Mount Hood

Fresh start

April 2, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

With springtime just around the corner, ‘tis the season to start the term with a fresh mindset. A good mindset can be cultivated by many factors, including staying organized, sticking to a routine and having a designated spot for work. 

Organize one’s space — Having an organized room is crucial for the start of a term. It is much easier to focus on classes and other important things if supplies are readily available. In my experience, having an organized space helps declutter my own mind. I become more focused and productive when my surroundings match that mindset. It can be very easy for an area to become disorganized, so one should try to take a little bit of time each day to make sure that everything is back in its correct place.

Create a routine — Make sure to know one’s class schedule in order to plan meals, study time and other events around it. I like to dedicate at least one hour a day outside of class to productivity, for things like checking emails, performing chores or doing that task that I’ve been putting off for a while. I also try to make time to be active, whether it’s going to the gym, doing yoga in the comfort of my room or going on a walk around campus. Don’t forget to carve out time for rest and relaxation. It’s important to remember that what works best for someone might not work for others. Taking a nap or relaxing in between classes might be a great idea for one person, but personally, naps make me unmotivated and groggy for the rest of the day. Figure out what works best for oneself, then try to stick with it for the whole term. 

Find a good study spot — Beds are for sleeping, not studying. It may be tempting to write an essay or study for an exam from the comfort of one’s own bed, however, research shows that it may be harder to fall asleep if people do homework or scroll on their phone in bed. Studying outside is a great alternative, especially with the warmer weather of spring. My favorite outdoor spots are the Grove, the tables outside the Richard Woodcock Education Center and Main Street Park in Monmouth. When the weather isn’t ideal for an outdoor study session, Hamersly Library or one’s favorite cafe are great alternatives. If certain spots are only used for studying, one can trick their brain into being in a productive mood by simply going to that spot. 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Shopping local

March 12, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Located at 226 Main St., Independence, Oregon, The Little Mall on Main is a one-stop shop for all things arts and crafts. 

One of the shops, Snickety Picks, sells fabric, sewing supplies, handmade items and resale clothing. The owner, Lisa Purkerson, also offers clothing alterations such as repairing and pant hemming. She first opened her shop because she noticed that there weren’t any local shops that offered things like needle and thread. 

Snickety Picks isn’t the only arts and crafts shop in The Little Mall on Main.

Heartfelt Hideaway provides craft supplies, handmade gifts and classes for the community. The owner of Heartfelt Hideaway, Marena Ward, is currently running classes for crafts such as junk journaling and making Easter bunnies out of socks. Also in the mall is Rosemary Ridge Farm Yarn and Fiber Arts, a shop that provides classes and supplies for needle felting, spinning and other fiber arts. 

The Little Mall on Main hosts events such as Saturday bake sales, craft supply exchanges and vendor weekends with free tables for anyone who wishes to be a vendor. 

“It’s all about ‘shop local,’” Purkerson said. Shopping local helps these shops — and the community — thrive. These local shops provide Independence and Monmouth with goods and services that are crafted and planned with the utmost care.

Snickety Picks opened in November 2024, however, this May, Purkerson and Ward will have their shops combined to create the ultimate craft-lovers paradise. They are also combining shops in order to see more business. 

Many of the shops in the mall — and others in Independence and Monmouth — use a Facebook group called “Shop the Shops Monmouth and Independence” to help promote each others’ businesses. 

Even with social media such as Facebook and other forms of advertising, many of the shops in the mall struggle to see business from the Monmouth and Independence community. Purkerson emphasized — especially to Western students — that the Monmouth-Independence Trolley is a free and fun way to explore the shops of Independence. Supporting local businesses is a great way for students to get involved with the community that surrounds Western. 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Deep dive into the American Sign Language at Western

February 26, 2025

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

American Sign Language has a rich and profound history across the country — but is a rare program to encounter in higher education. Few colleges along the West Coast offer American Sign Language courses beyond the beginning levels — Western, however, offers two degree paths, a minor and a master’s program.

The American Sign Language studies program at Western, on average, carries 15 students per class through 60 required credits of classes, beginning with the basic models of ASL and leading into a variety of additional classes, such as Deaf history, mental health in the Deaf community and deafblind studies.

For roughly half a century, Western has been serving the Deaf community in Monmouth, Oregon. Some current staff of Western in the ASL department, with examples such as Brent Redpath, LeShonDre Brown and Elisa Maroney, attended Western in prior years. 

Historically, Western showcases success in instructing the future interpreters of America. Western was the first base for a national ASL assessment service in the West as of 2020 — a testament to Western’s dedication to American Sign Language proficiency testing for anyone interested in their fluency level.

The two Bachelor of Arts programs — American Sign Language studies and interpreting studies: theory — differ, despite common misconceptions about the programs. American Sign Language studies, according to Western’s website, helps foster knowledge of ASL in a way that promotes respect for Deaf culture, history and community. “You will not only continue to hone your ASL skills, but you will also study areas such as linguistics, language acquisition, cultural competency and mental health and learn how this information can serve the (Deaf) population.”

Other higher education institutions may refer to their version of ASL studies as Deaf studies or, potentially, be known as simply American Sign Language.

Elisa Maroney, current program co-coordinator of the ASL branch of the interpreting program and certified interpreter, helped construct the ASL studies program curriculum at Western in its prime, alongside Debi Duren. The program originated from the interpreting program, which found its footing first at Western.

“Our program is a study of the language, the culture, the history. For ASL studies, we’re often a more foundational program — students have that skill in ASL that they can use for the next step in their lives, which might be a graduate program, or it could be related to their career that requires an ASL background,” said Brent Redpath, American Sign Language studies program coordinator. Redpath has been working diligently at Western since 2012 and has become a well-respected professor — often harboring full classes with a waitlist each term.

Redpath, as program coordinator, schedules classes, makesing sure each class is properly staffed with instructors, balancesing course loads for faculty, addressesing student concerns and assistsing in conflict management amongst students. Redpath wholeheartedly represents the ASL program — his face and name are well-known in the Richard Woodcock Education Center — RWEC — where the majority of ASL classes take place.

Predominantly, classes in ASL are taught by deaf professors. ASL language classes — 101 through 303 — follow this model earnestly.

“It’s very nice to have native users of a language who are instructing in their native language,” said Redpath. “And to receive language and culture directly from a deaf person. Nothing against hearing people, don’t get me wrong — but their experiences will be different than a person who grew up as a Deaf individual. They’re going to have a different background, and they won’t be able to speak to that perspective in the same way a Deaf person can.”

With this in mind, ASL classes are regarded as “Deaf classrooms.”

“You might notice as you come into class that we have our tables set up in a U-shape, which is different from other classes. That’s how we always teach so that every student in the class can see each other. It’s a visual language,” said Redpath. “It’s important that we can all see each other, that I can see the students and they can see me.”

The RWEC boasts glass panels in the wall, allowing professors to see what’s happening in the hallways and beyond — a common Deaf-friendly window style. Redpath personally acted in the committee that assisted with designing the RWEC. “I was able to offer some tips and ideas for how to make this building a more Deaf-friendly space,” said Redpath. Additionally, the topic of what makes a Deaf-friendly space is discussed in class to teach on Deaf culture and respect.

Deaf classrooms are also deadly quiet to the average hearing person.

“It is dead silent … The way you can just hear a pin drop — the way people can hear you swallow wrong,” laughed junior Abby Money. “And then the two people on your left hear it and you have to say, ‘sorry, I’m hungry today.’”

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the ASL studies program; staff has been reduced, as have extra class options. As of 2025, Western has two full-time ASL studies staff members, alongside five part-time employees. Ideally, the program will be able to restore more staff members, in-person classes and more classes and class times.

Functionally, ASL classes utilize Canvas and GoReact for exams, homework and lessons. GoReact is a video-based system, allowing students to upload videos of their exams and receive direct feedback. 

ASL students, if struggling, may resort to the tutoring center for additional assistance with their signing fluency. Ideally, students will continue to participate in the Deaf community. “I always encourage students to be involved,” said Redpath. “It’s not enough to just go to ASL classes and be done. You can’t thrive that way … There is actually an ASL hall in the dorms, where you can have extra opportunities to socialize outside of class time.”

The ASL club on campus is a good resource for students to gain signing experience and practice with their peers.

Redpath’s classes involve three exams per term and weekly assignments. Students meet in small groups to practice for a grade on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, depending on the instructor’s choice.

