Mount Hood

Monmouth, Independence local businesses adapt to change

Caity Healy |  Managing Editor

“Stay home. Save lives.” Those were the words at the top of Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Order 20-12 that was declared on March 24. These words were directed at everyone, leaving no person immune. That included businesses. Only those that were essential could remain open, and all others had to either close, or figure out a way to stay open in some capacity while still following social distancing guidelines.

As necessary, businesses in Monmouth and Independence adapted to these changes; some found ways to continue their work, while others had to close, even permanently. Main Street Pub and Eatery closed their doors for good, though there is no confirmation as to whether or not that was due to or affected by Executive Order 20-12. Others closed their doors temporarily. Aesthetic Studio, Independence Hotel and Independence Gril were just a few in that list. Other businesses, though, had to get creative to stay open.

The Find in Monmouth has been posting what they have in stock on their Instagram. They create stories highlighting their options and allow the community to virtually shop that way. They are even going as far as to offer delivery of their items, as well as curb-side pickup.

Yeasty Beasty remains open, but they’ve tweaked the way they do their delivery. They are allowing orders to be dropped off on the front doorstep of homes, and then calling the customer to confirm that they have arrived. This assures that no person has to have direct contact with those that are delivering their food.

On top of getting creative with staying open, some are getting creative with ways to give back. For instance, Tucky’s began a lunch program for students who no longer had access to lunch from their schools. Titled “Little Bird Baskets,” they are giving away a free lunch of popcorn chicken and potato wedges to children in the community. Another business wanting to give back is Dutch Bros, who pledged to donate 100% of their April profits to medical first responders.

While these changes to our daily lives aren’t easy for anyone, it’s managing to prove the resilience of Monmouth and Independence business owners, and the overwhelming sense of community that is still felt in these quiet neighboring towns, who are remaining supportive of small businesses, even under a stay-at-home order.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

Advertising to stay relevant during stay-at-home order

Cora McClain |  Editor-In-Chief

Only a few days after the stay-at-home order, a flux of hermiting-themed advertisements popped up all around. From mobile games saying to “stay home and play” to Forever21’s “work (out) from home” activewear, businesses are rapidly adapting to changes in consumer life. 

While most business ads tend not to touch on hard news, COVID-19 and the self-isolation trends have made it so that businesses must respond. According to digital media blog, TheMatch2One, 61% of marketers have made changes to their short-term media strategies in the wake of the pandemic. The restaurant industry has been at the forefront of changing their business operation and advertising.

Restrictions on large gatherings of people have left restaurant tables empty, but many stay open and allow for takeout or delivery options. A video advertisement entitled “Open for Delivery,” highlights this exact situation, ensuring consumers that DoorDash will be there to make sure they get their gourmet takeout meals. Another advertisement boasts options for zero-contact deliveries. Advertisements such as these illustrate how businesses are changing to stay relevant to consumers. The question is, will this spike in self-isolation driven advertisements stay for long? 

Simply put, just as Executive Order 20-12 is meant to be a temporary situation, so is this trend in advertising. TheMatch20ne’s research also showed that even though 61% of marketers were making short-term alterations, only 9% were adjusting their long-term strategies. Currently, businesses are occupying a space of limbo, biding their time before the stay-at-home order comes to an end and business-as-usual resumes. 

 

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Read an interview to learn how the choir department has adapted

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

During this time where students’ daily lives are being greatly affected, read this interview with Tonya Bradley —  a junior at Western majoring in Education — to find out how her experience with choir in the music department has changed.

 

Can you explain how the choir groups, Chamber Singers and Concert Choir, that you are affiliated with have changed?

We are meeting online in small groups this term through Zoom. We are focusing on tuning our musical ear and doing an online concert this term.

 

What are some of the hardest parts when it comes to adjusting to the quarantine with choir for you?

We are meeting through Zoom and only with our voice section which is hard. We are super close as an ensemble, so it’s really tough. More than a few tears have been shed.

 

I remember there were travel plans for the choir in the Summer, has there been an update on if those are still happening?

