Mount Hood

Midterm letter from the Editor

A midterm look at the changes the Howl has made since issue one

Cora McClain | Editor-In-Chief

Well Western, we’ve made it halfway through the term and now stand on the precipice of a monumental election. As a way to manage my staff, I conduct what we call “midterm reviews,” where I sit down with each member of staff and talk about their progress so far, things that have changed and need to change. Think of this letter as a midterm review for The Western Howl, to you, our most valued readers.

More than most years, beginning this term and finding a routine has been difficult. Here at the Howl in particular, we have made some changes from what I had laid out for you in “The Western Howl: Vol. 3 Issue 1.”

Rather than reduce our content through only designing bi-weekly, the Howl staff have adjusted to continue designing each issue through the year. We are very happy with this, as we can continue to bring to Western the feeling of a produced, printed paper in an online format. 

These designed weekly issues can be seen on the right side-bar of the main page of our website and like always, the stories will still be uploaded online on the website.

With administration announcing that winter term will have similar modality to fall, the Howl will be distributing just as it has this term — we once again will not be printing. 

While IFC is still in deliberation and has not yet made their preliminary decisions, it is looking like our operating budget will not change much from fall. We will most likely be operating at the same capacity as we are now. This means we will only have the News, Entertainment and Lifestyle editor sections. Along with those, we will unfortunately not be able to meet one of our goals to expand to a 12 page paper by 2021, and continue to produce an 8 page paper into the new year. While I wish we could give you more content, Western, I hope that our current reporting is up to your standards.

Thank you, Western, for your continued support through these difficult weeks. Being able to serve this community and keep everyone informed makes all of this difficulty worth it. The Howl staff and I, appreciate you, Western; without you, our work would be meaningless. 

Once again, thank you Western, for making us at the Howl feel like we aren’t alone.

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Press Release: WOU Employees Reject President Rex Fuller

The staff and faculty of WOU press release on the vote of “no confidence” against President Rex Fuller

Dr. Scott Beaver | WOUFT Communications Officer

On Oct. 28, WOU faculty and staff unions initiated a vote of “no confidence” in President Rex Fuller in response to concerns raised by employees across the campus. Fuller recently implemented layoffs and announced plans for program elimination, after several years of declining enrollment and eroding shared governance under his leadership. More than 85% of the 240 respondents stated that they had no confidence in President Fuller’s leadership. The no confidence ballots also included a question asking respondents whether a survey regarding possible censure of other members of the upper administration should be conducted. The unions (WOUFT and SEIU Sub-local 082) cited failures of leadership, persistent management problems, and damage to the campus climate as primary reasons for conducting the no confidence and censure vote. The censure question indicated that 91% of the 240 faculty and classified staff wished to conduct a survey of possible censure for one or more members of President Fuller’s administration. This is the first time in institutional memory that a vote of no confidence has been conducted at WOU. Employees expressed their desire for the WOU Board of Trustees to take seriously their concerns about WOU’s leadership team and to take decisive action to correct the problems identified with the university’s upper administration. 

For more information, contact Dr. Scott Beaver, WOUFT Communications Officer by email at scottforrestbeaver@gmail.com or by phone at (503) 871-5444

Opinion: stan culture surrounding Ruth Bader Ginsburg

 Ruth Bader Ginsburg wasn’t the revered feminist superhero everyone is suddenly remembering her to be

Stephanie Moschella | Digital Media Manager

Branding Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the epitome of feminism is an insult towards women of color, transgender women and women of the LGBTQIA+ community. RBG has done little to advocate for minorities and disadvantaged communities; she shouldn’t be this revered icon so many people are making her out to be. 

White feminism is a difficult concept to explain when the people that want a definition ⏤ so that they can exclude themselves from it ⏤ don’t want to listen. At the basis of it, it exists to benefit the comfort and safety of white women, centered around the failure to consider other women. The lesson taught shouldn’t be that white people should feel guilty about being white, since nobody cares unless you’re directly contributing through harmful actions; what it comes down to is that just existing as a white person means you’re unintentionally contributing to institutional racism even if you don’t want to. 

Skin color changes how people perceive you, how people treat you, how you live in this world — if you’re something other than white, race is the annoying younger sibling you can never get rid of. RBG’s feminism is folded into believing that white privilege has ceased to exist, convincing people that the power dynamic between whites and people of color aren’t prevalent in daily life. This kind of feminism is about the erasure of how race is something that is debilitating and tiring, something that has to be played down by “smoothing out” your edges. That makes her 0-1. 

She has no doubt become a staple name for women’s rights, ironically so considering she had displayed no respect towards survivors by supporting Brett Kavanaugh. Despite being known as a Chief Justice that was accused of rape, Ginsburg referred to him as a decent and smart man at an event hosted by Duke Law in 2019. No matter how much of a cuck it makes me, I believe survivors and their testimonies regardless of who the perpetrator may be. So when another woman in a high position of power like Ginsburg speaks highly about an accused rapist, it immediately destroys any ounce of respect I had for her. It doesn’t matter how much she’s “done” for women; admiring someone who associates with a rapist demonstrates their weak, like-minded attitude that groups them with all of the rest of the s—-y politicians. That makes her 0-2.

Okay, so your feminist role model defended a rapist, at least she worked toward racial justice right? Well if that means calling Colin Kaepernick’s protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement dumb and disrepectful ⏤ which she stated in an interview with Yahoo in 2016 ⏤ then sign me up for the next war. She also voted in favor for fast-track deportations in which America can force alleged undocumented immigrants out of the country with little to no review from government. This was a devastating loss for immigrant rights and left critical executive powers unchecked and domineering. 

While some people choose to turn a blind eye to her racist history, there’s no looking past an actual ruling that was made. The Appalachian Trail gas pipeline was a major environmental case that allowed this 600 mile pipeline to go through indigenous peoples’ land and protected forests. It was an act of cultural and ecological annihilation considering there is only a 1% Native American population but 13% of Natives live in a mile proximity of the pipeline route. Despite this, RBG still chose to vote in favor of the gas pipeline, proving she really didn’t give a s–t about helping marginalized people. That makes her 0-3.

