Vol. 18, Issue 21 (April 18, 2018)

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018 VOLUME 18 ISSUE 21 WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 VOLUME 18 ISSUE 20

2

NEWS

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ZOË STRICKLAND

journaleditor@wou.edu

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Learn about the leaders running for ASWOU office

By Sam Dunaway | News Editor

NEWS EDITOR SAMANTHA DUNAWAY journalnews@wou.edu

LIFESTYLE EDITOR CAITY HEALY ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR KEVIN REED journalentertainment@wou.edu

Evelyn Guzman Running for President

Logan Doerfler Running for Judicial Administrator

“It has been the greatest experience being your student voice for the 2017-2018 year as Vice President … Your student voices matter and I truly believe that it is possible to have more of your voices represented in decision making settings but for that we need more involvement. I have attended Western since my freshman year and have continuously been involved with organizations/clubs and centers on campus, but also with initiatives within our community. I completely believe that (Western) has helped me grow as an individual and I intend on reflecting that back every step of the way. I intend on continuing to engage students into being more involved with (Western).”

“You may recognize my name after serving as your 2017-2018 Judicial Administrator.

After being granted the opportunity to serve the Western community I learned just how special ASWOU is, and how fulfilling it is to maintain the integrity of our systems, via Judicial Board hearings and participating in a number of ASWOU sponsored events.

Western is a uniquely diverse community devoted to fair treatment and representation of all student demographics. As a student veteran, I represent a small but impactful group of individuals who strive to leave things better than they found it. I did my best to do so within ASWOU this year and will continue this priority next year.”

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

journalmanaging@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of LOGAN DOERFLER

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

MANAGING EDITOR TBD

With spring term comes the campus-wide event that decides who will represent the student body in 2018-2019: the ASWOU elections. Voting for the elections will begin on April 23 and will continue for at least a week, or until 10 percent of the student body has voted. To cast your vote, visit ASWOU’s OrgSync and read on to learn more about the candidates.

Nathan Soltz Running for Senate President

SPORTS EDITOR SIMSON GARCIA

journalsports@wou.edu

PHOTO EDITOR PAUL F. DAVIS

journalphoto@wou.edu

DESIGNERS DARIEN CAMPO ELISSA SORENSON

journaldesigner@wou.edu

COPY EDITOR STEPHANIE BLAIR journalcopy@wou.edu

ADVERTISING MANAGER TBD journaladvertising@wou.edu

WEB MANAGER LAKE LARSEN

journalweb@wou.edu

finchr@wou.edu 503-838-9697

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.

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.

Rowan Hammer Running for a Senate Seat

“I am not running for ASWOU Senate with any specific agenda for making changes.

Instead, I want to serve as an advocate for students and foster open communication between the student body and the university administration. I want to promote diversity and inclusion by working to ensure that everyone’s opinions and viewpoints can be shared openly, regardless of your personal background or attributes. If there is any one issue that I would want to try to address it would be an ongoing effort to make school more affordable for students, especially by encouraging instructors to adopt low-cost and open-source textbooks.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Jamie Norr Running for a Senate Seat

Erik Morgan Jr. Running for Judicial Board Seat

“This would be my second year on ASWOU Senate. I am extremely committed to improving our school for all students, faculty and staff, and community members. I believe that our student government should be an open space where everyone can voice their opinions and have their ideas heard. I plan to encourage and implement that idea if elected to this position. As a future educator, I love being involved in improving education for all and being a Senator will allow me to work on what our students want and need.

I plan to increase opportunities for students to follow their passions in a healthy and positive way.

I hope to assist in creating a safe and accepting school by listening to fellow students, advocating for changes, speaking out against discrimination or notions that may harm students, and working towards a better community.”

“I want to continue to serve on the ASWOU Judicial Board because I believe in holding organizations accountable for the promises they make to the people they serve. In ASWOU’s mission statement, the organization pledges to ‘advocate for every WOU student’s rights to the WOU administration as well as the state of Oregon and the nation.’ In order to achieve that goal, ASWOU needs to be held responsible in two ways: by the students; and by the Judicial Board … By re-electing me to the ASWOU Judicial Board, students will be ensuring that there is an experienced Justice serving on the board that will act as a stabilizing figure and will allow a measure of consistency in decision making.”

wou.edu/westernjournal

Photo courtesy of ERIK MORGAN JR.

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER RHYS FINCH

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

Photo courtesy of ROWAN HAMMER

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER RUBY ESTRADA SANCHEZ

“I have been active in politics since I was 15 and have been working in the Oregon State Senate since I was 18. I hold elected positions in party politics at the county, district and statewide levels. In 2016, I was elected to be a delegate to the national convention, becoming Oregon’s youngest-ever delegate at the age of 19 … I want to make the ASWOU Senate a deliberative, efficient body which truly understands the responsibilities it is sworn to uphold. The Senate represents you, the students of Western Oregon University, and with every action it takes, it needs to keep that in mind. As your ASWOU Senate President, I promise transparency, honesty and responsiveness.”

NEWS

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

27,660 flags, 13 million lives Annual Holocaust display provides an opportunity for remembrance

By Sam Dunaway | News Editor

8,534 large yellow flags symbolize the deaths of over 4 million Jewish adults during the Holocaust

Bringing students together, one egg at a time

Easter Egg Hunt helps connect student veterans with the community

By Sam Dunaway News Editor

The WOU Student Veterans of America and Residence Hall Association took on the role of the Easter bunny during the second week

in April, for their second annual Easter Egg Hunt. Eggs scattered around campus invited determined students to take part in the search in order to win prizes and candy from the veterans center.

WOU Student Veterans of America president Shane Follett explained that the Easter Egg Hunt was an idea brought back from the Student Veterans of America National Conference in 2016. He was excited to implement something that would get student veterans involved on campus.

“For me, the primary purpose is to get that interaction between military and non-military affiliated students,” Follett expressed. The event also helped advertise the center itself as a place where both veterans and non-

3

One by one, volunteers drive colorful flags into the soggy grass on Monmouth Avenue. Rain is the only sound that can be heard as the students, staff and faculty silently reflect on the annual display — 27,660 flags that represent the deaths of over 13 million individuals during the Holocaust.

“I thought it was really cool that our community would actually do something like this,” said freshman psychology major Alicia Ojeda. Ojeda was one of the numerous volunteers that helped place the flags in the ground on the evening of April 11.

First-year psychology major Brooklyn Giles reflected on how she felt helping set up the display.

“Yesterday, when I was putting them down, it was just really impactful.

I couldn’t believe this happened,” described Giles. “Putting in a flag seems so simple, but to someone who was either a victim and still may be alive or a family member … it could mean more than just putting a flag in the ground for them.”

This annual display hosted by Student Engagement falls on Yom HaShoah, a Jewish day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust. Around the world, this day of remembrance began on the evening of April 11 and ended on the evening of April 12.

“Part of what makes this event so powerful is that it’s here and then it’s gone,” explained John Wilkins, Coordinator for Leadership and Inclusion for Student Engagement.

Wilkins is in charge of coordinating the flags, signage and volunteers for the display. He noted that the display reveals a powerful and important

piece of history that needs to be commemorated.

“I think we remember it so it doesn’t happen again,” said Wilkins.

Senior social science major Sara Madden is exploring the topic of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust in her honors thesis. Her interest in this topic started years ago when she visited a concentration camp in Germany. Even Madden, who has been studying this time period for years, found herself impacted by the display.

“There’s something about reading it in a textbook that doesn’t hit you the same way as actually seeing it,” Madden expressed. “It makes it so much more real and easier to relate to.”

Madden also noted that the display gives a holistic view of the victims of the Holocaust. Not only are the six million Jewish individuals that lost their lives represented, but various flags also represent people with disabilities, Spanish republicans, Polish Catholics, LGBTQ+ individuals, Roma and Sinti tribes, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Serbians and Soviet prisoners of war.

“For me, I’ve only really focused on the Jewish impact during the Holocaust,” explained Madden. “But I know there’s so many other types of people and demographics that were affected. I really like how the different flag colors emphasize that.”

A documentary called “Orchestra of Exiles” showing on May 3rd at 7 p.m. in the Willamette Room will continue the education and awareness of the Holocaust on Western’s campus.

veterans can hang out, do homework and connect with other students.

“It lets people know that the vet center is here, we do have one on campus,” said Follett. The 2017 Easter Egg Hunt helped to build connections between student veterans and the community, which is one reason why the club was named Chapter of the Year at the 2018 SVA National Conference.

Members of SVA and RHA woke up bright and early every day, sometimes in the middle of the night, to hide nearly 75 eggs along Monmouth Ave. There they waited until students came to campus in the morning and began to search.

Instructions inside the eggs informed students to stop by the Veterans center to claim their prize. This included

board games, candy, bluetooth speakers, Rokus, iHomes and the grand prize of a 50-inch 4k TV. Follett enjoyed seeing students walk into the veterans center with excitement and walk out with a prize.

“It is getting people in the door. They are coming in and interacting with veterans that they may have had a class with and not even known they were a veteran.” He also noted that there is a stigma that exists around veterans, and events like these help to break that down. Follett explained, “It’s definitely getting the larger student population more comfortable around veterans.”

wou.edu/westernjournal

Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu

Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu

4

LIFESTYLE

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018

DYNAMITE DESIGNS ADDS SHOPPING VARIETY New boutique provides more than just jewelry at low prices

In a small town, such as Monmouth, when it comes to going on shopping sprees, options are limited. However, the list is slowly growing, as new locations have begun popping up.

On April 8, a petite boutique named Dynamite Designs had its grand opening on the corner of Monmouth Avenue and Main Street.

Offering a plethora of different items and unique jewelry, the store sells almost everything at a range of $4 to $8. Under these prices lies several different items to browse through.

While they do primarily sell jewelry, they also have other products. Things such as vintage or knitted hats are sold, as well as a few items of clothing and a few colorful pillows. They have

handmade cards on sale as well.

Items that begin getting more expensive are the ones created by Jo Meza, the silversmith who designs her jewelry using real gemstones.

