Vol. 18, Issue 11 (January 24, 2018)

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2018 VOLUME 18 ISSUE 11

harmonious headliner comes to western Page 7

SPORTS

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ZOË STRICKLAND

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NEWS EDITOR SAMANTHA DUNAWAY journalnews@wou.edu

LIFESTYLE EDITOR CAITY HEALY ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR TBD journalentertainment@wou.edu

SPORTS EDITOR SIMSON GARCIA

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PHOTO EDITOR PAUL F. DAVIS

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DESIGNERS DARIEN CAMPO ELISSA SORENSON

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SUBMISSIONS THE WESTERN 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 Contact information will not be published unless requested.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.

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Please bring submissions to THE WESTERN 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.

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The LeBron vs. Durant saga continues

With many epic battles already, the NBA’s rivalry of two of its best superstars continues in the making

By Simson Garcia Sports Editor The game of basketball has fallen into the hands of many greats. While it may have been passed on from athlete to athlete, there were few that took it to the highest standard.

There were athletes, and then there was LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, who are now exceeding the game to an even higher echelon. It’s them above everyone else, but clearly, for them, there’s a superior, there’s one who’s fitter, there’s a better.

Since his Akron, Ohio days, nobody had ever seen anybody like the former in “King James.”

At 16 years old, he was already the ultimate basketball stud.

He was fast, strong, had very high IQ basketball awareness for his age, and was imposing on the court. What is seen in James at age 33 now is the completion and maturation of the aforementioned.

Convincingly, he took the basketball world to a new level.

Passing others with three state championships. He then passed one of the greatest draft classes in 2003, his class; passed the MJ and Kobe eras; passed the many failed attempts at surpassing a championship-less legacy; and passed, to where he’s settled now, with three championships, multiple MVP’s and “best player” to his resume; passed, like a jump to the next paragraph.

Then along came a spider, weaving his way about concurrently while James was developing his game until completion. Kevin “The Durantula” Durant, James’s rival in every sense of the competitive word, also went from being a high-school standout, to having

Photo courtesy of WSJ.COM

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The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

LeBron James is 5-5 against Kevin Durant in the NBA finals

little to no college experience before hitting the NBA. He too, was moving the game along and convincingly; winning league scoring titles, earning an MVP and planting his flag as one of the NBA’s best.

A collision course was inevitable — it was only a matter of time before the two met on the big scene. The 2012 finals, and the two then vets, followed much anticipation when their

trophy dominance.

After Miami/James defeated the Thunder/Durant in dominant fashion, four games to one and winning another championship in 2013, James returned to Cleveland two years later. This second run with Cleveland brought with him finals experience along with a blossomed repertoire of skill sets that helped win Cleveland’s first ever championship. It was

There were athletes, and then there was LeBron James, and Kevin Durant two respective teams in the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat met.

But it was a tale of two journeys. James left Cleveland, a place he made his lair for years — abandoned for what many had claimed was an easier route to the top. He joined Miami, an already stacked team with Dwyane Wade. Hate and scrutiny followed him.

But perhaps wrongly so, as he executed a carefully crafted plan for the future. There he was able to fully develop as a player, finally reigning in an era of dominance, but this dominance was unlike the dominance of before. This was championship

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James’s time. He was clearly the Jordan of this era.

After numerous unsuccessful NBA finals restorations, Durant too jumped ship and onto a winning environment. The same scrutiny followed him into Golden State with the Warriors, his new grounds. But having left Russell Westbrook, who won the league MVP following Durant’s departure, he knew he had to follow in Golden States’ direction, since only few teams like the Warriors had what it took to beat James’s Cavs, having already beat them in the 2015 finals. The fit came synchronously while KD was finally hitting his stride.

A 2017 finals bid between the Cavs and Warriors was set then, and the James versus Durant saga continued.

Only this time around, a shift in momentum occurred as Durant would finally maneuver past his ringless legacy, and passed James, once the Warriors bested Cleveland, 4-1.

The matchup happened again this past Christmas, with the Warriors again out gaining the Cavs. And again, the Warriors got the better on Martin Luther King Jr. day, sweeping the season series.

This rivalry may have tilted just a bit in Durant’s favor. He’s got the defending championship team to his arsenal that includes potential MVP nominee Stephen Curry, and has clearly outplayed James in their recent matchups.

The head-head matchup says otherwise and says James is ahead in the win-loss matchup, 14-6. They’re close in points-pergame but James has a slight lead in rebounds. James’s also a better passer averaging three more assists than Durant. But Durant’s Warriors (37-10) are clearly better than the Cavs (28-18) right now. The NBA world has yet to see more of this matchup.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

SPORTS

The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Wolves streak moves to ten, looks to improve national standing

Wolves come away with one after returning home Women’s basketball goes 1-1 to start fourgame homestand

Team ranked ninth nationally before picking up two more wins

By Morgan Swaim | Staff Writer

The team is now ranked 6th in the nation

Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM

Two foes head into town on Jan. 25 and 27. Enter first the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks who don a 12-3 overall record and 8-2 conference mark, both good for third place in the GNAC. Enter the Central Washington Wildcats who are in the middle of the pack of the GNAC, presenting a 10-8 overall mark while creating a 6-4 conference figure.

Historically since entering the NCAA-DII era in 2000, Western’s been unable to gain advantage when facing these two opponents. The Nighthawks have produced a dark cloud over the Wolves via the 10-7 record through visits to the campus. And the headhead battle favors the Nighthawks overall at 23-12.

