Mount Hood

Male Privilege

Paul F. Davis | Photo Editor

As an upper middle class white cis-male living in the 21st century, I am probably one the most privileged people to ever walk this earth, and this privilege has allowed me live in something of a bubble. This bubble helps me be awfully unaware of some the worst parts of our culture: fearing being shot in the back because a police officer thought my phone was a gun — I don’t even think about the police — or walking through the world expecting the worst — I expect the best — and especially I don’t have to deal with any of the problems most women have experienced or experience every day.

So I asked a few of my closest female friends and family about their least favorite things they have experienced related to being a female to illuminate what an average woman may go through that I never would.

“When I go parties or the bar I feel as if I can never fully relax … because I have to keep a lookout for anything that could happen to me or my friends. And when I see certain men at those parties I take my girl friends and we leave because I know they are trouble and I don’t want anything to happen to me or my friends,” said Rachel, a current student.

“In the past when I was running an LA Fitness, there would be times when people would come up to me and ask for the manager and I would respond with ‘I’m the manger, how can I help you’ and they would talk down to me as if I wasn’t qualified to be the manager, even though I was being professional and polite,” said Kelly, a graduate of Western.

“It’s not that he touched me or said anything extreme it was just the way he singled me out sometimes in class and looked at me that made me feel super uncomfortable,” said Abby about a former professor she had while attending Oregon State University.

“I have large breasts and I love them, but there are points when I hate them just because of how often they are stared at. So I wear clothes that don’t emphasize them so I don’t have to deal with it,” said Lauren a current student at Oregon State University.

After hearing about these experiences from some of people who I love the most in this world, I feel nothing less than thankful that I don’t have to deal being made to feel as less or feeling uncomfortable or feeling being stared at, but I have to demand that we change our actions as a society because if we do nothing, nothing will change and our future women will experience these moments time and time again. Which is something I don’t want any female person to experience.

I’m not going to sit by passively because change starts in one person and spreads so I’m going to actively work to prevent these things by changing my own behavior and by being responsive when my female counterparts experience something sexist. And lastly, I am going to ask you to do the same because no woman deserves to feel less or experience less just because they are female.

Contact the author at pfdavis14@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Let’s talk about sex

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

As a graduating senior, I’ve spent my 180 credits exploring all the subjects that Western has to offer. From dance to psychology, my elective credits were put to good use in investigating fascinating subjects that help explain the world around me. My favorite of these classes was Human Sexuality, and I implore every Western student to take this class at some point in their college career.

I signed up for this class because I had mutual friends taking it and figured the subject would be interesting. In today’s society, sex isn’t something that’s discussed in a healthy and honest way. This class looked like a good opportunity to have an open discussion about a topic that most individuals are discouraged from talking about.

The class that I was in, taught by Amy Hammermeister Jordan, addressed many aspects of human sexuality. One topic discussed in the class was gender stereotypes and the harm that can come from placing harsh expectations on kids from the time they’re toddlers. Expecting boys to be emotionless, strong and dominant, and girls to be submissive, dainty and polite can restrict how they view themselves and express themselves to the world.

The three biggest influences on young kids are parents, peers and the media. Kids start to learn how they should be behaving, what restrictions they have on their life choices based on their gender and how to conform to society’s expectations by rejecting their true self.

I’ve personally felt the weight of gender stereotypes my entire life. Being expected to dress a certain way, sit like a lady, smile, don’t talk out of turn: these messages can be extremely harmful. From this class, I learned how not to perpetuate these stereotypes and how to encourage the next generation to be their true selves.

Human Sexuality introduced a topic that hadn’t considered before taking this class: talking to kids about sex. Sexual education in schools is extremely limited and often nonexistent. Some schools and communities believe that, by not exposing kids to the topic of sex, they are less likely to engage in it. Unfortunately, this view of sexual education is common, but the reality is that education is powerful, and when young adults have accurate information and honest communication about sex, they have the tools to make positive decisions. When sex is a taboo topic, kids seek out less reliable sources of information and are more likely to make harmful choices.

With the topic of human sexuality, it was important to address all different types of sexuality. An open discussion about the LGBTQ+ community provided a safe space to ask questions, clarify definitions and educate students about the community. If you’re like me and have no idea what queer, pansexual or intersex means, this class helps explain these terms to create a more educated community at Western.

The most important thing that you can learn from this class is the definition of consent. While talking with friends and people that are close to me, it’s obvious that they have a very unclear definition of consent, and this is because education about consent is often not taught in schools, leading most people to only have a slight idea of what the word means. While many individuals rely on vague and often misleading body language and physical cues for consent, they don’t realize that consent is verbal, affirmative and ongoing.

Unfortunately, we can’t talk about sex without talking about sexual assault. Sexual assault occurs far too often and can have a tremendous impact on an individual’s physical and mental health. Something anyone and everyone can take away from this class is how to help a survivor of sexual assault who has confided in you.

First, let them know that they have options, but never choose their path of healing for them — they can choose to report the crime, see a mental care specialist or they may do nothing at all. Listen to them, believe them and don’t question them. The first person that an individual confides in after sexual assault can change their path of healing for the rest of their life.

It would take much more than a page-long article to explain all the tremendous things that this class taught me. But all in all, talking about sex is important. Open, honest communication can lead to a healthy view of human sexuality, accurate knowledge of consent, better communication with a romantic partner and sexual education in schools that emphasizes knowledge instead of ignorance.

If you have a few extra elective credits to use, I’d highly recommend taking this class. You won’t be disappointed.

Contact the author at sedunaway13@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

 

Guns in schools

Lake Larsen | Digital Media Manager

Never in my life did I think I would have to worry about being shot while at school. But my senior year of high school, a student came into my school with a firearm and, right after lunch, proceeded to shoot themself in class.

While this was a suicide and not an attempt on other lives, just the thought that someone at my own school came in with a loaded firearm frightened me. I always believed my school was safe, yet now my high school is on a list where someone has lost their life due to guns being within school walls.

In the wake of the Parkland shooting, an idea has been circulating that hopes to put an end to gun deaths in schools: the arming of teachers with firearms. At first, the ever present yelp of “good guys with guns stop bad guys with guns” seems to fit, but does this actually work? Does a teacher with a gun stop a school shooter? I’d like to call into question this good over evil mentality and the impact that giving teachers firearms would really have.

The first step in arming teachers would be to select which teachers you want to carry firearms and to train them. For argument’s sake, let’s say there are a number of volunteer teachers ready and willing to carry firearms. If you want a teacher to react in an emergency situation like a police officer, train them like one. However, the basic idea of training already brings a dilemma: a teacher’s time.

Being a teacher, you have to put genuine time and effort into each lesson you teach. Planning lessons, grading homework and tests and even just responding to emails takes a lot of time. So, on top of all the work teachers are already asked to do, they then have to train for an active shooter situation so they can effectively try to extinguish a threat.

If you skip over the potential cost to schools needing to supply this training to teachers — which is already a huge thing to overlook — you have to ask: would this time spent training be paid? If it is, that means teachers would be more inclined to carry, as it is a more fiscally responsible choice. In many school districts across the country, classrooms are severely underfunded and staff grossly underpaid. That means if a teacher either wants to make enough money to afford living or have extra money to fund their classroom with basic necessities, they have to moonlight as a pseudo-police officer.

