Mount Hood

Dear Esmeralda

Dear Esmeralda,

I want to get involved with some clubs on campus, meet some people with beautiful, sculpted faces and equally beautifully, sculpted future plans, and build up my resume — but I don’t know where to start! There are so many to choose from, so are there any good places you would recommend to get the gossip on them?

From,
Beautifully Sculpted Gossip Girl

Dear Beautifully Sculpted Gossip Girl,

What an eloquent and oddly poetic question! There are many places you can go, where you can meet all sorts of people, it depends on what you are looking for. I hear there are many as you so fantastically put it “beautifully sculpted faces” at the gym, however, as the beautiful and perfect human that I am, I have no need to go to places like that.

If, like me, exercise isn’t your thing, there are a lot of clubs you can join: Triangle Alliance (the LGBT* club on campus) is a good one to attend, plus the gays are a friendly and practical people. (I hear they even have a fairy princess mermaid there from time to time!) There is also the Multicultural Student Union (MSU for short) they do all sorts of events all around campus. Even if you don’t join the clubs, go to the events! Sometimes there are even people there (weird, I know!). Many clubs also coincide with academic interests, so find one for yours. Protip: many, if not all, of these clubs have Facebook pages, so look them up on there!

Finally, the best way to meet the perfect human specimen is to simply hang out on campus. It’s a small school, and you will always start to recognize someone.
Try the old razzle dazzle! If this fails and you still have no friends, just adopt thirty or so cats, dogs, or both, and join the cat/dog-person life. Cats and dogs are always solid, and beautiful, future plans! If animals aren’t your thing I remember hearing of a tale where a beautiful young girl was kidnaped and fell in love with her captor. What can go wrong with trying out what you see in movies or tv? Good luck on your résumé building work!

XOXO Gossip Gi… Wait that’s not me!

XOXO Esmeralda

Chin Up, Dreamboat!

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

Nawwal Moustafa, a Western graduate, brings a fresh page to the adult coloring book genre. Rather than mandalas, Moustafa explores lost loves and broken hearts with her companion piece for lesbian breakups, “Chin Up, Dreamboat!”

The book, slated to release in May, focuses on lesbian relationships because they are rarely represented in popular culture.

“I have never seen a Disney coloring book with two princess. There is always a glass in between you and pop culture in the sense of straight media,” explained Moustafa. “If you’re like me, if you’re gay, then with this at least you have something there for you in your corner.”

Moustafa has been gaining national attention with a Buzzfeed article and support coming from across the Atlantic.

“The Buzzfeed article was unreal to me. That was kind of a dream situation,” Moustafa admitted. “I thought in the 30 days I could reach my goal of 1,200… I didn’t know it would happen the first day!”

Western also played a part in the creation to this book; during her junior year, she came out.

“It was all brought to my attention and I figured it all out very quickly. Probably a year before I came out,” she said.

“It was a little scary, but I knew there was a lot of support with Triangle [Alliance] and Safe Zone. When I did come out, it was the best decision I ever made,” she said. “I remember right after I came out and a professor walked by and I said, ‘Hey man, I’m coming out!’ and he came and gave me a hug. It was a great feeling.”

Donate to her Kickstarter by March 13 by way of her website: http://chinupdreamboat.com.

Eating Disorder Awareness Week

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

In 2011, over 30 million people suffered from eating disorders and have the highest mortality rate out of any mental illness.

Abby’s House and Project HEAL presented on eating disorders this last week. There was a large focus on how society impacts body image and beauty ideals. They used Chinese foot-binding and ‘the cult of thinness’ as examples.

“From a young age, we are bombarded with images of ‘perfect bodies’ and learn to hate our own,” Andrea Coffee, senior education major, said, “I struggle with my own body image daily. It’s expected though if you’re called thunder thighs your whole life.”

The pressure felt by individuals in conforming to societal beauty standards is perpetuated in the general positivity surrounding weight loss and thinness.

Coffee said, “I have a few friends that have struggled with eating disorders. I remember one in particular lost a lot of weight really quickly and I complimented her on it. Then I realized that for lunch everyday she would only eat crackers.”

While bulimia and anorexia are relatively well known eating disorders, there are various other eating disorders that go unnoticed by the general public.

Sam Hughes, senior social science major, has an eating disorder called Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). ARFID results in food aversions, meaning that Hughes is limited in what she is able to eat.

