Mount Hood

Deaf History Month

A photo of a statue of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Alice Cogswell outside of Gallaudet University. | Photo from @whiptale on Instagram

April 8, 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

At Western, the American Sign Language program, with both the interpreting and studies major pathways, is a relatively large and impactful aspect of life at the university. Being the only place on the West Coast where one can pursue a bachelor’s degree in ASL, the program is comprehensive and exceeds the typical minor requirements at colleges like Oregon State University and Portland State University, which offer basic ASL language classes and exclude cultural training.

Offered in the spring, Western provides a Deaf history class, taught by Program Coordinator Brent Redpath — one of his favorite courses to instruct. “I, myself as a teacher, really enjoy providing and giving back to students. You know, my experience, personal life within deaf history, also just the actual history in general, connected with other people. It’s really nice to help the students understand where I’m coming from, where we’ve come from and why we have this class,” said Redpath.

The class has no prerequisites and offers interpreters, but is mainly picked — if not only picked — by ASL students. The class description states the class “introduces students to a history of the social, cultural, political, educational and social service aspects of the Deaf community.”

Redpath added: “Oftentimes students hate history because it’s boring, it’s dry, et cetera, but for this class specifically, I found that students really enjoy Deaf history specifically compared to general history like U.S. history or world history.”

Early within the ASL program, students are aware of Deaf culture as it is intrinsically linked to the language; discussions are prevalent surrounding historical events, such as Gallaudet University’s founding and Deaf President Now, a student-led protest that appointed the first deaf president at Gallaudet in 1988.

The first permanent school for the deaf was established April 15, 1817, now known as the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, Connecticut. At its creation, it was titled The Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons. It was the first deaf school in the Western Hemisphere — paving the way for the eventual founding of Gallaudet University April 9, 1864. Both institutions, founded in April, have helped cement the month as Deaf History Month.

Throughout history, and today still, deafness has been viewed in a negative light, and accessibility has been limited. Many still view deafness as a loss and do not recognize the Deaf community as an integral part of life for deaf people. Discussion surrounding deafness for hearing people often doesn’t explore the critical aspects, such as ASL’s independence as a language, the importance of sign language at a critical learning period for deaf children as to prevent language deprivation, mental health struggles and more — all of which are thoroughly explored in ASL courses at Western.

However, the use of ASL has climbed exponentially in modern America, and Deaf awareness has gone up as well, considering social media video formats, such as TikTok and Instagram Reels, allowing for accessible media access and community forums.

To put it straight: American Sign Language is its own language separate from English, with its own syntax, grammar and unique slang and vocabulary. Interestingly, ASL is closer to French Sign Language than British Sign Language, a common misconception considering American English’s relationship with British English. Deaf historical figure from France, Laurent Clerc, occasionally labeled “the Apostle of the Deaf in America,” joined Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet to establish today’s American School for the Deaf back in 1817, blending French sign language and local signs tied to no official language into ASL.

At those times, deafness was viewed similarly to mental illness, and resources to support deaf children were minimal or nonexistent. Despite the first school being founded in America to provide better accessibility, America was hit by a wave of oralism that dominated deaf education by the 1870s. Sign language was not recognized as a language and was viewed as lesser than spoken English, which led to educational institutions forcing spoken language on deaf children, highlighting lipreading and talking over signing. Alexander Graham Bell was a staunch supporter of oralism, believing that sign language imprisoned users and that deaf people should not be allowed to marry each other to prevent the genetic passing of deafness. Hearing people were horrified by the expressions used in ASL, which has the same level of importance as a spoken language’s tone, implying emphasis, limiting ASL usage further. Following the 1880 Milan Conference, where no deaf people were allowed to contribute, sign language was officially banned in schools and essentially banned altogether. It wasn’t until the 1960s that researchers determined ASL to be an official and independent language.

Portland, Oregon, hosts the Tucker Maxon School, an oralist educational institution still running today after its founding in 1947 — not utilizing sign language for its deaf students, despite research emphasizing that sign language is a critically important tool for deaf children.

Psychologically, deaf children develop best by experiencing language exposure in the format of ASL due to their inability to hear spoken language. A child that cannot hear can go months, often longer, before accessing spoken English through medical interventions such as cochlear implants, or purely lipreading and speaking — limiting brain development and potentially causing language deprivation, which can cause lifelong struggles with language, communication and, in severe cases, cognitive delays. Access to ASL does not limit a deaf person’s ability to integrate into hearing society or prevent the implementation of a cochlear implant at any age.

Even with facing continuous backlash, misinformation and agenda spreading, sign language persevered. It was shared in small spaces throughout its banning, maintaining communication in Deaf communities. Gallaudet University fought to preserve ASL following the 1880 conference, assisting heavily in the efforts to combat oralist perspectives and education.

Today, between 11 and 12 million Americans are deaf or have hearing loss. About 2 million are profoundly deaf, and around 1 million are a part of the Deaf community. More than ninety percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents, limiting language access. Today’s medical innovations, such as cochlear implants which can allow for hearing in profoundly deaf individuals, while beneficial for many and allow for integration into mainstream hearing society, can bypass sign language altogether — skipping a diverse and culturally rich environment with its own unique history.

Western’s deaf history class is a recommended elective option within the program and covers many influential aspects of deaf history from the very beginning. “Students who are studying ASL or students who are studying to become interpreters, they need that foundation of deaf history,” said Redpath. “It’s very important for them to have a better understanding of where deaf people have come from. And then also that will allow them to better support their future careers that they’re going into.” 

 

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

All work, no play

A photo of the anticipated slide that could be installed on campus. | Photo from @e_stolt on Instagram

Disclaimer: all articles featured in this issue are fake in celebration of April Fool’s Day

April 1, 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Western’s College of Education is well-known for its comprehensive education programs that attract many aspiring teachers who eventually are ejected into their field of choice. By the end of the four-year program, education majors are student teachers and are compiling lesson plans that will follow them into their careers for years to come.

The program’s success comes from innovation. Routinely, faculty observe the education program and add alterations to improve the program, in terms of student satisfaction as well as learning impact. More recently, Western has been considering the implementation of new class options, schedules and changes that would boost morale, encourage learning and actively support up-and-coming educators.

One proposed change for the upcoming academic year includes required nap time for all education majors, excepting fourth-year students engaging in student teaching. This would affect all education major schedules, implementing a structural gap midday for about 50 minutes to incorporate some rest into hardworking students’ days.

According to Western, they noticed a distinct “under-eye darkness” and “dead-eyed look” in students studying education; the required nap time would alleviate all the late hours of lesson planning and art assignments that students are forced to complete.

Off-campus students would have access to a large, poorly-lit room in the Hamersly Library for nap time, lined with cushioned mats and zero blankets, whereas on-campus students can merely visit their dorms.

To boost activity and encourage morale, education majors would also be given a brief recess, spanning 30 minutes, closer to noon, to play outside. Thankfully, Western already offers a few outdoor activities, such as walking paths on campus and the tennis courts, as well as the Health and Wellness Center’s much-too-tall rock climbing wall. Additionally, Western would construct adult play structures to accompany the applied recess time, within a reasonable budget. Reportedly, Western is considering a slide, seesaw, wallball and tetherball courts and one of those really weird dome structures tied with rope that children routinely get stuck in. However, nothing has been set in stone yet, as one rumored option is still being considered: an old McDonald’s play structure. The HWC has already agreed that if Western were to proceed with the golden arches’ infamous play pits, the pool would be drained so the playground could be placed inside. After all, the pool is only open a couple hours daily and the lifeguards could still be utilized for the large ball pit.

The hope for the playground would be to restore a childlike joy for students, who should remain carefree and youthful in order to better serve as educators to children. The development of a relationship between work and play has been widely considered a solid methodology to growing adequate self-regulation skills, which would then be used to teach children self-regulation skills.

