Mount Hood

Living in the shadows

A photo of a child standing alone while a crowd of soldiers stare at them. | Photo from @35awards on Instagram

Jan. 21 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

The topic of mental health has been a controversial topic for some. Despite the progress that has been made with the depiction of it in movies and shows, there are many who have negative thoughts about those who have mental illnesses. There are a lot of negative stereotypes or beliefs about these disorders in the public eye. Whether it be certain cultures’ view on it or the spread of inaccurate information about various mental conditions, our health in the mind has always had a stigma surrounding it. 

Stigma is defined by Oxford Languages as “a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.” Stigma originates from a lack of understanding or fear of a subject. In the case of mental health, a lot of people do not understand it, leading to many misconceptions being spread about it. According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than half of people with a mental illness are not receiving help for their disorder. People actively avoid seeking treatment for their mental health due to stigma surrounding the subject that could make people around them treat them differently. Stigma, prejudice and discrimination against those with mental health issues could be subtle or obvious. An example would be having a get-together with friends, but excluding one of the friends who has told them that they suffer from a mental illness; another would be using derogatory labels on them, such as “psycho” or saying that they’re “crazy.”

There are three types of stigma that should be understood. First is public stigma — these are the negative attitudes that the public has about mental health, which leads to discriminatory thoughts for individuals who have them. Second, self-stigma is the destructive thoughts that someone who has a mental condition will have. This can lead to shame or suppression of their problems, which is self-destructive in both ways and will not aid the person in their situation. Finally, there is structural stigma, which is a systemic type of bias that involves policies in the government or other organizations that either intentionally or unintentionally place limits on people with mental illness on what they can and cannot do. An example of this would be unequal insurance coverage. Some insurance companies are more likely to cover physical injuries than treatments for mental health, like therapy or prescription medication. 

Recently, I was beginning to wonder why mental health is seen so terribly in the first place. I knew why, from a Hispanic background, as in many Latin American cultures, it is viewed as a sign of weakness. Many people who are part of this culture take pride in their ability to manage themselves and work for everything they have. So when someone admits to having an issue, they can be shamed for being unable to take care of themselves. In other cultures, it is viewed similarly. 

In Asian societies, mental illness is viewed as a sign of personal weakness or failure of maintaining self control. Saving face is significant in this culture, as honor is an incredibly valuable social aspect to have. Being associated with a mental illness in this culture could be seen as bringing shame to the family name. 

In Arab cultures, mental illnesses are viewed as a form of divine punishment. They are attributed to the person who suffers from the condition doing something to displease the higher power, which will not only bring them potential accusations of wrongdoing, but also stigmatization from their community. Those who struggle with this may also seek out religious or spiritual interventions to treat their illnesses. While it could work for some, it will not work for everyone. 

In African cultures, they ascribe spiritual or supernatural causes, such as possession by evil spirits, as the cause for mental conditions. There is also a historical context when considering that many African Americans were denied freedom on the basis of false mental illness diagnoses.

According to Mental Health America, a physician named Samuel Cartwright created racist and false mental diagnoses. The purpose of this was to create a reason not to let enslaved people be free, as they were seen as unable to take care of themselves. “Even in the early 1900s, leading psychiatrists thought Black and African American people to be ‘psychologically unfit’ for freedom.” Their trauma from being enslaved was used against them to keep them oppressed. 

Poor depictions of those who have mental illnesses have also spread harmful messages that people who suffer from various disorders are likely to have random bursts of violence or to be labeled as crazy. In reality, someone who has a condition is more likely to be victimized instead of being the cause of other people’s suffering. Mental illness has become overgeneralized, with many media portrayals showing the same kinds of things. A lot of the time, it is depicted as being an incurable condition that no one can recover from. Yet, according to the Centennial Mental Health Center, “as many as 80 percent of people suffering from mental illnesses can effectively return to normal, productive lives if they receive proper treatment.” 

On a more personal note, my family had never acknowledged mental health. It was never spoken about, never discussed. It was a completely foreign concept in my very old-school, very Hispanic household. So, when I began having issues with my psychological well-being, I was told that it was all in my head and that I needed to stop feeling sad. I wish it were that easy. Naturally, I was starting to act out as a preteen and my mother decided to send me to counseling. She wanted to know why I was such an angry kid. Eventually, I was diagnosed with depression. I then became the topic of my aunt’s gossip. 

A lot of the time, the stigma itself is worse than the actual illness. I certainly feel that way. Those who suffer from mental health issues only want to be seen as a person, not a nutcase or a weak individual. Struggling with the condition itself is difficult and the stigma only makes people feel more isolated. So, when meeting or becoming friends with someone who has a condition — don’t be quick to judge.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

A literature nerd’s dream game

An image of the cover art of the game “Tiny Bookshop.” | Photo from @neoludic on Instagram

Jan. 21 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

I love cozy games. Cozy games are known for being the types of games that are designed to be relaxing and non-combative. They are designed to be brightly colored with activities that range from organization to puzzle solving to decoration. Some can have combat, though it is typically simplistic. However, I believe that the main purpose of this genre is falling in love with the game’s world, having the player express themselves in their own unique way with customization and learning about the colorful characters these games have to offer. Games such as “Animal Crossing,” “Stardew Valley,” “Slime Rancher” and “Unpacking” are all very well known for being enjoyable, cozy games. 

One game that deserves much more attention is a little game called “Tiny Bookshop.” Released in 2025 and developed by Neoludic Games, “Tiny Bookshop” is a game where the player leaves their old life behind to move to a coastal town known as Bookstonbury to run a traveling second-hand bookshop. After playing the demo and quickly falling in love with the game, I bought the full version and spent most of winter break playing through the game, even completing the main story. 

Gameplay — The game consists of the player moving around various locations to sell books. The player will start out with only one shelf that holds a certain number of books, and it is their job to stock the shelves. The books are color-coded, with each color being a different genre. Different locations will prioritize different types of literature, so it’s important to keep that in mind. Once on location, the player opens the shop, and customers will come inside to browse the selection. When recommendation requests pop up, the player gets the opportunity to look at the books stocked on the shelf. Each book will have the title, author and a brief description of the story. The customer will tell the player what kind of book they are looking for, and it’s the player’s job to find the closest book possible to that description. If successful, more customers will come in and buy more of the stock. If the interaction fails, nothing really happens aside from the customer leaving immediately. 

Customization — For anyone who really enjoys customization, “Tiny Bookshop” has incredible options for making the bookshop ideal for each player. The shop is able to be painted in various colors from the start, with more available for purchase later on in the game. Some of the decorations that are bought can also be painted in custom colors, such as the bookshelves. There are many different types of furniture available to buy with the in-game currency the player receives from selling books. Certain items can be gained from the characters in the town as they are befriended, with most of the items having boosts for certain genres of books, as well as some types of customers. For example, during the fish market, the player will receive a major boost in sailor customers if their shop is decorated with beach or sea decor. If it isn’t, the customers will avoid the bookshop due to the player’s “lack of taste.” There is also a coffee machine that increases the number of customers on rainy days. It also generates more revenue, so I strongly recommend getting it. 

Lovable characters — The first character we meet is Tilde, who is the retired bookshop owner of Bookstonbury. She teaches the player the ropes of running the shop at the beginning of the game and is very well known throughout the town as a gentle woman with a big heart. 

Shortly after meeting her, we meet Fern, who is the town journalist. They are a bit shy and awkward around the player, but they quickly warm up and even ask for their help at times. 

Walt is next, known as the town’s retired sailor who is generally more reserved but kind. He’s incredibly antagonistic toward the cruise ship that will occasionally visit the town. Once the player’s friendship increases with him, he will be able to invite them to the fishing market that happens on certain days of the month. 

Maryam is next and, quite honestly, I didn’t like her as much at first. She’s the owner of a cafe and a very straightforward, no-nonsense character who will voice her opinion in a rather blunt way. However, as the player gets to know her and sees the relationship she has with Tilde, there is a soft spot to her harsh exterior. 

Moira is Maryam’s niece. She’s a very nonchalant character who, similar to her aunt, is a bit stubborn. She and her aunt can fight at times, but both of them think very highly of the other. She’s a goth queen who is into the supernatural and enjoys a good horror book. She also has a rock band where she plays guitar. 

Harper is a child who comes frequently to the bookshop. She is a very smart kid and incredibly persuasive. This child was capable of convincing other children to construct a massive sand castle on the beach that was multi-leveled and needed a construction crew, while having the player fund it all. Harper has quite the leadership skills. 

Klaus is a character who works at the Méga Marché, which is basically this town’s version of a cheap supermarket. He is also part of Moira’s band, playing guitar and being a singer, as well as Harper’s uncle. 

Anne is a university student who enjoys plants and will often sell them at the flea market. She is immediately very sweet toward the player and gives them a lot of plants. Anne enjoys romance and fantasy while completely hating nonfiction books, so I like to think she is basically me. 

Overall, “Tiny Bookshop” has had me in a chokehold since I bought it. With its engaging gameplay, expansive customization and compelling characters, there was so much that made me want to keep coming back to play it so many times. The artstyle is also very appealing, giving a sort of cartoon comic vibe while the music is relaxing. I strongly recommend this game to anyone who considers themselves a connoisseur of cozy games. It’s available on Steam and on the Nintendo Switch. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Giving Day

A photo of Western’s 2026 Giving Day logo. | Photo courtesy of Dave Beasley

Jan. 21 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Giving Day — most often taking place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving — is a large 24-hour fundraising event, though many universities do their own Giving Day in the winter or spring. Western’s Giving Day this year will take place the first Tuesday of April, April 7. The date has been moved later than usual this year because in previous years it took place during week nine of Winter term, a time when many students and staff were too busy to participate.

Western’s Giving Day is a crowdfunding day where participating clubs, organizations, teams and departments at Western ask people across the university and beyond to give funds to the university and its organizations.

Any club or organization at Western can choose to participate and raise funds. Those that want to can fill out a Google Form sent in an all-student email from Dave Beasley. Once they do, they will get their own webpage on Western’s Giving Day website that features photos and a description of their organization with a button for donors to donate. 

New this year, participating organizations and clubs will have to pick at least two “influencers” — essentially representatives — to attend a training. The designated influencers will also receive a special link specifically for them that they can share to whomever they want. The link will go straight to the website for their organization. Influencers can use this link to send to potential donors through means of text, email, social media and others. The hope from WOU Foundation — the organizers of the event — is that influencers will be those who are most active on Giving Day to raise funds.

The training that influencers will attend is expected to last about 30-45 minutes, and six different training sessions will be offered to account for different availability. Each session will be the same, so influencers can choose to attend the one that fits best with their schedule. The training will consist of how to go about asking people to donate, and example scripts will be shared, as well as potential ideas for posting on social media. There are also many online features through the website that influencers will be made aware of. Those who attend the training will receive a free T-shirt.

This year, participating clubs and organizations will also be required to make a short video to post on their webpage and provide to donors. The Foundation found that in previous years, groups that were more involved raised more funds, so a large goal this year is to get groups to participate more actively. This video should be 30-45 seconds and should explain why donors should give to that organization in a creative way. A big goal for the video is also to include as many different people from the organization as possible. 

“Everybody wants to see their grandson or granddaughter or their niece or their nephew in the video, right?” explained Dave Beasley, director of development, annual giving & sponsorships. Family members and friends may be more likely to donate to an organization if they see a person they know in the video, even if it’s just a wide shot of everyone at the end. There will also be an optional training for influencers to attend on tips and tricks for making a video.

Anyone can be a donor, and donations can consist of any amount. “We’re grateful for every single gift we get,” Beasley added. However, donor intent rules all — meaning the donor picks where they want their money to go. If they make a general donation to the club or organization, the members can use the funds in whatever way that helps them. If the donor specifies what they want the funds to be used for, the organization has to follow that. For example, if a donation was made to a club for a club scholarship they offer, the funds would have to be used for the scholarship. 

The way in which donations are made was optimized specifically for mobile devices this year. At the bottom of the website, there will be a red gift button where donors can fill out their information and make a gift. In previous years, the only way to pay was through credit card, but this year, donors can use credit cards, ACH transfers, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Cash App. Additionally, donors have the option now to do recurring gifts with a credit card. Donors can also still write checks and send them through the mail.

