Volume 16 Issue 2 | Wes tern Oregon University | Friday, Oc t . 9, 2015
NEWS
ENTERTAINMENT Nightmare Factory haunts again
EDITORIAL
TEDx comes to Salem CM Hall advocates for acceptance, inclusion of deaf/blind community Page 3
DEAD-LOCK
What UCC should teach us about free speech and comprimise Page 10
Why so high? WOU students face higher than average graduating debt From the desk of the Journal Editorial Team
A candlelight vigil for the victims of the Roseburg shooting By Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor The candlelight vigil for the vicThe victims’ names were listed tims of the Umpqua Community and a moment of silence was givCollege shooting was held in the en for each. Statements made by Grove at Western Oregon Univer- the victims’ families were read, sity last Saturday, and saw around describing the departed family 60 people in attendance. member’s personality or aspiraAttendees assembled and tions. formed a circle and each was giv“You are building a community en a candle to light in remem- here ... This is your home,” stated brance. Two leaders of the vig- Mayer, reminding the gathered il, Rebecca Strader, a pastor at group of the importance of comChrist’s Church in Monmouth, ing together. After the vigil, Mayand Jill Mayer, the program di- er noted that coming together as rector of Western Compass – the a community often only occurs on-campus student ministry – felt after a heartbreaking event such it was important for everyone to as this. come together and honor those The shocking and deeply traglost in the shooting. ic nature of the shooting, paired In the introductory statement, with its close proximity, disturbed Mayer said, “If there is one word and troubled many Western stuyou remember from tonight, dents. When asked how the news make it be ‘community.’” of the shooting initially affected Mayer mentioned how this her, Jocelyn Chavez, a junior antragedy has not only affected the thropology major said, “I was dislocal community of Roseburg, but traught. It was only four days into Western’s community as well. class starting; it was jarring.” “We have felt the pain that they However, those that attended have felt,” said Mayer. the vigil seemed to find solace or “We know it’s better to light emotional release from the cerea candle than hide in the dark,” mony. “It felt like an act of catharsaid Strader after Mayer was fin- sis when she read out the names. ished speaking, offering a beacon It made it seem more real,” stated of hope in this emotionally trying Rachael Jackson, a senior socioltime. A short prayer was read, ogy major. during which Strader emphasized At the end of the vigil, everyone that the victims will not be forgot- joined together to sing “Amazing ten. Grace,” then quietly departed or The speakers sympathized lingered to talk in small groups. with families of the victims and Dolan Kasnick, a graduate stuthe family of the shooter; Strad- dent working on his Master’s in er stressed that “anyone can be criminal justice, said, “Everyone transformed by love ... be vigilant has different ways of coping. This for those who are isolated or de- is a good way of dealing with it.” pressed.”
Recently, The Journal came across an article by The Oregonian that discussed national rankings of colleges by U.S. News & World Report. The article highlighted multiple Oregon schools and their impressive rankings, but unfortunately also noted the not-so-positive results in Oregon as well.
Oregon School for the Deaf ’s Haunted House Opens its Doors Page 8 Western Oregon University arrived on the list at number five for Western schools in the country with the highest average debt upon graduation. The numbers were staggering: “68 percent of students graduated with debt, which averages $38,331 among those who took out loans,” according to the article on oregonlive. com. With an overall lower tuition rate than local universities, such as University of Oregon (UO) and Oregon State University (OSU), the average debt was shocking. Western’s in-state tuition and fees, according to U.S. News & World Report 2014-2015, is $8,796, UO is $9,918 and OSU is $10,107. To put the debt average into perspective, 50
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Addressing statewide earthquake safety Are you prepared for the great Oregon megaquake? Jenna Beresheim | News Editor
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On Oct. 15, 2015, Western will be participating in a statewide earthquake emergency preparedness initiative known as The Great Oregon ShakeOut. The drill will take place at 10:15 a.m. with over 500,000 participants registered in the activity, from schools and universities, to workplaces. Nationwide, over 25.7 million people will be participating. Western Oregon University participants will receive a WOUAlert at 10:15 a.m. to remind them to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” for a few moments. This is intended to have participants practice
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The Journal Friday, Oct. 9, 2015
THE JOURNAL 345 N. Monmouth Ave. Monmouth, OR 97361 Student Media Department TERRY HOUSE NEWSROOM 503-838-8347
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CONNER WILLIAMS journaleditor@wou.edu
MANAGING EDITOR KATRINA PENAFLOR
journalmanaging@wou.edu
NEWS EDITOR JENNA BERESHEIM journalnews@wou.edu
CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR MEGAN CLARK
journalcampuslife@wou.edu
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR DECLAN HERTEL journalentertainment@wou.edu
SPORTS EDITOR TBA
journalsportst@wou.edu
PHOTO EDITOR STEPHANIE BLAIR
journalphoto@wou.edu
DESIGNERS CARLY FISTER BENJAMIN BERGERSON journaldesigner@wou.edu
COPY EDITOR JACK ARMSTRONG journalcopy@wou.edu
ADVERTISING MANAGER TBA journaladvertising@wou.edu
WEB MANAGER MARY GEANELLI BERNARDO journalweb@wou.edu
NEWS
Students’ need-to-know about legal marijuana Complicated caveats could create problems for uninformed students
Jenna Beresheim | News Editor As of Oct. 1, 2015, marijuana became legalized for recreational sale in the state of Oregon. This legalization still comes with rules and regulations that any user needs to be aware of in order to stay within the law. Oregon became the third state to legalize recreational pot, with a close vote of 54 to 46. With this legalization, the state altered how the law perceived driving under the influence, employers requesting drug testing, and where marijuana can be consumed. Currently, the law states that recreational users need to be at least 21 years old to purchase marijuana, and that only 7 grams of the marijuana flower may be sold to each individual. Recreational marijuana cannot be sold or smoked in public. Other vehicles for marijuana such as edibles, will become available Jan. 4, 2016, along with taxation of products. Sales at the moment are not taxed, but the tax rate set to take effect on these products has been set at 25 percent. Under federal law, marijuana is still illegal. This means that in order to retain federal funding, Western Oregon University must still enforce rules against the use of marijuana on campus. “I’m curious to see how that plays out,” stated Bryan Kelley, a fourth year humanities major, “I have mixed emotions about the legalization of pot.” Recently, a marijuana dispensary opened in Independence called Blackbird Indica. The owner, Alex Andrade, had originally planned to open in Monmouth. “I asked around for days, and the overwhelming response was the people of Monmouth did not want a dispensary in their town, and we respected that,” reported Andrade. Instead, Andrade experienced an overwhelming positive response on Oct. 1. “We moved the same volume in one day than our best month in medical marijuana sales,” Andrade continued, “we had a full lobby,
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Alex Andrade weighs out some product
Photo by Jenna Beresheim
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER SAMANTHA DUNAWAY
Aftermath of UCC shooting sheds light on campus security
STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER RHYS FINCH
WOU reacts to shooting close to home
503-838-9697
Brianna Bonham | Freelancer
SUBMISSIONS THE JOURNAL encourages readers to share their opinion through letters to the editor and guest columns. Submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name. Contact information will not be published unless requested. Unsigned submissions will not be printed and original copies will not be returned. Letters to the editor may be up to 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 500 words. THE JOURNAL does not guarantee the publication of all letters or columns. THE JOURNAL reserves the right to edit for punctuation, grammar, and spelling, but never for content. Please bring submissions to THE JOURNAL at Terry House or email to journaleditor@wou.edu. Submissions must be received by Wednesday at 5 p.m. to be considered for print. All opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do necessarily reflect those of THE JOURNAL or Western Oregon University.
