Mount Hood

31st annual MSU powwow

Members of Western’s MSU and NICC executive members pose with powwow MC, Anthony Quenelle. | Photo courtesy of WOU Native Indigenous Culture Club

April 22, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

In Native American cultures across the country, powwows are times of gathering, celebration and culture. The powwow put on by members of the Multicultural Student Union and Native Indigenous Culture Club executive boards brought this to campus for the 31st time in Western’s history. 

Planning for the powwow began in August of last year, when members of the MSU and NICC executive boards met every Monday to discuss the logistics that went into planning. By December, the powwow committee was formed and continued these weekly meetings to ensure that all the parts were coming together. 

This year, the powwow was spearheaded by Cheydon Herkshan, the events director of MSU and president of NICC. A senior and a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, this event held special meaning for Herkshan.

“This is just such a beautiful event to be able to host, as a Native person,” she said. “Being in an institution that has a 2% population of Indigenous students is a little disheartening sometimes, so it’s amazing that I’m able to plan an event like this.” As of Fall term 2024, Western’s enrollment of American Indian and Alaskan Native students was at 1.3%.

The day before the powwow, members of MSU and NICC, as well as other volunteers, marked areas for vendors and drum groups, set up concessions and prepared the Wolves Athletic Center for the event. 

The day of, vendors arrived at 9 a.m. to set up their tables, with Whipman Ed Goodell and Master of Ceremonies Anthony Quenelle arriving shortly after. This was Goodell’s third year as Whipman at Western, though it is a role he has been in at various institutions for many years.

“My wife introduced me to a man who she grew up with … he was one of the members of the Portland Indian community and he was the Whipman prior to me,” Goodell said. “Growing up, he was one of the Elders, and then at some point, he decided he was getting old enough that he wanted to pass it on, and I was the one he chose to train, teach, mentor and show what it was that needed to be done.”

Traditionally, Whipmen were appointed to encourage dancers to get up and dance, as well as help maintain proper etiquette among dancers and spectators during a powwow. While the title of Whipman is ceremonial today, it was the Whipman’s or whip bearer’s job to make sure dancers danced for every song they were obligated to dance to by tradition.

“I do whatever I’m asked to do, but that means taking care of a lot of ceremony,” Goodell explained. “I’m here to kind of help and make sure it’s taken care of in a good way.” He then recounted a story when a man named Robert Van Pelt was trying to organize a powwow at the school he was attending, and was confused about the role of Whipman.

“They said, ‘Ed, he is the custodian of our ceremonies. He doesn’t necessarily perform the ceremonies himself, but he is the one who takes care of them. He is the one who makes sure that we take care of them.’”

“What’s the best thing for me is being able to be here for situations like this, where the young people are carrying on what we do. What we do as a community, as a people, to be able to develop,” Goodell added. “Just being able to watch our community grow, grow up and mature, have the younger ones caring and showing that they are paying attention to what the elders say and do, and how it’s supposed to go.”

Along with the roles of MC and Whipman, powwows traditionally have a host drum. This year, the intertribal group Turquoise Pride was honored with that responsibility, providing the central heartbeat that guided the dancers and brought the arena to life.

“We originally didn’t have a host drum,” Herkshan said. “We had reached out to three different groups, and nobody had responded to us. But eventually, everything got figured out, and it was a good success.” Other drum groups were also invited to perform, with two additional groups joining; together, the three groups shared the songs throughout the event. Turquoise Pride, however, was in charge of leading songs for the Grand Entry, Flag Song, Retreat Song and any honor and prayer songs. 

Doors opened at noon, with the first Grand Entry beginning at 1 p.m. Intertribal, round and exhibition dances followed, and a dinner break began at 5 p.m. During the break, Indian tacos were served, and a performance by Fuego Nativo de Las Américas energized participants, showcasing vibrant traditional dance and music before the evening’s events resumed. The second Grand Entry began at 7 p.m., marking the start of the evening’s next session, with a dance lineup that mirrored the first half.

“I want to give a really big shout-out to my Native Indigenous Culture Club. They helped extremely well. Every single one of them was a part of our powwow committee,” Herkshan said. “I would also like to shout out the Multicultural Student Union. Everybody on the (executive) team helped out tremendously.”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

 

Red flag, red flag

April 22, 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

We as humans are very social creatures; having a significant other can provide a lot of benefits. Being in a committed relationship, according to Northwestern Medicine, can lower the production of the stress-inducing hormone called cortisol. There have also been reports of living a longer life and having a greater sense of purpose when being with someone who can be described as a “better half.” As someone who is happily married, I can confirm that being in a healthy relationship is pretty awesome. 

However, not every relationship is meant to last, especially if the person isn’t a good partner. A lot of the time, we end up stuck in relationships that we think are healthy, but in reality can be extremely toxic. No one wants to be in a relationship with someone who isn’t going to treat them properly, so I thought I would provide the biggest red flags I’ve seen in many relationships, both my own and those of some close friends of mine, that eventually went sour. 

As a preface, I’m not a relationship guru. These are just some things that I think people should be aware of if they are unhappy with their partners. 

Overly controlling behavior — Possession over someone isn’t inherently a bad thing. After all, I am a little possessive of my husband and vice versa. Jealousy is one thing — control is another. Relationships should be a place where one feels free with the other, not feel chained to them. 

Controlling behavior from a partner can be a red flag, as it shows that they not only feel the need to be in control, but also want to control those who are closest to them. Some examples of overly controlling behavior would be forcing a partner to wear certain clothes, always being the center of attention, never accepting blame for situations they caused and consistently lying to their partner. I think a situation where this trait comes out a lot is whenever someone wants to go out, whether it be to a party or some sort of function, the partner gets jealous and tries to prevent the other from going. 

There is nothing wrong with going out with friends, but if one finds themselves wanting to avoid going out to “keep the peace,” that’s a big red flag, especially if they go out as much as they want. Now, if a partner wants to be controlling to the point where they want full control of the bank accounts and credit cards, that isn’t even a red flag — it’s a blaring alarm. Not only is it stripping someone’s ability to manage their finances, but it’s also a trap meant to keep the person tied to their partner. No one should ever feel trapped in a relationship. 

Narcissistic habits — Someone who is a narcissist or has the behavior of one has an extensive interest and admiration for themselves, likely believing that the world revolves around them. This often means they’re not able to recognize the needs and opinions of others. They may dismiss them or even overlook them, as they view their own interests or issues as more important. 

A good example is a lack of empathy, tied to invalidating their partner’s concerns and issues. At times, they may even make fun of their significant other when they’re visibly upset. It’s also important to be aware of gaslighting and manipulation. The narcissist can make their partner feel like everything is their fault, twisting their words to make them feel guilty over things that aren’t an issue. They’re also very egotistical, wanting constant compliments and what feels like worship from their partners. 

Narcissistic behavior can appear very differently. Oftentimes, those who are in relationships with people who have this sort of behavior don’t remember their partners being like this at the start. They were attentive, sweet, considerate and all the things that made someone want to be with them. That can lead to another red flag: love bombing. 

Love bombing — At the beginning of a relationship, there is something that most people refer to as the honeymoon phase. It’s when the relationship is exciting and new, people are getting to know each other and they learn about each other’s pet peeves and interests. 

However, love bombing is different. Love bombing is done with the intent of luring someone into a false sense of security. It could look similar to the honeymoon phase as it involves one person showering the other with attention, praise and even gifts in order to get their partner to be interested in them. They’ll say things like “we’re meant to be” and “no one else could be my partner other than you.”

However, instead of actually being in love with someone, narcissistic people love the idea of having control over someone. They try to make their partner dependent on them so that they are less likely to leave. Love bombing is done as a method of manipulation, not an act of love. 

Lack of communication — One of the most important parts of maintaining a healthy relationship with someone is to speak up whenever something is wrong. As the honeymoon phase ends and disagreements happen, in order to move forward with the relationship, there has to be clear communication between the two. This involves being honest and open with each other, which may not come easily for people depending on their backgrounds. What’s worse is when someone is finally able to tell their partner what the problem is and they react poorly or brush it off. 

It’s one thing if putting off an issue happens a few times, but if a significant other is unwilling to change and learn how to communicate with their partner better, that’s a major red flag. Not only is it showing poor emotional intelligence to not be able to recognize that a person’s feelings are hurt, but it’s a lack of respect for the person to not want to be better for them. 

My biggest advice for anyone who is in a relationship and is not sure if they’re happy is this: don’t tolerate mistreatment. Don’t make excuses for people who continue to hurt the person that they are supposed to spend the rest of their life with. As American poet Maya Angelou once said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” 

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu 

Steph Littlebird spotlight

The author poses with Steph Littlebird
after a guest speaker presentation. | Photo by Jaylin Emond-Hardin

April 22, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

Growing up as a Native kid, I didn’t have many books that were for me. As a tiny tot, I had one called “Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back,” which told the story of the 13 moon cycles of the year on the back of Turtle Island. By the time I got into chapter books, there were more, but not by much — “Indian in the Cupboard,” “The Birchbark House” and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” were titles I was more than familiar with. 

But now, Native authors are becoming a greater part of the author demographics, and with that, so are their stories. 

Among these authors is Steph Littlebird, a Kalapuya and Chinook artist, who recently published “You Are the Land.” Released Feb. 24, 2026, “You Are the Land” is Littlebird’s first published children’s book, though she has illustrated for other works before. These books include “My Powerful Hair,” “Body Beautiful” and “Fierce Aunties,” all celebrations of the power of indigenous people and their cultures. Littlebird also did the illustrations for the book “The Summer of the Bone Horses,” a chapter book written by Virginia Driving Hawke Sneve.

It’s not just children’s book illustrations, however, that Littlebird pours her love into. As an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde community, she curated the exhibit “This IS Kalapuyan Land,” which opened in 2019 at the Five Oaks Museum  and in 2023 at the Pittock Mansion, both in Portland. 

