News – The Western Howl

Addressing sexual assault on campus

2014 | Laura Knudson | Editor-in-Chief

With national discussion building in response to the 89 colleges under investigation for mishandling sexual assault cases, one thing has become glaringly hard to ignore: sexual violence can happen anywhere.

Since the start of this school year, half a dozen sexual assault cases have been reported at Western, according to Dr. Gary Dukes, vice president of student affairs.

“So far we’ve had the most consistent amount of referrals we’ve ever had,” said Andrea Doyle Hugmeyer, assistant director of Abby’s House, a resource and referral center available to persons of any gender for a number of issues.

In previous years, Doyle Hugmeyer said reports were scattered, with some months yielding no reports. So far, Abby’s House has had weekly referrals from sexual assault survivors since fall term started.

In 2013, six reports of sexual assault were filed with Campus Public Safety, and seven anonymous reports were filed with the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, according to Campus Public Safety’s published statistics, indicating that there may have been as many as 13 reported sexual assaults in 2013, or as few as six.

Although there is a rise in consistent reports already this year, it does not necessarily mean it’s happening more on campus. Doyle Hugmeyer said she hopes it means people are using Abby’s House as a resource more than before.

“I don’t know if people are reporting more because there is more support, but I think there is more awareness because of the culture,” said Nancy Minnick, Campus Public Safety Committee Scribe.

Students acknowledge sexual assault as a reality on campus. Whether it is sexual, verbal, or on social media, “assault happens here,” said Brittany App, Senior ASL major. “It happens everywhere.”

“Our campus doesn’t differ from anywhere else,” said Bryan Kelley, junior Humanities major.

Studies conducted since the 1980s have shown a consistent figure of one in four college women reporting that they survived either rape or attempted rape, at some point in their lifetime, according to oneinfourusa.org.

“Until that number is gone, it will always be an issue,” said Marissa Onshus-Womble, Advocate of Abby’s House.

A 2007 national rape study funded by the Department of Justice found 11 percent of college women who experience rape, report it to the police.

Rape is the least reported of all violent crimes according to a 2009 National Crime Victimization Survey.

DEFINING SEXUAL ASSAULT

In attempts to diminish sexual assault, the Obama administration launched their “It’s On Us” campaign in September, aimed at engaging men in prevention measures, effectively responding to assault by increasing transparency in the federal government’s effort to enforce laws.

However, campuses like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found students were unsure of what constituted sexual assault. An MIT survey showed 17 percent of female students fit the sexually assaulted description, but only 11 percent checked yes on the survey when asked if they had been.
Dukes said victims are not always sure if they have been assaulted.

According to Western’s sexual misconduct web page, sexual misconduct is defined as non-consensual sexual contact. Sexual contact includes “touching of any private body part, including, but not limited to genitalia, buttocks, anus or breasts of another or causing such person to touch genitalia, anus, buttocks or breasts of another.” It also includes attempts to have non-consensual sexual contact, the threat of such contact, sexual exploitation, emotional/psychological abuse, sexual harassment and stalking.

The webpage categorizes behavior non-consensual if “no consent is freely given, the person is substantially impaired by alcohol or drugs, or the person is otherwise without the physical or mental capacity to give clear consent.”
When it comes to consent, Abby’s House supports the “Yes means yes” campaign. “Yes means yes” legislation adopted in states like California, put the focus of sexual consent on mutually agreed-upon sexual activity. Consent is mutual and continuous and requires partners to pay attention to physical and emotional cues as well.

Verbal consent should be repeated often, said Onshus-Womble.
“Just because you consented one time doesn’t mean you will the next,” she added.

“And you have the right to change your mind,” said Jessica Fontaine, another advocate for Abby’s House.

Both said students should consent every step of the way whether it be kissing or having sex.

For students who may still be unsure of whether or not they were assaulted, Fontaine said it was simple.

“The difference between someone who was raped and someone who wasn’t is that the person who was raped was in the presence of the rapist,” she said. “That’s the only factor.”

THE SURVIVORS YOU DON’T HEAR ABOUT

When most people hear the word rape, they visualize a woman being assaulted by a man, Doyle Hugmeyer said. But there are other victims we fail to acknowledge.

Males can be sexually assaulted, as can persons in same-sex relationships.

One in six men are found to have experienced sexual assault before age 18 according to 1in6.org.

“Abuse and assault is linked with asserting power and trying to control power happens in various forms,” Doyle Hugmeyer said. “You can be assaulted by someone of any gender or any sexual identity.”

The reason we don’t hear about male sexual assault is because men are typically viewed as physically stronger and more powerful than women, Doyle Hugmeyer said. “To be sexually assaulted means that the victim is put in the position of being controlled,” which is something we associate more with women, she added.

When men report sexual assault it “basically feminizes them,” she said.

Similarly, one reason we may not hear about same-sex relationship violence, is due to the “the layer of additional stress and barriers because some people are homophobic,” said Doyle Hugmeyer.

Despite stigmas and myths that sexual assault only happens to women, students acknowledge that it can happen to everyone.

“I believe that men can and sometimes are sexually assaulted, be it by men or by women,” said Isaac Golden, Junior Psychology major.”

Jenna Beresham, senior ALS major agreed saying, “Anyone of any race, gender, sexuality and so forth can be sexually assaulted.”

“I think that there are a lot of men on our campus that share these beliefs in the sense that they want to see change happen,” said Doyle Hugmeyer.

SURVIVING IN A VICTIM-BLAMING CULTURE

Victim blaming culture refers to an attitude that the survivor is at fault for their assault because of their behavior.

Deborah Thompson, executive director of Sable House, an organization in Dallas, serving domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, said, commonly used excuses for assault include: “She shouldn’t have been wearing that low-cut blouse,” “She was out late,” and “She didn’t fight it off.”

“I absolutely do not think any girl alive has asked to be assaulted,” said Bridget Conklin, senior English major.
Yet, some feel clothing options do play a role.

“Sexual assault can be intensified by choice of clothing and is a factor, but if someone intends to sexually assault, it doesn’t matter what is being worn by others,” said Jennifer P., senior.

The drug enforcement agency of the Department of Justice lists alcohol as the number one most common used drug in sexual assault

Dress attire and alcohol consumption could be reasons why some colleges aim sexual assault education at risk reduction, teaching students how to be safe.

Doyle Hugmeyer says while discussions of risk reduction are important in terms of staying conscious of safety, instructing potential rape victims to dress more modest or drink less should not be the only way to address sexual assault. It takes responsibility off the perpetrator, she says, and can be difficult to identify when discussion boarders on blame, ultimately making things worse for survivors.

“It’s a hard line to identify and try not to cross,” she said. “On one end it’s important to acknowledge how to stay safe on campus. But if that’s the strongest method that prevails in our community, we aren’t doing it the right way.”
In terms of improving how sexual assault is addressed on campus, “Eliminating the victim-blaming culture is the biggest thing we can do that,” said Fontaine.

PUTTING FOCUS ON THE PERPETRATOR

Focus should be placed on “not raping,” Doyle Hugmeyer said, and focusing on the offenders.

“We get a lot of models of sexual behavior from the media and often times sexuality is tied to power and control,” she said. “So if we were to change the model to reflect different behaviors like getting consent every step of the way, that would be huge in seeing sexual assault diminish.”

Most importantly, “If a woman tells you she was sexually assaulted – believe her,” said Doyle Hugmeyer. “That’s a big step in putting the attention on the perpetrator. It means that we are validating the experience.”
These conversations have occurred for quite some time, said Doyle Hugmeyer. “I think now is an appropriate time to formalize the conversation and put things into action on campus.”

Combating assault with campus-wide conversation

A men’s social justice group is in the works for Abby’s House, lead by advocate Kevin Gutierrez, in attempts to start a conversational group, discussing topics related of masculinity and gender norms.

“The goal is to create a campus discussion, said Doyle Hugmeyer. “We hope that clubs emerge out of that group that would essentially do educational programming and activism related to meet these issues from a male ally standpoint.”

After receiving grants from the WOU foundation, advocates also put together a media campaign, creating sexual violence posters and informational video clips.

A phone app will also be available on iTunes in a few weeks, providing campus and community resources and information on what to do if you experience sexual violence.

Through Western’s Campus Against Sexual Assault grant (CASA) from the U.S. Department of Justice, Abby’s House is looking into funding a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Doyle Hugmeyer said they would hire a “SAME” nurse on campus or in

Dallas to be available for “safe kits.” When a person is sexually assaulted they are able to seek a safe kit, which includes DNA swabbing, vaginal examination, urine samples and other forensic procedures.

“As of right now the closest nurse to do that is the Salem hospital,” Doyle Hugmeyer said, which can be a problem if the student does not have transportation.

In creating campaigns and starting discussion groups, the hope of Abby’s House is to create many opportunities for students to seek help. “It’s something every campus should be moving toward,” she said.

“Ideally we’d like to have an environment where sexual assault doesn’t happen,” said Dukes. “I generally feel like we are doing a good job, but clearly we can always do a better job.”

REPORTING SEXUAL ASSAULT

When asked what the first thing a victim should do after being sexually assaulted, Doyle Hugmeyer said, “It’s going to vary by victim, but go to a safe place.” She said this could be the counseling center, or to a member of the CARE team, a friend’s house or even to an Resident Assistant.

Abby’s House is also a place where victims can seek help from trained members in regard to referrals for sexual assault or just to come in and talk, Fontaine said.
The first step is confiding in a campus resource or someone you trust, Fontaine said. “We can’t have justice for our survivors if we don’t know that it happened to them.”

To report a sexual assault or seek help regarding sexual/domestic violence, contact Abby’s House at 503-838-8219, abbyshouse@wou.edu or stop by their location on the bottom floor of the Werner University Center, room 106. To file an official report for criminal action, call Campus Public Safety at 503-838-8481, or the Monmouth Police Department at 503-838-1109. To file a student conduct report, contact the WOU Office of Student Conduct at 503-838-8930.

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Normalizing the conversation

2014 | Allison Opson Clement | News Editor

“What we’re there to do is to provide a safe place for people to talk about their feelings about death and dying” – Dr. Paula Baldwin

Death Cafe will open a free, informal discussion to the public about death and dying, at 2 p.m. in Gentle House on Sunday, Nov. 2.

A Death Cafe is an informal venue: people sit at tables, snack and talk. Typically, each table will have a facilitator, whose task is to keep the conversation focused on death.

“What we’re there to do is to provide a safe place for people to talk about their feelings about death and dying,” said Dr. Paula Baldwin, assistant professor of communication studies and the main organizer for Western’s first Death Cafe.

“There’s a tremendous amount of superstition about talking about death,” said Baldwin. For example, Baldwin said, people may retain the sense that if they speak about dying directly, it will happen to them. “The Grim Reaper, it’s like that’s a real person,” she added.

To deal with that feeling, many euphemisms were developed to avoid the direct mention of death. People speak of losing a loved one, Baldwin explained, but that person is not simply wandering around the building; if someone has ‘moved on’ they aren’t living in the next town over.

“People have a hard time talking about death and dying. You know, there’s a lot of metaphors and figures of speech we use,” Baldwin said. It’s a grassroots movement to help normalize the conversation, she added.

“This doesn’t come from a morbid place, no,” said Kate Brassington, a Portland Death Cafe organizer. “My focus is on life, and on the living and what death means to those.”

The Death Cafe welcomes a variety of individuals: those who have suffered a loss, those who may be aware that they are coming to the end of their own lives, even people who, for whatever reason, are simply curious, or interested in talking about death in an open way.

“I don’t think the appropriate time to talk about it is towards the end,” said Baldwin. “None of us are getting out alive.”

However, this is not a grief counseling group. That, said Baldwin, they leave to professionals.

“Every other person I’ve invited into this conversation, with an open heart and an open mind, looked me in the eye, and took my hand, and thanked me, for letting them be who they are: a person who will die, and who has one chance to do it, and who has one chance to live, because of it,” said Brassington.

After one email, 18 of the 25 spots had been taken within five days.

“For me, this seems like a natural extension of what I do,” Baldwin said, who has been involved in end-of-life research since 2007.

Historically, as family members aged, their relatives would take care of them, ease them through their final days, prepare the bodies and bury them. These days, however, people frequently have only minimal experience, which only serves to exacerbate the problem.

“It’s very much removed from the actual process,” Baldwin said. She considers this shift similar to what happened with the food industry: whereas people formerly had to kill and prepare animals they intended to eat; now we get our meat in plastic packages.

John Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid used Swiss psychologist Bernard Crettaz’s ideas to create the first Death Café. A social worker named Lizzy Miles met Underwood and brought back the idea to the United States. Since its beginning in 2011, according to deathcafe.com, over 12,000 people have attended Death Cafes.

“That was a rousing success,” said Baldwin. “It’s taken off.”

Baldwin said that one London group is planning to make theirs a permanent fixture, rather than assembling for individual meetings.

“Whatever that spark is that makes us alive, if you’ve ever seen a dead body, you know that that’s gone,” said Baldwin. “It really gives you a nice appreciation of life.”

For more information, to learn how to find a Death Cafe or start your own, visit deathcafe.com.

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New course evaluation system opens

Allison Opson Clement | News Editor

What: Online course evaluations
Where: WOU Portal
When: Until 6:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12

Western’s new course evaluation system is being used for the first time across campus, returning to students the ability to provide feedback on classes and professors for the first time in a year.

CollegeNet’s What Do You Think? program was chosen last spring, and after testing over the summer, this is the first time it will be used on a university-wide scale.

Dr. Mary Pettenger, chairperson of the Joint Committee on Course Evaluations, said that it is definitely past time to resume regular evaluations.

According to Pettenger, there were several problems with the former system and the university had a hard time keeping the program operational.

“It’s been a long process to try to come up with a new system,” Pettenger said.

The old paper system, prior to Western’s latest online evaluation system, was prohibitively expensive, and difficult to manage, according to Pettenger. Data access is also much easier with the new CollegeNet system.

According to CollegeNet.com, What Do You Think? saved the University of Oregon over $200,000 in paper, printing, scanning and labor in the first year of use.

Dr. Mark Perlman, president of the Western Oregon University Federation of Teachers (WOUFT, Western’s faculty union), said not having course evaluations is not option, because faculty members need to have a tool to judge their work.

“Students should have a voice, and we want to hear what their answers are,” Perlman said. “We’ve gone long enough without having a system; it’s kind of embarrassing.”

First year Westin Kmetz said it is good to have course evaluations, because the teachers gain a better understanding of student opinions and perceptions in their classrooms. Keeping communication open between students and teachers is important, Kmetz added.

“When you don’t get feedback as a teacher, I feel like you keep doing the same things,” Kmetz said. He feels that evaluations are useful to help the teacher understand what they are doing right or wrong.

Dr. Bryan Dutton, chair of WOUFT’s bargaining team, said evaluations are important.

“I really value it because it’s a way to make improvements,” Dutton said. “It’s clear that faculty are pleased that evaluations will be a regular part of our process.”

Yet, the evaluations can’t do anything if they’re not filled out.

“In order to get reliable data, we need to figure out a way to get students to respond,” Pettenger said.

“It also improves response rates when students believe they are being heard,” said Dr. Cat McGrew, former chairperson of the Joint Committee on Course Evaluations and current director of academic affairs. “No one wants to waste their time, so knowing you can make a difference, makes a difference.”

The university administration and the faculty union are in the beginning stages of discussing the impact of potentially using open-ended short-answer questions in course evaluations, according to McGrew.

Perlman said there are people that are skeptical of open-ended questions, and there are some who want open-ended questions.

“I wish I had more freedom in it,” Kmetz said, adding that the multiple choice questions worked for most people. He added that there may be too many meanings behind some answers, which may confuse the teacher over the kinds of responses they are getting.

To clear up communication, said Kmetz, the possibility of adding open-ended responses to the multiple-choice would be the most useful, efficient style. Students wouldn’t have to respond with more if they didn’t have anything else to say, but that would be an option for students who wanted to say more.

“I see it as a positive because it will allow faculty to have a greater understanding of what the numbers mean,” McGrew said of open-ended questions.

McGrew has a file of email print-outs from students who contacted her office, commenting that they wanted a place to explain their responses to multiple-choice questions, or wanted a place to add more about their course or professor. They want to say what they think, McGrew said; they want to be heard.

Perlman said these ten questions do provide enough information for students and professors to start with now. The rest of the discussion, such as the potential for open-ended questions, will take place later.

“We wanted to get the bulk of it rolling,” Perlman said. For now, everyone settled on ten multiple-choice questions, he said.

Faculty objections seem to be not over course evaluations or open-ended questions in general, according to Dutton, but in the implementation. Professors may be concerned about how the questions are asked, shaping the kinds of answers given, as well as what will be done with these responses, Dutton said.

According to Dutton, there is a real science behind the formulation of questions, which is part of why the faculty union has the right to approve the final draft of questions, and open-ended questions will be discussed later.

Perlman explained that there are a variety of factors that impact what kinds of questions are asked, and especially how they are asked.

“We haven’t really explored all the issues with open-ended questions,” said Dutton. He said that conversation will be taking place soon, probably through this academic year, and added that there is no real timeline that can be established until they know all the issues and all the positions that will arise.

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Workshop offers understanding of dynamics for deaf & hearing coworkers

Katrina Penaflor | Freelancer

What: Deaf-hearing workplace dynamics workshop
Where: Columbia Room, Werner University Center
When: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Nov.22
Admission:
For more information, contact: Dr. Cheryl Davis at davisc@wou.edu, or call 503-838-8053

Deaf-hearing cross cultural conflicts in the workplace will be addressed with a workshop by Western’s Regional Resource Center on Deafness Nov. 21 and 22.

