Volume 16 Issue 12

Volume 16 Issue 12 | Wes tern Oregon University | Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

SPORTS

ENTERTAINMENT

Blowout win for Wolves

“Outcast” comic review

Men’s basketball down WWU 78-58 for their 5th straight victory

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Robert Kirkman, creator of “The Walking Dead,” writes another thrilling series Page 7

Oregon Department of Energy overdue for makeover Gov. Kate Brown proposes bill to restructure state’s energy supply

By Jenna Beresheim | News Editor

Director Nathaniel Dunaway on set in Central Oregon.

Photo courtesy of SHANNEN BROUNER

Take a trip to “Misfortune County” WOU students to show original film on campus on Jan. 29

By Ashton Newton | Staff Writer With the New Year here, moviegoers have begun talking about the films they’ll be seeing over the next 12 months. Students and faculty at WOU, however, get the chance to start their year off with a movie made by students right here on campus.

WOU students Nathaniel Dunaway (Fifth-year, Theatre), Darien Campo (Junior, Visual Communication and Design), and Burke De Boer (Junior,

BFA Acting) started their indie film studio Body in the Window Seat back in 2012. Since then, they’ve made three films and are currently in the production of their fourth.

I got a chance to sit down with director Nathaniel Dunaway to talk about the studio’s latest film, “Misfortune County,” which they will be showing on campus on January 29th.

“Misfortune County” is a Western film set in the 1900s in Eastern Oregon’s Malheur County. The film revolves around the mission of an assassin who goes by the name of Lady Vengeance, a revenge killer for

hire. Dunaway said that the movie is a Western with comedy woven in, and that the film looks at the idea of quests in cinema.

Dunaway comments that it’s almost a cross between “True Grit” and “The Wizard of Oz,” adding the quest aspect to the Western genre.

The film was shot in Central Oregon, in the Ochoco National Forest. It opened up December 31st in the studio’s hometown of Prineville, OR at the Pine Theater to a full house.

Making a film set in 1900 certainly has its challenges; Dunaway talked about having to find costumes that reflected the time period and having

Continued on Back WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL

On Jan. 14, the first joint legislative committee meeting of the year focused most of its attention on the Oregon Department of Energy.

“Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek last month called for a ‘full and open Legislative overhaul’ of the agency, including the possibility of disbanding it altogether,” reports The Oregonian.

Many problems have been brought up in association with the Department of Energy, such as controversial sites for new energy facilities and some of the department’s policymaking activities.

One of the biggest problems, according to The Oregonian, will be finding lawmakers who are “prepared to dive into the agency’s many potentially embarrassing problems, and who it will call for testimony.”

Nearly $1 billion in energy tax credits have been issued by the Oregon Department of Energy since 2007 to support conservation and renewable energy projects by various businesses and government agencies.

A tax credit is given as an incentive, allowing taxpayers to subtract that given credit amount from the total owed to the state.

A large controversy the Department of Energy faces is the agency’s decision to allow tax credits to be sold at highly discounted prices to investors, often times at prices discounted more than the state allows.

“I’m hoping the committee will explore these issues in depth, and take steps to make sure it will not happen again,” said Sen. Doug Whitsett of Klamath Falls, a republican lawmaker, in an interview with The Oregonian.

Whitsett, along with four other lawmakers, urged both state and federal authorities to engage in a criminal investigation on the tax credit issues within the department last month.

“The state Justice Department and the

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NEWS

The Journal Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

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Senator Wyden visits Polk County The senator’s 762nd town hall meeting covered gun control, militias, and a little bit of education

By Alvin Wilson | Staff Writer Oregon Senator Ron Wyden visited Polk County on Jan. 16 to hold one of his annual open meetings.

Wyden has made it a point to visit every county in Oregon at least once a year. This was his 762nd town hall meeting since he became an Oregon senator in 1996.

Some topics covered during the meeting: Militia occupying Malheur National Wildlife Refuge: “It is very understandable that the people in Eastern Oregon are frustrated about the economy.

Obviously this is putting a lot of stress on the people of Harney County, and it cannot be allowed to go on … I expect that there are going to be appropriate legal consequences.”

Gun control: “A man by the name of Jay Dickey added a provision into law that barred the government from doing any research into the causes

of this recent gun violence. I say let’s get some serious, objective research going to take a look at these things.

The real question for me is whether, after another attack, we get to the point in America where we just shrug our shoulders and say ‘that’s the way it is.’ That’s not good enough for me. I am for some practical steps that are completely consistent with the second amendment.”

Affordable higher education: “I am the author of the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides up to $10,000 of relief for students in college. Now, obviously $10,000 isn’t all you need to pay for college, but it’s a decent start.”

“There are two other matters I’m working on that are not law. The first would create the first ever federal incentive for a state to freeze or lower tuition […] State colleges would be eligible for some federal help to reduce costs.

The second bill is the Wyden-Rubio Student Right to Know

Before You Go Act. It allows families to see what graduation rates were, debt levels, remedial education, and for the first time, what you would be likely to earn if you got a degree from that school.

If one school is doing a good job at these things, the school that is not doing a good job better clean up its act, or they’ll be out of business. [. . .] You’re beginning to inject some marketplace forces into holding down the cost of college.”

Some of his responses weren’t taken particularly well, due to Senator Wyden being a Democrat and Polk County being mostly conservative.

“I’m sure you go home today disagreeing with me about one subject, two subjects,” said Wyden. “Maybe you walk out of here thinking ‘this fella doesn’t know much about anything.’

But I hope you go home today thinking that this is what the founding fathers wanted us to do. This is what they wanted it to be like.”

Squirrel “militia” takes over Mount Hood conference room That’s one of those rooms behind Valsetz

By Katrina Penaflor | Managing Editor Last Tuesday, campus was in shock when a rampant group of angry squirrels took over a medium-sized conference room in Valsetz dining hall.

“Nobody really knows what point they are trying to make. Or why they believe they have the right to do what they’re doing. They just keep pointing at the ground and stomping their feet,” said a faculty member who was monitoring the incident.

“I’m worried,” said onlooker Marissa Barrer, who may or may not be a student at Western (I forgot to ask.) “I’m pretty sure the max capacity for that room is like 35. I overheard someone saying there were 40 squirrels in there. That’s five over the limit.”