So why should we celebrate the life of someone that has destroyed so many? 

Contact the author at smoschella20@mail.wou.edu

Guest Opinion: Young voters: make a voting plan and follow through

Governor Brown implores everyone to vote on Nov. 3 2020

Submitted by Governor Kate Brown 

Every day, young people like yourselves take action to better communities all across Oregon. Since becoming your Governor, I’ve worked with students who demand action on climate change by coming to the capitol and testifying in record numbers, making phone calls, and holding walk-outs on their campuses. I’ve held the hands of grieving students and their families in the wake of the Umpqua Community College shooting. I’ve seen college students put their lives on the line to fight wildfires. I’ve been humbled to see recent graduates enter the medical field so they can serve their communities in the midst of this global pandemic. And I’ve seen thousands gather across our state from Portland to Pendleton, Bend to Eugene, in a clarion call for racial justice. 

You all are living, learning, and contributing to this state and this country. You will not just inherit this world – you are already actively building it. 

I have also met countless young people who tell me they feel that this world is damaged beyond repair, and that the world’s problems are too big for any one of us to solve. And with the way 2020 has gone so far…I know the feeling.
I hear you when you say that you don’t feel represented in politics. I hear you when you say you’re afraid of what the future might hold. 

While it’s true that I carry with me every single day the privilege of white skin and cisgender, I know what it’s like to be scared to go to work every day. Years ago, when I was a young lawyer, I was afraid of losing my job if someone discovered that I was in a relationship with a woman.

I know what it feels like to look over at the man in the office next to mine and know that he is treated differently. That he is paid more for the same position. Even though I knew I was doing a better job.

I’ve worked my entire career to make Oregon a more equitable and welcoming state to everyone who calls this place home. Our nation’s problems — racism, homophobia and transphobia, sexism, climate change, health care, immigration — are all addressed in major ways at the ballot box.

They’re addressed in your vote for President, members of Congress, Governor, and state legislators. They are also addressed by your vote for county sheriff, district attorneys, judges, city council, county clerks, bond measures, and local taxes. 

This election will have big impacts on America, but also your local community. I hope a lot of people turn out and vote. We anticipate seeing record-breaking turnout across the country and here in Oregon. 

It’s critical to have your voice heard. Whether your issue is gun reform, climate change, police reform, racial justice, or reproductive justice, your voice makes a difference. 

So it’s time; the deadline to vote is Nov. 3. But, don’t wait — make a plan with your friends on how you’ll vote. It’s critical to get your ballot in early. Will you walk it to a drop box location? Will you mail it in the first week? Have you set a calendar reminder? I plan to vote early, and take advantage of Oregon’s paid postage to get my ballot to the county clerk. 

I can’t say it enough: your vote is your voice. And every voice counts.

Disney’s Affinity War

Discussing the controversy of Disney’s casting 

Sean Martinez | Copy Editor

Now, I’m going to go on record and say that the most complicated relationship in my life is with Disney. As problematic as it can be at times, I still greatly appreciate the things I gain from it — namely Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar — but I also acknowledge that they have an unhealthy obsession with trying to make it to the top of the box office every year. 

Coincidentally, this obsession landed the company in hot water. 

Before Disney released 2020’s “Mulan” exclusively on Disney+ in early September, Disney fans attempted to boycott the film. The problem didn’t have anything to do with the fact that Disney launched a more accurate rendition of the story, or the fact there was an Asian female lead character. Rather, the problem had to do with the actress cast as Mulan, Liu Yifei, and her stance on what’s been happening in Hong Kong.

In June of 2019, residents of Hong Kong protested for pro-democracy when Hong Kong attempted to pass a law that would extradite residents of Hong Kong to China. However, things took a turn when the police retaliated. The situation has gotten so violent that protesters had to use umbrellas to shield themselves from tear gas and other chemical weapons.

In response to the police force’s actions, Liu Yifei shared a controversial post on Sina Weibo, a Chinese blog, that read, “I also support the Hong Kong police. You can all attack me now.”

Perhaps what’s most upsetting about this situation is that Disney finally cast a Chinese American woman to star in a groundbreaking film, but some believe the actress they chose does not represent Asian people in a positive light. 

Sadly, this is not the only casting problem in 2020; another example is the casting of Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano in “The Mandalorian.” 

Again I reiterate: the issue does not concern the fact that Dawson has a mixed diverse ethnic background — it’s about her beliefs. 

In 2019, a lawsuit was filed against the Dawson family when they verbally and physically assaulted a transgender man named Dedrick Finley. Instead of facing consequences for her actions, she’s being rewarded by playing one of the most iconic and strong female characters in Star Wars.

I’m sure there are countless more controversial casting decisions that I’m not yet aware of, but regardless, the message remains the same. Disney needs to prioritize casting accurate portrayals of their characters over the amount of money they wish to make. Casting someone who fits the character’s ethnic background isn’t enough. The problem with Yifei and Dawson is that they have no affinity to their respective characters. Mulan would not condone police brutality in her country, and Ahsoka would not assault someone just because they’re transgender. 

My intention with this piece is not to persuade anyone to not watch these films. Like I said before, I’m a huge Disney fan, and I’m still going to enjoy watching whatever content they produce; it is because I’m passionate about the characters and stories that Disney has created that I want them to strive to do better and succeed, without a cynical penny being spent. 

If Disney can let go of their obsession, and shine a brighter spotlight on characters they’ve misrepresented in the past, they could win back the respect from fans that have left. With a new generation watching these movies, young audiences will have proper role models teaching them valuable life lessons. 

Contact the author at smartinez17@wou.edu

Letter from the Editor

Adapting The Western Howl in the face of uncertainty

Cora McClain | Editor-In-Chief

Hey Western, I’m glad to be writing to you once again. While I am overjoyed to be returning as The Western Howl’s editor-in-chief, I’m also worried beyond belief. I won’t lie to you; it has been a stressful month leading up to the beginning of fall term. I may have a year of experience under my belt, but nothing could have prepared me for the uncertainty of fall 2020. 

Many changes within university funding have put IFC funded areas, like Student Media, in a tough spot. Suffice to say, we had to adapt many moving pieces within The Western Howl. We had to reorganize everything within our organization, and for a while there, it looked like there wasn’t going to be a Student Media for fall term. We got lucky, and get to uphold our promise to report to you, Western.

The story is confusing — everything leading up to this term has been confusing — but I’m here to lay it all out for you.  For clarity’s sake, instead of weaving some thematic elements here and there, I will just be explaining these larger changes, since they are so drastic and different from previous years.

Firstly, like many other IFC funded areas, Student Media was hit with damaging budget cuts, 45% to be exact. This led Student Media to no longer be able to pay for an adviser position, so we lost our adviser once again. 

So, I ask that you bear with us Western, as we will have little support from administration as we transition into an even more difficult time than we did last year. We may make mistakes along the way, and for this, I ask for your understanding.

Along with this, The Western Howl staff, like many other people affected by COVID-19, are receiving a reduced pay, cutting hours of work out of staff paychecks. The ability to pay less hours means we won’t be able to create as much content as in previous years. 

Furthermore, the way we produce the paper changed to reflect these budget cuts. Our weekly issues have been reduced from 12 pages to 8 pages, without a Sports section for the foreseeable future. We will not be distributing printed issues, possibly for the whole 2020 to 2021 academic year if the online trend continues. Though our red newsstands will be empty, The Western Howl will continue to write and report stories for online editions.

Since we are unable to print, we have also decided to only design an issue every other week. These bi-weekly designed issues will be uploaded to The Western Howl website in pdf form and through Issuu. Rest assured, we will still offer weekly stories directly uploaded to our website, with ongoing stories updated as information reveals itself. 

Though these less desirable changes are underway, the Howl has also looked into ways to expand in other areas. Because the website is becoming increasingly more important — and our only point of traffic — a redesign is underway. 

On top of that, our digital media manager is working hard to increase social media and online media content creation. We are hoping to engage more with you, Western, whether you are here, on campus, or remote.

Part of this expansion includes a bi-weekly podcast alternating from serious topics to more fun and entertaining casts. Along with this, the Howl is going to engage in more organizational integration within Student Media by hopping on KWOU to report a news hour every Wednesday, talking about the stories that came out that week.

I understand how jarring these alterations to the Howl may seem, and they are equally as disorienting for the staff. All of our lives are going through transitions we didn’t expect, however with flexibility and perseverance we can all get through these unexpected times. 

Stay strong, Western, you’re not alone.

Contact the author at howleditor@mail.wou.edu

Letter from the Editor

Cora McClain |  Editor-in-Chief

It’s strange, Western, I’m sitting at my desk at 11:58 p.m. and all is peaceful and quiet. Why is that strange? Well, the past 10 months acting as editor-in-chief has been anything but. From acting without an adviser in the fall to maintaining operations in the wake of a pandemic, it felt like I never began with a foothold and even when I got one, it slipped away. To be frank, my year has been a frightening one and I have learned a few lessons from it.

In my last letter, I wrote about how terrified I was to take the leap from copy editor to editor-in-chief. That terror never really ended. I constantly felt as if I was doing everything wrong. At one point I felt as if I was never doing enough, like I was letting everyone down. I wasn’t fit for the position. However, when I looked back at the goals I had made in the beginning of the year, I found that my team and I had completed almost all of them. I found some clarity. Perhaps I was being too hard on myself. Maybe I did do a good job. 

Don’t lose sight of your goals Western, so you have something to work towards, something to track your progress and something to feel accomplished.

Part of why I completed so many goals was thanks to my amazing staff. Despite the difficulties juggling classes and their own lives, they still managed to produce The Western Howl each week. I couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated and passionate staff to help me acclimate to the role of EIC and build my confidence. Graciously adjusting to new writing procedures, accommodating to staffing shortages and adapting to the production online issues — they did it all. Without them, this would not have been a successful volume of the Howl.

You can’t do it alone Western, make sure to surround yourself with people you can depend on. You’ll need them. 

One of the reasons why I was so terrified was because I had no adviser to guide me. Since then, we hired Jeff Robischon, who has lended a helping hand in navigating the uncertainties in the past months. Beyond that, he has been a great aid in pushing each of the medias to innovate. Currently, we are looking into further integrating with one another under the name Wolf Den Media and setting up a rentable podcast studio.

I urge you Western, find people who will keep you accountable and push you. They will know that you can do better, and sometimes that’s all the motivation you need.

Lastly, I would like to thank you, our readers. You have made this year of reporting worth-while, especially when the Howl received so many letters to the editor in the winter. Creating a platform for your voices is what the Howl is meant to do, so I implore you to keep utilizing us. And thank you for adjusting along with us in the wake of the pandemic to interact with more online content. I can assure you that we will be expanding upon our online presence next year and I hope you will enjoy the new mediums we will be trying out. 

I am happy to say that I will be returning in the fall, once again, as editor-in-chief. While this year has had many ups and downs and challenges, I plan to take all that I’ve learned and work towards an even better Western Howl next year. With my dependable staff, motivating adviser, and of course, you, the wonderful readers, I have a good feeling about Volume 3. See you soon, Western. 

 

There is another reason why I find this quiet and peace strange, Western. As I sit here cozy in my desk, with nothing but the distant train horn to disrupt the quiet night, our country is ablaze. Peaceful protesters responding to the unjust death of George Floyd, reigniting the #blacklivesmatter movement to end discriminatory police brutality, are being met with tear gas, strict curfews, and baseless arrests. As the seventh night of protests comes to an end, I feel helpless to aid in this historical discourse on human rights. If you are feeling similarly, know that there are other ways to get involved if you have no streets filled with people to protest with. Sign petitions, make donations, share information and talk about it. Change only comes when enough people care, so care, and do something about it.