“The ASL studies program is one of the biggest language programs that we offer on campus, and administration at Western has recognized us for that. We appreciate their support for our program,” said Redpath. “We felt their involvement in making our program successful … We hope (the program) will continue to grow even larger in the future. Of course, things are different now in post-COVID days, but we really hope to be back to what we were before. It’s a really important program — to me and to the university.”

As for Redpath — “My favorite part of this job is definitely working with the students. I teach a variety of classes, I work with diverse students from diverse backgrounds. And they’re not just learning from me — I’m learning from them.”

For junior Dylan Meader, Redpath stands out as a professor. “His teaching style is really effective for me,” explained Meader. “I’ve had good experiences with all the professors here, but I feel I respond best to his methods of teaching — he’s just a really nice guy.”

Meader gravitated to American Sign Language in high school, needing to fulfill a language requirement and finding it fulfilling beyond his initial expectations. 

“There’s not a single school in Washington that has the interpreting program, and that was something I really wanted to pursue,” said Meader. “I decided to look out of state, and the closest to my home in Bellingham, Washington, was Western. So I applied and I toured. It was something that I liked — so I decided to go for it … it’s been really great so far.”

Maroney attests that somewhere between one-third to one-half of ASL interpreting students in any given year are from out of state — such as juniors Abby Money and Meader.

Money, like Meader, hails from another state. Money grew up in Templeton, California, and Monmouth has been her first taste of life somewhere else.

“It was really scary for me moving here because I had, genuinely, never lived anywhere else on my own,” said Money. “Being fully immersed in the classes, I was so scared starting college. It was a nice surprise — it was worth it.”

Often, Redpath or LeShonDre Brown are the first faces students see when entering the program at 101.

“I went in, freaking out,” said Money, describing her first term with Redpath in ASL 201. “I was so scared. I was like, ‘he’s deaf. What if he doesn’t understand a word I’m saying?’ Spoiler alert — he did. He understood me.”

Western’s interpreting program hopes to help fulfill the country’s growing need for ASL interpreters. At Western, the program is available entirely online to support that goal, so more students from other states can pursue interpreting.

Interpreting, as a class subject, requires focus and drive. Students learn that professional interpreting requires no distracting clothing or accessories, and that hair must be out of the face. Recorded videos must be in good quality and against a blank backdrop.

Videos and exams follow any number of subjects. Often, they rely on translating English into ASL and then signing that statement.

Maroney has been working at Western since 1993 but previously received a certificate in interpreting from the college in prior years. Maroney even found herself at Gallaudet for her master’s — an iconic, and vastly important, college, leading the charge in Deaf education.

Eventually, Western’s undergraduate program will re-incorporate a crucial internship — “Our hope was that by having a graduate program, we could sort of guide students and provide them with supervision opportunities to, then, be more ready to work. The problem is that not everyone chooses to go on to (get their master’s) and they aren’t ready to work if they don’t have that internship piece,” said Maroney. “It is a lifelong learning process. You can’t get your bachelor’s degree and be one-and-done. You have to keep working on your language, on your interpreting, on your cultural experiences and knowledge.”

Chances are the ASL program, in any branch, will continue to evolve. “Everything is in flux,” said Maroney. “We try things, and if it doesn’t work, we try something else. I think it’s an exciting time right now — a little bit unnerving at the moment — but we have searches going on. We’re looking for two ASL studies faculty and one interpreting studies faculty.”

Additionally, Maroney recommends students look into scholarships. The interpreting program is, typically, six years long — meaning the cost can be heavy alongside already taxing work.

As for student-to-student advice, Meader has his own: “(Don’t be) intimidated, especially if you’re brand new to learning ASL and interacting with the Deaf community. Trust yourself. And have fun, it’s a lot of fun.”

“It gets easier,” said Money. “Your receptive skills get better. And when someone’s signing to you and you catch on, you’re like, ‘oh, wait, I’m actually getting this now.’ It’s not something that you’re panicking over, cause I remember panicking.”

Some staff in the program teach truly because they just enjoy the program, often working other jobs — Alethea Boyer-Mularski teaches full-time at Oregon School for the Deaf, showing up for her 5 p.m. 300-level ASL instruction classes after a full day of work.

“I teach at WOU because it’s where my teaching journey began nearly 18 years ago. Deb Duren, who was then the ASL Studies Program Coordinator, hired me despite my lack of teaching experience at the time, recognizing potential in me. Over time, my love for teaching grew, and I developed a desire to share my knowledge of ASL, Deaf culture and the Deaf community,” said Boyer-Mularski. “During the day, I work at Oregon School for the Deaf, and in the evenings, I teach hearing students at WOU. It’s a rewarding contrast — teaching Deaf students their true language while introducing ASL to hearing students.”

