Mount Hood

Abby’s House recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month through the Bandana Project

The Bandana Project at Western works to raise awareness about workplace sexual violence against farmworker women

Mirella Barrera-Betancourt | Staff Writer

 

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

Content warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.

April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence and how to prevent it. Sexual Assault Awareness Month gave rise to the Bandana Project, a public awareness campaign aimed to address the issue of workplace sexual assault in the United States, particularly among farmworker women.

Recently, Western joined universities across the country in raising awareness to protect farmworker women. Throughout the week of April 11 – 15, Abby’s House set out white bandanas for students and faculty to decorate freely with powerful messages and words of love and encouragement.

Maria Marquez, Peer Educator at Abby’s House, was in charge of bringing the Bandana Project to Western. 

“As a current member of the Dreamers community on our WOU campus, I was thrilled to organize and welcome the Bandana Project,” said Marquez. “My purpose was to bring awareness to our marginalized communities and allow their voices to be heard.”

The Bandana Project was created back in 2007 by Mónica Ramírez when she was directing Esperanza: The Immigrant Women’s Legal Initiative of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Ramírez later founded Justice for Migrant Women, a stand-alone non profit organization now leading the Bandana Project.

Workplace sexual harrassment has long been an issue for farmworker women in the agricultural community. The white bandana first became a figure against sexual harrassment when farmworker women began wearing them to protect themselves against violence and harrassment in the fields. Today, they serve as a symbol of protest.

On why the Bandana Project is such an important project to commemorate, Marquez said, “WOU is in the early stages of becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution. I believe that it is important to consider our large population of undocumented and (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students on campus to discuss prominent and on going issues that they have to (endure). … Abby’s House is here to celebrate, voice, and support women who have overcome such challenges.”

Abby’s House is a constant advocate for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. They will also be hosting Denim Day on April 27, an event created to show support to the victims of sexual assault who were told they were at fault for wearing what they did. Demin Day sends the message that anyone can experience sexual harrassment or assault regardless of what they were wearing.

To learn more about the Bandana Project, visit justiceforwomen.org.

New hours available for fitness classes and facilities

The Health and Wellness Center releases fitness schedule for spring

James Fowlkes | Freelancer

Contact the author at jfowlkes18@mail.wou.edu

The fitness schedule for spring term 2022 is now active at Western’s Health and Wellness Center. Available fitness classes vary from yoga, cardio, spin, pilates to full body, lower body, paddle board yoga and more. Most fitness classes range from 45 – 50 minutes, which is just enough time to get a good workout — whether one wants to focus on cardio, core, mind or full body. To sign up for classes, use the IMLeagues app to reserve a place in a class. Make sure to bring a water bottle and a sweat towel — it’ll come in handy.

The fitness schedule for spring 2022 is presented as planned:

 

Monday: 

Detox Yoga: HWC room 253 from 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

    Cardio: Indoor Track from 4:30 – 5:20 p.m.

Spin: HWC room 201 from 5:10 – 6 p.m.  

Pilates: HWC room 201 from 6:30 – 7:20 p.m.

Tuesday:

    Pilates 101: HWC room 253 from 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

Yoga: HWC room 201 from 4:30 – 5:20 p.m.

5k Social: Outdoors from 5:10 – 6 p.m.

Full Body: HWC room 201 from 6:30 – 7:20 p.m. 

Wednesday:

    Pilates HIIT: HWC room 253 from 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

    Pilates: HWC room 201 from 5:10 – 6 p.m.

    Spin: HWC room 201 from 6:30 – 7:20 p.m.

Thursday:

    Lower Body Barre: HWC room 253 from 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

Women Lift Intro: HWC room 201 from 4:30 – 5:20 p.m.

Yoga: HWC room 201 from 5:30 – 6:20 p.m.

Paddle board Yoga: Pool from 6:30 – 7:20 p.m. 

Friday:

    Spin: HWC room 201 from 12 – 12:45 p.m.

 

New operating hours for the Health and Wellness Center facility are also available, along with new hours for the Aquatic Center and the wall climbing area.

 

Health and Wellness Center:

Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Friday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday from 12 – 5 p.m.

Sunday from 12 – 4 p.m.

 

Aquatic Center:

Monday – Wednesday from 2:30 – 3:50 p.m. and 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Thursday from 2:30 – 3:50 p.m. and 7:40 – 9:30 p.m.

Saturday from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.

 

Wall Climbing:

Monday – Thursday from 4 – 9 p.m.

Saturday from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.

 

Tips for increasing sustainability

How sustainability can also be convenient for students

Mollie Herron | News Editor

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Single use plastics and unnecessary packaging are creating huge problems for our planet. Humans are creating more trash than ever and polluting more than the world can handle. While it may seem like too big of a problem at this point to make a difference as an individual, even one small choice can lead to a cleaner, greener future.

As a student, especially one who lives a busy lifestyle, it can be difficult to figure out ways to make sustainable choices. Most of the choices made as students focus on convenience over sustainability. Here are some simple changes that can be implemented in life in an effort to finally put the earth first.

Use a reusable water bottle. A reusable water bottle can cost more than expected, but it will be worth it when the use of plastic water bottles is eventually eliminated. It also has the benefit of keeping water cold all day if one of the higher end brands, like Hydro Flask or Yeti, is used.

Skip the chips and grab fruit. Making the choice to choose fruit or vegetables over a packaged good has the benefit of reducing waste and encouraging healthier eating habits. Students tend to grab packaged food for convenience, but apples, bananas and oranges have their own natural packaging.

Bring a tote bag to the store. A tote bag is perfect for grocery shopping, carrying books and everyday use because they usually come in a large range of sizes and are easy to carry. This easy change eliminates the hoarding of plastic bags that almost every household partakes in.

Brew coffee at home. Going to a local coffee stand is a nice way to treat yourself every once in a while, but doing that every day can become a problem for the earth and the bank. By making coffee at home, single use plastic cups will be used less, and it will be  cheaper for a student who is trying to save money. 

Walk to class. It’s tempting to drive to class when it’s raining, but unless home is more than a few blocks away, don’t drive to campus. The time saved is usually only around three minutes and over time the pollution outweighs those three minutes. It also is barely affordable to drive everywhere with the way the price of gas has risen in the past couple of months.

Utilize what you already have. People tend to collect things over time and forget they own them. This leads to the purchasing of unnecessary items when something you already own could do the job. The most sustainable things are the items you already own.

 

ASWOU voter guide

Western students answer the question: “What is your favorite season and why?”

Camille Lenning | Entertainment Editor

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Spring term is election season for the Associated Students of Western Oregon University — Western’s student government. Campaign Week began on Monday, April 18 with a “meet the candidate” event in the Werner University Center Summit. On Thursday, April 21, there will be a candidate forum on Zoom at 5 p.m. Students will be able to vote starting April 25 until April 29 on Presence, through their Student Portal. 

In preparation for Campaign Week, candidates were asked why they decided to run and what they plan to do if elected, find their answers below: 

 

Candidates for ASWOU President:

 

Gheraldy Bobadilla-Cruz (he/him/his/el)

Major: education 

Current class standing: sophomore

 

A current ASWOU Senator, Cruz has wanted to run for President since he arrived at Western, and wants to give a voice to all students. 

“I’m running for ASWOU President because I believe (Western) is at a pivotal turning point when considering its future. I want to come in and work alongside our new President to help (Western) flourish in this new era… I will make sure that more support is given to all clubs and organizations here on campus. I will ensure that students are being fully appreciated and acknowledged for all the work they do to make (Western) a campus full of diversity and inclusion. It’s time to hold (Western) responsible as an institution to follow through and act on its statements of being a welcoming campus for all. It’s time to make (Western) more than just a school.”

 

Kodee Harwood (she/her/hers)

Major: communication studies 

Current class standing: junior 

 

Harwood has been interested in ASWOU since 2019, and hopes to bring clubs back in full force, while also working to improve accessibility. 