To show for it this season, Northwest Nazarene has been an offensive juggernaut, sporting the highest points per game average in the GNAC at 79.7.

The rain over Monmouth may remain if the Wolves can’t hone in on NNU’s field goal percentage, another league best at .448. And two markswomen from the perimeter for Northwest Nazarene are number one and two in the league. In that category, Avery Albrecht is shooting at 48-percent and while Mckenna Walker is making 46-percent of her attempts.

In their past encounter on Dec. 30, Northwest Nazarene displayed this feat draining three-pointers throughout to get the blowout victory, 94-67.

The previous Wolves’s confrontation with Central Washington on Dec. 19

Know Your Enemies: Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene Wolves basketball get a chance at revival, revamping and revenge

By Simson Garcia | Sports Editor

29.4 percent shooting in the first half.

On the offensive side of the ball, Senior Tanner Omlid started off at a blistering pace, scoring 17 points on 7/9 shooting in the first twenty minutes.

After holding a fifteen point advantage at the end of the first half, the Wolves continued to outpace Central Washington. Omlid’s hot start seemed to inspire key members off the bench on Thursday as the game went on. Junior guard, Demetrius Trammell, was lights out during the second half of play. He scored 14 points in 13 minutes while shooting perfectly from the field, including four three pointers.

After the win, the team moved to an overall record of 16-1 heading into Saturday’s game against the Nighthawks. The game plan for this matchup was to make life difficult for Nazarene guard Obi Megwa, who came into the game leading the conference in scoring (19.1 ppg). That is exactly what the Wolves defense did, forcing Megwa to shoot 8/21 from the field while limiting his impact on the result of the game. The team started off hot once again, this time capturing a 13 point lead at halftime, while bringing that lead up to 25 at one point in the second half. After scoring 18 points

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stripe, which comes as no surprise as they lead the entire conference in free throw shooting percentage.

The Wolves versus the Yellowjackets was a race neck and neck heading into the fourth. This time it was the Wolves who started slow in the fourth, being held scoreless for the first 4:53 of the final period.

The scoring drought proved to be too much to overcome as the Yellowjackets jumped out to an eight point lead and kept the game out of reach. Junior, Natalie DeLonge, lead the way for Western as she scored 16 points and Continued on the back Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM

Defense held the Cavaliers to 31.1% shooting

Continued on the back

After taking a long road trip to Alaska, the Wolves finally returned home on Jan. 16 to play the Concordia University Cavaliers and the Montana State-Billings Yellowjackets on Jan. 18. Coming into the game against the Cavaliers, both teams found themselves locked right in the middle of the GNAC conference standings, with the Wolves gaining a game on the Cavaliers in the 68-51 victory. But they got stung in the game against the Yellowjackets, 65-56, suffering their third home loss of the year.

The first game was a back and forth affair until the end of the third quarter, with the Wolves clinging to a 43-40 lead. In the fourth, the team ran away with the game. This was lead by five minutes of superb defense that produced turnovers and forced missed shots on the Wolves’s end. Concordia only managed four points during that time frame.

The defense helped the Wolves jump out to a seven point lead in the final five minutes, and by that point, there was no looking back. With the game barely out of reach as time was winding down, all the Wolves had to do was continue to knock down free throws. Junior guard, Sydney Azorr, had 7 of her 15 points in the last two minutes as the team poured on points late to ice the game. Over the course of the game, the Wolves shot 19 of 20 from the charity

By Morgan Swaim | Staff Writer Last week on Jan. 18 & 20 was business as usual for the men’s team as they racked up another two victories against GNAC conference opponents.

This brings their current winning streak to double digits, after the team cracked the top ten in national rankings earlier in the week.

On Thursday, Jan. 18, the Wolves ousted Central Washington Wildcats, 89-70. Then on Saturday, Jan. 20, they derailed Northwest Nazarene, 82-64.

Up early against the Wildcats, it was clear that Western was in control, as the defense held the Wildcats to just

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also included difficulty. They dealt with the Cats’s full court press defense unsuccessfully and turnovers turned in a final score of 72-65 which made it eight straight games in favor of the ‘Cats. Central Washington looks to front that defense again as they lead the league with 3.8 blocked shots per game.

Western has a few things in store to fight off their opponents. The 8-8 Wolves have a balanced offensive attack and get to the free throw line with efficiency, where they lead the GNAC in that shooting category. They also fare better playing at home at 6-3.

Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m.

Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu

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NEWS

The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Leaving the community better than they found it Western’s service-based Student Veterans of America chapter named Chapter of the Year

By Sam Dunaway | News Editor Nine Western student veterans had the opportunity to attend the Student Veterans of America National Conference from Jan. 4-6, the largest annual gathering of student veterans in the nation. The students came back from the conference with knowledge, motivation and a 2018 Chapter of the Year title.

“We knew going into the conference that we were one of the top five finalists for Chapter of the Year,” remarked Shane Follett, chapter President. The national organization represents over 1500 chapters around the United States. “We were up against schools like Syracuse, UNLV, LSU. We were the only Division II school in the top five.”

The annual National Conference is both a personal and professional development experience that many of the organization’s members benefited from.