Western’s launch of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Program — 2015-2021 — had Boyer-Mularski in one of the first cohorts. After a six-year hiatus starting in 2017, Boyer-Mularski has since returned to the college.

“It was amazing. I love Alethea. She definitely helped my receptive skills a lot (because) she’s a much quicker signer. That was a lot of fun, being thrown into that,” said Money.

Additionally, Money regards the language with a lot of love. “It’s important to me because it kind of reminds me of where I come from a little bit. I took it originally for my friend, for her and her brother, because she was going to teach it to him. And then I just fell in love with it — it’s a beautiful language.”

“ASL is more than just a language — it’s the heart of Deaf identity and culture. I encourage students (and) faculty to appreciate its true beauty and respect its vital role in the Deaf community,” said Boyer-Mularski.

Meader has appreciated Western’s program so much that he’s opting to pursue his master’s at Western in interpreting. “The staff and the professors in the ASL and interpreting programs have been so supportive and encouraging … and I think that’s what’s made me want to continue, as opposed to (an) experience I had in high school where I almost quit learning ASL because my first teacher said something very harsh and awful to me about my signing, but I’ve just had really good experiences with the professors here,” he said. “Regarding the interpreting program, I think the professors do a really great job at preparing you and setting you up for success. It feels like they really care about you and think about you as more than just a student. Like they really want to set you up for future success as an interpreter or whatever you decide to do with ASL.”

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

History of Monmouth

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Between the years of 1850 and 1853, three wagon trains delivered a cluster of pioneer families to the Willamette Valley from Monmouth, Illinois. The families, notably the Butlers, Davidsons, Whitmans, Murphys and Lucases, desired the same thing: to form a community “where men and women alike may be schooled in the science of learning and the principles of religion” — as described by a history brochure published by the City of Monmouth. From there, Monmouth was born.

Western was founded in 1856 after donations of land and funding from the settlers. More families gathered in the town, with most, if not all, also rooted in Christian faith.

The Kalapuya people are the original owners of the land, the tribe spanning across the Willamette Valley. Monmouth is located within the traditional homeland of the Luckiamute Band of the Kalapuya. In 1855, the Kalapuya people were forcibly relocated to reservations further west. According to the City of Monmouth, some descendants remain in the area; others align with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

No original structures from Monmouth’s founding remain, but the oldest building currently standing is the Craven House, found on east Main Street and dating back to 1869. The Craven House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Campbell Hall is close behind, dating back to 1871 and found on Western’s campus — an example of a Gothic Revival style building.

Other houses in historic Monmouth date from between 1865 and 1975. The architecture, sometimes described as “eclectic,” boasts a variety of styles — some Ranch, Italianate, Craftsman Bungalow, Cottage, Moderne, Colonial … the list goes on.

Large fires in the late 1800s and early 1900s destroyed countless commercial properties of Monmouth origin, but other old establishments remain, such as the Polk County Bank, built in 1889 with a Queen Anne style build.

Railroads were established between 1881 and 1937, connecting Monmouth to the outside world. The railroads were built by Mexican and Chinese migrant workers. In 1924, Highway 99 West was constructed, and was eventually the first paved highway built by the State of Oregon Highway Commission.

Monmouth has a total area of 2.24 square miles, with 9,534 people recorded in the 2010 census. More than 80% of the town’s population was recorded as white. Ten years prior, in the 2000 census, the population was listed at 7,741 people — a jump of nearly 2,000.

Monmouth, until 2002, was  a “dry town” — meaning the sale of alcoholic beverages in restaurants, bars and markets in the town was illegal. It was the last dry town in Oregon until the popular vote reinstated liquor sales in the aforementioned locations.

Prohibition began in Monmouth in 1859, advocated for especially by one founder, Elijah Davidson, who was a devout Christian and strongly in favor of banning alcohol. Over time, as other towns began to drop their laws of prohibition, Monmouth clung to theirs; many not wanting to let go of the unique, classic trait of the historic town.

Two attempts — in 1954 and 1959 — to repeal the town’s dry status both failed.