The hands-on event, presented in American Sign Language, is five hours each day and open to students, faculty, staff and community members. Dr. John Gournaris and Alison Aubrecht will be co-facilitating.

The focus of the workshop is to study and explore the different dynamics between a deaf culture and a hearing culture in a workplace, to discuss how these differences can affect each culture, and how people should learn to respect and embrace the different dynamics instead of devaluing them.

“People who are interested in psychology, social dynamics, cultural diversity, social justice, public policy and politics will all find something of interest in this training,” said Dr. Cheryl Davis, chair of the special education division at Western and director of the Regional Resource Center on Deafness.

Topics will include: why hearing people choose to work with deaf people, how deaf people sometimes approach hearing people and vice versa, and dynamics of cross-cultural conflict. Friday will be a day filled with information, while Saturday will provide more hands-on activities.

If an individual works in a field that requires continuing education units, for example interpreters or counselors, completion of the workshop will result in 1.0 CEU earned.

“I hope that people will be able to take this experience and apply it to their interactions with deaf students, and generalize the concepts to working with others as well,” Davis said.

The workshop runs from 4-8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 21, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, in the Columbia Room of the Werner University Center.

If interested in registering for the event, contact the office of disability services or download a registration form at wou.edu/rrcd. Registration will also be taken at the door.

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Tips for a safe winter at Western

Residents should prepare for cold weather, including hazardous winter conditions, by keeping up to date with weather patterns and forming plans for how to deal with potentially hazardous situations.

General tips:

An emergency supplies kit should include: a three days’ supply of water and food for each individual, spare batteries, medical supplies and flashlights; it may also contain additional blankets and extra warm clothes. The National Weather Service provides up-to-date information; battery-operated radios are useful for keeping informed about weather conditions and forecasts.

Pedestrians should wear shoes with good traction, and especially be aware while walking, including watching for slippery patches, and avoiding uneven surfaces or unfamiliar areas.

Travelers should check other locations’ weather before departure and arrival, to be mindful of potential trouble spots, as well as packing to fit the situation they will be entering.

Drivers should check the condition of their cars, including tires, and check for maximum visibility before driving. Every vehicle should be stocked with emergency supplies, such as water, food, a first aid kit, a flashlight and a blanket. In addition, a candle may provide a small but crucial source of heat and light.

Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck provides a free service for travelers to keep up-to-date with road conditions and the local weather conditions and forecast.

Campus

Notifications of current campus conditions, such as closures or delays in opening, will be made on the school website, over local radio stations, on television, and through the Campus Inclement Weather Hotline.

During a closure, Hamersly Library, the Werner University Center, Valsetz Dining Hall, the Health and Wellness Center and all University Residences (dorms) will remain open with essential staffing only.

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Debut Turkey Chase offers introduction to new WOU Running Club

Amanda Clarke | Freelancer

What: Turkey Chase Run/Walk
Where: Registration at WUC Plaza. Race begins on Church Street and ends on Western’s track.
When: Nov. 22, check-in at 9 a.m.; walkers begin at 9:45 a.m.; runners begin at 10 a.m.
Cost: $4 or three non-perishable food donations with preregistration, or $6 day of race
Contact: Courtney Greif cgreif12@wou.edu
More information: facebook.com/wourunningclub

The WOU Running Club will host the 5k (3.1 mile) Wolves Turkey Chase Thanksgiving Run (and walk) Nov. 22, with check-in beginning at 9 a.m. at Werner University Plaza.

“This is our first event as a club,” said Courtney Greif, co-founder of the WOU Running Club. “We hope to make it a race that happens every year.”

The event is also supported by Weekend Wolfpack and Campus Recreation.

The WOU Running Club is a running/fitness club that is open to the general public on campus. It was founded by Grief and Jacob Howard in spring 2014.

Walkers and runners are welcome to participate. Animals are also allowed on the course, but they must be kept on a leash at all times. People are also welcome to line the course to watch and cheer on the participants.

Preregistration is $4 or three non-perishable food items. The non-perishable food items will be donated to the WOU Food Pantry, and the registration cost will help the WOU Running Club take field trips to nearby trails. The cost is $6 the day of the race and canned goods will no longer be accepted.

The preregistration form is available at the front desk of the Health and Wellness Center, which is also where paperwork and payment can be submitted. Cash or checks made out to WOU Running Club are accepted.

“The course will be well marked, and will also have lovely volunteers from Hall Government along the way to help direct athletes on the course,” Grief said.

After the race, refreshments will be available to all participants and there will be a raffle for gift cards and items from local Monmouth businesses. There will also be an award for top male and female runner.

“The real purpose of WOU Running Club is to foster a culture of running here at Western and connect a community of runners here at WOU,” Howard said. “We want to promote running in whatever they do.”

According to Grief, the WOU Running Club is focused on giving people a place in which they can engage in physical fitness as well as participate in local events as a representative of Western.

“I want people to enjoy the great physical ability that we are given during our college years,” Howard said. “I want people to push themselves to their own personal and physical goals, and reach that and know that they can use this ability anytime and in any place.”

WOU Running Club meets weekly for group runs every Wednesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. outside the Health and Wellness Center.

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Students urge foundation to divest from fossil fuels

Laura Knudson | Editor-In-Chief

Students campaigning for campus divestment from fossil fuels have been met with disappointment from lack of action taken by the Western’s Development Foundation.
Members of the environmental club spent the last week collecting over 350 signatures from students, faculty and alumni. They hope to reach at least 600 signatures, demonstrating student support to the foundation, a private, nonprofit organization that financially assists the college.

“Last year, Oregon State University attempted divestment and was rejected, which spurred us to take up our own campaign at Western,” said Beth Bello, creator and president of the environmental club. “Divesting from fossil fuels is so important because, as many of us are aware, global warming is now a scientific fact.”

The issue first gained campus attention at the Oct. 28 Faculty Senate meeting with a presentation by Dr. Mark Van Steeter, associate professor of geography.

Divesting entails the foundation getting rid of stocks, bonds or investment funds that are part of the fossil fuel industry, according to a written proposal distributed at the meeting.

It’s “when you take the money you have invested into fossil fuel companies, and invest into a more ethical company like renewable energy,” Bello said. This does nothing to stop the oil companies, she added, but it makes a symbolic statement.

The proposal also stated, “Unlike some large universities that receive significant funding for research from the fossil fuel industry, we do not.”

The goal of divestment, Van Steeter said, is to send a social message. Industries should use its resources and innovation to transition toward a low carbon economy, he explained.
An added benefit includes landing Western as the 14th school in the nation to divest.

“I see this as a real possibility to get positive PR and put us on the map,” Van Steeter said. “It really makes sense for Western.”

The presentation sparked debate with university President Mark Weiss weighing in.

“In my view, it’s pretty hypocritical to take this position,” he said. “How many of us don’t live locally? How many of us get on an airplane to go to conferences every year,” he said.
Vansteeter responded saying, “There’s always a reason to be found not to act.”

In a guest column authored by Weiss appearing in the Nov. 13 issue of the Statesman Journal, he said, “From the beginning of the industrial age, American’s simply neglected to consider the consequences of burning fossil fuels.” Titled “The world crisis we’d rather ignore” Weiss’ column also states that divesting in oil and gas companies may provide satisfaction that something is being done, but “it is not apparent this action would contribute to solving the problem.”

As the discussion heated up during the senate meeting, other senate members chimed in.

“Just because you can’t do everything, doesn’t mean it’s hypocritical to do something,” said Michael Baltzley, faculty senate member and associate professor of biology.

Also in attendance at the meeting was Tommy Love, executive director in the Office of University Advancement and WOU Foundation. Love said divesting is a complicated issue and the foundation wants to make sure they do what’s right.

One environmental club member has made it his mission to raise awareness by visiting more than 15 campus club meetings.

“By demonstrating large scale student support for divestment, the foundation will listen to student voices,” said Karl Amspacher, senior geography major.

Amspacher was disappointed when the foundation declined his request to speak about divestment at their upcoming December meeting.

In a Nov. 10 email to the foundation, Amspacher asked for five minutes to present on divestment.

His request was met with a reply from Love which said he had already spoken with Van Steeter about divestment and “the specific topic of divestment is not planned for the agenda at the December board meeting.”

“It’s a brush off,” Amspacher said.

An earlier request submitted via email by alumnus Zander Albertson’s was also denied by the foundation.

“It’s difficult to believe that the foundation takes divestment seriously given that it has been given no further consideration,” Albertson said. He was also disappointed in the foundation’s unwillingness to put divestment on the agenda.

“I wish they would have just opened the discussion,” he added.

