Blotter
Opportunities for Summer 2017
By: Alyssa James Staff Writer
On Friday, June 16, the term will come to a close and all students will enter into summer vacation. While some students will travel to different parts of the country or world to spend their time off, many have no idea what they will spend the next three months doing. Good news for those students is that there is a multitude of opportunities to partake in during the summer months.
One option is to spend summer doing volunteer work and actively supporting and helping the community. There is a wide variety of volunteer jobs that one can choose from.
Meals on Wheels is looking for people who want to donate their time to help seniors in Dallas, Falls City, and the Rickreall Area. With three different choices on how to serve this community — packaging, delivering, or serving the food — there is an option for anyone who has a desire to help. To get more information or to become a Meals on Wheels volunteer, contact Carolyn Gagznos-Dillon at 503-623-6232.
For an opportunity that is more global, The Borgen Project has many openings for volunteers and internships. The Borgen Project is a nonprofit national campaign that works towards bringing awareness to our nation’s leaders about poverty all around the globe. They have multiple telecommute internships available, namely PR/marketing, HR, writer, journalism, and political affairs. Along with that, they have multiple National Volunteer Opportunities. For all the information on their avenues for helping, check out borgenproject.org.
There are other volunteer opportunities around, such as volunteering as a Gilbert House Summer Camp Counselor. At the Gilbert House in Salem, a volunteer will be required to go alongside the families present to show the fun learning experiences around the museum. For more volunteer opportunities, a helpful resource is volunteermatch.org. It lists many of the places that students can volunteer at throughout this summer.
Volunteering is a fulfilling way to spend one’s summer, but another opportunity will be happening in August that no one will want to miss. The moon will completely block the sun for a total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 spanning from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This eclipse is a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime event that people from all over the world are travelling just to witness.
Many people in North and South America will be able to see a partial solar eclipse that day; however, Monmouth will be in the line of totality, meaning for two minutes straight, people will be able to watch the moon fully cover the sun. The totality of the eclipse is predicted to start at 10:16 a.m.
There are many events happening surrounding this event. One is the Indy Goes Dark Eclipse Festival in Independence. From Thursday, Aug. 17 to Monday, Aug. 21 there will be many activities happening based around the eclipse, from a movie playing in the park thursday night to various cover bands playing during the evenings. There will be a Brewfest on Saturday, which will cost $15 to enter.
Not only that, but there will be inflatables, science demonstrations and more for children. There is registration at independencegoesdark.com for camping and to reserve a spot. Since a total eclipse has not happened in the Pacific Northwest since 1979, spots are filling up fast.
Another celebration for the eclipse will take place in Monmouth. At the Main Street Park Amphitheater, there will be a free concert on Sunday night, Aug. 20. Pigs on the Wing, a Pink Floyd tribute band, will be playing a show. They will perform The Dark Side of the Moon entirely, as well as other Pink Floyd songs, during the concert.
At Western, there will be a special Eclipse Plenary Session on Thursday, June 1. A variety of students will present on the topic of solar eclipses. Later on in June 6, Richard Berry, M.Sc. will present on how to get the most from the experience of the solar eclipse. This will take place in the Instructional Technology Center, Room 205, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Each person who attends this will receive a pair of Eclipse glasses that will be able to be used on the day of the eclipse.
For those who feel their summers may be less-than-satisfactory, there are many opportunities to take advantage of this summer. Whether it’s donating one’s time and presence to volunteer in order to help the community, or taking the time to celebrate the solar eclipse, this summer is full of possibilities and moments that are worth grabbing ahold of in order to create lasting memories.
Contact the author at ajames16@mail.wou.edu
The country’s pride
By: Zoe Strickland Managing Editor
A police raid on June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn was the event that started the Stonewall riots. Now, people across the country celebrate June as LGBTQ+ pride month.
The Stonewall riots began after New York police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, for reportedly serving alcohol without a liquor license, and arrested numerous people who weren’t dressed in gender-appropriate clothing.
According to an article from PBS in 2015, “a person perceived as male who dressed in clothing customarily designed for women could technically be arrested in New York for ‘impersonating a female’ as recently as 2011.” The police raid of the Stonewall Inn ended up sparking the uprising of the Gay Liberation Movement.
According to the Oregon branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, “Stonewall is widely seen as an important turning point to more outspoken and confrontational forms of gay rights advocacy … it can be said that the Stonewall Riots were an important step on the path from stigma to public awareness and consciousness.”
The riots at the Stonewall Inn were some of the first stepping stones in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights; a fight that is still continuing today.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Oregon since 2014, and legal across the United States since 2015.
Most recently, Governor Kate Brown signed in a bill that would allow a gender-neutral option on Oregon driver’s licenses and identification cards.
“Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally,” reads an informational page from the Library of Congress.
Local events in Oregon help to commemorate the loss of members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as provide a place for members of the community to celebrate their different identities.
Pride Northwest, a Portland-based nonprofit, hosts a pride parade and festival in Portland every year. This year’s parade and festival will be held at Portland’s Waterfront Park on June 17 and 18.
Salem will also be hosting a pride parade on Aug. 5, and Eugene will be hosting one on Aug. 12.
Students who are looking to be more involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy can volunteer at Pride Northwest, Basic Rights Oregon or on-campus at the Stonewall Center.
Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu
The new faces of ASWOU
By:Jade Rayner News Editor
The Associated Students of Western Oregon University began its round of yearly elections, which ran from Monday, May 1 through Friday, May 19.
Week one was filled with multiple opportunities to meet candidates, including both formal and informal meet and greet events, and a candidate question forum.
Due to a lack of student votes in the first week, elections were extended a second week and then a third week was added in order to receive as much input from students as possible.
After three weeks of campaigning, the results are in.
Jessica Freeman will be taking on the role of ASWOU President for the 2017-2018 academic year.
For those who didn’t get a chance to know her during the campaigning process, Freeman’s platform read, “I have been involved with ASWOU since my first year at Western Oregon University. I started my journey through ASWOU as a 
Senator, where I was elected by the Senate Body to hold the position of Senate Parliamentarian, and the chair of two separate subcommittees. During my second year within ASWOU, I was elected as the Senate President, where I took the information gained as a Senator, and put it to better use. After two years in Senate, I wanted to challenge myself even more during my third year in ASWOU, so I ran and was elected the Judicial Administrator. I have been a branch head for two years now, which gives me invaluable experience and has prepared me to run for ASWOU President. Through my three years in ASWOU, I have seen three different administrations; I have seen firsthand what tactics work and what tactics do not work for this organization. I am extremely knowledgeable and passionate about ASWOU, and with my past experiences I am the most qualified candidate for ASWOU President.”
Freeman went on to explain that, “ASWOU was cut 30 percent of their budget through the Incidental Fee Committee Process during Winter Term 2017. The next ASWOU President will have to work hard and creatively in order to allow ASWOU to function at its highest with such an extensive cut. Through my experience in both Senate and Judicial Board, I am ready to dedicate my last year at Western Oregon University to ensure ASWOU is properly overseen and assists the wide range of student populations WOU has to offer. Focusing within ASWOU, I intend to challenge the positions in cabinet whose primary functions are to produce outreach strategies. The ASWOU Executive Branch has severely suffered from a lack of outreach recently, and students need to know ASWOU exists to serve them. When looking at WOU, students for many years have voiced negative opinions about the Oregon Student Association (OSA). If elected ASWOU President, I will focus on improving the relationship ASWOU and WOU have with OSA based on student feedback and how students want their money to be spent. I am a hardworking individual who is dedicated to the improvement of ASWOU as a whole. The next academic year will be an interesting challenge, and one that I have waited three years for. I am ready to take on the honored responsibility of being the ASWOU President for the 2017-2018 academic year.”
In addition to a new president, ASWOU has also gained a new vice president. Evelyn Guzman, who in her platform stated, “I am running for Vice President because I feel like I have knowledge, enthusiasm, and skills I can contribute to ASWOU. I have been very involved since my first year at WOU and I have been learning a lot about different aspects of our community,” will now be assisting with administrative duties alongside Freeman, among other responsibilities.
The positions of ASWOU senate president, judicial administrator, senator and the Incidental Fee Committee member were filled by Lila Jones, Logan Doerfler, Roger Deleon and Eric Frey. Alex Quintana was voted into the role of justice.
In addition to filling executive, senate and judicial seats, Referendum 3.17 was voted in, 455-47. Referendum 3.17, which “adds gender expression and gender identity to the ASWOU Constitution as areas that will shall not be discriminated against,” as explained on the voter form, had already been passed in the ASWOU Senate.
In more detail, Senate Bill 3.17 reads that, “…Western Oregon University is an institution that prides itself on its student diversity…In the Preamble of the Associated Students of Western Oregon University’s Constitution, it reads ‘…do establish this Constitution and authorize the Student Government of the association thus formed, to represent the students of Western Oregon University.’ There are many students at WOU that don’t identify/express/conform to the sex they were assigned at birth.”
Now that the bill has been approved by both the senate and the student body, “…The ASWOU Constitution Article I Section 2.a.iv. shall be changed to include gender expression and identity and read: ‘Each member of the ASWOU has the right to be free from discrimination inclusive of, but not limited to, the following areas: race, color, national ancestry, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex, age, and individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities,’” according to Referendum 3.17.
Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu
Campus Blotter
Need to know basis
By: Jade Rayner News Editor
Enrique Santos
Year: Junior
Major: Theatre
Answer: “All the steps you have to go through to graduate.”
Article:
Western’s 160th Commencement ceremony will be taking place at McArthur Field and Stadium on June 17.
Students planning to walk this year should have already gone through the steps necessary to graduate at the end of the spring 2017 term. For those planning to graduate in the spring 2018 class, now is the time to start the application process.
The first step is to apply to graduate. Before applying, students should verify that the information in their DegreeWorks is correct.