In the exhibit, Littlebird annotated panels from the museum’s previous exhibit on the Kalapuyan peoples, curated modern Native artwork into the exhibit and added historical pieces from David Lewis, who has a doctorate in anthropology and is a preeminent scholar on the tribes of Western Oregon. 

In her spare time, Littlebird creates art for her Instagram, @artnerdforever, most of which is protest art and aims to bring awareness to the movements that she supports. She especially focuses on reinterpreting vintage imagery, often reworking historically problematic depictions with a modern, critical perspective. Among these are her interpretations of the Land O’Lakes Native woman, Pocahontas and Tiger Lily from “Peter Pan,” along with Land Back themes and other works that reflect her perspectives on contemporary political issues.

Recently, Littlebird announced her collaboration with author Karina Iceberg on the book “Free to Fly,” a multigenerational story that pushes and reminds readers to look towards the future with hope, even with the knowledge of the pain the past brings us. 

“Free to Fly” is set to release in June this year, while “You Are the Land,” “Summer of the Bone Horse,” “Body Beautiful,” “Fierce Aunties” and “My Powerful Hair” are available in bookstores and online.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Oregon Democrats take a stand

A photo of a February protest at the
Oregon Capitol fighting for immigrant
rights. | Photo from @lusyouth on Instagram

April 22, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

On April 9, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed eight bills surrounding the protection of Oregon residents in regard to immigration status and other related matters. These bills were brought into motion by Kotek and other Democratic representatives following the high surge of immigration arrests in 2025 and early 2026. 

Kotek, along with others, emphasized these bills are urgently needed in order to protect Oregon residents, with representatives saying they want to fight for a safe state that advocates for all. Kotek further explained the bills fight back against federal immigration actions such as the deployment of the National Guard to Portland and federal agents launching operations in the Willamette Valley with directions to reach a quota of at least 80 people detained, often doing so without warrants and while wearing face-obscuring masks.

In February, Democratic representatives introduced a series of bills during the short legislative session, naming them the Immigrant Justice Package. Advocates and students rallied outside the Oregon Capitol in support, carrying signs reading things such as “protect Oregon immigrants” and leading chants.

“While weak leaders in D.C. use cruelty to feign strength and disregard both our constitutional rights and basic human decency, we had an obligation to use our power to stand with immigrant communities to strengthen civil rights and to prove that when we say we represent every single Oregonian, we mean it and we deliver,” said Rep. Will Chotzen.

The first of the bills, House Bill 4079, says that school district boards must have policies in place outlining how they will respond if a federal immigration agent enters school property or a school campus. Additionally, Senate Bill 1538 bans discrimination in education based on immigration or citizenship status.

House Bill 4111 bans the use of immigration status as evidence in civil cases and adds immigration status to existing anti-profiling laws in Oregon.

House Bill 4114 gives Oregon residents the right to sue federal law enforcement agents for violating constitutional rights by entering property without a warrant.

House Bill 4138 requires all enforcement agents to clearly identify themselves without the use of masks or face coverings unless medically permitted.

Senate Bill 1570 requires hospitals to outline policies and procedures for how they will respond to law enforcement authorities arriving.

Senate Bill 1587 bans public organizations from selling personal information to a data broker unless they guarantee it will not be used to enforce federal immigration laws.

Finally, Senate Bill 1594 directs the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement to form policies to protect residents from federal immigration enforcement.

Outside of these eight bills, Kotek additionally signed House Bill 4123 March 31, which prevents landlords from releasing information surrounding the immigration status of their former tenants, applicants and current tenants without written consent or a court order. This bill takes effect June 5.

Kotek pushed back against federal forces, saying, “To those in Washington, D.C. who think they can bully Oregon into abandoning our values and abandoning our neighbors, you got it wrong. Oregon is not staying quiet and we are not backing down.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

HSI Summit Week

A photo of the HSI Summit student panel. | Photo from @westernoregonuniversity on Instagram

April 22, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Starting April 13, Western hosted its fifth annual HSI Summit week. As a Hispanic Serving Institution, Western’s undergraduate student population consists of 27% identifying as Hispanic or Latino, and the goal of the summit is to bring together the university and community to discuss what it means to be an HSI. Specifically, this year’s summit’s purpose was to highlight how data informs, aligns and advances commitment to serving the student population.

Marla Franco, who has a doctorate in higher education leadership, was chosen as the keynote speaker for this year’s summit. She has worked at public universities in California and Arizona for 25 years, and her work consists of creating greater success in pursuing degrees for underrepresented and minority communities. The assistant director of the HSI Initiatives, Cristian Mendez Garcia, said, “We are pleased to have Dra. Franco share her expertise with our broader community. This work is important and having an open dialogue on how data informed decisions can help all of our students is crucial in higher education.” 

On Monday, Claudia Ortiz Gajardo and Vanessa Petroj led an event entitled Code Switching in Hamersly Library, where they discussed the connection of language, culture and identity within Hispanic and multilingual communities. In regard to this event, Ortiz Gajardo said, “It was exciting to see the enthusiasm from the audience, which fostered a deeper connection among the campus community through reflection on the role of code-switching within our diverse identities.”

Tabling in the Werner University Center, where students could grab limited-edition HSI shirts, occurred Tuesday. Late January, students voted on which of three T-shirt design options, all designed by students, they liked the best. The winning design was chosen to represent Western’s HSI status.

On Wednesday, students could attend Loteria in the WUC, where they could win prizes such as T-shirts, candy and keychains. 

Thursday, Dr. Ricardo Pelegrin Taboada partnered with the Writing and Research Center on campus to present “Ethnic Studies in the Library: Preserve Your Family Story,” an event allowing students to celebrate their heritage and identity through storytelling. Students who attended wrote three words that best described their identity and put them on a community board to be showcased.

Finally, the highlight of the week occurred Friday, during which Franco spoke about how HSIs can better serve their students, along with a student panel who talked about their personal experiences. Students, faculty and representatives from other schools all attended this event. Students on the panel expressed their gratitude for all who came to support them and the importance this event provided for being heard as students of color. Sophomore Alexia Sifuentes, one of the student speakers, explained her experience, talking a lot about how “supportive it was to come to Western, specifically for me growing up in a predominantly white city. I think I never really felt like I could fully express myself and my culture, and coming over here, it was a very big culture shock to see so many people like me at school. Just how many resources there are for us.” She added, “Being first generation, it’s really hard to navigate college and not having someone to ask. It’s just really great having advisers here who understand that struggle and advocate for you as well.”

When asked about what she perceived the purpose of the event being, Sifuentes said, “The purpose of the event is just to really spread awareness for what we have as far as resources and support, especially with the political climate we are in and how much hatred there is towards people of color and just the talk of getting rid of a lot of support services that really are catered to people of color. That insecurity really is prevalent. This event just helped emphasize the need we have and all the programs here like TRIO and SEP are here for a reason and they truly support a lot of students.”

Additionally, Ortiz Gajardo explained, “Reflecting on these experiences, it is important to value the Summit as a space that ensures the Hispanic/Latine community at WOU is seen, valued, and supported. By recognizing challenges and celebrating the contributions of our students and staff, we foster a sense of belonging and representation in meaningful, lasting ways.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Cat in a box

April 15, 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

As a proud mother of two cats, Freddy and Khalessi, I’ve noticed that my babies have enjoyed boxes more than the very expensive toys that my husband and I have bought. In particular, since we’re moving, they have loved throwing themselves into giant cardboard boxes. The bigger it is, the better and harder it is to get them out of it. 

As someone who has had cats throughout her life, I know that my babies aren’t unique. All of the cats that I’ve had in my life have enjoyed being in a box, whether it be to hide from us or take a very long nap inside of it. Recently, though, I’ve found myself wondering what it is exactly that makes the perfect killing machine so weak to enclosed cardboard pieces.

One of the reasons that cats enjoy being inside boxes is the safety that it provides them. Alison Gerken, a veterinary behaviorist at the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, explains that in the wild, with predators lurking around, cats naturally have an instinct to find a “safe den.” They often choose an enclosed environment that doesn’t allow anything to sneak up on them from behind. It gives the cats a sense of safety and stress relief to let them be in a place where they can be hidden. Cats sadly don’t have a conflict resolution ability as we humans do, so when they’re upset, they like to hide from their problems — very relatable, honestly. 

Cats love to be in warmer environments. According to a study conducted by the National Research Council, cats prefer to be in temperatures of 86-97 degrees Fahrenheit. Most homes aren’t kept that warm, so our feline friends find small, enclosed spaces that will trap their body heat. Cardboard, in particular, is great at trapping heat, like a little mini insulator. The small space can force a cat to curl up into a ball, which in turn also helps preserve heat for them. I have noticed that cats love to huddle underneath the blankets on my bed or curl up next to the heater, especially during the colder months. 

As most know, cats are incredibly curious creatures. So, whenever something new appears in front of them, their instinct is to scope it out. They want to investigate what it is that has been brought, as well as the purpose of the new item in question. I remember the day I bought my cat one of those big cat trees that have scratchers and little cubbies they can hide in. He was more excited about the box than the darn cat tree, though he does use it a lot more than he used to. 

The texture of cardboard boxes is also perfect for cats to scratch and bite, which makes them great toys. Fun fact: cats love to scent-mark boxes by chewing on the sides or flaps of it. When marking it, cats use pheromones to mark it as their own little palace. 

Overall, my babies have every right to find their way into the many boxes that I currently have overloaded within my apartment. If they are able to find joy, warmth and safety in something so simple, I can only view cats as an admirable companion that doesn’t need much to be satisfied. I suppose it saves me money on having to buy them toys and pet beds. 

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Red Bull drink review

A photo showing a stack of redbull cans of various flavors | Photo from @jcsswansea on
Instagram

April 15, 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

Despite the article I’ve written in the past talking about the dangers of caffeine, I have enjoyed various forms of caffeinated drinks throughout my life. Particularly in the last few months, I have tried a good amount of the various flavored Red Bulls. I have since formed an opinion, or more accurately, an obsession with the flavor that these canned drinks contain. So, here is a ranked list of my favorite Red Bull flavors. 