However, what if training is volunteer based so the time is unpaid? That means you’re only drawing from teachers who have enough time to adopt a sort of second job. This job being one that takes away time from an educator trying to impact a students life for the better and instead devotes it to trying to be a hero during a mass shooting. Already, the idea of arming teachers means asking underfunded schools to divert funds away from educating our youth to instead supply firearm training to underpaid teachers. It is either this or making teachers pay for their own training. Or, even worse, just treating a school like the wild west and letting untrained teachers run around freely with guns. None of the options seem too great.

The next issue faced would be the selection of a firearm. If a teacher chooses some variant of a rifle or shotgun, that means it would need to be stored in a locked desk or safe — if you want the weapon to be stored safely, that is. In the event of an emergency, the teacher would have to go to the gun safe, unlock it, load the gun, then locate and stop the threat, resulting in precious time lost.

However, I believe the most likely firearm for a teacher to wield would be a semi-automatic handgun, due to their compactness making them easy to conceal. But just because the gun is hidden, doesn’t mean it’s safe. Having a gun on you at all times means at any point in time you could accidentally discharge the weapon — something that has already happened in a school this year.

Last, the main point in teachers carrying guns is to protect the students in the event of a shooting. During an active shooter situation, the armed teacher would be expected to react in a way to stop the threat.

In the high stress environment of an active shooter situation, the teacher would need to remain calm, find the shooter and take them out. Expecting them to stop the shooter would mean the armed teacher would need to abandon their class full of students, potentially putting them in danger. A simple misidentification of someone as a threat means the teacher could kill an innocent person. But if the teacher were to stay in their classroom, then that means the shooter is free to continue causing harm.

The general notion of having any faculty member on a school campus carrying a weapon is not only dangerous, but fiscally irresponsible. I do believe there are teachers out there capable of stopping a threat, but this comes at much too high of a cost.

At face value, you might think a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun, but this is just flat out wrong. A police officer with excellent training stops a bad guy with a gun. If you want school campuses to be safe, maybe it’s time to consider gun control that doesn’t force firearms into the hands of teachers.

Contact the author at llarsen13@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: aadl.org

A glimpse from behind the counter

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Earlier this school year, for the first time, I decided to get a job working in the food service industry. It was the first real customer service position I had ever gotten, and it has already taught me so much.

In the few months I’ve worked this job, I have experienced a plethora of questionable interactions with people; I’ve had people come up to me at the front counter and pretend to “make it rain” with dollar bills, I’ve had a woman come up to me and scream in my face for something I didn’t do, I’ve had endless sighs and comments such as “really?”, or “you’ve got to be kidding” thrown at me due to the fact that I didn’t have specific food ready — that we don’t even advertise as having ready. Not to mention, numerous inappropriate comments about my appearance, prank calls and eye gazes have been gestured towards me.

I want, for just one second, any one of these people to step into my shoes — my incredibly uncomfortable, non-slip shoes, that is. Then they might understand why none of this is okay. They’d understand what I go through on a daily basis; I work anywhere between six to 10 hours in a given shift, my breaks are short, I’m running all over the place trying to get things done quickly and, all the while, I have to make sure that I have a smile on my face and that customers are being served very quickly. When you have the added factor of difficult customers that are for some reason “always right,” it can be exhausting.

In no way am I trying to throw myself a pity-party — I chose to take on this position and this workload. That being said, I honestly think that if at some point in everyone’s life they worked a customer-service job, I wouldn’t have to deal with these kinds of problems.

Working customer service is a great way to learn about several important aspects of life. You learn how to be more patient. Being on the other end of the counter teaches you how things work. There are times where I have 10 orders in front of someone, and they get upset if they have to wait 10 minutes. I’m sorry, did you want me to just magically make those tickets disappear? You have to wait your turn, and if you were in my position, you’d understand that.

You also learn how kindness can go a long way. A nice comment or a “keep up the good work” can actually put a genuine smile on my face. And finally, you learn why you should be understanding and respectful of the people who are serving you.

On the other hand, customer service can offer so many other great things. You learn about the lives of people that you otherwise wouldn’t have known. For instance, I’m beginning to learn the names of several regulars and about the many things that go on in their lives. Just asking “how has your day been?” has led to several conversations with random people, and often times it really brightens their day to have someone to talk to. It can be an incredibly rewarding experience that you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.

While I have had several experiences that make me question why people are the way they are, I’m beginning to notice a pattern. Most of my frustrating experiences have been with people of an older generation. The younger ones are typically more respectful and willing to wait and work with me rather than just immediately get upset and throw a fit. It almost feels as if the older generation has become so removed from what it means to work a customer service job that they have higher expectations than what can actually be met. However, the consideration coming from the younger customers seems like a positive sign to me; the future is bright and the younger generation has a more empathetic attitude that is understanding and respectful towards customer service employees. I hope that carries on over time.

As for everyone else, you may want to consider picking up a customer service position at some point. Maybe then you can begin to understand why things happen the way they do, and why you shouldn’t be blatantly impolite toward the people who are serving you. But, hey, if you’re going to be disrespectful, at the very least, could you leave a tip?

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Letter To The Editor

Nathan Soltz

In response to Eric Frey’s editorial published Feb. 28:

Thank you for your letter to the student body regarding the IFC process; however, I do have quite a few concerns. For the sake of length, I’m not going to address all of them as in-depth as I would like to, but I am going to make a very specific concern known for the sake of the student body.

Your letter makes it sound as though the timeline for cutting ASWOU began with the IFC telling ASWOU that the budget was going to be cut $28,000 for OSA, and then ASWOU deciding that they would, instead, gut clubs and organizations with that cut.

Simply put, this is factually inaccurate. The IFC mandates that all the IFC-funded organizations present what a 5 percent and 10 percent cut package would look like. In ASWOU’s 10 percent cut package, it was made very clear that the only flexible budgets for a cut that significant would be the clubs and organizations that it funds. All along, the IFC knew that a 10 percent cut would be devastating to Western’s clubs and it, at its sole discretion, decided to make that cut.

The way the IFC has been representing this process to the students of Western Oregon University has been misleading, deceitful and displays a gross aberration for the democratic processes that the IFC members are supposed to be upholding. Trying to pit the students of Western against ASWOU because the IFC has decided to slash funding to their clubs is irresponsible and egregious.

I’ve seen all of the publicly-available responses submitted by students regarding the preliminary budget and I am aware of several more which have been sent directly to you by students who have expressed their concerns to me. The clubs which you are gutting know very well what your budget does and will not be fooled by the red herring explanation the IFC has given regarding the cuts.

In an annual budget which represents an overall budget reduction of 0.3 percent, a net reduction of $12,644, your cut to ASWOU — and, by extension, the clubs and organizations of Western — is roughly 10 percent. The cut to ASWOU of $28,000, a net of $23,103, is near twice the next largest net cut — $12,374 to Creative Arts, which the department itself asked for.