As the Office of the Registrar noted on the application for an undergraduate degree, “we recommend that you apply three terms before your anticipated graduation term.”
The application can be found at wou.edu/registrar/forms.
Once the application is complete, it must be turned in to the Office of the Registrar, located in room 104 of the Lieuallen Administration Building. A fee of $50 will be charged to the student’s account.
Following the application process, students must sign up for commencement using their Portal. The spring 2017 deadline to do this was May 12.
Students with the desire to walk at commencement will then need to proceed to step three, which is ordering a cap and gown. This can also be done online by visiting bookstore.wou.edu.
All deadlines and links to information regarding the steps to graduate, as well as suggestions on how to make the most of commencement are listed online at wou.edu/graduation.
Mandy Storm
Year: Sophomore
Major: English Literature
Answer: “I would say the new bill that’s trying to be passed. The pre-existing conditions
bill for healthcare.”
Article:
On May 4, 2017 the House of Representatives voted to pass the American Health Care Act.
According to govtrack.com, the AHCA “is the House Republicans’ leading proposal to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act and ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood.”
Although the bill passed the House of Representatives, it still needs to go through the Senate.
One part of the bill, regarding pre-existing conditions, has sparked a large amount of discussion on social media.
However, the New York Times stated that, “While the bill could weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions and result in much more expensive insurance, the effect ultimately rests on states and insurers. More important, the bill does not specify what a pre-existing condition is, nor does it allow insurers to deny coverage outright, although potentially they could set premiums beyond the reach of some sick consumers.”
For those wondering how the AHCA could affect their health insurance, it is best to address those questions with their insurer.
Also keep in mind that while the bill was voted to pass by the House of Representatives, it still needs to go through the Senate before the bill can become law.
Ashley Flores
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology
Answer: “I would really like to know more about inclusive contraceptives and resources for queer sex ed.”
Article:
“Gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth face particular challenges in the achievement of sexual health due to lack of support in the settings that traditionally promote positive youth development—schools, families, peers, and communities,” states the LGBT Health and Development Program at Northwestern University’s website, impactprogram.org.
Anyone, no matter what their sexuality, can find an extensive guide to a plethora of contraceptive options on Planned Parenthood’s website. Their guide includes 
information on the effectiveness of each method, whether or not a particular method prevents the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and how to use them.
Also included on plannedparenthood.org are links to help those who need asistance obtaining different types of contraceptives either for free, or at a low cost confidentially.
There are also sexual education resources that mix creativity with information, one of which is Girl Sex 101, a “road trip in a book” as described by huffingtonpost.com.
Created by Allison Moon and illustrated by kd diamond, the book uses a mix of comics and sex education to create a sexual resource guide, with a focus on women.
“I want everyone who reads it to find useful information for their own sex life. I want lesbians, bisexuals, queers, trans folk and even straight people to see something of themselves reflected in the pages, and hopefully learn about their own bodies and the bodies of their lovers,” explained Moon in an interview with The Huffington Post.
Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu
Oregon offers gender-neutral identification option
By: Zoe Strickland Managing Editor
Due to a new legislative bill, Oregon may become the first state to allow gender-neutral options for state identification cards and driver’s licenses. The bill has made it past the Oregon state legislature, and is currently awaiting a signature from the governor before it can become a law.
The third gender option seeks to be more inclusive to Oregon residents who don’t exist within the confines of the gender binary. Rather than having to select ‘male’ or ‘female,’ the new option will be listed on ID cards as ‘X.’
According to CNN, “If approved, the law could go into effect by summer.”
This decision was influenced by a court ruling in June of 2016 which allowed Jamie Shupe, an army veteran, to be legally viewed as nonbinary.
“Oregon law has allowed for people to petition a court for a gender change for years, but the law doesn’t specify that it has to be either male or female,” said Lake J. Perriguey, the civil rights attorney who filed Shupe’s case, in a CNN article from June 12, 2016.
Though the court approved Shupe’s appeal to make their official gender nonbinary, Oregon didn’t have a set way to change their driver’s license.
“After winning in court, Shupe’s lawyer sent the Multnomah County judge’s order to Oregon’s motor vehicles department. Legally, Shupe was neither male nor female, and Shupe wanted a driver license that reflected that,” reported an article from The Oregonian. By pushing to allow the change to be made on official materials like ID cards, the state is allowing citizens to express their gender identity in a state-recognized official capacity.
Though Oregon is on track to be the first state in the nation to allow gender-neutral terminology, Ontario, Canada began using gender-neutral options for drivers licenses last year and, in March, California legislature introduced a bill that would allow drivers to identify as ‘non binary.’
People within the state of Oregon who are interested in taking steps to change their gender identity in an official capacity can go to www.transequality.org/documents/state/oregon for a list of the appropriate documents.
Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu
Saturday means community
By: Zoe Strickland Managing Editor
Every Saturday from April to November, you can find a community of vendors in downtown Independence.
