Sam Landry and Sis Bates pose in Hillsboro Ballpark, the Portland Cascade’s home stadium. | Photo from @sportoregon on Instagram
Jan. 28 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
On Jan. 13, it was announced that Portland will be home to one of the six teams from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, or AUSL.
Portland is already a prolific city when it comes to women’s professional sports. The Portland Thorns, which play in the National Women’s Soccer League, have been a big name in the state since 2012, with notable players from Team USA rounding out their roster. In September 2025, Portland Thorns owner RAJ Sports, led by the brother-sister duo of Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, also bought the rights to a WNBA expansion team, the Portland Fire, which will begin its inaugural season in May this year. Portland even has The Sports Bra, a sports bar dedicated to showcasing women’s collegiate and professional sports. The AUSL Portland Cascade is the newest team to join this lineup.
In 2024, the AUSL began its first season with four teams playing round robin-style games on its touring season. Each team was named for its captain, typically the pitcher or catcher, and was packed with the best names of collegiate softball. During the season, the AUSL picked up traction, and it was soon announced that the league would have its inaugural season in 2025, with the four teams being renamed to the Volts, the Bandits, the Blaze and the Talons. This inaugural season also meant a partnership with the MLB, with the league investing in the AUSL to help establish it as a sustainable organization.
Late 2025 meant that two expansion teams were announced, along with the league moving to become city-based rather than touring-based. The Oklahoma City Spark was the first team to establish its headquarters in the aforementioned city, known as the home of the College Softball World Series. The other five teams had to wait until 2026 to announce their home cities.
The Portland Cascade will play at Hillsboro Ballpark, which is the home of the Minor League Baseball Hillsboro Hops. Hillsboro Ballpark is currently under construction, which came after the MLB changed ballpark standards for minor league teams in 2021, forcing the team to build a new venue altogether. However, the ballpark will be completed in time for the Hops and the Cascade to begin their 2026 seasons in April and June, respectively. The stadium is 229,000 square feet and can hold up to 6,000 fans for games and 7,000 for concerts, costing Hops ownership, the state of Oregon and the city of Hillsboro a combined $150 million.
The Cascade boasts a strong lineup, including standouts Sam Landry, fresh from the University of Oklahoma, and Sis Bates, a former University of Washington player. Both received multiple All-American awards during their collegiate careers, while Landry boasts an NCAA National Championship with Oklahoma, and Bates brings multiple defensive player of the year titles, including the AUSL’s defensive MVP award in her rookie season. Both Landry and Bates played for the Volts in the 2025 season.
The storied Tairia Flowers was announced as the Cascade’s head coach. During her time with Team USA softball, Flowers won gold at the Athens Olympics, silver at the Beijing Olympics and gold in the 2002 and 2006 Softball World Championships. In her coaching career for Team USA, Flowers has played multiple roles, including head coach, assistant coach and selection committee member.
The Cascade will play the season opener in Durham, North Carolina June 9 against the Carolina Blaze, and their home opener June 18 against the Oklahoma City Spark.
A photo of the Western students that attended the protest in Salem on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. | Photo courtesy of Jacob Prater
Jan. 28 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
Monday, Jan. 19 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day — saw a turnout of hundreds at the Oregon State Capitol, where a collection of Western students joined protesting efforts.
The rally was held to show solidarity with the immigrant community as well as protest the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Trump administration. Calling for immigration reform, protesters also heavily drew from Martin Luther King Jr.’s mission to establish equality and peaceful resistance.
Event participants and organizers discussed the current political state of the US, saying that students and families are experiencing a lot of fear due to immigration crackdown efforts.
Salem police reported around 400 rally attendees. One incident involving the unlawful use of pepper spray had one man arrested, but names and further details have yet to be released.
One of about 20 counterprotesters, Thomas Allen, 36, was present at the rally in a similar fashion to his controversial appearance at Western Dec. 3, 2025, brandishing a microphone, camera and pro-Trump merchandise. At the end of Fall term, Allen appeared on campus while livestreaming on multiple platforms and was recorded using racial slurs and threatening students that they would be deported by ICE.
Western student Jacob Prater said, “I wanted to attend to help show that we have power in numbers and help spark more resistance statewide against ICE in Oregon. We vastly outnumber counterprotesters and are the majority.”
One intention of the rally is to build momentum behind an immigrants’ rights package. Families impacted by immigration enforcement would receive increased protections and financial support.
The rally followed increased ICE presence, as well as increased tension, across the country after the shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Locally, Albany mother Maria Trinidad Loya Medina was kidnapped Jan. 10 by ICE in the Big 5 parking lot after heading in to shop, leaving behind her young son in the car. Her GoFundMe stated that federal agents shattered her driver’s side window to “get ahold of her.” She had no criminal record and was taken to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. According to sources closer to the family, she may be released next month.
A photo of the Health and Counseling Center on campus. | Photo taken by Moth Martinez-Faccio
Jan. 28 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
In Oregon, the flu has become increasingly active during the 2025-26 season, starting from a 0.4% positive increase and zero hospitalizations during the week of Sep. 28 to a 16.2% positive increase and 49 hospitalizations during the week of Jan. 11. Additionally, the 2025-26 Oregon flu season had the lowest amount of flu immunizations in the past four years. The amount of immunizations this year peaked at the end of September, drastically decreasing since then.
Influenza — or the flu — is an infection of the respiratory system primarily through the nose, throat and lungs. Symptoms for the flu can be similar to a common cold, such as the sore throat and runny or stuffy nose, but the flu amplifies these symptoms, and is often accompanied by additional symptoms like fever, cough, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, sweating and chills. A cold tends to have a slow start, while the flu can come on very quickly, typically two to three days after contact with the virus.
Flu season in North America usually runs from October to May. The virus is spread through coughs, sneezes, spit and touch. To help prevent getting the flu, it is recommended to stay away from others who have it as well as to sanitize hands and surfaces frequently.
This flu season, about 15 million Americans have come down with the flu so far, and, as of Jan. 13, 180,000 have been admitted to the hospital with the flu, with 7,400 reported deaths.
This flu season, a variant of the flu called subclade K has been prevalent, thus being the cause of the rise in cases. The seasonal flu vaccine in the US this year provided protection against three flu viruses that researchers had expected to be the most common, but did not account for the sudden mutation of subclade K, making the vaccine less effective. The subclade K variant has not been present in the past few years, which also resulted in a natural decrease in immunity.
The subclade K variant has been responsible for 90% of flu cases this year. There is no evidence to suggest that the variant is more severe, just much more active due to its mutations.
Due to the sudden rise of the mutation, the flu vaccine this year is less effective. Typically, the vaccine is anywhere between 60-65% effective in the prevention of the flu, but this year the vaccine is only 30-40% effective. That being said, experts still recommend getting the vaccine to anyone who doesn’t have a medical reason not to because, not only does it reduce the risk of getting the flu, it also lessens the severity if anyone does get the flu. The flu vaccine takes about two weeks to be fully effective, so those who plan to get it should do so sooner rather than later.
Minor side effects that may arise from getting the flu shot include soreness, a low fever, aches and redness, along with swelling where the shot was given.
Walgreens offers a free flu shot for those who are interested. They take walk-ins, with the option to also schedule ahead. Walgreens recommends the flu shot for anyone three years old and up. Those who get it should also consider getting the vaccine once a year due to immunity fading over time as well as new variations arising yearly.
Any Western student who pays the health fee can also go to the Health and Counseling Center on campus to get their flu shot. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 9-12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. They also offer free cold and flu kits to students that include medicine, thermometers and throat lozenges, among other things, to help stay healthy during flu season.
A digital mapping of the Axial Seamount volcano underwater. | Photo from @theoregonian on Instagram
Jan. 28 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
In 2025, it was expected that the underwater volcano Axial Seamount would erupt. This did not happen. Now, experts are claiming 2026 is its year.
Located approximately 300 miles off the Oregon coast, and a mile deep into the ocean, Axial Seamount is considered the most active submarine volcano in the Northeast Pacific and potentially faces a volcanic eruption this year.
Despite the potential fear that can come with the words “volcanic eruption,” it’s very unlikely that the Axial Seamount volcano will create any impact for Oregonians. Simply put, the volcano is quite far offshore and really deep, despite being incredibly active, with an eruption history of 2011 and 2015 most recently. In fact, if someone were in a boat on the ocean directly over Axial Seamount as it erupts, they would feel none of the effects on the surface. If well underwater, however, it could be heard.
An eruption from Axial Seamount can last days or weeks; in 2015, it spat out 5.5 billion cubic feet of lava into the ocean — creating pillow lava that emerged from being rapidly cooled.
Seismic activity and seafloor inflation from magma is what indicated to scientists that Axial Seamount was nearing eruption, the volcano being one of the most well-studied. It’s said to have one of the most complex geographical builds, being part of a chain of seamounts — underwater mountains formed by volcanic activity — and intersecting the Juan de Fuca Ridge.
The Regional Cabled Array is an ocean observatory that provides data in real time from the seafloor and water column that stretches across the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate to scientists. Through a network of 560 miles (900 kilometers) of electro-optical cables and two-way communication lines to scientific sensors, researchers are able to collect data and monitor activity.
And, while pressure has increased and Axial Seamount is seeing similar levels as prior to its 2015 eruption, it’s holding steady; researchers think mid-to-late 2026 is when the submarine volcano could experience some activity.
In November, Oregon State University announced a new experiment utilizing collected data from the Regional Cabled Array to try and accurately predict an eruption. Underwater or not, volcanic eruptions can be impossible to predict, as no good framework exists, only the option of surveying old activity and comparing it to the present.
Now, Axial Seamount is taller than it was in 2015 when it last erupted. Although nobody will be harmed or even remotely affected by its potential eruption — anticipated eruption, even — scientists are looking forward to absorbing its data and tracking an underwater volcano eruption, which is extremely difficult to do.
A photo of Western’s 2026 Giving Day logo. | Photo courtesy of Dave Beasley
Jan. 21 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
Giving Day — most often taking place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving — is a large 24-hour fundraising event, though many universities do their own Giving Day in the winter or spring. Western’s Giving Day this year will take place the first Tuesday of April, April 7. The date has been moved later than usual this year because in previous years it took place during week nine of Winter term, a time when many students and staff were too busy to participate.
Western’s Giving Day is a crowdfunding day where participating clubs, organizations, teams and departments at Western ask people across the university and beyond to give funds to the university and its organizations.
Any club or organization at Western can choose to participate and raise funds. Those that want to can fill out a Google Form sent in an all-student email from Dave Beasley. Once they do, they will get their own webpage on Western’s Giving Day website that features photos and a description of their organization with a button for donors to donate.
New this year, participating organizations and clubs will have to pick at least two “influencers” — essentially representatives — to attend a training. The designated influencers will also receive a special link specifically for them that they can share to whomever they want. The link will go straight to the website for their organization. Influencers can use this link to send to potential donors through means of text, email, social media and others. The hope from WOU Foundation — the organizers of the event — is that influencers will be those who are most active on Giving Day to raise funds.
The training that influencers will attend is expected to last about 30-45 minutes, and six different training sessions will be offered to account for different availability. Each session will be the same, so influencers can choose to attend the one that fits best with their schedule. The training will consist of how to go about asking people to donate, and example scripts will be shared, as well as potential ideas for posting on social media. There are also many online features through the website that influencers will be made aware of. Those who attend the training will receive a free T-shirt.
This year, participating clubs and organizations will also be required to make a short video to post on their webpage and provide to donors. The Foundation found that in previous years, groups that were more involved raised more funds, so a large goal this year is to get groups to participate more actively. This video should be 30-45 seconds and should explain why donors should give to that organization in a creative way. A big goal for the video is also to include as many different people from the organization as possible.
“Everybody wants to see their grandson or granddaughter or their niece or their nephew in the video, right?” explained Dave Beasley, director of development, annual giving & sponsorships. Family members and friends may be more likely to donate to an organization if they see a person they know in the video, even if it’s just a wide shot of everyone at the end. There will also be an optional training for influencers to attend on tips and tricks for making a video.
Anyone can be a donor, and donations can consist of any amount. “We’re grateful for every single gift we get,” Beasley added. However, donor intent rules all — meaning the donor picks where they want their money to go. If they make a general donation to the club or organization, the members can use the funds in whatever way that helps them. If the donor specifies what they want the funds to be used for, the organization has to follow that. For example, if a donation was made to a club for a club scholarship they offer, the funds would have to be used for the scholarship.
The way in which donations are made was optimized specifically for mobile devices this year. At the bottom of the website, there will be a red gift button where donors can fill out their information and make a gift. In previous years, the only way to pay was through credit card, but this year, donors can use credit cards, ACH transfers, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Cash App. Additionally, donors have the option now to do recurring gifts with a credit card. Donors can also still write checks and send them through the mail.
In past years, WOU Foundation had a dollar goal for Giving Day, but this year, they have a donor goal, meaning they want to get as many donors as possible. Beasley explained, “What we’re really trying to do with Giving Day is to bring new donors to the university, whether that’s alums, whether that’s people who are new parents to the university, or newly aware of the university, or newly in partnership with us or whatever it is.” Additionally, they will send out letters to previous donors to advertise for Giving Day again.
The Foundation is also working on “the big gift” this year. In other words, they are working with larger donors — those that donate thousands — to secure commitments of large sums of money that will be donated to the university if Western receives 500 donors. Any amount of donation counts as a donor in order to work toward receiving that “big gift.” The hope is that the challenge will also help clubs and organizations advertise to donors — if they donate to the organization, they also help the university work toward this sizable contribution.
Community service will also be added to Giving Day this year. WOU Foundation and everyone who participates understands that Giving Day is asking a lot from the community, and they hope that they can give back in this way. They will be highlighting service projects they’ve participated in throughout the year and will have services happening day-of, such as a blood drive in the Werner University Center and a mini-golf course in the library. The golf course will be built by members, and to play there will be some sort of requirement, such as making a post on social media about Giving Day.
There will be a prize for the student who raises the most money, as well as a prize for the student who receives the most donors.
Beasley added that he understands it can be hard to ask people for money, but to try not to worry about it because it’s a good opportunity to raise funds for a good cause. “People do care about you. They do want to support what you’re doing. And those can all be great motivations to give, but people give because somebody asks them to.”