As a percentage, the ASWOU cut is more than double the next largest cut. Not to mention that ASWOU aside, the average cut, to those organizations which were cut, was 1.8 percent. Perhaps more strikingly, half of all the budgets stayed completely unchanged, including over $1 million allocated to Athletics —$1,284,159 to be exact — the single largest line-item in the IFC’s budget. Note that Athletics also receives funding from both the general fund and the Foundation — the only department or organization on campus to do so.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is quoted as saying “budgets are moral documents.” Maybe you were totally oblivious to the grave impact your proposed ASWOU cut would have on the clubs and organizations on our campus and the students they represent — I dare not infer what the IFC’s thought process was if you were aware of this impact and proposed the cut anyway.

Now that there is no way you can still claim ignorance to the consequences of this action, I have faith that the IFC will reconsider this gross neglect of duty to the students it alleges to represent. I have faith that the IFC will not cut the Associated Students of Western Oregon University and, by extension, every single student on this campus. This is a moment of truth. When the dust settles, where will the IFC stand: with students or against them? As it is now, the IFC is looking pretty alone.

To publish a response, contact the editor at journaleditor@wou.edu

Open Letter to the students at Western Oregon University

Eric Frey | Incidental Fee Committee Chair

Dear students, I wanted to write to you first to inform you of where we stand as a committee after the preliminary hearings and second to ask you for your input on where you think your fees should go.

Some background — every term students pay an incidental fee to support student-funded activities and organizations. This year the fee is $349 per regular term and $153 for summer term, with projected enrollment next fall being 4,745. We estimate to receive $4,402,604 in revenue if fees do not change. For summer, projected enrollment is 800 students and $123,000 in revenue if fees do not change. For the 2018-2019 school year IFC funded areas requested $4,515,310 for their budgets and an additional $429,896 in enhancements to their budgets —  a total of $4,945,206 requested from the IFC. With the $542,602 difference between requested funds and projected available funds we have to find the balance between raising fees and lowering budgets.

Here is where we stand after preliminary decisions on the funding of the IFC-funded areas:

Abby’s House, Access, Creative Arts , Athletics, Childcare, Extraordinary Travel, Campus Rec-HWC, Campus Rec-Club Sports, Campus Rec-Intramurals, Student Engagement-LIA, Student Engagement-SAB, WOLF Ride, SLCD and the Computer Replacement Fund were all funded at the level requested.

ASWOU was cut by $28,000 with the intent to cut the Oregon Student Association membership, while the ASWOU cut package indicated cuts to Clubs & Orgs and travel funds. Student Media was cut by $3,229 with the intent to reduce printing costs in The Western Journal. Student Engagement Operations was cut by $3,887 with the intent to close the downstairs of the Werner University Center at 10 p.m. when the upstairs closes.

Five areas also requested enhancements to their base budget:

ASWOU requested $4,359 to support SVA National Convention Travel: Approved

Athletics requested $396,505 to fund travel, uniforms, equipment and pre-season expenses: $28,250 was approved — $2,500 for baseball helmets, $4,000 for Basketball Game Fees for not traveling to an opponent[ZS2] , $7,500 for volleyball uniforms, $5,692 for track to replace aging equipment, $2,148 for cross country meet fees for not traveling to opponent, $4,117 for cheerleading uniforms

Student Engagement-Leadership, Inclusion, Activities requested $3,759 to support Siblings Weekend and the Leadership Institute: Approved

Student Engagement-SAB requested $2,685 to fund new SAB location: Approved

WOLF Ride/SLCD requested $22,588 to fund a second driver/navigator and develop a WOLF Ride App: second driver/navigator approved for $17,292.

Overall IFC approved $56,345 in enhancements to the budgets

With the total of $4,536,539 budget and with the projected enrollment we are looking at increasing the Incidental Fee from $349 per term to $360 per term.

The summer budget was $133,674 — $3,975 less than last year, yet we need to increase the summer Incidental Fee from $153 to $167 due to lower summer enrollment projections.

Agendas, minutes, documents, forms and additional info can be found at wou.edu/ifc

Now that you have the facts, this is where I am asking for your input and help:

We want to hear from you.

How do you feel about the overall fee?

What do you feel strongest about in the budgets?

Do you think you benefit enough from the services provided by the fee? How?

What do you think could be improved in the Budget?

What budget item do you disagree with?

What would you like to tell the committee?

You can email the committee at ifc@wou.edu and ifcchair@wou.edu to give us your feedback or you can contact me personally at efrey15@wou.edu.

Thank you for taking the time to read through all this info, please take a few minutes to let us know your thoughts, because the more feedback we get, the better decisions we can make and together we succeed.

TL:DR  We are looking to raise Incidental Fees to $360 to fund IFC-funded areas, looking to cut funds from ASWOU, Student Media and Student Engagement. ifc@wou.edu would like your input and thoughts.

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

How to spot fake news

Tracy Scharn | Library

Originally published in the Hamersly Library winter 2018 newsletter.

Imagine, you’re scanning social media and this news item pops up:

Critically Ill Infant Stopped at Overseas Airport by Travel Ban

You click over and read about an Iranian infant who was on her way to the United States for life-saving heart surgery, but was stopped at the airport because of recently implemented travel restrictions. Your cursor hovers over the “share” button …

Social media has made it easier than ever to share information with others far and wide. It has arguably played a significant role in social change movements, allowing anyone with an Internet connection to potentially have their voice heard on a large scale. This very quality has also made it very easy for misinformation to proliferate and be shared.

While the term “fake news” is in the headlines a lot lately, most people don’t purposely create or share information that they know is false. Instead, a lot of “fake news” is created when people don’t take the time to verify the accuracy of information before clicking that “share” button. If you want to avoid being that person who shares information that isn’t quite accurate, read on.

The News Literacy Project suggests the following approach:

The first thing you should always do is check to see if multiple, reputable news outlets are reporting the same information independent of each other. Go to your favorite search engine and search for information related to the news item you saw. Can you find multiple news outlets reporting the same thing? Are the news outlets you’ve found reputable? If you’ve never heard of them, go to the about us page and see what they say about themselves. Then do a search online and see what other people are saying about them. Finally, are the news outlets reporting information independent of each other? If you see multiple news outlets saying something like, “’The Washington Post’ is reporting today … ” that means that the information hasn’t been verified by other news outlets yet. You still only have one news outlet as your source.

You will also want to monitor your own reactions to the news item you’re seeing. Does it seem like the news item is tugging at your emotions —making you feel sad, angry, outraged, vindicated? Those reactions to news are normal, but it’s a clue that you need to take a step back and evaluate the news with a critical eye. What proof is being presented to back-up claims made in the news item? Also ask yourself: Do you believe what you’re reading because it conforms with what you already think? Challenge yourself to be as objective as you can.

Also keep an eye out for red flags, which can vary widely. Some examples include:

  • Broken links, or only linking to other articles within that same publication. Remember, you want multiple, reputable, independent sources.
  • Does the news item use neutral language or does it seem to have a bias? Look for language choices that convey particular attitudes or biases. Also be aware of your own biases. Just because we don’t agree with something doesn’t mean it’s biased.
  • Is the language over-the-top? (“Unbelievable Action from Congress Makes Your Taxes Go Up!!!”). It may be playing on your emotions and existing beliefs, or it may be satire.
  • What sources are cited in the article? Are they anonymous or named? Do they have specialized knowledge or training related to the topics being discussed, or just opinions?

With time and practice, these techniques will become second nature to you and you’ll approach information with a critical eye. You’ll see a news item, quickly check to see what other sources are saying about the topic, check your own reactions and look for potential red flags. You’ll also become more familiar with which news outlets are more reputable than others and skim past those that have proven to be unreliable in the past. Apply these tips and you can feel confident in sharing information that is important to you with your family and friends on social media.

For more in-depth information about evaluating news sources, visit the library’s research guide, where you’ll also find links to reputable sources for news: http://research.wou.edu/news/evaluation

Fact-checking Tools:

                                           

Politifact.com focuses on claims made by political figures

Factcheck.org is a non-profit, non-partisan fact-checker focused on politics and political figures

Snopes.com investigates a variety of claims, from politics to urban legends

 

Have questions or want more information? Get in touch with your librarian!

Call us at the Reference Desk: ext. 88899

Or find the contact info for the librarian in your subject area here: http://research.wou.edu/librarians

 

Contact the editor at journaleditor@wou.edu to publish a response.

Photo by: thenewslitteracyproject.org

The unfortunate reality of TV show revivals

Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Have you ever watched the ending of a TV show and craved more? Do you watch shows from twenty years ago and wonder what life in that universe would be like now? Curiosity and desire are common occurrences, and this innate craving for more is what leads television industries to continue on with a previously established plotline. This is known as a revival.

In theory, revivals sound amazing. Your favorite TV show that you’ve seen a thousand times, only new and improved? Yes, please. Unfortunately, the reality of TV show revivals is far from that.

There is one thing that drives our desire for classic TV show revivals: nostalgia. Ever wonder what happened to the Tanner family after the end of season eight of “Full House”? Bring on “Fuller House.” Dying to see more drama surrounding Lorelai and Rory in “Gilmore Girls”? Cue the miniseries on Netflix. Does your love for the 90’s classic “Boy Meets World” ever lead you to wonder how Topanga and Cory survive through their adult years? Perfect, you can watch their kids carry on the hilarious hijinks in “Girl Meets World.”

But the problem with nostalgia is that we can’t go back in time and continue the series where it left off just for our viewing pleasure. Instead, revivals are often filmed decades after the original with a fraction of the original cast and often completely different writers. Our heart still tells us that it’ll be the same, and it almost never is.

A major problem that I have with revivals is the lack of consideration for the storyline itself. You mean we can make a revival of “Roseanne” with almost the entire cast and people will go crazy for it? Then why not? Pay no mind to the fact that the father, Dan, died at the end of the original series. We’ll hope people forget about that and bring him back for the revival. Everybody wins.

One of the most disappointing examples of a failed revival is season four of “Arrested Development.” Fans were heartbroken when the series was cut off after three seasons, so a revival was what diehard fans craved. It was announced that all 15 episodes of season four would premiere as a Netflix Original in 2013, and it was far from what fans expected. The subtle, oddball and perfectly crafted humor of the first three seasons was nowhere to be found in season four. Instead the humor felt overdone and fell flat.

“Fuller House” was a revival that had a lot of promise. The fans of the original series dealt with the cheesy life lessons and dramatic narratives because it was a family-friendly hit. I spent many afternoons growing up alongside the Tanner daughters and laughing at the classic plotlines. You’d think a revival with the family back together again would be great, right? Not exactly. The once cute daughters are now adults, and their dimples and “you got it, dudes” are not enough to make up for their lack of depth. The show tries way too hard to be modern, with jokes about selfies, Donald Trump and constant references to the Olsen twins’s absence. Honestly, the only thing “Fuller House” has going for it is that John Stamos is still nice to look at. You win some, you lose some.

Rumor has it that NBC has plans to bring back “The Office,” premiering in the 2018-2019 season. As someone who watches “The Office” nearly every day, I have a special place in my heart for Dunder Mifflin. The best part of my day is watching Jim play pranks on Dwight, witnessing Michael and Holly’s love unfold and learning more and more about the mystery that is Creed Bratton. But a revival of “The Office” is the absolute last thing I want. Yes, it would be amazing to have the cast all together again. But more likely than not, it’s going to be a select few actors that haven’t found much else to do in the past five years and a bunch of other people that we don’t know. The show will probably have different writers as well, so the witty humor that I once loved will probably be disappointingly different. And honestly, who even enjoys the end of the series after Michael leaves? No one. The revival is more than likely going to be another season nine. Do we really need that in our life?

If your favorite TV show is getting a revival, I wish you all the luck in the world. But my advice would be to re-watch old seasons and continue imagining life after the finale without actually having to watch it.

Contact the author at sedunaway13@wou.edu

Photo by:fullhouse.wikia.com, netflix.com

Time’s Up for harassment in the workplace

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Earlier this month, many tuned in to see the 75th annual Golden Globes ceremony hosted by comedian and actor Seth Meyers. What most expected to see was glamorous celebrities donned in expensive garments and designer statements, being followed by cameras and E! News reporters asking them “who are you wearing?” Instead, what viewers saw was Hollywood elite adorned just in black, many displaying a pin that simply said “Time’s Up.”

The Time’s Up movement began with a full-page ad published in an issue of “The New York Times,” released on Jan. 1. In the letter, over 300 actors, lawyers, writers, directors and producers signed to pledge support for working-class women who deal with inequality in the workplace. Following the several reports of sexual harassment, assault and rape allegations that came out against producer Harvey Weinstein, and the several other allegations towards different big names that began coming out daily since then, the timing seemed to be right. It was time to stand up against harassment and sexism that women have to deal with on a daily basis. It was time for women and allies to unify and stand up against the inequality and injustice they face in the workplace.

The initiative manages a legal defense fund aimed at supporting and helping the underprivileged women who are ready to fight against sexual harassment, assault or abuse while trying to pursue their careers. It gives everyone a voice.

According to timesupnow.com, “1 in 3 women ages 18 to 34 have been sexually harassed at work. 71% of those women say they did not report it.” It also notes that “more than one-third of the world’s countries do not have any laws prohibiting sexual harassment at work- leaving nearly 235 million working women vulnerable in the workplace.”

Celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon, Emma Watson, Jessica Chastain, Emma Stone and Rashida Jones all choose to support and show solidarity towards the movement. They are using their platform to give all women a voice. But they aren’t the only big names involved. Male celebrities such as Justin Timberlake, Tom Hanks and Chris Hemsworth all chose to don a “Time’s Up” pin to show their support for women everywhere.

Now the question is, if all of these people are supporting the movement, why aren’t you? While these are all big names and their stories are more widely spread, that doesn’t mean that their experiences are more valid than anyone else’s. Everyone’s experience with sexual harassment in the workplace or just in life is worthy of being heard about. Start talking.

If you haven’t been personally affected, I can almost guarantee that someone who is close to you has been. I can talk to any single one of my friends and hear their perspective of a time where they were sexually harassed or felt unequal. I’ve had friends sob to me as they shared an experience they’ve had with men who abused their power over them. Whether it be with sexual harassment, discrimination or rape, all of their voices deserve to be heard. While most aren’t in the workplace, they are just as valid.