These vendors are either part of the Independence Farmers’ Market, located in the parking lot of Umpqua Bank, or the Independence Riverview Market, which is held in the Riverview Park Amphitheatre. The Independence Farmers’ Market has been around since 1993, with the Riverview Market joining the vending scene in 2012.
The Independence Farmers’ Market has a variety of vendors selling everything from homemade cat toys to produce. Both markets also have masseuse tents set up.
“It goes up and down. The most we’ve ever had is 15, and I think now we’re down to, like, 12,” said Marti Sohn, owner of TDM Acres, when asked about the size of the Independence Farmers’ Market. Sohn has been a vendor at the market since 1998.
While walking through the market, it’s apparent that there’s an encompassing sense of community within the vendors.
“I just … I love this atmosphere. All the vendors are real people. There’s nothing phony about a farmer’s market; it’s a good place,” said Cheryl Gaston, owner of Cheryl’s Cottage Bakery, who has been a vendor at the Independence Farmers’ Market for two years.
The same customers tend to visit the markets every week.
“I have some fans now,” said Gaston.
“Best challah bread around, makes the best french toast ever!” interjected a passerby.
“That’s my favorite part. I mean, people like what I do. You can’t beat that,” continued Gaston.
The Independence Riverview Market had an equal number of vendors, but a more independent atmosphere. The vendors were primarily selling homemade goods, with only two stands selling produce.
“For us, our farm is five minutes away. So being able to connect directly with the people that our produce and meats are feeding is amazing,” said Malinda Bermudez, of Bermudez Family Farm. “I like being able to educate people on where their food is coming from, and a lot of people really appreciate that connection … it’s very rewarding,”
The best piece of advice that the vendors had to offer? Sohn suggested that college students should just “come on down.”
Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu.
A look into the past
By: Zoe Strickland Managing Editor
Depending on where you are, the first day of May may be known as either International Workers’ Day or the pagan holiday devoted to celebrating the start of summer. From 1902 until the 1940s, Oregon State Normal School, now Western, celebrated the latter form of May Day.
According to the University Archives, May Day was thought of as “the most anticipated social event on campus.” During the festivities, students celebrated in multiple ways: participating in vaudeville acts, music, pageants, dances and the crowning of a May Day Queen.
One of the most notable events was the annual performance of the Maypole dance, which was recreated in 2014 as a part of the 100-year anniversary of Maple Hall. During the dance, students dressed in white dresses and flower crowns danced around a large wooden pole while holding multi-colored ribbons that were attached to the top.
Though May Day was celebrated on campus for around 40 years, there were years where the administration had to cancel the celebration because of World War I, influenza and smallpox. Nevertheless, the events restarted after the hardships were over.
May Day primarily involved students and faculty from campus, but also served as a community affair. Event invitations were dispatched in local newspapers and people from surrounding Polk County towns attended.
“More than 1,000 persons gathered in the Oregon Normal School campus … considering that there were only approximately 300 students enrolled at ONS, it was quite a crowd,” read the May 3, 1915 issue of The Morning Oregonian, a newspaper that went out of print in 1937.
Every event had a strong sense of pageantry; something that Miss Laura Taylor, a physical education and health instructor at OSNS, began to promote in 1914.
“Every event showed painstaking preparation and the facility with which they were performed spoke of many hours of tedious practice,” reported the May 5, 1924 issue of The Lamron, the student-run newspaper at the time.
In the 1930s, campus renamed the May Day celebration to “May Fete.” However, the event ended up losing the pageantry gusto that it held before.
Though the May Day activities were well-attended, the event was inevitably restructured into what is now known as homecoming.
“[The] transition was from May Day when alumni would come back to visit campus for the celebration with a series of weeklong events,” said Jerrie Lee Parpart, Exhibits and Archives Coordinator.
Though May Day is no longer celebrated on campus, students can still feel its echoes every fall.
Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu
The final countdown to vote
By: Jade Rayner News Editor
The Associated Students of Western Oregon University are encouraging all students to have their voices heard.
As of Tuesday, May 9 the ASWOU elections for the 2017-2018 school year have extended the opportunity for students to vote until Friday, May 12 at noon.
Positions being ran for are ASWOU president and vice president, as well as senate president, judicial administrator, senator and Incidental Fee Committee member.
Being elected president of ASWOU comes with numerous responsibilities, one of which is “to represent the students of Western Oregon University to not only the WOU administration, but at a local/state/federal level as well. To properly address the representation at a statewide level, the ASWOU President sits on the Oregon Student Association’s (OSA) Board of Directors (BOD) along with other Oregon university and community college representatives,” according to the ASWOU General Election Form found on OrgSync.
Both Cynthia Olivares and Jessica Freeman are running for the role of ASWOU
President.
Those running for the second in command position of vice president of ASWOU are Evelyn Guzman and Felicia Dickinson.
Senate president, judicial administrator, senator and the incidental fee committee member positions are all running unopposed. Lila Jones, Logan Doerfler, Roger Deleon and Eric Frey are running for these positions.
ASWOU is asking all students that have yet to vote do so, saying “We still need your vote! We still need you to vote in the ASWOU Election!” in a Twitter post on May 9.
Students can vote by logging on to their OrgSync account, and clicking on the ASWOU elections icon on OrgSync’s homepage.
Disclaimer: The Western Journal does not endorse any candidates or their policies. Photos were made available by individual candidates.
Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu
Blotter
Plan for the future, don’t quit the fight
By: Jade Rayner News Editor
On Wednesday, April 26 the Board of Trustees met to discuss various topics pertaining to Western, including the recommended tuition range for the 2017-2018 academic year.
According to the meeting minutes, it was important to set a tuition range for the 2017-2018 academic year because of upcoming Higher Education Coordinating Commission deadlines.
The proposal for the tuition range was presented by Western’s Vice President for Finance and Administration Eric Yahnke.
The minutes relay that “Trustee Martin described how a tuition range could be used to continue conversations with students. Shetterly added that a range could be used to continue conversations with legislators … Baumgartner called for a motion to approve the 2017-2018 tuition range (5-10% increase for resident undergraduate variable rate tuition and 10-20% increase for resident undergraduate Western Promise rate).” The motion passed 7-2.
In an interview with President Rex Fuller the following day, he was asked what plans Western had to increase student enrollment. President Fuller replied, “one of the things that’s happened in Oregon is the Oregon Promise, which has provided funding for students to go to community colleges at a lesser cost than they would the four years. And that actually has led to a number of students going to the two year colleges that otherwise may have come to the four years. So, Chemeketa alone, over a thousand students enrolled under the Oregon Promise last fall.”
He went on to say, “one of the things we are trying to do is because those students are now at the two years, is trying to refresh and revise the way in which a student would transfer from the two years to the four years to finish their degree … on top of that we continue to work the high school graduating class … so we are seeing a downturn in new freshmen, we are trying to replace that with an upturn in transfers.”
According to Fuller, Western signed a dual admission program with Clackamas Community College this year, which will create an easier path for transfer students.
“Going back to March of last year, the university submitted to the Higher Education Coordinating Committee a unified budget for all seven institutions, and we identified the amount we would need just to cover our cost … our total budget for all universities needed to go up to $765 million. The governor’s budget right now is $667 million, which leaves roughly that $100 million gap,” Fuller responded when asked what students could expect to see in the future.
“The latest response by the joint Ways and Means Committee,” Fuller explained, “is that they’ve added about $20 million to the governor’s number … what our Board of Trustees approved yesterday with a vote to go forward is basically a sliding scale, which says that our tuition will be between 5 and 10 percent, and it will depend upon how much of that gap gets closed; so the gap’s $100 million, and we say ‘for every $20 million that gap gets closed, we’ll lower that increase by one percent’ … essentially our approach mirrors what University of Oregon did which is created a set of tradeoffs.”
In the April 26 issue of The Western Journal, President Fuller’s guest column left the question, “is this a blip or will the legislature maintain their investment?” Referring to the decrease in state funding to the university.
To elaborate on that question, Fuller said, “I’ve been here two years now … in the year I arrived there actually was an increase in funding for higher education, and we deeply appreciated it … to maintain that level of funding was that $765 million figure, because that covered our cost, the inflation plus cost. So if we don’t fill that gap, we then fall behind again, and so that’s the big challenge … Whether this is a blip or not is going to depend on that lobbying effort. We’re trying to convince the legislature and the governor that that investment that was made in 2015-2017 needs to be sustained.”
As of now, it’s too soon to determine whether or not additional funding will be provided to sustain the investment. According to Fuller, the process will continue through the academic year.
“We continue to try and meet with legislators,” stated Fuller. “On May 16, there is going to be what’s called True Day … there’s going to be a full day of lobbying in the state house, in the capitol.”
Fuller encouraged student involvement in the event and said, “all students are welcome. There will be a chance to be put into teams; there will be some talking points that we all agree on that are being prepared, the idea is to go have some face to face time with legislators and say ‘your investment in higher education matters.’”
Reflecting on True Day, he concluded, “the impact we had last year with an all-university day was profound … I think those are effective demonstrations of voice, and to have students be numerous in that voice and also telling their own story frankly has more impact than if I say it … you are the future of the nation and the state, and in that sense you have in many ways more credibility than I do as an employee.”
Fuller stated that students with questions about True Day can ask ASWOU for more information, or can contact him with questions about the event.
Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu
House bill pushes for inclusivity on college campuses
By: Zoë Strickland Managing Editor
On April 26, members of the Oregon House of Representatives passed a cultural competency bill which seeks to promote cultural competency at public universities and community colleges. The bill passed in a 45-15 vote, and has moved on to be viewed by the Senate.
According to the most recent amended version of the bill, cultural competency refers to the “understanding of how institutions and individuals can respond respectfully and effectively to people from all cultures, economic statuses, language backgrounds, races, ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, religions, genders, gender identifications, sexual orientations, veteran statuses and other characteristics in a manner that recognizes, affirms and values the worth, and preserves the dignity, of individuals, families and communities.”
