News – The Western Howl

Siren Songs

April 9, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Western’s music program is one of the university’s hidden gems. There are several music ensembles that students can join, including choirs, bands and orchestras. They host concerts, shows and many other events that are typically free for Western students.

If students are not in the music program but would like to participate in an ensemble, Concert Choir does not require an audition and students can earn one credit. It is also open to the public. Many of the other ensembles are open for non-music majors, however, most of them have an audition process.

According to Western’s catalog, the music department’s mission is to offer “comprehensive programs and services to students and the surrounding community, including professional and liberal arts degrees in music and an active schedule of performances. The department supports large and small ensembles in vocal and instrumental music and up-to-date facilities for electronic music production and recording.”

April 2, two professional musicians led a workshop for music students and afterward had a free concert in Smith Hall that was open to the public.

Musicians Merideth Kaye Clark and Jenn Grinels both have individual music careers but came together to create music under the name “Siren Songs.” They released one album in 2020 — also titled “Siren Songs” — and have released many singles and covers.

Clark and Grinels are both independent artists, composers, instrumentalists and vocalists. Although Siren Songs make mainly folk and Americana, they both have roots in musical theater, having met each other while performing in the same musical. Clark has starred in many beloved roles, such as Elphaba in Wicked in the touring Broadway cast (1st National Tour).

In 2024, Grinels composed a musical of her own for B-Side Theatricals that has been a finalist for several awards. A song from the musical “Goodbye Sun, Hello Moon” was released as one of Siren Songs’ singles. They chose this song in particular to release because, according to Grinels, the single is one of the only songs in the musical that fits the genre of folk, with the other songs leaning more towards classic musical theater.

The concert opened with Clark and Grinels singing three songs — two originals and one Joni Mitchell cover. The stage was filled with many instruments that were played throughout the concert, including guitar, a banjo, a viola, a tambourine and even a dulcimer — an instrument of the zither family.

After they had sung, the duo opened the stage to the students who had participated in the workshop. The students performed a wide range of songs, including genres of pop, musical theater and R&B. In total there were six students who sang in front of Siren Songs and the audience.

Then, after the students had showcased what they had learned in the workshop, Clark and Grinels finished the concert with a 45-minute set of songs. The set was a mix of songs from the Siren Songs album and a few of their newer singles. Their most recent single, entitled “April,” was released March 28, 2025.

The last song they played was “For Good” from Wicked. With Western being the last stop of their spring tour, they thought they would give the audience a treat by singing a duet from one of the most beloved musicals.

This concert and showcase is just one of the many events put on by Western’s music department. At the end of each term, each ensemble performs in a concert. There are also other events similar to Siren Songs’ concert. April 12, the Beo String Quartet will be performing in Rice Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about creative arts events at Western, visit the 2025 spring term events schedule.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home » News

Art, Care & Connection

April 2, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

When school districts and administrators make budget cuts, arts education is typically the first to go. Many educators, however, are trying to shift the focus away from standardized testing that covers math, science and reading and onto arts education.

Five years ago, an initiative called Arts, Care & Connection — ACC — was conceived by Arts for Learning Northwest, an organization committed to making the arts accessible for Oregon students.

According to an Arts for Learning NW press release, “This initiative is part of the Oregon Department of Education’s Well-Rounded Access Program, funded by a five-year, $9.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.”

The organization had the goal of bringing visual art, music, dance and other arts subjects to elementary classrooms. The press release stated that their goal was to “(connect) young people with diverse arts and creative experiences, making the arts abundantly accessible in schools and communities.”

Approximately two years ago, Arts for Learning NW worked in partnership with the Oregon Department of Education to create lesson plans for 94 stand-alone online lessons. They had the support of almost 70 artists across Oregon who helped create and lead these lessons. Although the grant from the U.S. Department of Education ends in 2025, the lessons will continue to be available.

The press release defines the lessons as “a creative adventure” and “an inspiring and joyful experience.”

The video lessons — now available online — are all one hour long with both English and Spanish versions. They are also made to be flexible for every educator, with no specialized materials required. Not only are they available for teachers, but they are also a great resource for homeschool educators, providers of after-school programs and leaders of summer programs.