A photo of the inside of Browsers’ Bookstore. | Photo by Hannah Field
Jan. 21 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
Recent bookstore statistics prove that popularity for local businesses in the US is climbing rather than subsiding five years after the coronavirus shutdown, with communities rallying and the landscape of bookstores adapting to meet modern demands. The American Booksellers Association, or ABA, reported a membership increase of 18% and 323 new brick-and-mortar, pop-up and mobile stores opening across the United States in their 2024 annual report. They noted that 2024 had “the most successful Independent Bookstore Day to date.” According to Harvard Business School, despite local bookstores struggling to remain afloat during pandemic regulations that limited business operations and corporations like Amazon dominating the industry, localism has become a social movement that has been steering indie bookstores back to the forefront. Communities have emerged to shop small and support local businesses in the wake of recent corporate boycotts against companies like Starbucks, Target and Amazon for their various methodologies, including anti-union sentiments alongside a lack of corporate accountability and diversity inclusion. Abe Richmond, owner of Browsers’ Bookstore located in Albany, Oregon, said, “I was working here during the pandemic. It was obviously bizarre, and we closed for several months, but the customer base rallied behind us. So we would do sidewalk drop-offs, they would pay for it over PayPal or whatever, Instagram, and then we would package their books and put them on the porch.” Richmond bought Browsers’ from the previous owner after graduating from Oregon State University, having been an employee of his, and has been at the forefront for more than three years. While Browsers’ Bookstore handled the precarious nature of being a small business during the pandemic, the customer base has also adapted to new ownership — and adapted well, with Richmond being recognized across town as the owner of Browsers’ and building a solid rapport with customers who seek out his services specifically. When it comes to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, resale bookstores like Browsers’ suffer less than one might think. “I like them because people will spend $40 on a new hardcover in Salem and then read it, and then not know what to do with it, so then they bring it here. And I have a fairly new, good-shaped book.” Customers who drop off books may receive in-store credit at Browsers’ to spend. Beyond that, Richmond also displays local authors and merchandise drawn by nearby artists. “It’s counterintuitive. Because who is this person, you know? But then, if you point it out, like, ‘Hey, they live in Albany or Corvallis,’ people are like, ‘Oh, I’ll read it almost just for that sake.’ Whereas if it was some other book that you’d never heard of, they’d probably pass over it.” He also noted the enjoyable community aspect when authors host signing events at Browsers’, bringing a sense of life to local stores. Richmond also instrumented a film drop box through Light Rider Studios, meaning customers can drop off their film to get developed on their behalf and delivered. Bookstores have been changing since the 1970s, with 43% of local bookstores closing between 1995 and 2000, reminiscent of the decline in physical bookstore sales through the Kindle push in the late 2000s and 2019, when Amazon had sold more than half of all books in the United States. Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon, stated, “Amazon isn’t happening to the book business. The future is happening to the book business.” Amazon was founded in 1994 as an online bookseller by Bezos. Since then, the ABA has labeled it an unchecked monopoly, claiming that it stifles competition and that it has an enormously negative impact on the bookselling market. Amazon was able to expedite growth, printing an effective blueprint to attract customers and obtain and keep wealth by failing to comply with tax regulations and offering duty-free purchases. Amazon also regularly offers discounted books, undercutting businesses that have to sell at full price in order to stay afloat. Booksellers have been forced to drop employees in order to stay profitable — which could also be a part of why Richmond and Sydney-Anne Graves are the sole paid workers as owners of their respective businesses, Browsers’ Bookstore and Monarch Books. Regardless, Richmond and Graves have found success. And, according to the Associated Press, others are too; more than 200 local bookstores were predicted to open across the country between 2023 and 2025. Monarch Books only just started in April of 2024 out of Lebanon, Oregon, owned and founded by Sydney-Anne Graves, who was a senior in high school when she encountered at a coffee shop the landlord of the building in which Monarch Books resides. That conversation alone spurred Graves to tell her mom later that night: “Mom, I’m buying a bookstore.” After touring the building — reportedly falling in love with it — and dedicating multiple weeks to deep-cleaning, Monarch Books came to life under Graves’ new ownership and keen eyes. “We opened, and (that) first day, it was really busy,” said Graves. “And I was like, ‘Okay, this might work out.’ It was really busy. And then, ever since, I’ve been slowly getting more inventory in, decorating, getting it to my vibe. I really love a lot of colors and plants, and there’s still a lot of ideas I have for in here, but it’s come so far from where it originally was.” Richmond expressed appreciation for the anti-corporate push in 2025, leading to more local shoppers steering clear of Amazon and other corporate sellers. In the current political and social state of the US, local businesses may be inclined to further build queer-safe communities and book selections as opposed to corporate booksellers — potentially building a reliable customer base seeking a supportive book hub and shared community. Browsers’ Bookstore remains open consistently under Richmond’s new ownership and maintains a loyal clientele across nearby cities. A good chunk of customer interaction relies on online postings and website sales through Browsers’ Bookstore’s virtual pages. “I sell a lot (from what) I post on Instagram, and then people will be like, ‘Hey, I’ll take it.’ And so they come in and pay for it,” said Richmond. “It’s weird, though, because say you wanted a book we don’t have. It shocks me every time how many people are like, ‘Hey, can you order it for me?” Instead of them hopping on Amazon, because we go through a new book distributor. But I think it’s because people want to support. I think people like having bookstores.” “It’s just so awesome, and it’s really cool to see that so many people still support the book community,” said Graves. “I was really nervous about that. I know I read and I know some of my friends read, but I don’t know how many people actually still buy books or shop downtown — so I think that was the most nerve-wracking part about it. But it’s been really great.” Another aspect of the resurgence of bookstores is the online platforms Instagram and TikTok, cultivating an online community of book lovers. Dubbed “bookstagram” and “booktok,” readers and writers participate in hashtags, giveaways and online sharing, creating trends and catapulting books onto bestseller lists through sheer word of mouth via the internet. “I feel like I get new customers every single week,” said Graves. “There are so many people who still love reading and that’s (been) helped a lot with bookstagram and booktok, different things that have really kind of inspired people to get back into it, which is so cool.” “Taylor Swift — I’m not sure what — did something with Shakespeare,” said Richmond. “I’ve had so many women, and girls, college and under, be like, ‘I need Shakespeare.’ … It’s the same, if a movie comes out of a book, people flood the place, like when ‘Dune’ came out. Yeah, I couldn’t keep ‘Dune’ to save my life.” “I was like, ‘Why is my Shakespeare selling all of a sudden?’ Nobody cared about this before,” Graves joked. Taylor Swift’s most recent album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” features imagery, lyrics and photography modeled after Shakespeare’s character Ophelia in “Hamlet,” no doubt causing the wave of Shakespeare-mania that Richmond and Graves both experienced. “Dune” amassed a box office of more than $400 million in 2021 and “Dune: Part Two” grossed $715 million in 2024, with the “Dune” franchise built off of six core books written in the 1960s through the 80s. However, there is a catch to the media frenzy. Allison K. Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, blames Amazon: “Amazon is now the water we swim in … There are multiple ways that an independent bookstore is forced to not only interact with Amazon, but support them — books made into shows streaming on Prime Video are printed with Amazon stickers on the cover.” Regardless, books have long since had movie adaptations, and well before Amazon and other corporations took hold. Much like local bookstores, movie theaters are becoming increasingly popular — for the second time. Upcoming releases like “Wuthering Heights,” “Project Hail Mary” and “Sunrise on the Reaping” are all 2026 book-to-movie adaptations spanning classic literature, sci-fi and the famous Hunger Games franchise. Show adaptations are equally successful, with notable pop-culture stars of book-to-show adaptations being “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” “Heated Rivalry” — currently thriving on HBO Max — and “Bridgerton.” With books inspiring much of modern media turnout, it’s unlikely that books and bookstores will succumb to the strains of aging. In a way, books are trendy again, as the statistics prove — Barnes & Noble opened almost 70 new locations in 2025 and has more on the way. Hill said in a statement in the 2024 annual report, “The numbers only tell part of the story. This momentum occurred despite significant challenges: the usual ones like thin margins, rising costs, and Amazon’s chokehold on our industry, and urgent threats that shook the very foundation of our work as the right to read and access books faced sustained, coordinated attacks.” The current presidential administration has made a dedicated effort to place bans on books that affect educators and librarians, limiting access to certain content, especially that which discusses gender, race and sexuality. While that’s less likely to impact independent booksellers, the pressure remains to conform as book access limits book readers and their interests. Additionally, independent bookstores can rely on author visits and community involvement; divisive political action can split a customer base or turn away potential author-bookstore collaborations. The ABA, when discussing concerns for people interested in opening a bookstore, cited “free expression challenges.” Portland’s own Powell’s Books — the largest independent and used bookstore in the world, spanning one city block and containing over a million potential reads — participated in the ABA’s Banned Books Week event in 2024, discussing the right to read, spreading awareness about book bans and hosting panels. ABA also conducts the yearly Independent Bookstore Day. In 2024, when the ABA reported the highest participation numbers to date for the event, ambassador Amanda Gorman stated, “Independent bookstores are vital hubs of creativity and community. They offer curated selections that foster discovery for readers, while providing vital support and a platform for diverse voices for writers and other creators. They are the true modern-day town square, the beating heart of our communities, and a place for meaningful interaction and human connection.” The day involved 1,216 stores from across all 50 states. “Our mission — to help independent bookstores survive and thrive — remained at the core of everything ABA did,” said Hill. While the 2025 annual report from the ABA won’t arrive until mid-2026, the expectation is that the indie bookselling industry will only continue to grow in spite of the last decade’s challenges, with Graves adding, “I don’t think books will ever go out of style.”