“I want to improve campus and campus culture. … There’s always room for improvement and I’d like to start improving (Western) and make students feel safe on campus and proud that they go to (Western). … If I get elected ASWOU president my office will always be open to any student(s) that have concerns or questions and I will try my best to make change happen and try to support you as best I can.”

 

Candidates for ASWOU Vice President:

 

Hunter Hall (he/him/his)

Major: mathematics

Current class standing: senior

 

As a student government veteran, Hall aims to use his skills to amplify student voices, with an emphasis on safety. 

“I’m running for ASWOU Vice President for a couple of reasons. The first and most important to me is I want to find ways to improve the safety of our campus. I want to do this while also addressing accessibility issues that students face here. … I have (four) years of experience within student government where I’ve worked in various leadership positions. During that time I have been able to learn a lot about what it means to be the student voice. I plan to use my experience to act as that bridge that connects the (Western) staff and students (together).”

 

Owen Hubers (he/him/his)

Major: business 

Current class standing: junior 

 

Passionate about club engagement, Hubers (pictured left) hopes to connect students through Discord and improve event planning. 

“I want voters to know that I am listening to literally everything they say and will work my very hardest to make sure college life at (Western) is the best it can possibly be. I will use every last resource we have to help students here thrive. I will always want to and be willing to talk with any student or anybody at all who is willing to provide me with feedback. I will do the best I can to work with the various members of ASWOU and (Western) as a community. I will do my best … to solve current or future problems and implement new resources or improve existing resources.”

 

Candidate for Senate President:

 

Connor Goehring (he/him/his)

Major: ASL studies and education

Current class standing: sophomore

 

As Residence Hall Association President, Goehring aims to use his leadership skills to improve communication and make campus better for students. 

“There is so much inequity here at (Western) and I don’t plan on trying to fix the broken system we have in place right now, but to rewrite the whole system entirely to make a better, working system that supports our students. … I’m qualified to make a difference and be the advocate you need to make (Western) a safe and inclusive environment for the (campus’s) diverse community.”

 

Candidate for Senate:

 

Samy Reyes (he/him/his)

Major: business

Current class standing: sophomore 

 

As a new student at Western, Reyes hopes to use the Senate position to gain experience in student government. 

“I would like to be further involved in our school and the community of our students. I believe it is a civic responsibility as students to be engaged and involved in our school’s topics and issues. I seek to hear student’s thoughts and concerns on our campus, as I am going to be a voice that represents them. I run for the senate not only to gain experience, but to work towards new policies that will benefit the interests of our fellow students.”

 

Candidate for Judicial Administrator:

 

Coral Davis (she/they)

Major: education 

Current class standing: first-year

 

A PLUS Team member and WOU Ambassador, Davis is excited to bring leadership experience to ASWOU and work with the Justices. 

“My goal for when I am elected for Judicial Administrator is to create a more inclusive campus. I feel that accommodations for students are not being followed through. I also want to try and bring more awareness to all of the clubs that we have on campus as well as bring light to all (of) what our university has to offer to its new and current students.” 

 

Candidate for Incidental Fee Committee Member:

 

Dennis Long (he/him/his)

Major: information systems 

Current class standing: senior 

 

As an IFC Chair, Long was able to work on the IFC Funded Areas web page, allowing anyone to see who received funding and why. 

“I hope to help organize a better training schedule so that new IFC members can feel prepared to make these difficult decisions. There are changes to be made in the bylaws to make this process smoother, and I hope to actively engage in supporting the future of IFC and (Western)! After serving as IFC Chair this year, I discovered that there were many different student voices feeling left out or ignored. As the IFC, we did what we could to ensure that those voices were heard through anonymous forms and Open Hearings. I did my best to reach out to students and tried to forward their feedback to IFC.” 

headline: Recap of 2022 Masters

A summary of the Masters golfing tournament

Mollie Herron | News Editor

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

The 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia finished up on Sunday, April 10. Here are the most notable things that happened at the tournament.

25-year-old Scottie Scheffler won the tournament with ten under-par claiming his first major title. He not only received the priceless green jacket but a record setting $2.7 million from the $15 million purse.

Rory McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, finished second with a score of negative seven. He took home $1.62 million from the purse. McIlroy started the final round at 1 over and 10 strokes behind Scheffler in ninth place. He kicked it into high gear and shot a front-nine 32 and ended the back-nine with an incredible hole out from the bunker leaving him with a score of 64.

Not long after McIlroy’s bunker shot, Collin Morikawa ended the eighteenth hole with his own chip-in bunker shot. Morikawa ended with a total tournament score of four under-par in fifth place.

Tiger Woods made a strong comeback after his car accident in 2021 that almost cost him his leg. He pushed through and played the full 72 holes despite his noticeable limp, finishing No. 47 overall with a score of 13 over par. The injuries he sustained did not seem to affect his swing much, but changed the way he moved through the course and followed his ball. Woods has won five green jackets and this weekend was about his comeback rather than winning the tournament.

Once a golfer wins the Masters tournament they win an invite back for every future year. So, with this win, not only did Scheffler bring home a new jacket and millions of dollars, but the opportunity to bring more home in the years to come. The 87th US Masters will be held in Augusta again between April 6 – 9, 2023.

Stitch Closet reopens

Western’s Stitch Closet makes a grand re-opening for spring term

Mirella Barrera-Betancourt | Staff Writer

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

The Stitch Closet on campus continues to provide students with the basic human resources needed for graduation since its opening in 2021. Despite the challenges the organization has faced in recent times, they will continue to persevere and thrive. 

In February of winter term, the Stitch Closet found itself having to close temporarily due to the lack of equipment needed to care for and clean their stock. However, with the help of tenacious volunteers and the Western community, the Stitch Closet was able to make a valiant re-opening — and it’s bigger and better than ever.

Contributing by volunteering for the Stitch Closet worked in an orderly, collaborative fashion. Students wishing to help could do so by signing up for a designated appointment slot, where they were able to come in and retrieve bags of clothing to take home to wash in their own space.

“It really took a village,” said Sofie Fashana, second-year student at Western and creator of the Stitch Closet. “At some point we ran out of clothes to distribute and people were still coming in because they signed up to pick up clothes.” 

Fashana also gave thanks to Katherine Schmidt, professor of writing and Writing Center director at Western. Schmidt helped immensely with the process by sending out emails to the Western community and collecting volunteers to not only wash and dry clothes, but also to help fold, sort and organize them so they were ready to be on display.

“We had 48 people sign up within 48 hours,” said Fashana on the number of volunteers to help sort and display clothes. “That is amazing.”

In the end, the community effort that it took to reopen the Stitch Closet turned out to mean much more for students as it also served the purpose of forming bonds.

“There was a lot of friendship that was built among that interaction … We saw something a lot bigger than ourselves,” said Fashana.

The Stitch Closet is co-located with the Food Pantry in the Welcome Center on the Western campus, room 165. Although the Stitch Closet is open, it is not currently accepting donations. Students can visit the Stitch Closet’s instagram at @stitchcloset.wou to remain updated on future operating hours for spring term and on when donations open up to the community, as well as volunteering opportunities.

WOU scavenger hunt

I traveled to the city for spring break and this is what happened

Cole Boeck | Copy Editor

Contact the author at howlcopyeditor@wou.edu

Western’s Board Game Club has started a scavenger hunt that encourages students to explore around campus and learn about different resources. Co-hosted by the Residence Hall Association, Star Trek Club and ASL Club, this event is composed of two sessions. The sessions are divided into weeks, starting on Mondays and ending Sundays, with new clues and puzzles introduced each week.
The first session runs through weeks one through three of spring term and the second session will run through weeks six through eight.
In addition to the physical scavenger hunts in which participants search for clues on campus, there is a virtual version for those who are remote. The virtual hunt encourages students to learn about which resources are accessible online. Each week has a different set of puzzles which can be found at bapac.club.
Week one included five individual puzzles, covering a wide range of genres including sudoku, jigsaw and nonograms. The event is ongoing and has prizes at the end for student participants, though staff and faculty are also encouraged to take part. This event provides fun trivia and an opportunity to learn more about Western’s campus. Take a breather and solve some puzzles.