WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017 VOLUME 17 ISSUE 16
Protesting in peace
SPORTS
Page 6
Western track wins three titles at conference championship
CAMPUS LIFE
Western students organize Sock Hop dance for seniors to get their boogie on
ENTERTAINMENT
Page 3
Local game store provides a place for Western students to play Magic the Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, and more
Page 5
Page 9
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SPORTS
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017
THE WESTERN JOURNAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF STEPHANIE BLAIR
journaleditor@wou.edu
MANAGING EDITOR ZOË STRICKLAND
journalmanaging@wou.edu
NEWS EDITOR JADE RAYNER
journalnews@wou.edu
CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR PAIGE SCOFIELD
journalcampuslife@wou.edu
T he tide turns in Hawaii
oftball returns to the S mainland with a winning record
Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM
NEWSROOM 503-838-8347
By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ASHTON NEWTON journalentertainment@wou.edu
SPORTS EDITOR BURKE DE BOER
journalsports@wou.edu
PHOTO EDITOR KEITH MATHEW
journalphoto@wou.edu
DESIGNERS DARIEN CAMPO ELISSA SORENSON
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COPY EDITOR KRISTIN ECK
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ADVERTISING MANAGER BRIAN TESCH journaladvertising@wou.edu
WEB MANAGER GEANELL BERNARDO journalweb@wou.edu
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER SAMANTHA DUNAWAY STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER RHYS FINCH 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 Contact information will not be published unless requested.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 Monday 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.
Wolves softball found its rhythm after a week in Hawaii. After losing both games of their first double header to Hawaii Pacific, they went on a fourgame win streak over the rest of the week with wins over Chaminade and BYU-Hawaii. The games against Hawaii Pacific on Feb. 13 were high scoring affairs, where the Wolves lost 6-10 and 6-8. First year pitcher Chandler Bishop came out to pitch in the fourth inning of the first game. Wolves held a 6-5 lead at the time. Hawaii Pacific put up five points in the final three innings to grab the win and gave Bishop the loss. Sophomore pitcher Haley Fabian opened the second Monday match with three quick
Crusaders sack Monmouth omen’s basketball drops W two games at home By Burke De Boer Sports Editor It was another tough week for women’s basketball who lost both games at home, extending their losing streak to eight. The first game of the week was against Northwest Nazarene, who are currently fighting for
strikeouts. Junior outfielder Zoe Clark homered in the second. Again, until the fourth, Western Oregon led. Fabian gave up six runs in two innings before being relieved by
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Sammi Cadwallader allowed only 2 hits in 5 innings against BYU Hawaii
care of business, and that’s what we did.” On Feb. 15, the Wolves delivered a pair of blowouts to Chaminade, winning 11-2 and 12-4.
e started the week out W on a very low note, but I think that fired us up
power, as the Wolves racked up eight runs over the first two innings and continued in style on the way to the second big win. The week of doubleheaders closed out at BYU-Hawaii, where the Wolves again dominated. The first game finished 9-3 and the second 11-0. Fabian picked up her second win of the season and Cadwallader improved to a 3-0 record. Zoe Clark had four RBIs and two runs over the course of the day. The 6-5 Wolves travel to Caldwell this weekend to face the College of Idaho.
senior Sammi Cadwallader. The loss was Fabian’s third of the season. “We started the week out on a very low note,” said Ku’ulei Siolo, senior catcher. “But I think that fired us up. We went into each game ready to take
Fabian pitched a complete game to open the doubleheader, which also saw the Wolves slug away three home runs. Senior shortstop Kelsie Gardner scored three runs off of five at-bats in the first game. Contact the author at The second game began with journalsports@wou.edu
the fourth-place seed in the women’s basketball GNAC Championship. Despite Western Oregon beating Northwest Nazarene for rebounds, 41-33, the team could not generate points. Junior forward Jasmine Miller led the Wolves in points with 11. Junior guard Shelby Snook scored eight points and grabbed a team-high of eight rebounds. But the Crusaders were too powerful a team to be slowed down and delivered a 59-77 loss to the Wolves. On Saturday the Wolves hosted Central Washington, and nearly made a comeback. After trailing by as much as 12 in the first half, Western Oregon
fought back to come within one point of the lead in the third quarter. Junior forward Savannah Heugly scored a career best of 18 points. Junior guard Sydney Azorr was right behind her, with 16 points and four rebounds. It was Azorr’s three pointer that got the Wolves within one basket of the lead. But Central Washington pulled away again in the fourth quarter. The Wolves ultimately lost 55-66 in their last home game of the year. Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu
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Photo by AMBER HOLLAND
345 N. Monmouth Ave. Monmouth, OR 97361 Student Media Department TERRY HOUSE
Kennedy Corrigan has scored 99 points this season
Paving the road to the championship
Men’s basketball clinched a spot in the GNAC Championship tournament after a triumphant week in Monmouth. The Wolves beat two conference rivals, first topping Alaska 68-61 and then Alaska Anchorage 89-71. The seven point win over the Nanooks came as the result of a powerful second-half performance. After trailing by as much as seven in the first half, the Wolves regrouped. They came out the second half down by five. The Wolves took the lead with
e Wolves secure a Th playoff spot and fight for better seeding By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor
a three pointer by JJ Chirnside at 13:45. Sophomore guard Malik Leaks scored a game-high 17 points, his most points scored in the season. The Saturday game saw the Wolves take the lead with the opening basket and never give it up. The 89-71 win over Alaska Anchorage featured four Wolves with double-digit points: Ali Faruq-Bey scored 22, Tanner Omlid scored 19, JJ Chirnside scored 10 and Demetrius Trammel contributed 11 points off the
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bench. The high powered win moved the Wolves within one game of Alaska Anchorage’s second-place seed in the Championship. The last game of the regular season is against MSU Billings on Feb. 25 in the New P.E. Building. The game tips off at 7 p.m. Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu
Wolves impress at GNAC Indoor Track Championships ibich and Dempsey win R titles By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor
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Photo courtesy of CAPTION CAPTION CAPTION
SPORTS
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Aj Holmberg came in fourth place in the 400 meter final
short order by Nading at 1:54.32 and sophomore Michael Chin at 1:54.94. Sophomore thrower Brandon Bowen posted a personal best in shot put with a throw of 14.9 meters. The points racked up by the Wolves lead the men’s team to a second place finish, pulling 82 points on championship Saturday. The women’s team also performed well, totaling 25 points on their way to winning ninth place.
First year student Grayson Burke, sophomore Olivia Woods and juniors Megan Rose and Suzanne Van De Grift made up the 4x400 team that came in fifth place and set a new school record time of 3:51.18. Van De Grift also had an NCAA provisional time in the women’s 800 meter, finishing at 2:13.92 for fifth place. The Saturday finals came after a Friday of qualifiers, in which Van De
Photo courtesy of CAPTION CAPTION CAPTION
Wolves athletes traveled to the conference indoor track championship at Boise State’s Nampa facility. They came home with conference titles, new school records and NCAA qualifiers. Junior David Ribich won two conference titles, claiming top spot in both the mile race and the 3,000 meters. “After last year’s finish, I got second by 0.01,” Ribich told GNAC TV. “I just wanted to come out and run my own race. If I was going to come out and get second or third it was going to be because of me.” Senior Josh Dempsey recorded another Western Oregon championship, winning the 800 meter contest. Sophomore Dustin Nading was second in the mile, behind teammate Ribich. Ribich crossed at 4:10.01, while Nading finished right behind him at 4:10.93. Dempsey was joined by two Western Oregon runners on the 800 meter podium. He won the race with a time of 1:52.47, and was followed in
David Ribich and Dustin Nading finished first and second in the mile
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Suzanne Van De Grift also had an NCAA provisional time in the women’s 800 meter
Grift set a new school record at the 800. She ran it in 2:10.88, coming in second place, on the first day of competition. Junior sprinter AJ Holmberg also set a Western Oregon record, running the 400 meter in 48.40. Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu
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CAMPUS LIFE
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Photo courtesy of ABBY’S HOUSE
Bringing awareness to Western’s campus Abby’s house celebrates Valentine’s Day in a new way By Paige Scofield | Campus Life Editor The holiday Valentine’s Day is often filled with romance and tender moments between partners, but Western’s Abby’s House decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day a different way, with two different events on campus. On Feb. 13, Abby’s House held an event in the Werner University Center called Palentine’s Day. This event was held for those who wished to show their love in a platonic way rather than in a romantic way to those they care for. Nikki Wood, a senior communications major and Abby’s House volunteer advocate who created the event, said she was inspired by the popular holiday, “Galentine’s Day,” from the hit television series “Parks and Rec” starring Amy Poehler. “We wanted to be more gender neutral and include everybody for a celebration of friendship, so we called it Palentine’s Day,” said Wood. “I did
the table during my office hours, and basically we just had hearts that people could write messages to their friends on and we had chocolate and stuff.”
