Mount Hood

A checklist to complete before graduation

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Graduation is looming, and so is DegreeWorks’s infinite checklist. Hopefully by the time the cap and gown go on, all items will be checked off and Western seniors will have the all-clear for graduation. However, there are other important things to do before leaving Western that won’t show up on Portal:

 

Get pictures with friends that are moving away — or, with friends who will be staying if you’re the one leaving. If not, you might reach the end of graduation and realize you don’t have momentos of all the people who helped you make good memories during your time at Western.

 

Ask for some letters of recommendation from your favorite professors or staff. Many are happy to help you take your next step towards a career, and most jobs will require a letter or two. It’s also an opportunity to thank them for their help over the years, or even just one term.

 

Study hard and go out on a good note. This may already be a given for some, but everyone has a rough term or two. Think of the satisfaction that would come with walking across the stage after earning some of your best grades ever.

 

Start networking. Some of the best job hunting resources in your field can come from people who either have been or are going into the same one. Some professors know of good resources or people to contact to start the job hunt, and keeping in touch with classmates and keeping each other updated can bring up different opportunities.

 

Take senior photos. Whether professional or casual with a friend and a smartphone, senior photos are a great way to mark a milestone and will be fun to look back on in a few years.

 

Take full advantage of Western’s resources. Right now, things like Hamersley Library – full of free information, the Health and Counseling Center with its health resources, and the Health and Wellness Center with its fitness facilities are all available to students. A lot of those benefits will go away after commencement, so take advantage of them while you can.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

Where to host graduation parties in Monmouth and Independence

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Graduation is quickly approaching, and so are the ideas of how to celebrate graduation. Many students have some sort of celebration outside of commencement.

These much anticipated graduation party plans can be made more difficult by the fact that a large number of students live in small, shared apartments, dorms or rooms rented out by families. Additionally, some students have the complication of having to move out of said dwelling right around graduation time, leaving them with no location to host any kind of party. Fortunately, there are a number of places available for rent around Monmouth and Independence perfect for hosting graduation festivities.

 

Main Street Park

One of the closest options to campus, Main Street Park is located in downtown Monmouth and offers a spacious lawn perfect for a picnic party. The proximity to various restaurants and shops means there will be no shortage of food or refreshments. According the city’s website, the fee depends on the size of the event and reservations can be made by calling the City Recorder at (503) 751-0145.

 

Riverview Park

For another outdoor option, Riverfront park is another great location located in downtown Independence. The river right next to the park and the walking trails nearby add to the outdoorsy summer feel in warm weather. The application, which also contains pricing and available hours, can be found at ci.independence.or.us/recreation/riverview-park.

 

The Gentle House

Located on campus, the Gentle House grounds is an outdoor venue that offers some privacy from public spaces. Western students and alumni can also enjoy a 10% discount on the reservation fees, which can be found at wou.edu/gentlehouse.

 

Jubilee

For a smaller gathering, consider Independence’s dessert bar Jubilee and its reservable private back room. More information and reservation booking can be found at 296 S Main St, Independence, OR.

 

Fee Mail Depot

Many students know this located for shipping out textbooks rented online, but this location also has an outdoor patio space that can hold around 40 people. The base price for this venue is $100 for about four hours, but the business will cut that price in half if you rent your decorations from them as well.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

Four tips for making the summer job search easier

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Summer: it makes people excited for festivals, activities and sunshine. In an ideal world, we would get to enjoy all of these things free from other worries. Unfortunately, the little matter of money often gets in the way, and many students will be hunting for an income to fund such activities. While the task of finding one can be daunting, there are a few steps to make the process easier.

First, consider how long you’ll need your summer job. If it’s just needed for the summer because you have one to go back to in the fall, there will likely be more jobs because seasonal or temp jobs are an option. If not, consider looking for one with flexible hours. That way, if you want to work some extra hours during the summer and back when school starts, you can still make some extra cash as well as pay all the bills.

