Vol15iss20

VOLUME 15 ISSUE 20 | WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY| FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

ASWOU

CANDIDATES

SEE PAGE 6 FOR CANDIDATE PROFILES

Track divides team to succeed in three meets

Suspect turns himself in after wrecking on campus

Athletes separated between Stanford, San Francisco, McMinville

By Jack Armstrong News Editor Western’s track and field team split their athletes between three separate events this past weekend: the San Francisco Distance Carnival, the Stanford Invitational, and the Linfield Jenn Boyman Invitational.

The Wolves saw the most success at the San Francisco Distance Carnival.

Junior shot putter Emmi Collier won her event overall throwing 12.96 meters, beating the competition by more than four inches. Men’s shot putter sophomore Jeremy Moore finished third in his division with a throw of 14.81.

Freshmen hurdle runners Kaleb Dobson and AJ Holberg set season-best times in the 400-meter hurdles. When asked about the preparation required of hurdle runners, fellow freshman Rihei Grothmann said: “we do a lot of technical warm ups, like bounding and other exercises targeting our specific events.”

Grothmann was quick to point to the increased intensity of college track training.

“The training has definitely intensified from high school levels, but so far it has been fun,” Grothmann said.

Grothmann placed 13th overall in the 110 hurdles at the Linfield Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational.

The Linfield event resulted in six athletes setting personal bests. Sophomore Amanda Ditzhazy broke the five-minute mark for the 1,500, a career first for Ditzhazy who finished 9th overall.

Another freshman duo attending Continued on Page 12

Opinion To struggle beautifully A baby sister’s struggle with Bipolar Disorder. PAGE 10

Geocaching

Global scavenger hunt and outdoor hobby. PAGE 11

PHOTO COURTESY OF LYNN MARTINEZ After swerving through Main Street and down Monmouth Avenue, Yanel Avilla Castro crashed his white pickup truck into the fence outside of the Education building, across from the Werner University Center. See page 12 for more pictures of the damage.

By Conner Williams Staff Writer An intoxicated man crashed his pickup truck several times on Monmouth Avenue early Saturday, April 4, including a building and a car, according to Monmouth Police Department.

Yanel Avilla Castro, a 25-year-old, of Independence went out Friday night for drinks at Main Street Pub in Monmouth. Castro ended up causing thousands of dollars in damage on his drunken journey through downtown Monmouth as well as Western’s campus.

Castro is in custody after turning himself in around 4 a.m. the same morning.

According to Sergeant Kim Dorn of MPD, he is currently facing charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants and three counts of failure to perform the duties of a driver, otherwise known as hit and run.

Castro left the bar at around 2:10 a.m. and headed toward the Shell gas station at the intersection of Main Street and Highway 99W. “I was working inside when I saw this guy in a white truck pull up to pump one, and then he flew across the lot over to pump five where these other two guys were,” said Matt Cheney-Estes, the store clerk on shift during the incident.

“He got out of his truck and tried to get these two guys to fight him,” said Maddie Cole, a witness to the altercation at the gas station.

Cheney-Estes went outside to confront Castro, and then he returned inside to call the police, at which point the man sped out of the lot and onto Main Street in Monmouth, headed back in the direction of Monmouth Avenue.

Around 2:24 a.m., MPD started to receive multiple calls, including the one from Cheney-Estes.

Continued on Page 12

Campus Life

Sports

Rushing to the finish line

Softball splits

Kappa Sigma entertains during rush week. PAGE 2

Health Fair

Annual health fair promotes area businesses . PAGE 3

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Wolves rally to win 6-1 in game two despite 5-9 loss in game on.

PAGE 9

CAMPUS LIFE

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HAUNANI TOMAS

journalmanaging@wou.edu

NEWS EDITOR JACK ARMSTRONG journalnews@wou.edu

CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR KATRINA PENAFLOR journalcampuslife@wou.edu

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR NATHANIEL DUNAWAY journalentertainment@wou.edu

COPY EDITOR JENNIFER HALLEY journalcopy@wou.edu

ADVERTISING MANAGER JONATAN SANTILLAN journaladvertising@wou.edu

DESIGNERS JORDAN SALAZAR CARLY FISTER journaldesigner@wou.edu

PHOTO EDITOR SHANNEN BROUNER journalphoto@wou.edu

WEB MANAGER DANIEL FRANK journalweb@wou.edu

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER HAYDEN RUE STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER MEG ARTMAN 503-838-9697

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS STEPHANIE BLAIR MATT COULTER ZACH GARDNER NEIL GRAVATT RACHEL GOSNEY

Rushing to the finish line Kappa Sigma entertains students during Rush Week

By AMANDA CLARKE Staff Writer Kappa Sigma fraternity held multiple events for students April 6-10 during their Rush Week. Events included dodge ball, a game night consisting of video games and cards against humanity, tricycle races, and a “Sig N Slide.”

The fraternity set up a booth outside the Werner Center last week and this week to promote their events and hand out flyers to students.

Hayden Harms, a junior ASL major, said that the turnout for game night was really good.

Devyn Thurman, a junior history major, and also a Kappa Sigma member, said the process for the rush week included every member of Kappa Sigma at Western giving ideas for events “that would be beneficial for meeting prospective members as well as involving other students as much as possible.”

“The goals of Kappa Sigma are to promote leadership, scholarship, relationships with the community as well as personal growth,” Thurman said. “In my experience, all of the gentlemen in Kappa Sigma are dedicated to developing themselves, each other, and relationships with the community.”

The Western Oregon chapter of Kappa Sigma began in May 2013 and currently has 31

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THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

active members.

Thurman also said that while the events are “mainly for reaching out to prospective members of the fraternity, [they are] also to show the students at the school that are not involved in Greek life that we are still interested in providing a fun and exciting environment for everyone.”

Thurman added, “Unfortunately in my opinion, there has been a negative attitude surrounding the development of Greek life at this institution, but we are definitely motivated and dedicated to changing that.”

The events were mainly for people to “come, hang out and get to know the brothers,” said Roberto Gomez, a senior economics major, who is also involved with Kappa Sigma.

Church Street was closed Wednesday morning for the tricycle races.

Dolan Kasnick, a senior criminal justice major, raced nine times. He said he enjoyed “the chance to break away from all seriousness of college.”

Harms said the turnout was “bigger than anticipated.” The event was originally a social event put on by the Willamette Chapter of Kappa Sigma, and the Western chapter asked to borrow it from them.

PHOTO BY KYLER FREILINGER Top: The “Sig N Slide” quickly turned into a water fight during the Thursday event of Rush Week. Bottom: Tricycle races or races with tricycles? Kappa Sigma members take over Church Street for races and burgers.

Kappa Sigma also offered free hamburgers and soda to students.

Anyone was able to participate in the tricycle races after signing a liability waiver. Each participant was allowed six pushes total down the hill, and whoever made it past the duct tape at the bottom first was the winner.

The tricycle races were just for fun, but every participant received a free Burgerville milkshake coupon.

Harms also said to expect

more events.

“We might do this event again next year,” he added.

“Out of Pandoras Box” Cast members acted shocked, surprised, and curious during the premiere of “Out of Pandora’s Box,” Western’s annual drag sponsored by the Triangle Alliance. The dress rehearsal took place Wednesday April 8 and Thursday April 9 students performed to a sold out show, in Rice Auditorium.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE BLAIR

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NEWS CAMPUS LIFE

CAMPUS BRIEFS LSAT PREP COURSE

PHOTO BY EVELINA RAMIREZ Students talk with representatives of local health food stores, gyms and more at the health fair.

Chiropractors don’t crack bones?

The health and wellness center hosts their annual health fair

By EVELINA RAMIREZ Staff Writer As college students, finding the necessary care and health advice can sometimes cause a headache. Knowing where to direct your questions can also be confusing.

However, on Wednesday, April 8, Western hosted its annual health fair on the Health and Wellness Center’s basketball courts to provide students with information and answer their questions about health.

While sitting at the check-in table, Sarah Fox and Alyssa Raimer both agreed that the fair served a dual purpose: to inform Western of the resources available to students in all aspects of health and well-being and to promote healthy behavior.

At the check-in desk, students were given a stamp card to take with them to the booths.

Once fully stamped, the card could be entered in a raffle to win prizes like a Magic Bullet, a Fitbit or a bike.

Representatives from the Student Health and Counseling Center, Monmouth Fitness Club and Alcohol Anonymous had booths on display with a variety of valuable information regarding health, addiction and personal issues.

Medical organizations such as Salem Health, Corvallis Clinic and the Dallas Health and Vitality Center displayed their important information via eye-catching poster boards and free samples.

The Dallas Health and Vitality Center promoted healthy free samples such as power drinks and cranberry-orange muffins. The muffins contained one of their products called Nutracleanse, which is an all-natural food fiber from organic sources.

They also displayed an array of their supplements: chewable Vitamin D gummies, Dairy Enzymes and Vitamin B12.

One of the booths helped to ease the stress dealing with finances can cause.

“We answer common questions from students about building credit and overall financial wellness,” said Christina Budiselic, a sophomore elementary education major.

Life Source Natural Foods, a grocery store in Salem, filled its booth with information on its organic, GMO-free fruits and vegetables.

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Dr. Mark Henkels and Get Prepped will be offering the LSAT prep course Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 from 9 a.m.–10 p.m.

Registration is $100 or $75 for Phi Alpha Delta members. This class offers an opportunity to learn about the LSAT and train for the test. For more information and registration, call 503-838-8000, or email Henkels at henkelm@wou.edu.

JOSÉ JAMES AND THE AMERICAN METROPOLE ORCHESTRA Singer-songwriter José James and The American Metropole Orchestra will be hosting a concert Saturday, April 11 from 7:30–9 p.m. in Rice Auditorium. James blends elements from indie rock, folk, funk, blues, hip-hop, and R&B. The American Metropole Orchestra has teamed up with him to debut a show tailor-made for the musician’s unique musical style. Tickets are $25 in advance.

For more information, contact the Smith Fine Arts Series at 503-838-8333 or visit www.wou.edu/sfa.

G.E.A.R INDOOR CYCLING WORKSHOP Sunday, April 12 from 8 a.m.–5 p.m., the Health and Wellness Center will host the G.E.A.R indoor cycling course. Designed for personal trainers, group exercise instructors, and exercise enthusiasts, it will teach strategies for creating a safe and effective, high-energy indoor cycling class for all levels of students. Training methods include cardio endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and body composition and flexibility.

The workshop costs $129 and includes a one-year membership to the AFAA, as well as some class materials. For more information, contact campus recreation at 503-838-8860 or visit www.wou.edu/ fitness.

EQUAL PAY DAY INEQUALITY BAKE SALE

PHOTO BY EVELINA RAMIREZ

For about 21 years, Life Source has provided customers with the purest produce by eliminating harmful pesticides embedded within the food.

They also label their grocery aisles with glutenfree labels, to make it an easier shopping experience for customers. The booth offered a basket full of sweet, organic carrots for students to munch on while wandering on to other booths.

Dr. Marty, from Thornton Chiropractic located in Independence, explained, “People have misconceptions about what chiropractors do. We do not crack bones; we deal with the nervous system and always treat the cause, not the symptoms.”

There was a massage chair placed in front of the booth for those who wanted to sample a chiropractic massage.

The health fair is held annually, and has been for over a decade, providing knowledge about health resources available in and around the Monmouth area.

Abby’s House is hosting a bake sale Tuesday, April 14 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. in the Werner Center Plaza.

Abby’s House hopes to shed light on women’s pay inequality in America. For more information, contact Abby’s House at 503-838-9657 or visit www.wou.edu/abbyshouse/events.

PAINTING THE TOWN GREEN DURING THE GREEN DOT STORM On Wednesday, April 15, the Green Dot club will be setting up a booth from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with games and activities in front of the Werner University Center to promote their “storm.” The “storm” refers to covering of campus in green to bring awareness about the Green Dot program.

Students are encouraged to wear the color green, too. For more information, contact Student Health and Counseling 503-838-8791 or Green Dot at greendot@wou.edu.

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

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Western theatre presents student-directed short plays

By Stephanie Blair Staff Writer

Natalie Piper Senior theatre major “A Chance Meeting”

Next week, April 16-18, Western theatre students will have their annual chance to show off their directing prowess.

Students who have completed the two directing courses on campus, Directing and Advanced Directing, both taught by Professor Michael Phillips, will be showing one act plays. This year, three students have stepped up and chosen the plays for this year.

Natalie Piper, fourth-year senior theatre major, has selected “A Chance Meeting” by Frederick Stroppel, starring Janelle Davis, Zach Warner, and Nathaniel Dunaway.

The show depicts a married couple attempting to spice up their love life by exploring fantasy role-playing, but when an old friend cluelessly stumbles into the picture, things get messy.

“The student-directed one acts, I feel, are really for the students, by the students, so I picked something I thought they would enjoy,” Piper said.

The second show in the program, “The Mice Have Been Drinking Again” by Cleve Haubold, starring Belladina Starr, Declan Hertel, Samantha Dunaway and Andrew Thornton, is directed by BFA acting major Nick Kintz. The show, set in

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Trevor Jackson BFA acting major “Find of the Century”

Nick Kintz BFA acting major “The Mice Have Been Drinking Again”

the 1970s, is filled with hippies, gurus, and slapstick humor.

“It is the story of a newly married couple and their attempt to get their Zen-Buddhist cousin and roommate out of the house.” Kintz said. “It has been a blast to direct such a talented and versatile group of actors, who really know how to entertain!”

The festival roster concludes with “Find of the Century” by Western’s own Nathaniel Dunaway. The one act stars Lindsay Spear and Patrick Willett in a drama about a turnof-the-century archaeologist and the mysterious young woman who knows the secret behind his latest discovery, directed by BFA acting major Trevor Jackson.

“Directing is a strange craft; it requires talent as well as authority,” Jackson said. “It’s the marriage of art and leadership, and it makes for a wild, student-led night.”

This year’s festival will be held in the black box theater of Rice Auditorium, beginning at 7:30 p.m. each night. The performance is free to students with an ID. For more information, please contact the theater department at theaterdance@wou.edu or call the Rice Auditorium box office at 503-8388462.

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ENTERTAINMENT

TOOL’S “Undertow” turns 22

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By Declan Hertel Staff Writer

F

ans of the band Tool have been waiting nine years for a new album.

A year after their progressive epic “10,000 Days” was released, the band found themselves embroiled in a long and costly series of lawsuits with their insurance company over the company’s refusal to take care of an artwork dispute.

The resulting eight-year legal circus finally concluded last month, allowing the band members to get back to writing and recording music.

There’s no projected release date for the new album, but according to guitarist Adam Jones in an interview with Yahoo Music, the band has 10 songs currently in the works and one already in the can. The band hopes to have the album finished by the end of the year, but won’t rush production just to meet an arbitrary deadline.

I say, good on them: we Tool fans have been waiting a long time for a new record; we’re willing to wait a little longer for something truly worth it.

The news of Tool getting back in the studio for real came just before the 22nd anniversary of their debut LP, 1993’s “Undertow.” I decided to revisit the record to share how it holds up two decades later and perhaps draw new ears to it, though to be honest it was also just a really good excuse to listen to it again (as I write this parenthetical, I am about halfway through my second listen today).

The band Tool was formed in Los Angeles in 1990. So far, they have released four albums.

One aspect of “Undertow” that stands out immediately is that Tool’s sound has a subtle similarity to funk.

The band has a masterful grasp of “groove.” For a hard progressive/ metal band like Tool, a comparison to funk might seem strange, but there are few bands today that rely so much on having a real groove as Tool.

The syncopated rhythms present throughout the entire record would not be out of place on a Parliament/ Funkadelic release. Another similarity shared is the prominence of the bass guitar. The aggressive, sharp

attack of Paul D’Amour’s basslines gives all the songs a solid bottom line, a sound and technique that would be continued and improved upon by Justin Chancellor after D’Amour’s departure in 1995.

On a similar note to the album’s “grooviness,” “Undertow” is a record that makes me want to get up and move. Not to dance in the way that a radio pop song might inspire, but just to stand up and move around to the music to prove that I’m alive.

The pounding, varied rhythms resonate in the bones, and the deep sound of the instrumentation of May-

PHOTO FROM LOADEDRADIO.COM

nard James Keenan’s honest and deeply emotional lyrics resonate in the heart and mind. Keenan is one of the most open and honest lyricists in recent rock music, and his lyrics get under the skin and dare you to open up.

Twenty-two years later, “Undertow” still holds up. Tool’s sound would become more refined and complex on later releases, but “Undertow” is dripping with primal energy and feeling, pulling the listener into this dark world much in the way the title suggests.

COMIC CORNER

MY SUPERVISOR IS A DINOSAUR BY ANONYMOUS

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THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

NEWS

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ASWOU Candidates Upcoming elections encourage student involvement, voting changes via OrgSync

By JACK ARMSTRONG News Editor New ASWOU candidates are starting a three-week process on their road to elections.

The 11 candidates will be spending their time leading up to elections learning the ins and outs of ASWOU election by-laws, introducing themselves and campaigning to the student body, and finally casting their votes.

Candidates have already presented at their first of two open forums.

During the forums, the student body is welcome to come and ask questions of the candidates. Each candidate also makes a presentation about their qualifications and their intentions if they are elected.

The last open forum is scheduled to take place Thursday, April 16, from 7-9 p.m. in the Mt. Hood room of Valsetz. The meeting is open to the entire Western community.

After the final open forum, candidates will be campaigning around campus attempting to secure potential voters up until the election.

Voting begins Monday, April 20 and ends Friday, April 24, at 3 p.m.

This year, ASWOU is shifting from the Portal system used in past elec-

tions to a new, OrgSync-based system.

Cat Bracken, the ASWOU elections committee chair, said “OrgSync will be faster and more efficient than having the votes on the Portal as they have done in previous years.”

In addition to OrgSync, the elections committee will staff polling stations located throughout campus where students can stop by and vote via laptop with directions and help if necessary.

The following photos and information about the candidates was taken directly from their candidate applications. Candidates responded to the question, “If elected, how do you intend to improve or change WOU or ASWOU?” For more information on the voting process or becoming involved in ASWOU, visit the ASWOU office in the Werner Center room 121A, or call 503-838-8553.

Disclaimer: The Journal does not endorse any candidates or their policy. Photos and information were made available by individual candidates. The Journal made minor edits in punctuation and grammar for clarity.

ASWOU President Alyssa Chiampi

Second-year public policy administration major

“If elected, I want to change the current climate of ASWOU, making it a safe space for the students they serve. I would do that by ensuring that appointed cabinet members, as well as the members of the Judicial Board and Student Senate are an equal representation of the student body they serve. In my time working with ASWOU, countless students have approached me saying that they are not comfortable with the current climate of ASWOU because they feel underrepresented. Another priority of mine would be Tuition Affordability.

Keeping tuition low is a high priority for the majority of students, and I would work with the newly institutionalized governing board to do so. Having the hard conversations with those board members and being able to be a voice for our students is a role that I am more than willing to assume.”

PHOTOS BY SHANNEN BROUNER

Corbin Garner

Senator

Third-year exercise science major

Colette Thomassians

First-year public policy and administration major Photo Unavailable

“I intend to close the gap between the students and their representatives. I plan to listen to students and get their input on things that affect them - directly or indirectly.”

IFC Member Justin Ross

Postbaccalaureate computer science major “My hope is, that through the IFC, to focus the fee on where it will impact the greatest number of students while keeping tuition affordable to as many prospective students as possible.”

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

“While external advocacy is an important part of ASWOU’s role on campus, I feel that there are other areas that deserve more immediate focus and improvement. First, ASWOU is in need of better methods to communicate with and involve our clubs and students. This is an issue I have already taken efforts to address, and can ensure the successful transition to these new methods, such as the ASWOU Representative Assembly, as they have been my major project in my first year as president.

Another area for improvement is the Food Pantry that ASWOU oversees.

I intend to alter an ASWOU officer’s job description to put more focus on the Food Pantry. We need to increase awareness through advertising campaigns and find new ways to reduce the negative stigma about utilizing this amazing resource, such as online food requests to reduce face time in the pantry.”

