Mount Hood

Tuition increase

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

All seven public, four-year universities in Oregon plan to raise tuition costs from three to five percent for the 2024-2025 academic school year.

Oregon State University’s in-state and full-time students will be expected to pay $14,400 per year; University of Oregon students are expecting more than $16,100; while Portland State University students can expect a $11,800 tuition. All three universities have the highest enrollment rates in the state.

Maureen Brakke, the director of marketing and communications at Western, made a statement in a post to the Western’s home website. “The Tuition Advisory Committee, which includes students, staff, and faculty, submitted a proposed five percent tuition increase, which was accepted by President Jesse Peters and presented to the Board of Trustees on April 17,” said Brakke.

In the same post, Peters shared his sentiment: “We take pride in offering students a tailored educational experience, fostering a sense of belonging, and delivering quality support services. We have worked hard to maintain affordability without compromising the exceptional quality of education and services that define Western,” Peters said.

Western, being the second least expensive public university in Oregon out of the seven, will increase tuition to nearly five percent for resident tuition and 4.86 percent for non-resident undergraduate tuition.

Eastern Oregon University, the least expensive public four-year university, will be resting at about $1,000 less than Western, with students expected to pay approximately $11,000 for in-state, full-time enrollment tuition.

Graduate tuition will rise by five percent, with no variation regarding residency. Summer 2024 tuition rates will be increased at the same rate as the 2024-2025 academic year cost.

In 2023, tuition at Western was raised by 3.09 percent for the 2023-2024 academic school year. Pre-pandemic, the 2017-2018 school year increased tuition by 6.4 percent, with the 2018-2019 school year having a proposed 4.03 percent increase, although it has not been confirmed whether or not this increase occurred. 

The 2019-2020 school year was approved for a 2.33 percent raise, equivalent to four dollars per credit, alongside the 2021-2022 school year receiving a 2.17 percent increase in tuition for resident undergraduate students.

The next academic year will leave Western at a higher tuition rate of about 18.85 percent at least since 2017 at the earliest, not including the suspected 4.03 percent increase from 2018-2019, and leaving out nonresident rates, which tend to be higher than resident tuition.

Statistics from Datausa.io reflect Western, in 2021, as having a 91.6 percent acceptance rate for incoming students but a graduation rate of less than half, at 48.3 percent. The same website lists Western’s tuition is $14,724 less than the national average overall from all Masters Colleges and Universities in the country.

Nationally, college average costs inflated nearly 12 percent annually from 2012 to 2022 according to educationdata.org.

It should be noted that the Incidental Funding Committee approved all requested base-level funding and additional funding requests at Western without raising student incidental fees. When discussing tuition rates, this excludes all fees such as health service fees, building fees, access to the recreational center, room and board costs, late payment fees and online course fees, alongside any other expenses students may be expected to pay.

“This slight tuition increase reflects our dedication to sustaining the excellence that makes us truly extraordinary,” said Peters in the latest statement — last year, when tuition increased by 3.09 percent, he said, “Our students are not just numbers; they are the future leaders of Oregon and the world, and we always look for new and innovative ways to support them.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Students protest on college campus

Written by: Libby Thoma | Staff Writer

Content warning: this article contains mentions of police violence.

 

Pro-Palestine protests have been taking place all over U.S. college campuses. According to NPR, students are asking for campuses not to support businesses that diverge with Israel. Campuses include the University of New Mexico, The University of Chicago, Columbia University, UCLA, California State Polytechnic University and more. 

These protests have led several colleges to instill holds on graduation ceremonies and, in some cases, police have been called, forcing a discussion regarding police violence towards student protestors. 

School-wide graduation ceremonies at colleges such as Columbia University and the University of Southern California have been canceled due to campus unrest and police activity. Police activity has been an ongoing issue on campuses where protests have taken place. Some are comparing the events at these protests to the Vietnam protests at Kent University, in which four students died due to police violence. 

Although no fatal incidents have occurred in these protests, colleges are actively trying to mitigate violence or illegal acts perpetrated by protestors and police alike. While peaceful protests are ideal, there have still been some violent events surrounding these recent protests. 

There have been instances of violence occurring between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protestors, entailing shoving, kicking and the groups beating each other with sticks. Additionally, there is the ongoing issue of students committing illegal acts on campuses such as trespassing and vandalism. Police have arrested more than 2,000 student protestors for various reasons, and there has been a circulation of videos online depicting police violence towards these protestors. Police on campuses, such as UCLA, came prepared for potential altercations in riot gear. 

The thin line between protesting and civil disobedience and what the police should and shouldn’t do has been debated throughout these protests. The importance of students, police and other civilians’ safety shouldn’t be underestimated, and these situations must be handled carefully. 

Contact the author at ethoma23@mail.wou.edu

 

Psychology grad school fair

Written by: Forest Schostalo | Freelancer

The Psychology Peer Advising Center, PsychPAC, will hold a graduate school fair on May 21 in the Werner University Center. The event will run from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Columbia Room and will have at least 13 programs in attendance. 

When asked about the importance of this event, John Thoma, PsychPAC’s graduate school coordinator, said, “Many people don’t know how to go about grad school; this is their very first time showing interest. The mystery creates a lot of questions, but you don’t always know which ones you are supposed to ask.” 

This will be the second-ever graduate school fair that PsychPAC has hosted, following the success of last year’s event. According to Thoma, the event will be a great way for students interested in graduate school to not only learn more about graduate school but also become acquainted with the people who work at these schools. “Go in representing yourself and the best person that you are. These are the people who could be interviewing you when you apply, that’s how it was for me at Geroge Fox,” said Thoma.

In preparation for the Grad Fair, PsycPAC curated a list of Dos and Don’ts for students attending the event. They suggest preparing several questions in advance to get a full picture of what the school has to offer. They also suggest talking to the school one is most interested in last to get some practice before seeing them. Finally, they suggest wearing something that is more professional. If one doesn’t have anything professional, the Stitch Closet on campus can help.

PsychPAC also puts forward some don’ts. Don’t only look at the information on the table, instead talk to the attendants to obtain a full understanding of what they have to offer. Don’t leave mid-conversation if you discover you aren’t interested in the school, finish the conversation, and politely excuse yourself and thank them for their time. Finally, don’t save questions for a later time —this is a good opportunity to ask any questions, including about topics like financial aid or what they are looking for in an application, as some topics are better off not mentioned in an interview. 

PsychPAC serves as a way for psychology majors at Western to get advice from their peers who are also involved in the psychology program. The advisors include people at various levels within the major, with varied career aspirations and who have taken different courses within the program. They can help with registering for classes, removing advising holds, understanding degree tracks and more. They are located in Todd Hall, Room 339, and are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Several advisors from PsychPAC will be at the event ready to answer questions from students. “This is a perfect opportunity to gain information about grad school. You can then immediately come over to our table to make a plan to make that goal happen,” Thoma said. “We can help make a schedule for next year or figure out what classes or volunteer opportunities you should focus on.” 

The center will also be open during its normal hours on the day of the event for people who have any questions.

Many of the colleges with psychology-related graduate programs from across the state will be in attendance at the fair: private universities like George Fox and Pacific University, Public universities like Oregon State and the University of Oregon and even Western Oregon and its new Occupational Therapy Program will be represented. 

A full list of the universities that will be represented at the fair, what programs they offer, if they are accredited in any way and what makes these programs unique and special is available on the PsychPAC website.

For anyone who may be nervous about attending an event like the Graduate School fair, Thoma has some advice. “It’s okay to not know everything, that’s why we do these things. You can talk to these people and say it’s your first grad school fair and just by doing that you’ll learn what kinds of things you need to ask, don’t be afraid to not know.” 

Any questions about the event can be directed towards the PsychPAC email: peeradvising@mail.wou.edu or can be asked in person during their operating hours.

Contact the author at fschostalo21@mail.wou.edu

AANHPI Month

Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer

The month of May celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage. The celebratory month began its process of becoming federally recognized in 1977, when two members of the House of Representatives — Frank Horton and Norman Mineta — declared to the President that the first 10 days of May should be Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. 

The following year, President Jimmy Carter called for Heritage Week to be annually celebrated. Then, 12 years later, President George H.W. Bush extended the week to be an entire month. 

In 1992, it was signed into law that May would be AANHPI month. The first Japanese immigrants came to the country in May of 1843, which makes the month significant to AANHPI history. 

The Filipino American Association at Western shared what AANHPI Heritage Month means to them: “Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month taught me how to embrace my heritage and has allowed me to be more comfortable with representing my cultural identity. This month is a reminder of the rich diversity of the country and that it is important to celebrate that,” said Carl Garon, a graduate student at Western. 

Briar Durias, a senior at Western said, “This month, for me, is not only honoring my identity but also honoring, remembering, and being thankful for those who have given me the opportunity for the life I have now.” 

The theme of AANHPI Heritage Month this year is Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future. “This year’s theme means enrichment and inclusivity to me,” said Garon. 

“The theme of this year is a reminder to everyone that history is there to help us understand the hardships many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders faced and currently face. Most importantly, it speaks to the importance of understanding where we come from and recognizing the legacies and impacts of history on our present realities — this theme encourages reflection on how our ancestor’s actions shaped the world and how our actions, as a collective community, can help shape the world for the next generations to come.” 

When asked about how one can support the AANHPI community, Marione Corpus — a Western senior — explained, “It’s also important to continue educating yourself on what’s happening around the world. It’s important to stay educated and to find ways you can help whether it be through educating yourself, donating, supporting and advocating.” 

“Understanding the experiences and backgrounds of AAPI members is a big step in fostering a stronger bond between us and those who are not AAPI,” said Western junior, Micah Larioza.

In celebration of the month, Western is hosting events and exhibits to share the culture and heritage of our AANHPI community.

Hamersly Library houses a book and film display filled with culturally significant media to celebrate the month. There is a range of educational to recreational materials for all ages. Some noteworthy titles include the following: “The Magic Fish” by Trung Le Nguyen, “To Paradise” by Hanya Yanagihara and “In the Mood for Love” directed by Wong Kar-wai. 

On May 31, the Hawai’i Club is hosting Ho’ike, a celebration of Hawaiian culture through food, music and dance. 

Ho’ike is taking place in the Pacific Room of the Werner University Center with tickets selling for $12 for Western students and $15 for the community. Doors open at 5 p.m. to a beautiful display of celebration and admiration through cultural performances, a Hawaiian dinner, games and more. 

A very special thanks to the Filipino American Association here at Western. 

Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu

Holocaust memorial

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

In commemoration of the lives lost in the Holocaust and violence tied to World War II, Western continued their annual tradition by placing thousands of flags along Monmouth Avenue from May 3 – 7.

Western’s description of the event on the school-wide calendar directly quoted the Holocaust Encyclopedia for a definition: “The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million European Jews by the Nazi German regime and its allies and collaborators. The Holocaust was an evolving process that took place throughout Europe between 1933 and 1945.”

“These flags are meant to be a large, powerful display representing the lives of millions lost,” said Western’s calendar description. “There are different colored flags that represent the lives lost of certain peoples. The yellow flags represent the biggest number of Jewish lives lost.”

Multiple other flag colors lined the streets during the event, such as blue, red, white, green, brown, orange, purple, pink, lime green and light blue. In order, the communities they represent are as follows: Soviet civilians, Soviet prisoners of war, Polish civilians, Serbian civilians, Romani people, people with disabilities, repeat criminal offenders, LGBTQ+ people, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Spanish republicans.

The flags, although disrupted by the construction along Monmouth Avenue, shined bright against the backdrop of Western’s spring campus and were eye-catching to passersby.

“Every year for Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaShoah, we place thousands of flags along Monmouth Avenue to commemorate the lives lost,” said Western in an Instagram post. “This display provides an opportunity for reflection as a community… Thank you to the volunteers and (Western Student Engagement), who helped with the flags for this year’s remembrance.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

The male loneliness epidemic

Written by: Cami Ansley | Copy Editor

Content warning: this article contains mentions of suicide

On May 3, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned the public about “our epidemic of loneliness and isolation.” Within the past year, a focus has shifted to the loneliness faced by men, coining the argument that a “male loneliness epidemic” has arisen. Despite what the name may suggest, the “loneliness” attributed to this epidemic is not solely limited to romantic relationships.

For one, research conducted in 2021 found that 15% of men claim that they have no close friends, a staggering 12% increase since 1990. A study published by Equimundo in 2023 found that a majority of men, ranging from older Millennials to Generation Z, agree with the statement, “No one really knows me well,” with Generation Z having the highest percentage of agreement among all respondents. In this same publication, a majority of men stated that they only have one or two close friends in their area that they feel they can confide in outside of their family. 

In the realm of romantic relationships, men are more likely to be single and have less sex than women. A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that six in ten men under the age of 30 are single, nearly double the rate of women at the time. The Equimundo study found that roughly one in five men are either not looking for a relationship or are unable to find sexual partners. 

These statistics about loneliness have been connected to poor mental and physical health. Specifically, greater risk of premature death, cardiovascular illness, anxiety, dementia, depression and stroke have all been associated with loneliness. 40% of the men surveyed in the Equimundo study had met the screening standards for depressive symptoms, while 44% had experienced suicidal ideation within the last two weeks.

In addition, men are nearly four times more likely than women to commit suicide, accounting for nearly 80% of all suicides despite them making up only 50% of the population. In fact, the U.S. male suicide rate reached its peak of 14.3 per 100,000 men in 2022.

In light of the emergence and popularization of the male loneliness epidemic, there has been discourse regarding its legitimacy, specifically in regards to the exclusive focus on men when it comes to discussing the general loneliness epidemic. Disparities in loneliness have been found to age, race, financial status, sexuality and disability, but, according to some critics, not for gender. The measurement of loneliness as well as the interpretation of select studies and statistics has also been cited as reasons for skepticism. 

Regardless of its specificity to the male population or not, Dr. Vivek Murthy’s publication about the epidemic of loneliness has been acknowledged as a cause for concern.

Contact the author at howlcopyeditor@wou.edu

ASL Club’s 30th birthday

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

In celebration of Western’s American Sign Language Club’s 30th birthday, an anniversary party will be held in the Richard Woodcock Education Center May 17. Running from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m in room 101, the founder, co-founder and former presidents will be present, with the founders even delivering a speech.

“It’s a huge legacy of 30 years,” said Hearing President of the ASL Club and fourth-year student, Aiden Hare. “It’s pretty amazing that it’s been consecutively running for that entire time and it’s also one of the biggest clubs on campus.”

The club itself functions with both a Hearing President and a Deaf President. Operationally, events are hosted throughout each term such as game nights, intercultural panels, community nights and arts and crafts, all while communicating with the community. This spring term, the ASL club is hosting an LGBTQ+ panel.

“A lot of people know this program exists, and they know that it’s big,” said Hare. “But they haven’t stepped into it, or they live on campus and they’re just not aware, (but this is a way to get involved).”

Although open to the public, the event, like many others, is voice-off, sign-only and no interpreters will be provided.

According to Hare, the event is a good way to get connected with not only Western but the Deaf community as well.

“We have a lot of people coming from all over, which I’m excited about,” said Hare. “We have Washington State School for the Deaf students coming, Oregon State Students coming, teachers from other universities and random community members (that think) this is awesome.”

Visitors can expect a rather competitive match of musical chairs, amongst other games. Free food will be available as well, but RSVPing is highly recommended so a proper head count may be gathered to estimate how much food to order. Anyone with dietary restrictions or other preferences is encouraged to reach out.

“I think it’ll just be really cool to get that many community members there at the same time,” said Hare. “It’s a very impactful event… to be a part of this is pretty amazing.”

The event will also be handing out goodie bags as an incentive for attendance.

Contact the authors at howlnews@mail.wou.edu