Vol. IV, Issue 28
May 25, 2022
ARTFEST(IVITIES) PAGE 8
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The Western Howl
News
345 N. Monmouth Ave. Monmouth, OR 97361 Student Media Department TERRY HOUSE NEWSROOM 503-838-8347
Managing Editors
MIKAYLA COLEMAN RYLIE HORRALL
wou.edu/westernhowl
The results are in The Oregon primaries are over, will you be voting this November?
howlmanagingeditor@wou.edu
Camille Lenning Entertainment Editor | howlentertainment@wou.edu
Copy Editor
COLE BOECK
howlcopyeditor@wou.edu
News Editor
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Photo courtesy of opb.org
Photo courtesy of runbetsyrun.com
Photo courtesy of tinafororegon.com
MOLLIE HERRON howlnews@wou.edu
Lifestyle Editor
JUDE BOKOVOY
howllifestyle@wou.edu
Entertainment Editor CAMILLE LENNING
howlentertainment@wou.edu
Staff Writer
MIRELLA BARRERA-BETANCOURT howlstaffwriter@wou.edu
Designer
JULIANNA TINKER howldesigner@wou.edu
Designer
ADDIE FLOYD
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Digital Media Manager SEAN SULLIVAN
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Photo Editor
CAITLIN QUIRK
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Student Media Adviser WILLIAM MCDONALD-NEWMAN mcdonaldnewmanw@wou.edu
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 Contact information will not be published unless requested.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.
From left to right: Christine Drazen, Betsy Johnson, Tina Kotek. For the first time in Oregon’s history, the gubernatorial ballot will consist of only female candidates.
Oregon is in the midst of its midterm election season, and the results of the May 17 primary determine who voters will see on the ballot. Those living in and around Polk county had the opportunity to vote for four candidates in competitive partisan elections, including the gubernatorial, Oregon House, U.S. House and U.S. Senate races. After a host of campaigns between the 15 Democratic and 19 Republican candidates, the gubernatorial primary has been called by the Associated Press — and for the first time in Oregon history, the race will only have women on the ballot. Tina Kotek took home the Democratic nomination, beating her most competitive opponent, Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read, by 26 points. Kotek’s 16 years of political experience made her a clear frontrunner for the primary. She has been endorsed by big names in local and national politics, like State Representative Paul Evans, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and various progressive organizations. If elected, Kotek will become the first openly lesbian governor in the U.S. Christine Drazen won the Republican nomination with a five point lead over her most prominent opponent, attorney and former State Representative Bob Tiernan. With this win, Drazen could not only become Oregon’s first female Republican governor, but could also potentially break
the Democratic governorship streak the state has maintained since 1982. This election cycle is also unique because of the efforts of unaffiliated gubernatorial candidate, Betsy Johnson. Because she isn’t part of either party, she did not appear on the primary ballot — but she is currently campaigning to get her name in the November general election. In order to achieve this, she must garner at least 25,000 petition signatures by August 15. Her platform and bipartisan endorsements have earned her the support of many Oregon moderates. Voters also had the opportunity to pick their state representative for District 23. In November, the winner of this election will go on to represent sections of Polk and Yamhill counties in the Oregon House. Democratic candidate Kriss Wright claimed victory over her opponent Elise Yarnell Hollamon, winning by just over eight points. Republican incumbent Anna M. Scharf ran unopposed, and received the nomination. On the national scale, those living in the newly drawn District 6 were able to vote for their U.S. house representative. In the last round of redistricting — a process which takes place every 10 years to coincide with the results of the census — lines were drawn to separate parts of Polk, Yamhill and Marion counties into the new district. The 2022 election will decide the first congressional representatives for this @thewesternhowl
area. Democrat Andrea Salinas beat political newcomer Carrick Flynn by 19 points, securing the nomination as the Democratic candidate. Salinas was previously a state representative for District 38, where she has served since 2017. She holds a number of political endorsements from household names like Governor Kate Brown, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Senator Warren. Mike Erickson won his Republican primary by 17 points, defeating his politically adept opponent, Ron Noble. Erickson’s platform rests firmly on the idea that his experience as a conservative businessman, rather than a politician, make him the right candidate for District 6. Incumbent U.S. Senator Ron Wyden is up for reelection this year. He has held the seat since 1996 and won the Democratic primary with nearly 90% of the vote. As of May 24, the Republican U.S. Senate primary results are too close to call. Jo Rae Perkins is leading by just over two points, with 79% of the votes reported. The Associated Press will call this election at a later date. The Oregon midterm election is on Nov. 8 and ballots are required to be postmarked before 8 p.m. on election day. The deadline to register to vote in this election, if one is not already registered, is October 18.
