Mount Hood

False spring

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Most Americans know who Punxsutawney Phil is, and it’s not just for his dashing looks. Every year on Feb. 2, the Pennsylvanian groundhog makes an appearance to predict the weather. However, Phil only has a 39% success rate, but he still has an almost cult-like following.

Fox Weather claims Phil drinks a magical elixir — a secret recipe — to help him live forever, so he can predict the weather for eternity. The weather magician lives in a climate-controlled, light-regulated burrow adjacent to the Punxsutawney Memorial Library.

The months between February and April are an unpredictable time. Especially throughout the Pacific Northwest, both snow and sun, in addition to the usual rain, can be expected at this time of year. Many lean on Phil in an attempt to forecast the upcoming season.

This February, Phil predicted an early spring. After the ice storm that hit Oregon in January, it’s refreshing to see some warmer weather come to town — especially in an area that lacks vitamin D. However, a secret season occurs before real spring — known as false spring.

False spring refers to the period before the spring equinox when weather conditions become unusually warm, before returning to a regular bitter winter state. Not only does false spring trick people — and Phil the groundhog — into believing the mild season has begun early, but even vegetation can come out of dormancy.

An early spring also means early allergies. Many suffer from grass and pollen allergies as the beautiful flowers of spring begin sprouting. These seasonal plants may be seen as early as January or February, because of the false spring phenomenon. Always keeping allergy medicine on hand may be a good idea.

The underlying cause of false spring is, of course, climate change. Between winter and spring, fluctuations in weather patterns may be detrimental to the environment. Could Phil have predicted this?

Sophia Espinoza, a Western biology major, spoke on what the changing weather means for the future. “This decreased season time… may be inconvenient for us when we have to pack away our sweaters earlier each year, but these rising temperatures are a warning signal for the collapse of many natural resources… that are vital to maintaining a healthy biosphere on earth,” Espinoza said.

Warm season lovers can look forward to daylight savings time on March 10. It may not be time to break out sun hats and bathing suits, but the time will come soon enough. If Phil says spring is on its way, it must be true.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

The male loneliness epidemic

Written by: Cami Ansley | Copy Editor

Content warning: this article contains mentions of suicide

On May 3, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned the public about “our epidemic of loneliness and isolation.” Within the past year, a focus has shifted to the loneliness faced by men, coining the argument that a “male loneliness epidemic” has arisen. Despite what the name may suggest, the “loneliness” attributed to this epidemic is not solely limited to romantic relationships.

For one, research conducted in 2021 found that 15% of men claim that they have no close friends, a staggering 12% increase since 1990. A study published by Equimundo in 2023 found that a majority of men, ranging from older Millennials to Generation Z, agree with the statement, “No one really knows me well,” with Generation Z having the highest percentage of agreement among all respondents. In this same publication, a majority of men stated that they only have one or two close friends in their area that they feel they can confide in outside of their family. 

In the realm of romantic relationships, men are more likely to be single and have less sex than women. A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that six in ten men under the age of 30 are single, nearly double the rate of women at the time. The Equimundo study found that roughly one in five men are either not looking for a relationship or are unable to find sexual partners. 

These statistics about loneliness have been connected to poor mental and physical health. Specifically, greater risk of premature death, cardiovascular illness, anxiety, dementia, depression and stroke have all been associated with loneliness. 40% of the men surveyed in the Equimundo study had met the screening standards for depressive symptoms, while 44% had experienced suicidal ideation within the last two weeks.

In addition, men are nearly four times more likely than women to commit suicide, accounting for nearly 80% of all suicides despite them making up only 50% of the population. In fact, the U.S. male suicide rate reached its peak of 14.3 per 100,000 men in 2022.

In light of the emergence and popularization of the male loneliness epidemic, there has been discourse regarding its legitimacy, specifically in regards to the exclusive focus on men when it comes to discussing the general loneliness epidemic. Disparities in loneliness have been found to age, race, financial status, sexuality and disability, but, according to some critics, not for gender. The measurement of loneliness as well as the interpretation of select studies and statistics has also been cited as reasons for skepticism. 

Regardless of its specificity to the male population or not, Dr. Vivek Murthy’s publication about the epidemic of loneliness has been acknowledged as a cause for concern.