Fifth place — Up first is the orange can with the flavor of strawberry apricot. It’s the first of the flavored Red Bulls that I tried back when I was a teenager, so there’s a bit of a nostalgic flair that I get when I drink it. The flavor itself starts out as a sweet strawberry with the hint of apricot being mostly an aftertaste. It’s not a bad combination at all, but out of the six flavors, it’s at the bottom. 

Fourth place — I had no idea what to expect for the spring edition flavor Red Bull was coming out with. The name on it is cherry sakura and as a lover of that specific tree type, yetI had no idea what it was going to taste like. As someone who loves cherries, I don’t think that this drink necessarily tastes like the fruit it’s based on. However, I do enjoy the drink. It kind of reminds me of what tea tastes like, except it’s carbonated. It’s a fruit-flavored drink with hints of strong tea-like accents. 

Third place — The Winter Edition Red Bull that came out roughly in late October last year was one that had me in a chokehold for the entire season. The flavoring is fuji apple with ginger. To me, the ginger wasn’t really that strong, but even so, it was a good combination in my opinion. I thought the drink mostly tasted like apples, so I would call it “apple juice” to my coworkers. However, my lovely husband thought that the ginger was way stronger than I thought it was and scoffed at me when drinking it in his presence. Everyone’s taste buds are different, so drink whatever tastes good.  

Second place — I love the color pink, and I love it even more when drinks associated with it taste good. The white peach-flavored Red Bull tastes so good, it single-handedly caused me to drink multiple times a day — which I’ve stopped doing because it’s super bad for a person’s health. Similar to the fuji apple one, it’s an energy drink that reminds me of juice. I think that if someone wants a sweet drink with caffeine, this is an amazing choice. 

First place — My top Red Bull flavor that I’ve been obsessed with since even before I moved to Monmouth for school is the juneberry flavor. This mystical drink in blue is the perfect combination of sweet and sour flavor in a drink that I’ve ever tasted. No juice or soda has come close to the harmony of this amazing drink. Full disclosure, I have never had juneberries before. Even without the prerequisite of trying the fruit that this flavor is based on, this Red Bull is my favorite by a landslide. 

While developing an obsession for energy drinks isn’t good for a person, if anyone ever wants to try one of the flavored Red Bulls seen in a gas station case, I recommend any of the ones on this list. In particular, I recommend the juneberry one. It is the best. 

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Disney conspiracies

April 15, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Are “Frozen” and “Tarzan” secretly connected? Is there an invisible dome around the Disney parks? Is Walt Disney secretly buried somewhere in Disneyland? Many Disney fans have a lot of insane conspiracy theories, and while many of them are proven to be false or may be way too crazy to be true, they’re fun to think about nonetheless. In this article, I’m going to talk about some of my favorite Disney conspiracy theories.

The first theory is that the parents depicted at the beginning of “Tarzan” are actually Anna and Elsa’s parents in “Frozen,” making Tarzan their little brother. Fans speculate that Anna and Elsa’s parents didn’t actually die in their shipwreck and instead washed up on the coast of Africa, where they had another baby boy before being killed by the leopard in “Tarzan.” While I love this theory, there are a couple of different reasons why this probably isn’t true. “Frozen” is meant to take place in the early 1830s and “Tarzan” is meant to take place in the 1880s, meaning that the timelines don’t align. Additionally, the parents in each of the movies don’t share the same physical traits. While the father’s eyes are the same color, his face shape in each movie is vastly different, and in “Frozen,” he has the strawberry blonde hair that Anna has, while in “Tarzan,” he has brown hair. The mother also has a very different face shape and hair color, and her eyes are even different colors in both movies.

A similar theory is that the movie “Aladdin” actually takes place in a post-apocalyptic future. Throughout the movie, the genie makes many 90s references, such as celebrity impressions of people like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Except, the genie also mentions that he’s been stuck in the lamp for 10,000 years, meaning the movie takes place 10,000 years after 1990. In this futuristic world, humanity essentially reverts back to its old ways.

A “Frozen” theory that I find very interesting is that the trolls turned Hans evil. Before Anna goes to see the trolls with Kristoff, Hans is still depicted as a gentleman who loves Anna, and fans don’t start to see his villainous side until after. The theory is that the trolls wanted Anna to be with Kristoff, and after learning about her engagement to Hans, decided to use their magic to turn Hans evil. 

Disney park-specific theories include some believing that nobody can die at a Disney park. With any sort of medical emergency or death in the park, workers prioritize getting the person out of the park as soon as possible so that Disney receives no bad publicity. There are also rumors that there are hidden Mickeys throughout the Disney parks, and this theory has been proven to be true. One of the more outlandish theories here is that there is an invisible dome around the parks to stop bad weather from getting in.

Finally, my all-time favorite Disney fan theory is that Walt Disney’s frozen head is being kept in a cryogenic storage until future technology makes it possible for him to be reincarnated. Branches of this theory include either Walt Disney’s head being frozen versus his whole body, and some fans believe that his head is stored under the “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride in Disneyland. Fans believe that Disney created the movie “Frozen” and Disney on Ice so that when people searched for Walt Disney’s frozen head, these two things would come up instead.

Disney movies already have so many connections within them, and thinking about and discussing additional conspiracy theories can be a lot of fun for anyone who’s a Disney fan.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Keeping up with the Targaryens

A still of Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg in “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” | Photo from @gameofthones on Instagram

April 15, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

I’ve been thinking about the “Game of Thrones” universe a lot lately. “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” was released in February of this year, I recently finished “A Game of Thrones” for the first time and I’m rewatching “House of the Dragon” in preparation for Season 3’s release this June. Maybe “I’ve been thinking” is an understatement. 

Either way, the shows have been on my mind a lot as I’ve consumed them in the last few months, and with them being on my mind, there are a lot of considerations I’ve looked at. After all, the shows are all connected in some way or another, aside from being in the same universe. I fear that is the most obvious, but there are more connections beyond that, with the same Houses and same family names stirring up trouble in Westeros. 

Honestly, one of my favorite connections appears in Season 3 of “A Game of Thrones.” In “And Now His Watch Has Ended,” Joffrey Baratheon gives Margaery Tyrell a tour of the Red Keep. As they pass through the Great Sept of Baelor, he casually recounts Rhaenyra Targaryen’s fate — killed and eaten by Aegon II’s dragon in front of her son.

Rhaenyra Targaryen is the main character of “House of the Dragon,” and the show follows her fight against Aegon II, her half-brother, to claim the Iron Throne. 

This isn’t the only Targaryen from another series mentioned in the episode, however. Baratheon also tells Tyrell about Aerion Targaryen, also known as Aerion Brightflame, and how he drank wildfire because he thought himself to be a dragon.

Aerion Targaryen is a minor character in “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” and is bested in a Trial of Seven by Ser Duncan the Tall. While Season 2 does not release until 2027, fans will likely not see him again. If “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” adheres to its source material, Aerion Targaryen does not reappear. He departs for Dorne while Ser Duncan and Egg travel to other parts of Westeros.

Speaking of Ser Duncan, the hedge knight is mentioned twice across the show, once in Season 1 and the second time in Season 4. Both are brief, but they truly show his place as a legend in Westeros. In Season 1’s “Lord Snow,” Old Nan offers to tell Bran Stark a story about Ser Duncan, who she says was Stark’s favorite. 

In Season 4, the allusion to Ser Duncan is much more explicit. Again, it is Baratheon who speaks of the character, using the hedge knight’s long list of deeds in the Book of Brothers to mock his father-uncle, Jaime Lannister. Ser Duncan’s 14-page-long list that Baratheon mentions in the show alludes to the greatness that the character eventually achieves.

A third character from “The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”  is also name-dropped, but it’s in the Season 5 episode “The Gift,” when Maester Aemon shouts out “Egg” on his deathbed. In a previous season, the Maester had revealed that he was a Targaryen, which means that the “Egg” he is calling to is Aegon V, and the second main character of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.”

Out of the four characters mentioned, three are Targaryens — Egg, Aerion and Rhaenyra — which is kind of the point. It begins to become obvious how the entire “Game of Thrones” universe quietly orbits that one family.

Even when the story pretends to be about sprawling politics, rival houses or the fate of the realm, it keeps snapping back to the same gravitational center: the Targaryens. Their bloodline, their dragons, their internal conflicts — those are the forces that shape history again and again. Egg represents the unlikely, almost hopeful side of that legacy; Aerion Targaryen shows its instability and cruelty; Rhaenyra Targaryen embodies how personal ambition can escalate into civil war. Three very different people, in the same dynasty, with the same underlying volatility.

That’s what makes the world feel less like a broad ensemble and more like a long, multi-generational tragedy. The rise and fall of kingdoms, the wars, the prophecies — they’re not random, they’re consequences. And more often than not, they trace back to one family’s ability to conquer a continent and their inability to hold onto it peacefully.

So when multiple Targaryens keep popping up in even casual references, it’s not coincidence — it’s the story revealing what it’s really about.

But even the beginning of “House of the Dragon” references Daenerys Targaryen, who is arguably the main character of “A Game of Thrones” — the show — and “A Song of Ice and Fire” — the book series.

“It is now the ninth year of King Viserys I Targaryen’s reign. 172 years before the death of the Mad King, Aerys, and the birth of his daughter, Princess Daenerys Targaryen,” it reads, before words fade out until it just reads “172 years before Daenerys Targaryen.”

When I first saw this while watching “House of the Dragon,” I got chills, because it sets Daenerys Targaryen as the marker for every point in Westerosi History. 

If I were to equate the Targaryens to a modern famous family, they would be the Kardashians. They’re rich, they make questionable decisions, yet somehow people still love them in spite of the horrible things they do. 

Heck, even I love the Targaryens and defend them, even when they do bad things. 

Daenerys Targaryen burns down King’s Landing because Cersei Lannister killed her best friend? That’s a completely valid crashout. 

Aemond Targaryen wants revenge on his nephews because they gave him a pig dressed up as a dragon and cut out his eye? I’d want revenge, too. 

At a certain point, it stops being surprising and just becomes the rule: if something goes wrong in Westeros, a Targaryen probably lit the match. Whether it’s revenge, ambition, grief or just pure delusion, their choices ripple outward until entire kingdoms feel the consequences. 

And maybe that’s why they’re so hard to look away from. They’re not just rulers or legends — they’re deeply flawed people with far too much power, making very human decisions on an inhuman scale. So as much as the world of “Game of Thrones” pretends to be about everyone, it keeps circling back to them. 

The dragons may be gone or reborn, the throne may change hands, but the story remains the same: sooner or later, it’s always about the Targaryens.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Miyamoto’s illumination

A phot of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” poster | Photo from @supermariomovie

pril 15, 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

 

Content warning: this article contains minor spoilers for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” 

 

On April 1, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” was released in theaters, and I was lucky enough to be able to see it on its debut. The movie by Nintendo is based on the game of a similar title, Super Mario Galaxy, and is a sequel to the first movie, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” The film was highly anticipated by fans as Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 are extremely beloved in the fanbase and are often viewed as some of the top ten Mario games ever produced by Nintendo. 

After the movie’s release, many have expressed their opinion of it, ranging from it being good, bad, peak, terrible and even claiming it’s political. I wanted to give my own take on the movie as both a Mario fan and someone who played the Galaxy games. 

I am in no way a movie critic or high-brow Mario superfan. I’m just a girl who wanted to see a movie based on one of the games I played the most growing up. That being said, though, my rating is definitely not a 10/10. 

The game, Super Mario Galaxy, was praised for its ability to provide stunning visuals of outer space, and I’m happy to report that the movie was very similar to the game in that sense. The stars and galaxies were absolutely stunning to view on the big screen. The biggest strength the movie had was its animation. It’s incredibly smooth and well done, the fight scenes in the movie being particularly impressive. The movie’s main villain, Bowser Jr., has an incredibly powerful paintbrush that can create living drawings out of thin air as well as engulf him in the paint to give him a crazy amount of strength. 

The strongest parts of the movie for me were any scenes that had Yoshi in them, as well as the relationship between Bowser and his son. Yoshi, as a character, was an incredibly entertaining character to watch on screen. He is not only a very resourceful creature, but he’s funny and really stands out on the character roster as a loyal companion who also likes to mess around with his buddies. 

Bowser Jr.’s motivation throughout the entire movie revolves around getting his imprisoned father out of the clutches of the Mario brothers, as well as creating a planet for both of them, something that Bowser promised his son when he was growing up. Their bond is incredibly heartwarming to watch. Even if Bowser is a bad guy, there is no doubt that he is a great father. 

The biggest change of the movie from the game is that some of the character backgrounds have changed drastically, specifically Rosalina’s and Peach’s. While I won’t dig into these changes to avoid major spoilers, my main complaint is that I feel like they really rushed the character development of most of the characters, but in particular, Princess Peach. 

In this movie, she finally discovers where she comes from and who her family is. However, the journey of her getting there doesn’t feel particularly satisfying. There isn’t a lot of meaningful, emotional turmoil, and what little there is feels extremely rushed. I thought the way that they revealed Peach’s past was a clever way to do it, but it just didn’t feel like it was something she fought for. Her backstory just seemed to be handed to her  — quite literally — without any sort of depth given to her character. 

Overall, I feel like the movie wasn’t as terrible as some have been saying online. I personally enjoyed it a lot and had fun watching it. I would rate it a 7/10. I would watch it again, it was really funny. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

My Leisure Time review

A screenshot of the author’s home on My Leisure Time. | Photo by Jaylin Emond-Hardin

April 15 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

I’ve never loved a mobile game as much as I love My Leisure Time. Usually, I’ll download a game after seeing it in an ad, play it for a couple of days, then get bored and it will sit on my phone until it’s automatically offloaded to save storage. 

Yet, this one has stuck with me. I don’t know why it has, but every chance I get, I’m not on social media, I’m on the game.

The game follows a newcomer to Yo-Yo Town who gradually helps residents grow their businesses, including a diner, a coffee shop and a salon, among other shops. As they do this, they also unlock furniture, housing layouts, clothing and pets. It’s low-key and focused on development as the end goal, rather than puzzles or level-based gameplay. 

It’s slow and cozy, like a lazy Sunday morning with extra-sweet coffee. Even the graphics — a simplistic chibi, anime style — aid in this feeling.

It’s as if Animal Crossing were made two-dimensional and all the villagers were human. That’s the closest comparison I honestly have. 

The game also has a variety of themed events where players can design furniture and clothing. Currently, the themes are Cosmo Tales and Starlight Garden — based on Mongolian traditional culture and Vincent van Gogh’s paintings, respectively. The events take a lot of grinding to earn the materials to craft the furniture, but the pieces are so unique that it’s worth it.

Honestly, I never thought I’d say that about a mobile game, but it’s one that needs that description. 

My favorite part of the game is helping out the residents of Yo-Yo Town with their shops. The tasks are the only mini-game-style part of the game. At the coffee shop, players merge coffee beans, sugar and bottles of milk to make craft coffees. In the salon, 20 scissors are gifted every two hours and players must cut through pieces of fabric to collect hair dryers, combs and makeup brushes to unlock hairstyles. And at the diner, vegetables are planted, and other goods are ordered, so players can combine them into dishes to sell and earn trileaf coins, an in-game currency.

But the mini-games are low-stakes and slow-paced, keeping that cozy, lazy weekend feeling, and players don’t even have to interact with these parts of the game. 

I know sometimes those games that are in ads don’t show accurate gameplay, but this is one game where the ads were accurate and everything that was advertised is in the game. And maybe that’s why it’s stuck with me this time.

After all, I keep taking breaks from writing this article to play the game. 

10/10.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Artemis II mission

A photo taken by the astronauts aboard Artemis II. | Photo from @nytimes on Instagram

April 15, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

In the Artemis II mission, the Orion space capsule was launched into space April 1. This 10-day mission took four astronauts further from Earth than any human has ever been. 

The original launch of the capsule was delayed due to technical difficulties with the flight termination system and the battery for the launch abort system. These crucial elements allow the rocket to be destroyed if it goes off course and pulls the capsule away from danger to protect the astronauts aboard in case of an issue. 

Observers watched Orion launch with a 10-minute countdown outside the Kennedy Space Center. Jeremy Hansen, the mission specialist, said, “We are going for all humanity.”

The Artemis II crew included American astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian astronaut Hansen.

Not only did the rocket reach the farthest distance away from Earth, but it also reached a milestone in the twin rocket boosters being able to separate from the rocket after helping it reach a speed of 10,000 miles per hour.

After the initial launch, there was a short comms issue between the astronauts and the ground crew, meaning they were out of contact until it was fixed.

The crew also lost connection for around 40 minutes when Orion reached a point behind the moon, but this loss was expected and planned for. Additionally, the crew witnessed a total solar eclipse during their mission and saw several small craters on the far side of the moon.

Many were most worried about the landing of Orion, because this is when the heat shield has the potential to burn up and, in turn, burn the ship and astronauts with it. The heat shield is one of the most crucial parts of the rocket because it protects the crew from extreme heat when entering Earth’s atmosphere. Artemis I’s heat shield was visibly damaged after its landing, creating more worry for the landing of Artemis II. Jared Isaacman, the NASA administrator, said that there was extensive testing of the heat shield and they felt comfortable that “we can undertake this mission with lots of margin to spare.” In the end, the crew landed safely in the Pacific Ocean the evening of April 10 as planned. 

Orion did not land on the moon in the Artemis II mission, but instead set the stage for a future launch to send humans to the moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 launch in 1972.

The mission was to test how well Orion would work launching into space and to see what changes need to be made to send future astronauts to the moon. Orion’s mission in doing this included manually flying through the Earth’s orbit to practice steering the rocket and checking the rocket’s life support, propulsion, power and navigation systems.

Amit Kshatriya, the NASA associate administrator, said, “I think the path to the surface is open now. This was an incredible test of an incredible machine.”

Building off of Orion’s mission, Artemis III is planned for 2027 to test Orion again and Artemis IV is planned to launch in 2028, where they will attempt to land on the moon.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Condor conservation

A photo of a California Condor. | Photo from @webnectarphoto on Instagram

April 15, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

The week of April 6, seven California condor chicks were hatched in the Oregon Zoo’s Jonsson conservation center. 

The Jonsson Center is located in Clackamas County and has enough space to hold 90 condors, including 16 breeding pairs. The conservation center is 52 acres and is isolated away from human contact to prepare the condors to be reintroduced into the wild.

Since late January, the condors there have been laying eggs and, in turn, laying the groundwork for the species’ recovery from being critically endangered. Additionally, more eggs are expected to hatch soon.

After the condors lay their eggs in the conservation center, the eggs are moved to an incubator to stay safe until they are ready to hatch. After this, the baby chicks will stay with their parents until they are around 18 months old, then moved to a pre-release pen. Here, they will be acclimated to a wild habitat before being released into the wild in California or Arizona.

Young condors being raised in pre-release pens are prepared for release into the wild by receiving aversion training, such as learning not to land on power lines, and will learn how to socialize with adult mentor condors.

California condors are one of the original animals listed as part of the 1973 Endangered Species Act, and are currently still listed as an endangered species. According to the Oregon Zoo, there were only 22 California condors left in the wild in 1989. The zoo has been working to increase their population, and now there are around 600 California condors, with about 370 flying free in the wild.

The Oregon Zoo hopes that, in helping the species recover in California and Arizona, the condors will naturally expand their populations back to Oregon for the first time in more than a century.

California condors play a vital role in ecosystems because they recycle nutrients and dispose of dead animals. Condors are scavenger birds that eat dead animals, which can collect bacteria and transmit disease, meaning they are crucial in preventing disease outbreaks.

