Mount Hood

27,660 flags, 13 million lives

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

One by one, volunteers drive colorful flags into the soggy grass on Monmouth Avenue. Rain is the only sound that can be heard as the students, staff and faculty silently reflect on the annual display —  27,660 flags that represent the deaths of over 13 million individuals during the Holocaust.

“I thought it was really cool that our community would actually do something like this,” said freshman psychology major Alicia Ojeda. Ojeda was one of the numerous volunteers that helped place the flags in the ground on the evening of April 11.

First-year psychology major Brooklyn Giles reflected on how she felt helping set up the display.

“Yesterday, when I was putting them down, it was just really impactful. I couldn’t believe this happened,” described Giles. “Putting in a flag seems so simple, but to someone who was either a victim and still may be alive or a family member … it could mean more than just putting a flag in the ground for them.”

This annual display hosted by Student Engagement falls on Yom HaShoah, a Jewish day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust. Around the world, this day of remembrance began on the evening of April 11 and ended on the evening of April 12.

“Part of what makes this event so powerful is that it’s here and then it’s gone,” explained John Wilkins, Coordinator for Leadership and Inclusion for Student Engagement. Wilkins is in charge of coordinating the flags, signage and volunteers for the display. He noted that the display reveals a powerful and important piece of history that needs to be commemorated.

“I think we remember it so it doesn’t happen again,” said Wilkins.

Senior social science major Sara Madden is exploring the topic of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust in her honors thesis. Her interest in this topic started years ago when she visited a concentration camp in Germany. Even Madden, who has been studying this time period for years, found herself impacted by the display.

“There’s something about reading it in a textbook that doesn’t hit you the same way as actually seeing it,” Madden expressed. “It makes it so much more real and easier to relate to.”

Madden also noted that the display gives a holistic view of the victims of the Holocaust. Not only are the six million Jewish individuals that lost their lives represented, but various flags also represent people with disabilities, Spanish republicans, Polish Catholics, LGBTQ+ individuals, Roma and Sinti tribes, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Serbians and Soviet prisoners of war.

“For me, I’ve only really focused on the Jewish impact during the Holocaust,” explained Madden. “But I know there’s so many other types of people and demographics that were affected. I really like how the different flag colors emphasize that.”

A documentary called “Orchestra of Exiles” showing on May 3rd at 7 p.m. in the Willamette Room will continue the education and awareness of the Holocaust on Western’s campus.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Bringing students together, one egg at a time

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

The WOU Student Veterans of America and Residence Hall Association took on the role of the Easter bunny during the second week in April, for their second annual Easter Egg Hunt. Eggs scattered around campus invited determined students to take part in the search in order to win prizes and candy from the veterans center.

WOU Student Veterans of America president Shane Follett explained that the Easter Egg Hunt was an idea brought back from the Student Veterans of America National Conference in 2016. He was excited to implement something that would get student veterans involved on campus.

“For me, the primary purpose is to get that interaction between military and non-military affiliated students,” Follett expressed. The event also helped advertise the center itself as a place where both veterans and non-veterans can hang out, do homework and connect with other students.

“It lets people know that the vet center is here, we do have one on campus,” said Follett. The 2017 Easter Egg Hunt helped to build connections between student veterans and the community, which is one reason why the club was named Chapter of the Year at the 2018 SVA National Conference.

Members of SVA and RHA woke up bright and early every day, sometimes in the middle of the night, to hide nearly 75 eggs along Monmouth Ave. There they waited until students came to campus in the morning and began to search.

Instructions inside the eggs informed students to stop by the Veterans center to claim their prize. This included board games, candy, bluetooth speakers, Rokus, iHomes and the grand prize of a 50-inch 4k TV.

Follett enjoyed seeing students walk into the veterans center with excitement and walk out with a prize.

“It is getting people in the door. They are coming in and interacting with veterans that they may have had a class with and not even known they were a veteran.” He also noted that there is a stigma that exists around veterans, and events like these help to break that down. Follett explained, “It’s definitely getting the larger student population more comfortable around veterans.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Meet the candidates

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

With spring term comes the campus-wide event that decides who will represent the student body in 2018-2019: the ASWOU elections. Voting for the elections will begin on April 23 and will continue for at least a week, or until 10 percent of the student body has voted. To cast your vote, visit ASWOU’s OrgSync and read on to learn more about the candidates.

Name: Evelyn Guzman

Running for: President

“It has been the greatest experience being your student voice for the 2017-2018 year as Vice President … Your student voices matter and I truly believe that it is possible to have more of your voices represented in decision making settings but for that we need more involvement. I have attended Western since my freshman year and have continuously been involved with organizations/clubs and centers on campus, but also with initiatives within our community. I completely believe that (Western) has helped me grow as an individual and I intend on reflecting that back every step of the way. I intend on continuing to engage students into being more involved with (Western).”

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Name: Logan Doerfler

Running for: Judicial Administrator

“You may recognize my name after serving as your 2017-2018 Judicial Administrator.

After being granted the opportunity to serve the Western community I learned just how special ASWOU is, and how fulfilling it is to maintain the integrity of our systems, via Judicial Board hearings and participating in a number of ASWOU sponsored events. Western is a uniquely diverse community devoted to fair treatment and representation of all student demographics. As a student veteran, I represent a small but impactful group of individuals who strive to leave things better than they found it. I did my best to do so within ASWOU this year and will continue this priority next year.”

