Volume 16 Issue 4 | Wes tern Oregon University | Friday, Oc t . 23, 2015
ENTERTAINMENT Gory and Groovy: The Triumphant Return of “Fargo” FX takes us back to the Midwest for more murder and mayhem Page 7
Wolfpack finds its stride By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor
Photo by STEPHANIE BLAIR
Hands Down Interpreting program in stalemate over RID credentialing moratorium By Jenna Beresheim | News Editor As of Aug. 8, 2015, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) announced that a moratorium would be placed on their interpreter certification program. A moratorium is a temporary prohibition of an activity: in this case, the processing of interpreters wishing to become officially certified. Certification is required for the majority of interpreting work, although there are some rare situations where it may not be. “RID has played a leading role in establishing a national standard of quality for interpreters and transliterators,”
reads the RID mission statement on their website at www.RID.org. “[RID] promotes excellence in the delivery of interpreting services among diverse users of signed and spoken languages through professional development, networking, advocacy, and standards,” the mission statement continues. Western Oregon University is known for its interpreting program, which has been incorporated into the school since 1976. As of 1993, Western has offered a bachelor’s degree in Education with a major in American Sign Language to English Interpreting. In 2008, Western’s interpreting program won the Sorenson Video Relay Service Interpreter Education Award of Excellence, and March 2010 saw the program granted accreditation by the
Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education. Western’s interpreting program graduates have passing rates higher than the national average for the National Interpreter Certification (NIC) as well. Each cohort that enters the program takes two years to complete, and individuals interested in starting the program must pass an entrance exam based on skills and ethical practices. The 2016 interpreting program cohort now faces a dilemma: graduating without being able to progress in a career where certification is necessary but currently unobtainable. “I am nervous about where I will be working after I graduate if I am unable to become certified,” admits Elizabeth Holland, a fourth year interpreting major in the up-and-coming cohort. “Most of the careers I would like require certi-
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The Western football team defeated Central Washington University (CWU) 31-25 on Saturday Oct. 17, 2015, at McArthur Field. After last week’s emotional upset of no. 6 ranked University of Northern Alabama, the Wolves didn’t disappoint; they controlling the game from start to finish. Sophomore Phillip Fenumiai (QB) got his first career start at quarterback for the home team. In the game he would throw for 131 yards and two touchdowns, both to junior Andy Avgi (TE), in addition to running the ball for 44 yards with one 4-yard rushing touchdown. “Our game plan was just simple enough to where everything was just easy and within my control,” stated Fenumiai. “[It] was Continued on Page 4
New restaurants sure to please Monmouth is getting a flavor facelift after three new restaurants recently moved into town. The Urban Deli tucked away on Church St., the Promise Mediterranean food cart next to the park near Main St., and Casa Burrito on Highway 99W all offer a new, wider range of tastes and aromas to entice Western’s students and staff. While Monmouth already has options for Hispanic food, the Urban Deli and Casa Burrito provide an alternative to Koyotes, Muchas, and taco Tuesday at the Pub (if that can even be included in this list). Urban Deli specializes in tortas and fruit juices, while Casa Burrito makes traditional Hispanic food, including tacos and, obviously, burritos. Promise Mediterranean brings Monmouth some excitement; not only is it the only food cart in Monmouth, it serves food that other local eateries don’t, including gyros and shawarmas. Continued on Page 8
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The Journal Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
THE JOURNAL 345 N. Monmouth Ave. Monmouth, OR 97361 Student Media Department TERRY HOUSE NEWSROOM 503-838-8347
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SPORTS EDITOR JAMAL SMITH
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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.
NEWS Oregon’s governor replacement race: a look ahead Who will lead us through the rest of Kitzhaber’s term? By Alvin Wilson | Staff Writer The presidential election isn’t the only election that will take place in 2016. Next year, Oregon’s incumbent governor, Kate Brown, will run against some tough opposition to see who will fill ex-governor Kitzhaber’s place until 2018. Elections will take place on Nov. 8, 2016. There are few who have declared their intention to run thus far, but much in Oregon’s political world can change in one year. Among those who have declared their intention to run are: current governor Kate Brown (D), critical care specialist Julian Bell (D), business owner Bob Niemeyer (R), and experimental pathologist Bud Pierce (R). Some background information about our candidates: Kate Brown: Katherine “Kate” Brown was born in Madrid, Spain in 1960 and raised in Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Colorado in 1981 with a degree in Environmental Conservation, and from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College in 1985 with a degree in Environmental Law. Previously, Brown served as Oregon Secretary of State and majority leader of the Oregon State Senate. She became Oregon’s governor in February of 2015 in the wake of Kitzhaber’s resignation. For more information about Kate Brown, visit her website at: www.katebrownfororegon.com. Julian Bell: 44-year-old Julian Bell is a medical doctor for an intensive care unit in Medford, Oregon. He received his medical degree from
New York Medical College. According to his campaign website, Bell’s priorities are promoting clean energy and combating climate change. He has volunteered for environmental organizations such as Southern Oregon Climate Action Now and Rogue Climate, and helped found a group called Hair On Fire Oregon, which helps advertise possible solutions for climate change. This is Bell’s first time running for public office. For more information about Julian Bell, visit his website at www. julianbellforgovernor2016.com. Oregon’s Capitol building Photo by ALVIN WILSON Bob Niemeyer: California. Pierce graduated with a Ph.D. in Bob Niemeyer is the owner of an Experimental Pathology from UCLA in 1985, engineering company. Niemeyer graduated where he later returned to receive his M.D. from the University of Oregon in 1978 with in 1987. a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1987, Pierce spent six years of his life as a U.S. Niemeyer received his Professional EngiMarine. After leaving the Marines, he served neering License in Mechanical Engineering. as a doctor for the United States Naval ReAccording to his campaign website, serve. This is Pierce’s first time running for Niemeyer is running on the ideas of rebuildpublic office. According to the Statesman ing Oregon’s independence, not living in fear, Journal, Pierce’s main focus is economic and new ways of looking at government acprosperity. Pierce’s positions are generally tion. Niemeyer is described as being fiscally fiscally conservative and socially liberal. For and socially conservative. Some of Niemeyer’s more information about Bud Pierce, visit his campaign promises include: not being a poliwebsite at www.budpierce.com. tician, but a representative; issuing a pardon There are more potential candidates who to the Oregon couple who refused to bake a have yet to declare their intentions to run, cake for a gay wedding; and rewriting the but it is unclear how drastically the campaign state constitution within two years of taking field will change in the next year. office. This is not Niemeyer’s first attempt 2016 is a very busy year for Oregon voters. at running for public office. In 2014, he ran Not only are we voting for a new president for Representative of Oregon’s first congresand governor, but seats in Oregon’s House of sional district. For more information about Representatives, Oregon’s State Senate and Bob Niemeyer, visit his website at www.bobOregon’s state-level-courts are up for election niemeyer.com. as well. Bud Pierce: The Journal will have continued coverage William “Bud” Pierce is an experimenof Oregon’s 2016 elections. tal pathologist who was raised in Southern
