Mount Hood

The Blind Soccer League in South Sudan

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is gaining recognition for a remarkable initiative — the Blind Soccer Premier League. While the country is often celebrated for its basketball talent, this league highlights the determination of people with disabilities, offering them an opportunity to shine in a different version of the sport.
The league, which began in 2023, operates in the capital city of Juba. It currently consists of four teams and aims to combat the stigma often associated with disabilities. For many players, mainly in their 20s, the league has become more than just a sport — it is a chance to be a part of a community that supports one another. Through its efforts, the league not only provides competition but also promotes awareness about the capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
Jimmy Just Augustin, the captain of the Kator Blind Football Club, helped found the league. Blinded as a child due to untreated retinal damage, Augustin once believed his soccer-playing days were behind him. However, his discovery of blind soccer in 2020 reignited his passion for the sport. Nicknamed “Messi” by his teammates for his impressive dribbling skills, Augustin has become a role model for others, telling them “a disability does not define one’s abilities.” His journey has inspired players and fans, spreading the message that sports can break barriers.
While blind soccer shares similarities with traditional soccer, it isn’t completely the same sport. Players wear eye coverings, regardless of their level of vision. The ball is designed with rattles inside, which helps players locate it by sound. Games are played on enclosed fields, which help maintain fast-paced games. And lastly, to prevent injuries, players are required to call out “voy” — Spanish for “I’m going” — when attempting tackles or challenging opponents.
Though still in its early stages, the league has huge plans for the future. Organizers hope to expand its reach across South Sudan, encouraging greater participation and representation of people with disabilities. They also aim to compete in international tournaments, with the 2026 Blind Football African Championship serving as a key milestone. This could pave the way for Paralympic participation in 2028, a goal that would not only elevate the league’s profile but also inspire a new generation of athletes in South Sudan.
The South Sudan Blind Soccer League is more than just a game — it is a movement. Challenging stereotypes, it is proving that determination can light the path to a brighter, fairer future for us all.

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

Western’s food pantry

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Western’s food pantry is located in room 165 of the Welcome Center. It is open Tuesdays 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. for Western students and faculty only. It is open to the public 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wednesdays and 2 – 6 p.m. Thursdays. Abby’s House — Western’s center for equity and gender justice — is the parent organization of the food pantry.

Everyone is welcome to utilize the food pantry on the allotted days, even including non-residents of Monmouth. There is also no maximum or minimum amount of income an individual needs to have to be a customer. Everything in the food pantry is free to all customers. 

Also located in room 165 of the Welcome Center is the Stitch Closet. The Stitch Closet provides clothes for individuals, free of charge. It has the same hours as the food pantry for the convenience of users. Like the food pantry, the Stitch Closet is also a part of Abby’s House. The concept for the Stitch Closet was imagined in 2020 and came to fruition fall 2021. 

Tarly Sineo, a first-year at Western majoring in psychology, started volunteering at the food pantry and the Stitch Closet as soon as it opened for the 2024-25 school year. “I took multiple steps to ensure that I got to volunteer the first day it was available to me,” said Sineo. 

Student volunteers are integral in ensuring the organization runs smoothly. “(I make) sure that the floors are clear, everything’s stocked correctly, clothing racks are clear and we’re using the right hangers. Just general maintenance,” said Sineo.

Sineo is passionate about helping students and members of the community and making sure they have the resources they need. “It means a lot to me. Pretty early (in the term) I figured that I’d probably be bored and have a lot of hours just kind of sitting around my room … So I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone; busy myself, and make the community a bit better for the people around me.” 

Food pantries are an important part of many communities, and it is especially beneficial for students. Western’s food pantry is helping to battle food insecurity among students, with college campuses statistically having more people who struggle.

“It’s a really valuable asset,” said Sineo. “Some (meal plans) don’t get to three meals a day on all of the weekdays.” The food pantry also helps anyone who is hosting community events — such as a Thanksgiving gathering or a residence hall event — get the materials and resources they need. 

Western’s food pantry put together turkey baskets for community members. The baskets have uncooked turkey or ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, cranberry sauce and the ingredients to make green bean casserole. 

“It’s a program for people who might not have the money to get a full turkey or the circumstances to be able to get a bunch of different Thanksgiving food for their family,” said Sineo.

Much of the food that Western’s food pantry offers is provided by a Salem food bank — Marion Polk Food Share. The rest of the food supply is a collection of donations from people in the community. 

The food pantry follows a client-choice model of shopping. Customers can choose their items instead of receiving a preselected bag of groceries. This ensures that people will use everything they take, instead of wasting the things they either don’t like or can’t eat due to allergies. 

There is no limit to the number of times people can shop at the food pantry. They can take as much food as they need as long as they are courteous of other customers who also need to use the food pantry. Once customers have finished shopping, they weigh their food and anonymously fill out a checkout survey. The personal information of shoppers is never collected. 

Individuals can support the food pantry and the Stitch Closet by volunteering or giving donations. They accept donations of food, clothes, hygiene products, pet food and school supplies. Donations are collected in a box in front of the food pantry. Individuals can also donate money to the food pantry through Abby’s House. 

For food donations, homemade goods and meals from restaurants will not be accepted. Store-bought foods should have a visible expiration date and nutrition label. It should be in the original packaging with any lids and seals still intact. 

For clothing donations, the Stitch Closet will not accept anything that shows offensive words or visuals, or clothes that are damaged or dirty. 

If donors are unsure if an item will be accepted, they can take it to a student volunteer who will inspect it. 

For students who would like to volunteer, there is a volunteer interest form linked in the food pantry’s Instagram — @woufoodpantry.  

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Neuroscience

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

A new neuroscience minor is being offered for students at Western, with the college joining universities such as Portland State University and Linfield University which both have impressive neuroscience programs available. 

A meeting of Western’s board of trustees was held Aug. 9, 2024, where the request for a neuroscience minor was discussed. According to the meeting docket, “The study of neuroscience provides students the opportunity to apply interdisciplinary knowledge in order to have a better understanding of the behavior of both human and non-human animals.”

The learning objectives are to, firstly, “understand the fundamental disciplinary content and concepts in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neuropsychology,” secondly, “Connect the structure and function of the nervous system to topics such as human behavior, non-human animal behavior, neuropharmacology, sensory and perception processes and neurological disorders” and, thirdly, “apply the appropriate experimental and analytical methods to current issues in neuroscience.” 

The program would require students to take 25–28 credits in select biology and psychology courses. Depending on their major, students will be required to take two foundational courses in either biology or psychology. If students who are not biology or psychology majors choose to minor in neuroscience, they may have to take all four foundational courses since they are prerequisites for many required classes. Students will also choose eight credits worth of core electives and 9–12 credits of additional electives. 

The neuroscience minor is hoped to be advantageous for Western and its students by appealing to more potential students who are interested in the program and by giving existing students more variety to their academic experience. There is a growing field of mental health professionals, and studying neuroscience could help students who plan to make a career in mental health.

For biology majors who will possibly go into healthcare, the minor will “provide these students the opportunity to combine their elective courses into a coherent curricular structure that will further their understanding of human health and behavioral issues and could make them more competitive when applying to post-baccalaureate programs,” according to the meeting docket.

Psychology majors will also have the option of amalgamating their electives into a well-organized minor that could “help further (students’) understanding of the biological basis of their primary field of study.” 

The board of trustees’ decision was unanimous, and in summer 2024 the minor was added to Western’s catalog and Degree Tracks.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Representatives of Oregon

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Nov. 14, 2024, Democrat Janelle Bynum won the race for the representative for Oregon’s 5th congressional district. In the Democratic primary election, Bynum won against Jamie McLeod-Skinner and went on to defeat current Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican, in the general election. Bynum received approximately 47.5% of the vote and Chavez-DeRemer received approximately 45%. 

Bynum will be making history as Oregon’s first Black representative. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Bynum said, “I am also proud to be the first — but not the last — Black Member of Congress from Oregon. In Congress, I will always stand up for Oregonians — no matter who you voted for in this election — and fight tirelessly every day to deliver for families all across our district.” 

Before running for Congress, Bynum was elected as an Oregon state senator in 2016 and has held that position since. 

“Today, we chart a new path forward for Oregon — one of hope, opportunity and change for the better,” said Bynum.

Chavez-DeRemer won the seat in the House of Representatives in the 2022 election and had been a representative for the time being before conceding to Bynum. 2022 was the first time in about 25 years that the 5th congressional district had been flipped to Republican. 

In Oregon’s 6th congressional district, where Monmouth resides, Democrat Andrea Salinas was reelected as representative. She has been a member of Congress since 2023, having served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2017–2022. 

Democrat Val Hoyle was reelected to Congress for Oregon’s 4th congressional district. She ran and won against Republican Monique DeSpain. Before being elected to Congress for the first time in 2022, she was the commissioner of Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries.

In the 3rd district, Democrat Maxine E. Dexter won against Republican Joanna Harbour. Along with working in the healthcare field as a pulmonologist, Dexter also was an Oregon state representative from 2020–2024. 

Cliff Bentz, a Republican, was reelected to Congress for Oregon’s 2nd district. He was first elected to Congress in 2020. The 2nd congressional district has been led by Republicans since 1981. 

In Oregon’s 1st congressional district, Democrat Suzanne Bonamici won against Republican Bob Todd. Bonamici has been serving in Congress since a special election in 2012. Before that, she was elected as an Oregon state senator in 2008 and reelected in 2010. 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

First-gen week

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

The week of Nov. 4 – Nov. 8 was dedicated to Western’s first-generation students. Almost 50% of Western’s student population are first-generation college students. Each day of the week had events that were themed around different aspects of being a first-generation student. 

Monday’s theme was financial literacy and basic needs. There were events that taught students how to budget for groceries and meal prep and a financial literacy workshop hosted by Unitus Credit Union.

Tuesday was designated for mental health awareness. Students learned about mindfulness and self-care, wrote gratitude letters and unwound with arts and crafts.

Wednesday’s theme was about finding a support system by meeting new people and making connections. The first event was a meet and greet with first-generation Western employees, with yoga and meditation being offered shortly after. An escape room for first-generation students was put together in the Willamette Room of Werner University Center. That evening,there was a presentation about navigating college life. 

Thursday was centered around career readiness, with events that helped students be prepared for their future careers. Students could get free professional headshots taken. They could also prepare for the Fall Extravaganza, happening Nov. 13, by learning how to network, build a resume and succeed in an interview. Thursday’s theme also had the “Career Readiness Inventory” event and a panel of first-generation alumni.

Friday was the time for people to learn about and celebrate National First-Generation Day. The day started with the Experiential Learning Workshop with Mohammed Soriano-Bital. After the workshop concluded, a panel was held highlighting first-generation Western employees. The last event of the week was a lunch that was catered by Mi Casita Market. 

Along with organizing a first-generation week and celebrating National First-Generation Day, Western has also joined the Alpha Alpha Alpha, or Tri-Alpha, Honor Society. Tri-Alpha is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and celebrating first-generation students who are pursuing higher education. Moravian University in Pennsylvania founded Tri-Alpha in March of 2018. Over 150 universities in the U.S. have since made a Tri-Alpha chapter, but Western is the first public college in Oregon to join the organization. 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Get involved

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Macy Clemens is the program assistant for marketing and virtual engagement. In Spring 2024, she graduated from Western with a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in marketing. On campus, Clemens promotes events and is passionate about encouraging students to participate in everything Western has to offer. Because of her interest, Clemens decided that Student Engagement was the perfect place for her.

One tool that Clemens hopes students take advantage of more often is Involve, which is a website that has lists of clubs, organizations and events on campus. 

“With Involve, students can explore everything happening at campus at any given time. It’s like a personal event calendar for all things at (Western), which I think is helpful,” said Clemens. “Involve offers some cool opportunities and it helps students to gain skills and build their networks.” Upcoming events on campus include the “FEM in STEM Speaker Series” Nov. 14 from 4 – 5:15 p.m., the “Show of Green” event Nov. 14 from 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. with a veteran’s breakfast the same day at 9 a.m. Additional information on those events and others can be found through Involve. 

“Involve can either be accessed through (your) portal, or you can download an app on your phone,” said Clemens. Students can connect the app to their Google calendar so they are notified when there is an event coming up. For many organizations and events, students can see more information and sign up directly on the Involve app or website. It also shows users how to contact many of the groups on campus.

“It’s more than an app though — It’s a way for students to find and build a community,” said Clemens. “Involve can help you get connected on campus. And it also helps make connections that extend beyond college.” 

Clemens knows that students may be nervous to try clubs or go to events that are new to them, however, she believes that the experiences students will gain from getting involved will be invaluable. 

“Branching out is what’s really important,” said Clemens. “Taking that first step and going to these different events is really helpful. You might realize it’s actually a lot better, even if (you were) nervous to branch out a little bit.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Women’s March

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Saturday, Nov. 2, over 100 people gathered in Parker Plaza at Oregon State University to rally for women’s rights and voter participation. Before the event began, pieces of cardboard and markers were available for attendees to make their own signs. 

Allison Doss, one of the organizers of the Get Out to Vote Women’s March, stepped in front of the crowd with a megaphone and welcomed everyone. “Look around you. Each face in this crowd represents a shared dream of a world where every person can live without fear, without barriers and without discrimination. Today we march for that world. We march for the voices that have been silenced, for the rights that have been denied and for the future that still needs our courage to make it possible. We march not only for ourselves, but for every woman who’s paved the way before us, and every young girl who will follow,” said Doss. 

Many people in the crowd cheered, and some held up signs that said things such as “Vote,” “My body, my choice” and “Harris/Walz 2024.” 

“This march isn’t just about a single moment, it’s about creating momentum,” said Doss. “It’s about changing systems that keep women marginalized, overlooked and underrepresented. It’s about reminding our leaders and communities that we will not rest until true equality and justice are achieved. To all of you here today, I thank you and let’s march.”

With that, the group of marchers set off to Central Park in Corvallis. A call and response chant started, with one person towards the front of the crowd shouting, “Whose choice?” and every other person shouting back, “My choice.”

“The big election is coming up and I think it’s really important for everyone to be voting right now, making sure other people vote,” said Grace McClaskey, a participant in the rally and a student at OSU. “It’s a scary time right now, for women especially. Getting awareness out there is really important right now.” 

McClaskey hopes that this march will raise awareness and inspire other people. “A big thing has been people not voting because they think there’s no point in it and that things aren’t really going to change. It’s important to continually show that people do care and want the change to happen, and I think it eventually will.”

The march ended at Central Park with the attendees gathered around four guest speakers. Oregon state Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin was the first to deliver a speech.

Gelser Blouin focused on “making sure that we get the right leaders in the right places to amplify your voices and promise a bright, fair and just future to every single person here, including access to economic equity, access to abortion and health care services when you need it, and respect for every single person in this United States.”

Sarah Finger McDonald, a potential state representative, was next to take the megaphone. “The first time I ever spoke to a crowd at this park we were demanding stronger gun legislation. The last time I spoke to a crowd in this park was when we were demanding protection for our rights to legal and safe abortion. I believe those rights and so many more are on the ballot this election,” Finger McDonald said. 

One person who was not part of the event interrupted Finger McDonald’s speech, saying, “You’re just standing around. Do something.” A member of the crowd then shouted back, “We’re going to do something.” The crowd cheered, and Finger McDonald finished her speech. She then introduced Val Hoyle, who is running for Congress.

 “(My mother) fought to make birth control and abortion legal before Roe versus Wade. And she said, ‘I do not want to see my granddaughter or my children have less rights than I fought for,’” said Hoyle. “We can work to bring the protections that we had from Roe versus Wade throughout the country to make sure you all have the same rights that I did when I was growing up.”

The final speaker of the event was Sen. Jeff Merkley. “Thank you for giving me the chance to join you all on this stage with powerful, smart women who are driving change here in Oregon and in America,” said Merkley. 

“There are two words that have never been spoken in the Oval Office, and the way that we organize and work in the next couple of days will determine whether or not we get to say those words. And those words are ‘Madam President.’ 

“How about we fight for lifting people up all across our state and across the country,” said Merkley. “How about affordable, reasonable college loans that don’t put a millstone around the neck of our youth? How about we fight to electrify everything with renewable energy so we stop climate chaos?”

After the speeches had concluded, every attendee was invited to volunteer for a Get Out to Vote canvas, where the volunteers could knock on doors in the area and have conversations with Corvallis residents about the upcoming election. 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu 

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