Mount Hood

“WOU in Salem”

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Addressing the crowd in his annual State of the University Address on Sept. 17, President Rex Fuller spoke about the “WOU in Salem” project, which will begin offering classes in January 2019.

The program was designed largely with adult learners in mind, as “Oregon has over 500,000 adults with some college credit and no degree.” In Salem specifically, the 2015 census indicated that only 21 percent of the workforce had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.

“WOU in Salem” will be a partnership between Western and Chemeketa Community College, according to the initiative released by the Office of Academic Affairs, and the classes will be held at the Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry.

To start, classes will be offered both in the evening and on the weekend, providing working adults with the chance to access a high-quality educational experience that is flexible with their busy schedules.

Then, beginning in Fall 2019, students will be able to complete a number of degree programs, including M.A. in organizational leadership, B.A. and B.S. in psychology, B.A. and B.S. in criminal justice, B.A. and B.S. in interdisciplinary studies, A.B. in information systems and Certificate in professional writing.

These programs will be hugely beneficial to students who have received an associate degree or have some college credit.

“It’s really great that (Western) is going above and beyond to provide a higher education for working adults and families because it’s really important right now, particularly, to have a bachelor’s or associate degree,” said senior education major Erica Stuckart upon learning about the new campus.

A number of other Western students echoed her sentiments.

“It’s catering to the people that really need it. These people are busy — they have busy lives, they have families of their own and they can’t spend all day in class…The fact that they’re putting that program in place is really nice and hopefully there are more that come about,” said Natalie Dean, sophomore English major.

Dean then proposed one service that she believed could be really helpful to this demographic of students.

“I think it’d be really cool to see something with childcare services… because a lot of them will be adult students and they don’t have a ton of time to spare. So, maybe it’s additional help with their children or financial aid,” Dean explained.

Finally, sophomore public policy and administration major NJ Johnson added that “my favorite aspect of it is the part that it’s night classes… One of my friends is a non-traditional student: he’s 44 years old, he has a wife and a child and a job. And going to Western Oregon in Monmouth during the day is not super easy for him… (having this campus) would make it a lot easier.”

All in all, the project described by President Fuller will deliver a more feasible college experience to a significant, but underrepresented group of students — making a future at Western accessible to a larger population.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy by Paul F. Davis

New year, new Moodle

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

With the first week of classes under their belts, many students have likely have noticed that Moodle, the website where they access their classes online, has profited from a substantial update. Although many things remain unchanged, there are a number of differences that are useful to note.

“I think the most obvious thing for students to see will be the dashboard. So, when you are logging into Moodle right now, instead of seeing the old categories, you are seeing the time of when things are due and then the course tab,” said Academic Technologist Weiwei Zhang, who heads Moodle Support.

In the newest version of Moodle, students are able to see their current classes by default, but they will also be able to see past and future classes beginning in winter term. Additionally, the files for any classes predating Fall 2018 will now be kept in an archived version of the site, which is accessible via a link on the right-hand column of the update.

“The reason for this archive site is really not to make people’s lives more difficult. It’s because we self-host Moodle, and every two years the database is about to get full. We wanted to make sure Moodle doesn’t crash on anyone and the speed is still good, so our University Computing Services came up with a solution,” Zhang commented.

Even though it is challenging for Moodle Support to explain everything about the new update in advance, Zhang emphasized that students are welcome to reach out if they have any questions with the technical aspects of Moodle.

“We are building our website, so eventually we will have more tutorials for students,” Zhang shared. “We have great (graduate assistants), so they help answer a lot of emails…if students have any questions they can just call.”

The phone number for Moodle Support is 503-838-9300 and the email address is moodle@wou.edu. Students can also make appointments to meet with Moodle Support in ITC 204 if they have any further questions.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

A bright new beginning

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

On the morning of Sept. 16, a group of students with diverse backgrounds and experiences moved to Western and began a new, exciting chapter in their lives. Throughout this first week, the PLUS team had organized days that were packed with fun and informative events, aiming to familiarize students with Western’s campus and community.

A few of the most celebrated events of New Student Week included the Dating Doctor, drive-in movie, hypnotist, WUC Premiere Night, magician, Freshman Bar and NSW Variety Show, along with many others.

One event which especially highlighted the necessity of hope and determination to this first-year group, though, was the New Student Sunrise — a recently-conceived tradition in its second year at Western.

As students gathered at McArthur Stadium early on Sept. 21, yawning and wrapping themselves in blankets, ASWOU president Evelyn Guzman and President Rex Fuller prepared to share wisdom with them about the college experience.

“My journey started on this campus right after high school,” said Guzman. “I didn’t know much of what I was doing here. I remember getting all of the mandatory registration done and coming to this campus without either of my parents because one lived too far and the other had to work and couldn’t afford to take time off…I remember feeling uncertain and, honestly, scared of what was coming.”

Since this sentiment is relatable to a large percentage of first-year students experiencing a similar life-changing transition, Guzman shared what helped her adjust to her new environment.

In her first year at Western, becoming connected to a number of on-campus organizations, such as M.E. Ch. A., Abby’s House, the Multicultural Representatives and ASWOU made her feel at home.

Throughout her journey, Guzman has developed a number of goals; beyond striving to make her family proud, she said that another goal of hers, in earning a degree, was to accomplish something on behalf of all people of color.

“Against all odds, here we are,” Guzman stated, reminding students it is possible to persevere, even in the face of great difficulty.

While these first-year students are sure to have a number of their own unique goals moving forward, they are also likely to have fears that they must overcome in the process.

Even though Guzman has struggled with anxiousness at times when thinking of all the people still being harmed or repressed in the world, she imparted the thought that keeps her going.

“How I overcame (the worry) every time was looking around me and seeing everyone pushing forward, in different areas, to make this world a better place. It’s understanding that maybe one person can’t accomplish everything to be able to do that, but every person at this university is doing something.”

President Fuller also encouraged students to take care of each other through all the difficult situations that come their way.

“When you have a bad day, reach out to somebody,” Fuller said. There is an abundance of groups on campus available to a wide variety of people, and he affirmed that it is important for students to be bold and to get involved in order to feel connected.

After the speeches were given, the new students ate a pancake breakfast and lined up to paint their names on the sidewalk — leaving a mark on Western that is sure to last for years to come.

Contact the author at bthompson15@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of: Paul F. Davis, Bailey Thompson

A summer of improvements

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Arriving back to Western’s campus this week, students can observe a number of changes from last spring. Although certain locations are still under construction, others have completed their transition and are open for students to utilize and enjoy.

Completed Relocations:

Three of Western’s organizations have recently acquired new homes: the WOU Food Pantry, the Student Activities Board and the Stonewall Center. The WOU Food Pantry is now located in the former Oregon Military Academy building, which lies across the street from Heritage Hall. Volunteers at the Food Pantry urge students to take advantage of this free resource, as many may not have realized it has moved. Additionally, SAB and the Stonewall Center have also undergone relocations within the Werner University Center. The SAB office will hereafter be housed on the second floor of the WUC, where the Wolf Express was previously located. The Stonewall Center, which formerly shared a space with Abby’s House, has moved to the location recently vacated by SAB.

Current Renovations:

The Child Development Center and Natural Sciences have both began construction on upgrades to their facilities. The Child Development Center, when construction is finished, will be moving from Todd Hall to the University Park and Conference Center buildings. According to the University Computing Services newsletter, the remodel will join Units A, B and C together, and, to prepare for this, the ROTC program and Forensics Lab have been moved to Academic Programs Support Center and Bellamy Hall, respectively. Natural Sciences has also begun an extensive remodel, which is not slated to be completed until September of 2019. However, the basement and first floor will be open for classes as usual for fall term.

 

Contact the author at bthompson15@wou.edu

Rolling out of town

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

After only a few short months of students riding orange bicycles around Monmouth, the SPIN Bikeshare company decided to move in another direction. Although the bikes were widely utilized during their time on campus — between the months of April and August — the choice to remove the bikes was ultimately beyond Western’s control.

“Through the end of May we were having 150 rides a day on the bikes, so we saw that it was pretty successful. Students were using it; feedback we were getting was positive,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Gary Dukes. There was nothing on the university’s end to suspect that the program would not be sustainable.

However, Dukes recalled that “we got a call from them saying they were ending their program and within a couple weeks they’d be collecting bikes.” So, with that, the bikeshare program had ended not long after it began.

Looking to the future, Western is open to the idea of bringing another program — either with bikes or electric scooters — to campus, but it would have to be the right fit for the community.

“We’ve been trying to see how things are going in Portland with their scooter program because they just started it this summer, and I think there have been mixed responses to their program,” Dukes said. “What’s interesting… is in Portland you can’t ride them on the sidewalks (and) you have to have a helmet. I think that’s an Oregon state law. So, I think we’re not sure how well that would work here… if anything, we’ve been trying to look at other companies that might bring a bike program back to Western.”

With many other bikeshare programs, though, the concern is that the companies are looking for locations to supply additional funding sources beyond the ridership fees, which would essentially force students to pay more for the same service.

“I think it’s just seeing what students want to do moving forward,” Dukes concluded.

In time, Western will choose the best solution for its community in the absence of the SPIN bikeshare program. In the meantime, students will just have to wait and see what the future holds.

 

Contact the author at bthompson15@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of: Paul F. Davis

Know your candidates

By: Jade Rayner
News Editor

ASWOU is beginning the process of electing new candidates, and with that, they are offering numerous chances for students to get to know who they will be voting for.

Students will need to vote using OrgSync. Voting will open May 1, and close on May 5 at 3 p.m., and can be accessed by going to wou.edu/aswou.

In order to provide a chance for every student to cast their vote, polling stations will be open in the Werner University Center and Valsetz during the election period.

Please note that The Western Journal does not endorse any candidates or their policies.

Events:
– May 1st, 11-1 in WUC 2nd Floor – Meet the Candidates
Stop by the WUC and get to know the candidates for ASWOU elected offices. This is a great chance to ask individual questions and become familiar with each candidate’s priorities. Be an informed voter and show your fellow students some support!

– May 2nd, 2pm in WUC, Columbia Room – Candidate Forum
This is a chance to hear from the candidates for ASWOU office and ask them questions in a formal setting. There will be a question and answer period for each candidate.

– May 3rd, 12-2pm on WUC Plaza – Poppin’ and Vote
Pop on in to get some popcorn, sno-cones, and vote in the ASWOU Election!

– May 4th, 6:30-10pm in RWEC 101 – Star Wars Celebration: May the 4th Be With You

Celebrate Star Wars Day and win some awesome prizes! We will be watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens, having a group and individual costume contest, asking Star Wars trivia, and giving away many prizes! You can even vote in the ASWOU Elections to be entered to win prizes! Doors open at 6:30, and the movie will begin promptly at 7:00. Come have a great time, win free stuff, and, of course, May the 4th Be With You!

Candidate Platforms:

ASWOU President
Cynthia Olivares
Like anything, there is always room for improvement. One of the ways I intend to better ASWOU is making it more accessible to all students. There is a very minimum of students that know what ASWOU is, and I want to make sure that all students can access the benefits that ASWOU brings to campus. I also want to make sure that students know ASWOU is a safe space for students and that we work to go above and beyond to address any student concerns. Another important issue I will be working with is fighting against tuition increases. At this point tuition is getting outrageously expensive and it is something I will be working on at both a campus and a state level.
These changes are necessary because as students we all pay a fee to receive benefits that ASWOU brings but not any students are aware. I also think that these changes are necessary because it establishes community within our diverse campus.
It is also important to fight against tuition increases because tuition is already too expensive. This needs to change because it is making it more difficult for students to stay in school and pursue a higher education.
My priority is to inform students of what ASWOU is and what benefits it can offer. I also want to provide many students with leadership opportunities. There are many things for students to get involved but many folks are not aware of it.

Jessica Freeman
I have been involved with ASWOU since my first year at Western Oregon University. I started my journey through ASWOU as a Senator, where I was elected by the Senate Body to hold the position of Senate Parliamentarian, and the chair of two separate subcommittees. During my second year within ASWOU, I was elected as the Senate President, where I took the information gained as a Senator, and put it to better use. After two years in Senate, I wanted to challenge myself even more during my third year in ASWOU, so I ran and was elected the Judicial Administrator. I have been a branch head for two years now, which gives me invaluable experience and has prepared me to run for ASWOU President. Through my three years in ASWOU, I have seen three different administrations; I have seen firsthand what tactics work and what tactics do not work for this organization. I am extremely knowledgeable and passionate about ASWOU, and with my past experiences I am the most qualified candidate for ASWOU President.
ASWOU was cut 30% of their budget through the Incidental Fee Committee Process during Winter Term 2017. The next ASWOU President will have to work hard and creatively in order to allow ASWOU to function at its highest with such an extensive cut. Through my experience in both Senate and Judicial Board, I am ready to dedicate my last year at Western Oregon University to ensure ASWOU is properly overseen and assists the wide range of student populations WOU has to offer. Focusing within ASWOU, I intend to challenge the positions in cabinet whose primary functions are to produce outreach strategies. The ASWOU Executive Branch has severely suffered from a lack of outreach recently, and students need to know ASWOU exists to serve them. When looking at WOU, students for many years have voiced negative opinions about the Oregon Student Association (OSA). If elected ASWOU President, I will focus on improving the relationship ASWOU and WOU have with OSA based on student feedback and how students want their money to be spent.
I am a hardworking individual who is dedicated to the improvement of ASWOU as a whole. The next academic year will be an interesting challenge, and one that I have waited three years for. I am ready to take on the honored responsibility of being the ASWOU President for the 2017-2018 academic year.