A.L.I.C.E trainings in action at Western Campus Public Safety empowers individuals to increase survivability in active killer situations By Jenna Beresheim | News Editor A.L.I.C.E (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) training sessions are currently being offered on Western Oregon Campus in rebuttal to recent school shootings across the United States. Several trainings have already been offered on campus this year, and a few occurred as early as Sept. 23. After the Umpqua Community College shooting, multiple trainings were initiated in response. The reason: traditional lockdown drills in active killer situations have been proven ineffective and outdated. A.L.I.C.E training focuses on preparing individuals to overcome the indecision in events of extreme danger on campus to increase survivability in these situations. During the Oct. 20 training, Trever Jackson, a Campus Public Safety officer, began by noting that “I’m going to use ‘active killer’
during this session rather than ‘active shooter,’ because it’s not always a gun you’re defending against.” The class focused on debunking the myth of what we have been taught in schools: to get down, hide, and be quiet. These methods cause more fatalities than they prevent, and the United States is responding accordingly with revamped measures of preparation. “We need to train ourselves to know what to do,” Jackson stated. Lockdowns originated in the 1970s in Los Angeles in areas of high gang warfare. With gangs shooting outside, children were taught to move away from windows and lie low until it subsided or help arrived. Then the guns began to move into schools, but the tactics remained unchanged. “The police are getting there as fast as they can, but people are still getting killed,” Jackson informed in relation to response times. The average response time being a total of eight to twelve minutes, from the original 911 call to dispatch, and finally response. A.L.I.C.E training is re-learning what to do in these situations, whether it be securing the
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room with barricades to evacuating, to even countering against an armed attacker. Over forty individuals showed up to the event hosted, with a fair mixture of both students and staff. Jackson expressed that he wished more students would attend, as the more knowledgeable people there are in one classroom, the higher the odds of surviving an attack. “It was an excellent training. I wish more people were encouraged to attend,” noted Dr. Thomas Rand, a professor of English, writing, and linguistics. At least ten more trainings are currently being scheduled, and Campus Public Safety plans to send out an email with upcoming trainings available soon. For those interested, a trigger warning has been put in place as there are frank discussions about what to do in armed attacker situations and threats to personal safety. “The school environment naturally puts people into a ‘do what we’re told’ mentality, and we need to break out of that mindset,” Rand reminded, “I’d feel better if all my students had this training.”
NEWS Students’ academics disrupted by anxiety
The Journal Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
A look at the collegiate mental health crisis By Stephanie Blair | Photo Editor It’s not uncommon knowledge that college students are stressed. What is uncommon knowledge is that 50 percent of college students have been hindered academically by overwhelming anxiety in 2012, and 31 percent felt depressed to the point of dysfunction. Last week alone, Campus Public Safety (CPS) responded to five mental health crises. Each call was received from different buildings, on different days, at varying times. While it’s upsetting that students on our campus are struggling at that level in the third week of classes, it’s heartening that these individuals sought help. In one instance, a “concerned roommate” called in to CPS, which is what is recommended be done in a situation where an individual is in need of help and, in some cases, may be a danger to themselves. In an email interview, Rebecca Chiles, Director of CPS, said that in the case of a mental health crisis a student should contact the Student Health and Counseling Center on campus or call CPS. “Officers do have some limited training in dealing with mental health issues,” Chiles said. “And [our officers] always have access to a mental health professional for further assessment if needed.” If concerned about another student, Chiles advises that you fill out a “Student of Concern” form, which can be found on the WOU CARE Team website and then, once filled out, goes to their offices on campus. The purpose of the CARE Team, as stated on their website, is “to assess, discuss, and recommend intervention to the appropriate campus departments, divisions or persons in response to significant campus situations and events such as: issues of bias, student death or significant trauma, problematic student situations involving medical or psychological concerns, and campus emergency situations that directly affect the well-being of students and the campus community at large.” Despite the available resources, 40 percent of students with diagnosable mental health conditions do not seek help. The main reason for this that students gave when surveyed was concern about the stigma attached to mental illness. However, whether it’s due to a genetically inherited chemical imbalance, a result of a major life change, or even the result of substance abuse, mental illness affects one in four college students. Free counseling is available for all Western students at the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHCC) on campus. All SHCC service are confidential, and all counselors are state licensed professionals, counseling trainees, and/or graduate-level counseling interns. CPS can be reached 24-hours a day at 503-8388481 or, in an emergency, call 503-838-9000. If you are considering suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273TALK (8255) or, for those who struggle with phone conversations, chat online with a NSPL member at suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Infographic by CARLY FISTER http://bit.ly/1COz5r0
Hands Down: From Front Page
fication. This would mean potentially delaying working in a field that I am excited about.” Currently, the moratorium has no prospective end date. An estimated timeline of when the moratorium may be lifted will be planned out in a meeting of the RID Board of Directors by Nov. 1, 2015. Although on their website, RID states “the outcome of that assessment will determine if, when, and how each exam will come back online.” “The one major change is that in the spring, we will not be taking the NIC written or performance exams. Several of my classmates and I will still be taking the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA), as that is required for working in a K-12 setting, but [it] is not a certification for interpreting,” reports Holland. “I was at the RID national conference in New Orleans in August when it was announced,” stated Vicki Darden, an interpreting instructor at Western. “Naturally, there were many concerns and questions from the membership, and RID has put out information in response.” For now, the interpreting program has adopted a positive wait-and-see attitude and is still willing to sit down
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with students and discuss what is happening within the community. Instructors and mentors have been taking the time to alleviate fears and answer any questions students may have. “The professors are very calm and are willing to answer what they can. They tend to sit us down as a class and also one on one to talk about our fears and questions,” affirms Holland. A majority of ASL interpreting students receive a stipend through the school if they choose to pursue a special education minor along with their degree. Once these students have graduated, they work to pay back this stipend in a special education setting. Students like Holland are worried that the moratorium would affect their stipend; it is something that interpreting students rely on to provide funding for their current education, although the credentialing moratorium has yet to alter the stipend in any way. “All of this is very exciting and I hope that anyone who is uncertain or anxious takes a deep breath and acknowledges that change can be scary, but they are not alone. This time of change is upon us and we will change and grow together,” encourages Holland. “We understand that more information will be forthcoming from RID on Nov. 1, and we are waiting along with everyone else to hear what they will announce at that time. Until then, any changes to our program would be premature,” reminds Darden.