Support eventually dwindled and many argued that Monmouth’s dry town status hindered its economic success. Merchants desired to sell, while property values lowered — joining Monmouth with the rest of the West coast towns after 143 years of town-wide sobriety.

Beer and wine were allowed after 2002, with hard liquor not being sold until 2011.

Despite its prior illegality, the Mulkey Building — formerly a grocery store — harbored a pool hall in its upper level and took full advantage of procedural mistakes in 1939, serving alcohol for half the year. Anyone who bought a beer at Mulkey Building could drink it, but only outside the doorway and in the hall.

The City of Monmouth also claims to have “resident peacocks” roaming the area around Gentle Woods Park. 

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

Happy birthday, Western

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Jan. 18, 1856 — 169 long years ago — Western was founded by 11 Disciples of Christ, originally titled Monmouth University. They were hoping to create a united community in their religion, which did, in its own way over time, become a tight-knit intermingling of students, professors and others, although without the faith originally in mind. Instead, the Western community honors their devotion to academic excellence and the Western way — a tailored educational experience, boasting small class sizes, caring professional staff, educational resources and a safe, walkable campus. Or, in Western’s words, “(commitment) to changing lives, strengthening communities and transforming our world.”

Western is the oldest public university in the state of Oregon, as well as an NCAA Division II institution, harboring a diverse population of students from underrepresented groups, veterans and especially first generation college students, notably recognized by the college.

Thanks to settlers who donated land and money, as well as financial support from local government members, Western came to fruition amongst a trying time in the 1850s, when customs and traditions were clashing with new age movements. Western, despite its religious founding, became an established center for training teachers for public and private schools, becoming Oregon State Normal School in 1882. It closed for a year after lack of funds and reopened as Oregon Normal School — hence the former “Lamron” title of “The Western Howl” paper. If unsure, read it backwards — not a very “normal” concept.

To add on to the normal trend: Western’s athletic teams, prior to 1928, were known as “The Normals.” Yeah, really regular.

Western adopted multiple other names over time: Christian College (1865-82); Oregon State Normal School (1882-1909); Oregon Normal School (1911-39); Oregon College of Education (1931-81); Western Oregon State College (1981-1997); and lastly, the current title, from 1997 to the present.

Throughout the last 169 years, Western hosted some significant and unforgettable events — as well as stories. In 1962, American Communist Party Secretary Gus Hall delivered a controversial speech at the Oregon College of Education, inciting an uproar. The event was later dubbed the “Gus Hall Affair.”

Previously, Hall had spent years running away from the IRS, after having been convicted of fraud and forgery in an election and had even been imprisoned after attempts to overthrow the American government, posted bail, fled to Mexico City and then was re-imprisoned. And, then, 11 years later, someone invited Gus Hall to speak at Western — nice move.

In less exciting, but still important, history, the 123-foot Sequoia tree in the middle of campus used for the annual holiday tree lighting was planted by the class of 1887. 

Columbus Day, Oct. 12, 1962, Campbell Hall lost its iconic tower structure in a massive storm overtaking Oregon, the crash photographed by student Wes Luchau. The storm, titled the Columbus Day Storm, has been tied directly to Luchau’s photo, even after more than 50 years.

Many of the buildings on campus are named after graduates of Western that went on to make notable accomplishments or titles, such as John H. Ackerman, former president of Oregon Normal School. He helped to secure adequate and stable funding for the school. In 2010, Ackerman Hall was named in his honor, incorporating housing and classrooms in an energy-efficient building.

Todd Hall was named after former Dean of Students Jessica Todd. The building was erected in 1912, closely followed by The Cottage in 1917. Todd, having retired in 1931 and passing away in 1944, was fondly remembered by the college community, but also regarded as being a stern, protective and respected woman.

Here comes the interesting part — it’s been told that Todd’s ghost still roams Western’s campus, looking over the students and the dormitories, as she once had so diligently. Possibly a myth, but in order to discover the truth, one might have to ask around or take a visit to one of Western’s oldest buildings.

In more recent news, Western was picked as the focus for the Amazon Prime Video television show, “The College Tour,” in 2024. And — not to bring myself into one of Western’s most accomplished moments — I was featured in B-roll for the episode, partaking in maybe the most awkward conversation I’ve ever had in American Sign Language. They had me sign a waiver and gave me a sticker, which might be worth the embarrassment. I only have myself to blame, after all.