Condors are endangered because their food sources and habitats are both increasingly contaminated. The biggest danger to them is lead poisoning, as their prey is often shot with lead bullets; when condors eat animals with lead in them, the lead can enter their bloodstream and become fatal.

To combat this, the Oregon Zoo launched the Lead-Free Hunting Education Program in 2015, where they work with hunters, ranchers and wildlife agencies to encourage the use of lead-free alternatives such as copper ammunition. This change protects all scavenging wildlife, not just California condors, but, as long as lead is commonly being used, condors can’t reproduce fast enough to remain stable.

Despite this, the Oregon Zoo is optimistic about the California condor population as it slowly increases. Nicole LaGreco, the overseer of condor recovery efforts at the zoo, said, “Things are looking great for the season so far. All seven chicks are eating and sleeping well in their nests. They’re tiny now, but they’re already growing quickly and learning from their parents.”

Those who are interested in learning more about California condors can see the exhibit located in the Great Northwest area at the Oregon Zoo.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

 

Missing woman

A photo of Maria Kilmer. | Photo from @pigeon.news on Instagram

April 15, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

March 28 at approximately 9 p.m., 28-year-old Maria Linda Jade Kilmer went missing. She was last seen on Highway 22 near milepost 15, where her car ran out of gas and she had to pull over to the side of the road.

According to the passenger in her car, she was traveling from Lyons to Salem, and when she ran out of gas, she left her car to board a motorcycle with an unidentified driver to get help.

Kilmer left behind all of her belongings in her car, including her keys, purse, license and phone. Carmen Bitzer, her mother, mentioned that Kilmer leaving behind her phone and purse was extremely out of character. Additionally, Kilmer left behind her glasses and medications, even though multiple family members explained that she wouldn’t be able to see without her glasses.

Her stepmother, Amber Brecht, said that she was on her way to help Kilmer after receiving a text from her saying she was stuck. Kilmer additionally dropped a pin so Brecht could find her location, but once Brecht got there, Kilmer was gone.

Brecht additionally said that after Kilmer’s disappearance, she received several text messages from unknown numbers claiming to be Kilmer.

Many of Kilmer’s family members emphasized that it doesn’t make sense she would leave her car knowing family was on the way to help her. Kilmer’s sister mentioned, “My sister is not the kind of person to just leave somebody on the side of the road, and I don’t think she would have just gotten into a stranger’s car.”

By Sunday, Kilmer’s sister urged that she knew something must have been very wrong for Kilmer not to return, explaining that they live in the same apartment complex in Independence and would check in with each other daily, always telling each other where they were going.

Both Kilmer’s mother and sister declined to mention the name of the passenger who was in the car with Kilmer because police instructed them to avoid disclosing this information.

Kilmer is a woman of indigenous heritage, and her mother works within a group that helps to raise awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women. In regard to this, her mother said that she never thought she would have to use this to help find her own daughter.

“She always calls,” said Bitzer. “She knows my number by heart, so not having her phone is not going to deter her from calling her mom.” 

The morning of April 3, Oregon police released information about the case, saying that Kilmer was found and was unharmed. Ultimately, she was located after reaching out to a family member, confirming her identity. Investigators are still looking into why Kilmer went missing, but, as of now, there is no evidence of any crime. Police have refrained from releasing any other information regarding this case.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Write Place

A photo of Ellen Waterston. | Photo from @orculturaltrust on Instagram

April 15, 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Thursday, April 30 at 4 p.m., Ellen Waterston, an Oregon poet and environmental activist, will be discussing her work in the Werner University Center Willamette Room. This event will be hosted by Write Place and Waterston will be introduced by Western President Jesse Peters.

Waterston has produced many works and was selected as the Oregon poet laureate for the second year in a row.

She is the author of several books — many surrounding the theme of Oregon’s high deserts — including “Walking the High Desert: Encounters with Rural America along the Oregon Desert Trail” and “We Could Die Doing This: Dispatches on Ageing from Oregon’s Outback.” Additionally, she has an essay collection entitled “Where the Crooked River Rises,” a memoir, “Then There Was No Mountain” and five poetry collections, the most recent being “As Far as I Can Anthem.”

Since 2000, Waterston founded and manages the Writing Ranch based in Bend, Oregon, where she conducts several writing workshops for both established and emerging writers every year and hosts the Waterston Desert Writing Prize. Her workshops often focus on the unique landscapes and cultures of central and southern Oregon.

Writers who have attended Waterston’s workshops have spoken out about her gift for leadership, her humor and her ability to inspire writers beyond their limits to generate original, unique material.

“Nothing compares to gathering and bonding with a group of writers, the heady experience of feeling you are with your people, your tribe, and together are supporting one another’s writing process and goals,” Waterston said.

Waterston has received numerous awards for her work, such as a WILLA Literary Award in both nonfiction and poetry and the Obsidian Prize in poetry. She has also had many of her poems and essays appear in various journals and anthologies.

Demonstrating how the high desert is often her muse, an excerpt from “Walking the High Desert: Encounters with Rural America along the Oregon Desert Trail” reads, “The enduring fascination of the high desert, and the reason its survival as a wild place is within reach, may well lie in the fact that this vast open can’t quite be named.” 

Writing Down the Baja is another annual writing workshop that Waterston hosts, taking place in Todos Santos, Mexico, at the only desert in the world surrounded by two seas. This workshop includes a week of writing that explores the “intersection of poetry and prose, fiction and nonfiction” and encourages “experimentation with language, format and genre.”

Write Place also hosts the Loie Bunse Prize for Nature Writing at Western, for which the winners for this year were just announced. Malia Vican won first place with her personal narrative “Winter at Home” and Sadie Latimer won second place with her poem “McDowell Creek Falls County Park.”

Write Place is dedicated to supporting the relationship between humans and the natural world through literary and artistic works, and believes that the natural world is under threat with humans having an obligation to help. The first step to this recovery is an awareness and appreciation for something that exists. Abby Phillips Metzger from the board of directors explained, “Pay attention to how you feel. You begin to hear the land and learn its scars. Pay attention, and things beneath you become visible.”

Write Place concurs with N. Scott Normaday, who said, “If you believe in the power of words, you can bring about physical changes in the universe.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

La mente nostálgica

15 de octubre del 2025 | Belen Ponce Leal | Editora de Estilo de Vida

Todos hemos sentido nostalgia en algún momento de nuestra vida. Recientemente, he
notado una tendencia en TikTok de videos diseñados para despertar la nostalgia, tanto para
los millennials como para la Generación Z. Hay recopilaciones de anuncios antiguos que
solían emitirse entre películas o series, como Zoo Pals, Pillow Pets, Chia Pets o Tooth
Tunes. También he visto videos con imágenes fijas de creepypastas antiguos como Jeff the
Killer, Candle Cove y Slenderman. Hay intros de series antiguas o música de otra época
que nos hacen sentir un poco de cariño y añoranza por aquellos días.
Personalmente, el contenido multimedia que más me ha inspirado nostalgia últimamente
fue la imagen que popularizó la leyenda de Herobrine en la época de “Minecraft.” De
joven, solía ver video tras video de “avistamientos reales de Herobrine.” Esta tendencia me
hizo sentir curiosidad por saber qué es exactamente la nostalgia y por qué nosotros, como
adultos y estudiantes universitarios, la anhelamos tanto.
¿Qué es exactamente? — Originaria de las palabras griegas nostos (retorno) y algos
(dolor), la nostalgia es definida por la Universidad de Florida como “la añoranza
sentimental del pasado, que a menudo se desencadena cuando una persona reflexiona
sobre recuerdos preciados o incluso experiencias difíciles.” La nostalgia tiene una historia
interesante, que se originó a finales del siglo 17 para describir los sentimientos que tenían
los soldados sobre sus vidas anteriores antes de alistarse. Hoy en día, se acerca mucho más
a la definición de sentimentalismo — recordar los buenos momentos de nuestras vidas,

cuando todo era más sencillo.
¿Cómo funciona? — Según Hal McDonald de Psychology Today, la nostalgia tiene
cuatro componentes diferentes que, en conjunto, crean ese recuerdo con una visión de
color de rosa de los mejores días de nuestras vidas.
El primer componente es la autorreflexión. Este es el principal rasgo que define la
nostalgia. En cierto sentido, cada uno es su propio “protagonista,” por lo que nuestros
recuerdos se centran en lo que nos sucede. Es la forma en que procesamos nuestra relación
con nuestro yo pasado y nuestro yo presente, generando una especie de sentimiento
reminiscente.
La memoria autobiográfica es el siguiente componente de la nostalgia. Es lo que nos da el
contexto de nuestros recuerdos, la transcripción de nuestras vidas y cómo recordamos
haberlas vivido. Piénsalo como el relato de la vida de alguien en lugar de la película, solo
que fuimos nosotros quienes la escribimos. Esto explica que algunos recordemos las cosas
de forma diferente comparado con un hermano o un padre.
Luego está la regulación emocional. Esto es lo que causa las emociones positivas y
negativas de la nostalgia. Si bien es una experiencia mayoritariamente positiva, con el
recuerdo de ir a la tienda con la abuela fresco en la mente, también está el reconocimiento
de no poder hacerlo con ella tanto o incluso nunca más, de ahí que esta emoción a menudo
se describa como una sensación agridulce.
Finalmente, está el componente de recompensa. Se cree que esta parte de la emoción está
asociada con la activación de las regiones cerebrales relacionadas con la recompensa.
Básicamente, la sensación de ver viejos vídeos de YouTube es una inyección de dopamina
directamente al cerebro.
¿Qué la desencadena? — Esto varía de persona a persona, pero hay algunas fuentes
comunes de nuestra nostalgia. Hay detonantes sensoriales, como el olor de las galletas
horneándose, que trae recuerdos de la Navidad, o tal vez el sonido de una canción evoca
recuerdos de una pareja. La vista, el olfato, el gusto, el tacto y el sonido son posibles
detonantes de la nostalgia. Además de los detonantes sensoriales, también hay transiciones
en la vida, como mudarse a nuevos espacios. Muchos estudiantes probablemente
experimentaron una extraña sensación de nostalgia al empacar para venir a Western este
año. Ver una habitación casi vacía que solía tener todo tipo de cosas adentro a menudo
desencadena recuerdos de lo que sucedió en ese espacio. Las interacciones sociales
también pueden despertar viejos recuerdos, especialmente al rememorar con familiares o
amigos. Personalmente, siempre me da nostalgia cuando salgo con mis amigos de la
preparatoria.
¿Es buena o mala? — Puede ser un poco de ambas. Una encuesta realizada por Meta y
Gallup reveló que 1 de cada 4 adultos reportó sentir una fuerte sensación de soledad.
También se encontró que muchos de ellos eran jóvenes, de entre 19 y 29 años. Una
explicación es que, una vez que una persona llega a la edad adulta, suele comenzar a
desconectarse de su infancia en casa. Empieza a aprender a ser un adulto, lo cual, como
muchos saben, puede ser bastante difícil. Sin embargo, se descubrió que la nostalgia puede