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NEWS

ASWOU Vice President

Senate President

Kellon Hughes

Jessica Freeman

Third-year psychology major

First-year biology major with a preprofessional emphasis

“I would continue the course that I have been on while being on this position, by improving the accountability of the organization. I would improve the transparency of the organization, allowing for more student input into larger decisions. Improve the accountability of the organization by continuing to preach the proper use of the funds, keep staff members accountable and supported, and interact with WOU students.”

“If elected, I intend to improve the ASWOU recruitment process specifically contributing to the Senate body.

After participating in the recruitment process this year, I noticed how difficult it became to recruit as time went on because students became involved with other clubs and organizations. If elected, I will focus on recruiting students early in the year in order to build a stronger senate body.”

Dean Wright

Judicial Administrator Christina Sekafetz

Photo Unavailable

First-year mathematics education major Photo Unavailable

“If elected, I would improve the communication between students and their elected representatives. Students are not informed well enough about programs or events that happen around campus, including but not limited to ASWOU events, and most of them are beneficial to their education or exploring other interests.”

Jenesa Ross

Third-year elementary/ middle education major with a history focus “If elected I want to get ASWOU more out to the public. As the senate should be representing all students on campus, then the senate needs to be out on campus talking with students to get as much feedback as possible. If elected to Senate President I also want to bring life to the Senate, make senate something that is fun and builds leadership for the Senators. How I plan to do this by having senators partake in already established leadership activities, creating leadership workshops for them, and having weekly one on ones.”

SAB Director

Fourth-year biology major

Javier Garcia

Second-year business major “While advocating for the students of Western Oregon University is an overarching duty of any student government member, in regards to the position of Judicial Administrator, I am also excited to carry on the work I have been doing these past years. Within the Judicial Board, the Justices and I have been holding all groups within ASWOU to a higher standard. I have implemented a system of legislation review which has made the Judicial Board more efficient and effective as an interpretive body, and has led to the large scale editing of the ASWOU Constitution and By-Laws, as well as the creation of Statutes for our Clubs and Organizations. This editing process has served to clarify and clean up the governing documents, as well as rectify any deficiencies which have been noted within the documents. This has been hard work, and it is nowhere near finished since these documents have not seen a large scale editing in many years. I hope to continue this work next year with the Senators and Justices so that the Constitution and By-Laws can be clear, concise, and serve the purpose of serving WOU students.”

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Photo Unavailable

“Have different events. I already learned this year what worked and what did not work with some events, so I know where to spend more time in improving.”

Maggie MacKenzie

Photo Unavailable

Second-year communication studies and dance major “I want to bring performers that the students want to see, and put on events that students are interested in. I would love to get more students involved in SAB and involved in our events. We love to have students either perform or help put on the creation of the event, and I want to get as many students involved, if they wish, as I can. I also want to make sure that every person who attends an event feels welcomed and that we are glad they are there.”

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

SPORTS

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Baseball matches rival Senior Jesse Pratt named GNAC Pitcher of the Week

By Jacob Mitchell Freelancer Western’s baseball team played a 4-game series last weekend, April 3-4, against preseason front runner Central Washington University, coming out 2-0 on Friday, but finishing Saturday at 0-2. Senior Jesse Pratt was named GNAC Pitcher of the Week after he pitched a one hitter in Friday’s win.

Western took game one Friday, April 3, in Ellensburg, Washington (3-2) over division rival and preseason favorite CWU. Junior Darrien Moran pitched the opening five innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits, to be relieved by freshman Brady Miller and junior Jacob Storedahl. West-

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

ern would go down 2-1 early in the game, only to battle back with two runs of their own to win 3-2.

Pratt tossed a season best one-hit game in the second game Friday, with Western’s blowout second win of the day (10-0) over Central Washington. The offense was spearheaded by juniors Nathan Etheridge and Cody Sullivan with a combined five hits each, as Etheridge went a perfect 4-for-4 in game two and Sullivan collected four RBIs and scored three runs by the end of the contest.

Day two of the series was a loss for the Wolves as they fell three runs to six in game one, and followed suit in game two by coming up short in a tough 4-9 loss to CWU. The Wolves’ bullpen combined to allow two runs (one earned) on four hits over the final 6 innings with Domke registering a team-high two strikeouts; unfortunately, it was not enough for the W and the Wolves fell short.

Western will host Saint Martin’s University at home for a four-game series, starting Saturday at 1 p.m.

PHOTO BY MATT COULTER Clark McKitrick (33) pitched against Lewis and Clark State College on April 9.

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SPORTS PHOTO BY MATT COULTER

SOFTBALL S P L I T S Wolves rally to win 6-1 in game two despite 5-9 loss in game one

Top

Performers

By HAUNANI TOMAS Editor-in-Chief Undeterred by losing in their first game, the Wolves pulled out a victory in the second game of their double-header against Saint Martin’s University to split in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Friday, April 4 at Lacey, Washington.

Although Western (15-22 overall, 7-5 GNAC) lost 5-9 to SMU in game one, the Wolves fought to beat the Saints in their second game to win 6-1.

“We had a few crucial errors during the first game that got them on a roll.

[SMU is] a hard team to stop when they get going,” said pitcher Jourdan Williams.

Western remained scoreless for the first two innings of game one, until outfielder Amanda Evola scored a single RBI at the top of the third inning. The Saints led at the top of the third 2-1 thanks to a two-run home run hit by infielder Alyssa Slate.

Catcher and infielder Elaine Sperry tied the game 2-2 at the top of the fourth inning by hitting a double RBI. However, the Saints extended their lead by five at the bottom of the fourth.

Although infielder and outfielder Lexi Jennings hit a home run that also brought Williams home, the Wolves were still chasing to catch the

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Saints, lagging by three points 4-7 at the top of the fifth.

At the top of the seventh inning, Williams scored a single RBI to conclude game one. Evola attributed Western’s game one defeat to a hitting deficit.

“If we can’t produce at the plate, we won’t win games,” said Evola.

And produced they did.

The Wolves maintained a three point lead throughout the first and second innings thanks to a two-RBI single hit by catcher Ku’ulei Siolo in the first and a home run by Jennings in the second.

Western allowed SMU one point in all of game two. At the bottom of the fifth, pitcher and infielder Sam Munger would be the only scorer for the Saints, attributing a single RBI. “Our hitting was off during game one,” Evola said. “Once we were able to string some things together, we pulled out the win in game two.”

At the top of the seventh inning, the Wolves increased their lead by two to win the game 6-1.

“We had great defense and kept the momentum pretty much the whole game,” Williams said.

Williams, who pitched for the entirety of game two, said that she “hadn’t pitched for about three weeks”

prior to their match-up against the Saints.

After their split against the Saints, Western prepares to take on their next GNAC opponent: Western Washington University. In their last game against the Vikings, the Wolves split to win game one and lose in the latter.

Team leaders Evola and Williams, acknowledged the speed of WWU’s batters.

“We’ve been working on our defense and being quick [be]cause [WWU] have some fast players. We’ve done a lot of hitting and worked quite a bit on the outside pitch. After last weekend, [we] have improved quite a bit with that pitch,” said Williams.

Evola also mentioned the team’s increased focus on batting.

“After playing WWU for the first time, we know we have to hit to be able to win the game. Most of our practices have been geared toward hitting and overall making us all confident at the plate,” said Evola.

The Wolves will play the Vikings for the second time in GNAC play on Saturday, April 11 at Bellingham, Washington.

#15 Jourdan Willams

#20 Amanda Evola

#5 Kelsie Gardner

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

OPINION

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To s t r u g g l e b e a u t i f u l l y : My baby sister’s battle with bipolar disorder

By JENNIFER HALLEY Copy Editor Do you know what it feels like to have your mind spinning, somersaulting out of control with thoughts, at such a high intensity, it drives you nearly crazy? Do you know what it feels like to spend gross amounts of money without having any control in the decisions that prompted you to do so? And to feel that gut-wrenching guilt that comes with it? Or to sleep with a knife under your pillow because you’re swallowed up in a thick, wet blanket of black that consumes you?

Yeah, I don’t either.

But my sister does. My beautiful, baby sister. She knows what it feels like to lay in a steep, heavy darkness, with its fingers at her throat, her own fingers clutching a knife buried under her pillows that, with one clean sweep, could end it all –

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

silence everything. She knows how much it affects every aspect of her life to spend and spend and spend and then lay in a dried-out pool of funds and embarrassment. And every day still, she knows too well the screaming thoughts in her head that try to consume her every move and sometimes, do.

Medication.

Therapy.

More medication. Diet. Exercise. Get enough sleep. Be healthy. Don’t smoke weed. Don’t drink. Don’t. Do. Don’t.

Do. These things are pushed on her constantly, in an effort to manage her Bi-polar disorder. Every day is a struggle for my baby sister.

But every day is also another day my sister gets up and faces this invisible illness – staring it valiantly in the face – which rears its ugly head every possible second it can. She’s insightful, intelligent, hard-working and beautiful – a beauty that radiates from within. She’s got deep dimples and big blue eyes. Who couldn’t adore her?

I didn’t, at one point. In fact, I was so angry with her I convinced myself I hated her. But it is impossible, as I’ve come to realize, to hate someone that is such a part of you. That hatred you feel is just an aching love that clutches your insides.

My sister and I were the best of friends growing up.

We played with each other day in and day out; as punishment – instead of swallowing soap or weeding – mom would separate us, not allowing us to play with one another for the whole day, which made us

incredibly distraught. Luckily, we were cute kids and mom would give in.

But still! The thought of being apart for a whole day! We were inseparable.

Fast forward a decade or so to my second year of college and her senior year in high school: the sweet, innocent, sensitive, gentle baby sister was replaced with an angry, careless, spiteful girl who treated her family with contempt and hate. She could not have cared less, in my eyes. She stayed out late, made risky decisions and slept very little. She was withdrawn and furious. As her senior year continued, she began cutting herself and sleeping with a knife under her pillow. You couldn’t talk to her without the conversation turning sour; her mood swings were a light switch. We all had to walk on eggshells around her.

I was so angry. With her. At her.

Each decision she made was, in turn, hurting our parents, hurting me. My parents spent hours, days, weeks – that whole year – tirelessly trying to help her when she didn’t want it.

They were exhausted and it made me so mad. How could she do this to our parents, her family? Admittedly, I thought she was doing it for attention.