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SPORTS
The Journal Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
Ambrose Soh, running back, runs the ball past Central Washington defenders
Football: From Front Page
nice because it got me rolling around on my feet, which I’m good at.” After the Wolves exchanged threeand-outs with CWU on both teams’ first drives, Western got the ball back on their own 9-yard line for their second possession, marching downfield with a 12-play 91-yard touchdown drive. First year Malik Braxton (RB/WR) who also got his first start, capped off the drive with a breakaway run for 44 yards and the touchdown, which put the Wolves up 7-0. Braxton finished the game with
131-yards rushing. “We came in knowing that we wanted to run the ball on first and second down and the [offensive line] opened the holes,” stated Braxton. CWU would answer on their second possession with a 4-play, 69-yard touchdown drive. After converting on a 2-point conversion, the Wildcats would take the lead 8-7 near the end of the first quarter. On Western’s ensuing drive, the Wolves would find themselves in two third-down and long situations. However, Fenumiai would keep the drive alive with a 29-yard scramble on 3rd and 7, and then a 26-yard pass to senior James DePew (WR) on 3rd and 18.
Photo by JAMAL SMITH
Fenumiai would finish off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, putting the Wolves up 14-8. The home side’s defense was good at stopping CWU’s running game, but had problems defending the deep ball. CWU would capitalize midway through the second quarter when Wildcats quarterback Justin Lane would throw a 39-yard touchdown pass to put CWU up 15-14. But Western would not be stopped, running seven straight rushing plays. Eventually, Fenumiai would finish the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Avgi, for his first of two touchdowns. The Wolves would take a 21-15 lead going into halftime.
In the third quarter, Western started to pull away from the Wildcats. After CWU added 3 points on a field goal, the Wolves would score a touchdown on Fenumiai’s second touchdown pass to Andy Avgi, this time for 17-yards. Then, senior kicker Jesse Correa would add a 32-yard field goal to put the Wolfpack up 31-18 going into the final quarter. CWU closed the gap on another long touchdown pass from Lane. The touchdown put CWU within 6 points of Western with 8:46 remaining for the game. After three first-downs on their next drive, CWU would force the punt, but the Wolves would eat up over five minutes of clock. The Wildcats were left with only three minutes remaining for the game. CWU started their final drive on their own 9-yard line and moved down field to the edge of the home team’s end zone. The Wolves defense bunkered down and forced the Wildcats into a 4th down with only a yard to keep their drive alive. CWU handed the ball off to their running back on 4th down, but he was brought down simultaneously by junior George Swartzlender (DL) and senior Shane Kuenzi (LB) for a turn over on downs. The Wolfpack would run out the clock to seal the victory. This victory marks a turning point in the season, and is Western’s third consecutive win. The win improved their overall record to 4-3 and 2-1 in GNAC conference play. “We try to focus on one week at a time and get better,” stated head coach Arne Ferguson after the game. “To get a win against a real good team like Central Washington, that’s a serious accomplishment, but we have some skills that we need to get better at.” Western hits the road and heads north of the border to take on Simon Fraser University in British Columbia on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. The next home game is Saturday Oct. 31, 2015, against Azusa Pacific University (CA) at 1 p.m. at McArthur Field.
Off-Campus wins this year’s Powderpuff game By Amanda Clarke | Staff Writer The annual powderpuff game took place on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. at the intramural recreational field on campus. This year’s game featured a match up between students living on-campus against students living off-campus. “There were a lot of students supporting others, which was wonderful to see and be a part of such a united community!” said Karisa Merrill, a sophomore with a pre-professional biology major. There was a pre-game tailgate that included free food. The event, which was hosted by the Student Activities Board, also gave all attendees chance to take pictures with mascot Wolfie before the game. A firework display followed the pow-
derpuff game. The off-campus team sported black uniforms with pink lettering, and the on-campus team sported pink uniforms with black lettering. Ann-Marie Matagi, a junior social science major, said she felt the game went well. “There were times when it was aggressive, but other than that our team went out and had fun,” she said. Matagi played for the off-campus team for her first year at Western this year. The homecoming court nominees were introduced at halftime. They consisted of students who attended the homecoming activities throughout the week. Members of the Homecoming Court included Jordan Ducotey and Nathan Tew, Shay Guyton and Bryan Kelly and Kaylee Church. The homecoming honorees from 2014 also made an appearance.
Photo by DAKOTA KAIDA As part of Homecoming week, students participate in the campus Powderpuff game
The final court was scheduled to be announced on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the homecoming football game.
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The final score of the powderpuff game was 8-0 with off-campus emerging as the victors.
SPORTS
DROUGHT RELIEF
Timbers’ 5-2 victory over L.A. strengthens playoff drive and signals end to season-long goal drought
The Journal Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
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WOU away games recap By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor Soccer Team Falls to Concordia 2-0 The Western women’s soccer team fell on the road to Concordia University Saturday Oct. 17, 2015. After a scoreless first half, the Wolves conceded two goals, with the first coming in the 57th minute, and the second in the 90th with seconds remaining in the game. The Wolves’ best chance at a goal came in the 86th minute when junior Kealakekua Makekau (M/D) sent a cross into the 18-yard box which junior Taylor Higa (F/M) volleyed just over the top of the goal. During the course of a late five minute push, Western would take five shots on goal but were unable to find the back of the net. After the heart-breaking loss, the Wolves overall record is 6-6-1 and 2-51 in GNAC conference play. Volleyball Beats MSU Billings in Three Straight Sets The Wolves’ volleyball team swept Montana State University-Billings on the road in three straight sets on Thursday Oct. 15, 2015. The set scores were 25-15, 26-24 and 26-24. The Wolves snapped a seven game losing stretch and also recorded their first road victory of the season. Redshirt freshman Amanda Short (OH) led Western with a match-high 14 kills, and also racked up 2 blocks. Sophomore Alisha Bettinson notched 11 kills. With the road win, the Wolves improved to 5-14 overall and 2-8 in GNAC conference play.