ofrecer muchos beneficios a una persona. Puede aumentar la autoestima, ayudar a
encontrar el sentido de la vida, fomentar la autenticidad y brindar alegría. Según la
Asociación Americana de Psicología, un estudio realizado durante la temporada navideña
reveló que sentirse solo ayudaba a las personas a superar la tristeza navideña. Se descubrió
que les ayudaba a encontrar un propósito en sus vidas. También es justo señalar que es
posible ser demasiado evocador. Estar demasiado atrapado en el pasado puede impedir que
algunas personas encuentren alegría en el presente. Pueden presentarse otros efectos, como
tristeza excesiva, sensación de impotencia e incluso depresión.
La mejor manera de experimentarlo — Hubo una vez, durante una clase, que un
estudiante mencionó la película “Halloween Town.” Un pequeño grupo de estudiantes
comenzó a hablar sobre ella y lo que significó para ellos durante su infancia. Es una
película muy nostálgica para muchos y, al experimentarlo en grupo, el efecto fue mucho
más intenso. Según Allen McConnell, de Psychology Today, “La nostalgia de las personas
les recuerda momentos importantes y conexiones importantes con los demás.” Los
sentimientos pueden ayudar a fortalecer su deseo de conectar más con quienes comparten
recuerdos similares. Encontré a mi mejor amigo porque ambos podemos citar casi de
memoria la primera serie de “Five Nights at Freddy’s” de Markiplier.
En general, la nostalgia es mucho más que recordar el pasado, cuando todo era más
sencillo. Es una forma de conectar nuestro pasado con nuestro presente. Nos convertimos
en quienes somos gracias a estos recuerdos, ya sean las películas que vimos de niños o el
olor a espagueti de una olla. Si bien es importante no darle demasiadas vueltas al pasado,
hay beneficios en ser sentimental de vez en cuando.
Contacta al autor en howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Estableciéndose en Western

8 de octubre del 2025 | Belen Ponce Leal | Editora de Estilo de Vida

Mudarse a una nueva ciudad puede ser bastante intimidante para cualquiera. Ya sea que
disfrutes viajar o seas hogareño, mudarte de una casa o apartamento a una residencia
universitaria puede ser realmente intimidante. Es un gran cambio para cualquiera,
especialmente para alguien que no sea de la zona, aprender a llamar hogar a este lugar por
un tiempo. También puede ser muy difícil decidir qué hacer con este pequeño espacio que
se te da y que se espera que llames hogar durante al menos un año.
Recuerdo el estrés de prepararme para mudarme al otro lado del estado para poder asistir a
Western. Leí docenas de hilos en línea de antiguos alumnos que daban consejos a los
nuevos sobre qué traer o en qué invertir para mayor comodidad. Empacar fue una
pesadilla, tratando de decidir qué podía quedarse en casa y qué debía ir a la residencia.
Después de investigar un poco y de mi propia experiencia, he compartido un par de
consejos para quienes en el campus están lidiando con la “depresión de la mudanza.” Estos
consejos abarcan desde cómo vivir en la residencia universitaria hasta cómo salir de ella.
Desempacar — Si hay un consejo en el que todos los estudiantes, independientemente de
su tipo, estarían de acuerdo, probablemente sería no procrastinar. Aunque sienta bien
simplemente tumbarse y navegar por internet durante horas, puede acabar causando
problemas por la cantidad de tiempo que consume. Por lo tanto, asegúrate de que todas tus
pertenencias estén organizadas de forma cómoda. Personalmente, la libertad de organizar a
mi gusto fue una gran experiencia. Fue un alivio saber que nada se movería ni se colocaría
en otro lugar. Asegúrate de aclarar con tu compañero de cuarto que lo que esté a tu lado de
la habitación no se debe tocar, a menos que te den permiso. Esto también nos lleva al
siguiente consejo:
Comunicación con el compañero de cuarto — Aunque no tuve compañero de cuarto
durante mi estancia en Landers Hall, tuve que interactuar con otros a menudo al compartir
el baño y la cocina. Mi mayor consejo sería ser abiertos y comprensivos. Explíquense

mutuamente sus preferencias, límites y niveles de comodidad. Háganse saber qué pueden
hacer y qué no. A veces puede ser incómodo, pero mientras haya respeto mutuo, llevarse
bien no debería ser demasiado difícil. Si surge un conflicto importante que no se pueda
solucionar con palabras, contacta con un asistente de residente para obtener más consejos e
instrucciones. Sus números de teléfono siempre deben estar visibles en algún lugar del
edificio, en algún tipo de cartel.
Trae cosas de casa — Ya sean objetos sencillos como cobijas o sábanas, o efectos
personales más únicos, tener cosas con algún significado sentimental o que sean
simplemente muy cómodas puede aportar una sensación de familiaridad a un espacio que
podría carecer de ella. Personalmente, traje muchos peluches a mi dormitorio cuando me
mudé a Western. Son perfectos para abrazar durante los momentos estresantes de la
semana de exámenes finales. También traje mi propia almohada. No solo me ahorró la
molestia de tener que comprar una nueva, sino que es muy cómoda. Soy de las personas
que no se duermen fácilmente en lugares nuevos, pero la almohada me permitió dormir
plácidamente por la noche. Si no eres tan fan de los peluches como yo, otros artículos que
puedes considerar son tu taza favorita, un coletero, suéteres o unos calcetines peludos.
Decoración — La decoración es una parte muy importante de cualquier hogar, ya sea una
casa, un apartamento o un dormitorio. A menos que alguien sea un minimalista muy
comprometido, la mayoría de la gente disfruta de personalizar su espacio. Permite libertad
creativa y, a menudo, puede ser una de las primeras veces en la vida que alguien puede
decorar su habitación como quiera. Los artículos para escritorios pueden ser una pequeña
pila de libros, figuras, peluches, fotos enmarcadas o un organizador de escritorio. Para las
paredes, puede ser un poco más complicado, ya que es importante no dañarlas. Las tiras de
comando son un recurso común en los dormitorios, ya que no crean agujeros en las
paredes, pero tenga en cuenta sus diversos límites de peso — pueden hacer que la
decoración de la pared se estrelle contra el suelo si no se tiene cuidado. Con eso en mente,
alguien podría colgar algunas luces en las esquinas de la habitación, colocar fotos, pósteres
o banderas. Todo depende de la preferencia y de lo que ayude a que la habitación se ajuste
mejor a los gustos de cada uno.
Snacks — Algo que he aprendido durante mi época de estudiante es que comer por estrés
es algo real. Si bien no recomiendo comer en exceso para lidiar con el estrés, no está de
más surtirse de algunos bocadillos para consumir durante el trimestre. Algunos de mis
dulces favoritos son los M&M’s de cacahuete, los Snickers, los Muddy Buddies y el
chocolate Hershey’s. En cuanto a lo salado, me encantan los Cheetos picantes de
lima-limón, las papas fritas Lay’s de lima y el Chex Mix.
No te quedes en la residencia — Cometí ese error el año pasado. Quedarse en la
residencia después de terminar las clases, aunque sea relajante, también era increíblemente
solitario. Recomiendo encarecidamente a cualquiera que esté considerando quedarse en la
residencia en su tiempo libre que busque eventos en el campus a los que asistir. No solo es
muy emocionante ver qué pasa en Western, sino que es una buena manera de conocer
gente nueva y entablar relaciones. La mayoría de las veces, hay muchos carteles o letreros
por todo el campus con información sobre algún evento. Sin embargo, siempre puedes

visitar la página web de la universidad y consultar el Calendario de WOU. En esa página
se pueden ver eventos de todo tipo. También hay muchos clubes en Western que estarían
encantados de tener nuevos miembros. Personalmente, descubrí que la mayoría de los
amigos que hice aquí en Western son de otras clases. Habla con tus compañeros y conecta
con ellos, especialmente si estudian la misma carrera.
Nadie debería tener que pasar por la universidad solo. Conecta con quienes te rodean y
encuentra un lugar aquí en Western.
Contacta al autor en howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Crimen real