“The networking opportunities for me especially are huge,” Follett commented. “I know student veterans from literally all over the country, but then on top of that, there’s opportunities

Photo courtesy of WOU.EDU

Shane Foilett, Jeremy Bulluss, Laura Pettyjohn and Andrew Holbert accept the 2018 Chapter of the Year award

Change is coming Nearly 1,000 community members join forces to fight for women’s rights in Salem

The 2018 Womxn’s March took place on Jan. 21 in the heart of Salem with the area surrounded by all walks of life. There were men, women, children and dogs pressed close together to support women’s rights and have a frank conversation of the continuous oppression of minority groups.

The choice to name it the Womxn’s March was a conscious one. After the 2017 Women’s March, many community members felt that it wasn’t inclusive to minority groups.

By renaming it the Womxn’s March, it encompasses the full spectrum

an official club since the 2014-2015 school year, but Follett has seen the improvements and growth that the club has undergone in the past two years. The organization was awarded Club of the

We want to make any type of impact we can on our community beneficial to all student veterans. “You have the seniors who look at it as a huge outreach opportunity. Who are getting ready to graduate and are looking at the next steps in their life and looking for those connections. And you also have the freshman and sophomores who are coming in and getting extremely motivated from it while they’re also making those connections.”

Cole Hendren, a first-year and new member of the organization, expressed his enjoyment of the experience and motivation to move the club forward.

“I want to do so many things now just from the three days that I was there…

For any student veteran who is needing some motivation or some eye-opening to the opportunities that are laid out before them, this is the place to go.

If you want to know who’s out there working for you and wanting you to succeed, this is where you should be at.

Because they’re all there.”

The Western SVA chapter has been

Year at the 2017 Leadership Recognition Night. Notable accomplishments by the organization include the campus-wide Food Drive, community Easter Egg Hunt, and the annual Memorial Day Banquet.

When asked why Western’s chapter stands out from the rest, Follett replied, “Our chapter is a little bit different from other chapters because our chapter is focused on service. We’re a service-based chapter... I think it was a combination of the community service that we’ve done, the outreach that we’ve done, and recognition of how quickly we’ve gotten to where we are.”

“It’s making an impact directly to your community and making it better than you found it, that’s the biggest point,” Vice President Jeremy Bulluss emphasized. “We want to make any type of impact we can on our community.”

Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu

Photo courtesy of OPB.COM

By Natalie Dean | Freelancer

of women everywhere; those who identify as queer women, trans women and women of color.

The men that participated stood in support of their sisters, mothers, wives and daughters who have faced oppression. Signs were held by many, sending direct messages to those in power. Some reading, “Listen to me as I stand,” and “Beware; for I am fearless and therefore powerful.” There were little girls with their own homemade signs, some dressed as the Statue of Liberty, Rosie the Riveter and Wonder Woman.

Sophomore Jamie Norr was among the hundreds marching in Salem. “The Womxn’s March this weekend was humbling,” Norr reflected. “There were so many people who just wanted peace and equality and it was amazing to be a part of something so positive and impactful … In our country’s current state, women, people of color, the LGBTQA+ community, and so many others are discriminated against and

to network with people from D.C. in the national organization.”

Laura Pettyjohn, the club’s Communication Officer, explained the ways in which the conference is

Individuals of all ages advocate for equal rights in the 2018 Womxn’s March

having our voice out there, loud and proud, is the only way to end all this hate.”

During the event, emcee LeAnna Thornton asked everyone in the crowd to participate in an exercise. She spoke, “There’s a lot of hurt and shame and guilt around sexual assault. We’re asking everyone to raise their hands if you can say, ‘me too.’ And to look

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around at the faces of those who have experienced an assault or harassment, and to not be ashamed. To let the guilt, and the pain, let it go. Work through it.

Heal.”

Then, with knitted pink hats and signs in hand, they marched.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou. edu

Western commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. with a week of events

By Sam Dunaway | News Editor

BSU President Marnarsha Fowlkes facilitates the student-led session

“MEDIA’S REPRESENTATION OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES” The student-led session, Media’s Representation of Marginalized Communities, capped off the week’s events. The session was led by Black Student Union president and MLK committee member Marnasha Fowlkes and Black Student Union secretary Sabrina Clark.

The representation of different races, sexual orientations and cultures was the focus of the session. A timeline beginning with the 1950s and ending in modern day displayed the different attitudes about race and culture in the mainstream media.

Several examples of race being poorly represented in movies and TV shows were discussed. This included the happy-go-lucky black servant in “Gone With the Wind,” the representation of gang violence in the Mexican-American community in “Mi Vida Loca,” the stereotypically loud Latina character of Gloria on “Modern Family” and the slant-eyed

buck-toothed Chinese stereotype and the womanizing Italian stereotype in Disney’s “The Aristocats.”

Other misrepresentations were discussed at the session. The idea of the gay best friend and other token minorities are used in several movies and TV shows, and Caucasian actors casted to play minorities is still an issue in modern entertainment.

The session explained that, although there have been improvements in the representation of marginalized communities in the media, society still has a long way to go.

Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

Martin Luther King Jr. Day brought several events to Western’s campus.

Each year’s MLK Celebration Week consists of a day of service, a facultyled session, a student-led session and a dinner with a keynote speaker. This year’s events focused on the history of racial injustice and talking about race from a historical perspective. In case you missed any of these powerful events, read on for a recap of the week.