A photo of a cherry blossom tree at Western. | Photo from @woustudents on instagram
Jan. 21 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
Last Fall term, I ran into an issue with a professor that others may relate to regarding an overwhelming lack of support for students. During week 10 of the term, my friend experienced an unforeseen health circumstance out of the blue that left her with difficulties in completing an assignment. Her circumstance was extreme enough that it seemed it qualified for an extension, and being that she turned in everything else throughout the term on time, she asked the professor for one. The assignment was due on a Friday and she asked for a two-day extension, making it due on Sunday. This appeared to be very reasonable considering what she was going through, yet, the response she received from the professor was that they would not give her an extension, and instead she would have to take an incomplete grade for the class.
Upon hearing this, I felt very frustrated both by the response my friend received and the professor. I had also taken classes from this professor and ran into several issues with them such as unfair grading and unclear instruction. In this situation though, neither of us really knew what to do or who to reach out to for help. In a last ditch effort, I decided to reach out to a faculty member that I trust to seek advice on the situation. On my friend’s behalf, this faculty member got in touch with the Student Affairs Office, the campus resource that would have been the appropriate choice for the situation, seeking help to advocate for the student. The response given from Malissa Larson — the dean of students — said that the student would have to go through the Academic Affairs Office’s academic complaint process, a form used to report issues surrounding things like grades, assignments and syllabi. The submission would allow for the division chair to schedule a meeting with the student to discuss the concern and facilitate a solution.
Based on definitions, Academic Affairs deals with instances relating to how a class is structured or how a professor teaches, and Student Affairs should be the place to go for support in personal issues. Yet, in practice, the structure in place leaves gaps in which students are left with no personal advocate and indirect support avenues. Academic Affairs only provides them with the option of submitting a complaint — something that could take time and wouldn’t do anything for the current situation — and, in our case, Student Affairs simply referred us to Academic Affairs. Instead of working together to foster student success, these two crucial campus departments are skirting past the necessity of direct lines of communication for student support. We then realized this explains the root of the issue: there is no good resource to help students with conflicts surrounding short-term crisis circumstances like ours.
Additionally, a quick review of the professional duties of a dean of students indicates someone who connects student needs with university administration, most often in times of crises and emergency support, and ultimately strives for student development and success. Under further specificities, responsibilities for a dean of students also include providing support during crises and emergencies, both medical and personal, as well as advocating for students by working with faculty and staff to meet student needs. This description fits exactly what was needed in our situation. We needed someone who could support the student through their crisis by examining the student’s needs and communicating that with the professor and/or university administration.
Dean Larson responded to the crisis by deferring my friend to the academic complaint process. Post-submission of the form, Larson said that students are encouraged to connect with the college dean, followed by the provost. She concluded her message by saying, “While I appreciate that someone in Student Affairs used to be an advocate for this type of issue in the past, many systems at WOU have changed. When it comes down to faculty concerns like this one, there is little Student Affairs can do.”
While Larson presented going to the provost as an option, it’s unclear what help the provost and college dean would provide or how long it would take; additionally, it seems nonsensical to reach out to the provost over a professor-student conflict. Furthermore, it appears that there’s a missing role that could have provided support that no longer exists.
After hearing this response, we decided to do a bit of research. Looking at Western’s mission statement, one of the core values of the mission statement, entitled “Fostering Accessibility,” states that Western works to “ensure inclusivity and eliminate barriers in our physical, social, and learning environments. We are dedicated to continuous improvement so that every member of our community can engage, contribute, and succeed.” This acutely pointed to the fact that academic success, no matter the circumstances, is one of Western’s biggest goals.
It is unfair to students who go through these things that they lack direct and immediate access to support systems when their academics are impacted by personal crises.
After this experience, I feel that instead of continually seeking to eliminate barriers, Western is building barriers. As students continue to go through difficult situations when they arise and live this same version of events that leave them feeling defeated and angry, I only hope that the university once again utilizes Student Affairs, a crucial resource, in the way it is designed for: a place for students to go in times of crisis when they need urgent support. Ultimately, I hope that Western will once again grasp the great need for a resource that bridges the gap between academics and student success.
A photo of the United States Capitol. | Photo from @drchubacca on Instagram
Jan. 14 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
On Dec. 18, President Donald Trump made a video announcement from the White House highlighting his plans for 2026 regarding the celebration of America’s 250th birthday. This announcement featured various events to take place, one of the most well-known being his plans for the Patriot Games.
The reasons given for these events included Trump saying, “In my campaign for president, I pledged to give America the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen for America’s 250th anniversary on July 4th next year.” Naming the initiative “Freedom 250,” his plan is to put on year-long festivities to celebrate the 250th birthday.
Construction plans throughout 2026 include a new arch monument being built in the nation’s capital, with Trump explaining that America is the only large nation without a beautiful, triumphal arch. Additionally, Trump plans to create a national garden of American heroes featuring statues of the greatest Americans, though he didn’t specify who this would entail.
On May 17, Trump has planned a national prayer gathering to take place at the National Mall in Washington. Regarding this, he explained that the purpose was to “rededicate our country as one nation under God.”
To celebrate America’s history and culture, Trump adds that there will be a great American state fair, featuring pavilions from all 50 states, taking place from June 25 through July 10.
On June 14 — Flag Day, as well as Trump’s birthday — a large UFC fight will take place featuring the greatest champion fighters from around the world. Dana White will be hosting and it will take place at the White House.
During fall of 2026, Trump will also be hosting the “Patriot Games,” a young athletic competition. The Patriot Games will be a four-day event featuring the greatest high school athletes — one man and one woman — from each state and territory. He adds, “I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports, you’re not gonna see that, you’ll see everything but that.”
Across social media platforms, many are making a connection between Trump’s announcement of the games and the dystopian, post-apocalyptic Hunger Games, noting the similarities between his speech and speeches made in “The Hunger Games.” This includes Trump’s “one young man and one young woman” compared to the line, “select one courageous young man and woman,” Trump’s “the first ever Patriot Games” compared to “the Hunger Games,” and Trump’s “you’ll never see anything like it and you’ll never see anything like it again” compared to “we’ve never seen anything like this and we will never see anything like it again.”
Regardless of their views on President Trump’s announcement, those in the United States can expect to hear more about these events and more about his plans for America’s 250th birthday going forward into 2026.
New this academic year, Western has implemented a reward system called “Paw Points,” in which students can go to events around campus to earn spending points. Events that are listed as ones that participate will give out points to students who check in, which can then be traded in for various merchandise. On some occasions, students can earn Paw Points by filling out surveys sent to student emails if they specify that this incentive is provided on completion — one case being the recent email Jan. 8 from ASWOU — so students who are looking for more points should be sure to check their emails consistently.
To check which upcoming events are offering Paw Points for attending, students can log in to their Western Portal, navigate to the Involve icon in the top toolbar, click events and go to tags to filter for Paw Points. Students can also filter for events that offer three Paw Points, five or both. Then, all students have to do is attend the event listed, check in and receive their Paw Points.
Events coming up that offer Paw Points include a Law Careers Connect at the Student Success Center Jan. 14, a Phi Alpha Theta scavenger hunt at Hamersly Library Jan. 15, yoga at the Health and Wellness Center Jan. 15 and 20, MLK Day of Service at the Monmouth Senior Community Center Jan. 19, a ping pong tournament at the HWC Jan. 20 and a “Twilight” movie screening for Stalking Awareness Month at Abby’s House Jan. 27.
To view their current Paw Point balance, students can navigate to Involve, go to account and click login, and then scroll down to see their balance.
To redeem Paw Points, students can go to the Involve homepage and scroll down to the Paw Point store, where photos of Western merchandise that are available to redeem are listed. Below each picture is an amount listed for how many Paw Points each option costs. Once they find an item they’re interested in getting, students can submit an order form that an Involve admin will then verify, checking that the student has the required amount of Paw Points and that the item is still in stock. Once they approve the form, students can pick up their item at the information desk in the Werner University Center.
Items that are available right now to redeem for Paw Points include various pawprint pins, a red lanyard with pawprints as well as a Pride lanyard, hats in red, gray or black with the Western logo, a Wolfie squishmallow and plushie, a fleece blanket, a glass with the Western logo and a white water bottle that says Western Oregon University or a gray bottle with floral prints that has the Western logo. Items are limited to one per type per student.
