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Recent campus closure announcement

por The Western Howl | Abr 16, 2024 | Noticias

Written by: Gretchen Sims | Editor in Chief, Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor Fall of 2021 marked the completion of the initial steam pipeline construction project; however, due to the lack of efficacy of the current pipeline, the vaults are now being replaced. In an email sent on March 19, students were notified that “Work on the steam pipeline project will impact vehicle and pedestrian travel on Monmouth Avenue, starting March 26 through September 2024.” Also noted were the crosswalk closures on Church and Jackson Streets, as well as the parking closure on Church Street — all construction pathways will meet the Americans with Disabilities Act., ADA, specifications. Western, along with many other higher education institutes, uses steam to heat its campus, which runs through a series of pipes, vaults and boilers. What Western lacks for this system is tunnels to run the pipeline through every building, something that is vital to the system’s stability and maintenance. Due to the absent tunnel system, Western must bury the steam pipes directly in the ground. The steam system initially relied on cast iron pipes, which are durable and resistant to abrasion but not flexible and are prone to rusting. Due to the high acidity in Oregon soil, the pipes experienced rapid corrosion, and the initial project to repair this corrosion was compromised, prompting the new construction project. Groundbreaking begins on April 14. To prepare for this, 3,000 feet of fencing was put up over Spring Break to ensure student safety — with students getting trapped in the fenced off areas being a point of concern. Starting the second week of the...

Saving Salem Public Library

por The Western Howl | Abr 16, 2024 | Noticias

Written by: Sierra Porter | Staff Writer Social media in Salem exploded amid rumors that the city would be shutting down the Salem Public Library to preserve its police budget, including an expanded team to sweep homeless camps. An outcry from Salem residents, including hundreds of emails to Mayor Chris Hoy, and support from surrounding communities has brought unity and hope that the library will be saved. Here’s what to know about the Salem Public Library budget cuts: The city of Salem is facing a multi-million dollar shortfall and plans for no new revenue in the next year. Due to this, many plans to cut down costs have been introduced, including the possibility of closing the Salem Public Library. This plan was discussed at a budget meeting on March 21 when Chief Financial Officer, Josh Eggleston, was asked how one could keep all police and fire jobs. Eggleston presented hypothetical options that would balance the budget without additional revenue. Amongst these cuts were positions at the library that would completely reduce hours and many other parks and recreation positions. Salem is taking $1.2 million from the SPL alone. The city claims they have no plans on shutting down SPL completely, but by July, there will be tremendous cuts and changes. Public libraries offer affordable or even free access to a world of knowledge and life-long learning opportunities that are affordable or even free. Registered Behavior Technician and Salem resident, Jessie Shull, works directly with children in the community who often utilize the library. Shull says, “It’s going to impact low-income families in the area that use the library for...

River rescue

por The Western Howl | Abr 16, 2024 | Noticias

Written by: Sierra Porter | Staff Writer The Klamath River runs through the coastal states of California and Oregon — home to four large dams including JC Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2 and the Iron Gate. These dams have damaging effects on water quality and have depleted salmon populations, which many local tribes heavily rely on. Protests from local tribes and efforts from residents of Oregon and California have finally been recognized, and on Nov. 17, 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the surrender of their hydropower license in order to remove the four dams from Klamath River. The Biden administration, leaders of the four Columbia River Basin Tribes and the Governors of California and Oregon signed papers formally launching a $1 billion plan to restore salmon populations. This decision will allow for the largest dam removal project in United States history and ultimately has become a historical moment for the Pacific Northwest. The project is already in motion as Copco No. 2, the smallest of the four dams, was the first to be removed this fall due to its size, location and lack of reservoir. The removal of Copco No. 2 has allowed for water to flow freely down the canyon which has not been touched by water since the dam’s construction in 1925. This was an extremely significant first step in the removal process and gives a promising glimpse at what’s to come. Since the construction of these dams, many have felt they’ve done more harm than good. After more than 100 years, the dams along the Klamath have degraded water quality to...

Oregon cat transmits plague to its owner

por The Western Howl | Abr 9, 2024 | Noticias

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor In February of 2024, an Oregon resident was diagnosed with the bubonic plague. New cases of the plague always cause a small panic, but this case hasn’t been the first in the last decade. The patient, who was treated with antibiotics in Deschutes County, was speculated to have been infected by their pet cat. The plague is on the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s long list of nationally notifiable diseases because a single case can prompt the need to check for other cases. Other nationally notifiable diseases include cholera, Lyme disease, smallpox and measles. Due to the plague’s gruesome history of death and destruction, public panic is another reason for concern. While the bubonic plague can spread among a population with drastic effects, in modern times, there is not much reason to panic. The Oregon resident was diagnosed and treated quickly, meaning they posed little risk to their community. Additionally, the bubonic plague is not transmissible between humans — only between an animal and humans. The bubonic plague wiped out a third of Eurasia during its initial outbreak. There are an average of seven cases a year in the United States. The association of the word “plague” sounds scary, but there are now methods of fighting back — bloodletting, leeches and religious cures have been left in the medieval ages. Two methods used to combat the bubonic plague are quarantining and social distancing. Post-COVID, it’s no wonder Americans are worried about the spread of the plague. However, it’s safe to say that the bloody history of the plague can be left...

Weapon epidemic

por The Western Howl | Abr 9, 2024 | Noticias

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor Content warning: this article contains mentions of gun violence and death Across 13 school districts in Oregon, 48 students were disciplined for bringing guns on school grounds in 2023 — an uptick of more than double the cases reported during the 2018-2019 school year, the last before the pandemic. That year, only 18 cases of guns on campus were reported. The school districts of Centennial, Corvallis, Crook, Glide, Greater Albany, Jefferson, Medford, North Clackamas, Oregon City, Pendleton, Portland, Reynolds and Salem-Keizer reported student possession of a handgun, shotgun or rifle. The Oregon Department of Education released these records after a request for information filed by KGW. Four out of all 48 cases were middle schoolers. Juvenile probation officer, Kyle Kinion, has worked closely with West Albany High School for 17 years, holding a unique position in Oregon as the school’s resource officer. West Albany High School sits in the Greater Albany School District, one of the listed 13 districts having reported guns caught on campus. “The (kids) that I work with haven’t shown up with weapons at school because they want to be the bad guy. It’s because they feel that they’ve been pushed to a certain point — (like) they need to protect themselves,” said Kinion. “So much of being a kid, unfortunately, is fear.” May 2024 will be the upcoming 26th anniversary of the Thurston High School shooting, an Oregon shooting preceding Columbine by nearly a year. Fifteen-year-old Kipland Kinkel was suspended on disciplinary action due to his admission of keeping a stolen handgun in his locker. Following the suspension,...

Not alone

por The Western Howl | Abr 9, 2024 | Noticias

Written by: Libby Thoma | Staff Writer According to the Legal Information Institute, abuse is described as “an action that intentionally causes harm or injures another person.” Abuse can happen to anyone — any gender, race and sexuality is susceptible to abuse. Although abuse is mainly perceived to occur in romantic relationships, it can occur in any interpersonal relationship. Multiple forms of abuse exist such as physical, sexual and verbal abuse along with, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, digital and financial abuse. Coercion is also a type of abuse, which includes reproductive and sexual coercion. Lastly, stalking is also considered a form of abuse. Many people are not properly educated on what constitutes abuse. This can lead to victims not knowing that what they are experiencing is, in fact, abuse and may struggle to find a way out. Experiencing any physical violence, threats of physical violence or any language that is aimed at controlling, scaring or isolating a person is abuse. Abuse doesn’t only exist within these lines and is more complicated than what can be quantified. Control is the main factor behind abusive behaviors. If one is feeling controlled in any sense of the word, one may be experiencing abuse and should reach out for help. According to the domestic violence hotline, 24 people per minute are victims of abuse by an intimate partner, and this excludes all other interpersonal relationships in which abuse can occur. An anonymous source spoke about her story, “I had no clue what I was getting myself into. In the beginning, there was no abuse, it was a normal relationship. But...

Women’s basketball faces turmoil

por The Western Howl | Mar 12, 2024 | Noticias

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor The Western women’s basketball team had their season cut short amidst allegations of abuse and fraudulent activity from the coaching staff. Head coach Jessica Peatross entered her first season at Western in 2023, after coaching at Division 2 school, Salem University, where she held a 14-17 record. Assistant coach Demetrius Marlow also previously coached at Salem University alongside Peatross. The team will not be competing in the last six games of the conference season and holds a record of three to ten in the regular season with a .231 winning percentage. In a press release statement from University President and Athletic Director Randi Lydum, it was announced that “The decision to cancel the season aligns with the highest standards of integrity and accountability within our program.” No additional information has been provided from the athletic department about the cancellation of the season, and it is uncertain whether players will retain their year of NCAA eligibility. A total of six sources have agreed to release statements to “The Western Howl.” All but one have chosen to remain anonymous for safety reasons. Jessica Peatross was the Associate Head Coach at Delta College, where she eventually became Interim Head Coach before transferring to Salem University. Peatross claimed to have received a scholarship to play golf, basketball and participate in track and field. However, there are some discrepancies in the information provided in press releases concerning Peatross’ experience prior to joining the coaching staff. An anonymous source stated that “The head coach lied on her resume that she played division one basketball when she didn’t.” Further...

