Campus Life – Page 35 – The Western Howl

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.

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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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The “Coming Out Monologues”

By Amanda Clarke
Staff Writer

The “Coming Out Monologues” took place Thursday evening, April 30, in the Pacific Room of the Werner Center.

According to Western’s events Facebook page, the monologues were “a collection of stories authored and performed by Western Oregon University students, alumni, faculty and staff.” The event was directed by Ted deChatelet and produced by CM Hall.

The event was donation based, and partnered with the Stonewall Center, Safe Zone and Triangle Alliance. There were 21 speakers including those who identify as bisexual, lesbian, gay, asexual, pansexual, questioning and transgender.

The monologues gave presenters a chance to tell their story of being accepted, or not being accepted, and included monologues from people on all paths finding their own identity. Each monologue dealt with topics including compassion, courage, connection, fear and curiosity.

“Everyone has a different story,” said Hall, a Western graduate, staff member, and sign language interpreter.

The audience was filled with students, staff, faculty, friends and presenters of all ages, as well as supporters of those who presented their story.

DeChatelet said they had a “phenomenal turn out. We had 150 chairs set out, hoping to fill them all but not expecting to. We had to bring in 100 more chairs.”

“It’s so inclusive,” deChatelet added. “It’s not just students or staff. We had so many participants, and their communities came to support them.”

John Goldsmith, a junior and English major, said: “There was a huge turnout. We had to ask for five extra rows of chairs. We didn’t think it would be this big.”

Goldsmith also presented his monologue before the audience. He added that he had shared his story because “Western has been the best environment for me.”

Sam Stageman, a sophomore forensic chemistry major, also presented his story: “My story isn’t one told very often, so I thought that I should share it,” he said.

Stageman added that the event “really does give everyone a chance to tell their own stories.”

Goldsmith said the monologues were moving because “these are actual voices from campus. They are representing the school.”

Hall said she had thought about putting on this event for several years.

“There has been a lot of evolution in this age group around LGBTQ acceptance and I thought this is a really great opportunity to have some visibility and tell some stories [as well as] get people to kind of come together,” Hall said. “I just feel like when people are telling their truths and sharing their personal lived experiences, people connect, hearts open and minds open. People start to see things from different perspectives.”

The monologues, as many of the participants agreed, helped to create a sense of “community within a community,” presenter Evelyn Garcia, a senior psychology major, said.

A student in the audience, who wished to remain anonymous, said “It was really nice to see people like me and see them being so brave, and it was just really nice to see how others went about it, and it made me and my identity feel valid.”

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A global education

By Chelsea Hunt
Staff Writer

Senior Brande Balas is not the only student at Western benefitting from a persistent increase in international students.

Fall term, Balas took a class with international student Meznah Almuqbil, a first-year student from Saudi Arabia. Balas was born in Saudi Arabia, where her father had been working at the time, which has given her a different perspective of cultures, she wrote in an email.

Even so, she still felt nervous talking to Almuqbil for the first time, said Balas. “I was afraid I’d say the wrong thing and offend her.”

However, after getting to know Almuqbil, Balas learned that “she is a beautiful person with such an insightful point of view.”

Almuqbil is one of many international students at Western, 90 percent of which come from Saudi Arabia and China.

The increase began in about 2004 when the university wanted to draw more international students, said Rob Troyer, professor of linguistics. Due to the increase, Troyer was hired in 2007 partly to help international students be successful.

According to associate provost Dave McDonald, in 2005 there were only 59 international students, but as of 2014, there were 350.

This growing number of students at Western translates to a 493 percent increase in less than a decade.

Western’s interest in bringing in foreign students is about “wanting to be more international,” Troyer said.

“Having international students on campus is one way Western students can connect to the rest of the world,” he added.

Just as having international students exposes domestic students to the diversity in the world, international students get to see the diversity in the United States.

Almuqbil said that America is interesting to her because she loves learning about different cultures within the United States.

Internationalism isn’t merely an end in and of itself, though. The influx of international students brings with it financial benefits, helping Western to be financially stable, Troyer said.

In addition to diversity and financial stability, Troyer also listed the increasing globalization in the world as a reason why international students are important to Western. It’s not just “the flow of goods and products, but knowledge,” he said.

Junfen Zeng, a senior from China who goes by the name Tina, said that she thinks that America’s education is good.

At the university she attended in Shanghai, she participated in a three plus one program where she did her first three years there and is completing her degree in finance here at Western.

Zeng said her favorite thing about being in America is “I can meet different people.”

Both international students like Zeng and domestic students like Balas have gotten this opportunity to interact with people from different cultures.

Over time, Balas has come to know several other international students in addition to Almuqbil.

“The students that I’ve talked to have been very open and understanding,” Balas wrote.

Balas’ advice to other students is to assess their biases and let them go, as well as to get to know the international students for who they are.

“I’ve found that we are far more similar than I would have ever guessed,” Balas added.

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The future of education: Preview 2023/24

By Katrina Penaflor
 Campus Life Editor

Western will be opening its doors Saturday, May 9, to a new generation of students who will be attending college in the years 2023 and 2024.

These third and fourth grade students attend local schools such as: Monmouth Elementary, Ash Creek Elementary, Falls City Elementary, and the surrounding area.

Over 50 elementary students will participate in a list of activities that include: activities in New PE, a scavenger hunt, lunch, and “college” classes.

Molly Christmann, Residence Hall Association (RHA) President and the facilities and schedule coordinator of Preview 2023/24 said,” Previews show elementary school students how awesome it is to really be in school, not just what school can do for you in the long run.”

Each of the third and fourth graders or “Little Buddies” will be paired with a “Big Buddy” for the event. These Big Buddies are Western students who will guide the visitors through their day of activities.

Big Buddies “will help them with the scavenger hunt in the morning and will generally be there to support the student and help them with the itinerary and where to go, as well as making a positive impression on them about what it’s like to be a college student,” Christmann said.

Western students will not only be the Big Buddies at the preview day but will also act as teachers.

These teachers will organize mock classes for the elementary students to attend. After having lunch in the Mt.

Jefferson room, the Little Buddies will decide which classes they want to go to with their Big Buddies.

“Our hope is that Preview day participants really connect with their Big Buddies in a way that makes them see all of the opportunities that staying invested in education can bring,” added Christmann.

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Guest Column: Campus Garden seeks to reduce food insecurity at Western

By Afton Sullivan

The WOU Campus Garden is an organic garden at Western where the students in charge of the garden promote local food production through sustainable and organic methods.

The student-lead project only uses organic compost and potting soil and never sprays pesticides or herbicides. During our first season, we planted a wide range of vegetables and fruits, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, broccoli, lettuce, potatoes, herbs, strawberries and many more.

According to Dr. Doris Cancel-Tirado’s study at Western, in 2011 food insecurity rates at the university affected as many as 59 percent of students. Our mission as a garden is to reduce food insecurity among our fellow students by donating to the food pantry on campus. The garden also helps build sustainability on campus by donating to the dining hall. Our garden is completely non-profit and student-run.

The campus garden depends on the hard work of students in order to sustain the garden’s success. This term, we are relocating the garden from the area near the library to a fenced plot near the modular classrooms. We will be using raised-bed gardening techniques this time around and hope students will be involved with the rebuilding and replanting process.

If you are interested in volunteer work, community service, sustainability, or just wanting to meet other students on campus and get involved, please join us in the garden on Saturdays from 2 – 4 p.m. For more information, contact Hayden Rue at hrue08@wou.edu or Afton Sullivan at asullivan11@wou.edu.

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A vegan’s guide to eating cleaner in Monmouth

By Jenna Beresheim
 Staff Writer

No dairy, no eggs, and certainly no meat. Welcome to the diet of a vegan, a concept that can be confounding and confusing – both for non-vegans and even the most seasoned vegan, alike.

Not all vegans are made the same, though. While some are modified vegetarians who merely abstain from meat, others fall on the opposite end of the spectrum: refusing to buy any products that come from animals, such as leather or honey.

Whichever kind of vegan you find yourself to be, one common enemy is the act of eating out in a restaurant.

As you can imagine, being a vegan in college can be difficult with these standards. Healthy options are difficult to find cheap, and often times the most cluttered of menus will hold one to two options.

If you find those options despicable, picking another one from the menu and removing half of the items from it also works—despite the odd looks from your waiter. Pepperoni pizza sans pepperoni and cheese, please.

Since veganism is on the rise, it is becoming more common to see menus that promote veganism. Even in small towns like Monmouth.

For starters, Yeasty Beasty is a vegan-friendly pizza place, minutes away from campus on Monmouth Avenue.

“Our dough is vegan,” said Yeasty’s owner, Tom Jones. “We try our best to accommodate. We can always remove meat or cheese, or even make it gluten free.”

Jones’ personal favorite on the menu is the Greek Veggie Beasty, and he suggests substituting pesto as a great alternative to other sauces. On the menu there are over seven items that are vegetarian, all of which can be altered to accommodate vegan preferences.

Besides pizza is the recently-opened Momiji Sushi Bar and Restaurant.

“I have a girl who’s vegan who comes in here, and every time I make her something personalized,” said Jeff Berneski, the owner of the restaurant.

While the menu sports its own vegetarian section of six different roll choices, this place is open to altering and subbing foods as needed.

“I’m always open to changing it up —I want to cater to you,” Berneski said.

Don’t worry. There’s more. Koyote’s Tacos is a block away and a popular spot for many, including Ruby Tidwell, a Western student who was raised vegetarian.

“The staff is always friendly and more than happy to customize anything on the menu, which lends itself to many veg-friendly or gluten-free choices,” Tidwell said.

Ultimately, altered diets are coming into their own place amidst the restaurant community.

As a vegan myself, I recommend keeping an open mind and always staying educated. Know that some foods are fried in animal oils or cooked with animal fats, and what your range of acceptable foods are.

Fellow vegan and senior, Brittany App, said, “It’s tough being vegan in a small town, but I am glad for the options we have here and that they are willing to work with us.”

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.

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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.

“No Days Off”

WOUstock rocks the weekend

The “Coming Out Monologues”

A global education

The future of education: Preview 2023/24

Guest Column: Campus Garden seeks to reduce food insecurity at Western

A vegan’s guide to eating cleaner in Monmouth

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