Next, use all available online resources such as Indeed, LinkedIn and Handshake on Portal so that there’s multiple options to choose from. Also, be sure to check the posting dates as well as the start dates, instead of filling out a dozen applications when some might not even be available.

Putting together an availability list and preferred hours will also help speed up the process, as it will come up in some applications or interviews. It will also make you consider what kind of schedule you want after considering all factors. If you’re unsure of these and you tell the manager this, you might end up working much less or more than you would like.

If you decide to go the old school route and check in in person with places that might be hiring, have resumes ready to go and turn in. Some places will just take a resume and not require an application, and getting as many resumes out there will increase the chance of a call back.

Additionally, Western has its own resources for job hunting, the main one being the Service Learning and Career Development Center. Heather Duncan of the SLCD gave some advice on students on a job hunt.

“Definitely make a Handshake account, as that’s our main platform for listing jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities,” Duncan said. “It’s the most convenient place to find something.” Duncan also advised that “It’s always best to ask if you’re having trouble finding something that interests you.”

The SLCD will be open and offering services such as resume reviews up until the end of Spring Term. They are located in room 119 in the Werner University Center.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

Where to go whale watching on the coast

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

During spring, there’s yet another reason to visit the Oregon coast: you might see a whale or two. Migratory patterns bring a few different species, such as gray whales, blue whales and humpback whales up the coast of the Pacific Northwest, according to the Oregonian. As a result, there’s a chance they can be seen at just about any point along the coast. Some places, however, are better than others. Here are just a few places to look out for whales when visiting the coast this spring.

 

Depoe Bay – Just south of Lincoln City, Depoe Bay is home to the Whale Watch Center and is considered the whale watching capital of Oregon.

Address: 119 US-101, Depoe Bay, OR

Price: Free

 

Yaquina Head – Located in Newport, home of the Oregon Coast Aquarium and two different lighthouses, Yaquina Head lighthouse is one of the prime places to spot whales.

Address: 750 NW Lighthouse Dr, Newport, OR

Price: $7 for day pass, $15 for annual pass

 

Cape Perpetua – Near Yachats on the central Oregon Coast, the scenic Cape Perpetua is another great lookout.

Address: 2400 US-101, Yachats, OR (Visitor center)

Price: $5 parking

 

Cape Kiwanda – Pacific City’s picturesque natural area, Cape Kiwanda, is just over an hour from Western.

Address: Cape Kiwanda Dr, Pacific City, OR

Price: Free

 

Ecola State Park – The farthest north, Ecola State Park is not just  good whale watching spot, but is also near attractions such as Cannon Beach and Seaside.

Address: 84318 Ecola Park Road, Seaside, Cannon Beach, OR

Price: $5

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Rebecca Meyers

Don Bigote’s food truck opens in Salem

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Along the stretch of Portland Road in Salem, a small market’s parking lot is currently home to two food trucks: one selling classic street tacos and another with a complementary array of desserts unlikely to be found in many other places. Don Bigote is something I didn’t know I needed: a churro-and-ice cream-centric range of desserts.

To be clear, there are not just desserts on this menu — there are a few wraps and fry options — but they do make up a bulk of it. And for good reason; this is clearly Don Bigote’s specialty. Ice cream sandwiches made with fresh churros, churro banana splits, plantains doused in chocolate sauce whipped cream, crepes filled with fruit and whipped cream and churros rellenos — or filled with creams or jellies — are just a few items on the list.

In short, this is the perfect place to go when you’re craving the kind of ridiculous sweet and fried goodness you’d find at a county fair.  

Deciding I couldn’t not try one of their advertised handcrafted churros, I ordered a churro ice cream sandwich, because go big or go home. The two fresh fried treats sandwiched a generous scoop of Oreo ice cream and was also drizzled in fudge and, interestingly, fruity pebbles, which I found surprising but didn’t object to.

Obviously, it was quite tasty. I found the ice cream to churro ratio perfect, and the additional toppings not overdone so that the two main flavors were what really stuck out.

Overall, the ambiance is quite nonexistent and there’s not much to be said about location. However, the next time I have a reason to drive up Portland Road, I would gladly make a slight detour to pick up a milkshake with a churro as a straw from a very pleasant staff. I would, however, advise anyone doing the same to check their hours, as they vary by the day.

 

Overall Rating: I would recommend Don Bigote.  

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

Where to find farmers markets in Independence

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Despite the pouring rain, two farmers’ markets have officially opened in downtown Independence. On Saturdays, you can now attend either one and find plants, produce, baked goods and handmade crafts, either behind Umpqua Bank or where the street meets Riverfront Park.

The first to open was the “original” Independence Farmers Market behind the bank, which served free coffee and cinnamon buns to celebrate the first day open for business. This market, which has been running since 1993 according to their website, offers a small variety of herbs, plants and flowers and also features a stand of affordable jewelry.

Near the river, the Riverview market offers a similar variety but has some unique features. The market manager Sue Barker explained that some vendors’ attendance depends on the weather. For example, textile-selling booths are less likely to be present when their merchandise is in danger of getting drenched by the ever present Oregon rain. Fortunately, a few attend rain or shine, so you can count on finding farm fresh greens, homemade jams, baked goods and even a blown-glass display.

Joshua Vincent of Vincent Glass Works brings a portable workshop to the Riverview Market, where shoppers can observe the artwork in progress. Vincent is married to a recent Western graduate who studied art, and therefore encourages any and all art students at Western to continue their studies.

“I would be proud to have (Western) students learning from me,” Vincent stated.

The Riverview Market has been open for seven years now and has slowly been growing.

As for the question as to what one should do if they are interested in selling their wares, Barker has a simple answer: “Come talk to me,” she said. Barker’s booth is easy to find — it’s the one with all of the brochures about local events.

The markets are a great way to support local farmers and businesses, as well as a great way to shop outdoors and enjoy the sun once it finally appears. The markets are both open from April to November, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy Rebecca Meyers

Safety on campus and services provided to students

Karlene Curtin | Freelancer

When picking a school or place of employment, we hope that our “dignity, diversity and civil liberties are honored and protected,” as stated by Campus Public Safety. According to The National Council For Home and Security, Monmouth, Oregon ranks as the third safest city in Oregon. With Western’s population just over 5,000 students, safety on campus is critical.

Campus Public Safety officers care about Western’s students and faculty.

I had the opportunity to conduct an interview with the office manager, Kevin Thibeault, of CPS.

 

What are the benefits of having student workers at CPS? Is it only for those who want to pursue criminal justice?

Student workers provide many benefits for Campus Public Safety. CPS student workers help with traffic and event control during big events such as commencement, New Student Move-in Day, and sporting events. CPS student workers also help keep campus safe by providing after hour support while working dispatch for the university. CPS encourages students from all different backgrounds and educational degrees to work within our department.

How do CPS Officers honor the civil liberties of students and staff?

The following is our mission statement found on our website.

“The mission of the Campus Public Safety Department of Western Oregon University is to engender a sense of safety and security by providing an environment in which students, faculty, staff and visitors can learn, work, and live. This is accomplished by a professionally trained corps of officers and staff that honor the individual dignity, diversity, and civil liberties of all people.”
CPS also plays a role in WOU’s ongoing efforts to shape an inclusive university environment. We recognize the various dimensions of diversity, including, but not limited to: race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, age, religion/spirituality, size, abilities and disabilities, and gender expression/identity.
CPS has an obligation to treat all members of our campus community with courtesy and respect.

What services are provided to students and faculty?

CPS provides various services to Student, Faculty, and Staff. Some of the services that we provide include:
Vehicle Jumpstarts; vehicle access when keys are locked in car; will air up your tire if it is low; Loaner Gas Can Program; lost and found; safety escorts; First Aid/CPR/AED trainings; ALICE Trainings; loaner fatal vision impairment goggles (alcohol and marijuana)

 

For more information about services provided, visit wou.edu/safety, or contact their main office at 503-838-8481.

 

Contact the author at kcurtin14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

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