The university quickly posted a message on their website stating that due to these events, campus would be delayed until noon. They also urged students to stay away from any potentially dangerous areas on campus.

Many students were disappointed, hoping for a full day off.

So far the only people who have been able to breech the aggressively unarmed squirrels were two theater arts majors. They managed to dress and act like squirrels in such a convincing manor that the group welcomed them into the room with open arms.

The students were sent in an attempt to communicate with the squirrels and settle the situation.

“Yeah, that didn’t work,” said Richard,

one of the students in disguise. “No one from the militia talked to us.

I’m not even sure they really knew what they were going to do next.”

Linda, who accompanied Richard, said, “I’ve been working on a squirrelhostage-situation monologue for weeks, it was sheer fate that this opportunity came to me at this moment.

My performance today, I dare say, is some of my best work.”

In a recent turn of events, an anonymous note, that is believed to be from the squirrels, was delivered via carrier pigeon to Monmouth Police reading “Send snacks.

Preferably Planter’s Photo by CARLY FISTER brand honey-roasted cashews.”

A secretary at the police station said she was temporarily taken aback by the literacy of the squirrels. “They didn’t strike me as the most educated animals out there, but after

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reading this I’m afraid of what they could be capable of.”

For any questions or concerns regarding recent updates of the situation please contact TheseAreNotRealEvents@omgmail.com.

NEWS

The Journal Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

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Students experience a preview of poverty WOU students experience poverty realities during MLK week simulation

By Jenna Beresheim | News Editor On Jan. 21, about 60 participants assumed the roles of 26 different families struggling with poverty-induced limitations.

The event took place during Martin Luther King, Jr. week in remembrance of King’s antipoverty movement known as the Poor People’s Campaign in 1968.

“King planned for an initial group of 2,000 poor people to descend on Washington, D.C., southern states and northern cities to meet with government officials to demand jobs, unemployment insurance, a fair minimum wage, and education for poor adults and children designed to improve their self-image and self-esteem,” reports Stanford University’s King Encyclopedia.

King’s actions have not been forgotten.

With poverty continuing to be an issue to this day, students partook in role playing to experience a problem that Martin Luther King Jr. fought to end in the 1960’s.

The poverty simulation allowed students to experience what living month-to-month is like for a typical low-income family.

Those 26 low-income families were formed within a large room with the families seated in small groups towards the center of the room.

Along the perimeter of the room, tables represent available services and community resources for the families to make use of as needed.

Some goals of the simulation may seem simple: keep the family intact while providing basic necessities, such as shelter.

Student volunteers stand in line to wait for a spot in employment.

In order to achieve these goals, the families had to make difficult choices, including pawning off items or scraping together enough money to buy a bus pass to the pawn shop.

“The latest figures from the American Community Survey show 16.7 percent of Oregonians live below the poverty line,” reports Oregon Public Broadcasting.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty rate in 2014 was 14.8 percent, meaning that 46.7 million people lived in poverty.

The simulated families range from both parents working, to one parent working, to the children also trying to make ends meet, and every variation in between. Poverty can affect an entire family, including children under 18.

The poverty rate in 2014 for children under age 18 was 21.1 percent, while the rate for people aged 18 to 64 was 13.5 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

By garnering a greater grasp of what it meant to be impoverished and to experience another human’s struggle, participants became more aware of not only their privilege, but how to assist the community.

According to Stanford University, the Poor People’s Campaign “succeeded in small ways, such as qualifying 200 counties for free surplus food distribution, and securing promises from several federal agencies to hire poor people to help run programs for the poor.”

The goal of the simulation was ultimately to raise awareness, but also to encourage students and other participants to make a difference against poverty.

Photo by BRIANNA BONHAM

Brown goes green: From Front Page FBI, for example, are currently investigating its issuance of nearly $12 million in tax credits to support the installation of solar panels at Oregon State University and the Oregon Institute of Technology,” continues The Oregonian.

This brings Western into a possibly sticky situation in the future, with Ackerman being one of the first largescale residence halls in the nation to achieve a LEED platinum rating.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

The point system is as follows: Certified at 40-49 points, Silver at 50-59 points, Gold at 60-79 points, and

Platinum at 80+ points.

“Rooftop solar thermal panels pre-heat water and air for use in the facility, resulting in a 50% reduction of potable water usage and a 35% reduction in energy consumption,” reports Western Oregon University Housing.

Ackerman uses rooftop solar ducts to extract heat energy from the sun as well as thermal panels to preheat domestic hot water.

“The Peter Courtney Health and Wellness Center received the LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, to obtain this Western Oregon University Peter Courtney Health and Wellness Center employed numerous sustainable features, from the management of storm water runoff to the use of natural ventilation in the building,” states a university report.

If WOU continued on the path to solar panel usage for electricity, or to receive tax credits in return from the Oregon Department of Energy, the university may find

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itself in hot water as well.

The plan that Gov. Kate Brown has proposed would restructure the entire Oregon Department of Energy in every regard, and is planned to restructure Oregon’s energy supply by 2040.

The reformation plan would eliminate coal-fired energy, which in turn would result in over half the consumers receiving renewable energy instead.

“The Governor supports charting a course to lower greenhouse gas emissions and believes expanding the availability of renewable energy in Oregon is one way to make a meaningful impact,” said Chris Pair, a spokesman for the governor, to The Oregonian.

The next meeting is planned for Jan. 29 to allow an insight into the bill from a utilities standpoint. Within a week, the state could see the biggest change in history to Oregon’s energy policy.

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SPORTS

The Journal Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

Julian Nichols goes for a rebound against Western Washington on Jan. 16.

Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM

Wolves send Vikings to Valhalla Men’s basketball down WWU 78-58 for their 5th straight victory

By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor The Western Oregon men’s basketball team achieved a much needed road victory against the Western Washington University (WWU) Vikings 78-58 on Saturday, Jan. 16.

NFL Playoff Madness NFL Conference Championship preview

By Jamal Smith | Sports Editor And now there are four: four teams remain in the hunt for the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the most prestigious prize in the National Football League (NFL).

The NFL Divisional rounds concluded on Sunday, Jan. 17 with no surprises or upsets.

In the AFC and the NFC, both top seeds, who earned a first-round bye, outclassed the lower seeds to advance to the NFL Conference Championships.

The AFC Conference Championship game will pit the No. 1 Denver Broncos against the No. 2 New England Patriots.

Kickoff is set for 12:05 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24.

Last week, in the AFC Divisional round, New England knocked off the

Redshirt senior Andy Avgi (F), who was just named to the Bevo Francis Award Watch List, had a game-high 19 points on 7-14 shooting from the floor. Redshirt sophomore Alex Roth (G) had 18 points on a very productive 7-10 shooting night, 11 of his 18 points coming in the first half.

Senior Julian Nichols (G) had 15 points, 7 assists and 2 steals.

The Wolves opened the game in dominating fashion, going on a 10-1 run with the help of 3-pointers from Avgi and

Roth. The Vikings, however, would get right back into the game and even the score at 18-18 with just 10 minutes remaining until half time.

For the remainder of the first half, neither team could build and sustain a lead.

With WWU up 33-32 and just a minute remaining in the first half, Avgi went to the free throw line and hit both shots to give Western a one point lead going into the break.

In the first half, the Wolves shot 0.406

Kansas City Chiefs 27-20, and Denver defeated the Pittsburg Steelers 23-16.

The most intriguing storyline for the AFC Conference Championship is the heated rivalry of New England quarterback Tom Brady and Denver’s quarterback Paton Manning, whom many consider to be two of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. These two future Hall of Famers have battled each other 16 times in their illustrious careers. Of their 16 meetings, Brady has won 11 compared to Manning’s five. Brady also holds almost every statistical advantage over Manning, including four Super Bowl rings compared to Manning’s one.

While both quarterbacks are nearing the end of their carriers, Manning is having by far his worst year statistically of his career. Old age, injury troubles, and an inability to throw the deep ball, have many sports analysts thinking this could be Manning’s final year.

Another key storyline going into the AFC Conference Championship is Denver’s No. 1 ranked defense going up against New England’s prolific offense.

Denver’s defense, which has come up big throughout the regular season and into

the playoffs, created a huge turnover in the fourth quarter against the Steelers, which all but sealed Denver’s victory.

New England’s offense is loaded with weapons that provide Brady multiple viable options. Tight end Rob Gronkowski leads all of New England’s receivers with 1,176 yards for the season, despite having missed multiple games due to injury.

The NFC Conference Championship game will see the No. 1 Carolina Panthers host the No. 2 Arizona Cardinals. Kickoff is at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24.

In the NFC Divisional round, Arizona knocked off the Green Bay Packers 26-20 in overtime and Carolina squeezed by the Seattle Seahawks 31-24.

This Carolina-Arizona NFC matchup has many interesting ties. Both teams’ quarterbacks - Panther’s Cam Newton and Arizona’s Carson Palmer - are former Heisman Trophy winners.

Also, according to ESPN, the matchup is the first time in the current Super Bowl era that two teams will face each other that each have averaged 30+ points a game in the regular season. Carolina had the No. 1 ranked offense in the NFL and Arizona the No. 2 ranked offense.

Newton, who led the Panther’s to a

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from the floor on 13-32 shooting and 0.364 from beyond the arch on 4-11 shooting.

After halftime, Western came out with a greater sense of urgency and found consistency on both sides of the ball. The Wolves scored the first 8 points of the second half on an Avgi layup and consecutive 3-pointers by Nichols and senior Jordan Wiley (G).

Better second half shooting at stifling defense proved to be too much for the Vikings to handle. Western’s 20 point advantage to finish the game was their largest lead of the night.

Western held almost every statistical advantage over the Vikings. The Wolves out-rebounded WWU 36-29 overall and held a 9-7 advantage on the offensive glass. Although the Wolves coughed up 11 turnovers, they created 13 turnovers from their opponents.

WOU’s red-hot shooting in the second half brought the Wolves’ field goal percentage to 0.483 from the floor and 0.455 from distance. Equally impressive is the defense Western played on WWU top two leading scorers who were held to just 11 combined points despite averaging 35.9 points per game for this season.

The victory improves Western’s overall record to 14-2 and 7-1 in GNAC conference play. After five consecutive wins, the Wolves jumped up three spots to No. 8 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll and jumped four spots to No. 4 in the D2SIDA DII Media Poll.

Next up, the Wolves host the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) on Saturday Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. in the New P.E. Building. league-best 15-1 regular season record, was just awarded the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America.

Now in his fifth season in the NFL, the Conference Championship is easily the biggest moment of Newton’s promising career.

“I don’t get nervous,” said Newton, Wednesday in an interview with ESPN. “I’ve been playing football for too long for me to get nervous. I used to dream of being in this type of position.”

Carolina’s defense will see its biggest test of the year, matching up against Palmer and Arizona’s powerhouse offense. The Panthers face a difficult test in containing Arizona’s receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown, and others.

The AFC and NFC Conference Championships pit the best two teams of the regular season and the playoff against one another. When the dust settles after the game plays itself out the two remaining teams with have their shot at Super Bowl immortality.

SPORTS

The Journal Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

5

Wolves stung by Montana State Yellow Jackets Wolves lose 37-60 in Saturday’s game

By Amanda Clarke | Staff Writer The Western Oregon women’s basketball team fell at home to the Montana State University of Billings (MSUB) Yellow Jackets 37-60 on Saturday, Jan. 16.

“The improvement in our post play has opened things up a bit for us on the outside and given us more opportunities to score,” said head coach Holly Howard-Carpenter. “Overall we need to be more consistent with the improvements

we’ve made in order to build and be successful.”

Sophomore Sydney Azorr (G) led the Wolves in scoring with 7 points and also posted 3 assists and 5 rebounds. Freshman Ali Nelke (G/F), junior Jazmin Bembry (G), and junior Launia Davis (G) each tallied 4 points.

Western had trouble shooting the ball in the first quarter and MSUB took advantage by scoring 12 unanswered points to take a 23-10 lead into the second quarter.

In the second quarter the Wolves had their toughest shooting quarter of the season, adding only 5 points in a 10 min-

ute span. The first half ended with the Yellow Jackets up 37-15.

MSUB’s lead proved to be too much for the Wolves to come back from. However, the Wolves refused to give up. Bembry hit a 3-pointer with just one second remaining in the game to bring the final score to 37-60.

“I’ve seen several improvements over the course of the season,” added Howard-Carpenter. “We’ve learned to play better as a team and are understanding that it takes all of us, every day, to be competitive.”

After a tough shooting night where nothing seemed to go in the Wolves’ fa-

vor, Western finished the game shooting 30 percent from the floor on 15-50 shooting.

The loss brings the Wolves’ overall record to 3-13 and 2-6 in GNAC conference play.

“Regardless of our opponent or whether we are on the road or at home, we need the same focused effort every night.

There is plenty of season left and I expect us to continue improving and working hard,” said Howard-Carpenter.

Up next, Western will host Northwest Nazarene University on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 5:15 p.m. in the New P.E. Building.

Rams return home, others may follow Money-hungry owners abandon ship, flock to L.A.

By Conner Williams | Editor in Chief After more than two decades without a professional football team in the country’s second-largest market, Los Angeles is about to get NFL crazy.

Recently, NFL owners approved the Rams’ request – which cost owner Stan Kroenke a small fee of $500 million – to move back home to L.A. in a vote of 30-2.

The organization will build a $3 billion stadium in Inglewood, California.

Several other teams have shown interest in moving to the Southern California metropolitan area, including the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers.

The two teams submitted a bid to build a stadium in Carson, California that they would both use as their home stadium.

However, the Chargers have been given a one-year option to decide if they want to relocate and join the Rams in Inglewood. The Chargers have until the end of the owners meetings that take place between March 20-23 to decide if they will remain in San Diego or move to L.A. for the 2016 season.

Perhaps the biggest factor affecting that decision is a vote to request public

A Rams player takes a knee in the endzone in the game against San Francisco.

funding to replace Qualcomm Stadium – a request that would cost the taxpayers $350 million.

As of Jan. 13, the Raiders decided to withdraw their application to move, and instead wish to work with the league to find a new stadium. If the Chargers don’t move to L.A. with the Rams, then the Raiders can take the same deal the Chargers were offered.

Last week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that the league would provide $100 million to both the Chargers and Raiders if they remain in their home markets.

So what does this all mean?

It means that the NFL really could not

care less about its fans. Once again, the owners hold the taxpayers hostage and demand public money for new facilities, and if that request isn’t fulfilled, they pack up and move.

The massive empty market in L.A. doesn’t hurt either, but the league doesn’t actually need to sell tickets in order to make money. According to a Jan. 19 article from the Washington Post, the NFL’s television deals bring in nearly $5 billion in revenue annually, far outpacing all other professional sports.

But the upheavals to L.A. mean tons of new marketing techniques like TV spots, merchandise, and local advertisements - and that’s big money. The Washington

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Photo courtesy of THERAMS.COM

Post also reports that Forbes expects the value of the Rams’ organization to double to nearly $3 billion, joining some of professional sports’ most valuable franchises, including the Dallas Cowboys (worth $4 billion), Real Madrid (worth $3.26 billion), and the New England Patriots and New York Yankees (both worth $3.2 billion).

This shows a blatant lack of loyalty from a team to its hometown; if the money isn’t there, they just up and move somewhere else. I get that the NFL is a business and operates for profit, but maybe show some class and work to become a more successful franchise rather than leave for somewhere else.

ENTERTAINMENT

6 Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 The Journal

Music fests invade the west coast

Festival tickets selling fast for big-name lineups

By Ashton Newton | Staff Writer For me, the New Year means a lot; it means a new term, a chance for new accomplishments, and a lot of upcoming music festivals.

The most notable and recently announced festivals of 2016 are Coachella in Southern California and Sasquatch on the Columbia River Gorge.

Just 18 hours south of Monmouth, in the town of Indio, CA, hundreds of artists and thousands of fans will gather for one thing: music. 2016’s Coachella lineup includes bands like Guns & Roses, Ice Cube, Calvin Harris, M83, Of Monsters and Men, among others.

Coachella will run the festival twice, on April 15-17 and again on April 22-24, with identical lineups.

One of Coachella’s most notable aspects is the fashion scene. Year after year people come wearing flower crowns and outfits resembling what was commonly seen in the ‘70s.

A little closer to home, Sasquatch features four days of some of the most notable figures in alternative music, most notably The Cure. Sasquatch also features a lot of up and com-

ABOVE: Danny Brown performs at MusicFestNW. BELOW: A crowd at Coachella

ing musicians, including Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Houndmouth, and Saint Motel, as well as other popular artists including M83, Grimes, Kurt Vile, and Florence and the Machine.

Sasquatch runs May 27-30 with a cost $350 for a 4-day pass, while a 3-day pass for Coachella will cost $400.

For both festivals, one of the most popular and memorable parts of the experience is the camping. The festivals are multiple days, and a lot of people take the opportunity to camp with their friends in designated campgrounds instead of staying at a hotel.

Sasquatch is also a good thing for Oregon music fans even if you can’t make it to the festival because Portland is bombarded with concerts before and after the festival while artists are in the area. If there were an artist you like playing at Sasquatch, it’d be smart to check up on their tour dates because there’s a good chance Portland will pop up.

Tickets for both festivals are on sale now and going fast, purchasable online at coachella.com and livenation.com.

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Photo courtesy of PEOPLE.COM

Photo courtesy of MUSICFESTNW

ENTERTAINMENT

The Journal Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

7

Writing sins and tragedies I hate this album.

Unlike previous records, the songs do not ease into each other and share a voice that is easily identifiable as the album’s theme. In fact, most of the songs

By Stephanie Blair | Copy Editor don’t sound like they should come from In 2006, Panic! At the Disco’s first the same artist, let alone the same realbum, “A Fever You cord.

Can’t Sweat Out,” was There are some released. Now, 10 years songs that sound like later and with only one old Panic! – most nooriginal band memtably, “Emperor’s New ber remaining, their Clothes.” Others have fifth album has been a pleasing, brassreleased: “Death of a heavy sound that I had Bachelor” (DoaB). hoped would permeate As a long time fan, the album (examples I immediately pre-orinclude “The Good, the dered upon hearing Bad and the Dirty” and Photo courtesy of the announcement of a “Hallelujah”), but that PANIC!ATTHEDISCO.COM new album. Their last isn’t the case. release, “Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Most disappointingly, as a long time Die,” was an integral part of my senior alternative fan, the majority of the year of high school. To say that I had tracks, including “Crazy=Genius” and high expectations of DoaB would be an “Victorious,” have vacuous lyrics with understatement. a distinct lack of the wit expected with I had doubts after hearing some early the Panic! name and a scattered, disreleases, such as “Victorious” and “Don’t jointed style.

Threaten Me With A Good Time,” but So while there are tracks that I enas a late-90s/early-2000s kid, I always joy, overall I was disappointed. This is listen to an album all the way through clearly Brendon Urie using the Panic! in the order it was meant to be played At the Disco hype to sell what is really in before I make any judgments. his first solo album, now that all of the Now that I’ve had a week to listen other founding members have left. to it in and out of order at all different I wanted to like you, DoaB, I really times of day, I can definitively say this: did.

A review of Panic! At the Disco’s newest album

Photo courtesy of IMAGECOMICS.COM

Demonic possession terrifies in horror comic A review of “Outcast” by Robert Kirkman

By Ben Bergerson | Designer Pivoting from zombies to demons, “The Walking Dead” comic creator Robert Kirkman takes readers for a dark trip in his 2014-released comic series “Outcast.” He and artist Paul Azaceta conjure up striking frames of the traumatic life of the main character, Kyle Barnes.

Kyle has been plagued his whole life by people close to him and he doesn’t know why. His dark past has haunted him until he is approached by his childhood reverend who takes him to visit a boy who the reverend claims is possessed.

What starts as a simple favor turns into the beginning of a search for answers about the strange things that seem to follow Kyle around. Teaming up with the reverend and an ex-cop, Kyle sets out to finally unlock the truth about his past.

“Darkness Surrounds Him,” the first volume, is a perfect read for winter term; it’s

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scary and a page-turner. Kirkman makes exorcisms and supernatural encounters (which in other works tend to be overdone) incredibly understated. This adds to the mystery and suspense that drives the comic.

Fans of “The Walking Dead” won’t be disappointed with Kirkman’s intense writing. Azaceta takes the tortured words of Kyle Barnes and translates them into harrowing images, creepily staring out from the pages. The mix of deep blue and hot orange on the page evokes a melancholy set on edge.

“Outcast” is a powerful, chilling tale that will make you want to turn on all the lights and lock your doors. Its haunting images and tense dialogue will leave you wanting more.

The comic is published by Image Comics, who also publish “The Walking Dead” and, another personal favorite, “Saga.” You can subscribe to the “Outcast” series directly from imagecomics.com, or you can order by volume on amazon.com.

Grab your holy water before diving in; you’ll need it.

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CAMPUS LIFE

The Journal Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

Service project commemorates MLK Jr. Day

By Rachael Jackson | Staff Writer On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Service Learning & Career Development office went to the Marion-Polk Food Share’s community garden in Salem with staff, children, and students. The rain took a break for the SLCD and community volunteers for a surprisingly warm afternoon of gardening.

While only 14 of the 30 students that signed up for the event showed, they ended up completing a job expected to take three hours in only two.

Student volunteers cleaned up the dried plants and composted the earth, adding a layer of bark dust before heading out.

Adry Snorradottir Clark, the director of SLCD, said that the students see “that even though you have a career, you can still find time to get involved in something you are interested in. A lot of volunteers there had a passion for gardening.”

Having Western students involved in this service for the food share has an even bigger meaning than helping the Marion-Polk community.

“We’re excited to work for that organization because they are the ones that supply our food bank with food,” said Clark. “The students got to meet some of the community volunteers and see that they really care, they got to see that you can make a difference.”

“Selma” Marches into ITC

By Amanda Clarke | Staff Writer ITC 211 was full of students on Tuesday not for a class, but for a screening of the movie “Selma.” This movie screening was one of several events held on campus for MLK week at WOU. It was a free event and students were welcome to come on their own or to earn extra credit for certain classes. It was cosponsored by the Student Leadership Activities board and the Black Student Union.

“Selma,” directed by Ava DuVernay, focuses on the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, one of the civil rights movements that Martin Luther King Jr. led.

This march took place 1965 with the aim of highlighting racial injustices and helping to pass the Voting Rights Act. “With MLK celebration week we try to do something each day,” said Melissa Larson, chair of the MLK committee and director of disability services, when asked about why they had chosen to show the movie.

Photo by BRIANNA BONHAM

Tinder: where lonely hearts connect Finding romance on campus can be hard, Tinder offers an alternative

By Rachael Jackson | Staff Writer Tinder was released to the world in 2013 as a fast paced dating app. It quickly appealed to those between the ages of 18 and 34 as an easy way to find dates and casual sex. There was an outcry from the media and citizens of the world that Tinder was creating a “hook-up culture” and destroying the establishment of dating.

Along with those citizens, are WOU students who aren’t too keen on the idea of finding dates through Tinder.

“I think it’s kind of dumb and that people should meet in person. Get out of

their comfort zone,” said a Western student that wished to remain anonymous.

Many feel that Tinder is shallow. It may feel strange to simply swipe right for those you like and left for those you aren’t digging based solely on a few pictures and a short profile description. There is something to be said for meeting someone in person and seeing if sparks fly, but using Tinder could have its benefits, too.

Tinder sets up an environment in which both parties are on equal footing and have mutual understanding of what the other wants.

Tinder could also be useful for college students because it makes finding people while stuck living on a small campus easy.

College students can meet people both on campus and in nearby cities easily, all

it takes is adjusting the desired distance.

Going to cities like Salem, Corvallis, and Portland can be difficult and expensive for most students, but meeting people through text first may give the incentive to travel.

Andrea Coffee, a senior education major, found her current boyfriend through Tinder. As of now, they’ve been together almost 6 months.

“I wasn’t expecting to find a relationship,” Coffee said. She continued that it’s a great app “if you’re looking to just ‘hang out.’”

Using Tinder may not be for everybody and safety precautions should be taken when meeting a stranger in person for the first time. However, this app could prove useful for lonely college students looking for more than friendship.

Speaker, singers, and sweet potato pie MLK celebrated with commemorative dinner

By Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor Spirits were roused when the Pacific Room’s doors in the WUC opened to the public for the MLK commemorative dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

The guests were greeted with the sight of beautifully laid out tables laden with water, iced tea, and warm cornbread. Tickets cost $3 for students, and it was well worth it.

The buffet dinner included fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas, and macaroni and cheese followed by a dessert of peach crisps, much like cobbler, and small squares of

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sweet potato pie.

The Portland Interfaith Gospel choir sang two spirited songs to signal the start of the event. Then, President Rex Fuller, introduced Dr. Eddie Moore, presented a beautiful speech on racism and MLK’s dream.

He posed the audience the question, “Are we moving?” While people may think that progress is being made, there are still inequities prevalent in society regarding race and gender.

He said that one thing college students could do to help defeat racism was to rid themselves of personal biases and become more self-aware in how they act and treat others.

After Dr. Moore’s speech, the essay prizewinners were announced. The event closed out with two more songs performed by the gospel choir.

CAMPUS LIFE

The Journal Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

9

Combating depression on campus Western provides support for students’ mental health during winter months

By Megan Clark | Campus Life Editor Amassing piles of homework, the absence of family and friends, and Oregon’s constantly dreary skies combine to make a delicious cocktail of depression for college students, resulting in a case of the downy dumps, or much worse.

According to the BBC News, Jan. 18 was the most depressing day of the year thus far.

Psychologist Dr. Cliff Arnall has stated that “Blue Monday,” usually the third Monday in January, is depressing due to poor weather, debt incurred and not paid off since Christmas, time elapsed since the holidays, and low level of motivation in completing New

Year’s resolutions.

While most scientists dub this formulation as nonsensical, the general public may find some truth in Dr. Arnall’s reasons why the post-holiday season is filled with so much woe.

Having to return to school after a lovely holiday at home only to face assignments, tests, loneliness, and gray weather-- which can result in a serious case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) -- may make some students feel morose, unmotivated, and anxious.

Luckily, there are ways to combat the gloom and doom that follow the holiday high.

According to Psychology Today’s Lisa Firestone, a PhD holder and Director of Research and Education for the Glendon Association, some of the best ways to combat depression include staying active and socializing, even when you really don’t want to.

Avoiding negative thoughts and preoccupying the mind with something enjoyable, like a funny movie or a favorite hobby, are other ways to bring some cheer into your life.

On campus events are an easy way to get out of the house and potentially meet new people. These events can inspire creative thoughts, encourage community building, and act as a respite from the stress caused by schoolwork.

While it would be nice if going to a concert or hanging out with friends could cure all woes, this may not be the reality for some.

If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, or SAD, there are WOU counsellors just a phone call away and can be reached through 503-838-8396. Students in crises are seen immediately.

Bringing comedy to campus California comedian, DC Ervin, performing at WOU

By Joleen Braasch | Staff Writer DC Ervin, named LA’s funniest comedian in 2011, will be bringing the laughs to Western’s campus on Friday, Jan. 22 in the Pacific Room of the WUC. With a unique style and strong stage presence, Ervin has separated himself from other comedians; he is not afraid to laugh with the audience, and his exaggerated facial expressions and impressions get the audience going.

Ervin touches on subjects that everyone can chuckle about, like actors overdoing it in cookie commercials, feeling uncomfortable at ATMs in the middle of the night, and how hard it is to stifle your laughter when somebody falls at the gym.

Ervin’s father, also a comedian, introduced him to art of comedy at a young age. Ervin began his career in the Bay Area of California and is currently eliciting laughs in the Los Angeles comedy scene.

Ervin may be a funny man, but his reasons for success are more serious. His dreams of becoming a comedian were not rooted in simply making people laugh, but in becoming a role model for the two most important people in his life: his daughters.

When he’s off the stage, Ervin also writes, produces, and stars in his own short films and sketches.

This event is brought to WOU through the Student Activities Board and is free to WOU students.

Comedian DC Ervin.

Photo courtesy of DCERVIN.COM

Weekend Wolfpack brings laser tag to campus

By Amanda Clarke | Staff Writer Despite the rain, WOU students lined up outside the old PE building last Friday for a chance to play laser tag. Students had to fill out waivers in order to play. The event was put on by Weekend Wolfpack and Western Housing.

This fun and laser-filled event was held on Jan. 15, and was free. Luke Etherton, a sophomore psychology

major, helped to run the event.

“I think we were at about a hundred,” Etherton said, when asked about how many people had attended the event.

“I liked the obstacles you got to hide behind,” said Erin Heaberlin, a first year biology education major.

Accompanied by bumping music, students were split into teams of 12 and maneuvered around obstacles on the course, located in the old PE gymnasium. They were

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given 28 lives on their weapons, and if they were hit, the headbands connected to the weapons flashed red.

Michael Carrol, Resident Director of Heritage Hall, said that the laser tag event has been held for around eight years on the Western campus.

“Weekend Wolfpack is essentially our weekend program we do through Housing. The mission of Weekend Wolfpack is to bring in events for students on the weekends,” said Carol.

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EDITORIAL

The Journal Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

Musings from a woman on the edge

By Katrina Penaflor | Managing Editor

When I was sitting down to write my column this week, I had a moment where I thought, hmm… there really isn’t anything I have to sass about this week, how wonderful.

And then I read this article on BuzzFeed titled “15 waters that need to be stopped,” and then I thought, ”yup, this is something I definitely need to sass about.”

Basically, if you haven’t already gathered from the title, the article was talking about ridiculous types of water. When I first saw it, I was thinking “really? There are 15 different types of dumb water? No way.”

But, as usual when it comes to pretentious drinks, I seriously underestimated the absurdities of the water industry.

Which is actually a thing.

One of the most ridiculous ones was “asparagus water” which was sold at Whole Foods for about $6. Yes, you read that correctly, a 16 ounce bottle of water was $6. Why, you ask? Because it contained four stalks of asparagus. Are you kidding me?!

Because really, if you’re putting these items in your grocery cart just give me the $6 instead—I know I’ll find a better use for it.

Another equally outrageous one was “blk.” or water that was completely black. Why is it black? I looked it up and it’s infused with black fulvic trace minerals, which, according to their website, “are thought to contain an abundance of natural plant sourced nutrients including: natural electrolytes, amino acids, 77 trace minerals, antioxidants, and a pH of 8.0+.”

Just stop with all the “are thought to’s” and lists of ingredients that are used in an attempt to trick people into thinking they need to buy it. Just give me water that doesn’t look like it was filtered through dead bodies.

Seriously, there are so many people in this world struggling to just get clean water to drink and it shocks me to find people who throw their money out the door on overpriced, glammedout waters because they’re “trendy” or “cute” or whatever the kids are saying on Instagram these days.

Photo courtesy of COSMOPOLITAN.COM

Who I hate today Stop ruining movie theatres

By Declan Hertel | Entertainment Editor

Photo courtesy of HILLARYCLINTON.COM

Cowardly candidates resort to emotional appeals Quit pulling the 9/11 card to get out of an argument

By Conner Williams | Editor-in-Chief It is very frustrating when our presidential candidates dance their way around questions during debates.

It is even more frustrating when they use a national tragedy as a way to invoke empathy from viewers in order to avoid a question.

During the second Democratic debate, Bernie Sanders called out Hillary Clinton by asking her to justify her campaign donations from large corporations.

Her response?

“I represented New York, and I represented New York on 9/11 when we were attacked. Where were we attacked? We were attacked in downtown Manhattan where Wall Street is. I did spend a whole lot of time and effort helping them rebuild. That was good for New York. It was good for the economy, and it was a way to rebuke the terrorists who had attacked our country,” said Clinton.

So not only did she avoid the question completely, but she also claimed that her donations from Wall Street cor-

porations were because she had helped them “rebuild” 14 years previously, in addition to claiming she helped rebuke terrorism. Give me a break.

But Clinton isn’t alone. During the most recent Republican debate, Ted Cruz began to speak of “New York values,” which he refers to as “socially liberal, pro-abortion, progay marriage, focused around money and the media.” Cruz began to criticize Trump for flip-flopping his beliefs from years before, and in response, Trump pulled out the get out of jail free card: 9/11 empathy bait.

“When the World Trade Center came down, I saw something that no place on earth could have handled more beautifully, more humanely than New York,” said Trump as Cruz was forced to awkwardly clap alongside the audience.

I, for one, am sick of this emotional pandering. It takes a pretty low person to use a national tragedy to wiggle one’s way out of a logical fallacy in their argument, but, then again, these are our country’s political leaders.

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I hate at least one person in every movie theatre.

It might be the stupid teenager who pays a whole $10 to see a movie and then is constantly checking their stupid phone to see what’s going on with their stupid friends in their stupid life and ruining the movie for the rest of us with that tiny screen that glows like the furious sun in the midst of the pristine darkness of a cinema auditorium.

If you have ever checked your phone in a movie theater while the movie was playing, you would have received 40 lashes on the spot if I ran the world (Declan Hertel/Kanye West 2020).

The group I hate less justifiably is old timers. I saw “The Hateful Eight” (review at wou. edu/westernjournal) for the second time last weekend, and the theatre was full of 40+ patrons who were, for the most part, defying my stereotype. But I have almost 200 more words, so buckle up, kiddo.

It’s not them asking about what the character just said: while that is annoying, hearing deteriorates over time, and there is an awful lot of whisper-mumbling in today’s cinema.

It’s more them being shocked and appalled at the content on screen, and deciding to stay and keep a half-voiced running commentary throughout the film about how senseless and stupid it all is rather than, you know, leaving (I hear you, economics enthusiasts yelling “sunk cost fallacy,” but you can shut up, nerds).

This happened during “Goodnight Mommy”: an older couple was making flabbergasted comments about the film and how they didn’t get it and weren’t enjoying it, but they stayed for the whole thing.

For butt’s sake, guys. If you’re at the movies, shut up, turn it off, and watch the film. I don’t care who you are or where you’ve been, how old you are or how interesting you currently believe your uninteresting life to be, the rest of us are really quite intent on watching the movie we paid a bunch of money for.

EDITORIAL

The Journal Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

11

How practical games will save our socializing

By Declan Hertel | Entertainment Editor It’s an oft-repeated notion that our generation spends a great deal of time with its nose lit up by the glowing screen of a smartphone, engrossed in some form of social media. Repeated just as often is the idea that we’re becoming an “anti-social” society because all our socializing is facilitated by a divide: you, to your Facebook, to my Facebook, to me.

I believe that while there is a great deal of old time fear-mongering about the downsides of social media, I would find it weirder for there to be absolutely no correlation between high use of social media and decreased interpersonal skills.

So in this time of interpersonal divide, how can we find a new way to foster true human interaction, to get us to communicate face to face with no divide?

Tabletop games.

That’s right. Board games, card games, roleplaying games, the whole bit.

“You want to turn me into some gross nerd, Declan? Well, I’m not doing it!”

Pipe down. I realize that there’s a stigma around board/roleplaying games: that those who play them are—as you, hypothetical dissenter, describe them— gross nerds. But think about video games, the fastest growing form of mass media in the world, and the main interactive experience of our culture. To paraphrase Anthony Burch, the lead writer of Borderlands 2, a video game which passed 13 million copies sold in August of last year, “it’s astounding that video games got the ‘socially-acceptable’ checkmark when board games require you to not be a [creative expletive].”

Kids and adults alike sit in their dark rooms staring at a screen, lobbing homophobic insults, racial slurs, and general horribleness at each other. Maybe it’s okay because nobody really believes in the very real power of cyberbullying, or maybe it’s just kids being kids.

The fact is that it sucks. Hardcore.

Don’t get me wrong, I love video games and spend a great deal of time playing them. But the normalcy of abhorrent behavior in player-to-player interaction can’t be ignored.

Board games require you to behave yourself, you savage. You can’t sit around a table with other people and behave poorly toward them. They’ll kick you out and/or won’t invite you back. Roleplaying games require that you work together with all your other players to tell a good story and have a good time. If you don’t, you aren’t going to have a group for very long.

Even in the moments of nigh-bearable tension, you aren’t allowed to fly off the handle and accuse your opponent of sodomy and sodomy-related acts. This is a serious plus.

Photo courtesy of DNDDICE.COM

I’m going to avoid going on a rant about how the (really not good) board games you knew as kids are not the board games of today; about how there is a tremendous amount of money and creative energy fueling a practical-games renaissance; about how there are roleplaying games of all shapes and sizes and types for anyone interested in a little Saturday night improvised escapism. This paragraph was a decent crash course in that stuff.

These games are social activity in a box. Get all the satisfaction of playing a challenging game, while getting all the benefits of real human interaction.

I personally believe that my board and roleplaying games hobby has done me

real good. Since playing more of these games, I find it far easier than ever to talk to people, and especially endure high pressure situations. Why? Because in roleplaying games, communication is paramount, so you have to get good at it, and in board games, you learn how to function gracefully under pressure in the presence of others in a low-risk environment.

These sorts of benefits are even backed up by science-type people: recently, a study from the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, showed that roleplayers to have a greater level of empathy than non-gamers. This makes total sense to me: roleplaying games revolve around

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a group of people working toward a single goal. Of course this would foster empathy. Not seeking to understand and work together with your fellows is the number one way to get eaten by a dragon.

Tabletop games, I believe, will make you a better, more socially capable person. What they won’t do is turn you into a gross nerd. The stigma is slowly dying.

If we can push it out the window for good and let board and roleplaying games come into their own, I think we’re one step closer to salvaging an increasingly divided culture. So grab some friends and go kill a dragon. You’ll be glad you did.

12 Friday, Jan. 22, 2016

TAIL-END Thriving with Asperger’s in the college setting

The Journal

Student Health and Counseling Center give talk on Asperger’s

By Rachael Jackson | Staff Writer

“Misfortune County”: From Front Page to be very precise with camera positioning to avoid showing anything contemporary. Horses were also used for the first time in one of their films. All shots involving the horses were filmed in one day, and the actors had to be trained the same day as filming. Dunaway says the use of horses adds a lot to the realism of the Western genre, since they’re so important in both classic and contemporary Western films.

“I’m inspired by classic westerns, is the most general way to put it,” Dunaway said, listing “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” and “True Grit” as key inspirations.

As a director, Dunaway said that he’s “influenced by the Coen Brothers’ command of the grammar of filmmaking without heavy camera work.”

Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg are also inspirations, as well as John Ford, who Dunaway said defines what the Western genre is.

Dunaway started writing “Misfortune County” in Feb. 2015. In writing, a lot of inspiration for the character’s dialogue was taken from Western novels, as well as the works of Mark Twain.

“Writing was very enjoyable. I like to build a good story,” Dunaway said.

As this is Body in the Window Seat’s third film, Dunaway talked about some differences in directing.

“For this film, I was able to choose actors who I knew would memorize the lines, so in that sense it was easier to direct the actors and I could spend more time with the actual camera work,” he said.

Dunaway also noted that the studio was much more professional and effi-

Two stills from “Misfortune County,” a film made by three Western students.

cient in the film’s production; he was able to take more time with each shot, and production, which took a total of 20 days, was easily the most enjoyable part of making the film.

Also, technical improvements helped in a very direct way: “Misfortune County” is the studio’s first film where the audio and video were recorded completely separately.

“Misfortune County” takes place in a very different time period, a time that Dunaway says is romanticized in Western movies.

“There’s a character in the film named P.W. Foster who comes to Oregon from Philadelphia and expects the west to be full of adventure, but what he finds is a more realistic west; but at the same time we wanted to embrace the Western genre,” said Dunaway.

Dunaway also commented that the film doesn’t celebrate main character Lady Vengeance’s ways, and that she could never be an assassin if not for the lawlessness of the time period.

As a director, there are some stylistic elements that Dunaway loves to put in his films. All three of Body in the Win-

Photos by SHANNON BROUNER

dow Seat’s films feature dream sequences and take place in Oregon. Dunaway likes to express hopefulness with his films, the idea that no one is stuck as who they are.

With the characters, Dunaway said that he likes to nod to movies he likes in his films, particularly with the names of his characters, giving them names from other movies or the names of actors.

Darien Campo served as the sound designer for the film. All of the music in the film was original, but it was sparse, taking inspiration from “No Country for Old Men” in that sense. Dunaway described the music as subtle, that it is sort of following. The film’s music is orchestral in nature, also a first for the studio.

Body in the Window Seat is currently in production of their fourth film, a mystery-comedy called “Todd Got Clobbered” directed by Darien Campo. “Todd Got Clobbered” will be filmed on Western Oregon University’s campus.

You can catch Body in the Window Seat’s showing of “Misfortune County” starring Paige Scofield, Burke De Boer, and Jim Churchill-Dicks on Jan. 29 in Hamersley Library room 106. The showing is free and starts at 6 p.m.

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On Jan. 20, the Human Resources and Student Health & Counseling Center (SHCC) put on an informational presentation on students with Asperger’s Syndrome on campus. Director of the SHCC, Jaime Silva, and Director of Counseling Services, Scott Perfect, led the presentation and discussion.

The presentation began with characteristics that professors and college staff can look for when approaching students that may have Asperger’s. They explained that it is considered a hidden disability, a disability that that is not identifiable based on physical attributes.

“College can be a very challenging time,” explained Perfect. “Some students come with Asperger’s Syndrome, and they are seeking help to do things like keeping a sleep schedule, doing laundry, making friends.”

For the past six years, Silva has run the Asperger’s Support Group on campus.

Students come to the group for therapy, training for social situations, and for a place to meet friends.

Silva read from “Aquamarine Blue 5,” a poem book that was written completely by college students that have autism. The poems reflected difficulties that students often go to the SHCC for. One poem detailed the sensory overload that can come from light sensitivity connected to Asperger’s.

The SHCC offers other resources to help students plan days, to prioritize assignments, training to ask professors for help, and how to create deadlines.

Perfect and Silva were quick to point out that there are many strengths associated with Asperger’s. Strong vocabulary skills and average or above-average intellectual ability is prevalent. They are usually skilled in fields that apply a lot of logic or problem solving.

“Liberal arts curriculum is not typically their friend,” said Perfect, half in jest.

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