A photo of state representative, Lesly Muñoz, talking about ICE in a presentation | Photo from @salem_dsa and @wou_ydsa on Instagram
Jan. 14 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
In 2025, ICE agents in Oregon reported over 1,100 arrests, their presence growing dramatically in comparison to 113 arrests recorded in 2024. With the increased presence, universities and schools across the country have grown aware of border patrol and begun to educate students on their rights.
In light of such events, Western students and Oregon state representative Lesly Muñoz are calling for Western to declare status as a sanctuary campus.
Sanctuary campuses are defined as colleges or universities that are dedicated to protecting undocumented immigrants through applied policies. Sanctuary campuses reject ICE presence without a warrant, refuse to share student documentation regarding citizenship and offer support in various formats, including legal and financial.
According to the Pew Research Center, there are between 200,000 and 245,000 undocumented college students in the United States.
Western’s Young Democratic Socialists of America have been campaigning in the 2025-26 school year to establish Western as a sanctuary campus to protect and defend undocumented students. “Our goal with this campaign was twofold: first, to make a declarative statement that WOU is a sanctuary campus, and, second, implement material demands that will make the campus safer for immigrant students,” said Jacob Prater, president of YDSA.
YDSA hopes for Western to implement a reporting hotline for ICE presence, which would accompany campus-wide text notices that ICE is nearby and “No-ICE Zones” that are clear and accessible for students. WOU faculty, staff and students would all be trained and educated on their rights.
And, while it would be more challenging, the push for sanctuary campus status would also offer undocumented students legal assistance through Western, but the source of funding remains uncertain.
“The statement itself is symbolic, but meant to show bravery in our school leadership, that they are willing to publicly stand up to the criminal activity of ICE,” said Prater. “We recently saw ICE murdered legal observer and citizen Renee Nicole Good. Lots of schools are afraid to make any public statements out of fear of getting targeted, but we believe that as a Hispanic-Serving Institution we’re already a target, any people of color are targets, and we’ve had plenty of publicity around our HSI status, so it’s not a secret we have the highest percentage of Hispanic students in the state.”
Western has been a Hispanic-Serving Institution since Spring term of 2025, which requires 25% of the student population or more to be Hispanic with full-time enrollment.
YDSA’s petition for Western to become a sanctuary campus is as follows: “In this wavering political climate where information about immigration activity is uncertain, WOU has an obligation to protect students, faculty, and campus workers from all possible oppressive threats, including ICE officers. We students recognize that WOU’s administration, faculty, and staff have repeatedly affirmed their dedication to serving our underserved students. With this in mind, we urge that you continue to implement effective policies and efforts. To protect our diverse community, WOU’s administration must continue to be proactive and publicly accountable.”
Oregon representative Lesly Muñoz joined YDSA in demanding sanctuary campus statuses for Oregon schools. “I don’t believe that it puts a target on your back. The target is there. If you have Latino students, you are a target. So please let those Latino students know they are at a safe campus … give them the dignity and respect they deserve.”
Muñoz also stressed the importance of welcoming all students through obtaining a sanctuary campus status that promotes community and safety.
Western has, on multiple occasions, mentioned ICE and made efforts to support students. In an email sent out Fall term, 2025, President Jesse Peters wrote, “Ongoing and recent ICE raids across the country have impacted numerous families and communities, creating feelings of uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. Members of our own wolf nation are dealing directly with these terrible circumstances … Your well-being is our priority, and we will continue to work to ensure everyone feels safe and supported.”
Oregon is a sanctuary state, meaning, as a state, it follows similar jurisdiction to sanctuary campuses, calling on government transparency, protecting immigrants and sharing minimal information with federal immigration officers.
“Our school admin has claimed we fall under sanctuary state laws and that is true, but if we believe we already fall under that category, we should be able to make a public statement in solidarity with our immigrant and POC students,” said Prater. “The fear to make a public statement shows the contradictions right there — yes, we are under sanctuary promise law, but we’re still afraid and not brave enough to make statements to encourage other schools to feel safer and to say we won’t put up with the criminal behavior of ICE.”
Whether or not Western will declare sanctuary campus status is unknown, but Prater, alongside YDSA, are continuing to push for tangible change.
Students gathered outside of the Werner University Center in counter-protesting efforts. | Photo courtesy of anonymous Western student
Jan 7. 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
On Dec. 3, the last Wednesday of classes during Fall term, a small group of livestreaming right-wing protesters approached Western’s Werner University Center midday and stayed on campus until after sunset, posted in the same place outside of the WUC with cameras, harassing passersby with aggravated speech and curses.
Nearly immediately, Western students assembled in and outside of the WUC in efforts to counter-protest.
The protesters were inside and outside of the WUC, but were unable to access deeper into the building due to the turnout of counter-protesting students that blocked their way.
While walking onto campus, the livestreamer @Tommy4Trump420 on X, formerly known as Twitter, said, “I’m ready for a good day. Hopefully of conversation and not violence.”
@Tommy4Trump420, whose real name is Thomas Allen, 36, of Portland, has been caught on camera assaulting protesters outside of Portland’s ICE facility. He was arrested and booked into jail under fourth-degree assault and second-degree disorderly conduct charges in early October. At least one other time, Allen was taken into custody by Portland police on charges of disorderly conduct and assault. While outside of the ICE building, Allen reportedly had a can of chemical spray and a metal baton on his person during at least one instance when he was arrested, and allegedly has since been told to stay 200 feet from the facility by a judge.
Additionally, Allen received charges Dec. 2, the day prior to his Western stand-off with students, of criminal trespass in the second degree. While live at Western, he said, “The DA, they know my name, and they hate me. They hate what we’re doing.”
According to Western’s university conduct, the Discrimination and Harassment policy applies to visitors and persons or groups “participating in or accessing university programs, activities, or facilities.” Western’s Human Resources department has defined discrimination as “Conduct directed at an individual or group that 1) excludes or denies an individual from participating in or benefiting from a university” and harassment as “Conduct directed toward an individual or group on the basis of a protected characteristic that is sufficiently severe or pervasive that it (creates) a work, educational or living environment that a reasonable person would consider threatening, hostile, or abusive.”
Allen was seen inside of the WUC and roaming campus, creating substantial disruption that could qualify as grounds for physical removal from campus property. Allen, amongst a few companions, did not face university action.
His first attempts at conversation with a student who shrugged him off resulted in him calling her “a triggered Democrat” and “pathetic.”
Within forty minutes of his arrival, a crowd of students had begun to gather. With them, they brought music, pride flags and a vocal response.
“They’re barking like dogs, cause that’s all they are,” said Allen, after being met with hostility on campus. “Circus animals, that’s what you guys are.”
The main talking points of the non-student protesters included ICE, transgender issues, abortion and deportation.
“If it was any other college, you guys would have gotten rejected,” he said. “Yeah, you’re getting indoctrinated with liberal arts degrees that you’re never going to use in your f—cking lives,” he said, interrupted, however, by student cheers.
After a woman swiped at Allen to lower his face covering, the tension escalated and groups of students closed in on the livestreamer, both sides yelling and cursing.
Students chanted: “Take it off” referring to his mask; “F—k Donald Trump”; “We are Wolves” and “Go home, Nazi,” as examples, during the last of which Allen cheered.
“This is my campus. Whose campus? Tommy’s campus,” he retaliated.
“We don’t f—ing stand for that. People are people, every f—ing day of the week,” said one student to Allen. “F—k off, and get out of my f—ing town.”
That same protester has been known to attend college campuses across the state, mainly in Portland, for the same means of protesting and livestreaming. Allen, at one point, entered a confrontation with a Latino student, saying, “Go back to where you came from. Are you illegal? ICE will catch you.”
University president, Jesse Peters, emailed a statement to the campus population: “You may have heard about the masked protesters wearing MAGA hats who gathered in front of the (WUC) this afternoon, attempting to promote messages of divisiveness and hate. We understand that these messages can feel personal and triggering, and you may feel compelled to engage with them. It is important to remember that exercising your right to express yourself is protected by both the US and Oregon Constitutions for all parties involved.”