Prior to the start of school, Van Steeter requested five minutes to present the issue to the foundation. He met with the finance and planned giving sub-committee.

“We wouldn’t lose anything by divesting,” Van Steeter said in an interview. “We could do the right thing and not pay a price for it.”

Apart from the meeting and Van Steeter’s presentation to the faculty senate, no other formal forum has taken place between the foundation and the environmental club.

When asked in a Wednesday interview if he felt this was fair and sufficient, Love said, “I think it is for where we are at this point.”

The other side has had time to think and plan regarding divestment, he said. “The topic and issue recently came to us. We’re trying to get our arms around this.”

And there is much to consider when discussing investments, Love said.

For starters, moving investments from fossil fuels into green energy does not necessarily guarantee things will stay the same in terms of revenue.

“There’s always risk in that,” said Love. “That’s the stock market in general.”

For 2014, the foundation’s total revenue was $4,302,690 according to the foundation’s audit report, available on Western’s foundation webpage. Realized gains from investments, the amount received from the sale of investment holdings, was $673,045. Unrealized gains or the current value of those investments was a reported $564,593.

The foundation does not disclose what they invest in.

Albertson said this is concerning because it leaves one to conclude the foundation portfolio contains a fairly significant amount of carbon-based investments.

“As a private foundation, we have not released those holdings,” Love said.

But, aiding in what Love calls the “complex layers” of divestments, are mutual funds.

“There are components we have that are related to fossil fuels because we have mutual funds,” he said.

Mutual funds refer to professionally managed investment programs funded by shareholders that trades in diversified holdings.

Because these investments are managed by a company, they change all the time, even daily, Love said.

Furthermore, “if we divest, someone else is going to buy those stocks,” he said. “Divestment in and of itself is not going to make a true impact.”

The foundation is interested in looking at the bigger picture of climate change, he added.

“I don’t want students to think that the foundation and myself do not recognize the issue of climate change,” Love said. Divesting is “one way to do it, but let’s have a campus-wide conversation to address global climate change.”

For example, “Not commuting in [to campus] I think would have a bigger impact,” he said.

Ultimately, Love said aside from the “moral obligation” concerning climate change, “we also have an obligation as a foundation.”

“We don’t want to make any rush judgments,” he said. “Especially when we have to think about other things outside of fossil fuels.”

“I make no commitment [to either side],” he said. “I do commit to continuing dialogue.”

Love encourages interested parties to contact the foundation with comments.

The social science division will vote on fossil fuel divestment resolution of support Dec. 2, Van Steeter said. If approved, “it will be a template for other divisions to follow,” he said.

The environmental club will be protesting outside the building during the Dec. 6 meeting, Bello said.

“This is a movement to improve our school,” Amspacher said. “We’re doing this to make Western a better place.”

How to get involved:

WHAT: Environmental Club
WHEN: 4:30 p.m. every Wednesday in HSS room 230
MORE INFO: Contact club president Beth Bello at bbello11@wou.edu or call 503-798-7763

Foundation:

Direct questions or comments for the foundation to Tommy Love, executive director in the Office of University Advancement and WOU Foundation. He can be reached at lovet@wou.edu or 503-838-8134.

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Trench warfare

FILMON TEKLAY | FREELANCER

Dr. Edwin Dover, professor of political science at Western, compared the national division of political parties to the trench warfare of World War I in an analysis of the recent midterm election.

“We have more or less a 10 mile trench where we fight our partisan battles,” Dover said of this country’s political divisions. “Both sides probe around for a soft spot, both sides mobilize massive levels of resources to gain a few miles.”

According to Dover, the dividing line is in the suburbs, which is where the battles are found, state after state. The Democrats dominate major urban areas he explained, while the Republicans control rural territories around the country.

“We don’t really have blue states or red states, what we have are Urban vs. Rural,” said Dover.

Dover broke down his analysis into three parts, commenting on the local, state and national elections.

Dover uses the aftermath of the election to illustrate the use of trench warfare in local, state and federal races across the country. He explained that the Democrats won one seat, the local race in District 20, in the Oregon House of Representatives, while the remaining seats in the Oregon House went to the same party that held them before.

The local race in District 20 took place between Paul Evans and Kathy Goss. Dover was involved in Evans’s campaign and he followed the race closely.

“This was a hard fought battle because it is where the suburban fault line rests,” Dover said. “This was the most expensive campaign for the state legislature in Oregon.”

Evans and Goss each spent about $500,000, and both campaigns received support and contribution from their respective parties. Evans defeated Goss by a three percent margin, and Dover thinks Goss was defeated mainly because her campaign made a couple of fundamental mistakes.

“Sometimes that three percent may not be part of the national trend,” Dover said. “It may be something esoteric to a campaign.”

According to Dover, the first mistake Goss made was her reluctance to debate Evans on numerous occasions. She was also not able to capitalize on advertising, while Evans was able to build both positive advertisements toward himself and attack advertisements aimed at Goss.

The Democrats gained two seats in the Oregon State Senate.

Dover said Washington County, Marion County and Clackamas County are the three areas that more or less decide State elections in Oregon, and these counties are primarily suburbs.

Other states have similar political scenes to Oregon, and Dover expanded his idea about the division of politics in regards to suburban battle lines to a national context.

All of the races for seats in the House of Representatives were fought in suburbs of various cities and states such as Miami and New Hampshire. Dover analyzed the recent changes in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

“The Democrats gained 11 seats in 2012 and lost 12 seats this time,” Dover explained, adding that, over time, most of the seats remained the same. Overall, neither party gained any ground in the House of Representatives.

On the other hand, the Senate “is where the Republican Party made significant gains,” said Dover. “The Republican Party so far has gained eight seats and probably nine – the ninth seat is Louisiana.” The advancements made by the Republicans gave them 54 seats, and control of the Senate.

The races for Senate were in Republican states or battleground states which is favorable terrain for them.

“In the next election, there will be 24 Republicans and 10 Democrats up for Senate in 2016, and many of the Republicans are in very Democratic states,” said Dover. “So the Republican Party will have a little trouble keeping this majority.”

Dover discussed the difference of turnout between Presidential elections and off-year elections, explaining that people over 60 tend to have a greater turnout for off-year elections, while people younger than 30 do not have a significant turnout for off-year elections.

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R.E.A.L. Fair advocates social justice

ALLISON OPSON CLEMENT | NEWS EDITOR

Students from Dr. David Foster’s Psychology of Leadership class are gaining real-life experience with teamwork, promoting social justice through their project, a resource fair which will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the Werner University Center Pacific Room.

The second-annual Responsibility, Equity, Accessibility and Leadership (R.E.A.L.) Fair will create a space to promote the services of attending organizations, said Foster, who taught the course that started the first R.E.A.L. fair last fall, and urged his students to take up the challenge again this year.

This event is a chance to explore social issues facing the larger community and find help from the right source if they need it, as well as find a cause they may wish to support themselves through volunteer work or other support.

“Having the hands-on experience, taking it out of theory and into practice, has been really useful,” said Kristin Osborne, a student in the class and member of the event leadership team.

Foster explained that people are graduating college, but still lack the skills companies need. These skills include abilities like communication and getting along with other people. Training in leadership and teamwork sets students ahead of the game, he added.

“Organizations are having a huge leadership crisis right now,” Foster said. “I think these classes are good for anybody.”

The event is sponsored by Abby’s House in addition to the psychology students. Other organizations represented will include Stonewall Center, Green Dot, the Multicultural Student Union, the Office of Disability Services, Campus Public Safety, Peer Mentors, as well as over half a dozen others. According to Foster, this is a greater number than attended the previous fair.

“A side benefit would be that those organizations could network among themselves,” Osborne said. The event includes a food drive to raise donations for and awareness of Western’s resource for hungry students.

“It highlights the WOU Pantry, which a lot of people don’t know exists,” Foster said.

A drawing for gift cards to local food businesses will be held at the end of the fair. Students may enter both by donating to the food drive and filling out a survey about the fair.

Since the first program was a full year ago, Foster said, there was little left to work with, so this year’s group resurrected the event nearly from scratch in many cases.

“It kind of organically came about,” Osborne said of the process. She called this a fully collaborative effort. “We all walk around in a little pack.” There haven’t been many big issues, Osborne added, because “all the people in the group have the same objective.”

They brainstormed a list of organizations they wanted to invite, including some that were present last year as well as several new ones, narrowed that list down, and divided up the call list.
“People have had lots of good ideas and we narrowed that down,” Osborne said of the list.

The group has been working on this project since the second week of term.

“We’ve got some people and some talents that really fit,” said Foster, adding that the group members are doing very well.

Some psychology courses (including Foster’s classes), may offer extra credit for attending the fair, as well.

“These guys are doing a really good job of reporting, advertising already,” Foster said. “My goal after the first R.E.A.L. Fair was seeing it continue.”

