Mount Hood

Neuroscience

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

A new neuroscience minor is being offered for students at Western, with the college joining universities such as Portland State University and Linfield University which both have impressive neuroscience programs available. 

A meeting of Western’s board of trustees was held Aug. 9, 2024, where the request for a neuroscience minor was discussed. According to the meeting docket, “The study of neuroscience provides students the opportunity to apply interdisciplinary knowledge in order to have a better understanding of the behavior of both human and non-human animals.”

The learning objectives are to, firstly, “understand the fundamental disciplinary content and concepts in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neuropsychology,” secondly, “Connect the structure and function of the nervous system to topics such as human behavior, non-human animal behavior, neuropharmacology, sensory and perception processes and neurological disorders” and, thirdly, “apply the appropriate experimental and analytical methods to current issues in neuroscience.” 

The program would require students to take 25–28 credits in select biology and psychology courses. Depending on their major, students will be required to take two foundational courses in either biology or psychology. If students who are not biology or psychology majors choose to minor in neuroscience, they may have to take all four foundational courses since they are prerequisites for many required classes. Students will also choose eight credits worth of core electives and 9–12 credits of additional electives. 

The neuroscience minor is hoped to be advantageous for Western and its students by appealing to more potential students who are interested in the program and by giving existing students more variety to their academic experience. There is a growing field of mental health professionals, and studying neuroscience could help students who plan to make a career in mental health.

For biology majors who will possibly go into healthcare, the minor will “provide these students the opportunity to combine their elective courses into a coherent curricular structure that will further their understanding of human health and behavioral issues and could make them more competitive when applying to post-baccalaureate programs,” according to the meeting docket.

Psychology majors will also have the option of amalgamating their electives into a well-organized minor that could “help further (students’) understanding of the biological basis of their primary field of study.” 

The board of trustees’ decision was unanimous, and in summer 2024 the minor was added to Western’s catalog and Degree Tracks.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Meet Trey Vincent

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

If you have seen someone dancing down the streets of Monmouth wearing a pair of iconic sunglasses, it’s most likely been 20-year-old Trey Vincent. He has lived in Monmouth for about 13 years and will find any excuse to show off his moves around town. Even though he is not a student, he may still be found dancing down the sidewalks of Western’s campus. When asked if he was enrolled, he replied, “No, I just like walking around all the time.” 

“I absolutely love listening to my music, and I also like dancing,” said Vincent. “There’s a perfectly good road ahead of me. Why not dance and listen to music?”

Specifically, Vincent prefers tunes from anywhere between the 1940’s and 1990’s. Most recently, Vincent had “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” by Dean Martin on loop. “(Dean Martin) is called the ‘King of Cool,’” said Vincent. The song was released in July 1960 and was originally written for the film “Ocean’s 11.” 

“Also, I’ve been listening to ‘From Russia with Love’ by Matt Monro. It’s one of the James Bond theme songs, and I’ve been watching the Sean Connery Bond films,” said Vincent.

Although his favorite songs are not from this century, he does branch out occasionally.

“My friends have been trying to get me into Sabrina Carpenter and I’m not going to lie, for a modern performer, she does pretty good,” said Vincent. Although it may be a bit controversial, he admitted to not being a fan of Taylor Swift.

Although the weather has been less than ideal recently for those who love the outdoors and the sun, Vincent can still occasionally be spotted frolicking down a sidewalk. 

“Sometimes I’m just not in the mood to dance in the rain. But there are some times I have all this pent-up energy and I just gotta head down (a road).”

No matter what — rain or shine — Vincent can always be spotted wearing a pair of sunglasses. It’s the one item he can’t live without, and he owns fourteen pairs. 

At heart, Vincent is an extrovert. He loves meeting, starting conversations and sharing his music with new people. 

He is currently working at a police academy in Salem, Oregon, as a roleplayer. He acts out scenarios with the cops-in-training, such as pretending to get arrested or being in a high-speed chase. He also occasionally acts out behavioral health scenarios for practice. “Apparently I’m very believable,” said Vincent. 

He’s been working as a roleplayer since March 2023. “They post notices every few months. For me, it was in January of last year, and then I got the job in March. They also do another hiring process in October,” he said.

In his spare time, Vincent loves to do karate. He first joined mainly to make new friends, however, he was also influenced by the TV show “Cobra Kai,” a modern continuation of the “Karate Kid” movies. 

In school, Vincent’s least favorite subject was math, with his favorite subject being P.E.

“I never got a chance to do acting in high school … so P.E. was my favorite by default.” He does hope to do more acting in the future, inspired by his favorite actor, Robert Downey Jr. 

Despite not being fond of math, he loves learning new things. “I would like to build up as many skills as possible and learn as many languages as I can before I turn 25,” said Vincent. “Apparently the more languages you learn before 25, the more languages you can easily comprehend and have at your disposal later in life.” He is already fluent in American Sign Language, knows a small amount of German and is teaching himself Spanish. 

“(Learning Spanish is) not that easy, because all I have is a book and no one to practice with,” said Vincent. 

Another thing he has learned is how to be patient. “(I’m proud I was) able to build my patience. It isn’t naturally one of my strong suits,” said Vincent. 

He has many goals for the future, including his main goal of acting in films. He plans to build as many skills as he can before he turns 25, on top of his language learning goal. He also wants to get his barber’s certification and become a film hairstylist, before he eventually becomes an actor himself — leaving the future bright for Western’s “Dancing Dude.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Why you should try “Grey’s Anatomy”

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Content warning: this article contains spoilers and discusses fictitious violence

Season 20 of “Grey’s Anatomy” was released to Netflix June 29, 2024, featuring ten episodes on top of its already prominent 430, spanning from 2005 to the present. Since premiering, “Grey’s Anatomy” has been nominated for 39 Emmys, won a Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series and a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Drama, inspired two spin-off shows and hit an all-time audience record of 37.88 million viewers for episode 16 of season two.
The show has gone on so long that most of the main cast has moved on, their characters being killed or written off, with even protagonist Ellen Pompeo — Meredith Grey — stepping back in the latest seasons.

Most credit the success of “Grey’s Anatomy” to Shonda Rhimes, founder of the production company Shondaland and creator of “Grey’s Anatomy.” Rhimes has become well known for her tendency to kill off characters in the most tragic ways possible, with more than nine notable recurring character deaths overall. In 2015, Rhimes left “Grey’s Anatomy,” but the calamity persists in her absence.

Meredith Grey survived not just a plane crash, a shooting, a physical assault, a bomb, drowning and COVID-19, but also managed to scrape by after a miscarriage, the death of her husband, multiple deaths of her friends, losing her parents and even going to jail in season 16 for — easy guess — insurance fraud.

The show has always incorporated real-world issues, mixing them with fictitious characters and applying a level of relatability for viewers to connect to. Characters struggle with infertility, lack of insurance, love triangles, affairs, religion, relationships, family, cancer and more. “Grey’s Anatomy” takes those issues to an extreme level, allowing for an eventful watch in any episode, and often mixes humor in with how the characters interact and work together.

Most iconic are the original five interns of Seattle Grace Hospital, Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Alex Karev, Izzie Stephens and George O’Malley, starting strong in season one until, one by one, the team falls apart through loss, separation and other work opportunities. Most viewers refer to the first few seasons of “Grey’s Anatomy” as the best, having great rewatchability and incredible banter.

Although this might be the case for many viewers, the later seasons add more flexibility and characters and the budget increases over time, allowing for incredible set design, new actors and new plots — meaning more riveting turmoil for “Grey’s Anatomy’s” most loveable characters.

At the end of the day, “Grey’s Anatomy” is an ideal show to watch when coping with something difficult — why? Because Meredith Grey will always be having a worse day.

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

Dance at Western

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Western’s dance team took to the field Nov. 2, during the halftime of a men’s rugby game. They danced to the song “7/11” by Beyoncé with a lively hip-hop routine that was choreographed by Vic Linne and Jo Bell, officers of the dance team. When the song finished, the dancers hit their final pose while the rugby crowd cheered. Each member of the team had a smile on their face as they waved to their audience and ran off the field. 

The dance team also performed at the football game Nov. 9. It was their last performance of the Fall term. They danced to a mash-up of different songs and showcased the four seniors on the team. The seniors being recognized were Anna Martinez, Jo Bell, Diana Gray and Crystal Robertson. Another senior, Vic Linne, was also recognized but didn’t perform at the football game.

Abbi Duhart, an English and dance double major and sophomore at Western, joined the dance team Fall term of 2023. 

“This is my sixth year of doing dance,” said Duhart. “I started when I was in eighth grade, but I did primarily ballet. It wasn’t until I got to college and I joined the dance team that I really branched out into hip-hop.”

Learning hip-hop pushed Duhart out of her comfort zone, but ultimately she was thankful she decided to audition for the team. “It was something I wouldn’t normally do, but … why wouldn’t I want to do something that might be fun or that I might be interested in?” 

During the start of each term, the rehearsals are mainly focused on learning different techniques. Further into the term, the team focuses on learning choreography for their dances. It gets especially busy Winter term during basketball season, where they perform at the home games.

“Sometimes it can even be learning more than one dance in a day,” said Duhart. “It can get stressful, but everyone is really supportive and there for you, especially the officers. It’s a really good community to be a part of, and it’s a lot of fun.”

The dances are mainly choreographed by the officers of the team. “The president probably does the most (choreography), but they all contribute to different dances. In basketball season, it sometimes also opens up to anyone on the team that wants to choreograph,” said Duhart. Students on the dance team can not only learn techniques and hip-hop dances, but they also can get the opportunity to try their hand at choreography. 

Auditions are held at the end of each term for students who are considering joining the dance team.

“(This Wednesday) is open practice. Anyone can come and practice with us for technique to get ready for winter tryouts, which are the following week.”

Auditions will be Nov. 18 and Nov. 20 from 5 – 7:30 p.m. in room 253 of the Health and Wellness Center. The team’s Instagram — @wou_danceteam — has a Google Form linked in their bio for students who are interested to fill out before auditions.

“I think people should audition if they have any inkling of being interested in dance and if they want to have fun with dance and learn new dance styles,” said Duhart. “Anyone can audition regardless of how you identify, how you look or your dance experience. Even if you’ve never danced in your life, you can audition. It’s open to anyone.” Auditions and rehearsals are both spaces that are always free of judgment. 

“Just go for it if you think you might be interested,” said Duhart. If students audition and make it onto the team, they have the option of not performing if they don’t want to. 

“It’s a good outlet for … getting away from school-related things,” said Duhart. She emphasized that the team is a great community, full of accepting and supportive people who want the best for every single member. 

If students want to support the dance team, they can show up to football, rugby and basketball games and cheer on the dancers during halftime. Another way to support the dance team is to buy tickets to their showcase Spring term of 2025. “(The showcase) is where we perform all the dances from the whole year to showcase them. It’s specifically for the dance team, so it really shows support when people go to see it,” said Duhart.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu 

First-gen week

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

The week of Nov. 4 – Nov. 8 was dedicated to Western’s first-generation students. Almost 50% of Western’s student population are first-generation college students. Each day of the week had events that were themed around different aspects of being a first-generation student. 

Monday’s theme was financial literacy and basic needs. There were events that taught students how to budget for groceries and meal prep and a financial literacy workshop hosted by Unitus Credit Union.

Tuesday was designated for mental health awareness. Students learned about mindfulness and self-care, wrote gratitude letters and unwound with arts and crafts.

Wednesday’s theme was about finding a support system by meeting new people and making connections. The first event was a meet and greet with first-generation Western employees, with yoga and meditation being offered shortly after. An escape room for first-generation students was put together in the Willamette Room of Werner University Center. That evening,there was a presentation about navigating college life. 

Thursday was centered around career readiness, with events that helped students be prepared for their future careers. Students could get free professional headshots taken. They could also prepare for the Fall Extravaganza, happening Nov. 13, by learning how to network, build a resume and succeed in an interview. Thursday’s theme also had the “Career Readiness Inventory” event and a panel of first-generation alumni.

Friday was the time for people to learn about and celebrate National First-Generation Day. The day started with the Experiential Learning Workshop with Mohammed Soriano-Bital. After the workshop concluded, a panel was held highlighting first-generation Western employees. The last event of the week was a lunch that was catered by Mi Casita Market. 

Along with organizing a first-generation week and celebrating National First-Generation Day, Western has also joined the Alpha Alpha Alpha, or Tri-Alpha, Honor Society. Tri-Alpha is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and celebrating first-generation students who are pursuing higher education. Moravian University in Pennsylvania founded Tri-Alpha in March of 2018. Over 150 universities in the U.S. have since made a Tri-Alpha chapter, but Western is the first public college in Oregon to join the organization. 

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Get involved

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Macy Clemens is the program assistant for marketing and virtual engagement. In Spring 2024, she graduated from Western with a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in marketing. On campus, Clemens promotes events and is passionate about encouraging students to participate in everything Western has to offer. Because of her interest, Clemens decided that Student Engagement was the perfect place for her.

One tool that Clemens hopes students take advantage of more often is Involve, which is a website that has lists of clubs, organizations and events on campus. 

“With Involve, students can explore everything happening at campus at any given time. It’s like a personal event calendar for all things at (Western), which I think is helpful,” said Clemens. “Involve offers some cool opportunities and it helps students to gain skills and build their networks.” Upcoming events on campus include the “FEM in STEM Speaker Series” Nov. 14 from 4 – 5:15 p.m., the “Show of Green” event Nov. 14 from 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. with a veteran’s breakfast the same day at 9 a.m. Additional information on those events and others can be found through Involve. 

“Involve can either be accessed through (your) portal, or you can download an app on your phone,” said Clemens. Students can connect the app to their Google calendar so they are notified when there is an event coming up. For many organizations and events, students can see more information and sign up directly on the Involve app or website. It also shows users how to contact many of the groups on campus.

“It’s more than an app though — It’s a way for students to find and build a community,” said Clemens. “Involve can help you get connected on campus. And it also helps make connections that extend beyond college.” 

Clemens knows that students may be nervous to try clubs or go to events that are new to them, however, she believes that the experiences students will gain from getting involved will be invaluable. 

“Branching out is what’s really important,” said Clemens. “Taking that first step and going to these different events is really helpful. You might realize it’s actually a lot better, even if (you were) nervous to branch out a little bit.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

KWOU

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

According to KWOU’s website, “KWOU is a student-run online radio station and has been the sound of (Western) since our humble beginnings in a closet at the Werner University Center in 2010.” Since then, KWOU has moved to Terry House, next to Public Campus Safety, to continue to “blast tunes” and grow their music library. At Terry House, KWOU has a “PAWDCAST” studio available for rent with professional broadcast equipment and soundproofing. Up to four people at once may use the studio.

KWOU has a radio station available for listening and is open for music recommendations. “The station exists to provide Western students, staff and faculty a chance to share their music and perspectives with the world online 24/7, 365,” said the KWOU website.

Molly Martinka, sophomore at Western, is station manager of KWOU for the 2024–2025 academic school year. “I do all of the behind the scenes work when you come in to use the podcast studio, I’m the one you’ll be communicating with in terms of reserving the studio and making sure that you’re all set up to record (for the PAWDCAST studio).”

On top of that, Martinka manages the scheduling if students are interested in DJing. She also oversees KWOU as a whole, making sure that anyone coming in to use equipment or get involved understands the rules so the whole process runs smoothly.

Martinka herself is in the music scene and devoted to KWOU’s mission. “I’m a singer-songwriter,” said Martinka. “I’ve just always loved music. I’ve grown up making it into a career for myself and I think radio is a big part of that, but there’s such a lack of radio right now. It’s very social media and streaming platform based, and I really think that student freedom of speech is very important.”

KWOU has an Instagram account as well as an email for contact — kwou@mail.wou.edu — as a means of getting connected and involved.

“I think there’s this idea that (KWOU) is an exclusive thing that you have to be a part of already, and that’s not the case at all,” said Martinka. “Any student can join, and any student can reach out and reserve the studio or become a DJ, or even if they just wanted to get involved and learn a little bit more about KWOU and Terry House.”

“We’re always looking for show hosts, music junkies, marketing-minded individuals, outcasts and anyone who can help make our station and our community a stronger, more connected one,” said the KWOU website.

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

Western falls short

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

Following an eventful homecoming week, Western students and fans were eager for the highlight of the weekend, the homecoming football game. The Western Wolves took on Texas A&M Kingsville in a high-stakes, much-anticipated match. With both teams entering with strong records — Wolves at 5-0 in conference play and Kingsmen at 3-2 — this game was set to be an exciting showdown that would test each team’s grit and endurance.
Jordan McCarty started the game off with a 6-yard run into the end zone, while freshman kicker Keaton Emmett finished it off with an extra point, adding a total of seven points to the scoreboard for the Wolves. It wasn’t long until the opposing offense responded though, as the Kingsmen followed up with a touchdown and extra point of their own.
Going into the second quarter, the score was tied at 7-7. Both teams were getting stops on the defensive end, but Andrew Simpson’s impressive interception midway through the quarter shifted momentum in the Wolves’ favor. Things were looking great for Western, as they continued to gain yards and attention from fans, but unfortunately, they weren’t able to capitalize off of Simpson’s play. The possessions continued to go back and forth, but the Kingsmen were able to score seven points right before halftime, making the score 7-14 in Texas A&M’s favor going into the half.
In an intense third quarter, the Wolves faced an uphill battle as their opponents widened the gap with a touchdown and extra point. This set the score to 7-21. However, a strong run from redshirt sophomore Jermaine Land revived the Wolves’ offense, putting them in position for a much-needed touchdown. Soon after, the Wolves struck, with a crucial touchdown pass and a successful kick to narrow the Kingsmen’s lead to just seven points. Their defense held strong, stopping the opposing offense and leaving the Wolves trailing 14-21 as they headed into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter started with a bang as the Wolves pulled off an impressive series of plays. A well-placed throw found senior wide receiver Damon Hickok, who made an acrobatic catch for a massive gain. Another pass to Hickok set the Wolves within 20 yards of the end zone. The next play, redshirt sophomore Kainoa Sayre had a strategic run, placing them only three yards from tying the game. Despite their efforts, a costly fumble on third down turned the possession over. Yet shortly after, the Wolves’ defense kept the dream alive, capped off by an outstanding interception from redshirt junior Daron Ulrich Jr. However, they couldn’t convert on their final chances, even after blocking a critical punt. Ultimately, Texas A&M ran out the clock, leaving the Wolves just shy of a comeback.
The Wolves — 5-3 overall, 5-1 Lone Star Conference — have a chance to redeem themselves next week as they travel to take on Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

Homecoming week

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

Every year for one week during the fall term, Western students come together to show off their school spirit. From Oct. 21 – 26, the campus was filled with many events, such as trivia games, a carnival and a dodgeball tournament. The week drew to a close with the homecoming football game Saturday, Oct. 26.

The week started with an event called “Paint the Town Red,” hosted by ASWOU. Many different clubs on campus were able to paint the windows of businesses on Main Street in Monmouth. Many clubs participated, including the Native and Indigenous Culture Club, Math Club, Public Health Club, ASL Club and M.E.Ch.A Club. 

On Monday evening, students gathered at Luna’s Café. They ordered drinks, socialized with their peers and got to use coffee to paint their canvases in aa relaxed and creative environment. This “Paint and Sip” event was hosted by Student Engagement. 

A trivia night was hosted Tuesday by the Residence Hall Association in the Summit in the Werner University Center — WUC. The theme for the event was “Under the Sea.” Students teamed up with each other to test their knowledge of ocean facts. There were snacks available for everyone and fun prizes for the winners, some students walking away with items such as a Squishmallow or a blanket. 

The Homecoming Carnival, hosted by Student Engagement, was Oct. 23 and occurred in the Grove. Students milled around the rows of carnival games and won prizes with others joining the long line to get a custom-made airbrushed hat or bag. Meanwhile, other students took full advantage of bounce houses propped up for their leisure. There was also cotton candy, shaved ice and popcorn available. Many people simply walked around and took in all of the sights. During the carnival, students also gathered to help re-paint Western’s emblem onto Church Street. 

“The Homecoming Carnival is one of my favorite traditions,” said Karina Barron, a videographer for the event. 

The club fair — Thursday, Oct. 24 in the WUC — was a great opportunity for students to learn about different organizations and clubs they could join. Tables and posters were set up all around the second floor of the WUC that showcased nearly all of the clubs and organizations that Western has to offer. Some clubs also advertised upcoming events that they were organizing. For instance, Student Veterans of America — SVA — promoted a display in the WUC from Nov. 1 – Nov. 14 of people who currently serve or have previously served in the military. Students can add their loved ones to the display by filling out the Google Form linked in the SVA’s Instagram account. ASWOU, who hosted the fair, helped encourage students to get involved on campus. 

Also in the WUC during the same time as the club fair was an event called “Stop Horsing Around: Cookies and the Code.” Students could pet a miniature horse and eat free Crumbl Cookies while learning about Western’s Code of Conduct. 

Abby’s House hosted a purple-out volleyball game Thursday, where fans showed up dressed in purple to support domestic violence awareness. It was a well-fought game with Western’s volleyball team winning 3–0 against Alaska Anchorage. 

A dodgeball tournament was held Friday in Old PE. The teams were random, and the winners got bragging rights and Wolfie keychains with different animals dressed in Western T-shirts.

Friday night, students gathered around a bonfire for a pep rally while Western’s cheerleaders performed their routines. Students enjoyed good music, the warmth of the bonfire, socialized and observed an energetic cheer performance. Even though it started raining, students still stayed to celebrate their school. Many people commented how the rain made the event even more memorable.

The football game Saturday, Oct. 26 was a lively event, despite the wet conditions. The tailgate before the game was filled with excitement and paired with free food. Before the game started, Western’s choir and band performed the national anthem and the alma mater. The cheers of students and fans could be heard all throughout campus. At halftime, Western’s dance team stepped into the spotlight to perform. Abbi Duhart, a sophomore and member of the dance team, said, “Dancing at the homecoming football game was so much fun, especially with the stands being so full. I love my team and the choreography the officers come up with is amazing.”

Homecoming royalty was also crowned during halftime of the football game. The three winners were Daryn Heim, Amari Hendrix and Malia Fernandez. The homecoming royalty are students who are chosen because they represent the values of Western. 

“Western is a great community and I love what they do for its students,” said Eli Mignano, a sophomore at Western.

Homecoming week was a great way for students to show off their pride in Western. “Having school spirit is important for students. It boosts morale and helps them feel more connected to other students,” said Mignano.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu  

Stephanie Juanillo exhibition

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

Stephanie Juanillo’s art display, “Entre Colores: Un Homenaje a la Vida y la Muerte (Between Colors: An Homage to Life and Death),” will be displayed in the Cannon Gallery in Campbell Hall until the end of October.

Featuring various acrylic paintings on canvas as well as an ofrenda — an altar in homage to Juanillo’s abuelito Berna, with candles, marigold flowers and a beautiful painting — the display puts on an equally powerful and beautiful message, honoring family and loved ones who have passed.

According to the Western calendar page, “Stephanie Juanilo’s exhibition … is a personal, bold and colorful exploration of the coexistence of grief and joy and how they both permeate the topics most important to her, such as migration, community, family, loss, distance and intergenerational healing.”

Juanillo, being a first-generation immigrant, utilizes “bold colors, patterns and textures (inspired by) Mexican iconography, Latinx music, past memories, people and nostalgia. The act of creating — whether it be painting, printmaking, collage or installation — serves as a way for Stephanie to stay connected to her Mexican roots.”

Juanillo’s Instagram, @color.obsessed, explores Juanillo’s relationship with art and projects current and past. One post features a painting on display in Cannon Gallery, with Juanillo captioning it: “Flowers have a deep cultural and emotional meaning in the immigrant community, I wanted to honor that as much as possible. This is dedicated to the physical and spiritual connection that many of us experience through nature. What a special way to stay connected to our native homes, family and traditions.”

Another post, featuring a collage piece centering around Juanillo’s abuelito Berna, states, “I wanted to emphasize and capture his joy for life. When I was in Mexico visiting my family, I was always greeted by him with a smile that eventually turned into laughter and then a warm hug. He showed me his plants and took pride in his love. Leaving Michoacán was really hard, but I carry the image of his warm smile and loving spirit in my memory always.”

In the center of the room, facing Berna’s ofrenda and the accompanying installation, a plaque with a typed letter from Stephanie Janillo read: 

“When my father left his home country, he kissed the earth and cried. Days turned into months, months into years, our new life in the U.S. began. Any and every object, song, smell, food that reminded my parents of home filled our house. Distance and borders, both physical and metaphorical, were met with an abundance of my mami’s cooking passed on from her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, soothing our neverending nostalgic void. Our garden, so meticulously cared for by my dad, became a refuge, a beautiful love for flowers and plants. I don’t know when the grief stops, the grief of not watching your parents grow old, of missing out on family celebrations and milestones. The grief of a friend or family member you were not able to say goodbye to and hug for the very last time. I don’t think it ever really stops or goes away because it is an extension of the love we still hold for a person, place and moment in time. So as each November approaches and we get closer to (Dia de los Muertos), I take the time to sit with these feelings. Marigolds decorate our altars and homes, a guide to help the spirit of those who have passed find their way back home. The souls of our loved ones return in the form of a monarch butterfly. Photographs and favorite foods of the dead adorn the ofrendas. Stories are shared, (life that was lived and is yet to live is celebrated and cries and laughter synchronize. I’m reminded that) to love and to be loved is a gift and one of the greatest honors we get to experience as humans. I’m reminded of the value, power and resilience of keeping traditions alive.

So I ask you, if you had to leave your home today, if you had to leave your family, friends and everything you’ve ever known and loved, what would help you stay connected? What memories would you preserve? What pictures would you decorate your new home with? How would you (spend your last week with those you love? What would you leave unsaid? What would become a) physical representation of your grief and longing? How would your definition of home change?

May this show be a love letter to my family and all of the immigrants who are forced to leave their homeland. Their story and their sacrifice are always with me and woven into every piece I make. (May this show be an invitation for you to love more intentionally, to celebrate life and sit) with whatever grief you are currently experiencing.”

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu.

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