Mount Hood

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

African tradition shared with Western community

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Traditional African clothing, expressive dance movements and authentic cuisine characterized the African Students and Friends Association’s African Cultural Night on May 2. The evening aimed to educate guests on African culture while celebrating the diversity of the continent.

“African tradition is expressed through many different art forms, such as music, dance, art, sculpture and beadwork,” explained dance professor Darryl Thomas. Thomas is co-artistic director of Rainbow Dance Theatre who performed the traditional Mendiani dance at the event. This group was one of many that represented various African cultures through dance.

Senior business major Amanda Kiflay performed in several dances throughout the evening. Kiflay is an international student from Sweden whose ethnicity is Eritrean.

“As an Eritrean, I can say that dance and music is a big part of our culture, especially during different types of celebrations such as weddings, graduations, church and holidays. It’s a way of celebrating and expressing your emotions,” explained Kiflay.

Clothing was another way African culture was expressed at this event. ASFA club member junior Marnasha Fowlkes explained that clothing is specific to the various African regions, and a person could tell where in Africa the garment came from based on its patterns, fabric and style.

“What we wear, whether we like it or not, is a reflection and representation of who we are,” Fowlkes commented. “Many African cultures and their people are proud of who they are and where they come from.”

Kiflay added, “It’s a way of expressing the collective shared meanings of that culture. Having something that is different from other cultures helps it to stay alive and passed down to the next generation.”

Traditional garments were worn during dances, instrument performances and for the African culture fashion show.

While entertaining and high-energy, the African Cultural Night provided an opportunity to educate the community about African culture and its tremendous diversity.

“The African continent is one of the most diverse continents in the world and I believe it’s important to share some of the countless numbers of cultures with the students of Western in order to remove some of the stereotypes,” Kiflay expressed. She believes that education is necessary to fight for the rights of marginalized communities and make Western a more inclusive space.

Thomas explained that the drum he played during the Mendiani dance is called the “djembe,” meaning “let’s come together (in peace).”

“Tonight, at Africa Night, the WOU community ‘came together in peace and harmony’ to celebrate the music, dance, food and art of Africa. In the current political climate, what could be more poignant, what could be more beautiful,” said Thomas.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

25 years of celebration

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Bells that decorate clothing ring with every step, a drum beat that’s so loud that it vibrates the walls. Positive energy radiated from the arena during Multicultural Student Union’s 25th annual Pow Wow — the largest annual celebration of Native American culture on Western’s campus.

“With the Native American people, we don’t have many ways of coming together and celebrating,” explained Nick Sixkiller, master of ceremonies for the event and member of the Cherokee of Oklahoma tribe. Sixkiller has been the emcee for Western’s annual Pow Wow for nearly a decade.

The Pow Wow provides an opportunity for Native Americans to share various dances from their culture. These dances include both the men’s and women’s Fast and Fancy Dance, the Jingle Dress Dance and the men’s and women’s Traditional Dance that, according to Sixkiller, “represents all of our Indian nations.”

All dances have a story; the Jingle Dress Dance originated from a Ojibwe man’s vision that provided instructions for a dance that would cure his ill daughter. Regalia, or Native American outfits, for the Jingle Dress Dance include rows of metal cones, referred to in the Ojibew language as ‘ziibaaska ‘iganan,’ that ring with every step. Sixkiller commented that, when the arena is filed with dancers, “it sounds like a rainstorm in Oregon.”

Native American dances are fluid and allow an opportunity for personal expression.

“Your vision is in your own head dancing and you just gotta listen to the drum beat,” Sixkiller explained. The drum beat represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth and how she gives life to the native people. “There’s no one style of dancing. It’s what’s in your body and how you want to dance this style.”

In addition to the entertainment for the 12-hour event on April 28, Native American vendors brought in handmade items to share their culture with others.

One of the vendors, Tina, is a South American Indian from the Andes. She displayed hand carved wooden flutes, rings made from coconut shells and twisted wire jewelry.

“In the old times, we didn’t have electricity, we didn’t have anything,” said Tina. “So what we learned to do is things by hand. We learned how to weave, we learned how to do jewelry, we learned how to work with the animal furs. We just had the whole time in our hands.”

Since she moved to Oregon, she shares her love of working with her hands with her friends and children. She fondly looks back on the days growing up in the Andes.

“It was busy, busy life,” Tina remembered, smiling. “It was wonderful.”

Pow Wows are not only an opportunity to entertain with song and dance, but they are also a time for Native Americans to gather and educate others on their history. Sixkiller hopes that more people learn about the true story of the Native Americans.

“We’re the first persons here on this land and we’re ignored. And we can’t change it,” Sixkiller expressed. “It’s just irritating. We’re trying to get teachers in schools to talk more about natives in truth rather than what the old history books are talking about.”

He explained that one way that people can learn about the culture is attending an event like this.

“I’d like to invite everybody to come to a Pow Wow and learn more about American Indians and not what history has taught them over the years,” Sixkiller encouraged.

“I feel like we aren’t really shown Native Americans and their culture,” said MSU’s Social Membership Director and sophomore Gabbie Acevedo-Solis. “It’s good to be aware and be informed as well as celebrate.”

Acevedo-Solis also encourages individuals to experience the various Native American dances at their annual Pow Wow. She explained that the positive energy on the dance floor spreads throughout the audience and can be felt by everyone; “You have to see it for yourself and you’ll realize how beautiful it really is.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Initiative Petition 22 threatens Oregon immigrants

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Thirty-one years ago, the Oregon sanctuary law was put in place to prevent Oregon law enforcement agencies from “detecting or apprehending” individuals solely based on federal immigration law violations. A new initiative petition seeks to place a measure on the November ballot to repeal this law and remove Oregon’s sanctuary state title.

“I believe it’s something that would put a lot of communities under attack and fear,” explained Unidos Vice President and sophomore Monica Ortiz.

Western’s Unidos Club strives to act as a “support system to everyone who identifies as undocumented and/or are DACA recipients” according to the Unidos OrgSync. The club hosted an informational workshop on April 26 which aimed to educate students about the proposed ballot measure.

The main organization behind the campaign for IP 22 is Oregonians For Immigration Reform, or OFIR. According to their website, OFIR “works to stop illegal immigration as well as reduce legal immigration to a more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable level here in Oregon and across the United States.”

Unidos President Cristina Garcia, however, believes that the measure would only incite hate in Oregon.

“It would cause more division,” Garcia stated. Because the ballot measure would allow law enforcement to stop individuals on the basis of citizenship, she believes that it would lead to an unsafe environment.

“People of color wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around, because they’d be targeted by police,” explained Garcia.

The workshop explained the purpose of the initiative, the organizations such as OFIR that are behind it and ways that students can get involved such as voting and telling others what IP 22 is.

Garcia encourages students to get informed on the initiative petition; “We’re trying to let people know that this is what it is, don’t sign it.”

In addition to the informational workshop, a timeline of immigrant rights history with significant events including the signing of the federal anti-immigration bills in 1996 and the Oregon sanctuary state law passing in 1987 was displayed. Ortiz believes that Oregonians can create positive changes for the future.

“I believe that now is the time to do something about changing the timeline, doing something positive and helping pass something that is helping communities, not bringing them down and in fear,” expressed Ortiz.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: LATimes.com

Podcast Roundup

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

“Decoder Ring”

Hosted by Willa Pasket, TV critic for Slate, “Decoder Ring” aims to demystify certain aspects of culture. The podcast was launched on April 29 and has only produced one episode — a 30-minute piece on the history of the Laff Box, the first laugh-track machine. According to Slate’s website, every month Pasket will, “take on a cultural question, object, idea, or habit and speak with experts, historians and obsessives to figure out where it comes from, what it means and why it matters.”

“Decoder Ring” is interesting to listen to because it does just that. The show makes listeners think about aspects of culture that may not be on their mind — I can honestly tell you that I had never thought about laugh tracks as in-depth as this show talked about them.

Photo by: player.fm

“I Need My Space”

“I Need My Space” is a podcast put out by Inverse, a website that’s aimed at exploring science, innovation and new ideas. The show is hosted by Rae Paoletta, senior editor for the site, and comedian Steve Ward. While “I Need My Space” explores questions relating to space and intergalactic travel, it does so in a more lighthearted way than podcasts like “StarTalk Radio.” Paoletta and Ward interview both space experts and space enthusiasts to answer a myriad of questions that range from “what do aliens really look like?” to “why do we love shooting things into space?”

“I Need My Space” is a must-listen for people who are interested in space, but who also love to ponder the questions that may be less serious. It’s important to know what Elon Musk is doing, but it’s also fun to think about what life in a spacecraft is like.

Photo by: Inverse.com

“Dear Franklin Jones”

I discovered this podcast while scrolling through the available podcast options in the Google Play store. “Dear Franklin Jones” follows Jonathan Hirsch, the show’s producer, as he tries to uncover the truth about a group led by Franklin Jones that he was raised in — the group has been deemed controversial because of speculation that they’re a cult.

The ‘cast consists of seven short episodes that document Hirsch’s journey as he tries to understand Jones’s effect on Hirsch life, family and the lives of the people who followed Jones. “Dear Franklin Jones” is an explorative podcast that follows the same vein of productions like “Missing Richard Simmons” — Hirsch uses extensive interviews, research, as well as his own self-reflection to work towards uncovering information about Jones.

Photo by: www.stitcher.com

“Nancy”

“Nancy” is the only podcast on this list that wasn’t introduced in April 2018 — but it turned a year old in April. Hosted by Kathy Tu and Tobin Low, the podcast focuses on showcasing different perspectives from people in the LGBTQ+ community. Though the podcast begins with Tu and Low talking about their individual coming out stories, it shifts into being a podcast that relies on interviews with celebrities like Lena Waithe and Nico Tortorella, or people closer to their lives like their moms.

Though “Nancy” helps give a voice to people throughout the community, it stands out because of the heart that Tu and Low have. Both hosts are clearly invested in the stories that they’re presenting and it shows.

Photo by: npr.org

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

WUC changes coming this fall

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Ever since the joining of Wolf Express and Caffe Allegro during the summer of 2017, the space previously occupied by the Wolf Express convenience store has remained empty. But students coming back to Western in fall 2018 will find the space filled by a brand new, reservable conference room and an office and work space for the Student Activities Board.

The WUC Advisory Committee, a group of representatives from all offices within the Werner University Center, created a subcommittee to redesignate the space after it was vacated. An application process invited student organizations and campus departments to apply for the 1,040-square-foot location on the second floor of the WUC.

After an interview process with the applicants and a recommendation by the subcommittee, 60 percent of the space was granted to the Student Activities Board.

“Our whole main goal with that space is to not only create a programming space, but we also want to create a community space, a work space, and storage,” explained SAB director Matthew Ciraulo.

SAB is currently located on the first floor of the WUC and this expansion would almost double their working area. Ciraulo noted that, with the growing number of students attending the board’s events, they are hoping to continue the organization’s growth and get more people involved.

“We really want to make it a welcoming space. We want people coming in, asking questions, and getting to know SAB,” he expressed.

While 60 percent of the area was designated for SAB use, the other 40 percent will hold a reservable conference room similar to the Little D and Rogue rooms in the WUC. The conference room is going to come fully equipped with a flat panel screen, SMART capabilities and room for approximately 14 individuals.

“The conference rooms are some of our most reserved spaces in the building,” explained WUC Advisory Committee chair Patrick Moser. “I think it’ll be really popular.”

The committee is in the process of drafting designs for the space so that the conference room and SAB office will be completed by the beginning of fall 2018.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu.

 

Exploring the great outdoors

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

From crusading through Death Valley, whitewater rafting on the Deschutes and exploring the wonders of Oregon — the Natural Science Club gives students the opportunity to experience the natural world outside of a classroom.

“It provides these opportunities that aren’t available to students in any other way,” explained Natural Science Club president Karisa Merrill.

The Natural Science Club is an organization that encourages students to meet new people, learn about various scientific topics and become informed about career options in the field of science.

The club holds various information sessions that are open to all students, including “When Good Cats Go Wild,” which discussed feral cats, and “It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s a Raptor!” which educated students on predatory birds. Both presentations were given by Western professor Jim Dawson during winter term. The club also brings in guest speakers from around the area to discuss topics relating to the natural world.

The club’s most anticipated events are their three annual field trips: during fall term, club members have the opportunity to hike in various parts of the Willamette Valley, as in the 2017 trip to Silver Falls; during Memorial Day weekend, the club takes nearly 20 members to the Deschutes River in Central Oregon to go white water rafting and camping; and, for spring break, students pack up their gear and prepare to spend a week hiking and camping at a national park or campground. This spring break, the Natural Science Club took 16 students to explore Death Valley in California and Nevada.

Each trip is catered to the interests of the club members and what they want to explore. The spring break and Memorial Day weekend excursions have limited space and cost close to $100 per person which covers transportation, food and all additional fees.

In her two years as president, Merrill has seen the impact that these trips have had on the participants. Some individuals go into the trips without any camping or hiking experience whatsoever and come out with excitement for future excursions.

“That just kind of shows you the experience, the fun, the things that we’re able to provide for students that you wouldn’t really have otherwise, and I think that’s really wonderful,” said Merrill.

Merrill emphasized that all students can attend monthly club meetings and sign up for the excursions. She explained, “We’re not specific to science majors. We are open to any major.”

For club updates and meeting times, visit the Natural Science Club OrgSync page.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Advocating for student rights

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

With clipboards in hand, several individuals were out on the sidewalks in mid-April encouraging students to register to vote for the upcoming primary election on May 15. Among these advocates are members of the Oregon Student Association, or OSA: a student-led organization that represents close to 130,000 college students in Oregon.

OSA board members spend much of their time at campuses across the state working with student governments to run campaigns, register students to vote and advocate for policy change. Their work aligns with their three main goals: leadership development, social advocacy and policy implementation.

“We prepare students to be civically engaged and advocate for higher education affordability and accessibility, both in the institutional level and statewide,” explained Ricardo Lujan Valerio, Legislative Director for OSA.

OSA has been working closely with ASWOU at Western to assist in voter registration campaigns and successfully registered over 850 new voters for the 2016 election. The organization is also aiming to create a more inclusive and knowledgeable community with sessions on marginalized communities during Diversity Week from May 14-18.

In addition to working on-site at campuses, OSA advocates to the state legislature regarding issues that affect Oregon students. This often includes issues such as affordable tuition, support for undocumented students, K-12 sex education reform and increased mental health resources for students.

Lujan Valerio encourages all students to get involved with OSA.

“As an organization, we succeed based on the student leaders that direct us … Not only would they get a sense of what OSA is all about, but they would gain leadership experience and networking opportunities that transfer into professional careers post-college and have the ability to make higher education reachable for the next generation of students at WOU.”

Additional trainings occur at OSA’s various conferences, including the Oregon Students of Color Conference and the Oregon Student Equal Rights Alliance Symposium. These conferences provide leadership development training for students across Oregon. For more information on attending conferences, visit the ASWOU office on the first floor of the WUC and learn about upcoming opportunities.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu.

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

 

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

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