Vol. 18, Issue 17 (March 7, 2018) by The Western Howl

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018 VOLUME 18 ISSUE 17

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SPORTS

The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

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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MANAGING EDITOR TBD

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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

Registration for intramural spring sports can be accessed at imleagues.com/wou/registration

THE WESTERN JOURNAL

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DESIGNERS DARIEN CAMPO ELISSA SORENSON

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COPY EDITOR TBD

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ADVERTISING MANAGER TBD journaladvertising@wou.edu

WEB MANAGER LAKE LARSEN

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DISTRIBUTION MANAGER RUBY ESTRADA SANCHEZ STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER RHYS FINCH finchr@wou.edu 503-838-9697

SUBMISSIONS

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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 Contact information will not be published unless requested.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. THE WESTERN JOURNAL does not guarantee the publication of all letters or columns. THE WESTERN JOURNAL reserves the right to edit for punctuation, grammar, and spelling, but never for content. 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. All opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do necessarily reflect those of THE WESTERN JOURNAL or Western Oregon University.

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shine western’s intramural sports

Intramural soccer and basketball athletes compete for championships By Simson Garcia | Sports Editor

The quick-paced and game-togame action in Western Oregon’s intramural soccer and basketball recreational leagues concluded in championship triumph on Feb. 28 and March 1. IM playoffs in women’s indoor basketball were played on Feb. 28, while the men’s basketball and indoor soccer culminated the very next day on March. 1. Tournament play in indoor soccer was scheduled throughout the day and an anticipated first round matchup between We Like It Messi and The Republic started things off. The two squared off a month earlier, on Feb. 1 as We Like it Messi oneupped The Republic in their fullthrottled first meeting, 5-4. In bad timing, We Like It Messi, named after professional soccer athlete Lionel Messi, forfeited for the second time because of an inadequate number of players with three. The Republic didn’t budge for their opponents misfortune and optioned to advance. Every indoor soccer team must have four players in play or they’re disqualified. “They were scared,” said We Like It Messi’s junior striker Hatim Alhamdin, commenting after The Republic’s decision. A fourth player arrived later, but The Republic had already made their decision. Nonetheless, the fact that The Republic advanced was due to its togetherness all season. “The strong point of our season was that we were real supportive of each other,” said senior goalie Keegan McMurry. But The Republic’s team play wasn’t enough to outdo No. 1 in the division Unreal Madrid — a name in reference to the professional soccer club Real

Madrid — who awaited them in the final. Unreal Madrid had not been conquered once, and waited in the final after earning a bye round in the semi-final. Madrid scored the most points on the season and showed for it, and won in penalty shots, 5-4. Intramural basketball championships in the women’s and men’s competitive leagues were also finalized on Feb. 28 and March. 1. On Feb. 28, Cool Name won the title in the women’s competitive field after defeating The Bouncemasters, in a revenge match, 42-21. The two met twice before and split the meetings, 4533 and then 48-37. Both also had significant point differentials against their foes as Cool Name owned a 72 point difference while the bouncemasters totaled 49. But the 5-2 bouncemasters couldn’t bounce 6-1 Cool Name in the final grudge match. In men’s competitive, two teams came into the finals with 5-0 records. Both Strong to the Hole and FreeBallers, had significant margins over their competition. But there’s a reason Strong to the Hole inched ahead of the Freeballers in the final, 7170, and that’s from the scoring output versus their opponents. Strong to the Hole outscored their counterparts all season by nearly 25 points per game, and won only one game by a single digit outcome. That more than doubled the Freeballers’s 11 ppg margin. IM title games in co-rec soccer and basketball, as well as men’s regular recreational basketball, finish up on March 7. Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu

SPORTS

The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Wolves to host West Regional Team heads into Division ll Men’s Basketball Championship as first seed By Morgan Swaim | Staff Writer

The Wolves have been inpenetrable at home with a 15-0 record

Nationally ranked number three, the Wolves travelled to Alaska this past weekend, from March 2-3, to take care of business. After a strong regular season performance, it wasn’t a surprise to see Western win the Men’s GNAC Basketball Championships. After the team collected two wins in the two nights, to secure a conference championship, the Wolves have put away 22 straight opponents. Last Friday, March 2, the team was able to defeat Seattle Pacific in the second round of the GNAC Championships, 93-70. Seniors Tanner Omlid and Vince Boumann were highly efficient, combining for 40 points;

Omlid lead the way with 23, Boumann — who collected tournament MVP honors, scored 17 points. During the game on Saturday, March 3, against national tournament bound St. Martin’s, the team was able to secure their second GNAC Championship win in three years. In a defensive battle, the Wolves pulled away with a 65-55 win. After the wins, the team was informed that they would be hosting the West Region Championship for the second time in three years. Heading into the regional tournament, the Wolves earned the ability to play at home after receiving Western athletes will race in 7 Indoor Championship events