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
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News
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Market marvels
Abby’s House, Stitch Closet and Food Pantry set up shop closer to the heart of campus Photo by Mirella Barrera-Betancourt
Volunteers from Food Pantry and Stitch Closet were located at the Outdoor Market to assist shoppers.
On May 18, Abby’s House — together with Stitch Closet and the Food Pantry — held an outdoor market on the plaza of the Werner University Center. Abby’s House is Western’s center for equity and gender justice, aiding
students and faculty with the resources needed to live a healthy, happy life. One of their resources includes basic needs, such as food and clothing. As the days become warmer, there are individuals who lack the necessary clothing and shoewear to
Wolves in Salem
Western’s Salem campus is looking for student workers for the upcoming 2022– 23 school year. For those looking for an easy going work environment that will look good on a resume, the Salem campus is perfect. Many people don’t know that Western has a Salem campus, but the new building is a great way for those who cannot come all the way to Monmouth to attend classes. “WOU: Salem opened its doors less than a year ago, and some students don’t know it exists yet! It is still growing! It’s so exciting to see more people every term in the building,” current student
employee Meriby Ydrac said. “I remember fall term when we didn’t have a lot of classes, and the building felt lonely and empty. Now, we have more students and faculty compared to before.” Students who work on the Salem campus will earn an estimate of $13.50 an hour and help keep the building running smoothly. Duties include greeting students and professors, assisting professors with technology if needed and cleaning up at the end of the day. The building is quiet which makes it a good study space for those working and provides an office area for its
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Mirella Barrera-Betancourt Staff Writer | howlstaffwriter@wou.edu
be comfortable. As Western’s one-stop clothing resource, the Stitch Closet can help with that. The Food Pantry, located in the Welcome Center adjacent to the Stitch Closet, is also a critical part of Abby’s House’s message. With access to a free food resource center, Western hopes to decrease the amount of individuals suffering on campus from food insecurity. Although it was drizzling, the environment during the event was welcoming. Tents were set up to prevent clothing and food from getting soaked, and volunteers from each organization were available to assist and help answer any questions from shoppers. All food made available by the Food Pantry was free for students
and faculty. All that was asked of participants was cooperation in answering a few questions in the item weighing station. Nothing was asked in order to take from the Stitch Closet. Contrary to popular belief, the Food Pantry does not require any meeting of income guidelines in order to have access to the free resource. So whether it was a snack for a much-needed break between classes, or a clothing item needed for spring, faculty and community members could stop in and be out within a few minutes. Both the Stitch Closet and the Food Pantry cannot function without the aid of volunteers. If students are interested in volunteering, they can fill out a volunteer interest form, which can be found online on their website.
Current student employees talk about what it’s like to work at WOU Salem Mollie Herron | News Editor | howlnews@wou.edu
student workers. Current student employee Rylie Horrall said, “The community is so nice and open! My coworker and supervisors are all very chill, it’s just a nice environment. Not stressful really at all.” For those wanting to visit the Salem campus, it is located downtown Salem at the corner of Trade St. and Market St. With its own designated parking lot, the building also has study and conference rooms, as well as a computer lab. Snacks and coffee are offered and the building is conveniently located right down the street from a Starbucks. @thewesternhowl
For more information visit the WOU:Salem page on Handshake and read about the student workers role. The deadline for fall 2022 applications is June 3 with possible availability in the summer.
Photo by Rylie Horrall Some courses offered at WOU Salem are organizational leadership and psychology.
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Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Lifestyle
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Side hustle
Delicious Dosalas
satisfaction
Dosalas is an extravagant tequila bar that is perfect for any special occasion
There are a variety of hobbies that can be turned into side jobs James Fowlkes Freelancer | jfowlkes@wou.edu
Jude Bokovoy Lifestyle Editor | howllifestyle@wou.edu Dosalas Latin Kitchen and Tequila Bar, located in Vancouver, Washington, is the home of some very fancy meals. My boyfriend and I have dined there on three occasions, and each time was better than the last. Disclaimer: this place is extremely expensive and is supposed to be attended on special occasions. Below are my favorite items that I’ve gotten thus far. Spicy angel margarita — It’s been a dream of mine to order a spicy margarita on my 21st birthday, and I am so glad that I fulfilled my dream here at Dosalas. The tequila expert walked me through the process of how the tequila is made for this drink and gave me a sample. The cart girl, a former Oregon State cheerleader, made my elaborate Spicy Angel Margarita. There was an option to pick the spice level from one to five. Being a spice lover I picked five. The drink was rimmed with tajin with a similar spice combination in the drink. This drink brung the heat while enhancing the taste of the high quality tequila. This flavorful drink was perfect for sipping throughout the meal.
Douglas crab toast — These two pieces of toasted sourdough bread are loaded with fresh douglas crab. The crab speaks for itself in this dish, and on the side there is a roasted lemon to squeeze on top and a pickled cauliflower salad. Short rib sopes — The flavors are through the roof in this small plate. It comes in a trio that could easily be a meal in itself. The sopes are browned to perfection and were paired with juicy rib meat, great sauce and garnishes. The habanero pepper garnish packs a punch, despite its thinly sliced appearance. Guacamole trio — I cannot express enough how delicious this small plate is. Each side of guacamole is greeted with a crispy freshly seasoned tostada. Each guacamole is completely different from the other and is loaded with flavor. The first guacamole is the sofrito blackened shrimp. This dip has huge chunks of shrimp, chipotle spices with the refreshing taste of cole avocado. The mango habanero had just enough heat while providing the ability to take off the habanero slices for those who can’t handle spice. The mango Continued on back
Photo by Jude Bokovoy
Each guacamole of the trio is completely different from the last.
Photo by James Fowlkes
Turn an enjoyable activity into a potential business.
Having a hobby or an activity to do during free time has its own rewards. It provides entertainment, satisfaction and can even produce new skills. Something to consider is that these hobbies can be turned into side jobs that can make good money and can help people become successful from doing something they’re experienced at. There are plenty of hobbies that can be made into side hustles. Art and design. Drawing with pencil on paper, painting pictures or drawing digital images on a program like Adobe Illustrator is a common activity people partake in. The movement of the utensil and the process can be enough entertainment, but it’s possible to make a business out of it. Creating commissions, drafting logos or tabling at art fairs and expos are all ways to sell artwork. Gaming and streaming. Gaming is a popular hobby for a lot of people just to kill time, but with Twitch, YouTube, or several other videobased platforms, streaming is a goto career to live-stream their wellknown, favorite games in front of an audience. An effective way to make money from live-streaming games is to grow a large audience and have
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advertising monetization, along with developing a subscription service for followers to subscribe and purchase exclusive content. Podcasting. Listening to podcasts is an enjoyable way to spend time, with an endless variety of genres to choose from. Starting one is even better as it provides the added freedom that’s gained from choosing a range of topics to talk about. There are audio software options for podcasting with the most common ones being Garageband and Audacity. With enough quality content produced, a large audience can be gained and money can be made from advertising monetization. Editing content. Editing content such as video, audio or written pieces still requires creativity. Customization makes content more appealing, as one can add any changes to make it more appealing. If one is taking clients to edit their creations, whether it be videos, essays, poetry or audio files, make the changes that will satisfy both parties — and if it goes well, that’s one step closer to making money. Starting a business doing something one loves to do can begin Continued on back
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
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Lifestyle
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Is this available? What to know when searching for a new apartment
Rylie Horrall Managing Editor | howlmanagingeditor@wou.edu
Photo by Rylie Horrall
If tours are not offered at an apartment complex, drive to the area to check out the building and neighborhood.
As the school year comes to a close, finding new living arrangements for the summer or following year can weigh heavily on one’s mind. Whether it’s reapplying for on-campus housing or looking for a place in an entirely new area for post-graduation, apartment hunting can be difficult — but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of websites out there that can be helpful for finding one’s preferred living space. Sites like apartments.com and zillow. com have been my go-to as of late, however it’s important to not solely rely on these specific sites. While there’s no harm in applying or contacting through those websites, there’s a chance that a unit listed is no longer available and might have been neglected to be taken down. If that’s the case, it would be beneficial
to find the complex’s website and see what’s currently ready from the source. There’s also a chance that available housing options aren’t listed on external sites like those mentioned above; in a situation like this, it would be worthwhile to look at different buildings in the desired area using Google Maps or by driving around, if the latter option is feasible. By using either of these options, one can find a website specific to the apartment compound or management company, or a phone number if they don’t have a website. One might also be able to call apartment buildings or their managers to ask to be put on a waitlist for upcoming units. Search filters can be extremely important when looking online for a new living situation — it sucks to find
a place that looks perfect but is out of one’s budget. Take advantage of the option to filter prices, bathroom size, in-unit laundry facilities or move-in dates. Be flexible, but don’t compromise on things that are especially important. Also be sure to look at the deposit and income requirements needed for consideration. Some places have smaller deposits either at or under regular rent price, while others request sizable deposits like first and last month’s rent. For income requirements, don’t be discouraged if one doesn’t meet all of the conditions, as many complexes allow for a co-signer. Having one can be helpful if a person doesn’t have much renter history, or any history at all. After finding an apartment that meets one’s desires and needs, know
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that the search doesn’t end there. If it’s at all possible, try to set up a tour of the building — this is helpful to make sure the pictures online are accurate, if the neighborhood is what one likes and gives a person the chance to ask any questions they have directly to the property manager or leasing agent. Due to COVID-19, some do not allow inperson visits, but are able to send pictures and videos to prospective tenants. The last point I want to make is that it’s perfectly okay to go on a waitlist, especially if one isn’t on an intense time crunch. Some building managers advise going on a waitlist if an apartment will be available for touring at a later date, as there’s always a chance that something may open up earlier.
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Entertainment
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CELEBRATING LATINX BEAUTY MSU’s 30th Annual Nuestra Fiesta Latina unites Latinx and Hispanic individuals of all ages Mirella Barrera-Betancourt Staff Writer | howlstaffwriter@wou.edu
Western’s Multicultural Student Union celebrated their last event of the 2021–22 academic year with the 30th Annual Nuestra Fiesta Latina. The first in years, this year’s Nuestra Fiesta Latina celebration took place on Friday, May 20 and saw a wave of high-spirited live music. The theme was “El Carnaval del Pueblo” or “The Carnival of the Town,” which does not sound quite as lovely as its Spanish counterpart. The all-day event consisted of four sessions. While the $10 admission price may have seemed expensive to some, this ticket allowed for the attendance of all four sessions, which included the dinner, entertainment and dance portion of the event. There was a $5 ticket for purchase for the dance only. However, those interested did not have to spend money to attend the carnival. This first session took off as early in the day as 11 a.m. on Church Street. The “kermes,” as referred to in Spanish, featured a variety of traditional Mexican games, food and music. Attendees could choose from face painting or ring toss to participating in a jalapeño eating challenge. To aid in the fun, attendees could also enter into a prize draw during the first few minutes. At the end, slips were pulled and winners were contacted. Prize draws were a common activity throughout the entirety of Nuestra Fiesta Latina. The event picked up again at 6 p.m., quite some time after the carnival. Held in the Pacific room,
the dinner portion of the event featured entertainment from Ballet Folklorico Tlanese, a traditional dance group that MSU has featured in their Nuestra Fiesta Latina for some years now. Ballet Folklorico is
a traditional and cultural dance from Latin America, combining ballet with vibrant Mexican dancewear. For the price of $10, attendees saw a delicious array of authentic Mexican food. From enchiladas to
Photo by Mirella Barrera-Betancourt Ballet Folklorico Tlanese was this year’s entertainment dance group, combining culture with ballet characteristics.
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tamales — with a side of rice and beans — attendees did not leave with an empty stomach. After the dinner and entertainment portion concluded, there was an hour-long intermission in order to allow the “banda” to get set up and ready for the dance. During this intermission, attendees could choose from three sessions, one of which was “Loteria” — a traditional Mexican game that takes some semblance to a card game. Although the rules of the game may be unfamiliar to some, the game is simple enough that one can get the hang of it after a few minutes. Winners of “Loteria” were allowed to enter one ticket into a draw. If an individual’s ticket was pulled, they could select from a free movie pass, a Dutch Bros gift card and much more. Nuestra Fiesta Latina came to an end with the dance, featuring a performance by Los Reyes de Mexico and DJ Sticky Soundwavves. This year, Nuestra Fiesta Latina was a part of ASWOU’s Celebration of Identities, a two-week event to highlight and celebrate the beauty of campus culture. Regardless of the fact that Nuestra Fiesta Latina was an on campus event, the event brought together a beautiful display of cultures. In the end, it was a win for families and individuals from all ages and cultures, not necessarily just for individuals who identify as Latinx or Mexican.
7 Entering the multiverse
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
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Entertainment
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The newest “Doctor Strange” movie wasn’t what I expected, but that isn’t a bad thing Photo courtesy of Instagram, @marvel
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” isn’t the average Marvel movie.
Camille Lenning Entertainment Editor howlentertainment@wou.edu
This review contains spoilers. Over the years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has accumulated an immense cult following. The most recent addition to Phase Four, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” promised to show a darker side of superhero movies that fans had never experienced before. I can say with certainty that Marvel delivered on that promise. This movie felt like a horror film. Even with the humorous and heart-warming bits brought on by the relationship between Doctor Strange and America Chavez — I’m going to have nightmares about the Scarlet Witch peeling
people apart like string cheese. Everyone told me it was going to happen, but I still didn’t expect Wanda Maximoff to be the main villain in this movie. At least not right off the bat. I wanted her to be redeemable, but even after her apparent self-sacrifice — let’s be honest though, there’s no way she’s actually dead — I have trouble arguing that she should be forgiven for all she did. Having said that, I still love her character. Wanda and her alter-ego, the Scarlet Witch, have a special place in my heart that no amount of murder can erase. She is the strongest Avenger, and even though she used it for evil, watching her come into her
power and absolutely obliterate all obstacles in her path was empowering. I have to admit, most of my love for this movie came from the Scarlet Witch scenes, but I can’t discount how great the rest of the film is. I enjoyed the exploration of the multiverse. It’s a complicated concept to delve into in such a short amount of time, but overall I felt the writers did a decent job of forming a cohesive story. If nothing else, the visuals in this movie were stunning. New characters like America Chavez — who has the power to travel to any dimension she wishes — elevated the film with her wit and complex backstory. Continued on back
That’s absurd!
Photo courtesy of Mariam Anderson-Taha Student actors rehearse for “Baby with the Bathwater.”
The Theatre Department presents “Baby with the Bathwater” this spring Camille Lenning Entertainment Editor | howlentertainment@wou.edu The premiere of Western’s spring theatre production is right around the corner, and this year’s play is the absurdist comedy, “Baby with the Bathwater,” by Christopher Durang with guest director Raissa Flemming. Durang’s decades-long playwright career has been defined by his satirical and comedic skills, as well as the work he’s done with legends like Sigourney Weaver and Dianne Wiest. “Baby with the Bathwater” is a
two-act play originally written in 1983 and has made the rounds as an iconic dark comedy. The production features parents Helen and John, who are unsure if it’s polite to check the sex of their baby. To avoid any awkwardness or privacy invasion, they conclude their baby must be a girl, but when baby Daisy grows up to be a boy, complications ensue. Sophomore theater major and stage manager for the production, Mariam Anderson-Taha, is a long-
time fan of Durang’s plays. “Come with an open mind,” they said of the show. “This (play) toes the line between hyper-realism and absurd, and I think if you’re not expecting it to be weird, then it might not come off as funny or as good of a show as it actually is.” While the theatre departments’ productions typically open with a night show, this round of performances will begin with a Thursday, May 26 matinee at 2 p.m. in Rice Auditorium,
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followed by a 7:30 p.m. showing on the same day. There will be two more 7:30 p.m. performances on May 27 and 28, as well as another 2 p.m. matinee on May 28. Those wishing to see the play can purchase their tickets before the event at www.tix.com/ticket-sales/wouarts/6790. Western students with ID are eligible for free admission, and the general public can purchase their tickets for $14.
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Local Events
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AWARDING THE ARTS
Photo by Mirella Barrera-Betancourt
Art and Design department presents the 54th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit
Mirella Barrera-Betancourt | Staff Writer | howlstaffwriter@wou.edu Photo by Cole Boeck
Mikayla Coleman with her piece, “Contact.”
The 54th Annual Juried Student Art and Design Exhibit Awards took place on Thursday, May 18 on the Western campus. This year’s exhibit features a total of 69 pieces of artwork across a variety of different media, and can be found within the walls of the Cannon Gallery of Art in Campbell Hall and the newly remodeled ITC building. This year the juried exhibition was integrated with ArtFest, an allday festival granting college and high school students the opportunity to showcase their work. The all-day event followed a punctual schedule. The annual juried student art show opened up in Campbell Hall and the ITC building as early as 2:30 p.m., however, the actual Art and Design awards ceremony took place at 5 p.m. This year’s juror for the awards was Ebin Lee. Lee graduated from the Pacific Northwest College of Art with a BFA in illustration and now resides in Portland, Oregon as an illustrator,
designer and cartoonist. Though Lee could not be present during the awards ceremony, they sent the audience a statement of gratitude, writing, “Thank you for letting me be part of this show. Art can help us learn information about the world, see things, places and people we would not otherwise. Art also helps us see parts of ourselves and discover thoughts and feelings we never knew we had.” This year there were six juror’s awards, chosen based on artistic merit. Each winner received a $50 cash award of the $300 endowment given to Lee by the Dan and Gail Cannon Gallery. The juror’s awards were presented to Tracy Aras, Connor McCannell, Ruben Ramirez Alvarez, Sarah Rachel Westlund, Jeneya Stevenson and Naomi Smith. Excluding the juror’s awards, there were eight categories of awards, with subcategories. Each award in their respective category was selected
Winning art piece, “You’re Very Mature For Your Age,” by Cesar Galindo, located in the Hamersly Library.
by the person or institution presenting or purchasing the award. Careful time and consideration was spent with each submitted artwork and was ultimately chosen based on the one these departments liked best. Purchase awards — when either public, personal or institutional parties decide to purchase the work for display — made up the bulk of winning categories. The City of Monmouth Arts and Culture Purchase Award, presented by Susan Farley from the Monmouth-Independence Arts and Culture Commission, was one of the institutions seeking student artwork. The winners were Mikayla Coleman, Annabelle Bullock and Melody Barrett. The Wolfstore purchase awards were chosen by Marci Miller and Teresa Pearson, and were given to Annabelle Bullock, Melody Barrett and Naomi Smith.
According to Paula Booth, Director of the Cannon Gallery of Art and Hamersly Library Exhibits, artwork for the Richard Woodcock Education Center purchase award was selected through consideration of size and color in order to fit within the interior design of the building. The winner of this category was Melody Barrett. Winners for the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences Recognition Awards were chosen and presented by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts themself, Dr. Kathleen Cassidy. Dean Cassidy chose work from three different media forms: 3D sculpture, 2D artwork and digital art. The award for the video category award was presented to Carrie Visuano, the 3D award to Sarah Rachel Westlund and the 2D award to Jocelyne Vargas. The Serendipity purchase award, to be displayed in the Werner University Center on the Western campus, was Continued on back
Photo by Cole Boeck
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CJ Hawker in front of their piece, “Euphoria.” They received an honorable mention for the Serendipity purchase award.
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
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DANCING ELKS
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Successful Relay for Life hoedown fundraiser was full of dancing and drinking Mollie Herron | News Editor | howlnews@wou.edu
Photo courtesy of elks.org
enjoyed their time dancing under the disco ball. The event also provided a free photo booth for those in attendance where they could get photos with their old and new friends they may have met at the lodge. The event was hosted by fairly new Elk members Felicia Orphan and Shelbi Taylor. The honkytonk was their first event and it was a successful fundraiser. A 50/50 raffle was held as a way to donate money to Relay for Life with half of the proceeds going to the winning ticket. One of the volunteers, Nancy Greer, won the raffle, but generously donated the money back to Relay for Life. The whole event was made possible by volunteers with bartenders, DJs and greeters at the door.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks often gets dismissed as a private club that is not open to the public, but in fact focuses on the community and giving back as often as they can. They frequently host karaoke nights on the last weekend of every month and encourage members of the community to join. Their next event will be held on June 17 and the theme has yet to be chosen, but if it is anything like the last it will be a fun night to remember. “We’ve been members for about four months here and it’s just an absolutely incredible community here. We’re like a family.” Orphan said. She spoke about how welcomed they felt despite being so new to the order. She also emphasized that the order is not a group of old men like so many people tend to think it is. There are members of all ages and many women are involved in making their events possible. Photo by Mollie Herron
On May 21, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Independence hosted a honky-tonk as a way to raise money for Relay for Life. The event was advertised as a hoedown and fundraiser and made sure to tell possible attendees to “bring their dancing boots.” The night promised to be full of dancing, drinks and photos and it fully lived up to all expectations. People aged 21 and over were drinking, dancing along to the music and making new friends. The dance hall was a larger space that had a disco ball reflecting the many shades of blue and purple lights, bringing the space to life. Those in attendance who knew some of the line dances were kind enough to demonstrate for those who didn’t know the steps so that the group could dance in unison. They danced along to country favorites like “Boot Scootin Boogie,” “Footloose” and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” which have designated line dances. For songs without specific dances, the dancers treated it like karaoke with a freestyle dance, singing along as loud as their voices would let them. It took some persuading to get every person on the dance floor, but they all clearly
Elks lodge frequently hosts fundraisers and even raises money for scholarships at Western.
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10 Humor
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Wednesday, May 25, 2022 wou.edu/westernhowl
THIS WEEK
IN COMPLETELY MADE UP
HOROSCOPES Compiled by The Western Howl staff
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
It’s seasonal allergies season … someone please get me a tissue
nearing the end
Only goal in life is to be a crazy old person
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
on my way to buy yellow sunglasses now
on my shoulders are two devils. one dancing and one dissociating.
Soak up the sun by going on a long bike ride while listening to Harry’s new album
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Burn burn burn all my sunblock is expired~
Accept your fate. Eat a can of beans. Make it somebody else’s problem.
WHEREFORE ART THOU SUNSHINE
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
You don’t need to be extroverted and go out. Staying in and binging a show is perfectly fine.
Little freak, Expectation: :P vs Reality: :(
Gemini just gave me the ego boost I needed for the week
12/22–1/19
1/20–2/18
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2/19–3/20
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
The Western Howl
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EMOJI ABSENCE
Opinion
11
Jude is heated about the lack of emojis provided by Apple Inc. Jude Bokovoy Lifestyle Editor | howllifestyle@wou.edu
Emojis have been around since the very first iPhone — we use them to express our emotions, describe things or in place of words. Emojis have evolved throughout the years with the addition of more color, inclusivity and detail. But Apple Inc. is still lacking some basic necessities that I would use in my day-to-day life. Pink heart — Isn’t it surprising that we don’t have one of these? There’s many variations of
Graphics by Julianna Tinker
the pink heart, where’s the original? A subtle pink heart is what we crave. Not multiple, beating or sparkling, just a light pink heart in its simplicity. Iced coffee — Hot coffee is out, iced coffee is in. The fact that Apple hasn’t caught on leaves me in awe. Cheerleader — As a cheerleader, I feel a lack of representation of my sport in all areas, including Apple. Doesn’t Apple realize that cheerleaders are constantly posting on social media, filling their captions with emojis? Throw us a bone by doing the bare minimum of making a simple cheerleader emoji. For extra credit, create an emoji of a stunt. Hair colors — There needs to be more natural hair colors provided to all skin tones. There is only one hair color option for each skin tone. What is up with that? Plus, there is no option for those who dye their hair vibrant colors. Clothes — I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing any of the emoji clothing out in public. All of it is so outdated. Not to mention the lack of skirt, jersey, sandals and boot options. Nature — In the nature section, I’m left wanting more. Don’t get me wrong, Apple did a great job by adding a variety of animals, there’s just a few things missing. Such as a fruit tree in bloom, waterfall, lavender, crows and I would greatly appreciate some more floral options. Monuments — Apple only provides the
To state or not to state Do artist statements take away from the meaning of art? Mikayla Coleman Managing Editor | howlmanagingeditor@wou.edu
statue of liberty. That’s it. If I had it my way, there would be at least one emoji for each state containing a monument found there, state flower and what they are most known for. Plus even more options for other countries. Food — As a food blogger, I struggle from time to time due to the lack of food emojis. Some basic necessities would be almonds, a smoothie, pepper (they just have salt), potato chips and lemonade. It would also be nice to have popular food trends such as avocado toast and Korean corn dogs. Nonetheless, Apple has recently blessed the iOS 15.4.1 software update with nearly 40 new emojis. Majority of these were unique, intricate and well thought out.
As someone who regularly creates and presents art, I have often been asked to create artist statements. Artist statements are short written descriptions of a piece of artwork that gives insight into the work. Usually they include a brief description of the artist’s history, what materials they chose to use and why and the themes or metaphor one was trying to achieve within a given piece. These statements can be interesting to read when one is visiting an art gallery. The argument can be made that it helps viewers to understand what is most important to the artist, and can help other people explain other artists’
work to both viewers and buyers. But something about the concept of artist statements has always felt a little unsettling to me, because I have come to believe that it doesn’t matter how I feel about my art once it reaches my audience. The moment that a piece of my artwork leaves my grasp, whether that is by posting it on social media, physically showing it to one of my friends, or hanging it at a gallery — it stops being something that I cradled and created, sort of like a baby bird flying from a nest for the first time. The meaning of my art now belongs in the collective consciousnesses of the people that are looking at it and Continued on back
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12 Tail-End
The Western Howl
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 wou.edu/westernhowl
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Artist statements Doctor Strange how they perceive it as individuals. The meaning exists infinitely, in a way that cannot be defined by just one person, especially not me. The second my work reaches the eyes of another, any intention of what I wanted something to be perceived as is effectively thrown out of the window. Artist statements are a common part of art culture. Students are required to learn how to make them in classes, even here at Western.
Truthfully, they can be interesting and enlightening if one is a big fan of a particular artist. Often artists are obsessed with how their work will be perceived because it is so closely attached to their identity. To those who are anxious about this concept, I hope to encourage the idea that not being able to control how one’s art is perceived is more freeing than it is suffocating.
ArtFest
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” was not my favorite Marvel movie. The film should’ve spent more time developing Wanda’s descent into madness, because to me, her transition from mourning mother to murderer seemed to happen way too fast. While the film tried to revive the tortured romance between Steven Strange and Doctor Christine
Palmer, I felt that they could’ve left that storyline behind and still had a perfectly good movie. I would rather they have focused on the budding friendship between America and Doctor Strange, because it was a much more compelling relationship. Overall, the film could have been better, but I’m excited to see where Marvel takes us from here. 7.5/10.
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presented by Chelsee Blatner, Interim Director of Student Engagement, and was given to Melody Barrett, with honorable mentions given to Mnemosyne McKay and CJ Hawker. Serendipity awards, much like the term’s notion, refer to a fortunate and outstanding discovery or innovation. The term “serendipity” is a common award category in art and design. After the awards ceremony concluded, winners and participants could enter the ITC building and
admire the artwork of the winning artists. Tours of the recently remodeled facilities were also given as part of the ITC reopening ceremony. On the second floor of the Hamersly Library, the ArtFest Regional Exhibit was also on display. These pieces of artwork come from talented high school and community college students that made it to regionals. In total, 22 students from nine different high schools and six community college student artists from
Dosalas
four community colleges participated by sending in art, including students from Central High School from Monmouth-Independence. Daniel Tankersly, head of the Art Department, presented two students from the ArtFest Regional with awards. One of them, Cesar Galindo, is a student at the Academy of International Studies at Woodburn High School. Galindo received the faculty recognition award for their piece titled, “You’re Very Mature For
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was very sweet and the dip was seasoned well. Our least favorite of the three was the chipotle elote. The corn could’ve been more seasoned and the cheese didn’t have much flavor. Don’t be afraid to ask for extra tostadas. Hands down my favorite seafood small plate to share. Fried pork short ribs — By going with a signature plate such as the short ribs, I could easily get full without ordering anything else. Each rib has a crispy outside but still falls off the bone, flavorful and juicy. The ribs have a dry rub
that is tasty but doesn’t take away the natural flavor of the meat. The blanket of thick tomato sauce is to die for. The sauce is thick and is cooked to a point that it is practically caramelized, making the tomato reduction sweet while bringing out the spices. This is served with creamy potatoes and coleslaw. The coleslaw brought some heat, which when paired with the potatoes was a match made in heaven. The potatoes were cheesy, piped on to the plate creating a swirl and garnished with an edible flower.
Your Age.” The second winner for the faculty recognition award was given to Hinata Yokoyama from Portland Community College for their piece “Dreaming Girl.” Both pieces can be found on the second floor of the Hamersly Library. The 54th Annual Juried Student Art & Design Exhibit is currently open for visitors and will remain open through June 9.
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For an intimate dining experience, I recommend their skybox area. If looking for a high volume, stemulating space to enjoy the meal, request to be seated by the bar. The decor makes for an elaborate experience. Even the restrooms are decked out. There are cocktails in cages, smoke and tiffany boxes wisping by at all times. The staff is very outgoing and friendly; such as our favorite waitress, Allison.
Side Hustle
at any time and can be an enjoyable fun experience, but it’s not an easy task. Generally speaking, it takes dedication, time and knowledge to jump into. This applies to just about any hobby a person can make
into a side business. And remember to document money made, in case it’s needed to file taxes on it later on.
Cover photo by Cole Boeck
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