Mount Hood

Western hosts a candidate forum

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

13 candidates — two for representative, four for mayor, and seven for city council — gathered together on the evening of Oct. 5 to discuss key issues that were concerning to the citizens of Monmouth and Independence, as well as students of Western Oregon University.

A partnership between Western and the Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, the forum gave candidates the opportunity to hear from their community about the subjects that matter to them.

Of those in attendance, Representative Paul Evans (D) and Selma Pierce (R) are running for the House District 20 seat; Cec Koontz and Kevin Chambers for mayor of Monmouth; John McArdle and Jack Waddell for mayor of Independence; Stephan Howard, Chris Lopez, Roxanne Beltz, Steve Milligan and Jon Carey for Monmouth city council; and Shannon Cockayne and Marilyn Morton for Independence city council.

Dr. Mark Henkels, professor of political science, mediated this forum, which centered largely around infrastructure, relations between Monmouth and Independence, reducing debt and community growth.

The questions that were asked of the House District 20 candidates mostly focused on their positions on certain house measures, but there was also some dissension about negative campaigning and the relationship between opposing political parties.

“In the last seven weeks, somewhere between $350,000 and $550,000 has been spent by my opponent and her supporters on billboards, TV and mailers calling me everything but a nice person,” said Representative Evans about Pierce.

Pierce, on the other hand, declared that “I am not involved with any of those negative ads. I am busy being the best candidate that I can be… if you look at my Facebook page or my web page, there is nothing other than about myself or about policy.”

For the Monmouth candidates, there was one debated issue that may be surprising to anyone who isn’t familiar with local politics: the maintenance of sidewalks.

Although the current Monmouth ordinance states that homeowners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk in front of their own homes, a task Beltz said can often cost “upwards of four and five thousand dollars,” there are several of the candidates who would be eager to rescind that ordinance.

“This is more than just about sidewalks — this is about ADA accessibility issues, this is about the safety of our town and this comes down to the place we want to call home,” said Lopez.

One other issue which became important in the forum was the debt associated with MINET, Monmouth and Independence’s public utility provider.

“All things come to an end, as will the MINET debt… we are on the right track, and I would like to see us get all the way there,” said Lopez.

$Current Monmouth mayor, Steve Milligan, stated that “it was one of the smartest things that we did. It may have had its risks…but it’s reaped rewards for all of us…we are MINET and we’re paying for our investment.” Because of MINET, Milligan also said that “the university can thrive, and research and invest in all our futures.”

Other questions regarding the prosperity of Monmouth and Independence caused the mayoral candidates to assert competing visions for the future of both towns.

“There’s been multiple projects that have just put our city in a lot of debt — millions of dollars of debt,” said Jack Waddell about Independence. “I just feel as if what we need to do is stop the bleeding and figure out what we can do to increase our chances of success with the new projects that are already underway.”

Contrasting this reaction, current Independence mayor John McArdle upheld that “We’ve done a bunch to help our economy. We’ve invested in infrastructure…and MINET is also part of what makes Independence a wonderful place.”

Moving to the Monmouth candidates, when asked about involvement with students, Koontz said, “I work in the school district, so students are a huge part of my life. And the students here at Western are also a huge part of my current volunteer time… my whole goal in doing that is to improve the lives of our students and to improve their success.”

Her opponent had a slightly different perspective on the issue.

“I’m involved with a church plant here on campus called Resonate,” said Chambers. “I get to talk with soon-to-be-graduates about how hard it is after you graduate… I’m still young, so I can relate to the issues we face.”

If they have registered to vote, students can make their voices heard by voting for the candidates of their choice on Nov. 6.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

A legacy of support

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Throughout his time at Western, Director of the Veterans Resource Center Andrew Holbert has diligently helped student veterans acclimate to the college environment and provided them with a home at the Veterans Resource Center. Under his guidance, the WOU Student Veterans of America won a national award and Western was able to legislatively assist in the betterment of veterans’ programs all across Oregon. He will be sorely missed by veterans and non-veterans alike after his departure on Oct. 5.

 

Q: How long have you been working at Western?

 

A: “I’ve been here since September of 2015. So, that’s almost three years.”

 

Q:What is your current position?

 

A: “I’m the Director of the Veterans Resource Center, so I oversee all of the programming… I’ve also been the advisor for the Veterans Club since I got here. When I first started I brought that back and I’ve been advising them. And last year… they were the National Club of the Year. Our vet center and vet program are the best in the state right now.”

 

Q: What’ve been your favorite things about working with the Veterans Resource Center?

 

A: “I get to work with my own population, my own culture… There are so many negative narratives out there for veterans: the homelessness and the drug abuse…those aren’t the realities… if non-veterans are hearing those narratives, then you better believe veterans are going to hear them as well…I’m challenging them to know that there’s a better narrative — that they don’t need to be a part of these other narratives. This isn’t what defines you. You can pave your own way.”

 

Q: What do you feel is the biggest thing you’ve learned while working in this position?

 

A: “I did a lot of legislative work… I ended up going and testifying on senate bills that involved veterans’ education. And, most recently, Senate Bill 143… That grant ended up saying ‘here’s money to make a vet center and hire (a full-time director)’, so for that to be the reality for the entire state now, that was really cool.”

 

Q: What are your future plans for after you leave Western?

 

A: “I’m going to be working for a senator’s office out in Las Vegas and I’ll be his veteran aide. I’ll go from working with 200 veterans to working with 32,000 veterans… It’s not necessarily where I want to go…but I wanted to stay in veterans’ advocacy. Getting hired (at Western) to do that full time…was the best job I’ve ever had. I used to say that about the Marine Corps, but no, this

is the best job.”

 

Q: What’s one thing you’re going to miss about the Western community?

 

A: “Everything. It is very, very difficult for me to leave… There were days that I’d just walk around the vet center and try to just be really slow and methodical and look at everything –take it all in—because the vet center has changed. It was just a stark room with a few pieces of furniture, and now it’s just incredible. It’s a community center. It’s changing how veterans are participating in college… we do LGBTQ veterans events, we’ve done women veterans events… I’m going to miss how our community is so tight here on campus that you can make a real-world impact.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

Disc golf pick-up

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Working contentedly in the afternoon heat on Sept. 28, the members of Kappa Sigma fraternity had set one goal for themselves: to clean up the disc golf course. The seven members in attendance picked up trash and spread bark dust around the course, hoping to create a more inviting atmosphere for Western students to enjoy.

When asked what inspired them to do service projects on campus, Kappa Sigma Grand Master of Ceremonies and junior business major Andrew Wagman said that “one of our big values is service within our fraternity. Our national organization really promotes that and we really like being a part of campus.”

When it came to choose this particular project, Wagman shared that a number of the fraternity members had enjoyed having the course on campus, so they decided to “give back to the school by just making it look a little nicer. It’s always good to go out and have fun, but at the end of the day, service is important too.”

Fraternity president Brandon Linton, a senior computer science major, added that another motivating factor for Kappa Sigma was to help change the perception of Greek Life that has been perpetuated on many college campuses.

“Honestly, we’re really hoping that this can bring a better image for Greek Life on campus, because Greek Life (at Western) is… only five years old. So, we’re really hoping that this can open the community’s eyes that we’re not just the stereotypical fraternity.”

The Kappa Sigma brothers also shared how completing projects like this helps to connect them as an organization.

“It’s all about teamwork. I mean, I don’t think that just one of us could come out here and get the job done in the way that it needs to be done,” shared Linton.

“Obviously we all like to hang out,” Wagman added. “We’re all best friends with each other. But it’s always good to be outside working, just talking… it’s something to bond over.”

If students are interested in rushing Kappa Sigma, Wagman said that the best thing to do would be to contact Linton at blinton16@wou.edu or himself at awagman15@wou.edu. Even though first-year students aren’t able to rush during Fall Term, students of any age are welcome to come and talk with them to see if Kappa Sigma might be a good fit.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Bailey Thompson

“WOU in Salem”

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Addressing the crowd in his annual State of the University Address on Sept. 17, President Rex Fuller spoke about the “WOU in Salem” project, which will begin offering classes in January 2019.

The program was designed largely with adult learners in mind, as “Oregon has over 500,000 adults with some college credit and no degree.” In Salem specifically, the 2015 census indicated that only 21 percent of the workforce had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.

“WOU in Salem” will be a partnership between Western and Chemeketa Community College, according to the initiative released by the Office of Academic Affairs, and the classes will be held at the Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry.

To start, classes will be offered both in the evening and on the weekend, providing working adults with the chance to access a high-quality educational experience that is flexible with their busy schedules.

Then, beginning in Fall 2019, students will be able to complete a number of degree programs, including M.A. in organizational leadership, B.A. and B.S. in psychology, B.A. and B.S. in criminal justice, B.A. and B.S. in interdisciplinary studies, A.B. in information systems and Certificate in professional writing.

These programs will be hugely beneficial to students who have received an associate degree or have some college credit.

“It’s really great that (Western) is going above and beyond to provide a higher education for working adults and families because it’s really important right now, particularly, to have a bachelor’s or associate degree,” said senior education major Erica Stuckart upon learning about the new campus.

A number of other Western students echoed her sentiments.

“It’s catering to the people that really need it. These people are busy — they have busy lives, they have families of their own and they can’t spend all day in class…The fact that they’re putting that program in place is really nice and hopefully there are more that come about,” said Natalie Dean, sophomore English major.

Dean then proposed one service that she believed could be really helpful to this demographic of students.

“I think it’d be really cool to see something with childcare services… because a lot of them will be adult students and they don’t have a ton of time to spare. So, maybe it’s additional help with their children or financial aid,” Dean explained.

Finally, sophomore public policy and administration major NJ Johnson added that “my favorite aspect of it is the part that it’s night classes… One of my friends is a non-traditional student: he’s 44 years old, he has a wife and a child and a job. And going to Western Oregon in Monmouth during the day is not super easy for him… (having this campus) would make it a lot easier.”

All in all, the project described by President Fuller will deliver a more feasible college experience to a significant, but underrepresented group of students — making a future at Western accessible to a larger population.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo courtesy by Paul F. Davis

New year, new Moodle

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

With the first week of classes under their belts, many students have likely have noticed that Moodle, the website where they access their classes online, has profited from a substantial update. Although many things remain unchanged, there are a number of differences that are useful to note.

“I think the most obvious thing for students to see will be the dashboard. So, when you are logging into Moodle right now, instead of seeing the old categories, you are seeing the time of when things are due and then the course tab,” said Academic Technologist Weiwei Zhang, who heads Moodle Support.

In the newest version of Moodle, students are able to see their current classes by default, but they will also be able to see past and future classes beginning in winter term. Additionally, the files for any classes predating Fall 2018 will now be kept in an archived version of the site, which is accessible via a link on the right-hand column of the update.

“The reason for this archive site is really not to make people’s lives more difficult. It’s because we self-host Moodle, and every two years the database is about to get full. We wanted to make sure Moodle doesn’t crash on anyone and the speed is still good, so our University Computing Services came up with a solution,” Zhang commented.

Even though it is challenging for Moodle Support to explain everything about the new update in advance, Zhang emphasized that students are welcome to reach out if they have any questions with the technical aspects of Moodle.

“We are building our website, so eventually we will have more tutorials for students,” Zhang shared. “We have great (graduate assistants), so they help answer a lot of emails…if students have any questions they can just call.”

The phone number for Moodle Support is 503-838-9300 and the email address is moodle@wou.edu. Students can also make appointments to meet with Moodle Support in ITC 204 if they have any further questions.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

A bright new beginning

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

On the morning of Sept. 16, a group of students with diverse backgrounds and experiences moved to Western and began a new, exciting chapter in their lives. Throughout this first week, the PLUS team had organized days that were packed with fun and informative events, aiming to familiarize students with Western’s campus and community.

A few of the most celebrated events of New Student Week included the Dating Doctor, drive-in movie, hypnotist, WUC Premiere Night, magician, Freshman Bar and NSW Variety Show, along with many others.

One event which especially highlighted the necessity of hope and determination to this first-year group, though, was the New Student Sunrise — a recently-conceived tradition in its second year at Western.

As students gathered at McArthur Stadium early on Sept. 21, yawning and wrapping themselves in blankets, ASWOU president Evelyn Guzman and President Rex Fuller prepared to share wisdom with them about the college experience.

“My journey started on this campus right after high school,” said Guzman. “I didn’t know much of what I was doing here. I remember getting all of the mandatory registration done and coming to this campus without either of my parents because one lived too far and the other had to work and couldn’t afford to take time off…I remember feeling uncertain and, honestly, scared of what was coming.”

Since this sentiment is relatable to a large percentage of first-year students experiencing a similar life-changing transition, Guzman shared what helped her adjust to her new environment.

In her first year at Western, becoming connected to a number of on-campus organizations, such as M.E. Ch. A., Abby’s House, the Multicultural Representatives and ASWOU made her feel at home.

Throughout her journey, Guzman has developed a number of goals; beyond striving to make her family proud, she said that another goal of hers, in earning a degree, was to accomplish something on behalf of all people of color.

“Against all odds, here we are,” Guzman stated, reminding students it is possible to persevere, even in the face of great difficulty.

While these first-year students are sure to have a number of their own unique goals moving forward, they are also likely to have fears that they must overcome in the process.

Even though Guzman has struggled with anxiousness at times when thinking of all the people still being harmed or repressed in the world, she imparted the thought that keeps her going.

“How I overcame (the worry) every time was looking around me and seeing everyone pushing forward, in different areas, to make this world a better place. It’s understanding that maybe one person can’t accomplish everything to be able to do that, but every person at this university is doing something.”

President Fuller also encouraged students to take care of each other through all the difficult situations that come their way.

“When you have a bad day, reach out to somebody,” Fuller said. There is an abundance of groups on campus available to a wide variety of people, and he affirmed that it is important for students to be bold and to get involved in order to feel connected.

After the speeches were given, the new students ate a pancake breakfast and lined up to paint their names on the sidewalk — leaving a mark on Western that is sure to last for years to come.

Contact the author at bthompson15@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of: Paul F. Davis, Bailey Thompson

A summer of improvements

Bailey Thompson | News Editor

Arriving back to Western’s campus this week, students can observe a number of changes from last spring. Although certain locations are still under construction, others have completed their transition and are open for students to utilize and enjoy.

Completed Relocations:

Three of Western’s organizations have recently acquired new homes: the WOU Food Pantry, the Student Activities Board and the Stonewall Center. The WOU Food Pantry is now located in the former Oregon Military Academy building, which lies across the street from Heritage Hall. Volunteers at the Food Pantry urge students to take advantage of this free resource, as many may not have realized it has moved. Additionally, SAB and the Stonewall Center have also undergone relocations within the Werner University Center. The SAB office will hereafter be housed on the second floor of the WUC, where the Wolf Express was previously located. The Stonewall Center, which formerly shared a space with Abby’s House, has moved to the location recently vacated by SAB.

Current Renovations:

The Child Development Center and Natural Sciences have both began construction on upgrades to their facilities. The Child Development Center, when construction is finished, will be moving from Todd Hall to the University Park and Conference Center buildings. According to the University Computing Services newsletter, the remodel will join Units A, B and C together, and, to prepare for this, the ROTC program and Forensics Lab have been moved to Academic Programs Support Center and Bellamy Hall, respectively. Natural Sciences has also begun an extensive remodel, which is not slated to be completed until September of 2019. However, the basement and first floor will be open for classes as usual for fall term.

 

Contact the author at bthompson15@wou.edu

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