Peters went on to state, “I am proud of the way our students responded today and proud of the support for each other.”
The email encouraged students to remain “respectful and civil” and that “robust debate of ideas and support (for) each person’s right to share their opinions, whether others agree or disagree” is welcomed.
One student alleged they saw Allen “shove” a student, but couldn’t be sure because of the thickness of the crowd. Another student said online that he “pushed multiple people, called a Black woman ‘a monkey,’ pushed her, and then, you know what? Nothing really happened,” after he made continuous racist and transphobic remarks.
During the live video, Allen is heard calling the woman “you stupid a— monkey.” It is unclear whether or not she was pushed in the footage.
Campus Public Safety officers did not intervene during the high-tension moments or when contact was made between the livestreamer and counter-protesters, such as when Allen and a counter-protester fought over a pride flag that kept touching him or in the earlier noted instance when attempts were made to lower his face covering, but was present nearby the commotion.
Western went on to host multiple awareness events during finals week to discuss free speech, freedom of expression and protests.
“We are responsible for keeping our university safe from harassment, discrimination, and intimidation,” said the university.
A photo of text that says “38% OFF BLACK FRIDAY!!” surrounded by jewelry. | Photo from @tweiky_official on Instagram
Dec. 3 2025 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
Black Friday gained billions of dollars in revenue this year. E-commerce tracker Adobe Analytics recorded $11.8 billion in online sales, a 9.1% increase from 2024 and $12.5 million spent by Americans every minute between local times of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Similarly, Cyber Monday saw $14.25 billion in profit, according to global news agency Reuters.
The National Retail Federation predicted that retail sales in November and December will reach $1 trillion in 2025, the highest to date. They noted the uncertainty of shoppers, but affirmed shoppers “remain fundamentally strong and continue to drive U.S. economic activity,” according to NRF President Matthew Shay.
Chief economist for the NRF, Mark Matthews, said, “The economy has continued to show surprising resilience in a year marked by trade uncertainty and persistent inflation.”
Economic advisor to the White House and director of the National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, stated that Black Friday sales proved increased income for Americans under the Trump administration.
Other research indicated that Americans spent more but bought less due to rising costs and restrictive discounts. Salesforce reported order volumes falling by 1% while selling prices were up by 7%, as well as units per transaction declining 2%, indicating fewer sales and higher costs.
RetailNext, a retail analytics provider, noted a 5.3% decline in in-store shopping year-over-year for Black Friday and the following Saturday. The majority of profit occurred online, proven by the closure of around an average of 1,100 malls per year from 2017 to 2022 as they face less in-person profit, contrasting with the climbing success of virtual stores.
Online, X, formerly known as Twitter, had users reporting on Black Friday spending and activity. One post, from @WallStreetApes, tallied more than 47,000 likes for indicating proof that the craft store Michaels “doubled the price of items and called it a Black Friday sale.”
In the comments, user @LanieASassyVet reported how an item they’d been watching on Amazon suddenly changed to indicate a Cyber Monday deal without dropping the price.
Discussions around the economic status of the U.S. have risen online and offline, questioning the integrity of Black Friday and Cyber Monday as industries rake in billions in revenue but customers walk away with less in their hands than they have historically. In fact, many Americans have participated in a mass black-out of no corporate spending, spanning Nov. 28 through Dec. 5, mainly against Amazon, Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Disney, Macy’s and Nordstrom’s, building off of previous boycotts against Starbucks and Disney from earlier this year. On Instagram, @commonsearth stated, “Choose brands that align with your values” — pursuing the conversation surrounding ethical spending for the holidays and corporate greed.
The countdown for Monmouth’s “Making Spirits Bright” has begun. This is a series of holiday-themed events that take place in Monmouth over the month of December, beginning Dec. 5 with the annual holiday parade.
To kick off the season, the Monmouth Business Association will be hosting several events Dec. 5, including free cocoa and cider, the Merry Market and the holiday parade, with activities in the Werner University Center to follow. The Merry Market will feature local businesses and artisans selling various goods, taking place in the WUC at 4 p.m. Following this, cocoa and cider will be offered next to the giant sequoia tree on campus. Along with refreshments, Western swag will be given away on a first-come, first-serve basis. This portion of the festivities is sponsored by WOU Alumni Relations and will begin at 5:30 p.m. The main event — the holiday parade — will take place at 6 p.m. for the 58th year in a row. The parade will start at the Monmouth Public Library and travel to campus along Monmouth Avenue. Following the parade, residents will hear welcome speeches from both the Monmouth and Independence mayors as well as Western’s president, Jesse Peters. The elementary school’s annual essay contest winner will also be announced, and the student will read their essay. Finally, a countdown will commence, and the sequoia tree will be lit. Following the parade, more events will take place in the WUC, such as photos with Santa in the Willamette Room and cookie decorating on the first floor.
From 5 to 9 p.m., residents can also visit local businesses downtown that offer specials and discounts during the Tree Lighting. To keep tabs on what businesses are offering, follow the Monmouth Business Association at @mbamonmouth on Instagram.
Residents can also participate in Wolfie on the Shelf all of December. To join in, travel to one of the local businesses participating and grab a passport to fill out during the event. Those who find Wolfie at 10 or more participating businesses can turn in their passport to be entered into a prize drawing. To find out which businesses are participating, visit the Monmouth Business Association website.
To get more into the giving nature of the holidays, residents can support Toys for Tots by donating toys and gifts to children in Monmouth and Independence who otherwise might not get any gifts. Running through Dec. 15, toys or donations can be dropped off at Fee Mail Depot. During the last holiday season, Polk, Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties were able to support 13,873 children.
For more holiday cheer, grab some hot cocoa and visit Main Street Park and downtown Monmouth to view Christmas lights and displays.
A photo of the Oregon State Capitol. | Photo from @theholmanhotel on Instagram
Dec. 3 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
In mid November, the state of Oregon found itself in a $373 million budget deficit, showing over the next two years. State Democrats are placing blame on the Trump administration due to federal tax code changes from “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Because Oregon’s tax code aligns with federal tax changes automatically, the bill led to a reduction of $888 million to Oregon’s estimated income, and now the state is looking to cut 5% of every legislatively approved budget. Oregon did prepare for this in 2025 by allocating $472 million of reserve funds, but it wasn’t enough to cover the $888 million of income lost. Most sectors say they can get through the two years with the cuts, but employees will have to take on extra workloads, and the cuts needed may leave people struggling. State representatives are in debate over what to cut, and have acknowledged that they are in a tough position because they need to make budget restrictions, but also want to preserve state services that Oregonians rely on. Going forward, state representatives are focusing on protecting essential services in Oregon if they can.
A possible area of budget reduction is in education. This includes grants for career and technical education as well as funding for STEM programs. Representatives are also looking to pause attendance improvement efforts, Oregon Promise community college scholarships and childcare grants that help low-income college students stay enrolled.
Another area that may receive cuts is the Oregon Department of Human Services. This could include cuts in provider and contractor rates, caseload and eligibility related cuts, workforce reductions, a possible elimination of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, cuts to public health outreach programs and a possible pause of financial and case management services for low-income seniors who are homeless or at risk.
Public safety also faces risks of budget cuts. Representatives are asking them to make a 5% cut, along with most other sectors, against the advice of public safety officials. They say if cuts were made, it would force the accelerated release of some young offenders, increase crowding in jails, impact court security and delay hearings and trials.
Finally, the Oregon Department of Transportation has potential budget cuts that mostly include project delays, such as the Boone Ridge replacement in Wilsonville and the McCord Creek Bridge project in Cascade Locks.
Recently, the $373 million deficit shrank to $63.1 million. Representatives have linked this shrinkage to “found money,” meaning the state received adjusted corporate income tax from several large Oregon corporations. While this greatly helps Oregon’s financial situation, representatives are still aiming to make cuts ranging from 2.5%-5% from sectors to account for the remaining deficit.