Outdoor track and field earns six titles at first meet

Season starts up for outdoor play in Western track and field in the Willamette Opener By Simson Garcia | Sports Editor The outdoors were traversed by several Wolf athletes on March 3 in the Willamette Opener at Willamette University. The first of many outdoor track and field meets to come in the spring season, Western jumped ahead in the action by finishing first six times. Runners got out quick in the women’s 400-meter, but it was sophomore Grayson Burke who got to the line first with a time of 59.25. The day also provided another first, as first-year Booy Rogers ran in her first collegiate meet for Western in

Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM

the women’s 1500-meter, and earned herself a personal record of 5:14.93. Another athlete who has joined the team this year is first-year Darian Wilson, who measured at 16-5 (5.00m) in the long jump, finishing second. Multiple athletes finished just shy of first place, as sophomores Moana Continued on back

Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM

a number one seed. The team’s record currently stands at 29-1 as the postseason begins. They will be looking to continue the winning streak through a possible three game stretch this following week. The first tournament game is March 9, at 7:30 p.m. against eighth seeded Point Loma. If the team continues to progress throughout the weekend, they will play for an Elite 8 bid on March 12, Monday, at 7:00 p.m in the final regional game. All these games would be played at home. In other team-related news, Omlid was announced as the GNAC Player of

the Year after an impressive season; he averaged 13.6 points per game, finished first in steals and had the second most blocks in the conference. Those who’d like to attend can purchase either a three-day tournament pass or a single ticket. Tournament passes are $30, while a single game ticket is $5 for students and $10 for seniors. All games will also be streamed live on gnac.tv.

Can’t win them all, Wolves fall

fourth quarter, fatigue fell upon the Wolves and their fire fizzled out toward the end, as the Wildcats defense stifled Western’s play. “I think the team chemistry was down this game, but this season’s different,” said junior defenseman Bryce Hinkle. “I’m excited to get back to practice and hopefully we’ll fine tune it, and get back to winning.” Western will look to harness that momentum they had in the team’s first three wins — one of which was the dismantling of San Jose State. They’ll head up to face the Western Washington Vikings on Saturday, March. 10 at 6 p.m. in a divisional match up. After which, they’ll play their second game of the weekend against Seattle University on March. 11 at 1 p.m. The Wolves’s 3-1 record also holds as the best in the south division of the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse league. Its 83 goals is the highest output of any team in their conference, as well.

Lacrosse club loses first game of season in intense game against Central Washington, moving their record to 3-1 By Simson Garcia | Sports Editor Perfection almost became a 4-0 record on March 3, but Western’s lacrosse club’s work toward that goal ended in a loss to the Central Washington Wildcats, 15-11. The Wolves ran the table early, moving the score to 3-1, thanks to sophomore face off specialist Taylor Klus’s three solos. Klus closed the second quarter out making the score 6-4, and scored five of the teams six goals in the frame, but the course changed late in the second half. Down 11-9 with 11:44 left in the

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Contact the author at mswaim16@ wou.edu

Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu

LIFESTYLE 4 ALTERNATIVES TO SINGLE USE PLASTIC The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Ideas for ways to positively impact the environment through simple product switches

Ever since I can remember, the environment has always been something that I worried about. It wasn’t until I came across a fact that slapped me in the face with raw truth that I really recognized the reality: every piece of plastic ever created is still on this earth today — every single one. Of course, this was something that I could have connected, but I had never even considered it until I read that fact. Adding on to this grim realization, I found that in Oregon, major recycling centers do not recycle most common forms of plastic, such as plastic coffee lids, plastic grocery bags and more. This is mind-boggling, because not only will it stay on this earth, it won’t be used again in another form. With all of this in mind, I took it upon myself to switch to plastic alternatives for daily items. For your convenience, here are some of the alternatives that I’ve found beneficial. The first item I chose to switch to was QOGiR Reusable Sandwich bags. They have super cute designs, and they are non-toxic and stain-resistant. On top of this, they are washable and

Photo courtesy of ECOMANIACCOMPANY.COM

By Emily Wanous | Freelancer

Bee’s Wrap Reusable Food Wraps make transporting your meals easy and eco-friendly

inexpensive. Second, I switched to Bee’s Wrap Reusable Food Wraps. These are washable, and can easily morph around both food and containers, to assure that your food is being saved well. Admittedly, they are a bit more work than traditional plastic wrap, but you get the benefit of knowing that aren’t using single-use plastic. Third, I now use Wowe Organic Natural Bamboo toothbrushes. Toothbrushes may not even be something you consider when trying to reduce plastic usage. This specific

brand is charcoal infused, and has BPA-free bristles. As a bonus, there’s no plastic packaging. Fourth, I recommend using Earth Junky Mesh Produce Bags. Many of us do choose to use reusable grocery bags, which is a great start. However, imagine the number of times you buy fruits and veggies and use the plastic produce bags — this will allow you to cut those out entirely. Fifth, I love using Mason jars. I use them for all my drinks throughout the day. Whether it be coffee, tea, water or anything else — these jars work great. If

jewelry, shoes, antiques and more are sold within this small shop. While the options of items obviously vary, the surprising part is that the prices do as well. “Our stuff is mostly new,” commented employee Teresa Hutchinson. “But we also have hand picked consignment from people that the owner chooses.” The store is layed out in a fashion where the newer items are more towards the front, and at the back of the store, you find the lower priced, used items. The used items vary anywhere between clothing, shoes, decor and

even jewelry. From the back of the store, I’ve found many of my favorite items. I found a high quality mini dress that has quickly become my favorite, and it cost me only $14. This is less than you’d pay at most other stores, and the quality is better. On top of that, I’ve also found my favorite cropped hoodie and a cute jean shirt — all of which were $25 or less. So, once again, about the same price or less than you’d pay at other stores. While this store does offer some cheap prices, there are also some

you buy coffee at Western coffee shops, among other places, they will gladly fill your cup instead of a one time use cup. And on campus, doing so will give you a 25 cent discount. My sixth recommended product Unni 100% Compostable Trash Bags. I should note that these may be a bit less durable than traditional plastic bags, but they still work great and get the job done. Seventh, I use resealable plastic bags. These may not be a special product, but what makes them helpful is that I do reuse them. It’s inevitable that you will buy plastic containers or bags at the store. When this happens, reuse the container as much as possible before throwing it in the trash. The eighth and final product I’ve switched to is Nellie’s All-Natural Laundry Soda. It cleans everything thoroughly, and the packaging is tin rather than plastic. The best part: it’s inexpensive. As Monmouth is a small town without a lot of shopping diversity, all of these products can be bought online. To find all of the plastic alternatives listed, head to Amazon. There, you’ll find everything listed and it may even spark a new idea of other ways you can rid yourself of plastic. Contact the author at ewanous15@wou. edu

By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor If you’ve ever taken a stroll down Main Street, you’ve likely noticed an elegantly decorated shop: The Find. Perhaps you’ve looked at the appearance and assumed it was expensive, or even looked at one price tag and turned the other way. The truth is, though, there are a lot of great items I’ve bought from there that have not hurt my wallet. This store sells a lot more than it may seem at first glance; decor, clothing,

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pieces that can get pretty spendy. For instance, I was looking at a jacket that I was interested in, and the price tag read “$128” — however, that is the highest price I’ve seen yet. Overall, the biggest takeaway is that the boutique really does offer more college-friendly prices than I originally realized. All it takes is a little bit of digging and a good eye. They call it The Find for a reason, so go take a look around and see what you can discover. Contact the author at chealy16@mail. wou.edu

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

Boutique on Main Street offers numerous options

LIFESTYLE

The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

UPGRADE YOUR GIRL SCOUT COOKIES

Turn a sleeve of cookies into a heavenly dessert

By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor ‘Tis the season for a $5 box of the fanfavorite cookies. That’s right, Girl Scout season is in full swing, and with it is box on top of box of their mouthwatering baked-goods. And, yes, I must admit that I did buy a whopping $50 worth. While they’re perfect to snack on as they are, and likewise perfect for eating an entire sleeve- or box- of, they also can be altered to make some delectable desserts. So, go support your local Girl Scout troop, purchase some cookies and get started on these recipes.

Take one sleeve of Trefoil cookies and crush until it’s very fine. Mix with 6 tablespoons of melted butter until well combined. Press these into the bottom of cupcake tins, and bake at 350 until golden brown, about five to six minutes. In a medium mixing bowl, combine 16 ounces of softened cream cheese, ½ cup of sour cream, ¼ cup of sugar, 2 eggs

and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Then, take a sleeve of Samoas and crush it up well. Take half, and combine it with the cheesecake mixture. Fill the cupcake tins almost to the top with the mixture. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the cakes are set. Then, let cool for about 20 minutes in the refrigerator, and top with the remaining crushed Samoas.

Contact the author at chealy16@mail. wou.edu

Crush one sleeve of Thin Mints until fine. There can be some bigger pieces, but it should mostly be crumby. Set aside 1 tablespoon of the cookies for later, then combine the rest with 8 ounces of softened cream cheese — which is equivalent to one package. You can let it soften by having it sit out until it gets close to room temperature. Mix until well combined, then form small balls of the mixture. Let cool in the freezer until they’re slightly hardened. Melt 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, then submerge the truffles into the chocolate. Top by sprinkling the set-aside crushed cookie, and let cool completely in the freezer.

Photo by CAITY HEALY

The Tagalong Milkshake makes for a quick-to-prepare dessert

STAYING MOTIVATED THROUGH APPS Different apps to download if you’re having trouble getting to the gym By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor If you’re having trouble getting motivated for the gym, then congrats; you share that with the rest of us out here trying to find the strength to get ourselves that daily 30 minutes of exercise. For many, it can be a difficult thing to do; if you’re unable to hold yourself accountable to go, you’re in luck. There are many apps that you can

download which will not only keep you motivated, but will also help you do better and succeed in the gym. So, download a couple of these, and get yourself back in there. Contact the author at chealy16@mail. wou.edu

MY PLATE: Supplying a calorie counter, this app helps you track nutrition, while also showing you how many calories you’re burning through exercise. It will keep you pushing by showing you just how much more you need to do to get where you want to be. NIKE TRAINING CLUB: This app comes equipped with different bodyweight workouts to get you moving quickly. Adhering to all different fitness levels and with specific muscle groups to hit, it’s sure to keep you active and ready for any day.