Even aspiring high school teachers will find themselves with two optional blocks of time in the day, meant for others for sleep and play. While some students might take this time to study, they are overall encouraged by the education program to “method-act”; high school teaching students might find themselves engaging in random acts of stereotypical tomfoolery, such as dressing in band shirts they aren’t actually familiar with, overapplying their eyeliner and hitting the top of every door frame they pass under. It could also be considered important to replicate teenage speech, with words such as “lowkirkenuinely” capable of connecting teenagers alike.

This also allows for new tutoring roles within the education program to open up, with those extremely capable of teenage method acting able to instruct others on their teenage etiquette and speak. Teenage students at Western may be able to actually instruct their older peers, gaining work experience and a paycheck.

In order to not only relocate funding for these new opportunities but also free up student time and expectations, certain aspects of the education program requirements are facing alterations or being dropped entirely. For one, all of the math-related courses previously taught within the education program would be cut because of technology such as calculators. Faculty has argued that because nobody needs to do mental math anymore, classes regarding basic math and teaching math are unnecessary. 

Secondly, all classes related to language education would also be removed from the program requirements due to the rise of AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. With ChatGPT, students no longer need to write and submit their own assignments, but can rather employ ChatGPT to construct it for them. The majority of education majors at Western have agreed that this decision would be worth it, considering they’re all using ChatGPT the same way.

Students at Western, so far, have expressed a lot of interest in these potential changes, as well as a lot of anticipation for the new playground possibility. For students majoring in other departments, if you see a group of education majors playing tag outside and judging them for it: have a little whimsy. They’re changing the world, one adult nap at a time.

 

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

Spring term events

Graphic by Addison Watts

Disclaimer: all articles featured in this issue are fake in celebration of April Fool’s Day

April 1 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

As expected, a new term brings new campus events. Here is a list of events this Spring term that Western students can look forward to. 

Most who are from the Pacific Northwest are familiar with the elusive legend of Bigfoot. It is unclear what appearance Bigfoot actually takes, though those who have claimed to see him report witnessing seeing things such as a large ape creature or even a hairy human over eight feet tall. It’s also unclear whether major sightings are actually a large animal like a bear or even a human dressed up as Bigfoot for a publicity stunt. Though, possible evidence some point to includes photos of Bigfoot footprints as well as grainy photos and videos of a possible Bigfoot himself. 

While Washington is the state with the most Bigfoot sightings overall, Oregon still has many hotspots for sightings, with Clackamas County being the highest.

Western students can join the hunt for Bigfoot this spring in an event where a group will travel to Estacada, the location with the most Bigfoot sightings in Oregon, to camp out. The event takes place April 25, and, to participate, students should meet in the second-floor bathroom in the Werner University Center promptly at 3:51 a.m. From here, they will go over the major do’s and don’ts when tracking Bigfoot, then board the bus to travel to their camp. Students should remember to bring their night vision goggles, motion-activated trail cameras and parabolic microphones. All in all, staff advise students to remember that Bigfoot is a wild, dangerous creature and should be taken seriously, emphasizing that this is not a joking matter and that they should be prepared for anything.

On April 31, students can also attend an Edward Cullen lookalike contest. This event will take place in the parking lot behind Hamersly Library. To increase their chances of winning, students can be sure to stay inside, away from sunlight for every single second up until the contest and can get in character by spending all of their free time watching Twilight edits. The professional judging panel for this event was carefully chosen, with the screening process carefully eliminating candidates who haven’t seen the films at least 23 times. The winner will be presented with four life-size cardboard cutouts of Edward and Jacob, as well as a 10-hour private viewing of the Twilight saga in its entirety.

Finally, May 7, there will be ice fishing all day at McArthur Field. Students will be provided with an ice auger — a saw-like tool to cut deep holes in the ice —  but will be required to drill their own hole. Additionally, students can check out an ice fishing rod from Hamersly Library to bring with them. Because ice fishing can be incredibly dangerous, students are advised to be extra cautious on the ice, especially because the turf from the football field makes it more slippery. Temperatures are expected to get as low as 8 degrees Fahrenheit, so students should also be sure to wear layers and dress warmly.

Be sure to look around campus for posters regarding events like these happening this academic term and remember that attending an event can be a good way to meet someone or try something new.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

New majors and minors

Graphic by Addison Watts

Disclaimer: all articles featured in this issue are fake in celebration of April Fool’s Day

April 1, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Starting next academic year, Western is adding three new majors and two new minors to its curriculum for students to potentially choose and pursue.

The first new major being offered is puppetry. This is a 62-credit major in which students will learn all about the skill and art behind creating masterful puppet shows. Within the major, students will be required to take various courses, such as the history of puppet theatre, puppet design 101, puppet storytelling and linguistics in puppetry. Additionally, students will have to take a certain number of elective courses that fit into the major, with some options being shadow puppetry, ventriloquism and the role of puppets in therapy. Pursuing this major prepares students for many post-grad careers in the puppetry industry like puppet script writing, set design, directing and the classic puppeteer option.

The second major that will be offered is ornithology, with a possible concentration in duck herding. Ornithology is the study of birds in all of their aspects, such as their anatomy, lifestyle and evolution, and the concentration allows students to focus their studies on the art and intricate process of duck herding, a popular profession in Oregon. Anyone who feels intensely drawn toward large beaked, loud waterfowls and feels at home rounding up their flock should consider this major. 

The last major coming next fall is Klingon. Students have reported disappointment in the lack of a linguistics major, and, in response, the university decided to take the root of linguistic studies that students want the most and make this into its own major. Within the Klingon major, students will learn all about how to speak, read, write and understand Klingon — the language most often seen in the Star Trek universe. Students pursuing this major will take various classes surrounding the history, structure, linguistics and everyday use of the language. Faculty emphasize that the real-world applications of this major are endless and students who graduate will have no issue finding a job.

One of the new minors coming in the fall is palm reading. This is a 191-credit minor and will teach students the art and science behind the lines and shapes within one’s palm. Within this minor, students will learn how to read palms in order to accurately predict one’s character, personality and possible future events. 

Finally, the second minor that will be offered is backflipping. Though this minor is built for those who are more athletically inclined, faculty reassure that anyone can learn to do a backflip through this minor. Students will take sequential classes in which they slowly learn how to do a backflip through concrete steps, like somersaulting and rolling. Students can also take elective classes to learn things such as the history of backflips and how to do a backflip in different locations.

These new majors and minors are great options for those who can’t decide what to study, and the university predicts that they will also attract many new prospective students. For more information about majors and minors, students can look at the Western website.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Wolf statue

A photo of the new wolf statue on campus. | Photo taken by Moth Martinez-Faccio

April 8, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Over spring break, a new statue of two wolves standing on a plank over two boulders appeared near the Student Success Center, leaving many students confused as to where it came from or why Western bought it in the midst of a budget crisis.

The only notice students received of the new statues was an Instagram post from Western President Jesse Peters. The picture showed Peters posing with the two wolves with the caption reading “What a beautiful day on the most beautiful campus in Oregon!! And I found two new wolf friends too!!”

The statue weighs around 1,100 pounds and was installed with a forklift. Students were left unaware of who created this piece of art, with the only clue being a small signature at the bottom left of the statue reading “Rude 2026.”

After this, students were left wondering what the reasoning was behind getting this new statue, especially with the news coming out around the same time that Destination Western would be cut. Addressing this, Gabriela Eyster, the project manager at Facilities Services, clarified that construction projects funded by the state set aside 1% of their budget for art installations such as the new statue. Through Oregon’s Art Acquisition legislation, pieces of art are selected in a facilitated process for qualifying Oregon state buildings, encouraging creativity, dialogue and value in the community. Western used a portion of this money to fund the statue because they wanted art representation on campus that was “truly iconic to the university,” and pointed out that Western doesn’t currently possess something akin to the wolves statue. Additionally, the statue was placed by the Student Success Center because it is a central location on campus as a new building and would be the most ideal spot to showcase art that represented the university. 

The next step in this process was picking an artist; Eyster explained that the main criteria for this piece included art that would work well with the site location, evoke campus community, reflect the concepts of the building such as intentionality and resiliency and focus on accessibility and inclusivity.

The committee in charge of the new statue received detailed proposals from four different artists, and ultimately decided to go with Brad Rude because they “felt that his work matched what our mission was.” Once selected, Rude proposed not only the statue currently on campus, but an additional indoor piece of art that will be installed in May.

In terms of the indoor piece, Rude explained that he plans to create a long storyboard that portrays one continuous storyline showing “the adventures of the wolves.” There will be nature scenes as well as depictions of Wolfie. Additionally, students can come up with a piece of paper, place it against one of the frames and do a rubbing with their hand or a little bit of graphite to get an impression. “It’s kind of like collecting cards, you know, baseball cards or something. Collect all 20 scenes, put them together, mix them.”

The budget for both the current statue and the future indoor piece altogether was $135,000.

Eyster explained that Western has been working with Karl Burkheimer, the Oregon Arts Commission project coordinator, in regards to the statue since 2023, and Rude confirmed that the project has been in the works since October 2024. Burkheimer led this process, including gathering information from the art selection committee, assigning budget planning, writing the statue proposal and searching for artists, ultimately leading to Rude. The art selection committee consists of members who represent the commission agency, community members, art professionals and a project architect. These members are then involved in every step of the process such as choosing the type of art, the location, values and themes for the art, selecting artists and providing feedback.

Rude additionally provided an artist’s statement for his piece currently on campus entitled Arch of Inquiry. He explained that the statue is about individuals approaching each other to meet new people and make new friends, essentially saying “hello.” Each individual is calm and curious, and each comes from a unique place encompassing different backgrounds and cultures, represented by the two large boulders that the wolves are standing on. The plank in the middle connects the two boulders and represents the connection between different individuals despite their different foundations. This plank allows the individuals to come to each other and connect rather than being isolated on their own boulder; the smaller stones on top of the wolves represent their individual hopes and dreams. Each brings different perspectives to the other and allows the other to learn something new.

Rude also explained that he wanted a piece of artwork that the community could interact with, such as being able to sit on the plank. Referencing the two wolves, he said, “Yes, it’s about these two individuals that have somehow come together in kind of an interesting way, but they each have their own direction. It sets up the idea that the human viewer is part of this group as well.”

While this change appeared to students quickly, there are many other art pieces around campus from various artists that seek to do the same thing: convey the community, culture and brightness of Western. Other pieces include works from Hector Hernandez entitled “Dreams Come True,” “Sources of Knowledge” and “Dreams of Education” — all outside the Welcome Center. 3D artwork is also featured in the ITC from Louis Chinn and Huameng Yu. 

Encompassing the same idea that many of the art pieces around campus seek to, Rude added, “I wanted these to be iconic and a mascot for the entire student body. The entire community as well.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Wolfie changes?

A photo of Wolfie, Western’s infamous mascot. | Photo by Moth Martinez-Faccio

Disclaimer: all articles featured in this issue are fake in celebration of April Fool’s Day

April 1, 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Last fall, Western lost hard in a football match against California Polytechnic State University Sept. 13 — 56 to 7 — that not only devastated the team, but was felt from the stands. Students left the game boiling with frustration over multiple flags and crushed by defeat, but none of it matched what Wolfie was seemingly feeling.

The Western mascot was spotted at the end of the match, hovering off the field, stomping and punching the air. Prior to the loss, the wolf was seated glumly on an empty bench, looking upset. While leaving with a crowd of students, Wolfie snatched the brandished hat of a student from the enemy school and tossed it into a nearby bush. The altercation resulted in a slight scuffle off-field — with Wolfie and the Cal Poly student tousling on the ground for about fifteen seconds before being pulled apart by onlookers.

Since then, Western has reduced Wolfie’s appearances without a public explanation.

“While we can appreciate how much Wolfie cares about Western and Western’s teams’ continued victories, we’re stepping back to evaluate the role of this specific mascot,” stated a Western spokesperson. “We can’t release any more information yet, but the students will definitely know when it’s time for a change.”

Following the event, and student concern over Wolfie’s aggravated behavior, Campus Public Safety said: “Well, what can you expect from a wolf?”

Campus Public Safety also reported that Wolfie was well-maintained and taken on “multiple walks daily,” providing no further explanation.

“Campus Public Safety thinks Wolfie is an actual wolf? Like, the animal?” questioned Western’s spokesperson, seemingly unaware of the ongoing discussion. “Is that what students think, too?”

“I don’t know what I think,” said one student. “I don’t care if it’s a person or not. I just don’t know how I should be referring to it. Is Wolfie a girl? I don’t want to just, you know, assume it’s a man. Are most mascots boys, like how boats are always women? I don’t know.”

Additionally, Wolfie could be facing potential criminal charges, further reason for Western to reconsider Wolfie as their representation. Allegedly, following the team’s loss Sept. 13, a student noticed Wolfie at the wheel of a Rivian in the parking lot, driving recklessly and even backing into a student’s Ford Focus when leaving the parking spot. The student was unable to record the license plate, and after trying to report the crash to Campus Public Safety, it was dismissed because “wolves can’t drive cars.”

Rumors have since soared regarding Wolfie’s potential replacement, with students campaigning for a unique, new mascot, one never before adopted by a university.

“Think about it — we could have a whole new theme. People could come to Western just because our mascot is so cool,” said a student. “It could be a mythical creature. I’m sure there’s some legal claim on, like, Bigfoot, or Mothman, but imagine like, a skunk ape, or like a carnivorous tree. That’d be really awesome, I think.”

“Oh, I’m just a bug fan, so I’d probably say something like a beetle or spider,” another student added. “I’m not picky. Western pine beetles are a thing — we could be one of those —  and they attack California trees, kind of like what Wolfie did to the Cal Poly student.”

Western rejected the concept of capitalizing on a cryptid as Western’s new mascot almost immediately after a few students put together a low-scoring petition. More students, however, set up visible “FREE WOLFIE” signs from their dorm windows, advocating for another appearance amidst the controversies. One single sign in retaliation said: “#WOLFIEISOVERPARTY,” with another saying “PUT HIM DOWN.”

One thing is for certain: nothing has been announced yet as of April 1 — today, April Fool’s Day, but more information is sure to come out.

 

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

ASWOU 101

From left to right: Morgan Pemberton, Emily Phoun, Makayla Wright, Lukas Dyer, Joey Guerra. | Photo from @aswou on Instagram

March 11, 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

The Associated Students of Western Oregon University has opened their application forms for the general election, described as “the annual election called to fill all of the positions created by the ASWOU Constitution, as well as three Incidental Fee Committee members, and to vote on various ballot measures,” per the ASWOU governing documents.

Crucial roles are potentially up for grabs as the transition from Spring to Fall terms kicks off.

ASWOU is the official student body government, student-run and student-funded, tasked with important roles such as advocating for the student population, overseeing and governing clubs, as well as collaborating with Western’s administration to facilitate a healthy relationship between students and staff, faculty and admin.

Certain roles, such as director roles and the chief of staff, are selected following interviews held during the summer by the ASWOU president and vice president. However, the president, vice president, senate president, judicial administrator, IFC member and senator roles are open for election applications. Students will be able to vote in these elections during Spring term to determine the next batch of student leaders for the following academic year.

Split into three branches — executive, legislative and judicial — ASWOU maintains specific roles that serve in meaningful, but different, ways. 

The head of the executive branch is the president, currently Morgan Pemberton. In that position, the student acts as a bridge between the administration and student body, as well as being the student representative to the administration, as well as state and federal governments. They also attend senate and judicial meetings, contribute to committees, meet with students and, again, faculty and admin, as well as Western President Jesse Peters, plan events and maintain a list of other varied duties, spanning 20 hours of paid work weekly from June to June.

“I feel like the job is very rewarding because you get to do a lot of community organizing,” said Pemberton. “You get to really focus on the projects on campus that you’re passionate about, and get to interact with higher admin and kind of see the behind-the-scenes of a lot of things.”

It would be Pemberton’s replacement’s job to select Executive Cabinet members, including director positions and the chief of staff. Director positions at ASWOU include public relations, business & finance, equity & advocacy, state & federal affairs and student organizations.

Pemberton also spoke directly to the impact of the president’s role. “I know for me, it was super important to focus on internal structure, kind of a rebuilding ASWOU year and connections to the community, more (connections) with admin, that was really important for me.”

Previous ASWOU presidents have focused on other issues, such as safety and sustainability. “It really depends on the administration for what direction you want to go, because you have so many resources and options for what you think is important on campus,” said Pemberton.

The vice president position is also being re-elected, with Emily Phoun graduating in the summer. In her words, the vice president is a support system for the team with the freedom to begin their own initiatives. 

“Honestly, I would say it is something that I never have any regrets on. I love every second of it,” said Phoun. “Just getting to be able to not only be a voice and representative for students, but really just getting to be out there and getting to be on different committees, doing different projects. I just honestly love it.”

Phoun is also on the University Budget Advisory Committee, often called UBAC. The group consists of faculty, staff, students and administrators, intended to discuss Western’s budget. They review budget proposals, submit recommendations and consider important factors that influence the cost of tuition, bringing a variety of perspectives from different positions across campus. ASWOU recommends two students as members, opening more opportunities for new workers.

“One of the projects that I actually did was hosting a town hall, which they’ve never had a student-run town hall, before I came along and did that initiative,” said Phoun. “But there was lots of encouragement as well as praise from both the student body and the committee.”
Another project that Phoun took on was a collaboration with The Western Howl, created to spread ASWOU news and insight through the student paper.

Phoun recommended that students give it their all: “Advice that I would give is don’t be afraid to take initiative on something, even if it might seem scary.”

The director of state & federal affairs is a relatively new position, but one that ASWOU takes pride in having. “I think that is so important in the kind of political time we’re in. (It’s for) students who are super interested in getting involved in politics, or who are interested in making sure other students know about what’s happening politically, that kind of thing,” Pemberton said.

The role pays close attention to state and federal changes that might impact students or the university so that those changes may be relayed to the student body. They are also part of organizing Lobby Day, an annual event when students travel to the Oregon Capitol to advocate for their beliefs. 

Under the judicial branch, the five or fewer student justices attend all judicial meetings, interpret policy and administer the judicial process. With a heavy focus on club activity, the judicial branch meets on a less-regular basis, mainly to discuss clubs in the case of potential violation of ASWOU statutes, since ASWOU has governing documents that all clubs must abide by. Two of the justices are appointed by ASWOU, but the three remaining slots are elected by the student body. One of the five is also appointed as the judicial board vice-chair by the judicial administrator.

The judicial administrator facilitates judicial meetings and makes sure ASWOU adheres to its governing documents and policies for 20 hours paid a week.

The senate serves as the policymaking authority within ASWOU. Likewise to the expectations for justices, elected senators must meet with the senate president multiple times a term, sponsor legislation such as bills and resolutions and partake in IFC meetings, which determine incidental fees and their distribution to student activities and resources. Some examples of IFC-funded organizations are Athletics, Abby’s House and Student Engagement. According to ASWOU governing documents, no more than 15 senators are allowed at a time, with 11 elected positions currently open for applications.

The senate president is required to remain impartial, contribute weekly to the position and must pick a senate president pro tempore during Fall term to serve beside them. Compensated for 20 hours of work a week, the senate president oversees the senate.

Senators and justices, alongside their weekly participation, must meet with their branch presidents, attend at least one training session on parliamentary procedure, expectations and responsibilities and adhere to proper etiquette. The hours are volunteer and vary between 2-5 hours a week.

It is within the legislative body that senate bills can be passed and debated, requiring Western’s president’s signature to pass or be vetoed. 

“The senate or legislative branch is focused on changing things. So, if we think that there is something wrong, we can make recommendations and resolutions to those departments,” said Pemberton. “I would say (the executive branch) is for doing and planning, legislative is for making change and judicial is for ensuring fairness and making sure that everyone has the right support.”

All ASWOU members have sworn an oath of office in front of a witness: “I, [student name], do solemnly swear to faithfully execute the duties of the office of [position title] to the best of my abilities and, in the best interest of the Associated Students of Western Oregon University, to uphold the Governing Documents and the Student Code of Conduct.”

Similarly, they must sign a document acknowledging their oath, which is then signed by the witness and designee who swore them in.

The annual general election is run by the Elections Committee, a subcommittee of the Judicial Board, comprised of six members from various positions on campus, such as one appointed by the Residence Hall Association president, another by the judicial administrator and four co-appointed by the ASWOU president, senate president and judicial administrator. Additionally, all three branch heads serve as advisors to the Elections Committee.

Candidates must meet the current GPA standard, be enrolled in at least six credits while in office and meet requirements outlined in the ASWOU bylaws, constitution or other governing documents, as well as have submitted the appropriate application and/or documents. And, more clearly, they must follow Western’s student code of conduct as well as the Elections Code of Conduct.

And, according to governing documents, “The purpose and scope of these election policies is to allow all students an equal opportunity to present their views and qualifications to the ASWOU during an election period … All students of WOU shall have an equal opportunity to vote.”

With applications already open, students can look to join ASWOU for the 2026-27 school year by checking Involve.

“For elections, I think that if you’re not looking to get elected, there are a lot of appointed positions. I would say one of the really impactful ones is the Director of Equity and Advocacy, making sure that we’re being equitable as a campus and that advocacy is happening, especially in a time like this one, that community bringing together communities,” said Pemberton.

As for the head positions — president, vice president, senate president, judicial administrator — “They have a lot of responsibilities … You have to have really strong leadership skills or be really willing to learn along the way, because you’re directing a whole group of other students,” said Pemberton.

Pemberton’s advice for students looking to join ASWOU? “Don’t doubt your abilities. The positions can be hard, but you could really make them your own, and all it really takes is the want to do something different and the want to make campus life better. So if you’re worried you don’t have the skills, you can really develop the skills and it’s a perfect opportunity to do that — so it’s more about your willingness and your go-get-it kind of attitude.”

Phoun added: “It’s a great way to not only build up your resume, but also gain leadership skills and experience. But you also get to interact with the campus community as well as interact with admin.”

The Incidental Fee Committee has three elected roles and six appointed positions to discuss and deliberate over budget distribution and fee costs within student incidental fees. Positions require no experience, as training is provided, and the positions are volunteer, between 5-10 hours a week through both Fall and Winter terms.

For students who are uninterested in working with ASWOU, there are still reasons to pay attention, as important discussions come and go regarding funding, tuition, on-campus events, new resources, club operations and more.

 

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

 

AI warfront

Graphic By Addison Watts

March 4, 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

On Jan. 9, 2026, the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, published a memorandum regarding the usage of artificial intelligence by the American government, stating that AI dominance will redefine military affairs over the next decade, and that integration of AI will make America more lethal and efficient. “I direct the Department of War to accelerate America’s Military AI Dominance by becoming an ‘AI-first’ warfighting force across all components, from front to back,” Hegseth said.

The document lays out that AI will ideally play a role in warfighting by incorporating AI-enabled battle management and decision support, “from campaign planning to kill chain execution.”

The Pentagon aimed to contract with Anthropic, an AI research company that oversees the model Claude, considered one of the best available systems. Rivaling ChatGPT, which is owned by OpenAI, Anthropic designates itself as “a public benefit corporation dedicated to securing its benefits and mitigating the risks” as AI rises in popularity. Claude is well known for nearly flawless navigation of coding, UI design and intelligent writing — outdoing ChatGPT — and is considered a safe model, claiming to follow AI responsibility codes of conduct. It is considered the most capable model for sensitive and intelligence work on behalf of government procedures, explaining the strong desire for the Pentagon to utilize it without barriers.

More specifically, the Department of War desired for Anthropic to forgo safety and security guardrails within Claude for the purpose of unrestricted military usage.

As of Feb. 27, however, the current presidential administration decided against integrating with Claude, following Anthropic’s refusal to grant access out of concern for how the AI systems would be used for domestic surveillance and as potential weapons of war.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said in a statement Feb. 26: “They have threatened to remove us from their systems if we maintain these safeguards; they have also threatened to designate us a ‘supply chain risk’ … and to invoke the Defense Production Act to force the safeguards’ removal … Regardless, these threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request.”

Amodei went on to state that it is in Anthropic’s best interest to serve the Department of War and that they are ready to support the United States, just outside of the two narrow exceptions listed.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted to X: “Anthropic delivered a master class in arrogance and betrayal as well as a textbook case of how not to do business with the United States Government or the Pentagon. Our position has never wavered and will never waver: the Department of War must have full, unrestricted access to Anthropic’s models for every LAWFUL purpose in defense of the Republic.”

Hegseth went on to direct that Anthropic be designated as a supply-chain risk, thereby condemning business with Anthropic, and stated that the Department of War would be transitioning to a “more patriotic service” within six months.

Donald Trump announced on Truth Social the same day that Anthropic’s “selfishness is putting AMERICAN LIVES at risk, our Troops in danger, and our National Security in JEOPARDY.”

Trump also threatened to force Anthropic to comply with criminal consequences.

Anthropic responded, “No amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position on mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons.”

Historically, Claude was the first frontier AI model to be deployed in U.S. government networks, capable of expanding medical research, foreign intelligence analysis, combating human trafficking and more. Now, however, it is virtually blacklisted, and government-associated companies are unable to work with Anthropic. This tactic has only ever previously been applied to foreign companies such as Huawei, a Chinese technology company banned for national security concerns.

On Feb. 28, OpenAI released a statement titled “Our agreement with the Department of War,” which indicated that OpenAI is also not allowing the Department of War to utilize their AI models for domestic surveillance, autonomous weapons systems or high-stakes automated decisions. They claimed to have a more expansive approach with more safeguards than what Anthropic offered, and that the Department of War was clear that domestic surveillance was not one of their considerations for adopting OpenAI.

Elon Musk’s AI model, Grok, was incorporated into government procedure in January, operating inside the Pentagon network. Around the same time, controversy arose in Grok’s functionality as users found it capable of generating highly sexualized pornographic images without the consent of the people pictured, as well as reiterating antisemitic and racist rhetoric. Grok was created to be the opposite of “woke AI,” Musk’s words that likely target Claude and ChatGPT.

In terms of a timeline, the clash between Anthropic and the Pentagon came to be following the United States’ attack on Venezuela, which captured President Nicolás Maduro. Anthropic reached out to Palantir — a controversial data integration and analytics software company run by Peter Thiel — to inquire about Claude’s role in the attack on Venezuela. Palantir confirmed that Anthropic tech was used alongside Palantir’s Maven Smart System technology, the latter of which is largely utilized by the Department of War as a tool for military logistics planning and targeting.

Beyond their political impact, AI systems are known to be highly intensive on the environment, requiring immense water consumption to stay powered. This kind of automated technology draws heavily from the power grid, relying on fossil fuels to run. Billions of dollars have been spent to construct massive data centers to serve demand, raising fears of higher electricity bills in rural and urban areas near new plants.

The future of AI involvement in war activity is currently unknown, but the Department of War  outlined their plans in early 2026 very clearly, and has since emphasized a legal usage of AI systems, despite Anthropic and OpenAI’s concerns.

 

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

Silver Falls

A photo of the South Falls. | Photo courtesy of John Koloszar

March 4, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

IP28, also known as the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, is a proposed ballot initiative in Oregon for the November 2026 general election.

In general, the bill seeks to prohibit animal cruelty in the form of abuse, harm and neglect, and to extend legal protections of multiple groups of animals in Oregon, such as pets, farm animals, research lab animals and animals in the wild. These animals would be protected from slaughter, hunting, fishing and experimentation.

The definition of animal abuse is the intentional, knowing and reckless injury of an animal, and IP28 seeks to expand which animals are protected against this.

In addition to the injury and killing of animals, animal sexual assault would be prohibited. More specifically, this prohibition targets the breeding of animals to impregnate them, including farm and ranch animals as well as dog breeders.

Neglect in the form of withholding care from an animal or the unnecessary tethering of an animal would be made illegal under the bill. Under this, animals in transport trucks would also need to have the required resources to avoid neglect, like adequate food, water and shelter.

Those with a criminal charge of animal cruelty would be prohibited from owning more animals.

There would be certain exceptions to the law, such as required veterinary care and acts of self-defense against animals.

Those against the ballot argue that the killing of animals is necessary for things like food production, population management and research. In response, the IP28 team says, “We believe it is possible to meet all of our needs as human beings while simultaneously meeting the needs of the animals we inhabit this state with. Using the killing of animals as a strategy to meet our needs is a choice, and our campaign wants to propose making a different one. Whether that looks like greater investment in plant agriculture, utilizing non-lethal wildlife management practices, or implementing non-animal methods for research, many alternative strategies already exist to choose from.”

In regard to the concerns brought up of not having enough food in the case of the bill passing, they argue that Oregon is a top producer of many crops, fruits, nuts and vegetables, and that Oregon already produces enough of these crops to feed everyone.

To help those who rely on animals, IP28 also says that they will provide a Humane Transition Fund that would provide grants to assist in providing food, replacing lost income, job retention and conservation and rewilding efforts. 

Those who are against the proposal have many concerns, often the biggest one being a forced vegan agenda on Oregonians — they would either have to adapt their lifestyle or import food from another state, raising the cost of food. Small business owners who make a living off of animals would be negatively affected, such as small farms, local Saturday markets and restaurant owners. Oregonians outside of this would also be affected on a day-to-day basis. For example, pest control would be illegal, meaning homeowners couldn’t harm things like mice in their house. Additionally, they argue that scientific research and teaching involving animals is necessary to continue for those who want to go into veterinary careers or study topics like oceanography.

Regardless of the opposing sides, the ballot proposal would need upwards of 115,000 more signatures from Oregon registered voters to get on the November ballot.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Animal cruelty initiative

A photo of a redband trout. | Photo from @theoregondesert on Instagram

March 4, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

IP28, also known as the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, is a proposed ballot initiative in Oregon for the November 2026 general election.

In general, the bill seeks to prohibit animal cruelty in the form of abuse, harm and neglect, and to extend legal protections of multiple groups of animals in Oregon, such as pets, farm animals, research lab animals and animals in the wild. These animals would be protected from slaughter, hunting, fishing and experimentation.

The definition of animal abuse is the intentional, knowing and reckless injury of an animal, and IP28 seeks to expand which animals are protected against this.

In addition to the injury and killing of animals, animal sexual assault would be prohibited. More specifically, this prohibition targets the breeding of animals to impregnate them, including farm and ranch animals as well as dog breeders.

Neglect in the form of withholding care from an animal or the unnecessary tethering of an animal would be made illegal under the bill. Under this, animals in transport trucks would also need to have the required resources to avoid neglect, like adequate food, water and shelter.

Those with a criminal charge of animal cruelty would be prohibited from owning more animals.

There would be certain exceptions to the law, such as required veterinary care and acts of self-defense against animals.

Those against the ballot argue that the killing of animals is necessary for things like food production, population management and research. In response, the IP28 team says, “We believe it is possible to meet all of our needs as human beings while simultaneously meeting the needs of the animals we inhabit this state with. Using the killing of animals as a strategy to meet our needs is a choice, and our campaign wants to propose making a different one. Whether that looks like greater investment in plant agriculture, utilizing non-lethal wildlife management practices, or implementing non-animal methods for research, many alternative strategies already exist to choose from.”

In regard to the concerns brought up of not having enough food in the case of the bill passing, they argue that Oregon is a top producer of many crops, fruits, nuts and vegetables, and that Oregon already produces enough of these crops to feed everyone.

To help those who rely on animals, IP28 also says that they will provide a Humane Transition Fund that would provide grants to assist in providing food, replacing lost income, job retention and conservation and rewilding efforts. 

Those who are against the proposal have many concerns, often the biggest one being a forced vegan agenda on Oregonians — they would either have to adapt their lifestyle or import food from another state, raising the cost of food. Small business owners who make a living off of animals would be negatively affected, such as small farms, local Saturday markets and restaurant owners. Oregonians outside of this would also be affected on a day-to-day basis. For example, pest control would be illegal, meaning homeowners couldn’t harm things like mice in their house. Additionally, they argue that scientific research and teaching involving animals is necessary to continue for those who want to go into veterinary careers or study topics like oceanography.

Regardless of the opposing sides, the ballot proposal would need upwards of 115,000 more signatures from Oregon registered voters to get on the November ballot.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Cold case solved

A photo of Hillsboro police officers. | Photo from @hillsboropolice on Instagram

Feb. 25, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

 

Content warning: this article mentions violence, sexual assault and rape

 

On Feb. 10, Hillsboro police released that a 1992 cold case was linked to a convicted serial killer and solved.

Elizabeth Wasson, an 82-year-old widow and mother of three, was found murdered in the bedroom of her home Sept. 23, 1992. She had been found stabbed and strangled, but police didn’t have enough information or advanced enough DNA testing for the time to move forward with the investigation.

In 2023, Megan Townsend, a Hillsboro police detective, reopened the case and submitted DNA evidence for testing that was found on Wasson’s dress at the crime scene. Male DNA was found and was then linked to the convicted Hillsboro serial killer Cesar Barone. Barone was originally a suspect for the murder of Wasson due to the similarity with his other victims — his targets mainly included elderly women who lived alone, but no evidence was available to directly link him to the murder.

Barone was convicted in 1995 for the murders of four other women in the Hillsboro area that occurred between 1991 and 1993. Additionally, he strangled and sexually assaulted three other women who survived their attacks, including an assault of both his stepmother and grandmother.

His first attack was on his neighbor, Alice Stock, when he broke into her home and threatened her with a knife, before eventually leaving without harming her. Later, he returned to her home, where he both raped and killed her.

Following this attack, Barone raped and attacked his stepmother, then attacked his grandmother, both of whom survived.

In 1980, he was arrested for burglary charges and was sentenced to five years in prison with possible parole after two. Despite his short sentence, Barone launched multiple escape attempts and was moved to a higher classification and transferred to a different prison because guards thought he was dangerous. This moved his eventual release to 1986. While in prison, Barone also crossed paths and talked with infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, and allegedly took pride in interacting with him as well as bragging to his fellow inmates.

Starting in 1991, Barone killed 61-year-old Margaret Helen Schmidt, 41-year-old Martha Browning Bryant, 23-year-old Chantee Elise Woodman and 51-year-old Betty Lou Williams. Out of these victims, at least two were sexually assaulted and all were murdered through various methods such as strangulation, a shot from a gun and one victim dying from a heart attack while Barone was sexually assaulting her.

In 1995, Barone was convicted and arrested for the murder of Bryant, and was connected to his other victims soon after. He was sentenced to death, but died in jail in 2009 before his execution.

Wasson’s family members expressed tremendous relief at receiving answers for the death of Elizabeth, but are asking for privacy at this time.

Detective Townsend comments, “For years, this family lived without answers. Today, we’re finally able to give them the truth they deserved from the beginning. Our thoughts remain with them, and we honor the life of Elizabeth Wasson by ensuring this case is no longer left in silence.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Reduce, reuse, recycle

A photo of a recycling truck. | Photo from @thrash_n_trash22 on Instagram

Feb. 25, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

On July 1, 2025, the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act was passed in Oregon, seeking to set statewide recycling laws and spread recycling standards and services throughout the state. 

The new law stated that companies in Oregon that make over $5 million in annual revenue and sell packaged products such as residential and commercial packaging, printing and writing paper and food serviceware must pay a fee that goes toward improving recycling standards. Companies to oblige include General Mills, Ikea, Keurig and Dr Pepper — businesses that often produce a lot of waste when packaging and selling their products.

The fee that companies received was centered around how much paper and packaging they produced, based both on weight and type. The revenues from the fees are then used to help pay for recycling services, such as purchasing new recycling trucks or recycling bins and educating Oregon residents on how to recycle.

The fees are collected by an Oregon nonprofit organization called the Circular Action Alliance — a U.S. Producer Responsibility Organization who are “dedicated to implementing effective Extended Producer Responsibility laws for paper and packaging.”

In 2025, when the act was introduced, the fees that Oregon businesses were charged with from it made up less than 5% of all producer fees in Oregon, though many businesses argued it was still more than they could afford because they had a rigid financial plan that was being thrown off.

Just a few weeks after the act was put in place, the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors sued the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, arguing that many businesses have very little control over the rates they pay for packaging. 

In response to the lawsuit, Oregon lawmakers considered a bill that would exempt companies that sell essential foods such as packaged berries, meats, poultry, fish and seafood. A number of businesses are in support of this proposed bill, though many still argue that the recycling fees should be put on pause for all producers, regardless of the product.

Lawmakers paused the recycling act in November, and it is still paused until the lawsuit is resolved and a consensus reached.

The National Association of Wholesaler Distributors says that the recycling system put in place is unconstitutional and that the Department of Environmental Quality delegated “essential regulatory authority” as well as “sweeping regulatory power” to a third-party organization — the Circular Action Alliance.

It’s unclear whether the recycling system will be kept, adapted or removed, but those in favor have expressed the benefits of it. The new recycling system would bring recycling services to more than 150,000 households in Oregon that don’t already have them. Though it’s difficult for companies to adapt to a new system, it’s clear the benefits that recycling has on the environment.  

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

 

The Northwest Passage

The Fall term edition of TNWP. | Photo by Hannah Field

Feb. 18, 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

The Northwest Passage, established in 1941, is Western’s student art magazine, encompassing many mediums of individual expression.

Historically, the magazine only published literature — being classified as a literary magazine until 1986 — with The Northwest Passage records going back to 1975, digitized in the archive on The Northwest Passage website. The 1975 edition was made with a light green, simple cover, and zero color on the inside, per the times.

Now, The Northwest Passage has made strides since its first release. Editor-in-Chief Sara Gerrick is dedicated to promoting student expression, regardless of method, in bright, expansive color.

“Last term, there was a really cool science project that someone had taken pictures of, like their mini ecosystem that they made, and wrote about it,” said Gerrick. “I’m really trying to get people to just submit the weirdest things possible, because it’s important to share, just, everything.”

Gerrick is in her second year at Western, studying business but practicing art in her free time. “I always love seeing drawings, specifically just because I grew up drawing constantly. But I do love seeing writing, since I don’t see it (very often).”

The process is simple: Gerrick releases a submission date, students send their submissions over email to thenorthwestpassage@mail.wou.edu, the small but diverse editorial board votes on pieces, Gerrick arranges them and receives consent to print before they get sent to the press. Gerrick has made a point to feature art on the front; last fall, the cover was one that the editorial board was collectively partial to.

“I think that a lot of people bring it down to, you can only submit a painting that you did, or like you can only submit writing, but there’s so many things. You can take a picture of something you crocheted, or something you made or even if you have a recipe that you like that you want to share with the world,” said Gerrick. “Do that. If you have a passion … and the board loves it, then you can have it.”

Students are encouraged to submit at any time to be considered for the upcoming Spring term edition, with the Winter term magazine popping up across campus before the end of week 10. More information, as well as digitized editions, are available at https://wou.edu/northwestpassage/.

 

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

ICE rulings

A photo of a masked ICE agent. | Photo from @independentthought on Instagram

Feb. 18, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

On Feb. 4, U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai ruled that immigration enforcement agents can’t make warrantless arrests in Oregon unless there is a risk of escape. 

Many have concerns about immigration agents entering private property without a warrant, and evidence suggests that agents in Oregon have arrested people without cause or warrants. 

In a testimony during the hearing, Victor Cruz Gamez told the court he was arrested by immigration agents even though he had a valid work permit and a pending visa application. He was then held in an immigration detention facility for three weeks and was set to be deported until a lawyer secured his release. Upon his arrest, he presented valid documents to agents, but was detained regardless.

On Feb. 2, Oregon Democratic lawmakers introduced a new bill called the Law Enforcement Visibility & Accountability Act. This bill seeks to ban law enforcement, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, from wearing masks, as well as to require agents to have visible identification.

Any enforcement agent would be prohibited from wearing any sort of face covering that conceals their identity, and would need to be able to visibly identify which agency they are with. This policy would have exceptions for certain situations, such as medical accommodations or undercover work. 

Oregon Rep. Farrah Chaichi explained that the proposed bill is in direct response to federal immigration agents often wearing unidentifiable gear and uniforms, and even street clothes, under the Trump administration. 

The bill is meant to help the public clearly know whether an individual is an enforcement agent and whether an individual’s actions are lawful or not. 

Every enforcement agency operating in Oregon would be required to have a public policy regarding the use of face coverings that prohibits masked agents. Still, a big question remains on whether the proposed bill could be applied to federal agents due to the supremacy clause in the Constitution stating that when state and federal laws conflict, federal laws have priority. 

Additionally, all Oregon state and local employees would be prohibited from “cooperating with federal or another state’s crackdowns on free speech or targeting of protected classes.” 

Oregon Republican representatives express concern with the proposed bill regarding the safety of enforcement officers and their families. They argue that unmasked agents would be unsafe and put in great danger because they would be targeted by residents.

The logistics of the bill are still up in the air, but many Democratic representatives are urging for change. Chaichi says, “Across the country, and here in Oregon, communities are experiencing a deliberate campaign of terror by masked federal agents conducting indiscriminate and violent immigration raids targeting ordinary Oregonians. Although the challenges and threats of the Trump Administration are as extreme as they are brutal, we will continue to fight back. With LEAVA we can begin to assert Oregon’s sovereignty against federal encroachment and limit the suffering it has caused in our communities.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Justice system ruling

A photo of the Oregon Supreme Court building. | Photo from @restoreoregon on Instagram

Feb. 18, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

In a unanimous decision, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled Feb. 5 that Oregon residents who are charged with a crime and can’t get legal representation from the state in a timely manner must have their case dismissed until further notice. 

More specifically, if the state has failed to provide a defendant with a defense attorney for 60 days regarding a misdemeanor case and 90 days regarding a felony case after their first court appearance, the case will be dismissed. Prosecutors would be allowed to bring forth the case again in the future as long as Oregon can provide a defense attorney.

While many are in favor of the ruling because defendants have a right to a fair case, others argue that those guilty of a crime could potentially be dismissed with no consequences.

The U.S. Constitution, as well as Oregon’s Constitution, states that those who are charged with a crime have a right to an attorney. Because Oregon has been struggling to meet this requirement, the ruling was put in place to take steps to adhere to this.

The ruling could end up forcing the dismissal of more than 1,400 criminal cases, with more than 900 of these being in Multnomah County.

During the 2025 legislative session, a $707 million budget was given to Oregon’s public defense system to help fix Oregon’s defense lawyer shortage, a 14.8% increase from the previous budget. With this, 180 positions were filled.

While Oregon has been making slow progress, with the number of unrepresented defendants decreasing, many still worry about the drawbacks that come with the ruling. John Wentworth, a district attorney of Clackamas County, said, “This Supreme Court’s decision means that criminal defendants, their victims and our communities will continue to lack justice as potentially thousands of cases will now be dismissed,” adding, “This is an immense waste of taxpayers’ money.” 

While it’s still unclear if this decision made by the Supreme Court will help or hinder Oregon’s criminal justice system, many agree that something must be done to address the persistent issues.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

 

District budget cuts

A photo of a kindergarten classroom in the Salem-Keizer school district. | Photo from @salemkeizer on Instagram

Feb. 18, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

With schools in Oregon continually facing budget cuts, the Salem-Keizer school district faces a $23 million budget deficit due to declining enrollment. Currently, the school district has 37,208 students enrolled, which is a 4,900 student decrease since 2018, with further decline anticipated over the next couple of years.

In explanation, Superintendent Andrea Castañeda said, “What it comes down to is mostly that people are having fewer babies than they once did and as those smaller number of babies hit kindergarten, it just starts squeezing our enrollment down and down and moves to the grades.”

Castañeda has discussed the urgent need to stabilize the school district’s finances, but efforts to do so have been difficult with the continually declining enrollment in public schools. Castañeda has also expressed her growing concerns with the lack of finances the state legislature has provided, emphasizing that the amount is not enough to support schools.

Salem-Keizer district leaders plan to cut around $14 million from schools in the area. While cuts are meant to align with projected enrollment for the coming school year in order to keep student-teacher ratios where they should be, cuts to school staff are also being considered in order to decrease salary expenses. As of now, it is expected that anywhere up to 129 school district jobs could be removed for the next academic year.

More specifically, about $9 million is planned to be cut from administrative offices, including classified, licensed and administrative staff, technology equipment and maintenance supplies. Additionally, the cuts plan to reduce the number of blended classrooms — classrooms that combine two grade levels, such as fourth-graders and fifth-graders — in order to reduce expenses and improve elementary literacy rate and teaching conditions. Teachers are also facing possible mid-year revenue reductions.

In explanation of the many cuts, Castañeda said, “Oregon school districts are responding to a very difficult combination of things. We’ve got declining enrollment, escalating costs and a faltering Oregon economy upon which school districts rely. We cannot undo or change some of those pressures, so we have to respond to them.”

With concerns about the large number of budget cuts, many district administrators are urging Oregon to tap into revenues purposefully saved, such as the Education Stability Fund containing $1.2 billion, which was last used in 2021. 

The amount of budget cuts and final decisions on what is expendable is still up in the air. Final projections and decisions are expected in April of this year.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

The campus cat

Feb. 11, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

During Fall term and the beginning of Winter term this school year, students living in Arbor Park reported seeing an orange and white cat wandering around the area. The cat was very friendly, meowing and nuzzling up against anyone who came close. He had no collar or tag of any sort, with the exception of a tag saying “looking for a home” that was on him for a short period of time. It is unclear what happened to this tag.

After noticing his appearance at Arbor Park for a couple of weeks, many students started to give him food and bring him inside, assuming he didn’t have a home or needed food and shelter. He very willingly entered the buildings and let students pick him up and snuggle him. Though it’s unclear where the name came from, many students started calling him “Big Mac,” thus giving the cat his unofficial name. 

On Jan. 13, Resident Director Maya Guerra sent an email to all students living in Arbor Park, reminding them of the housing contract they signed, stating that residents feeding and harboring stray animals is a violation; Guerra also added, “Leaving out beds and food is prohibited and will be removed if found. This is my last email regarding this situation. If I find it again, I will proceed with the $150 fine.”

Many students were upset with this response, believing that the cat either didn’t have a home or had neglectful owners and needed the resources. Rosie Paris, a resident of Arbor Park, said, “I was really disappointed by our school’s guidelines. I understand that we can’t have him in the buildings, but their decision to fine us over 100 dollars seemed really cruel. They were gonna fine us if we continued giving him food or shelter.” Paris explained, too, that she was told Big Mac had a home, but the owner wouldn’t let him inside, and said, “I’m pretty doubtful they fed him well.”

Recently, Big Mac was adopted and now has a new home no longer on campus. Allegedly, a resident of Arbor Park living in Spruce Hall messaged in the hall group chat for the building, explaining they set Big Mac up for adoption and later let everyone else know that he was officially adopted. Addressing this, Paris, agreeing with many other students, said, “He was such a sweetie, and I’m so happy he got adopted … I miss him honestly, but I’m happy he got a home.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

St. Valentine

Feb. 11, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Today, Valentine’s Day is a day about love, often celebrated by exchanging chocolate, flowers and gifts between partners and friends. Though there are concrete theories on the origins of Valentine’s Day, it’s hard to be sure where it came from.

There are two slightly different well-known legends originating in the third century about St. Valentine rooted in Catholic and Roman traditions that potentially explain the origins, though scholars are unsure which is true. The first says that Valentine was an ancient priest in Rome during the rule of Emperor Claudius II Gothicus. The emperor claimed that young, single men made the best soldiers rather than married men with families. Because of this, he outlawed marriage for young men, opting for strong soldiers instead. Valentine was deeply unsettled by this and decided to marry couples in secret. When he was eventually discovered, he was imprisoned and executed. 

A variation of this legend claims that Valentine was instead imprisoned and killed for assisting Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were tortured and beaten, some believing he also gave them cutout hearts to remind them of the love their religion promises.

In both of these stories, while Valentine was in jail, he fell in love with a girl who would visit him. Before he was executed, he sent her a letter — considered the first Valentine’s card — that he signed off saying, “from your Valentine.” Many believe that this is where the expression that is still used today came from.

A lesser-known theory claims that Valentine was actually a bishop of Interamna, or modern-day Italy. Similarly, he was executed by Emperor Claudius for following his Catholic faith and converting people against the religion of the emperor.

While all three legends take on different forms, the thread that connects them all is that St. Valentine is always recognized as a romantic hero. 

During the fifth century, Pope Gelasius declared Valentine’s Day Feb. 14, though it didn’t start off as the romantic holiday we know today. It is, again, unclear why the holiday was decided to be celebrated Feb. 14th, though many believe it is because this was the day St. Valentine died. 

Some also believe Catholics chose this day in order to Christianize the pagan celebration of Lupercalia that happened Feb. 15. Lupercalia was a Roman fertility festival that was dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. Some scholars reject this theory, though, claiming that the lack of similarities between the two holidays made it unlikely that there was a connection.

During the Middle Ages, it was believed that Feb. 14 was the beginning of mating season for birds, contributing to the eventual romantic feel of the holiday. Soon after, Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to write about Valentine’s Day as a romantic occasion in one of his poems.

By the middle of the 17th century, Valentine’s Day was a holiday to celebrate the coming of spring. Additionally, there are records of 18th-century English using a matchmaking lottery where singles would draw a name from a pot to find their Valentine. It was believed that pairs who were drawn had a good omen for their future marriage.

Though it is unclear how exactly Valentine’s Day started, it is widely celebrated today as a day of romantic love and friendship. 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Library services

A photo of the library information desk. | Photo by Moth Martinez-Faccio

Feb. 4, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

While Hamersly Library offers book checkouts for students like any other school library, they also offer many other services that students can take advantage of.

Various spaces within the library are a good resource for students who need a place to work. There are study rooms located throughout the library that can be reserved or used on a first-come-first-serve basis. The third floor of the library is also a quiet floor, meaning anyone who works up there must be silent, a great opportunity for students who need silence to focus.

Located to the left on the first floor, students can also find the Writing and Research Center, where they can get help on their writing or with research if needed. Students can make an appointment or come in during walk-in hours. Tutors can help with any type of writing, such as academic or scholarship.

Online through the library website — which can be found in the Portal toolbar — students can find resources like citation guides to help with formatting and references.

Hamersly Library also offers many different types of equipment that can be checked out, such as Chromebooks, video cameras, photo cameras, camera accessories, audio recorders, computers and laptops, tablets, e-readers, iPads and microphones. Because equipment can be required for specific courses and it is often in high demand, lending policies can be more restrictive and replacement fees can be higher. Additionally, specific equipment, like Chromebooks, are prioritized for students who receive Pell Grants and Oregon Opportunity Grants. 

Phone chargers can also be checked out for students who may need them.

There are other items available that can be used for recreational activities. Projectors and projector screens are available for checkout if students want to do a movie night, and various board games can be checked out for a board game night. Games available include Apples to Apples, Bananagrams, Catan, chess, checkers, Clue, Cranium, Exploding Kittens, Jenga, List or Twist, Loaded Questions, Monopoly, Operation, Paint Chip Poetry, Really Loud Librarians, Salem 1692, The Deep, This or That, Uno, We’re Not Really Strangers, Where Should We Begin and regular playing cards. Wii consoles, along with various Wii games like Super Smash Bros and Wii Play are also available.

In room 201, there is a digital production studio that has equipment for video and audio recording as well as editing. Reservations are required and can be made at the information desk on the first floor. 

Whether in need of academic resources or recreational equipment, students can go to Hamersly Library to take advantage of these many amenities.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

ICE in Monmouth

A photo of ICE protesters outside of the Portland facility Feb. 1, 2026. | Photo from @theoregonian on Instagram

Feb. 4, 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

On Jan. 29, 2026, the city of Monmouth held its quarterly town hall in the evening to discuss “freedoms of speech, assembly, and expression.”

“We really want to talk about Monmouth and issues of the First Amendment, of freedom of speech, of freedom of assembly and how we look at those things when we have concerns,” said the mayor of Monmouth, Cecelia Koontz, during the town hall. “Because we have had concerns. We have had complaints, and we have had incidents.”

Present faces were city attorney Justin Thorp, Chief of Police Isaiah Haines, Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton and Oregon Rep. Paul Evans, who is also a full-time professor of speech communication at Chemeketa Community College.

Such town halls discuss budget issues, city service and various other relevant topics. Thursday’s meeting discussed civic action, but divulged that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has kidnapped four people out of Monmouth — two being American citizens.

Evans opened the town hall, saying, “We live in an era where people suggest violence right out of the gate. Violence stops the conversation. It doesn’t enhance it.”

“Oregon is a sanctuary state,” said Isaiah Haines, answering an attendee’s question. “There are prohibitions that local law enforcement have from assisting immigration enforcement … I am forbidden, by law, to assist with immigration enforcement.”

Haines made it clear that if called upon for help, such as in the case of a physical threat, Monmouth police will respond regardless of who needs the assistance.

“If somebody is in trouble — meaning their life is being threatened or there is a reasonable threat to be perceived — there is no prohibition on our police officers responding to support that. The difference is, as in the case that happened not long ago when four people from this community were taken away, two of which were citizens, they are not going to assist in the capture of those individuals or the detainment because that’s a federal responsibility,” said Evans. “ICE has their operations. They do what they do. If they are in danger, if they feel that they are in some form of danger, our folks will respond.”

Information on the four people taken by ICE has not been publicized, nor were Western students made aware of it until mentioned at the town hall.

“If somebody really shouldn’t be here, and there’s a warrant to prove they shouldn’t be here, (police) can help. That’s not what sanctuary status is about,” added Evans.

Additionally, a Western student alleged that on Dec. 3, 2025, when protester and livestreamer Thomas Allen disrupted campus operations with inflammatory political statements, that people were “pushed, that were pushed down the stairs, there were injuries,” and that, to their knowledge, Monmouth police did not respond to calls.

In response, Haines stated that officers were in communication with Western as well as Campus Public Safety and viewing the live stream to determine lawful activity during the interruption. He affirmed that all calls were answered, but no uniformed officers were required to manage the situation.

“The only time I was aware ever of any contact that was made were when sidewalks were blocked, actually by from what I perceived to be students … and that actually was probably, or could be, an illegal activity. Now, we couldn’t see everything just based on the view of the camera, but somebody has the right to pass through a sidewalk area in a public space, even if they’re saying things that are hurtful or hateful to somebody else.”

He added, “To our knowledge, I never heard about actual injuries that happened, that were reported to us, and we didn’t observe anything that we thought was criminal conduct that would warrant our response at the time.”

“Stand up for what you believe, so you can push ideas into concepts, into proposals, into laws, and then into implementation,” Evans said.

 

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

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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.

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