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1 Billion Rising is something that happens around the world, but we like to hold this event on campus, so we can do a little extra
This event was free to any who wanted to participate in making Valentine’s for those they care about. “Celebrating friendship and platonic relationships is really important. We put a lot of emphasis on romantic love,” concluded Wood. On Feb. 14, Abby’s House held the
incorporated handprints to create a message of support and awareness for women’s issues including: physical or sexual abuse, human trafficking, reproductive rights, intimate partner violence and cultural appropriation. “1 Billion Rising is an organization that puts on events on Valentine’s Day,
Time to dance your heart out
Not only was there a live music performance by the Icarus Account, but there were also some throwback hits that created a nostalgic feel that everyone enjoyed. When asked what the reason for the event was, Matthew Ciraulo, the coordinator of the dance and a member of SAB, explained, “Freshmen were sad about not having a homecoming dance, so this was our effort to reach out.” SAB concluded that this dance was a success. It was a very laid back event, with many people coming and going. Many students enjoyed the live music so much, that there was a line to get pictures taken with the band. When asked about the music choice, Ciraulo said “When we went to NAKA (an event for SAB), they were playing and we were like ‘oh my gosh’ we have to have them.” His choice to have live music at the dance appeared to be a hit
SAB hosts Love is in the Air Dance for Valentine’s Day
Photo by AMBER HOLLAND
By Shaylie Pickrell | Staff Writer
Member of the Icarus Account
event, “1 Billion Rising: Revolution,” in solidarity against the exploitation of women. The event was held on the Werner University Center Plaza, and
The students of Western asked and the Student Activities Board delivered. When planning events, SAB likes to take into consideration what students enjoy doing or attending to ensure optimal enjoyment. On Feb. 16, the “Love is in the Air Dance,” was SAB’s fun and creative way to provide an enjoyable event for students on Western’s campus. Pink and red hearts decorated the Pacific Room while the disco ball glittered off the walls and all the dancers.
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Director Aislinn Addington and Ashley Flores
to build awareness about different issues surrounding women,” said Hailey Wren, a junior elementary education major and Abby’s House volunteer advocate. “Specifically about how one billion, and rising, women are affected by assault sexually or if they’ve experienced violence in their lifetime. This year we’re talking about the exploitation of women around the world.” When asked why she thought it was important to have events like this on Western’s campus, Wren answered, “Because it’s something that I feel like we think happens elsewhere, and we don’t realize that it actually happens here, it happens on our campus, happens in our state and in our country.” Christina Garcia, a sophomore community health/public health major Continued on page 12 with those who attended. The Icarus Account really stole the night and some hearts as well. Many students had the ‘dance like nobody’s watching’ attitude under the disco ball and there were participants dancing until the end of the dance. It was an event to remember and was just a peek at some of the fun events that SAB plans to put on. If students have any ideas or thoughts on future events, or want events to happen more often, make sure to let SAB know. The SAB office is located downstairs in the Werner University Center. Make sure to check out flyers and posters around campus to see when SAB is putting on more exciting events hosted on Western’s campus. Contact the author at spickrell15@ wou.edu
CAMPUS LIFE
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017 1 1⁄2 ounces vodka 3 ounces tomato juice The juice of one lemon 1⁄2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 3 drops Tabasco sauce Pepper Salt 1⁄4 teaspoon celery salt 1⁄2 tablespoon prepared horseradish (optional)
Cocktail corner
By Paige Scofield Campus Life Editor My Bloody Valentine? More like my bloody mary. February, the month of love and the color red is the perfect month to enjoy a nice, red bloody mary. Crisp and delicious, this drink will make your morning or evening one for the better. The recipe is as follows:
Garnish with lemon or lime wedge, celery stalk, green onion or pickled green bean. Please drink responsibly and enjoy. Recipe courtesy of the user riffraff on Food.com Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu
Photo courtesy of FOOD.COM
21 and up
Directions: Add ice to glass. Mix Vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, salt, Pepper, celery salt and horseradish and pour in glass.
Pictured above: Bloody Mary
Photo courtesy of CREDIT CREDIT CREDIT
WOUPSA holds Senior Center Sock Hop
Seniors of the Monmouth community get to visit the past By Jasmine Morrow | Staff Writer
are the volunteer coordinators of WOUPSA. They planned the Sock Hop with the help of many other volunteers. Dezarae Collins, a junior psychology/social science major and WOUPSA volunteer, took orders and served food at the event. There was food, sweets, drinks, cards, music and dancing. Handmade decorations were all over the senior center, and homemade cookies were placed on
every table. There were enough cookies for everyone who attended, and they were the talk of the event. By the time it hit noon, which was when the Sock Hop began, residents began to file into the event. It took awhile for participants to start dancing, but once they started, no one stopped. Some dancers took off their shoes to show off their fuzzy colorful socks, worn specifically for
Photo by HALEY MORRIS
On Feb. 17, the Western Oregon University Psychology Student Association put on a Sock Hop dance at the Monmouth Senior Center. WOUPSA, a psychology club on Western’s campus, spends a large amount of time with the elderly at the Monmouth Senior Center. The club decided to put together this event in hopes that it would bring joy to the residents of the Monmouth Senior Center, as well as bring people together. The Sock Hop was a way for senior citizens to remember the past by listening to music, dancing, and socializing. WOUPSA also includes the Western Oregon University Chapter of Psi Chi, the honor society in psychology. They have done many events like this in the past; reaching out to different organizations for different supplies. Western students volunteer at the Senior Center all the time, so putting on an event was simple. Austin Gehrett and Haley Morris
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Couple enjoys Sock Hop
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Dancers twist to the beat
the event. Root beer floats were served at the event and most everyone had one of those delicious fizzy drinks. One of the senior citizens, Beverley Shonholtz, went to the event because she loves music and is frequently at the senior center. Shonholtz loves dancing and she danced a couple times, but she mostly danced in her chair with a couple of her friends, and new friends she made at her table. She talks to a lot of the Western students regularly, so she thought going to the event would be great. Participants got to socialize and dance for a couple hours, as well as enjoy some company from Western students. The Sock Hop was filled with talks from the past and reuniting with friends. The Sock Hop was a great success, with everyone that helped set it up and everyone who came, it was an outstanding event. Contact author at Jmorrow16@mail. wou.edu
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NEWS
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017
“united we stand; divided we fall” major, and Madelyn Hay, an Protestors gather at Oregon Capitol to stand in solidarity with interdisciplinary studies major were two of the many students attending the immigrants
By Jade Rayner | News Editor
Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu
Photos by JADE RAYNER
On Sunday, Feb. 19, an estimated 1,010 people gathered in front of the Oregon State Capitol building in Salem for the Immigration Rally: part of the Immigrants’ March on all 50 State Capitols protest that took place on President’s Day weekend. According to the event’s Facebook page, the purpose of the rally was to empower all citizens, foreign or native, and to stand “in unity and solidarity with all immigrants.” In contrast to the pouring rain and heavy wind that lasted for the duration of the event, both the speakers and attendees alike held their heads and their signs high to spread the message that they, immigrants, weren’t going anywhere. Western students Gabe Heredia, a senior community health/education
rally. When asked what brought them to the event, Hay replied that, “One of the biggest reasons we wanted to come is Gabe’s family is actually immigrants … that’s something that kind of struck with us. Like if this had happened 50 years ago, we never would have met … they were given their chance and we think everyone deserves their chance.” Salem resident Taylor Emery was also among the many who stood in protest. “I’m here today because this is something that I passionately believe in, and I wasn’t able to go the Women’s March … so I’m here to support the immigrants that supported me at the Women’s March,” Emery explained. “I want to try and be involved as I can … this is just something that I think shouldn’t even be an issue. Diversity is needed.”
Far left, top and far right: Protestors at the Imigration Rally in Salem, OR Bottom-center: Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia speaking at the rally
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NEWS Monmouth community and Western students join to create a safer city Western students and community propose that Monmouth become a Sanctuary City By Jade Rayner | News Editor The movement to declare Monmouth, Oregon a sanctuary city is one that began roughly two months ago by a concerned member of the community and has gained a growing amount of support since then. There is no concrete definition for what it means to be a sanctuary city;
Incidental Fee Committee makes preliminary decisions The Incidental Fee Committee reaches a tentative budget decision for the 2017-2018 academic year By Jade Rayner | News Editor The Incidental Fee Committee held their preliminary budget decision meetings for the 2017-2018 school year on Friday, Feb. 10 and Friday, Feb. 17. As of now, the projected incidental fee cost for the 2017-2018 school year is $345 per term, a 1.17 percent increase from the current school year. As part of that fee, the Health and Wellness Center cost per term will increase to $69. Incidental fees are used to pay for on campus organizations including, but not limited to, Abby’s House, Athletics, WOLF Ride and Service Learning and Career Development. A total of $4,376,199 will be made from those fees for the 2016-2017 school year, and
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017
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it varies from place to place. For a city to declare sanctuary status, it’s stating that it will protect its citizens from unlawful prosecution from federal immigration, relating to the Oregon law ORS 181A.820 that states: “No law enforcement agency of the State of Oregon or of any political subdivision of the state shall use agency moneys, equipment or personnel for the purpose of detecting or apprehending persons whose only violation of law is that they are persons of foreign citizenship present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.” According to information provided by Western student Hector VirgenMarquez, the proposal to make Monmouth a sanctuary city was brought to Monmouth City Council by Patty Dixon, a concerned member of the community that was trying to help other community members. She was met by a motion from city council member Laurel Sharmer, but it was not met with a second. Therefore, the proposal did not pass. Upon hearing about this, Virgen-
Marquez explained that, “Marshall Guthrie, the director of the Student Enrichment Program, had heard of this and rallied a few students together to make a second proposal. He contacted students from MEChA de WOU, and UNIDOS and brought six motivated students together to propose, for a second time, that Monmouth declare sanctuary city status.” The students involved were Evelyn Guzman, Sandy Estelle, Juan Navarro, Jaime Hernandez, Aminadab Diaz and Hector Virgen-Marquez. Additionally, Western student Erika Azua and Dr. Maureen Dolan, Professor of sociology led an outreach committee to reach out to other members of the community, Western administrators, businesses and clergy leadership. During the Feb. 7, 2017 Monmouth city council meeting, the six Western students brought up the sanctuary city proposal. Much like the first time with Dixon, the proposal was met by a motion from council member Sharmer, but no second was offered by the remaining city council members.
“Needless to say, this was a great defeat, as we had failed to prove to our council members that this is an important topic that deserves discussion in a public setting such as this. But regardless, that only helped fuel energy to push us to try again,” Virgen-Marquez stated. When asked what it would mean to the Western community for Monmouth to declare itself a sanctuary city, Hector Virgen-Marquez replied, “... it will show the students at Western that the city they live in also cares about them, and for those who are currently under a degree of fear - it shows that they are able to go out to the city without feeling uncomfortable and anxious of federal prosecution.” These students will be bringing the proposal to the Monmouth City Council again on Feb. 21, 2017.
it is estimated to rise to $4,437,195 for the 2017-2018 academic year. Preliminary decision meetings consist of the IFC setting the tentative budgets for on campus organizations and events before open hearings begin. Once open hearings begin, individuals can make a case on behalf of their organization for additional or continued funding, if necessary. In addition to setting the base budgets, enhancements were also discussed. When a club or organization on campus is asking for an enhancement, they are requesting additional funding beyond their budget for a specific event, trip or job that is needed. The largest projected budget cut for the upcoming academic year is going to ASWOU, with a 10 percent decrease, which is much smaller than a previously proposed 18 percent cut. Part of the reason behind the large budget cut is the confusion about what exactly ASWOU accomplishes for students through their day to day operations. The cut will be reflected by taking their requested budget of $294,821 down to $265,339. Another organization whose necessity was discussed was the Creative Arts department, specifically the Smith Fine Art Series. IFC members criticized the program because of the imbalance between how much students are paying for the series,
and the lack of student attendance at the events. The series will be facing an 11 percent cut, which will take the $329,541 budget they asked for and leave them with $322,891. Organizations that are proposed to receive enhancements are ASWOU, specifically the Student Veterans of America, Campus Recreation and Student Engagement. Students who would like to make a case to the IFC on behalf of a club or organization may do so at the second open hearing this Friday, Feb. 24 from
2 p.m. until 4 p.m. in the Werner University Center. The first open hearing took place on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. Individuals are allotted three minutes to speak; groups receive five minutes. More information about the IFC process, including policies and meeting minutes, can be found at www.wou.edu/ifc.
$21.05 ASWOU
Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu
Contact the author at journalnews@ wou.edu Graph by DARIEN CAMPO
$345.08
$35.91
Per term
Other
$25.62
$97.00 Athletics
Creative Arts
$69.00 HWC
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$96.50
Student Engagement Operations
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ENTERTAINMENT
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Review: “A Cure for Wellness”
Photo courtesy of IMDB.COM
Despite its beautiful cinematography, “A Cure for Wellness” turned out to be a mundane and overly lengthy film By Kiley Prom | Freelancer
Dane DeHaan as ‘Lockhart’ in “A Cure for Wellness”
From the director who has brought us modern-day classics such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Ring,” comes a poor excuse for a horror movie set in an isolated spa in the Swiss Alps. The story follows the young protagonist, Lockhart, an executive at a financial institution in New York City, as he travels to the Swiss Alps to retrieve his company’s CEO from his extended vacation. From the moment Lockhart reaches his destination, he can already tell that it wasn’t an ordinary day spa. After being told the history of the grounds by a sketchy cab driver, he walks into the spa with the full intention of bringing back the CEO in notime-flat. Sadly, his retrieval mission doesn’t go as planned and he begins to learn the true secret behind the secluded wellness center. The first 40 minutes of the movie are very well done. The aesthetics are
absolutely stunning and add to the suspense and intrigue of the film. The story is just engaging enough to keep the audience interested. Once the movie hits about the middle mark, however, the quality quickly goes downhill. With the way the first half went I expected there to be a big climax, but it never came. The beginning of the movie gives a sense of excitement, but by the third act, the excitement is gone because there are no answers. The story seemed to be at a stand still and had me glancing at the clock wondering how there was still over an hour left. Honestly, I felt like I could have walked out of the theater halfway through and came back for the last five minutes without missing anything. The number of plot holes and unexplained phenomena going on were almost laughable as the director, Gore Verbinski, tried to throw in as
much randomness as he could just to get a reaction out of his audience. Verbinski also decided to make viewers uncomfortable by turning the film into a worse “50 Shades of Gray,” complete with awkward sex scenes and nudity but with a repulsive incestual twist. There was the possibility for a good film, but it fell just short of what it was trying to accomplish. The cinematography was beautiful, and
the score was one of the best I heard in a film as of late, but it was just too long, making it hard to stay invested especially with no climax. This is the kind of film where waiting for it to come out on Netflix isn’t a bad idea. At least then there’s the possibility to fast forward through the mundane parts.
Listen up
is one type that is under-appreciated: the podcast. Podcasts can cover a wide variety of topics, from news to technology to history. For students, there are plenty of podcasts worth checking out. One such podcast is “Modern Love” through WBUR. It is based off the New York Times column and explores the rollercoaster that is love. The premise of the podcast is sharing stories about love, whether they are truly happy stories or more trivial. A new podcast is released every Thursday and can be found on www. wbur.org/modernlove.
“Reply All” is a podcast with a different focus: the internet and technology. However, according to Nick Quah from Vulture, “Despite the name, ‘Reply All’ isn’t a podcast about technology - it’s a podcast that tells gorgeous, painfully human stories that happen to have bits of technology sprinkled in.” To find out more about this podcast or to subscribe to it, visit www.gimletmedia.com/reply-all/. For a more well-known podcast, TED Talks are available to listen to through the TED radio show, co-produced by NPR and TED. TED Talks discuss creative ways of
thinking, new inventions and out-ofthe-box ideas. They are compelling to listen to and can leave the listener with new knowledge. At www.npr. org/programs/ted-radio-hour/, there is more information about where to listen. Whether hanging out in a dorm, driving around or waiting for another next class to start, listening to a podcast can be an entertaining way of spending one’s time.
Haven’t listened to a podcast? It’s time to start By Alyssa James | Staff Writer Unlike other forms of entertainment that are popular amongst the college crowd such as television, music and movies, there
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Contact the author at kprom15@wou. edu
Contact the author at ajames16@ wou.edu
ENTERTAINMENT
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Inside Monmouth’s little, blue game shop
By Ashton Newton | Entertainment Editor It’s difficult to drive down Main Street in Monmouth without seeing the blue building with the words “My Mom’s Basement” on the front. Within walking distance of Western, My Mom’s Basement is both a game store and a gathering place for people to come and play card games or board games together. “We just had our seventh year anniversary last month. We’ve been here serving the community for all that time.” said Michael Haynes, owner of My Mom’s Basement. “Magic the Gathering is the most popular game in the store,” said Haynes. “They have over 20 million people across the world playing this game. We offer a wide variety of singles and packs for the game and we also offer both sanctioned and unsanctioned events for people to come in and play, and we have
regularly scheduled games that we play every week.” Magic the Gathering is the world’s most popular strategy card game. My Mom’s Basement does weekly “Friday Night Magic” events every Friday at 6 p.m. For those interested in Magic the Gathering, there is an online version of the game called “Magic Duels” available for iPhone, PC and Xbox One to learn the ropes. My Mom’s Basement also offers a free welcome pack for those who’ve never played but it’s first come first serve. “We also sponsor ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ on Wednesdays. That is the number one role-playing game in the world currently. We offer games, books, dice and all the accoutrements that go with it,” said Haynes. “We’re also entertaining other games that are gaining in popularity like ‘Yugioh,’ ‘Pokemon,’ a game called ‘Force of
play. Coming with a group of friends is encouraged. “A lot of these games get a bad reputation because there’s a whole thing of ‘nerds are so secluded and reclusive’,” said Haynes. “They have this really bad reputation of being non-social and that’s not the truth at all. All of these games, you have to be social.” “You wouldn’t believe the kinds of people who want to come in and sit down,” added Harrington. “There are people from all walks of life here. We have firefighters, paramedics, people from all walks of life can get together and join in some kind of a fantasy.” My Mom’s Basement opens at 12 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu
Photo by ASHTON NEWTON
Community spotlight: My Mom’s Basement
Will’ and other board games and card games.” For those who have never played these games before, My Mom’s Basement is a friendly and welcoming place to come in and learn. “We’ve pretty much always got somebody here that’s willing to sit down and play and teach, so just walk in the door,” said Chad Harrington, Western graduate and My Mom’s Basement staff member. “We actually have games for people to come in, sit down and play. We have demonstration games. People don’t want to spend $80 and find out it’s a crappy game. They can come down here and say ‘I’ve always wanted to try that,’ pull it off the wall and see if they like it,” said Haynes. Haynes also stressed that My Mom’s Basement is a social place where people can get together and
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Marvel’s new tv show is dark, engaging and a must-see By Ashton Newton Entertainment Editor
Photo courtesy of IMDB.COM
My Mom’s Basement owner Michael Haynes (left) and staff member Chad Harrington (right)
Dan Steven as Davis Huller, a.k.a. Legion in Marvel Television’s “Legion”
Marvel’s plan to take over the world has been well-executed so far. In both film and television, Marvel has continually put out great content and the newest TV show “Legion” is
no different. Currently in its first season, FX’s “Legion” follows the Marvel comics character David Haller as he begins to learn that his lifelong mental illness
is, in fact, his strong mutant abilities. “Legion’s” first two episodes started the series off on a fantastic note. The trailers and promos didn’t reveal many plot details, so viewers were left in the dark until the show premiered. “Fargo’s” Noah Hawley brings his masterful writing to the show, making viewers question the reality of the situations from start to finish. The premiere episode follows a nonlinear timeline, so the show has viewers constantly second guessing themselves from start to finish. The premiere episode also features a fabulously made one-shot action scene. Marvel has played with oneshots in the past, specifically with seasons one and two of “Daredevil” and I think that “Legion’s” takes the cake. Stunning performances bring “Legion’s” characters to life. David, played by Dan Stevens, is a relatable, funny and tragic character. Stevens does an excellent job of showing David’s struggles with mental illness and his change as the world around
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him opens up. Rachel Keller plays Syd, another patient in the hospital and ally of David. She also does a great job of portraying her character’s mental illness. The emotional connection between Syd and David is one of the biggest highlights of the first two episodes. They have to work together to adapt their feelings for each other to their illnesses. After only two episodes, I’m already fully engaged in the lives and struggles of the characters. Between Hawley’s writing and the fantastic lead performances, “Legion” is one of the best new shows around. Still early in the season, now is the perfect time to start watching. Catch “Legion” on FX every Wednesday at 10 p.m. Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu
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HUMOR
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017
This week in completely made up horoscopes Compiled by Western Journal Staff Aries 3/21-4/19
Taurus 4/20-5/20
It’s time for a clean slate. Deleting everyone negative on Facebook will bring happiness and luck in the coming weeks.
Taurus, you should finally follow the link on one of those Instagram accounts that give you more followers. You’re losing them by the day.
Gemini 5/21-6/20
Cancer 6/21-7/22
For the love of everything that is holy, stop eating so many olives.
You step cautiously through the door of sinew. The smell of copper wafts over you. Something gargantuan moans in the dark infinity. You are not alone.
Leo 7/23-8/22
Virgo 8/23-9/22
Winco has a great deal on Danimals; treat yo’ self, Leo.
Your hard work has not gone unnoticed, Virgo. All those gym selfies you’ve been taking are a great workout for your thumb.
Libra 9/23-10/22
Scorpio 10/23-11/21
You need to start packing in the protein if you’re going to beat your nemesis, Libra.
Slight misreading of the stars last week; you should actually do the exact opposite.
Sagittarius 11/22-12/21
Capricorn 12/22-1/19
Look, we get it, sleep is for the weak. At least take a nap during that 50 minute break you have between classes before you collapse.
It’s your job to single-handedly bring Vine back. I suggest six second YouTube videos.
Aquarius 1/20-2/18
Pisces 2/19-3/20
The stars are giving you a big mission this week, Aquarius. You must find Nemo. Also, remember to feed your Betta.
Listen up, Pisces, soon you’ll be busted by the po-po, whatchu gotta do is seduce them to get them to leave you alone. You’re welcome. Illustrations by ELISSA SORENSON
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EDITORIAL
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017
What are your pronouns? Explaining personal pronouns By Keith Mathew | Photo Editor Students or members of Western’s community have most likely heard the query, “what are your pronouns?” Students may immediately respond, some may just freeze in confusion. The question is referring to whether a person uses he/ him/his, she/her/hers, they/ them/theirs or any number of options. In my social circles asking for pronouns is a typical thing to ask, but for some it may be a weird question. In an effort to create inclusivity for trans
individuals, the asking of pronouns has become a common occurrence in most LGBTQ+ spaces, however, we must remember not everyone knows what it means. For those that do not know, pronouns are what are used in place of a thing, in this case a name. I use the pronouns he/him/his or they/them/theirs. Even though I am a cisgender male I accept they/them/theirs because it is a way to move towards gender inclusivity and gender neutrality. A
lot of the time, pronouns “match” the gender of the individual but not always. For example, a woman can use she/her/hers most of the time but that does not mean other pronouns cannot be used. A person who is neither a man or a woman can use they/them/theirs or the lesser known xe/xem/ xir, however, like in all cases the individual can choose whatever pronouns they want. Using correct pronouns is important in all cases because it makes the person
feel respected and it avoids misgendering. Assuming people’s pronouns based on looks can also lead people to misgendering. Misgendering is the misuse of a person’s pronouns. This typically happens to trans people because they may not have the typical “look” of their gender. An example of misgendering is like two siblings where the parents use the wrong name for each child. When the wrong name is called often the child will be upset because they were not called the correct name. That is what misgendering feels like - except worse. From stories trans people have told me, asking for pronouns is one of the best questions they can be asked. Asking shows caring and interest into wanting to
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know the person and to be respectful of them. Messing up on pronouns should not be a big deal though; the best thing to do is not make a scene and just correct yourself. Pronouns are becoming a more popular topic to talk about and are being more involved in schools like here at Western. Knowing the uses of personal pronouns and why they are important can get you far. Hopefully people will become more understanding and observant to pronoun use and no more will you be frozen in confusion when asked, “what are your pronouns?” Contact the author kmathew14@wou.edu
at
Photo courtesy of HUFFINGTONPOST.COM
How do you solve a problem like misrepresentation? A critical look at Hollywood’s lack of diversity By Stephanie Blair | Editor-in-Chief Each year the Ralph J. Bunche Center publishes a “Hollywood Diversity Report” which examines the diversity of gender and race in all aspects of Hollywood, from writing to acting, directing to talent agencies. Despite minorities making up around 40 percent of America’s population, the film industry is underwhelmingly diverse. This is, in large part, due to the lack of diverse parts. Viola Davis put it best in her 2015 Emmy speech: “You cannot win an Emmy
“
for roles that are simply not there.” Whitewashing in Hollywood isn’t a new problem, but the Asian community seems to receive
While yellow-face seems outrageous to most now, it’s present in a classic film: the most racist acting I’ve ever seen comes from Mickey Rooney in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” What’s disappointing is that this is still happening over half a century after that disgusting performance, yellow-face may have disappeared but now, instead, race is simply being visually erased. The stereotypes are not the sole focus of the characters anymore, but even when there is an Asian role, it’s often given to a
You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there the worst of it. There often aren’t Asian roles, and when there are, they are often still given to white people.
Viola Davis spoke about Hollywood’s lack of diversity in her 2015 Emmy speech
white actor. Recent examples of this include Emma Stone, a freckle-covered red-head, being cast as a half-Asian character in “Aloha” and Scarlett Johansson being cast as Motoko Kusanagi in “Ghost in the Shell.” And this goes beyond race; Deaf representation is severely lacking in Hollywood as well. In the 2016 film “Hush” Kate Siegel, a hearing actress, plays a deaf character. While her acting was convincing to a hearing audience, there are a plethora of deaf actresses
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who could have played the part just as easily. This film didn’t even have the excuse that they wanted a well-known actress to lead; Siegel, who co-wrote the film, decided to play the part herself rather than cast a deaf actress. The danger of casting hearing people in Deaf roles is the misrepresentation. Last year, Ben Jarashow came to Western to give a talk titled “The Cycle of Ideology: The Image of Deaf People in Hollywood.”
Continued on page 12
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TAIL-END
The Western Journal Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Representation in film Continued from page 11 In the presentation, Jarashow shared some of the common misrepresentations of Deaf people in films and television from the start of film to the present because this is a very real problem still facing the Deaf community. These decisions erase identity for people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, the Deaf community and countless other societal groups. They can also perpetuate wrong information and harmful stereotypes. The Bunche Center’s 2015 report stated that “films with relatively diverse casts enjoyed the highest median global box office receipts and the highest median return on investment.” There’s not even an economical reason not to include more diverse roles. So, what can a lowly college student do to affect Hollywood? Boycott! This is a time honored
Contact the author at sblair13@ mail.wou.edu
Photo courtesy of ABBY’S HOUSE
Abby’s House
tradition that works. In June of 2016, a stage production of “Prince of Egypt” was in the works as a park concert that would potentially head for Broadway later on. However, in a play about Egyptians and middle-eastern Jews, the cast was entirely white. This sparked controversy and backlash online which ultimately led to the concert being cancelled. Speaking out about representation can work, boycotting can work, but only if people take part. Don’t support films that whitewash and that don’t represent a character and help support minority communities.
Continued from page 4 and Abby’s House volunteer advocate, explained why it’s important to hold an event like this on Valentine’s Day: “It’s very significant, because it gives students something to think about. People need to be aware of the issues that go on on campus and around the world,” said Garcia. “1 Billion Rising is something that happens around the world, but we like to hold this event on campus, so we can do a little extra.” Abby’s House is located downstairs in the Werner University Center and is a open
place for anyone to come if they need help or if they just want a place to relax. In the future, Abby’s House will be holding many more events on Western’s campus. If interested in future Abby’s House events, or looking for more information on Abby’s House, visit www.wou.edu/ abbyshouse, call at 503-838-8219 or visit their office. Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu
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