Mount Hood

Western Athletics partially returns for fall term

Western Athletics reflects Phase One of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Sport

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

During spring 2020, the National Collegiate Athletic Association President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors suspended spring, fall and winter NCAA championships, citing the decision to be centered around the impracticality of hosting the events during COVID-19. Over the summer, the NCAA released a revised three-phase plan called Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Sport that provided schools with guidelines to follow as they generate their own plan for the upcoming terms. 

Currently, Western’s Athletic department is reflective of Phase One: nonessential travel defunded,  groups larger than 10 must have measures of physical distancing and sanitization, restricted staffing and workout areas or facilities must be sanitized.

For the student athletes who decided to return to Western this term, the Athletics department required and offered Polymerase Chain Reaction testing through the Corvallis Clinic. The Athletics department is not currently using any of the IFC funding they’ve received this term for testing. All funding from IFC this fall term have gone towards new equipment and cleaning.Testing funds came from students’ personal medical coverage or Athletics secondary insurance if a player is not covered.

After being tested and receiving COVID education.

“If a student didn’t feel comfortable with training in this environment, then they were able to opt out,” said Interim Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Randi Lydum. “We want people to feel comfortable.”

The students who opted out of fall term are still receiving their scholarships, Lydum explained.

“If a student is fearful of contracting COVID and passing it to someone else, then they are given a waiver to keep their partial scholarship from athletic aid. It’s really up to the student and what they feel comfortable with. If they opt out, they are not allowed to use the facilities because we want them to be safe.”

The students who have opted to participate claim that the department takes the current pandemic seriously.

“We were delayed to come on campus,” said junior business major and shooting guard for the Women’s Basketball Team Rachel Rogers. “This is our first week back in the weight room. Everything is different. It’s distance and masks all the time. It’s kinda funny because we’re all sweaty and breathing hard through these masks, inside and outside. No one really lets us lax on that; if you pull it down someone is telling you to put it back up.”

As of now, Western is not hosting normal practices; each team conditions its players and schedules small group sessions at various times throughout the day.

“It looks different than it would look pre-COVID,” Lydum reported. “There’d be 100 football players out there doing drills, but we just can’t do that right now. So in a football team we might divide the condition time up by offense and defense and various positions in offense and defense. We might have all of our first-year freshmen split up into groups. It’s really just being creative and finding the best groups that are safe.”

Outside of practices, Western is not participating in games this year, aside from personal socially distanced scrimmage matches. Looking towards the future, athletics hope to regain a sense of normalcy by January 2021.

“The NCAA cancelled all the fall championships so right now we’re looking towards January for starting Basketball competitions and indoor track,” Lydum said. “If the state allows that then we’ll do it, if they don’t then we won’t.”

If students experience symptoms of COVID later in the term, they are being asked to self quarantine, and if further symptoms develop, they will be tested. As more information is released the story will be updated.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

 

Valsetz delivers meals to WOU students testing positive for COVID

Western introduces quarantine meals to campus dining

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

Over the course of back-to-school season, many universities are facing COVID-19 outbreaks and are being forced to shut down. Western’s administration observed these outbreaks and planned for fall term accordingly.

Instead of having one move-in day for all new students, Western reduced its numbers to less than two-thirds and had four days designated for move-in. During that time, all students were subjected to COVID testing, and students that tested positive were relocated to Gentle Hall and Butler Hall for isolation purposes.

The people currently living in those halls are receiving “dining accommodations” known as quarantine meals. 

“The quarantine meals were food for the entire day and (were) delivered to them,” said Albert Worotikan, Director of Campus Dining. 

Originally, the food served in the quarantine meals was similar to foods given to students experiencing flu-like symptoms. Students could expect to order things like soup, gatorade, milk or orange juice once a day. However, Worotikan said that after their first weekend starting on Sept. 26, students sent feedback to dining about the quarantine meals. 

According to Worotikan, many of the residents living in the isolation zones have reported to be asymptomatic and requesting food with sustenance. The residents don’t want meals that are designated for flu-like symptoms because the meals are light and not filling.

“Yes, they have the virus, but they still want to eat normal (food),” Worotikan explained.

After a meeting with the Dean of Students and Director of Dining, Tina Fuchs, they completely flipped the system; starting Oct. 5, students living in Butler Hall and Gentle Hall are able to order three regular meals a day under the ‘quarantine meals’ section of the app, Nutrislice, with no additional cost for delivery.

For labor efficiency, campus dining has designated specific times for delivery service, Worotikan said. From 8 to 9 a.m., students can have breakfast delivered, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., students can request lunch to be delivered and from 4 to 5 p.m., dinner can be delivered. The residents are also allowed to order snacks during these times. 

In an effort to reduce physical contact during delivery, dining has also set up a notification system to let the person know when their food has been delivered.

“In our system we would be able to email the individual and let them know that the food has arrived,” Worotikan said. “Also with the way Butler and Gentle is set up, the door is outside. Of course we are also going to wear the face masks as well.”

If students start experiencing symptoms late in the term, they are advised to contact the Student Health and Counseling Center to see if they qualify for testing. If a student does qualify for testing, they will be charged $95 for the lab work. Most insurances cover the testing fee, but if a student doesn’t have insurance they can call 211 for additional resources. 

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

The President of the United States tested positive for COVID

White House begins tracing other potential COVID cases after President’s diagnosis

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

The citizens of America have been enduring the financial, physical and emotional impacts of COVID-19 over the past seven months. Currently, the United States accounts for 21% of the global population’s COVID cases.

On Oct. 2 at 9:54 p.m. (PST) President Donald Trump announced that he and the First Lady tested positive for the virus. Suspicions of potential contraction came after White House Senior Advisor Hope Hicks reported symptoms of the virus at a Trump rally held on Sept. 30.