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Controlled burn sparks neighborhood interest

A controlled fire offered hands-on experience for trainees of Polk County Fire District No. 1 in the evening of Sunday, Nov. 9, drawing attention from locals.

“This is the closest thing that we have to the real deal,” said Lieutenant James Nisbet. “The biggest thing was that we got some of our newer members on the department some good experience from it.”
“We try to notify the neighbors and be friendly and courteous,” said Neal Olson. “We usually send out a letter.”

The hand-delivered letter was delayed until one day prior to the burn this time. “I didn’t put this one in the newspaper because it came on so quick.”

As a precaution, neighboring buildings and plants were thoroughly soaked prior to the first fire being lit just before 4 p.m. Water was continually applied, though everything was already wet thanks to a good rain, which, according to Nisbet, helped.

“They weren’t in a huge, major threat,” Nisbet said of the local buildings, adding of this particular fire, “Really that one wasn’t too concerning.” The structures were distant enough to be protected from the blaze.

“It is real fire, it’s just a little more controlled and regulated.”
A property is also thoroughly evaluated for safety before a burn. Once a structure has been deemed safe, Polk County Fire District No. 1 assumes control of the property, and crews use it for a variety of exercises.

“This is super valuable to people who don’t have a lot of experience,” said Nisbet. This particular property was employed all summer for various training exercises; it couldn’t be lit up because of a burn ban.

“We can use that structure for quite a while ahead of time; there’s lots of things that we train on outside of the actual live fire,” said Olson. “We were probably in that building, doing drills, for probably close to 30 hours over the summer.”

With between 10 and 20 people in each crew, he added, “Thousands of training hours were received by us having that structure, which was really good.”

Practice scenarios include ventilation, forcible entry, and search and rescue among other drills, according to Olson. For ventilation, crews must climb ladders to cut holes in the roof with chainsaws.

Forcible entry is needed when a door must be broken down in order to enter the building or the room. By filling the house with smoke or simulating the collapse of a roof, crews also gain experience with realistic situations.

Everyone on site had a specific job, and a crew to which they were assigned. This is the group they practice with, shifting duties so everyone gets a chance to experience it.

“It’s a real detailed plan as to how we’re going to rotate the crews,” said Olson. “We do all of that training based on national fire protection association guidelines.” He added that he referenced at least 17 pages of material on how to handle every aspect of the controlled burn.

Five fires were planned for the building, in which crews would be able to see how the fire behaved, and gain valuable experience working in realistic conditions. After the fourth lighting, the fire got into the attic. Based on the condition of the attic, this wasn’t a surprise, according to Nisbet.

“Once we got to that point, we just went immediately into free burn,” Olson said. Everyone was ordered out of the building, and firefighters monitored it as they let it burn to the ground.
Nisbet facilitated the lightings, including observing the interior fire conditions while crews rotated through, to make sure the fire stayed contained.

“For the condition of the structure and just kind of time frame, that was more than we were anticipating,” Nisbet said. “We were very happy that we were able to get as many out of it as we did.”

In addition to training individual firefighters and improving their experience, Olson said that the exercises helped to build team cohesion. According to him, the burn also served as a kind of neighborhood cleanup, as the building was not very appealing. “We come away with a lot of training,” Olson said. “Everybody has a place and it’s really detailed.”

Extra vehicles – ambulances and fire trucks – were brought to the scene of the controlled burn. Nearly the entire force on duty was present last night, according to Olson, so if a real call came in, they had to be prepared to mount a response from the field.

“We still have to provide our service to the remainder of the community,” Olson said. This time, he added, they were lucky; “We didn’t have any interruptions.” Other practice burns have been complicated with actual emergencies. “It can be really exciting at times,” he said; with different calls coming in at the same time, there can be a lot going on, which detracts from training.

“A majority of our force are volunteers,” Olson said. On a daily basis, Polk County Fire District No. 1 maintains three full-time firefighters on duty; there are nine career individuals to respond to any incident. The remaining 65 firefighters are volunteers, such as those who received training Sunday.

“If we were able to do it three times a year, that would be great,” said Olson. “We need to have them twice a year,” but he acknowledged, “It doesn’t always work like that.” On average, they are usually able to practice controlled burns once or twice a year.

Spectators gathered to watch the flames for several hours. Rebekah Degner, Nisbet’s girlfriend, watched the fire from a camp chair for over an hour. Other people came and went well into the night, when the fires began to die down.

“You don’t see that every day,” said Elder Lima of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who, after seeing the smoke, stopped by with Elder Goff to make sure everything was alright and if they could help.

Many watchers that night commented that they initially thought that this was an actual fire. After the building had been burned, it was returned to the control of the owner. Olson said that an apartment building with 22 units will be constructed on the property.

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High rate of bike theft exposes weak lock-up methods

ALLISON OPSON CLEMENT | NEWS EDITOR

A spike in reported bicycle theft has prompted Campus Public Safety (CPS) to warn students to secure bikes properly and register them in case they are stolen and
recovered.

“It’s starting out big,” said Allen Risen, interim director of CPS. There has been seven bike thefts reported on campus to the Office of Public Safety this year: one in September, six in October.

“That was enough to say I need to notify campus,” said Risen. “Each year we do get a number of bicycles stolen, but the way it was going this year, that’s why I sent out the email.”

Ordinarily, according to Risen, CPS will receive between 10 and 20 reports during an entire school year.

According to the Monmouth Police Department (MPD), during the same period, (Sept. 20 to Nov. 6) seven bikes were stolen in 2013, and nine this year, a small increase. Sgt. Kim Dorn said that some fluctuation is natural. Some of those may overlap with those reported to CPS for Western’s community.

“Some of them are just taken as a joyride and we’ll pick them up,” said Risen. “It’s amazing how many people don’t call us to say it’s missing.”

CPS recovers more bikes every year than are reported stolen. Officers take possession of any abandoned bikes and log them in as found property.

They also compare the bike to an updated list of stolen bikes, a three or four page list kept in official vehicles, to see if it has been reported yet.

“We try to get as much information as possible from thevictim,” said Dorn for the MPD, adding that owners should always file a report, so that their bike can be returned if found.

“It’s so very, very important to know the serial number.” A serial number can be entered by the MPD into a national computer system for stolen items.

If the bike is listed as found anywhere else, it can still be returned to its owner. Chances of recovery go up if the bike is reported as stolen, said Risen, and also if it is registered.

CPS currently has fifteen bikes from this year and last. During the summer, the Housing Office may report abandoned bikes left on campus to CPS, whocan take possession of them if theowner does not claim them.

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Finding a Voice

JENNIFER HALLEY | CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

Every nine seconds in the U.S., a woman is abused by her partner; one in three women worldwide are involved in domestic violence relationships; and every year, nearly 1600 women were murdered by their intimate partners.

Sexual and domestic violence does not just happen to women, though; this affects men, too.

Take Back the Night, an event organized by Abby’s House, gave voice to survivors of sexual and domestic violence on Wednesday night in the Werner Center.

“In 2013, in Oregon, there were 34 domestic violence fatalities. That’s a huge number of people for one state; imagine the global effect.”
-DEBORAH THOMPSON | DIRECTOR OF SABLE HOUSE

Every October, in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, survivors come forth and tell their story in a safe place, as well as raise awareness throughout campus.

Jenna Beresheim, a senior who was at the event, said that sexual assault is a problem on campus “but one that is swept under the rug by victims who blame themselves or feel ashamed and embarrassed.

“This is a hot topic right now in schools,” Beresheim added.

Deborah Thompson, executive director of Sable House – a resource center for victims of domestic and sexual assault – gave an educational speech about “violence against humanity” and how sexual and domestic violence is an epidemic that is spreading globally.

“In 2013, in Oregon, there were 34 domestic violence fatalities,” Thompson said. She paused briefly, and then added: “That’s a huge number of people for one state; imagine the global effect.”

After the speech, the room went quiet for 30 minutes while a gong was hit every nine seconds to represent each time a woman was abused by her partner.

During this silence, audience members were encouraged to speak up about their personal experiences.

While they spoke, the room became heavy with emotion as people cried. Abby’s House advocates offered tissues and hand-squeezes.

As time went on, more people spoke up as the gong went off in the background. More tears were shed and more voices were heard.

The lack of men at the event was noticed, specifically by the men themselves that had participated in the event.

“I think it is vital for men to be a part of this issue,” Cody Bindrim, one of the men, who came to Take Back the Night, said. Bindrim is a sophomore at Oregon State University, but came to support his friend and be a part of this cause.

Gage Barnhurstd also came as a supporter of the event. As a man, he also believes he should take responsibility for sexual violence towards women.

“It makes me embarrassed,” he said of being associated with the perpetrators of sexual and domestic violence. Barnhurstd added that a man’s basic instinct is to protect a woman. So “if you have a drive
to protect, why not use it?” he said.

Take Back the Night ended with a candlelit walk around campus to remember those affected by sexual and domestic violence, and to take a stance against it.

Students also carried a mattress around in honor of sexual assault victim Emma Sulkowicz, a student at Columbia who felt as though her university’s response of doing nothing to penalize her perpetrator was wrong. Sulkowicz vowed to carry that mattress to each class until her attacker was expelled.

Throughout the candlelit walk, students chanted statements such as “Yes means yes, no means no,” and “we are women, we are men, together we fight to take back the night.”

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Flyby

A photo of one of the planes featured in the Air Show. | Photo from @f35demoteam
on Instagram

May 13, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

May 15-17, the Oregon International Air Show will occur at the Hillsboro Airport. Anyone is welcome to attend and can expect to see many different planes and pilots coming together to put on a cohesive performance with many demonstrations and tricks. This year, the show features warbirds, aerobatics and a nighttime finale that happens Friday night only. Friday’s show starts at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday shows start at 12:30 p.m. Here is a list of all the performers in this year’s show:

U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II — This plane is a fifth-generation fighter jet with some of the best stealth capabilities. It is a surface attack fighter that can fly in any weather, designed to assist in direct attacks on even heavily defended ground targets. Additionally, it is equipped with advanced technology that brings situational awareness to its pilots.

Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II — This plane is also a fifth-generation fighter jet, but has the unique ability to both hover and land vertically, making it agile in moving to tight spaces. Additionally, it is designed with stealth and technology in mind that allows it to work in any area from an aircraft carrier to a rough, remote location. One of its capabilities also includes being able to take off from a much shorter distance, something that will likely be featured in the air show.

F-15 Eagles — These are tactical fighter planes that can fly in any weather. They are built to maintain a lot of control in battle, with many features including increased maneuverability, acceleration range and weapons and electronic systems. In the show, these planes will execute several flybys that demonstrate their power and mobility.

Wings of Blue — Wings of Blue is the Air Force Academy parachute team who are trained to jump out of planes and maneuver themselves to land at a specific location. In the air show, they will parachute through different formations and expertly position themselves in the air to land at a designated target on the ground.

Kyle Fowler — Fowler flies one of the most unique planes in the show, as it is bright yellow and has large wings with a sharp angle inward, designed to appear as if the plane is moving backwards. His plane — a Rutan Model 61 — is homebuilt and designed for efficiency, range and handling. This performance will be part of the grand finale night show; the plane will light off fireworks from its wingtips while flying through various aerobatic maneuvers.

Remy Price — Price flies a Sukhoi Su-29, a Russian two-seat plane that was designed to be a trainer for the military. This aerobatic aircraft will demonstrate aggressive tricks featuring loops, rolls and more in the air show.

Melissa Burns — Burns flies an Edge 540, which is an aerobatic plane that can do up to a 420 degree-per-second roll and a 3,700 feet-per-minute climb. This will be featured in the air show along with various rolls, loops and passes.

SBD Dauntless — This plane was originally the primary U.S. Navy dive bomber in the 1940s. While it’s not very fast, the SBD Dauntless is deadly accurate. It will feature historical maneuvers in the show, such as simulated bombing dives and will fly with the canopy partially open to showcase the roar of the engine.

B-25 Mitchell — A premier American medium bomber in World War II, this plane will honor its historical use in the show by demonstrating low altitude passes, high-speed runs and simulated combat maneuvers.

TBM Avenger — This plane was originally a World War II torpedo bomber, and will showcase its massive size and roaring engine at the air show. Additionally, the plane will display its unique wings that fold and will run through tactile passes while pyrotechnics recreate its legacy as a torpedo bomber.

Friday night, the finale of the show will include fireworks and drones that light up the sky with images and messages as well as a pyro team that sets off a long wall of fire that will end exploding across the flight line — a worthwhile sight to catch this weekend.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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Law, policy and politics

May 13, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

This past March, a new club entitled the Law, Policy, and Politics club was chartered and created at Western and has since been growing.

LPP club meets every Tuesday at 4 p.m. and gets together to discuss politics and current events, further planning events surrounding these topics. Additionally, the club is a non-partisan group, meaning they aren’t aligned with a specific political party and don’t take sides.

During a typical club meeting, the members will begin by playing a game such as Kahoot, mafia or a discussion on a thought-provoking question, then discuss political events that are currently happening and finally look at the projects the club is currently working on and the progress made.

Currently, the club has two initiatives that they are developing, as explained by the club president, Ezra Alexander. For one, they are working toward increasing voter registration statistics among Western students, as well as organizing a gubernatorial debate in preparation for the upcoming November general election.

Students can find the club tabling in the Werner University Center soon, where they will be helping people get registered to vote as well as providing information about the upcoming elections. LPP club believes that it is important for everyone to make sure their voice is heard through voting, no matter which side they vote for. Anyone can come to their table in the WUC for assistance while being reassured that the club will not know or care how they vote.

Emma Swartzfager, the LPP club’s treasurer, said, “It’s important we have a club on campus where people with like-minded interests in current events, politics, policy, and law can get together in a safe and fun environment where all opinions are welcomed.”

The overarching goal of the club is to bring together people from every part of the political spectrum to be united through shared interests. Further, the club seeks to connect students and the broader community by bringing in guest speakers, holding debates, putting on fun events and more. “I am very excited to see what the future has to hold for our club. Currently, we have some very exciting events in the works. So far I have met so many fascinating people and deepened friendships through this club,” Swartzfager added.

Anyone is welcome to join the LPP club, no matter if they are a political science major or not. Those who are interested in joining can attend the club’s weekly meeting. Swartzfager emphasized that the club is open to those who “are interested in law policy, politics, current events and passionate about sparking positive change in your community.”

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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Follett’s Wolfstore

May 13, 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Within the Werner University Center, Western has a dedicated shopping space called the Wolfstore, distributing textbooks, course materials and Wolves merchandise. Prior to Sep. 2, 2025, it was university-managed.

Vice President Tina Fuchs announced July 24, 2025, that the space would be turned over to a third-party provider due to declining sales, most notably in regard to textbooks and course materials. Fuchs mentioned ongoing revenue challenges, leading to the difficult decision to suspend Western’s direct involvement with sales distribution.

In November of 2024, Western initiated a Request for Proposal to evaluate next steps and find an adequate third-party provider. After a comprehensive review and negotiation process, Follett Higher Education Group was decided on.

Follett is known for their more than 1,000 partnerships with higher education institutions, delivering course materials and merchandise to various colleges and universities across America. Follett’s wide range of school partnerships, general affordability and convenience have positioned Follett in a positive light. According to Follett’s website, “Follett places students at the forefront of its mission. Our Inclusive and Equitable Access Programs simplify the academic journey, providing seamless access to digital-first course materials by day one of class.”

After contracting with a new university, Follett takes management of distribution, usually launching an online store alongside physical sales. Such contracts are typically commission-based, with the university receiving a cut of the profit.

An inside source stated that, before it was Follett, the new bookstore was anticipated to be managed by corporate giant Barnes & Noble, but for uncertain reasons, likely due to income disparities in the contract, the arrangement failed.

“I had heard that other schools our size have had bad experiences with (Follett),” said the inside source. “I was really hoping it wasn’t going to go through.”

Students noticed the differences immediately between Western’s original self-owned bookstore and Follett’s Wolfstore, especially in the merchandise provided. For example, all of the American Sign Language-themed products, a critical program at Western, were removed with no replacements specific to the program. LGBTQ+ merchandise was also greatly reduced, which included pins, flags and other decor. The amount of purchasable gear was, in general, minimized. Online, Western was provided with a new Wolfstore page as well as an upgrade in technology available, such as Beats earbuds. Follett reportedly indicated that specialized merchandise would arrive in the fall, following a trial run for the first year. Following the first year, student worker hours are expected to be decreased due to funding restrictions.

Many large colleges have partnered with Follett, such as Arizona State University, Stanford University, Gonzaga University, New York University and Virginia Tech, to name a few. Western, however, is on the small side, with a campus population of approximately 4,000 — which might bode poorly for the future of Follett and Western’s professional collaboration.

A different anonymous source at Western stated that at least two other universities reported Follett pulling out of contracts due to a lack of profit within three years of initiation, leaving the universities without textbooks for students with only one month’s notice. The same source called into question the strength of the contract between Follett and Western, as well as drew notice to Follett’s course access program, which has yet to be implemented at Western.

Attempts from the Western Howl to obtain such contracts between Follett and Western were unfulfilled.

On April 23, the faculty senate saw a presentation from Follett representatives regarding the Follett course access program, which may eventually be incorporated into Western’s curriculum. Fuchs told the Western Howl that the program was in the earliest stages of discussion, but the only plan was to potentially implement trial classes “in the future.”