The Portland Timbers celebrate a blowout performance versus the LA Galaxy
By Jack Armstrong | Copy Editor The Portland Timbers have ramped up their efforts to qualify for the 2015 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs with a 5-2 win against the L.A. Galaxy on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 in Los Angeles. Portland fielded a familiar lineup with the exception of young right back Taylor Paey (D) in place of regular starter Alvas Powell who was suspended for the clash. The Galaxy were quick to test the new man, but he proved himself to the fans throughout the night, effectively managing the left hand attack of L.A. Despite the Timbers cohesive back line, Steven Gerrard (M) rattled the crossbar from a free kick just inside of three minutes into the first half. Gerrard set the tone for the Galaxy going forward, and in the 35th minute, captain Robbie Keane hammered home a glorious curing volley into the top left corner of the Timbers’ goal. As the second half kicked off with L.A. controlling the game with a 1-0 lead, Portland roared into life in the 64th minute on the back of leading scorer Fernando Adi (F). Holding the ball up in L.A.’s box after some bril-
Photo courtesy of KELVIN KUO USA TODAY SPORTS
liant team play, Adi turned and struck a rising shot in the back of the net. Adi would strike again as he drew a penalty two minutes later. Electing to take it, Adi stepped up and slotted the ball just underneath former Portland Keeper Donovan Ricketts (GK). This opened the taps with Diego Chara (CDM) scoring a flying header in the 73rd minute. Even though Keane was able to scrape one back to make it 3-2, Portland would grab two more unanswered goals almost instantly, one from Darlington Nagbe (M/F) in the 84th and another courtesy of Maximiliano Urruti (F) in the 89th minute. Speaking to mls.com after the game, head coach Caleb Porter said “Maybe there are some guys in LA that are more talented than us, but we wanted to be the better team today.” Racking up two wins in two against conference rivals including Real Salt Lake, Portland stands on the precipice of a playoff series, but it isn’t a dead lock just yet. The Timbers must win in their last game against the Colorado Rapids Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 at Providence Park. If they lose, they must bank on Seattle or San Jose
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losing their last game, or Kansas City losing both of their final outings. If Portland can manage to win on Sunday, there is the possibility that they will be the number two seed in the playoffs, granting them automatic passage to the semi-finals and a home game during the cup run. The number two seed is up for grabs but only if Vancouver loses their last game while Sporting Kansas City and Los Angles draw, or if Vancouver loses and Sporting Kansas city draws or loses to their last game against the Rapids. If the Timbers don’t secure the number two seed, they will be forced into the knockout rounds to play for a spot in the semifinals. With the goal drought still in very recent memory a knockout round with little to no rest could spell disaster for the team, but Portland has vbeen playing better on the road than at home this season and the long rest between the end of the season and the semifinals could cool off their new-found momentum. With all that being said, those of us in the stands can just sit back and look forward to an exciting round of matches approaching.
ENTERTAINMENT
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Goosebumps: frights, delights, pretty alright By Declan Hertel | Entertainment Editor When I was a kid, I was a wimp. As such, I only read a few of R.L. Stine’s bestselling “Goosebumps” stories. They were “2spooky4me,” as the joke goes. That said, the ones I did read, I really loved, especially “Night of the Living Dummy.” They were spooky, fun reads starring kids just like me! And with 350 million copies sold as of 2014 and a further two million copies a year according to Scholastic, there are far more people who are far more invested in the series than I ever was. The new film, starring Jack Black (“School of Rock”) as R.L. Stine himself, is clearly meant for that dedicated fan base, right down to the story following the same formula as many of the books: kid moves to new town, many spooky things happen, and the spooky things are eventually triumphed over. This may sound disparaging, but I think keeping the formula intact helped the movie achieve its purpose: a healthy dose of nostalgia for the older viewers, while introducing the younger generation to these old tales of terror. I expected three things out of this movie: scares, heart, and laughs; what I consider the three pillars of children’s horror cinema. While the movie was lacking in the first and decent in
Photo courtesy of TEASERTRAILER.COM
the second, it definitely had plenty of the third. The lack of any appreciable frights is easily the biggest disappointment of the movie. Even though the source material was kid lit, it was called “Goosebumps” for a reason. While the visual rendering of virtually every monster from the book series is really cool, none of it ever approaches frightening, and the “greatest hits” parade of monsters unfortunately feels rushed. However, the inclusion of Slappy the Dummy (also Jack Black) as the main antagonist of the story was pretty darn freaky.
Pan doesn’t soar at box office Director Joe Wright faced some controversy earlier this year for casting Rooney Warner Brother’s (WB) “Pan” was a huge Mara as Tiger Lily. Since the character is disappointment at the box office opening supposed to be a Native American, a lot weekend. The film cost more than $250 of people were upset about the apparent million to make and market, but took whitewashing of the role. home about $40.5 million worldwide. The Harry Potter series was hugely sucThis just adds to WB’s list of recent box cessful for WB as it appealed to younger office disappointaudiences and adults ments with films like alike, so the studio “Jupiter Ascending” wanted to fill that and “Entourage” also gap with retold clasdoing poorly. Even sic stories. The studio with the upcoming was already developChinese release on ing a sequel to “Pan” Oct. 22, WB is planand has a re-imagning on losing at ined “Tarzan” coming least $100 million on next summer. the film. This makes WB needs a suc“San Andreas” WB’s cess with a huge year Photo courtesy of PANMOVIE.COM only box office succoming up in 2016, cess of the year. featuring “Batman v. Superman: Dawn Not only was “Pan” a box office disap- of Justice”, and “Suicide Squad” hoping to pointment, it was also ripped apart by kick off a large DC Cinematic Universe. critics. With the modern superhero movie Michael Philips, the Tribune Publish- craze, those films are projected to do very ing critic, called the film, “The official well for the studio. worst-ever Peter Pan adaption of any There’s also the hotly anticipated Harsort,” and Peter Bradshaw in a review for ry Potter Spin-off “Fantastic Beasts and The Guardian said, “Joe Wright’s fantasti- Where to Find Them” coming out 2016 cally dull origin-myth reboot of the Peter that looks extremely promising, but now Pan story resembles nothing so much as a the pressure is really on for WB with their John Lewis Christmas TV ad.” upcoming lineup of films. By Ashton Newton | Freelancer
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“Goosebumps” was better at delivering on the heart, though it took some time to get around to it. While the lack of scares was disappointing, the biggest problem with the movie is that it takes far too long to get off the ground. Though once it does, it starts to pick up speed admirably with the introduction of Hannah (Odeya Rush, “The Giver”) to our handsome, witty protagonist Zach (Dylan Minnette). I was initially skeptical of the impending romantic subplot, but I was pleasantly surprised by the chemistry and charm the two brought. Speaking of pleasant surprises, “Goosebumps” is really, really funny, mostly thanks to Jack Black devouring the scenery. Black dominates every scene he’s in, carrying with him his trademark high-energy antics, a complete embrace of how ridiculous this entire exercise is, and a very conspicuous and utterly made-up accent (seriously, his exclamation of “Slappeh!” during the climax of the film made me double over with laughter). If I am being honest, “Goosebumps” was nothing special, but if you like the books, want to see promising young actors deliver solid performances, or just can’t get enough Jack Black, you can’t go wrong.
3 out of 4 paws
ENTERTAINMENT
The Journal Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
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Fargo’s gory and groovy return FX takes us back to the Midwest for more murder and mayhem By Declan Hertel | Entertainment Editor When my father asked me several years ago if I had ever seen “Fargo,” the Coen Brothers’ 1996 cinematic masterpiece, I told him I hadn’t. Without saying another word, he went into our living room and turned it on. There was no question about it: “Fargo” immediately became one of my top three films of all time. It was sometime in 2012 when I heard that a television show was to be made, also called “Fargo,” that continued to build on the setting and themes of the film: somewhere in the frozen Midwest, in or around Fargo, ND, there are people too desperate and ambitious for their own good, ruthless-yet-quirky criminals who would gut a man for a buck, and good-hearted, innocent police officers forced to come face to face with the darkest face of mankind. The news filled me with a delight and anticipation I had never felt for pop culture before. Much to my delight, the first season was unbelievable. It was near-perfect in every facet. “Fargo” ran to nearly universal acclaim, and though it was initially touted as only a miniseries, it seemed like FX, and creator/show-runner Noah Hawley would have been insane to not make another season. That is precisely what they did. The new season premiered on Oct. 12. Early reviews stated that it was even better than the almost flawless season one, and I am pleased to announce that two episodes into the second season, it looks like they were right: “Fargo” round two is absolutely killer. Centering on the “Sioux Falls Incident,” an event oft-mentioned but never explained in season one, season two takes us to Luverne, Minnesota and Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1979. The nation is reeling from Watergate and the end of the Vietnam War; and as is the way in the “Fargo” universe, someone with too much ambition and too little brain creates a huge problem in a small town for both the local police and criminal populace. This season stars Patrick Wilson (“Watchmen”) as
Horror entertainment for a younger generation By Darien Campo | Freelancer
Kirsten Dunst portrays Peggy Blomquist in FX’s drama Fargo
Photo courtesy of FXNETWORKS.COM
Lou Solverson, a State Trooper recently returned from combat in Vietnam, Kirsten Dunst (“On the Road”) as Peggy Blomquist, a hair stylist with a creeping obsession with having a better life, and Jesse Plemons (“Breaking Bad”) as Ed Blomquist, Peggy’s dutiful husband and local butcher. All their performances thus far are pitch perfect, especially Kirsten Dunst as one of the most compelling characters I’ve ever seen in any medium. The aforementioned are just scratching the surface of an amazing cast, which includes Ted Danson (“Damages”), Nick Offerman (“Parks and Recreation”), Jean Smart (“24”), and Bruce Campbell (“Evil Dead”) as Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail. Thus far, season two’s most promising aspect is that while it’s retained the dark charm, murder, and mayhem that is the essence of all things “Fargo,” it is absolutely coming into its own as a piece of television. If I have but one real criticism of season one, it’s that it stuck too closely to the movie in terms of plotting and
characterization, at least early on. Not so with season two, which takes place almost ten years before the movie, and almost twenty before season one. The only thing this season needs to do is make the “Sioux Falls Incident” something worth remembering, and with a vehicular manslaughter cover-up, two crime syndicates facing off, and a brutal triple murder already, I can’t wait to see how this season escalates. I feel the phrase “must-see TV” is a cliché, but I am using it here. “Fargo” is truly must-see TV. When “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men” ended, all of a sudden the honor of “Best Show on Television” was up for grabs. I’m calling it now: “Fargo,” by midway through this season, will have one major entertainment news outlet declare it as such. And they will be right. If you have any love in your heart for black comedy, for murder mysteries, for perfectly executed drama, for the art of the television show, the verdict is simple: if you are not watching “Fargo,” you are criminally misusing one hour of your time every week.
October is slowly coming to a close, but the horror movies keep playing in my house. This week I watched “Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993), “Sweeny Todd” (2007), “Tusk” (2014), “The Frighteners” (1996), “Goosebumps” (2015), “Cabin in the Woods” (2012), and “Friday the 13th” (1980). 2015 saw the revival of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series with a new film starring Jack Black. While the movie was a bit lacking in places, it was a fun nostalgia trip back into the classic series that used to occupy me for hours. I used to collect all the Goosebumps books as a kid -- I loved the creepy, gross, scary, and shocking tales R.L. Stine had provided for me. I was a horror fanatic in a child’s body, and authors like Stine fed my fascination. I used to read all the ghost story collections I could find back then. Authors like Bruce Coville gave me plenty of chills, but there was one trilogy of books that really stuck with me all of these years. Alvin Schwartz’s “Scary Stories to Read in the Dark” trilogy gave me legendarily bad nightmares. The grotesque illustrations of Stephen Gammell were twisted beyond all belief and made those books transcendently terrifying.
I’m not alone either, adults still celebrate Schwartz and Gammell’s work, and in fact, a new documentary about their trilogy is currently in the works. Those books may have frightened us, but even as children we knew that it was fun to be frightened. I don’t feel that enough attention is put into horror entertainment geared toward children. We tend to assume that it’s an adult-only genre, but there’s a world of opportunity for juvenile horror. We’ve seen some great examples before with movies like “ParaNorman” (2012), and “Coraline” (2009). These movies know how to scare children and keep them laughing. But the undisputed master of children’s horror would, of course, be Tim Burton. No one else quite has that perfect blend of wondrous, childlike fun mixed with a sick fascination with the morbid and macabre. Movies like “ParaNorman” are usually met with opposition from parents wanting to protect their children, and the “Scary Stories” trilogy is a regularly challenged book year after year. It can be hard to imagine horror as an acceptable genre for children. But it’s important to remember that it is a ton of fun to be scared, no matter how old you are.
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CAMPUS LIFE
The Journal Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
Delights at Urban Deli Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor Photo by CARLY FISTER
Urban Deli specializes in tortas, fresh squeezed juices, and natural milkshakes, which are akin to smoothies. Tortas are a type of flatbread sandwich, which are piled high with a variety of fresh ingredients. The tortas cost between $5 and $7 and include a choice of meat, tomato, avocado, refried beans, onion, mayo, and the option of added jalapenos or chipotle sauce. Their juices and milkshakes run between $4 and $6 and are made fresh to-order. David Valencuela, one of the owners of Urban Deli, originally hailed from Los Angeles, California. He wanted to open a Mexican deli in Monmouth to get away from the hustle and bustle of LA. In response to asking why he chose to make tortas, he responded, “I’ve never seen this kind of food in this place.” I bought a chicken torta, for $5. The torta came with all of the previously listed ingredients, squeezed between two slices of rather fluffy flatbread, and breaded chicken breast. It was tasty, if a bit rich, due to the fatty ingredients of avocado, beans, and mayonnaise. On another day, I purchased a tuna melt for $6, which was also hearty, filling and full of flavor. If you are craving the ingredients present in Hispanic food, or want an alternative to Subway, this is definitely a good option. It certainly filled me up; I could have saved half of the sandwiches for another meal. The restaurant itself is located close to campus, behind the picnic table by Koyotes. Its decor is an interesting mashup of industrial and urban, featuring aluminum siding and parking meters. Right now, the restaurant is run by Valencuela’s family, though there are plans to eventually hire on local chefs and workers. The service is quick and, while you’re waiting, you can watch the food being made.
Promise Mediterranean promises excellent eats By Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor Baset Shagrun, co-owner of the food cart, is an international student from North Africa/Libya, who came to Western with his brother, the other co-owner. Shagrun said he had difficulties finding a space to lease for his restaurant, so he decided to use a food trailer.. They are open until 3am, meaning they stay open the latest out of the restaurants in Monmouth, which will serve nightowls and late night partiers well. I purchase the lamb shawarma, due to all other meat options being sold out. It was about $7. They packed the pita, a soft flatbread, full of tender, savoury meat, to the point where I couldn’t feasibly bite into it, and so hard to pick out pieces and eat them before being able to enjoy the meal in its entirety. I also had their hummus, which was also delicious.
The shawarma came with tomatoes, lettuce, and tahini sauce, though I asked for a side of tzatziki sauce- a cucumber, yogurt, and herb mixture- that was on par, if not better, than other tzatziki sauces I’ve had. As the only food cart in Monmouth, Promise Mediterranean drew a lot of attention from local residents and students, successfully introducing the food cart trend that has been popularized in Portland. On their opening day, they even had the mayor of Monmouth come out and sample their wares. Every time I have passed the trailer, there have always been people milling around, waiting for food, or sitting on a picnic bench and enjoying their meal. Shagrun said, “We want to have great prices for students...because we are students as well.” They wanted to open up a Mediterranean food cart to bring something new and different to Monmouth.
Photo by BRIANNA BONHAM
Photo by BRIANNA BONHAM
Casa Burrito
brings the heat
Casa Burrito is a bright orange building off Highway 99W, taking the place of Big Town Hero; it’s hard to miss it. When walking up to the restaurant, the customer has two options: the faster option, in which you eat outside where burritos, tacos and quesadillas are served, or eating indoors for a sit down restaurant style service. The building, on the whole, is colorful and filled with music. For the outdoor option, there is a student discount. If a student shows his or her student ID, they can get $5 burritos or $1.50 tacos. Casa Burrito is working on implementing a senior special. The service was fast, friendly and very helpful. They offer a wide variety of meats, toppings, sauces, and salsas. There are options for everyone. The restaurant was very clean, comfortable and accessible. The food was excellent, truly authentic Mexican food. I sampled five different tacos, shredded pork, marinated pork, steak, chicken, and carne asada. Each meat was grilled along with jalapenos and onions until they were caramelized. The chef then dressed the tacos with sauces, onions and jalapenos. There were radishes and limes on the side to help cut the heat of some of the spicier salsas and sauces. The meat was nicely seasoned, and cooked well. The marinated pork was my personal favorite. It was topped with lime juice, cilantro and fresh onions. The manager, Miguel Garcia, said, “It’s a good location, good food, good service, reasonable prices and a student discount … [this] makes it good for college students.” Brianna Bonham | Staff Writer
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CAMPUS LIFE Marimba Player Leaves Monmouth Wanting More Dr. Wei-Chen Lin visits Western as part of the 2015-2016 concert series
The Journal Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
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Reaching out to Refugees A study abroad student shares her experience of Europe’s refugee situation
By Rachael Jackson | Freelancer
By Emily Pate | Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of WEICHENLIN.COM
On Sunday night, Oct. 19, 2015, marimba player Dr. WeiChen Lin performed at the Smith Recital Hall. Dr. Lin received his doctorate of Musical Arts from Boston University in 2006 after moving to the United States. Trained as an orchestral musician, Dr. Lin is a distinguished marimba player that has traveled and performed in places like Taiwan, Russia, and Australia. The marimba is much like a xylophone, but is made with wooden bars instead of metal. The tones it produces are warm, the notes lingering long after the initial staccato of the mallet strikes. The marimba’s richness of sound can be attributed to the tube-like resonators that hang below the instrument. He began the concert by playing two pieces alongside his peer from Boston University and the Director of Percussion Studies at Western,
Dr. Christopher Whyte. The two musicians hopped behind their instruments, every now and then synchronizing rhythm in unexpected ways. The second song they performed together, “Skylark Orange Circles” by Gordon Stout, was a virtuosic Japanese piece, an ode to the color orange and the rapidly paced song of an ascending skylark. Dr. Whyte left the stage while Dr. Lin continued with two Brazilian songs. The second solo piece was a five movement work titled “La Populaire Brasillienne” by Heiter Villa-Lobos that was adapted from guitar music to the marimba by Dr. Lin himself. “The marimba produces deeper sounds better than the guitar, of which loses depth quickly,” Dr. Lin said, explaining his decision to adapt this song to marimba, “I play on here and you get a much fuller sound. You can hear the resonance.”
His final song was another guitar adaptation, this time from “Fantasia on Themes from La Traviata” by Francisco Tarrega. This romantic piece used famous tunes from La Traviata, an Italian opera. When crossed over to the marimba it became a delight to experience with its whimsical and rich sound. Faith Osterlund, sophomore and Contemporary Music major, said she drew inspiration from hearing music similar to “Fantasia.” “I’m a classical singer,” Osterlund said. “So if I was to do something from this particular concert, I would choose something along those lines.” The Music Department is hosting a number of events in the next months. Don’t miss the next concert on Sunday, Oct. 25 in the Smith Recital Hall at 3 p.m. It is titled “Violin, Viola, Vielle, and Friends” and is free to Western students that bring their ID.
This past summer, Eriqa Hermen backpacked across most of Europe, where she saw the Syrian refugee crisis first hand. On Oct. 19, 2015, she hosted a talk at Western entitled Across Borders: Europe and the Syrian Refugee. Though originally Dutch and Finnish, Hermen has recently become a Swedish citizen. She spent the 2013-14 school year in an exchange program at Western. While visiting this month, Hermen was asked by Dr. Gudrun Hoobler, a German professor Hermen met in her time at Western, to share her experiences of the refugee situation. “I want people to see the other side of it, so to speak,” Hermen stated. “I want to show you these are the human beings who live there, who are not part of the [Islamic State], who are just trying to have a life.” After listening to Hermen speak, Alyssa Chiampi, junior Public Policy Administration major said, “It was really eye-opening … to get information that was real and raw.” After hearing about first hand experiences, she said, “[It] made the issue a lot more real.” Jena Liebscher, first-year and ASL Interpreting major, also stressed the importance of awareness. After listening to Hermen’s
HUMANS OF WESTERN
“I love writing, I love the power of words and how they can make an impact ... I use poetry as a coping mechanism for a lot of things. My nephew recently died and he was two months old. And so I was able to dig really deep and find the beauty in this tragic situation, and kind of process my pain that way. And it helped a lot of people, because my family read it and it helped them kind of see things in a different perspective.” “I was a sophomore in high school and my family was going through a really difficult time ... I had no motivation, no drive to do anything. And I was sitting in my third period class, this is how well I remember this, I got a call, my teacher came back and said, ‘You need to go to the office right now.’ Like, I didn’t do anything, I’m a good kid. So, I go to the office and my dad is sitting
there and my dad’s got tears in his eyes...He’s like, ‘We gotta go right now, we got to get to the hospital.’... So he rushes me out, we get down the stairs and he starts laughing. He goes, ‘I had to get you out, we’re going to the coast for the day ... I had to throw in all the dramatics, because if this wasn’t Grammy award winning, I don’t know what is.’” “I used to be really hardcore, just pro-life, anti-abortion, but then I started talking with people, people who have had abortions, who’ve been through this, who’ve lived it. We talked about regret, all of the emotional stuff that goes along with it. And I believe that they should have a choice. I’m still pro-life, just for the record. I still believe that, you know, if abortion can be avoided, it should be. But I understand the value of choice.” By Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
talk, she said that the best way to help is to “find out exactly the facts and information about the situation.” Hermen showed Seeking Asylum, a “60 Minutes” clip that aired Oct. 18, 2015, which documents refugees’ experiences. The video can be found on CBS News’ website. On the United Nations Refugee Agency’s website, it states that there are 4,180,631 registered Syrian refugees as of Oct. 19, 2015. The UN estimates the funding requirement for the refugee crisis at just over $4.5 billion, but states that they have only received 41% of what is needed. Hermen shared her personal experiences of the refugees’ impact on Europe, largely seen in the growing presence of the police, the unreliability of transportation, and protests both for and against immigration. On her travels, she met people who had given up their apartments or even entire hostels as housing for refugees. One of the ways Western students can offer aid, Hermen says, is to find and spread knowledge about the refugee situation. Hermen also stated, “You can always give money. It’s cliché, but it’s true.”