Or to be rebellious. I thought she was being so selfish.

Bipolar disorder never even crossed my mind, or my parents’ mind.

As her senior year drew to a close, and she went off to college, her life was a continual spiral. And I worried.

I worried so much. She had free reign now: no parents to watch over her every move, no rules, no curfew, no sisters to meddle in her business.

None of that. I was so afraid she was going to get addicted to drugs, raped at a party, or caught up with an abusive boyfriend. My baby sister was not a baby anymore and I couldn’t protect her anymore.

Now, at 22 years old, she is doing well. The sweet girl, who when she was younger and saw an ambulance whiz past us in the car, would say a quick prayer of protection, is back again. She has her moments and her days. I mean, we all do; we’re human.

We get tired, stressed and cranky. But for a person like me who is not dealing with an invisible illness, that’s it. I get tired, stressed, irritable; sleepless nights can be remedied by a good night’s sleep the next night; moodiness

can often be attributed to hormones.

Stress is a result of work and school.

But to someone like my sister, a night of too-little sleep can result in a manic episode that sends her reeling back three steps. Missing a DAY’S dose of her medication? Five steps back. Small, meaningless decisions for us can be huge for my sister and can result in periods of anxiety that stall her from moving. You ever feel like you just can’t sometimes? Well, she feels that way far too often. Some days, She Just Can’t. She’s stuck in a whirlwind of anxiety and depression, thoughts crowding her brain and a fog which ways her down so hard.

She’s tried a variety of medications, seen an array of therapists and tries hard, every day, to manage her illness.

And she is so incredibly strong for it.

And so brave. So very, very brave.

According to nimh. nih.gov, mental disorders are common, affecting tens of millions of people each year. But only half of those affected receive treatment.

To my baby sister: I want to commend you for taking that HUGE step in trying, tirelessly, everyday, to figure out how to manage this illness that no one can see. I want to tell you I look up to you, so much, because you fight a battle I know nothing about and are still able to be funny, wonderful, kind and an amazing sister to me. You have bad days and good ones, both of which I think deserve acknowledgment.

I will never know what it is like to walk a minute in your shoes, and I am sorry I could not protect you from this monster. But just know, that each and every day, through the thickest of thick and the thinnest of thin, I love you. I love YOU. Every part of you.

You make me so proud, baby sister, and I hope you know that.

Bipolar disorder is a HARD one to live with – hard for everyone involved.

And those who choose to do so, man, how beautiful are they? As I watch my sister blossom into an adult, into her own person, I think I’m beginning to understand what it means to struggle beautifully. She does it. Everyday she does it. And I’m a better person because of her.

So, I’ll say it again: I love you, baby sister. Forever and always.

ARTWORK CREATED BY CARLY FISTER

W W W.W O U.E DU/W E S T E RN JO URN A L

11

OPINION

ARTWORK CREATED BY CARLY FISTER

Geocaching: A global scavenger hunt

By SHANNEN BROUNER Photo Editor

I’ll be honest from the start: I’m not a very active or outdoorsy person, ill fit for rigorous hikes and bad weather. The idea of swarming insects attacking me while on a trail is enough — more often than not — to keep me inside with a book or a movie.

However, just over a year and a half ago, my boyfriend Nathaniel and I started an outdoor hobby that has been fun, challenging, and perfectly well suited to our somewhat inactive lifestyle. In fact, we’ve become much more active, outdoorsy people because of it.

When geocaching comes up in the conversation, very few people have heard of it; even fewer seem to know what it is — even if they have heard it mentioned before. If you do know what it is, you may know a geocacher personally or be one yourself. Or, like Nathaniel, you may have learned about it doing part of a P.E. final project at Western.

Whether you know it or not, you should make geocaching part of your repertoire of spring activities this year.

Geocaching is all about finding hidden objects and serves, essentially, as a scavenger hunt for adults. To start, geocachers register on the website with a username and search for nearby caches.

Geocachers hide containers generally ranging from the size of a film canister to a food storage container or peanut butter jar, though they can be as small as a thimble or as large as a bucket. Once approved, coordinates for the cache are available on the website along with a name, description, hints (if

necessary), and difficulty, terrain and size ratings.

In these containers, or “caches,” are small trinkets such as toys, coins, buttons and various other knickknacks referred to as “swag” (Nathaniel and I once found a cool bottle opener that we kept and still use, for example).

Some caches may be too small to hold swag, but they always include a log (notebook or paper) for finders to record their names and the date of their find. For caches that contain swag, the idea is to bring something of your own (preferably taken from another geocache) and swap it with an item in the cache for someone else to find.

Caches are hid and their GPS coordinates recorded on the geocache website for others to see and find. According to geocaching.com, the activity started in 2000. Because it requires the ability to locate the coordinates, when it began, the hobby was limited only to the few wealthy and skilled enough to have and use a GPS device.

Today, nearly every person has a free GPS app in their pocket. New technology has expanded the possibilities of geocaching worldwide and made it easy and accessible to anyone with a smart phone, or GPS, if you’re old school.

According to geocaching. com, the activity began when Oregonian Dave Ulmer hid a cache in Beavercreek as part of his idea for a “Great American GPS Stash Hunt.”