ASWOU Vice President
Evelyn Guzman
Hello my name is Evelyn Guzman (she, her, hers). I am running for Vice President because I feel like I have knowledge, enthusiasm, and skills I can contribute to ASWOU. I have been very involved since my first year at WOU and I have been learning a lot about different aspects of our community. By getting this position I will be bringing more diversity into it as well as knowledge I have gained so far. I am the best candidate because I have been involved in a lot of student movements, I am bilingual and already have connections with different organizations, coalitions, and individuals because of my continuous involvement. I have held positions within MEChA both in our WOU chapter and regionally, I am an advocate for Abby’s House, and a Multicultural Representative. I am also active in our community outside of the WOU campus with activities such as pushing for Monmouth to be an Inclusive City and a campaign as part of the Oregon DACA Coalition. I have done several trainings in different issues such as the Ally trainings on campus and attended conferences at the local, regional and national level that have made me grow as a team member and leader. From each one of these I have learned different skills that I would be bringing with me to this position. I am the definition of a student voice and I intend to keep representing, advocating, and listening to what students have to say in order to make WOU the best possible place to be. I hope I can count on your vote. Thank you!

Felicia Dickinson
I am running for ASWOU Vice President because I believe the student body needs a leader who will fight to protect and expand their educational experience. I have worked in Student Government for four years as a Student Senator and as a member of various subcommittees focusing on affordability and sustainability. This year as a Student Senator, I have gone to the State Capital to speak to subcommittees about higher education funding, the continued funding of Open Educational Resources and lobbied legislators to invest in students and their futures. Affordability and sustainability are vital to our campus; we must be proactive in finding solutions to these issues on our campus. It is important to know who represents you as a student and will champion for causes that are detrimental to our educational survival. If I am elected, my year long goals are to spread the use of Open Educational Resources to allow students a flexible option as they learn, work with all of our allies to better serve the student body, and be as visible to my fellow students as much as possible so they too can get involved. Collaboration as students make our victories universal. If I am elected to be your Vice President, you can count on me to always represent the voice of the student body, whether it is speaking on campus or in front of legislators. With your help, I promise to make this campus a place where students are able to foster the academic environment they deserve.

Lily Odegaard
I am running for the position of Vice President because I feel I have a lot to offer to our community. I have been apart of many clubs and organization in high school, and am currently an Activities Director for the Landers/Barnum hall government, as well as a co-chair of activities and entertainment for the on-campus Relay For Life. All of those experiences have taught me how to be an effective leader, communicator, planner, and advocate. I have the drive to make our community even better than it already is, and I plan to do so through engaging with the student body, and being sure our needs and concerns are being met. As well as through active promotion of all our on-campus resources such as the Food Pantry. This is necessary for improving our community because ASWOU is funded through student fees, and the primary focus of the organization is after all, the students.My priorities in office would be listening our community, hearing their voices and doing my best to act as a representative for each of them. As well as supporting the President and the rest of the governing body, and making sure everything is running smoothly and effectively, with the ultimate goal of improving our campus and community.

Senate President
Lila Jones
I am running for Senate President because I have been the Senate Pro-Tempore (Vice Chair) for my two years in Senate, and I feel that I would be able to lead and aid the future Senators well in their positions because I know what it is like to be them and the importance of representing all of the students at Western Oregon University.
I plan on helping future Senators with their developing and enhancing their leadership skills by mediating good discussion during Senate meetings and provide excellent trainings to Senators so that they can properly represent students of WOU. I hope to incite a passion to lead, to advocate, and be someone that students of WOU feel comfortable having be their representative.
Students should vote for me because I have the experience from two years in Senate to know how things are run and dealt with as well as have ideas for change within the Senate President position.Things I would like to change would be to give more responsibilities to the other leaders within Senate- the Parlimentarian and Pro Tempore to help develop their own leadership skills, to have more legislation written that could change the campus and its policies that would benefit the student population, and help make ASWOU more cohesive as a branch head by getting Senators to work with cabinet members to write legislation for items cabinet members are facing or working towards.

Judicial Administrator
Logan Doerfler
At the age of 17 I enlisted in the Oregon Army National Guard (ORARNG) to protect the interests and rights of Oregon citizens. Six years later as an Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) my sense of duty has only grown as has my passion to serve my community. If I am elected I will maintain the integrity of our school’s systems and regulations. This will be done by building positive relationships and holding all parties accountable to the standards set in place. NCOs are the backbone of the Army, it is our duty to maintain the standards of the Army when others do not.
The ORARNG has put me in positions of oversight both stateside and overseas, my current role as a team leader can be an example. As team leader I must familiarize myself with the rules and policies of my commander and the Army so that I can educate and enforce my soldiers accordingly. I believe my distinctive record, ability to think of my feet, work ethic, capability to take information and make appropriate decisions make me an excellent candidate for this position.

Senator
Roger Deleon
I am running for ASWOU Senate. I am running for this position to better establish a voice amongst the student government of the typical college student. I am the best candidate for Senate because I know what it’s like to transfer from a Community College to a 4-year school. I have been a student at WOU on and off for the last 7 years, and though a lot has changed at WOU over that timeframe, there’s still a bit that can improved. During the years I was at WOU, I was involved with clubs and organizations on campus such as Safe Zone, Student Activities Board, Triangle Alliance, Conversation Partners and the Student Conduct Committee.
If elected, one of the things I hope to accomplish is to get a non-voting student representative onto the Faculty Senate, which oversees any changes or improvements to department courses, so that there’s a students voice on course curriculum changes. Having a students voice and opinion on changes for courses is one of the most beneficial and pertinent things I feel needs to be implemented. Though students might not know a particular departments information as well as a professor or instructor to make much of a decision, when it comes to changing how many credits a course should be, having the voice from a student’s perspective is necessary.
Western has been known to be very diverse, friendly and welcoming to everyone, especially with the International Student, Minority, and First-Generation Student populations. As a Student Senator, I want continue to have Western be that diverse college and community for years to and, and I want to be that person to represent them all and have a voice on the senate for those groups that needed to express their concerns or opinions.

IFC Member
Eric Frey
As a Retired US Army Master Sergeant that worked in Logistics & Supply Management I have worked with multi-million dollar operating budgets and dealt with managing budget shortfalls. I realize that most university students have a limited budget and I want to address the rising costs at WOU. As a member of the IFC I would work towards making sure that all IFC funded Clubs and Organizations are fairly represented and to limit expenses to necessary budget requirements to try to keep the Incidental Funds paid by every student to a reasonable level.

Bidding a fond farewell

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Debbie Diehm

Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs/National Student Exchange Coordinator

Years at Western: 30 years and 10 months

Favorite part of working at Western: “The students. You are all so clever and smart. You are all gracious, too.  Not a day goes by without hearing about students volunteering locally or globally or students fund-raising for others in need.”

Plans after retirement: “Doing what I want to do! Of course, projects at home, spending time with family and traveling.”

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Angela Barry

Office Manager at Public Safety

Years at Western: 14 years

Favorite part of working at Western: “Working with the students here. I have made some good friends!”

Plans after retirement: “Sleeping in. I am going to be doing some work on my house. Other than that: enjoy life!”

Photo courtesy of: Angela Barry

Sue DeNoyer

General Advisor and Office Coordinator for the Criminal Justice Department

Years at Western: 24 years and seven months

Favorite part of working at Western: “By far, the highlight of my time at (Western) has been working directly with students and getting to see that I could make a positive impact on their success here.”

Plans after retirement: “The first plan is to delete the ‘work day’ alarm from my phone! Then I plan to tackle a mountain of tasks around my home, do some traveling and spend as much time as I can with my granddaughter, family and friends.”

Photo courtesy of: Sue DeNoyer

Kevin Hughes

Landscape Maintenance Coordinator

Years at Western: 28 years

Favorite part of working at Western: “I really appreciate having the landscape look as best as possible for all people to enjoy.”

Plans after retirement: “Working at home on our farm, projects at home, working with the homeless at Union Gospel Mission in Salem, having fun with my kids and grandkids and an extra cup of coffee in the morning!”

Photo courtesy of: Kevin Hughes

Bob Hautala

Associate Professor, Division of Health and Exercise Science

Years at Western: 14 years

Favorite part of working at Western: “My interactions with students — in classes, going to athletic events, theater presentations, concerts, etc. and serving on several university committees that had a significant student presence.”

Plans after retirement: “Nothing specific yet, other than to continue to live in Oregon and find ways to stay engaged in life and all that it has to offer.”

Photo courtesy of: Bob Hautala

John Henslee

Trades Maintenance Coordinator for Housing

Years at Western: 41 years as a student, student employee and full-time employee

Favorite part of working at Western: “The best part of working here is the people, I have had a great crew over the years — it’s the best I’ve ever had right now — and have always enjoyed working with the student population whether it be as residents or employees in our shop.”

Plans after retirement: “I am planning on getting a lot more involved in my church, tying lots of flies, painting and drawing lots of pictures, making furniture, making knives, picking my guitar … and a bunch of other things I have been too busy with work to do.”

Photo courtesy of: John Henslee

Willy Lerum

Business Manager for Student Engagement

Years at Western: 30 years

Favorite part of working at Western: “Interacting with the students and making long lasting friendships with folks on campus.”

Plans after retirement: “I’m taking a couple of months off to just relax … after that, we’ll see what happens.”

Photo courtesy of: Willy Lerum

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

 

Honoring diverse graduates

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

While many graduates sit in eager anticipation for the June 16 commencement ceremony, two additional graduation ceremonies highlight inclusion and diversity on Western’s campus: Black Graduation and Lavender Graduation.

The 8th annual Lavender Graduation honors graduating members of the LGBTQ+ community, celebrates their accomplishments and acknowledges struggles that some have faced. During the ceremony, students will receive rainbow graduation cords and will have an opportunity to speak about their journey at Western.

The 5th annual Black Graduation recognizes black and African-American graduates. This ceremony allows these students to share their success with their friends and family while celebrating the hard work that earned them a college degree.

American Sign Language Studies major Shanna Thomas is participating in both graduation ceremonies to celebrate all aspects of her individuality.

“I’m participating because this is a time to celebrate my other identities,” Thomas expressed. “I am not only a student who worked extremely hard for my Bachelor’s, but I am also a black, biracial, mix, bisexual, cisgender female who had to overcome different obstacles because of those identities.”

Thomas believes that these ceremonies are important because they provide an opportunity to show how much can be accomplished in a world that does not give the same advantages to everyone. She explained: “These are important ceremonies because it gives these communities the opportunity to celebrate themselves openly and unapologetically for who they are and what they have had to overcome to get to where they are today.”

All students are welcome to attend Lavender Graduation on June 14 at 7 p.m. in the Columbia room and Black Graduation on June 15 at 3 p.m. in the Willamette room.

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Upgrades coming to campus this summer

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Students sticking in Monmouth this summer might notice various construction projects happening around campus. From building renovations to complete relocations, read on to stay updated on changes coming up this summer.

 

Food Pantry

The Food Pantry is leaving its previous location in APSC and moving to the former Oregon Military Academy building. The relocation will occur near the end of spring term and the pantry will remain open during the summer. Food Pantry Director and senior psychology major Ashley Biles believes this new location will be beneficial, saying: “As we have grown we have realized the new for a new and bigger location — especially if we want to start having other items for our patrons such as clothing … I think that the biggest benefit will be having that larger space in order to keep growing the pantry. And to have a space that is more accessible for our food deliveries and for patrons to easily find us.”

 

Child Development Center

The Childhood Development Center, currently located in Todd Hall, will be moving to the University Park Conference Center. This building is newer than Todd Hall and can be completely locked, providing more safety to the children under its care. A dynamic outdoor classroom is being constructed from the large outdoor area and a more convenient drop-off location will benefit families, volunteers and children. The program itself is also growing, as Director of the Child Development Center Carey Gilbert explains: “We will also be expanding our services to include a toddler classroom for children 18 months to three years of age. This classroom will be in addition to our current programming of two preschool classrooms for children ages three to five years of age and our Afterschool Enrichment Program for children in kindergarten up to 10 years of age.

 

Natural Science

The Natural Science building is undergoing renovations beginning in 2018 and extending through 2019. Updates include repairing the heating and cooling system, updating bathrooms with the inclusion of a gender neutral bathroom, new showers and eyewash stations, renovations to the third floor greenhouse and general paint and lighting updates. Many professors’s offices will be temporarily relocated to the former College of Education building while work begins on the basement and second floor this summer. Summer classes will be moved to DeVolder Family Science Center and the basement and first floor will be open as usual in the fall.

 

Stonewall Center and SAB

The Student Activities Board will be occupying part of the previous Wolf Express location in the Werner University Center. An additional conference room, named the Metolius room, will also fill that space. The first floor space vacated by SAB will be filled by the Stonewall Center. 2018-2019 Stonewall Center Coordinator Susannah Doepken explained: “Having our own space will prove to be very beneficial in many ways. A lot of times, we have felt like our space is small and could be used in more productive and helpful ways if there was more space for more people to interact in the center at the same time. Now, with a bigger space, we will be able to offer more space for more people, growing the center as much as we can.”

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

 

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Faculty bargaining centers around salary

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Western administrators and faculty convened for the first time this year on Jan. 23 as part of the faculty bargaining process, a series of meetings where the faculty contract is negotiated between the Western Oregon University Federation of Teachers Union (WOUFT) and Western’s administration. The groups met periodically throughout winter and spring term, with the last session scheduled for June 21.

The faculty’s three-year contract, extending until 2020, was, in its conception, agreed to be re-opened and certain articles negotiated every year. The articles that manage salary and faculty development were re-opened for negotiation, and the faculty decided to review an article outlining the assignment of duties for faculty members.

As it stands, faculty are required to spend a certain number of credit hours teaching every term, but another part of the job description is service to the institution by taking part in various committees, senate bodies and advising students.

“Our concern was that in the last couple years we’ve been asked to do more and more institutional service, which is important and it’s part of shared governance, but it’s not teaching, and that’s the primary thing that faculty come here to do,” explained bargaining team chair Dr. Emily Plec. “We’ve found that the institutional service load is really taking time away from teaching for many faculty and making them feel as though they’re not giving their students the full attention that they’d like to give.”

WOUFT initially proposed a reduction in the teaching load from 36 credits to 24, to help offset some of the extra work many faculty members were doing to keep up with their institutional service projects. When the administration rejected this proposal, the conversation turned to increasing salaries.

“It’s begun to boil down to salary,” Plec explained. “If (the administration) can’t give us relief in our working week, we expect a better salary offer than the one that we’re seeing to compensate us equitably.”

Western has historically fallen behind peer institutions in salary. Now, after the revelation of the nearly $3 million savings in the university budget, many WOUFT members, like non-tenured track instructor Karla Hale, wish to see that money invested in both tenured and non-tenured faculty.

“(Western) salaries fall far below other local comparative community colleges and universities,” Hale explained. “Currently many of our non-tenure track faculty have to work part-time jobs — often at other colleges — to supplement their wages. I currently teach at Chemeketa part-time and get paid more per credit to teach there as a part time instructor.”

The administration team has offered tenured faculty an average increase in salary of 4.2 percent for 2018-2019 and 3.7 percent for 2019-2020. Additionally, non-tenured faculty have been offered a 3 percent salary increase for 2018-2019 and a 2.25 percent increase for 2019-2020. Carson Campbell, Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, believes this is a generous increase for the resources that the university has.

“Over the two-year period, these percentage increases outpace the recent historical data on national average in faculty wage increases by a fair bit,” Campbell described. “Additionally, (Western) has offered a 25 percent increase, $50,000 annually, to the dollars invested in faculty development. All told, the University’s proposal carries a cost of nearly $1 million in 2018-2019 and $1.5 million in 2019-2020.”

WOUFT president Scott Beaver hopes that the administration provides both tenured and non-tenured faculty with competitive and fair compensation.

“No one gets into teaching at any level to get rich, but our faculty works very hard to provide (Western) students with a top-notch education and should be compensated accordingly for their diligent and thoughtful efforts,” Beaver said. “Our workload has increased but our pay has not kept up. We would like to see management put more of the millions they recently uncovered toward both non-tenure track and tenure track faculty salaries to help us attract and retain the best faculty for our students.”

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

A day for reflection

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

While the long weekend brought sunshine and a break from classes, the Memorial Day holiday provided a time to reflect on the individuals that have passed away while serving in the military.

Sophomore business and psychology major Cole Hendren explained, “It’s just a day of appreciation to appreciate those who are out there fighting for our country and fighting for our rights.” Hendren is the current Communications Officer for the WOU Student Veterans Association.

Western’s SVA chapter honored the holiday in several ways. On May 19, a group of club members gathered at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, Oregon to clean the headstones of veterans. The club aimed to clean as many headstones as possible in preparation for visitors on Memorial Day.

“It was very humbling,” said Hendren, who participated in the headstone cleaning. “It was a very surreal experience.”

May 29 brought the third annual Memorial Day Banquet hosted by the club. One of SVA’s biggest events was made even bigger this year by keynote speaker and Student Veterans of America CEO and President Jared Lyon, who oversees nearly 1,500 SVA chapters across the nation. The banquet was open to all students and community members, regardless of involvement in the military, to honor Memorial Day.

Junior exercise science major and 2018-2019 club president Stephanie Mahoney believes that everyone should set aside some time to remember those who have died serving our country.

“I want people to know that aside from the BBQs, shopping sales, and all the other things that happen during Memorial Day, this day means something more,” explained Mahoney. “So take some time to understand and honor what this day is really about because those people that have died serving our country are someone’s family or friend and they are no longer here because of their sacrifice.”

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Caity Healy

Bringing senior prom to the Monmouth community

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Sparkling prom dresses and classy tuxedos paid a visit to the Monmouth Senior Center on May 26. The second annual sock hop, hosted by Western’s Psychology Club and Gerontology Club, gave seniors the opportunity to dress up and hit the dance floor.

The theme for this year’s dance was ‘Spring Fling Senior Prom,’ encouraging community members to break out their prom attire and join in on the fun. Of course, a prom is incomplete without the crowning of prom king and queen, as well as tiaras and crowns for the winners.

Haley Morris, Psychology Club president, was involved in planning the Valentine’s Day sock hop in 2017. The organization was looking to get more involved with the senior center and jumped at the opportunity to help the Monmouth community.

“It’s cool getting more college students in the community and not just on campus,” Morris commented. She explained that many students go through college focusing on how their education will benefit themselves and not necessarily how they can help others.

“Maybe they see Monmouth as being pretty small and they don’t see a way of benefiting the community, but there’s a lot of different ways that people can reach out and the senior center is one of those ways,” said Morris.

Last year’s sock hop was such a success that the Gerontology Club decided to get involved in the event. Lila Gardner, co-president of the Gerontology Club at Western, is a gerontology major, herself, and has always enjoyed working with older adults. When elected president of the club, she had several goals that she wanted the organization to accomplish.

“I wanted us to be really involved with the Monmouth community,” Gardner explained. The club hosted Careers in Aging Week in April and several events educating the community about aging and working with older adults. Since then, the organization has been focused on outreaching to the Monmouth community.

“This term has been really focused on interacting with our older aging community and really making sure that we’re creating a better quality of life,” said Gardner. “There’s some places in Oregon that doesn’t have a senior center and (don’t) focus on quality of life for older adults and that’s something I think our club officers are really adamant about.”

The sock hop is just one way that the Psychology and Gerontology Clubs are reaching out and using their fields of study to benefit the community.

Morris expressed, “I think it’s becoming a community event and people are looking forward to it so I really hope it continues.”

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Fostering support, progress and hope

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Teal blue ribbons adorn the trees around Western’s campus, bringing to light a community that is often overlooked: foster students. The WOU Fostering Success initiative is hosting Foster Care Awareness Month throughout May to help inform the campus community about foster students and provide support for individuals that have been a part of the foster care system.

Senior Sean Stephen is a foster youth peer mentor with WOU Fostering Success. With a personal history in the foster care system, Stephen strives to reach out to prospective Western foster students and ensure that current students have the resources they need to be successful.

“Coming from a foster care system into college is a pretty big transition for most students, and for foster care students it’s a really big transition because a lot of foster care children don’t have the support that they need,” explained Stephen. “That’s one area that I want to be there for them where they have, if they need it, support and advocate to what they need to help them be successful.”

The initiative was established in 2015 by Dr. Emily Plec, a professor of communication studies. She was impacted by students at Western that had experienced the foster care system and felt that there was more she could do to support them. Teaming up with a representative from Polk Youth Services and the previously established Wolves Fostering Hope club, Plec introduced one of the first initiatives to provide resources for foster students on campus, help them navigate financial aid and give general support that they may not get from other people in their lives.

“We tend to assume that everybody’s got a family,” Plec acknowledged, whether that’s someone to provide emotional support, financial stability or just a place to stay during holidays. “There was a group of students that that just wasn’t the case for.”

Help with advising, learning about federal financial aid benefits and even putting together finals week survival kits can enhance a foster student’s life at Western. Plec commented that the initiative is “just trying to do the things that families do that are the intangible parts of just getting you through.”

WOU Fostering Success planned several events during May for Foster Care Awareness Month including a socks and shoes drive for foster youth in the community, educational tabling and a duffle bag and suitcase collection, as part of the No More Trash Bags movement.

“In the foster care system, usually when you’re being transitioned from home to home, all you have is a black trash bag full of your stuff,” Stephen explained. “We’re trying to give foster kids backpacks and luggage and suitcases and duffle bags so they don’t have to be carrying around a black trash bag because that’s really dehumanizing.”

One of the most recent accomplishments of the initiative is creating a Preview Day focused on high school foster youth in Oregon. The event on May 25 is open to all foster youth interested in attending Western and includes a campus tour, assistance from the Student Success and Advising Office on transfer articulations and a luncheon featuring a panel of foster students sharing their experiences at Western.

“It’s just a whole day to meet students who are making the dream of college happen,” Plec expressed. And, for the first time ever, graduating foster students will be presented with graduation honor cords during the luncheon. Stephen, who is involved in the Wolves Fostering Success club that made this possible, believes this is a big achievement for foster students.

Stephen explained the difficulties that he faced coming to Western as a transfer student from the foster care system and not knowing anyone in the school. He encourages everyone to reach out to people that may need a hand.

“If you see somebody and you know that they might be struggling, just reach out and say ‘hey, how are you?’” Stephen suggested. “Don’t let somebody slip into the cracks.”

To learn more about the WOU Fostering Success initiative and Foster Care Awareness Month, visit wou.edu/foster.

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Latino culture takes the spotlight at Western

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

The sound of Latin music and the smell of tacos filled the air outside of the Werner University Center on May 18. Multicultural Student Union’s annual event, Nuestra Fiesta Latina, encouraged students and community members to come together and experience Latino culture with a variety events and activities throughout the week.

The union’s collaboration with several organizations around campus transformed the typical day-long event into a week-long celebration. The week’s events kicked off with dance lessons instructed by members of the Omega Delta Phi fraternity, a Lip Sync Battle hosted by the Kappa Delta Chi sorority and stand-up comedian Jesus Trejo was sponsored by the Student Activities Board for a Thursday night of laughter.

Friday brought the traditional Nuestra Fiesta Latina day event with food, music, piñatas and a jalepeño-eating contest on the WUC plaza. The celebration continued during Freebie Friday with Lotería — a traditional Latino game similar to bingo — and pan dulce. The evening brought dinner and entertainment by Karol Posadas, a tribute artist that portrays the popular Mexican-American artist, Selena.

Sophomore early childhood education major Blanca Miranda-Aguilar worked behind the scenes to plan for Nuestra Fiesta Latina as MSU’s Public Relations officer. Miranda-Aguilar experienced the festivities of Nuestra Fiesta Latina in 2017 and was eager to step up as co-coordinator this spring.

Miranda-Aguilar noted that MSU strives to represent various cultures with annual events such as Women of Culture, Out and Proud, Dia de los Muertos and the Pow Wow.

“It’s just a way to show respect toward that culture,” said Miranda-Aguilar. She explained that many people view cultures through a stereotypical lens, and events like Nuestra Fiesta Latina aim to break those stereotypes and educate the community about a diverse array of cultures.

As a part of the Latino culture herself, Miranda-Aguilar is excited to have an event like this on campus.

“We’re being seen and recognized,” she expressed.

Miranda-Aguilar encourages everyone to venture out of their comfort zone and explore all the events and activities planned by MSU.

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Encouraging unity, celebrating diversity

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

“Diversity” is a term that covers a broad range of topics including race, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status and other components of a person’s identity. ASWOU aimed to educate the Western community on these topics during Diversity Week.

“I think a lot of people get divisive on things that involve politics, race, class — those are all big issues,” said ASWOU Director of Equity Natalie Dean. “But I think people get really hung up on the things that divide us, and I think that this was just to highlight the ways that we are all together. And not to ignore those differences, but rather to address them and recognize that they do happen.”

The week-long event, spanning from May 14-18, was hosted by ASWOU and involved several student-led organizations on campus, including: Unidos, Student Veterans of America and the D.R.E.A.M. club. Each club provided their own unique perspective and informed Western students about different aspects of diversity.

Unidos and MEChA teamed up to host a film screening of the movie “Food Chains” which discussed the working conditions of migrant farmworkers in Florida, the D.R.E.A.M. club presented information about the disabled community and accessibility on Western’s campus and the Student Veterans of America organized an open house in the Veterans Resource Center that encouraged students to learn about the various branches of the military.

ASWOU worked with the Oregon Student Association to provide workshops centered around diversity including Intro to Queer and Trans Justice, Intro to Disability Justice and Understanding Your Privilege.

Western’s Food Pantry hosted a cooking tutorial, led by former Foodservice Director Karen Nelles. The presentation demonstrated basic baking and knife skills as well as nutritional meals to make in a mason jar. Additionally, senior community health major Paula Waldron discussed topics of food insecurity and socioeconomic status to tie the event back to Diversity Week.

“Food insecurity affects millions of people in the United States — with college students being no exception,” Waldron explained. “Addressing food insecurity is important because hunger has the ability to negatively impact other areas in life and, as a result, may diminish one’s quality of life.”

Dean believes that Diversity Week provides a good opportunity for students to ask questions that they might not otherwise ask and explore the various topics of diversity.

“Learning can be scary, especially dealing with topics like this,” said Dean. “People don’t really want to talk about it … (Diversity Week) is a space that’s inclusive and is open to educating people in a way that’s not demeaning.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Western’s outstanding leaders

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Leadership Recognition Night is an annual event that celebrates leadership and service at Western. The Delmer Dewey Outstanding Graduating Student award and the Julia McCulloch Smith Outstanding Graduating Student award are prized to two graduating individuals that show excellence in leadership, academics and contributions to Western.

 

Delmer Dewey Outstanding Graduating Student

The Delmer Dewey Outstanding Graduating Student award was presented to Carter Craig. Craig is a senior history major and member of the honors program. During his four years at Western, Craig was a Resident Assistant for one year, president of the Residence Hall Association for two years, a three-time member of the Incidental Fee Committee and chair of the committee in 2017 and a recent Alternative Break team member for the Costa Rica team. Craig notes that one of his favorite involvements on campus was with the Residence Hall Association.

“I have really enjoyed intentionally programming for my fellow students and the comradery among the other RHA Exec members,” commented Craig. “I think that same sense of community is also one of Western’s huge strengths.”

In his honors thesis, ‘‘To the Dishonor of God’: Religious Roots for Puritan Morality Laws During the Interregnum,’ Craig investigates the influence of religion on laws during the English Interregnum between 1653 and 1659.

“I am grateful to everyone who has supported me,” said Craig.

 

Julia McCulloch Smith Outstanding Graduating Student

 

The Julia McCulloch Smith Outstanding Graduating Student award was presented to Sara Madden. Madden is a senior social science major and member of the honors program. She is a student athlete who has competed in indoor and outdoor track and cross country for four years while sitting on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. Madden is the president of Western’s chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Chi Alpha Sigma honor societies. Over all else, Madden has enjoyed being a student athlete at Western.

“It has such a family feel to it and has been very rewarding from the time and effort I have put in,” she explained.

Madden’s honors thesis, “The Secret War of WWII: Emmanuel Ringelblum and Jewish Resistance to Nazism in Warsaw 1943,” examines Jewish resistance during the Holocaust.

“I feel incredibly honored to receive this award,” Madden expressed. “Never in my wild dreams did I imagine receiving such an honor at this level; it’s truly remarkable.”

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Admiring diversity from around the globe

Caitlyn Nakatsukasa | Staff Writer

Western’s International Night aimed to break culture shocks and express the diversity of students from around the world. The event was hosted on May 11 by the International Club, an organization that promotes cultural awareness and fosters friendships with students from around the world.

“This club helps international and domestic students broaden their horizon and perspectives on cultures, individuality, and life,” said junior and International Club Vice President Berlyn Buncal. Buncal has been a member of the club since her first year at Western. “[Our purpose] is to share and let other students make friends with people they never thought they would click with too.”

Junior Faafili Papalii agreed, stating that, “the club is worldwide. It means that anyone can welcome to join and share with us.”

This is Papalii’s third year participating in the International Night as a dancer. “We help each other and the new students who need friends, directions and education,” said Papalii. “The club thinks that students are away from their families and they are far away from home, so International Club is home away from home.”

This annual event provides the audience with a wide scope of diverse cultures and acknowledges a variety of backgrounds.

“International Night is about sharing different cultures with the university and the community at an evening,” said Buncal. She believes the event helps create visibility of the wide variety of international students attending Western. “It is where people from other parts of the world can feel at home. They get to see that there are other international [students] and share their culture, something that not many have the opportunity to do.”

The event had Arabic entertainment booths such as Henna artwork, samples of tea and treats, displays of handcrafted clothes and a person that wrote guest’s names in Arabic. It gave people the opportunity to explore the lifestyles of people from Saudi Arabia.

The dinner consisted of specialty dishes from around the globe, such as ye’abesha gomen from Ethiopia, beef bulgogi from South Korea, yakisoba noodles from Japan and vanillekipferl from Germany.

The entertainment portion of the event kicked off with a fashion show extravaganza that foreshadowed the upcoming performances. International Club members had the chance to show off traditional clothing from different countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Ghana and Thailand. Members had the opportunity to flaunt clothing from their own native countries and demonstrate what they normally wear in their hometowns.

Throughout the night were various performances that represented various cultures and rituals. There was the Yasugi Bushi performance, a famous folk song from Japan that involved two participants dancing while wearing face masks. Another performance was the Bollywood dance, a performance that demonstrated many different Indian dance styles. There was even a Rubik’s Cube performance where Lianhua Zhou solved the puzzle in a matter of minutes. The Rubik’s Cube is a popular puzzle that is well-known in western culture.

The event wrapped up with the emcees thanking the audience for attending and bringing all of the volunteers and performers to the stage.

“[Tonight is] a night that we invite everyone to celebrate and promote the unity of International on campus,” said Papalii. “It doesn’t matter what race, color, or language we are; we believe in equality.”

Contact the author at cnakatsukasa15@wou.edu.

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

$4 million surplus in university budget provides opportunity for growth

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

On May 8, a university budget update given by president Rex Fuller and interim Vice President for Finance and Administration Jay Kenton disclosed a new revelation to Faculty Senate: the university budget, which was previously thought to be in a deficit, is actually in a $4 million surplus.

This surplus of money arose from various sources. Though enrollment is still declining, the university is attracting more out-of-state students, who pay more for tuition than Oregon residents. This unexpected revenue cuts down the deficit. Additionally, the migration from the Banner software system to the cloud application saved the university a one-time savings of $450,000. And nearly half of the $4 million was money that was budgeted for various departments but not being utilized. Instead of re-allocating these funds halfway through the year, the administration decided to be proactive about their investments.

“It allows us to be a bit more investment-oriented,” explained Fuller. “We’re moving to a point where we’re creating our future as opposed to simply being in reaction mode.”

Now the question is: what will the university invest in? Fuller thinks it’s important to focus on increasing enrollment at Western.

“We need to be more creative and innovative about driving enrollment to Western,” Fuller stated.

One way to accomplish this is to establish a campus in Salem to appeal to students that are currently commuting from Salem to Monmouth. Another focus would be creating new programs with an emphasis in professional STEM fields and implementing more accessible degree paths through online classes.

An important change, what Kenton refers to as a ‘new paradigm,’ is decentralizing the budget and allowing individual departments to manage their own budgets.

“Everything was very centrally controlled here,” Kenton commented. “Most universities push responsibilities out — decisions are better made closer to their point of impact.”

The way it is now, departments only manage nearly 20 percent of their own budgets. Kenton aims to change this.

He explained that faculty are stakeholders in the university, stating: “You (the faculty) are part owner of this operation and you deserve to have this information to know how your organization’s doing and how you’re going to be impacted by decisions we make. We need to be inclusive and transparent.”

Dr. Kimberly Jensen, professor of history, believes that the administration should provide more information to the faculty and explain why this surplus was not found sooner.

“This was money, over time, that could have supported faculty and the wonderful students we teach in many ways,” Jensen explained. “I would like to see the administration provide us more information about the specific accounting, and I would like the administration to see that there is restitution for what has happened.”

Dr. Karen Haberman, professor of biology, suggested that these funds be used to provide competitive pay for open faculty positions.

“In light of budget surpluses going back many years, we need to prioritize filling tenure-track positions that were vacated due to retirements,” Haberman proposed. “Several of these positions have been open for many years, presumably due to budget constraints.”

The discovery of a budget surplus came in the middle of faculty bargaining, where faculty and administrators meet to explain their positions and come to an agreement regarding faculty compensation and benefits. Kenton believes that the budget will play a role in faculty negotiations going forward.

“This revelation may complicate bargaining,” Kenton remarked. “I think the expectations are high as a result.”

Jensen agreed, stating: “This has undoubtedly affected our collective bargaining processes as we seek to have faculty salaries that will recruit and retain faculty, decisions about replacing faculty who have left (Western), and funding for programs to benefit faculty and students here at (Western) as we seek to make this the best educational experience for students we possibly can.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

 

D.R.E.A.M. club supports students with disabilities

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

A new organization joined Western’s campus in April; D.R.E.A.M., which stands for “Disability, Rights, Empowerment, Awareness and Mentoring,” is a club that aims to provide a judgement-free zone for Western students, faculty and staff to talk about disabilities and the challenges that individuals with disabilities may face at Western.

“It’s kind of a place for us to talk about our lives but then also find ways to change the campus and change people’s perspectives,” explained D.R.E.A.M. club founder and sophomore Frankie Holborn. Holborn participated in a discussion panel for Western Accessibility Awareness Month where individuals talked about their experiences with a disability. She realized that many students with disabilities were facing similar challenges and took it upon herself to create a way for these students to help one another.

“For a lot of disabled people, it’s very hard to want to come out and ask for help, and want to join clubs like this,” said Holborn.

While the club is still new, they hope to do big things at Western. Club leader and sophomore early childhood education major Faith Van Putten aspires to help future educators learn about disabilities in the classroom.

“I want to focus on the teaching aspect of it and do the parts with the future teachers and getting them more educated on disabilities,” said Van Putten. She claimed that Western’s education program does not teach extensively about working with students with disabilities, explaining, “There’s so many different (disabilities) and no two people with the same disability are alike and their accommodations are never the same. So, I want to focus on that.”

To erase the stigma around disabilities, Holborn invites everyone to attend club meetings and ask questions.

“We want people to talk to us about it,” Holborn expressed. She hopes that both students and professors take the time to learn more about disabilities and ways to make Western more accessible for individuals with disabilities.

“If you don’t know if you want to identify with the community or if you don’t know if this club is right for you, I’d say come. We’re very open-minded. We want to talk with you. We are a judgement-free zone,” encouraged Holborn. “Anyone is welcome.”

To learn more about Western’s D.R.E.A.M. club, visit OrgSync or attend a club meeting Mondays at 6 p.m. in the Calapooia room.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

ASWOU elections come to a close

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

After a nearly-two-week campaign quest to meet the mandated 10 percent student voting quota, the 2018-2019 Associated Students of Western Oregon University leaders were announced on May 4.

Evelyn Guzman, who currently serves as ASWOU Vice President, was elected to the position of President for 2018-2019, while Erik Morgan Jr. was elected to fill Guzman’s seat as Vice President. Current Director of State and Federal Affairs Nathan Soltz was elected to serve as ASWOU Senate President, and Logan Doerfler was re-elected as Judicial Administrator. Both Jamie Norr and Rowan Hammer were elected Senators — this will be Norr’s second year as part of the branch. At the time of publication, there are pending write-ins for Senate, Judicial Board and Incidental Fee Committee members.

There were a total of 511 votes cast, with 10.9 percent of Western’s student body being represented.

The new pack of ASWOU leaders have proposed widespread goals, including: reworking the IFC process, encouraging further student involvement, promoting diversity and inclusion on campus and creating an open communication between students and Western’s administration.  

Two of Soltz’s goals involve changing the ASWOU governing documents and overhauling the IFC: “Our current Governing Documents are vague,” he said. “I have served, and continue to serve, as the Rules Committee Chair and Parliamentarian for several organizations; I know well what bylaws and governing documents should look like and our current ones check very few of those boxes.”

When it comes to the IFC, Soltz plans to mend how the committee operates; “As things are now, the IFC creates its own bylaws and in those bylaws, it dictates to the Senate what the Senate can and cannot do and makes it so that only the IFC can remove one of its members; these are just two of the most egregious parts of the IFC process, in addition to the IFC being mentioned only in passing by our governing documents without it ever being clearly established.”

Senate member Norr stated in her candidacy mission statement that she wants to focus on making Western accepting and receptive to student needs: “I believe that our student government should be an open space where everyone can voice their opinions and have their ideas heard … I hope to assist in creating a safe and accepting school by listening to fellow students, advocating for changes, speaking out against discrimination or notions that may harm students, and working towards a better community.”

For more information regarding ASWOU, visit wou.edu/aswou.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

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