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The Journal Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
Let’s paint the town How the Teal Pumpkin Project is improving trick-or-treating By Katrina Penaflor | Managing Editor Every year, millions of children take to the streets dressed as their favorite super heroes, monsters, or fictional characters to celebrate Halloween and go door to door asking for candy. But what seems like a regular and fun-filled occurrence for most kids can actually pose as a problem many people don’t realize. The problem lies in the food being handed out –the candy. What many children consider to be the best day of the year, because let’s face it candy is delicious, not all kids can enjoy the treats being handed out to trick-or-treaters. Food allergies can prevent children from being able to ring on all their neighbors’ doorbells and replay Halloween’s famous phrase of “trick or treat.” Whether it’s a peanut allergy, gluten intolerance, or an inability to incorporate candy into their diet, houses should consider the best way to keep their house trick-or-treat friendly for all kids. The Food Allergy Research and
Education (FARE) organization launched a national campaign in 2014 called the Teal Pumpkin Project, which “raises awareness of food allergies and promotes inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season,” according to www.foodallergy.org. The goal is to get households to start giving away non-food treats to trickor-treaters in hopes of including more children into the holiday. Houses can identify as non-food treat friendly by placing a painted teal pumpkin outside their house. The choice of the color teal is to represent food allergy awareness, and has been recognized as such for the last 20 years. I think the teal pumpkins are a much needed addition to Halloween. For most of us growing up Halloween was such a carefree holiday where you ran around your neighborhood and grabbed handfuls of candy from every house. But think about the kids who can’t run
TEAL
door to door because they have a peanut allergy and every other house has a bowl full of Reese’s peanut butter cups or peanut M&M’s. I was surprised when I brought up the purpose of the Teal Pumpkin Project to friends that the opinions weren’t all positive. Many of the responses were that they thought the project was trying to change Halloween and take away candy, or they thought kids wouldn’t make the choice of a non-food item over candy. But those are both missing the point of the Teal Pumpkin project. The point of the project is not to eliminate the inclusion of candy in the holiday; the website actually encourages people to continue passing out those treats. FARE is just trying to get people to offer an alternative. Many of their suggestions include bubbles, Halloween themed rings and jewelry, stickers, or toys. FARE does ask that people are careful with their non-food treats as
Costume Crazed! 10 Quick and Helpful Tips to Survive Halloween Costuming By Jenna Beresheim | News Editor Everyone has that friend - the one who decorates for Halloween the first day of October and prepares to party on several separate occasions throughout the month. For those who enjoy Halloween, there are some who take our costuming very seriously. As someone who falls into this category, and also cosplays on the side, I have compounded a few tips and tricks from my own personal trial and error through the years. 1. Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3 Always test your makeup and costuming accessories, such as latex prosthetics, before the night you intend to wear them. It would be best to know if you have an allergic reaction beforehand rather than ruining your party plans. Also, most Halloween makeups rub off easily onto clothes, furniture, and so forth, so plan accordingly. 2. You get what you pay for. From the dollar store makeup to the thrift store wig - you get the quality of product that you pay for. The cheaper the makeups, the worse reactions your skin
EDITORIAL
Photo by EXPERIMENTAL ERROR COSPLAY
may have to them. 3. Know your comfort level. It’s all about you enjoying the holiday. If you do not feel comfortable wearing certain items or showing skin, then don’t. Get creative with your costuming and be
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
some can still contain food products or allergens, like modeling clays made with wheat or anything involving latex. And those kinds of treats are simply there for an alternative. Yes a majority of the kids who are faced with the option will pick the candy over the toy, but for the kids who can’t pick the candy, they’ll be grateful for the non-food item. For people purchasing multiple bags of candy for trick-or-treaters this year I encourage them to switch one out for a non-food item. Even something like a packet of glow sticks for a dollar could make a difference by allowing more kids to be able to pick something from your house. Join the Teal Pumpkin Project and offer trick-or-treaters the choice of the alternative. For more information about the project and FARE organization visit www.foodallergy.org or contact Anna Luke at aluke@foodallergy.org.
what you want to be, sexy version or not. 4. Use your resources! For those who wish to do their own makeup or costuming, there are hundreds of resources online, from Pinterest to Youtube. There are tutorials that will show you the most basic techniques for makeup, or completely transforming your look with latex and prosthetics. 5. Support smaller businesses. There are many stores that support higher quality products and know their stuff, rather than the major Halloween warehouses that open up seasonally. These stores are open year-round and are full of enthusiasts willing to help you figure out the best pieces for your costume. 6. Prepare for mishaps. Uncomfortable shoes, straps breaking, seams bursting, makeup melting. . .the list goes on. Just be ready and know your costume’s limits. 7. Better safe than sorry. If you’re walking across town to get to your event, bring an extra jacket and a comfortable pair of shoes you can switch into for the journey. 8. Know your strengths. Do you excel at styling hair but you falter at false lashes? Focus on something that accentuates your skills, or pair up with a friend to use both your strengths! 9. Don’t be offensive. We’re a culture, not a costume. This message has become even more bold in the past few years, focusing on how it is inappropriate to dress up as a culture as a costume. 10. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Ultimately, it’s about having fun. Whether you’re going all out or taking the store bought route, don’t worry about what other’s think. That sharknado costume is definitely a good idea.