I am urging you to stand with the people around you. Now is the time to unify. The plague of systematic inequality and injustice in the workplace has to come to an end. It’s our duty to stand with one another and let voices be heard. I’m not saying you have to post about things on social media. I’m saying we need to be willing to be an open ear to someone who has struggled with something like this. Be their ally.
That being said, if you do feel comfortable making your story public, feel free to do so. Time’s up on allowing these things to be unsaid. Time’s up on silencing women who have had to sit with their mouths shut for years, just accepting the way things are. It’s time to stop taking matters so lightly.

Small victories can be seen already. Former USA gymnastics coach Larry Nassar, accused of sexually abusing 81 people, was charged with 22 counts of sexual misconduct. James Franco was photoshopped out of the cover of Vanity Fair’s Oscar portfolio issue. Netflix cut ties with actors and comedians Kevin Spacey, Danny Masterson and Louis C.K. for sexual misconduct accusations against them.

Stand up against injustice. Stand up against discrimination in the workplace or in everyday life. If you hear or see it happening, speak up. Something so simple could change someone’s life forever. We cannot let this movement die out; until change is made, we need to continue working together and fighting as a unified front towards inequality. There is a lot of work to be done, but by standing together as a body of persistent fighters, I know we can get there.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: goldenglobes.com

Passion vs pander

Darien Campo | Designer

On Jan. 8, the 2017 Golden Globes had a new guest in attendance from previous years.

 

As James Franco took the stage to accept his award for best actor, he brought with him Tommy Wiseau, the very man he is lauded for portraying in “The Disaster Artist.” For most, Wiseau is an unrecognizable name. But to his legions of cult-like fans, seeing him onstage was a beautifully surreal experience.

 

In 2003, Wiseau released his magnum opus “The Room,” a film he wrote, directed, produced and starred in. During its two-week box office run it barely made $1,600 of its estimated $6 million budget back before it dropped from the big screen. But over the past 15 years “The Room” has slowly built a sizeable, rabid fanbase to the point that it is now the subject of one of the year’s most popular comedies.

 

Filmmaker Ross Morin famously called “The Room” the “Citizen Kane of bad movies.” And that’s what “The Room” is known for — being a bad movie. But that label never really sat right with me. There are plenty of bad movies in the world, hundreds of them are released every year and you’ll never even hear about them. Some flop tremendously and then burn out into obscurity. It feels weird to compare a “bad” film like “The Emoji Movie,” which will most likely be forgotten in ten years; to “The Room,” which continues to sell out theaters across the globe 15 years after its release. “The Emoji Movie” is a bad film, but it’s doubtful it will have any long-lasting cult appeal as “The Room” does. So what sets Wiseau’s film blunder apart from all the other “bad” movies that collect dust on Netflix year after year? To me, films like “The Room” don’t quite fit into the “good movie, bad movie” dichotomy; there’s something more here.

 

“The Room” is an inept film, for sure, but I think what helps it stand out above the rest is the passion behind it. I believe that “bad” movies like “The Room,” “Troll 2” and “Plan 9 From Outer Space” stand out not solely because of their missteps, but because of the passion of the filmmakers behind them.

 

Passion is one of the most defining qualities that makes a film stand out. While “The Room” famously stumbled on the delivery of nearly every single aspect of what we have come to expect from a movie, it is Wiseau’s passion for his film that makes it worth watching.

If a “good movie” is defined by its success, and a “bad movie” by its failure, then the continuing success of filmmakers like Wiseau makes no sense. I have a different metric I like to judge movies by: “passion vs. pander.”

 

It’s a difficult quality to define, and perhaps can only be guessed at in retrospect. Did the filmmaker tell their story thinking “people are going to love this idea,” or were they thinking “I love this idea”? It’s not an easily quantifiable method of examining movies, but it has given me insight into my own work. Because of movies like Wiseau’s, as I work on my own projects I am constantly asking myself “Am I making this decision for myself, or for the audience?”

 

We want to make work that is honest. Not only to others, but to ourselves. And for all of its failures, “The Room” is one of the most honest films you will ever see. There’s a wonderful freedom in watching a movie made with equal parts unbridled passion and outright blunder.

Filmmaker Ed Wood famously spent his whole career feverishly making movie after movie after movie, convinced he was destined to be a great filmmaker. His first film, “Glen or Glenda,” is an extremely personal tale about cross-dressing from a filmmaker who was one himself. It is a terrible movie, and the first in a long line of terrible movies; each made with equal love and passion as the one before it. His 1959 sci-fi horror “Plan 9 From Outer Space” is now one of the biggest cult films of all time. Ed Wood’s passion gave life to a filmography full of lifeless duds.

 

Is it fair of me to say that films like “Suicide Squad” are made with pandering and not passion? No, of course not. That’s not my place. But I think it’s a worthwhile discussion to have. A film like “Assassin’s Creed” succeeds in most aspects technically, it is a competently-made film; but had an overwhelmingly lukewarm reception. “The Room” fumbles nearly everything it tries to do as a film, but is now the subject of a hugely successful book and now film adaptation.

 

As an artist, there are worse things than making bad art. Bad art can still be successful, it can still speak volumes to an audience. What’s most important is that you are honest in your art. Create with passion, create for yourself, and create without shame.

 

For insight into the type of people who make these terrible movies, I recommend Michael Stephenson’s documentary “Best Worst Movie.” A film about the cast of “Troll 2” as one by one they learn that their film flop from 20 years earlier has become a cult hit. Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood” and now James Franco’s “The Disaster Artist” explore these B-movie heroes as well.

 

“The Room” will be forever remembered as a bad movie, but there’s nothing wrong with failure. For me, I’d rather fail spectacularly than make something that’s just “alright.” Look through last year’s 5-star rated films sometime, you’ll be amazed how many you’ve already forgotten ever existed. Sometimes a one-star rating can be just as good as a 10.

Contact the author at dcampo13@wou.edu

Photo by: The New Yorker

The nostalgia factor

neopets.com

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

The other night, I stayed up for three hours playing games to earn points on “Neopets.” Don’t get me wrong, I love Neopia as much as the next childhood-reminiscent 21-year-old, but shouldn’t I spend my time doing something else? The short answer is: yes. Ideally, I wouldn’t spend three hours trying to feed my Neopet enough food to satisfy ten years of neglect.

However, the games — identical to how they were when I played them in elementary school — sucked me in.

I wasn’t lured in by amazing graphics or complicated tasks. What got me instead was the familiarity of all of my old Neopian haunts. I stayed for the nostalgia, not the neopoints.

Nostalgia is powerful. It kickstarts games like “Pokémon Go” and allows us to justify paying $35 for a 12-pack of Surge. Though there are no real numbers tracking the effectiveness of nostalgia marketing, it has relatively no competition when it comes to being an effective marketing tool. After all, most products that you connected to in your youth were already marketed to you at one point. You’ve already formed bonds and associations with them.

Using nostalgia to market products works because it taps into our emotions. If you have positive childhood experiences with Lisa Frank folders in elementary school, you’re probably more likely to be drawn to the makeup brushes that are reminiscent of Frank’s designs. Humans are naturally drawn to things that we believe will result in positive experiences, so it makes sense for us to subconsciously — or consciously — emulate the youthful feeling we get when we use games or products from our childhood.

