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.
