Mount Hood

#BHM

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

Amongst playful banter of competition and gnashing on pizza crust, students gathered to learn about African American history.

The Black Student Union hosted the game of trivia and provided the refreshments. Students provided their brain power as they played through four rounds of 40 total questions.

One student, Keevontye Collier, business major and senior, was enticed by the games because of the importance of the history.

“It’s the history of my race, it’s important to learn how far we’ve come along. Knowing the history is the stepping stone into the future,” Collier remarked.

Want to test your own BHM knowledge? Here are some questions to get you started!

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

1. True or False: Martin Luther King Jr. received his doctorate from Boston University?
a. True
b. False

2. In 1968, who was the first African-American congresswoman?
a. Shirley Chisholm
b. Alice Walker
c. Henrietta Lacks

3. Name this founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People:

Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 10.51.10 PM

(http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/0511/images/gaz_08_dubois.gif)

a. Frederick Douglass
b. W. E. B. Du Bois
c. George Crum

4. In what year did Black History Month become a month-long celebration?
a. 1946
b. 1986
c. 1976

5. This ground-breaking performer sang “Strange Fruit” in 1939. Who is she?

Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 10.53.53 PM

(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0001/325/MI0001325116.jpg)

a. Nina Simone
b. Billie Holiday
c. Rosa Parks

6. What bridge is tied to the events of Bloody Sunday in Selma, AL?
a. Alfred Washington
b. Ernie Davis
c. Edmund Pettus

7. Who are the two pictured that saluted to Black Power during the 1968 Olympics?

Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 10.54.36 PM

(https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2012/3/28/1332936684595/OLYMPICS-BLACK-POWER-SALU-008.jpg?w=1200&q=85&auto=format&sharp=10&s=096160e0cae7106eda4e94ad5f37a883)

a. Tommie Smith and John Carlos
b. William Carlos and Thomas Smith
c. Thomas Carlos and John Smith

8. What is the name of this university that was founded in 1866 to train black preachers?

Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 10.54.56 PM
(https://hbcustory.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/howard-university-founders-library-everett.jpg)

a. Wilson University
b. Western University
c. Howard University

Answers:
a
a
b
c
b
c
a
c

(http://www.iemoji.com)

Black History Month on Campus

AfricaColor

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

Black History Month began when the Association for the Study of African American Life and History declared the second week of February, beginning in 1926, to be “Negro History Week”.
The holiday was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976 in an attempt to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

In his proclamation declaring February 2016 to once again be dedicated to African-American history, President Barack Obama called for the younger generations to exercise their freedom by voting.

“Our Nation’s young people still echo the call for equality, bringing attention to disparities that continue to plague our society in ways that mirror the non-violent tactics of the civil rights movement while adapting to modern times,” said Obama in the proclamation.

Despite having a month of dedication set aside, it isn’t enough to gain a full perspective, or even a glimpse, into the history and current lives of African-Americans, including their struggles, triumphs, and ongoing issues. For many, learning about black history outside of the month of February is limited, if it exists.

Andre Dickson, social science major and senior, said he has seen this in his own experience as a student, saying, “To me, it’s important because of the fact that I’m African-American; but also because black history isn’t recognize in this country throughout the year.”

Dickson continued, “Other people may have an opinion on how much black history month means to them, but to me history is history and black history shouldn’t be minimized to recognition for only one month.”

Thelma Hale, senior and communications major, echoed Dickson’s sentiments.

“There are a lot of African-American students in schools who know nothing about the history of their people because it is not taught in schools,” said Hale. “Because of Black History Month you are able to gain awareness and knowledge of all the accomplishments and successes Blacks have achieved in history.”

There are a few events on campus you can check out around campus following up to and during the week of the Feb. 22 as part of African-American Awareness Celebration.

The events hosted by the Black Student Union include:
Jeopardy & Snacks, Feb. 22, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the WUC Summit
Ask a Black Person panel, Feb. 23, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. in the Willamette room
Dear White People movie screening, Feb. 24, 7:00 p.m. in the Willamette room
Open Mic & Poetry Slam, Feb. 25, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in Cafe Allegro
The Multicultural Student Union will be hosting various events throughout the week as well. Look for posters around campus for more information.

Club Spotlight: Black Student Union

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

The Journal is introducing a new Campus Life feature that focuses on promoting club activities. Every week, a new club will be spotlighted, which will include a summary of the club meeting and any upcoming activities the club will be holding.

The Black Student Union is part of Western’s Diversity Committee and has an active presence on campus, sponsoring events for Martin Luther King Jr., Day, as well as Black History Month.

Their meeting on Feb. 9 was a little different than usual because they were missing their group president, Thelma Hale. Leading the meeting in her stead was future club president G’Waun Dudley, an undecided first year, and secretary Courtney Briscoe, junior psychology major.

Though they both said they were nervous, they jumped right into the discussion with gusto. They started with signups for the upcoming week of events — be sure you check the Black History article for more information on what’s happening.

The group energy was high and electric as they discussed the upcoming events that would be occurring during Black History Month. Everyone seemed excited about signing up for various events.
Dudley, once the group had settled, brought up a recent event in the news coming from London. A West End club has recently been brought into the limelight for refusing, or over charging, service to dark-skinned and overweight women.

The discussion about the West End club went for a while as group members pulled apart the news story and examined it while asking critical questions.