The total number of individuals harmed during the UCC shooting has officially been listed as 10 dead with seven others injured. The shooting occurred on Oct. 1, 2015 at 10:38 a.m. The ages of civilians killed ranged from 18 to 67. The 26 year-old gunman reportedly shot himself after exchanging gunfire with officers, according to Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin. President Obama will be traveling to Roseburg on Friday, Oct. 9 for closed-door visits with the families of the victims. In his last Thursday, Oct. 1, Obama took to addressing the fact that there have been 45 school shooting thus far in 2015. “But as I said just a few months ago, and I said a few months before that, and I said each time we see one of these mass shootings, our thoughts and prayers are not enough,” said President Obama during his post-incident press conference. “We are the only advanced country on
Earth that sees these kinds of mass shootings every few months,” the President said. After a mass shooting, there is a two week period where there is higher risk of another shooting, according to Hanlin. Schools across the country are on high alert to watch for warning signs, and to be proactive about another violent situation occurring. Hoping to improve campus safety, WOUAlert programs have undergone additional testing since the UCC incident. WOUAlert is a program that takes a few short minutes to sign up for, and was been created to help make Western a safer place. Students and staff can sign up through WOUAlert and choose to receive alerts multiple ways, such as emails, calls, or text notifications. “It’s a great tool, it helps get a message
through in a timely manner,” said Mike Hanson, a Public Safety Officer at Western. He believes WOUAlert is an important tool for students to utilize because it alerts the community as to what is happening around campus. “It will let students know when there is an emergency on campus, so those students who are off campus can remain off campus, and students who are on campus will know where to be to stay safe,” says Hanson. “This has really opened my eyes as to how important safety can be with students and campus areas,” says Auston Ricks, a freshman criminal justice major. Campus safety is a top priority in student’s minds. If there is any concern about campus safety, please contact Campus Public Safety at 503838-8481 or call the local police.
But as I said just a few months ago, and I said a few months before that, and I said each time we see one of these mass shootings, our thoughts and prayers are not enough.
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NEWS
The Journal Friday, Oct. 9, 2015
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Western professor speaks at TEDxSalem CM Hall advocates for acceptance, inclusion of deafblind community Conner Williams | Editor in Chief Jenna Beresheim | News Editor The third annual TEDx Salem conference took place last Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the Convention Center in Salem. The event drew a crowd of approximately 450 people, according to Brian Hart, co-curator of the conference. TEDx events are different than TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conferences as the “x” denotes that it is a local an independently sponsored event. TED is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1984 under the slogan “Ideas Worth Spreading.” The organization has hosted some very significant individuals as speakers, including Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Al Gore, J.J. Abrams, and many others. The famous “TED Talks” cover everything from scientific ideas, to academia, to cultural and social topics. The theme of the Salem talks was fearlessness; specifically, what it means to be fearless. But rather than attempt to define the term or represent it in one avenue of thought, Hart emphasized that the objective of the conference was to allow each individual to decide for themselves after hearing all of the speakers’ presentations. Among the 13 speakers was CM Hall, project coordinator of the Western Region Interpreter Education Center at Western Oregon University, and professor of deafblind interpreting and LGBTQ+ studies. Hall said that everyone who can hear is an audist – someone that believes or are treated as if they are superior based on their ability to hear – and her presentation was aimed at bringing social justice
CM Hall (pictured sixth from left in front) poses with supporters at the TEDxSalem conference
along with better access and fairness to those of the deafblind community. Hall was originally invited to speak at the TEDx Salem conference after she launched a petition in July on Change. org to get the American Sign Language (ASL) “I Love You” hand-shape to become an emoji. Hall hopes that after her talk, people who can hear and see will, “work to engage with deaf people and work to dismantle audists, and see it similar to racism, heterosexism and albeism – as a social justice issue.” In addition to her service as an advocate for the deafblind community and professor at Western, Hall hinted that she plans to run for office someday.
Photo courtesy of CM Hall
Hall said that she was not as nervous for her presentation as she was for what comes next, particularly about the “haters” that come to the surface once the talk is edited and posted online. “I know we are so thick in the middle of a hater/troll Internet culture and I don’t want to be affected by that negativity,” Hall said in an email interview. “That’s what I think about the most: how the message will resonate, and I just assume there will be hater sentiment as we now assume there is for everything.” “I may just need to sing a lot of TayTay’s “Shake It Off ” cuz the haters gonna hate hate hate. And really, what can I do but shake it off?”
campus blotter The following information is from the public sity Center, Public Safety received a report of sist. records of Campus Public Safety. criminal mischief. At 5:55 p.m. Oct. 3, in Ackerman Hall, Public Safety was contacted about a medical assist. MARIJUANA HARASSMENT At 11:03 p.m. Oct. 2, in Noble Hall, Public At 11:00 p.m. Oct. 2, in Hamersly Library, THEFT Safety was contacted about a marijuana vio- Public Safety took a report of harassment. At 6:00 p.m. Oct. 2, in Barnum Hall, Public lation. At 11:31 p.m. officers were clear. Safety received a report of a theft. At 8:28 p.m. Oct. 3, in Heritage Hall, Public MEDICAL Safety was contacted in reference to a possi- At 10:41 p.m. Oct. 2, in Heritage Hall, Public INFORMATIONAL ble marijuana violation. Safety was contacted about a medical assist. At 12:28 a.m. Oct. 4, in Ackerman Hall, At 11:15 p.m. officers were clear. Public Safety received a report of a possible CRIMINAL MISCHEIF At 11:58 p.m. Oct. 2, in Ackerman Hall, Pub- weapons violation. At 12:01 p.m. Oct. 2, in the Werner Univer- lic Safety was contacted about a medical asWOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
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SPORTS
The Journal Friday, Oct. 9, 2015
Photo courtesy of wouwolves.com ABOVE: Makana Pundyke (CF) scored both goals for the Wolves’ 2-1 win over Central Washington last saturday LEFT: Vicky Cruz Rosales (MF) dribbles the ball past the Central Washington defense
Courtesy of Neil Gravatt
Wolves grab fifth win with late attack Two Second Half Goals Lead to Comeback Victory Jamal Smith | Freelancer WOU Vs. Central Washington University (CWU) – Oct. 3, 2015 The Wolves women’s soccer team got their first conference win at home on Saturday Oct. 3, 2015 defeating Central Washington University 2-1.
Senior Makana Pundyke (CF) scored two second-half goals which secured the WOU’s comeback victory. CWU took the lead after a goal in the 20th minute when the ball bounced around in the box and found its way into the back of the net. Although the Wolves had multiple opportunities to score in the first half, they were left empty handed going into halftime. In the second half, Western had better
ball control and more energy which put pressure on Central Washington’s defense. The Wolves first goal came in the 56th minute on a Brooke Steinberg (D) free kick just outside of the 18-yard box. The free kick was headed off the top of the crossbar by senior Dana Goularte (D), and after a scramble, Pundyke put the ball past CWU’s goalkeeper. Pundyke got her second goal in the 63rd minute when a scrum in the box
saw the ball fall to her from a corner kick from junior Kealakekua Makekau (CM). WOU’s head coach Steve Ancheta attributed the Wolves’ second half success to half-time adjustments. “In the second half we pressed a little bit higher which caused them a little bit of stress and it led to free kicks and penalty kicks,” Ancheta said. The Wolves improved their overall record to 5-3-1 for the season, and 1-2-1 in
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Women’s volleyball falls at home against NNU Wolves lose in three sets Jamal Smith | Freelancer
The women’s volley ball team currently has an overall record of 4-11
Photo by Kyler Freilinger
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
The Western Oregon women’s volleyball team lost at home in three sets on Sat., Oct. 3, 2015 to Northwest Nazarene University (NNU). The set scores were 1525, 20-25 and 17-25, all in NNU’s favor. NNU pulled away from the Wolves in the first set, accumulating a lead that Western couldn’t claw back from. The second set was much closer and went back and forth until the Wolves found themselves even with NNU with a score of 20-20. However, NNU would score the next 5 unanswered points to win the second set. Western showed determina-
tion in the third set, but they were out matched again and lost the set with a score of 17-25. Sophomore Alisha Bettinson had 10 kills, 1 block, and 1 ace. First-year Amanda Short and Mariella Vandenkooy both had 8 kills for the Wolves. The conference loss gives Western Oregon an overall record of 4-11, and 1-5 in GNAC conference play. The next two games for the Wolves are on the road when they play Simon Fraser University on Oct. 8, 2015, and then Western Washington University on Oct. 10, 2015. The next home game is against Concordia on Tuesday Oct. 13, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the New P.E. building. The Concordia test is also a “Red Out!” game, so be sure to dress in red. For more information please contact WOU Athletics at 503-838-9030.
SPORTS
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Wolves athlete finds drive to play two sports Alvin Wilson | Freelancer The phrase “go hard or go home” may be the most accurate way to describe Andy Avgi, a junior athlete who has a strong desire to compete. While most athletes’ thirst for competition and victory would be quenched by one sport, Avgi thirsts for more. And at 6’6“ and 270 lbs., Avgi is built well to play a wide variety of competitive sports. Avgi has been playing basketball for three years at Western, and, on his final stretch toward graduation, he decided to try for football. “When I decided to play basketball in college, I knew there would be some point in my life that I would want to play [football] again,” said Avgi. Avgi mentioned a talk with Kevin Boss, NFL tight end and Western alumnus, that influenced his decision. “I talked with Kevin Boss, who used to play football and basketball here, about the opportunity of playing after college,” Avgi said, “I really do want to play after college, potentially the NFL. I think that’s really what pushed me to do it.” Although Avgi sees football in his future, he said basketball was his first passion. “In high school I played a lot of sports, the main ones being basketball and football, and honestly I enjoyed basketball more,” he said. “I think a big part of that was that we were better in basketball than we were in football. In football we were kind of at the bottom of the pack.” Avgi has been a competitive person for as long as he can remember. This drive for competition fuels his desire to perform to his full potential. “When I was growing up, I was really competitive,” said Avgi. “I want to be the best at whatever I do. It’s just kind of ingrained in my brain. Whatever I’m doing, I’m going to do it to my fullest.” Playing two sports at a time sounds like a difficult task, but Avgi is handling it well. “It’s actually not too bad,’ he said, “Basketball season doesn’t officially start until November. Right now I’m just focused on football until football season is over.
Photo courtesy of wouwolves.com
When it’s basketball season I’ll focus just on that. I’ll probably start shooting with the coach within a week or so, but it works out pretty well. “ Loyalty to the team is highly valued in sports, but Avgi said his teams understand his decision to play both sports. “There’s always a lot of joking around, like, ‘oh come on, just play basketball,’ or, ‘just play football,’ but they know it’s in my best interest to play both. I can actually
help out on both teams.” Avgi is enjoying his experience so far, especially because it is something new. “It’s definitely fun. I like it because it’s different. It’s something I’m not used to,” said Avgi. “It’s re-learning something I haven’t done in a while. I’ve been doing the same things in basketball, so it’s nice learning different things and things I never knew about football when I was in high school.”
Men’s club rugby eyes national championship Jack Armstrong | Copy Editor The Western men’s rugby club is looking forward to their most successful season yet. On the back of returning seniors and an injection of fresh blood underclassmen, the prospect for a winning run at the USA National Rugby Championship is starting to seem more and more plausible. “We actually made the Varsity cup last year,” said Sean Pomeroy, a Prop at the club, and a senior education major. “We
hosted Montana State and won, but due to unforeseen circumstances, we couldn’t progress on to the finals.” Pomeroy was hopeful saying, “with the Squad we’ve put together this year, I really think we have a shot at the National Championship.” According to Pomeroy, there were enough interested players to form a secondary squad this season. “We have around 40 players total in the club,” he said, “some play on b-side, and we have people who swing between a-side and b-side, but we try to take as
WOU Soccer: From Page 4 GNAC conference play. WOU Vs. Concordia University (CU) – Oct. 5, 2015 The team lost 2-0 at home on Tuesday against Concordia University. The loss brings the overall record to 5-4-1 and 1-3-1 in GNAC conference play.
many people with us to games as possible. It helps to learn the game and get questions answered.” Questions like: what exactly does a prop do in rugby? “A prop acts like a guard on a football team,” said Pomeroy, “we do a similar job to an offensive lineman.” There is a wide range of positions with lots of different play styles offered for students interested in joining the team. Rugby season is year-round, and students wanting to try out can stop by any team practice. The club meets every
Concordia got their first goal in the 20th minute on a free kick at the top of the goal box. Although Western Oregon’s goalkeeper, Lindsey Mabinuori was able to make the save, she couldn’t get both hands on the ball and a Concordia player took advantage finding the back of the net. In the second half, the Wolves applied the pressure and had great ball control but couldn’t conceive a goal. Western Oregon had multiple chances to score that saw
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Monday through Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. on the turf field next to the softball diamond. “We’ll take anybody we can get who has a love for big hits and tough play,” Pomeroy said. The Wolves face a tough challenge in their next game in the NCRC 7’s Championship hosted in Ellensburg, Wash. on Oct. 17, 2015. A full schedule of matches and a contact page for interested students can be found on wourugby.org, and on the WOU Men’s Rugby Facebook page.
the ball go just wide of the goal posts on multiple occasions. Concordia’s second goal came in the 59th minute on a thru ball on a counter-attack. The loss to Concordia was the second game in the Wolves’ three game home stand. The next home game is on Saturday October 10th at 11 a.m. against Seattle Pacific University before they hit road to take on Saint Martin’s University on Saturday, October 17th.
CAMPUS LIFE
6 Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 The Journal
Black Rain:
Confronting Memory and Language Yukiyo Kawano’s art installations address the changing nature of history, perspective, and the human experience. By Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor The art installation precariously hanging in Hamersly Library is part of a larger art installation that will stay at Western from Sept. 21, 2015 to Dec. 4, 2015. The art showcase titled Black Rain, was created by Yukiyo Kawano. Kawano is a second generation Hiroshima bomb survivor, and works as an artist in Portland, Ore. The first floor installation features two low-hanging, large sculptures surrounded by origami cranes. The two large structures are “Fat Man,” the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and “Little Boy,” the bomb dropped on Nagasaki at the end of World War II. The cranes are symbolic of peace; students are invited to fold one and contribute to the work. On Oct. 7, 2015, the artist was able to come to Western and give a talk about her show. Kawano discussed the victims of the bombings. There are a “vast amount of hibakusha (bombing victims) living in the shadow, who didn’t have a voice ... I’m hoping that my art creates a safe environment to talk about these issues.” When asked about her process – which Kawano said can be very messy – the artist also mentioned the feelings she experiences during the artmaking process. Kawano stated, “I ask myself, ‘Who am I really, to spend so much time on art?’” She dwells on the fact that she comes from a culture where women are expected to be domestic; breaking this social norm causes her a lot of guilt. The artist’s work is very personal to her, which can be seen in the use of her own hair to sew together the bombs. When asked about this, she said, “My hair going down the drain, when I wash my hair is so horrifying for me ... it links to a horror site that I saw again and again growing up in Hiroshima: the loss of women’s long black hair due to radiation sickness.” A member from the audience asked her about the Fukushima nuclear disaster that happened in 2011. “Fukushima is happening now,” Kawano replied, “but it will be history very soon....part of the past is now contaminated.” Her art pieces on the second
floor are of a much smaller scale in comparison to the large bombs. One wall is lined with sketches of “Little Boy;” the pages feature the same repeated image of Kawano wearing her grandmother’s kimono, which had been used to make the bomb. Across from this, the sketches for “Fat Man” lay out on a table, overlapped with a transparent sheet. Printed on the sheet are conversations that Kawano had had with bomb survivors, both in Japanese and the English translation. Referencing how language and memory can be ever changing and easily distorted, Kawano said, “When changing the language, the meaning and nuance can shift, so there is a veil.” In the past, “Fat Man” and “Little Boy” have been accompanied by Butoh, a style of Japanese dance theater that arose in 1959. According to Kawano, “The movement is capturing the unseen and listening to the silence.” The dance can symbolize konpaku, the space between life and death, which, according to Kawano, allows people to confront their own uncertainty. She hopes to find dancers at Western who might be interested in Butoh, hinting that during the time the installation is at Western, a performance could accompany her piece. In response to the first floor installation, Leona, a graduate student working on her master’s in teaching, said, “It’s interesting... it’s forcing me to look at art from a different angle.” Jerrie Lee Parpart, exhibit and archives coordinator, said that she felt Kawano’s art fit well with the other World War II era art being displayed at the library now and in the future. Joleen Braasch, a senior education major, said, “I really appreciate Yuki’s work. She did a wonderful job at evoking emotion. And that’s what we need to avoid future nuclear situations; we need to remember.”
I’m hoping that my art creates a safe environment to talk about these issues.
Photos by Brianna Bonham
REAL LIFE
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CAMPUS LIFE
The Journal Friday, Oct. 9, 2015
1. Get involved!
Artwork created by Carly Fister
Advice
for newbies
Getting involved on campus can help combat homesickness. It can also lead to meeting new people and trying new things. “Get involved however you can!” said Kristen Case, a junior biology major. Joining clubs and going to events on campus can help create friendships and keep you active, both mentally and physically. College is the perfect time for trying new things; don’t miss out on the opportunities available to you.
Tips and tricks for first-years from upperclassmen By Amanda Clarke | Staff Writer
3. Know your resources.
2. Stay in touch with your family and friends back home.
“Text your parents, but not in class,” said Avi Goldberg, a sophomore early childhood education major. Keeping in touch with family and old friends after leaving home can be difficult with so much to do with regards to school work, and everyday life on campus. Even just a quick text letting them know how you’re doing can ease their mind and maintain the important bonds of your support system.
You can get textbooks from various resources to save money. Textbooks can be rented through Inter-Library loaning as well as directly through the library for up to 10 weeks, which can save money in the long run! You can also get textbooks from online retailers, local used bookstores, or peers who no longer need theirs. Most things you need to purchase on campus can be found off campus, frequently at far less cost. However, the campus community does provide a lot of avenues that should be taken advantage of; the tutors in the writing center are always willing to help and the Stonewall Center is a good resource for the LBTQ+ community.