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Crush roughly ½ cup of Do-si-dos and combine with 4 tablespoons of melted butter. Once well combined, form a crust on the inside of a small ramekin — or any dish that would work for a creme brulee. Bake for about four minutes at 350 degrees. While that’s cooking, heat 1/2 cup of heavy cream with 2 tablespoons of sugar until it starts bubbling, then remove from heat. In a separate bowl, whisk one egg yolk with ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. Slowly add the cream mixture until it’s well-combined. Pour into your ramekin. Place the ramekin in a baking dish and surround the ramekin with enough water to reach about halfway up the side. Bake at 300 degrees for 40 minutes, then let cool. Cover the ramekin with plastic wrap and cool in the fridge for three to four hours. When ready to serve, sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of very fine sugar over the top, and broil just until it gets golden brown and caramelized. Make sure the rack is very close to the top of the oven, as you’re trying to mimic a torch with the broiler. In a blender, combine about two cups of chocolate ice cream. You can also opt for vanilla and add chocolate syrup, if you’d rather do that. Add one cup of milk. Toss in about ⅓ cup of peanut butter. And finally, crush up about ¼ cup of Tagalongs and add that in. Blend and add more ice cream or milk until you reached your desired consistency. Top it off with whip cream and more crushed Tagalong. FITRADIO: Depending on how you’re working out, this app will create playlists that work best for you — whether it’s lifting, running, cycling or anything in between. The music you choose to listen to will have an impact on how your workout turns out, so make sure you’re listening to what works best for you. GAIN FITNESS: For this app, all you have to do is enter your fitness goals and it will create a workout plan for you based on the 1300 different workouts they have. It has something for everybody and really lets you track your progress, which will help keep you motivated and moving.

NEWS

The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

WESTERN STUDENTS TO AID

IN NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF By Sam Dunaway | News Editor For students that wish to make a meaningful impact by serving others, travel nationally or internationally and experience life outside of their comfort zone: Western’s Alternative Break program may be a great place to start. The Alternative Break program, organized by the Service Learning and Career Development center, allows students to spend winter, spring and summer breaks serving others. This community service may be achieved regionally, nationally or internationally and aids in a wide variety of issues including working with children in impoverished areas, community beautification projects and animal conservation. Two Alternative Break teams are preparing to aid in natural disaster relief efforts during spring break. A group of six students and two advisors are traveling to Houston, Texas to assist in community recovery from Hurricane Harvey. The other team, composed of ten students and two staff advisors, is traveling to the Columbia Gorge to help with relief from the forest fires that affected the area in fall

of 2017. “I want to help serve the Columbia Gorge community because the fires in that area were very devastating,” commented Tiffany Lewis, Alternative Break co-leader for the Oregon team. “Many people love the Columbia Gorge and I want to help restore that area in any way I can.” All Western students are welcome to apply to be an Alternative Break team member. Students must be enrolled at Western in all terms between application and departure, and be in good academic and judicial standing. Daisy Chavez, leading alongside Lewis, chose to get involved in this program to grow as a leader and challenge herself. Chavez has previously served on Alternative Breaks in Jamaica, Honduras and Peru. “Being on these trips have taught me so much: new cultures, new experiences, and how to love service even more,” explained Chavez. “Service and exploring new places is something I really love, so participating in service trips really fulfills my passion for service and traveling.” Chavez encourages students to get involved in the program and apply: “I highly recommend it to anyone who is

CITY OF MONMOUTH

Photo courtesy of ALTERNATIVE BREAK PROGRAM STAFF

Two Alternative Break teams prepare to serve this spring break

The 2018 Oregon Alternative Break team will help restore areas affected by forest fires

looking to do service as well as merge into a new community. Service teams have made my college experience so much better because they have helped me grow not only as a person but as a leader as well. I have also met so many great people and have created memories that will last a lifetime.”

Visit wou.edu/slcd/ab for more information on the Alternative Break program and how to apply for future service opportunities. Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu

TO CLAMP DOWN Prompted by local businesses, city officials plan on taking ‘vigilant’ effort in enforcing parking laws By Byron Kimball | Staff Writer Students attempting to avoid buying a parking permit may be in for a surprise. Recent changes to how parking will be enforced in downtown Monmouth are set to impact students parking at numerous local businesses around the city. Among these changes: two-hour parking spots will be more strictly

monitored by Monmouth police, bringing an end to students camping out in front of Yeasty Beasty in order to avoid paying for an on-campus parking pass. “We always want to encourage faculty staff and student to park on our campus when doing business here. We have tried hard to keep our permit prices down as much as possible and still provide ample parking and maintain our lots,” said Darin E. Silbernagel, Director of Business Services for Western. The change, according to Russ Cooper, Public Works Director for the City of Monmouth, was driven by local business owners.

