Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor
A few things to note about Hunter Hall, the Associated Students of Western Oregon University President: his love for Western is reflected in a Naruto headband engraved with the Western logo, he works with graphic design and used to be deathly afraid of clowns.
Only two of those topics are relevant to his time at Western.
Hall began his college career at Portland Community College and transferred to Western in 2020, with three years of experience in student government under his belt. During the pandemic, learning was online, and Hall was merely a virtual student. He had little resources and company on campus, but he knew one thing: he wanted to be involved with student government at Western.
His first and second years consisted of student work at the entry level: Destination Western and tutoring at the Math Center. Eventually, he found ASWOU, climbing the ranks to his current position as the President.
“I just slowly integrated myself and started working toward the things I wanted to do here,” said Hall. “I needed to be in a position of power so I could better help support the students like me, who might not have friends or family here, or like many people, to support them … I really tried to throw myself into the sandcastle elbows-deep and get super, duper involved — just (having) many jobs from my first and second years here that helped me get to where I am now.”
Technically, Hall graduated with his Bachelor’s in June of 2023: one in Mathematics, and then another in Interdisciplinary Studies with a double minor in Communications and Writing. Currently, Hall is a graduate student for a Masters degree in the Art of Teaching.
“I’m going to use my math undergrad and then my MAT to teach at the middle school level for about ten years. And then I hope to become a principal of a school, and then eventually a superintendent of a school district. It’s like I said: if you really want to make a change, you have to integrate yourself well.”
Another fact about Hunter Hall: he plans extensively for his future.
Although Hall won’t be ASWOU President next year, he’ll be on campus as a building manager and volunteering at Western’s garden — seeds he planted, a mark to be left behind as he continues to embark on his ten-year plan.
Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu
