Mount Hood

Grease fire in the Alderview Apartments on campus draws a crowd but is quickly dealt with.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Dean of Students and Director of Housing, Tina Fuchs, sent out an email relaying her gratitude towards our campus community last Thursday, Jan. 7, after a fire occurred in one of Western’s Alderview apartments.

Public Safety Officer Anthony Fitch was just getting back from handling a vehicle accident that had occured in Lot H when he was called to respond to a fire alarm in the Alderview apartments. “We get a lot of fire alarms,” Fitch said, “so my thought was ‘is this a fire or not’?” 

But after being waved down by a neighbor, he realized the situation was more serious. Running through the house to confirm that no one was still inside, he noticed that there was a pot of grease on the stove and that the stove had been charred.

“Before entering, I radioed our dispatcher so that she could call the Polk County Fire Department,” Fitch stated, adding that dispatch was a crucial part in aiding the investigation.

When the fire department came, onlookers began gathering, but as Fitch said, “we didn’t have to scoot anyone back … I think the rain deterred a lot of students from straying outside.”

The fire department turned off the sprinklers which were instrumental in the outcome of the incident. 

“We’re lucky we had the sprinkler system, because if not, there’s not telling how big (the fire) would have gotten and I don’t know how much I would have been able to do with my small fire extinguisher,” admitted Fitch. 

And, although he initially had a difficult time finding out who lived there, a lady and her son later came forward, who “have a place to stay and will be relocated to another unit soon,” said Fuchs in her email.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Kay Bruley

Speaker Kim Potowski came to Western to celebrate bilingualism and educate about ways to increase it

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Professor Kim Potowski of the University of Illinois began by stating the facts: that out of roughly 7.7 billion people in the world, an estimated 60% of them are bilingual as opposed to the United States’ 20%. Potowski’s research aims to promote positivity towards bilingualism with the hopes of dispelling language myths and increasing bilingual education. 

“It’s normal to be bilingual,” Potowski asserted during her presentation “No Child Left Monolingual” — also featured as a TedxTalk — given at Western on Jan. 9 in the Werner University Center. 

So why is the U.S. falling behind? 

“Our nation has policies whether implicit or explicit that aim to erase (children’s) Spanish, Chinese, Korean … whatever it is that they speak at home,” Potowski stated. A child who is a heritage speaker enters kindergarten and is typically placed into one of two programs: they are either given ESL support, which removes the child from the rest of the class and, as explained by Potowski, ostracizes and belittles their language, or they are put into a “bilingual program,” which is essentially a transition program designed on having the student speaking solely English by the third grade.

Potowski is in support of a third option — dual-language schools — in which 50-90% of instruction is in a language other than English. Citing various research studies that support the induction of these programs, Potowski noted that the dual-language programs ensure that students who speak a language other than English don’t fall behind their English monolingual peers, that the cognitive benefits of the programs are numerous and that, most importantly, dual-language programs are respectful of language and identity. 

The evidence shows that students enrolled in a dual-language school did better in all content areas — including English — as compared to students enrolled in a normal public school. 

“So what I conclude is that if you don’t want to do this, you’ve got some kind of political agenda going on,” said Potowski. However, she also acknowledged the fears created by linguistic bullying and systematic racism which prevents parents from supporting their children’s bilingualism.

“These parents have suffered for their lack of English, the last thing they want is for their children to suffer for a lack of English,” said Potowski.

However well-intended, Potwoski wants parents to know that their fears, while understandable, are somewhat misplaced. Myths that one language will hinder the development of another or create confusion for the child have since been debunked.

 “Codeswitching,” as the phenomenon is called, “is normal, follows linguistic patterns, indicates strength in both languages, and is a marker of a bilingual identity,” stated Potowski. 

The real issue, then, is the previously mentioned systematic racism and linguistic bullying, which “happens way more often than just the stories that make it to the news … and contributes to this culture of linguistic repression and fear,” Potowski asserted. While the U.S. has no official national language, states have the power to pass English-only laws, and, while Oregon has not, 31 other states have. All of these factors combined “contribute to intergenerational language shifts,” said Potowski. “What you’re getting is parents who can’t talk to their own children … and it doesn’t have to be this way.” 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photos by Kay Bruley

The Pacific Island experience

Caitlyn Nakatsukasa | Staff Writer

Western’s Hawaii Pacific Island Harmony Club’s 12th annual lu’au took place on Saturday, April 12.

The lu’au was hosted by the WOU Hawaii Pacific Island Harmony Club and Pasefika, a group from Salem, Oregon that introduces the spirit of island dances to others. It was held on campus in the New PE building where both dinner and performances were provided.
The evening began with brief music from singers and traditional Hawaiian food: rice, kalua pig with cabbage, macaroni salad, pineapple and coconut cake.
Dancers then came together and performed the Oli Aloha chant, which welcomed the guests to the lu’au. Hawaii Pacific Island Harmony Club President and sophomore Hannah Perreira explained that the song is dedicated to the Polynesian people and brings them together as one. The chant was followed by the Hula Kahiko performance, which embodies the true Hawaiian culture using traditional percussion instruments, such as the ipu keke.

Throughout the show, many dances were performed that express and highlight various cultures.

“Not many people in Oregon know much about the Polynesian culture,” said junior Kameron Acebo, hula dancer and Hawaii Pacific Island Harmony Club member. Acebo is a third-year dancer and performs outside of school. “I think the best way to share (the culture) is to celebrate it and throw this huge lu’au.”
The dances at the lu’au ranged from gentle and flowing hula moves to fast and lively dances.
Perreira explained what each song meant and how it’s relative to the Pacific Islands.
Dancers performed the song Aloha Oe, which was written by Queen Liliuokalani to express her love and farewells to the islands. The song, Perreira described, is related to the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1883, and its statehood shortly after.
Pasefika performed the ‘haka’ to the audience, a traditional war cry and dance in the Maori culture that consists of violent chanting and foot stomping. The group also demonstrated the ‘Fa’ataupati,’ a Samoan dance that represented the invasion of mosquitoes in the kingdom. The dance mimics people slapping mosquitoes off of each other’s bodies. Many of these dances represent the storytelling traditions and passion of the islands.

Aside from the performances, there was entertainment involved with the guests and dancers. Hula dancers invited children to the stage and taught them how to dance the ‘ote’a,’ a Tahitian dance with rhythmic hip shaking. The hosts had a ‘chee hoo’ contest, a celebratory exclamation used by many Pacific Islanders. The performers invited volunteers to come up on stage and express their loudest and powerful ‘chee hoo.’

“I enjoyed all of the energy and good vibes at the lu’au,” said junior Kui Silva, hula dancer and Hawaii Pacific Island Harmony Club member. This is Silva’s second year participating in the lu’au and had fun spreading the Aloha spirit through her performances, explaining, “I enjoyed dancing with all of my friends beside me and for my family who came up to visit me.”

Acebo enjoyed performing with individuals that became close friends.

“This was important to me because the club has introduced me to so many new people over the years and it’s great being able to meet new people every year through this club,” Acebo explained.

The event concluded with the announcement of the next Hawaii Pacific Island Harmony Club’s new officers for 2018-2019 and the Aloha Hawaii song, an anthem for Native Hawaiian people and residents.

“Mahalo nui loa!” the hosts exclaimed. “Thank you for coming out tonight.”

 

Contact the author at cnakatsukasa15@wou.edu

Photos by: Paul F. Davis

What happened on campus during break?

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Date: 12/14/2019

Time: 9 p.m.

Location: Lot J near the Stadium

Incident: Public Safety discovered a marjuana violation

 

Date: 12/20/2019

Time: 11:15 p.m.

Location: Lot J near the Stadium

Incident: Public Safety responded to a report of two subjects arguing in the parking lot.

 

Date: 12/21/2019

Time: 8:40 a.m.

Location: 1777 Taylor Street, Eugene, Oregon

Incident: Public Safety responded to a report of a theft of WOU property off campus in Eugene.

 

Date: 12/30/2019

Time: 9:19 a.m.

Location: The Administration Building

Incident: Public Safety responded to a medical assist 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Four out of five Oregon representatives approved President Trump’s impeachment

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Although most of Western’s students probably know by now that the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump on Dec. 18 for abuse of power and obstruction of congress, some may be wondering how Oregon’s representatives contributed to that decision, as well as how students may be affected going forward. 

Oregon currently has five representatives in the House: Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Greg Walden, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader, respectively. Of those five, four are alligned with the Democratic Party and one is alligned with the Republican Party. During voting, all four Democratic representatives voted for both articles of impeachment, while Republican Representative Walden, voted against. Their votes combined with the remainder of the House, resulted in 230 votes for impeachment regarding the article for abuse of power, 197 against, and four abstaining from voting; for the article referrng to obstruction of congress, 229 members voted for impeachment, 198 voted against, and four abstained. 

While the majority voted for President Trump’s impeachment, the margin was narrow, and now the Senate must hold a trial to convict the president in order to remove him from office. Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are both registered Democrats, but the Senate’s 100 members are still overwhelmingly Republican, and according to The New York Times, at least 20 Republican votes would have to sway in order to gain the two-thirds majority required to officially remove President Trump from office. And while President Trump may have made history as only the third president to be impeached by the House of Representatives, no president has ever been impeached by the Senate — although Nixon stepped down beforehand. 

While President Trump awaits trial, he has continued to be active on Twitter and also authorized an airstrike, killing Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and igniting fears of war. Students might be particularly worried because of misinformation revolving around the draft and its link to FAFSA. However, FAFSA only provides a way to register for the draft if one hasn’t already done so after they turned 18; the draft is not currently active.

Despite the misunderstanding, it is an indicator that while the country is waiting for the Senate to begin the trial, questions about the impeachment process have sparked people to become more politically aware — particularly young people. Students at Western and across the nation will have a major role to play in the upcoming 2020 election; whether President Trump is removed from office or not, the country is watching.

 

Updated on Jan. 16, 2020

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

War and Peace

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

To commemmorate the 75 anniversary of the end of World War II, twenty-six Oregon communities — including Independence — have plans to plant seeds salvaged from the trees that survived the Hiroshima bombing on August 6, 1945. Called “peace trees,” the Ginkgo seeds are a poignant symbol contrasting growing national fears — and the subsequent memes  — of a potential “WWIII,” triggered by President Trump’s authorization of a military strike in Iran on January 3. 

In Independence, the seeds are to be planted in the Inspiration Garden at Mount Fir Park. Run by the Master Gardeners, the Inspiration Gardens boast medinal plants, fruits and vegetables, a rose garden, and a book box for admirers to peruse — all nearby Ash Creek and the creatures therin. Portions of the garden also serve as a research facility for Oregon State University; wanderers can observe the fruits and vegetables grown but are asked not to pick them, as they are used for educational purposes.

The idea to plant a peace tree in the Inspiration Gardens came from the collaborative efforts of the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Community Trees, and the Founder of One Sunny Day Initiative — Hideko Tamura-Snider. A Japanese native, Snider founded OSDI to “educate the public about the consequences of the use of nuclear weapons and plants seeds of peace, hope and reconciliation among people of the world, through educational presentations and cultural exchange programs,” according to their website. 

The hopes presented in OSDI’s statement and the purpose of the trees is a study in irony, as tensions rise following Iran pulling out of the 2015 nuclear trade deal on January 5 — previously abandoned by President Trump in 2018 — stating that they will no longer abide by the restrictions reflected by the deal. 

The Ginkgo tree that the seeds are collected from rests in the Shukkien Garden in Hiroshima, “where many people came asking for water and shade after the Atomic bombing,” according to a youtube video titled “Introduction video Green Legacy Hiroshima.” And, despite recent political occurances, the goals of the volunteers of that project remain the same, as Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiativie Co-founder and Coordinator states, “we want to pass (the tree’s) message to future generations. We hope to deliver this love from all of us to you.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Introducing the new Aquarium Science program

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

The first of its kind in the state, Western has collaborated with Oregon Coast Community College to design an Aquarium Science program focused on combining foundations in biology and business and applying them in the field. A career-directed degree, Western’s Head of the Biology Department, Michael Baltzley, recognized the need for a program that would offer students real-world experience before entering the field. 

“When I went into biology … I didn’t know where that career was going to take me … you need specific training and volunteer hours for many positions, which provides little income and is impractical. As such, this degree would have been very attractive to me,” Baltzley commented. 

Baltzley partnered with OCCC’s Aquarium Science Coordinator, Larry Bowles, to create the joint program, the foundations of which were already operative at OCCC as both two-year and four-year degrees with certification, both “well-respected programs with advisors all over the country that helped design the programs,” according to Baltzley. 

At Western, the Aquarium Science degree requires students to take their first three years of biology and business courses at Western, before applying to transfer to OCCC for their final year of in-class training in preparation for the workforce. 

“The problem with an Associates degree is that you run into a ceiling when you are trying to get promoted,” Baltzley said; through Western’s Aquarium Science program, “there are more opportunities for advancement.” 

While the program was officially approved by Western’s Board of Trustees on Nov. 20, it has yet to be approved by the Provost Council which is set discuss approval during their meeting on Jan. 6. Upon approval, the final decision will be made by the Higher Education Coordinating Committee sometime in February. The program itself, however, will not appear in the catalog until next fall. Baltzley suggested that students interested in the program should contact biology professors and their advisors to begin modifying their schedules for the Aquarium Science degree in order to get a head-start. He also says that he welcomes student input on the program in the meantime. 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Western Oregon University

Facebook   Instagram   Twitter  YouTube

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

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

Tools

Campus Maps
Canvas
Find People
Portal
Virtual Tour
WOU Email
Technical Support

Resources

A-Z Index
Accessibility
Academic Calendar
Class Schedule
Jobs at WOU
Partnerships
Student Services

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

Accessibility    Public Records    Privacy    Student Consumer Information

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