Course access programs, sometimes called equitable access or inclusive access programs, allow professors to opt their classes into a bookstore program that provides textbooks at a cheaper cost that is charged through tuition fees. For many, this might be a win; the cost of a book is decreased in a class that requires it, with no extra attention needed to obtain such textbooks, which will then be delivered digitally from Follett. Additionally, professors are given the opportunity to cut the size of the textbook, leaving out irrelevant chapters, so students can navigate only the class-related material.

However, according to inclusiveaccess.org, programs like this can actually harm students by stripping them of affordable options and limiting their ability to opt out, which can happen during a short window each term. If a student fails to opt out, they would then be charged a fee to their tuition, whether or not they intended to utilize the e-textbook. The website also indicates that inclusive access is a sales strategy; additionally, it may remove access to the textbooks following the term’s conclusion.

“I know it doesn’t look like it, but it does save students money, it just adds it to their fees,” said the insider. Students are granted the option to opt out of the program, which could potentially mean paying full price for the same textbook or finding a cheaper alternative elsewhere.

Western’s anonymous source questioned the opt-out process, indicating that the responsibility would fall on faculty to educate their classes on Follett’s course access program.

“They don’t really advertise it, that you can opt out, for a reason,” said the insider, who also stated about the program, “I think it would be good (if) we can have a physical book and physical supplies — if that’s the truth, then, yes. If they have an access program, technically the bookstore still makes money off of that, which means, in theory, the campus makes more money.”

However, further concerns have been raised about Follett’s future relationship with Western.

Both sources corroborated a lack of communication between Follett and Western faculty and admin. Western has failed to provide contact information for students, staff and faculty, which prevents the bookstore from advertising, despite a hefty payout to Western from Follett when completed. Beyond that, faculty are left generally unaware of the Follett course access program, and are often not consulted regarding decisions made with the bookstore. Professors have reported issues obtaining course material through the Wolfstore, but the Wolfstore has also reported a lack of contact with professors in a manner that provides timely course material.

Above all else, Follett’s integrity has been called into question, called a “for-profit bookstore” on campus by the anonymous Western source as the corporation pursues equitable access programs and, according to sources, chases a paycheck. While the course access program may alleviate costs for students, it could also disproportionately affect others and charge unnecessary fees to students who were unaware of their class’s participation.

“I don’t know how long the contract is at this school, but I would not be shocked if it was not renewed, or if Follett was like, ‘we’re done.’ I wouldn’t be shocked,” said the insider.

In August of 2025, the student newspaper for The State University of New York at New Paltz reported that its campus bookstore wiped inventory and transitioned to a different merchandise company after Follett “failed to pay the college commission for a full year” in a timely manner. Follett had been the university’s provider since 2015. The article went on to state that Follett has been involved in multiple large-scale lawsuits, one in 2024 that accused Follett of failing to pay $9 million in dues, and one in 2023 that alleged Follett failed to provide overtime pay, meal breaks and broke labor laws. Aarica Brittany vs. Follett Higher Ed Group, the latter lawsuit, was dismissed with prejudice, likely following an out-of-court settlement agreement.

On a comment thread in r/Professors on Reddit two years ago discussed Follett: “I worked at a college that switched to Follett. It was awful, absolutely awful.” They went on to state that Follett complicated students’ attempts to acquire necessary textbooks by not ordering enough material for their class, then ordered them to a different campus an hour away. A different comment noted: “Follett ran the bookstore at my undergrad. They. Are. The. Worst. My sympathies.”

A claimed former Follett employee on the thread added context to Follett’s financial situation ten months ago, stating that “Follett is struggling financially. They are struggling in an industry the other big players have already abandoned.”

Information has come out that the contract between Follett and Western is for five years, anticipated to end in 2030. It is unknown what conditions, if any, allow for early termination.

Fuchs told the Western Howl, “One of the priorities in pursuing this partnership was ensuring students have access to affordable and accessible course materials while maintaining bookstore services that support campus life. I also recognize that change can feel personal, particularly when the bookstore has long been viewed as an important part of the campus community. The goal is to continue building a bookstore experience that reflects Western’s values while benefiting from Follett’s operational resources and expertise. Western remains committed to listening to community feedback and working collaboratively to make ongoing improvements as the partnership continues to develop.”

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

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Support local artists

A photo of one of the crocheted animals that Mial will sell at ArtFest. | Photo courtesy of Alexia Mial

May 13, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

May 15, Western’s art and design department will be hosting its annual ArtFest with various activities around campus throughout the day. Students at Western, community college students and high school students are all involved in the event, and ArtFest is free to attend and everyone is welcome.

Starting off, attendees can find Artist Alley along the ITC lawn from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Here, there will be a multitude of Western student vendors who are selling their arts and crafts. Anyone can walk around to see the talent on campus or find something unique to purchase.

Additionally, 2 to 4 p.m. at Campbell Hall, various art workshops and activities will be taking place, such as tie dye, rock and sand dollar painting, a mixed media station, bracelet making and a drawing wall.

4:30 p.m., back on the ITC lawn, a picnic will be served for those who are attending. Right after, the art and design awards ceremony for Western students will take place.

Finally, at 6 p.m. at the Hamersly Library second-floor art gallery, ArtFest Regional will conclude the day, featuring artwork from high school and community college students, followed by an award ceremony.

Sophomore Alexia Mial, who had a vendor station at ArtFest last year and again this year, said, “Artfest is an event where those who love to create art get to express it to the world! We get to sell what we create and even do art trades with one another. It’s a time to celebrate artists for their work. There’s many different mediums being sold and so much creativity about that deserves to be celebrated.”

Last year, Mial sold food-themed, crocheted plushies and this year she’s selling wearable items like hats and tote bags as well as trash-themed, crocheted animals like pigeons, rats and opossums.

They further explained that people should attend ArtFest because “it supports local artists. It’s crucial in a time like this with the surfacing of AI, and it’s important to see what’s handmade, not robot generated.”

Students who are artists and non-artists alike are encouraged to attend ArtFest to support Western’s local artists and take a break to enjoy some fun activities.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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Canvas for ransom

May 13, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

May 7 and 8, Western students received three consecutive emails, all discussing a cyber attack on Canvas that not only affected them, but Canvas users nationwide. The first email simply mentioned that Canvas was down and that University Computing Solutions would provide an update before the end of the day. The second email, sent about two hours later, informed students that Canvas was down due to “a recent cyber incident,” further explaining that the ShinyHunters ransomware group claimed to be behind the attack as well as stealing 275 million records from Canvas tied to students, teachers and staff. The email concluded by saying, “Please know we are working diligently to ensure that we do what we can to keep our student and employee information as safe as possible.” The third and final email, sent the next day, said that Canvas was back up, but the university was closely monitoring the situation. They advised students and faculty not to open any suspicious-looking links or interact with emails asking them to reset their Canvas password.

Those who accessed Canvas as it went down allegedly reported seeing a message from ShinyHunters saying they had breached Instructure — the company that produced Canvas — with a link to a text file containing a list of schools that were supposedly affected by the breach, and further said that those who wanted to prevent a data leak should reach out to ShinyHunters for a settlement with a deadline of May 12. Following this, Instructure temporarily took Canvas offline to investigate, meaning many students then got an error message when trying to open Canvas.

When asked about the events that occurred, Western senior and art and design major Noel A. said, “I know that some really cool hackers hacked into the system and tried asking for Bitcoin and I don’t think it worked out for them.” She further explained, “I mean, I didn’t know about all the hooplah until I got like 15 emails about it, then I saw on TikTok that some hacker group with like a Pokemon profile picture on Twitter was trying to steal our data. So, I don’t know, it was kind of funny.”

ShinyHunters has allegedly been behind multiple attacks within the past month, not just on Canvas, but on various other firms as well. According to threat intelligence analyst Luke Connolly, ShinyHunters is likely a loose group of teenagers or young adults based in the U.S. and United Kingdom, believed to have been formed in 2020 and have been involved in high-profile hacking incidents. In 2024, 22-year-old Sebastien Raoult, an alleged member of ShinyHunters, was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

This was not the first time that Canvas had been hacked. Recently, May 1, Instructure stated that Canvas had “a cybersecurity incident perpetrated by a criminal threat actor.” May 3, ShinyHunters similarly claimed that they had access to 275 million individuals’ data. During this incident, the website Ransomware.live posted a previous ransom letter to Canvas ShinyHunters had used, saying, “This is a final warning to reach out by 6 May 2026 before we leak along with several annoying (digital) problems that’ll come your way.”

Universities on a semester-based system were in the midst of finals week during the Canvas shutdown, and other universities reportedly had Canvas down for longer than Western. Many universities were left scrambling, trying to figure out how to get coursework to students, and many had to cancel final exams that were meant to be administered on Canvas.

“The week that Canvas shut down was a very busy week for me, so finding time to sit down and get homework done was difficult. I had finally found the time and motivation to do so on Thursday after my class, only to open my laptop and see that Canvas was completely down. It was honestly a frustrating setback,” said Western sophomore Sarah Childers.