“POVERTY SIMULATION: ADDRESSING INCOME INEQUALITY” The faculty-led session for the university’s Martin Luther King Jr. week consisted of a Community Action Poverty Simulation led by Community Health professor Doris Cancel-Tirado.

The purpose of the exercise is to help people better understand the realities of living in poverty. According a study conducted by Oregon Center for Public Policy in 2014, one in every six Oregonians lives below the federal poverty line. Some individuals have never experienced living in poverty, while some know it all too well.

The simulation split participants into family groups with a specified income, monthly budget and various struggles that needed to be addressed.

The hour-long exercise simulated an entire month, with each 15-minute period representing a week. Families had to find ways to make ends meet throughout the “month” in very lowincome situations.

“There’s a lot of myths about families of low income,” Cancel-Tirado noted.

“One of the myths is that they don’t work. That is a myth. Most of the families that are in the system receiving some sort of support have at least one adult working. So these families are working but they face systemic

Continued on the back

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Photo by SAM DUNAWAY

NEWS A week of service, justice and celebration

The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: WALIDAH IMARISHA The annual Martin Luther King Jr. week dinner invited students, staff and community members to join keynote speaker Walidah Imarisha in talking about the history of race in Oregon.

Imarisha is a writer, reporter, educator and spoken word artist. She’s written numerous novels including two anthologies, a non-fiction book that won a 2017 Oregon Book Award and a poetry collection. She’s traveled as a representative from the Oregon Humanities Conversation Project and talked about race all over Oregon for six years.

The focus of the speech was race in history — the history of Oregon, how black individuals were treated in the Pacific Northwest throughout history and where we are today.

Imarisha spoke of the Martin Luther King Jr. that many don’t talk about.

Keynote speaker Walidan Imarisha has toured all over the country talking about race

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“I think there is an image of Dr. King that gets put out that is a sanitized image, it is a safe image,” Imarisha explained. “I think it’s incredibly important to recognize Dr. King was a political prisoner who was arrested multiple times for his beliefs. Dr. King engaged in civil disobedience, he shut down bridges, he shut down highways.”

She compared these acts to the Black Lives Matter movement that shut down bridges in Portland on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2017.

“When we talk about the legacy of Dr. King’s work, we have to talk about the real Dr. King and the real work that he did.”

Learn more about Imarisha’s work at walidah.com.

Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu

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ENTERTAINMENT

The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

COME TO HAMERSLY The upper floors house exhibits by Larry Sykes and Xianzhu Tu

By Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief For Hamersly Library, the beginning of term means the opening of new second and third floor art exhibits.

The exhibits officially opened on Jan. 8 and Jan. 5, respectively. “Painting for the fun of it,” a watercolor display by local business owner Larry Sykes, is located on the second floor and “Beyond Watching,” a mixed media exhibit by visiting professor Xianzhu Tu, is located on the third floor.

The work shown in “Painting for the fun of it” is the result of Sykes being hesitant to learn how to paint. Before he and his wife moved to Monmouth, she bought him watercolor lessons.

His artist’s statement describes the initial hesitation he felt towards the craft, “he knew nothing about painting watercolors but eventually gave in and found he had a knack for it. After a

By Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief On Jan. 17, artist Ryan Woodring came to the Cannon Gallery of Art for the reception of his installation, “Unveiling World Tour.” The installation has been up since Jan. 11 and will remain in the gallery until Feb. 9.

In his series of projected pieces, Woodring performs a digital magic trick — he alters pre-existing video clips from the various unveilings of the replication of the Triumphal Arch of Palmyra. The recreated arch was made into a 3D model and then sent

couple lessons his teacher said, ‘no more lessons, you get it, just paint.’”

As the work on display showcases, Sykes has an affinity for nearphotorealistic pieces. His sense of detail is what initially drew Jerrie Lee Parpart, Archives and Exhibits Coordinator, to

his work, “I see the exhibits program as a way to teach outside of the classroom … to spark interest in things that you normally wouldn’t have in your classroom, or to augment that which is already being taught in a class,” she said. “Specifically with Larry’s work, it’s

around the world on an unveiling tour.

In Woodring’s altered clips, rather than the cloth being lifted to reveal the recreated arch, it’s lifted to reveal nothing.

“Unlike most monument unveilings, the recreated Triumphal Arch is not aimed at permanence. It is meant to be disassembled and reassembled for the purpose of unveilings and digital dissemination,” says the artist’s statement. “Woodring’s act of removal looks to isolate the magic trick, allowing the fullness of the unveiling spectacle to circulate while making room for emptiness, hypocrisy and loss to be revealed.”

Woodring’s clips — the unveilings from New York City, London and Florence — are projected onto the walls of the Cannon Gallery.

“This is the first show we’ve ever had that is only projections and video,” noted Paula Booth, Director of the Cannon Gallery. In the past ten years, the gallery has featured five exhibits that use projection as a focal point.

Solely using projection in this exhibit may allow viewers to extract more meaning from the collection of pieces. “You can almost think of it as one artwork, like the gallery itself becomes the artwork. You can look at it really superficially, just watching the video and seeing what’s going on … it’s captivating just to watch. But then when you read his statement and realize that there’s many layers to what’s happening visually,” said Booth.

The next exhibition in the Cannon Gallery will open on Feb. 21 and will feature hanging relief sculptures by David George Andersen, the late Chief Preparator for the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, “I think it will be a slightly challenging exhibit for some folks. His work is commentary on politics, on religion, on all those things that make us uncomfortable to talk about,” said Booth.

Contact the author at journaleditor@ wou.edu

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Contact the author at journaleditor@ wou.edu

“Unveiling World Tour” will be in Cannon Gallery until Feb. 9

Artist Ryan Woodring reimagines unveilings

a different way of looking at the world.

He has an eye to look at mundane things … to just see the details.”

In Tu’s “Beyond Watching,” the artist has chosen to display multiple digital and ink images, as well as sculpture and installation pieces. One installation involves a bunch of small heads arranged in a pile, while another utilizes a large, square display case to show sand-made mountains atop a mirror.

“The exhibition shows a series of art practices based on my personal cultural experiences of self-reconstruction from observation, perception, questioning, reflection, and awakening. Beyond watching, returning to one’s real self is the ultimate appeal of my artistic expression,” explained Tu in her artist’s statement.

While the foyer of the third floor gallery is used to display the aforementioned pieces, the two gallery rooms are arranged with Tu’s digital and ink images.

“With her work, I was very excited about the idea of combining both communication and art,” said Parpart.

In addition to these two exhibits, Hamersly Library is also hosting a smaller exhibit on the second floor for the Polk County Historical Society. In February, the library will also house a 22-panel collage that traces 3,000 years of disability history.

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

NEW EXHIBITS

Five digital art pieces by Xiazhu Ju, located on the third floor of Hamersly Library

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

ENTERTAINMENT

The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

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HARMONICA PLAYER

STEALS SPOTLIGHT IN JAZZ PERFORMANCE

Gregoiré Maret performs for the Smith Fine Arts Series

By Stephanie Blair | Staff Writer

Under a wash of colored lights — which would shift throughout the night, from reds and purples to blues and greens — four men took the Rice Auditorium on Jan. 19 for one purpose: to play jazz.

The quartet was composed of: DJ Ginyard on bass; Shedrick Mitchell on keyboard, organ and piano; Nathaniel Townsley on drums; and headliner Gregoiré Maret on harmonica.

The group were old friends, Maret explained after their introduction.

But the four were not the only musicians on stage that night. For a few songs before the intermission, the quartet was joined by vocalist Christie Dashiell.

“An incredibly talented young woman — I honestly think she is one the most talented singers of her generation,” Maret said of Dashiell, just before she took the stage. “I feel really honored … that she accept the invitation and she’s going to be here performing with us tonight.”

The group played songs off of Maret’s newest album, “Wanted,” which was released in April 2016. In the

performance program, Maret is quoted as saying, “There’s a lot about this record that is about my past to where I am now. I wanted to acknowledge not just who I am but how I came to be what I am now.”

Part of that story is growing up in Geneva, Switzerland to an AfricanAmerican mother and Swiss father.

Part of it going from studying at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique de Genéve to New School University in New York. Part of it is transitioning from a student and a backup musician to taking the spotlight.

Maret has received praise from critics at The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Zeal NYC and many others for his melodies and ingenuitive harmonica compositions. And critics aren’t the only ones who love him.

Though Maret was the focus of the Smith Fine Arts stage on the night of the performance, he’s built a strong career out of working alongside legends both in the jazz world and out: Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Elton John and Sting, to name a few.

Maret’s music is available on iTunes, Amazon, sunnysidezone.com and Soundcloud.

Contact the author at sblair13@mail. wou.edu

Photos by PAUL F. DAVIS

Shedrick Mitchell (left) and Gregore Maret (right) perform songs off of Maret’s 2016 album

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Nathaniel Towsley assisted Maret on the drums

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LIFESTYLE

The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Confront your consumption Make a difference by making small changes

By Paul F. Davis | Photo Editor Most people in the United States know that our shared overconsumption of the Earth’s resources

is fundamentally changing our air and ecosystems. It’s hard sometimes to not feel downtrodden about our failure to be stewards of the Earth, but don’t feel down; you can make a difference through changing a few habits and being aware of the things you are using. Together we can make a drastic difference in the Earth’s future just by eliminating our use of a few

According to the EPA, the average person creates 4.4 pounds per day Photo courtesy of TIIA MONTO

consumables.

If you haven’t heard, there has been an uproar on social media about our use of straws — believe the hype.

Straws are one of the many wasteful and unnecessary things our culture prides itself on consuming. When going out to a coffee shop or eating at a restaurant, just get in the habit of saying, “Thank you, I don’t need a straw” or bring your own reusable one.

But straws are not the only wasteful thing we consume, they are only the tip of the metaphorical iceberg. While eating or drinking ask yourself, “do I really need that?” Because how often do you really use those plastic utensils, napkins or bags after you’re done giving into your human needs? Change your habits, change the world.

Another unnecessary consumable that our culture loves to use are tubes in the middle of our rolls of toilet paper. The tubes make it easier for the paper to turn around the pole in the center. This use of tubes, however, isn’t even necessary. Toilet paper still works to the last sheet without a tube in the center and they sell it for a lower price as well. So college students, go out to the store, Waremart or Roths, and buy

Contact the author at pfdavis14@wou. edu

MIXED BERRY SMOOTHIE: -Combine one-half cup of frozen mixed berries (I like using strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries) with one-fourth cup of vanilla greek yogurt, one-fourth cup of orange juice, and 1 scoop of vanilla protein. Blend until well mixed. If you need more liquid to reach desired viscosity, add water.

Total Protein: 22 Grams

Mixing it up with protein shakes How to make the supplement actually taste appetizing

By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor Protein is an incredibly vital component to any healthy and balanced diet. Your body uses it to build and repair tissue, and it’s an important building block in your muscle, blood, skin and more. Unlike many other nutrients, our body has no protein stores that it can go to when you need it. For that reason, you need to supplement this through your choice of foods.

A really convenient and useful product to help get your levels where they need to be is protein powder.

However, if you’re similar to many, you have trouble finding any protein that doesn’t taste and smell absolutely awful. Through trial and error — and more error — and eventually success, I’ve been able to find some recipes that actually make protein enjoyable — mostly due to the fact that all the other ingredients overpower the taste.

So, if you’re looking to get that boost of protein to your diet, try out some of these recipes that will have you

some tubeless and more affordable toilet paper.

Ever stop to think where all your night-out glitter goes after your evening of debauchery? It often enters our waterways. Those microplastics, any plastic smaller than a fifth of an inch, are one of the worst things for waterways. These microplastics take one of two paths when they enter a river or where ever our waste water enters.

This glitter is either mistaken as food by our aquatic friends, any river dwelling animal, or as the microplastic lands on river beds where it slowly leaches out chemicals that are not advantageous for any living creature and sometimes even carcinogenic. So once again, ask yourself, do you really need to use that glitter?

Together let’s change our habits and start to ask do we really need this or that, and apply that thought process to everything we use. When we develop this skill, we will use less. When we use less, we have all made a decision to work towards the betterment of our Earth’s future.

ORANGE CREAM SMOOTHIE: -Combine one-half cup of vanilla ice cream (for highest protein, opt for brands like Halo Top), one-fourth cup sweetened almond milk, one-half cup orange juice, 1 scoop vanilla protein, one-half teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend, and add ice if it needs to be thickened.

Total Protein: 22.5 Grams

questioning if there’s really any of the supplement actually in it.

Total protein count for each recipe may vary depending on brands used.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou. edu

wou.edu/westernjournal

Photo by CAITY HEALY

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE: -Combine 1 cup of sweetened almond milk with 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter, 1 scoop of chocolate protein, 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 frozen banana cut into small pieces.

Blend together, and if you want it thicker, add more ice. If you would like, add a teaspoon of dark chocolate syrup.

Total Protein: 34 Grams

LIFESTYLE

The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

9

DAILY DEALS TRAVELING NEAR WESTERN ON A BUDGET

Your guide to paying less for more in Monmouth and Independence

Eight tips for college students wanting to take a trip

By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

ARENA SPORTS BAR AND GRILL: Mico pitcher special, half off wings 6-9 p.m.

MAIN STREET PUB AND EATERY: “Size Matters Monday,” every drink is $4-$5.

ARENA SPORTS BAR AND GRILL: Domestic Schooner specials CRUSH WINE BAR AND TASTING ROOM: Taco Tuesday, 3 for $10 and $6 margaritas CHASE BAR AND GRILL: Trivia Tuesday, deals on cocktails JAVA CREW: $3 drinks, all day, any drink MAIN STREET PUB AND EATERY: “Taco Tuesday,” 50 cent tacos CRUSH WINE BAR AND TASTING ROOM: Wine Wednesday, house wine $4 per glass from 6 p.m.- 10 p.m.

CHASE BAR AND GRILL: Pool Tournament Night, $3 whiskey and prizes MAIN STREET PUB AND EATERY: “Wing Wednesday,” 50 cent wings ROOKIES: ½ price pitchers and $5 chicken strip baskets TAN REPUBLIC: Member promotions, varies each week ARENA SPORTS BAR AND GRILL: Ladies Night, $5 Martinis CRUSH WINE BAR AND TASTING ROOM: Martini Thursday, martinis $6 from 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

MAIN STREET PUB AND EATERY: “Extended Happy Hour,” 3 p.m.-midnight

It may only be week three, but with all the rain in the forecast, the only thing my mind can go to is spring break. While it still is a while away, now is the best time to start planning your trips.

You may be thinking that as a college

student, on a college student budget, there is no way you can afford to travel anywhere. However, with some proper planning and research, it’s actually a lot cheaper than you’d think. Here are some tips on how to prepare yourself for a trip that won’t break the bank.

1. START PLANNING AHEAD OF TIME The best time to plan when prices are usually the lowest is about three months before you’re trying to travel. So if you’re planning a trip for spring break, now is the time to do it.

2. UTILIZE APPS SUCH AS KAYAK They help you search for flights to and from wherever you’re trying to go, and it also will denote certain days that have better deals. For instance, it’ll tell you whether you should purchase your tickets then or wait. You can also look at Google Flights, which will give you the price for every single day for any destination at the best price.

3. USE SOCIAL MEDIA Follow accounts on Twitter such as @airfarewatchdog and @theflightdeal, as they will tweet when there is glitches or good deals regularly.

4. BREAK YOUR TRIP DOWN INTO SHORTER LEGS Rather than flying straight from home to your destination, you may find it cheaper to make stops and connect from one airport to the next. It’s important to do your research and check all of your options.

ARENA SPORTS BAR AND GRILL: Corona special JAVA CREW: Double punch Friday MAIN STREET PUB AND EATERY: “Pub Favorites Friday,” $1 off of drink menu 9-11 p.m.

5. THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE STAYING There are a lot of cheaper ways to lodge than staying in a hotel. Airbnb offers international stay for a lot less, and often will have full kitchens so you can even cook for yourself instead of eating out every night- which obviously will get expensive. You can also look into hostels if you are open to a shared space with others.

ARENA SPORTS BAR AND GRILL: Domestic Pitcher special MAIN STREET PUB AND EATERY: “Drop Shot Saturday,” $6 drop-shots

6. PICK THE RIGHT DESTINATION When planning your trip, think about where might be a cheaper place to go. The location will play a huge part in the price. You can still fly internationally and do so on a budget, but some places are far more expensive than others.

7. PACK LIGHT Bringing that extra suitcase will cost you more than you’d think. Save yourself the hassle of bringing a checked bag, and just bring the necessities.

ARENA SPORTS BAR AND GRILL: Free pool and darts, bloody mary/screwdriver/Greyhound specials MAIN STREET PUB AND EATERY: “Sunday Funday,” $2 Bud Light and Coors Light Other Daily Specials that vary weekly can be found at Sing Fay, Momijis Sushi Bar and Restaurant, Yeasty Beasty, Mangiare Italian Restaurant, Pink House Cafe and New York Bagel and Bistro.

8. WHEN YOU’RE THERE, LIVE CHEAP Do things that cost you very little or nothing at all, and try to limit how much money you’re spending on different activities. Rather, go for a walk around the city, a hike, a walk on the beach or listen to some live street music. There are ways to enjoy your time traveling at very little cost.

wou.edu/westernjournal

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

10

HUMOR

The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

aries

3/21-4/19

You decided to stay up until 3 a.m. binge-watching “Black Mirror” and now you’re afraid of technology and constantly question everyone around you. Told you it would be a bad idea.

cancer

taurus

Look, at this point you should probably re-evaluate your priorities. While watching vine compilations is a worthy use of your time, maybe it can wait until after you finish your work.

6/21-7/22 leo

Watch yoruself this week Cancer, the stars predict a devastating burn in your future. Next week the stars will provide a sick comeback — but alas, too late.

4/20-5/20 gemini

5/21-6/20

See that guy to my left, someone tell him to get with the program! Vine? It’s snapchat these days. Of course, you knew that Gemini.

7/23-8/22 virgo

8/23-9/22

Don’t worry week three Leo, you’re tired but you only have eight more weeks till you’re done, then you have 11 more weeks and then you have another year and possibly another and if you’re a first year Leo — poor you, you have another year.

Down some caffeine and power through, Virgo. It’s winter term, what do you expect?

While everyone around you may be having a hard time right now, take solace — at least you’re the bestdressed friend.

Scorpio, your record problem may be getting out of control. Just because they have Streisand records at Goodwill, doesn’t mean you have to buy them.

Take this week to do something nice for someone else, Sagittarius. Maybe buy Aries a coffee at the Press, they’re looking a little tired.

capricorn

aquarius

pisces

libra

9/23-10/22

12/22-1/19

Let’s be real, Capricorn. You know you’re the only perfect match for yourself. Stop trying to find someone on a dating app.

scorpio

10/23-11/21 sagittarius 11/22-12/21

1/20 - 2/18

Do you really think you’re hydrating enough, Aquarius? The stars think otherwise. Come back when you’ve had at least three more cups of water.

2/19 - 3/20

As you start to contemplate graduation, remember that the true sign of adulthood is paying for your own Netflix account.

Compiled By The Western Journal Staff

wou.edu/westernjournal

EDITORIAL

The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

11

passion

vs. pander A foray into the world of terrible cinema

By Darien Campo | Designer

Photo courtesy of NPR.ORG

On Jan. 8, the 2017 Golden Globes had a new guest in attendance from previous years.

As James Franco took the stage to accept his award for best actor, he brought with him Tommy Wiseau, the very man he is lauded for portraying in “The Disaster Artist.” For most, Wiseau is an unrecognizable name. But to his legions of cult-like fans, seeing him onstage was a beautifully surreal experience.

In 2003, Wiseau released his magnum opus “The Room,” a film he wrote, directed, produced and starred in. During its two-week box office run it barely made $1,600 of its estimated $6 million budget back before it dropped from the big screen. But over the past 15 years “The Room” has slowly built a sizeable, rabid fanbase to the point that it is now the subject of one of the year’s most popular comedies.

Filmmaker Ross Morin famously called “The Room” the “Citizen Kane of bad movies.” And that’s what “The Room” is known for — being a bad movie. But that label never really sat right with me. There are plenty of bad movies in the world, hundreds of them are released every year and you’ll never even hear about them. Some flop tremendously and then burn out into obscurity. It feels weird to compare a “bad” film like “The Emoji Movie,” which will most likely be forgotten in ten years; to “The Room,” which continues to sell out theaters across the globe 15 years after its release. “The Emoji Movie” is a bad film, but it’s doubtful it will have any long-lasting cult appeal as “The Room” does. So what sets Wiseau’s film blunder apart from all the other “bad” movies that collect dust on Netflix year after year?

To me, films like “The Room” don’t

James Franco recently won a Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice Award for his portrayal of Tommy Wiseau in “The Disaster Artist”

quite fit into the “good movie, bad movie” dichotomy; there’s something more here.

