Mount Hood

Podcast Roundup

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

“Decoder Ring”

Hosted by Willa Pasket, TV critic for Slate, “Decoder Ring” aims to demystify certain aspects of culture. The podcast was launched on April 29 and has only produced one episode — a 30-minute piece on the history of the Laff Box, the first laugh-track machine. According to Slate’s website, every month Pasket will, “take on a cultural question, object, idea, or habit and speak with experts, historians and obsessives to figure out where it comes from, what it means and why it matters.”

“Decoder Ring” is interesting to listen to because it does just that. The show makes listeners think about aspects of culture that may not be on their mind — I can honestly tell you that I had never thought about laugh tracks as in-depth as this show talked about them.

Photo by: player.fm

“I Need My Space”

“I Need My Space” is a podcast put out by Inverse, a website that’s aimed at exploring science, innovation and new ideas. The show is hosted by Rae Paoletta, senior editor for the site, and comedian Steve Ward. While “I Need My Space” explores questions relating to space and intergalactic travel, it does so in a more lighthearted way than podcasts like “StarTalk Radio.” Paoletta and Ward interview both space experts and space enthusiasts to answer a myriad of questions that range from “what do aliens really look like?” to “why do we love shooting things into space?”

“I Need My Space” is a must-listen for people who are interested in space, but who also love to ponder the questions that may be less serious. It’s important to know what Elon Musk is doing, but it’s also fun to think about what life in a spacecraft is like.

Photo by: Inverse.com

“Dear Franklin Jones”

I discovered this podcast while scrolling through the available podcast options in the Google Play store. “Dear Franklin Jones” follows Jonathan Hirsch, the show’s producer, as he tries to uncover the truth about a group led by Franklin Jones that he was raised in — the group has been deemed controversial because of speculation that they’re a cult.

The ‘cast consists of seven short episodes that document Hirsch’s journey as he tries to understand Jones’s effect on Hirsch life, family and the lives of the people who followed Jones. “Dear Franklin Jones” is an explorative podcast that follows the same vein of productions like “Missing Richard Simmons” — Hirsch uses extensive interviews, research, as well as his own self-reflection to work towards uncovering information about Jones.

Photo by: www.stitcher.com

“Nancy”

“Nancy” is the only podcast on this list that wasn’t introduced in April 2018 — but it turned a year old in April. Hosted by Kathy Tu and Tobin Low, the podcast focuses on showcasing different perspectives from people in the LGBTQ+ community. Though the podcast begins with Tu and Low talking about their individual coming out stories, it shifts into being a podcast that relies on interviews with celebrities like Lena Waithe and Nico Tortorella, or people closer to their lives like their moms.

Though “Nancy” helps give a voice to people throughout the community, it stands out because of the heart that Tu and Low have. Both hosts are clearly invested in the stories that they’re presenting and it shows.

Photo by: npr.org

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

WUC changes coming this fall

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Ever since the joining of Wolf Express and Caffe Allegro during the summer of 2017, the space previously occupied by the Wolf Express convenience store has remained empty. But students coming back to Western in fall 2018 will find the space filled by a brand new, reservable conference room and an office and work space for the Student Activities Board.

The WUC Advisory Committee, a group of representatives from all offices within the Werner University Center, created a subcommittee to redesignate the space after it was vacated. An application process invited student organizations and campus departments to apply for the 1,040-square-foot location on the second floor of the WUC.

After an interview process with the applicants and a recommendation by the subcommittee, 60 percent of the space was granted to the Student Activities Board.

“Our whole main goal with that space is to not only create a programming space, but we also want to create a community space, a work space, and storage,” explained SAB director Matthew Ciraulo.

SAB is currently located on the first floor of the WUC and this expansion would almost double their working area. Ciraulo noted that, with the growing number of students attending the board’s events, they are hoping to continue the organization’s growth and get more people involved.

“We really want to make it a welcoming space. We want people coming in, asking questions, and getting to know SAB,” he expressed.

While 60 percent of the area was designated for SAB use, the other 40 percent will hold a reservable conference room similar to the Little D and Rogue rooms in the WUC. The conference room is going to come fully equipped with a flat panel screen, SMART capabilities and room for approximately 14 individuals.

“The conference rooms are some of our most reserved spaces in the building,” explained WUC Advisory Committee chair Patrick Moser. “I think it’ll be really popular.”

The committee is in the process of drafting designs for the space so that the conference room and SAB office will be completed by the beginning of fall 2018.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu.

 

Exploring the great outdoors

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

From crusading through Death Valley, whitewater rafting on the Deschutes and exploring the wonders of Oregon — the Natural Science Club gives students the opportunity to experience the natural world outside of a classroom.

“It provides these opportunities that aren’t available to students in any other way,” explained Natural Science Club president Karisa Merrill.

The Natural Science Club is an organization that encourages students to meet new people, learn about various scientific topics and become informed about career options in the field of science.

The club holds various information sessions that are open to all students, including “When Good Cats Go Wild,” which discussed feral cats, and “It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s a Raptor!” which educated students on predatory birds. Both presentations were given by Western professor Jim Dawson during winter term. The club also brings in guest speakers from around the area to discuss topics relating to the natural world.

The club’s most anticipated events are their three annual field trips: during fall term, club members have the opportunity to hike in various parts of the Willamette Valley, as in the 2017 trip to Silver Falls; during Memorial Day weekend, the club takes nearly 20 members to the Deschutes River in Central Oregon to go white water rafting and camping; and, for spring break, students pack up their gear and prepare to spend a week hiking and camping at a national park or campground. This spring break, the Natural Science Club took 16 students to explore Death Valley in California and Nevada.

Each trip is catered to the interests of the club members and what they want to explore. The spring break and Memorial Day weekend excursions have limited space and cost close to $100 per person which covers transportation, food and all additional fees.

In her two years as president, Merrill has seen the impact that these trips have had on the participants. Some individuals go into the trips without any camping or hiking experience whatsoever and come out with excitement for future excursions.

“That just kind of shows you the experience, the fun, the things that we’re able to provide for students that you wouldn’t really have otherwise, and I think that’s really wonderful,” said Merrill.

Merrill emphasized that all students can attend monthly club meetings and sign up for the excursions. She explained, “We’re not specific to science majors. We are open to any major.”

For club updates and meeting times, visit the Natural Science Club OrgSync page.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Advocating for student rights

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

With clipboards in hand, several individuals were out on the sidewalks in mid-April encouraging students to register to vote for the upcoming primary election on May 15. Among these advocates are members of the Oregon Student Association, or OSA: a student-led organization that represents close to 130,000 college students in Oregon.

OSA board members spend much of their time at campuses across the state working with student governments to run campaigns, register students to vote and advocate for policy change. Their work aligns with their three main goals: leadership development, social advocacy and policy implementation.

“We prepare students to be civically engaged and advocate for higher education affordability and accessibility, both in the institutional level and statewide,” explained Ricardo Lujan Valerio, Legislative Director for OSA.

OSA has been working closely with ASWOU at Western to assist in voter registration campaigns and successfully registered over 850 new voters for the 2016 election. The organization is also aiming to create a more inclusive and knowledgeable community with sessions on marginalized communities during Diversity Week from May 14-18.

In addition to working on-site at campuses, OSA advocates to the state legislature regarding issues that affect Oregon students. This often includes issues such as affordable tuition, support for undocumented students, K-12 sex education reform and increased mental health resources for students.

Lujan Valerio encourages all students to get involved with OSA.

“As an organization, we succeed based on the student leaders that direct us … Not only would they get a sense of what OSA is all about, but they would gain leadership experience and networking opportunities that transfer into professional careers post-college and have the ability to make higher education reachable for the next generation of students at WOU.”

Additional trainings occur at OSA’s various conferences, including the Oregon Students of Color Conference and the Oregon Student Equal Rights Alliance Symposium. These conferences provide leadership development training for students across Oregon. For more information on attending conferences, visit the ASWOU office on the first floor of the WUC and learn about upcoming opportunities.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu.

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

 

27,660 flags, 13 million lives

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

One by one, volunteers drive colorful flags into the soggy grass on Monmouth Avenue. Rain is the only sound that can be heard as the students, staff and faculty silently reflect on the annual display —  27,660 flags that represent the deaths of over 13 million individuals during the Holocaust.

“I thought it was really cool that our community would actually do something like this,” said freshman psychology major Alicia Ojeda. Ojeda was one of the numerous volunteers that helped place the flags in the ground on the evening of April 11.

First-year psychology major Brooklyn Giles reflected on how she felt helping set up the display.

“Yesterday, when I was putting them down, it was just really impactful. I couldn’t believe this happened,” described Giles. “Putting in a flag seems so simple, but to someone who was either a victim and still may be alive or a family member … it could mean more than just putting a flag in the ground for them.”

This annual display hosted by Student Engagement falls on Yom HaShoah, a Jewish day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust. Around the world, this day of remembrance began on the evening of April 11 and ended on the evening of April 12.

“Part of what makes this event so powerful is that it’s here and then it’s gone,” explained John Wilkins, Coordinator for Leadership and Inclusion for Student Engagement. Wilkins is in charge of coordinating the flags, signage and volunteers for the display. He noted that the display reveals a powerful and important piece of history that needs to be commemorated.

“I think we remember it so it doesn’t happen again,” said Wilkins.

Senior social science major Sara Madden is exploring the topic of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust in her honors thesis. Her interest in this topic started years ago when she visited a concentration camp in Germany. Even Madden, who has been studying this time period for years, found herself impacted by the display.

“There’s something about reading it in a textbook that doesn’t hit you the same way as actually seeing it,” Madden expressed. “It makes it so much more real and easier to relate to.”

Madden also noted that the display gives a holistic view of the victims of the Holocaust. Not only are the six million Jewish individuals that lost their lives represented, but various flags also represent people with disabilities, Spanish republicans, Polish Catholics, LGBTQ+ individuals, Roma and Sinti tribes, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Serbians and Soviet prisoners of war.

“For me, I’ve only really focused on the Jewish impact during the Holocaust,” explained Madden. “But I know there’s so many other types of people and demographics that were affected. I really like how the different flag colors emphasize that.”

A documentary called “Orchestra of Exiles” showing on May 3rd at 7 p.m. in the Willamette Room will continue the education and awareness of the Holocaust on Western’s campus.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Bringing students together, one egg at a time

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

The WOU Student Veterans of America and Residence Hall Association took on the role of the Easter bunny during the second week in April, for their second annual Easter Egg Hunt. Eggs scattered around campus invited determined students to take part in the search in order to win prizes and candy from the veterans center.

WOU Student Veterans of America president Shane Follett explained that the Easter Egg Hunt was an idea brought back from the Student Veterans of America National Conference in 2016. He was excited to implement something that would get student veterans involved on campus.

“For me, the primary purpose is to get that interaction between military and non-military affiliated students,” Follett expressed. The event also helped advertise the center itself as a place where both veterans and non-veterans can hang out, do homework and connect with other students.

“It lets people know that the vet center is here, we do have one on campus,” said Follett. The 2017 Easter Egg Hunt helped to build connections between student veterans and the community, which is one reason why the club was named Chapter of the Year at the 2018 SVA National Conference.

Members of SVA and RHA woke up bright and early every day, sometimes in the middle of the night, to hide nearly 75 eggs along Monmouth Ave. There they waited until students came to campus in the morning and began to search.

Instructions inside the eggs informed students to stop by the Veterans center to claim their prize. This included board games, candy, bluetooth speakers, Rokus, iHomes and the grand prize of a 50-inch 4k TV.

Follett enjoyed seeing students walk into the veterans center with excitement and walk out with a prize.

“It is getting people in the door. They are coming in and interacting with veterans that they may have had a class with and not even known they were a veteran.” He also noted that there is a stigma that exists around veterans, and events like these help to break that down. Follett explained, “It’s definitely getting the larger student population more comfortable around veterans.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Meet the candidates

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

With spring term comes the campus-wide event that decides who will represent the student body in 2018-2019: the ASWOU elections. Voting for the elections will begin on April 23 and will continue for at least a week, or until 10 percent of the student body has voted. To cast your vote, visit ASWOU’s OrgSync and read on to learn more about the candidates.

Name: Evelyn Guzman

Running for: President

“It has been the greatest experience being your student voice for the 2017-2018 year as Vice President … Your student voices matter and I truly believe that it is possible to have more of your voices represented in decision making settings but for that we need more involvement. I have attended Western since my freshman year and have continuously been involved with organizations/clubs and centers on campus, but also with initiatives within our community. I completely believe that (Western) has helped me grow as an individual and I intend on reflecting that back every step of the way. I intend on continuing to engage students into being more involved with (Western).”

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Name: Logan Doerfler

Running for: Judicial Administrator

“You may recognize my name after serving as your 2017-2018 Judicial Administrator.

After being granted the opportunity to serve the Western community I learned just how special ASWOU is, and how fulfilling it is to maintain the integrity of our systems, via Judicial Board hearings and participating in a number of ASWOU sponsored events. Western is a uniquely diverse community devoted to fair treatment and representation of all student demographics. As a student veteran, I represent a small but impactful group of individuals who strive to leave things better than they found it. I did my best to do so within ASWOU this year and will continue this priority next year.”

Photo by: Logan Doerfler

Name: Nathan Soltz

Running for: Senate President

“I have been active in politics since I was 15 and have been working in the Oregon State Senate since I was 18. I hold elected positions in party politics at the county, district and statewide levels. In 2016, I was elected to be a delegate to the national convention, becoming Oregon’s youngest-ever delegate at the age of 19 … I want to make the ASWOU Senate a deliberative, efficient body which truly understands the responsibilities it is sworn to uphold. The Senate represents you, the students of Western Oregon University, and with every action it takes, it needs to keep that in mind. As your ASWOU Senate President, I promise transparency, honesty and responsiveness.”

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Name: Rowan Hammer

Running for: a Senate seat

I am not running for ASWOU Senate with any specific agenda for making changes. Instead, I want to serve as an advocate for students and foster open communication between the student body and the university administration. I want to promote diversity and inclusion by working to ensure that everyone’s opinions and viewpoints can be shared openly, regardless of your personal background or attributes. If there is any one issue that I would want to try to address it would be an ongoing effort to make school more affordable for students, especially by encouraging instructors to adopt low-cost and open-source textbooks.

Photo by: Rowan Hammer

Name: Jamie Norr

Running for: a Senate seat

“This would be my second year on ASWOU Senate. I am extremely committed to improving our school for all students, faculty and staff, and community members. I believe that our student government should be an open space where everyone can voice their opinions and have their ideas heard. I plan to encourage and implement that idea if elected to this position. As a future educator, I love being involved in improving education for all and being a Senator will allow me to work on what our students want and need. I plan to increase opportunities for students to follow their passions in a healthy and positive way. I hope to assist in creating a safe and accepting school by listening to fellow students, advocating for changes, speaking out against discrimination or notions that may harm students, and working towards a better community.”

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Name: Erik Morgan Jr.

Running for: a Justice Board seat

“I want to continue to serve on the ASWOU Judicial Board because I believe in holding organizations accountable for the promises they make to the people they serve. In ASWOU’s mission statement, the organization pledges to ‘advocate for every WOU student’s rights to the WOU administration as well as the state of Oregon and the nation.’ In order to achieve that goal, ASWOU needs to be held responsible in two ways: by the students; and by the Judicial Board … By re-electing me to the ASWOU Judicial Board, students will be ensuring that there is an experienced Justice serving on the board that will act as a stabilizing figure and will allow a measure of consistency in decision making.”

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

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