Speaking of American Sign Language, the ASL program, as well as the Education program, continue to be vital to Western. After all, it was the Oregon College of Education, finding its footing by training teachers all those years ago — 169 is nothing to scoff at.

Despite its many name changes, “normalcy,” previous scandals — looking at you, Gus Hall — and potential ghosts, Western has become a beloved part of many students, professors and others’ lives, showcasing a gorgeous campus, with compassionate staff, enticing classes and endless opportunities. If there’s any time to be grateful, it makes sense to celebrate on Western’s birthday Jan. 18, potentially by toasting to Campbell’s lost tower or mourning the loss of the former publishing name “The Lamron” — I admit, it’s a lot funnier than “The Western Howl.”

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu

Book buying alternatives

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

We can all admit it — Barnes and Noble is a pretty great store, and buying books from Amazon is more than convenient. While there is nothing wrong with buying from these sources, more and more people have begun to search for much more ethical ways to purchase books. Often, major booksellers promote overconsumption or support authors, viewpoints and movements that do not align with the book buyer’s ideology. That being said, here are three of the best alternatives.

Libraries/Libby — This is perhaps the best alternative, as it doesn’t require any money to sign up for and use, instead just a valid form of identification and proof of address. By signing up for a library card, one immediately receives access to all titles within the library system. For example, the Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service serves Polk, Yamhill and Marion Counties. Library cardholders receive access to 18 libraries across each county, which include Monmouth, Independence and Dallas libraries. Western students aren’t even required to show proof of address, they just need to indicate that they are college students by showing their Western ID or proof of enrollment. With the library card comes access to Libby, an online library with audio and e-books. The only drawback to these services is the often long waitlist for books, though the zero cost might make the wait worth it. 

Secondhand and indie bookstores — Secondhand and indie bookstores are another great alternative, especially if one prefers to own whichever book one is reading. Secondhand bookstores typically use a buy, sell, trade method to get the books they sell, where they buy books from people looking to sell or they trade books of the same value — most stores have a staff member dedicated to this method. When these places do sell new books, they are often purchased from the publisher, so it is a much more ethical approach to buying new books. Indie bookstores operate similarly and run independently. Both kinds of stores often feature independent authors as well, often spotlighting local authors. 

Other online bookstores — If online bookstores are what one is looking for, then there are plenty of alternatives to shopping on Amazon. Websites like thriftbooks.com, bookshop.org and libro.fm are some of the most popular and do not just sell thrifted and independent books, but also support local bookstores and literacy programs across the country. On these sites, customers can purchase books and audiobooks, while also selecting which partnered bookstore they wish to support. The books will come through the mail and the bookstores will still be supported.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Monmouth’s holiday cheer

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Many people think of winter as a time of traditions and festivities. For Monmouth’s holiday season, the Holiday Tree Lighting and the Monmouth Merry Market bring the holiday spirit to the community. 

The light parade — also a holiday tradition — is set to begin at 6 p.m. at the Monmouth Public Library. Local businesses can design a float or walk in the parade to show off their holiday spirit.

Dec. 6 the community is invited to gather for the annual tree lighting on Monmouth Avenue that will commence after the holiday light parade finishes its course. 

The large sequoia tree in front of Campbell Hall will be adorned with many strings of lights, bringing holiday cheer to Western’s campus. The tradition of lighting the tree began in 1967 and has been a staple of winter in Monmouth ever since. Every year before the lighting, several guest speakers address the crowd. Then, the winner of an elementary student essay contest is announced, followed by the winner reading their essay publicly. 

Local vendors will be available for the public to enjoy from 5-9 p.m. in the Werner University Center — WUC — for Monmouth’s Merry Market. Also in the WUC at 7 p.m., cookies will be available for decoration. At 7:30 p.m., children and adults alike will have the opportunity to get a picture with Santa. The market is a great opportunity for businesses to both give and receive support from the Monmouth and Western communities. 

Along with the market, a silent auction will be held throughout the evening in the WUC. The auction is an annual fundraising event hosted by Abby’s House. 

The festivities aren’t only limited to Dec. 6. Up until Christmas Day, Main Street Park will be home to many light displays sponsored by local businesses. Any Main Street holiday shopping will be accompanied by colorful lights and fun displays. 

Every year, Monmouth and Western’s communities come together to create a supportive environment for students, Western faculty, Monmouth residents and anyone else who wishes to join in on the celebrations. 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu