Volume 16 Issue 10

Volume 16 Issue 10 | Wes tern Oregon University | Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

Photo courtesy of LINNBENTON.EDU

New education policy may spell trouble Large percentage of current high school seniors expected to attend community college

By Alvin Wilson | Staff Writer Oregon is expected to see a dramatic increase in the number of high school seniors who enroll in community college due to something called the Oregon Promise.

The Oregon Promise is a new program that aims to help high school seniors attend community college for as little as $50 per term by having the state cover some of the bill, all at little expense to the taxpayer.

In order to qualify for the Oregon Promise, high school seniors and students completing a GED must have a GPA of at least 2.5 and be Oregon residents for at least 12 months before applying.

The senior classes of 2016 will be the first to enjoy this program, and nearly 20 percent of public and private high school seniors say they will, according to the Oregonian.

For four-year colleges, this could be good or bad news.

Bob Brew, Oregon’s director of student access and completion, told the Oregonian that some students who would have otherwise gone to a four-year college might be persuaded by the offer to attend community college.

Dave McDonald, Associate Provost of the Strategic Planning and Options Committee (SPOC) at Western, thinks that the Oregon Promise has the potential to affect admissions at Western.

“We may lose some freshman. We hope if we lose them that it’s only a delay and that they go to a community college, have a good experience, then transfer to us and complete their degree.

That may become the ‘normal’ path,” McDonald said.

But he acknowledges that it is still too early to be sure.

“It’s in its first year, so all we can do right now is speculate as to what the impact will be statewide. Certainly anything that provides students with additional resources to go to college is a good thing, and Oregon definitely needs to have more educated individuals.”

McDonald said he has hope for this program, but he doesn’t see it translating into increased admissions for universities.

“The real challenge is that community colleges have such a broad mission. They serve students who have such wide needs: from shortterm vocational retraining to auto-mechanic and culinary programs to students who are using it as a two-step process for getting a bachelor’s degree,” McDonald said.

“It makes this type of program a little harder to predict because there are a lot of different kinds of students who may find themselves eligible to receive money from the Oregon Promise.”

“But,” McDonald explained, “the bigger problem is that a lot of the students who start at community college never finish community college.”

According to the Statesman Journal, only

Continued on Page 3

Snow safety

Some pointers about tackling possible inclement weather ahead.

By Jenna Beresheim | News Editor As inclement weather approaches, having already affected the first day of school for Western Oregon University, there are some important precautions to keep in mind.

Commuters especially need to take precaution and know their personal limits when it comes to driving in winter weather.

AAA recommends some of the following tips and tricks for driving in snow and ice.

Keeping a vehicle well taken care of is the first measure of prevention, with tires properly inflated and appropriate tires for the season installed, with chains as another option.

Having a tank that is at least always half full will keep the gas line from freezing up, and also allows for drivers to have enough time to travel to another gas station without being left out in the cold on the side of the road.

Continued on Page 2

Wolves edge Simon Fraser 58-57 Wolves get second win of the season against Simon Fraser

By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor The women’s basketball team edged out Simon Fraser University (SFU) 58-57 at home on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015.

Senior Emily Howey (C) led the Wolves in scoring with 14 points on 6-9 shooting from the floor. Junior Launia Davis (G) tallied 9 points while freshman’s Ali Nelke (G/F) and Natalie DeLonge (C) both added 8 points.

Continued on Page 4

ENTERTAINMENT

CAMPUS LIFE

Reawakening a fandom; a look at the new Star Wars film

“Story Time” shares beauty with students Page 7

Page 8

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NEWS

The Journal Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

THE JOURNAL 345 N. Monmouth Ave. Monmouth, OR 97361 Student Media Department TERRY HOUSE NEWSROOM 503-838-8347

Protests Spark after Multnomah University Requests Title IX Exemption

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CONNER WILLIAMS

The university faces backlash from LGBTQ community.

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By Jenna Beresheim | News Editor

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SPORTS EDITOR JAMAL SMITH

On Saturday, Dec. 12, a small group of students protested outside of Multnomah University after the school requested an exemption from Title IX. “Multnomah University is one of dozens of Christian colleges and universities applying for Title IX exemptions following the Obama administration’s decision to include gender identity under Title IX, a federal statute that prevents discrimination on the basis of sex,” writes A.J. Mendoza, the Racial Justice Organizer for Basic Rights Oregon.

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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.

der-based discrimination, and sexual violence,” the website continues.

Title IX has been a hot topic in Oregon recently, as the issue arose beginning April 2014 with a resident student filing a complaint.

The student, a transgender male named Jayce, had not been allowed to house with other male roommates on campus at George Fox University.

George Fox University eventually won the battle for a Title IX exemption regardless, on the basis of religious grounds.

Continued on back

PHOTO EDITOR STEPHANIE BLAIR

journalphoto@wou.edu

Enacted in 1972, the Title IX statute focuses on sexual discrimination in educational settings.

“Title IX protects any person from sexbased discrimination, regardless of their real or perceived sex, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Female, male, and gender non-conforming students, faculty, and staff are protected from any sex-based discrimination, harassment or violence,” informs the informational website titled knowyourix.org.

“It also addresses sexual harassment, gen-

Snow Safety: From Front Page If the above option is unavailable, keep a half tank of gas in the car in order to fill up in case of emergency. For situations where a vehicle may end up off the road, pack cat litter or sand in the car to provide traction for the wheels in icy conditions.

When driving, make sure to stray away from the use of cruise control, and accelerate and decelerate slowly on slick surfaces.

Give enough time to stop at a turn, or enough space to stop behind another car in case the vehicle does not gain traction right away for a clean stop.

Always leave lights on for better visibility, even in the daytime hours, and give other drivers plenty of room on the road to account for any human error that may occur.

In worst case scenarios, always be prepared. A kit in the back of the vehicle could contain some of these items: a blanket, heat packs, extra water and food, and another way to contact those in case of emergency. Never leave the vehicle in these instances, as it provides temporary shelter and allows for easier discovery by rescue teams.

On campus, faring against the chill is easier but implements the same idea of traveling slowly.

While de-icer is applied to most campus sidewalks and heavier areas of traffic, areas may still be slick and dangerous if not

approached with caution, and areas outside of campus may not have been attended to yet.

Buildings on campus, such as the modules, may also vary in temperature compared to their clustered counterparts on the

cold or in need of clothes stop by the food pantry.

We have winter clothes located outside the pantry for easy access even if the pantry isn’t open. Clothes donations are coming in regularly so don’t hesitate to come pick some up!” states a post on the WOU Food Pantry Facebook group in November.

Some of the donated items include scarves, jackets, sweaters, hats, gloves, and socks.

The Western Oregon Food Pantry is located on the first floor of the Academic Programs Support Center (APSC) building, and the hours change on a weekly basis for the actual food pantry itself.

The Food Pantry is always accepting food and clothes donations from other students who have no use for them.

To keep tabs on the Food Pantry and see the latest contents, follow their Facebook page “Western Oregon University Food Pantry” or drop by in person.

Students interested in Photo by STEPHANIE BLAIR staying informed of campus closures are encourmain street. aged to check the WOU website For those who may not have frequently or pay attention to the means to purchase warmer local news stations covering the clothes, the WOU Food Pantry weather’s impact on the local offers free clothes donations outarea. side of their location.

“If you find yourself a little

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NEWS

The Journal Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

Motor voter

By Brianna Bonham | Staff Writer

Sick leave

Photo courtesy of OREGONLIVE.COM

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Scott Moore, the communications director for the Oregon House Majority Office, said: “While other state legislatures are working to limit voter participation, Oregon is moving in the opposite direction by removing unnecessary, outdated barriers to voting.” House Bill 2177, called the new “Motor Voter Law,” ensures that every eligible voter will receive a ballot to vote upon receiving a driver’s license. Renewing a driver’s license will automatically register one to vote as well. Individuals just have to be 18 and show proof of citizenship. The state will send a postcard reporting eligibility to vote unless a box is checked saying that it is unwanted. Oregonlive reports an estimated 10,000 voters will be registered per month once the year starts.

According to Koin News, as of Jan. 1, Oregon will become the 4th state to require paid sick leave for employees, along with California. Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Senate Bill 454 requires that companies with 10 or more employees provide up to 40 hours of paid sick leave each year. Scott Moore, the communications director for the Oregon House Majority Office, stated that “No one should have to decide between taking care of their health and keeping their job.” This law means that employees may not have to choose between taking care of their health and retaining their job. The new law upholds the Portland 2013 sick leave measure that applies to smaller businesses.

New year, new laws

Vaporizer

Some people believe that using a vaporizer, or ‘vaping’, should be treated like cigarette smoking and banned in public places, and others believe that the smoke may not be as harmful as cigarette smoke and that it should be allowed in most public places. Although there currently have not been enough tests to prove this belief true or false as of yet. As of Jan. 1, vaping and electronic cigarettes are no longer legal to smoke in publicly owned areas. Western Oregon is also a smoke free campus and does not allow smoking of any kind on campus, whether it is vaping, electronic cigarettes, or a typical cigarette.

Oregon Promise:

Pumping gas Oregonians everywhere now need to learn how to pump their own gas because as of 2016, Oregon now allows drivers of noncommercial vehicles to pump their own gas, but only under certain circumstances.

Drivers must be stopped at a service station in a rural area in counties with populations of 40,000 or fewer people, and it must be between the hours of 6 p.m.6 a.m. This law was passed to combat the likelihood of those traveling in remote areas from becoming stranded due to gas stations being closed. Those that are planning on late night travels in rural Oregon may need to brush up on their gas pumping capabilities.

Those 15 unnecessary credits means more money from the student, and more time before completion. To

From Front Page 24 percent of Oregon community college students who started in 2007-08 finished their degree within seven years. Oregon ranked 32nd out of 36 states for community college completion.

This means that many of the students who are eligible for the Oregon Promise might not even finish the classes necessary to transfer to a university.

Although it isn’t necessary to finish a transfer degree before transferring from a community college to a university, it is recommended because students may otherwise lose credits.

“While we all work hard, there’s little doubt that students do lose some credits, or they find that the subject they studied at one school is different than the subject taught at the school they’re transferring to,” McDonald said. “So the average student that is able to transfer ends up finishing with 15 more credits than the student who started at a four-year school.”

I think anything they do that can move more students to college is a good thing.

But only time can tell us if it was the right thing to do.

McDonald, the trade isn’t worth it.

“Those 15 additional credits cost money, and they

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Birth control

According to The Oregonian, in 2015, Oregon was the first state to require insurers to cover 12-month refills for oral contraception. Beginning Jan. 1, House Bill 2879 allows pharmacists to prescribe birth control (oral contraceptives) to women. This saves many women potentially costly trips to doctors or gynecologists in order to get prescriptions. According to U.S News, some forms of birth control can cost $600 a year. This new law should help diminish the cost of doctor visits for women who regularly use birth control.

also reflect an opportunity cost. That’s four months that you’re not earning money somewhere with a job.

So some of the savings that were there start to erode a little bit for the average transfer student,” he said.

The Oregon Promise has the potential to dramatically affect the enrollment of both community colleges and universities in Oregon. It could take away potential freshmen from universities, but it could also bring more transfer students to universities. How it ultimately affects colleges in Oregon will be revealed in time.

“I think anything they do that can move more students to college is a good thing,” McDonald said. “But only time can tell us if it was the right thing to do.”

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SPORTS

The Journal Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

Women’s basketball: From Front Page The first quarter went back and forth with five lead changes. The quarter would end with the score even at 20-20.

At the start of the second quarter, Howey scored three unanswered baskets, with all of her points coming in the paint.

Western fed off of Howey’s energy and played smart basketball by taking high percentage shots. The Wolves held a 3629 advantage going into half time.

In the first half, Western played arguably their best half of the season shooting .54 from the floor and going 2-4 from beyond the 3-point line. The Wolves also created 13 points off of turnovers and

had 10 offensive rebounds.

Three minutes into the third quarter the Wolves got their largest lead of the game at 11 points. The Clan, however, would fight their way back into the game after Western went cold from the floor to take a 41-40 lead with three minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Both teams struggled with shooting the ball in the final quarter and the score remained within a single basket for nearly the rest of the game.

With 1:41 remaining for the game, Wolves’ head coach Holli Howard-Carpenter subbed in sophomore Jasmine Miller (G/F). Miller scored the final four points to seal the much needed victory.

Western finished the game shooting .438 from the floor and .375 from beyond the arch. Western out-rebounded SFU 38-33 and tallied 7 steals.

Junior guard Jazmin Bembry drives to the basket against SFU

Wolves fall to Central Washington in nail-biter

By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor Coming off a tough loss to the University of Oregon just two days earlier, the men’s basketball team fell to Central Washington University (CWU) on New Year’s Eve in Ellensburg, Wash. The final score was 77-81.

Western Oregon was led by senior Ju-

lian Nichols (G) who had a game-high 29 points and also added 3 assists and 1 steal. Redshirt-senior Andy Avgi (F), the second leading scorer in the GNAC, added 16 points. Redshirt-sophomore Alex Roth (G), was the third player in double figures with 12 points.

The Wildcats jumped out to an early 10-5 lead but the Wolves would go on a

6-0 run thanks to multiple hustle plays from Avgi. The first half continued in this back-and-forth trend and there was eight lead changes in the first half alone.

The Wolves would hold a 40-39 advantage going into half time.

Western looked to put the pressure on CWU early in the second half. With stingy defense and cohesive play, the Wolves went on a 14-6 run to take a 9 point advantage with 14:47 remaining for the game.

CWU responded with an 11-2 run which included three shots from beyond the arch. The Wildcats went 6-10 from

Photo courtesy of NEIL GRAVATT

deep in the second half.

Western wouldn’t back down and, with 2:08 left for the game, the Wolves took their final lead on a step-back 3-pointer from Nichols. The Wolves, however, couldn’t get stops in the final minutes of the game and CWU scored 8 points from the free-throw line in their final four possessions.

The Wolves shot .455 from the floor and .364 from beyond the arch.

The tough loss marks the Wolves’ first GNAC conference loss and brought their record to 9-2 overall and 3-1 in GNAC conference play.

Men back on track with victory over NNU

By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor

Photo courtesy of NEIL GRAVATT Sophomore guard Alex Roth at the freethrow line against NNU

After back-to-back losses the Wolves got back on track with a decisive 75-53 victory against Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016.

Western dominated the game with a balanced attack. Five players scored in double figures with redshirt-sophomore Alex Roth (G) leading the way with 16 points.

Senior Julian Nichols (G), coming off a season-high 29 points against Central Washington University, tallied 13 points and had a game-high 8 assists. Senior Jordan Wiley (G) and redshirt-sophomore Tanner Omlid (G/F) each added 12 points, and redshirt-senior Andi Avgi (F) had 11 points.

NNU had a 3 point lead with 3:49 remaining in the first half, but the Wolves would buckle down on defense and hold NNU scoreless for the remainder of the half. Western would score the final 10 points of the first half to take a 34-27 lead into halftime.

The Wolves continued their stellar play in the beginning of the second half with stifling defense and ball control.

After NNU cut the Wolves’ double digit lead to just 8 points with 13:32 remaining for the game, Western converted four unanswered buckets from beyond the arch; two from Roth, one from Nichols, and one from Omlid to increase the lead to 59-39.

The 12 point swing proved to be insurmountable for NNU and the Wolves

cruised to a hard-fought victory. Western shot .476 from the floor, .462 from beyond the arch and held every statistical advantage over NNU. With the victory, the Wolves improve their overall record to 10-2 and 4-1 in GNAC conference play. Western Oregon currently sits in third place in the GNAC behind University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Fairbanks; however, the Wolves host both teams in two weeks.

Up next, the Wolves host Seattle Pacific University (9-3, 2-2 GNAC) on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the New P.E. Building. Fans are asked to wear black to support the team. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office on game day.

Wolves fall short to Western Washington in first loss in GNAC

By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor The Western Oregon women’s basketball team nearly gave Western Washington University (WWU) their first GNAC conference loss, but inevitably fell short 59-61 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016.

For the second consecutive game, senior Emily Howey (C) led the Wolves in scoring and finished with 12 points on 5-7 shooting from the floor. Sophomore Sydney Azorr (G) was the only other Western player to reach double figures in scoring with 10 points.

Fresh from Thursday’s 58-57 victory over Simon Fra-

ser University, the Wolves started off the game in dominating fashion. In the first quarter, the Wolves shot a blistering .571 from the floor to take a 12 point advantage into the second quarter.

Western continued to press the Vikings in the second quarter and reached their highest lead of the game with a 14 point advantage and just 2:30 remaining until half time. WWU would score two unanswered baskets to close the lead to 32-22 going into the half.

WWU closed the scoring gap midway through the fourth quarter. The Vikings would chip away at the Wolves’ lead, scoring 12 unanswered points to put

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WWU up 51-50 with 4:44 remaining in the game.

With Western clinging on to a 1 point lead with less than a minute to go, WWU hit a dagger 3-pointer to crush the Wolves’ hope for a victory.

The loss brings the Wolves’ overall record to 2-10 and 1-3 in GNAC conference play.

Next up the Wolves head to Alaska to face the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016.

The next home game is on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. in the New P.E. Building. Fans are asked to wear black to support their team. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office on game day.

SPORTS

The Journal Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

5

College Football National Championship

By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor Alabama and Clemson have proved throughout the year that they are the two best teams in college football.

We will find out which of the two is the very best when they face off on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016 for the most coveted prize, the Holy Grail in college football: the College Football National Championship.

Clemson’s football program is at an all-time high.

Not only are the Tigers riding a school-record winning streak of 17 games (spanning from last season), but the Tigers are also looking to become the only team in FBS history to go 15-0 in a season.

Standing in Clemson’s way for their second National

Championship is SEC powerhouse Alabama. The Crimson Tide have dominated the college football landscape in the past decade and have four National Championships to show for it. “[Alabama] certainly [has] been the standard in college football for a long, long time,” said Clemson’s head coach Dabo Swinney in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “But especially since Coach Saban has been there.”

Alabama struggled in the beginning of the season but have won 11 straight games by an average of 23 points per game. One of the major reasons for the Crimson Tide’s late season success can be attributed to the 2015 Heisman winner, Alabama running back Derrick Hen-

Photo courtesy of COLLEGEFOOTBALLPLAYOFF.COM

ry.

Over the course of the season Henry has tallied 2,061 yards rushing and a staggering 25 touchdowns.

Although Clemson’s defense has excelled all year, the Tigers are not as good in defending the run as they are in defending the pass. Alabama on the other hand, is No. 1 in the FBS at stopping the run.

Clemson is, however, much better then Alabama in converting third downs. Clemson ranks 13th in the FBS with a third down conversion success rate of 47.69 percent. Alabama is ranked 96th with a third down conversion success rate of 36.22 percent.

Who is the best team? We will find out Monday when the champ will be crowned.

Drama and excitement set to begin with NFL Playoffs

The snow gods bless Oregon

By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor

Winter term is officially here, and to the delight of skiers and snowboarders, so is the snow. On Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, snow pounded the valley and Western Oregon University closed its doors.

Although many students might have been upset, skiers and snowboarders rejoiced. Last year, snowfall in the mountains hit record lows. Mt. Hood Ski Bowl had so little snow last year that the resort’s lifts stayed closed the entire season.

This year, however, Ski Bowl already has a base of 68” and all of the resort’s lifts are operational. Because Ski Bowl’s elevation is significantly lower than Mt. Hood’s other two resorts, Mt. Hood Meadows and Timberline, Ski Bowl’s snow levels provide a good indication on how much the Snow Gods have blessed Oregon.

Monmouth is smack dab in the middle of four ski resorts which provides ski and snowboard enthusiasts multiple viable options for entertainment. Mt. Hood’s three resorts are north east and Mt. Bachelor is to the south.

Mt. Bachelor is a three hour drive from Monmouth, and the mountain has been blasted with powder. With a snow depth of 115” and 243” of total snowfall since Oct. 1, 2015, the mountain has already seen more snow in a few months than all of last year.

Mt. Hood’s three resorts are a little closer in distance to Monmouth than Mt. Bachelor. According to Google Maps, the drive takes a little over two and a half hours, depending on the desired resort.

Mt. Hood Meadows has a base of 79” and Timberline has a base of 89.”

Already, in just a few months, snow levels are higher on all four resorts than they were at any point last season, which has diluted skiers and snowboarder’s tears from last year.

Snow has pounded Oregon ski resorts and it is up to you to take advantage.

The final day of the regular season in the NFL didn’t disappoint, and now after the dust has settled, all of the playoff matches are set in stone.

There are 32 teams in the NFL, and now, after waiting 11 months for the regular season to conclude, the remaining 12 playoff teams face a do-or-die, win-or-go home scenario.

The first two games, the AFC Wild-Card games, kick off on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016.

First, the No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) travel to Texas to play the No. 4 Houston Texans (9-7). Kickoff is at 1:45 p.m. Then at 5:15 p.m., the No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) travel to Ohio to play the No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals (12-4).

On the final day of the regular season, the Denver Broncos (12-4) seized the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC with a victory over the San Diego Chargers, and with a New England Patriot (12-4) loss to the Miami Dolphins which slid New England into the No. 2 seed.

Both Denver and New England earned a first week bye. Denver will host the lowest seeded victor from the Wild-Card matchups on Sunday, Jan. 17. New England will play the highest ranked victor on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016.

The NFC Wild Card games will kick off on Sunday, Jan. 10.

The red-hot No. 6 Seattle Seahawks (10-6) travel to the east coast to face the No. 3 Minnesota Vikings (11-5) at 10:05 a.m. Then at 1:40 p.m., the No. 4 Washington Redskins (9-7) host the No. 5 Green Bay Packers (10-6).

After a surprising season, the Carolina Panthers (15-1) dominated the regular season and look to continue their momentum into the playoffs. Because Carolina seized the No. 1 seed in the NFC, they got a first round bye and will host the lowest seed winner of the NFC WildCard games on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 10:05 p.m.

The No. 2 Arizona Cardinals (13-3) also earned a first round bye and will host the highest seeded winner from the Wild-Card games on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 5:15 p.m.

What makes this NFL Playoff so exiting is there is no clear-cut favorite. There will be drama and there will be excitement. Twelve teams remain but there will be only one winner.

Skiers and snowboarders shred Oregon’s mountains

By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor

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CAMPUS LIFE

6 Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 The Journal

A time for change How resolute are WOU students in keeping to their New Year’s resolutions?

By Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor A new year, a new start. This attitude inspires people to create lists of resolutions, both realistic and farfetched, that they hope to accomplish within the next year.

While good-intentioned, sometimes these goals don’t get checked off of that list. The common example of this is the hoard of people who flock to the gym after Jan. 1, and the few that remain as the year progresses.

That being said, there are those that fulfill their resolutions and probably have a happier year because of it.

What about the resolutions made by WOU students? What are they, and will students be successful in accomplishing them?

Jocelyn Chavez, junior anthropology major, said she wants to “work on [her] mental health and keep a planner so [she] can go to sleep on time.” She later mentioned that she wanted to

find more hobbies and go on a trip to New York later in the year.

After a period of silence during which Chavez looked at her phone, she also stated she wants to “go on one Tinder date! Just one though.”

Going to the gym is another goal set by New Year’s resolutioners. Justin Oehler, a senior education major, said, “My resolution is to work out more. Super cliché, I know.”

“I am also trying to eat healthier, I am taking a health class this term and it helped reinforce that I need to get into better shape,” Oehler continued.

Mariah Williams, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, said that she wants to get “super healthy and in shape, and to learn how to be happy being single.” She also wants to be able to let go of anger from the past and find inner peace.

Will they be successful? Only time will tell!

Keep an eye out for {next week’s??} issue, where we’ll revisit our three intrepid New Year’s resolutioners and see how they’re faring.

Inspiring musings through movement Portland based troupe BodyVox to perform “Reverie” on Western’s stage Dancers in this show utilize both quick and slow movements, and work together in many upside-down twirling positions and occasional As part of the Smith Fine Arts Series, BodyVox, wire-flying. These difficult moves and acrobatics the dance company known for its creativity, physreveal the troupe’s well-developed skills involvicality, beauty, and wit, will be performing “Reving cooperation, strength, and technique. erie” in Rice Auditorium on Jan. 8, 2015.

The movements not only Founded in 1997 and evoke laughter from the currently in its 17th audience, shown in exagseason, BodyVox is a gerated gestures implyPortland-based dance ing sexual innuendos and company led by Emmy crazed minds, but also Award-winning choreogplay on serious tones using raphers Jamey Hampton ghostly movements and and Ashley Roland. heavy, somber music.

“Reverie,” a show that Franziska Grevesmühl-v. premiered in 2001 and Marcard, a managing diwas developed surroundrector of the Norddeutsche ing and influenced by the Konzertdirektion dance events of Sept. 11, 2001, company in Germany, says has been performed that “Reverie” “makes the throughout the U.S. and audience feel they are part internationally in Gerof another world: Full of many, Mexico, and JaPhoto courtesy of BODYVOX.COM dreams, colors and music. pan.

This is not only a perforThe name of the show connotes being swept mance— it is an instruction to be happier.” up and carried away, allowing viewers to become Featuring more than 200 original dances, the lost in the show and in the thoughts that the show company has also developed nine award-winning inspires. films, 30 original shows, and three operas.

Hampton states that beauty is the central The Oregonian called BodyVox Portland’s theme in the show, “art must prevail, humanity “most popular and internationally renowned must prevail, culture, knowledge, and freedom of dance troupe.” expression, indeed beauty must prevail.”

BodyVox’s mesmerizing and inspiring perforThe complex tone of the show is aided by the mance will be held at Rice Auditorium on Jan. 8, use of colorful and creative costumes set against at 7:30pm. a darkly-lit stage. This creates a mood that is both serious and somber, while still being lively and eye-catching.

By Joleen Braasch| Staff Writer

HUMANSOF WESTERN Curtis Yehnert, Professor of English Literature

“When I was getting my doctorate at Ohio State [...] I heard this laugh downstairs, a woman’s laugh and...It really did something to me, and it was so strange. It turned out to be my roommate’s new girlfriend, and her name was Heather. I had not been dating for a while, so he, out of pity, started inviting me to go out with them.

I became increasingly attracted to Heather and so finally, since I liked him a lot, I said, ‘Mike, you got to stop inviting me out with you and Heather when you go out.’ And he said, ‘Why?’ And I said, ‘Well don’t tell Heather, but I feel really attracted to her.’

The next day I was in my office, and there she was. She came up and she had on a strappy little thing and held her shoes in her hand, I remember that. She said, ‘Mike told me what you said.’ She said, ‘I don’t want to go out with him anymore, I want to go out with you.’

And that was twenty four years ago, and we’re still together, we’re still very much in love.”

By Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor

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CAMPUS LIFE

The Journal Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

A tale of two

TACO

TUESDAYS

Photos by BEN BERGERSON LEFT: Main Street Pub and Eatery tacos ABOVE: Rookies tacos

By Rachael Jackson | Staff Writer On Jan. 5, three friends and I set out to review the choices of the local Taco Tuesday specials offered in town. Starting at 5 p.m. every week, both the Main Street Pub & Eatery and Rookies Sports Tap offer Tuesday specials.

Rookies sits on the east side of Pacific Highway. This location makes it just ever so slightly inconvenient, as it’s a bit too far to walk on a cold winter night from campus. The Pub’s location on Main St. is closer to many of the apartments around the university, mine included, which may explain why it usually gets more student

customers than Rookies.

Rookies offers a bright atmosphere, a nice selection of beers on tap, and a foosball table. Despite this, everyone in my group agreed we didn’t like the environment, but we also admitted that it was the bar’s theme and décor that left us unenthused.

For $0.50 you can get a hard shell taco with generous portions of meat, cheese, lettuce. For $0.50 more, you can get a soft tortilla in place of the shell. The only meat available was beef, though the waitress informed us that next week there will be chicken.

Feeling adventurous? Order the $1.50 double decker for a soft shell taco glued to a hard shell by means of liquid nacho cheese. The taco sauce is spicy and fla-

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vorful, unlike the Pub’s ‘hot’ sauce.

The drink specials include $3.00 regular and strawberry margaritas and $2.00 domestic pints. Two friends ordered tasty, sweet strawberry margaritas, while myself and another friend got pints. Corona and other Mexican beers were not available, something that left my cheap beer-loving friend and I in a funk.

Having been to Taco Tuesday many times at the Pub, we could all say that the tacos at Rookies were tastier and more generously filled with delicious taco ingredients.

The Pub, like on most nights, was buzzing with conversation from fellow students. The dim lights create a kind of sanctuary for intimate discussion, something Rookies doesn’t necessarily provide.

The Pub offers $0.50 tacos with soft shells only, but their meat selection is much more varied. They offer shredded pork and chicken, and ground beef.

All the tacos come with sour cream, beans, lettuce and cheese. For the vegetarians out there, be aware: the Pub offers vegetarian beans, something Rookies does not.

The drink specials are a deal with $3.00 margaritas (fruit juice is an extra $0.50), $1.95 Corona Extras, and $4.00 long islands. We all agreed the drinks at the Pub were far stronger, so perhaps a better deal if you’re in need of a stiff drink.

In the end, our experience seemed unanimous: go to Rookies for tastier food, then head to the Pub for drinks and conversation.

“Story Time” shares beauty with students

By Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor Need something colorful to lighten up these gray, Oregon days?

“Story Time: Contemporary Urban Narratives” is a stunning new art exhibit that opened in Campbell Hall on Jan. 6. It features work done by Len Davis and Roll Hardy, artists from Los Angeles and Portland, respectively.

While the two artists have somewhat dissimilar styles and techniques, the art they produce is eye-catching and plays with contrasts and emotion.

This juxtaposition of disparate emotions and color is prevalent in these two artists’ work and lends an air of complexity and increases interest. Alicia Neal, a fifth year senior and art major, said, “If you keep looking, you keep finding stuff.”

One of the most intriguing pieces was a large oil painting titled “Mirage” by Roll Hardy. While it was set next to two of his other, equally large, pieces, it stood out due its beautifully serene scene.

“Mirage” pictures young people in an indoor swimming pool, the oil paint adding to the effect of water glistening on their skin. “It looks really liquid and its very lively without being overworked,” observed Elaina Glassock, a junior art major.

While the painting utilizes neutral colors for the

New Artwork in Campbell Hall by Roll Hardy and Len Davis

scene, brighter colors seem to spill out of the painting, with water breaking the banks of the pool and explosions of green foliage burgeoning forth from the cement.

Another piece by Len Davis titled “The Biggest Surprise of a Man’s Life” juxtaposes the rigid figure of a man who appears to be falling head first through the frame, with the somber face of an older man.

There is a terrific outpour of emotion through Davis’ depiction of his subject’s facial expressions, which range

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Photo by BRIANNA BONHAM

from sheer joy to utter sadness.

Ashley Davis, a visitor to campus, said that Davis “captures individual’s moments, struggles, and experiences.”

This art exhibit will be open from Jan. 6 to Feb. 5.

If you’re already looking for a respite from schoolwork, check out Davis’ and Hardy’s art as it will simultaneously soothe and excite your mind and eye.

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ENTERTAINMENT

The Journal Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

Photo courtesy of STARWARS.COM

Space fights never felt so good The force has awoken,

By Declan Hertel | Entertainment Editor This movie kind of transcends the need for a review. I guess the only reason you might want to read criticism is if you wanted to know if it goes the way of the much-maligned prequels.

Ladies and gentlemen, it does not.

“The Force Awakens” is really great.

The thing about the prequels is that George Lucas wanted to make “Star Wars” different. He wanted to move it beyond the lighthearted, action-packed, Saturday morning serial-inspired films that they were by introducing diplomacy and trade negotiations. While those things can be engaging and exciting (see: the “Star Trek” TV shows), they’re not Star Wars.

This is what is great about “The Force Awakens:” it is made by people who grew up with the original Star Wars, and they know what made it so near and dear to their hearts. The fact is, it doesn’t take itself or its world terribly seriously, and doesn’t try to be hard sci-fi or an adult political drama.

It’s a story of ACTION and ADVENTURE in SPACE! It’s got massive spaceship dogfights! It’s got adorable robots! It’s got battles with SWORDS MADE OF LIGHT! It’s full of wisecracking, swashbuckling heroes!

It’s fun! It’s space fantasy of the highest degree! The original trilogy was awesome then, and it is awesome now. THIS is why.

THIS is what “The Force Awakens” remembers about Star Wars, and what it executes with perfection.

All the series newcomers turn in excellent performances. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega’s Rey and Finn are characters that I will follow anywhere through the galaxy. Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren is an intriguing new masked villain. Seeing the familiar faces of the original trilogy was a delight. I loved everything about this movie.

I would have said that this is a movie near exclusively for fans of the series, based on a great deal of humor coming from references to the previous films, but then a friend of mine who had never seen any Star Wars loved it. This is the sign of a good reboot. Totally enjoyable and accessible by newcomers to the franchise, but dripping with fanservice for those who have stuck with it all this time. I applaud all those involved with “The Force Awakens;” I think you did us longtime Star Wars fans proud, and created many, many new ones in the process.

Now, a franchise as big as Star Wars is going to have people going to the theatre, many of whom are longtime fans, who hate the movie before they walk in. At this point in its release, you, dear reader, have probably heard them espousing their bitter opinions. I would like to recommend that you don’t listen to those people and go see the movie for yourself. Maybe you’ll like it, maybe you won’t, but don’t let someone who hates movies tell you to hate this one.

But as for my verdict, “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” is really, really great. If you haven’t seen it already, ohmygod do it now.

a little too easily

By Conner Williams | Editor-in-Chief ATTENTION: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS, BUT SOME MAJOR PLOT POINTS HAVE BEEN INTENTIONALLY OMITTED I’d like to start this review off by saying that I am a huge “Star Wars” fan; I bought my ticket to see “The Force Awakens” for the first showing available minutes after they went on sale.

My friends and I arrived to the theater more than three hours early and hung out discussing our theories until the lights dimmed and our hearts began to race with anticipation.

I was utterly amazed. “The Force Awakens” was a roller coaster of emotions for me, filled with nostalgic moments and ones of sadness. I walked out of the theater in true awe, for one of my favorite series was back. I saw it again days later, and loved it even more. But it wasn’t until the third time I saw it that I was able to put my crazed fanboy sense of pride aside and look at the movie for what it truly is.

Look, I liked the movie. The filmmakers used plenty of great props and costumes rather than CGI, which I thought was fantastic. It did a great job of providing viewers and long-time fans with plenty of nostalgic, emotional scenes that reminded us why we

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loved the series in the first place.

But that’s just the thing: I don’t need a reminder of why I love the series; I already know why I do. I wanted something new, something innovative, not the same plot with new characters and special effects.

And let’s be honest, things were way too easy for Rey. She goes from some nobody scavenger on a desert planet to one of the most powerful force users in the galaxy in a matter of hours (assuming the film’s plot occurs over the course of a day or two), pulling Jedi mind tricks without even knowing what they were beforehand, and beating a trained force-user in lightsaber combat (yes, I know he was injured, but I still find it hard to believe she got off without a scratch).

I also thought the film was a bit too comedic in some scenes that ought not to have been made funny. Kylo Ren gets informed of bad news and then throws a temper tantrum? All that does is make him seen less menacing.

Now we have a laughable bad guy. The new droid (BB-8) served its purpose of comedic relief, but it seemed like there was just too much of it. “Star Wars” is traditionally lighthearted, but there are some aspects, like powerful force feats and all-powerful bad guys, that just should have been taken more seriously.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Journal Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

9

Baker Street boys return

By Conner Williams | Editor-in-Chief I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: BBC’s “Sherlock” is one of the greatest television shows in history.

Each episode seems to be more cleverly written than the last, and this one takes the cake by a waterfall.

The long-anticipated special episode entitled “The Abominable Bride,” which fans were told is a standalone and is separate from the series, took us back to the origin of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch, “Star Trek: Into Darkness”) and John Watson (Martin Freeman, “The Hobbit”): Victorian-era London.

Complete with wonderful costumes and time-period props, the episode takes us back to the time when it all began, when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle conceived the brilliant crime-solving duo that has inspired countless detective narratives for more than 100 years.

The game is afoot as Holmes and Watson take on yet another seemingly incomprehensible case of murder and mystery. A woman dressed in a bride’s gown is spotted on a balcony shooting at multiple people before she turns the gun on herself. Then, hours later, she is reported by a police inspector to have murdered her husband in cold blood. How could she, whom had just committed suicide hours before, have killed this man?

Reluctantly sporting his trademark cap at the insistence of Watson’s words, “You’re Sherlock Holmes, wear

Freeman and Cumberbatch, ready to solve mystery crimes

the damn hat!” Holmes unravels the mystery thread by thread only to reveal that it isn’t what he thought it was; it’s something much greater, a resemblance to a case that has haunted him for years. No, Holmes must solve this case in order to solve another, a case that has baffled him and left his mind twisted from the day it happened.

I absolutely love the way that “Sherlock” episodes twist and turn all over the place, keeping me guessing as to where they are going next. This particular episode took me down a winding path that kept showing me what appeared to be the end of the road, but was actually yet another twist.

“Elementary, my dear Watson,” as Sherlock would so

A mildly erotic collection of poetry and short prose

By Katrina Penaflor | Managing Editor Where to begin? Well, to be honest, I’m not entirely sure, as I’ve never reviewed an entire book of poetry before. But I guess I’ll start with Michael Faudet’s “Dirty Pretty Things” was very good. Fair start?

Now on to actual details, to let people know what in the world I read and why anyone else should care to read it.

The author of the collection is Michael Faudet. I first discovered Faudet’s writing on Tumblr while scrolling through my feed.

I had never read anything of his before and his poem “A Question for Anna” caught my attention. It was only one line long, so perhaps it still falls under the category of prose.

It read, “Do you know what a palindrome is Madam?”

I couldn’t decipher what it was about this line that caught my attention, but I think it had to do with how clever it was.

Madam, obviously falling under an example of a palindrome, completing the cheeky joke.

From there I kept reading Faudet’s work on his blog and eventually received “Dirty

Pretty Things” for Christmas.

Let’s start with the introduction, which was interesting and odd in all the best ways. Instead of a regular run of the mill insight on the work of the author, the intro talked about the book “The Little Prince”

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

The importance of this was to describe the significance of the story to Faudet and his girlfriend and poet Lang Leav, who wrote the introduction. I enjoyed this candid insight to the relationship of the two writers because it laid the groundwork for possible inspirations behind the fantastical and dream-like voice the author has.

A majority of the poetry and writing is quite short, sometimes two or three lines long and nothing over four pages.

The reoccurring theme of Faudet’s writing is the overwhelming array of emotions that occur when one falls in love.

From the initial sexual interest, to the heartbreaking realizations of loving someone who doesn’t love you back, “Dirty Pretty Things” gives an honest look into the mind of a male speaker who is completely enthralled by his female muse.

A strong point for me was Faudet’s daring attempt at expressing characters’ sexual encounters with one another. He wrote

Continued on Back

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Photo courtesy of BBC.CO.UK

often tell his faithful companion as he tried to keep his bearings during the case. I felt similarly to Watson as I tried to keep up with the constant barrage of unexpected surprises this episode had in store.

The fourth season of “Sherlock” is, regrettably, tentatively scheduled to premiere sometime in the beginning of 2017.

If you missed “The Abominable Bride,” you can catch it again on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. on PBS, or you can stream it online at pbs.org/masterpiece beginning Jan. 11.

Did you miss me?

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EDITORIAL

The Journal Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

What’s the big deal?

Quit worrying about the not-so-menacing Malheur militiamen

By Conner Williams | Editor-in-Chief Chances are you’ve probably heard about this armed “militia” that has taken over a federal building in Eastern Oregon.

Here’s the scoop: on Saturday, Jan. 2, an estimated 300 protesters paraded through the town of Burns in protest of the prison sentence that was handed down to two Harney County ranchers – Dwight Hammond Jr. and Steven Hammond – when they were convicted of arson for burning federal land.

After the protest, a group of people – to which the

mass media is conspicuously labeling a militia – occupied the wildlife refuge for further protest of the Hammonds’ sentence.

The self-proclaimed leader of the “militia” is Ammond Bundy; he is the son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who in recent years was part of an armed standoff with the feds over grazing rights when he refused to pay fees for allowing his cattle to graze on federal lands.

Ammond Bundy has said that the group does not wish to harm anyone, but they would not rule out violence if authorities tried to remove them from the site, according to The Oregonian. Bundy and the rest of the supporters claim they have enough supplies to last years, despite asking for the public’s help via social media on the second day of their so-called occupation.

The thing about this situation that I find the most amusing is the way the mass media places certain terminologies on people based on race and ethnicity.

Let’s face it: if these guys were Muslim-Americans, or basically anyone that isn’t Caucasian, they would be called “terrorists” rather than “militiamen.” These individuals should be labeled for what they really are: domestic terrorists.

Many have claimed that the 2nd Amendment gives them the right to form a militia and protest against a tyrannical government, but the truth is that the govern-

ment hasn’t actually done anything wrong in this situation.

The Hammonds claimed the land that they burned belonged to them, when it is indeed owned by the Bureau of Land Management. They committed a felony and were sentenced accordingly.

These guys label themselves as patriots, when really all they are is a bunch of sympathizers of people that decided not to pay what are essentially federal taxes.

And while people inside the refuge have not specifically stated what sort of weapons they have (or don’t have), Ammond Bundy himself has posted a video on his Facebook page asking for support from others around the country - support in the form of weaponry.

I personally don’t think there is much to worry about in the form of violence, and that the occupiers will most likely just run out of supplies and be forced to come out and give an embarrassing explanation or excuse.

These people aren’t occupying a major government building; they’re in the visitor center of a wildlife center in the middle of nowhere. Everybody needs to just calm down and stop acting like this is some giant story that needs 24-hour coverage, because it doesn’t. Let them throw their little anti-government tantrum, and then arrest them when they’re done.

A little bit of kindness goes a long way

By Conner Williams | Editor-in-Chief I had an interesting start to my winter break. I decided to go and spend some time with one of my good friends whom lives just south of Seattle, as well as my older sister whom is in the same area.

I packed up some stuff to last me about a week and took off early in the morning so as to try and avoid traffic on I-5. It was a particularly nasty rainy Sunday as I made my way up the interstate and into Washington state.

Just as I passed Kelso, my Ford Ranger hit a deep patch of standing water in the middle lane and began to hydroplane.

I had experienced the feeling before, so I let off the gas and attempted to slowly steer out of the water.

As I did so, my truck began to turn sideways, eventually coming to the edge of the roadway, where it caught the lip of the grass and forced all of the momentum forward as my truck flipped twice. I landed upright in the center medium between the north and southbound lanes in a squishy patch of deep grass and mud, which probably softened the impact significantly.

My truck was ruined; the entire passenger side was caved in, and I am thankful that I did not have someone with me, for this story would be told with a much more somber tone.

My backpack containing my computer and many of my work and school supplies was thrown from the vehicle, but miraculously, it was all unharmed.

As I came to my senses, I flexed all of my muscles and felt around my body: I was unscathed. Literally, I did not have a scratch on me, nor was anything broken or strained or bruised. I somehow managed to keep my body in a tight position and stop my head from crashing into my window, probably thanks to years of training

that have given me a strong neck and torso.

I was able to open my door and get out, at which point I could feel myself going into shock. It’s a strange, uncontrollable human reflex, and I hope none of you reading this ever have to experience it if you haven’t before.

The paramedics and police arrived shortly, at which point I refused an ambulance ride due to the fact that I

(that was just the cherry on top of an already perfect morning), this woman offered to take me back to town so that I could wait for my parents to come and get me.

She had willingly missed more than half of her church’s service, so I told her that I would be more than happy to wait at her church so that she could be there for at least some of mass.

The people that I met were extremely generous and kind to me; I was greeted with a hot meal, coffee, and given a giant fruit basket to take home. I did all I could to say thank you by moving in about a dozen hay bails that were to be used for a nativity scene.

The woman then took me into town where we waited at a McDonald’s until my parents arrived shortly after.

While this incident was one of the most unfortunate experiences I’ve gone through, I did learn something about the human race. I met one of the most thoughtful people that I had ever known. She could have simply kept driving and said, “That sucks, not my problem,” but she decided to stop and help out someone in need.

I will be forever grateful for her sense of generosity and good nature that day. She made a bad situation a little bit better by showing me some basic compassion, something that if more Photo courtesy of INTERNATIONALWORKPLACE.COM people gave to one another, we can’t really afford a $1,000 bill for it. might be living in a better world.

When it all happened, a woman in a Ford F-350 truck In the future, if I ever see something like that happen had stopped in the emergency lane to check on me. or if I come across someone on the side of the road, I This was probably one of the kindest, most thoughtful will stop and show them the same courtesy that I was and selfless person I have ever met in my life. After I had shown earlier in my life. A little bit of kindness goes a dealt with the patrol officer and was given my citation long way.

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EDITORIAL

The Journal Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

Putting lipstick on a pig

11

The ugly truth about animal testing

By Stephanie Blair | Photo Editor

M

any brands claim to be “cruelty-free,” with labels that boast “Not tested on animals!” but in reality, they do. Many cosmetic companies, such as L’Oreal, state on their website that “L’Oréal no longer tests any of its products or any of its ingredients on animals, anywhere in the world nor does L’Oréal delegate this task to others. An exception could only be made if regulatory authorities demanded it for safety or regulatory purposes.” So this raises the question: where is animal testing required by law?

China.

Rather than rip into Chinese consumer law, let me also point out the inherent flaw of saying that a company doesn’t condone animal testing but would do so “if regulatory authorities demanded it.”

These companies don’t need to sell in China. Selling in a country that requires animal testing before placing products on the shelves is optional.

I understand that China is a huge market, with its population clocking in at over 1.3 billion. However, by choosing to sell in China while officially stating that they are against animal testing, these companies are stating through actions that profit is more important to the company than ethics.

As a consumer, I feel lied to. If a company is truly against animal testing, why make that choice? The policy becomes a lie to placate the uninformed animal-lover.

A few of the popular brands boasting this tagline are: Avon, Bath and Body Works, Maybelline, L’Oreal, and Axe. Some other companies boast the same cruelty-free slogan without the Chinese law addendum, and a few specific brands may have started out cruelty-free.

Photo courtesy of PETA.COM

However, they are now owned by parent companies who do support animal testing, or do sell in China. So by buying this product that is “cruelty-free” you are giving profit to and helping support the non-cruelty-free parent company.

Some of these brands include: M.A.C. (which is owned by Estee Lauder), Tarte (owned by Kose), Burt’s Bees (owned

by Clorox), The Body Shop (owned by L’Oreal), and Urban Decay (also owned

by L’Oreal).

While I’ve heard it argued that by only buying from these cruelty-free subsets of this parent company, consumers are showing that the public favors a cruelty-free option. But in reality, as long as these companies are making money, they’re not going to change their testing methods.

Animal testing is quicker and cheaper than the alternatives, such as stem cell

Musings from a woman on the edge

By Katrina Penaflor | Managing Editor Winter break at my parents’ house: a love/hate relationship.

God bless winter break.

God bless the three week reprieve from classes.

God bless sleeping in for a week because I told my other job school lasted a week longer than it actually did so they wouldn’t schedule me.

God bless my mother constantly reminding me it’s my turn to do the dishes. Oh wait…

usage, but at the cost of torturing innocent lives.

Before I saw the cruelty for myself, I felt that people who said the previous line were exaggerating. After hearing the shrieks of pain from a cosmetic testing bunny, after seeing the aftermath of these experiments, I can definitively say that it is not an overstatement.

To put a bit of perspective on the treatment of these animals, a man in Washington state was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and two years of probation for duct taping shut the mouth of his son. Meanwhile, companies are legally carrying out torturous acts such as “skin and eye irritation tests where chemicals are rubbed onto the shaved skin or dripped into the eyes of restrained rabbits without any pain relief ” and “repeated force-feeding studies lasting weeks or months to look for signs of general illness

For everyone, winter break is different. Some people stay in Monmouth, some people travel (the lucky ones), and some people, like me, go back to their parents’ house.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love going home to my family. I miss them when I’m at school, and I have a great relationship with my parents and siblings.

The only issue in all this is dealing with the change of living on my own to living back under my parents’ roof and abiding by the “their house, their rules concept.”

At my house, here in Monmouth, I literally get to do whatever I want. It’s not like I do anything crazy with this freedom, it’s more just not wearing any pants, never doing my dishes, and leaving my stuff all over the place.

Things I’m sure other students can relate to. And if they say they don’t, they’re probably lying.

But at my parents’ house, it’s like freedom is slowly dialed back. I’m transported back to the days of high

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or specific health hazards such as cancer or birth defects” according to humanesociety.org among other horrifying tests.

Animal testing is an ugly thing that many people feel they would rather not know about. The reason, at the heart of it, why people don’t want to talk about it is because they know it’s wrong.

Humans are empathetic creatures, but we’ve evolved into consumers who care more about the prestige of the brand name or the lower cost of the product rather than ethics.

This is not a call for our campus to go vegan; I’ve seen too many “I LOVE BACON” shirts for that. What I am asking is that people stay informed. If you don’t want to support this disgusting system, make sure you don’t.

Ask questions, read up; don’t be satisfied with a vague answer on a company’s webpage.

school where I have to tell my parents where I’m going, share the television with my little sister Gracie, and have to try not to swear so much (that last one proved to be the most difficult).

But of course there are the upsides, like food. So much wonderful food. It’s just magically always there in the cabinets and fridge (thank you, mom). And getting together with family members that I only see once or twice a year (Uncle David, thank you for hosting Christmas).

So I guess in the grand scheme of things, I really have nothing to complain about. I loved taking a break from school and going home, even if it did mean keeping “f ” words that rhyme with duck out of my vocabulary.

As for the winter break “love/hate relationship” I shall just say, “Winter break, I love you.”

12 Friday, Jan. 8, 2016

TAIL-END

The Journal

Poetry Review: From Page 7 with such whimsy, that the eroticism of it all nearly came across as some kind of dream.

With characters dancing from bed to bed with nothing to worry about but his or her pleasure.

The only downside to this was at times the overuse of the words “fu*king” and “panties,” and “sex” tended to drag the writing down, and left a tackiness to some of the later poems.

I wouldn’t say this book is for everyone, as it often teeters back and forth from erotic to tooth-achingly sweet. I also could have done without the clichéd rhyming that occasionally popped up, and a few of the poems were just too short for me to pull meaning from.

But if looking at the work as a whole, I think Faudet created a clever and unique look at modern love. I appreciated his portrayal of characters who didn’t shy away from their sexual desires, and weren’t afraid to openly cry tears of joy and pain.

In addition, the way the words on the page were displayed visually were quite beautiful. I would absolutely read Faudet’s writing in the future, and would be interested in reading Lang Leav’s as she has spoken of her writing being inspired by Faudet.

Title IX:

Photo courtesy of WASHINGTONPOST.COM

From Page 2

The university also claimed “that they were objecting to a housing request only, and that they haven’t kicked the student out of the university” according to insidehighered.com.

Jayce moved to an off-campus house to complete his schooling at GFU and later graduate.

Some universities are going so far as to expel transgendered students if they are ‘out’ on campus.

Multnomah University’s latest push for exemption suggests the same - that the school would “dismiss a transgender student, if one emerges in its student body” reports the Portland Mercury.

“Treating transgender students in a way that’s consistent with their gender identity would conflict with their religious tenets,” stated the University’s president, Rev. Dr. Craig Williford, in a written response to Koin 6 News.

Andrea Zekis, a policy director for Basic Rights Oregon, is a transgendered woman who attended a religious college and loved her experience there.

According to Fox 12, Andrea “worries about individuals on some religious campuses who struggle with these issues and may not feel welcomed or accepted.”

Many religious campuses, such as Multnomah University, offer counseling for those struggling with either gender or sexual identity, or a resulting sense of negative campus culture as a result.

In the last year, over 27 schools were allowed exemption from Title IX, with another nine pending applications nationwide.

Without these exemptions, discrimination may result in the complete withdrawal of federal funding for these universities in question.

Currently, there is no update as to whether Multnomah University’s exemption will pass or not as the request was only recently made.

For more information on a student’s rights regarding sexual discrimination and Title IX, visit the website knowyourix.org.

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