Vol15iss9 by The Western Howl

New course evaluation system open to students

VOLUME 15 ISSUE 9 | WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY| FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

FINALS WEEK

BY ALLISON OPSON CLEMENT NEWS EDITOR Western’s new course evaluation system is being used for the first time across campus, returning to students the ability to provide feedback on classes and professors for the first time in a year. CollegeNet’s What Do You Think? program was chosen last spring, and after testing over the summer, this is the first time it will be used on a university-wide scale. Dr. Mary Pettenger, chairperson of the Joint Committee on Course Evaluations, said that it is definitely past time to resume regular evaluations. According to Pettenger, there were several problems with the former system and the university had a hard time keeping the program operational. “It’s been a long process to try to come up with a new system,” Pettenger said. The old paper system, prior to Western’s latest online evaluation system, was prohibitively expensive, and difficult to manage, according to Pettenger. Data access is also much easier with the new CollegeNet system. According to CollegeNet.com, What Do You Think? saved the University of Oregon over $200,000 in paper, printing, scanning and labor in the first year of use. Dr. Mark Perlman, president of the Western Oregon University Federation of Teachers (WOUFT, Western’s faculty union), said not having course evaluations is not option, because faculty members need to have a tool to judge their work. “Students should have a voice, and we want to hear what their answers are,” Perlman said. “We’ve gone long enough without having a system; it’s kind of embarrassing.” First year Westin Kmetz said it is good to have course evaluations, because the teachers gain a better understanding of student opinions and perceptions in their classrooms. SEE LEAP PAGE 2 >>

IN THIS ISSUE

Faculty Senate approves implementation of LEAP framework LEAP essential learning outcomes will replace institutional aspirations BY LAURA KNUDSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PHOTO BY SHANNEN BROUNER Students spent hours in the library this week working on last-minute assignments and projects for finals. The library is always at its fullest during dead week as students rush to get everything done as the term closes in. See page 6 for tips on how to survive the end of the term.

Annual tree lighting ceremony history PAGE 7

Cross-country west region championships PAGE 8 WWW. W OU. ED U/ WES T ERNJOU RN AL

The Faculty Senate approved a proposal Nov. 25 to replace Western’s existing institutional aspirations with undergraduate learning outcomes modeled after the “Liberal Education, America’s Promise” (LEAP) framework. Started by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, LEAP provides “essential learning outcomes” and “principles of excellence” for liberal education. This creates a format to guide students’ progress through college. “LEAP is a really clear statement of what Western students can expect to learn by the time they graduate,” said Dr. Sue Monahan, ex officio of the ad-hoc LEAP committee and dean of liberal arts and sciences. It helps Western “communicate with students about purposes of their education,” she said. Before LEAP, similar content called “Institutional Aspirations for Learning” was found on page five of the university course catalog and applied to major, minor and general education requirements. Aspirations included critical thinking skills, development of advanced research abilities, ability to work effectively in teams, etc. Students might see these learning outcomes displayed in a course syllabus. Often, professors list course objectives on a syllabus that are in line with the institutional aspirations, Monahan said. In the LEAP proposal submitted to the faculty senate by the adhoc LEAP committee, it said while the current institutional aspirations reflect university values and goals, they are “difficult to assess meaningfully.” SEE LEAP PAGE 2 >>

NEWS

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LAURA KNUDSON journaleditor@wou.edu

MANAGING EDITOR HAUNANI TOMAS

journalmanaging@wou.edu

NEWS EDITOR ALLISON OPSON CLEMENT

CAMPUS BRIEFS FACULTY SENATE MEETING The next Faculty Senate meeting will be held from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 in the Willamette Room of the Werner University Center. MUSIC DEPARTMENT TO HOST DINNER AND A CONCERT Western’s music department will host a dinner and concert

at noon on Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday Dec. 7 in the Pacific Room of the Werner University Center. A multi-course meal will be served, accompanied by Western’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, as well as instrumental holiday music, taking place in an “old-world” atmosphere. General admission is $35. For more information call 503-838-8876.

journalnews@wou.edu

CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR JENNIFER HALLEY

journalcampuslife@wou.edu

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR NATHANIEL DUNAWAY journalentertainment@wou.edu

SPORTS EDITOR RACHEL SHELLEY journalsports@wou.edu

COPY EDITOR AMANDA MCMASTERS 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 DESIGNER DANIEL FRANK journalweb@wou.edu

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

SUBMISSIONS THE JOURNAL encourages readers to share their opinion through letters to the editor and guest columns. Submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name. Contact information will not be published unless requested. Unsigned submissions will not be printed and original copies will not be returned. Letters to the editor may be up to 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 500 words. THE JOURNAL does not guarantee the publication of all letters or columns. THE JOURNAL reserves the right to edit for punctuation, grammar, and spelling, but never for content. Please bring submissions to THE JOURNAL at Terry House or email to journaleditor@wou.edu. Submissions must be received by Wednesday at 5 p.m. to be considered for print. All opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do necessarily reflect those of THE JOURNAL or Western Oregon University.

>>ONLINE: Evaluation feedback will help professors Keeping communication open between students and teachers is important, Kmetz added. “When you don’t get feedback as a teacher, I feel like you keep doing the same things,” Kmetz said. He feels that evaluations are useful to help the teacher understand what they are doing right or wrong. Dr. Bryan Dutton, chair of WOUFT’s bargaining team, said evaluations are important. “I really value it because it’s a way to make improvements,” Dutton said. “It’s clear that faculty are pleased that evaluations will be a regular part of our process.” Yet, the evaluations can’t do anything if they’re not filled out. “In order to get reliable data, we need to figure out a way to get students to respond,” Pettenger said. “It also improves response rates when students believe they are being heard,” said Dr. Cat McGrew, former chairperson of the Joint Committee on Course Evaluations and current director of academic affairs. “No one wants to waste their time, so knowing you can make a difference, makes a difference.” The university administration and the faculty union are in the beginning stages of discussing the impact of potentially using open-ended short-answer questions in course evaluations, according to McGrew. Perlman said there are people that are skeptical of open-ended questions, and there are some who want openended questions. “I wish I had more freedom in it,” Kmetz said, adding that the multiple choice questions worked for most people. He added that there may be too many meanings behind some answers, which may confuse the teacher over the kinds of responses they are getting. To clear up communication, said Kmetz, the possibility of adding openended responses to the multiple-choice would be the most useful, efficient style. Students wouldn’t have to respond with more if they didn’t have