4. “Go to class!” - Austin 5. “Stay on top of your Davis, sophomore criminal graduation requirements!” - Megan Clark, senior justice major. You are paying for your classes, so get the most out of them by going to class, listening to the lectures, and in- English major. volving yourself in group discussions. Not only will you be able to understand the material better, but professors will remember your name and the amount of work you put into their class. “Apply yourself!” said Shelby Worthing, a junior economics major. It could be the difference between a B and an A. Sometimes it’s hard to expend that much effort, but laziness and procrastination spell doom for the average college student.
Looking at your graduation requirements when you are a freshman will help you to look ahead at what classes you need to take in the future. Sometimes a class will only be offered every other year, which can make finishing graduation requirements hard if it isn’t offered until your junior year. Be sure to check in with your advisor, both to lift holds and check out your requirements, and be sure to keep tabs on DegreeWorks and the upcoming academic calendar.
Nicholas Nielsen, junior, music major “I see music as being the same kind of thing as dance, or painting, or just the way that the grass grows. I don’t really know about passion; I guess I don’t really understand that word very well....I always thought that I was passionate about it. But I think that it’s more just striving to learn about these natural things; music is something that is really natural to humanity.” “He just handed me this baby, and I was like, “Dude I don’t even know how to hold it right...” I’ve held babies before, so I don’t really get why this happened... it just felt so comforting, and just
Comedian comes to campus Brianna Bonham | Freelancer Comedian Billy Sorrells visited Western Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 and put on a stand-up show entitled “Friday Night Live.” Sorrells is a comedian and filmmaker based out of Las Angeles, but his performance travels take him beyond California’s borders. He has a YouTube channel (billysorrells) where he posts weekly videos, and he has appeared in the popular YouTube series “Sh-t Black Girls Say,” and he has been featured on BET interviewing celebrities on the red carpet. In response to the audience’s reaction during his show, Sorrells said, “I got such a warm reception from you guys, and I’m very appreciative… I am definitely looking forward to returning to Western.” Sorrells started his stand-up career by performing at college campuses. Given his origins on college campuses, he continues to enjoy performing at campuses around the country. His show ran almost two hours in length, and an audience of about 60 students listened as he told stories about his childhood, past relationships, and experiences in his life. Sorrells then held an interactive questions segment that students enjoyed. Students interviewed him and, in return, were given a short story. When asked to talk about the most interesting audience member he’s had, he told an elaborate, funny story about a couple that fought in the middle of his show. “Find what you’re most interested in, find the best person doing it, and look at what steps they had to take to get there... make everything personal,” stated Sorrell, advising to people that want to be stand up comedians, or are looking at a career in entertainment. He urged aspiring entertainers to make things personal so that the audience can more easily relate.
so, like, enjoyable to be holding this baby, even though the baby was like “oh I don’t really want you to hold me, because this is a little uncomfortable.” She didn’t like, start screaming at me or anything, but….it kind of enlightened me about this feeling that girls have when they hold babies.” “The type of fun they [little kids] are having is safe...just running around, playing with each other, being nice to each other, just loving...I think that is a thing that makes me the most happy. Because there’s no reason why the rest of us can’t be like that. Why can’t we be like that all the time?”
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HUMANS OF
WESTERN OREGON By Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor
ENTERTAINMENT
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Nightmare Factory brings terror to Salem Oregon School for the Deaf ’s haunted house opens its doors this October By Ashton Newton | Freelancer With Halloween just around the corner, children everywhere are preparing their costumes to go out and trick-or-treat all over the country. For those of us who are too old to take candy from strangers, we’re still searching for ways to get absolutely terrified. Luckily, the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) has you covered with their annual haunted house, The Nightmare Factory, which started back up on Oct. 2, 2015 and runs to Nov. 7, 2015. With the help of student and outside volunteers, the OSD puts on a truly scary and memorable haunted house. This Salem-based haunted house, put on as a fundraiser for the OSD, has a new terrifying theme each year that promises to keep you up at night in fear. This year is special though, with two haunted houses in one. The two themes are a zombie infested “Warehouse 27,” and “Mr. Boogers Fun House.” If you’re feeling extra brave though, the last two nights of the haunted house, Nov. 6 and 7, will be completely pitch dark, with only a single glow-stick provided for light. And if even that isn’t enough for you, you can have yourself strapped into a wheelchair and taken through the haunted house with “Mr. Booger’s Wild Ride.” Kristin Galvin, sister of co-director Kivo LeFevre, helps run the Nightmare Factory alongside her son Riky and other co-director Ed Roberts. “Nightmare Factory started 28 years ago with boy’s dorm school counselor Ed Roberts and 13 year old student Kivo LeFevre,” says Galvin. “Ed, aka Candy in this year’s haunted house, directs the zombies and Kivo, aka Mr. Booger, directs the clown area,” Galvin said. In 2010, the Nightmare Factory received national recognition when the OSD was on Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Each year, the Nightmare Factory changes themes
One of the many frightening firgures at Oregon’s longest running haunted house
and floor plans. The themes are decided on by directors Roberts and LeFevre. After the theme is decided on, the walls are moved and painted and preparation for the haunted house begins. When asked what her favorite part of doing the Nightmare Factory was, Galvin said, “For me person-
Photo by Alvin Wilson
ally, being involved with the haunt gives me a chance to spend some great time with my brother Kivo and my son Riky. I’ve also discovered an acting side of myself that I’ve never explored and love the evolution of Dr. Howlina.” She jokes that a family that haunts together, stays together.
A spooky movie a day keeps the boogeyman away By Darien Campo | Freelancer And so began October – the spookiest month of the year. There’s no other time that so openly celebrates the most macabre parts of our culture. Houses are adorned with goofy skeletons and ghosts. When else can you proudly display such symbols of our own mortality? October is a month to be proud of our deepest fears, and for me that means celebrating in the only fashion I find appropriate: watching a different horror movie every single day for 31 days straight. Nothing gets me in the October mood better than spooky cinema – and you should try it too. For me, October is a time for all the things that scare
me senseless. I love being scared; watching a movie in uncontrollable fear has the same excitement for me as cackling at a hilarious comedy. Scary movies tap into a deeper, more primal version of ourselves. As we mature into adults, we lose the ability to fear irrationally for the most part. What shadows in the closet were once malicious beasts are now hanging jackets, and what moans in the night were once a terrifying ghoul are now the normal sounds of a settling house. But with a good horror film, all the years of learned skepticism and rationality are thrown out the window. There’s no time for careful thought when Michael Meyers appears out of nowhere in “Halloween” (1978). It’s impossible to examine a situation rationally over the croaking groans of “The Babadook” (2014).