“The Room” is an inept film, for sure, but I think what helps it stand out above the rest is the passion behind it.

I believe that “bad” movies like “The Room,” “Troll 2” and “Plan 9 From Outer Space” stand out not solely because of their missteps, but because of the passion of the filmmakers behind them.

Passion is one of the most defining qualities that makes a film stand out.

While “The Room” famously stumbled on the delivery of nearly every single aspect of what we have come to expect from a movie, it is Wiseau’s passion for his film that makes it worth watching.

If a “good movie” is defined by its success, and a “bad movie” by its failure, then the continuing success of filmmakers like Wiseau makes no sense. I have a different metric I like to judge movies by: “passion vs. pander.”

It’s a difficult quality to define, and perhaps can only be guessed at in retrospect. Did the filmmaker tell their story thinking “people are going to love this idea,” or were they

thinking “I love this idea”? It’s not an easily quantifiable method of examining movies, but it has given me insight into my own work. Because of movies like Wiseau’s, as I work on my own projects I am constantly asking myself “Am I making this decision for myself, or for the audience?”

We want to make work that is honest.

Not only to others, but to ourselves.

And for all of its failures, “The Room” is one of the most honest films you will ever see. There’s a wonderful freedom in watching a movie made with equal parts unbridled passion and outright blunder.

Filmmaker Ed Wood famously spent his whole career feverishly making movie after movie after movie, convinced he was destined to be a great filmmaker. His first film, “Glen or Glenda,” is an extremely personal tale about cross-dressing from a filmmaker who was one himself. It is a terrible movie, and the first in a long line of terrible movies; each made with equal love and passion as the one before it.

His 1959 sci-fi horror “Plan 9 From Outer Space” is now one of the biggest cult films of all time. Ed Wood’s passion

darien’s “bad movie” recommendations The Room (2003) Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) Troll 2 (1990) Reefer Madness (1936) Teenagers From Outer Space (1959) Glen or Glenda? (1953) Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966) Super Mario Bros. (1993) wou.edu/westernjournal

gave life to a filmography full of lifeless duds.

Is it fair of me to say that films like “Suicide Squad” are made with pandering and not passion? No, of course not. That’s not my place. But I think it’s a worthwhile discussion to have. A film like “Assassin’s Creed” succeeds in most aspects technically, it is a competently-made film; but had an overwhelmingly lukewarm reception.

“The Room” fumbles nearly everything it tries to do as a film, but is now the subject of a hugely successful book and now film adaptation.

As an artist, there are worse things than making bad art. Bad art can still be successful, it can still speak volumes to an audience. What’s most important is that you are honest in your art. Create with passion, create for yourself, and create without shame.

For insight into the type of people who make these terrible movies, I recommend Michael Stephenson’s documentary “Best Worst Movie.” A film about the cast of “Troll 2” as one by one they learn that their film flop from 20 years earlier has become a cult hit. Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood” and now James Franco’s “The Disaster Artist” explore these B-movie heroes as well.

“The Room” will be forever remembered as a bad movie, but there’s nothing wrong with failure. For me, I’d rather fail spectacularly than make something that’s just “alright.” Look through last year’s 5-star rated films sometime, you’ll be amazed how many you’ve already forgotten ever existed.

Sometimes a one-star rating can be just as good as a 10.

Contact the author at dcampo13@wou.

12

TAIL-END

The Western Journal Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Women’s basketball

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

Poverty simulation

Continued from page 3

hauled in six rebounds. Azorr was also able to find success, primarily on the glass were she grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

The past week of games brings the team’s record to 8-8 with another slate of home contests on the schedule for this week. On Thursday, Jan. 25, the team will be hosting Northwest Nazarene. Then, the Wolves will be looking to defeat Central Washington on Saturday, Jan 27. Both games will be at 7:00 p.m.

Contact the author at mswaim16@wou.edu

Men’s basketball

Continued from page 3

against Central Washington earlier in the week, senior JJ Chirnside scored another 18 off the bench against the Nighthawks to help capture the 82-64 win.

With these two solid wins, the Wolves may start to climb even higher in the national rankings when they are released on Tuesday, Jan. 23. The team will look to extend their streak to 12 this week against two Alaskan conference foes on the road when they take on the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks on Jan. 25. Their road trip finally concludes on Saturday, Jan. 27 against the University of AlaskaAnchorage Seawolves.

Continued from page 5

challenges that make it very hard for them to move out of poverty. And that’s one of the things that the simulation illustrated.”

Cancel-Tirado explained that many people think of poverty in the context of developing countries and hungry children, but this simulation represented a more widespread type of poverty.

“It’s poverty where people struggle, maybe do a little bit better, then struggle again. It’s kind of a roller coaster all the time. And that has in impact on people’s health … your socioeconomic status has an impact on your health overall. Those that haven’t experienced poverty can at least get an idea of the stress level that these families have.”

When introducing the simulation, Cancel-Tirado expressed the importance of this topic during MLK week. “When we think about Martin Luther King Jr., we think about racial

injustice. But with racial injustice, we need to talk about economic justice as well. The purpose of this simulation is not just for you to participate in this experience, but it’s to raise our level of involvement so we can move some of these agendas forward for economic justice for everyone.”

For more information on the poverty simulation and economic justice, contact professor Cancel-Tirado at canceltd@wou.edu Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu

Contact the author at mswaim16@wou.edu

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