Following President Trump’s positive diagnosis, the White House launched a massive contact tracing effort, reaching out to the people who were around the First Lady and President within seven days of them testing positive. 

During that time, the President attended multiple events: the Supreme Court Justice Ceremony, the presidential debate, fundraisers and a Trump rally. The White House has since identified nine people testing positive for COVID, including the president’s assistant, Nicholas Luna; R.N.C. Chair Woman, Ronna McDaniel; Senator of Utah, Mike Lee; Senator of North Carolina, Thom Tills; Campaign Manager, Bill Stepien; Kellyanne Conway; President of the University of Notre Dame, John Jenkins; Chris Christie; and White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany. 

All of the people who tested positive are currently receiving treatment if they are symptomatic or are undergoing the Center for Disease Control’s 14-day quarantine guidelines. 

After receiving three days of treatment at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, President Trump was released on Oct. 5. Doctors at Walter Reed say Trump passed all the patient release requirements and treatment can be continued from the White House.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

Western’s sidewalk signing adheres to COVID guidelines

Students participate in traditional sidewalk signing despite COVID

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

In the United States, many colleges have traditional ceremonies welcoming new incoming students. Due to COVID-19, many of these activities have been cancelled per social distancing guidelines.

In spite of COVID, Western upheld its tradition of first-years signing their name on the sidewalk by following social gathering regulations put in place by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Compared to prior years, the 2020 sidewalk signing required students to preregister for the event by selecting Oct. 3 or Oct. 4 to participate in the activity themselves, or have a member of PLUS team sign their name. The students who opted for the in-person option were scheduled fifteen minutes apart to maximize social distancing. 

“There’s probably other universities that definitely wouldn’t have the sidewalk signing,” said first-year history major Wyatt Smith. “When I first came here my junior year (of high school) for state track, seeing all the names on the sidewalk was one of the things that drew me here in the first place.” 

Smith went on to say that he believes a lot of universities wouldn’t put in nearly as much effort as Western has to ensure students living on campus still have a great time and are able to interact with other students in a safe way.

According to PLUS team, 163 out of the 750 students living on campus preregistered for the event and they as a team are happy to keep the tradition alive.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

Western hosts its first socially distanced sunrise breakfast

New student sunrise breakfast changed to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

On Sept. 27, Western held its third annual new student sunrise breakfast.

In contrast to the flapjacks and orange juice served at the stadium in prior years, the sunrise breakfast spanned across campus, and students were served “low contact” breakfasts.

Due to social distancing guidelines in place because of COVID-19, fourth year history major and  PLUS Team coordinator, Antonia Scholerman, said they needed multiple areas this year.

“We have students at the Public Safety Field, Turf Field and the Stadium,” said Scholerman. 

To ensure enough space was provided, participants were required to sign up prior to the event to take part in the activity. All students who registered had their names written on a brown bag specified to their diets. 

To keep track of the students and faculty in attendance, PLUS team set up a check-in area. Scholerman explained that this was done to ensure students would only remain in contact with their own food.

“It was actually pretty awesome,” said first year nursing major Alyssia Johnson. “This is literally what I eat for breakfast, so it was perfect.”

In Johnson’s breakfast bag she reported receiving Fruit, yogurt, a cheese stick, and a muffin.  

Despite the current situation, Johnson remains hopeful about the upcoming term. Johnson explained that it doesn’t feel like a challenge, Saying that students are still around each other and are enjoying each other’s company. In her hall, the community room has been limited to a six-person occupancy, but they all seem to be getting along well and are bonding during these unusual times.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

Western replaces Moodle with Canvas

Western introduces a new learning platform called Canvas

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

In an effort to update Moodle — Western’s Learning Management System  — a new committee called The University Technology Advisory Committee  was formed in February of 2019.

During spring 2020, the pilot version of Canvas, approved by President Rex Fuller back in December 2019, was introduced. President Fuller reported that Canvas is currently being funded by the CARES Act until the end of the year.

“Starting in January we have a contract that is funded through our normal budget,” Fuller explained. Western plans to phase Moodle out by July 2020.

Due to COVID-19, Dean of Library and Academic Affairs Chelle Bachelor reported that approximately 15 courses were used in Canvas because professors could not effectively convert to Canvas. In spite of the debut’s setback,  Western offered two programs over the summer to help professors acclimate to online learning and Canvas; Catalyst and the entire month of August dedicated to Canvas training sessions.

According to Michael Reis, Director of Academic Innovation, “In Catalyst, our summer training that covered online pedagogy and tools, 45 instructors participated.” 

During Catalyst, Canvas was used throughout the two weeks of the course. Additionally, Western designated the entire month of August to professors interested in learning how to use Canvas. Reis reported that 112 professors have participated in Canvas training sessions.

“I attended one Canvas training in summer in August,” said Dr. Feier Hou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry.

 “The deciding factor for me to use Canvas is if it has all the functions I want for my class.” 

Hou explained, “My class in the fall will be online asynchronous, so I will post lecture videos, and I would like to have the option to have pop-up questions in the middle of videos.” 

Another reason Hou hadn’t made a decision about Canvas was she hadn’t consulted with her students. However, after polling students in her CH 440 course about Canvas, most were reported as indifferent.

“Among the few that responded, more than half voted for Canvas, so I will switch to Canvas for that class,” she stated.

Hou also reported that most professors are still figuring out Canvas. “The main concern I have heard so far is how smooth the transition from Moodle to Canvas will be: how much time will it take us to learn to use Canvas? Will all our content on Moodle be transferred to Canvas exactly the way we want them to be?”

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

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