Mount Hood

Tips for a safe spring break

By: Alvin Wilson 
Staff Writer

Spring break is just around the corner, and many of us are anxious to leave campus and celebrate our time off the college way: with alcohol.

But before you hop in your car and say bottoms up, you should probably stop to consider a few things.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) published a study that shows nearly half of all college students binge-drink.

Binge-drinking is defined as drinking five or more drinks within a two-hour period.

Trever Jackson, Campus Public Safety officer for Western, says that excessive drinking is a problem even when it’s not spring break.

“We get a lot of people who become too intoxicated and end up causing problems,” he says. “People will drink, then take it too far, and it becomes unsafe for them and other people. We end up having to deal with that quite a bit on breaks as much as any other time.”

Rebecca Chiles, director of Public Safety, says the biggest things to keep in mind are your choices concerning alcohol and drug use.

“I think we get a little relaxed, or comfortable, with groups of people when we’re having a good time,” she says. “Then you wake up the next morning and your phone’s missing, or your laptop’s missing, or your wallet full of money’s missing. I think just be vigilant about the people you’re with.”

Chiles says it’s important to surround yourself with people you feel safe with to reduce the risk of dangerous situations.

“People are going to drink, so my best advice is to do it with someone you know and love and trust,” she says. “Have a designated person who’s going to be the safety person and look out for everybody—someone who will have your back and take care of you if a safety situation arises …”

Allen Risen, Occupational Environmental Safety Officer for Campus Public Safety, says another important thing to consider is travelling.

He says that during spring break, most of the students leave campus.

“Campus is pretty much dead,” he says. “Most of the students who live on campus are gone … Usually everything’s pretty quiet.”

Risen says that if you choose to travel, pack a blanket and extra water in case of an emergency, and make sure your belongings are locked up tight at home.

Officer Jackson also offers some words of advice about travelling during the break:

“Be in contact with your loved ones. Let them know when you’re leaving, what route you’re taking, how you’re getting there, when you arrive. If you’re travelling in your own vehicle, make sure it’s travel-worthy.”

The last thing you want is to be stranded on a highway in the middle of nowhere. Jackson mentioned that some car shops will do free “trip checks” to make sure your car is able to handle a road trip.

Your local Les Schwab is one such place. They will check everything from your tires and brakes to your oil—all for free (but, of course, they won’t fix anything for free).

Contact the author at awilson15@wou.edu or on Twitter @awilsonjournal

2 New Digital Production Rooms in Library

By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

Hamersly Library recently constructed two new digital production rooms, found in HL 221 and HL 222. The first specializes in audio production, and the second in video. Both rooms come equipped with a Mac and Dell for user preference, and each computer holds various programs for manipulating audio and video.

“This whole space is a work in progress. We plan on opening up the area for a full service desk so that people can receive help whenever they need it,” said Scott Carter, digital production and publishing specialist for Hamersly Library.

There are also several other computers set up in the alcove with media production software on them, in case a full production room is not necessary.

“This is one place that anyone on campus can come without needing special permissions,” said Carter.

If you would like to reserve a room and experience the brand new production centers, go to wou.edu/dmc

Better Safe than Sorry

By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor


The first documented case of drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) occurred in February of this year.

Despite daily adherence to Truvada, a preventative drug against the contraction of HIV, a gay man has tested positive for HIV. The strain of HIV was reported as one that was multidrug resistant, which explained how it was contracted regardless of the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis.

This drug allowed people who are at very high risk of getting HIV to prevent infection by taking a pill every day. This included exposure to HIV through either sex or the use of injected drugs. 

The failure of this drug had not yet been reported in any other individuals, which made this case an exceedingly rare one.

According to POZ.com, none of the 1,400+ high-risk individuals taking pre-exposure prophylaxis through the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis program have contracted HIV to date, despite their very high rate of other sexually transmitted diseases.

“[Pre-exposure prophylaxis] has done very well so far with helping reduce the spread of HIV, and I think that what it’s done well also needs to be recognized,” said John Goldsmith, senior English major and Triangle Alliance President for Western.

On campus, Triangle Alliance partners with the Stonewall Center for World AIDS day on Dec. 1 to help raise awareness. Both of these organizations have also partnered with the Peer Mentor program for sex education programs.

In future years, there may be more events hosted by Triangle Alliance that focus on this topic. For Spring Term, Triangle Alliance meetings will occur in Ackerman 141 at 5 p.m. 

With any sexually transmitted disease, chances of being infected are severely reduced when precautions are taken. It is recommended that one get tested frequently and with every new partner, and to know your partner’s HIV status. 

Use condoms, avoid injecting drugs, and limit the number of sexual partners, if possible. And use other preventative measures, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis or sterilized injection tools, as needed.

“I think that this issue is not isolated to the LGBT*Q+ community, as anyone has the potential to contract HIV,” Goldsmith said. “All people who are sexually active need to take their sexual health more seriously.”

“My heart goes out to the person afflicted, and I hope they will receive all of the treatment they need,” said Goldsmith.

It can take three to 12 weeks for an HIV- positive individual’s body to produce enough antibodies for a test to produce correct results. Many individuals do not show signs or symptoms of HIV until much later, although some may experience flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks after infection.

HIV testing most commonly takes place in three forms: as a blood test, urine test, or as an oral swab. Testing is also highly confidential and is often paired with a consultation regarding HIV itself.

The Student Health and Counseling Center offers HIV testing for roughly $17. The result turnaround for an HIV test averages two days.

To schedule an appointment for testing, please contact the Student Health and Counseling Center at 503-838-8313.

Contact the author at jberesheim11@wou.edu or on Twitter @woujournalnews

Insane in the membrane

By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

While lice may have a reputation of popping up in small children within the school system, outbreaks are possible wherever high populations of people gather. Now, recent reports state that “super lice” have shown up within the last few years.

“There are a number of theories as to how “regular” lice have mutated into “super” lice,” said Jennifer King, FNP-BC, Medical Services Director at Western’s Student Health and Counseling Center.

“Most likely, it is due to incorrect usage of over-the-counter treatments, either by not using enough product or leaving the solution on the scalp for an insufficient amount of time to kill the lice,” King continued. “Based on research, it has been found that lice can mutate genetically and become resistant to traditional OTC treatments, [also known as] pyrethroids.”

These super lice have spread to over half the country, including Washington, California, and Arizona.

In 2000, the over-the-counter treatments of pyrethroids were 100 percent effective in the removal and killing of head lice. Now, those numbers have dwindled to just 25 percent effectiveness in recent trials.

To combat the mutated lice, Lice Clinics of America has developed an FDA-approved treatment called AirAlle, reports FoxNews.

“We use heated air, and we dehydrate the lice and eggs in a single treatment,” said Claire Roberts, CEO of Lice Clinics of America, to KSDK.com.

“It takes about an hour, and we guarantee it,” Roberts continued.
Each treatment of AirAlle costs about $170, which may be out of a college student’s budget range.

“If there is a concern about resistant head lice, a.k.a “super lice” we recommend scheduling an appointment here at the health center for evaluation and prescription treatment,” encouraged King.

Some suggestions to reduce the chance of spreading lice can be found through the Center for Disease Control. The CDC recommends a few of the following tips: avoid head-to-head contact, avoid sharing clothes – especially hats, and try not to use an infected individual’s objects, such as pillows or hairbrushes.

If you do happen to become infected, machine wash all clothes and bedding in hot water, then dry at the same temperature. Fumigation sprays are not necessary as they are not meant to treat lice. Wash all other possibly infected objects, such as hairbrushes and towels, in hot water as well. Lastly, vacuum and wipe down the affected living areas, such as bedroom and living room.

Once lice have left someone’s body, they quickly dehydrate and die within one to two days, but cleaning ensures less chance of the lice finding their way back to a body. Lice eggs also require a specific temperature, one found close to the scalp, in order to hatch. Investing in specialized lice picks and combs may help combat the further spread.

“To help control a head lice outbreak in a community, it is imperative that we provide information to prevent the spread of lice. The student health center utilizes social media, including Facebook and Twitter as well as email to share information about a number of general health topics and concerns,” said King.

“While lice are irritating and uncomfortable, the good news is that they don’t spread disease, according to the CDC,” said King.

Contact the author at jberesheim11@wou.edu or on Twitter @WOUjournalnews

Strike Averted

ASWOUlogo

By: Alvin Wilson
Staff Writer

After nearly a year of debating, and just before the mediation date, WOUFT and Western’s administration have come to an agreement.

The university decided to give the union what it has been asking for: a 10 percent pay increase for non-tenure-track faculty.

“The University did indeed accept our offer as is, with non-tenure-track faculty getting five percent each year for the two year contract, which was the 10 percent we were holding out for,” said Mark Perlman, president of WOUFT. “And no other take-backs in other areas,” Perlman added.

The previous offer from the university included cuts to things such as faculty development and traveling funds, but the proposal that the university accepted gave NTT faculty their raises without the need for cuts.

According to Perlman, this is a much-needed move forward.

“WOU salaries will go up over $50,000 for the step one assistant professors, which is essential for us to be able to hire new faculty,” he said.

“But even with all of this, WOU faculty salaries will still be about 15 percent below comparable universities, so there is still progress to be made in the future to get WOU faculty salaries where they should be.”

According to Glassdoor.com, a website that compiles information about salaries, the average salary for an assistant professor at Western is $50,746. At the University of Oregon, assistant professors make $69,884, and at Oregon State University they make $87,948.

Not all of the schools in Oregon are comparable because of their size differences, but Western’s assistant professor pay is already 39 percent below the national average, according to Glassdoor.

Not all assistant professors at Western are non-tenure-track, but there are a considerable amount who are, and they will soon have a more competitive salary.

Perlman said he was happy about the success, but even happier that the negotiations are over.

“The whole bargaining team is happy to conclude bargaining, and there are a lot of good things in the new collective bargaining agreement,” he said.
He continued to say that the union had gained many new members over the course of the negotiations, but Perlman said it’s now time to think about finals week.

“The members of the bargaining team are going to get a welcome break from union activity, and need to focus on grading papers and final exams,” he said. “They did a lot of work in bargaining, and deserve a huge amount of credit.”

Perlman said on Tuesday that the deal had not been finalized by the other union members yet, but he was confident they would support it.

“The formal contract ratification vote by the union members is set for Thursday afternoon,” he said, “but I have no doubt that they will approve it.”

Contact the author at awilson15@wou.edu or on Twitter @awilsonjournal

Super Tuesday had me like…

By: Conner Williams
Editor-in-Chief

As the presidential candidates competed for delegates on Super Tuesday, the day in the election cycle where more delegates are at stake than any other day, I talked with several Western students about their thoughts on the election.

Rosario Peralta, a staff member at the Writing Center, said that she feels the election has been civil to an extent.

“I feel like it’s pretty civil, but at the same time, we have a lot of candidates that are extremes, which doesn’t happen all the time,” she said. “I think it’s civil from the candidates’ perspective, but I don’t necessarily think it’s civil based on how the media portray things.”

“I think it’s kind of a hot mess,” said Peralta. “I was listening to the radio recently and they said ‘We never thought we’d live in a world where Donald Trump could be the winner,’ and apparently that’s the world we live in […] it’s overwhelming and terrifying.”

Peralta said that the issues she finds most important in this election are education and immigration. She is a U.S. resident, but not a citizen, so she cannot actually vote in the election. Despite this, Peralta said that she does her best to campaign and advocate for the candidate(s) that she thinks address her concerns the most.

“I think how we treat other countries and people who come into our country is a big thing for me,” said Peralta.

Taylor Waite, a senior english major, said that she is frustrated with the way the election is turning out thus far.

“I feel a little frustrated from the way that politics are cultured now and are treated as reality TV,” she said. “It’s more about who can make more of a show out of it.”

Waite said that education and loan reform are among her top concerns in the election.

“Education is huge for me in that I’m paying for college,” she said. “I think [free education] is going to be the future of our country.”

“I’m also concerned about the job market because I’m a senior, for one, and coming out with a bachelor of arts, I’m not guaranteed a job,” said Waite.

Amanda Jester, a sophomore criminal justice major, said that she is excited for the election since it will be her first time voting.

“I think since it’s the first election I can vote in, it’s fun for me since I can actually participate in it,” she said.

“I want the focus to be on improving education and social services rather than military spending and things like that,” said Jester. “I also think that women’s health and women’s reproductive rights are huge issues for me.”

Jessica Esparza, a senior english major, also said that she has a hard time believing that Donald Trump is doing as well as he is.

“I think it’s kind of a joke right now,” she said. “I thought that Trump was going to a be a joke at first, and now he might actually be the Republican candidate.”

“I thought it was going to be a publicity stunt, but he just never went away,” said Esparza.

As the polls closed at the end of the day Tuesday, Donald Trump found himself still in the lead for the Republicans with 319 delegates, according to data from The New York Times. Ted Cruz follows shortly behind with 226, Marco Rubio with 110, John Kasich with 25, and Ben Carson with eight, though Carson has announced he will be suspending his campaign. In order to secure the party’s nomination for president, a Republican candidate needs 1,237 delegates.

Hillary Clinton stretched her lead to 1,052 delegates, while Bernie Sanders currently has 427. 2,383 delegates are needed for a Democrat to secure the party’s nomination for president.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu or on Twitter @journalEIC

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