“These lessons align with the Oregon Arts Standards and Oregon’s Transformative Social Emotional Learning Framework (TSEL), ensuring accessibility and effectiveness for all educators, regardless of artistic background,” the press release stated.

The video lessons are considered to be a form of TSEL curriculum. TSEL is meant to fit seamlessly into everyday classroom activities, without stopping students’ active learning. The press release stated that the components of TSEL include “self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.”

TSEL standards that are built into the arts could get more teacher and student buy-in while still satisfying the requirements of social-emotional learning.

“Art is a low-stakes way to build these skills that also help support creative thinking and problem-solving,” the Director of Development of Arts for Learning NW, Sarah Andrews, said.

If more school districts and administrators were aware of this new initiative, TSEL in the form of art education could benefit all students in Oregon.

According to Andrews, “We have reached out directly to the schools, presented at various conferences, created an email list of interested parties and lastly reached out to press in the hopes to make this program known across the whole state.”

Arts for Learning NW encourages educators who have participated in ACC to provide any feedback they have. “Participants who provide feedback can receive classroom supplies to support their implementation,” according to the press release. Arts teachers are also encouraged to participate in focus groups conducted by the Well-Rounded Access Program Team, aimed at discussing arts education experiences, and will be compensated with a stipend.

If educators would like to participate in the focus groups, join the email list or get more information, they can visit the Arts for Learning NW website.

Western has a large education program, and ACC could provide an important resource for Oregon’s newest educators. As of fall 2023, there were over 600 people majoring in education at Western. It may be important for those students to be aware of the different programs, organizations, and initiatives — such as Arts for Learning NW and ACC — that have been created to promote their success.

“When sharing this work with the arts education field across the country, the response has been

incredible,” stated project lead and Portland area Arts Education Consultant Briana Linden. “Oregon is leading the way in creating artist-led, social-emotionally integrated arts

learning that ignites students’ curiosity and allows them to explore what’s important to them — their sense of belonging, their identity and their communities.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home » News

Western’s budget

March 12, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Recently, Western’s leaders have been growing concerned with the state of the university’s finances due to increasing operational costs and lower enrollment.

March 5, in an email sent to Western students, Provost Jose Coll said, “Unless we take additional measures to reduce expenses for the next few budget years, we will not be on a sustainable path.”

This year, the university’s projected deficit spending is $3.5 million. Over the next two years, Western will be working on decreasing expenses by $5 million.

Many educational institutions across the country are experiencing the same financial struggles as Western. According to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, “About two-thirds of all degree-granting public and private nonprofit colleges exhibited one of the three key indicators of financial stress: consistently losing money, fewer students enrolled than a decade ago or a decline in state appropriations or endowment values.”

The article also stated that universities have recently been more willing to discuss financial hardships, which leads to the universities’ leaders putting less emphasis on revenue generation, and more on cutting costs.

In Provost Coll’s email, he stated that currently, Western has not made any decisions regarding the closure of any academic programs. In the scenario where a program does get cut, students who are in that program can finish their degree uninterrupted.

There are many people and committees dedicated to finding a solution to Western’s finances, including the University Budget Advisory Committee and the newly reinstated Academic Sustainability Committee. In an email Feb. 23, President Jesse Peters outlined the steps the university is taking.

“The new (vice president for administration and finance), Kwabena Boakye, begins March 1st, and he will take over coordination of our budget reduction strategies, including processes for gathering information and feedback,” said President Peters.

The university may have to make some difficult decisions, however, the designated committees, Vice President for Administration and Finance Boakye, Budget Director Camarie Moreno and Western’s other leaders are working together to ensure that students can still thrive at Western.

“I know this type of announcement is stressful and worrisome,” said President Peters. “But our proactive steps will set us on a path for sustainability. Now is the time for us to consider how we best implement innovations and efficiencies so that the university can continue to serve students and fulfill our mission.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home » News

Shopping local

March 12, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Located at 226 Main St., Independence, Oregon, The Little Mall on Main is a one-stop shop for all things arts and crafts.