Nostalgia marketing works because we romanticize the past as a way of coping with the future. It’s easier to take a break from homework to play “Neopets” than it is to take a break and read the news.

 

Contact the author at zstrickland14@wou.edu

Accepting the flow of new gym-goers

Paul F. Davis

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

With the start of the new year, you can count on a few things. A new sense of hope amongst many, a thousand “new year, new me” posts on Instagram and a completely packed gym, full of excited and ready fresh faces. Each treadmill, stairmaster, squat rack and bench will be occupied, and everywhere you turn will be a new person.

For those who go to the gym daily or at least frequently, I can understand where the frustration is arising from. You’re used to your routines and you can count on the fact that when you get to the gym, the equipment you’re wanting will be available. With a new herd of people joining in, your routine is getting shaken up a bit. However, I want you to remember one thing: it’s not your gym.

Every single person who goes to Western pays to be able to take part in all that the Health and Wellness Center has to offer. They have just as much right as anyone else to be there and utilize it however they see fit. People who chose to start 2018 by going to the gym are likely making a conscious effort to try and improve their health and fitness. Who are you to say that it is not okay?

It’s also frustrating when frequent gym-goers say things along the lines of “well they won’t be here long,” or laugh at the fact that many people choose to stop going after a few weeks into the new year. That is the absolute opposite attitude you should be having towards them. You should be rooting on these new faces. You should be supportive, hoping that they continue to push for better fitness and a healthier lifestyle.

Just because you go to the gym frequently does not mean that you are any better than them. You aren’t. And you have zero right to make fun of them or belittle them for wanting to be there, doing the exact same thing you’re doing.

With all this being said, to the new gym-goers, make sure that you are being polite there, as well. Don’t use multiple pieces of equipment at once if they’re in high demand, be respectful of others, and keep your opinions and criticisms to yourself. However, if you’re being considerate of everyone, and you’re simply doing your own thing, then you are in the right and doing absolutely nothing wrong.

New gym-goers, congratulations on your decision to improve your health and fitness and I hope for nothing but success and positive outcomes for you. Frequent gym-goers, try to be understanding of the position they are in, and learn how to share the gym. It’s a place for everyone. Rather than tearing each other down and criticizing one another, we should be working together for the same goal: maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle. Make a conscious effort to be welcoming and accepting of everyone who is aiming to reach this outcome. Everyone is in the same boat; find it in you to not only be understanding of all the new faces, but happy for them as well.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

The effects of word choice this season

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Pop quiz, which of the following would be the least offensive for the majority? A, “merry Christmas,” B, “happy Christmas” or C, “happy holidays.” If you answered A or B, you’re likely not thinking of others and what they might celebrate this winter season. If you answered C, then congratulations, you clearly care about others and their cultures.

While it may seem easy to just say “merry Christmas,” as many of you probably have for years and already have the tendency to do, you need to realize that you’re excluding several different cultures and religions. And while many who experience this may not speak up about it, they may just not feel comfortable enough to say that what you’re doing is wrong or potentially offensive to them.

December is a month of multicultural holiday celebrations. The variety of different holidays celebrated ranges widely between Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia Day, Boxing Day, Yule, Omisoka and the list goes on. So to simply say “merry Christmas” means you’re actually leaving out a plethora of different minorities simply because you were unaware, or you’re simply being ignorant.

Doing this is in no way okay. If it’s something you’ve done in the past because you don’t know any better, then now is the time to start changing your speech. Just switch to “happy holidays,” as it includes everyone who celebrates anything, not just the ones who celebrate this one holiday.

However, if you have been saying “merry Christmas” to everyone simply to make a point or to avoid the so-called “war on Christmas,” then you are undoubtedly in the wrong. Choosing to ignore groups of people and discredit everything they believe in and celebrate is offensive and just plain rude.

How anyone can be so careless and inconsiderate of other cultures honestly blows my mind. When it comes down to it, saying “happy holidays” requires essentially the same amount of effort as saying “merry Christmas” does. And guess what? It still includes Christmas. It’s a win-win. You aren’t offending anyone, and you still get to include the holiday that you choose to celebrate.

If you still want to continue saying “merry Christmas” in 2017, then you also need to accept the fact that you are someone who chooses to be offensive on purpose. Accept the fact that you are someone who disregards other cultures or looks at them as less-than. Accept the fact that if someone chooses to say “happy Hanukkah” to you, then you have zero right to be offended. Are you willing to accept all of these things about yourself?

Rather than looking at saying “happy holidays” as an inconvenience, look at it as an opportunity to be appreciative and respectful of all cultures. It’s honestly amazing to look at other cultures and see everything they believe in and stand for — appreciate the differences that make us who we are. December is a month for us to grow culturally and be accepting of others. Choose to be on the right side of this shift; when the opportunity arises, choose “happy holidays.”

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Trump v. Free Speech

Photo by Paul F. Davis
Stephanie Blair | Editor-in-Chief

Being a journalist with disdain for Donald Trump is not a new phenomenon. However, I’d like to take these few column inches to give a fuller explanation as to why I — as a journalist and not as anything else — have a particular problem with him.

Donald J. Trump has no respect for the press and its role in society but, even worse, he has no respect for the First Amendment.

His list of assaults on the First Amendment is almost as long as the list of his assaults on women, so I can’t enumerate all of them. However, for some context, in February of 2016, before his election, Trump stated, “one of the things I’m going to do if I win — and I hope I do, and we’re certainly leading — is I’m going to open up our libel laws, so when they (the media) write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money.”

Okay, so he wants to partially repeal the First Amendment. But hey, that was pre-election. He said lots of things before the election. But what has he said now that he has been elected?

Most recently, he tweeted that NBC should have their broadcasting license revoked because the stories they report are damaging to his reputation and, he claims, false.

On Oct. 11, Trump started the day by tweeting, “with all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License? Bad for country!” Later in the day, he continued, saying, “network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Not fair to public!”

Not only is shutting down news sources simply because they don’t help the agenda of the government absurd and a blatant violation of the First Amendment, but him threatening to do so is, too.

In 2015, the Seventh Circuit stated that “a public official who tries to shut down an avenue of expression of ideas and opinions through ‘actual or threatened imposition of government power or sanction’ is violating the First Amendment,” in the case of Backpage.com v. Dart.

Either our president is completely unfamiliar with our Bill of Rights, or he simply doesn’t care. Given how vocal he’s been about the Second Amendment, I would guess the latter. And that should scare the daylights out of every citizen in our country.

Even Thomas Jefferson, the slave owning, rapist, P.O.S. that he was, recognized that “our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”

 

Contact the author at sblair13@wou.edu

The delta of fashion

Paul F. Davis | Photo Editor

Since the term “fashion” was first keyed, it has always been centered around the craft and artistry of skilled seamstresses and how they could manipulate their materials into wearable pieces of art.

In the 1800s, women’s and men’s clothing were made exclusively out of natural cloths, such as cotton, wool, leather and silk, so the only way to show the level of fashionability was through intricacy of design. This intricacy meant that clothing was heavy, unwieldy and uncomfortable when compared to today’s standards. But with the turn of 20th century in sight, the discomfort that fashion posed began to change.