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

anything else to say, but that would be an option for students who wanted to say more. “I see it as a positive because it will allow faculty to have a greater understanding of what the numbers mean,” McGrew said of open-ended questions. McGrew has a file of email printouts from students who contacted her office, commenting that they wanted a place to explain their responses to multiple-choice questions, or wanted a place to add more about their course or professor. They want to say what they think, McGrew said; they want to be heard. Perlman said these ten questions do provide enough information for students and professors to start with now. The rest of the discussion, such as the potential for open-ended questions, will take place later. “We wanted to get the bulk of it rolling,” Perlman said. For now, everyone settled on ten multiple-choice questions, he said. Faculty objections seem to be not over course evaluations or open-ended questions in general, according to Dutton, but in the implementation. Professors may be concerned about how the questions are asked, shaping the kinds of answers given, as well as what will be done with these responses, Dutton said. According to Dutton, there is a real science behind the formulation of questions, which is part of why the faculty union has the right to approve the final draft of questions, and openended questions will be discussed later. Perlman explained that there are a variety of factors that impact what kinds of questions are asked, and especially how they are asked. “We haven’t really explored all the issues with open-ended questions,” said Dutton. He said that conversation will be taking place soon, probably through this academic year, and added that there is no real timeline that can be established until they know all the issues and all the positions that will arise.

>>LEAP: New language clarifies learning outcomes and improves assessment New language in the modified LEAP outcomes will make academic aims of the university clearer. “This just helps us communicate it better,” Monahan said. “Students learn best if they know what it is they’re aiming for.” Modifications to language in the essential learning outcomes include student use of technology, ‘embodied’ education, inclusion of signing as a form of communication and creativity as an essential outcome. Under Intellectual and Practical Skills, “using appropriate technology” will be added to the “practiced extensively” statement. “Healthy course life decisions” will be added to the “anchored through” statement under Personal and Social Responsibility. The written and oral communication outcome will include signed communication and the word “listeners” will replace “audience” in its definition. The “critical and creative thinking” outcome will be separated into two outcomes and “and practice” will be added to the new “creative thinking” outcome. The outcomes may be adapted in the future, Monahan said. “The LEAP framework provides a clear and concise way to communicate these goals to our students,” university President Mark Weiss said in an all faculty/staff email Dec. 1. “It provides resources so that we can more effectively assess our work and continuously improve our curricular and cocurricular programs.” Academic assessment, a requirement of all accredited universities, will be made easier with the implementation of LEAP rubrics. These step-by-step guidelines will aid departments and divisions in assessing student work at the end of the year to determine if institutional goals are being met. This will also create better understanding of Western’s assess-

ment for outside groups working with the university, Monahan said. Aside from clarifying learning outcomes and improving assessment, LEAP can also be used by students later in life. “It’s not just for the sake of academics,” said Paul Disney, ad-hoc LEAP committee member and business and economics professor. “It’s what employers are looking for.” “Students will have to make a case for themselves,” Monahan said of future postgraduates. They will need to be able to communicate what they have learned, she said. With the move to independent governance through the board of trustees and the ongoing search for a new university president, the implementation of LEAP is “perfect timing,” Disney said. “I think it’s really important in a time of change to know where you’re going,” Monahan said. LEAP is something that has been “adopted and adapted by universities across the country,” she said. “We should not reinvent this; we should use these good resources that are already there.” “I believe it’s important for our university to remain relevant,” Disney said. “It aligns us with a national standard.” Monahan’s hope is that LEAP is institutionalized and made part of the university’s practice. “The committee wants it to be more than just words on a page in a catalog,” she said. “We really want it to be a living thing for students to connect with.” Though LEAP will be implemented in next year’s catalog, Monahan said they will begin using it for assessment before then. For more information on LEAP visit wou.edu/president/facultysenate/committees/leap or contact Dr. Sue Monahan at 503-838-8226 or smonahan@wou.edu.

IFC announcement Have a voice on how your student fees are spent. Come to two open meetings on Friday, Dec. 5 to hear IFC budget proposals for the fiscal year of 2016. Student Media (The Journal, KWOU, and Northwest Passage) will present their budget at 2 p.m. in the Willamette room. Werner University Center, Student Leadership and Activities, and Student Activities Board will present their budget at 3 p.m. in the Willamette room.

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NEWS

Representatives’ visit begins process of opening new sorority Alpha Chi Omega chapter on campus BY ALLISON OPSON CLEMENT NEWS EDITOR

Representatives gain understanding of community from focus groups and tours Representatives of Alpha Chi Omega national sorority visited Western Monday, Dec. 1 in preparation for opening a chapter on campus by next year. Jen Patterson, director of collegiate growth for Alpha Chi Omega, and Courtney Schmidt, associate director of collegiate growth, toured campus and conducted focus groups to gather a sense of the campus culture and local community. “When we come to a campus, we want to learn from the beginning,” Patterson said. “We want to build a chapter that’s a solid part of the community.” The national brand for Alpha Chi Omega is “Real. Strong. Women.” Founded in 1885, it has over 135 chapters nationwide. “We partner with the university to build a plan that’s right for each campus,” Schmidt said. Alpha Chi Omega will work on empowerment of women, social issues and increased education. Members take on philanthropic work, including raising awareness of domestic violence and helping local organizations around each chapter. Sofia LeVernois, treasurer of Kappa Delta Chi, said that what she took away from the focus groups is the type of sorority that Alpha Chi Omega is: one with strong values that they strive to fulfill. “We want to inspire them to learn how to be the best they can be,” Patterson said. Patterson said that Alpha Chi Omega has a very strong, well-rounded experience to offer members. Schmidt added that they work to make Alpha Chi Omega membership exemplary, not mediocre, which includes investing in the highest quality advisors and building a very strong community. “It’s really exciting to come to a new campus,” said Schmidt, adding that she enjoys learning about the specific culture of each. Schmidt said that she wishes she could have been at Western for the tree lighting, since that was one of the things that students seemed to be excited about. “Western has a campus culture that is friendly and caring but also provides motivation for students to succeed,” said Cody

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Kollar, treasurer of Kappa Sigma fraternity on campus and participant in one focus group. “That goes along with what Greek life is all about.” Focus groups helped Patterson and Schmidt get a sense of the current desire and need for another sorority on campus, to give them a better idea of Western’s culture and a sense of the community they are looking to join, and what Alpha Chi Omega could bring to it, as well as what it takes to be Greek on this particular campus. “We’re familiar with this part of the country and we’re excited to grow that brand and that sisterhood,” said Patterson. Several Oregon universities have their own chapters of Alpha Chi Omega already. These are very preliminary stages, said Schmidt. The next step is marketing to raise awareness, and eventually formulate chapter life with new members. Eventually, the first women involved, who are the founding mothers, will create the initial interest group and work towards establishing Alpha Chi Omega on campus. “It’s your time to figure out who you are,” Megan Habermann, assistant director for student leadership and activities, explained of the interest group, which will become a colony with more pledges. She added of the founding mothers, “They’re going to have their work cut out for them because they’re going to have to figure out how Alpha Chi Omega will work on campus.” The colony, after a period of about six months to one year to allow enough time for raising membership, will become the Western Oregon University chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. The fall of 2015, Habermann explained, will be the real beginning of the official chapter. “Every organization is different,” Habermann said. “It really depends on the women who start the organization.” According to Habermann, a sorority will maintain certain membership standards, such as in academics and professionalism, but will generally be open to all women within those standards. Choosing potential pledges will be a matter of making sure the women’s values match those of the organization, so that everyone gets the most possible out of the experience Habermann, said. “I think that adding Alpha Chi Omega to campus would be a good thing for women who are interested in joining a sorority because it gives different ladies on campus the chance to choose between Alpha Chi Ome-

ga and Kappa Delta Chi to see which one will best suit them,” LeVernois said. “I was excited to hear about another chapter coming to WOU,” Kollar said. “There is something out there for everyone and Alpha Chi Omega on campus will help even more students find that experience they are looking for.” A sorority has national organization dues for its members, in addition to a $15 fee per person per term through Western; these funds go towards paying for building use and other group necessities. Habermann said that not every organization is interested in expanding, perhaps in

part because the Greek system at Western is small and young, which may make some cautious as well. Expansion may be approached carefully. “Greek life is a great way to get to know people on campus and make future business connections,” LeVernois said. “Members get to meet many people that they possibly would not have met if they had not joined Greek life. From volunteering to just hanging out with your chapter, Greek life is a ton of fun.”

CAMPUS BLOTTER

The following information is from the public records of Campus Public Safety. At 8:18 p.m. Nov. 20 in Heritage HIT AND RUN Hall, Public Safety was contacted At 7:28 a.m. Nov. 20 in Lot R, by University Housing in regard to Public Safety was contacted about a mental health issue. a hit and run. At 7:35 p.m. Nov. 22 in Spruce Hall, Public Safety responded to a BICYCLE THEFT mental health incident. At 9 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Alderview apartments, Public Safety took a late bicycle theft report. The MARIJUANA VIOLATION At 5:20 p.m. Nov. 19 in Heribike was valued at $700. tage Hall, Public Safety contacted a room in regards to a marijuana CRIMINAL MISCHIEF violation. At 9:21 a.m. Nov 18 in Lot A, At 2:25 a.m. Nov. 21 in Barnum Public Safety received a report of a mirror that was broken on a utility Hall, Public Safety was contacted about a marijuana violation. vehicle. It was valued at $20. At 12:08 a.m. Nov. 24 in Ackerman Hall, Public Safety responded MEDIC ASSIST/ILLNESS to a report of a marijuana odor. At 11:48 a.m. Nov. 18 at the Student Health and Counseling Center, Public Safety responded to ALCOHOL VIOLATION At 10:32 p.m. Nov. 21 in Butler a student having an active seizure. Hall, Public Safety was contacted At 6:29 Nov. 19 in New P.E., by on-duty resident assistants in Public Safety was contacted in regards to an alcohol violation. reference to an injury.

Online enrollment extension For Winter 2015 term, students will be able to enroll in classes via Wolf Web through the second day of classes. Online enrollment will no longer be blocked the Sunday before classes begin. Blue add/drop forms with instructor signatures will still be required beginning Wednesday, but students will have easier access to classes at the beginning of the term. The Registrar’s Office will still handle overrides such as prerequisites and time conflicts with the same add/drop form.

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

Destroys Portland Alt. hip-hop artist performs to sold-out Portland crowd BY DECLAN HERTEL STAFF WRITER I feel music on a spiritual level. My belief in the power of music is the closest thing I have to a religion. The philosopher Kant called music “the quickening art”; it changes moods and minds and brings life back to the lifeless. Music is the one thing I believe in wholeheartedly, and as such it has become my religion in a way. If music is my religion, then live performances are my church. And boy, do I love going to church. I had the privilege Dec. 1 of hearing a sermon delivered by the reverend Watsky, an alternative hiphop artist from San Francisco. I have been a fan of Watsky for a long while and tonight was the first time I had ever seen him live. He did not disappoint. Watsky played the Wonder

Ballroom, a great little Portland venue, on the final leg of his North American tour supporting his stellar new album “All You Can Do.” After excellent opening performances by Anderson Paak and

“When he stopped to talk to us about things he cared about, he was very genuine and kept wide of condescension.” KYLE, both of whom have a new fan in me, Watsky stormed out of the gate with the raging anthem “Bet Against Me” from his new record. He immediately had the entire crowd screaming along with him, and they didn’t stop for the entirety of his hour-thirty set. He blazed through old songs and new, occasionally offering some of his brilliant spoken word poetry, flawlessly and passionately delivering his intricate lyrics as his

backing band tried their very best to match his energy (they succeeded). When he stopped to talk to us about things he cared about, he was very genuine and kept wide of condescension. He closed the main show with “Whoa Whoa Whoa,” a song showcasing the incredible speed at which Watsky can rap with a chorus so catchy it ought to be criminal. After a deafening chant of his name from the crowd, Watsky and his band returned to the stage to play the title track from “All You Can Do,” and ended the night with “IDGAF,” a song from his first album that once again had the crowd bellowing the profane chorus. It was reckless, joyful and immensely inspiring. You become part of something greater than yourself; at a show a community is born and then lives spectacularly and dies with an explosion all in the space of three hours. And it is beautiful. The volume of the show made me near deaf. My throat hurt from screaming along. My entire body ached from jumping around all night. But I had the time of my life.

COMIC CORNER MY ROOMMATE IS A DINOSAUR

ANONYMOUS

George watsky is the recipient of the youth speaks and brave new voices poetry slam awards. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA

Allen Toussaint & the Western Hemisphere Orchestra The Smith Fine Arts Series announced the return of Allen Toussaint to Western’s stage. A combination musician, composer and record producer, the list of those who have benefited in one way or another from Toussaint’s touch is staggering in its historic and stylistic range, stretching from the late 1950s to the present day, with no end in sight. His catalog of songs has generated hits on the pop, R&B, country and dance charts, and many remain on heavy rotation in various radio formats. His tunes continue to pop up as TV themes and advertising jingles. Toussaint will be joined by the 35-piece Western Hemisphere Orchestra.

Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

4 Podcasts You Should Be Listening To

“The Truth”

Described as “movies for your ears,” “The Truth” is a frequently improvised story podcast that serves as a form of dramatic audio storytelling. Ranging in tone from hilarious to deeply emotionally affecting, the stories that unfold on “The Truth” are always full of heart and, well, truth. The first episode, entitled “Moon Graffiti,” was inspired by the speech Nixon wrote in case the 1969 Apollo moon landing had failed.

BY NATHANIEL DUNAWAY ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Ideally, winter break is a time to sit back, relax, and let all the stress and worry of fall term just melt away. It’s also a great time to grab a nice cup of cocoa or eggnog, pop in some earbuds, and listen to some podcasts. If you aren’t already a fan of podcasts, you should give them a shot. They can help you learn a language, cook a meal, or study for an exam. Podcasts can make you smarter, and they can make you happier. The following is just a handful of podcasts you should give a try this winter break.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PODBOYS.COM

“Thrilling Adventure Hour”

Staged live in the style of old-time radio stories of the ‘40s and ‘50s, “TAH” is a wonderful little podcast that’s perfect for the listener who’s looking for long story arcs and plenty of recurring characters. One series, called “Beyond Belief,” chronicles the paranormal investigations of socialite couple Frank and Sadie Doyle. Another, “Sparks Nevada,” tells the ongoing tale of the heroic marshal of Mars. Nathan Fillion makes frequent appearances in the latter series, as the Mayor of Mars, Cactoid Jim.

“Stuff You Missed in History Class”

A spinoff of the “Stuff You Should Know” and “HowStuffWorks” podcasts, “SYMiHC” covers unique or little-known historical topics such as “5 War Dogs of History,” “Is there a real Macbeth curse?” and “Mary Anning, Princess of Paleontology.” It’s an incredibly informative podcast that is always fascinating and engaging. Each episode is only about 25 minutes long, so in just one afternoon you can learn an incredible amount.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PODBOYS.COM

STAFF WRITERS

WANTED THE JOURNAL wants you!

THE JOURNAL is seeking more staff writers to write for news, entertainment, campus life and sports.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MISSEDINHISTORY.COM

“The Moth”

Much like the similar podcast “StoryCorps,” “The Moth” is dedicated to the art of storytelling. Unlike “StoryCorps,” however, these stories are told and recorded on stage in front of live audiences. These first-person tales are often heart-wrenching and beautiful, and they help us to understand the importance of recording stories, as well as give credence to the adage that everyone has at least one great story to tell.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOWSTUFFWORKS.COM

NEWS EDITOR ALLISON OPSON CLEMENT journalnews@wou.edu CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR JENNIFER HALLEY journalcampuslife@wou.edu ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR NATHANIEL DUNAWAY journalentertainment@wou.edu SPORTS EDITOR RACHEL SHELLEY journalsports@wou.edu

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

6 ARTISTS

WANTED Are you an aspiring artist interested in creating a comic strip for THE JOURNAL? Scan and submit your strip of four to eight pictures to Laura Knudson at journaleditor@wou.edu, or bring it to THE JOURNAL office, located in Terry House. THE JOURNAL does not guarantee the publication of all submitted comics. Comics may be drawn in color or black-and-white.

HE TERM IS COMING to an end. With that comes the stress and anxiety that often accompany students as they prepare for finals. From the first-year student to the seasoned senior, finals can throw everyone through a loop. It is a week of all-nighters, hours spent poring over books or writing papers and an overabundance of caffeine consumption. BY JENNIFER HALLEY No matter how much a student preCAMPUS LIFE EDITOR pares for finals, that dreaded week always seems to sneak up, catching them off guard. TAKE A BREAK AND HANG OUT WITH Everyone always asks: “How is it already finals week?”, FRIENDS as if they didn’t know it was approaching. Lay off the books for a few hours and take an The last few days of term should not be this chaotic. opportunity to hang out with friends. See a movie. Go to According to usnews.com, a little bit of planning – both the mall. Eat out at a restaurant. Play board games in your throughout the term and for finals week – can effectively pajamas. minimize a student’s stress load. Taking a couple hours off will give you and your brain Here are a few ways students can reduce stress and get a well-deserved break, leaving you powered up and rested through finals week without feeling depleted by the end for the next stretch of studying. of it. There may even be some energy left over to celebrate afterwards. ESTABLISH A GOOD STUDY SPACE

Surviving the end of term:

A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO ELIMINATING STRESS DURING FINALS WEEK

PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE From waking up in the morning until you go to bed at night, a list of all the day’s events should be written out in a planner or notebook. Don’t have one of those? Get one. Research shows that time management reduces stress, procrastination, and allows a student the chance to even sleep and eat better. Writing out everything you have to do in a day will help you to organize your thoughts and prioritize.

GET AT LEAST 7 HOURS OF SLEEP PER NIGHT Mayoclinic.org said that adults need seven to eight hours of sleep every night in order to maintain a healthy body and mind. So shut off the TV, stop playing the video games and get some shut-eye. Being well-rested clears the mind and students are able to make better decisions, focus better and feel more balanced overall.

PLAN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Exercise exerts a number of health benefits that can promote positive well-being and even counter negative mental states, livestrong.com said. It also increases energy levels. Half the battle of surviving finals week is feeling mentally prepared for the upcoming tests, presentations or projects, versus feeling nervous or anxious. Taking 20 minutes to go on a jog, do some yoga, or take a quick walk will benefit a student’s stress levels, energy levels and feelings of well-being.

UTILIZE THE WRITING CENTER Writing final term papers can be intimidating and anxiety-inducing. In order to not become completely derailed, visit the writing center in the APSC building, where tutors will help brainstorm, draft and edit your paper with you. The writing center is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Evening hours are from 7-10 p.m. during the weekdays.

Studying in your living room amidst noisy roommates is probably not the best place to get some work done. Whether it’s the library, your bedroom, or a quiet corner booth at Shari’s, make sure your study space allows you to focus on what you’re studying without all of the outside interference.

WHEN STUDYING, AVOID SOCIAL MEDIA. AND YOUR PHONE Nothing is more distracting than a Facebook post or a text message when trying to study. So shut off the phone for a while. That way, focus can be on what is in front of you, rather than the Instagram photo of what your aunt ate for dinner.

USE STUDY GROUPS AND PROFESSORS There is no shame in going to a professor’s office hours to ask for help, nor is it a bad idea to get with a study group and go over notes for the upcoming exam. Purdue University said that study groups can help to divide-and-conquer the of material being studied. That way, students don’t spend all their study time trying to just organize notes.

SET GOALS FOR YOURSELF Having goals such as getting a B on that Chemistry test, or receiving an A on that final paper, will help when you go to study. If you study with no goal in mind, your focus will be all over the place. Set goals for studying too, such as getting through a certain number of chapters each day. This will help studying seem a little less daunting.

PLAN A TIME TO CELEBRATE WHEN IT’S ALL OVER Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, and having something to look forward to can help students push through this hard week, knowing it will all be over soon.

Reward yourself and breathe after that last final. You deserve it.

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

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CAMPUS LIFE

7 FL ASHB ACK FRIDAY A feature exploring the Hamersly Library University Archives

TOP LEFT: The community of Monmouth gathers at the tree lighting ceremony, as they have every year since 1967, to celebrate the holiday festivities put on by Western. PHOTO BY SHANNEN BROUNER, PHOTO EDITOR. RIGHT: The Sequoia tree at the first tree lighting ceremony in 1967. BOTTOM: President Leonard W. Rice lights the Sequoia tree at the first tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 23, 1967. That night set the tone for the many traditions to come. PHOTOS COURTESY OF WOU ARCHIVES.

Western will celebrate 47th annual tree lighting this year BY JENNIFER HALLEY CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR The 47th annual tree lighting ceremony, that has become a holiday tradition to both students and residents of Monmouth, kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 5. The longstanding tradition began Nov. 23, 1967, when the 122-foot-tall sequoia tree between Todd and Campbell Halls, was lit for the first time that evening, according to the Lamron, Western’s student newspaper at the time. For that first lighting, the tree, which was planted on campus in the late 1800s, consisted of “100 strings of multi-colored lights – a total of 2,500 bulbs. [It] will be crowned with a lighted star,” the Monmouth Herald said. The first tree lighting was conducted by the Monmouth fire department and employees of the Oregon College of Education (OCE), what is now Western. “They

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used a ‘special extension ladder’ to reach the top,” The Monmouth Herald said. A couple years after the first lighting, the fire department and Vernon McFarland, an OCE employee, received plaques to honor their hard work and diligence in keeping the tradition alive, even though it had been around for only a few years at that time. President Leonard W. Rice, for which Rice Auditorium was named after, was given the opportunity to light to first tree in 1967. The tree lighting tradition almost came to an abrupt halt in 1993 “when college officials announced they could not afford to light the tree, ending a 26-year tradition,” the Statesman Journal reported. The article continued, “President Richard Meyers said state budget cuts in higher

education made the $5,600 expense for lights seem wasteful.” Due to the city’s diligent fire department and its dedicated residents, donations were made and enough money was given to allow the tradition to continue. Then, an agreement was signed by the fire department and the college that said the college would provide electricity and the fire department would hang the lights for the tree. For many students, the tree lighting ceremony signifies what Western is all about. “[It] sets a precedent for the rest of the year,” Bryan Kelley, a junior at Western said. He added that the tree symbolizes “harmony,” “peace” and “good will” for both Western and the community of Monmouth. The tree also represents what the pur-

pose of the event is: to bring everyone together and to celebrate the holidays as a whole community, said Cheyenne Standing-Elk, senior and director of Student Activities Board at Western. “This event brings school and community together,” Standing-Elk added. “Families travel from out of town, family members come together, elementary schools are involved, and even people who live in Independence come to it.” Each year, according to the Journal in 2000, “Western traditions have drawn larger and larger crowds every year and serve to unify the student body through the power of their own creation.” This year’s tree lighting will be Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., with a holiday parade, pictures with Santa, and a bake-off sale, as well as a choir performance in the Pacific Room.

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

SPORTS

8 Men’s and women’s cross country finish West Region Championships in Billings, Mont.

Bailey Beeson focuses as she works up a hill at West Regionals. PHOTO BY RACHEL GOSNEY

The men’s team warms up for the 10k West regional race. PHOTO BY RACHEL GOSNEY BY JACOB HANSEN STAFF WRITER The men’s and women’s cross country teams traveled to Billings, Mont. Saturday, Nov. 29, to close out their season. It was the NCAA West Regional’s held at Amend Park, where the Wolves women’s team finished 16th overall and the men’s 19th. The men’s team had two finishers in the top 100: David Ribich and Zach Holloway. Ribich clocked in with a time of 32:34:34, coming in 52nd place, and Holloway at 58th with a time of 32:43:94 in the 10k. The next trio of runners was Sam Naffziger, Riley Anheluk and David McLeod. Their respective times were 22:48:79 at 101st, 34:41:12

at 120th and 34:57:35 at 126th. Joe Soik finished right behind McLeod at 34:58:16 in 127th place. “The team as a majority was pretty disappointed with how the season ended at regionals,” Holloway said. “I feel that I as an individual underachieved at the regional meet and that our team had more potential this season to have been more competitive. Our team has still made great progress with our fitness and all the work we put in the fall will carry over to indoor and outdoor this year. Chico State won the title with 30 points, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in Louisville, Ky. Saturday, Dec. 6. Alaska An-

Stephanie Stuckey leads a pack during the 6k women’s race. PHOTO BY RACHEL GOSNEY chorage, who finished with 53 points, didn’t go down without a fight as they took the top two spots in the race. For the women’s side, Stephanie Stuckey finished 58th overall in the 6k with a time of 23:08:05. Close behind her was Rachel Crawford with a time of 23:25:29, finishing in 73rd. Rounding it out for the Wolves women’s team was Annie Wade, Debora De Leon, Bailey Beeson, Nicole Anderson and Kolby Childers. The quintet came in 96th, 101th, 126th, and 135th overall to represent the Wolves. Their times were, 23:49:93, 23:55:27, 24:09:92, 24:41:96 and 25:08:36 respectively. “The team didn’t finish where we could

have,” Crawford said. “We are focused on what we can do next in indoor season. Regionals was tough because our bodies weren’t used to the climate or elevation. The competition was even stronger than in past years, but every race makes us stronger and helps us prepare for the future.” Simon Fraser took home the team title for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) with a score of 103 points. Chico State came in a close second with 112 points and Alaska Anchorage took the third step on the podium with 144 points.

Women’s basketball to start conference play coming off win against Corban University BY RACHEL SHELLEY SPORTS EDITOR The 1-4 women’s basketball team won their first game of the season on Nov. 25, 68-57 over Corban University, before starting conference play Thursday. The Wolves opened the game with a quick five-point lead after a jumper by guard Jordan Mottershaw. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) Warriors would then take a ninepoint lead after a 22-8 run. The Wolves would then work their way back within one after guard Shyla Akins’s jumper in the paint. Corban would go into halftime on a 31-29 lead. “Coach reminded us what we have been

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

working for and that we are better than how we were playing,” said forward Dana Goularte. “Our turnovers were killing us so she made a point to focus on taking care of the ball in the second half.” The Warriors opened the second half by jumping out to a 40-31 lead. Western would answer with 10 unanswered points and continue the back-and-forth battle for seven minutes where neither team could lead by more than two. Mottershaw nailed another jumper which led Western to score four straight points for a five-point lead before going on a 10-3 run to seal the game, 68-57. “We played with a lot of heart and had a balanced scoring effort,” said Head Coach Holli Howard-Carpenter. “We also gave

ourselves extra opportunities by grabbing 21 offensive rebounds.” Guard/forward Sami Osborne earned her first career double-double with a career-high 16 points and game-high 14 rebounds. She was 9-of-10 at the free throw line. Goularte registered her second straight double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Mottershaw added 14 points for the Wolves and Akins had 11. Guards Elise Miller and Sydney Azorr each dished out a game-high three assists. The Wolves shot for a combined 35.5 percent on 22-of-62 from the field and had a 21.4 percent three- point performance on 3-of-14. The team shot 80.8 percent from the free throw line. Western grabbed a

combined 47 rebounds and had 24 turnovers with 11 steals for the night. “This past week we have focused a lot on trying to improve our starts and sustain our leads,” said Howard-Carpenter. “We are working much harder on the defensive end in practice and that needs to translate to the games. Both NNU and CWU are playing well right now and we need to go into each game with our team goals in mind and fight. Both are winnable games if we can execute our game plans.” The Wolves traveled to play Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho on Dec. 4 in their first conference match-up of the season and will play Central Washington in Ellensburg, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 6.

SPORTS

Fighting to understand: Why is fighting allowed on the ice?

Men’s basketball on four-game win streak, looks to continue through conference play BY RACHEL SHELLEY SPORTS EDITOR

BY RACHEL SHELLEY SPORTS EDITOR I am an avid connoisseur of sports. College, professional, intermural, I even catch myself stopping on the World Series of Poker when it’s on TV; I have always just been attracted to competition in any form. That being said, being a life-long fan and athlete myself, I have what I would call an expertise in sports. Although, there is one question I have never answered nor has anyone ever answered for me. Why are hockey fans allowed to openly fight during the games while no other sport can throw a punch … or two … .or clear the bench in a brawl. According to hockeyroundtable.com, a website created by hockey fans for fans, it explains the “Three Reasons Why Hockey Fights Are Allowed.” 1. Hockey fights provide a way for the players to police themselves 2. Hockey fights are a great way to change the momentum of a game 3. Hockey fights provide entertainment value. I love hockey. I have been to countless Portland Winterhawks games and seen countless fights, some bloody and some just a little weak. I thoroughly enjoy watching two very aggressive, large and adrenaline-pumped men fight on ice skates, but the three reasons why hockey fights are allowed seem unconvincing to me as to why hockey can and other sports cannot.

Wouldn’t you love to see Lebron James take on Joakim Noah after a blocked shot? Or end the age-old question, is it the size of the dog in the fight or the size of the fight in a dog while Nate Robinson takes on well, anyone, after a blood pumping play? I would. Professional sports are aggressive; if an athlete isn’t “0-100” per say, they won’t perform at the level they need too in order to keep up with the momentum or level of play. My question is, why can hockey players’ fight during a game with an at best 5-minute major, rarely an ejection, but a NBA basketball player can barely throw an elbow without it being a larger penalty, let alone throw a punch, or any professional sport for that matter. If active fighting in sports were legal in all professional sports, how much would that change the game? Would Brandon Meriweather of the Washington Redskins still receive the two-game suspension for an illegal hit on a wide receiver? My first though: safety. Of course he is suspended because he was threatening the safety of the player by hitting in an illegal way. Isn’t throwing your gloves and face guard off and openly punching a player, might I add, in skates, threatening the safety of a player? I am unsure if I will ever understand why fighting is allowed in hockey, but not in any other professional sport.

The men’s basketball team is on a fourgame win streak, beating their most recent opponent, Academy of Art University (AAU) in San Francisco, Calif. 83-73 on Nov. 29. The match-up between the Urban Knights concluded a three-game holiday road trip where the Wolves returned to Monmouth unbeaten. The game started off with a 10-0 lead for the Wolves after a pair of free throws by forward Lewis Thomas. Western increased their lead after guard Julian Nichols completed a fast break lay-in. The first half ended with the Wolves up 38-28. The second half opened up with Western extending their lead to 16 with free throws from forward Andy Avgi. Guard Devon Alexander nailed a three pointer to take the Wolves to a 21-point lead. The Wolves went 6-for-6 from the free throw line during the final minutes, finishing with a victory of 83-73 securing a four game win streak before starting conference play. “Our team has been very tough defensively,” said Head Coach Brady Bergeson. “We have found ways to make things hard for our opponents. Our goals for the games this week are no difference than they have been. We need to uphold our defensive standards and continue to progress offensively by sharing

the ball and working for good shots.” Nichols finished with a season and careerhigh 26 points and went 6-for-11 from the field and 13-for-14 from the free throw line. Three other Wolves were in double figures: Avgi, Thomas and forward Mawan Sarhan with 16, 12 and 12 points respectively. Avgi and Thomas tied with a team-leading and game-high seven rebounds. Nichols and guard Jordan Wiley each dished out four assists. The team shot 49 percent from the field on 25-of-51, 30.8 percent on 4-of-13 from the three-point line and 87.9 percent from the free throw line with 29-of-33. “We have a lot of talent returning from last year,” Alexander said. “There are high expectations. With that being said, we want to take it one game at a time and focus on our team’s trademarks. So far our strength is that we have at least five guys that can help us in scoring on any given night. We can be one of the top defensive teams in the country as well; we just have to prove that we are day in and day out.” The Wolves play the next five games at home, two from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). The Wolves welcome University of Alaska Anchorage Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.

Guard Jordan Wiley (#22) sets up for a free throw during their match-up between Azusa Pacific University on Nov. 21. PHOTO BY NEIL GRAVATT, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

OPINION

Portraits of a University “Steward of the Mind” A conversation with Kit Mills

he decision to go back to school had to do with wanting to expand my opportunities, but also wanting to take the first step towards jumping through the hoops of becoming a college professor. I’m not settled on that, but it’s certainly something I’ve done before and like doing. I worked as an adjunct professor at community college in Washington. I wasn’t sure if getting a doctorate was the route I wanted to go, but I thought I would at least try a masters, and let that be kind of a litmus test for whether or not I wanted to go on to doctoral work. Jury’s still out on this. Two years ago, I thought I was headed to the Berklee College of Music graduate studio performance program at their new campus in Valencia, Spain, after a successful audition as a drummer. However, they offered no financial aid and I have a strong aversion to debt. So after Berklee didn’t pan out, I started thinking more about working on the compositional side. I love sharing classical music with people; it’s such a huge world of music and there are a lot of points where classical music has influenced a lot of things we take for granted in our own popular culture. There’s so much beauty that’s been the product of so many minds over the centuries. I’m one of those people who loves nature. I love great views of the ocean. I grew up in the Puget Sound area, on Whidbey Island. My enjoyment is doubled by sharing beautiful things with others, and having them enjoy it too. I’m interested in doing that with music. Anybody who says there’s nothing in classical music that they can like clearly hasn’t started to tap into it. It’s like someone who just eats McDonalds all the time and says “nah, there’s nothing else good out there.” My parents have both had a long-standing engagement with music. I grew up with a guitar-playing dad and a piano-playing mom. I have a lot of memories of us singing and harmonizing together. I played a lot of drums throughout middle school and high school, and didn’t really know a whole lot about classical music. When I went to college, at Wheaton College, near Chicago, I had originally planned to be an engineering major, but it didn’t pan out because I found there is a distinct difference between high school physics and college calculus-based physics. So really quickly I found myself fishing around for what to do. Long story short though, I got into some music theory classes, and felt initially, as a lot of people do coming into classical stuff for the first time, pretty intimidated. There’d be kids in my class who’d been studying the violin since the age of three. So I was intimidated until we came to the point where we used our ears to listen and transcribe, to tell what was going on in a piece of music, and it was there that I realized that all that childhood stuff that I’d done, all the singing with my family, all the music-making around the house, had given me a really good ear. I ended up majoring in composition. I

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

As part of a new weekly Journal column, Nathaniel Dunaway meets with Western Oregon University students to discuss their lives and their experiences in the world of higher education. In doing so, he hopes to find an answer to the question what does it mean to be a college student in the 21st century? This week, Music Composition major Kit Mills discusses his decision to return to school, and the challenges he faces as a husband and father. As Kit and I began our conversation, a student in the study area near us began playing Chopin on the piano. His music provided a particularly apt ambiance to Kit’s musings on the power of classical music.