22 de octubre del 2025 | Hannah Field | Jefa de Editacion

Advertencia de contenido: este artículo aborda temas de asesinato y violencia
El crimen siempre ha sido un tema fascinante para muchas personas. Con series de
televisión de ficción como “Criminal Minds” y “Law & Order,” estos temas de
conversación violentos han demostrado constituir una forma de medios y contenidos tan
entretenida como rentable — sin embargo, lo que lleva este interés un paso más allá es la
industria del crimen real.
La industria del entretenimiento no es ajena a los documentales. “Dateline” lleva
emitiéndose desde 1992, mientras que su predecesor “48 Hours” comenzó en 1988. Los
documentales de crimen real han experimentado un auge en los últimos años,
aprovechando nombres notorios para generar contenido a través de grandes plataformas
como Netflix. Algunos ejemplos de ello son “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal,”
“Tiger King,” “Monster” sobre Jeffrey Dahmer que marcó el inicio de la controversia en
torno a las recreaciones dramatizadas de crímenes reales en televisión, “American
Murder: Gabby Petito,” “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” entre otros. A
través de Hulu, “Hunting JonBenét’s Killer: The Untold Story” explora uno de los casos
más desconcertantes e inquietantes del mundo.
Muchos de estos programas producidos por plataformas parecen tener objetivos divididos,

debatiéndose entre honrar una vida truncada demasiado pronto y crear una pieza de
contenido lucrativa que domine la esfera de la transmisión y las redes sociales. La serie
“Monster” de Netflix fue objeto de críticas masivas tras su inmensamente popular estreno
en el 2022, debido a la representación insensible que hizo de las víctimas del infame
asesino Jeffrey Dahmer. La serie exploró ángulos más profundos de la vida de Dahmer,
ofreciendo en ocasiones una perspectiva casi compasiva, según algunos espectadores. El
principal reproche dirigido contra la serie es que ninguna de las familias de las víctimas
dio su consentimiento para su estreno; de hecho, expresaron un profundo malestar y
decepción al respecto. Algunos han argumentado que, en su segunda mitad, la serie
reorientó su enfoque hacia las víctimas, demostrando así su decencia y la conciencia
necesaria para abordar una historia de tal sensibilidad. Personalmente, nunca llegué a
adentrarme en “Monster” — a pesar de ser un aficionado al crimen real, tema que
abordaremos más adelante — pues tuve noticia de su narrativa irrespetuosa y no sentí que
me estuviera perdiendo nada.
La historia de Gabby Petito fue tratada con mayor delicadeza, probablemente debido a su
reciente actualidad y a los abusos que ella sufrió. El caso suscitó una ola de indignación en
las redes sociales tras la desaparición de Petito en el 2021. Finalmente, su cuerpo fue
hallado cerca del Parque Nacional Grand Teton, y su muerte fue calificada como
homicidio, confirmándose que el responsable fue su novio, Brian Laundrie. El caso generó
una cobertura mediática tan intensa que no resulta sorprendente que Netflix interviniera,
narrando la historia de principio a fin y detallando el proceso de resolución del crimen. No
obstante, la sinopsis oficial de la serie sigue resultando algo insensible, al afirmar, “¿Qué
ocurrió en los últimos días de la vida de Gabby Petito? En esta apasionante serie de
crimenes reales, sus seres queridos revelan la historia jamás contada de su trágico
asesinato” — un enfoque que dista mucho de ser el más respetuoso y consciente.
El gigante de la transmisión Peacock llevó el género del crimen real a otro nivel al publicar
el documental de la presunta asesina Casey Anthony — una decisión sumamente
controvertida que ha dividido a la audiencia. La hija de Casey Anthony, Caylee, tenía casi
cuatro años en el 2008 cuando se hallaron sus restos cerca de la residencia de la familia
Anthony, después de que su abuela, Cindy Anthony, denunciara su desaparición.
El estado de Florida solicitó la pena de muerte contra Casey Anthony, convencido de que
ella era la culpable del homicidio de Caylee. En el 2011, un jurado la declaró no culpable
del cargo de asesinato, pero sí de cuatro delitos menores por haber proporcionado
información falsa a la policía. Avanzando hasta 2022, Casey estrenó su documental,
“Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies,” dando un giro a la narrativa en una serie
exclusiva de tres partes producida por Peacock.
Se me escapa el motivo por el cual Peacock decidiría dar difusión a la historia de Casey
para presentar su defensa, especialmente si se tiene en cuenta las críticas públicas a las que
se ha enfrentado año tras año desde la muerte de su hija. La comunidad del crimen real ha
arremetido duramente contra Casey durante casi una década por mentir sobre su hija, por
haber sido sorprendida de fiesta después de que se denunciara la desaparición de la niña y,
posteriormente, por culpar a su propia familia de lo sucedido a Caylee, eximiéndose así de

toda responsabilidad personal. Claro está, publicar la fantasiosa versión de una presunta
asesina generaría un sinfín de visualizaciones — ahí reside el móvil de Peacock, o al
menos eso supongo.
Existe una fascinación de larga data entre las personas y los asesinatos. En mi hogar, mi
madre solía poner la serie “NCIS” en los tres televisores de la casa para no perderse ni un
solo minuto, sin importar en qué lugar de la casa se encontrara. Mi padre poseía todas las
temporadas de “Dexter” en DVD y solía quedarse dormido escuchándolas habitualmente.
Por ello, no resulta demasiado sorprendente que yo también haya terminado adentrándome
en el mundo del crimen real, aunque a través de un medio diferente: los pódcast sobre
crímenes reales.
Según la Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Chapel Hill, las personas se sienten atraídas
por explorar el género de crímenes reales debido a la curiosidad. Los motivos de un
asesino resultan incomprensibles; sin embargo, la posibilidad simultánea de resolver o de
ser testigo de la resolución de un caso trágico genera una especie de subidón emocional.
En un principio, los periódicos sensacionalizaron el crimen, antes de ceder el testigo al
contenido audiovisual, como los documentales de Netflix o los pódcast de YouTube.
Otros pueden recurrir al crimen real para presenciar cómo el martillo de la justicia cae con
contundencia sobre aquellos que lo merecen, satisfaciendo así lo que los espectadores
desean ver. En términos generales, se trata de entretenimiento, escapismo y narrativa, una
trampa eficaz para mantener a los espectadores enganchados hasta el final. Desde una
perspectiva científica, se ha comparado con las casas embrujadas y las montañas rusas —
situaciones en las que se afronta un peligro ficticio de una forma u otra.
No obstante, en el mundo del crimen real existen, indudablemente, dilemas éticos. Los
intentos controvertidos y puramente lucrativos de producir documentales y recreaciones de
los hechos reavivan un debate moral de larga data que carece de una solución definitiva.
¿Convierte a alguien en una mala persona el hecho de encontrar entretenida una serie
como “Monster” aun cuando siga empatizando con las víctimas y sus familias? ¿Debería el
foro público del entretenimiento moderno ser un terreno vedado para abordar temas
sensibles de la vida real? ¿Dónde trazamos la línea divisoria? ¿Y quién decide, en última
instancia, dónde se sitúa dicha línea?
Existe un debate muy real y necesario sobre la creciente insensibilidad de nuestra sociedad
ante actos y temas de tal violencia, así como otro debate acerca de si estamos obligando a
ciertas personas a revivir sus traumas a través de las producciones mediáticas.
Hoy en día, no hay respuesta; no hay nadie que distinga lo que está bien de lo que está
mal. Entre los culpables a los que podemos culpar con total certeza se encuentran la
codicia corporativa — basta con mirar a los servicios de transmisión, y muy
especialmente, en mi opinión, a Peacock — y las técnicas puramente mercantilistas que
buscan conseguir visualizaciones por encima de cualquier otra cosa.
Por ello, no suelo ver muchos documentales producidos profesionalmente — en cambio, sí
que me deleito con los pódcast de crímenes reales. Un término que escucho a menudo es el
de “consumidor activo de crímenes reales,” el cual implica la comprensión de que el

contenido que se consume es sensible y tiene un impacto en la vida real. Fue a través de la
youtuber y podcaster Kendall Rae que escuché este término por primera vez, y siempre me
ha gustado su enfoque personal, en el que honra a las víctimas y aborda el camino hacia la
justicia.
“Murder With My Husband” es otro pódcast que escucho con bastante regularidad. En él
participan el matrimonio formado por Payton y Garrett Moreland donde ella narra un
guión sobre un crimen real, siguiendo los emocionantes giros y vueltas de una historia
trágica, al tiempo que respeta y honra la vida o las vidas que fueron arrebatadas. Un
aspecto interesante de este pódcast es el constante rechazo de Garrett Moreland hacia el
género del crimen real, así como sus reacciones de asombro a medida que él, junto con
nosotros los oyentes, descubre la verdad detrás de las historias. Un dato curioso e
innecesario: va a abrir una tienda de bagels y la idea me intriga muchísimo.
El YouTuber Wendigoon se centra más en la fantasía o el terror oscuro, pero
ocasionalmente incursiona en el crimen real, y cuando lo hace, el resultado es siempre
excelente. Otra YouTuber, BOZE vs. the WORLD, tiene una serie dedicada a las asesinas
femeninas — su estilo de producción es un poco más elaborado de lo que a mí me gusta,
pero soy una gran admiradora del resto de su contenido, así que de vez en cuando me doy
el gusto de verla.
Kendall Rae también tiene un pódcast junto a su marido titulado “Mile Higher,” en el que
sigue la misma dinámica que en su canal personal de explorar casos de crímenes reales y,
ocasionalmente, otros temas diversos.
El punto es: si el crimen real está en la televisión, sé consciente de su impacto. Participa en
este género adoptando una postura de consumidor activo y contribuye a él con respeto y
responsabilidad. Piensa de forma crítica y con empatía, pero no es necesario que sientas
vergüenza — ni que avergüences a los demás — por disfrutar del crimen real.
Contacta al autor en howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

Conciencia de la estantería: una lista de lectura

22 de octubre del 2025 | Belen Ponce Leal | Editora de Estilo de Vida

Como estudiantes universitarios, el tiempo no es algo de lo que dispongamos en
abundancia. Ya se trate de tareas académicas, clubes, deportes, trabajo o incluso
simplemente del cansancio general, todos tenemos cosas que hacer durante nuestra
estancia en Western. Sin embargo, todo el mundo necesita un descanso de la lectura de ese
grueso libro de texto que descansa sobre la mesa. Si el tiempo lo permite, recomiendo leer
literatura de preferencia propia durante al menos una hora al día. En caso de que la
inmensa cantidad de libros disponibles en el mercado resulte abrumadora, he recopilado
una lista a continuación para cualquier persona interesada.
“For Whom the Belle Tolls” de Jaysea Lynn (Adulto) — Lily no es el tipo de persona
que se queda de brazos cruzados. Así que, cuando su diagnóstico de cáncer y su situación
económica le hacen ver que no podrá dar mucha batalla, se resigna a prepararse para la
muerte. Sin embargo, cuando esta llega, resulta ser mucho más fantástica de lo que ella
jamás hubiera imaginado. El Más Allá es inmenso, con multitud de rincones y criaturas
diferentes. A pesar de haber crecido aterrorizada ante la idea, se siente extrañamente
atraída hacia el Infierno. Al percatarse de la gran cantidad de almas que desbordan a los
demonios que allí trabajan, se ofrece a gestionar un mostrador de ayuda infernal — el
juego de palabras es intencionado. Años de experiencia en atención al cliente la han
preparado para esto, pero este trabajo tiene una ventaja: ahora puede contestar a los
clientes. Repleta de juegos de palabras, humor y un toque de romance demoníaco, Lily

está decidida a insuflar vida al Más Allá.
Advertencia de contenido: este libro contiene temas para adultos, pensamientos suicidas,
contenido sexual, abuso sexual, abuso, abuso en el sistema de acogida, violencia
doméstica, trauma religioso y descripciones explícitas.
“Malice” de Heather Walter (Adulto) — La historia de este libro constituye una especie
de giro o reinterpretación del cuento de La Bella Durmiente. El reino de Briar posee una
larga historia ligada a la magia. Unos seres mágicos, conocidos como las Graces, pueden
otorgar diversas formas de magia a aquellos que estén dispuestos a pagar por los hechizos.
La trama del libro gira en torno a Alyce, la Grace oscura. En el reino de Briar, se la
considera una paria y la fuente de la maldición que acabará con la vida de la princesa
Aurora, a menos que ésta encuentre a tiempo a la persona capaz de romperla. Sin embargo,
Aurora no la trata como al monstruo que, según se cree, es Alyce. Con elementos de
fantasía, tragedia, magia y pasión, Malice y su secuela Misrule narran la historia de estas
dos mujeres que quedarán unidas la una a la otra para siempre.
Advertencia de contenido: este libro contiene contenido sexual y descripciones
potencialmente explícitas.
“The Falling Between Us” de Ash Parsons (Jóven) — El estrellato puede ser tanto una
bendición como una maldición. Esto es algo que Roxanne Stewart aprende al ver cómo su
novio, Joshua Blackbird, es catapultado de la noche a la mañana al mundo de la fama y las
celebridades. Si bien el dinero y la fama resultan fascinantes, no pasa mucho tiempo antes
de que se den cuenta del alto precio que conlleva ser famoso. Los constantes paparazzi, los
mánagers que traspasan los límites, los fans obsesivos e incluso los propios familiares se
aferran a Joshua. Entonces, la famosa estrella desaparece repentinamente en plena noche, y
su cuerpo nunca es recuperado. Nadie sabe si se trató de un asesinato, un accidente o un
suicidio; sin embargo, Roxanne está decidida a averiguar qué fue lo que le sucedió.
Advertencia de contenido: este libro aborda temas relacionados con las drogas, el trauma,
el suicidio y los pensamientos suicidas.
“Bird by Bird” de Anne Lamott (Jóvenes+) — Escrito por Anne Lamott, autora más
vendida según el New York Times, “Bird by Bird” es un libro cuyo objetivo es ayudar a
los lectores a mejorar sus habilidades de escritura, un conocimiento que ella misma
adquirió de su padre, quien también era escritor. Las reflexiones de Lamott abarcan desde
la oferta de consejos prácticos para aceptar las críticas sobre el propio trabajo, hasta el
relato de aquella ocasión en la que, tras emborracharse por completo, le gritó a su editora
por no haber reconocido la gran calidad del libro que había escrito. El libro constituye una
mezcla de consejos para convertirse en un mejor escritor, recomendaciones sobre estilo de
vida e incluso meras confesiones personales. Si bien esta obra podría estar dirigida más
específicamente a estudiantes de Inglés, cualquier persona interesada en leer un libro
ingenioso, que además ofrece información valiosa para perfeccionar la escritura, una
habilidad indispensable para todo estudiante universitario, lo disfrutará enormemente.
Recomiendo este libro encarecidamente.
“Maybe One Day” de Melissa Kantor (Jóvenes+) — Zoe y Olivia son mejores amigas.

Ambas son talentosas bailarinas de ballet, pero, lamentablemente, fueron expulsadas de su
escuela de danza. Sin embargo, este incidente termina siendo el menor de los problemas de
Olivia cuando lo que parecía ser un simple “resfriado” resulta ser, en realidad, una forma
agresiva de leucemia. Zoe está decidida a acompañar a Olivia durante el arduo tratamiento,
manteniendo una actitud valiente y optimista aun cuando, en su interior, se siente
completamente aterrorizada. A pesar de los altibajos, como el hecho de que Zoe comience
a enamorarse de Calvin, el chico que le gusta a Olivia, Zoe se mantiene firme en su
decisión de seguir adelante, con la certeza de que todo volverá a la normalidad una vez que
Olivia logre sobrevivir; pues la sola idea de que ocurra lo contrario resulta demasiado
aterradora como para siquiera contemplarla.
Advertencia de contenido: este libro es deprimente. Queda hecha la advertencia.
“Maus” de Art Spiegelman (Jóvenes+) — Esta novela gráfica retrata la tensa relación
entre el autor, conocido como Artie en el cómic, y su anciano padre Vladek, un judío
superviviente del Holocausto. La historia se divide en dos marcos narrativos distintos, uno
muestra a Artie y a su padre conversando en el presente, y el otro ilustra los
acontecimientos tal como Vladek los relata. Gracias a su estilo artístico visceral, en el que
los judíos son representados como ratones y los nazis como gatos amenazantes, y a la
tragedia inherente a tan terribles sucesos históricos, este libro logra retratar de manera
escalofriante los horrores vividos por el pueblo judío durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
La obra cuenta con una secuela que también recomiendo encarecidamente, ya que
completa la historia en su totalidad.
Advertencia de contenido: este libro aborda temas como la Segunda Guerra Mundial, el
Holocausto, la tortura, la violencia explícita, la muerte, el suicidio y el racismo.
“Things Fall Apart” de Chinua Achebe (Jóvenes+) — “Things Fall Apart” es una
narrativa clásica que explora los efectos del colonialismo en las pequeñas y remotas aldeas
de África. La novela sigue los pasos de Okonkwo, un guerrero Igbo ficticio de Umuofia,
célebre por ser uno de los guerreros más poderosos, honorables y viriles de toda la aldea.
A medida que el lector avanza en la historia, los efectos del colonialismo comienzan a
manifestarse en la segunda mitad del libro. La situación escala rápidamente a medida que
Okonkwo lidia con la idea de que las tradiciones con las que creció se están perdiendo
paulatinamente ante la irrupción de un nuevo poder político y religioso que empieza a
ejercer su influencia sobre su pueblo.
Elaborar esta lista resultó ser más difícil de lo que imaginaba. Los libros son una de mis
pasiones favoritas en el mundo. Me encanta sumergirme por completo en las historias que
leo, ya se trate de un manual informativo sobre técnicas de escritura, de una novela gráfica
que retrata una de las épocas más sombrías de la historia de la humanidad o de un romance
demoníaco cargado de erotismo; siempre disfruto de una buena lectura. Espero que esta
lista sirva, al menos, para tentar a alguien a leer algo que no sea un libro de texto.
Contacta al autor en howllifestyle@wou.edu

Estudiantes protestan en Salem

28 de enero del 2026 | Hannah Field | Jefa de Editacion

El lunes 19 de enero — Día de Martin Luther King Jr. — cientos de personas acudieron al
Capitolio Estatal de Oregón, donde un grupo de estudiantes de Western se unió a las
protestas.
La manifestación se realizó para mostrar solidaridad con la comunidad inmigrante, así
como para protestar contra el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados
Unidos y la administración Trump. Exigiendo una reforma migratoria, los manifestantes
también se inspiraron en gran medida en la misión de Martin Luther King Jr. de establecer
la igualdad y la resistencia pacífica.
Los participantes y organizadores del evento discutieron la situación política actual de
Estados Unidos, señalando que los estudiantes y las familias experimentan mucho temor
debido a las medidas represivas contra la inmigración.
La policía de Salem reportó alrededor de 400 asistentes a la manifestación. Un incidente
relacionado con el uso ilegal de gas pimienta resultó en la detención de un hombre, pero
aún no se han revelado nombres ni más detalles.
Uno de los aproximadamente 20 contramanifestantes, Thomas Allen, de 36 años, estuvo
presente en la manifestación de forma similar a su controvertida aparición en Western el 3
de diciembre de 2025, blandiendo un micrófono, una cámara y artículos a favor de Trump.
Al final del semestre de otoño, Allen apareció en el campus mientras transmitía en vivo en
múltiples plataformas y fue grabado usando insultos raciales y amenazando a los
estudiantes con que serían deportados por ICE.
El estudiante de Western, Jacob Prater, dijo, “Quería asistir para demostrar que la unión
nos da fuerza y para impulsar una mayor resistencia a nivel estatal contra ICE en Oregón.
Superamos ampliamente en número a los contramanifestantes y somos la mayoría.”

Uno de los objetivos de la manifestación es impulsar un paquete de medidas para los
derechos de los inmigrantes. Las familias afectadas por las medidas migratorias recibirían
mayores protecciones y apoyo financiero.
La manifestación se produjo tras el aumento de la presencia de ICE, así como del aumento
de la tensión en todo el país tras los tiroteos de Alex Pretti y Renee Good. En Albany,
María Trinidad Loya Medina, una madre, fue secuestrada el 10 de enero por ICE en el
estacionamiento de Big Five después de ir de compras, dejando a su hijo pequeño en el
auto. Su GoFundMe indicó que agentes federales rompieron la ventanilla del conductor
para “agarrarla.” No tenía antecedentes penales y fue llevada al Centro de Procesamiento
de ICE del Noroeste en Tacoma, Washington. Según fuentes cercanas a la familia, podría
ser liberada el próximo mes.
Contacta al autor en howleditorinchief@wou.edu

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Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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