Should the bill pass, public universities and community colleges will be required to establish committees that oversee the promotion of inclusivity on campuses, as well as set goals to ensure that inclusivity standards are met.
“The University is monitoring HB 2864, the “cultural competency” bill, to see if it makes it out of the Oregon Senate and if so, what requirements it might contain. At this juncture, it does not require a committee, but a “process” for cultural competency standards. Legislation is certainly not required for WOU to uphold its core values, including diversity, inclusion and respect,” said Ryan Hagemann, Vice President and General Counsel for Western, in a statement.
One of the other ways that the bill attempts to promote inclusivity on college campuses is by requiring that faculty, staff and administration all receive cultural competency training. Though Western has inclusivity programs that faculty and staff can attend, such as Safe Zone Ally Training and classes put on by human resources, they aren’t mandatory.
In a news release from the Oregon House of Democrats posted by KTVZ, the chief co-sponsor of the bill, Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon, D-Woodburn, said that she is “hopeful that this bill will help our students feel safe, welcomed, and included in our schools.” The bill moved to the Senate on April 27.
Western’s campus is already home to a Diversity Committee, which seeks to emphasize “diversity as a matter of institutional priority and an integral component of academic success,” as well as multiple clubs such as Triangle Alliance, the Multicultural Student Union and MECHa, which help to promote inclusivity on campus. To learn more about diversity and inclusion on Western’s campus, visit wou.edu/diversity.
Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu
Don’t overlook mental health
By: Zoe Strickland Managing Editor
Statistics show that the number of college students struggling with mental health has been steadily on the rise for the past few years. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and is devoted to educating the public on how mental health plays a role in everyone’s lives.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “1 in 5 Americans will be affected by a mental health condition in their lifetime.”
The number of college students that are seeking help for mental health has been growing exponentially; this increase is prevalent on Western’s campus, “counseling services provided 4,554 mental health appointments to WOU students in 2016 – 2017 … an increase of about 1,000 contacts from the previous year. Some of the reasons for the increase in mental health contacts can include an increase in our counseling staff; presenting information on SHCC services to students, staff, and faculty; students experiencing less stigma to access mental health counseling services; and improved treatments for mental health issues,” said Jaime M. Silva, the clinic director for Western’s Student Health and Counseling Center.
“Mental health issues are a leading impediment to academic success among college students. Untreated mental illness in the college student population — including depression, anxiety and eating disorders — is associated with lower GPA and higher 
probability of dropping out of school,” states activeminds.org.
Though mental health issues usually result in decreased academic and professional performance, many students still aren’t seeking help for their mental health. A 2015 report done by the American College Health Association stated that, of students who are struggling with their mental health, two-thirds won’t seek treatment.
It’s not a secret that it’s important to maintain positive mental health; so why aren’t students actively seeking help?
Though Western’s SHCC offers confidential counseling for students who are registered in more than six credits or have paid the university health fee, some students who struggle with mental health haven’t gone to SHCC for counseling.
“As a transfer, the resources available on campus were not explicitly shared, because of this I was not aware of my options and went straight to my primary care provider for the short time I had one,” said Linzy Griffin, senior education major.
An anonymous student who went to the Student Health and Counseling Center during their first year, but hasn’t been back since then stated that “The counselor that I was seeing was a student counselor … but I could only see the counselor once a week for a certain amount of weeks and with that time frame, I don’t feel that it gave me enough time to get to and through my issues. I was only truly able to getting comfortable by the last session and then we had to end it all.”
The SHCC offers a myriad of different counseling services, such as crisis, alcohol and drug, group and couples counseling. They also hold workshops and support groups that vary from term to term; this term’s group is described on the website as being for “those who are in recovery from an eating disorder and those who are contemplating disordered eating behaviors.”
SHCC will soon be moving into a new building that’s located on the main drag of campus. The new Student Health and Counseling Center will have “more exam rooms for medical services and more counseling offices to increase our mental health counseling staff,” said Silva.
Seeking professional help for mental health is important; current culture also promotes the use of non-professional ways of de-stressing and taking time to oneself. When asked what alternate ways they have of coping and relieving mental stress, both students responded differently.
“I began smoking, and drinking in response to stress,” said Griffin. “Now, I use a planner, and schedule reminders in my phone. When planning ahead, I always include a block of time for myself, as a reward each week.”
“I like to take mental days to myself. If I have had a really bad stress day that has just been building up and has finally boiled over, I like to take a day just to myself and not go to classes and to call out of work for a sick day (mental health is just as important as bodily health). I do this only if I know it won’t stress me out more to miss that day in class,” said the anonymous student.
When asked what Western could do to improve their resources for students struggling with mental health, the anonymous student said that “online support would be helpful especially for students that are crazy busy or who feel that going into some place would cause them more anxiety.”
