Mount Hood

Why pets are great companions

Karlene Curtin | Staff Writer

When I first met Clover, a short hair tabby cat, it was love at first meow. Taking him home for the first time was exciting and also nerve-wracking. Adopting a cat is a lot of work, much more than what people often anticipate. There’s litter box training, grooming, feeding, vet bills and then trying to teach kitty the rules of the home.

After a year with Clover my stress levels have lowered significantly. He has become a major part of my life. He knew when I was having a rough day or if I was not feeling myself and would bring me one of his toys in hopes that it would make me happier. Then, he’d sit next to me and let me pet him.

Bringing Clover home has impacted how I deal with stress significantly. Playing with him, petting him or simply watching his sassy antics brought me joy. Many other college students, like myself, deal with stress and have expressed their furry companion being major stress reliever in their lives.

Jaclyn Spani, an education major and soon to be graduate from Western Oregon, discussed how her cat, Scout, has helped her cope with stress while attending college.

Upon asking why she wanted to get a cat in the first place, her answer was clear.

“I’ve always had a cat in my life,” Spani explained. “I found Scout because one of my dad’s friends was just going to give her up to the Humane Society since he couldn’t take Scout with him. So I took her instead.”

She also added that she wanted to get a cat because, “they’re also just so smart but independent. I knew I wouldn’t have the time that caring for a dog requires, even though they’re great, so a cat was the perfect way to go.” Since having her cat, Spani explained that it has helped her significantly when it comes to coping with stress.

“My cat has been so helpful when dealing with the stress of college. Even just knowing that she’s at home waiting for me can turn days around,” said Spani. “She is so sensitive to what I need and is always around when I’m not feeling well, (or when I’m feeling) stressed or have headaches. She’ll come up and lay on the bed with me and just purr to try and help me feel better. Knowing that there’s something at home waiting for you to play and love is so relaxing.”

Although adopting a pet is a lot of work, it can be worth it when coming home to a perfect companion.

According to the American Institute of Stress, just about any type of pet has been proven to increase their human companion’s health. Caring for an animal can act as a buffer to social isolation and other stressors that negatively impact mental health. Fortunately, this fact allows mental health professionals to certify pets as Emotional Support Animals that can overcome some housing barriers students face. College isn’t easy, but a furry (or scaly, or feathery) friend can make it a little easier.

 

Contact author at kcurtin14@wou.edu

Photo by Ashlynn Norton

Cocktail Corner with Mikaela: Mango Tango

Mikaela Wong | Staff Writer

When it comes to alcohol, most everyone wants a drink that “tastes good” — but what exactly does that mean? For many, it means having a drink that doesn’t taste overwhelmingly like alcohol, but still enough to know that there’s some there. Similarly, a lot of people prefer fruity, citrus-based drinks that mask the taste of alcohol, but don’t know many drinks that fit that description.

The Mango Tango is a drink specially created at the Main St. Pub & Eatery and is a crowd-pleaser when it comes to strength and taste combination. It’s a great, refreshing drink that is easy to enjoy and has an easy name to remember. This week on Cocktail Corner, we’ll teach you exactly what goes into, and how to make one on your own. Remember — please drink responsibly and only drink alcohol if you are over 21 years old.

 

MANGO TANGO

Servings: 1 drink

Ingredients:

1 lime wedge, muddled

1 lemon wedge, muddled

1 ounce guava rum

1 ounce mango rum

1 ounce triple sec liqueur

2.5 ounces sweet & sour mix

2.5 ounces cranberry juice

Ice to fill one 16 ounce pint glass

Instructions:

Muddle lime and lemon at bottom of pint glass. Fill glass with ice.

Combine guava rum, mango rum, and triple sec liqueur in glass.

Fill the rest of glass with equal parts sweet & sour and cranberry juice

 

Contact the author at mwong16@wou.edu

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

Popular floating spots to cool off this summer

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

It’s a well-known fact to Oregonians that Pacific Northwest residents often complain about the rainy seasons, but as soon as summer starts to get real we look for ways to cool down. One way to do this is to find a nice spot to swim or float down one of the miscellaneous rivers in our state. Here’s just a few places to find such as spot.

 

The Willamette River in Corvallis

True, the Willamette isn’t known to be the cleanest — particularly near Salem. Fortunately, there are a few places that are upstream of the State Capitol. The distance from Willamette Park to Michael’s Landing in Corvallis is a nice 30-45 minute float, and a short drive from one end to the other to make it easier.

 

The Mary’s River in Corvallis

For a small, out of the way spot that the locals love to swim in, the Mary’s River runs right behind Avery Park. One entry point features a rope swing into one of the deep ends of the river. The rest of the river is fairly shallow and easy for the less-confident swimmers to navigate.

 

The McKenzie River in Eugene

For a longer float, and a bit of a longer drive from Western, Eugene is home to, among other things, the McKenzie River. With a starting point of Island Park in Springfield and an endpoint in Alton Baker Park in Eugene, this float route is a few hours long.

 

The Deschutes River

Perfect for a weekend trip in Central Oregon, the Deschutes River in Sunriver is a popular scenic place to float. Start at Harper’s bridge and get off at Benham Butte for a ride of about three and a half hours, or get off at Sunriver Marina for half the time.

 

Contact the author at howlifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

Molly Mayhead: An interview with a professor

Karlene Curtin | Staff Writer

Going to office hours, getting to know professors and connecting with them is an important aspect of one’s college career. Meet Molly Mayhead, a professor of communication studies at Western Oregon University.

 

What was your original goals as an undergraduate student?  

I wanted to teach high school english and speech classes. From there, I wanted to coach the high school speech and debate teams.

 

Why did you choose to get a PhD?

I had a conversation with one of my advisors and mentors who was also my speech and communications professor. They told me that becoming a communications professor is something I probably would find more interesting and rewarding.  

 

Where did you go to college?

I went to Western Oregon University to receive my bachelors and then went on for my PhD at Penn State University.

 

Favorite class to teach?

Three classes: Argumentation, Freedom of Speech and Rhetoric of the Women’s Movement.

 

What were you like in college?

It is important to mention I was a first generation college student and came to Western on several scholarships. This made me very studious with my studies and also a nerd. I also lived and breathed competing on the speech and debate team.

 

Some fun facts:

Favorite color: Purple

Love: The Seattle Mariners

Favorite Animal: Dogs

Dream vacation: Anything on a beach, with clear blue water and drinks that have umbrellas.

Contact the author at kcurtin14@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

Recognizing and dealing with burnout

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

College students are constantly working towards both new and old goals, some of which are personal and some of which are external pressures to be successful. It seems like there’s always post after post on social media about how constant hustle is the most important thing. Just the other day, I saw a tweet about how “rich people don’t sleep eight hours a day.” I also recently happened to come across a BuzzFeed article called “How millennials became the burnout generation.”

While a good chunk of the students at Western, particularly underclassmen, are Gen Z rather than millennials, the problems both generations face stem from similar sources and have been known to cause burnout.

According to psychologytoday.com, burnout is generally a combination of long hours, lack of control over the amount work one needs to get done and lack of work that a person finds meaningful. These are all common things that an average student faces on a regular basis. We often work long hours to pay for rent and tuition, we are assigned hours of work outside of class, we have other time commitments and we are usually required to take at least one class we have little to no interest in. Additionally, technology makes it so that work and school are able to contact us at any time, often putting us on edge even in our leisure time.

With these factors considered, I asked Craig Wimmer of the Student Health and Counseling Center how they are affecting Western students.

“I don’t think I would say burnout is common, but feeling overwhelmed and stressed is definitely a common experience, especially at the end of a term or the academic year,” Wimmer explained. “In a survey we did last spring of 2018, the National College Health Assessment, 93 percent of our students indicated that in the last 12 months they had ‘felt overwhelmed by all they had to do’. 89 percent indicated they ‘felt exhausted’ (not from physical activity).”

Unfortunately, burnout can result in “cynicism, depression and lethargy,” according to psychologytoday.com, which are the last things a college student needs to be able to focus on their goals. To counter burnout, it’s important to recognize when these symptoms start appearing. If they do appear, there’s a few ways of dealing with them. Wimmer noted some things to look out for are “Disengagement, lack of motivation, and isolation.”

If you feel these are problems you’re experiencing, Wimmer made something clear: “It’s not too late. Talk with professors, reach out to support services for academics and personal care,” he said.

Wimmer also had some advice for how to avoid burning out.

“Plan ahead. Look through your syllabi and map out when projects and tests occur and how you can spread out the workload … Find a strategy that works for you, whether that is a calendar, list, phone reminders.” Wimmer added, “Make sure that you are taking breaks, and dedicating some time for you to do things that you enjoy and are social.”

For mental health information and counseling services at Western, visit the Health and Counseling Center on campus or online at wou.edu/health.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Ashlynn Norton

Tips for long distance relationships

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

As it turns out, some of that technology that our parents kept complaining made us antisocial can actually be used to be keep in contact with people in many new ways. One big example is long distance relationships, which tend to rely on methods of communication like texting and video chat. These still can’t quite make up for missing the real thing, however, and because of this many are skeptical when it comes to making long-distance work. The good news is that these relationships can work just fine as long as both people are committed to making it work. Stephanie Franco, a senior business major, is just one example of why this is true — she’s been in a long distance relationship for about five years. Her reason why come down to a few simple tips.

“You gotta put in the work, and you gotta communicate,” Franco said. Any relationship requires some work put in, but the distance adds a little extra. Even if you’re in the same time zone, coordinating the best time for face to face communication takes a bit more effort. Also, though it is constantly repeated in relationship advice, it’s still worth remembering that communication is important, even more so when it’s restricted.

“You have to be confident and trusting,” Franco added. One side effect of the skepticism surrounding long-term relationships is that people often feel like there’s pressure to make every communication or interaction count. The reality is that this is not necessarily the case for any other couple, so dropping these high expectations can have a relieving effect on partners who might feel they need to spend their limited time together a certain way. Embracing any quality time will ultimately strengthen the relationship.

Another main thing to keep in mind is to make sure you’re both on the same page about when, how and if you’re going to continue their lives together. Otherwise, someone might end up putting some of their life on hold in order to make things work out, only to find out they want different things. It’s important to still feel like your life is still progressing, or at least that there’s a plan you can depend on to make things work out in the end.

In the end, it’s up to each person to decide whether long-distance relationships are for them. Like any relationship, there’s a potential for it to end poorly, but there’s also great potential to be closer than ever thanks to having stuck it out together. As Franco pointed out, “If you’re both committed to making it happen, it will work out.”

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photos by Ashlynn Norton

On campus to off campus

Karlene Curtin | Staff Writer

Finally — it’s time to have your own personal space that is finally not a dorm in the residence hall. That means lighting candles, a full kitchen, no strictly enforced quiet hours nor resident assistants. As exciting as it was to move into my first apartment, there were a couple things I wish I was more prepared for. Here are a few things I wish I had known when I moved into to my first apartment.

 

I missed campus dining

Trust me, this surprised me more than I expected. But with budgeting and going out adds up. Cooking becomes the alternative to save money. It is fun for a little bit, but on those days when the motivation to cook is just not there, taking a small trip to Valsetz Dining Hall seems to be the better alternative.

 

I didn’t realize how much furniture and kitchenware cost

Sometimes there are other alternatives to finding furniture, like posting an “SOS” to Facebook in hopes to score some free couches or even pots and pans. I suggest saving some money after every paycheck to put towards necessities.  

 

Budgeting is key

Food, gas, water, garbage, rent and school expenses add up and sometimes can feel impossible to budget out. I saved money by working extra hours and putting a portion of my paycheck into savings. Also by making smart purchases at the store instead of impulse buying can help save.

 

I have to deal with real adult problems with no third party

Turns out when the neighbors begin to get rowdy at 2 a.m., there’s no R.A. to tell the neighbors to cork it. And let’s be real — confrontation can be awkward. Maybe ask if they can give a heads up before they have another party.

 

Contact author at kcurtin14@mail.wou.edu

Photo by Ashlynn Norton

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