If you would like to sign a petition or find other ways to get involved visit https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co.

Contact the author at cmcclain17@wou.edu

Opinion: No postponement, shame on WOU

Caity Healy |  Managing Editor

I remember feeling the pit in my stomach and my heart skipping a beat as I checked my email on April 9, and saw an email from President Rex Fuller with the subject line “Commencement 2020.” I knew this email was coming, as most students did, but I truly thought it would read differently. When I opened it up, I saw the following statement:

“After deep deliberation, the university has decided to present the 163rd Commencement Ceremony as a virtual event,” followed by, “…we believe hosting a virtual ceremony at the scheduled time is a better alternative than postponement because we want to celebrate with students and their families during graduation season.” It then added that they’re “…considering a possible recognition event at Homecoming 2020.”

Immediately, I was heartbroken. Many of my friends were, too. Some told me they started crying when they opened that email. Some told me they were livid. And some, like me, were simply disappointed with the decisions made by Western’s administration. 

“When I heard that graduation was online, and not postponed, I cried,” said senior ASL/English interpreting major Lexi Osborn. “I have worked for four years to walk across that stage with my classmates and friends, and the reality that it will not happen is something that I will grieve for a long time.” 

Here’s the thing, most of us knew that the June ceremony was not going to happen. I genuinely applaud Western for letting us know when they did, so we had time to cancel any plans we had arranged. It shows that they prioritize student safety and health, and I’m grateful for that. I think most of my peers are understanding of the fact that there are guidelines that have to be followed, and we aren’t upset at Western for following those guidelines.

However, many of us are upset, and rightfully so, at the fact that our thoughts and opinions were not even considered in making this decision. Look at how that statement I included was worded. “We believe.” We. Who is ‘we’? It’s certainly not the student body who has worked so relentlessly to earn their degree and earn the right to walk at a ceremony celebrating our achievements. For everything we’ve given back to this school and this community, including all the money we spent to earn this degree, it seems only appropriate that we should have at least some say in what our Commencement will look like. And, personally, the fact that they’re “considering” a “possible” recognition event honestly felt like they were kicking us while we were down. Why ‘considering?’ Why just ‘possible?’ Why aren’t we worth the guarantee?

What makes this all the more upsetting is looking at how many of Western’s neighboring schools approached this issue. On April 9, President Miles K. Davis of Linfield College posted a video of him personally announcing that their ceremony would be postponed. Oregon State University sent a survey to their students, and after receiving over 2500 responses, decided to postpone their ceremony. On April 9, Chemeketa Community College announced that they are postponing their ceremony until December. Notice a trend? Most are postponing, and several asked for student opinions before making a decision.

Students at Western were so upset by this announcement that one senior, psychology major Sarah Porter, even decided to create a petition on change.org to convince Western to hold their ceremony at a postponed date. As of April 14, this petition has 2349 signatures.

“The ultimate goal of this petition is to urge the senior executive board at (Western) to reconsider a plan of postponement,” Porter said. “Our seniors deserve a real ceremony that allows for closure of a huge chapter in our lives.” Porter also added that she wants “this petition to give a voice to all of our seniors who did not get to express their opinion before the decision was made, unlike other universities that sent out polls regarding their 2020 Commencement.”

I don’t want my last memory of Western to be a laggy, low-camera-quality ceremony where I sit on my couch and watch as one by one, speakers freeze on my screen because I couldn’t afford the high-speed internet necessary for such an event. This isn’t what I looked forward to for four years. I hope that Western rethinks their decision, and does what is truly best for its students. While I recognize that not all students will be able to make it back for a later ceremony, it seems that many of us, at least the 2349 who signed the petition, recognize that this is the best alternative for the majority of students. I want my last memory of Western to be filled with a feeling of pride and community. Because as of right now, the main thing I’m feeling towards this administration is simply disappointment and shame.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy

Opinion: Mental health days should be an option

Howl Editorial Board

Picture this: a student has work until 9 p.m.; an 8 a.m. class to attend the next day — with a class right after and another at 2 p.m.; five assignments due in a couple of days; is currently running on four hours of sleep and is most definitely in need of a break to give themself time to breathe. Yet, the idea of taking a day off from classes brings them more stress, since one of those classes is big on attendance and this particular student doesn’t have a doctor’s note to excuse themself from being absent.

As college students, we are constantly balancing many different things at a time — rigorous school-work, part-time or full-time jobs, maintaining personal relationships and taking care of ourselves. This gets extremely overwhelming, yet students don’t have much of a chance to take time for themselves during the term. That’s when we should have the option to take a mental health day, whether that’s for relaxing and taking a break from overstimulation, or using it to catch up with schoolwork. 

However, Western’s policy indicates that a student must have a doctor’s note to excuse themselves; this is implying that mental health is not a good enough “excuse” to miss school, and can force students to feel the need to attend class when they are not at their best. This is infantilizing, as we are grown adults who can decide for ourselves if a day off is needed to better our well-being. Furthermore, this assumes that everyone has access to a doctor at their beck and call, which isn’t always true — not to mention, a bit unrealistic. Everyone struggles in different areas, and a mental health day is an escape that’s needed occasionally in our day-to-day lives.

The fact that a student could risk their grade dropping severely is an additional stress that’s unneeded, but can affect a student’s mental health even further. If a class has someone drowning in schoolwork, that student should be able to take a day in order to one, catch up with all of the damn assignments, and two, better themselves fully, without getting “permission” from a doctor to do so. 

The problem with it being unexcused without this piece of paper is that some classes don’t allow more than two unexcused absences; this contributes to the stigma of students putting their classes above all else, including their jobs, social lives and overall health. As students, we live with the stress of juggling dozens of responsibilities at once, and we don’t need the added stress of our grades dropping due to attendance while we are trying to get well. Even if we’ve reached out to get homework on the days that we’ve missed, if we have still done the readings, gone to those study groups or sought out tutoring — at the end of the day, all you amount to is how well your brain or body is functioning, right? 

Students should feel comforted knowing they have the option to willingly take a day off without their grade suffering. If the university allowed students to have at least one mental health day, they can come back feeling rejuvenated and ready to come back stronger. Most of us are paying money to be here; most of us see a future with us holding a diploma; we understand that it’s up to us how we get there and we don’t need educators or administrators policing that process.

 

Opinion: Designed for connection — a Deaf lens

Dr. Kara Gournaris  | Guest Contributor

I started working at Western Oregon University on Jan. 1, 2010. I still remember the first time I walked through the doors of the old College of Education (COE) building. The yellowish color of the walls caused me to squint my eyes as I walked through the halls. I walked up the stairs and made my way to my new office, room number 222. 

I opened the door on this new chapter of my journey, but everything inside the office walls showed signs of their age, not new at all. The blinds on the windows hung loosely, and the pull strings didn’t work anymore.  Half of the metal blinds were bent and I had to tie them back with a hairband I fished out of my bag. When I opened the window to let fresh air in, the breeze would send the blinds banging against my window, a visual distraction that caught my eye every time they moved. Right in the middle of my office, there was a huge stain that looked as if it had been there for many years and my only option was to buy a rug to cover up the space. 

As a Deaf person, my sense of sight is keenly developed, and everywhere I looked caused my eyes to twitch a little.  Banging blinds, half falling off my window.  A hidden spot beneath a neutral colored rug. Yellow walls that surrounded me on all sides as I worked. My colleagues all faced the same eye sores, though they were all hearing, and I often wondered if those visual markers had the same impact on them as they did on me. 

My office was in the middle of a very narrow hallway and as students or other colleagues walked past my office and stopped to say hello, I remember having to constantly shift where we were standing because using American Sign Language in that hall blocked people from walking by. We would get a few sentences into our conversation, have to pause and move to the side, and then just as we got started again, someone else would need to pass. Not only were the hallways inaccessible for those of us trying to have conversations in ASL, they also were hard spaces for people to navigate when using a wheelchair, pushing a cart or moving furniture or other large items.  

The old COE building did not have a space for ASL and interpreting students to hang out before or after classes, which meant that if students wanted to practice their ASL skills, they had to go to the library or some other space that was more accessible. This was a huge missed opportunity for incidental learning to occur because moving to another space meant being away from the four Deaf instructors who were working here at the time. Rather than students milling about and learning to use ASL by engaging with the Deaf instructors and one another, students often resorted to using spoken English in the halls because as people tried to pass them in narrow spaces, they eventually just gave up and stopped using ASL. 

As our Deaf faculty walked those same halls, we felt heavy-hearted that students who were learning ASL just hours before in our classrooms, were now passing by us in the hallways using spoken English without signing at all. The Deaf faculty often lamented feeling left out a majority of the time because our language was often relegated to use only in classrooms or inside of our office walls. 

Some days, students would ask to have class outside because it was sunny and warm and those were always the best days because other teachers and classes would often be out there and we could all join together in the common use of our beautiful language.

In 2016, my entire experience at Western shifted. Richard Woodcock donated money that went toward funding a new education building. This new building is called the Richard Woodcock Education Center (RWEC), and it was purposefully designed with the use of visual American Sign Language in mind. The design committee was familiar with Gallaudet University’s “Deaf-friendly” design, and they wanted to create a space at Western that was designed for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind people, and anyone else who uses ASL.

By making the hallways wider, conversations in ASL are no longer paused every time someone passes by in the hallway and the building is more accessible for people in wheelchairs or those who use other mobility devices. There was so much careful thought and attention given to this open design, and each detail has made an impact on our community.

In 2016, we went from four Deaf faculty members to nine and we were allowed to choose which hallway we wanted our offices to be located in; that officially began our coveted “ASL Hallway.” 

Now, when I walk through the lobby on my way to the classroom or my office, I see students hanging out, chatting in ASL, studying for an exam, resting or working on a project together.  As I pass by, students greet me in ASL, and as they smile and catch me up on the latest news, I feel grateful for the chance to work with such amazing humans. I keep walking and I see other students walking in a line of five, all joking in ASL and laughing hysterically.  As I turn the corner, a student on her motorized scooter with her service dog passes by and smiles and says hello on her way to class. 

Just as I am about to enter the room, I see a DeafBlind faculty member walking with several students, and showing them the wooden art display on the wall that she uses as a tactile marker to orient herself to where she is in the building. Just down the hall, there are students who are making use of the little nooks that have curtains that draw closed so they can film a last minute homework assignment and upload it to their GoReact account. In the next nook over, there is a Deaf student using the Video Phone to call and order Yeasty Beasty for lunch.  Everywhere I look, there are examples of my language, my culture and beautiful people who embrace what it means to be part of the Deaf Community.  

Just like in the old education building, there are sunny days that prompt students to beg to have class outside. Through the windows in the classroom, I can see one of my colleagues teaching her class on the RWEC patio, enjoying the fresh air and smiling as students pass by and wave hello.  I look around at the faces staring back at me and nod my head in agreement. 

These college-aged students quickly become like little kids again, excited to head outside for a great adventure. As we walk by the other ASL class and my colleague, we all smile and wave, and I stop and count my blessings for this new space. RWEC has become a home for many of us, and it has made us more than just a community — it has made us a family.  

 

Letter to the Editor

Submitted by Erik Morgan Jr.  | President Associated Students of Western Oregon University

To the WOU student body: 

I’m writing to you to encourage each and every student to participate in the Incidental Fee Committee Open Hearing on Thursday, February 27th at 4pm in the Pacific Room, WUC. The IFC is charged by the ASWOU student government to allocate budgets for various WOU departments funded by mandatory fees paid by students attending WOU. Departments that are funded by incidental fees include, but are not limited to, Student Engagement, Campus Recreation, Abby’s House, and the ASWOU student government itself. 

In a year, that has seen WOU’s enrollment decrease; now, more than ever, the IFC needs to hear from WOU students how they want their incidental fees to be spent. The IFC is faced with either making cuts to funded departments in order to keep the incidental fee lower or with raising the fee so that funded departments are able to keep providing their services to the WOU community. The incidental fee allocation process is a student-run, student-led process that functions more effectively when we all participate. 

Unfortunately, those who should not be participating have been affecting the process. WOU institutional president Rex Fuller has announced that he intends to reject any IFC proposal that would raise the incidental fee over 5% of last year’s fee. The institutional president made this decision far in advance of the IFC even forming, much less waiting for any student deliberations to happen. This decision by President Fuller demonstrates a complete disregard for the departments funded by the incidental fee and is a direct challenge to the ability of WOU’s student body to allocate a fee that has its own best interests in mind. If President Fuller and the WOU Administration do not value the contributions that the student-fee-funded departments bring to the WOU community, then we need to show them that we do. In short, President Fuller’s premature decision to veto a 5% increase to the incidental fee is at best a political move in a non-political, student controlled process. At worst, it is an intentional attempt to intimidate the WOU student body into making a decision that benefits the administration more than it does the students. 

Once again, I encourage every student to come to the next IFC Open Hearing on Thursday, February 27th at 4pm in the Pacific Room, WUC. The student voice should be what’s valued during the IFC process, not any others. 

If you have any questions, please contact me via email at aswoupresident@mail.wou.edu or by phone at 503-838-8655. 

 

In solidarity, 

Erik Morgan Jr. President Associated Students of Western Oregon University 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in guest opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Western Howl. 

Guest opinion: WOUnews is still not news

Stephanie Blair  | Western Oregon University Class of 2018

I recently received word from a current student that Western’s Marketing and Communications (MarCom) department has just launched “Today at WOU” and included in the subject line of this all-student email blast the words, “your news source.” It reminded me that the more things change, the more they stay the same. It’s an old adage, but it rings true on Western’s historic campus.

In October 2017, I was a senior attending Western and was serving as the editor-in-chief of what is now known as The Western Howl. That month I wrote an editorial titled “Newsflash: WOUnews is no news” which criticized Western Oregon’s Marketing and Communications (MarCom) department for peddling a publicity blog for the school as a news source for students. 

I was frustrated, having worked for our independent student newspaper for all four years of my college career. I was proud of the work my staff was doing, the impact we were having and the awards we were bringing to Western but MarCom was making continual efforts to overshadow us for the sake of the university’s bottom line.

After that editorial was run, I had stirred the pot. The MarCom representative on our oversight board stepped down — though only to be replaced by another from that department. I was treated differently by some staff and many students who wrote for that blog. And, in hindsight, I can understand their perspective. Who was I to criticize them? They knew little to nothing about me, about the career I was building for myself.

But now, as a professional journalist who got her start in Western’s Student Media program, I would like to say again: public relations is not news, it’s propaganda.

The students who staff The Western Howl are accountable to journalistic ethics and their fellow students — they write about anything and everything that matters to the student body with no agenda but practicing the craft and bringing information to Western’s tuition-payers. MarCom’s job is to bring in money to the institution and increase enrollment — which also brings in all of that tuition. I would ask the students of Western to please consider which one of these is more likely to address problematic behavior by the administration, give a voice to students who are looked over by that same administration and most accurately represent Western to the world — for better or worse.

I am disappointed to see not only the disregard that MarCom has for the Howl, but its active efforts in replacing it with a sanitized money-grab. However, after all this time, I am still not surprised. This independent, student-run newspaper has been in existence for nearly a century — this is far from the first time something like this has happened.

It is up to the students to decide who they trust: their peers or the institution. I know who I will bet on every time.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in guest opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Western Howl.

Letter to the Editor

Submitted by Dr. Rob Winningham

President Fuller has stated that WOU is committed to becoming the first four-year public university in Oregon to become a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). After reading the thoughtful opinion piece that Mia Sierra wrote for the Western Howl, I thought it was a great opportunity to share some context around becoming an HSI and where WOU is on that path.

Colleges and universities need to have “25% or more Latino undergraduate full-time equivalent enrollment” before they can become a federally recognized HSI. There is a time-lag between the current enrollment and when it is reported to various agencies. But, at this moment, approximately 19% of our students identify as Hispanic. In addition, our Willamette Promise students, earning WOU credits while in high school, are also factored into our enrollment. We are waiting for final confirmation but WOU appears to be close to the 25% threshold. 

However, we don’t just want to be a Hispanic enrolling institution but rather a Hispanic serving institution; in order to do that we need to create a space for campus community discussion and input. In pursuit of those goals, a steering committee representing students, staff and faculty have been preparing to host a summit entitled “Becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution: Together We Succeed,” on April 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The goal of the summit is to provide an opportunity for the campus community to learn more about what it means to be an HSI and our current services, resources and support for our Latinx students. In addition, we are striving to create a platform for people to share ideas and give feedback so WOU can support all of our students, including Latinx students, in an effective and culturally sensitive manner. I hope you will consider participating in the Summit and adding your voice to the conversation.

 

Written and submitted by Dr. Rob Winningham, WOU’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in guest opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Western Howl. 

Opinion: An evaluation of hierarchies in relationships

Kay Bruley  | Photo Editor

Valentine’s Day is here finally, and love is in the air. It’s not just one day really though; all month you will see pink and red decorating the world. For many though, it seems like all year, with romance feeling like a constant celebration surrounding American culture.

You’d have difficulty finding a storyline in any popular film, TV show or book that doesn’t feature a prominent romantic narrative. Children from a young age will interact with each other and adults will assume there must be some undertone of a crush. And don’t think of mentioning an event occurring with the opposite gender unless you’re prepared for the suggestive comments — double win for a romance-centered AND heteronormative society.

The result of such oversaturation of romance in media and real life is the current mindset of it being the most important thing to happen in a person’s life. You think of important milestones and what comes to mind is “find the love of your life, get married, have kids” — in that order. Young people are force fed this narrative and treat it as the highest priority, creating shame in virginity and lack of dating experience. You’ll often hear reluctance in admitting to being single and people in their 20s will frequently worry about being ‘off track’ on the schedule of life.

With all of this, what’s become of platonic relationships? Too often, friends are viewed as backup relationships, side characters or people you hang out with when you aren’t with a significant other — or don’t yet have one. Romance represented in the media and real life supports the unimportance of friendships, which is a cultural flaw. Have you ever been close with someone and then after they find a partner, you stop hanging out as much? Experiences like these only further the mindset of friends being second class relationships. It’s a cycle of culture supporting unfulfillment in platonic relationships, which leads people to undervalue them, which then makes them unfulfilling.

The prompt here is to re-evaluate your priorities when it comes to the relationships in your life. Maybe even redistribute the value you place on each of these relationships. Keep questioning why we think about these things the way we do. Why do we pity the 40 year old that’s single? Why do we insist that deep connections must be inherently romantic? Why do we believe friends can never be enough for someone to be happy?

 

Contact the author at mbruley19@mail.wou.edu

Opinion: Soulmates, not what we think they are

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Soulmate: a person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner. Destiny, chance, meant to be, etc. Why do soulmates have to refer to a friend or someone we love? Why can’t this beautiful term represent a connection with anything that one may feel throughout their entire lives?

We are told that we have one true soulmate, that we have been connected to forever, that one day we will meet them and we will just know — this goes for our best friend and our significant other. But this is all so false; a soulmate can be anyone or anything that left a mark on our hearts and in our minds. A soulmate isn’t just a human, but can be an animal, a tune, a fragment of nature or just a natural connection to something way beyond our eyes.

In Australia, the word ‘mate’ is used as a form of endearment, to show someone platonic love or joy in their presence. The word is thrown around to everyone, it’s not used in the way of “mating” with someone, or the “mate” that is your significant other — it is in fact, just a mate.

Our souls live way beyond our bodies ever will, meaning the connections we will encounter will never truly end. Our souls truly see and are able to direct us to the connections we need, whether we can actually see it or not.

When I was little, I believed that I had one soulmate and that was who I was going to spend the rest of my life with… I was an idiot. Each year I have come across people, animals and moments, even if for the briefest moment, that have made an impact in my life that have bonded with my soul, leaving a little etch in my heart, causing it to grow more. Each passerby has shared my soul in a way that the next cannot. Each connection is never the same as the last, making each connection just as valuable as the last, even if I will never come across that person or thing again. 

Let’s cherish the mates our souls have found, embrace the teachings they have shown us and seize the seconds they give.

 

Here’s to the many mates my soul has introduced me to — the ones I am no longer able to see or hold, and the ones I hope to see again.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Opinion: Why abortions should only be left to the pregnant person

Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Content Warning: This certain opinion piece covers the topics of terminating pregnancies and rape, as well as views that may be against religious parties or the ideology of our national government.

 

Why is it that the topic of pregnant people and their rights are always front and center in governmental policy or “rule-making?” History shows this has been a long battle with consistent changes, changes only benefiting the medical professionals, i.e. doctors, or government — never the pregnant person.

The criminalization of abortion has never actually put a hault to abortions, but actually made it more difficult for pregnant people to be able to have safe access to this human right. Before 1973, women — of privileged higher classes were able to get safe abortions from private medical professionals. This still did not put an end to back alley abortions — an abortion perfomed by a non-medical professional — or the mortality rate of pregant people. 

By the time 1973, Roe vs. Wade, rolled around, pregnant people were able to seek out legal abortions. Unfortunately, this caused an uproar amongst people who thought they should have a say in the private lives of pregnant people and their bodies, bringing the issue to federal and state levels to take away funding towards abortions.

In 1976, the Hyde Amendment was passed, which allowed states to deny funding to low-income people who wanted an abortion — which was then revised to allow funding in cases of rape, incest or damage to the pregnant person’s health.

Fast forward to the year 2020, and we are still fighting for this right. The separation of church and state most definitely does not exist when it comes to the rights of women and those who are pregnant. Politicians with religious agendas continue to make decisions and pass laws on the basis of their beliefs and not the basis of humanity. They choose to take away this “god-given right” and on top of that, take away access to birth control… what the hell are we supposed to do? 

We have a constitutional right to abortion, no matter the case — it is our fundamental right to health and being able to control when or if we want a child or not. 

For too long now, our world has put the health of the fetus before the health of the pregnant person. In 38 states — including Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, Texas and Utah — pregnant people have been charged with manslaughter due to giving birth to a stillborn or by losing the child due to an accident. It’s time to let the person who is pregnant decide. 

Women need access to birth control, pregnant people need access to safe and legal abortions and the energy going towards ending these fundamental, human rights needs to stop.

Let’s all start minding our own business and accept the decisions made by other people, especially decisions that have no impact or effect in our own lives.

 

Planned Parenthood is a safe place for those seeking to terminate a pregnancy or confide in a medical professional, on your terms and without parental consent. There are currently 11 Planned Parenthoods in the state of Oregon, for more information follow the link: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/or

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Opinion: Representation in media matters

Caity Healy  | Managing Editor

The other week, I was binge-watching the second season of Netflix’s “You.” Part way into the season, they introduced a d/Deaf/Hard-of-hearing character — it’s not obvious how he identifies, which is why I use both forms of the letter “D” as well as “hard-of-hearing” — as the late husband of a main character. 

I could write a whole other piece about the way that the other characters addressed the d/Deaf character, but that’s not the point I’m making today; rather, I want to focus on how viewers addressed this character, and characters alike.

When I sat down to watch the episode, I had a friend with me. Afterwards, they said something along the lines of, “the problem with having so many d/Deaf characters is that it just isn’t realistic. It throws off the balance.” My reaction? That’s absolutely ridiculous.

To be clear, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something along these lines. I’ve heard it regarding disabled folks in TV/film, LGBTQ+ in TV/film and I’ve heard it about other minority or other-identifying groups. I’ve heard people say that it bothers them how unrealistic the “overrepresentation” is, and it leaves me with a few questions: is it really overrepresentation or throwing off the balance? Also, in most cases, does it really matter how “realistic” a film or TV show is? Finally, is it really the “accuracy” of the representation that bothers you, or is it internalized bias?

Let’s start with the question of whether it is or is not realistic. According to cdc.gov, 61 million adults in the U.S. have a disability — roughly 1 in 4. So, in order for media to be “accurate,” 1 in 4 characters would need to have a disability. Of course, not all disability is visible. But that’s what’s important — representing folks who identify with all different kinds of disabilities. 

Now let’s answer question two: if realism is really important or not. Unless you’re watching a documentary, or watching a historically-based program, I would argue that it doesn’t matter. We can’t pick and choose when realism is important or not. If it doesn’t bother you that an impossible plot is occurring, it shouldn’t bother you that there is a larger number of minority characters, which brings me to my final point.

Self-reflection is an important practice. If you are bothered by something like this, you might want to ask yourself why. If you can’t whole-heartedly say that it is due to the fact that you find it unrealistic, then it probably has something to do with your internalized bias against folks who identify in ways that you might not. We all have our biases, and if you aren’t reflecting on them, you’ll only perpetuate them.

A change in perspective could do viewers a lot of good if they find themselves upset by this representation in media. The only way to normalize representing the underrepresented, is to simply give them screen time — played by actors who actually identify with their character’s identities. It’s time to become comfortable with the fact that these folks deserve the roles they’re earning. It’s time to realize that these characters are here to stay, and they’re just going to keep coming.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Opinion: Is Western really going to become Hispanic-serving?

Mia Sierra  | Guest Writer

As a Hispanic student, more specifically a Mexican student, one way I like to be involved on campus is by attending M.E.C.H.A. meetings. M.E.C.H.A. — which stands for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán — is a club that seeks to promote Chicano unity and empowerment at Western. In one meeting, the topic of Western becoming a Hispanic Serving Institute came up. This means that 25% or more of students attending Western identify as Hispanic, which will lead to the university getting more money. 

I was surprised when I heard that Western was planning to become Hispanic-serving. First, because I didn’t even think that there were any Hispanic Serving Institutes in the United States, and second, because seemingly no one has talked about it. 

I checked Western’s student racial demographics online. It shows that 60% are white, while Hispanic/Latino students make up about 15%. For a school to be eligible to become a Hispanic Serving Institute, the college or university must have 25% or more Hispanic students enrolled, said Gina Ann Garcia in her book  “Becoming Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Opportunities for Colleges and Universities.”

For Western to become Hispanic-serving, administration must find a way to increase Hispanic enrollment from 15% to 25%. In a speech I found online from Sep. 17, 2018 titled “President’s State of the University Address Rice Auditorium,” President Rex Fuller addresses Western’s goal to become a Hispanic Serving Institution. 

“As one of our objectives in this plan, WOU should embrace the goal of becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution. Once achieved, WOU would be the only four-year institution in Oregon with such a designation. To achieve this, we need to see Hispanic enrollment grow from 16% to 25% of total enrollment. Or, we need to grow from just under 800 to 1,200 Hispanic students,” Fuller said.

With the need of increasing Hispanic enrollment, I don’t think that Western will be able to achieve a 25% Hispanic student population. The reason I believe this is because during M.E.C.H.A. meetings, many of the students expressed how they don’t feel represented here at Western. They feel that Western lacks the resources for representation and aid for Hispanic/Latino students. This may cause Hispanic students to transfer to a different university and deter future students from attending Western.   

Although Fuller talks about the goal for Western to become a Hispanic Serving Institute, I noticed that he doesn’t talk about how Western plans to increase Hispanic enrollment, he just talks about what needs to happen. With no plan of action, is Western Oregon University really going to be a Hispanic Serving Institute?

 

Contact the author at mcelest01@gmail.com

Guest Opinion : Thinking honestly about waste at western

Nicholas Prazniak  | Guest Contributor

Let us for a minute assume that the world is perfect. No poverty, no war, no hate. This could be the truth, but greed has led us down the other path. It seems no matter what we do, we are living in an ever faster dying world. It is a crime to the planet we have committed — the guilt we must face — and the honesty we must accept of ourselves. We have become the last generation. More people, more problems. How to live with this has become the task we are all working on. It is not impossible, as nothing is, but it is very hard. 

Look at this planet: garbage has reached the deepest part of the ocean, our atmosphere is choked by smog, diesel fumes and pure ignorance for the air that keeps us alive. I write this in response to the waste that I see produced by this institution on a daily basis. There is definitely something we can do, but we have resorted to focus on distractions rather than this problem. 

We let the dumpsters fill up without any regard; we don’t look for a second chance at the things thrown away. I crawl through the dumpsters at the end of every year and find car loads of unused journals, unopened ramen packs, laptops, printers, chairs, laundry baskets and textbooks. It scares me that I find textbooks. We are literally throwing away knowledge that we have paid thousands of dollars for. 

I have formed the basis for this opinion piece by finding these physical things. There is no explanation for this wasteful habit except for the one and only reason that we are lazy. I have asked what solution there is to this and the scripted answer I get is “we are finding a solution.”

I’m shocked that for a school that has been around for so long, we have not found a solution for this problem, and instead turned our backs on it. We are wasting knowledge.  

 

Contact the author at nprazniak17@mail.wou.edu

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in guest opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Western Howl.

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