Psilocybin facility

por The Western Howl | Mar 12, 2024 | Noticias

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor At one point, licensed facilitator Patrick Winczewski was the only full-time facilitator in the state of Oregon — one of two states able to provide legalized psilocybin, a psychedelic mushroom, for clients. Now, Winczewski is no longer the only one. Inner Guidance, located in North Albany, allows for individuals or groups to experience psilocybin, which, according to the pamphlets offered in the lobby, is “A naturally occurring compound found in many species of fungus… and has been used by humans for spiritual and ceremonial purposes for thousands of years.” Psilocybin contains psilocin, which closely resembles serotonin, both as a molecule and the effects it has on the brain. It allows the brain to maintain neuroplasticity — which develops new neural connections, creating new habits for individuals or stimulating mental growth. “If you imagine you’re sledding down a hill, and if you always slide down the same route, that route — that rut — is going to get really deep and it (can be) really hard to get out of it,” said Winczewski. “The metaphor is that (psilocybin) is like a fresh blanket of snow to help you pick new routes, help you get out of the rut you were in and find a different pathway. So if you’re wanting to work on yourself, wanting to process trauma, get over whatever addiction concerns you have — that’s the time to do it.” At the location in North Albany, the mushroom is offered in three variations: capsule, powder and its natural growth. The powder is most popular, since it may be mixed in with...

Laken Riley

por The Western Howl | Mar 12, 2024 | Noticias

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor Content warning: this article contains mentions of murder and gun violence Laken Hope Riley, a 22 year-old nursing graduate of the University of Georgia, was found dead on Feb. 22 after going for a run on campus. Riley graduated from the University of Georgia in 2023 and was continuing her studies at Augusta University, an academic medical center. After a steady rise of campus violence nationwide, students and their families are concerned for their safety. Many are wondering what they can do to keep themselves safe and more importantly, what their schools can do to protect them as well. On Feb. 16, a student at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs was killed in his dorm by his roommate. Multiple reports of conflict between the roommates were made, but there was no effort by university officials to remove the suspect. More recently, on Feb. 24, a student was found strangled in his dorm room at Campbellsville University in Kentucky. Additionally, at the University of Georgia on Feb. 16, a student was held at gunpoint in a campus mugging, and the school concluded there was “no ongoing danger” to the campus. Less than a week later, Riley was murdered on the same campus. Laken Riley was a beloved daughter, sister and future nurse. She received her honorary white coat in August, 2023, “…symbolizing humanism, compassion, and the start of her nurse’s journey,” the nursing college of the University of Georgia stated on Facebook. Lauren Phillips, Riley’s sister, stated on Instagram in a memorial post: “The best sister and my built in best friend from...

Funding uncut

por The Western Howl | Mar 12, 2024 | Noticias

Written by: Hannah Field – News Editor The Incidental Fee Committee held its seventh meeting on Monday, Feb. 12. Otherwise known as the IFC, the group consists of nine members. Three of them were nominated by ASWOU President Hunter Hall, another three were nominated by Western’s President Jesse Peters and the last three were nominated in a general student election. During the meeting on Feb. 12, Hall acted as the chairman, where they discussed different topics relating to funding for the upcoming school year. The first matter of business was the incidental fee charges for students. The on-campus fee for students was $415 and the fee for off-campus and online students was $210. The committee debated between dropping the fee or keeping it as is but settled on keeping it as it is so funding remained the same for student clubs and other IFC-funded organizations. The summer charge was unchanged as well. The IFC motioned to accept Abby’s House base budget request, including the Food Pantry, with unanimous approval from the committee. The athletics department also received their base request with four positives and one abstain due to a conflict of interest. Campus Recreation, Access or ODS Services, Childcare, Computer Replacement and Creative Arts all were granted what they asked for. Extraordinary Travel received their base request of zero dollars. Student Engagement Operations, Leadership Inclusion and Activities, Student Activities Board, Student Media and Wolfride all received their base requests — meaning all boards received their base request, as granted by the IFC. In regards to budget enhancements, Hall confirmed that all enhancements, so far, have been decided upon by...

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Noticias

Recent campus closure announcement

Saving Salem Public Library

River rescue

Weapon epidemic

Not alone

Women’s basketball faces turmoil

Psilocybin facility

Laken Riley

Funding uncut

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