Mount Hood

COVID-19 spreads across the globe

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, as it is more accurately referred to, first began as a series of cases of what was presumed to be pneumonia in Wuhan, China. By Jan. 11, China had reported its first death and it became clear that COVID-19 was neither just pneumonia, nor an ordinary case of the flu. It began to spread outwards from China’s borders; on Jan. 21, the U.S. received its first case when a Washington state resident traveling back from Wuhan tested positive for the virus. He survived, but Washington became an epicenter for the virus; later, it was surpassed by twelve other states, the foremost being New York, which currently has reported over 202,208 cases and 10,834 deaths as of April 14, according to The New York Times. But what is the “Coronavirus” exactly? And why have the measures established to reduce it been so extreme? 

The term “Coronavirus” is misleading; Coronaviruses are actually a large group of newly discovered viruses that often affect animals and rarely humans. It’s important to note that while it is suspected that this specific branch of Coronavirus, COVID-19, was contracted through animals, it’s pure speculation that the source of the illness was from bats and snakes in Chinese markets. COVID-19, in short, is a respiratory illness with symptoms that mimic the flu: fever, coughing, shortness of breath and even losing one’s sense of taste. But, according to the CDC, it is significantly more contagious. So contagious, in fact, that the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 a national pandemic on March 11. 

However, there were many events that occurred between the first case and WHO’s official statement. Misinformation and miscalculation combined with a lack of resources and research have contributed to the current situation. In the beginning, even medical professionals were suggesting that COVID-19 was simply ‘not a big deal,’ — presumably because of the limited research on this new strand of viruses. In an interview with govtech.com, Dr. Nancy Messonier, the Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC said, “the virus is not spreading in the community. For that reason, we continue to believe that the immediate health risk from the new virus to the general American public is low.” That was Jan. 28, seven days after the first U.S. case. Since then, the U.S. has become the leading country in COVID-19 cases; China, on the other hand, has significantly reduced its outbreak. So, why is the U.S. behind on controlling its outbreak? This could be attributed to the U.S.’s limited leadership and resources.

Simply put, the United States is behind on testing for COVID-19. Stephan Thomke of the Harvard Business Review suggests that the central reason for this is America’s culture. 

Testing early and often is often viewed as wasteful in the eyes of organizations that emphasize efficiency and predictability,” stated Thomke.  

The U.S. is a capitalist country. As such, it prioritizes financial acquisition. In the recent weeks, the Dow Jones plummeted more than 3,000 points after schools and businesses shut down to reduce the spread of the virus, leaving many in financial distress with fears of another recession. In relation to this, President Donald Trump once again changed his standpoint on the measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In one news conference on March 23, President Trump stated, “America will again, and soon, be open for business … We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself,” after having previously denied the virus’ legitimacy, referred to it as the “Chinese Virus” and generally assisted in the spread of misinformation.

 At the same time, medical professionals are declaring a severe lack of resources. Hospitals are overpacked, and, while researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projected that the virus peaked in the U.S. over Easter weekend, medical professionals suggest against reopening the borders or stopping social distancing procedures too early in fears of a spike in infections. 

Already, there has been resistance to the established social distancing etiquette, which basically constitutes wearing a mask, staying six feet away from others and practicing basic hygiene. And, after the initial apocalypse-like mass hysteria, where droves of people ransacked stores in order to hoard essentials like toilet paper, a spike in unemployment 20-30 times worse than the national average has complicated issues, according to marketplace.org. Individuals facing financial burdens because they have been laid off during this crisis are eager to get back to work. 

Some individuals believe that letting the virus run its course and building imunization — killing up to 40 million people in the process, according to Business Insider — would be a more effective way of finally returning to normalcy. With a 3.4% mortality rate, COVID-19 can’t be taken lightly. 

It may take over a year to develop a vaccine because of the extended period of licensing and clinical trials. An article by The Guardian features the following quote by the CEO of Management Sciences for Health, “If you mean (a vaccine) that can be used in a mass vaccination campaign, allowing us all to get on with our lives, then 12 to 18 months is probably right.” Of course, other individuals have suggested it could be sooner, but as with much of the virus, many aspects are unknown at this time. 

However, it’s clear that we’re in a time of change. As the government issues an unprecedented $1,200 in stimulus checks to qualified Americans, discussions about healthcare, housing rights, capitalism and common welfare have been pushed to the forefront of debate. With the upcoming 2020 election on the horizon, it would be shocking if these issues were not made a priority during the vote. Until then, the nation remains unified — just six feet apart. 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Illustration by Rachel Hetzel

How to pack your bag effectively

Rylie Horrall  | Lifestyle Editor

With a vacation just around the corner, many students might be going home for a brief time or traveling with friends. What’s probably one of the worst things about prepping for a trip? Having to pack. It can be very easy to forget important things while packing, such as chargers, enough clothes or various toiletries. To help with the potential madness that comes with planning a trip, here are some tips to help make packing a breeze.

  • Make a checklist of everything being brought — this will be helpful with initial thinking and for the trip back, to make sure nothing is left behind. Write down how many articles of clothing will be needed for the duration of the trip, with maybe a few extras in case of an emergency. In regards to essentials, keeping a tab on each item will reduce the chance of forgetting them. Not to mention, it’s so satisfying to cross things off of a list.
  • Roll clothes up, don’t fold them; it takes up less space, so there’s room for more clothes or other items in general. Thicker clothes, like jeans and hoodies, should be layered towards the bottom since thinner fabrics for t-shirts and such will be easier to fit into smaller spots and crevices.
  • Bring only one other pair of shoes. While it’s nice to have options, shoes can take up a large chunk of space in a bag, so it isn’t always necessary to bring multiple. Those boots may look cute with that skirt, but the booties are smaller and can work just as well. If those boots are absolutely necessary, save some space by stuffing other clothes inside of them.
  • Place all electronic related devices — like chargers, handhelds or styluses — into their own bag, or into a separate pocket from the bag or suitcase. Not only does it keep these organized and in a memorable spot, but it prevents anything from getting lost among outfits and miscellaneous commodities.
  • Following the trend from the previous point, do the same with toiletries and bathroom related items. Having that expensive bottle of face wash open up and spill all over a laptop or favorite sweater is a loss in multiple ways. However, if it’s in a compact bag with other like objects, it’ll keep that mess from spreading. Moreover, tape bottles of lotion and cleansers closed to further prevent that kind of mishap.
  • Finally, set aside enough time to fully pack — nothing increases stress more than packing at 11 p.m. the night before leaving and worrying about forgetting something. Try packing up the things that won’t be needed for a few days, so then only the last items have to be placed into the luggage.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall

Westerns Administration issues additional statements on COVID-19, Valsetz Dining Hall remains open after passing inspections.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Multiple universities throughout the nation in high-populated areas are closing their doors for the remainder of the term and switching to online classes to counter COVID-19. As of March 10, Oregon has 14 cases of COVID-19 — or the coronavirus as it is more widely known — and no deaths. However, that’s a drastic change from just a month ago when experts suggested that Oregon would remain unaffected, and allegedly, Western faculty have been tasked with planning up to two weeks of online classes for spring term should the outbreak worsen after spring break. 

President Rex Fuller and the Director of the Student Health and Counseling Center, Beth Scroggins, have both taken it upon themselves to re-address the issue and the campus as a whole. Scroggins’ email, sent campus-wide on March 4, suggests that students who suspect they have symptoms similar to COVID-19 should not risk entering a public facility and instead call local health departments first. A campus-wide email sent by President Fuller on March 9 stated that Western is following the advice of health authorities and remaining open. 

“WOU is operating normally until further notice, and we will provide additional information as conditions warrant. We have increased cleaning of common spaces such as classrooms, computer labs and residence halls,” Fuller said. 

Students may have noticed that one of the campus spaces that has changed to accommodate these precautions is Valsetz Dining Hall. 

Albert Worotikan, the Director of Campus Dining, said that Valsetz is responsible for serving approximately 1,500 students a day and, that after a meeting with Housing last Monday, March 2, he “doesn’t take this lightly.”

“If someone is sick and we’re not prepared for it, we’re going to pay for it,” said Worotikan.

Some of the necessary precautions taken include moving the salad bar and breakfast area behind the line, so that students now have to be served instead of serving themselves — even for utensils. Fruits and baked goods are now wrapped, and sanitizer stations are readily available throughout the establishment.  

“We found those areas most concerning as areas that could be cross-contaminated,” said Worotikan.

Despite this, Worotikan said that he has seen a significant decline in student use of the dining hall. He wants students to understand that “we have the safest place for students to come and eat.”

In fact, a health inspector allegedly came to Western and reported that they were taking excellent precautions. 

Worotikan said that he has observed a rising level of student anxiety, with students even going so far as to take pictures of the sanitizing stations. But, Worotikan suggested, “this is human nature,” and added that he “would rather see students act like that than reacting if there were an outbreak and blaming us.”

Regardless, as President Fuller reminded campus on March 2, “WOU is an inclusive community with members from all over the world, and we have members who travel all over the world. With this in mind, please remember that the risk of coronavirus is not connected with race, ethnicity or nationality.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Sage Kiernan-Sherrow

Western’s 2020 Giving Day almost triples their donation from four years ago

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

After four consecutive years, Western raised approximately record-breaking $140,000 in donations during WOU Giving Day on March 4, breaking their previous record and surpassing their goal of $100,000 . WOU Giving Day was started by Emily Swart, who works as the Coordinator of Annual Giving for the WOU Foundation, after realizing that other universities were beginning to shift towards having their fundraising events in the spring. 

“I just thought ‘let’s give it a shot,’’ said Swart, who later boasted that, “we’ve grown into our success. I know other universities have attempted it, but we’ve done the best.”

Four years ago, Swart and her team of call-center operators and data analysts raised $28,000 in one day. Now, that amount has almost tripled.

The majority of constituents are alumni, but friends of the university and current and former employees also played a major role in meeting Swart’s goal of $100,000. Swart called the operation “bold” and “truly one of the most wonderful days that (she) had on campus.”

The money raised during WOU Giving Day is allocated towards specific programs or scholarships that the donor values. Much of the money will be going to programs that are facing significant cuts due to low enrollment. 

According to Swart, programs which received some of the highest donations include Soccer, the Stonewall Center, the Veterans Services Center, Choir and Softball. There were three new scholarships created, including one for a non-traditional student, but constituents also donated to already existing scholarships like the student success scholarship and the LGBTQIA+ scholarship, which had a match. One unexpected donation was from the class of 1970, who are in the process of creating a scholarship in the form of a class gift, which will be endowed.

Swart and her team also set a goal of gaining a donor from every single state; they succeeded in reaching every state except for Delaware and North Dakota, and even got a donor from Saudi Arabia. 

Swart said this turnout is proof that, “we as a campus are so close and have such strong relationships with one another that we were able to use our connections. That challenge was so special to me because it was a really good example of what this campus can do when we come together.”

She concluded by stating, “to see where it originally started to where it is now, and to know that every single dollar we raise benefits Western Oregon University students, it’s really something special.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Sage Kiernan-Sherrow

Linguistics and Writing professor, Dr. Cornelia Paraskevas, has worked around the state to redesign curriculum, advocating as much for educators as she does for students.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

At the Willamette Promise advisory meeting last Thursday, Feb. 26, the board spent over five minutes praising Dr. Cornelia Paraskevas for her contributions to the project — and she wasn’t even in the room, according to Sue Monehan, the Associate Provost for Program Development at Western. The Willamette Promise is a project focused on designing and evaluating an accelerated credit program for high school students from Eugene all the way to the Portland Metro area. Dr. Paraskevas was one of the founding members of the project, stepping in just nine months after its establishment; now, she’s stepping down from that position, but her legacy of advocacy for both educators and students endures. 

Through the Willamette Promise, Dr. Paraskevas has led the state in innovative practices, creating models for teaching an accelerated credit program focused around the idea of college-level portfolios that are manually assessed for proficiency. This ensures that the work of college-level high school students reflects the skills they need to further their education. She has testified in front of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission on behalf of the project and spoken with faculty at other institutions, which, according to Dr. Monehan, hasn’t always been well-received, as much of her work challenges popular practices — like the five-paragraph essay. Nevertheless, by working with over 100 teachers, she has enabled approximately 1,700 students to earn college credit for Writing 121 and sometimes Writing 122.

“I watched Dr. Paraskevas work with teachers in the region and faculty around the state … I watched her and her colleagues develop resources for teachers that are changing the way teachers approach teaching in high schools, said Dr. Monehan, “she has a much richer understanding of what students can do with writing if they engage in a writing process.” At Western, Dr. Paraskevas is known as a student advocate; it took her over seven years to convince the university to adopt the Integrated English Studies program — which aids students in graduating with less credits while also gaining in-depth knowledge in a variety of English-related fields. Her other accomplishments include providing a valuable perspective by sitting on the Board of Trustees, advising and advocating for dozens of students and being an active scholar in her field — regularly publishing material. 

Of Dr. Paraskevas’ continuous advocacy for students on campus, Dr. Monehan relayed, “she’s very centered on what it is you’re learning and how it’s contributing to your learning, and making sure that everything you’re doing is for the students and their learning and not our own purposes … she’s trying to figure out how to build and enhance who students are and what they will be able to do in the world.”

Dr. Paraskevas is reportedly retiring at the end of the 2021 school year, but as Dr. Monehan stated, “I believe that she will continue to make a difference. She may be retiring, but I don’t think she’s going to stop working with our schools.”

 

Statements from Western Students regarding Dr. Paraskevas: 

Sean Tellvik: “One of my favorite things about Dr. Paraskevas is how student-oriented she is. In the classes I’ve taken with her, she has been highly receptive to content students are struggling with, and she changes her approach accordingly, whether that is by adjusting the lessons or providing more resources. To me personally, she has been supportive and encouraging, even outside of just Linguistics, which has helped me gain confidence in my abilities.”

 

Noah Nieves-Driver: “Cornelia helped me find my passion in langauges and linguistics. I am thankful to have had such an amazing teacher and person be a part of my schooling.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Sean: Courtesy of Sean Tellvik

Noah: Courtesy of Noah Nieves-Driver

During Black History month, part of BSU’s festivities included three-minute presentations on historically-significant black figures and events.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

February was Black History Month, and students from the Black Student Union at Western planned many events related to the celebration of black culture. One event new to this year was the introduction of three-minute presentations on a historical figure or event related to black history, such as the Black Panthers, the Birmingham Bombings, Andrew Foster and Janelle Monaé. Tati Whitlow, the membership outreach coordinator for BSU, said the event was “highly successful because of its high turnout rate,” adding that multiple organizations came to the event — such as the Stonewall Center and Heritage Hall Government. 

Whitlow said that the idea for the three-minute presentations derived from the realization that black historical figures and events weren’t being represented in the classroom. 

“We picked people that weren’t in our history books,” said Whitlow. “We’re all constantly learning … if you’re not straight, cis and white, you’re basically blacked out of history and it’s horrifying.”

The presentations were included in the Black History Month festivities, but Whitlow says they may continue afterwards, with student support.

“It’s something we’re just now trying out … it was very fun and educational and it might be good to do on a monthly basis,” they said.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Volunteers at the Food Pantry named the last week in February “Food Insecurity Awareness Week,” with the intent to reduce stigma on campus.

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow  | News Editor

Last week, from Feb. 24 to 28, was Food Insecurity Awareness Week at Western, which coincided with the Governor’s Food Drive and the Food For Fines event. Students at Abby’s House, who volunteer at the Food Pantry, planned educational events — like discussions about nutrition and sustainability — to bring awareness to food insecurity on campus and reduce the stigma related to it.

Rachel Bayly, the Community Coordinator for the Food Pantry, says she believes that Western is “already a fairly aware campus,” citing the two full barrels and three boxes of food collected for the Governor’s Food Drive as proof that Western is aware of and is contributing to solutions regarding food insecurity. 

Western has been the highest contributing Oregon university to the Governor’s Food Drive for the past 13 years. 

However, Western’s food insecurity rate is higher than the national average, according to Bayly, and there’s always ways in which the campus can improve its practices to reduce it. 

“I’ve been working with someone who’s on the ASWOU Senate and works at Valsetz and she came to me because she was appalled with the amount of food that was thrown out there and wanted to see what we can do as far as a leftover program with the pantry or something like that,” Bayly stated, adding that they’re likely to bring this issue to the Head of Dining in the future.

According to Bayly, there is an additional plan to combat food insecurity through a bill in the Oregon House of Representatives, which ASWOU lobbyists are currently trying to push through in the short session.

“If you are struggling with it, it’s not something to be ashamed of … There’s a problem with the system and I hope that people can feel proud that they are a part of a community that supports that and access that resource when they need that and go on later to give back in whatever way they can,” Bayly said.

Bayly stated that students interested in alleviating food insecurity on campus can help through volunteering at the Food Pantry, participating in food drives and being a supportive individual to anyone who is experiencing food insecurity by sharing the knowledge of the resources available one campus.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Sage Kiernan-Sherrow