Photo by: Logan Doerfler

Name: Nathan Soltz

Running for: Senate President

“I have been active in politics since I was 15 and have been working in the Oregon State Senate since I was 18. I hold elected positions in party politics at the county, district and statewide levels. In 2016, I was elected to be a delegate to the national convention, becoming Oregon’s youngest-ever delegate at the age of 19 … I want to make the ASWOU Senate a deliberative, efficient body which truly understands the responsibilities it is sworn to uphold. The Senate represents you, the students of Western Oregon University, and with every action it takes, it needs to keep that in mind. As your ASWOU Senate President, I promise transparency, honesty and responsiveness.”

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Name: Rowan Hammer

Running for: a Senate seat

I am not running for ASWOU Senate with any specific agenda for making changes. Instead, I want to serve as an advocate for students and foster open communication between the student body and the university administration. I want to promote diversity and inclusion by working to ensure that everyone’s opinions and viewpoints can be shared openly, regardless of your personal background or attributes. If there is any one issue that I would want to try to address it would be an ongoing effort to make school more affordable for students, especially by encouraging instructors to adopt low-cost and open-source textbooks.

Photo by: Rowan Hammer

Name: Jamie Norr

Running for: a Senate seat

“This would be my second year on ASWOU Senate. I am extremely committed to improving our school for all students, faculty and staff, and community members. I believe that our student government should be an open space where everyone can voice their opinions and have their ideas heard. I plan to encourage and implement that idea if elected to this position. As a future educator, I love being involved in improving education for all and being a Senator will allow me to work on what our students want and need. I plan to increase opportunities for students to follow their passions in a healthy and positive way. 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.”

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Name: Erik Morgan Jr.

Running for: a Justice Board seat

“I want to continue to serve on the ASWOU Judicial Board because I believe in holding organizations accountable for the promises they make to the people they serve. In ASWOU’s mission statement, the organization pledges to ‘advocate for every WOU student’s rights to the WOU administration as well as the state of Oregon and the nation.’ In order to achieve that goal, ASWOU needs to be held responsible in two ways: by the students; and by the Judicial Board … By re-electing me to the ASWOU Judicial Board, students will be ensuring that there is an experienced Justice serving on the board that will act as a stabilizing figure and will allow a measure of consistency in decision making.”

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

How to start a club

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

While Western provides over 60 chartered clubs and organizations for students to get involved in, students have the ability to create a new club at any time during the school year. Whether it’s an academic science club or a recreational video game club, there are only seven simple steps to establishing an official club on campus.

 

Step 1: Get a staff advisor

A staff advisor is someone that advises and oversees the club. They can be directly involved in meetings and club events or they can just be there for guidance. The club advisor must be a Western faculty or staff member.

 

Step 2: Find at least five members

Every new club on campus needs at least five members to begin the registration process. These members must be current, active Western students that are participating in the organization.

 

Step 3: Elect officers

Every club must have a president and a financial officer, such as a treasurer. Other club positions can be discussed within the organization.

 

Step 4: Write a constitution

A constitution is a document that lays out principles that the club abides by. This includes the purpose of the organization, the titles and duties of officers within the club and how students can gain membership in the club. A full list of requirements for the constitution can be found in the Statute for Chartered Organizations on ASWOU’s OrgSync portal.

 

Step 5: Register on OrgSync

Registration, or chartering, on OrgSync begins the process of making a club official. The registration must include:

  • The organization’s full name
  • The purpose or mission statement of the organization
  • The selection process for new members
  • The meeting time, day and location
  • Contact information for at least five officers or general members
  • The name of and contact information for the advisor

 

Step 6: Wait for approval

ASWOU administrators will review the charter and the constitution for any missing components before approval.

 

Step 7: Plan meetings and events

Once approved, the club is considered an officially chartered organization and is able to reserve rooms, hold events, advertise on bulletin boards around campus and recruit new members.

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

 

Tuition expected to rise again

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

A proposed 4.03 percent increase in resident undergraduate tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is up for approval by the Board of Trustees on April 18. This proposal follows last year’s 6.4 percent tuition increase for 2017-2018.

This tuition increase would raise undergraduate tuition from $165 per credit hour to $172 per credit hour. A 4.03 percent increase will also affect the Western Undergraduate Exchange program resulting in a proposed rate of $258 per credit hour. Both resident and non-resident graduate tuition will see a 3 percent increase.

Interim Vice President for Finance Dr. Jay Kenton created the proposal with the help of various committees. The Tuition Advisory Committee, a group of administrators, students and staff, was the key group that gave input on the tuition increase. Kenton also sought feedback from the student Senate, the graduate council, president Fuller and his cabinet and the University Budget Committee. Throughout the process, Kenton stressed the importance of student feedback in the tuition-setting process.

Along with the 4.03 percent increase, $400,000 is recommended to go toward fee remissions for students. Fee remissions are a type of institutional financial aid awarded to students that are low-income, from underrepresented populations or are first generation college students.

Although Western’s tuition is on the low side compared to other institutions, the actual amount that students pay is comparably high. Kenton explained that this is because most Oregon public universities remit close to 15 percent of their tuition, decreasing the actual amount students pay, while Western only provides 11.4 percent in fee remissions. Kenton hopes that these fee remissions help attract a diverse population of students and make obtaining a college degree more affordable and accessible.

“We, as a committee, were adamant about only approving the tuition increases if it meant that fee remissions were increased,” explained Tuition Advisory Committee member and senior Lila Gardner. “I am hopeful that $450,000-$500,000 that will be coming from that increase will help several hundred students be able to make going to college a reality.”

Junior education major Ailyn Angel was another member of  the Tuition Advisory Committee that voiced opinions on the tuition increase.

“As a student, I had a very blurry idea of where my money is going, and why it was so much for each individual,” Angel explained. “Being a part of the committee not only clarified what student money is being used for, but it also gave students an opportunity to have a say which I am extremely thankful for.”

In addition to the tuition increase, another issue going to the Board of Trustees on April 18 is whether or not to keep the Tuition Promise. The Promise ensures that a student’s tuition does not increase with annual tuition fluctuation, but students pay more for tuition in exchange for that stability. Over the past few years, Kenton found that students that chose the Tuition Promise were paying more over four years than students who chose to pay annual tuition increases.

Overall, Kenton expressed a hope that students voice opinions to the administration and the legislature to make real change happen when it comes to tuition.

“People are using their voices, they’re using the political processes that they have at their disposal to put pressure on universities to keep tuition low,” Kenton explained. “The impact that students have on this process can be profound, but you’ve got to participate.”

“I think this experience would benefit and empower all students not only because of impacting tuition rates, but also by showing the power that students hold when they come together,” Angel expressed. “I encourage all students to get involved in this process because we’re in a great university, with great people and we can make change.”

To voice opinions on the tuition proposal or the Tuition Promise, attend the Board of Trustees meeting on April 18 from 1-6 p.m. in the Columbia Room of the Werner University Center.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

New general education will replace LACC

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Most Western students are familiar with the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum, or LACC: the set of degree requirements designed to build a solid foundation of knowledge for students as they work toward obtaining their degree. But the LACC course work is facing major changes involving an entire reconstruction of the general education program, effective as soon as fall of 2019.

The LACC guide that outlines categories such as creative arts, literature, social science and laboratory science will be replaced by a framework created by the General Education Task Force. This group, comprised of faculty members from various departments across campus, set out in spring 2017 to reimagine the general education at Western and ensure that students are getting the most out of the classes that they take.

Instead of categorizing each class based on area of study, the new general education framework separates requirements based on the skills obtained from taking the class. For example, students would be required to take a minimum of three credits that satisfies the category of Critical Thinking, three credits in Communication and Language and three credits in Citizenship, Social Responsibility and Global Awareness.

“We took data, we took what WOU is good at, and we tried to make a system that will be a little bit more flexible and a little bit more student-friendly,” explained Dr. Breeann Flesch, co-chair of the General Education Task Force. “We’re also hoping the students have a better understanding of why they’re taking those classes and the general education.”

A new addition to Western’s general education program is the implementation of First Year Seminars, which Flesch explains will help develop skills for traditional first-year students. 72.2 percent of first-year students returned to Western as sophomores in 2017. Flesch also hopes that the class will strengthen connections between students and the university and increase the likelihood that they continue their education at Western.

The general education framework was approved by Faculty Senate on March 13. The next step, Flesch explained, is creating a complete list of classes that satisfy each skill category.

Flesch noted that she hopes this new general education program will increase student success and remove barriers to graduation and retainment, explaining: “We hoped to make it a little more flexible and a little less complicated.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Cycling in style

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Scattered around campus, waiting in front of buildings and seated along sidewalks are bright orange bicycles that popped up around Western early spring term. The recently-launched bike share program allows students to grab a bicycle and, with just the download of an app, start pedaling.

“Students should feel free to hop on this bike and ride it wherever they want,” explained Student Enrichment Program director Marshall Habermann-Guthrie. For only 50 cents for a half hour ride, the Spin bike share company aims to provide accessible and inexpensive transportation options to cities and campuses around the United States.

To get started, download the “Spin – Ride Your Way” app onto a smartphone. Habermann-Guthrie advises students to log in to the app with their .edu email to get the discounted rate of 50 cents per half hour instead of $1 per half hour for non-Western users. Students can input a form of payment such as a debit or credit card and continuously add money to the app, or they can choose a monthly option for $14 per month or annual option for $49 per year. These packages allow users free unlimited rides up to thirty minutes and provide transportation to downtown Monmouth, Independence or for a quick trip across campus.

Finding a bike can be simple by viewing the app’s map that shows every bike’s location in the Monmouth area. Scanning the bike’s QR code with the app triggers the back wheel to unlock, allowing users to hop on and ride to their next destination. Locking the back wheel after riding will notify the app that the ride is over. Because the bikes lock on their own, they can be docked at any location as long as it’s out of the way of cars and pedestrians.

The bike is complete with a front basket, a headlight and taillight, a kickstand and a bell. No special clothing or helmets are required when riding. “You shouldn’t feel like there’s some barrier between you and hopping on a bike,” said Habermann-Guthrie.

Habermann-Guthrie expressed his hope that this program will help all students, especially low-income individuals that may not have another mode of transportation.

“If we can provide an opportunity for students to get to an internship in Independence for $6 a month or 50 cents a ride, that is a huge benefit to our students,” he explained.

Many students, including sophomore Ellen Moore, are already utilizing the campus bikes.

“I personally don’t have my own car, so it’s really great that I can use them whenever, and it’s also better for the environment,” Moore explained. “Plus, bike rides are just a fun way to get exercise with friends, so it’s perfect that they got here in the spring.”

To try out the new bikes, download the app and get your first two rides free. Contact Habermann-Guthrie at guthriem@wou.edu with questions or comments.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

 

Commemorating 100 years of women’s suffrage

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment of the United States Constitution was ratified to prohibit the government from denying voting rights based on sex and allowed white women the right to vote. Nearly 100 years later, the Oregon 2020 Kickoff event at the Oregon state capitol began the commemoration of women’s voting rights.

“The vote is an opportunity to become a part of our own destiny,” expressed republican leader of the Oregon state Senate Jackie Winters. Winters was just one of the important public figures in Oregon that discussed the importance of the vote; others include Eliza Canty-Jones of the Oregon Historical Society, former Oregon governor Barbara Roberts, Judy Margles from the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education and Willamette University Professor Emerita Linda Tamura.

Western history professor Kimberly Jensen explained the historical context behind the ratification. Voting rights for women were placed on the ballot a total of six times in Oregon, more than any other state, and was finally passed in 1912, eight years prior to the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

“It was because of grassroots activism, diverse communities, and the men who voted to share the vote with women in 1912,” Jensen explained. Clubs and organizations helped to educate women on policies and legislation prior to voting. Several women became candidates for office as soon as suffrage was achieved.

Jensen expressed that, “Just as we commemorate the determined work of other Oregon women to achieve and use their voting rights, we acknowledge their part in achieving civic progress as we also understand that we must fight to protect and maintain those civic rights that they worked so hard to gain.”

Roberts, the first female governor of Oregon, reflected back to the time when women in leadership and political positions were few and far between. But now, Roberts explained, Oregon has come a long way. With five women elected to Congress, four female Secretaries of State, three women mayors of Portland and two female governors.

“We weren’t satisfied, though, with being the token woman on the school board or city council or Ways and Means Committee, or the lone woman on a court bench. We’ve worked and we have won majority status on those school boards, those city councils, and those court benches,” Roberts added, “Our votes are a value asset. We should use our votes wisely and be informed voters. And we must always remember that democracy is not a spectator sport.”

In addition to the speakers, the event included fourteen Western students that had the opportunity to capture a piece of history and create a lasting online exhibit centered on women’s voting rights. As part of Jensen’s Nineteenth Amendment Centennial in Historical Context: Oregon and Beyond class at Western, the honors students created research projects that shed light on the women’s suffrage movement and various aspects of the time period.

While the research topics ranged from international suffrage in the Philippines to Oregon legislator Sylvia Thompson, others discussed women’s suffrage closer to home. In her project titled “Normal School Extracurriculars,” sophomore Rachel Bayly explores how being involved in extracurricular activities at Oregon Normal School, now Western Oregon University, provided college women with the skills to be successful teachers and activists after leaving school. This, Bayly explained in her documents project, “gave young women from rural and working-class backgrounds an opportunity to contribute to the positive changes being made in society during the early 1900s.”

When asked what she hopes others take away from this work by students, Jensen replied: “I hope students and community members will gain knowledge about the diverse Oregon women who were part of the struggle to gain the vote, the continuing barriers to voting, and the other activist projects in which Oregonians engaged and continue to work to achieve social justice. Grassroots activism and inclusion have been keys to success in Oregon and the nation.”

For more information, view the class’s online research documents at oregonwomenshistory.org and learn more about the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment and women’s suffrage.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: oregonencyclopedia.org, Sam Dunaway

 

Anthropology student sheds light on Islam

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

At Bazaar International Market in Corvallis, a variety of food products from across the Middle East line the shelves, cuts of fresh halal meat are available daily and a collection of teas invite curious customers. This is where anthropology major Elliot Paulson spends a good portion of his time gathering research and information for his senior thesis titled “Mainstreaming Halal: A Growing Niche Market in an Oregon University Town.”

Paulson became fascinated with Islam while taking a Middle Eastern religions class and a Middle Eastern history class at Western. It was while he was enrolled in the Anthropology of Islam class that he was considering a topic centered around Islam for his senior thesis.

“Americans have one view of what a Muslim is,” Paulson explained. He claimed that many individuals think of Islam as solely a Middle Eastern religion and tend to stereotype the individuals that follow the faith. “What Anthropology of Islam taught me is that’s not the case.”

After much consideration, Paulson decided on the topic for his senior thesis: halal food availability in Corvallis. Specifically, Paulson aimed to find out why the halal food market is growing in Corvallis and what demographics are purchasing halal food.

Halal is an Arabic word that refers to anything that is permitted or lawful. It describes food that follows the dietary standards stated in the Qur’an and prepared according to Islamic law. Stated by the Islamic Council of Victoria, Islamic law requires the humane treatment of animals before slaughter, prohibits the consumption of pig products and holds several other high standards for halal food.

Paulson interviewed Muslim community members at the mosque in Corvallis and visited family-owned markets and large stores like Safeway to get an idea as to why halal food has been growing in popularity in Corvallis. Paulson speculates that the ethnic diversity of Corvallis may play a part, as well as many non-Muslim individuals seeking out halal products because of the humane slaughter of the animals.

Paulson hopes that his research can help inform people about the religion.

“There’s an element of fear that surrounds Islam,” said Paulson. “I think that a lot of it comes from just not being familiar. And something like food, especially something like halal, can be normalized.”

He also believes that visiting a mosque or talking to Muslim individuals can benefit many individuals; “I think everyone needs to step out of their comfort zone and just interact with people that you might not normally interact with. You’ll probably meet some fascinating people that way.”

Paulson added that the skills he gained working with diverse individuals at Western helped with his research, explaining that “the more that you can respectfully work with people that are not from your own circle, the better you’re going to do.”

Whether it’s trying halal food, visiting a mosque or taking a class about Islam, Paulson encourages everyone to learn more about the faith and explore Islam.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

 

Protesters demand congressional action on gun control

Byron Kimball | Freelancer

Standing in solidarity with the victims of the Feb. 14 Parkland, Florida shooting and other acts of gun violence, hundreds of protesters gathered on the capitol steps for Salem’s own March for Our Lives rally. The event also served to demand Congressional action on gun control legislation. Simultaneous marches across the country saw hundreds of thousands of protesters march upon various cities, including Washington D.C.

Salem’s March for Our Lives rally was organized by students from local high schools and Willamette University, with Willamette student Allison Hmura taking a prominent role in coordinating the event.

“I am very interested in this particular march because it is student-driven and we need politicians to endorse common sense gun laws,” said Hmura in the event’s press release.

Also, helping organize the event was Lila Gardner, a Western senior who coordinated Western’s walkout on March 14.

A number of speakers presented at the march, including student organizers, state representative Paul Evans, state senate candidate Deb Patterson, Marion county commissioner candidate and former Willamette University professor Shelaswau Crier and Levi Herra-Lopez, the Executive Director of the community advocacy organization Mano a Mano.

Students made impassioned pleas for stronger action on gun violence. Among their demands, March for Our Lives organizers called for age limits on gun purchases, universal background checks on firearm purchasers, bans on some semi-automatic weapons and demilitarizing police forces across the country.

McNary High School senior Raul Marquez called for intersectional racial justice.

“We will stand in solidarity with all who seek justice (against community violence),” said Marquez.

Julian Holman, a Howard Street Middle School student, emphasized the dangers that marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ community, face from gun violence; “Imagine cutting hate murders in half. Imagine the lives we could save,” Holman expressed.

Evans condemned the National Rifle Association for their role in lobbying members of Congress to halt gun control legislation, stating, “I believe (gun) rights come with responsibility. I believe it’s time for common sense legislation.” Evans recently supported House Bill 4145, a bill that was signed into law by governor Kate Brown on Feb. 16. The bill, which prevents convicted domestic abusers from legally obtaining firearms, was one of the first gun control bills to follow the Parkland shooting.

After a musical performance by Western first-year Zyel Crier, marchers took to Salem’s streets. A small group of counter-protesters, bearing rifles and signs, stood across from the large crowd of assorted March for Our Lives protesters as they walked down Court Street. The counter-protesters dispersed quickly as the march continued on.

Shelaswau Crier, mother of Zyel Crier and the Democratic candidate for Marion County Commissioner,  emphasized the need for action in the face of gun violence. : “The time for us to act is now.”

Contact the author at bkimball16@wou.edu

Photo by: Oregonlive.com

ASWOU Representative Assembly strives for inclusivity

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

Once per month, the ASWOU Representative Assembly meets to discuss and collaborate on ways to improve inclusivity on campus. The most recent meeting took place on March 1.

The board, which consists of a representatives from a myriad of different areas on campus — Abby’s House, MECHa and MSU, amongst others — was founded in 2015, with current ASWOU president Jessica Freeman as founder of the legislation.

“When I was writing legislation to create ARA, our goal was to create a board where ASWOU could work with clubs and organizations on a more personal level,” said Freeman. “We wanted every club and organization to be heard equally, regardless of their size.”

The primary concern of the most recent meeting was Diversity Week, which is scheduled to take place the week of May 14.

According to Ailyn Angel, Student Multicultural Board Chair for ARA and Director of Multicultural Advocacy for ASWOU, events for the week will consist of “a movie screening, a talent show, and different panels.” She added that, “As of right now, things aren’t set in stone, but we are working on finalizing an outline of the week soon.”

Also on the ARA agenda was further discussion of building more multicultural spaces on campus for clubs: “This space would be similar to how MSU has their own space, but for clubs like MEChA, Unidos, and BSU,” said Angel. “In attempts to achieve these goals, clubs are drafting letters to the administration describing what they want this space to entail. We are also outreaching for participants for diversity week to have panels, safe zones, and performances.”

Though the assembly is comprised of different organizations on campus, the meetings are open to all students. However, Angel noted that, “they must have permission for speaking privileges … and do not have voting rights. Despite this, I encourage students to come and give their input on these conversations, especially if you are interested in putting on an event for diversity week or being a part of ASWOU next year or being a club representative.”

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Writing to fight domestic violence

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Western student Jamare Davis picked up a pen and notepad in the summer of 2017 and began writing, expressing his thoughts and feelings on an issue that he’d witnessed firsthand and one that he believed all people should be aware of: domestic violence.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women and one in four men will experience physical abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Davis, a senior criminal justice major, recognized this issue and sought out ways to make it more visible.

“If it was more publicized, I feel like people would be more aware of it,” Davis explained. He commented that, all too often, people are afraid to talk about it.

Davis has been an advocate at Sable House, a domestic and sexual violence resource center, since August 2017. There, he helps answer phones and organize donations. Additionally, he worked as an intern at Abby’s House, the Center for Equity and Gender Justice at Western.

When training for his advocate position, Davis struggled with the issue of domestic violence.

“How can people do this?” he remarked. To process his thoughts, Davis started writing poetry that addressed interpersonal violence.

It was Davis’s poem, “A Piece of Her,” that sparked the conversation to hold an event that brings the topic of domestic violence to light and allows individuals to creatively express their feelings, as Davis had done with his writing. With the help of Aislinn Addington, director of Abby’s House, a working group was formed that consisted of several individuals that felt passionate about this topic and wanted to contribute.

The “Hear Me Now” event was held on March 5 in the Willamette Room. Contributions included poetry, painting, mixed media and a dance performance. The gallery was open for students to view all day, and performances in the evening were open to whoever wanted to share their work.

When first writing his poem, Davis didn’t think he would be reading it for an audience months later. But he was just one of the many performers that evening.

“I didn’t think that I was going to be involved in it,” Davis said. “I’m still in awe.”

“Hear Me Now” gave students and community members the opportunity to express themselves and address the issue of domestic violence in an artistic manner. Davis’s poem and the numerous other works of art displayed at the event helped to spread awareness and visibility of this topic and inspire positive change against domestic violence.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Western students participate in the National School Walkout

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

At 10 a.m. on the morning of March 14, nearly 250 Western students, staff and administrators left classrooms, evacuated offices and gathered in front of the Werner University Center. There, students of all backgrounds, races, genders and political beliefs joined schools across the nation in participating in the National School Walkout, a nationwide movement to end gun violence.

The walkout, according to ABC news, was one of over 3,000 scheduled events around the U.S. The purpose of the event, stated by the National School Walkout campaign was to “demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship.”

Each individual involved in the National School Walkout had their own reason for participating. For sophomore early childhood education major Ellie Oven, that reason was acknowledging the lives lost to gun violence.

“I walked out to honor the students that have lost their lives to school shootings, and to remember those teachers and administrators who lost their lives trying to protect those students,” said Oven.

For others, like junior humanities major Bridget Reaume, it was about being part of the larger movement.

“It’s really easy to feel like we don’t have a part in the bigger movement … Especially not being home in Portland where I can feel a lot more of the movement happening, it feels really nice to feel as though I have a hand in the change,” said Reaume. “To see other people coming together and wanting to make the same movement and have the same goals that I have, it really feels we have a chance at changing things.”

Western’s branch of the event, organized by senior gerontology major Lila Gardner and senior interdisciplinary studies major Alyssa Chiampi, gained support early on from University President Rex Fuller. Fuller sent an email to all faculty and staff on March 6 notifying them that this event was being planned and encouraging staff to support participating students.

Fuller expressed, “I believe this action is consistent with Western’s values and our strategic plan which states that our community will strive toward a ‘caring, safe environment for the cultivation of peace, civility and social justice; connections extending beyond the classroom, across campus and into our local and global communities.’”

Gardner and Chiampi felt overwhelmed by the amount of support from faculty and administrators, as well as the number of individuals that participated in the walkout on Western’s campus.

“Getting involved in a young age is really difficult when you’re in an area that doesn’t support your activism,” Gardner explained. Her goal was to get people more involved in voicing their opinions, stand in solidarity with hundreds of students around the nation and work toward positive change.

When asked what she hopes students take away from the walkout, Chiampi replied: “I really hope they take away that belief that they can do really anything they want to.” Gardner added that she hopes students “believe in their voices, their beliefs and their passions, and … always fight as passionately as (they) can for it. Even if two, four, five people show up or 250 people show up. Fight for it.”

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Women of Culture event honors diversity

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Education, awareness and celebration marked the various events and displays involved in Western’s annual Women of Culture celebration sponsored by Multicultural Student Union.

The purpose of the Women of Culture events are to honor the diversity of women from a wide variety of cultures and bring awareness to issues that affect these women.

As Western’s website explains, “This event is inclusive for any member of the WOU community in the pursuit of educating our campus on the importance of women’s rights within different traditions.”

MSU worked with several campus departments, including the Veterans Resource Center and Abby’s House, to make this week possible. The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs presented the “I Am Not Invisible” exhibit which displays the stories of several women in Oregon who have served in the United States military and whose service is often forgotten. Abby’s House presented the Herstory Tour, an informative historical tour of women from various backgrounds and cultures.

In addition to these events, MSU itself hosted a dinner with keynote speaker Shelaswau Bushnell Crier. Bushnell Crier described her background and family life in Louisiana and the difficulties she experienced as a woman of color in the South. She was goal-oriented as a teenager and attended Rice University before moving on to Yale Law School and eventually working at Willamette University in Salem. She is an outspoken advocate, speaking at events such as the Salem Women’s March in 2017, and is continuing her community activism by running for the position of Marion County Commissioner.

Freshman Advocate for MSU and Western sophomore Chris Linares helped plan the events for Women of Culture. Linares explained that, “Women have faced many obstacles and challenges throughout history, and sadly there are still cases where in today’s date, they still do … Even the smallest victory can make an impact, so as a society, we need to celebrate everything that women have and still are facing.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Sam Dunaway

Giving back to Western students

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

In a time of rising tuition rates and unpredictable government funding for higher education, several departments on Western’s campus rely on donations from outside sources. Western’s Giving Day on March 6 played an important role in fundraising over $40,000 for Western students and programs.

Giving Day is an annual event sponsored by WOU Foundation that aims to collect donations from Western alumni, donors, staff and students. The donation goal set by Annual Giving Coordinator Emily Swart was $34,500, mirroring Western’s address at 345 N Monmouth Ave. This was nearly $13,000 more than was raised in 2017, but Swart was confident that the campus-wide event would be a success.

“We had donors out there that wanted to support Western, we just needed to reach them in the right way,” she explained.

WOU Foundation set out to achieve this goal by reaching out to alumni as well as individuals that had supported Western in the past. Additionally, activities such as Java Match — where staff and students we asked to match the price of their coffee from The Press — and Giving Day Happy Hour — where the Alumni Board increased all donations by $18.56 — promoted the philanthropic nature of the day.

Giving Day donations were gifted to a multitude of different departments, from Abby’s House to Athletics. Swart expressed excitement that many individuals donated to unrestricted scholarships. This allows Western to award scholarships to a wide range of students without academic restrictions. She emphasized that every dollar donated on Giving Day is going back to students.

Swart’s passion and excitement for Giving Day was instrumental in making it more successful this year than ever before, but she attributes the achievement to each individual that came forward to enrich student life at Western.

“I have this feeling that faculty, staff, students – we walked a little taller that day and we were a little prouder of our university,” said Swart. “At the end of the day, it was all about Western Oregon students.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Student voices are heard by the IFC

Sam Dunaway | Sam Dunaway

The results of the Incidental Fee Committee’s final decision took a turn as the committee departed from their previously established preliminary budget allocations. Notable changes to the budget include a complete funding of both ASWOU and Student Media, which were preliminarily subject to a budget cut, and increased enhancements for Athletics.

This change of decision, stated by multiple IFC members, was influenced by over 100 students voicing their opinions on the proposed budget via open hearings and feedback forms. Additionally, the IFC chair Eric Frey voiced his opinions in a statement to the rest of the committee showing support for both ASWOU and Student Media, two of the three departments that were proposed cuts in the preliminary budget.

The ASWOU budget was approved for full funding, with a recommendation by the IFC that a referendum be added to the spring term ASWOU elections. This allows the student body to vote on whether they’d like to stay or leave the Oregon Student Association, the main topic of the proposed cut.

The IFC approved fully funding all departments with the exception of a 0.3-percent cut to Student Engagement Operations to reduce the evening hours of the Werner University Center. Enhancement requests from Student Engagement, Student Activities Board, ASWOU and Wolf Ride were granted. Several enhancement requests for the Athletics department were approved by the committee including new helmets and uniforms for the baseball team, hurdles and poles for track and uniforms for the volleyball team.

After the approval of these budgets, the total Incidental Fee for fiscal year 2019 is $363 for fall, winter and spring, and $167 for summer term. This is a 4.01-percent increase from 2018.

While increasing the overall fee is difficult for many already struggling students, Frey believes that this can be resolved by an increase in enrollment.  He explained in a statement to the committee: “If we all can reach out and bring more enrollments to the university we can continue to fund these areas and hopefully ensure that all IFC funded areas receive the funding required to sustain the community our university has created.”

Students made their voices heard throughout this process and ensured that the Incidental Fee Committee made decisions that best represent the needs of Western students.

 

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

LGBTQ+ activist encourages honesty and bravery

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

“Find something that scares you just a little tiny bit, do that thing, and then repeat steps one and two. And pretty soon you’ll find yourself doing extraordinary things.” This advice was just a small portion of the empowering and genuine speech given by LGBTQ+ rights activist and founder of United Equality Consulting, Shannon Scott.

Scott visited Western to discuss topics including her own personal life story, actions individuals can take to create a more trans-affirming space and her struggles and triumphs in life as a transgender woman.

Born and raised on a ranch in Montana, Scott struggled throughout her teenage years and near 12 years in the United States military with her gender identity. She noted that once she decided to take the first step in being honest with herself about her identity, she was moving in a direction of authenticity.

“For each terrifying step I took, I felt a little bit more complete,” Scott explained. “After years of lying to the world around me about who I was, I was able to finally set down that burden of lies and replace it with the ease of honesty.”

Scott began her work in human rights advocacy after moving to Portland in 2011. She started volunteering with the Human Rights Campaign, the “largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization” according to hrc.org. Now as a member of the Board of Governors, Scott is responsible for planning Human Rights Campaign activities in Portland. Additionally, Scott founded United Equity Consulting, an organization that provides LGTBQ+ education and training for companies and their employees.

Three pieces of advice were given by Scott to support the LGBTQ+ community in schools and workplaces: first, she advised everyone to add their pronouns to the signature line of their email, as this demonstrates personal and organizational support of diversity and inclusion; second, Scott noted the importance of having a safe location where everybody can go to the bathroom, emphasizing inclusion for all, not only transgender-identifying individuals; and, third, she advised that students and employees find out if there’s a written transgender inclusion policy at their school, work, or other organizations that the student is involved in.

Sam Fennell, Stonewall Center coordinator on Western’s campus, described the importance of having Scott tell her story for students.

“Shannon Scott was a crucial person to bring to campus because of the representation she brought,” Fennell explained. “Her story is one of hundreds of stories of transgender people who have faced discrimination because of their identities …  For a lot of people struggling with their identity and how to overcome similar obstacles, seeing someone who has accomplished so much gives them the drive and support to continue being their true authentic selves.”

Scott closed the speech with a request from the audience of students: “I want you to see yourself and everybody in here as exactly what you are,” she encouraged. “You are the leaders of equality. You are the agents of change. And together, you will lead this organization into the future.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

 

Western students to aid in natural disaster relief

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

For students that wish to make a meaningful impact by serving others, travel nationally or internationally and experience life outside of their comfort zone: Western’s Alternative Break program may be a great place to start.

The Alternative Break program, organized by the Service Learning and Career Development center, allows students to spend winter, spring and summer breaks serving others. This community service may be achieved regionally, nationally or internationally and aids in a wide variety of issues including working with children in impoverished areas, community beautification projects and animal conservation.

Two Alternative Break teams are preparing to aid in natural disaster relief efforts during spring break. A group of six students and two advisors are traveling to Houston, Texas to assist in community recovery from Hurricane Harvey. The other team, composed of ten students and two staff advisors, is traveling to the Columbia Gorge to help with relief from the forest fires that affected the area in fall of 2017.

“I want to help serve the Columbia Gorge community because the fires in that area were very devastating,” commented Tiffany Lewis, Alternative Break co-leader for the Oregon team. “Many people love the Columbia Gorge and I want to help restore that area in any way I can.”

All Western students are welcome to apply to be an Alternative Break team member. Students must be enrolled at Western in all terms between application and departure, and be in good academic and judicial standing.

Daisy Chavez, leading alongside Lewis, chose to get involved in this program to grow as a leader and challenge herself. Chavez has previously served on Alternative Breaks in Jamaica, Honduras and Peru.

“Being on these trips have taught me so much: new cultures, new experiences, and how to love service even more,” explained Chavez. “Service and exploring new places is something I really love, so participating in service trips really fulfills my passion for service and traveling.”

Chavez encourages students to get involved in the program and apply: “I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to do service as well as merge into a new community. Service teams have made my college experience so much better because they have helped me grow not only as a person but as a leader as well. I have also met so many great people and have created memories that will last a lifetime.”

Visit wou.edu/slcd/ab for more information on the Alternative Break program and how to apply for future service opportunities.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Alternative break program staff

 

Meet the Dean

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

How long have you been at Western?

“28 and a half years.”

 

What’s your favorite part of your job?

“The favorite part of my job is getting to know our students and I also work with an amazing staff.”

 

What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?

“I love spending time with my dogs. I like to do outdoor activities of any kind, whether it’s working in the yard or playing an organized sport or going on a walk … hanging out with friends is another, and just going on adventures.”

 

What’s your favorite movie?

“‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ That’s probably my all-time favorite movie because it’s the message in the movie that I think I can relate to and believe in.”

 

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

“I love Mexican food, I love authentic Mexican food. And there really isn’t a dish that I don’t like … If I had to choose one food within Mexican food, I’d have to choose tacos.”

What’s your secret talent?

“I can spin a basketball on my finger for an extended period of time.”

 

What’s your favorite dessert?

“Anything related to ice cream. I love ice cream and I love frozen yogurt … It’s versatile. You can eat it plain, you can add toppings to it, you can mix stuff in it.”

 

What’s one job you’d never do?

“President of the United States. I’d never go into politics.”

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Lights, camera, action: New video production club comes to Western

Byron Kimball | Freelancer

Tuesday nights at the Richard Woodcock Education Center might involve mastering a dolly or finagling with lighting — at least for students attending Film School by Q-Loop Productions.

Q-Loop, the College of Education’s video production team, opened its doors in spring 2017. Film School, run by Q-Loop production team members, began this winter.

Film School was the brainchild of sophomore Andy McDonald, who wanted to help aspiring film students at Western find a casual place to explore their interest in video production. Students who attend Film School experience anything from learning basic filming and production terminology to actually working on video projects.

McDonald is quick to stress that students of all skill levels, even those who have never really handled a camera before, are welcome to join in.

“My goal is to keep it fun. It’s never just like a class but, hopefully, you end up learning a lot,” explains McDonald. McDonald has been involved with Q-Loop since spring 2017, during the team’s initial inception. Hailing from a production background, advisor Mary Bucy describes him as “just the person we needed” to join the team.

Bucy, who spearheaded the development of the Q-Loop team in order to make use of the Richard Woodcock Education Center’s new video production lab, remains optimistic about the directions both Q-Loop and Film School are primed to take. “It’s an exciting opportunity for students and a great resource for faculty. I can’t wait to see this grow over the next year,” says Bucy.

Students who have visions of working in film after graduation ideally leave film school meetings with a deeper understanding about how the film industry works. “We’re working as though we’re in Hollywood and we’re using their sort of language,” explains McDonald. “That way, if you want to go to Film School, you’ll hopefully be able to apply those skills directly to Hollywood.”

“We have a lot of repeats that come back every week and they really enjoy being able to talk about film in a way that’s not just with the roommate,” says McDonald.

Interested students can check out Film School meetings every Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. in RWEC 129.

Contact the author at bkimball16@wou.edu

Photo by: wou.edu

Western Oregon University

Facebook   Instagram   X  YouTube

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
345 Monmouth Ave. N.
Monmouth OR 97361

503-838-8000 | 1-877-877-1593

Tools

Campus Maps
Canvas
Find People
Portal
WOU Email
Technical Support

Resources

A-Z Index
Accessibility
Academic Calendar
Class Schedule
Jobs at WOU
News
Explore WOU
Partnerships
Student Services
Freedom of Expression

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
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.

Accessibility    Public Records    Privacy    Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.