“It makes it hard to go out, most social functions revolve around food and when you can’t bring yourself to eat what’s being served, people get frustrat[ed] when you won’t eat it. They get either angry or worried for your welfare or think you’re weird,” Hughes said.

She also mentioned that she detests when people call her picky. “It feels infantilizing and like it belittles what I go though,” Hughes continued.

Another point the presenters touched on was the importance of being kind, caring, and supportive when confronting someone about their eating disorder.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, the Student Health and Counseling Center can be called at 503.838.8313, or you can visit Abby’s House in the WUC or reach them through their email: abbyshouse@wou.edu

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By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

Javier Garcia, junior business major

“Living poor has made me motivated to go to college and want something better for my life instead of living paycheck to paycheck […] Hopefully I can travel, I really want to travel.”

“I went to San Francisco for an alternative break and I went to chinatown and randomly bought a Ninja sword […] I thought, ‘Oh, why not, we’re here.’”

What do you do with it?
“Oh it’s just decoration really, but sometimes I play with it and try to break things with it or pop things with it.”

Why not ask a Black person?

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer
The “Ask a Black Person” panel consisted of 6 black students ready to discuss what it is to be black in today’s society. They discussed a wide array of topics including: experiences on campus, misconceptions of hair, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Due to low attendance from those students outside of the club, the panel turned more into a discussion among them and the group. 

One student that came out, Rachel Danskey, junior and public policy and administration major, saw how important it is to listen and discuss race issues. She appreciated having the chance to listen to the diverse panel.

“[These events] are a segue for me into different perspectives,” Danskey said. “I see how white people have more of a voice than they do, and I think hearing it rather than just reading about in a book brought it all to reality.”

Thelma Hale, senior and communications major, explained how the possible perceptions of her hairstyle kept her from wearing it short and natural. 
“I really didn’t want to come back here [to WOU] with my hair like that, I didn’t think I would feel comfortable. But they love it here; the people here love it. They always have something good to say.”

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

WAWA WAAM

By: Joleen Braasch 
Staff Writer

If you’re looking for a fun night, check out the hip hop concert on Friday, Feb. 26. As part of Western Accessibility Awareness Month (WAAM) and Black History Month Activities, WAWA will be performing in the Pacific Room at Werner University Center with his DJ, Nicar.

Don’t know sign language? No problem; WAWA voices the lyrics that he raps, and the concert will be interpreted.

WAWA, Warren Snipe, cannot hear, but he wears hearing aids, speaks, and signs. The rapper has been performing in many mediums of entertainment since childhood, and has been traveling the world to perform in the last dozen years.

As part of the emerging music genre Dip-Hop, deaf hip-hop, WAWA stands among other deaf rappers who are working to get Dip Hop into the mainstream music scene, including Prinz D The First Deaf Rapper, Signmark, Sean Forbes, and Survivor C.

Ensuring that the deaf community is heard and pushing back against oppressors, WAWA raps about equality. In his single, “Vendetta,” WAWA states: “You can’t hold me down ‘cuz I’m busy givin’ love … Bully Bully Bully, how nice of you to visit me, now you in my world, consider yourself history.”

These lyrics ring to the goals of Western Accessibility Awareness Month. As stated by Madison Malot, a senior English major and ASL minor as well as a student worker in the Office of Disabilities, “WAAM is a time where the WOU community can come together and learn about how to be accessible and how to bring inclusion to our campus.”
Contact the author at jbraasch12@wou.edu

Picking on the Banjo

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By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

The banjo, as I’m sure you’ve all noticed, has been making a comeback. With bands like Mumford & Sons and Punch Brothers comes a slew of new appreciation for the five-stringed, twangy instrument.

It’s become so popular that its snappy strums have even graced WOU’s Smith Recital Hall. Noam Pikelny played for a gathered crowd, a performance made possible by a donation from Western’s own Dr. David Hargreaves.

Pikelny, of Punch Brothers fame, sang and played the banjo and various types of guitars, but really, his banjo playing was the highlight of the evening due to its earnest melodies, fast paced plucking, and old timey charm.

Though it seems like the hot new instrument, it’s not as common as the guitar and more technically difficult than a ukulele, another instrument that has been gaining traction in recent years.

But why is it becoming so popular? The obvious answer is that it appeals to the hipster in all of us. Perhaps it evokes a simpler time when we didn’t need found footage films to scare us, but instead found horror in an overall-clad boy playing Dueling Banjos, a la “Deliverance.”

The audience for Pikelny seemed to eat up his fiery playing style. Hannah Williams, first year music major, stated that, “The banjo is more versatile than I originally thought […] I could relate to the banjo in a way that caught me off guard in the most delightful way.”

“[Banjo players] have these ring type picks for their fingers so they can fingerpick,” said Thomas Licata, senior interdisciplinary major. He continued on to say, “using a pick instead of the fingertip gets a harder heavier sound which I generally prefer.”

With its sweetly sharp sound and its emotive melodies, the banjo is an instrument that probably won’t be going away any time soon. If the ukulele trend is anything to go off of, then pretty soon there will be Youtube covers of Adele’s “Hello” on banjo. Oh, wait, there already are.

Maybe it will eventually even overtake the guitar in popular culture. Don’t be surprised if, at your next party, a mustachioed, bow-tie-wearing young man sits down with his banjo and starts fingerpicking Oasis’s “Wonderwall.”

Contact the author at meclark13@wou.edu or on Twitter @WOU_CampusLife

#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:

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(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?

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(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?

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(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?

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(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

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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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HOWColor

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

Thomas Licata, senior interdisciplinary major

What kind of music do you like?

“Weird stuff… Everything. My favorite band is actually this band [called Consider the Source]. It’s Middle Eastern sci-fi metal, but it does a lot of funk and jazz. I don’t know, they have a lot songs that are literally just like Middle Eastern folk songs on like classic instruments and then they have stuff that’s just shredding and noise solos.”

Wear red this Friday for heart health

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

Heart health isn’t exactly something many college students have on their minds. However, after a proclamation made by President Obama last year declaring February to be named American Heart Month, it became clear that is an issue that affects all American students.

The American Heart Association (AHA) warns that 98.9 million Americans aged 20 and older have total blood cholesterol levels over 200. A cholesterol level over 200 can be indicatied of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and congestive heart failure.

Presently, heart disease is the number one killer in America.

It’s important to start young with heart disease tests – the AHA recommends starting at age 20 and continuing every five years. Because of genetic factors, even with a healthy diet and exercise regimen, a person can still be at risk.

ASL interpreting major and junior, Crystal King, said that taking fitness classes at the school has shown her the importance of eating right and consistent physical activity.

“I think being educated in cardiovascular disease as a college student makes me think more about it,” said King. “I don’t worry about getting a heart attack now, but I know it could happen in the future.”

The first Friday of February is known as National Wear Red Day, so if you see someone on campus wearing red they might just be supporting this cause.

If you are looking for more information, stop by the Student Health & Counseling Center to meet a physician or give them a call at 503-838-8313 to set up an appointment for ch

“Lobby Hero”

By: Joleen Braasch 
Staff Writer

If you’re looking for a fun weekend full of drama in all the right ways, head over to Rice Auditorium tonight, Feb. 5, or Saturday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. to see Kenneth Lonergan’s play, “Lobby Hero.” Follow young security guard, Jeff, as he gets himself wrapped up in murder, strained loyalty, elusive truths and costly justice.

Graduate student Natalie Piper, who is currently in the MAT program working toward a license in high school theatre, chose to direct “Lobby Hero” because she feels that it addresses race and gender issues present in today’s society.

Piper also chose “Lobby Hero” because she wanted to provide opportunities for student-actors who are working in the genre of contemporary realism, a straightforward and realistic approach to art.

The art of theatre calls for many important artistic roles: actors, directors, and stagehands, to name a few.

Piper’s favorite role is directing; she loves seeing everyone and everything work together in order to create her vision and bring it to life. And, unlike the actors, she gets to sit in the audience and watch people react.

Are you interested in murder, justice, and Piper’s vision? Visit Rice Auditorium at least a half-hour before the show begins to pick up your ticket. WOU students pay $7 for admis

Panel colors campus in rainbows

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

The Triangle Alliance and Multicultural Student Union hosted a panel discussion on the experiences of being queer persons of color. The five-person panel consisted of those of Japanese, Latino, and African American backgrounds.

Natasha/Nathan Mireles, a junior biology major, seemed excited for the panel to begin.

“I am eager to know about the intersectionality of lives of people who are persons of color and who are also queer,” Mireles said. “For me, I don’t identify as a person of color and I want to know how their experience differs from mine.”

Intersectionality is an identity that lies within another identity. For example, a woman might identify as bisexual but also as Chinese-American.

The panelists were asked questions varying from issues coming out to parents, dealing with ideals set by the media, and finding a balance between the many intersections of identities.

Ty Lewis, an ASL interpreting major and senior, described how he feels about his own intersectionality.

“If I waltz into a classroom, and I’m white presenting, my queer identity takes over,” said Lewis. “I do feel like I present one part of myself depending on the place.”

If you’re interested in exploring this topic or others within the LGBTQ+ community, stop by Ackerman 141 for a Triangle Alliance meeting on Tuesdays from 4 to 5 p.

Always Funny and Ever Wise: Poison Waters

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By: Justin Oehler
Freelancer

From living in California to being a new kid in Portland, Poison Waters is fabulous and funny. She has been doing drag for almost thirty years and is as popular and vivacious as ever.

Poison Waters, according to her website, has had experience working with the Women’s Inter-community AIDS Resource and currently acts as camp director at a summer camp for kids who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Full of jokes and wisdom, she told it like it is. At the Out and Proud dinner on Jan. 3, Waters told the gathered crowd all about her early life as a quarter Mexican, a quarter Native American, and half black, gay boy.

As the keynote speaker for the dinner, she shared her experiences with the audience. When she moved to Portland, she said it was the blackest city she had ever lived in. She mentioned how much she enjoyed being surrounded by people of color at the dinner, saying she was excited not to be “the raisin in the rice patch.”

She came from a very supportive, diverse family and spoke on how lucky and happy she was to be in that situation. Yet, she knew she was “odd” for a long time and her mother and sister did too by telling her, “You know you gay, right?”

She shared worries that many people face, saying she felt like an alien waiting for the mother ship to come pick her back up. Feeling different and out of place, even when supported by family, is difficult, especially as a young person part of the LGBT*Q+ community.

However, Waters noted that, as she has gotten older, much the world has changed for the better with regards to the LGBT*Q+ community as well as People of Color (POC).

She was so pleased to see that young folks don’t need to go through what she saw back in her day. Her “intersectionality” was a popular topic of discussion for Waters.

She first wanted to become a drag queen and embrace the diversity of the gay community when her drag mother, Rosie Waters, inspired her to become her true, fabulous self.

She seems to have a joke for every occasion and never missed an opportunity to tell one. Even still she had moments of seriousness and during the show and gave valuable advice for young POC, Queer people, and drag queens.

Stalking in Media

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

In honor of January being National Stalking Awareness Month, the assistant director of Abby’s House, Andrea Hugmeyer, presented an informational PowerPoint about how stalking is portrayed in the media.

While only a dozen or so guests attended the event during the day on Jan. 27 in the WUC, those that were present were highly interested and vocal during the interactive presentation.

Stalking is a form of sexual violence and involves a pattern of repeated, unwanted contact that makes a person feel fear. Examples of stalking include repeatedly calling and following a person, sending unwanted gifts, texts, or emails, and threatening that person’s family or friends.

Ultimately, stalking is based on control. 7.5 million people in the U.S. are stalked each year; 90 percent of all college students participate in “unwanted pursuit behavior” after a breakup.

Using examples such as the popular novels-turned-movies “Twilight” and “50 Shades of Gray,” the music video for “Animals” by Maroon 5, as well as the movie “The Perfect Man,” Hugmeyer showed how stalking is portrayed as romantic, a glorified fantasy, and fear-inducing.

Kayla Robertson, a senior psychology major, said that Maroon 5’s music video “makes stalking sexy,” when stalking should be anything but.

One event attendee said that these examples present the idea that “when a woman says no, no means convince me.”

Media is one of the most influential forms of socialization. A dominant message that bombards consumers of various forms of media is in relation to male dominance, protection and pursuit. Women are portrayed as submissive and in need of protection.

These ideals subversively influence how women and men think they should look, act, and interact with others and society.

These messages ultimately make stalking, either in person or cyber, normalized.
Already, forms of cyber stalking are acceptable in society. At the mention of stalking someone over Facebook, no one bats an eye.

Through media deconstruction, such as understanding the methods through which a certain message is being sent and by whom, viewers can try to avoid supporting media that promotes harmful messages.

Another way to combat negative messages in media is to actively seek out television shows, movies, or music that subverts the dominant message. Hugmeyer gave examples of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” as television shows with positive messages that are also entertaining.

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