In past years, WOU Foundation had a dollar goal for Giving Day, but this year, they have a donor goal, meaning they want to get as many donors as possible. Beasley explained, “What we’re really trying to do with Giving Day is to bring new donors to the university, whether that’s alums, whether that’s people who are new parents to the university, or newly aware of the university, or newly in partnership with us or whatever it is.” Additionally, they will send out letters to previous donors to advertise for Giving Day again.

The Foundation is also working on “the big gift” this year. In other words, they are working with larger donors — those that donate thousands — to secure commitments of large sums of money that will be donated to the university if Western receives 500 donors. Any amount of donation counts as a donor in order to work toward receiving that “big gift.” The hope is that the challenge will also help clubs and organizations advertise to donors — if they donate to the organization, they also help the university work toward this sizable contribution.

Community service will also be added to Giving Day this year. WOU Foundation and everyone who participates understands that Giving Day is asking a lot from the community, and they hope that they can give back in this way. They will be highlighting service projects they’ve participated in throughout the year and will have services happening day-of, such as a blood drive in the Werner University Center and a mini-golf course in the library. The golf course will be built by members, and to play there will be some sort of requirement, such as making a post on social media about Giving Day.

There will be a prize for the student who raises the most money, as well as a prize for the student who receives the most donors.

Beasley added that he understands it can be hard to ask people for money, but to try not to worry about it because it’s a good opportunity to raise funds for a good cause. “People do care about you. They do want to support what you’re doing. And those can all be great motivations to give, but people give because somebody asks them to.”

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

The bridge to student success

A photo of a cherry blossom tree at Western. | Photo from @woustudents on instagram

Jan. 21 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

Last Fall term, I ran into an issue with a professor that others may relate to regarding an overwhelming lack of support for students. During week 10 of the term, my friend experienced an unforeseen health circumstance out of the blue that left her with difficulties in completing an assignment. Her circumstance was extreme enough that it seemed it qualified for an extension, and being that she turned in everything else throughout the term on time, she asked the professor for one. The assignment was due on a Friday and she asked for a two-day extension, making it due on Sunday. This appeared to be very reasonable considering what she was going through, yet, the response she received from the professor was that they would not give her an extension, and instead she would have to take an incomplete grade for the class. 

Upon hearing this, I felt very frustrated both by the response my friend received and the professor. I had also taken classes from this professor and ran into several issues with them such as unfair grading and unclear instruction. In this situation though, neither of us really knew what to do or who to reach out to for help. In a last ditch effort, I decided to reach out to a faculty member that I trust to seek advice on the situation. On my friend’s behalf, this faculty member got in touch with the Student Affairs Office, the campus resource that would have been the appropriate choice for the situation, seeking help to advocate for the student. The response given from Malissa Larson — the dean of students — said that the student would have to go through the Academic Affairs Office’s academic complaint process, a form used to report issues surrounding things like grades, assignments and syllabi. The submission would allow for the division chair to schedule a meeting with the student to discuss the concern and facilitate a solution. 

 

Based on definitions, Academic Affairs deals with instances relating to how a class is structured or how a professor teaches, and Student Affairs should be the place to go for support in personal issues. Yet, in practice, the structure in place leaves gaps in which students are left with no personal advocate and indirect support avenues. Academic Affairs only provides them with the option of submitting a complaint — something that could take time and wouldn’t do anything for the current situation — and, in our case, Student Affairs simply referred us to Academic Affairs. Instead of working together to foster student success, these two crucial campus departments are skirting past the necessity of direct lines of communication for student support. We then realized this explains the root of the issue: there is no good resource to help students with conflicts surrounding short-term crisis circumstances like ours.

Additionally, a quick review of the professional duties of a dean of students indicates someone who connects student needs with university administration, most often in times of crises and emergency support, and ultimately strives for student development and success. Under further specificities, responsibilities for a dean of students also include providing support during crises and emergencies, both medical and personal, as well as advocating for students by working with faculty and staff to meet student needs. This description fits exactly what was needed in our situation. We needed someone who could support the student through their crisis by examining the student’s needs and communicating that with the professor and/or university administration. 

Dean Larson responded to the crisis by deferring my friend to the academic complaint process. Post-submission of the form, Larson said that students are encouraged to connect with the college dean, followed by the provost. She concluded her message by saying, “While I appreciate that someone in Student Affairs used to be an advocate for this type of issue in the past, many systems at WOU have changed. When it comes down to faculty concerns like this one, there is little Student Affairs can do.” 

While Larson presented going to the provost as an option, it’s unclear what help the provost and college dean would provide or how long it would take; additionally, it seems nonsensical to reach out to the provost over a professor-student conflict. Furthermore, it appears that there’s a missing role that could have provided support that no longer exists.

After hearing this response, we decided to do a bit of research. Looking at Western’s mission statement, one of the core values of the mission statement, entitled “Fostering Accessibility,”
states that Western works to “ensure inclusivity and eliminate barriers in our physical, social, and learning environments. We are dedicated to continuous improvement so that every member of our community can engage, contribute, and succeed.” This acutely pointed to the fact that academic success, no matter the circumstances, is one of Western’s biggest goals. 

It is unfair to students who go through these things that they lack direct and immediate access to support systems when their academics are impacted by personal crises.

After this experience, I feel that instead of continually seeking to eliminate barriers, Western is building barriers. As students continue to go through difficult situations when they arise and live this same version of events that leave them feeling defeated and angry, I only hope that the university once again utilizes Student Affairs, a crucial resource, in the way it is designed for: a place for students to go in times of crisis when they need urgent support. Ultimately, I hope that Western will once again grasp the great need for a resource that bridges the gap between academics and student success.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

 

The great divide

Jan. 14 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

I am not a very tech-savvy person. Granted, I know my way around most types of phones and computers. Yet that is mostly due to growing up with this kind of technology around. However, as someone who also works for a cell phone service provider, I have had to interact with, set up and attempt to fix a lot of issues with various devices. If there is anything that I have learned during this time, it is that there are stark differences between iPhone and Android phones. 

Growing up, Android phones were what was given to me by my predominantly Apple device-loving family. So here’s what I noticed. 

Strengths — Android phones have a much simpler operating system that is easy to use and convenient. It typically has three buttons on the home screen: one to go to the home screen, another to see all apps that are open and the last to go back to the previous screen. Android smartphones also come in many different versions. Samsung alone has three different series of phones, each very starkly different from each other. One is fast, one is foldable and the last is cost-effective while still being a decent phone. Another popular Android phone is Google Pixel, which is well known for its camera quality and sturdy design. Motorola phones are known for being budget-friendly, but are reliable and simple. 

Weaknesses — A lot of people with Android phones come into the store to tell me that their phone is full of pop-ups. The most common cause of those is “bad apps” being downloaded. Essentially, any kind of “phone cleaner” app is not actually cleaning the phone. Instead, it is slowing down its performance, and some can cause ads to pop up at random times. The battery life is also a major issue I’ve seen, with many getting new phones due to faulty batteries. There are also the constant updates that are done to the system that some may find annoying.

I recently became an iPhone user. After having the phone for a while now, here’s what I’ve observed. 

Strengths — Apple’s phones are incredibly fast, with their chip processors able to have many apps open at once without slowing down the smartphone. For newer models, the iPhone battery life is often incredibly good, being able to last an entire day. They also switched their charger from the Lightning cable to a USB-C to become more compatible for Android users who want to switch to iPhone. Furthermore, iPhone’s have their own Apple ecosystem of apps that allows for a much stronger privacy shield compared to Android. iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Cash, etc., are all iPhone-exclusive applications for these types of phones. The Apple App Store is also much more strict with what apps are allowed to be downloaded from it, making it much less likely for any bad apps to affect iPhone users. 

Weaknesses — I believe that iPhone’s main weakness is the lack of variety in their phones. While over time the screen size has gotten bigger and the camera positioning has changed, there isn’t a difference between the models. Obviously, if someone compares the first iPhone to the newest one, they look very different. However, there isn’t a huge change between the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 17. Another issue with Apple is that, due to the strictness of the App Store, many apps are not available to download. There isn’t a variety of different types of apps to get, while Android app stores allow for more options. There is also the fact that iPhones are not as customizable as Android phones. While their display options are sleek and clean looking, I’ve seen much more be able to be done with Androids, whether it be their shortcuts or widget flexibility. 

In my opinion, the other differences are minuscule. The keyboards between the two phones look and feel different from each other. Android phones still have “buttons” to control the screen, while iPhone users need to swipe up to navigate the phone. 

However, these smaller things are like comparing different fonts. If one is a person who likes consistency, I recommend an iPhone. If variety is preferred, there is an array of different Android phones from many companies that may be the better choice. 

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

Work for fun

A sketched comic of a woman complimenting a girl’s sweater. | Photo from @juliehang.art on Instagram

Jan. 14 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

According to the Oxford dictionary, a hobby is an activity that is done by a person for the sole purpose of enjoyment or relaxation. Hobbies can range from hiking in the mountains to playing video games at home. I personally don’t have a lot of hobbies. The main hobby I have, writing, has become something I do for school and work. While I still love it with a passion, I have been wanting to take up a new one that doesn’t involve me trying to spell things correctly. 

I haven’t had the opportunity to really explore activities to do in my free time. Yet during 

break, when I had all the time in the world, I came to the realization that I had no idea how to get a new hobby.  I’ve usually just stuck to the ones I had growing up. I can only imagine that a lot of other students feel the same way. Therefore, I have created some tips on how to discover a hobby. 

Something simple that anyone can do is create a list of things they like. The list doesn’t have to be concrete. It could range from things done as a child that were fun, like playing tag or building things with LEGOs. Some things to consider would be topics that are engaging and that aren’t tiresome for oneself. 

There’s also scheduling that should be considered when taking up a new hobby. As someone with a busy schedule, I would want a hobby that is easy to do anywhere and can be done wherever I go. For someone who would prefer to do something with their hands, crafting and sculpting would be good ideas. 

Something that discourages a lot of people from starting new hobbies is the lack of perfection at first. Obviously, no one is going to be good at something from the start, and if they are, they are not human. 

Stuart Brown once said, “Life without play is a grinding, mechanical existence organized around doing the things necessary for survival. Play is the vital essence of life. It is what makes life lively.” I’ve thought about trying to start crocheting because the thought of creating my own things sounds awesome. However, I’ve been hesitant to do so because I know for a fact that the first thing I make will look horrifying. Still, that shouldn’t dissuade me or anyone else searching for something new to do in their spare time. 

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu

‘You’ll never see anything like it’

A photo of the United States Capitol. | Photo from @drchubacca on Instagram

Jan. 14 2026 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor 

On Dec. 18, President Donald Trump made a video announcement from the White House highlighting his plans for 2026 regarding the celebration of America’s 250th birthday. This announcement featured various events to take place, one of the most well-known being his plans for the Patriot Games.

The reasons given for these events included Trump saying, “In my campaign for president, I pledged to give America the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen for America’s 250th anniversary on July 4th next year.” Naming the initiative “Freedom 250,” his plan is to put on year-long festivities to celebrate the 250th birthday.

Construction plans throughout 2026 include a new arch monument being built in the nation’s capital, with Trump explaining that America is the only large nation without a beautiful, triumphal arch. Additionally, Trump plans to create a national garden of American heroes featuring statues of the greatest Americans, though he didn’t specify who this would entail.

On May 17, Trump has planned a national prayer gathering to take place at the National Mall in Washington. Regarding this, he explained that the purpose was to “rededicate our country as one nation under God.”

To celebrate America’s history and culture, Trump adds that there will be a great American state fair, featuring pavilions from all 50 states, taking place from June 25 through July 10.

On June 14 — Flag Day, as well as Trump’s birthday — a large UFC fight will take place featuring the greatest champion fighters from around the world. Dana White will be hosting and it will take place at the White House. 

During fall of 2026, Trump will also be hosting the “Patriot Games,” a young athletic competition. The Patriot Games will be a four-day event featuring the greatest high school athletes — one man and one woman — from each state and territory. He adds, “I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports, you’re not gonna see that, you’ll see everything but that.” 

Across social media platforms, many are making a connection between Trump’s announcement of the games and the dystopian, post-apocalyptic Hunger Games, noting the similarities between his speech and speeches made in “The Hunger Games.” This includes Trump’s “one young man and one young woman” compared to the line, “select one courageous young man and woman,” Trump’s “the first ever Patriot Games” compared to “the Hunger Games,” and Trump’s “you’ll never see anything like it and you’ll never see anything like it again” compared to “we’ve never seen anything like this and we will never see anything like it again.”

Regardless of their views on President Trump’s announcement, those in the United States can expect to hear more about these events and more about his plans for America’s 250th birthday going forward into 2026.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

 

‘Nunca verás nada igual’

14 de enero del 2026 | Abbi Duhart | Editora de Noticias

El 18 de diciembre, el presidente Donald Trump realizó un anuncio en video desde la Casa
Blanca en el que destacó sus planes para el 2026 con motivo de la celebración del aniversario de
Estados Unidos número 250. Este anuncio presentó diversos eventos que se llevarán a cabo,
siendo uno de los más conocidos sus planes para los Juegos Patrióticos.
Las razones dadas para estos eventos incluyeron que Trump afirmara, “En mi campaña para
presidente, prometo darle a Estados Unidos la fiesta de cumpleaños más espectacular que el
mundo haya visto jamás para el 250o aniversario de Estados Unidos el 4 de julio del próximo
año.” Al nombrar la iniciativa “Freedom 250,” su plan es organizar festividades durante todo un
año para celebrar el aniversario número 250.
Los planes de construcción a lo largo del 2026 incluyen la edificación de un nuevo monumento
en forma de arco en la capital del país, explicando Trump que Estados Unidos es la única nación
grande que no cuenta con un arco triunfal hermoso. Además, Trump planea crear un jardín
nacional de héroes estadounidenses que contará con estatuas de los estadounidenses más
grandes, aunque no especificó a quiénes incluiría.
El 17 de mayo, Trump ha planeado una reunión nacional de oración que se llevará a cabo en el
National Mall, en Washington. Al respecto, explicó que el propósito es “rededicar a nuestro país
como una sola nación bajo Dios.”
Para celebrar la historia y la cultura de Estados Unidos, Trump agregó que habrá una gran feria
estatal estadounidense, con pabellones de los 50 estados, que se realizará del 25 de junio al 10 de

julio.
El 14 de junio — Día de la Bandera, y también cumpleaños de Trump — se llevará a cabo una
gran pelea de la UFC con los mejores campeones del mundo. El evento será presentado por Dana
White y tendrá lugar en la Casa Blanca.
Durante el otoño del 2026, Trump también organizará los “Juegos Patrióticos,” una competencia
atlética juvenil. Los Juegos Patrióticos serán un evento de cuatro días que contará con los
mejores atletas de preparatoria — un hombre y una mujer — de cada estado y territorio. Trump
añadió, “Prometo que no habrá hombres compitiendo en deportes femeninos, no van a ver eso,
verán de todo menos eso.”
En las redes sociales, muchas personas están estableciendo una conexión entre el anuncio de
Trump sobre los juegos y la saga distópica y postapocalíptica Los Juegos del Hambre, señalando
similitudes entre su discurso y los discursos presentados en dicha franquicia. Esto incluye la
frase de Trump “un joven y una joven” comparada con “seleccionen a un joven y una joven
valientes,” la frase de Trump “los primeros Juegos Patrióticos” comparado con “los Juegos del
Hambre,” y “nunca verán nada igual y nunca volverán a ver algo así” comparado con “nunca
hemos visto nada como esto y nunca volveremos a ver algo así.”
Independientemente de las opiniones sobre el anuncio del presidente Trump, quienes viven en
Estados Unidos pueden esperar escuchar más sobre estos eventos y sobre sus planes para
celebrar el aniversario número 250 del país a lo largo del 2026.
Contacta al autor en howlnews@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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