Mount Hood

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

OutAndProud2Color

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.

Swim. Cycle. Run.

By: Joleen Braasch 
Staff Writer

Are you ready for the tenth and final WOU Sprint and Triathlon on Saturday, Apr. 23? Registration has begun, and Melissa Bergeland, Assistant Director of Programs for Campus Recreation, and Zachary Holloway, Triathlon Intern, are working hard to make this the biggest and best triathlon in Western’s history!

Start training now to conquer the 500-yard swim in Wolverton Memorial swimming pool, 17.1-mile bike ride on country roads southwest of town, and 3.2-mile run that ends on Western’s track!

Don’t want to compete on your own? Don’t worry, you can compete in a group! Marshall Guthrie, director of the Student Enrichment Program at WOU, competed in a group last year, completing the bike portion of the triathlon.

Guthrie’s team won, and he is proud to show off his accomplishment. Sometimes he wears his medal while he rides, “the way folks wear a superbowl ring,” Guthrie said.

Aside from the competition, Guthrie loves bonding with colleagues, students, and community members; it’s “all the fun of trying to win something without super “agro” competition.”

This may be the final WOU Sprint and Triathlon, but don’t get too bummed; campus recreation may be coordinating an indoor triathlon in the future.

Questions? Search “triathlon” on WOU’s website, or contact Melissa Bergeland at 503-838-8860 or by email at bergelandm@wou.edu.

All registration forms and payments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Apr. 17.

Brasil Band Brings Powerhouse of Sound

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

Dr. Tom Bergeron hit the stage with his saxophone in hand and friends at his back. Drummer Art Lillard was the featured artist of the night. Together with six other members of the Brasil Band, they performed an array of soulful bossa novae on the night of Jan. 26.

Dr. Bergeron met Lillard over 40 years ago when he was a member of a band living in a small town.

“We were in the best damned jazz band in Wilton, New Hampshire,” joked Bergeron. “We needed a drummer so we put an ad in the Boston Phoenix. Art answered the call.”

Friends ever since, the chemistry between Dr. Bergeron and Lillard was energetic and fun. The feeling carried throughout the concert as they gave a rousing renditions of works by composers Tom Jobim, Jacob do Bandolim, and others.

The bossa nova is stylistically similar to the samba. A Jobim composition titled “Por Causa de Voce” was an example of a slower bossa nova that spoke of heartbreak (the title translates to “Because of You”). The sorrowful song showed the possible depth of the music.

A brighter song, “Assanhado” composed by do Bandolim, was a departure from the bossa nova. The song had stops that were sudden and seemed uncontrolled, yet it didn’t disrupt the music. On the contrary, it added to it. The funky sound left the audience bobbing and dancing in their seats.

The night was one of light-hearted music played by good friends.

Title: Upcoming Campus Events

Name: Independent film showing: “Misfortune County”
Date: Jan. 29
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Location: HL 106
Name: Triangle Alliance: Out and Proud week
Date: Feb. 1st – 4th
Times & locations of events vary; see posters for more information

Name: Winter Term Blood Drive
Dates: Feb. 2-3
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. both days
Location: WUC, Pacific Room

Name: SLCD Health Career Event
Date: Feb. 4
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: WUC, Columbia Room

Name: The Diamond and the Wolf – Master’s Recital
Date: Feb. 5
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Smith Recital Hall
Note: Free to everyone

Art Lillard’s Recreated Heavenly Band

By: Amanda Clarke
Staff Writer

“The Artistry of Art Lillard,” is an event sponsored by the WOU Music Department, featuring drummer, bandleader, and composer Art Lillard, along with WOU students and staff who will play his tunes.

According to his website, Art Lillard has been playing music professionally since 1970 and his nine-horn Heavenly Big Band has been playing in concert venues since 1987.

They play a variety of music, from old jazz standards to samba, bossa nova, and swing styles.

The WOU Heavenly Band will be covering Art Lillard’s music. The band is composed of mostly Western students and some faculty, and is “recreating a Heavenly Band performance,” said Bergeron.

The event is part of the Guest Artist Series, as stated on the WOU music homepage. The Guest Artist Series is “sponsored by IFC funds,” said Bergeron, so students can make use of their incidental fees through music.

Art Lillard also appears as a guest drummer in Tom Bergeron’s Brasil Band, which performed at Western on Jan. 26 in Smith Music Hall, and will play in Eugene, OR, on Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Jazz Station.

This event will take place on Friday, Jan. 29, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., there will be a performance by the WOU Heavenly Band in the Smith Music Hall, room 121 on campus. It is open to the public. Admission is $8 for general and $5 for students and senior citizens. WOU students with student ID get in free.

My Mom’s Basement

By: Rachael Jackson
 Staff Writer

My Mom’s Basement lies on the outskirts of downtown Monmouth in a quiet looking blue building. Enter inside the building and you’ll find yourself in a surprisingly open venue set up specifically for tabletop gaming.

The store was opened six years ago by Michael Haynes with the vision to provide a place to play good games with sociable people.

My Mom’s Basement is modeled to resemble just that: your mom’s basement. Electrical boxes are left bare to full view and faux bricks are painted on the walls to mimic a childhood of playing games in the basement with friends and family. The store was decorated with a relaxed and low-key vibe in mind.

My Mom’s Basement is an open space to players of any age and experience. For example, card games like Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh draw in middle and high school students on Thursdays.

Gregory Grimes, senior education major, compares the atmosphere of My Mom’s Basement to competitive places he has visited in Salem.

“People are a bit more respectful,” Grimes said. “The owners understand the games themselves and are willing to help you if you have questions.”

One local patron, Andrew Pratt, suggested that those interested in learning the popular tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons can come by at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays to create a character with the help of more skilled players. At 6:00 p.m. a group that sometimes reaches over 30 people embarks on a night of socializing through games.

With all the rules and possible storylines, tabletop gaming may seem intimidating to get into. My Mom’s Basement provides a welcoming setting with helpful people willing to show you the ropes. The games played here are geared towards recreation, not competition.

It also provides a sanctuary for the weary college student looking for a quiet time. Howard Haynes, Mike Haynes’ father, shared a story about two girls that came in during finals week. They rushed in and grabbed a game, sitting together to play privately. After an hour and a half of playing they put the game away and rushed back out to the next final.

For those not interested in tabletop gaming may find something more enticing to play on one of the computers, Xbox 360s, or an older console offered.

Stop by the shop after 12:00 p.m. on any day besides Monday to check it out or join in a game.

Thriving with Asperger’s in the College Setting

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff writer

On Jan. 20, the Human Resources and Student Health & Counseling Center (SHCC) put on an informational presentation on students with Asperger’s Syndrome on campus. Director of the SHCC, Jaime Silva, and Director of Counseling Services, Scott Perfect, led the presentation and discussion.

The presentation began with characteristics that professors and college staff can look for when approaching students that may have Asperger’s. They explained that it is considered a hidden disability, a disability that that is not identifiable based on physical attributes.

“College can be a very challenging time,” explained Perfect. “Some students come with Asperger’s Syndrome, and they are seeking help to do things like keeping a sleep schedule, doing laundry, making friends.”

For the past six years, Silva has run the Asperger’s Support Group on campus. Students come to the group for therapy, training for social situations, and for a place to meet friends.

Silva read from “Aquamarine Blue 5,” a poem book that was written completely by college students that have autism. The poems reflected difficulties that students often go to the SHCC for. One poem detailed the sensory overload that can come from light sensitivity connected to Asperger’s.

The SHCC offers other resources to help students plan days, to prioritize assignments, training to ask professors for help, and how to create deadlines.

Perfect and Silva were quick to point out that there are many strengths associated with Asperger’s. Strong vocabulary skills and average or above-average intellectual ability is prevalent. They are usually skilled in fields that apply a lot of logic or problem solving.

“Liberal arts curriculum is not typically their friend,” said Perfect, half in jest.

Combating depression on campus

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

Amassing piles of homework, the absence of family and friends, and Oregon’s constantly dreary skies combine to make a delicious cocktail of depression for college students, resulting in a case of the downy dumps, or much worse.

According to the BBC News, Jan. 18 was the most depressing day of the year thus far.

Psychologist Dr. Cliff Arnall has stated that “Blue Monday,” usually the third Monday in January, is depressing due to poor weather, debt incurred and not paid off since Christmas, time elapsed since the holidays, and low level of motivation in completing New Year’s resolutions.

While most scientists dub this formulation as nonsensical, the general public may find some truth in Dr. Arnall’s reasons why the post-holiday season is filled with so much woe.

Having to return to school after a lovely holiday at home only to face assignments, tests, loneliness, and gray weather– which can result in a serious case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — may make some students feel morose, unmotivated, and anxious.

Luckily, there are ways to combat the gloom and doom that follow the holiday high.

According to Psychology Today’s Lisa Firestone, a PhD holder and Director of Research and Education for the Glendon Association, some of the best ways to combat depression include staying active and socializing, even when you really don’t want to.

Avoiding negative thoughts and preoccupying the mind with something enjoyable, like a funny movie or a favorite hobby, are other ways to bring some cheer into your life.

On campus events are an easy way to get out of the house and potentially meet new people. These events can inspire creative thoughts, encourage community building, and act as a respite from the stress caused by schoolwork.

While it would be nice if going to a concert or hanging out with friends could cure all woes, this may not be the reality for some.

If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, or SAD, there are WOU counsellors just a phone call away and can be reached through 503-838-8396. Students in crises are seen immediately.

Weekend Wolfpack brings laser tag to campus

By: Amanda Clarke
Staff Writer

Despite the rain, WOU students lined up outside the old PE building last Friday for a chance to play laser tag. Students had to fill out waivers in order to play. The event was put on by Weekend Wolfpack and Western Housing.

This fun and laser-filled event was held on Jan. 15, and was free. Luke Etherton, a sophomore psychology major, helped to run the event.

“I think we were at about a hundred,” Etherton said, when asked about how many people had attended the event.

“I liked the obstacles you got to hide behind,” said Erin Heaberlin, a first year biology education major.

Accompanied by bumping music, students were split into teams of 12 and maneuvered around obstacles on the course, located in the old PE gymnasium. They were given 28 lives on their weapons, and if they were hit, the headbands connected to the weapons flashed red.

Michael Carrol, Resident Director of Heritage Hall, said that the laser tag event has been held for around eight years on the Western campus.

“Weekend Wolfpack is essentially our weekend program we do through Housing. The mission of Weekend Wolfpack is to bring in events for students on the weekends,” said Carol.

“Selma” Marches into ITC

By: Amanda Clarke
Staff Writer

ITC 211 was full of students on Tuesday not for a class, but for a screening of the movie “Selma.” This movie screening was one of several events held on campus for MLK week at WOU. It was a free event and students were welcome to come on their own or to earn extra credit for certain classes. It was cosponsored by the Student Leadership Activities board and the Black Student Union.

“Selma,” directed by Ava DuVernay, focuses on the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, one of the civil rights movements that Martin Luther King Jr. led.

This march took place 1965 with the aim of highlighting racial injustices and helping to pass the Voting Rights Act.

“With MLK celebration week we try to do something each day,” said Melissa Larson, chair of the MLK committee and director of disability services, when asked about why they had chosen to show the movie.

Bringing comedy to campus

By: Joleen Braasch
Staff Writer

DC Ervin, named LA’s funniest comedian in 2011, will be bringing the laughs to Western’s campus on Friday, Jan. 22 in the Pacific Room of the WUC.

With a unique style and strong stage presence, Ervin has separated himself from other comedians; he is not afraid to laugh with the audience, and his exaggerated facial expressions and impressions get the audience going.

Ervin touches on subjects that everyone can chuckle about, like actors overdoing it in cookie commercials, feeling uncomfortable at ATMs in the middle of the night, and how hard it is to stifle your laughter when somebody falls at the gym.

Ervin’s father, also a comedian, introduced him to art of comedy at a young age. Ervin began his career in the Bay Area of California and is currently eliciting laughs in the Los Angeles comedy scene.

Ervin may be a funny man, but his reasons for success are more serious. His dreams of becoming a comedian were not rooted in simply making people laugh, but in becoming a role model for the two most important people in his life: his daughters.

When he’s off the stage, Ervin also writes, produces, and stars in his own short films and sketches.

This event is brought to WOU through the Student Activities Board and is free to WOU students.

Service project commemorates MLK Jr. Day

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Service Learning & Career Development office went to the Marion-Polk Food Share’s community garden in Salem with staff, children, and students. The rain took a break for the SLCD and community volunteers for a surprisingly warm afternoon of gardening.

While only 14 of the 30 students that signed up for the event showed, they ended up completing a job expected to take three hours in only two.

Student volunteers cleaned up the dried plants and composted the earth, adding a layer of bark dust before heading out.

Adry Snorradottir Clark, the director of SLCD, said that the students see “that even though you have a career, you can still find time to get involved in something you are interested in. A lot of volunteers there had a passion for gardening.”

Having Western students involved in this service for the food share has an even bigger meaning than helping the Marion-Polk community.

“We’re excited to work for that organization because they are the ones that supply our food bank with food,” said Clark. “The students got to meet some of the community volunteers and see that they really care, they got to see that you can make a difference.”

Speaker, singers, and sweet potato pie

By: Megan Clark
Campus Life Editor

Spirits were roused when the Pacific Room’s doors in the WUC opened to the public for the MLK commemorative dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

The guests were greeted with the sight of beautifully laid out tables laden with water, iced tea, and warm cornbread. Tickets cost $3 for students, and it was well worth it.

The buffet dinner included fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas, and macaroni and cheese followed by a dessert of peach crisps, much like cobbler, and small squares of sweet potato pie.

The Portland Interfaith Gospel choir sang two spirited songs to signal the start of the event. Then, President Rex Fuller, introduced Dr. Eddie Moore, presented a beautiful speech on racism and MLK’s dream.

He posed the audience the question, “Are we moving?” While people may think that progress is being made, there are still inequities prevalent in society regarding race and gender.

He said that one thing college students could do to help defeat racism was to rid themselves of personal biases and become more self-aware in how they act and treat others.

After Dr. Moore’s speech, the essay prizewinners were announced. The event closed out with two more songs performed by the gospel choir.

Tinder: where lonely hearts connect

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

Tinder was released to the world in 2013 as a fast paced dating app. It quickly appealed to those between the ages of 18 and 34 as an easy way to find dates and casual sex. There was an outcry from the media and citizens of the world that Tinder was creating a “hook-up culture” and destroying the establishment of dating.

Along with those citizens, are WOU students who aren’t too keen on the idea of finding dates through Tinder.

“I think it’s kind of dumb and that people should meet in person. Get out of their comfort zone,” said a Western student that wished to remain anonymous.

Many feel that Tinder is shallow. It may feel strange to simply swipe right for those you like and left for those you aren’t digging based solely on a few pictures and a short profile description. There is something to be said for meeting someone in person and seeing if sparks fly, but using Tinder could have its benefits, too.

Tinder sets up an environment in which both parties are on equal footing and have mutual understanding of what the other wants.

Tinder could also be useful for college students because it makes finding people while stuck living on a small campus easy.
College students can meet people both on campus and in nearby cities easily, all it takes is adjusting the desired distance. Going to cities like Salem, Corvallis, and Portland can be difficult and expensive for most students, but meeting people through text first may give the incentive to travel.

Andrea Coffee, a senior education major, found her current boyfriend through Tinder. As of now, they’ve been together almost 6 months.

“I wasn’t expecting to find a relationship,” Coffee said. She continued that it’s a great app “if you’re looking to just ‘hang out.’”

Using Tinder may not be for everybody and safety precautions should be taken when meeting a stranger in person for the first time. However, this app could prove useful for lonely college students looking for more than friendship.

Chinese New Year at WOU

By: Brianna Bonham
Staff Writer

This year, the Chinese New Year falls on Monday, Feb. 8. There are exciting times in store for this New Year, including a presidential election. In 2016, The Fire Monkey makes its first appearance since 1956. The Fire Monkey represents leadership and competition.

In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt won the presidential election against Herbert Hoover. 1932 also marked the third year of The Great Depression. President Roosevelt won the election again in 1944, another Year of the Monkey.

In 1954, Elvis Presley began performing across the south. In 1968 both Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were both assassinated. In 1980 began the Reagan Revolution and Reaganomics.

In 1992, iconic bands and artists such as Dr. Dre, The Beastie Boys, and REM released albums. 2004 was the last year there were new episodes of Friends aired.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the International Club at Western is holding a Chinese New Year celebration on Feb. 8. The cost is $6 for ID holding students.

For more information, keep an eye out for flyers around campus!

Who knew goatskin could sound so good?

By: Rachael Jackson
Staff Writer

Ten Strings And A Goat Skin will perform at the Rice Auditorium in an event free to WOU students, Friday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Hailing from the Prince Edward Island of Canada, this English-French bilingual band bends and fuses the genre of traditional Irish music and Acadian sounds with their interpretations of modern and world rhythms.

The bulk of their songs are played in the style of trad music, which is fast-paced and upbeat – it is something to dance and have fun to. They blend in sounds of bluegrass, traditional Scandinavian music, and other world music in a seamless way that makes the fusion seem natural.

Jesse Périard, guitarist, brothers Rowen Gallant, violinist, and Caleb Gallant, percussionist, come from Acadian heritages themselves, giving them a close understanding of the culture.

Périard and Rowen Gallant comprise the ten-string part of the musical group, while Caleb Gallant is the goatskin, because, traditionally, goatskins are tanned and stretched to cover a drumhead.

Acadia is the Eastern coastal region of Canada that includes the Maritime provinces and part of present-day Quebec. The French settled the region in the seventeenth century until Irish and Scottish immigrants began settling in the Maritime provinces.

With just the three instruments, the band creates a full sound that seems almost textural, as if the music has a physical feeling. This is an attribute that can be hard to achieve even with the most technologically advanced music equipment.

For being so young– all members are under 25– they have an outstanding understanding of their instruments that is sure to entertain audiences of varied backgrounds and tastes.

Take care not to miss this performance. The concert should be a fun and lighthearted entrance into the weekend that will lift spirits and ensure a prolonged good mood.

History and Art at Hamersly

By: Amanda Clarke
Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Jan. 13, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Hamersly Library, there was a reception night for the newest exhibits.

The reception was free and open to the public and gave those attending an opportunity to ask questions to the artists. The exhibits will be available to view between now and March 18.

“The exhibits are selected by topic. Because we are the library that serves all of campus I try to get things that cover a majority of disciplines on campus,” said Jerry Parpart, the Archives and Exhibits Coordinator at Hamersly.

The art exhibit on the second floor is titled “Guilty About Not Being Guilty,” which is a collection of art by Gamira Thakur, an Assistant Professor of Interactive Media and Graphic Design at WOU.

Thakur stated that her art “explores the paradoxes I experienced as a daughter growing up in India.” One of her art pieces, titled, “Don’t Walk Like a Boy,” showcases a pair of bright red high heels on a platform.

Several feet directly above the shoes are two books with the spines facing outwards. The space between the two objects is large enough that one could imagine a girl standing in the shoes, with the books on her head, learning how to walk in a dignified manner.

On the third floor, the exhibit “Paintings” by visiting Chinese artist Chi Wang, an Associate Professor of Art at Changzhou University in China, is displayed. Most are portraits of people, however there are also some landscapes included in his exhibit, and some are so detailed they look almost like photographs.

The other exhibit on the third floor is “American Folklife: a Commonwealth of Cultures,” presented by the Library of Congress Corner. It is a collection of photographs from around the United States with captions explaining each photo.

“We’ve added in the local culture with archival photographs and music,” said Parpart. This exhibit includes a video presentation of Monmouth Folklife, which entails the activities and music of the Western community, including background music from a concert recorded in the 1940’s.

“Misfortune County,” a western produced by student filmmakers, is also sponsored by Hamersly Library and showcased on the second floor at this time. The film screening will be in Hamersly Library room 107 on Jan. 29 at 6:15 p.m.

“Pirates of the Queeribbean”

By: Joleen Braasch 
Staff Writer

With WOU Drag Show auditions just around the corner, drag fever is in the air. In recent years, Triangle Alliance has brought the campus “The Wonderful Wizard of WOU,” “Magic Queendom Academy” (Disney themed), “Out of Pandora’s Box” (Greek themed), and “Around the World in 80 Gays” to the Rice Auditorium stage.

On April 7, the cast of the 20th annual WOU Drag Show will bring “Pirates of the Queeribbean” into the hearts of the WOU community. The WOU community can expect yet another night of fun, filled with loud music, racy dance moves, and equality for all.

Hosted by the Triangle Alliance (a student-run organization on campus that aims to create a safe space for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*, Queer and Ally (LGBT*Q+) students) the drag show is important to the heart of equality on our campus while also encouraging confidence and self- expression.

Courtney Thomas, a senior biology major, defines drag as “an expression, a part of the soul, a means to release the inner portion of you, however you may be defined or not defined.”
John Goldsmith, a senior English literature major, has been performing in the drag show since his first year. It has allowed him to gain the strength to fully accept himself as a gay man, he said.

To Jenesa Ross, a senior biology major, the show is important because it is rare to find something that allows anyone and everyone to just be themselves; the drag show provides this for her and for all others involved, whether they are dancing or working behind the scenes.

Four seniors known as “the quadforce”– Gabbi Boyle, John Goldsmith, Lindsey Hughes, and Jenesa Ross– are working together to put on yet another amazing student run show.

Gabbi Boyle, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, said that this is a major factor of pride for drag show community, as outside choreographers were brought in until 2014.

Auditions start Friday, Jan. 15 from 6-8pm and continue through Saturday. Jan. 16 and Sunday, Jan. 17 from 1-3pm in HWC 302.

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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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