Contact the author at howlcopyeditor@wou.edu

Hello 2024, didn’t see you there

Written by:  Taylor Duff | Staff Writer

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2024 and to all the possibilities this year will bring. With the new year here, many are just starting to pursue their 2024 goals. These goals range from becoming a better cook, committing to more cuddle time and even trying hydrotherapy. This list describes the top five things to add to resolutions for 2024 to improve ourselves and our lives. 

Improve clutter — Everyone wants a space that is calm and collected as much as it is organized. After the holidays especially, decluttering your space feels extremely rewarding and gets the new year off to a fresh start. Take the much-needed time and go through old boxes, sorting items no longer used or organizing to be more efficient. 

Pick up more hobbies — Each year individuals want to incorporate something new to try such as painting, pottery or dance classes. Picking up new skills improves mental health by reducing anxiety and expressing gratification.  

Build a better budget — Americans have struggled with finances throughout history but possibly even more so in the past four years since the pandemic and inflation have taken a toll. Budgeting income helps ensure bills and finances are taken care of which allows security. It can be difficult to cut back on things sought after and sit down to make the proper list of funds but once done, the guessing is over. 

Get rid of toxicity — This can be getting rid of alcohol, nicotine or even toxic relationships. As people, we accumulate habits that might not seem to be as harmful to us as they appear. The small changes made by releasing toxic habits and people who don’t serve us anymore can help improve our lives immensely.   

Become a better person — This goal includes many ideas of self-improvement such as working out, reading more and eating healthy, but we can also include mental health awareness and seeking therapy. We, as people get caught up and get stressed out with our lives, and the first thing we let go of is ourselves, but for 2024, let’s focus on ourselves first. The better we take care of ourselves, the better the environment we create which in turn makes all of these resolutions we set more achievable.   

The most important takeaway as we continue 2024 is to take it one day at a time. We live busy lives, taking care of responsibilities, and some of us are taking care of others and might not have the time. Overall, set attainable goals that make the fulfillment worth it for 2024, and let’s prosper. 




Contact the author at: tduff23@mail.wou.edu

Watching anime can inspire, embolden and transform

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

Anime. Such a peculiar hill to die on. I think so too. I also think we all have some innate urge to share what is close to us, especially if it has a great impact on who we are as a person or changes the way we think.

Consumption of inspiring media, such as sports or shonen anime, can be of great benefit for personal growth. Many of my personal tales are centered around, and can partially be attributed to, beliefs and values I determined for myself while watching anime. 

In my senior year of high school, I read Haikyuu — a manga about high school volleyball players. I decided I wanted to play professionally — like the main character. “He who climbs the ladder must begin at the bottom” — Ittetsu Takeda. 

I played in community college for two years as the starting libero. I became an All-American. I was one of the top junior college liberos in the country — among other accolades. I flew to Nebraska to demonstrate in front of Division One coaches for a national conference. It was there that I met the Team USA Olympic Coach, Karch Kiraly. I walked up to him and told him, “I play at community college, I am going to transfer to university and then I am going pro.” 

I didn’t have any commitments or any prospects at the time. 

Regardless, he invited me to go to the national open program, so I flew to Colorado Springs to play with the top volleyball players in the nation. Then I flew to Connecticut to sign with Southern Connecticut State; only to be contacted by the coach shortly after canceling my recruitment. 

I felt that I had failed. I had no options. I laid in bed for a week. I watched Naruto. “A hero is not the one who never falls. He is the one who gets up, again and again, never losing sight of his dreams” — Rock Lee. I got out of bed. I sent emails. I received emails back. I ended up here, at Western. 

When I got here, I was overwhelmed with the intensity and difficulty of the program. I watched Demon Slayer. “If you are feeling disheartened, that you are somehow not enough, set your heart ablaze” — Kyojuro Rengoku. 

Last Tuesday, I was asked to share my quote for the week. I chose this: “It is only those brave enough… those bold enough… to follow the difficult, demanding path of competition, who have the right to reap the wealth of experience and memories it can bring. For today, you happen to be the defeated. But what will you become tomorrow?” — Haikyuu.

Anime is not just for laughs, and it isn’t pure entertainment. It can constitute the way of life one chooses to take, as well as the decisions one makes. It certainly did for me.



