Vol. IV, Issue 25
May 4, 2022
Remembrance & reflection page 7
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Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Entertainment
345 N. Monmouth Ave. Monmouth, OR 97361 Student Media Department TERRY HOUSE NEWSROOM 503-838-8347
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COLE BOECK
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News Editor
MOLLIE HERRON howlnews@wou.edu
Lifestyle Editor
JUDE BOKOVOY
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Entertainment Editor CAMILLE LENNING
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Staff Writer
MIRELLA BARRERA-BETANCOURT howlstaffwriter@wou.edu
Designer
JULIANNA TINKER howldesigner@wou.edu
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ADDIE FLOYD
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Digital Media Manager SEAN SULLIVAN
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SUBMISSIONS
THE WESTERN HOWL 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 Contact information will not be published unless requested.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 WESTERN HOWL does not guarantee the publication of all letters or columns. THE WESTERN HOWL reserves the right to edit for punctuation, grammar, and spelling, but never for content. Please bring submissions to THE WESTERN HOWL at Terry House or email to howleditor@ wou.edu. Submissions must be received by Monday 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 not necessarily reflect those of THE WESTERN HOWL or Western Oregon University.
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Adventures of Montero Lil Nas X announces his 2022 international tour Camille Lenning Entertainment Editor | howlentertainment@wou.edu
Lil Nas X delighted fans on April 26 when he announced his first world tour, “Long Live Montero,” beginning on Sept. 6 in Detroit, Michigan. The singer is known for such hits as “INDUSTRY BABY (feat. Jack Harlow)” and “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name).” The announcement came from Lil Nas X’s Twitter, via a 43-second-long video featuring clips from the music videos on his 2021 album, “MONTERO.”
“i’m having my very first tour. and all of u better come or i will cry on instagram live,” the singer wrote in the video’s caption. The iconic performer rose to fame in 2019 with his hit, “Old Town Road.” The singer came out as gay later that year, and has since made a point of embracing his sexuality in his songs and music videos. As it stands, the “Long Live Montero” tour will unfortunately
E tiquette
Photo Courtesy of Instagram, @lilnasx Lil Nas X performing at the Audacy Beach Festival in Florida in 2021.
not reach the Pacific Northwest. The closest concert will be at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California on Oct. 23. However, because news of the tour is so recent, more spatially convenient tour locations may still be announced at a later date. Buy San Francisco tickets and plan a road trip for the iconic event at www.ticketmaster.com/ lil-nas-x-tickets/artist/2669155, or keep an eye out for new dates.
elegance
Stitch Closet and SLCD teach students all about workplace etiquette Mirella Barrera-Betancourt | Staff Writer | howlstaffwriter@wou.edu
As Western’s very own program working to prepare students for the professional workforce, the Service Learning and Career Development Center also aims to teach students proper etiquette for workplace events. On April 28, SLCD joined hands with the Stitch Closet in hosting an etiquette workshop, complete with a runway event detailing the do’s and don’ts of fashion etiquette — because while the workplace setting is daunting, who says one can’t greet in style? The SLCD center has long been known for hosting etiquette events for the students of Western, although not recently due to lack of funding and COVID-19. Still, these events have become a staple favorite among students. This time it came with a fashion show. The event had two parts to it, beginning with the etiquette workshop, where attendees were able to dine on some food and mocktail beverages while receiving etiquette tips from SLCD director Adry Clark. “This event teaches students two things: ‘To be kind’ and ‘It’s not about the food,’” said Clark. Likewise, Clark taught students how to
Photo by Mirella Barrera-Betancourt This year’s etiquette workshop was run by SLCD director Adry Clark.
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make small talk, how to introduce oneself, how to introduce others and how to hold a plate when doing so. From there, students were encouraged to apply it to themselves by engaging in conversation with fellow attendees around them. The runway event, which followed the etiquette workshop, taught students the importance of fashion not only in the professional workplace but also in showcasing individuality. With clothing provided by the Stitch Closet, models walked the catwalk in a variety of styles, from casual wear to more statement looks, all whilst adding some fashionable flair. In the end, students were able to see a pattern of uniqueness in the clothing options. It’s not really the outfit, but the attitude. The Stitch Closet at Western has a wide availability of clothing options, including formal attire. If one is in need of clothing for a specific occasion, stop by the Stitch Closet Monday – Thursday, hours vary. Looking for more Stitch Closet events? The Stitch Closet invites students to the Crayola Color Run on May 13. Signing up is required to attend.
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entertainment
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FOR THE DRAMA Western’s Thespian Club coffee house event inspires audience Cole Boeck | Copy Editor | howlcopyeditor@wou.edu Photos by Cole Boeck Top: Mere Butler soloing “Out Tonight” from “Rent.” Bottom: Cole Horning performing an original poem followed by an original song.
Western’s own Thespian Club hosted a coffee house and open mic night event this past Friday, April 29 in the Math and Nursing Building black box theatre, room 108. Run by student officers — sophomore Acting major Wyatt R. K. King, sophomore Acting major Lexy Bolsinger, junior theater major Lee Struble and junior theater major Mariam Anderson — all were invited to attend and share performances of any variety, which included songs, poems and improv. The club sold refreshments to fundraise, offering tea, coffee, hot chocolate, candy and snacks. The audience was thrilled by the variety of talent and the heartfelt community of the space. Following the introduction of the club officers, there were moments of absurd comedy such as the improv scene of two gay astronaut trash collectors, as performed by sophomore Paige Murphy and sophomore Jeneba Diane King, interpreting studies and art & design majors respectively. While there were unending laughs to be had from wild sketches and ribbing with audience members, there were
tender times too. I was unmoored at times by the raw sincerity that my fellow peers were able to share in the space. The black walls became a backdrop as songs, guitar melodies and prose blossomed forth from the performers. Wyatt R. K. King showcased his trademark talent for lightning fast tonality shifts, catching the unprepared attendees off guard as we were still laughing from his most recent gag with a whiplash of heavy truths, dripping with satirical mirth. Struble shared several songs with delicate singing to encapsulate immense emotions, including “Michigan” and “Since I Saw Vienna.” Struble also played guitar to accompany Anderson’s metaliterary poetry reading, which spoke of a deep yearning for the confining comfort of a destiny to follow. Senior Cole Horning, public policy and administration major, shared poetry and a song, blending rhythmic and beautiful chords with sincere prose. Steven Cummings, a junior theater major, lightened the mood at the beginning of his original
Wyatt R. K. King and Lexy Bolsinger performing an improv scene of lesbian lovers in Alcatraz.
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song with unexpected languid breaths into the microphone, but the laughter was quickly replaced by an awed appreciation for his bittersweet lyrics. Meredith Butler, a junior theater education major, rocked us with immaculate stage presence, both in a duet alongside her fiancé Will Streit and while soloing a song. There were several other noteworthy performances, and while they all commanded the spotlight, we cannot forget about the necessity of the role of the audience. There were smooth but instant transitions between jibes and jokes to cheers of support and silent appreciation. While there was fair attendance, it was still a cozy crowd, but that allowed for a tight-knit atmosphere. I was floored by the community of the space. There was a shared love, a willingness to be vulnerable, an openness to the emotional quick of my peers and it was mutual. Mistakes and technical issues popped up, but were resolved in the background as club officers distracted us with improv. Anderson and Struble held lyrics or microphones as needed for other performers, stepping in without fail, as the show must always go on. Attending this event was a desperately needed respite and recharged my passion for performance arts of all varieties. I am eternally grateful for getting to bear witness the bearing of hearts by the performers and encourage us all to keep track of future events from our Thespian Club. Live artfully and stay vibrant.
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Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Lifestyle
Bria’s Cookie Skillet Breakdown
wou.edu/westernhowl Photo by Jude Bokovoy Add as much peanut butter cups and chocolate chunks as desired.
Photo courtesy of Instagram, @briasfood Bria just hit one million followers on TikTok.
Learn how to make one of TikTok’s most viral recipes
Jude Bokovoy Lifestyle Editor | howllifestyle@wou.edu Bria Lemirande, one of TikTok’s up and coming food bloggers, created the viral cookie skillet. Bria is known for her recipes, Trader Joe’s hauls and uplifting attitude. Recently she posted a recipe captioned with “If you make one recipe of mine please let it be this peanut butter banana bread skillet!!!” To fulfill her wish, the recipe is provided below.
PEANUT BUTTER BANANA BREAD COOKIE SKILLET Start to finish: 30 minutes Yields: 8 servings 3 cups of oats, blended ½ cup coconut sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 ripe bananas 2 eggs ½ cup almond milk 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoon peanut butter 1 dark chocolate bar, chunked 1 cup mini peanut butter cups Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Blend oats into the consistency of flour. Place dry ingredients into one bowl and mix. Smash bananas with a fork on a cutting board then put into a separate bowl. Mix in eggs, almond milk and vanilla. Combine wet and dry ingredients then mix.
Rating The River This brewery’s restaurant serves better cocktails than anything else Mollie Herron News Editor | howlnews@wou.edu Photo by Mollie Herron
Photo by Julianna Tinker
Pictured above is the Pear Necessities and the Wild Berry Lemon Drop.
Gilgamesh Brewing also owns The Campus in South Salem and The Woods in West Salem.
Independence is home to Gilgamesh Brewing’s The River, a restaurant known for serving handtossed pizzas, burgers and beer. The outdoor seating, even in the chilly month of April, was kept warm with heaters which makes it easy
to enjoy a meal outdoors without the wind bothering patrons. The location is great and is accessible to locals as well as people coming from out of town. The staff was very friendly and frequently checked up on us as we ate our food and enjoyed our cocktails. The Pear Necessities cocktail tasted, as one would expect, of sweet pears with floral notes making it perfect to enjoy in warm weather. The Wild Berry Lemon Drop was a refreshing twist on a classic, without the berry flavors overpowering the true lemon flavor that makes this drink so loved. The cocktails were very enjoyable, but the food was lacking. As a place that is known for serving pizzas and burgers, you would think that there would be more exciting flavors to meals listed as having so many different ingredients. The Snake Pizza — listed as having black beans, mozzarella, chorizo, jalapeño peppers, creme fraiche and cilantro as toppings — came out tasting bland. I don’t know if all of the
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On the same cutting board as before, cut the chocolate bar into chunks. Fold in peanut butter and chocolate chunks. Add to a circular pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 – 18 minutes. Let cool then serve with a glass of coffee or milk. Check out Bria’s TikTok @ brialem to watch her tutorial of this recipe.
spice and the dairy canceled each other out, but all I could taste was bread and cilantro. The pepperoni pizza was a pepperoni pizza. Nothing special added to it and it just tasted exactly as you would expect a pepperoni pizza would. The Guacamole Bacon Burger served with a side of fries leaves the patron wanting more. It comes with housemade guacamole, peppered bacon, Tillamook cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and a Pacific Crush IPA aioli all on a brioche bun. Despite the guacamole and aioli both being on the burger, it still felt dry and the bacon did not aid in making it easier to eat. The only option for the burgers is medium well which can get rid of any chance you have for receiving a juicy burger. The River does offer glutenfree and vegetarian options, but the switch to a gluten-free bun on an already dry burger will most likely not change the experience by much. The best option I have eaten from the menu are the Stoney Fries covered in bacon chipotle sour cream, cheese and green onions. They were the perfect appetizer and made great leftovers. Overall rating: 5/10.
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
JUMP IN
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Lifestyle
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Photo by Mollie Herron
Jumping to get the heart pumping Mollie Herron News Editor | howlnews@wou.edu Most people have jumped rope before, though it was likely long ago when they were a child on the playground. But being an adult should not mean that it is no longer acceptable to jump rope. Jumping rope can be a great form of exercise and is more challenging than it appears to be. Some people struggle with cardio because running on a treadmill in a gym or around a neighborhood can be boring or inaccessible. One of the many perks of jump rope is that it can provide the same level of intensity as
running, but can be done anywhere. All anyone needs is a rope and space where they can swing the rope around without hitting anything or anyone. Jumping rope also increases heart rate significantly faster than running, meaning the body is getting a more intense workout. Due to the level of intensity it takes, a full session can be completed in much shorter time than most other forms of exercise. Despite common assumptions, jumping rope is full body exercise. The lower body is getting a more focused workout, but the coordination
Jump roping not only improves endurance but also agility.
of muscle groups spanning the whole body is what makes it so popular among fitness enthusiasts. The triceps and biceps are hard at work as well as
Create to validate
Art therapy options for allowing yourself the freedom to experiment
Mikayla Coleman Managing Editor | howlmanagingeditor@wou.edu Gaining popularity in recent years, using arts and crafts for therapeutic effects has made significant headway into the clinical world. Art therapy combines traditional talk therapy with interpretation of created images in an attempt to connect with one’s subconscious. Through the act of physical creation, one can get in touch with thoughts, feelings and
experiences that are challenging to verbalize. Dealing with dissociative, anxiety and attention deficit disorders myself, participating in the creation of art has been a sincere and consistent way for me to get connected and comfortable with myself. Though individuals who are struggling immensely with mental health should seek care from a Photo by Mikayla Coleman
Art therapy can help people to practice mindfulness in everyday life.
medical professional, the intermittent use of art therapy exercises can help one to explore themselves and their emotions, as well as develop a nondestructive coping mechanism in their times of need. Listed below are some simple art therapy exercises to try. Collage: For many, drawing or painting can be very intimidating, adding anxiety to an already stressful mental climate. Collage is a great way to get comfortable experimenting with composition, text and images to try to evoke a feeling, memory or thought. Collage is also very resourceful — materials are often reusable and free. Grab some discarded magazines, newspapers or books and cut out what is visually or emotionally intriguing. Attempt to look inward and question why these things stand out individually and how they change when they are pasted together. Sculpture: Sculpture is a great way to connect body and mind. The malleability of clay can be soothing and freeing for many individuals who are feeling stiff or stuck within their lives. One of the more simple exercises with sculpture is to make
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the joints of the shoulders and wrists. The core should also be flexed as a way to stay stable and promote better posture during the exercise. Adding a rope to a workout routine also improves balance, mobility and agility for the jumper. Having to use so many muscle groups in coordination with one another in a repetitive motion improves one’s ability to recognize patterns and physically act upon them. Not only is jumping rope an effective workout, but it is also just fun to do. It brings a nostalgia to exercise which is not often found in a gym. Whether on one’s own or with friends it can be a great way to connect with the inner child in everyone. Learning new tricks and increasing speed encourages fun with the resulting effect of a good workout session. Grab a rope and try to jump for a few minutes as cardio. The joy it brings is a nice way to revitalize any workout.
sculptures of those who one is close with in their lives. These figures do not have to be — or dare I say, shouldn’t be — human forms. The size and shapes help connect one with where they place themselves in the world in comparison to those around them, aiding in the process of introspection on a journey to confidence and growth. Freeform Drawing: A lot of people say “I am not good at drawing.” I used to be one of those people. The great thing about art is that it is subjective. So many times people get in their head about what art is supposed to or not supposed to be. Through freeform drawing, one is able to disconnect from that notion and completely let themselves submit to their creativity. Get some bright colored pens and get to drawing everything and anything. The drawings can be small, scattered, emotional, funny or weird. This act of freedom allows one to indulge in creation without judgment or guidelines, similar to an author’s freewrite or a singer scat session. The results are often messy and incredible, resulting in a map of the mind that is very interesting to follow.
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Wednesday, May 4, 2022
News
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Resignation frustration Now is the best time to find an on campus job for Spring term Gretchen Sims | Freelancer | gsims20@mail.wou.edu Photo by Gretchen Sims
Valsetz is an amazing place for students to work on campus!
Over the course of 2021, a record number of employees voluntarily left their positions in an act that many attribute to the 2020 pandemic. This mass exodus was evidently coined “The Great Resignation.” This was potentially caused by a shift in values during the pandemic. Giving people a break from their mundane jobs showed many that there were better things in life. This, in combination with the booming economy, has led to a surplus of jobs on the market that just aren’t being filled. Justin Sunada, Assistant Director at the Service Learning and Career Development center, commented about how the resignation has affected Western. “(There) are very few companies of WOU’s size that haven’t felt at least some of the pains of the great resignation. I know that we’ve experienced turnover but in some cases turnover can be a positive thing and offer opportunities for others to step up, gain more
experience, or sort of restructure in ways that we wouldn’t have otherwise,” Sunada said. As Sunada mentioned, now is a better time than ever to apply to jobs for fall term because of how many positions are available. The Great Resignation has left many opportunities for students to rise to the occasion. Here are just a few of the many jobs offered on campus that are available to students. If interested, click on the “WolfLink” icon on the Portal, enter “Western Oregon University” when prompted then fill out an accurate profile. After this, be sure to filter job search results by “jobs on campus” to answer to any of the employment opportunities listed below. Director of Q Loop Productions Commitment: part-time Employer: Q Loop Productions Job description: Q Loop is an oncampus student-run video production studio that provides education and professional Continued on back
“Infrastructure Decade” President Biden explains the plan for money to be spent in Oregon Photo courtesy of Instagram, @joebiden
Biden has made a promise to modernize cities, small towns, and rural and Tribal communities throughout the United States.
President Joe Biden landed in Portland, Oregon on April 21. His speech addressing the Portland International Airport explained the plan that is meant to modernize American infrastructure. The Bipartisan Infrastructure bill alloted trillions of dollars to be spent towards modernizing America. It designates $25 billion to be spent on airports across the nation with $221 million set to be dispersed to airports throughout Oregon. Biden referred to PDX as the economic engine of not just Portland but of the whole region and explained how we as Oregonians, and Americans, need
Mollie Herron News Editor | howlnews@wou.edu to be investing in ourselves. President Biden boasted of their use of local wood saying, “You can point to any beam, and the folks building it can tell you where it came from.” He also made it known to attendees of the speech that the work that would come from the new infrastructure projects would provide more than 1,250 jobs and 95 percent of work will be done by union workers. There will also be $100 million delivered to Oregon to make high speed internet more accessible throughout the state so that, in the words of President Biden, “Never
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again should a parent have to sit in their car, drive to a McDonald’s parking lot, sit there with their child to get online so they can do their homework, which was happening during the pandemic.” The main point President Biden seemed to want to convey is that Americans need to invest in themselves to better our own country. He stated that the United States is currently ranked 13th globally in infrastructure when we used to be ranked at the top. Biden hopes to increase our internal structure with the money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill.
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News
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Reflecting on heroes
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Student Engagement honors Holocaust Remembrance Day through flag display across Monmouth Avenue Mirella Barrera-Betancourt Staff Writer | howlstaffwriter@wou.edu
Photo by Mirella Barrera-Betancourt
During April 28, students were able to walk down Monmouth Avenue with a beautiful flag display to commemorate the Holocaust.
On April 28, Student Engagement joined hands with volunteers to plant flags for display across Monmouth Avenue to commemorate the six million lives that tragically ended during the Holocaust. In Israel, the Holocaust Remembrance Day is known as Yom HaShoah and always occurs on the 27th of the Hebrew month of Nisan. It is a day set aside to not only remember the tragedy that befell millions, but also to commemorate the heroism of countless individuals. At Western, Yom HaShoah is commemorated in the month of April. Much like the previous years, volunteers lined up to help “paint” a beautiful
memorial of flags, with each section and color of flags designated for a specific group of individuals lost to Hitler’s reign of terror. This year, there were 12 meanings, with each flag representing 500 lives lost of that group: 11,400 blue flags represented Soviet civilians, 9,000 large yellow flags represented Jewish adults, 6,000 red flags represented Soviet prisoners of war, 3,600 white flags represented Polish civilians, 3,000 small yellow flags represented Jewish children, 624 green flags represented Serbian civilians, 500 brown flags represented Romani people, 500 orange flags represented Continued on back
A lasting legacy
Western to host commemoration in memory of late Ron DeVolder Photo courtesy of Esther Neely
Ron DeVolder remains a predominant and beloved individual at Western after his passing.
On Dec. 7 of 2021, the Monmouth-Independence community lost a generous and respected man: Western alumnus and supporter of over 35 years, Ronald Edward DeVolder. DeVolder impacted the lives of many at Western.
Mirella Barrera-Betancourt Staff Writer | howlstaffwriter@wou.edu
Despite DeVolder’s passing, his legacy lives on in the generosity he gave to various Western departments, such as the athletics and music department — which he was heavily involved in — and the DeVolder Family Science Center, to name a few. DeVolder also served on the WOU Foundation board and was a recipient of the Alumni Award of Excellence. In recent months, a celebration of life in remembrance of Ron DeVolder was in high talks at Western. However, due to COVID-19, the event had to be postponed to a later date. After countless delays, Western is finally coming together to celebrate the life of a great friend and supporter. On May 13, a commemoration event will be held in the Pacific room of the Werner University Center. The commemoration will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by a reception. Attendees can expect a walk-through of DeVolder’s life told by close friends and family, from university to serving in the Aviation Brigade. In addition, there will be a musical performance by the WOU Chamber Singers, a pianist and a choir. @thewesternhowl
After the celebration, which will end at 12:30 p.m., coffee and cookies will be provided. According to Louise Sanderson, executive assistant for WOU Foundation and faculty in charge of the commemoration, everyone — from Western faculty to students — has come together to bid a farewell to Ron DeVolder. “The (event) has been very much involving (Ron DeVolder’s) wife, and family friends have helped put it together, so they have really brought together everything that he was passionate about, (such as) music,” said Sanderson. DeVolder was also a big supporter and spokesperson in the development of the sports tailgating tradition at Western. As a result, after the celebration attendees are invited to the tailgate reception, followed by the spring Western football game. The tailgate begins at noon, with kick off at 2 p.m. For those who wish to celebrate but are unable to physically attend, a livestream of the event will be available at wou.edu/livestream. Western welcomes everyone willing to partake in this beautiful celebration of life.
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Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Local Culture
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Reopening the people’s museum
Photo by Gretchen Sims
The Heritage Museum is the product of teamwork and dedication. Gretchen Sims | Freelancer | gsims20@mail.wou.edu On March 30, a monumental effort by outstanding community members resulted in the reopening of the Heritage Museum in Independence. At 1:15 p.m., the ribbon was cut by Natascha Adams in an action that signified the official recognition of
the diverse and rich history of both Monmouth and Independence. “Today is just a day of celebrating the actual community coming together for a museum that is about the community for the community. The goal is to be able to start telling
Natascha Adams (right) and Amy Christensen (left)
everybody’s story — which we haven’t been able to do before,” Adams told the press after the ribbon had been cut. The Heritage Museum has displays that feature the Native Americans whose land on which
Independence and Monmouth are built, such as the Kalapuya tribe. It also honors the town’s Latinx and Chinese communities and the impact they have had on Independence’s past and present. This museum is also fully Continued on back
Showcasing Native pride The 27th Annual MSU Pow Wow brings Native American culture to campus
Camille Lenning | Entertainment Editor howlentertainment@wou.edu
To show respect for those who lived and tended this ground before us, and the tribes that continue to this day, we have included the Western land acknowledgement. Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (www. grandronde.org) and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians (ctsi.nsn. us). The Multicultural Student Union revived a beloved spring term tradition this year with the 27th Annual Pow Wow. Even though attendance was less than previous years, those who were present made it an event worth celebrating. The Pow Wow was hosted by MC
Nick Sixkiller, and several local and out-of-state tribes participated, such as the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, members of the Navajo Nation, the Menominee Tribe from Wisconsin, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware. Sixkiller has been hosting Western’s Pow Wow for 15 years. A member of the Cherokee Tribe of Oklahoma, he now hosts radio shows on the KRVM station based in Eugene, Oregon. The Pow Wow began with a Grand Entry, led by the Indian, American and State flags. The procession followed the Host Drum, Poundtown, through the doors of the Pacific room to the dance circle in a flurry of color. Vendors set up shop on the first floor of the Werner University Center and sold items such as beads, furs and clothing. In the hours before dinner, attendees could participate in Inter-Tribal dancing in the dance circle, which was accompanied by one of the four drum circles present, Poundtown, Midnight Travelers,
Johananie Singers and Turquoise Pride. Children, teenagers, adults and Elders alike danced together — some in regalia and others in regular day clothes. At dinner, the crowd lined up in the WUC Summit to try the Navajo tacos made by Sisters East. The fry bread combined with meat, lettuce, salsa, sour cream and shredded cheese to make the perfect dinner item. When dinner ended, the competitions began. Beginning with youth in the Girl’s and Boy’s Fancy category, a dance meant to show off elaborate and colorful regalia by moving to the beat of the drums. Other dances in the competition were the Girl’s Jingle Dress Dance, a dance which — according to Sixkiller — is an expression of pride and prayer. The adults competed in similar categories, and also the Men’s and Women’s Traditional. The Men’s dance comes from reenactments of tales of battle around a campfire, while the Women’s honors those who would dance outside the circle of men. Both are meant to honor the ancestors.
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Photo by Camille Lenning
People from many tribes joined in the 27th Annual Pow Wow.
Another dance featured in the Pow Wow was the Grass Dance, where dancers use a mirrored step technique to mimic stamping down grass to create an arena for all. Sixkiller also announced the winners of the raffle, which included donations from the many vendors on site and a $200 Pendleton blanket, the most valued prize of the night.
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Campus changes
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Speaking with Dr. Jhaj New president Dr. Sukhwant Jhaj discusses himself and his plans for Western Camille Lenning Entertainment Editor | howlentertainment@wou.edu On April 20, the Western Oregon Board of Trustees concluded their search for Western’s next president and named Dr. Sukhwant Jhaj to the position. An experienced scholar with several degrees, including a Master’s from Portland State, Dr. Jhaj was chosen after an extensive search process that spanned much of the 2021–22 academic year. Dr. Jhaj will be leaving his positions as Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Student Success and Dean of University College at Arizona State University to serve at Western. I sat down with him to discuss his achievements and plans for the future of Western. Photo courtesy of LouAnn Vickers
What does a healthy work-life balance look like for you? How do you hope to support that among WOU community members? We’re in the middle of COVID-19, though sometimes we want to say we’re past it — so the timing of this question is important because we’ve gone through all kinds of stress. For me, I do not imagine this idea of balance as there is ‘work’ and somehow ‘life’ is separate to that. For me, those things are deeply intertwined, because of the kind of work that I do. The kind of work in a place that creates knowledge and imparts learning on people. So what does it mean in that context? For me, it is this idea of a happy balance, a life filled with purpose that is productive, that’s what I seek in my life. We all have multiple identities, in my case I’m a husband, father, colleague, friend and a teacher to my students. So you want to be able to contribute to them in a purposeful and productive way and at the same time live a fulfilling life around these varieties of identities. So that’s how I see it. For me, clarity of purpose, doing meaningful work that is impactful and being successful in my personal life. There’s certain kinds of activities that lead to moments of deep reflection where I can reach a Zen state, like cooking or hiking. That’s how I reset myself. What kind of relationship do you hope to foster with the greater Monmouth-Independence community? Highly collaborative, and in a way where we see Western Oregon
identity. We will continue to do that work around student learning in person, but we will then expand access to our excellent faculty and our programs to online students. I want to make sure that we don’t lose the sense of the value we currently have in the in person experience as we expand online learning; it will remain core to Western students.
Dr. Sukhwant Jhaj will take over as president of Western on Aug. 1, 2022.
University as in service to this community. What role do online classes play in your plan for Western’s future? There are two ways to think about it, you asked a question about online classes, but let’s also think about online learning. I know that this year we are offering almost double the online courses that we were offering prepandemic. That increases flexibility for students, which can have a positive impact on access and timely
completion. I think that kind of work needs to continue. But in terms of enrollment we would have to come up with an answer to ‘how do we expand access to the transformative education that Western offers to a larger group of people,’ which would very much be a part of any kind of enrollment strategy we develop. But let’s not forget the core of Western is the in-person experience in Monmouth and now in Salem. We have to make sure that as we do this work, we have a commitment to that experience that’s central to Western’s
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How will you improve college accessibility for all students? In a variety of ways. One way is through partnerships. The way I imagine access is not just the cost of education, but as students that are a part of our community seeing themselves as college learners. When they’re here, are we creating for them an environment that will help them finish their college journey? So we will work very closely with the school district in the area and with our community college partners to build these pathways for students to come to Western. Building pathways for adult learners in Salem through online means and other places is key. The support system we develop, the advising systems we put in place, career services we have, clubs and other things that create that environment to clarify your identity as a student. That has to be at the core of the work we do around access — ensuring that all students see Western as the place that they belong. That will be the focus of my work. Read the full Q&A on our website wou.edu/westernhowl.
10 Humor
The Western Howl
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 wou.edu/westernhowl
THIS WEEK
IN COMPLETELY MADE UP
HOROSCOPES Compiled by The Western Howl staff
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
I’m dying
i know everyone else is wondering where tf the sun is but i’m living for the rain
Use every opportunity you get to make a fool of yourself. It often leads to great memories.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
I think it’s time to rearrange your room… again
taurus is an absolute psycho let me photosynthesize b—h
Put on a face mask, pour yourself a glass of wine and put on a trash reality dating show.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
I have a plant in a plastic coke bottle and it is MINE.
Screw embracing your inner child, I’m embracing my inner senile old codger.
This random sunshine is making it hard to decide if I wanna cry in the dark or go on a road trip
3/21–4/19
6/21–7/22
9/23–10/22
4/20–5/20
7/23–8/22
10/23–11/21
5/21–6/20
8/23–9/22
11/22–12/21
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Just chill man. It’s not that serious.
I’m like a bird. I’ll only fly away.
Get out of the house this week, go to the beach :)
12/22–1/19
1/20–2/18
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2/19–3/20
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
The Western Howl
Opinion
wou.edu/westernhowl
Bougie birthday
11
Photo by KJ Johnson
There are plenty of 21st birthday festivities to add to your itinerary that isn’t a plane ride away Jude Bokovoy Lifestyle Editor | howllifestyle@wou.edu The pressure to go to Vegas with an abundance of friends for your 21st birthday is unreal. If that’s your jam, more power to you, it’s just not my thing — and that’s okay. So instead, for my birthday, I spent quality time with my two closest friends and my boyfriend. I had the time of my life without most of the typical festivities. On my birthday, my boyfriend KJ and I had such an amazing time pampering ourselves. We started off the day by picking up a free birthday coffee and then hit the road. We stopped in downtown Newberg to window shop at a few boutiques before our first event. Then we headed up to Ponzi Vineyards to attend their 2nd Annual “Meet the Makers Market,” where we were each greeted with a glass of white wine. We made our way around tables filled with local creations such as leather bags, ceramics and tea. My favorite of the bunch was Bridge Nine Candle
Company — every candle had a delightfully unique scent. While waiting for the wine tasting to start, we toured the vineyard and took lots of pictures. The tasting flight included two reds, two whites and two complementary rosés. Each glass paired beautifully with our charcuterie board. After we left the vineyard, we went to Bridgeport Village to shop in the sun. We ended the night with an extravagant dinner at DOSALAS Latin Kitchen and Tequila Bar. The elaborate scenery and staff made ording my first margarita a special experience. Our meals were divine and they even brought out a complimentary birthday dessert. The next day, my best friends threw me a surprise sleepover. They had KJ keep me away while they decorated my apartment with balloons and flowers. I felt so loved when I walked through the door. Both of them gave me thoughtful gifts and even printed
Ponzi Vineyards was the perfect location for my first wine tasting.
an itinerary for our night. We spent our time sipping strawberry Moscow mules, dancing and watching a sentimental movie. My birthday weekend left me feeling so grateful for the opportunity to share these activities and experiences with the people I care so deeply about. The nice thing about both days was that I woke up the next morning feeling great and treasuring the memories we made. I truly recommend celebrating your 21st birthday with the people you love while doing what you truly want to do, whatever that may be. It’s your day after all.
Twitter bought: good or bad? Elon Musk makes deal with Twitter to claim ownership of the company Twitter is a platform available for any user to create and post short or long statements known as tweets. They can be pictures, gifs, videos, words or all of the above created in one post. To me, it’s another nest of personal thoughts, memes and at times, public apologies. Not only that but it’s been a home for journalists, celebrities, content creators and any other public figure that exists. It’s a place where people see cancel culture taking action, canceling anyone who says or does something that may be seen as socially
James Fowlkes Freelancer | jfowlkes18@mail.wou.edu
unacceptable. However, that may not stay the case because Twitter may have some changes on the horizon thanks to a certain individual who is none other than Elon Musk. Elon Musk is a multi-billionaire entrepreneur, investor, co-founder and CEO of numerous companies such as SpaceX, Tesla Inc., The Boring Company, Neuralink and OpenAI. In recent events, he became the largest stakeholder for Twitter, holding a 9.2 percent stake in the company. On April 25, Elon Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion after closing the deal with the company. After this purchase, a question has popped up in my head: is the new ownership going to be the start of something new or will things be the same? Where will Twitter go from here? That depends on Musk’s intentions for owning the company. Musk has stated interest in topics of free speech and journalism and he has stated that he wants to preserve free speech on the
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
platform. I am interested to witness the changes that Elon Musk makes to Twitter. I hope that potential changes will help to prevent spreading of hate speech, misinformation and bot spamming. Most of all — and this is an important factor — this will help bring context back into place. The character limit that will be implemented allows for better context between users. I think that there is not enough of that on the platform presently, making Twitter the cesspool that it has been. While I don’t think Twitter is all bad, it has definitely shown many flaws and is in major need of change. These changes might come sooner rather than later. Photo courtesy of Twitter The social media company for news and entertainment.
Elon Musk to be the new owner of Twitter.
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12 Tail-End
The Western Howl
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 wou.edu/westernhowl
Remembrance day
Continued from page 7
people with disabilities, 140 purple flags represented repeat criminal offenders, 60 light blue flags represented Spanish republicans, 6 pink flags represented LGBTQ+ individuals and 4 lime flags represented Jehovah’s witnesses. These flags stayed up for the entirety of one day and were picked
Museum Continued from page 8
compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which will allow access for people of all ages and abilities. This was done, in part, to enable veterans to be able to visit an exhibit dedicated to the people who have served in the Independence community. Independence’s mayor John McArdle commented on the impact such recognitions will promote. “For decades the Heritage Museum has told the great history of our heritage through its artifacts and the stories that go along with them since the Oregon Trail and covered wagons. Knowing the backstory of our community helps us understand why things happen the way they did, what we did well and how we can learn from the past to improve our future,” said McArdle. The Heritage Museum is just one stone that has been laid to pave the way towards a community that is committed to exploring its diverse history. Independence is an outstanding example of a town that is dedicated to preserving the people and cultures from which their history was built. Photo by Gretchen Sims
up a day later on the evening of April 29. “By using flags, we are able to reuse the same ones each year and only need to replace them every few years,” said Kayley Arpaia, lead organizer of the event for Student Engagement. “By having the flags out, you can have some sort of
visualization of how many people were actually lost during the Holocaust.” Holocaust Remembrance Day has been recognized at Western for approximately 20 years, according to Arpaia and will be a commemoration that stays for the years to come.
Photo by Mirella Barrera-Betancourt
Campus Jobs Continued from page 6
development to assist and integrate students interested in pursuing careers related to film and video production into the visual production world. Estimated salary: $17.00 per hour Application deadline: May 6, 2022 at 12:00 a.m. Catering/Bartenders for spring term 2022 Commitment: part-time Employer: Campus Dining Job description: Just like for Valsetz employees, students will have work hours that are tailored to their class schedule. Students can apply for bartender* or server and will help with event set-up, light food prep for special events — including sporting events, weddings, and conferences. (10 to 25 hours per week) *Bartenders need OLCC permit Estimated salary: $12.75 per hour Application deadline: June 1, 2022 at 3:20 a.m. CPS Student Worker Commitment: part-time Employer: Campus Public Safety Job description: Campus Public Safety is looking to hire students who are in good judicial and
Museum manager Natascha Adams (far right) cuts a ribbon in an act that signifies the reopening of the Heritage Museum.
academic standing. These students will accompany an on duty officer to provide assistance with parking enforcement and help at the communications desk. Estimated salary: $13.25 per hour Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2023 12:00 a.m. Residential Computing Student Employee Commitment: part-time Employer: Residential Computing Solutions Job description: Residential Computing Solutions is looking for a computer lab attendant. This student will be responsible for providing appropriate technical support for Western residents, supervising the RSC computer lab equipment and usage. Estimated salary: $12.75 per hour Application deadline: June 30, 2022 at 11:55 p.m. For a full list of jobs available on campus or a more comprehensive role description, visit the appropriate page on Handshake.
Cover photo by Mirella Barrera-Betancourt
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