Opinion – Page 15 – The Western Howl

by Nathaniel Dunaway
Entertainment Editor

We here at The Journal are forgoing our new column “Portraits of a University” this week to help bring attention to and raise awareness of the National Day of Listening.

Launched by the non-profit oral history organization StoryCorps (who had a profound influence on the aforementioned column), the National Day of Listening is an unofficial holiday or day of observance that takes place the day after Thanksgiving — commonly known as Black Friday — and encourages everyone and anyone to sit down with loved ones and record their stories.

Founded in 2003 by David Isay, StoryCorps’ mission, according to their website, is to “provide people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share and preserve the stories of our lives.”

Formal StoryCorps interviews take place in recording booths located in major cities across America, and these interviews are all cataloged in the Library of Congress, as well as on the StoryCorps website.

The National Day of Listening is a bit more informal, a more do-it-yourself approach. The day of observance was formed as an alternative to the consumer-oriented Black Friday, and its main purpose is to encourage spending time with family and hearing their stories.

StoryCorps is all about preservation of these stories, and suggests recording interviews with your loved ones. Nowadays this can be done with the voice memo function on the iPhone, or with any number of voice-recording apps available for iTunes or Android.

On the StoryCorps website, you can find an extensive list of questions to ask family members to help get started, including “How has your life been different than what you’d imagined?”, “What did you want to be when you grew up?” and “Do you have any favorite stories from your childhood?”

The idea behind the National Day of Listening is simple: listening, as StoryCorps’ motto tells us, is an act of love. How many of us have grandparents whose childhoods we know very little about? Aunts and uncles who’ve lived experiences we’ve never known of, simply because we’ve never thought to ask? One day, these people will no longer be present in our lives, and wouldn’t it be a shame for them to have left behind stories untold?

I plan to interview two of my grandparents next Friday, and maybe my parents as well. Eventually, I’d love to hear and record stories from every member of my family because listening is important, and family is important.

The purpose of this piece is not to condemn Black Friday or consumerism or materialism or any of that. The purpose instead is to suggest that many of us — all of us — have stories to tell. All we really need is for someone to ask us to tell them.

For more information, and to hear the stories of over 80,000 Americans, visit the StoryCorps website at storycorps.org.

The Western Howl

Home » Opinion

A deeper look at going G-free

By Laura Knudson
Editor-in-Chief

An invasion of labels appearing on grocery stores shelves nationwide bearing the G-word have become a roadmap for those seeking a healthier lifestyle. Deemed the latest food fad, gluten-free diets are the target of mockery.

Dieters are accused of going g-free because someone in their Pilates class told them to. Meanwhile, supporters argue gluten is unhealthy and can have adverse effects on the body. But is the roadmap misleading? Should gluten be avoided or is it all a bunch of hype?

First, let’s establish what gluten is.

A protein composite found mainly in wheat, rye and barley, gluten comes from the Latin word glue; appropriate since it is responsible for the elastic texture in dough that works to bind and maintain shape, holding food together.

Unfortunately, this binding characteristic makes it a staple in processed foods. While some minimally processed foods are healthy like bagged spinach or pre-cut vegetables, boxed or packaged food containing additives and artificial flavors are not.

Think along the lines of frozen pizza, crackers and other ready-to-go foods. Loaded with fat, sodium and a high glycemic index, these processed foods have little nutritional value and one big thing in common: gluten.

And companies are certainly making it easy to avoid. There’s no doubt that every trip to the store yields more g-free products. Entire sections and aisles have sprung up; a good thing for those suffering from celiac disease, allergies and sensitivities.

With one in every 133 Americans suffering from celiac disease according to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, celiacs now have a plethora of gluten substitutes at their fingertips.

And for some, the extra cost is worth the wheat-less versions of their favorite snack. It’s literally the best thing since sliced bread.

However, dieters joining in on the fad, void of medical reason, are taking the wrong approach.

Gluten substitutes are not the answer. Consumers are often fooled by products labeled “gluten-free,” “all natural,” and “organic.” These substitutes are not necessarily healthier as they are still processed junk food. Labels expose similar amounts of sugar, fat and sodium.

So let’s be clear: highly processed foods with gluten are bad and highly processed foods without gluten are bad.

As someone with a gluten allergy, I can say from experience that a box of gluten-free cookies won’t make you feel any better than ones made with flour.

So, apart from those with celiac disease, allergies, or sensitivity, gluten in and of itself is not necessarily bad. It is all the stuff gluten is processed with that is bad.

Still, gluten and unhealthiness are synonymous to many.

This false connotation is perhaps why the very mention of the word gluten evokes skepticism from critics.

Nonetheless, these are but faint cries squashed by the steamroller that is the food industry.

Food companies wouldn’t dare curb the ignorance when the industry is worth $4.2 billion, according to Euromonitor, an international marketing research company.

It should also be clear that the gluten-free industry and substitutes are not a bad thing.

In fact, they’re wonderful for celiacs who never knew what a doughnut tasted like before Udi’s put their maple glazed banana ones on the shelf.

Substitutes, though, should not be relied on by any g-free dieters.

Those without medical reason to divest from gluten should not aspire merely to a gluten-free diet, but rather one free of processed food.

On their own, gluten substitutes do not achieve instant health.

After all, cutting an entire food group can be dangerous, according to WebMD.

Dieters may not be getting enough fiber, vitamins and minerals if not incorporating other grains like quinoa into their diet.

Ultimately, even if the g-free diet is a trend, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad one.

If conducted the right way, the diet helps celiacs by providing food options and promote healthier eating for the general public.

So long as the right approach is taken, health devotees should be able to have their gluten-free cake and eat it too.

The Western Howl

Home » Opinion

“Education Is” A conversation with Kylie Roth

As part of a new weekly Journal column, Nathaniel Dunaway meets with Western Oregon University students to discuss their lives and their experiences in the world of higher education. In doing so, he hopes to find an answer to the question: what does it mean to be a college student in the 21st century?

I’m from Dallas, so I actually live at home and commute here. I save a lot of money that way. My sister did the same thing, went to WOU, lived at home, and moved out after that. Sometimes my dad will be like, “are we just a hotel?” because honestly I’m not always there. Leave at 7:30 a.m., get home at 8 p.m., that’s a normal day. But I get along with my parents; I’m very lucky to have a loving family.
I’m a senior, and I’ve gone here all four years. I came in not knowing anything of what I wanted to do. I was undecided, didn’t know my major or anything. I think it took me longer to get involved. I was wandering through LACCs, where no one really cares why they’re there; and living at home; I was still connected to my Dallas community. It was difficult to know where to invest my time.
Now I feel really involved. I’ve found where I fit. I work at the Child Development Center as a teacher’s aide, I’m a WOU ambassador, I’m part of an honors society for psychology students and I’m an officer for the National Society of Leadership and Success.

I’m interning in Salem right now so I’m involved there. It’s a practicum, so I get credit for it. It’s at Family Building Blocks, which is an organization whose main goal is to prevent … child abuse through therapeutic class or parenting classes. I spend about 13 hours a week there, mainly in the classrooms. Prevention for abuse really happens between ages zero to three.
I don’t exactly know what I want to do yet, but I want to somehow work with at-risk children or children with disabilities. Working with kids is really fun; you never know what they’re going to say. I asked one little girl, “Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?” and she’s like, “I’m gonna be an entomologist,” and I personally did not know what an entomologist was, and she said, “It’s a person who studies bugs, specifically insects.”

There are those great moments all the time, but it can be challenging at times, too. You have to learn how to talk differently and correctly, to affirm and empower children, but also to let them see consequences. It’s been a great experience.
Dr. Brannan in the Psychology department always says “college isn’t for everyone, but education is,” and I agree with that.

I value higher education very highly. I don’t think it’s for everyone, but I do think some form of education, may it be trade school or some form of learning, makes you more open-minded. And I don’t think open-minded means you have to accept everything, but that you’re able to see everything.

In high school, thinking back, a lot of teachers would say “don’t let money matter when you pick a college,” but that was a big deciding factor. I think it’s worth the cost, but you have to be proactive about it, financially. The way I’ve approached my higher education, debt is not actually a concern for me. I feel very privileged that I’m in that boat.

Education in any form should be for everyone, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be college. I’m planning on taking a year off after I graduate. I’m still not sure about grad school. I don’t know yet. My goal is just to get employed in something that I enjoy, and have it hopefully help guide me from there.
Transcribed and edited by Nathaniel Dunaway
If you’re a Western student and would like to be interviewed for the Portraits of a University column, contact Nathaniel Dunaway at journalentertainment@wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home » Opinion

Halloween costumes?

by Laura Knudson

The more people ask me what I’m going to be for Halloween this year, the more I cringe.

Although there must be others who, like me, wait until the last minute to make a decision about their costume, I doubt they are losing sleep over it like I am.

After all, why fret when we live in an age where fish nets and a corset, coupled with a pair of ears can transform you into a multitude of things, i.e., mouse, bunny, cat, etc.

In this way, we’ve gotten lazy with our costumes. And it seems intentional. We’ve all heard that Halloween is an excuse for girls to dress like…well I won’t use the S word, but you get the picture. Now in no way am I saying this is the case, but perhaps there is some truth to it.

I mean, call me crazy but I don’t believe merely clipping on a pair of glittery wings to go with your gold spandex and cleavage bearing top constitutes a fairy costume.

And then there’s everyone’s go-to: the superhero costume. Calling all girls with leggings and little-boy whitey tighties with the Superman logo stamped in a place no one needs to be looking at. Throw on a cape and you’re good to go!

Then of course there are those who justify spending $60 on a cheaply-made rendition of a sexy police officer or cute Indian. Forget the fact that every other girl at the party will be wearing the same costume.

Halloween seems to go hand-in-hand with promiscuity when it comes to college females. But, while you may think you look completely adorbs in your tinker-bell get-up, the rest of us don’t want to see you stumbling in heels the whole night or adjusting your bra every five seconds. And no, it’s not the same thing as wearing a bathing suit. It’s just not.

This year we should strive for a little more originality. Some of the best costumes I saw when I first arrived at Western were the homemade kind. For an army man costume one guy duck taped a wheel less skateboard to his feet and a toy gun to his hands, painted himself green and hopped around all night in a G.I. Joe like fashion. It was original. It was awesome. Another year, one girl even bought khaki shorts, a bandana and a green vest from Good Will for a Girl Scout costume. She added a hat and canteen to spruce it up. There was also a group who purchased Hawaiian shirts and straw hats to go as tourists.

The point is, this year I’d like to see more authenticity. Show us something totally spooktacular. Those are the costumes people remember. Those are the costumes people come up and ask you about.

So, ditch the tiresome parodies and do the monster mash in something more comfortable next week.

And while I still don’t know what I am going to be this year, I can assure you it won’t include ears of any kind.

The Western Howl

Home » Opinion

“Down” – Portraits of a University

Portraits of a University:

As part of a brand-new weekly Journal column, Nathaniel Dunaway meets with Western Oregon University students to discuss their lives and their experiences in the world of higher education. In doing so, he hopes to find an answer to the question what does it mean to be a college student in the 21^st century?

This week, Psychology major Adam Pettitt offers his thoughts on the value of the college degree, and the stigma surrounding depression in America.

I’m a dual major in biology and psychology. This is my fifth year here. I actually went to University of Idaho for a year, then I took two years off, and I realized after those two years off that I wanted to be a psychiatrist. I knew that I wanted to help people. So because of that, I came here. I applied a week before school started.

There are six grad schools I’m applying to this year. But I honestly don’t expect to get in, just because clinical psychology programs are notoriously hard to get into. They have a one-percent acceptance rate. So they have about three-hundred people apply, and three people get in. I want to go to Yale, Harvard, UNC, University of Texas, UCLA and Duke. But honestly, the number one place I want to go to is Yale, but it’s not because it’s Yale. It’s nice that it’s Yale, but… the way these programs work is that you’re not applying to a program, you’re applying to work with a person, in their lab, doing research. I want to look at the genetics of depression.

My first year here, all of a sudden, I just got slammed with depression out of nowhere. I was twenty-one at the time, and either you’ve been through depression and you understand what it entails, or you haven’t. I think that before, when I thought about it, I thought “oh, somebody’s just sad,” but it’s so much more than that. It’s a way of thinking. It’s a descent into someone you’re not. When I was down there, there was no being happy. It’s something that if you don’t have the right tools -and even if you do have the right tools- it can be so hard to dig yourself out of. It’s incredibly devastating to the people who encounter it.

I made an appointment with a psychiatrist, and he told me everything would be fine. I went through ten different anti-depressants for a year before anything ever worked for me. It was the worst year. Anti-depressants work in the way that you have about a four to eight week window before they can even have an effect. Finally I found one that worked, and it was like magic. I actually had a graph on a big whiteboard, for my own edification, where one was the worst that I’d ever felt and ten was the best and five was completely apathetic and neutral. So every day I’d say, “ok, this is where I’m at,” and slowly the graph would get higher and higher, and all of a sudden, five wasn’t my top anymore, and at the six or eight week mark, I realized “oh, this is how life is supposed to be. This is how I used to be.” It was like waking up from a dream.

The way anti-depressants are prescribed is… basically it’s a flow-chart. Basically, if you’re lethargic and depressed, then you get prescribed this kind of anti-depressant. And what ends up happening is that when one doesn’t work, you switch to another kind, and switch to another kind, until you finally find the one that works. There’s actually a flow-chart in one of my textbooks, literally a flow chart. And I was at the end of the chart, right before MAOI’s, which are the oldest type of anti-depressant, and electroshock therapy. So I’m really glad I stopped there. I thought… it’s 2014. How do we just have a flow-chart for prescribing this? There has to be a better way. So I started looking into the genetics of depression and the genetics of anti-depressant response.

On my mom’s side of the family, my uncle killed himself. A lot of people on that side of the family suffered from depression. There is a genetic basis to it. I started doing research on how certain people with certain genetics will favorably respond to certain anti-depressants. That’s when I realized that this is what I want to do. What I went through, nobody should ever have to go through. I would not wish that on anybody. If I could be the one who helps people, to prevent people from becoming depressed, from getting down there… and also using the genotype of people who do suffer to discover which anti-depressants will work for them and which won’t. I think that it can be done. It’s going to take a lot of collaboration across the disciplines, from psychology to biology to neuroscience, but I think that it can be done, and that it should be done.

There’s a general lack of knowledge about mental health in this country. If there is this genetic basis, if there is –as it’s simplified in the media- this chemical imbalance in people, then it’s not people’s fault that they’re depressed. It breaks my heart that people have to endure depression while there are all these stigmas against it. Things are starting to shift and change, but it’s going to be a battle before depression becomes something that’s acceptable and understandable as an actual health disease rather than a purely mental disease.

We should be able to tailor and individualize treatment for people, so that after one anti-depressant doesn’t work, one treatment doesn’t work, they don’t give up. I didn’t make the choice to stop trying, but there are people out there who do. It’s not going to be one-hundred percent figured out, but it’ll be better than a flow-chart.

By Adam Pettitt,
edited by Nathaniel Dunaway

If you’re a Western student and would like to be interviewed for the Portraits of a University column, contact Nathaniel Dunaway at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

Accessibility Public Records Privacy Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.

National Day of Listening: a new name for Black Friday

A deeper look at going G-free

“Education Is” A conversation with Kylie Roth

Halloween costumes?

“Down” – Portraits of a University

Portraits of a University:

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