One of the shops, Snickety Picks, sells fabric, sewing supplies, handmade items and resale clothing. The owner, Lisa Purkerson, also offers clothing alterations such as repairing and pant hemming. She first opened her shop because she noticed that there weren’t any local shops that offered things like needle and thread.

Snickety Picks isn’t the only arts and crafts shop in The Little Mall on Main.

Heartfelt Hideaway provides craft supplies, handmade gifts and classes for the community. The owner of Heartfelt Hideaway, Marena Ward, is currently running classes for crafts such as junk journaling and making Easter bunnies out of socks. Also in the mall is Rosemary Ridge Farm Yarn and Fiber Arts, a shop that provides classes and supplies for needle felting, spinning and other fiber arts.

The Little Mall on Main hosts events such as Saturday bake sales, craft supply exchanges and vendor weekends with free tables for anyone who wishes to be a vendor.

“It’s all about ‘shop local,’” Purkerson said. Shopping local helps these shops — and the community — thrive. These local shops provide Independence and Monmouth with goods and services that are crafted and planned with the utmost care.

Snickety Picks opened in November 2024, however, this May, Purkerson and Ward will have their shops combined to create the ultimate craft-lovers paradise. They are also combining shops in order to see more business.

Many of the shops in the mall — and others in Independence and Monmouth — use a Facebook group called “Shop the Shops Monmouth and Independence” to help promote each others’ businesses.

Even with social media such as Facebook and other forms of advertising, many of the shops in the mall struggle to see business from the Monmouth and Independence community. Purkerson emphasized — especially to Western students — that the Monmouth-Independence Trolley is a free and fun way to explore the shops of Independence. Supporting local businesses is a great way for students to get involved with the community that surrounds Western.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home » News

The resurrection of sitcoms

March 12, 2025

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

It seems like wherever I look on social media, there is always some sort of clip from a sitcom that once ruled the airwaves. Seeing this had me wondering why my algorithm was pushing them to so many people’s feeds, I mean, most of them had thousands upon thousands of likes.

While popular new sitcoms are few and far between, it seems that those that have stuck with people are ones that were likely watched growing up — “Friends,” “The Office” and “New Girl” are some current fan favorites.

Part of understanding why these shows have seen such a resurgence in popularity means understanding the history of sitcoms and why they were so beloved in the first place.

The word “sitcom” itself is short for “situational comedy.” They typically features recurring casts of characters to allow for continuity in the story. A majority are filmed in front of a live studio audience, while others opt for canned laughter. Sitcoms were also popularly animated as soon as the ‘90s, with shows like “The Simpsons,” “King of the Hill” and “Family Guy” making their debut and taking TVs by storm.

While they got their start on the radio during the 1920s, sitcoms didn’t really take off until the 1950s when “I Love Lucy” first aired, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. The show ran for six years, and is still considered one of the most influential shows of all time. Many popular tropes and plotlines were born on “I Love Lucy,” and jokes surrounding the wildly mismatched couple are still made in shows today.

Part of what worked so well for the sitcom was the fact that it followed the characters’ day-to-day lives and took place mostly in the home. This created a familiar atmosphere that made fans feel as if they personally knew the Ricardo family.

As sitcoms advanced through the years, scenes began to take place in other familiar settings — school, work, even bars became a subject, as seen in the 1982 show “Cheers.” Viewers were able to watch the shows and feel seen in the characters, going as far as being able to commiserate the stress of work and family that was always at the forefront of problems.

The ‘90s and early 2000s meant that friend groups began to take precedence as the center of sitcoms rather than family. Programs like “Friends” and “How I Met Your Mother” showed that a found family is just as strong and important as one’s biological family. Not long afterwards, “The Big Bang Theory” and “New Girl” would also share this premise.

Of course, family centered sitcoms were still just as popular during this period and had many viewers sitting to watch them, as most shows aired on the same network and premiered back to back. Streaming services have made accessing and watching these shows much easier than ever before.

So what does this all have to do with the resurging popularity of older sitcoms? After all, it seems like it’s millennials and Generation Z watching them the most.

Believe it or not, it’s for the same reason that sitcoms became popular in the first place: the familiar atmosphere and ability to relate to characters. I mean, my partner tells me every time we watch “How I Met Your Mother” that we’re Marshall and Lily. If that’s not an indicator of how relatable these shows are, then I don’t know what is.