suppose most people who tackle composition have at least a little bit of a dream of being the next Beethoven. Maybe I did to begin with. But no matter what, we should try to be good stewards of the minds we have. We should be working towards a real mastery of whatever it is we’re interested in. One reason I’m interested in classical music is because so much of it has withstood the test of time. It’s clear that there are elements of Bach’s music that somehow still speak to people. Sooner or later every artist has to grapple with the things that we all wonder about; life and death, love, friendship, matters of faith, matters of upheaval. So much of the music we now blithely take for granted was often produced in times of great turmoil. Beethoven was working on one of his symphonies with cotton stuffed in his ears while Vienna was bombed by the French. Mozart wrote a lot of music while he was broke and ill. Somehow these guys have found a way to put things down that have just lasted. I have a wife and a young son, and it’s almost as if I have two different lives. I have one life where I engage as a student, and I have another life where I set that all aside and I come home as a parent and spouse. The big trick is prioritizing. I’ve been so determined to do this without taking any loans, without going into any debt, and we — my wife and I — have practiced living frugally, as musicians, so that’s good. But the challenge is now to be frugal with my time. I definitely find I have a very good excuse for not having free time. What I would counsel any student who’s serious about learning is to first recognize that learning isn’t just something that happens in the hallowed halls of academia. Learning is a life-long vocation. It’s something that continually engenders curiosity over the years. You don’t have to be a music major to love music, or a literature

major to love literature, you don’t have to be a sports science major to be interested in the workings of the human body. I suggest one learns to recognize that there are great assets here at a university, where you have the chance to really grow as a person. Some of that is through book-learning and some of that’s through life-learning. I hope students take time to just be still. Put down your cell phone or tablet, stop, and smell the roses (when they’re in bloom), and admire the autumn leaves. Most days this fall, if you’ve watched me walking homeward, you’ve likely seen me with a leaf in hand to take home to show my wife and son. An important component of being a student is to learn to be a student of the world around you, and to learn to enjoy it.

PHOTO BY NATHANIEL DUNAWAY

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OPINION

11 FIND

Christmas as a college student BY HAUNANI TOMAS MANAGING EDITOR

Why Christmas isn’t as exciting as it once was

In lieu of the post-Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas time has arrived in full effect. Our favorite holiday songs pepper the radio stations and every girl listens to Mariah Carey’s rendition of “All I Want for Christmas is You,” at least once a day. However, something has changed this year compared to last: you’re a year older. (Obviously). Although it may just seem like another 365 days have passed, the years add up. In unsuccessfully attempting to avoid sounding like the Grinch, Christmas is just not as thrilling as it was all those years ago. Activities ranging from Black Friday shopping to opening presents on Christmas Day are just plain different from what they used to be. SHOPPING Your Black Friday shopping isn’t for you anymore. Rather, it’s for your mother’s coworkers and presents for extended family. You’ll easily spend $50 at Bath & Body Works alone, taking advantage of the ridiculous hand soap and candle deals that could come in handy for any potential lastminute presents (a.k.a. the people you forgot about). If you’re lucky enough to squeeze in some “me” shopping time, you’ll most likely sin in the form of overpayment at any of the following: Target, Target or, probably, Target. And, if we aren’t struggling enough already, we’ll find every reason to spend the majority of our November paycheck at our favorite department store. PRESENTS The pressure of picking out presents increases dramatically. You can’t get away with buying merchandise from the school bookstore anymore. Also, there no longer exists a plethora of peculiar-shaped, mysterious presents bearing your name underneath the tree. Your presents are most likely in a boring box, containing clothes (that you picked out) or, even better, gift cards to buy clothes. Your response to the ever-probing question “What do you want for Christmas?” always begins with “I don’t know…” when in reality, there exists a mentally stored yearround list that only seems to grow. You just don’t want to admit it to anyone because if you want it, it makes sense if you just buy it, right?

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CHRISTMAS DAY Sleeping in on Christmas day isn’t an option, especially if you have younger siblings. Throughout the entire term we rise and shine at the ripe hour of seven in the morning to attend our eight o’clock classes. We’ve already paid our dues in the form of sleepdeprivation every Monday and Wednesday (or maybe Tuesday and Thursday). Waking up early isn’t as holly-jolly as it used to, mostly because a prolonged slumber now trumps our gifts, which will still be waiting under the tree after noon. They’re not going anywhere. CELEBRATIONS For all you over-twenty-oners, Christmas becomes yet another excuse to celebrate with some (or a lot of) booze. Did you really think you could finally start that detox over winter break to cleanse your body of all the tequila shots you’ve downed throughout the term? Two-words: peppermint schnapps. Along with (hopefully responsible) boozing, comes the return of the multitude of ugly sweater parties. This is the only time of year when having the most hideous Christmas sweater is actually a compliment. I repeat, the only time of the year.

THE JOURNAL

AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS All Residence Halls

Valsetz

HSS Building

Library

Administration Building

Public Safety

ASWOU Office

Java Crew

Werner University Center

Yeasty Beasty

APSC Building

Yang’s

Health & Counseling Center

Main Street Ice Cream

DECORATIONS Decorating the Christmas tree becomes another task on your chore list when you realize that you’re probably, or definitely, going to be responsible for cleaning, packing and storing all of the ornaments. Every. Single. One. The responsibility of cleaning up the Christmas tree is all yours now. Not your mom’s. When driving around town to see who has the most Christmas lights and frontyard décor, I can only think of two things: my mileage per gallon and how insanely high everyone’s electricity bill must be at the beginning of January. However, for those of you who have Christmas lights in your room year-round, there’s no real surprise there. Regardless, of how un-holly-jolly things might be during the holidays, it is still the most wonderful time of the year.

THE JOURNAL | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2014

TAIL-END

12 Students prepare for divestment protest

PHOTO BY LAURA KNUDSON Environmental club members make posters and tie-dye shirts in preparation for Saturday’s protest outside Western’s Development Foundation meeting. In early November, the foundation denied club member Karl Amspacher’s request to speak on fossil fuel divestment at the meeting. Club members and other students will protest during the meeting to show the foundation students care about divestment. Amspacher said over 500 student signatures have been gathered so far. The social science division voted unanimously Dec. 2 to support divestment. In the coming weeks, Dr. Mark Van Steeter, associate professor of geography, said he will contact other divisions to do the same. The protest will take place during the 9 a.m. foundation meeting on Saturday in the Columbia Room of the Werner University Center.

Building gingerbread houses gave students a break from studies in the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 3. First year students Tianna Flannery and Gabriela Guzman met at the event, and spent over an hour working on their projects. PHOTO BY ALLISON OPSON CLEMENT

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