A photo of what the new payment system will look like. | Photo courtesy of Ashley Schaumburg
Dec. 3 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
Western’s business office has announced that they will be coming out with a new payment system starting in December. The current payment system was created by Western with help from U.S. Bank so that it would work well with the Portal system already in place. The business office was already working on changes, such as optimizing a one-point payment system — meaning students only need to go to one place to pay rather than the seven different cashier options currently — and adding credit card machines at front windows for payments. Due to the disappearance of Wolf Web though, they have additional upcoming changes to the online payment system itself they’re working on. By the end of December, Wolf Web will be completely integrated into the new Portal applet, Experience. Since Western’s payment system was through Wolf Web, it will also transition.
This process will be split into rollouts, all of which will be completed by May 2026. The first rollout will start in the second week of December to ensure students can make payments once Wolf Web disappears. This rollout introduces Transact, and will include the basics that are needed for students: a place to pay bills and student SS9 pages — student profile pages — where students can see their account balance and receipt numbers after payments, as well as an account summary and tax notifications. Their SS9 account allows them to view all statements and tax forms in one place.
During this first rollout, students can also send invites to parents or guardians. After a student sends an invite, their parental figure can open the invite, where they will see the student’s name and a link that takes them to a page where they can see both the student’s account and their account. Under their account, they can check account balances and make payments on their student’s tuition. They can also see if there is a pending balance, in case the student made a payment earlier.
When a payment is made under Transact, the system will list the remaining balance. Payments can be made with Apple Pay, a credit or debit card or an ACH. Students and parents should keep in mind that card payments will still have a small fee; the system will alert them to check the fee amount before paying.
During the second rollout, the business office will be working to offer payment plans. The type of payment plan that will be offered will be a three-month plan in which students can split their tuition payments into smaller increments once a month for three months. Students can also have the option to set up an auto payment at the beginning, so they don’t have to go back to manually pay during the payment plan.
The business office also hopes to set up 529 plans during the second or third rollout, meaning students can make electronic payments from a college savings account.
During later rollouts, the business office is looking to see if they can create stores through the financial page in Experience. This would mean that if a campus organization were to sell tickets or anything else, students could purchase them straight from their Portal, meaning they have an option to pay other than cash.
There aren’t any clear dates for what’s to come in the second and third rollouts of the new system, but Western’s business office assured that everything they are planning will be in place by May of next year.
Todd Hall was built in 1912 and was originally 10,800 square feet, costing about $50,000 — equivalent to $1.65 million today — to build. With its steep roof, small glass windows, red brick detailing and chimney, the building was constructed in a Tudor style, common for the time period. The original purpose of Todd Hall was to house students on campus, with students starting to move in in 1913. In 1921, additional dorm rooms were added to the building along with a second dining room, and later in the same year renovations took place to add the West Wing, the Music Room and the Arcade. The kitchen and dining room were moved to the new Student Center in 1960 and the space was transformed to only encompass dorm rooms, a living room and two study rooms. This remodel cost about $31,000. The building started housing the Teaching Research Division in the 1970s, until it eventually became the Todd Hall we know with classrooms, offices and PsychPAC. Todd Hall received its namesake from Jessica Todd, the first dean of women and the first director of dormitories at Western. She was born in 1869 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and moved to Monmouth in 1912 when she became the supervisor of critic teachers for Monmouth Training School. When Todd moved to Monmouth and started working at Western, she recognized a need for a dormitory on campus and helped petition to the state for funds to build a women’s dorm, ultimately leading to the construction of Todd Hall. In 1926, she received an honorary baccalaureate in recognition for her exceptional work on campus. When she eventually retired in 1931, the Oregon State Board of Education unanimously agreed to name the dormitory she directed after her, thus creating Todd Hall. Jessica Todd was a strong advocate for women living on campus, but was known for her very strict nature. Her dormitory was strictly an all-girls dorm, and she was often reported to push her teachings of how to be a “proper woman” onto the girls living in her dormitory. She would promptly lock the dormitory doors right at curfew and make her residents say goodbye to their dates right before she did so. For these reasons, the girls in her residence would often be known to sneak boys in through the basement — which was then the laundry room. Jessica Todd eventually died in 1944, but it is speculated that her spirit may live on. Rumors have spread around campus that her ghost still lives in Todd Hall to this day, and students often report strange occurrences like hearing footsteps or seeing lights flicker. Most of her ghost sightings originate from the bathroom because it was the room that used to be her living space. It’s also theorized that her ghost targets men specifically because her building was an all-girls dormitory and she doesn’t like men inside. Whether these speculations are true or not, Jessica Todd was one of the big reasons women were able to have a place to live on campus, and paved the way for the historic and unique Todd Hall known today.
A photo of a student study group in the Hamersly library. Pictured left to right: Kalyn Gambill (junior), Preet Dhaliwal (senior) and Richard Loos (junior). | Photo by Hannah Field
Nov. 19 2025 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
Starting Jan. 5, 2026, all staff members will be required to work on campus five days a week due to a request by Western president, Jesse Peters. The request excludes faculty, meaning professors, but includes all other full-time employees at Western, such as janitorial staff, advisers, counselors, administrators and others.
Any part-time staff member may review their hours with their supervisor, who will then, on a case-by-case basis, determine the best course of action for the staff member. No further information was disclosed regarding the new rule and the effects of the changes are yet to be seen until Winter term begins.
According to Western spokesperson Maureen Brakke, faculty are encouraged to be on campus and communicate with the community as much as possible. With that in mind, the university is aware of additional responsibilities connected to teaching, scholarship and service, leading to greater flexibility for faculty hours. Many professors on campus are long-distance, either via commute or purely teaching online. While the potential of that changing seems unlikely, Western in the new year will be pushing toward in-person classes more than ever before.
“This decision comes in light of WOU’s strong tradition of in-person classroom instruction, with many faculty and students expressing a preference for enhanced face-to-face learning experiences,” said Brakke.
With in-person classes as one of the main priorities of Western at this time, President Peters also requested that the Academic Affairs Division assess undergraduate courses and determine which should be offered as hybrid or fully online options. Considering previous statements from Western, it’s likely that fewer online courses will be available.
Those changes, however, have no announced timeline. The faculty will complete an audit of online and hybrid classes by the end of Winter term, which will then offer more information to the school about maintaining or altering those as online options.
With that information being gathered at the end of March, it’s unlikely that any major changes will take place in the Spring term of 2026 following the week-long break.
“Nothing will be changing immediately,” said Brakke.
A photo of the king tides crashing over a large rock. | Photo from @tillamookcoast on Instagram
Nov. 19 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
King tides — formally known as perigean spring tides — made an appearance along the Oregon coast Nov. 4-7. These tides occur when a full or new moon reaches perigee, when the moon is at the closest point in orbit to the Earth, and when the sun, moon and Earth are in alignment. The combination of these two things creates a strong gravitational pull on the ocean, which leads to higher-than-normal tides that push waves the furthest upshore. In general, king tides are the highest level of tides that can be predicted. Scientists have pointed out factors that contribute to these recent king tide occurrences being more drastic and deadly than others. Over the past decade, sea levels have continued to rise drastically from climate change. The continually higher sea levels cause king tides to reach a higher point on the shore. Additionally, the coast has faced turbulent weather, with large wind and rain storms causing harsher conditions in the ocean. The high levels of wind cause water to swell, intensifying the waves and making the king tides stronger. Normally, king tides aren’t as dangerous, but the combination of all these factors made the tides that occurred recently the most dangerous that have happened. Newport, Oregon was hit the worst, and was reported to have tides that rose higher than 10 feet. Oregon scientists discussed the high possibility of erosion and flooding. Because the tides were predicted to be so harsh, it was likely that the tides coming so far into the shore would create erosion along the sand and rocks. The tides combined with the stormy weather were a big indicator for flooding as well, potentially even up to U.S. Route 101. Scientists are using the king tide occurrences to observe and document the impacts rising sea levels have on erosion and flooding. The king tides often attract tourists, whether it be for photography or just viewing. While watching them can be an amazing opportunity, residents are advised by Oregon scientists to remember the dangers they create. Those who go are encouraged to watch from a safe distance and area, and remember to never turn their back on the ocean. Many residents enjoy visiting the beaches after the tides occur as well, because the high tides often bring in copious amounts of sea treasures for collectors. If anyone likes sea combing, they are recommended to visit right after the king tides because they often yield the best finds. For those who missed these occurrences of the king tides and would like the opportunity to go see them, the tides will appear again Dec. 4-6, 2025, and Jan. 1-4, 2026.