Yes! The World Choir Games have been moved to July 2021. As of this time we are still going to Amsterdam and Belgium.

 

I understand you are taking music classes through the school, what are those like?

The only music class I am taking is choir, but most classes are occurring over Zoom from what I have been told.

 

How do you believe social distancing will affect the program throughout this term?

Most concerts are being recorded and put online. We aren’t able to have normal practices or access practice rooms or the Midilab. It’s going to be a very hard term because we have nowhere to practice or pianos to use.

 

Do you have any general thoughts or feelings on the subject that you’d like to share?

If you have friends who are in any of the arts departments, reach out! A lot of people have it especially hard, and they will appreciate your thoughts.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Western Oregon Choral Music Department

Hearing from the community: Jubilee

Caity Healy | Managing Editor

Jubilee, Independence, OR

 

What was your reaction when the stay-at-home order was announced?

My reaction was disbelief, as I am such a new business in Independence, and it just got harder. So, needless to say, I’m feeling a little defeated. Closing a restaurant was not what I anticipated. It’s very hard for a small business to begin with, but a restaurant in a small town is even harder.

 

How did your business react and adapt to the situation?

We did a lot of take out service to start with, but closing to not get exposed to the virus was pretty drastic. But, we have been taking special orders and delivering. We also sell wine/champagne and we are now able to deliver with a new special license.

 

How has this affected your business overall?

It’s affected our business greatly, but to be honest, the outreach and support of the community has been amazing! We are definitely not taking in as much revenue, but we are doing the best we can and hope for the best when we reopen!

 

Anything else you’d like to add?

I’d like to just say thank you to all of the people who love and support us! We will survive and thrive! I mean, who doesn’t need a dessert and champagne bar in their own little town?

 

The Find, Monmouth, OR

 

What was your reaction when the stay-at-home order was announced?

My first reaction was concerned, and worried how long the order would last for the community and the impact was going to be on so many families everywhere.

 

How did your business react and adapt to the situation?

We had amazing support from people in the community that stepped up and helped us try to reinvent ourselves so we could continue to serve our customers and community for their needs during this time, while taking all safety precautions.

 

How has this affected your business overall?

It’s devastated our business and we have no way of knowing the long term impact at this point, but we have continued to support many of the small businesses in our community, as well as received wonderful support and love from the amazing people in this community.

 

Anything else you’d like to add?

We just want to thank the community and all the people who have supported us, as well as the other businesses in our town that make our community so special. We are in this together and can’t wait to see all their sweet faces again.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Q&A: How COVID-19 impacted athletics

Caity Healy |  Managing Editor

 

Christina Carney, Women’s Rugby

Senior, Early Childhood Studies

 

When and how did you find out your season was coming to an abrupt end?

I kind of figured our season was coming to an end once the governor announced that no more than 250 people can gather together, and it just started going down from there. I am also friends with one of the OSU rugby girls, and she informed me that the rest of their season was cancelled, so I kenw Western would be soon. Then, my coach officially confirmed that championships was cancelled, and that’s when I told myself, “Wow! My college rugby career is over.” I had hoped that championships would at least happen because my team and I were preparing for it and excited for this last game with the seniors.

 

What was your reaction? How did your team react?

My first reaction was that I was shocked. I could not believe that my last college rugby game would be taken from me. For my team, I could tell that they were sad, as well. On championship day, a teammate even said, “today would have been a lot better if we were playing rugby,” and it made me tear. But, as captain, I reminded them that we had an awesome season and I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my senior year playing rugby with any other team.

 

How do you think this will impact your team for next year?

I think my team will be impacted in the sense that they need to play every game like it’s their last. No one expected this abrupt end, so I believe they will want to play every game to their fullest with no regrets in the coming years.

 

How do you feel about your season overall?

Overall, this season was awesome. I had the best teammates, the best positivity, the best bonds and lots of champions. Everyone did so amazing and stepped up during practices and games. There was so much support and I am so proud of all of us.

 

Anything you’d like to add?

If my teammates are reading, and other athletes, I would like them to know that they should play every game like it’s their last, because you never know if that is your last game. Also, for people wanting to join a sport, rugby is the sport. I promise, you will never be on a team so welcoming. So many students had joined rugby and just absolutely loved it. Loved the community, the welcome, the team, and ends up falling in love with rugby. Go Wolves!

 

Kennedy Coy, Softball

Senior, Community Health Major 

 

When and how did you find out your season was coming to an abrupt end?

We found out on March 12. We had a home game schedule that day against MSUB. We had won our first game, and we were feeling really good for the second. During our break in between games is when our coach told us. Sarge said that this next game was gong to be our last one for a while.

 

What was your reaction? How did your team react?

I was in shock at first. It took me a few minutes to process what was happening. When I realized that the next game was very well going to b e my last, there was a lot of tears. I hugged my teammates and as a whole we took some time to gather our thoughts. We tried to keep the mentality of, “Hey, we have one more game. We aren’t done, so let’s finish strong.” It was a really emotional game, but we played well and ended up winning. During the second game, someone thought to go get flowers for us seniors, and at the end, we had a short, make-shift senior night. It was a really hard day because none of us knew what was going to happen.

 

How do you think this will impact your team for next year?

I think that the next year is going to be something really special. Not just for our program, but for teams across the country. We all had something that we love, something that we worked really hard for, ripped away from us without warning. I think that next year, no one will take a single day for granted. We are going to have to work hard, but I know that people will be happy they get the chance to!

 

How do you feel about your season overall?

It’s hard to judge our season overall because we had so little of it. In our preseason, we learned a lot and we were headed in the right direction! We had to overcome a lot of injuries and other obstacles in the preseason, but as a group we were just getting started. I’m really proud of this team, we had to work with smaller numbers this year, but people were stepping up to fill spots and get the job done! Even though our  season was short, we have a lot to be proud of.

 

Anything you’d like to add?

If I were to add anything, it would be a huge thank you to our coaches, trainers, and the rest of the athletic department. WOU athletes are blessed with an incredible support system. This is scary right now, but I can’t wait to see what’s in store for WOU.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu 

Photo courtesy of Christina Carney 

Photo courtesy of Brian Kortz 

Positivity emerges in the wake of the COVID-19

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

In times of crisis, people are often bombarded with news of negativity. As COVID-19 spreads throughout the nation, darker aspects of our country become more apparent. However, while         

focusing on the issues caused or heightened by the virus are important, it’s also crucial that individuals recognize the positive reactions that people have made for the global good during this time-period. 

As Mr. Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” once said, “look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Celebrities and CEOs alike have been using their wealth to both fund the fight against COVID-19 and help people in need. According to an article by Billboard, Elton John, who has been on the forefront of the movement combating AIDS, is now dedicating an emergency fund to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

John is quoted as saying, “Distributing medicines, testing and preventative treatment is not as simple as it was a few weeks ago, so our new COVID-19 emergency fund will help frontline partners to prepare for, and respond to, the pandemic and its effects on HIV prevention and care for the most marginalized communities.” 

Hundreds of other celebrities have taken a similar standpoint, even going so far to hold free concerts and events during quarantine for entertainment and fundraising purposes.

The environment has also been positively impacted by the reduction in human waste. According to onetreeplanted.org, air quality has significantly improved in lockdown areas; carbon emissions have reduced by 25% in China as of March 17 — a fact that can be observed through NASA’s satellite imaging. In many parts of the world, animals who frequented areas in the past are returning after long hiatuses due to human impact. 

At home, people are reconnecting with loved ones and helping their communities. In Australia, community members have created online forums to answer their neighbor’s questions and concerns and offer assistance during social distancing. 

“Respondents shared advice for grocery shopping on the cheap, as well as broader ideas for ways to pitch in — like checking in on elderly neighbours, or creating WhatsApp groups to keep in touch with people on their street,” according to The Guardian.

Peter T. Coleman, a psychology professor at Columbia University, suggests in an article published by Politico that COVID-19 may lead to political depolarization. 