Contact the author at howllifestyler@wou.edu

Discussing the importance of mental health at Western

Western professor Lars Söderlund on acknowledging students’ mental health

Mirella Barrera Betancourt | Staff Writer

Depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses common among university students have emerged at an increasingly large rate in the age of the coronavirus pandemic. In a recent survey conducted on college students by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse, 50% who participated chose mental health as a potential reason for poor academic performance. 

With some universities experiencing a lack of easy and accessible mental health care, college professors are now more than ever having to act as gatekeepers to students’ mental health. However, faculty are rarely trained for such scenarios. Thus, the question becomes: what can university faculty members and educators possibly do to help tend to students’ mental and emotional health needs? 

At Western, professors approach mental health in different ways. Many, if not most, include a few links to university and campus resource centers in their syllabus, with some falling under disability accommodations. Some professors are also open with their own struggles, teaching students that it is important not to shy away from the topic of mental health.

Western professor and chair of English department Lars Söderlund, Ph.D., takes it one step further and advocates for students to ask for assignment extensions when necessary. He acknowledges that deadlines don’t always reflect instances of real life situations and wants to be sensitive to that. 

“The courage it takes to ask for an extension is, I think, important for professors to reward when it’s possible and when they have enough time,” Söderlund said.

Oftentimes, students have a negative perception that college professors are clueless or ignorant to their students’ mental well-being. Söderlund argues that this is not usually the case. 

“In a lot of cases, students are going through a lot and professors are going to understand that too,” Söderlund said, “so while it’s important not to expect extensions, I think it’s always good to ask.”

Most professors at Western have even tailored their grading to accomodate students struggling with social anxiety disorders, removing participation points as part of the grading criteria. Even those that do require participation are willing to make the time and effort to work with students to come up with something that works for them. “A lot of professors are more lenient than you think,” Söderlund added.

Of course, many professors are often burdened with the task of feeling the need to “fix” students’ problems, and Söderlund is no exception. Upon asking how he would go about helping a student dealing with emotional and mental drawbacks, Söderlund said, “My first reaction would be ‘Okay, this person is in stress, how can I fix it?’” 

Söderlund went on to explain the importance of validation — the act of affirmation that a person or their feelings are valid and understandable. He said that professors seeing themselves as a supportive role for the student and having an “I’m here to help, but you know best” mindset could greatly assist students in distress. 

For those students struggling with managing feelings of depression, anxiety or loneliness, Söderlund recommended reaching out to the many resources the Western campus and the cities of Monmouth and Independence offer. He also mentioned the existence of suicide and mental health helplines, which include the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 and the Polk County Mental Health helpline 503-623-9289. They, too, are resources available for students 24/7. 

Söderlund highly advocates for putting in the time to find the right therapist — a process that may take weeks or even months — and acknowledging when a certain type of therapy is not working. And if those feelings start to negatively impact academic performance, Söderlund advises students to take it up with their professors to see if they can come to a consensus regarding participation and class work. A way to do so, according to Söderlund, is by reaching out during office hours or by appointment to ensure a timely and successful meetup. This way, everyone can make the best of their situations.

If students are in need of psychological or mental help, the Student Health and Counseling Center on the Western campus is available for virtual and in person appointments from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. Students are also encouraged to join support groups and workshops. For more information, go to the SHCC website, wou.edu/health.

Contact the author at staffwriter@thewesternhowl.com

Helpful ways to combat anxiety

Five exercises to step back from anxiety

Sarah Austin | Lifestyle Editor

Many students and staff alike suffer with anxiety. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American College Health Association reported that over 60% of students experienced anxiety and one in five adults have a diagnosed mental illness. There is no immediate cure for anxiety, but integrating some of these grounding techniques can reduce stress and make it easier to cope. 

The 5 4 3 2 1 technique — This is one of the most common grounding techniques. To do, identify: five things that can be seen, four things that can be felt, three things that can be heard, two things that can be smelled and one thing that can be tasted.

Anchoring phrase — Create a phrase to help calm down while anxious. This can be something like: “My name is (blank),” “I am (blank) years old,” “I live in (blank) state,” “I am going to be okay” and many more. Make sure to share the phrase with people such as a family member, roommate or significant other in case help is needed in a more intense situation. 

Focus on breathing — To help with anxiety of any level, focus on breathing. This can help to calm down or even prevent an anxiety attack. One breathing technique is to breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts and exhale out for six. Repeat three times to ensure the heart rate slows.

Journaling — This is a great way to interpret one’s thoughts and possibly find out what is causing the anxiety, as well as give a point of reference to go over with a counselor or therapist if applicable. There are many methods for journaling, including physically writing, typing, making a voice memo or recording a video.

Stimulate the senses — One of the quickest ways to help gain control of the body during an anxiety attack is to shock the overworking system. Find something cold such as a compress, ice pack or a frozen water bottle and place it on a pulse point such as the neck or wrist. Other exercises with the senses include but are not limited to: run hands under cold water, take a shower, drink cold water or splash cold water on the face. Sensory stimulation can assist in breaking dissociative feelings that occur with anxiety and can offer a great deal of relief.

If feeling unsafe or have an emergency, call 911. 

Contact the author at lifestyleeditor@thewesternhowl.com

Resources for tough times during the holidays

What to do when the holiday blues strike

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

There’s no amount of eggnog, Hallmark movies or peppermint bark that can fully cure the holiday blues. There are great parts of the holidays, don’t get me wrong. Half the fun is in buying gifts for family and friends, drinking too much hot chocolate and cozying up in bed to sleep the day away. 

The overall Christmas cheer and elaborate colorful lights around town do help ease the gloomy, cold days that have set in. There’s no denying that this year has been a whirlwind, and with everything combined, the encroaching Yuletide can sometimes feel like an emotional tsunami. The reality is that sometimes the holidays are just plain difficult, even if it can generally be a positive time. We’re only human, and everyone is just trying their best with what they’ve got. How we deal with trying times is ultimately up to us, but there are resources available to prepare for the upcoming holidays and New Year.

Financial stress and food insecurity can affect many people during their life, and extra help can be the difference between eating some nights versus not. Western has its own Food Pantry, and updates can be found on their Facebook and Instagram page, @WOUFoodPantry. 

There’s also a comprehensive list of food pantries and hunger relief organizations in Marion and Polk County that can be found at https://marionpolkfoodshare.org/get-help/. Services like these are available to anyone facing any level of food insecurity. This website lists the name of the organization, as well as their address and phone number, and their hours of operation.

There are many helplines and text services that can potentially help those who need someone to listen, talk to or get additional help. It can be extremely difficult to ask for help when needed the most, and if you or someone you love could benefit from these hotlines, don’t be afraid to just check these out. If they aren’t quite what you’re looking for, that’s okay too.

  • SAMHSA National Helpline: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration can direct people to helpful resources, treatment facilities and support groups in the area at any time. Call 1-800-662-4357.
  • NEDA Helpline: National Eating Disorders Association offers confidential support for anyone coping with an eating disorder, or for concerns about disordered eating habits and actions. There’s also a chat option on their website, nationaleatingdisorders.org/. Available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (ET) Monday through Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) Friday. For their crisis support, call 1-800-931-2237 or text ‘NEDA’ to 741741. 
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: Confidential assistance with trained professionals for people experiencing domestic violence, or questioning if they’re in an abusive relationship. There’s also an online chat on their website, thehotline.org/. Call 1-800-799-7233 or text ‘LOVEIS’ to 22522 at any time. 
  • Veteran Crisis Line: For veterans and service members in crisis, there are specially-trained VA responders available at any time. Call 1-800-273-8255 or text 838255. 
  • NSPH Hotline: National Suicide Prevention connects people to local crisis centers and offers confidential support from trained staff at any time. Call 1-800-273-8255. 

 

The holidays are stressful in general and there’s a lot going on in the world, and it’s perfectly normal to have days where you’re feeling anxious or down in the dumps. The holiday blues affect more people than we realize, but if you or someone you love is seriously struggling, please reach out to these resources and to those around you. If it is ever a true emergency, call 911. From one human being to another, just get through the day as best as you can. Acknowledge your needs for today, take care of yourself, and reach out to family and friends. Know that the sun will always rise and set, and we can try again tomorrow. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu