Mount Hood

Upcoming events

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

May 23 — 

The S’More You Know

6 p.m. at the firepit outside of the Werner University Center

Join the Office of Student Conduct in roasting marshmallows and making s’mores outside on campus with a chance to walk away with some prizes.

May 24 —

4-Hour Workshop with Jessica Rehfield Community Building: Safety Concerns

12 p.m. in Campbell Hall

Salem artist, Jessica Rehfield, will be returning to offer advice, feedback and reviews on previously submitted artistic proposals. This event will be open to all students and campus organization affiliates.

ASL Club: ASL Club’s 30th Birthday

6 p.m. in RWEC 101

The ASL Club will be celebrating 30 years of registered clubhood on campus. The event will be held in ASL only.

May 28 —

ASL Club: Video Game Night

6 p.m. in RWEC 202

Catch the ASL Club hosting a group game night in ASL only. The calendar posting cheers “Let’s go, gamers!”

May 29 —

Free Meditation Group on Campus

6 p.m. in the Santiam Room of the Werner University Center

“Join us Wednesday night for gentle yoga stretches, guided meditation, Yoga Nidra and kirtan music meditation.”

John Proctor is The Villain: Spring Theatre Department Production

At a rural high school in Georgia, a group of lively teens are studying ‘The Crucible’ while navigating young love, sex ed, and a few school scandals. Holding a contemporary lens to the American classic, they begin to question who is really the hero and what is the truth, discovering their own power in the process. Alternately touching and bitingly funny, this new comedy captures a generation in mid-transformation, running on pop music, optimism, and fury, writing their own coming of age story.”

According to the calendar description, Guest Faculty Director Raissa Fleming will be directing, and the play will run May 29, 30, 31 and June 1 at 2 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. and June 1 at 2 p.m. will be interpreted in ASL. The show will be viewed in Rice Auditorium at 344 Knox St N, Monmouth, OR. Lot B on Knox Street will host free parking.

Students get in free with their student ID. General admission tickets are $14, while student general admission is $8. Tickets for senior citizens and Western faculty and staff are $10.

“Advisory: John Proctor is the Villain contains racist/sexist micro aggressions, depictions of grooming and abusive relationship dynamics, discussion of sexual assault and exploitation.”

May 31 —

Ho’ike 2024

5 p.m. in the Pacific Room of the Werner University Center

“In Hawaiian, Ho’ike means ‘to show or exhibit.’ Ho’ike at (Western) is a show that will exhibit our culture through student performances. Similar to a Luau experience, at Ho’ike, you get to enjoy Hula performances, a traditional Hawaiian dinner, a chance to win local/Hawaiian goods and so much more.”

Tickets for Western students cost $12 and public tickets are $15.

June 4 —

ASL Club – Deaf LGBTQ+ Panel

6 p.m. in RWEC 202

In celebration of Pride month, ASL Club will be hosting a panel acknowledging Deaf Queer individuals and groups. The event will be in ASL only.

June 5 —

Groove in the Grove

8 p.m.

“Get groovy” and participate in plenty of activities, games and DJ performances.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

ASL Club’s 30th birthday

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

In celebration of Western’s American Sign Language Club’s 30th birthday, an anniversary party will be held in the Richard Woodcock Education Center May 17. Running from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m in room 101, the founder, co-founder and former presidents will be present, with the founders even delivering a speech.

“It’s a huge legacy of 30 years,” said Hearing President of the ASL Club and fourth-year student, Aiden Hare. “It’s pretty amazing that it’s been consecutively running for that entire time and it’s also one of the biggest clubs on campus.”

The club itself functions with both a Hearing President and a Deaf President. Operationally, events are hosted throughout each term such as game nights, intercultural panels, community nights and arts and crafts, all while communicating with the community. This spring term, the ASL club is hosting an LGBTQ+ panel.

“A lot of people know this program exists, and they know that it’s big,” said Hare. “But they haven’t stepped into it, or they live on campus and they’re just not aware, (but this is a way to get involved).”

Although open to the public, the event, like many others, is voice-off, sign-only and no interpreters will be provided.

According to Hare, the event is a good way to get connected with not only Western but the Deaf community as well.

“We have a lot of people coming from all over, which I’m excited about,” said Hare. “We have Washington State School for the Deaf students coming, Oregon State Students coming, teachers from other universities and random community members (that think) this is awesome.”

Visitors can expect a rather competitive match of musical chairs, amongst other games. Free food will be available as well, but RSVPing is highly recommended so a proper head count may be gathered to estimate how much food to order. Anyone with dietary restrictions or other preferences is encouraged to reach out.

“I think it’ll just be really cool to get that many community members there at the same time,” said Hare. “It’s a very impactful event… to be a part of this is pretty amazing.”

The event will also be handing out goodie bags as an incentive for attendance.

Contact the authors at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Waste the day away with these popular entertainment apps

Find out why people love these free apps

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Apps can make life so much easier, and they can also be a great way to waste time in between assignments or Zoom meetings. These latest apps can provide much needed entertainment any time of day, and most have received high ratings and reviews. From all the different app stores available, these are just a few of the hottest games and apps out right now.  

Games:

  • “Tetris” ⏤ The world’s famous block puzzle game, now with daily challenges and group matches. 
  • “The Sims Mobile” ⏤  Create a unique online world with customizable characters, homes, friendships and lifestyles. 
  • “8 Ball Pool” ⏤  With one vs. one matches or eight player tournaments, any fans of pool can enjoy playing this game. 
  • “UNO!” ⏤  The popular card game has gone virtual, now with leaderboards and real time matches.
  • “Two Dots” ⏤  A puzzle game that propels two dots through an artistic world.
  • “Super Mario Run” ⏤  Control Mario’s running by tilting the phone, and help him navigate all the different worlds in the game. 
  • “SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off” ⏤  Put those cooking skills to the test in this fast-paced cooking game.
  • “Tangle Master 3D” ⏤  Try to detangle the ropes by trying out all the possibilities.
  • “BitLife”⏤  In this creative life simulator, people can pick and choose exactly how their life goes, and see how everything pans out.
  • “Hello Neighbor” ⏤  A combination of a puzzle, adventure and horror game, players’ stealth and skills will be put to the test.

Outdoor:

  • “Footpath Route Planner” ⏤  Track a long walk or short run with this app and its customizable navigation.
  • “AllTrails: Hike, Bike, & Run” ⏤ Discover all the hiking, biking and running trails in any area.
  • “Topo Maps+” This app provides a reliable and portable map for any destination.
  • “Wavve Boating- Easy Marine GPS” ⏤  Stay safe in the water with this navigation app, or mark a few favorite boating spots. 
  • “harbor: home safety made easy” ⏤ Emergency preparation and SOS responses.

Creativity: 

  • “Auxy – Music & Beat Maker” ⏤  A music maker with beats, loops, sounds and effects. 
  • “Sway: Magic Dance” ⏤  Motion effects and AI filters.
  • “Smule Social Karaoke Singing” ⏤  A karaoke app available with over ten million songs.

Media: 

  • “Libby, by OverDrive Library e-books and audiobooks.  
  • “Tubi” ⏤  Stream movies, TV shows and other content. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

‌Show Mother Earth some love on April 22

Simple ways to enjoy Earth Day this year

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌

With Earth Day steadily approaching, it’s time to start making plans for April 22. If it’s staying at home or going out, there is more than one way to advocate for environmental concerns and to celebrate Earth Day. According to earthday.org, “(Earth Day) is marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and create global, national and local policy changes.” To celebrate, consider these ways to enjoy Earth Day either solo or socially distancing: 

  • Donate unwanted clothes or items around the house to declutter, and to support local charities, organizations and people in need. 
  • Return cans and bottles to declutter, recycle and get a little extra cash. 
  • Get outdoors with gardening projects ⏤ which can attract native pollinators, support local ecosystems and provide fresh produce.
  • Walking, hiking and biking are rewarding activities that get the body moving while being in the great outdoors. 

  • Join a group or go solo to pick up litter at parks, beaches, dams, hiking trails or around the neighborhood.
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle materials around the house with art projects, such as some of the ones below. 
  • Create a bird feeder by taking a pinecone and covering it with peanut butter, and then sprinkling birdseed on the peanut butter. Once evenly coated, tie the pinecone up with string in a secure location. 
  • Try painting and decorating rocks, which can add flair to any yard or garden. Designs can be as simple as a sun or a ladybug, or they can be used as identifying markers for different plants.
  • Make a fairy garden out of everyday items found outside, like sticks, bark, stones, moss and flowers. 
  • Learn about other ways to be environmentally conscious, such as trying to go plastic-free, reducing waste and being energy efficient.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Grab some popcorn and catch these latest local plays

Western presents “Little Prisons: A Series of Short Plays by Portland Playwrights”

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

There are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy the performing arts from home, and local theater events are still happening throughout the year to provide some much needed entertainment. Beginning Mar. 6 Western’s theater students will be live streaming their upcoming event, “Little Prisons: A Series of Short Plays by Portland Playwrights,” which is directed by Jessica Wallenfels. This performance highlights four plays written by local playwrights, all of which will be free to watch. There will also be various streaming methods to accommodate different schedules — some will be pre-recorded, while others will be streamed live. 

The plays featured will have a wide range of topics and themes, the titles being: “The Third Prisoner” by EM Lewis, “A Wing and a Prayer” by Josie Seid, “Three Love Songs” by Anya Pearson and “Joy Fricken Hates her Stupid Dumb Room” by Sara Jean Accuardi. 

These local art performances can be found on WOUTV and will be available to stream at 7 p.m. on Mar. 6, and will be available on demand until Mar. 8 at midnight. To learn more about the event and to support the local arts, check out the theater department’s Instagram, @woutheatredepartment, or their Facebook page, @WOU Theatre Department.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Heartfelt holiday gifts

Low and no-cost presents for this season of giving

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

The holiday season can quickly burn a hole in your pockets by the time gift shopping has been completed. But there are numerous heartfelt gifts to give that cost little to no money and still bring the holiday joy. Consider these low and no-cost thoughtful presents for friends and family this year.

Art piece: Having a knack for art — whether it be drawing, painting or crafting — can make for personalized and low-cost gifts. Depending on one’s skill set, ask loved ones for their favorite flowers, quotes, animal or character and create something special for them.

Memory jar: Use sticky notes or strips of paper to write down some favorite memories between one another. Roll or fold the notes up and place them in a jar or similar container. Decorate the jar if desired with sequins, twine, stickers or lettering.

Mixtape or playlist: Though cassette tapes are pretty outdated, the thought behind making a music mix for someone can translate to today’s era. If the gift receiver has a way to play them, make a cassette tape or CD and design a fun cover. Otherwise, create a playlist on their preferred music streaming service, and get creative by sticking to a theme. This could be the gift receiver’s favorite genre, songs that lift their spirits or songs that remind the maker of the receiver.

Offer services: Time can be one of the most useful gifts to all in our busy lives. If one has time to spare, write out a coupon book of services which the gift receiver can redeem for future use. These services could include babysitting or pet sitting, cooking meals, cleaning or yard work.

“Open when…” letters: Take some time to write personalized letters for the gift receiver to open in the future. Choose a number of specific occasions, such as “Open when you need a pep talk” or “Open when something worth celebrating has happened,” and write letters and notes to put into individual envelopes. Gather all the letters in a nice box to present to the gift receiver.

Personalized journal: Buying a journal, planner or sketchbook can be useful for many types of people. These kinds of presents can be made more personal by writing a note on the front page: give them some words of encouragement or best wishes, or draw them a picture.

Recipe cards: For families and friends who share their love through cooking, consider designing recipe cards for one another. Choose a personal favorite recipe and decorate a note card with the recipe written on it. If there are too many recipes to choose from, create multiple cards and compile them with a binder ring.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu