Mount Hood

What to know before going gluten-free

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

In recent years, gluten-free lifestyles, whether due to medical reasons or personal choice, have been increasingly more accepted and even popular. People with Celiac Disease, for example, are highly sensitive to gluten consumption, as it causes the body to treat gluten as a foreign threat, according to Healthline.com.

However, cutting gluten from the diet can prove difficult, as it’s found in most grains like wheat and oats. Up until recently, things like gluten-free bread and pasta were nearly impossible to find. While it has become more simple, it can still be challenging as well as more expensive to find the right food — not to mention trying to find recipes that can be made at home.

The first thing to do when ditching gluten, like with any other drastic diet change, is to do a bit of research. Even though in many cases going gluten-free can lead to a healthier lifestyle, there are still things to be aware of. For example, eating less wheat might mean needing another source of fibers.

Another good thing to research is basic food substitutions. Zucchini as noodles, or zoodles, is a popular example of go-to gluten substitutions for homemade recipes. There are also different types of flour, such as coconut flour, that can become a kitchen staple. However, there are rarely ingredients that can be exact substitutions, so it would be worthwhile looking up specific gluten-free recipes — especially when baking.

Another thing to take into account is to budget accordingly, both time and moneywise. Unfortunately, some gluten-free products, such as bread, can be more expensive and are not sold everywhere. It also means having to look up most places before going out to eat to make sure they have gluten free options. There are a few places that serve specialized gluten-free cuisine in the Monmouth area, such as Yeasty Beasty and Mangiare Italian Restaurant, as well as on-campus with Valsetz Dining Hall and Wolf Grill.

Going gluten free can be a difficult commitment sometimes, but for some, the health benefits make it well worth it. For those considering making the switch, it might be worthwhile to consult a dietitian to see what a professional recommends.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

Understanding and treating an unhealthy relationship with porn

Paul F. Davis | Managing Editor

When looking at the numbers, it’s clear that people like porn… a lot. According to the American Addiction Centers, more than 184 thousand dollars are spent every minute on porn. With our society’s ease of access, this spending is not going to stop ー it’s probably only going to increase.

Not only is it easy to access porn, but it is also more affordable and anonymous than ever before. Back when our parents were our age, the main means for purchasing porn was through some adult shop or by asking the person behind the mini-market counter for a Playboy. Now, any 11 year old with an unfiltered access to the internet can go online and find porn they could never even think to look up with one search of Pornhub.

It’s not that 11 year olds are the only people using porn. In reality, a large number of people are consuming porn. The American Psychological Association’s “Handbook of Sexuality and Psychology” states that between 50 percent to 99 percent of men and 30 percent to 86 percent of women have used porn in their lifetime. For many people, it can be a safe place to explore sexual fantasies alone or with a sexual partner in a new, interesting way. But for some, statistically men, porn usage can take a person down a dark, lonely path.

In an article titled “Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports” authored by Brian Clark and associates from 2016 in the Journal of Behavioral Sciences, men are reporting a sharp rise in erectile dysfunction, delayed ejaculation, decreased sexual satisfaction and diminished libido during partnered sex that cannot be explained by traditional causes. Although a direct line of causation has not been made to porn usage, a strong correlation has been documented.

In 1999, 5 percent of sexually active men, ages 18 to 59 had erectile dysfunction. By 2011 that same statistic had shot up to 28 percent according to the same article by Brian Clark. A major change in men’s sexual lives in that time was access to easy, anonymous and cheap porn.

What’s important to know is that it’s not anyone’s fault if they are having these problems. This is what porn does to your mind. Due to the huge dopamine dump that is associated with porn use, the brain fundamentally changes at the neuronal level which was found in the study “Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity Associated With Pornography Consumption”, and change is associated with tainted sexuality, increases secrecy, makes for less intimacy and increases the likelihood of depression. But the brain is plastic, it can change.

This problem doesn’t just affect the one addicted. It affects partners, too. Imagine a situation where you’re about to have sex with your partner, and they just can’t seem to get aroused.  For many, their thoughts then go straight to “they must think I’m not enough” and that stays with them, that hurts them.

This story isn’t just anecdotal. Sex researchers Destin Stewart, Ph.D. and Dawn Szymanski, Ph.D found in their 2012 study that “(female partners) experienced lower self-esteem, poorer relationship quality and lower sexual satisfaction” while in this position.

For those that think they may have a problem, the important thing to know is that it can be controlled, and help is available. Although there isn’t a scientifically proven way to treat an unhealthy relationship with porn, one way to start is by being honest and kind with yourself and accept that the problem exists and it can be controlled. Then, look for accountability; for those that have a sexual partner, be open with them about what’s going on so they won’t beat themselves up over something that they can’t control, and so they can help.

For those that don’t have a partner, support can be found from where the problem likely came from: the internet. There is an app called Fortify which provides support groups and that will help you create goals for yourself, monitor habits and congratulate you when porn use is reduced.

For those looking for resources that are on campus, Abby’s House is an option which is in the Werner University Center, Room 106. They can be contacted via email at abbyshouse@wou.edu, called at 503-838-821 or reached in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, the Student Health and Counseling Center always takes on new students; they can be reached at 503-838-8000 or in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

So, be kind with yourself, know that recovery is possible and know that if you have an unhealthy relationship with porn you deserve more from your sexuality than a computer screen.

 

Contact the author at pfdavis14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

How to save money when flying on vacation

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Spring Break is quickly arriving, making it hard to focus on the finals to come. Some have already started their planning, but for some, finances can be an enormous hinderance. This is especially true of air travel. Flying is the fastest and often easiest way to travel long distance, especially for students wishing to return to family for the break. However, it’s also the most expensive way to travel. Fortunately, there are a few ways to budget and be prepared enough to create an affordable vacation.

 

Be aware of timing: Most plane tickets become more expensive as the flight time approaches, meaning booking them as far in advance as possible is usually the cheapest way to go. According to Forbes, the exact number of days to buy in advance for the most affordable tickets varies by the season, but it’s usually around seven weeks.

Consider other fees: While a ticket might seem the cheapest in a side-by-side comparison, these often don’t factor in additional expenses. It can be worth it to include checking all fees as part of the research into which airline to choose. For example, if you need to bring extra luggage, something to consider might be which airlines charge the most for additional baggage.

Don’t forget the rest of the trip: Gas, rental cars, taxis and hotels might not be the biggest expense, but they can add up quickly. Finding the airport closest to the hotel, or vice versa, arranging for transportation to the airport ahead of time and researching the different modes of transportation of the place you’re going to are all ways to cut down on the costs of the rest of the trip. Also, bringing everything possible rather than buying the needed toiletries or other things can help cut expenses in places that have sales tax.

Consider connecting flights: It’s not always ideal, but it’s often cheaper to endure a layover. Depending on the place, a longer layover can be an opportunity to explore a new city; this typical inconvenience could easily be made into an exciting part of your vacation.

 

Vacations can be a struggle when they feel out of reach due to the overall costs. However, the right amount of planning can make a worthwhile holiday possible.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy Ashlynn Norton

How to be efficient at group projects

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Every term, students across campus have to tackle what’s considered one of the biggest challenges of college: group projects. Often worth a significant number of points, group projects can be incredibly frustrating for a number of reasons. However, as they are often inevitable, the skills to finishing them in an effective manner are important to learn.

One of the biggest challenges can be communication, or lack thereof. Not knowing when someone intends to finish their part, if they need any help or not or if they are even still in the class — yes, it has happened before — can make the project much more stressful than it needs to be. Unfortunately, we can’t control anyone’s communication except our own. Making a conscious effort to clear up any misunderstanding at the very least ensures that there will be a reduced chance of a mixup.

Sometimes, that mixup will occur anyway, which brings us to our next point. Another big source of stress is when other group members don’t seem to pull their weight. No one wants their grade to suffer, but no one wants to be unsure of how much work they really have to put into it. I have witnessed many people stress over whether or not to work on an unfinished portion of a project that wasn’t assigned to them. Fortunately, many professors are fully aware that this sometimes happens. Making a plan to talk to the professor instead of continuously trying to contact an unresponsive group member makes it easier to focus on your assigned part of the project and leave behind a lot of stress.

Less common, but still prevalent, is the occasional tendency of leadership styles or ideas to clash in divisive ways. These are those “pick your battles” instances that are often raised: is it worth fighting someone else’s idea if you think it won’t get as good of a grade? This dilemma surfaces every so often, and there’s no easy answer to it. The organization of the group is something to consider, however. If there’s enough solid leadership within the group that whatever topic that’s chosen can be made to work, it might be worth it just to roll with the group.

Many people dread having to face group work every term. Sometimes we get lucky and the members work well together, but other times we have to make the best of the situation.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Questions you should ask your adviser

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Advisers are one of the many resources students have access to at Western. Their goal is to help students on their path to graduation, as well as help them approach life after graduation. However, sometimes knowing the right questions to ask can be tricky, especially for newer students.

In my personal experience, meetings go best when there’s specific topics to discuss, rather than just hoping the adviser will have the exact answers needed without any context. Here are some questions to consider that can help an adviser meeting run more smoothly and be more successful overall.

 

“How do I use DegreeWorks?”

It may not seem like the first question to ask as DegreeWorks is fully accessible on a student Portal account. However, as many quickly discover, there are layers to DegreeWorks that can quickly become a long and confusing list. It’s important to understand it, as it’s the best way to check on the status of graduation requirements.

 

“Is there anything I should get out of the way?” or, “How do I prioritize?”

Sometimes, when students are particularly unlucky, two classes required for graduation are offered at the same time on the same days, making it impossible to take both. This can make students on edge about getting all their requirements done. Advisers can help show students how to determine which classes will most likely be offered again soon, which won’t be and which classes can possibly be replaced with others if necessary compared to the ones that are absolutely required.

 

“What other requirements do I need to know about?”

Some majors have requirements beyond just the core classes. Education majors, for example, need to arrange for certain tests to be taken, and others require experience outside one of Western’s classrooms. Asking questions like this early on will help avoid reaching the last term before graduation only to find out there’s a requirement missing.

 

“What opportunities should I look out for?”

There are a variety of different opportunities that can be easily found on campus, such as career fairs or coffee talks with recruiters, but sometimes it’s hard to find ones specific to our majors. Advisers often know of either starting points or specific opportunities, such as internships or other certifications at Western, and asking them for help can be faster than searching alone.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Stay ahead with apps that help with studying

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Advances in technology have made it so that students have to have at least some degree of technological competence. Grades, research and, often, even studying is done largely online. Though this opens up many opportunities as the web is world wide, it can also mean the sheer amount of information and sources can be overwhelming, and keeping track of everything can be time consuming.

Fortunately, the need for some organization when it comes to studying has been recognized by those that engineer apps. Whether the need is a digital schedule to keep everything straight, an organized way to study material, or help with research, there’s an app for that.

 

Timetable (Android) or Class Timetable (iOS): These two are online time management systems that can be synced to various devices, making it easier to keep deadlines organized.

myHomework planner (Android and iOS): As is suggested in the name, this app is like an online planner that helps keep schoolwork straight.

StudyBlue (Android and iOS): This app lets students make their own flashcards and quiz themselves before tests.

GoConqr (Android and iOS): Another useful study tool, this app has various layouts for studying, such as flashcards and concept maps.

Easybib (Android and iOS): This app creates citations for research. It can do various formats, such as MLA, APA and Chicago. However, it’s not always completely accurate, so additional help from the Writing Center can also be beneficial.

Office Lens (Android and iOS): This app takes pictures of schedules and notes and turns them into online formats such as documents that can be downloaded and shared.

LinkedIn Learning (Android and iOS): This extension of LinkedIn has instructional video courses for studying subjects such as software and business.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

The pros and cons of taking classes online

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Many students, at some point in their college career, are faced with the question of whether to take a class online. Some prefer them while others try to avoid them at all cost. Western offers a number of online classes every term, and there are both pros and cons to taking them. While there is a variance in price differences for online classes, this article will focus mostly on the experience of taking an online course.

 

Pros:

One of the biggest advantages to taking an online class is the flexible schedule. Taking a class online instead of in class allows for students to work around work or social lives. For those that value being able to work on their own time, online classes can be a good fit.

Another upside is that the only item needed is often a computer. Rather than the usual supplies, such as notebooks and textbooks, most online classes usually require only internet access. Some may require purchasing access to a computer program or a textbook, but for the most part online classes provide a lighter load.

 

Cons:

One of the main downsides to online classes is that there’s usually no face-time with the instructor or classmates. This can make discussions seem a little more tedious, as online forums don’t have quite the same power to generate ideas due to the fact that, more often than not, if a discussion is required, it’s usually only required to respond to a few people in the class rather than reading everyone’s ideas.

The other main disadvantage is that due to the lack of work time usually spent in class, there’s often more homework attached to online classes. The heavier workload can put more stress on students who chose to take them in order to have more work hours or other classes available to them, which ends up taking up a lot of time and energy between the two. This also means that students have to be responsible for creating a schedule and sticking to it, which can be difficult for some students.

There are a number of factors to consider when weighing online classes with in class courses. Online classes aren’t for everyone, and it’s up to each individual to decide whether they’re worth it.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

A brief review of Main Street’s new food truck additions

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Sometimes it seems like there’s a revolving door of food trucks on Main Street. Where the short-lived Bobablastic truck once stood now features two different vendors. The newcomers are different in their food origins and styles, but what they have in common is that they’re both there to serve lunch or dinner in pretty decent portions for around $10 each.

For starters, we now have the purple Oishi Hibachi vehicle. This truck features a variety of Japanese cuisine, such as a few Teriyaki plates, shrimp, and for the braver people, ghost pepper chicken. There are small sides available, but most of the plates come with fried rice and veggies along with a choice of meat and a few sauces.  

As a broke college student, I was hesitant to drop $10 on a lunch. However, a plate full of fresh food — I could hear it start to sizzle a few minutes after ordering, which I considered a good sign — seemed pretty fair for the price. I did think there could have been a little more chicken as the rice seemed to encompass most of the meal, but the food itself tasted fresh and was exactly what I was expecting for an order of teriyaki chicken.

Next to Oishi Hibachi is the red Lonney’s Lunch Wagon, which specializes in Hawaiian food. Like Oishi, the main dishes are chicken or pork served with rice, and a full serving is $9. The menu changes daily and is listed on a chalkboard on the front of the truck. Additionally, many of their items are often pictured on their Instagram account @lonneyslunchwagon. Aside from their main dishes, also have a few options for sides of fries — but these are no ordinary fries. Rather, there are options such as roasted pork fries and fries with their signature hurricane sauce.

After hearing it hyped up by the cashier, I decided to try their Hurricane Katsu, a Japanese style fried chicken, with the above mentioned hurricane sauce. I have to say I am still haven’t quite decided how I feel about it; it’s certainly flavorful and not at all what I expected. The fried chicken was good by itself, and the sweetness of the hurricane sauce was an interesting addition. I get the sense it’s the type of flavor that tends to be quite divisive; people will either love it or hate it, with very little in between.

Though the two new trucks on the block have their own unique features, either one would be a good option for those looking for comfort food such as chicken or pork cooked in familiar and traditional ways, as well as for those feeling a little more adventurous.

Oishi Express is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday through Thursday and Lonney’s is open 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (or until they sell out) Tuesday through Saturday.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Short workouts for tight schedules

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults get both aerobic and muscular exercise regularly — specifically around 150 minutes per week, if said exercise is moderate in intensity. The recommended time may be more or less depending on how vigorous the exercise is, and if the goal is just general health or increased fitness. Additionally, exercise is just as beneficial when spread throughout the week in shorter spurts, as long as it’s at least 10 minutes long.

Fortunately, this means even people with busy schedules can find at least some time to incorporate some kind of physical activity into their routines. Sometimes it can be discouraging to not have the time to do the kind of intense, long workouts some people do, or to be constantly exhausted and not necessarily having the energy to do so. Adding just a twenty or thirty minute workout, and not even one that is super intense, can have multiple health benefits including reduced stress. On top of that, some don’t even require leaving the house.

 

Bike ride or short run: For those whose schedules involve hours of sitting in class or staying inside at work, adding one of these aerobic workouts a few days a week can help create a change of scenery. Also, according to the CDC, this activity can be a more intense workout, for example running instead of walking, meaning it doesn’t necessarily have to be done everyday to reap the health benefits. Seventy five minutes of intensive workouts can be as beneficial as the 150 minutes of moderate exercise.

 

Weightlifting: The Health and Wellness Center has weightlifting equipment available, but for beginners or those who prefer home workouts, there’s also the option of buying weights from sporting stores to use for simple lifts such as bicep curls, that will also help for the muscle building aspect of exercise.

 

Yoga or pilates: One of the easiest workouts to do at home as it requires little to no equipment, yoga and pilates tends to focus on muscle strength and flexibility. Like aerobic exercises, however, the intensity varies, in this case depending on the poses.

 

Individualized at home workout routine: These are the kind that are fairly easy to find, or at least to find inspiration for. Searching for ‘workout routine’ on Pinterest alone has thousands of results. These usually focus on specific areas of interest to each individual person. For example, core workouts might include crunches or planks, leg workouts will have lunges, squats or wall sits, and arm and upper body workouts will have pushups or arm circles — all examples that don’t require spending money or time to take the trip to the gym and back.

 

For those that do prefer a gym, the Health and Wellness Center’s facilities are free to students. Hours can be found at wou.edu/campusrec.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Inside the Student Health and Counseling Center’s wellness coaching

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

In its ongoing quest to help students reach their maximum mental and physical health, the Student Health and Counseling Center has a recent addition to their services: wellness coaching. The purpose of wellness coaching is to help students make a plan for tackling their obstacles and working towards their goals.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow, a junior English major, who has already taken advantage of the program, spoke about her experience.

“I often feel frustrated with my lack of knowledge about different aspects of wellness and find myself wishing that I had some sort of guide. So you can imagine that this email felt like it came at exactly the right time,” Kiernan-Sherrow said, referring to the notice the SHCC sent to students about the program.

At first she thought the coaching would be more focused on physical fitness, but in fact the coaches focus on whatever aspect of the student’s life they want to work on most. The students are asked to fill out a survey that identifies their strengths, which the coaches then use to help them figure out how to work towards their goals.

“My wellness coach is named Pam, and she and I instantly connected,” Kiernan-Sherrow told me. “She made me feel comfortable and she was adept at identifying my strengths and how to apply them to my future goals. We decided to focus on building my confidence and to begin that we collaborated to think of short-term activities that would benefit my long-term goals.”

After hearing positive feedback from others, I decided to try some wellness coaching myself. I took the survey and then met with Craig Wimmer, the SHCC’s other wellness coach. Over the hour-long meeting, we discussed both my long-term and short-term goals, as well as what areas of my life I felt needed the most work or improvement. I was surprised to find that just voicing some things made me see my life a little bit clearer, and having to write out the steps I would take to make improvements made them seem much more attainable.

Kiernan-Sherrow described leaving at the end of the meeting feeling “extremely validated, valued and understood,” and I would say I felt the same way after my own meeting. I will likely return for a follow up, which many students do, to see how the wellness coaching affected my outlook and approach to life. Students interested in setting their own appointment for wellness coaching can do so through the patient portal, found at wou.edu/health.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

How to manage stress after midterms

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

After midterms, students are often in need of both physical and mental de-stressing. It’s a struggle that comes around every term, but luckily there are plenty of ways to help shake the post-testing stress.

One of the most accessible options is right here on Western’s campus. The Rest and Relaxation room, located in the Student Health and Counseling Center, is designed to help students manage their stress at any point in the term. The room can be reserved in half-hour time slots at wou.edu/health, making it easy to slip into busy schedules. The room features a massage chair — the main attraction — a full-spectrum therapy light, a meditation spot and a few technological items to help students monitor their stress levels.  

For the more introverted, or for the most exhausted, sometimes the best option is simply to follow “Parks and Recreation” character Tom Haverford’s advice: “treat yo’ self.”

This might not necessarily be in the sense of spending money on material things, but instead by staying in, putting on a favorite movie or show and eating a favorite snack.

For the more structure-oriented, it might help to do the opposite. Taking some time to get reorganized — updating a planner, getting back on a sleep schedule and planning some healthy meals — can help students feel more relaxed by being more prepared for the second half, and usually the most stressful part, of the term.

Sometimes, however, the best way to unwind from school is to ease mental usage and focus on the physical, either with workouts or distance from the source of stress. One of the upsides of Monmouth being a small town is that it’s surrounded by popular hiking spots. According to Harvard Health, studies support the idea that just being out in nature can relieve a certain amount of stress. On top of that, any type of exercise can help lift a person’s mood, even if it’s minimal.

In the end, everyone’s different and what works for some might not work for others. Learning which stress-relieving activity is the most effective through trial and error is, for many, an integral part of the college experience.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

A review of Chen’s Family Dish in Salem

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Among the many dining options in Salem, on 2138 Lancaster Dr NE #139 sits Chen’s Family Dish, a Chinese restaurant that now has multiple locations in Oregon. Some may have visited the Dallas location, but the Salem location is unique in that it also has a bar. Never having visited either, I decided to try out the new Lancaster location to get a feel for the restaurant.

Though the outside might be underwhelming, the interior feels much more like a refined restaurant. Because I went during lunch hours, it was fairly empty, which allowed me to fully take in the environment. The restaurant has a sophisticated ambiance, with soft lighting, understated decor and calming music playing in the background. The staff was also very friendly and helpful, informing us of the different menu and substitution options.

The menu features some Chinese classics such as sweet and sour chicken, egg flower soup and lo mein. I ordered the Mandarin chicken from the lunch menu, which turned out to be a great choice. Eight dollars got me a large portion of chicken, the soup of the day and a side of fried rice and crab puffs. I knew instantly I was going to need a to-go box, but I still finished most of the dish.

In my opinion, there was a perfect sauce-to-chicken ratio that made it very enjoyable. My friend who went with me was eager to try the egg flower soup, a favorite of hers, and it lived up to her expectations judging by the empty bowl at the end of our meal.

Chen’s family dish is an excellent addition to Salem’s restaurant options. I would highly recommend this restaurant for those looking to go out somewhere that feels somewhat classy but is still reasonably priced and has great food.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

Tips for first tattoos

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

According to quora.com, about 29 percent of Americans have at least one tattoo, though most don’t stop at just one. It’s becoming increasingly more common to see people with tattoos, especially on college campuses. Though the decision of whether or not to get inked is ultimately up to each individual, there are some things everyone should consider before making it final.

 

Pain levels — When considering a tattoo, the question that inevitably comes up is “will it hurt?” or, more accurately, “how much will it hurt?” Some go looking for specific answers to that question, understandably wanting to know exactly what to expect. However, the truth is that pain levels are slightly different for everyone, and there are many factors that affect how painful a tattoo will be. Sometimes, like in my case, this leads to lots of stress leading up to getting inked. There are, however, some factors that can give a general idea of of how uncomfortable a tattoo will be, such as placement and size of the tattoo.

Timing — Some first-timers don’t realize that timing is an important thing to consider when scheduling a tattoo. Tattoo care involves things like keeping the area dry, away from potential infections and out of direct sunlight. Therefore, getting a tattoo right before a vacation to somewhere warm and sunny might not be the best choice. Though exact conditions can’t always be predicted — I got my first tattoo in October and did not expect to have to shield it from the hot sun — having an idea will keep the tattoo on the track to healing.

Quality and price — Tattoos are one of the best examples of the phrase “you get what you pay for.” While some might find it tempting to have an unexperienced artist friend buy a kit off of eBay Inc. and have them do the tattoo, a safe and quality one is usually much more expensive. If a professional artist costs more, it’s usually because they are more experienced and are very skilled at their trade. Going to a professional usually means a percentage of the price has to be paid up front at the time of the appointment, and the rest is paid in cash afterwards. Also, it won’t save much money in the long run if it has to get covered up or removed, or becomes infected due to not being done properly and requires medical attention.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Students give advice on preparing for midterms

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Armed with caffeine and study guides, students of Western are starting to take on their first midterms of 2019. If anyone made new year’s resolutions to study more, they will be tested starting this week.

In order to help everyone breeze through their midterms, or maybe just survive them with minimal panic involved, some of Western’s students offered their advice.

Grad student group Tanya Stanley, Mackenzie Gallo, Sara Chavez and Jonathan West-Gray had an abundance of tips from years of experience.

Chavez: “Don’t panic. Get organized, set up a schedule.”

Stanley: “It may seem obvious, but sleep. And eat. It’s important.”

Gallo: “Use the rentable study rooms in the library.”

West-Gray: “Use a planner; space out your studying.”

Keith Macadangdang, a business major: “Persevere! Power through, even when all you want to do is watch Netflix.” Macadangdang, who is minoring in dance, has five finals this term.

Rebecca Chadd, a Western alumna: “Actually write out the practice essay questions on the study guide. Don’t just read over the questions and assume you know it all. Writing it out will help you find gaps in what you know and make you more confident.” Chadd graduated with a double major in dance and Spanish, and is still active in Western’s community.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

An interview with one of Western’s YouTubers

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Western on Instagram is full of posts of school spirit, friendships and everyday life in Monmouth. It’s also where to find first-year Melinda Ortega, who goes by Mel on social media.

On @makeupbyymel_ and @hennasbymel, Ortega showcases her makeup and henna skills in short tutorial clips and photos. Ortega also has a YouTube channel where she vlogs. In a time where social media is so saturated with people making content, I was curious to hear about the process from a Western student.

Talking with Ortega, I learned that she is from a small town in California.

“Most people don’t know where it is,” she explained with a laugh, saying she usually had to explain its relativity to Los Angeles. She got to Western through her sport, soccer, and is deciding between being an education or a communications major.

Her content, however, is something she’s more sure about.

“I’m less comfortable talking at a camera,” she explained in relation to the style and presentation of her content. This is largely why her makeup tutorials are shorter and posted on Instagram rather than YouTube.

For Ortega, her activity on social media began just for fun during her senior year of high school. She drew inspiration from famous YouTubers like James Charles and PatrickStarr. However, as she developed her filming and editing skills, she said she began to think, “maybe this can go somewhere.”

For now, her following is small.

“(The comments) are mostly my friends and family encouraging me right now,” she told me. However, she’s preparing for the opportunity to grow her brand and her presence on social media. So far, one success she’s had is that some lash brands have asked her to promote them. She’s also slowly developing her filming and editing skills.

“At first it took me three hours to edit a one minute video,” she revealed.

However, if she does gain more of a following, she knows the internet trolls will inevitably come as well. That doesn’t mean she intends to slow down, though: “I’m curious and nervous to see what the mean comments say.”

To any others who are considering starting their own channel, Ortega advised, “Just do it! They always say to just do you, so that’s what I try to do and what my advice is.”

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Melinda Ortega

How to start a new club

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Western is home to a wide variety of clubs and organizations, from Unidos to the Communication club to the Triangle Alliance. There’s something for just about everyone. However, there’s always room for growth, especially when there are so many topics and interests to cover. For those considering adding to Western’s collection, here’s the basic steps needed to create a new student organization.


Step One: One of the first things a club needs, aside from its founder, is an adviser. Advisers aren’t students but are often professors in topics related to the club. Before moving onto the next step, the club will also have to recruit a minimum of five student members.

Step Two: The founder(s) can start the registration process on OrgSync through Portal, where other students can join the club. The application requires a name for the organization and a categorization of the club — Greek, academic, student government, etc. It also has a place for the founders to give a brief description, a website, and keywords to help other students find the club based on their interests. The organization will also need some way for others to contact, such as their own email address and someone to be in charge of said address.
Step Three: All the organization will then need before becoming official is a meeting time and place, as well as a president and any other positions needed by the club.

Step Four: The organization will also require someone to write a constitution outlining the guidelines and a mission statement to inform potential members of the organization’s purpose.

 

The process may be long and difficult, but worth it in the long run to help more students find a group they find interest and belonging in.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Clubs from Western’s history

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Today, Western has grown to around 5,000 students, and with the population the number of clubs has grown. We have a number of clubs that are more recent additions, but some, like some of the fraternities and the Black Student Union, have been around for a few decades. Others have come and gone.  In the 1940’s, Western had many clubs that have since died on campus.

International Relations Club: Before Model United Nations — and not too long after the real United Nations was formed — there was the International Relations club. At first it may not seem so long ago, until reading the yearbooks that stated a “tour of Hawaii” speech was given 1948, before Hawaii even joined the United States.

Archery Club: An all girls club, the archery organization advertised in a yearbook from the 1940s as the embodiment of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest. The team practiced in an indoor shooting range in the basement of Campbell Hall, or in an open field near campus. They also competed in the National Archery Tournament.

The Campfire Girls: Another all girls organization from 1940, the Campfire Girls sponsored a number of school events and guest speakers — including a monthly Charm School. In one case, the guest speaker was a Native American woman from another school who talked about the meaning behind certain Native crafts and traditions.

Wolf Knights: A men’s service organization that lasted from the 1930s through the 1970’s, the Wolf Knights volunteered as the “official welcoming” and student advisors to Western’s campus.

La Danza Club: Meeting twice weekly in the 1950s, La Danza was a club that encouraged enthusiasm for creative dance.

Forensics: Created in the 1960s and lasting through the 1970s, the co-ed Forensics club went to annual competitions to test their public speaking skills and brought home a number of trophies and awards.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Jubilee’s just desserts

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

There’s a new place in town — specifically, in downtown Independence. The previously empty corner store on Monmouth Street is now Jubilee, a dessert bar that also serves coffee, wine, mimosas and beers. The shop, under the same owner as Salem’s Sugar Sugar, is noticeable by its simple lit window sign.

In my opinion, Jubilee has a lot of pros. For one, it’s very open inside and a lot of effort clearly went into the appearance and feel of the shop. It’s a cute place with a laid-back atmosphere, which perfectly fit the lazy afternoon when I went.

The menu is clearly laid out and categorized by sparkling drinks, coffee and tea and desserts. The desserts, consisting mostly of baked goods such as cupcakes and tartlets, are the main attraction so far. While not all of their options are gluten free, they still have a number of them on their display, such as the chocolate cake. I tried one of my favorite combinations with their dark chocolate caramel filled tartlet, which was rich but very enjoyable. I also sampled their butterscotch crumble cupcake, which was a little sweeter but had a good balance between the sweetness and the more bitter chocolate crumble; I almost wished I’d gotten that instead.

The making of Jubilee is still in progress, however, a detail to consider when visiting. Their hours may be inconsistent, but they are currently open most days from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are also still working on honing their recipe for the ice cream jubilee, a kind of homemade ice cream that they plan to have as a main selling point on their dessert menu.

The only main downside to Jubilee is the lack of foods other than dessert. The drinks menu is ideal for a brunch, but as of now the food options are limited to sweets without any breakfast foods. However, the business is still new and it will be interesting to see if they decide to expand the menu. It will also be interesting to see if what they choose to do with the back room, which is currently only used for reservations for private parties.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Jubilee and will likely return in the future, both for a butterscotch crumble cupcake and to see if there are any changes.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Interview: Auditing classes for personal growth

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

If there’s anything nearly all students can relate to, it’s the stress of class requirements, grades and graduation. This is often related to the further stress of thinking about where graduation will then take us, and our entrance into the real world.

Some students, however, have already been into the real world and have found that it still leads back to Western. In most cases, these nontraditional students are also aiming for a degree of some kind. This is not the case for student Paul McNeil, who is taking classes purely for the purpose of continuing his education. As this is an experience I can’t relate to, I asked for an interview to get a different perspective.

With a backpack full of textbooks, McNeil, despite the age difference to most students, seems to fit in with the college kids lounging in the Werner University Center — maybe because he has been attending college classes for years, and not just at Western. He continued studying long after earning a degree in physics, a major he picked because, according to McNeil, “it challenged me the most.”

“I could drop into any department (at Western) and find something interesting to study,” McNeil said in regards to the contrast in his classes. Though his physics degree took him through careers in technology and engineering, he now takes courses such as Economic Geography and Transnational Migration. He was drawn to these classes by the desire to learn about “how the world is set up financially,” he mentioned, and how this affects global inequality and society.

McNeil audits the classes, meaning he doesn’t have to worry about a grade — although, as he points out, the instructor is still free to call on him and ask for contribution to the discussion, and so the familiar mantra of “make sure you do the reading” is echoed in this situation.

As a senior citizen, McNeil also gets to audit classes for free with permission of the professor. This is a point he emphasized, as it is a little known fact that others might be able to take advantage of. He revealed there are other additional benefits of auditing classes.

“My initial thought…was that getting a student card would allow me access to the university’s library database,” he said, appreciating the extensiveness of Hamersly Library and noting that not every library has such range.

Overall, the conversation, for me, turned out to be a much needed reminder that studying for a degree is important, but continuing education for personal self growth is as well. Before parting, McNeil commented that students these days have a wealth of information at their fingertips, and that it can be beneficial to explore all options: “Students shouldn’t feel so pressured to choose …there is so much information to explore, and finding the right thing can take some time.”

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

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