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

ON UNLAWFUL PARKING

Johnny Harvey, student Public Safety officer, helps enforce parking policies on campus

“(Businesses) were asking for us to be more vigilant about enforcing parking,” said Cooper.

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What can students do to avoid being cited? Buying a parking permit, namely. Continued on the back

NEWS

By Sam Dunaway | News Editor “Find something that scares you just a little tiny bit, do that thing, and then repeat steps one and two. And pretty soon you’ll find yourself doing extraordinary things.” This advice was just a small portion of the empowering and genuine speech given by LGBTQ+ rights activist and founder of United Equality Consulting, Shannon Scott.

After years of lying to the world around me about who I was, I was able to finally set down that burden of lies and replace it with the ease of honesty Scott visited Western to discuss topics including her own personal life story, actions individuals can take to create a more trans-affirming space

and her struggles and triumphs in life as a transgender woman. Born and raised on a ranch in Montana, Scott struggled throughout her teenage years and near 12 years in the United States military with her gender identity. She noted that once she decided to take the first step in being honest with herself about her identity, she was moving in a direction of authenticity. “For each terrifying step I took, I felt a little bit more complete,” Scott explained. “After years of lying to the world around me about who I was, I was able to finally set down that burden of lies and replace it with the ease of honesty.” Scott began her work in human rights advocacy after moving to Portland in 2011. She started volunteering with the Human Rights Campaign, the “largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization” according to hrc.org. Now as a member of the Board of Governors, Scott is responsible for planning Human Rights Campaign activities in Portland. Additionally, Scott founded United Equity Consulting, an organization that provides LGTBQ+ education and training for companies and their employees. Three pieces of advice were given by Scott to support the LGBTQ+ community in schools and workplaces: first, she advised everyone to add their pronouns to the signature line of their email, as this demonstrates personal and organizational support of diversity and inclusion; second, Scott noted the importance of having a safe location where everybody can

Photo and cover photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

Shannon Scott inspires students to make positive changes in the world

The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

With United Equity Consulting, Scott works with employers to provide support for transgender employees and strives to bring LGBTQ+ equality into the workplace

go to the bathroom, emphasizing inclusion for all, not only transgenderidentifying individuals; and, third, she advised that students and employees find out if there’s a written transgender inclusion policy at their school, work, or other organizations that the student is involved in. Sam Fennell, Stonewall Center coordinator on Western’s campus, described the importance of having Scott tell her story for students. “Shannon Scott was a crucial person to bring to campus because of the representation she brought,” Fennell explained. “Her story is one of hundreds of stories of transgender people who have faced discrimination because of their identities … For a lot

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of people struggling with their identity and how to overcome similar obstacles, seeing someone who has accomplished so much gives them the drive and support to continue being their true authentic selves.” Scott closed the speech with a request from the audience of students: “I want you to see yourself and everybody in here as exactly what you are,” she encouraged. “You are the leaders of equality. You are the agents of change. And together, you will lead this organization into the future.” Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu

ENTERTAINMENT

The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Powers wows with performance

Kathryn Powers presents her junior recital on the Smith Hall stage By Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

catchy night of primarily well-known songs and plenty of soul. Before the start the fourth song, “Lost” by Anouk, Powers took a moment to bring out Johnson, who served as the piece’s sole instrumentalist, joining her on stage and momentarily dismissing the other stage members. Prior to the start of the song, Powers took time to reminisce about her first experience

with “Lost,” noting that, “(she) thought it was the most beautiful song in the world.” When deciding what songs to include, she was conscious of the the way each piece of the setlist interacted with one another. “I wanted them to be able to fit well together and be almost like a collection of songs,” Powers said. “I wanted

Cooper Johnson and Kathryn Powers performing “Lost” by Anouk

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

Smith Hall opened to a nearly full house on March 2 as senior Kathryn Powers took center-stage. Powers was there for her junior music recital, and spent the next hour filling the music hall with a selection of soulful songs. For Powers, who’s working toward achieving a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, a junior recital is integral to her degree; she’ll be performing her senior recital, a capstone performance that will primarily consist of original songs, in fall 2018. During her performance, Powers was joined on stage by numerous peers, including drummer Cole Johnston, bassist Jacob Marsh, guitarist Connor Johnson and pianist Ethan Keleher, as well as backup vocalists Brandon Franko, Julia Miller, Amanda Mahaney and Hannah Williams. The night kicked off with a performance of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie,” which set the tone for a

Folk artist Cooper Anstett performing during Valsetz Live

Music while you dine Valsetz Live welcomes Cooper Anstett to the dining hall stage By Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