Next, there was discussion on the legality of using rapper’s lyrics against them in the court of law. Most notable among those mentioned is Bobby Shmurda who recently had parole denied after being convicted in 2014 due in part to lyrics in a song.

There was a more polarizing effect in the group with this topic. Many believed that you were taking that risk when you write lyrics like that; others saw it as another level of artistry, likening it to writing crime novels.

The group was an eclectic bunch that all held varying opinions and came from different backgrounds.

“It helps me keep my culture,” said Dudley when asked about why he joined the club. “I think it is good for people to know about what has happened in the world. With anyone — we support all races, all cultures. I like that about the Black Student Union.”

If you are interested in lively discussion, the BSU meets on Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m. The next meeting is on February 16 in the Klamath room. Non-black students are welcomed and encouraged to join.

OMG! There’s a Deaf Person in the Room

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

Rian Gayle, M.A. and Accommodations Coordinator for the Office of Disability Services, gave a fun and informative presentation on Deaf culture, which explained how hearing people should interact with Deaf or Hard of Hearing people.

Gayle’s amusingly titled presentation, “OMG! There’s a Deaf Person in the Room,” was held on Feb. 9 in the WUC.

Gayle began with a brief personal history about his youth in Jamaica and how he lost his hearing due to meningitis. After graduating from Gallaudet University, Gayle returned to Jamaica to advocate on behalf of Jamaican Deaf people.

He continued on with his presentation, listing the top five worst reactions people have to finding out someone is Deaf. The list included being overly sympathetic and acting like the person is helpless.

Gayle, however stated that this is not the case. He reiterated the point that “deaf people can do anything except hear.”

He continued, “One thing that drives me a little crazy […] they keep saying I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Another thing that bothers Gayle is when hearing people dismiss him by saying “Oh, forget it,” if they aren’t understood the first time. “The point is to try and communicate,” insisted Gayle.

There are more productive ways to communicate with someone who is Hard of Hearing or Deaf, even if you don’t know American Sign Language (ASL).

You can enunciate clearly, face the person, write things down, or make use of an interpreter if one is present. If an interpreter is present and on duty, the Deaf person should be addressed directly, not the interpreter.

Gayle also covered a variety of technologies used to aid in communication, such as FM systems that amplify sounds and Video Relay Services that can be used to make phone calls.

For a bit of fun, Gayle taught the gathered audience how to sign the alphabet and count to ten in ASL. He then invited Brent Redpath, an ASL instructor at WOU, to join him and help show how certain signs were different between ASL and Jamaican Sign Language.

“It was cool to learn another culture’s signs,” said Katelynn Farmer, a junior business major.

According to Gayle, the key to interacting with a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person is to try, even if your knowledge of sign language is limited.

Upcoming Campus Events

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff writer

Name: Resume Ready
Date: Feb. 15
Time: 12 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Ochoco Room, WUC

Name: Tree Advisory Committee member application due
Dates: Feb. 15
Time: Midnight
Email trees@wou.edu for more information

Name: Students with Disabilities panel
Date: Feb. 16th
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Willamette room, WUC

Name: Cabalito Negro
Date: Feb. 17
Time: 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Smith Hall 121

The Xenat-Ra Experience

By: Justin Oehler
Freelancer

Xenat-Ra (pronounced zin-Ät-rah) is an experience to behold. They are a band of self-proclaimed nerds and it shows in their musical expression.

Most of the songs Xenat-Ra performed on Feb. 10 had a very space age vibe to them; one could almost describe the music as “alien rock.”

With powerful bass lines and heavy use of synthesizer over lightning fast vocals, the sound of Xenat-Ra is truly like no other musical experience imaginable. This band mashes together genres as they have never been heard before, pulling from hip-hop, metal, jazz, progressive rock, dubstep, funk, and world music.

The band is comprised of six members: vocalist Ben “Future Metz” Metzger, Matt Calkin on the electrified tenor saxophone, Dave Trenkle on the synthesizers, drummer JD Monroe, Joel Hirsch on the various other percussions instruments used, and finally Western’s own Page Hundemer on the electric bass guitar.

The band composes their music all together, and once they have completed a track, they present it to Metzger who adds his own speed rap/spoken word style to the music.

Eli Schenk, a fourth year music major, attended the event and raved about the performance afterword saying that he thought the performance was “amazing and mind opening.”

Schenk also said that the sound is hard to describe but giving it his best shot called it “Rage Against the Machine ate a Quesorito made of different time signatures and just jazz everywhere.”

This seems like a fitting description to the out there sound that Xenat-Ra produced. Another student in attendance, Nathan/Natasha Mireles, said that the performance was powerful and like nothing they had ever heard before.

WOU in love with X Lovers

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

The musical styling of X Lovers is self-described as “acoustic pop,” with a focus on “love, lust, and life in the modern world.”

While passing through Monmouth on their most recent tour, the band X Lovers decided to stop by Western on Feb. 10 and play for its students in the WUC.

The trio came together to create music when they were just 14 years old. Now, Jacob Ames, London Jackson, and Max Mann, 17, 18, and 19, respectively, hope to continue their career in music and find inspiration for future music from other genres, such as hip hop and EDM.

Not only did they perform for Western, they also sat down for an interview with The Journal staff. The podcast will be available to listen to on Feb. 22 on WOU’s website.

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