She’s the owner of the store, and this is her third location; the others are in Salem and Albany.

While they do offer a range of different products, they also provide different services and events. They are planning to occasionally host paint nights, which will typically occur on Friday nights. They will also host VIP parties that are special invitation only. At these parties, they’ll help prepare you for any event you have coming up.

“If you want to go out on the town,

you can come in here and we can help dress you up.” Meza commented on how they use their jewelry and other items to add to your look. They’ll also do your makeup for you, or help pick out your outfits. “You can bring in your own clothes, or you can purchase clothes here.”

On top of their regular items sold, they also sell jewelry which is marked with an animal tag, and the proceeds go towards a project called Global Possibilities. All of these products were brought in by a woman named Adelia, a veterinary student at Oregon State University who travels around the world to continue her project of helping locations that take in rescue animals and teaching them

proper care.

While jewelry can oftentimes get expensive, Beza noted that she recognizes that students oftentimes can’t afford these high prices.

“We’re just here to help people out,” she added. “We know college students don’t have a lot of funding. With just $15 you can come in and get a couple pieces of jewelry, or some low-cost gifts.”

As of now, their hours are not permanent. However, currently, you can stop in anytime Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to come take a look at what the location has to offer.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Make sure that your DegreeWorks is correct and all of your necessary requirements are in order as soon as possible. If something seems off, go to the registrar to get it all worked out.

Sign up for commencement on your WOU Portal April 20: Approved substitutions and exceptions towards your degree requirements must be fully completed and turned in by this date.

Week five: Reply to the email regarding any necessary name-changes on your diploma.

Mid-May: Make sure that all of your announcements are sent out and get any graduation party planning done well ahead of time.

Dates and to-do’s to remember before June

By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor As the year begins winding to a close and the excitement of the quicklyapproaching summer sets in, another emotion is felt by many of those who are on track to graduate this June: a mixture of stress, fear and, ultimately, relief. As if dealing with all of that isn’t enough, there’s also the need to remember several dates that are critical for graduating on time.

To help get you through this period of uneasiness, here’s a list of all the dates you should remember and prepare for.

Finish the year out with confidence, knowing you’re up to date on all of the items on your long to-do list. Good luck with rest of the spring term, and make sure to stay on top of all the deadlines and dates necessary before you get that final sigh of relief this June.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Order all of your graduation supplies, such as your cap, gown, frames and graduation announcements from Wolfstore. While they will carry these items up until commencement, they can’t guarantee they will have everything in stock that long. Order online at books.wou.edu by May 29 to avoid extra shipping charges and make sure it arrives in time.

Week ten: Submit your diploma mailing address.

June 16: Commencement Day. Students who have graduated in the previous summer, fall or winter terms are eligible to attend the spring commencement ceremony. Those who have applied to graduate in spring may participate in the ceremony. And finally, undergraduates who will be graduating in summer or fall may also participate in the ceremony.

wou.edu/westernjournal

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

LIFESTYLE

By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor When you test out a new mascara to see what it can do for your lashes, do you think about the animals it was tested on before it reached stores?

When you’re applying your eyeliner in the morning, do you think of how those ingredients were applied to an animal’s shaved skin, causing incredible irritation without any pain relief, before you were able to purchase

it? The sad reality is many cosmetic brands that you’ve been using for as long as you can remember are guilty of exposing animals to the harsh testing done to create those different products.

According to onegreenplanet.org, while animal testing is not required by the Federal Drug Administration, there are still 100 million animals that are subject to these painful tests every single year.

If you were unaware of this, or if you were aware but simply could not find a good option to replace the cosmetics you use now, I’ve compiled a list of cruelty-free options that will make it an easy transition away from brands that choose to test on animals.

You don’t have to say goodbye to the looks you know and love; instead, just recreate the new look with cosmetics that won’t cause anyone pain. Because when it comes down to it, beauty shouldn’t hurt — for people or for animals.

IF YOU USED:

TRY INSTEAD:

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation

Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation,

They’re Real Benefit Mascara

Milani Lash Trifecta Mascara,

5

priced $35 at Sephora

priced $7.99 at Target

Maybelline’s Line Stiletto Ultimate Precision Liquid Eyeliner

e.l.f. Cosmetics liquid eyeliner,

MAC Powder Blush

Too Faced Sweethearts Blush,

priced $2 at Target

Photo courtesy of PEXELS.COM

Alternatives to makeup brands that choose to test on animals

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018

priced $26 at Macy’s

Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow Slate

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Urban Decay Naked Basics, priced $19 at Ulta Beauty

GETTING CRAFTY WITH COSMETICS You’ve put together the perfect outfit from head to toe, you’re almost ready to head out the door, but at the last second you decide you need one last thing to tie your entire look together: the right lip shade. You could search through your mountain of half-used lipsticks and hope that one will be just the right hue to perfectly upgrade your style, but odds are, none are going to be exactly what you’re looking for. That’s when DIY lipsticks come in handy.

Simple to make and created specifically for you, these straightforward projects take only a few ingredients and only a couple minutes of actual time to get them created. Never again will you have to dig through endless tubes of lipstick to find the right shade – just make that shade yourself.

1 tube of lip balm 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon of olive oil 1 Crayola crayon of whatever color you’d like (or a different brand, just make sure it isn’t too waxy) Optional — an old eyeshadow you don’t use in a color you like

INSTRUCTIONS:

Empty the contents of the entire tube of lip balm into a microwave safe bowl. Peel the wrapping off of your crayon and add that in. Melt this in the microwave for about two minutes, or until the wax melts.

Check periodically, as melting wax in the microwave can be dangerous.

Add the vanilla and the olive oil to the lipstick and mix with a fork or toothpick, as it will dry and harden on a spoon too quickly.

Pour the contents back into your lip balm container.

Allow this to cool, which would take about an hour or so.

Note: As an alternative to the crayon approach, you can use eyeshadow for a more matte look. With this option, follow all of the previous steps, but without the crayon. Between step one and step two, add as much eyeshadow as you deem necessary until you reach the right shade.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Instructions from INSTRUCTABLES.COM

By Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

DIY lipstick lets you design your own shades

By using crayons to create DIY lipstick, the shade can easily be altered

wou.edu/westernjournal

6

ENTERTAINMENT

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018

WHERE: RA 113 PRICE: $3 DATE: APRIL 19 & 21 TIME: 7:30 p.m.

The One Act Festival is a celebration of student involvement in the theatre department by giving plenty of students the chance to direct and put together their own short single act plays.

There are eight different plays being performed at the festival this year and each is student acted, directed and produced.

The students involved get to practice their theatre skills in whatever role they are in to better prepare them for the real world of theatre and acting. With so many different one acts, viewers can really get a taste of almost anything.

“The one-act festival is fun because there are so many different shows going up that you are sure to see something you will like,” said Rory Krehbiel, director of “Canker Sores and Other Distractions.” “Each director picked a completely different kind of show making this a hodgepodge of comedy, tragedy, and melodrama.”

Many of the plays have been selected from writers and playwrights like Mary Miller, Christopher Durang, Rob Urbinati and Sam Shepard.

Because the overall time for them to rehearse and put the acts together was a short three weeks, directors and actors have both had to use every bit of time they have to make their act as perfect as they can. Many of the plays involve simple sets and costumes because of how the festival is formatted. Each director and actor is putting their heart and soul into these one acts to make sure they captivate the audience

throughout the entire act.

“Fourteen Hundred Thousand” is a short play being directed by junior Hunter Atkin that was written by playwright Sam Shepard.

Atkin shared his reasoning for choosing this playwright for his act: “Shepard is a great playwright because he has this really specific way of writing, because his characters act realistically but their actions and the things they say are out of the blue and strange. Often the dialogue doesn’t make sense because it’s less about the dialogue and more about the relationship between the characters.”

In “Fourteen Hundred Thousand,” a husband and wife move into a new home that’s 10 stories up, and instal a new bookcase that holds fourteen hundred-thousand books. Atkin is new to the directing world. Because of his recent exposure to it, he believes he has found his calling in directing. Atkin described this “This year is a really big year for directing for me, because I have never really directed. I’ve acted a lot more than I have directed …

The more I do it the more I actually really enjoy it and I think I’d like to pursue directing in the future.”

“Canker Sores and Other Distractions,” a play written by Christopher Durang, is being directed at the festival by Rory Krehbiel.

Krehbiel described the play: “‘Canker Sores and Other Distractions’

is ‘bout a couple who is trying to get back together after several years of being divorced. Their reunion, however, soon dissolves into fighting.”

The author Durang has been known for his comedic playwriting bordering the extreme. Krehbiel described her thought process of choosing this play to recreate; “I knew I wanted to direct a comedy from the moment I got accepted to work on this project. My concept has definitely been the idea of perfection and then disruption interrupting it. A visual for that might be a quiet lake and then someone starts throwing rocks into it.”

“Hazelwood Jr. High” is a thriller story about a group of middle school girls whose classmate has just b e e n brutally killed.

Originally written

by Rob Urbinati, this short is both dark and thrilling.

Mindy Mawhirter and her crew will be recreating this chilling play.

Another play being displayed at the festival is “Ferris Wheel” written by Mary Miller, and directed

by Carina Ramirez, a fifth year Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre major. This play takes you through the course of what happens when a woman, who’s scared of heights, and a man who just quit smoking are put together on an old creaky Ferris wheel.

“I’m really excited to finally see the play performed,” said Ramirez. “I’m also happy knowing that I was able to extend my experience in theatre by adding directing to my profile.”

Other acts being preformed include Roseanna Beth Whitlow’s “Thistle Blossoms,” a chilling drama between a college student and her strict professor, being directed by Alex Schlientz; “Studio Portrait,” a bittersweet

DATE: April 20 TIME: 7:30 p.m.

DATE: April 21 TIME: 2:00 p.m.

“Thistle Blossoms” “Studio Portrait” “Playwriting 101” “Ferris Wheel”

comedy by Arlene Hutton about photographer and his nervous subject, directed by Nicole Gebbie; “Playwriting 101,” being directed by Tera Lopez, originally by Rich Orloff about an instructor teaching his class the art of playwright; and “The Adventurer’s Club” by Damian Woodsbeing, a story of a group of young adults putting together an adventure plan, directed by Kevin Huang.

The festival runs April 1921. Viewers will be given a wide variety of plays to watch from thrillers, to comedy, to bizarre drama and tragedy.

Tickets will be $3 at the door. Each team is hoping to showcase the work they have been putting together for weeks for attendees and take them away to a whole new place for a short time.

The festival gives anyone who attends a little bit of everything from drama to comedy and gives theatre students a chance to branch out and try taking the role of director.

Contact the author at kreed17@mail.wou.edu

wou.edu/westernjournal

Director Hunter Atkin overseeing the rehearsal of “Fourteen Hundred Thousand”

By Kevin Reed Entertainment Editor

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

Theatre majors get a chance to test and practice their directing skills in a One Act theatre festival

“Fourteen Hundred Thousand” “The Adventurer’s Club” “Hazlewood Jr. High” “Canker Sores and Other Distractions”

ENTERTAINMENT

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018

By Caitlyn Nakatsukasa Freelancer

of drag elements, musical performances and unique styles. Often known for its groundbreaking, upbeat vibe and entertainment, it’s an event Continued on the back

Cover photo and photos by PAUL F. DAVIS

Sam Fennel as Plum

Pictured left to right: Casi James Healy, Grace Salud, Chase Tabladillo

Annual Drag Show brings enthusiasm and excitement to campus

One of the most popular events is back on campus, and its hype at the school is monumental.

Western’s 22nd Drag Show took place on April 11 and 12. The show is hosted by the Triangle Alliance and the show, script and choreography is completely run by students.

The inaugural event is a unique one that has a mix

7

wou.edu/westernjournal

Jennifer Romadka playing Princess Lolly

8

SPORTS

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Photo by SIMSON GARCIA

Rugby contends for pacific coast championship Women’s rugby season finishes at small college tournament

By Simson Garcia | Sports Editor Going into the Championship matchup, Western defeated its opponents in 2018 by a margin of 202-17

The rugby ruck continued for the women’s rugby season, but ended on April 14, as the team pushed on to another trench match with Cal-State Monterey Bay. Despite the 15-5 defeat, the Wolves gave a copious amount of effort to where a few breakaway runs could have declared them divisional champions and an advancement into the next round of the small college rugby organizational tournament.

“I am so proud of these girls,” said senior lock Madison Fagnani. “For some, it was only their second official rugby game, and they played their heart out. We communicated and trusted each other and played rugby.

Our fullback, Brooke Kaylor, made some game-saving tackles.”

Cavaliers outduel Wolves in baseball series, 2-1

The Wolves have had an eventful season in the lead up to the match.

Their record stood at 7-3 and, in a season that’s spanned since early fall, they became battle tested having faced off with competitors such as Willamette University and division I school Eastern Washington. They derailed Willamette three times on the season, including a route of 48-5 on March 10, and got the best of Eastern Washington, 27-7, a week after on March 17. Both Eastern and Willamette were the two lone teams to defeat Western.

The wins were also part of a larger five game win streak that included two other blow out wins of 78-5, and 49-0.

“Our main goal is to get girls to fall in love with rugby,” commented Fagnani.

“Rugby teaches you so much more than just how to play. It teaches you (both on and off the field) sportsmanship, respect, and camaraderie. Our goal was to build a family and we did it.”

Their next opponent, Cal-State, were ever the formidable opponent.

The game was an uphill climb for both teams to start as either team hardly got passed midfield. But a breakaway try put the Golden Eagles on the board first.

Both teams neared to the goal line several times in the second half.

Western created initial ground in the half off Fagnani’s returned kick for a big gain, but Cal-State’s defense in the scrums and rucks prevented them from reaching closer many times over.

Finally, with 15 minutes left, Western broke through Cal-State’s rucks for theirw only try in the game.

After the game, Fagnani applauded the teams performance; “Each one of us did something amazing on the field and the best part is that we are a rookie team (mainly beginner players). The fact that there are only minor issues to work on is amazing and that speaks loudly on our coaching staff Emily Applegate, Marissa Minato, and Sammi Williams. We will only get better from here.”

in to inch closer. Settling in meant sacrificial plays.

It started with a sacrifice fly that led senior infielder Jay Leverett in to score,

and the Wolves continued the hunt.

With the bases loaded in the eighth, Leverett returned again to single in a runner that cut the lead to one. The very next play, the bases still loaded, another sac fly by senior infielder Nyles Nygaard scored to tie it.

After the Cavs restructured the score at 5-4, the game looked to be in their hands. With a full count, one more out remained for the Wolves offense before a walk-off home run scored two for the come from behind win.

The duel continued on April 16, and so did the tightly contested gameplay.

Concordia loaded the bases to start game two, and a triple ensued to score three in the third inning. Western took its turn in scoring off of Leverett’s sacrifice fly to bat in senior outfielder Jacob Martinez. The previous play shortened Concordia’s lead to 3-2, but the Cavaliers continued where they left off in the fourth scoring two more.

Western tried the comeback strategy again. First-year outfielder Griffey Halle’s solo homer and RBI were just short of the 5-4 defeat.

In the final game, Western tried once again to recover, and found themselves once more in the eighth, after being down 4-1. Their comeback trail started off with junior catcher Justin Wakem’s left field double that scored Nygaard.

One out remained with three on, and it was senior outfielder Cody Dykstra’s single through the left side enabling Wakem and sophomore outfielder Torreahno Sweet to tie. But an RBI single to left field was all the Cavaliers needed for the win.

Western gets four at home against the St. Martin’s University Saints from April 21-22. They’ll hit the mound first at 1 p.m.

No more than 2 runs have decided 6 overall Cav matchups

Eighth innings were key in outcome of three game series, each game decided by one

By Simson Garcia Sports Editor

Monmouth’s rainout may have moved Baseball but the team kept things in order for their first game, 6-5, on April 13.

Faced with a 4-1 deficit heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Wolves were down and had to settle

Photo by WOUWOLVES.COM

wou.edu/westernjournal

Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu

Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu

SPORTS

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018 The NBA’s 2017-2018 season will be one to remember. James Harden and LeBron James have played up to MVP standards and, while both are heavily favored for the award, Damian Lillard’s breakout year should also be worth consideration. He’s had an MVP type year, no doubt, and here are a few unique reasons why.

Let’s break away from the obvious as Lillard’s helped the Portland Trail Blazers surpass expectations by sporting records better than San Antonio and Oklahoma City, teams with multiple stars. He’s upped his game in shooting, passing and even defense apparatuses this year. Without him, Portland certainly wouldn’t be where they are now. But MVP caliber seasons have something that sticks out from the rest.

Last year, 42 triple doubles, the most ever in a season, helped award Russell Westbrook the MVP. Lillard certainly has a few things up his sleeve this year, too, that puts him in MVP conversations among NBA pundits. Known in his career for clutch performances during crunch time, the numbers tell it this year and should help place him in consideration for the

Photo by OREGONLIVE.COM

MVP Corner: Lillard Time

MVP or not, Damian Lillard has risen to the occasion time and again

By Simson Garcia | Sports Editor

On a climb since Feb. Lillard has averaged 29.4 points per game

9

award.

Down to the wire is where it counts — it’s what fans remember. Everybody remembers MJ and Kobe’s clutch moments. This season showed that Lillard is better than both Harden and James by a mile when the game’s in the balance. In one of the most clutch situations — the free-throw line — Lillard has followed through making 33-36. This was when the game was under five minutes left while neither team was ahead by more than five points, according to NBA Miner.

If stretched a few feet further out to three-point, he’s still better than Harden and James when one considers this interesting stat: Lillard improves his three-point percentage in clutch situations by .385. James drops by .045. Harden declines by .067. In fact, both drop off drastically in free-throw percentages as well.

When one remembers remarkable MVP-like seasons with wire-to-wire finishes — and Lillard’s had many — they’ll remember his time. That’s now.

Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu

Wolves get even with Cavs Fabian pitches shutout, Creach scores every time, series culminates in tie

By Simson Garcia | Sports Editor Photo by WOUWOLVES.COM Softball remains one spot out of the four team GNAC Championship tournament, and are three games back of current fourth seed St. Martin’s

Another move to Concordia’s softball facility in Portland changed Western’s playing field as rainouts caused a shift of four home games. But the Wolves evened up the series from April 14-15.

Game one went to the Wolves and their junior pitcher, Haley Fabian, who took command, carrying them to a 3-0 victory. The Cavaliers could not get more than three at-bats throughout the innings. In all, Fabian threw 5 strikeouts, and allowed only three hits and a walk. Fabian’s pitching helped open up the game for the offense to score, running three in, in her complete game shutout.

Concordia was kept scoreless to start the second game as Western’s junior infielder Ryanne Huffman led the way.

With 18 runs batted in on the season, she showed for it after a triple allowed for her and first-year utility Tyler Creach to score it 2-0. The game was a back and forth jostle after Concordia came back slashing to a 3-2 lead. The Wolves loaded the bases in the fifth that helped tie the game and returned the advantage in the sixth, 4-3. But the Cavaliers found their niche, and scored four straight runs in the final inning for the 7-5 win to tie the series.

The Wolves’s early batting order

has had a knack for striking initial momentum in games this season and set the pace for the rest of game three.

Creach, usually first in the batting order before Huffman, who’s hit to a .405 batting average with 10 RBI’s up to game three’s meeting, did so. The speedy utility scored on all three atbats shaping the game in Western’s favor and eventual win, 8-4, and series advantage.

Concordia, however, wanted to even things up and made that clear in the final meeting. They’d score six runs up until the seventh. Sophomore outfielder Ayanna Arceneaux and Creach found

wou.edu/westernjournal

RBI doubles one right after the other to help score three, but it only avoided a shutout as the Cavaliers prevailed, 6-3, to even the series.

Softball’s scheduled for another four games from April 21-22. They’ll go toeto-toe with the Montana State-Billlings Yellowjackets. The first throw in game one is at noon. The games are subject to change in case of rainouts.

Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu

10

HUMOR

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Werner University Center Lots of students here, a great place to table for your club or organization.

You have to ignore a bunch of tabling clubs and organizations just to get anywhere in here.

Academic Programs and Support Center A central location for important resources such as the Office of Disability Services and the Food Pantry.

Where is the fourth floor?

Where are the stairs?

How did I end up in the basement? How does this building even work?

Bellamy Hall Arguably the easiest building to navigate — I challenge you to get lost in Bellamy.

Temperature regulation?

Never heard of it. You’re also doomed if you’re stuck on the first floor during an earthquake.

Richard Woodcock Education Center Deaf-friendly design with the windows and has fun swinging egg chairs you can study in.

Good luck finding literally anyone’s office. Signage? Not a thing here.

Also, you’ll more than likely either get hit by or walk into the automatic front doors.

Peter Courtney Health and Wellness Center You’re either in an auditorium room where you can hide in the back to sleep or a room with rolling chairs.

DeVolder Family Science Center Your nose is constantly reminded of your impending death because of the formaldehyde fumes that come off the cadavers on a hot day. ENJOY THE FLAVOR OF DEAD PERSON JUICE!

You’ll earn a fundamental understanding of the world and its inner workings here.

Natural Sciences Building Easiest building to find. Right on the corner of Jackson and Monmouth Avenue.

Which is the main entrance? This one, okay, so I should expect to find room 101 right when I walk through the door? No? Oh.

Hamersly Library There are floors where talking isn’t allowed, and you can recaffeinate without leaving the building. It’s the studying introvert’s paradise.

Almost all the seating is on the first floor.

Where the talking is.

Also, weekend hours aren’t a thing.

Has an art gallery on the first floor so you can see student artwork and also is well equipped with art supplies and tools.

Smells like your grandma’s house except this time there aren’t any cookies or lemon flavored hard candy that’s been sitting out for too long.

Campbell Hall

Instructional Technology Center

The bathrooms on the first It looks stately from the floor are definitely haunted, not outside, and if you can to mention the rats that move make your way up to the You have to lie to yourself around any time the heat clicks top floor in the building every class period about on in the basement. you can find the clean how you’ll “totally go hit the bathrooms. gym after this.”

Compiled By The Western Journal Staff wou.edu/westernjournal

EDITORIAL

Western is still behind the times on sensitivity

By Stephanie Blair Copy Editor Every year on Yom HaShoah, these disturbing little flags are planted around campus to educate passersby about the effects of the Holocaust and — debatably — honor those whose lives were lost in concentration camps.

There are different colors for different groups, and a key so you can read which groups are represented by what.

It is this sign that I take issue with. Having attended

Relying on memes is hindering our ability to think critically about the world around us

By Zoë Strickland Editor-in-Chief I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention, but the past couple years have been a bit stressful. Regardless of what side you’re on, the election has taken its toll and, in recent months, it’s hard to open up a tech device without getting piles of notifications about scandals or court trials. It’s virtually impossible to stay connected on social media without receiving countless notifications about breaking

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Western for four Shoahs now, I am disappointed to say that Western’s signage still uses an ethnic slur to refer to an affected group: the Roma and Sinti tribes. The word I’m referring to, which I’ll write just once in it’s full form for clarity, is gypsy.

And that may not seem like something upsetting to you. It’s a word that, as Americans, we were raised to associate simply with the idea of being a free spirited nomad. We heard it in a Fleetwood Mac song, we know the Broadway musical — even recently, Netflix has released a show under that name, Lady Gaga released a

news. So, in a world where news is being shoved down the throats of the populous 24/7, how do we cope? Well, dear reader, I think we’ve begun coping with memes.

As someone who identifies as being at least moderately hoity-toity, I generally try and downplay the level of internet trash that I am. However, I’m internet trash and the internet has been excessively trashy lately — particularly when it comes to avoiding any semblance of stressful information.

Hear me out: I love a good vine compilation and I live for crappy Kermit/tea combinations. However, at least throughout my own

11

song with that title in 2013 and “Saturday Night Live” used the word freely in two skits in the last two weeks. This is a present issue even today — even on our campus, so let’s take a quick history lesson.

“Europeans imposed the word “g---y” on Romani when they came to Europe, believing that we originated from Egypt because of our dark features,” the National Organization for Women explained in a blog post. “Romani have a history of persecution in Europe; it is estimated by Roma historians that over 70 to 80 percent of the Romani population was murdered in the Holocaust,

a fact that is little known or recognized. Even lesser known, Romani experienced chattel slavery in Romania for over 500 years ending in 1860.”

A name given to a racial group by white Europeans who were then oppressed by said white Europeans and whose culture is now used as a cheap costume for Halloween and “festival” season. It feels so familiar...

Not to mention that Roma women, stereotyped as sexually loose and untamable, were forcibly sterilized in Europe as recently as the 1990s. So, there’s that.

Which brings me back to this

sign. If this had happened once and then been corrected, this piece wouldn’t be published.

But the organizers of this event have been approached before, yet no change has come.

So now, in a free publication, I’d like to make a public call: change the damn signs. I’m in my last term of my senior year and I have 600 print credits — I’ll reprint them for you. I really don’t mind. I think it’s a negligible cost to respect the dead, as well as the living.

journey through the internet, it seems like people are using humor more and more to just avoid the reality of what’s going on in the world around them.

Instead of having compelling conversations about rights or privacy, people are instead posting images that use sarcasm as a way of conveying information — it’s like the extreme version of people who only got their news from watching “The Colbert Report” or “The Daily Show.” It works by bare-minimum standards, but it could definitely be better.

Take, for example, the most recent Mark Zuckerberg case: a trial wherein Zuck’ had to stand before Congress because of a Facebook security breach.

Rather than hearing actual news about the trial or the questions and comments made, my feed was clogged with jokes about his hair, his makeshift booster seat and comments about his childlike demeanor.

Though some of the jokes made were harmless, they detract from the issue at hand. In cases like these, they can get in the way of information that could be beneficial — especially since Facebook reports having over one billion users. Where people should have been concerned about the security breach and the power that Facebook has, they were instead focused on infantilizing a grown adult.

Though I think that memes are a way of avoidance, there’s also an argument to be made in favor of memes as a way of allowing people to detract from reality in a way that’s positive for their mental health. Humor can be healing, and it’s important to acknowledge that.

Many marginalized groups use this type of online humor to connect with people that share similar circumstances.

“Increasingly, identitybased virtual communities are

becoming invaluable tools for fostering solidarity and healing, and for providing humor in the face of socio-political adversity,” explained writer Ludmilla Leiva in a March 2017 piece for Wired. “Finding amusement in dire circumstances has been both empowering and cathartic, and though I still participate in other types of activism, memes have become my favorite form of resistance.”

While I think that using different media to form relationships with people in your community is important, that isn’t all they’re used for.

Instead of blindly jumping on the newest internet bandwagon, I think we should start evaluating the ramifications of the ‘harmless’ jokes we share on social media. Are we doing it as a way of contributing to the conversation, or as a way of withdrawing from reality?

wou.edu/westernjournal

Contact the author at sblair13@ wou.edu

Contact the author zstrickland14@wou.edu

at

12

TAIL-END

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Pictured left to right: Jennifer Romadka and Michael Rentz

Drag Show Continued from page 7 attend every year.

This year’s theme was Candyland and the storyline is closely associated with the gameplay of the board game.

Similar to the board game, the Drag Show starts off with two girls wanting to play a game of Candyland and later finding themselves in the board game. They learn that King Kandy, the most respected character that keeps the world colorful, is missing and the townspeople are worried that villain Lord Licorice will take over and ruin all of Candyland. The characters encounter other characters such as Mamma Ginger Tree, Jib and Princess Lolly who all join them in their search for King Kandy.

“Candyland” focused on pride and discovering self-identity. Candyland’s main message for the audience is to lift each other up in love and encourage

others to celebrate who they are and be proud of it. Characters in the show struggled with this and showed that the digression of self love and acceptance was not easy.

Lord Licorice was embarrassed about his sexuality which caused him to be angry and become the villain he is. He never meant to hurt anyone but felt ashamed because he was different from other people which caused him to act in the way that he did. This shows the struggle that unfortunately many people today go through with acceptance and self-identification.

“Self-discovery is a process, and I really wanted to explore that,” said Suse Doepken, the scriptwriter for the show. “I tried really hard to give a variation of characters and expressions, like genderfluid, questioning, super feminine, super masculine and gay.”

Doepken wanted everyone to feel included whether the person is a part of or an ally of the community: “I truly hope the audience was able

to find themselves relating or seeing aspects of themselves in the characters I brought to life.”

Doepken believes that discovering oneself and identity can be a scary and wanted the script of the show to reflect that journey so others out there can relate and not feel alone. “(The show) was fun and exciting.

Being part of a community that encourages each other to be themselves is so heartwarming. It’s always nice to be around people that can relate and support you.” said Chase Tabladillo, who played the Duke of Swirl.

This was Tabladillo’s second year in the show, and she believes the show gives people the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and do things they’ve never done before, such as dancing and performing in front of many people; “We all had our ups and downs but at the end of the day we all pulled through as a group and made this amazing show happen.”

“I decided to join drag show after realizing my sexuality and accepting it,” explained Mandy Storm, who

wou.edu/westernjournal

performed as Dame Inatrix, and played Jolly. “I have many friends that do it and they encouraged me to at least try, so I did. And I loved every minute of it. I loved that (I) could be my true self and not be judged.”

Storm loved the sense of community the show brought and the friendships that were built during the production.

This is her first year being part of drag show. “The most memorable part of the show was the support and encouragement that was given to me by everyone in the cast. I was able to build relationships that will last forever.”

“Candyland” was a hit and it was all because of the cast and crew. At the end of the show they stated that society should work together to lift each other up in celebration for who they are. Everyone did an outstanding job executing that message and help make this an event where it’s safe to express yourself in a fun manner.

Contact the author at cnakatsukasa15@ wou.edu