keep that in mind. One thing that should be taken into account is your age, if it’s legal for you, in our wonderful state, to partake of laganja estranja I don’t see a reason they should be mad at you. Also, at the age of 21 you are legally an adult (even if, like myself, you don’t feel like it) so, maybe politely bring that up. But, if you are still heavily reliant on them I wouldn’t do it.

As long as you can balance your own financial stuff and don’t have to start working at the Spearmint Rhino to pay for school, you should be fine. Be mature and that’ll get you through! Good luck, dear!

Esmeralda

Contact Esmeralda Dharma LaChance on Twitter @miss_ezi or find her on Facebook with your questions on love and life!

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Cocktail Corner

By: Rachael Jackson
Campus Life Editor

Let’s talk about gin. You know, that liquor that is made from a ghastly overwhelming amount of botanicals. It isn’t the alcohol for everyone, I get it. But, and I am not trying to offend anyone, if you don’t enjoy gin than you have a poor palate and should explore your alcohol options a bit more.

You can buy the fancy gin like Tanqueray, but in my home you’ll always find a healthy supply of Monarch gin because I can get a giant plastic bottle for less than $30 at the local liquor store. I can’t for the life of me tell the difference when it’s mixed in a drink. Sue me!

Here are some drinks to get you started:

Gin and tonic

Add ice into a glass, add in a shot or two of gin, and fill the glass with tonic water. Finish with a thick slice of lime.

Rickey: Replace tonic for carbonated water (I used lime-flavored La Croix) and throw in half a lime instead of a slice. I like to muddle the lime with some fresh ginger before adding the other ingredients.

Gin martini

It may seem intimidating to make, but don’t be a baby about it. Fill a shaker with ice and add a shot of gin with a heavy splash of vermouth. Shake it for a good while and pour into a martini glass (or a Solo cup, it is college, after all). Add a pimento-stuffed green olive and you have dinner.

Dirty martini: Pour a shot of the olive juice into the shaker and add at least three olives to the glass.

Dry martini: Toss half a teaspoon of vermouth into the glass, swirl, and toss out. Shake the gin and ice separately. Serve with a cocktail onion or lemon twist instead of an olive.

Peach Dharma

Fill a pint glass with ice, pour in two shots of gin followed by half a shot of peach schnapps (feel free to add more). Squeeze in half an orange and fill the glass with lemonade. This is a great for summer, and is sweeter than the others.

Cheers!

Have any drink suggestions or cocktail creations? Send them to the author at rjackson13@wou.edu or on Twitter @rachaelyjackson

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Campus garden blossoming after relocation

By: Brianna Bonham
Photo Editor

The campus garden is overflowing with green after its relocation two years ago due to the construction of the new education building. Now located in between the old education building and Rice auditorium, it houses a plethora of plants that student volunteers tend to.

Asia Cohen, a junior ASL studies and special education student, is one of the main caretakers of the garden. Cohen said that the garden focuses on the community, and sustainability.

“Community is so important,” said Cohen. “We need people to function.”

When asked to describe the garden and it’s goals, Cohen responded by saying, “Sustainable, available, educational, volunteer-based, community. Take what you need, not what you want … We teach about weeds, pests, the struggles of overgrowing. Getting our hands in the dirt takes us back to our roots.”

Cohen said that the new area for the garden is a better location due to the fencing and that the plants are doing well. The garden club encourage students to help tend to the garden, anyone is welcome and there is a garden guide posted on the fence.

The garden is home to many plants, including potatoes, spinach, strawberries, raspberries, artichokes, onions, carrots, and various types of herbs. Seeds used to grow the plants in the garden came from local seed shares such as the Monmouth Public Library. Any seeds that are not used get donated again.

The garden is working toward growing enough food to give to Valsetz dining hall.

The garden club also gives fresh produce to the Western Oregon food pantry, where students in need of food are encouraged to take what they need. They are hoping to produce enough that they can give some to local family businesses, such as Yang’s Teriyaki and Yeasty Beasty.

The garden club works with the Environmental Club to promote sustainability through the garden.

“The campus garden is a place where students are able to explore hands-on sustainable practices. We can read and talk a lot about sustainability, but you can’t beat experiencing it. The garden provides a space for that. Getting your hands dirty, smelling the soil, and seeing new life emerge from your efforts can be a very powerful experience,” said Mark Van Steeter, professor of Geography at Western and advisor to the Environmental Club.

If you’re interested in getting your hands dirty, Cohen has garden hours that get posted on the WOU Campus Garden Facebook page.

Contact the author at bbonham15@wou.edu or on Twitter @WOUjournalphoto

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.

Humans of Western

Dear Esmeralda

Western hosts third annual Black Graduation

Maria Dantas-Whitney

Dear Esmeralda

Cocktail Corner

Campus garden blossoming after relocation

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