Maaske Hall while under construction for asbestos abatement. | Photo by Hannah Field
Nov. 19 2025 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
Maaske Hall is facing renovations through the end of Fall term on the first floor. Construction began Monday, Nov. 17, and is expected to take roughly three weeks. In an email sent out to campus, the school reported that a contractor would perform asbestos abatement, which is the process of identifying asbestos and removing, repairing or encapsulating it. Asbestos is a cancer-causing substance, affects the lungs through irritation and causes scarring to the lung tissue. Most often found in buildings or cars, asbestos is present in many buildings built before the 1980s, found in various places such as piping, insulation and roofing. It was a common building material before it was found to be harmful, because of its anti-corrosion and heat-resistant properties. Due to the risks, the first floor was sealed off to the rest of the building as well as the outside. Students, staff and faculty are asked to not attempt entry into the first floor of Maaske Hall. An exterior elevator is present for use on the north side of the building to enter upstairs, with many offices in the building for faculty on the second and third floors. Further renovations are reportedly coming in the following Winter and Spring terms, including new flooring, lighting and fresh paint, but no further information was released hinting at what kind of changes or upgrades are coming to the building other than the overall goal: to build a Forensic Education Center. The center will be an interdisciplinary collaboration in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, led by the Division of Criminal Justice and the Department of Chemistry. “The space will provide hands-on learning in the field of forensics and provide opportunities for wider community and regional engagement,” said Rebecca Chiles, assistant vice president, in an informative email sent to campus. Maaske Hall is tucked between the Werner University Center and the Math and Nursing Building. It harbors no classes, so students often pass right by it, and many were previously unaware of any inside damage or potential harm, up until the asbestos abatement began and a large danger-sealed gray hallway was sealed to the front doors. Ideally, it’ll attract students for more than their professors’ office hours with the planned Forensic Education Center, which is a first for Western and could spark a lot of positive change in the college community.
Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu
A black-and-white photo of the 2023-2024 women’s basketball team playing a match at Western, posted Dec. 4, 2023. | Photo from @wou_wolves and @wouwbb on Instagram
Nov. 19 2025 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
In January of 2025, nine former basketball players from the women’s team at Western filed a $28.2 million lawsuit against the college, coaches Jessica Peatross and Demetrius “DJ” Marlow, athletic director Randi Lydum, Dean of Students Malissa Larson and President Jesse Peters, alleging abuse from coaches Peatross and Marlow that, once reported, led to retaliation via rescinded scholarships.
The 2023-24 women’s basketball season was cut short with six games left without detailed explanation from the university following a practice Feb. 12, 2024. Western conducted an internal investigation while Peatross and Marlow were put on paid administrative leave Feb. 19 until being reinstated two months later after no conduct violations were found.
Recent investigations from the Statesman Journal reported the internal investigation, handled by law firm Littler Mendelson P.C., had “misquoted players, misconstrued situations and misstated what happened during a contentious practice on Feb. 12, 2024, and in the days after it.”
The alleged event included one player, Hanne Hopkins, who bumped into Head Coach Peatross during a drill, which turned into Peatross accusing Hopkins of running into her intentionally and telling her to leave practice, and was captured on video saying “I’m your coach. Get out. Get out. Y’all don’t get a choice.”
The day after, Peatross called the Monmouth Police Department and said she was intentionally elbowed in the chest at the practice and she had left practice to go to the hospital, where she experienced pain on a scale of 1-10 at a 10, and that it felt even worse the next day.
The video taken on a team member’s phone shows Peatross “talking calmly” after the alleged incident, said the Statesman Journal.
Two days after that, Peatross filed a report with Campus Public Safety and said she was experiencing chest and head pain, shortness of breath and nausea. The police officer whom Peatross spoke to earlier tried to contact Peatross for a month following the incident, but heard nothing back, and was denied access to the video by the university according to the Statesman Journal. From there, the investigation was requested to be closed due to “lack of cooperation,” per the police officer.
Monmouth police officers were eventually able to review the video and saw no indication of forceful or intentional contact from the player to Peatross. Police also did not see evidence to support Peatross being injured or in pain.
The team soon met in a small conference room where, when asked, 10 players voted to not play the six games remaining in their season. According to the Statesman Journal, some of the players expressed feeling pressured by the coaches to leave the team, with Peatross allegedly giving an ultimatum to player Ana McClave: “You either quit or you come and you kiss my ass.”
Both coaches were placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 19, 2024.
Players also alleged intense physical activity during practices, noting physical illness, dehydration and vomiting. The lawsuit states that if they did not complete the exercises, the punishment was more laps, with McClave stating, “The running we had to do, it wasn’t for speed, quickness or strength, it was for harm and to see how they could break us.”
One player, Kailiana Ramos, reported losing 20 pounds, and McClave was forced to engage in practices without being cleared by a doctor after knee surgery. Player Jodi Noyes said that Peatross and Marlow claimed “nobody’s welcome back” on the team after they learned of private discussions about the coaches.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges NCAA rule violations, such as forcing players to miss their classes, pray before games and sign sheets that indicate they “weren’t practicing too much,” with team bonding events on the calendar actually being excessive physical exercise practices.
Peatross allegedly suggested that Noyes quit taking her antidepressant medication in November of 2023. Noyes obliged, but told university staff, who said it would be reported to athletic director Randi Lydum. No changes followed, and it’s unclear if Lydum did or did not receive the information. Lydum and Dean of Students Malissa Larson met with four players individually and “promised immediate changes that never happened,” wrote the Statesman Journal.
The lawsuit states that Lydum told a player, “These coaches deceived us, and this is not what we wanted for the school.”
The coaches were reinstated in April of 2024. A small group of players met with WOU Board of Trustees Chair Betty Komp to explain the situation, but no action took place. Letters came in April 23 to players still eligible to play that said their scholarships were terminated.
Littler Mendelson, which is based in the U.S. and is the world’s largest firm specializing in labor and employment law, was paid $33,696 to conduct the investigation by Western. The firm claimed that Feb. 12, during the practice where Peatross alleged she was elbowed intentionally, that Hopkins, the player who made contact with Peatross, was warned to not perform the action by McClave. The investigation also claimed that the lawsuit inaccurately reported Hopkins’ response to Peatross following the event, which was captured on camera, despite citing the video filmed by a player. It also allegedly wrongfully stated which players were told to leave and who was allowed to stay at practice, and contained conflicting information regarding who remained.
The investigation implied that the three students — Hopkins, McClave and Ramos — involved in the conflict failed to follow university conduct when they did not immediately oblige Peatross’ demand for them to leave. The report also did not clarify the intention in the contact between Peatross and the student.
In another incident, McClave claimed that Assistant Coach Marlow collided with her Jan. 4, 2024, reinjuring her left knee post-surgery. The Littler Mendelson report “casts doubt if McClave was injured in that collision,” according to the Statesman Journal. However, McClave documented being in pain and sought help from athletic trainer Sara Gordon.
The report itself implicated team members Ana McClave and sister Cali McClave of having a negative influence over the culture of the team and implied criticism of team members for addressing concerns with Lydum over Peatross and Marlow. The players were addressed as “problematic” in the investigation and it also stated that Lydum appeared to understand that.
Western denied the request to share the report with the Statesman Journal. Following an appeal that handed the report to the Statesman Journal, Western filed a lawsuit against journalist Bill Poehler, who was providing coverage on the ongoing lawsuit, requesting a court order to clarify what information the university is required to submit. Ultimately, Western was ordered to provide the documentation by a district attorney.
Western is seeking to dismiss the lawsuit from the nine basketball players. The lawsuit was moved to federal court in February of 2025; the Statesman Journal reported, “The sides are in a lengthy discovery process that has a deadline of June 5, 2026.”