In 1884, rayon was invented: the first synthetic clothing material. Later, when rayon was released to the masses, it was praised because it was a cheap stand-in for silk, something that was very spendy at the time. This new wonder material ushered in a new age of material science breakthroughs because people no longer wanted to feel restrained by their clothes, and they now knew that that request was not unreasonable. Materials like nylon, polyester, velcro and spandex along with other production techniques were created soon after.

With this change from natural to artificial materials, fashion was forever changed. One could make statements about their fashionability without super complicated patchwork; all a person needed now was a shirt that could be anything with one screenprint.

With the turn of a new century, the process of creating new and more desirable science fiction materials into science fact is accelerating. Materials, and the production of those materials, is quickly becoming an equal or even more important part of fashion than the style of the clothing itself, which is a change from the past.

In the last decade, the most coveted and acclaimed pieces of clothing have not been known for their cut or style; they have almost exclusively focused on the material used. Yeezy Boosts, a shoe that can resell for up to $1,300 even though it has a simple silhouette is rather coveted for their sole material: Boost. This material claims that it has the highest energy return of any sole ever invented.  In addition to the Boost’s high energy return qualities, these shoes have been credited with re-establishing Adidas atop the sportswear sector, a spot they were quickly beginning to lose.

Another material that created excitement in the fashion industry was created in a collaboration between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Reebok, a material called Biologic, the first bio-dynamic material to be integrated into clothing. Biologic is bacteria culture sandwiched between two layers of latex cover that when exposed heat will begin to fold due to a size increase in the bacteria. This folding property, when combined with another fabric, can create a material that will actively cool off the user and warm the user when temperature is correct.

In the near future, materials will be the only thing that matter when choosing fashion and we will soon scoff at the fashion of past for its ridiculous over-complication a future that we all should look forward to.

 

Contact the author at pfdavis14@wou.edu

Sports’s missing motivators

Jim Purdy | Guest Contributor

For almost 20 years now, I’ve been a supporter of Western Oregon sports, with season tickets to volleyball, basketball (men and women) and football. But, I never attended this school.

I actually graduated from a Division I school which won three national titles in football alone. They also put teams in the NCAA basketball tournament and managed to get into multiple elite-eights, final fours, plus numerous college world series. Interestingly enough, that same Division I school enrolled fewer undergraduates than Western during my time there, and still managed to field solid athletic teams in spite of being a pure-engineering school. Back then, you couldn’t get a degree other than a BS, MS or PhD, and there were no liberal arts schools because everybody had to take calculus, chemistry and physics.

So, how did they pull off this feat? Simple. They used the big three philosophy: recruit student athletes (equal emphasis on studies and athletics), employ motivating and skilled coaches and rally the fan base to every stinking game. It works, folks. 5,000 undergrad students and three national football titles!

Western can get there too. Western’s men’s basketball team made it to the title game just a couple of years ago, but it takes all three to prove once was not a fluke.

Western’s volleyball team has solid student athletes, perhaps the best class at every skill position in at least five years. Coach Tommy Gott seems to have them sufficiently motivated, and undoubtedly will produce winning teams in another year or so. For the volleyball home opener, the statistics sheet showed attendance of 850 at the match. For games one and two, I suspect there were 750 Western fans and perhaps 100 Northwest Nazarene fans. The vast majority of the Western fans were students. That’s a great start on that big three philosophy — talented student-athletes, solid coaching and great fan support.

For those first two games of the match, the fan support buoyed the Western team to an amazing set of victories. These were actually easy victories, considering Northwest Nazarene was undefeated and Western was barely 50-50 on the season.

I sat on Western’s side of the old gym for those two games and would attest to the solid fan support. It was loud and boisterous. I moved to the other side of the court for the third game because Wolfie, the mascot who stands about 6’-6” tall and whose head is almost half as wide as he/she is tall, insisted on standing right in front of my seat for most of the two games. From the other side of the court, I could see all of the game, but also noticed a steady stream of fans leaving the student section.

I suspect half of the student fan base never saw the amazing way Northwest Nazarene, and their uber-involved coach, took control of that pivotal third game. With the score 16-10 in Western’s favor, Nazarene’s coach called his second and final time-out. That time-out didn’t seem to stop the point-bleeding for Nazarene, but it was critical nonetheless.  

Western fans continued to stream out. It was as if there was some kind of curfew looming at around 8:30 p.m. and nobody wanted to get caught in the old gym. The critical mass of fan support for Western vaporized and Nazarene stepped up their play a notch. A corner was turned, and the entire momentum of the game shifted. A few minutes later the Nazarene coach stepped up his critique of the officiating and the scorekeeping, and I still don’t understand how the score changed — but it did. Nazarene won that game, and turned the rest of the games into a match-winning nightmare for Western.

The match, which should have ended much earlier than it did at something close to 25-20 for Western in a deciding third game in an amazing 3-0 shut-out, lasted far too long in a narrow Nazarene victory at three games to two. Western actually had more points, 70.5 to 69, and posted three double-digit-kill-players to only two for Nazarene. In short, and on paper, they played better than Nazarene and still lost the match.

By the time the end of the fourth game came for Western, there were probably as many Nazarene fans as there were Western fans and most of the student section had abandoned their team for something else.  

In the tie-breaking fifth game, the Nazarene fan base was vocally superior to Western’s and that may have been a significant contributing factor to Western’s loss. After all, they had Nazarene on the rope well past the midpoint in that third and potentially deciding game, but still Western managed to lose momentum and ultimately lose the match.

Gott will eventually learn how to work the courtside official like that Nazarene coach. A good coach is like a seventh player who can’t actually touch the ball when it’s in play, but can affect the game at critical moments. Nazarene’s coach certainly earned his coaching salary in that pivotal third game. He kept up the coaching pressure in the fourth and fifth games as well.

Western’s student fan base has some distance to go. To paraphrase a favorite old poetic piece, “they have miles to go before they sleep.” They need to stay for the whole game if Western is going to challenge in the GNAC.

When the fan base was there and vocally supporting the Western players, the Western players responded. In fact, they dominated the other team. When the fan volume diminished, it was like the “extra” player they needed for that domination just left the game.

Fans don’t actually win games, and neither do coaches. Student athletes win games — but fans and coaches can be significant contributors to a loss.

Gott will quickly grow into a fine coach, and a winning coach who works right up to the end no matter if it’s a win or a loss.

I wonder if Western’s student fan base can do the same. My twenty years of watching Western’s athletes do their thing suggests they might need to stick around and support their team right up to the end, no matter if it’s a win or a loss.

Contact the editor at journaleditor@wou.edu to publish a response.

Newsflash: WOUNews is no news

Stephanie Blair | Editor-in-Chief

I know I may be a little biased on the issue as an aspiring journalist in the age of fake news and  “alternative facts” but this is the opinion section, so hear me out.

@WOUNews is not news — and no, that’s not The Western Journal’s handle on social media.

Ever since I arrived at Western in 2014, it’s bothered me that the public relations sector of the school — officially known as “Marketing and Communications” — has slapped the name “WOU News” on the school’s social media accounts. And, I know, a social media account by any other name would still look as sweet, but this is a line I can’t bear to see crossed.

