News – Page 2 – The Western Howl

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

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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

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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

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“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

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License plate options in Oregon

March 5, 2025

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Most commonly, drivers in Oregon showcase that baby blue plate boasting a Douglas Fir between navy letters and numbers. This is the standard plate for Oregon — licensing more than 3.5 million vehicles after being introduced in 1988.

For a relatively cheap fee, that plate can be swapped out for other designs, such as a gray whale, salmon, Smokey Bear, an Oregon Trail Blazers logo, Crater Lake and other various wildlife.

Most recently, Oregon is selling vouchers for a new plate — featuring important shark species that live off of the Oregon coast to help promote awareness and generate funding for the Big Fish Lab, which studies those exact shark populations. The Big Fish Lab, based in Newport, Oregon, is the only dedicated shark research program in the state and has only been around since 2019.

The plate, titled “Vibrant Ocean,” shows off a large salmon shark, front and center, with blue sharks and a common thresher shark in the background. Each voucher costs $40, with $35 going to the lab. 3,000 vouchers must be sold before the plates are produced.

April 7, 2025, will see the addition of an Oregon State University-themed license plate for sale, supporting Oregon State University’s athletics. Other plates, such as “Pollinator Paradise” — a wildflower and bee design — support other areas of Oregon State University, with “Pollinator Paradise” going directly to bee research occurring at the college.

Interestingly, “Pollinator Paradise” was created by 16-year-old Marek Stanton. “Vibrant Ocean” was designed by Natalie Donato, a third-year student at Oregon State University’s College of Science, studying marine biology.

Allegedly, Oregon’s “Smokey Bear” plate is most popular among the additional choices. It won the Best Plate Award in 2019 from the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. Previously, the “Crater Lake” plate won in 2002; it was also the most popular purchased plate until “Smokey Bear.” “Smokey Bear” has continued to raise money for the Keep Oregon Green Association and remains available alongside “Crater Lake” for purchase.

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

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Giving back

February 26, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

March 4, 2025, marks Western’s annual Giving Day — a way for people to donate to their chosen clubs, organizations, scholarships or other funds. Started in 2016, Giving Day has been an integral part of making sure the university and its students have the resources they need.

Nearly every college and university has a day specifically for crowdfunding. For Western, it’s “Howl from the Heart.” It is a component of “Wolves Rising: The Campaign for Western Oregon University,”a fundraising program launched Dec. 14, 2024, with an overall goal of raising $20 million for the university to better support students overall.

Western has highlighted funds on the Giving Day website, including athletics, the Student Success Center, scholarships and the “Future Wolves Fund.” The website also promotes donating to the “Fund for WOU.” This is a general fund that will go toward the areas with the most need, such as campus maintenance and facilities, offsetting operating expenses and funding current campus activities.

Every year, Giving Day gets bigger and better. This year, Western has a goal in sight of $300,000, compared to the nearly $250,000 that was reached last year. The crowdfunding day also has more than 60 funds to support, compared to last year’s 40 funds.

On Giving Day 2024, the university created a service and volunteer aspect so students can give back to both Western and the surrounding communities. This year, the students’ community service will extend to Salem for park cleanup — an occupational therapy project. Alongside it, a blood drive on campus was hosted successfully. A need for student volunteers remains at Heron Pointe Senior Living in Monmouth to spend time with seniors from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 4. Students can sign up to volunteer by going to this Google Form.

If students want to find volunteer opportunities outside of Giving Day, a service fair will be held on campus on March 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Willamette room of the Werner University Center that will help organizations needing volunteers get connected with students.

If a certain club, organization or other facet of Western isn’t listed on the website, donors can press the red “Make a Gift” button in the top right corner. This page allows donors to designate their gift to the place of their choice.

Everyone is welcome to participate in Western’s Giving Day, including students, alumni, faculty, friends of the university and other community members. It is a great way for anyone to show their support, regardless of their affiliation with Western.

If people would like to get more involved in Giving Day, and potentially win a $50 gift card, they can sign up to become a Giving Day Ambassador.

“Giving Day Ambassadors are people just like you — students, staff, faculty, parents and friends of the university,” David Beasley, the director of development, annual giving and sponsorships, said in an email to the student body. “By signing up to be a Giving Day Ambassador, you can let alumni, friends, family, colleagues and others know about how they can support Western students.”

Two students can each win a gift card, with one student bringing in the most gifts and the other raising the most money. To become an ambassador, press the “Ambassador Sign-up” button on the Giving Day website. Then, fill out the short form and choose what program to support. After submitting the form, potential ambassadors will receive a unique donation link through email. When Giving Day arrives, they can share the link with others and give them the opportunity to donate to the ambassador’s chosen fund.

If one does not receive a link from an ambassador and would still like to donate, many options are available, including calling 503-838-8814, visiting the Giving Day website — givingday.wou.edu — or going to The Cottage on Western’s campus and giving donations in-person.

A Feb. 12 press release written by Maureen Brakke stated, “Join Western Oregon University on March 4, 2025, for Howl from the Heart. Make a meaningful contribution and help ensure that every student at Western has the resources they need to thrive.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

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Online courses: yea or nay?

February 26, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Western prides itself on its campus community, where students are supported and uplifted. Part of that support comes from in-person classes, with small class sizes and personalized experiences for students.

Western’s provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Jose Coll is leading the charge in reducing the amount of online classes offered at Western in favor of in-person instruction. He created a working committee — the Undergraduate Course Modality Task Force — to conduct research and ultimately recommend what percentage of courses should be taught online.

The task force is being led by Chelle Batchelor, dean of library and academic innovation.

According to Batchelor, “The task force is currently in the process of gathering information to inform the recommendation we have been asked to present to the provost and Faculty Senate in spring term.”

Fall and Winter terms were dedicated to determining what would be best for students when it comes to online classes. The task force will share their findings in the Spring term, which will help the university move forward with the change.

The task force is concentrating on all aspects of online learning. “The recommendation of the committee will consider all modalities with an online component: online asynchronous, online synchronous (Zoom classes) and hybrid,” Batchelor stated.

As of now, the task force isn’t focusing on the fully online majors, such as the ASL interpreting program. The provost’s goal is to limit first-year students to only in-person classes starting Fall 2025 unless their declared major is fully online.

This potential decision will only affect the mode of the coursework, and won’t result in faculty cuts. “Teaching a course in person requires the same amount of FTE as teaching a course online,” according to Batchelor. FTE — full-time equivalence — indicates and measures the workload of faculty.

The potential reduction in online courses has been one focal point of the Faculty Senate, which is made up of representatives from the different departments at Western.

“In the December meeting of the Faculty Senate, faculty discussed concerns about program needs, student needs, student engagement and success, and faculty representation on the task force,” Batchelor stated. “After that meeting, Faculty Senate identified a faculty member to serve on the task force.”

Not only has the task force started working more closely with the faculty, but they have also begun to work with ASWOU in order to engage with Western’s students. Specifically, they are working with Senate President Maggie Bartosovsky and Senator Briana McNeel to bridge the gap between the committee and Western’s students.

Batchelor and the committee are also reaching out to students through Wolfie, the chatbot that sends messages to the student body. Wolfie’s text was sent out Feb. 17. The text also included a short survey that students are encouraged to complete.

The survey and other student input is important for making sure that the university’s decision reflects the needs and wants of all students.

Any decision of the university comes with concerns and opinions from Western’s community. Some students are concerned with how class availability will be affected. Students with full-time jobs are concerned with how they will fit in-person classes into their busy schedules. These concerns are being addressed by the task force, and it is up to them and the university to identify solutions that will benefit the students and the community.

“Over and over and over, I hear comments from students about how important the WOU community is to their success,” President Jesse Peters stated in his report during a Board of Trustees meeting. “And when they talk about it, they talk about being physically here on campus and interacting with peers and faculty and staff. Whatever the college experience is, it simply can’t be replicated on Zoom. And the strength of Western has always been, it seems to me, the way that the campus functions to support students and build community. I will continue to focus on restoring our campus to the physically present, active and engaged community it was before the pandemic.”

The COVID-19 pandemic was a major setback for many schools, including Western, and it will be difficult to rebuild the in-person community to what it was previously. President Peters, Provost Coll and the Undergraduate Course Modality task force have a massive undertaking, but are starting relatively small with hopes to reduce the online courses that are offered to first-year students.

It remains to be seen whether or not the provost and the president’s vision of the upcoming fall term will come to fruition. First, the task force must figure out what percentage of courses should be online, taking into account what opinions the students and faculty have voiced. Then, once they present their findings, the university can come to an informed decision that will ultimately benefit Western’s community.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

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The resurrection of sitcoms

REAL ID

License plate options in Oregon

Giving back

Online courses: yea or nay?

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