The first finder, Mike Teague, began compiling coordinates of other caches people were hiding around the world on a webpage.

Popularity grew and by the end of the month, Matt Stum had coined the term “geocaching,” which web developer Jeremy Irish later used when he created the site

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geocaching.com.

Now approaching its 15-year anniversary, the geocaching. com Fact Sheet boasts: “more than 1.4 million geocaches have been hidden, and found by more than 4 million people worldwide.”

One great thing I’ve found about geocaching (and that my friends have recently found while geocaching with me) is that it is a great way to learn about and visit places that you never knew existed.

Nathaniel and I are from a small town roughly the size of Monmouth, and even after the two decades we’ve both lived there, the town still surprises us with trails, outlooks and areas we had never discovered before geocaching.

Even Independence and Dallas have surprised me with charming neighborhoods and parks I wouldn’t have guessed I’d find there. People often hide caches in places that are special to them and it’s an especially good way to share those places with others.

The creative and tricky nature of geocaching makes it a fun and challenging hobby.

It can be a nice family activity, “difficulty one or two” caches are generally well suited for geocaching with children, but if you’re in for more of a challenge, there are plenty of accommodations for that too.

Different caches can be varying amounts of creative, hard to find, or absolutely infuriating and impossible.

Though many caches are simply jars, plastic storage containers, ammo boxes or small bison tubes, there is also a market for more complex containers that make the activity all the more interesting.

Fake birds, squirrels, rocks, bolts, sprinklers, golf balls, logs and birdhouses are just some of the deceitful containers available to buy,

and the possibilities for making your own are endless.

These are fun, but after five or six searches to find a cache that ends up being a rock you overlooked every other time you were looking can get...Did I already say infuriating?

So if you get competitive or worked up easily it’ll help you to remember that the game is all in fun, and should one geocache evade you there are thousands of others waiting to be found, and in countries all over the world — even outside it. Extreme geocacher Richard Garriott has been credited on geocaching.com with placing possibly the two most difficult caches, one floating around Earth on the International Space Station and the other deep in an ocean trench. I wouldn’t recommend those to beginners though.

My experience geocaching has so far been nothing but delightful. Nathaniel and I (username: Shathaniel47) have collectively found 104 caches since we started and are excited for future caching on the coast, around the country, and around the world. We’ve done it with many different friends who’ve all enjoyed the hobby and some have started

teaching it to others. We’ve had adventures climbing trees, rummaging through bushes, climbing steep trails, and searching areas for hours, several times, over months.

I would recommend it to anyone.

Geocaching is a hobby for the modern world. It combines nature and technology harmoniously. They aren’t all out in the woods, either.

Urban caches also make it easily accessible so that you often don’t have to go way out into the boonies to find some.

It is an activity well suited for college students whose spare time is short and bank account low. The app is free to download, though premium member options are also available for access to even more caches. It’s a fun and different activity, and in little Monmouth we know well how hard it is to find new things to do. So give this a try, and you may end up finding more than a container of swag along the way.

For more information on geocaching history, rules, and how to get started, visit geocaching.com

PHOTO BY SHANNEN BROUNER Shathaniel47’s 100th cache was found in Helena, Montana with a travel bug designed for geocachers to track the movement of the bug throughout the world. This one was left in a cache in Dallas, Oregon.

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

TAIL-END

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1

Wolves track report

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From Front Page the Linfield Invitational, Alecia Falck and Sheila Limas De La Cruz, also posted season and career highs in the hammer toss, hitting 36.40 and 39.06 meters respectively.

The Stanford Invitational saw junior Badane Sultessa finish third and junior Josh Hanna finish sixth in the 800. Senior Rebecca Laible placed ninth in the triple jump while first-year Cody Warner finished ninth in the 100-meter dash finals.

The Wolves track and field will compete Friday, April 10, beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the annual John Knight Twilight event. The meet takes place on McArthur Field in Monmouth. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for non-WOU students, and free for WOU students.

Drunk driver causes thousands in damage during hit and run

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From Front Page Castro turned right onto Monmouth Avenue North and then crashed into 110 N. Monmouth Avenue, the building complex that houses Homestead Property Management as well as several other businesses.

“That was the first hit and run,” said Dorn. “He then continued on Monmouth Avenue and proceeded to hit a parked car and a tree, finally wrecking his truck in the grass area in front of the WOU education building, hitting a lamppost and a sign.”

Castro then abandoned his vehicle and set out on

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foot, eventually turning himself in to the police shortly afterwards.

Cheney-Estes said that a police officer came to the Shell later looking to collect witness statements and told him that Castro had caused upwards of $45,000 in damage.

“I can’t verify those figures yet, but the damage is going to be costly,” said Dorn.

If you have any additional information regarding the incident, please contact the MPD non-emergency line at-503-838-1109.

1. While turning onto Monmouth Avenue, Castro collided with the building on 110 N. Monmouth Avenue. 2. After crashing into the Corner Bookstore, Castro collided with cars parked outside, one of which is pictured above. 3. The crash into the fence was enough to deplete the airbags.

4. Once the truck was towed, caution tape sectioned-off the crash site until further repairs to the fence could be made.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LYNN MARTINEZ

Monmouth's Own Full-Service Bike Shop

4

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