The recent uptick in popularity of these shows started back in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. With people stuck in quarantine for months on end and unable to see their friends and family in person, they turned to sitcoms for that feeling of being with their loved ones. It reminded them of good times and the social interactions that made us human.

This continued through 2021 and 2022, with “The Office” especially picking up some of its highest streaming numbers in the period between February 2021 and March 2022.

After the pandemic, however, social interactions began to shift and had vastly changed from before. More and more people began to find themselves disconnected from their loved ones, finding that using a screen to communicate had made things sorely different.

Consequently, people fell back on sitcoms for that sense of belonging and familiarity.

It seems now, however, that Hollywood is back into the push for superhero movies and first responder shows that took the 2010s by storm. After all, when I looked at a list of the best sitcoms of 2024 and 2025 so far, I found that I hadn’t even heard of more than half of said list. Whether they’re being promoted or swept under the rug is the real question.

But, regardless of what’s happening with the newer sitcoms, people still find themselves turning to the classics that they grew up with. In a way, it reminds me of the way my memaw always rewatches “M*A*S*H” and “Little House on the Prairie,” reminding viewers of what they consider to be the “good old days” of television, childhood and teenage years.

Besides, whether one is entertained by the antics of Sheldon Cooper or Dwight Schrute, the popularity of these shows seems steady and likely won’t change for years to come.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home » News

REAL ID

March 5, 2025

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Starting May 7, 2025, any travelers hoping to fly domestically in the U.S. must do so through REAL ID — a state-issued driver’s license, instruction permit or identification card meeting federal security standards. The goal for the REAL ID Act of 2005 is to increase the “integrity and security of the credentials,” as told by the Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services.

The REAL ID Act of 2005 was passed as a law following 9/11 and meant to take effect in 2008, but the enforcement was widely refused by so many states that it was postponed. Starting in 2012, states began to comply, until all of them agreed in 2020.

Federal agencies and TSA — the Transportation Security Administration — will only accept REAL ID beginning May 7. REAL ID allows for individuals to fly as well as enter certain federal facilities, such as military bases or nuclear plants. However, REAL ID is not and does not replace a passport and does not allow for border crossing. Not having a REAL ID will prevent individuals from progressing through security checkpoints when attempting to fly.

REAL IDs are not necessary to drive, vote, apply and receive federal aid, enter federal establishments not requiring identification, receive medical care in a hospital or enter a hospital or engage as a lawful citizen, such as participating on a jury, testifying in court and so forth.

Multiple times now, the requirement for fliers to obtain a REAL ID has been pushed back in a few-year increments. Most recently, the required change was due in 2022, but, for the last time, was pushed back to May 7, 2025.

To know if a driver’s license in Oregon is already compliant with REAL ID regulations, check for a black star in the upper right corner. REAL ID is necessary for fliers above the age of 18. Oregon recommends obtaining a REAL ID as soon as possible, even without plans to fly. All states, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, will issue REAL ID requirements May 7. Some states already issue REAL IDs when new licenses are obtained, but may appear differently from Oregon’s REAL ID stamp.

To obtain a REAL ID, Oregon residents must visit a DMV office and bring documentation that proves their identity, date of birth, residence address through two proofs of address from two different sources excluding P.O. box mail and lawful status in the U.S. All documents must be original or certified copies, as electronic documents or photocopies will not be accepted. DMV recommends bringing a birth certificate as well as a passport. They will request a Social Security number — or proof that the applicant does not qualify — but do not need to see the actual Social Security card. DMV offers an online checklist and allows for appointments for this exact instance of securing a REAL ID, but appointments may not be necessary. The DMV will scan and store copies of the provided documentation for ten years, and REAL IDs can be renewed or replaced online in the future once one is already obtained.

After submitting documents for a REAL ID, the DMV will offer a paper identification card. This card will not be accepted for flying purposes by TSA. The license is expected to arrive within 20 days after the DMV accepts and scans the submitted documents.

It is very likely — and expected — that wait times and general business at DMVs to be exacerbated due to the required change as May 7 nears.

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home » News

“Patterns in Nature”

March 5, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

A new art exhibition, “Patterns in Nature,” was created by Jennifer Bracy, an art and design professor at Western. It was put on display Feb. 20 and will run through March 21. Located on the second floor of Hamersly Library, the exhibition stays true to its title, depicting many patterns that are commonly found in the natural world.

Bracy has been a professor at Western for 16 years. She created the exhibition while on sabbatical.

“I just look at (the exhibition) and it feels very rewarding,” Bracy said. “I made a lot, I accomplished a lot. I was productive, but also I was ready to get back in the classroom and was feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.”

Seven years prior, while on another sabbatical, Bracy created a set of works also inspired by nature’s patterns, however, she knew that she wanted to explore deeper within that subject.

“Patterns in Nature” contains many series of works, with some being deliberately planned and others being more spontaneous.

Bracy explored techniques, specifically in print-making, that were experimental or non-traditional. One thing that surprised her while creating this exhibition was how many different tools she could experiment with, including a potato masher and foam rollers wrapped with bubble wrap or string.

Bracy wanted play and experimentation to be the driving force. “Some whole series in here came about just through play. No plan, no idea, no research necessarily.”

Contrarily, Bracy has researched and planned out many of the other works.

“I really enjoy the research part of things, like learning more about what those patterns reveal, what nature can do, how efficient it is or how strong it is, or how good it is at adapting … these are all things that kind of show up when you start looking at those patterns,” Bracy said.

One pattern that Bracy researched was the connection of opposites, such as the pattern of DNA.

“The DNA helix is actually a pairing of opposites. This idea of nature putting things — opposites — together and it forming something incredibly meaningful or useful, it’s just one of thousands of ways we as humans can learn,” Bracy said. “We are more divided than ever right now. There’s so much we can learn in that lesson of acknowledging that we are connected and working through those differences and figuring out how to go forward anyway.”

At the heart of the exhibition is the series that inspired the name “Patterns in Nature.” It includes six works of art with different patterns, each accompanied by a homophone pair — two words with the same pronunciation but with different spellings and meanings.

One piece in the series showcases the words “hours” and “ours,” with concentric circles to represent the rings of a tree. “They represent time passing and growth. ‘Ours’ speaks to the arrogance of humanity and thinking nature is our domain, we own it, we can do what we want with it.”

Bracy’s favorite homophone pair in the series is “vein” and “vain,” which is shown with branching patterns similar to the veins in leaves or the veins in humans. “Vain” refers again to humanity’s hubris and arrogance.

Another series surrounding words and typography, titled “Wordcraft,” is viewer interactive. It was Bracy’s way of letting the viewer experiment and play, just as she did while creating the series. Each work in the series is color coded to distinguish prefixes, base words and suffixes. Viewers can create new words by making different combinations of the fragments of words.

Words are an area of interest that Bracy finds fascinating, often incorporating them into her works, just as she incorporates her other passions into her art.

“The subjects that creep back in recurrently are nature, especially from an environmental standpoint, how humans mess it up and other things related to social justice. So I do look at art and design as a way to talk about important things,” Bracy said.

The technical aspect of the exhibition that Bracy is most proud of is the incorporation of thread and cross stitch. She loves “the symbolism of something being stitched, the idea of a thread in the work as a theme, the idea of interconnectedness.” The thread in “Patterns in Nature” shows how humans and nature are intertwined.

Bracy used thread to create topographic maps in a series about climate change. The six small pieces of art that make up the series distinctively stand out in “Patterns in Nature.” According to Bracy, “it’s a more overt statement about our interfering and messing up with nature, whereas the other ones may be a little more nuanced and a little more subtle or open to different interpretations.”

Bracy wants viewers to tap into their curiosity and dig deep to see these patterns in a new light. She wants people to realize how extensive the patterns are, how much depth they really have and how many different settings they occur in.

After people see “Patterns in Nature,” Bracy hopes that “maybe next time they’re in nature, they’ll see the fallen tree and the pond ripple and (see that) those are related and they share some kind of common DNA.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.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.

Siren Songs

Art, Care & Connection

Western’s budget

Shopping local

The resurrection of sitcoms

REAL ID

Tools

Resources