Public relations is not news — it’s propaganda.

The word “news” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a report of recent events.” Reporting the news is not what a public relations team does: they report good news. The kind of news that will bring up enrollment and increase donor funding, but not news about things which would damage Western’s image — like the racist graffiti that was painted in April on a door in the Wolfpack Village, targeting a student living across the street from the university.

WOUNews and WOU Stories provide a shining image of Western alongside cute memes and artistically shot photos of our campus rather than a realistic picture of what being a student at Western is like. And I can’t fault them for that — it’s their job.

It is the responsibility of a PR team to make their employer attractive to the public and to handle any blemishes on that employer’s image with grace. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of a reporter to inform the public of the truth about recent events.

The dichotomy between a news source and a PR department is a strong one, though it may be subtle at first glance.

I’m not trying to say that public relations is an immoral profession or that it shouldn’t exist — simply that we should call a spade “a spade.”

Hey, Marketing and Communications — give it up. You’re a spade, babe.

 

Contact the author at sblair13@wou.edu

Another fish bites the dust

Illustration by Elissa Sorenson
Zoë Strickland | Managing Editor

When I was growing up, my mom told me and my brother that we weren’t allowed to have pets that we couldn’t easily flush down the toilet. Though this has since changed, the overall sentiment is still true — fish are easy.

It’s culturally accepted that we shouldn’t get attached to pet fish. They’re thought of as one of the most disposable living beings that you can have. So disposable that we give them away to anyone who is willing to grab a plastic cup.

Every year, a club on campus gives out feeder fish during new student week. For those who don’t know, feeder fish are inexpensive fish that are often bought in bulk and used to feed other large aquatic animals such as sharks and larger fish.

As “Finding Nemo” taught us all: fish are friends, not food. Or, in this case, not gimmicks.

Feeder fish aren’t meant to be kept as pets, they’re meant to be prey. That’s why it’s a miracle that any fair or carnival fish lasts longer than a few weeks. Like other mass-bred animals, such as chickens, feeder fish are raised in restrictive environments that then have a negative impact on their overall health. When bred, they’re kept in crowded tanks and underfed- all in an effort to keep them from growing.

Because feeder fish are supposed to be used as food, they’re cheap.

A company that specializes in selling feeder fish, www.livefeederfish.com, has a package of 1000 goldfish for $200. Giving away goldfish is a low-budget operation, which is why it’s so naturally appealing.

I don’t particularly have a problem with the existence of feeder fish; it’s natural for larger fish to eat smaller ones, so they serve a purpose.

My problem comes when integrating students into the mix. Going to the fair as a child and getting a goldfish is one thing; you’re young and your parents will most likely be taking care of it. Getting a goldfish as a reward for filling out a survey during an over-crowded event is completely different. Students who are just coming to college need to learn how to take care of themselves before they should learn to care for another living thing.

It’s a fish, but it’s still work. Are they going to remember to feed it before they go to their night class? Do they have a car to drive to get food and tank-cleaning supplies? Do they even have a sufficient sink to clean the tank in? Fish, especially ones like feeder fish that have been raised in less-than-great environments, require specific tank temperatures, a tank large enough that it won’t further stunt their growth, food and aquarium maintenance.

Giving away a living creature shouldn’t be an afterthought. It shouldn’t be a reward for a student who devotes thirty seconds to filling out a piece of paper. If a student truly wants a pet fish, they should devote time to thinking about whether or not they have the resources to take care of one.

What happens over Thanksgiving or winter break when a student goes home? Who’s going to take care of a fish in an empty dorm?

That is, if it makes it past day four.

 

Contact the author at zstrickland14@wou.edu

Editor’s Note

Stephanie Blair | Editor-in-Chief

To the first-years, still fresh on our campus — welcome. To the already soul-sucked returning students — welcome back.

As the horror show that is 2017 begins its final quarter, we return to classrooms with two Wolves already having passed away. A heartbreaking trend our school has developed recently: one that I wish we could shake.

However, there is, as always, hope. I truly believe that the students of Western Oregon are, if nothing else, intrepid. We come together in times of hardship and tragedy, in times of celebration and joy — or both, during homecoming weekend.

I have high hopes for the year as a whole, even if I don’t have it in our football team, who will be facing Azusa Pacific on Nov. 4.

In the coming nine months, my final three terms at Western, I will be working with our incredible staff to produce a publication that scrutinizes The Man — whether that be the president of our nation or our school. The Western Journal will pursue the true and pertinent information that you, the reader, have a right to know.

I have a tendency to chase truth like a dog after a rabbit, a habit I’ll do my best to instill in each and every staff member of The Western Journal before I leave our campus for good.

And we’ll have fun.

This year we’re introducing the Lifestyle section, something of which I’m sure a number of my predecessors would disapprove. I, on the other hand, think that this is the content that our paper is missing. I’m a self-proclaimed news junkie and will badmouth sites like Buzzfeed any day of the week, but I still click on their articles when a friend posts one on Facebook — I need to know what Starbucks drink I am based on my zodiac sign.

With luck and patience, we will strike a balance of hard news and lighthearted content. In this political climate, I think that’s exactly what our students need. If it’s not, feel free to let me know. As a student-funded publication, independent from the university’s administration, our loyalty and duty is to Western’s student population.

So, welcome to a new year at Western. Come join us for another round.

Editor’s note

By: Stephanie Blair
Editor-in-Chief

The past eight months have been filled with hardship for many of our students, whether it be due to the election, the tragic loss of two fellow students, the pressures of finishing a degree or other personal struggles. It’s been a hard year for many.

It’s also been a year filled with joy. Our track team went to nationals and slayed it, Alma Pachero left a legacy project that the community rallied around, Western received grants to fund essential pre-existing projects and begin new ones, millions of women found solidarity in marching together … and Bob Dylan won a Nobel Prize, I guess, so we learned that anything is possible.

My point is that as dark and strange as times may seem, they’re never so dark that you can’t find someone willing to share some light.

As Editor of The Western Journal this year, I’ve had the pleasure of delivering the good and the bad in the form of this paper each week. However, it has been our mission, as a staff, to deliver news about the students and for the students and, in doing so, I’ve seen a lot of good. America may be in turmoil, but Western is supporting itself through inclusive actions and kind-hearted community. I can’t express the pride I feel being a wolf this year nor the excitement I feel to serve as editor-in-chief next year and watch our students do incredible things all over again.

It’s easy to feel like the world is falling apart around you – I certainly do, sometimes – which makes it all the more important to stay focused on the future and only dwell on the good moments. I, myself, have taken to only posting on Facebook when something positive is happening. Admittedly, this means I only post about once a month, but it also means that when I look back and when memories pop up over the coming years I will only be reminded of the good. Lord knows I don’t need any help remembering the bad.

So, keep your head up, dear reader. Spend your summer however irresponsibly as you choose, but come back determined and ready for another year of proving exactly what ‘millennials’ can do. And congratulations to those fortunate souls who are about to graduate, I can’t wait to see more Western graduates in the world making the changes they want to see.

From all of us here at The Western Journal, until October: good night, and good luck.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

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