Coleman stated, “COVID-19 is presenting us with a formidable enemy that will not distinguish between reds and blues, and might provide us with fusion-like energy and a singularity of purpose to help us reset and regroup.” 

It is an ideal that is challenged by many, but nonetheless echoes the World Health Organization’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus’s testimony at a news conference where he said, “please quarantine politicizing COVID. The unity of (America) will be very important to defeat this dangerous virus.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Illustration by Rachel Hetzel

Western adapts digitally for Spring 2020

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

Regarding COVID-19, in a previous article published by The Western Howl, Jennifer King, the Medical Services Director at Western’s Student Health and Counseling Center, stated that “the risk is very low for Oregon. We don’t have any cases or contacts from Wuhan, so it’s a very low risk for the university.” That interview took place on Jan. 30, nine days after the first cases were reported in Washington state. Now, two months later, Oregon has a total of 1,580 cases and 53 deaths as of April 14, according to The New York Times — 280 of those cases being in the neighboring Marion County and one being an anonymous Western student. 

On March 23, Governor Kate Brown issued a statewide stay-at-home order. In compliance, Western effectively restructured classes for complete online delivery in the face of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, changing the lives of both students and staff members alike. 

Dozens of emails have been sent out by Western’s administration to its students, as new updates are unfolding seemingly every hour. 

“We were careful,” said President Rex Fuller about releasing information to the public, “the virus was underestimated from the beginning and we knew our statements needed to be based on facts and science … we followed guidance from the OHA, the CDC, and Governor Brown.” 

Students dependent on their classroom routines, students without access to technology and students depending on the university for their monthly income or medical services were immediately vulnerable because of this change. 

Luckily, Western implemented strategies and resources to help students acclimate to the new digital learning landscape. Bill Kernan, the Director of Computing Services, said that this change has been a challenge, nonetheless. 

“After it was made known to us that there were students who didn’t have internet access, we ordered a batch of hotspots and prepared rental laptops. We held an emergency UTAC meeting to where it was decided the university would purchase an unlimited educational Zoom license and we had to enable it in a single weekend,” said Kernan.  

At the SHCC, the staff immediately began seeing an influx in students reporting symptoms similar to COVID-19, and for everyone’s safety, the SHCC Director, Beth Scroggins, sent out an email on March 4 asking that students call ahead for triaging. 

“Our big concern was keeping our staff safe and healthy so that SHCC could remain open and provide services for the students,” said Scroggins.

However, those services have been altered — mainly, the mode of delivery. On April 4, Scroggins sent a campus-wide email informing students of online appointments through a video service called Doxyme. The SHCC will also remain open for crisis counseling and COVID-19 testing. 

For students worried about their financial situation — and maybe frustrated about not receiving that $1,200 stimulus check due to being claimed as a dependent — Western has confirmed that payroll services will remain unchanged and the SLCD sent out an email on April 2 featuring financial resources. For students worried about where their next meal is coming from, the Food Pantry and Valsetz Dining Hall are still accessible and more information about hours can be found on their respective websites. 

Despite the university’s attempts to offer resources, students still have criticisms of certain administrative decisions — mainly, the decisions to cancel all in-person finals for Winter Term and to hold a virtual Commencement for Spring Term graduates. Unlike many other schools, Western only holds one commencement per year, and President Rex Fuller said he, “could not in good conscious risk the safety of the students, guests, and the hundreds of staff members which make commencement possible” by holding an in-person event. 

Graduating senior, ASL/English interpreting major Alyssa Sandoval expressed her frustrations by stating, “this last term was supposed to be huge for me … I was supposed to be working in an internship out of state … experience life in the field I’ve been studying … now due to COVID-19 this has all been turned upside down. Western can’t control the closure of my internship site… but, the seniors have worked so hard and we deserve to have the recognition of a true commencement.”  

Overall, Western has kept in constant contact with both the authorities and its students, but regardless, some students are still mourning the loss of normalcy and adapting to the current changes is something that will continue to be an (online) learning process for everyone involved.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Illustration by Rachel Hetzel

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