Valsetz was bursting with the sound of acoustic guitar on March 2, when Cooper Anstett came to campus as part Valsetz Live, hosted by the Student Activities Board and Weekend Programs. Anstett, a Michigan-based folk singer, found himself performing on the stage of the dining hall by way of the National Association for Campus Activities. “We usually hire all of our performers from NACA,” said Matthew Ciraulo, Director of the Student Activities Board. “So, that’s just a whole weekend where people are performing and getting people riled up.” Anstett’s performance was part of a push by the board to bring more musical events to campus. “My executive board really wants this campus to be a musical campus — for people to really want to listen to music,” said Ciraulo. “We came up with the idea of Valetz Live.” For Valetz Live specifically, they wanted to bring an artist who was both talented and dynamic — since the bustle of Valsetz can yield a hesitant

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them to be some of my favorite songs — songs that I already knew pretty well so that they would be easier to memorize, and I wanted the audience to be able to connect with them.” Powers began attending Western in fall 2015 as an elementary education major, however, regular walks through the music building ultimately changed her mind. “I figured out that my heart wanted to be in the music department so I changed my major back to music,” Powers said — before attending Western, she studied music at Umpqua Community College. “I’ve definitely learned a lot since changing my major when it comes to songwriting, performing, and transcribing music,” said Powers. “I can also say that meeting my friends in the music department has probably been just as impactful to me as a musician as taking classes with my professors. All of them are such amazing musicians and they help me to become a better one as well.” Powers’s performance was one of the first in the end of term rush of student recitals. The shows continue on March 7 at 7:30 p.m. for the chamber ensemble performance, as well as another student recital on March 8 at 11:00 a.m. Contact the author at journaleditor@ wou.edu

audience. The show boasted a moderate, but lively audience, who joined along with Anstett’s singing. The performance was centered around narrative nearly as much as it was music. Throughout the set, he interacted with the audience as well as provided commentary on each piece he was performing. Anstett’s most famous song, “Move,” first appeared in a 2016 Chevy commercial. The song, though used to promote vehicles, was originally inspired by him having to take care of an intoxicated friend. “The funny thing about this song is that it was in a Chevy commercial, which was really cool for me. But they had no idea it was about taking care of your turnt buddy,” noted Anstett before the performance. Anstett’s latest album, “Cooper,” came out in 2016 and can be found on most digital music platforms. Contact the author at journaleditor@ wou.edu

ENTERTAINMENT

The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

additions to your next

game night Our top board game picks to play with family and friends By Sam Dunaway | News Editor By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Game nights are often a cheap and exciting way to spend an evening with good friends. But, if you’re anything like me, you might be looking for new activities to add to your repertoire besides “Cards Against Humanity.” Read on for my personal favorite games and enjoy them at your next game night. Contact the authors at journalnews@wou.edu and chealy16@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of CODENAMESGAME.COM

Codenames This four to eight player game is one of my absolute favorites. A grid of codenames, or random words, are placed in front of the players. The group splits into two teams and elects a spymaster for each team. The spymasters are the only ones who know the secret identities of the cards and must try and get their team to guess the correct codenames to win. This game is a ton of fun and the random placement of the cards means that combinations are endless. And even better, “Codenames: Deep Undercover” is the mature version of the game and usually costs less than $20 at most department stores.

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The Oregon Trail Card Game For this game, we’re traveling back to 1848. It’s time to see if you and your party can hitch up your wagons and make it all the way to Oregon. This card game is based on the original computer disk game and will leave you feeling nostalgic with every “Broken Axle” or “You Have Died of Dysentery” card you draw. Pulling cards from the deck that will oftentimes frustrate you, this game can be a lot more difficult than one would assume.

Photo courtesy of JACKBOXGAMES.COM

Photo courtesy of DAYSOFWONDER.COM

Ticket to Ride This game requires at least an hour or two of invested time, energy and strategy. Players take turns attempting to claim railway routes that connect cities on a map of the United States, and the longer the route, the more points you can earn. But unfriendly players may choose to sabotage your routes in process. I’m the type of person that gets discouraged with intense rules and confusing plotlines but, fortunately, Ticket to Ride is fairly easy to learn and jump right into. This game is a little more expensive, usually $25 to $35 depending on which edition you buy, but it also provides hours of entertainment that makes it worth the price.

Photo courtesy of DAYSOFWONDER.COM

Jackbox Games Jackbox Games are probably my favorite way to spend a Friday night. With four party packs to choose from, Jackbox Games are easily downloaded from a Playstation, Xbox or Steam and each player connects to their game through their phone. Trivia games like “You Don’t Know Jack” provide you and your friends with the opportunity to battle it out to see who knows the most useless information. “Quiplash” generates ridiculous prompts and allows you to come up with your own responses. “Drawful,” similar to Pictionary, challenges your drawing skills and awards points to the players that guess correctly. For less than $25 a pack, these party games are versatile, convenient and not your average board game. Heads Up Board games can be expensive, but this classic app provides hours of entertainment for only 99 cents at the App Store. With different decks such as Act it Out, Animals Gone Wild and Accents and Impressions, this charades-like game involves one player guessing what’s written on the hidden card by using hints from the rest of their team. This inexpensive and simple game can be played anywhere with family, friends, or coworkers.

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HUMOR

The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

ARIES | 3/21-4/19

TAURUS | 4/20-5/20

GEMINI | 5/21-6/20

Oooh, you chose to procrastinate by cleaning your entire house spotless and organizing things you hadn’t looked at in years. Really living life on the edge there, Aries.

Smile, Taurus. Netflix is releasing a new season for your current show obsession! Kick back, relax and try to let yourself enjoy it.

Listen here Gem, whether this will be your best day or worst, you’ll move on and it’ll be a learning experience either way. Otherwise, today’s the day you get your weekly horoscope!

CANCER | 6/21-7/22

LEO | 7/23-8/22

VIRGO | 8/23-9/22

The Ides of March fast approach, young Cancer. I would keep a close eye on your sixty closest friends for the next couple of weeks, just in case.

Remember that by reading this horoscope Facebook will now exclusively advertise Leo related merchandise for the next four days, so be a savvy cat and plot twist buy that s---.

Don’t mix liquors this week, Virgo. It’s poor form — you know that.

LIBRA | 9/23-10/22

SCORPIO | 10/23-11/21

SAGITTARIUS | 11/22-12/21

The powers that be know that you can survive finals week, Libra. Oh, wait — we think that prediction may be for someone else.

Hey, Scorpio? Wash your sheets and towels this week. The stars have made it known: y’nasty.

No, Sagittarius, iced coffee does not count toward your daily liquid intake. For the love of God, drink a glass of water.

CAPRICORN | 12/22-1/19

AQUARIUS | 1/20-2/18

PISCES | 2/19-3/20

Why start a new show on Netflix when you could just rewatch The Office again, Capricorn?

Jupiter is about to go into retrograde. For you, this means watching your bank account. I know it seems like a good deal, but ignore the email pursuit of the prince that’s trying to get your personal information.

Throw caution to the wind, Pisces. For spring break, start getting that impulse tattoo-sleeve you’ve been pondering for the last week. Tattoos only last forever.

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Compiled By The Western Journal Staff

EDITORIAL

The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

By Nathan Soltz

In response to Eric Frey’s editorial published Feb. 28: Thank you for your letter to the student body regarding the IFC process; however, I do have quite a few concerns. For the sake of length, I’m not going to address all of them as in-depth as I would like to, but I am going to make a very specific concern known for the sake of the student body. Your letter makes it sound as though the timeline for cutting ASWOU began with the IFC telling ASWOU that the budget was going to be cut $28,000 for OSA, and then ASWOU deciding that they would, instead, gut clubs and organizations with that cut. Simply put, this is factually inaccurate. The IFC mandates that all the IFC-funded organizations present what a 5 percent and 10 percent cut package would look like. In ASWOU’s 10 percent cut package, it was made very clear

that the only flexible budgets for a cut that significant would be the clubs and organizations that it funds. All along, the IFC knew that a 10 percent cut would be devastating to Western’s clubs and it, at its sole discretion, decided to make that cut.

I’ve seen all of the publiclyavailable responses submitted by students regarding the preliminary budget and I am aware of several more which have been sent directly to you by students who have expressed their concerns to me. The clubs which you are

of $23,103, is near twice the next largest net cut — $12,374 to Creative Arts, which the department itself asked for. As a percentage, the ASWOU cut is more than double the next largest cut. Not to mention that ASWOU aside, the average cut, to those organizations which

When the dust settles, where will the IFC stand: with students or against them? The way the IFC has been representing this process to the students of Western Oregon University has been misleading, deceitful and displays a gross aberration for the democratic processes that the IFC members are supposed to be upholding. Trying to pit the students of Western against ASWOU because the IFC has decided to slash funding to their clubs is irresponsible and egregious.

gutting know very well what your budget does and will not be fooled by the red herring explanation the IFC has given regarding the cuts. In an annual budget which represents an overall budget reduction of 0.3 percent, a net reduction of $12,644, your cut to ASWOU — and, by extension, the clubs and organizations of Western — is roughly 10 percent. The cut to ASWOU of $28,000, a net

were cut, was 1.8 percent. Perhaps more strikingly, half of all the budgets stayed completely unchanged, including over $1 million allocated to Athletics —$1,284,159 to be exact — the single largest line-item in the IFC’s budget. Note that Athletics also receives funding from both the general fund and the Foundation — the only department or organization on campus to do so. Martin Luther King, Jr. is

quoted as saying “budgets are moral documents.” Maybe you were totally oblivious to the grave impact your proposed ASWOU cut would have on the clubs and organizations on our campus and the students they represent — I dare not infer what the IFC’s thought process was if you were aware of this impact and proposed the cut anyway. Now that there is no way you can still claim ignorance to the consequences of this action, I have faith that the IFC will reconsider this gross neglect of duty to the students it alleges to represent. I have faith that the IFC will not cut the Associated Students of Western Oregon University and, by extension, every single student on this campus. This is a moment of truth. When the dust settles, where will the IFC stand: with students or against them? As it is now, the IFC is looking pretty alone. To publish a response, contact the editor at journaleditor@wou. edu

Why working a job that serves consumers can offer you priceless learning experiences

Earlier this school year, for the first time, I decided to get a job working in the food service industry. It was the first real customer service position I had ever gotten, and it has already taught me so much. In the few months I’ve worked this job, I have experienced a plethora of questionable interactions with people; I’ve had people come up to me at the front counter and pretend to “make it rain” with dollar bills, I’ve had a woman come up to me and scream in my face for something I didn’t

do, I’ve had endless sighs and comments such as “really?”, or “you’ve got to be kidding” thrown at me due to the fact that I didn’t have specific food ready — that we don’t even advertise as having ready. Not to mention, numerous inappropriate comments about my appearance, prank calls and eye gazes have been gestured towards me. I want, for just one second, any one of these people to step into my shoes — my incredibly uncomfortable, non-slip shoes, that is. Then they might

understand why none of this is okay. They’d understand what I go through on a daily basis; I work anywhere between six to 10 hours in a given shift, my breaks are short, I’m running all over the place trying to get things done quickly and, all the while, I have to make sure that I have a smile on my face and that customers are being served very quickly. When you have the added factor of difficult customers that are for some reason “always right,” it Continued on the back

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Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

TAIL-END

The Western Journal Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Outdoor track Continued from page 3 Gianotti and Mariah Gronbach went second and third, respectively, in the women’s shot put. The Wolves ran in packs in the cold sunshine, and were noteworthy in the short to middle distance races. Sophomore Devon Fortier and junior Codi Blodgett went one and two in the men’s 100 dash — both posting a time of 11:20 — and six teammates crossed the men’s 800 finish, in 1-5, and 7, with sophomore Curt Knott atop the list with a time of 1:55.80. Moving up to the men’s 1500-meter, senior Josh Dempsey reached the line

first in 3:50.81. The men’s shot put also saw a pack of several Wolves together, going 1-4 in the event, with junior Brandon Bowen who bested the field after throwing for a measurement of 48-4 3/4. Several Western Oregon track and field athletes will run in the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships from March 9-10, in Pittsburg, Kansas in an attempt to earn more top finishes and records. Western returns to the outdoors at the Lewis & Clark College Spring Break Opener on March. 17 in Portland. Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu

Parking enforcement parking permit.” Appropriate parking permits can be purchased online through WolfWeb and picked up at the Business Services office on the first floor of the Administration building. Permits are available for annual and per-term rates, with prices ranging from $47 for a per-term permit and up to $99 for a full-year hang tag permit. Contact the author at bkimball16@ wou.edu

Continued from page 11

can be exhausting. In no way am I trying to throw myself a pity-party — I chose to take on this position and this workload. That being said, I honestly think that if at some point in everyone’s life they worked a customer-service job, I wouldn’t have to deal with these kinds of problems. Working customer service is a great way to learn about several important aspects of life. You learn how to be more patient. Being on the other end of the counter teaches you how things work. There are times where I have 10 orders in front of someone, and they get upset if they have to wait 10 minutes. I’m sorry, did you want me to just magically make those tickets disappear? You have to wait your turn, and if you were in my position, you’d understand that. You also learn how kindness can go a long way. A nice comment or a “keep up the good work” can actually put a genuine smile on my face. And finally, you learn why you should be understanding and respectful of the people who are serving you. On the other hand, customer service can offer so many other great things. You learn about the lives of people that you otherwise wouldn’t have known. For instance, I’m beginning to learn the names of several regulars and about the many things that go on in their lives. Just asking “how has your day been?” has led to several conversations with random people, and often times it really brightens

their day to have someone to talk to. It can be an incredibly rewarding experience that you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. While I have had several experiences that make me question why people are the way they are, I’m beginning to notice a pattern. Most of my frustrating experiences have been with people of an older generation. The younger ones are typically more respectful and willing to wait and work with me rather than just immediately get upset and throw a fit. It almost feels as if the older generation has become so removed from what it means to work a customer service job that they have higher expectations than what can actually be met. However, the consideration coming from the younger customers seems like a positive sign to me; the future is bright and the younger generation has a more empathetic attitude that is understanding and respectful towards customer service employees. I hope that carries on over time. As for everyone else, you may want to consider picking up a customer service position at some point. Maybe then you can begin to understand why things happen the way they do, and why you shouldn’t be blatantly impolite toward the people who are serving you. But, hey, if you’re going to be disrespectful, at the very least, could you leave a tip? Contact the author at chealy16@ wou.edu Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

Continued from page 6 There’s no word on whether unmarked spots along Church Street and Stadium Drive are still safe, though students may still be able to park there without a problem. “Students need to comply with the rules, both here on campus and in the City of Monmouth, depending on where they are at the time,” advised Silbernagel. “When students, faculty and staff are frequenting downtown business, it is completely appropriate to park downtown. When students are here on campus, we would like them to obtain the appropriate

Customer service

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