EDITORIAL
The Journal Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
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Huge Waste of Cash Why the HWC is kryptonite to the serious lifter By Conner Williams | Editor-in-Chief Weight room: a room where weights are stored and lifted – usually in a vertical fashion – for the intent of building strength and muscle HWC weight room: a huge building on campus which houses weights that aren’t allowed to be moved or touched for fear of making the slightest bit of noise While I know this is a hyperbole, it is what it feels like every time I attempt to lift at the HWC. I don’t claim to be the biggest or the strongest dude around, but I can move around some significantly heavy weights. And when heavy weights are moved around, they have to be set back down once the reps are completed, unless you’re a freak of nature and can just hold onto them forever. The HWC has a policy that says, “Dropping weights is harmful to the facility, equipment, the lifter and bystanders.” While the first part of the policy may be true in some circumstances, it isn’t the case when the weights and the floor are both made out of rubber. So, we can take this part of the policy with a grain of salt. I’m also not sure how dropping weights can hurt the lifter, since the whole point of dropping them is to avoid injury the could result from attempting to awkwardly set the weights down silently. In fact, it is quite difficult to set down the 100-pound dumbbells after completing a set without making any noise at all. But I suppose the HWC officials would prefer that I tear a pectoral muscle or a rotator cuff ensuring that no noise is generated. There goes the second part of the policy. Next up: injury to bystanders. Sure, if I toss the weights across the floor right at someone, something bad could happen. But nobody is going to get hurt if nobody is around; I always make sure to create a lot of space for myself when lifting heavy. It seems to me, then, that the whole point of this policy is to try and limit the amount of noise generated by people that are actually trying to work hard. I’ve been approached numerous times at the HWC and told to make less noise, which is strange, since the last time I checked,
the second floor of the HWC is a weight room, not a library. And if the concern is disrupting classes going on in HWC 110, maybe they shouldn’t have built the weight room directly above a classroom, but I suppose that just makes too much sense. The HWC is one step away from becoming Planet Fitness, in which literal alarms are set off in the gym if someone makes “too much” noise by dropping weights or grunting. Seriously, alarms go off and then the person that made the noise is asked to leave. Planet Fitness users are also not allowed to lift heavier than a certain amount (another HWC policy) and they are not allowed to do certain power lifts (also a rule at the HWC). The HWC has platforms specifically designed for these kinds of heavy, compound movements - complete with bumper plates that are made for dropping - but users aren’t permitted to use them for their actual intended purpose for fear of making too much noise. By now, I’m sure many of you are under the impression that I’m some loud, obnoxious meathead whom purposely goes out of his way to make a scene in attention-seeking behavior. I may make noise from time to time, but that’s because I genuinely work hard when I lift weights. The body tends to make involuntary noises when under duress, like lifting heavy weights. I don’t groan as loud as possible to try and draw attention to myself, nor do I throw weights around to get everyone to look at me. Frankly, I couldn’t care less if people approve of how much I lift. So when employees approach me multiple times during a workout session over the fact that I made any noise by setting the weights down on the ground or letting out a grunt, it frustrates me. Once again, it’s a gym, not a library. It also frustrates me that it seems as if that is the sole responsibility of every employee at the HWC: constantly telling people to be quiet. That, standing behind the desk,
wandering a r o u n d the gym, and … Well actually, that about covers it. It’s nice to know my student fees are going to good use: paying people to stand around. I don’t mean to lay this blame at the feet of the student employees themselves; policies start at the top, and it is simply the responsibility of the employees to enforce those policies. They’re just doing their job, and I can’t blame them for the boneheaded policies that the officials of the HWC chose to conceive. I signed up at a local gym around April in response to the HWC’s unyielding attempts to keep me quiet at all costs. I have used the HWC several times since then when I didn’t feel like driving to Independence to work out. One thing that I wish I could do is defer my membership at HWC – which costs about
Attention Students The last day to drop a course without grade responsibility is Friday, Oct. 23rd, 2016. To schedule a meeting and discuss your academic standing please contact Jesse Poole poolej@wou.edu, or for more information contact the Academic Advising and Learning Center at 503-838-8428. WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
$70 per term in IFC fees – and get a refund. However, this is not possible, since fees are automatically charged and disbursed at the hands of the IFC. I believe this is unfair; students should be able to defer their membership at HWC if they do not wish to use the facilities. The HWC is a great environment to exercise if one if interested in using some of the nice facilities and equipment that it offers: the rock wall, indoor track, pool, or excessive amount of elliptical trainers. However, it is not a good place to work out if the goal is to actually lift weights. If you want to lift heavy and have the ability to work hard without noise limitations and being harassed, do yourself a favor and go sign up somewhere else in town. Illustration by CARLY FISTER
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TAIL-END
The Journal
Western a hotspot for Hawaiian studentathletes
2015 homecoming royalty
Campus a community away from home By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor It has been well documented within the past decade that Oregon’s major universities have been a draw for Hawaiian athletes. Although Western is a much smaller college than the University of Oregon or Oregon State, the Wolves still play host to a growing number of Hawaiian student-athletes. On all three rosters of the football team, soccer team, and volleyball team, the Wolves have a total of 22 Hawaiian athletes; 13 on the football team, six on the soccer team, and three on the volleyball team). These numbers may not seem all that staggering, but when comparing the number of Western’s Hawaiian athletes to the rosters of the other ten schools in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), it becomes clear that Western is a stand out in attracting Hawaiian players. The rosters of football, soccer, and volleyball from all of the other 10 schools in the GNAC conference only have a grand total of 15 Hawaiian students (11 for football, three for soccer, and one for volleyball). Yes, you read correctly. Western Oregon has seven more Hawaiian athletes in football, soccer, and volleyball than the 10 other teams in the GNAC conference combined. Generally, Division-II schools across the country recruit athletes within their state lines or bordering states. Central Washington’s women’s soccer team, for example, has a 28 person roster, all of which are from the state of Washington. So what makes Western Oregon such a hot destination for Hawaiian athletes? “I like the people; they’re all friendly,” stated first year midfield soccer player Taylor Cadiz from Mililani, Hawaii. “I also like that it’s a small school. The classes are really small and it’s easier to go to the professors and get help compared to a bigger university.” Junior midfield/forward soccer player Machaela Rapozo from Lihue, Hawaii said, “I chose Western Oregon because it’s under the WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange Program) and we get in-state tuition here. Also, Oregon is pretty close to Hawaii because it’s on the west coast so we don’t have to travel that far to go back home.” “There’s still a lot of [Hawaiians] here so you can get away from home but at the same time there’s still the comfort of having other [Hawaiians] here,” Rapozo added. Whatever the reason may be for a Hawaiian athlete or student to choose Western Oregon over other universities, the Wolfpack is certainly happy to have them. w
Homecoming royalty Nathan Tew and Shay Guyton
Photo courtesy of STUDENT ACTIVITES BOARD
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