Horror movies are fun, and all of the best ones know that. That’s why films like “Evil Dead II” (1987) can make you scream one minute and laugh uncontrollably the next. That’s why even children can have fun watching a movie about death, like in “The Corpse Bride” (2005). These movies force us to face things we’d rather sweep under the rug. From the irrational ghosts, monsters, and darkness, to the more realistic killers, insanity, and our own unavoidable demise. It’s easy to forget just how much fun it is to be scared, and October is the perfect time to start remembering. A horror movie a day is a fantastic way to honor the things that we fear most, and there are so many films to choose from. Don’t worry that you’re a little late in starting – just grab some friends and some popcorn, turn out the lights, and scare yourselves silly!
Scary movies tap into a deeper, more primal version of ourselves
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ENTERTAINMENT
The Journal Friday, Oct. 9, 2015
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“The Martian” Review
Ridley Scott and Matt Damon fly us to Mars By Declan Hertel | Entertainment Editor
With the recent discovery of liquid water on Mars, the Red Planet seems closer than ever. This seemingly simple but massively important discovery got me all fired up to see “The Martian”, the latest film from Ridley Scott whose other works include “Alien”, and “Blade Runner”. A new movie about Mars comes out just as we make a huge breakthrough in its exploration? It’s hard to believe it wasn’t planned. “The Martian” finds Matt Damon (“The Bourne Identity”) playing Mark Watney, an astronaut accidentally left for dead on the surface of Mars after a storm prematurely ends the crew’s mission. As he begins to create a one-man colony on the surface, NASA realizes he’s alive and sets about bringing him home. I went into this movie expecting something like “Gravity” (2013) directed by Alfonso Cuarón, where a single astronaut is stranded in space and everything’s falling apart around the crew and oh god, oh god the empty vastness is so near “oh god.”
While there are moments of great tension (and what else could we expect from the man who made freaking “Alien”), they don’t overwhelm. Instead, the brilliance of “The Martian” lies in its bright tone: while it’s always clear that the situation is dire and time is limited, the film just asks you to accept that and instead chooses to focus on just how supremely cool this whole thing is. Watney is always cracking jokes to his video journal and talking about how awesome it is that he’s triumphing over a barren wasteland where it would only take one big mistake to kill him. He talks about technical definitions of colonization and what international laws space falls under, always to bring it back to “Everything I do has never been done before. That is NUTS.” Watching Watney’s new home come together is a joy; we celebrate with every success and lament every failure with him. For a movie about a fairly hopeless situation, the film is very funny and lighthearted. “The Martian” also features a spectacular ensemble cast to complement Damon, with the likes of Jessica
Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”), and Sean Bean (“Game of Thrones”) making appearances. There is not a weak performance among the cast, each approaching the tasks ahead of them with the gravity they’re due, but also with that sense of “this is so cool.” Movies that center around the “triumph of the human spirit” can very easily fall into superficial sentimentality that ends up dehumanizing the characters and cheapening the message, but not so with “The Martian.” The dedication and enthusiasm and sense of humor displayed by every character doesn’t feel forced. It feels like the natural reaction to a situation that’s totally unprecedented in terms of both danger and awesomeness. In fact, that’s my takeaway from the movie: awesome. Humans are awesome, space is awesome, and the former can do awesome things in the latter despite great obstacles. Because we’re humans. We can tame space. And that’s awesome. Photo courtesy of foxmovies.com
3 Leg Torso
to perform on campus Eclectic, folksy chamber quintet aims to enchant By Declan Hertel | Entertainment Editor Friday, Oct. 7, 2015 in Rice Auditorium, Smith Fine Arts will welcome award-winning quintet 3 Leg Torso to Western. The Smith Fine Arts Series is all about bringing the best in performing arts to the Western’s campus, and 3 Leg Torso looks like they will uphold that mission admirably. Originally formed in 1996 as a violin, accordion, and cello three-piece, 3 Leg Torso has since expanded to five members, and their unique brand of modern chamber music is sure to delight anybody who enjoys music from supremely talented performers. I have listened to the band’s 2010 release “Animals and Cannibals” (Meester Records) several times since learning of the group, and I absolutely love the cinematic, gypsy aesthetic. The opening track, “Akiko Yano”, feels
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like setting off on an adventure through the European countryside. Several songs on the record have a tango influence to them, and you can’t help but imagine the band off in the corner of some small pub, playing their hearts out as the patrons dance around. Despite being an instrumental act, each song tells a little story, along with the music. And really, who doesn’t want to know the tale implied by “The Life and Times and Good Deeds of St. Penguin”? 3 Leg Torso plays Friday, Oct. 7, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium, and tickets are free for students. It certainly looks like it’s going to be a great time, and for the low, low price of free? Check out 3 Leg Torso. You’ll be happy you did. For more information on tickets or the performance, please contact 503-8388333 or visit The Cottage at 342 Monmouth Ave. North.
10 Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 The Journal
DEAD-LOCK
EDITORIAL
What UCC should teach us about free speech and compromise By Jack Armstrong | Copy Editor
This past week my adopted home of Oregon experienced an act of unbelievable violence. In the days since the incident, a jaded public has been searching for a sense of closure, a sense of understanding for why our nation is forced to confront senseless mass violence more frequently than ever. The tragedy that was perpetrated on the Umpqua Community College campus has been blamed on everything from prominent loop-holes in gun control laws, to a lack of public options for mental healthcare.
Members of 4Chan were behind the recent mass leak of hacked celebrity personal photos. In fact, several boards on 4Chan are devoted exclusively to the extremely controversial practice of curating revenge porn. The significance of the gunman posting to 4Chan wasn’t the fact that he posted about it. Many mass murderers have chosen to speak about their acts prior to committing them, and it is especially common when a student seeks to harm their peers.
constitution. The right to free speech is one of our most well established and protected issues, and especially for members of the press, it is something considered truly American. So how do you regulate places like 4Chan? How do you address the fact that these people may have directly contributed to the death of nine people? How do you reconcile that what 4Chan did technically wasn’t illegal, with the fact that people have been convicted of accessory to murder for less than what some of those individuals typed?
Artwork created by Carly Fister
In all of the soul searching, however, there is one factor that has yet to be discussed at length. That factor is freedom of speech and the World Wide Web. The shooter took to the internet, posting about his intentions on a site called 4Chan the day before he took his own life along with the lives of nine other innocent bystanders. For those who chose to avoid the wasteland fringes of the web, 4Chan is an imageboard based web forum (not unlike reddit) where users gather to post on a wide range of topics. While this may seem innocuous, the reality of what 4Chan has evolved into is frequently much seedier than the exterior.