After Canvas came back online, users were still left in the dark about whether everyone’s data was safe, if Instructure paid the ransom or if they found another workaround. While it is still unclear how, Instructure released a statement May 11, saying, “Instructure reached an agreement with the unauthorized actor involved in this incident.” They assured that all of the data was returned to Instructure, they received digital confirmation of the data destruction, confirmation that no Instructure customers will be extorted and that all Instructure customers are covered in this agreement. For further updates, students and faculty can continue checking the Instructure website.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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Write Place hosts Ellen Waterston

A photo of Ellen Waterston at the Write Place
event. | Photo by Belen Ponce Leal

May 6, 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

On April 30, Write Place hosted Ellen Waterston, the Oregon poet laureate, to do a reading on campus and discuss her work. Many in Western’s English department, both instructors and students, were in attendance.

Professor Henry Hughes hosted the event, starting by briefly explaining the history of where the university is located. Monmouth is part of the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya, who were forcibly removed to reservations in western Oregon after the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 was enacted. Hughes explained that Write Place wants to honor the descendants of these people who are now a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

State Sen. Deb Patterson was present at the event, giving a few words about the importance of poetry in the state of Oregon. In her own words, “Poetry is a unique vehicle for truthtelling. It’s hard to obfuscate the truth in a poem. But it is a powerful tool to shine a bright light on a truth. And it is my firm belief that we need bright lights shone on truths now more than ever.”

Western President Jesse Peters, who himself is an English professor with an interest in Native American authors, introduced Waterston and thanked her for being on campus. He kept his introduction quick, saying, “Don’t stand between an audience and a poet.”

The Write Place is a nonprofit organization that was founded at Western Washington University in 2013 by John Purdy, a professor of literature who wanted the program to intertwine literature and the environment. Purdy specialized in Native American literature, authoring various critical studies. Write Place then moved to Western in 2023, with professor Henry Hughes taking over as director. Hughes expressed a commitment to honor the Pacific Northwest and Native American writers as Purdy did, while also aiming to connect with more scientists in order to expand the scope to national and even international interests.

A laureate is a person who has been given an incredibly high honor or recognition for their ability in an art or science.

The position of Oregon poet, as it was originally called, was established April 23, 1923 by the governor of Oregon, with the first poet laureate being Edwin Markham.

A poet laureate is a poet in government whose job is to advocate for the literary arts and engage the public in poetry, which often leads to them composing poems for special occasions. Waterston was appointed as the 11th Oregon poet laureate by Gov. Tina Kotek for two years and was recently reelected to serve another term.

The Write Place describes Waterston as a “high desert author, poet and columnist” who is based in Bend, Oregon. She is the founder and the president of the Writing Ranch, which, since 2000, has been holding multi-day workshops and retreats in order to support developing writers.

Before Waterston did her poetry readings, she gave two students the opportunity to read their own poems. Lizzie Saager read her poem “Opossum” and Jandika Borden read hers titled “Even the Road.”

Waterston spoke about her duties as a poet laureate and how she came to understand what that job truly means. In her own words, “I realize that my job is to showcase poetry as an agent of, a catalyst for, mutual understanding. And to encourage all of us, all of us, to get out of our language silos. To meet on the compassionate page.”

For more information about the Write Place or the Writing Ranch, please visit their individual websites.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

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Prosecutors detail D4vd case

A photo of Rivas Hernandez, which was shared with her family’s GoFundMe in
September of 2025. | Photo from @evolvingsunflower__ on Instagram

May 6, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

Content warning: This article discusses homicide, sexual abuse and descriptions of bodily harm.

New details have been revealed in the case against David Anthony Burke, most commonly known by his stage name “D4vd,” related to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

In September of 2025, decomposed and dismembered remains were discovered in the trunk of Burke’s then-impounded Tesla. Officers had investigated the lot due to reports of a foul odor emanating from the vehicle. It took eight days for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner to identify the remains as those of Rivas Hernandez. When this discovery occurred, Burke had been on the “Withered” tour, of which the remaining dates were promptly canceled.

Burke was immediately looked at as a suspect in the death of Rivas Hernandez, as it had been reported that he engaged in inappropriate conduct with the teen. The pair had met on Fortnite in 2022, when Burke was 16 and Rivas Hernandez was 11, and Burke began sexually abusing Rivas Hernandez in November of 2023, when she was 13.

However, Burke was not arrested until April of 2026, nearly a year after the death took place. On April 20, 2026, he was formally charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse and unlawfully mutilating a body.

Evidence brought forward by the prosecution alleges that Burke sent an Uber to bring Rivas Hernandez from her home in Lake Elsinore to his residence in Hollywood Hills April 23, 2025. Leaving Lake Elsinore was likely the last time that Rivas Hernandez was seen alive, as this was when her cellular activity ceased.

Burke eventually purchased a shovel from Home Depot, two chainsaws, a body bag, a heavy-duty laundry bag and a blue inflatable pool from Amazon under the fake name “Victoria Mendez.” The prosecution believes that he used these to dismember and store Rivas Hernandez’s body, and that he also attempted to “incinerate evidence” via a burn cage he ordered from Amazon — again, using a false name.

Prosecutors charged Burke with the murder of Rivas Hernandez following the discovery of an argument that occurred April 22, 2025, the day before her death. Text messages show Rivas Hernandez threatening to disclose damaging information to the public about their relationship, which she believed would end Burke’s career and destroy his life.

A not-guilty plea was entered on Burke’s behalf, and his attorneys maintain his innocence, saying, “The actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death.” His parents have also stated that they stand by him.

Most recently, the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s report was released, showing that Rivas Hernandez died from multiple penetrating injuries, including two to her torso, which damaged her liver, and that there was evidence of traumatic injury.

This remains an ongoing court case, and the allegations against Burke have not been proven in court.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

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May Day protests

A photo of the May Day march in Portland. | Photo from @resistusledwarpdx on Instagram

May 6, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

May Day, also called International Workers’ Day, is celebrated May 1 to remember the history of labor organizing and worker power. Each year, people from around the world come together to celebrate workers and organize protests and rallies to fight for workers’ rights. Most recently, the topic of many protests includes immigrants’ rights.

The holiday originated in the late 19th century when workers were fighting for improved working conditions and treatment during a time when working was unsafe and unreasonable. Workers were calling for shorter work days during a time when many could be working 14-hour days, and in 1884, a campaign was established to enforce eight-hour workdays starting May 1, 1886. Up until this date, workers around North America went on strike in support during one of the largest times of worker unrest.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Oregon Capitol in Salem to attend a May Day protest where they called for recognition of the many workers in Salem as well as for the removal of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Oregon. “This whole immigration thing is kind of off the charts. Especially when they say they’re going after violent criminals and drug traffickers. When what I see is them going after women and children and anyone they feel like,” said registered nurse Vivianne Kelly.

In Portland, the Portland Association of Teachers led a rally at the South Park Blocks, where many students protested for more state funding to go toward education. Teacher Charlotte Fisher said, “While the billionaire class and their crony puppets continue to fund their oil wars, we see our schools in critical conditions, and we see our students struggling without enough staff, without enough access to their education, and the increasing threat of ICE pulling families apart. You see it every day. It is not OK.”

Others, including migrant organizations, faith groups and union and labor groups, gathered in this same area around 3 p.m. to focus on marching in support of all workers with an emphasis on support for migrant workers. More than 500 joined this march and many chants were led, such as “The workers united will never be divided.”

Later on, a march gathered outside the ICE facility in Portland, protesting the removal of ICE in Oregon. Portland and Oregon state police officers gathered on the scene to block a nearby street. Protesters who were gathered led many chants such as “whose streets, our streets,” “ICE out of Portland” and “no one is illegal.” Following this, some of the protesters moved onto the driveway of the facility, causing officers to clear the driveway by pushing people back. Several people were arrested.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

Accessibility Public Records Privacy Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.

Breaking the Silence

Addressing sexual assault on campus

DEFINING SEXUAL ASSAULT

THE SURVIVORS YOU DON’T HEAR ABOUT

SURVIVING IN A VICTIM-BLAMING CULTURE

PUTTING FOCUS ON THE PERPETRATOR

Combating assault with campus-wide conversation

REPORTING SEXUAL ASSAULT

Normalizing the conversation

New course evaluation system opens

Workshop offers understanding of dynamics for deaf & hearing coworkers

Tips for a safe winter at Western

Debut Turkey Chase offers introduction to new WOU Running Club

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Trench warfare

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Controlled burn sparks neighborhood interest

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Finding a Voice

Flyby

Law, policy and politics

Follett’s Wolfstore

Support local artists

Canvas for ransom

Write Place hosts Ellen Waterston

Prosecutors detail D4vd case

May Day protests

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