Students who are interested in scheduling a counseling appointment or learning more about the SHCC can call 503-838-8396 or stop by the counseling center which is located between Church St. and the F Lot. If a student is in immediate distress, they should contact the counseling center or Campus Public Safety at 503-838-9000.
Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu.
Blotter
With student loans comes great responsibility
By: Jade Rayner News Editor
As spring term nears the halfway point, many students have begun to receive their financial aid packages for the 2017-2018 school year. However, it isn’t too late for those who still need to fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or search for student loans.
A financial aid package also brings with it a plethora of decisions that need to be made, most of which revolve around the decision to take out student loans or not, as well as how to manage them.
Students that don’t already have loans, but may be looking to take one out in the future, have a number of options available to them.
Romeo Lopez Gonzalez, one of Western’s two bilingual financial aid counselors, laid out what students need to know when searching for student loans; anyone seeking loans for school need to know that they must be repaid, and that students should only borrow the amount they need.
Lopez Gonzalez also says that, “it is important to understand the types of federal loans offered.”
For those eligible to receive federal direct subsidized stafford loans, “the federal government pays your interest while you’re in school at least half-time and for some loans, during grace periods and periods of deferment. You must have ‘need’ to qualify for the subsidized loan,” he explains.
The other type of federal loan is a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, which is made available “to students who do not qualify for ‘need’ based Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, or who are not eligible for the full Federal Direct Subsidized Loan amount. The amount of the loan cannot be more than the difference between the cost of attendance and any financial assistance you will receive from the school and any outside source (including the subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loan). Interest accrues on the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan while you are in school and during the six-month grace period before repayment begins.”
Additionally, students have options outside of federal loans.
“Students considering a private loan should research private loan options carefully to see which loan is right for them. Although WOU does not recommend any particular lender, we have developed a worksheet with questions to consider when shopping for an alternative student loan,” added Lopez Gonzalez.
The worksheet noted above can be found on Western’s financial aid website.
Those who are already using loans to pay for college have both the opportunity and responsibility to keep track of what they owe and who their loans are being serviced by.
The National Student Loan Data System is an online resource where students can track their federal loan information. Information on private educational loans will not show up on the NSLDS. Students will need to contact their private lender individually to access that information.
In response to the Jan. 2017 lawsuits filed against Navient, the nation’s largest student loan servicer, USA Today presented suggestions for those already using student loans to assist with paying for college.
First of all, students should know who their loan servicer is.
“It’s not always the same company that lent you money in the first place,” stated Teddy Nykiel. “Since 2010, the U.S. Department of Education has been the direct lender for all federal student loans, but it contracts with private, third-party companies, including Navient, to handle loan servicing. Prior to 2010, private banks, including Sallie Mae, lent federally guaranteed student loans under the Federal Family Education Loan program.”
Students who are unsure of who their federal loan servicer is can find out by logging into their account on the federal student aid website, the same site where the FAFSA can be filled out.
Nykiel also recommends that borrowers keep track of their credit score for errors, and to be familiar with all of their loan repayment options.
Western’s financial aid office, located in room 310 of the Administration Building, offers a variety of services.
“We are available to meet with students to discuss financial aid packages, scholarship opportunities and how to pay for college,” explained Lopez Gonzalez. “We also help students navigate Federal Student Aid websites … we offer scholarship workshops, FAFSA filing events, and outreach to high schools. We do not recommend any particular private educational lender.”
For more information got to wou.edu/finaid. Students can make appointments with financial aid counselors by logging onto their portal and going to the WCS tab.
Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu
National March for Science takes Corvallis
By: Justin Oehler Staff Writer
On April 22, scientists, science enthusiasts and self-proclaimed nerds gathered all over the world to raise awareness of the attack on science. Though this was early spring with rain clouds in the sky, more people turned out than the organizers expected. According to Kelby Hahn, one of the event organizers for the march in Corvallis, 500 to 1,000 people were expected which is what the event’s permit was for. However, well over 2,000 adults, children and dogs turned out, surpassing even the wildest estimations of the organizers.
Speakers such as Corvallis Mayor Biff Traber and Benton County Commissioner Anne Schuster, called for the crowd to continue the support of science and real facts, not the “alternative facts” that have recently plagued national news.
Mayor Traber said, “beliefs do not equal fact.” This sentiment was echoed throughout the march. He also called out deniers of science, saying that, “you cannot question scientific facts. They are facts for a reason.”
Commissioner Schuster took a more personal route, telling the story of how she first fell in love with science in her father’s greenhouse. She went on to say, “science has informed all that I do.”
Attendees’ ages were fairly mixed: from young children who could barely walk to older folks who used canes. However, there was a small number of college-aged students in attendance.
Jocelyn Chavez, an anthropology major from Western attended. When asked why she chose to come to the event, she explained that, “normally, this would be a fun social event to mingle with other members of the science community; however, with the actions of the current administration push against science and facts this has turned it to an important event to gain attention for the cause.”
When push comes to shove, scientists and science lovers, alike, come up with many interesting signs and slogans. A chant that elicited giggles of joy from marchers every time it was said was, “What do we want? Science! When do we want it? After peer review!” This helped to enforce the lightheartedness of the march.
Another sign displayed a more comic side of one the marchers describing his idea for the next presidential candidate: “Darwin 2020: Gradual change we can believe in.”
Others were more pointed towards President Donald Trump. One artist made a painting of a large Trump-head breathing fire onto a sad, lone polar bear atop a small floating iceberg. Another attendee even called to, “make America think again.”
The March for Science was coordinated with the help of the City of Corvallis and the Corvallis Police Department. The event was entirely peaceful; no arrests and no property damage occurred.
Contact the author at joehler12@wou.edu
Zika virus threatens the Americas
By: Jenna Beresheim News Editor
In May 2015, the first Zika virus infection in Brazil was confirmed, and since has spread to most of South America and Mexico.
Before this confirmation, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that the Zika virus was commonly found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
The Zika virus is spread through mosquito bites and leads to symptoms such as fevers, joint pains, rashes, and red eyes.
Due to the transmissible nature of this virus the CDC has issued a Level 2 travel alert for individuals traveling to countries that may contain the virus. A Level 2 travel alert encourages travelers to practice enhanced precautions and understand the risks of traveling to certain countries for various reasons.
The virus will typically pass from an individual’s blood within a few days and rarely results in death or hospitalization. There is currently no vaccine for the Zika virus and those infected are urged to prevent further mosquito bites to spread the virus, as well as to rest and remain hydrated until it passes. The virus remains contagious in the bloodstream for up to a week.
Pregnant mothers that become infected with the virus risk their infant being born with a severe birth defect known as microcephaly. This defect results in a much smaller head than an average infant’s, often affecting the brain as a result.
Women who are currently pregnant or hoping to become pregnant soon are encouraged to stay out of areas with known cases of the Zika virus.
National Public Radio (NPR) reports that Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Jamaica have advised that women hold off on getting pregnant. El Salvador went as far as to urge women to hold back on having children until 2018.
Salvadoran law currently prohibits and criminalizes all abortion, on any grounds. However, the stance may be shifting in light of the Zika virus affecting newborns.
This may lead to more mothers finding their own methods of abortion, with the risk of serving time if caught.
“[The result would be] more clandestine abortions and a higher number of women being sent to jail,” predicts Angela Rivas, a Salvadoran abortion rights activist as reported by NPR.
Individuals are encouraged to wear long sleeves and pants as well as to stay in places that are air-conditioned and prepared to keep mosquitoes out with screened windows and doors. Apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent and never spray repellent directly onto the skin beneath clothing.
If travelling to countries with known cases of Zika virus, invest in mosquito netting for sleeping areas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) held an emergency meeting on Monday, Feb. 1 to discuss what needs to be done to combat the virus that is rapidly spreading through the Americas.
“The people in these countries deserve the protection of the international community and the World Health Organization,” stated Lawrence Gostin, director of Georgetown’s O’Neill Institute, in a JAMA editorial.
According to Sylvain Aldighieri of the Pan American Health Organization with USA Today, the Americas could see three to four million infections a year.
“WHO officials want to make sure that nations don’t take inappropriate steps to limit travel or trade because of the virus,” stated Bruce Aylward, assistant director-general of the WHO. “During the Ebola outbreak, many countries closed their borders, which harmed the fragile economies of West Africa.”
Buckle up and keep your eyes ahead
By: Zoe Strickland Managing Editor
April is the fourth annual Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted driving in Oregon has been declared an “epidemic” by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Distracted driving involves driving while your attention is diverted elsewhere, and includes but is not limited to: eating or drinking, talking or texting and using navigation devices.
As society makes strides in advancing technology and things like navigation devices become more of a driving staple, the temptation to drive while otherwise engaged can become more enticing. When a person takes their eyes off of the road for a mere five seconds while driving 55 miles per hour, they travel the length of a football field without looking at the road.
Though a distracted driver may only take their eyes off of the road for a short five seconds, a study done by the American Automobile Association Foundation suggests that “distraction ‘latency’ lasts an average of 27 seconds, meaning that, even after drivers put down the phone or stop fiddling with the navigation system, drivers aren’t fully engaged with the driving task.”
“During daylight hours, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cellphones while driving,” reported the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The regular use of cellphones has drastically increased the number of accident-related deaths. End Distracted Driving reported that since 2014, there has been a 14 percent increase in car accident fatalities, which is the largest increase in the past 53 years.
Despite laws against it, “at least every 3 hours someone in Oregon is injured by distracted driving behavior,” reports the ODOT website.
As a state law, Oregon prohibits the use of cellphones while operating a vehicle; except in cases of an emergency. The fine for breaking this law is $142.
Though April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, practicing safe driving habits year-round is essential to the safety of everyone on the road. To learn more about distracted driving and how to help prevent it, visit distracteddriving.gov.
Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu
WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
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Monmouth OR 97361
503-838-8000 | 1-877-877-1593