The significance of the shooter posting on 4Chan is that 4Chan could speak back, and they used that ability to push a desperate individual over the edge. They spoke out in anonymity, urging this man to commit to his act, and even going so far as to give him advice about how to streamline his plan and maximize his kills. This is horrific. The idea that a group of strangers could be so callous and desensitized as to push someone over the edge, someone who was clearly willing to pull as many souls down with him as possible. It is almost inconceivable. The problem is, 4Chan’s right to push people over the edge is protected by the
These questions are complicated and divisive. Free speech has been used as a defense for all sorts of reprehensible words. Westboro Baptist Church uses their right to free speech to picket soldier’s funerals with offensive signs. Pedophiles sell thinly veiled how-to books on Amazon about child abduction and abuse under the guise of freedom of expression. However, attempting to police these instances shines light on the slippery nature of free speech legislation. There have been intermittent debates about policing speech, but the consensus is always that you cannot restrict speech even if a majority of the public deem it offensive. To
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do so would open up avenues for anyone to seek any part of speech be restricted for a litany of reasons. The ubiquity of the internet has only intensified this debate. As with many other discussions surrounding the constitution, technology has changed since the free speech amendment was conceived and it has drastically changed what it means to be able to say anything you want to anybody. When our Founding Fathers created these amendments, they couldn’t envision a scenario where everyone in America would have instant and unfettered access to everyone else. They didn’t see how it would be possible for that access to be anonymous, and they certainly had no idea that the idea of free speech could one day be used to defend pedophiles and people like Charles Manson. It is easy to be disgusted with 4Chan. It is easy to call it the cesspool of the internet. It is easy to call for the site to be shut down, and it is easy for a reasonable person to understand that what those individuals who posted support for the shooter did was no less than resigning those nine people to die. It is hard, however, to understand that the same right that protects them also protects the discourse we enjoy here on campus. The same right protected African Americans who spoke out and marched in their quest for freedom, and protected women as one of the main precedents cited in the Roe Vs. Wade ruling. What we need now as a country and as a community is to understand what all of this means for how we move forward in the aftermath of one of our state’s biggest tragedies. Gun control and free speech are protected by the same document, a document that was created in a different time in our country’s history, and they are equally under fire in light of this most recent shooting. The amendments are not the important part of the constitution though. The important part is that at one time our country came together to create a reasonable compromise of all our ideals, laying the foundation of the document we hold so dear. If we did it once, we can do it again. We need to realize we are still that same great country, and that citizens striving for compromise are exactly what founded this country; we’ve just lost sight of what it means to be American.
EDITORIAL High graduating debt
Jump from front
percent of UO graduating students (receiving their undergrad) who borrowed had an average debt of $24,508, nearly $14,000 less than the average Western student. And 58 percent of graduating students at OSU who borrowed had an average debt of $21,955, nearly $16,000 less than the average Western student, according to statistics from U.S. News & World Report. With such substantial differences in debt among state universities, are there more factors that contribute to students leaving our college with a larger debt than students who leave a more expensive university with a lower average debt? Additional expenses apart from tuition Tuition and fees just make up the base of a student’s expenses. According to Dr. David McDonald, Western’s Associate Provost, “For the typical WOU student, tuition and fees account for less than half their college expenses.” A five year graduation rate Upon deeper research into the U.S. News & World Report rankings, The Journal discovered Western has a four year graduation rate of only 22 percent. With the majority of students taking five years to complete an undergraduate degree, this increases cost of school significantly. “Some of this is due to the large percentage of WOU students who are from low-income backgrounds requiring them to work more while attending WOU or to take closer to 12 credits per term,” said Dr. McDonald. A five year graduation rate can also be the result of changing majors, failing classes, or low credit loads per term. Limited class availability This issue has surfaced in a multitude of posts to The Journal’s Facebook page. Students believed that class availability, when limited, kept students from taking a certain course in time to fulfill their graduation requirements in four years. Missing a necessary course, in turn can lead students to adding a fifth year, causing more loans to be necessary. Difficulty or confusion with financial aid Financial aid itself, and fully understanding it, can be difficult. When do I need to complete my FAFSA? How is a Pell Grant different from a loan? Obtaining the right amount of financial aid is important, and students might not know about the available resources to turn to for help or information. “Students should complete the FAFSA by January 31 of each year,” said Dr. McDonald, adding students should also “note this date will change when the U.S. Department of Education moves to using the
The Journal Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 prior/prior income for the FAFSA.” Alumna Jennifer Becker found another side to the financial aid problem: too much money being offered. Becker said, “Students are able to take loans that are much larger than what they actually need. I was lucky to have a scholarship and federal grants that more than covered fees and tuition, but I was still offered $7000 in loans each year.” What could possibly be the solution to these issues? Perhaps each factor needs to be addressed on its own. Maybe spending outside of the “necessary” by students needs to be looked at. “Students can also control some of their own expenses by managing their discretionary expenses like how many coffee they buy, their cell phone expenses and entertainment costs,” said McDonald in an email interview. But will cutting back on minimal things pay off big in the end? And with the graduation rate, how can it possibly be so low if all degrees are on four year tracks, even with the contributing factors? Maybe larger class sizes need to be considered or offered for vital courses, or more classes available online. What’s the most effective way to let students know that a degree requirement is only offered once a year? And with financial aid, if a student’s payments are met, why is more money being offered? What’s the best way for students to become informed about what all their financial aid and the loans offered actually mean? More questions arise when looking for a solution, but the bottom line is with a lower tuition rate – and the well-advertised tuition promise system that Western uses – than neighboring schools, the average student debt should not be this much higher. Many factors contribute to this issue, and if even one of them can be solved, the impact on the overall debt percentage could be massive. As students we always need to be aware of our spending and finances. Maybe we should all keep in closer contact with the financial aid office to make sure loans are acquired at the right rates and the FAFSA is completed at the right time, or talk more closely with our advisors to make sure we never miss the opportunity to take a class. Whatever we do, we need to work in a direction that brings down this debt average. For a link to the report referenced in this editorial, visit http://bit.ly/1K9u44l to view additional information.
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Artwork created by Carly Fister
Voter efficacy is key for change By Conner Williams | Editor-in-Chief The United States Census Bureau (USCB) defines millennials as people born between 1982 and 2000. As of June 2015, we make up more than one-fourth of the total U.S. population. Those of us in that group have experienced several periods of technological innovation, including the streamlined accessibility of the Internet, wireless phones, and the creation of social media networking sites that effectively allow people to connect with anyone across the world. Most millennials that I know, including myself, are constantly plugged in, meaning that they are constantly feeding on all kinds of different information from multiple sources throughout their day. While some among the older generations like to claim that we use technology to waste time and post selfies, we generally crave knowledge and wish to be more informed. We now outnumber the baby boomer generation by nearly 7.5 million people. It is time for us to make our voices heard, and make a tangible impact on governmental policymaking in the upcoming election. How do we do this? It’s quite simple: vote. While this may seem obvious, many eligible millennials did not vote in the 2012 presidential election. With the ever-increasing availability of technology and information right at our fingertips, why are we still seeing lackluster voter turnout for young people? There are many theories, but this is mine: young people do not feel that they can truly make a difference. Student debt, an increasingly competitive job market, and other stressors can sometimes make people feel discouraged, like the world is out to get them or that the hole we have dug is too deep to climb out of. It is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed at times, but that is no excuse not to vote. I’m not writing to try and sway you towards one particular candidate or political party; I simply want people to exercise their right to vote. Voting is, in the words of the U.S. Census Bureau, “arguably the most important civic opportunity given to citizens in the United States.” Regardless of whether or not we share similar political beliefs, I want everyone to voice their opinion by casting their vote next year. Your vote does not mean nothing, it means everything. Young people now make up one of the largest denominations of people in this country, yet more than half of them dismissed their right to vote in the last election. That is unacceptable, especially in a state like Oregon where we have the luxury of mail-in ballots, so we should be much higher than the 64 percent turnout that we showed in 2012. Some states still use the medieval-era voting booths, which often result in low voter turnout overall. There is no reason that every person in Oregon should not be voting. So whomever you support, get out there and cast your vote.
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TAIL-END
The Journal
Oregon legalizes ahead of schedule: From Front Page lines out the door, we even opened early and closed late.” Some of the patrons, Andrade said, merely wanted to be a part of history. Others had been using marijuana for years but were happy to finally have a legal and safe source. Andrade even showcases a laminated sheet of every strain of marijuana she sells in her shop, along with its uses and what it is best for. “We try to break it down and make recommendations based on what you need,” Andrade encouraged, “I want to make sure everyone is safe and responsible with their use.” Outside of campus, individuals are allowed to grow up to four plants at a time for personal use. This personal growing does not change regulations regarding selling the product or carrying larger amounts on your person. Andrade intends to implement a 5 percent discount off of her products for college students. “It is something people do anyways and should be normalized,” Kelley said in regards to the legalization, “on the other hand, I don’t like how
rushed this came about.” Andrade agreed that the process was rushed, saying “the state is putting the cart before the horse,” even from a distributor’s standpoint. The enormous influx of dispensaries and licensures after the vote passed may be cause for the delayed relay of information from the legal system to dispensaries. “I don’t know how this will interact with students who live off campus,” Kelley added thoughtfully. As long as the use is within legal bounds and off campus, students who are off campus will have an easier time imbibing than those who reside on campus. Students caught in possession of marijuana or using marijuana on campus will still face penalty regardless of statewide legalization. Nearly 300 dispensaries are open within the state, with 255 reported to be available to sell recreationally. Currently Salem has over 15 reported dispensaries, with Independence having two and Corvallis with one.
It is something people do anyways and should be normalized.
Photo by Jenna Beresheim An employee holds out a jar of marijuana at Blackbird Indica in Independence
Campus prepares for earthquake emergency: From Front Page proper earthquake responses. “We’ve been made aware of the danger, and this will be Western’s first year participating in this drill. It’s going to lay the groundwork for safety in the future,” said Nancy Ganson, the Assistant to the Director and Building Manager for Todd Hall. “It’s all about the baby steps.” Classes that find this too disruptive are encouraged to at least spend that time having a discussion on earthquake preparedness and how to react in the case that one does happen. Those on campus who are working at the time are also urged to have this conversation with coworkers and staff to ensure everyone is safe. “Do things like go over and practice a plan with your loved ones,” said Rebecca Chiles, Director of Campus Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Risk Management. “Put an emergency supply kit together,” said Chiles, “The better prepared people are, the better their ability to respond and recover during an emergency.” Oregon recently discovered that hundreds of schools are underprepared when it comes to a bad quake. The Oregon legislature recently committed $175 million for schools to use rehabilitating their structures to modern earthquake safety standards.
“There [are] variables that cannot be predicted fully right now, but we can be prepared,” Ganson said. Knowing what to do in case of an emergency is only half the battle. Preparing kits, planning with family and friends, and educating yourself further are strongly recommended. “Don’t forget to plan for pets, and don’t forget your medication,” Chiles said, “also, think about taking a CERT class, or CPR/First Aid if you want to be able to help others.” Chiles referred interested students to Kimber Townsend as a teacher for CERT classes, while CPR/First Aid classes are taught by Campus Public Safety. “The more aware you are, the better it’s going to be for everyone,” reminded Ganson, who also brought up a question that is often forgotten in emergency preparedness: “What’s in your trunk?” The idea focuses on emergency kits within your vehicle in the case your house becomes inaccessible, or if you are not near home when an earthquake happens. This way, even an individual who is at work can be prepared for themselves and others around them. Especially for those who may not be able to return home any time soon. Ganson asked important questions for students and staff to think about: “Are the bridges going to be down? What is your house going to be like? Will we be able to access other towns such as Salem, or will we be settled in Monmouth for a while?” Basic starter emergency kits include water, food, hand crank radios, flashlights and batteries, first aid supplies, and so forth. For a complete breakdown of what an emergency kit should look like, please visit www.ready.gov.
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For more information on marijuana use, regulations, and dispensary locations, please visit marijuana.oregon.gov.
Japan Exchange and Teaching Program Are you interested in living, working and teaching in Japan? The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program provides college graduates a unique opportunity to teach English to students in the Japanese public school system. Graduates help develop foreign language education by serving as Assistant Language Teachers or Coordinators for International Relations. This successful and respected program helps promote international exchange at the local level by fostering ties between Japanese youth and JET Program participants from around the world. The Consular Office of Japan in Portland, Oregon will be at Western Oregon University for an informational orientation on the JET Program on the following day:
Date: Time: Bldg: Room:
October 13th, 2015 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. University Center Willamette Room
APPLICANTS MUST Have U.S. Citizenship Or hold citizenship of one of the other 42 participating countries. Hold a Bachelor’s Degree by July 2016 No Japanese language ability required for the Assistant Language Teacher position. Applications due to the Japanese Embassy in Washington D.C. by November 13th, 2015. Applications are available at: http://jetprogramusa.org For more information, contact Career Services, the Consular Office of Japan at (503) 221-1811 ext 314, or visit us online at the URL above.