NEWS Seven potentially habitable Earthsized planets discovered Page 3
WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2017 VOLUME 17 ISSUE 17
A different kind of Shakespeare CAMPUS LIFE Western student, Max Norr, discusses their Social Science major Page 4
SPORTS Men’s basketball advances to GNAC playoffs Page 9
Western Theater’s newest production, “Shakespeare in Hollywood,” opens March 2 Page 7
NEWS
THE WESTERN JOURNAL
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“Hard to Believe” documentary aims to raise awareness of organ harvesting Salem man screens 2015 documentary for local residents
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By Byron Kimball Freelancer On Feb. 23, Salem resident Timothy Gebhart held free viewings of the 2015 PBS documentary “Hard to Believe” for local residents. Directed by Ken Stone, the documentary concerns the practice of forced
organ harvesting from Chinese prisoners. Filmed in the style of a police procedural, “Hard to Believe” is one of many documentaries in recent years that aims to raise awareness of the issue. A CNN report done on June 24, 2016 claimed that China was “... still engaged in the widespread and systematic harvesting of organs from prisoners.” As the documentary discusses in further detail, the organs, ranging from kidneys to hearts, are often harvested from a person shortly after execution. The organs are then sold to socalled “transplant tourists,” who travel from all over the world to China for life-saving organ transplants. For Gebhart, the issue is personal. He is a long-time practitioner of the meditation practice Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, which has been outlawed in China since 1999. Many of the victims of forced organ harvesting are fellow Falun Gong practitioners, according
to www.stoporganharvesting. org. When asked to share his thoughts about both organ harvesting and the documentary, Gebhart responded, “Not too many people are aware of organ harvesting in China or of the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China. We have found that once people know of this issue, and are familiar with it, it is much easier for change to occur.” He suggests that viewers emboldened to action after
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viewing the documentary help raise awareness through social media and by writing to their local legislators. Those who wish to learn more about forced organ harvesting are encouraged to visit both www.hardtobelievemovie.com and www.stoporganharvesting. org to learn about the practice and find out what they can do to help. Contact the author at bkimball16@wou.edu
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The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
A scene from the PBS documentary “Hard to Believe”
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SUBMISSIONS THE WESTERN JOURNAL encourages readers to share their opinion through letters to the editor and guest columns. Submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name. Contact information will not be published unless requested. Unsigned submissions will not be printed and original copies will not be returned. Letters to the editor may be up to 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 500 words. 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.
Date: Feb. 26, 2017 Time: 1:44 a.m. Incident: Public Safety responded to an intoxicated male in Heritage Hall.
Date: Feb. 21, 2017 Time: 4:00 p.m. Incident: Public Safety responded to a harassment complaint at the Peter Courtney Health and Wellness Center. Date: Feb. 21, 2017 Time: 4:00 p.m. Incident: Public Safety investigated a housing violation in Ackerman.
Date: Feb. 26, 2017 Time: 8:30 a.m. Incident: Public Safety was informed about a possible missing student.
Date: Feb. 23, 2017 Time: 10:00 p.m. Incident: Public Safety reported to Sequoia Commons in response to a student mental health crisis.
Date: Feb. 26, 2017 Time: 7:36 p.m. Incident: Public Safety was contacted about a medical assist in Rice Auditorium.
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Photo courtesy of EXOPLANET.NASA.GOV
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possibility of life beyond earth
Scientists announced the discovery of an exoplanet system with seven Earthsize planets By Zoë Strickland Managing Editor
After decades of searching for the possibility of life beyond Earth, scientists have found what they were looking for. On Feb. 22, NASA announced that a new solar system containing seven Earth-size planets was discovered. TRAPPIST-1 is located in the Aquarius system and is around 40 light-years away from Earth. The exoplanet system was named TRAPPIST-1 after a telescope in Chile. Researchers using the Chilean
Voices raised at Salem rally Survivors of domestic and sexual violence gather at state capitol By Stephanie Blair Editor-in-Chief Domestic abuse and sexual assault survivors, advocates and loved ones of survivors gathered on the Oregon Capitol building’s steps on Feb. 22 to support the services and protections for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Despite the low-number of attendees and the cool, overcast weather, the crowd was lively and garnered a large amount of television coverage. The rally began with speeches from various survivors and state officials, after which some attendees went into
The seven planets discovered 40 light years away
telescope found the first two planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system in May of 2016. The five remaining planets were discovered using the NASA Spitzer Space Telescope, which enabled them to have a more in-depth examination of the planets. The research effort to locate and classify the planets was led by the scientific research team at the University of Liege. “The seven wonders of TRAPPIST-1 are the first Earth-size planets that have been found orbiting this kind of star ... It is also the best target yet for studying atmospheres of potentially habitable, Earth-size worlds” said Michael Gillon, leader of the team of astronomers that discovered TRAPPIST- 1, in a press release put out by NASA. Though the seven planets are a similar size to Earth, they boast
different features. All of the planets in the newly discovered system are closer to each other in orbit than the planets in our own solar system. According to the report that NASA put out, “If a person were standing on one of the planet’s surface, they could gaze up and potentially see geological features or clouds of neighboring worlds, which would sometimes appear larger than the moon in Earth’s sky.” Scientists are still trying to find information regarding the makeup of the planets; they have found details that indicate whether the newlydiscovered planets could be habitable. “While the other planets in the system could only have liquid water over a small part of their surface, these three planets e, f and g could contain oceans similar to those on Earth” said Julien de Wit, a post-doctoral student
the capitol building to speak with senators and house representatives, as well as to find more information about how to support the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force, who partnered to organize the rally. The mission statement of the OCADVS, a non-profit founded in 1978, as stated on their website is to promote “... equity and social change in order to end violence for all communities.” The coalition aids crisis centers and other resource centers for victims with training, connection to other centers and communities as well as providing other technical support, like posting job opportunities on their website. The other sponsor of this event, Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force, has three main programs: the Prevention Program, the Sexual Assault Training Institute
and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program. These three branches each help to provide training and resources for organizations and communities. According to the OCADVS, one in four women and girls in Oregon will experience domestic violence in their lifetime and one in five are sexually assaulted in their lifetimes. On campus, Abby’s House provides resources for those struggling with or who have been affected by sexual and relationship violence. Trained student advocates are available to aid those in need. If you would like to volunteer with Abby’s House, contact them by email at abbyshouse@wou.edu or by phone at 503-838-8219. Information is also available at the Abby’s House office, located in room 106 of the Werner University Center. Contact the author at journaleditor@ wou.edu
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at MIT who is in charge of heading up the atmospheric studies of the planet, in a University of Liege release. In addition to the difference in planet proximity and makeup, TRAPPIST-1’s star has features that mirror the sun. According to the University of Liege press release, the star of TRAPPIST-1 is classified as an ultra-cold dwarf, which means it’s both smaller and significantly colder than the sun. The discovery of the new planets has jolted the scientific world and there is still a significant amount of research to be done. In 2018, NASA is sending the James Webb Space Telescope into space to look for more information regarding TRAPPIST-1. Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu
Photo by STEPHANIE BLAIR
Teaser photo courtesy of EXOPLANET.NASA.GOV
NEWS
The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
A crowd gathered on the steps of the Salem Capitol for the rally
CAMPUS LIFE
Bachelor of Arts in social science with a history focus By Paige Scofield Campus Life Editor Western offers a wide variety of degrees that students can major in, many of which students don’t know are offered, or know next to nothing about. This week in “Get to know a major:” receiving a Bachelor of Arts in social science with a history focus. Max Norr, a senior, is working towards receiving a Bachelor of Arts in social science with a history focus, and a minor in visual communication design. “I want to work in a museum as a museum exhibit designer, like a graphic designer for a museum specifically,” said Norr. They came to Western because it was small and affordable, “I’m all about small schools because I like having that closer relationship with my professors, and being able to talk to them about things.” Originally Norr was a history major but then later changed their mind. “I was a History major, but I switched because the social science with a history focus is non-thesis track. Social science has more anthropology and language classes. It’s more all encompassing than just focused on
21 and up
.25 ounce St. George Spirits Green Chile vodka 2 drops of saline solution or tiny pinch of salt
By Paige Scofield Campus Life Editor
Directions: Add all of the ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a coupe, express the oil of a lime peel and garnish with the peel. Top with matcha foam. How to make Matcha Foam: Whisk 10 grams matcha with 600 grams hot water. Divide the tea evenly into two plastic containers. While still hot, add .95 percent gelatin by mass to the first container and whisk. Allow the second container to cool, then whisk in two percent xanthan gum by mass. Combine the two containers, and whisk in 1 barspoon hydrated gomme.
Cocktail corner
This week’s 21 and up is for those who pride themselves in spending more than two minutes making a drink. For those of you who are aficionados in fancy cocktails, this beverage is for you.
Little Fib .75 ounce Liquore Strega .75 ounce Tequila Ocho Plata .5 ounce Death’s Door gin .75 ounce Dolin dry vermouth .25 ounce Clear Creek muscat grappa
Photo by PAIGE SCOFIELD
Get to know a major
history,” said Norr. Western’s social science major has many different foci that include: sociology, political science, history, geography, criminal justice and anthropology. There are many career fields that social science can put students on the right track to pursue. According to Western’s website, those careers include: social work, high school teacher, education and working with nonprofit organizations. The major is described as, “A general social science perspective with a specific discipline focus. The program thus prepares graduates for a specialized field as well as giving mobility across fields. Students learn the methods developed by their discipline to understand both the past and the present. Graduates apply these methods to resolving local, national, and international issues.” Specifically, a focus in history “... not only explores the past in interesting and challenging ways, it also develops research, communication, and critical thinking skills. In our society of dramatic change, most people change careers numerous times during their lifetime. Historical imagination and research skills provide students with a variety of options as jobs and technology change. Those who learn to understand the clockwork of the past, can use this knowledge in planning for the future.” When asked what their favorite class was that’s offered for their major, Norr responded, “There are a lot. The intro to historical research class is really, really good. They introduce you to all sorts
of different ways of researching, like oral history, researching newspapers, researching monographs,” explained Norr. “Basically all the things that go into research. That class was really, really good.” But that wasn’t their only favorite class, “Right now I’m taking a museum studies class. This class is only one night a week and it’s from 4 to 8 p.m. at night but we go to all of these different
Pictured above: Social Science major, Max Norr
museums. We’ve gone to five and we have one more to go to.” Since social science is such a broad field, it gives Western’s students the opportunity to explore the different fields they can pursue while still being part of the social science major. Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu
Whisk in 100 grams of simple syrup and a pinch of ascorbic acid. Place in an ice bath to cool completely. Fill an iSi canister with ice water to cool. After 15 minutes, empty the water and fill the canister with the matcha foam base. Screw on the lid, add charge, shake, vent, add second charge, shake, vent, add third charge, shake, vent. Please drink responsibly and enjoy. Recipe courtesy of Hastings Cameron from Liquor.com
Photo courtesy of LIQUER.COM
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The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu
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Pictured: “Little Fib”
CAMPUS LIFE
The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
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Bringing boundaries and communication to the forefront Photo by STEPHANIE BLAIR
Abby’s House discusses healthy relationships for Western Accessibility Awareness Month
Western Accessibility Awareness Month came to a close with the one of their last events held in the Werner University Center, where WAAM organizers teamed up with Abby’s House. On Feb. 21, Abby’s House director, Aislinn Addington, Ph.D., and Nikki Wood, a volunteer advocate, addressed an audience with the intention of informing them on emotional, physical and sexual abuse in the disability community. “There are some topics relevant to the disability community, where Abby’s House could be helpful in raising some of that awareness,” said Addington. “Children with disabilities are four times more likely to experience violence than children without disabilities. Adults with disabilities are one and a half times more likely to be victims of violence than someone without a disability,” she said, quoting The World Health Organization. According to The U.S. Department
of Human Services on women’s health, “The issue of violence against women: women with disabilities are more likely to experience intimate partner violence, as well as sexual abuse and report longer periods of that abuse than other survivors,” Addington stated. Addington began the presentation with those sobering facts, not to make the audience feel down or upset, but to “... set the stage for why it’s important to talk about these issues, and why Nikki and I wanted to come here today and start talking specifically about communication, and start talking about talking, to bring these issues to the forefront,” Addington explained. “To take away some of that stigma or shame that can come with some of these issues that are difficult to talk about.” To begin the powerpoint Addington and Wood very broadly discussed relationships, whether that be romantic, platonic or familial relationships. They discussed boundaries that are set in each relationship, and that boundaries are going to be different for every
Art Reception at Hamersly Library Exhibit: “Meeting of Hearts in Monmouth” Wednesday, March 1 4 - 6 p.m.
person. They then moved on to discuss warning signs to notice if you or someone you know might be in a manipulative or violent relationship. Those warning signs include, “Jealousy, does this person want to be with you constantly? Are they accusing you of cheating? Are they following you? Do they call you all the time? Are they abnormally jealous? This can be a warning sign something is not right,” said Addington. “Controlling behavior, is another warning sign,” added Addington. “Instincts are so good, listen to yourself and listen to your friends, you’re probably right if something doesn’t feel okay.” She continues to discuss warning signs such as: isolation, blaming others for problems, disrespectful or cruel to others, insensitive to others and a lack of empathy. “It’s patterns and escalation, it’s not just one thing. These may lead to something dangerous down the road,” stated Addington. “We’re looking at this in terms of partners, but you can also look a this in terms of caregivers, one might see these patterns in
CAMPUS BRIEFS
Social Science Symposium “Socialist Politics in Oregon” Thursday, March 2 Hamersly Library 12 - 1 p.m.
Trivia Fantastica! Friday, March 3 Werner University Center Willamette Room 7 - 8 p.m.
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caregivers or one might see it in close friendships.” Addington and Wood concluded their presentation by expressing to the audience that Abby’s House is open to everyone and is willing to listen and help with problems that anyone may be facing. Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu
Photo by STEPHANIE BLAIR
By Paige Scofield Campus Life Editor
Pictured: Director Aislinn Addington discusses healthy relationships
Early Music Ensemble German Baroque Music Friday, March 3 Hamersly Library 7:30 p.m. Free admission with student ID
ENTERTAINMENT
A few strong performances Felicity Jones. From start to finish, aren’t enough to save this muddled, cliche heist film both Jones and Hoult give
By Ashton Newton Entertainment Editor Part “Fast and Furious” and part “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Collide” is an over the top action film with an incredible cast. The film follows an excriminal named Casey, played by Nicholas Hoult, who has to return to a life of crime to save his dying girlfriend, played by
uninspired performances. Their love story is the root of the film, but their bland performances didn’t leave me rooting for them. Ben Kingsley plays a crime lord named Geran. Kingsley’s performance is over the top. Complete with his distracting fake Turkish accent, every time Kingsley is on screen it’s hard to see past his ridiculousness and to understand what is happening.
The highlight of the film is Anthony Hopkins’ sinister villain, a crime lord who Casey wrongs at the beginning of the film. Hopkins is in his groove with this role as he jumps from monologue to monologue in a style. The plot is bland, weak and predictable. There’s not much that goes on in between Hoult getting tortured by bad guys and running from them in car chases. The character interactions mean almost The German setting provides great visuals in “Collide” nothing unless Hopkins is on screen, and Hoult dealing with times that I laughed out loud. so people can shoot each The setting of Germany other faster. Casey’s race to the emotional implications is one of the best parts. save his girlfriend means of his situation is so cheesy at Watching car chases unfold nothing because there are in the German countryside no emotional connections to and on the Autobahn is out of these characters due to their the norm of action films and lackluster performances. makes for a very interesting Overall, “Collide” is a poor experience. Especially when excuse for a film and a complete there’s not much to look at waste of time. The cool during the overly lengthy and German setting and Anthony uninteresting action scenes. Hopkins’ performance aren’t When trying to have even enough to keep this film emotional or romantic from being something worth moments, “Collide” fails spending time or money on. completely. The film attempts to be rooted in romance, Contact the author at but any romance appears to journalentertainment@wou. be exposition that is rushed edu
Editor’s Picks By Ashton Newton Entertainment Editor Editor’s Recommendations
One of the best bands around right now is Bear’s Den. Formed in 2012, Bear’s Den is a relatively new band but one that has been making quite a name for themselves in the folk scene. Bear’s Den has released two studio albums, “Islands” and “Red Earth & Pouring Rain,” as well as four extended-plays. Their newest single, “Berlin” was released in December. The biggest appeal of Bear’s Den is their accessibility for a wide audience. While their main genre is folk, they do have fast paced rock music as
fighting game that pits players against each other in melee combat. The graphics are well and sounds that would stunning and the game has its appeal to country fans. Their moments, but Ubisoft is known lyrics tell stories and are often for their difficult releases for relatable. One of my favorite parts of Bear’s Den’s Music is its ability to evoke both happiness and sadness at the same time.
Photo courtesy of COLLIDEMOVIE.COM
Review: “Collide”
games with unfinished aspects and massive server issues. The game will be good in time, but until the many issues are worked out and the price drops, buying it now is a waste
of money and will only bring irritation. Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou. edu
Editor’s Disparagement
Despite receiving decent reviews from critics, I’ve found the new videogame “For Honor” to be very underwhelming. The concept is incredible and the execution is satisfying at times, but the game is a nest of connectivity issues and rough bugs. It’s too rough around the edges to warrant spending $60 on it. “For Honor” is a multiplayer
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Photo courtesy of INDEPENDENT.CO.UK
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The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
(Left to right) Kevin Jones, Joey Haynes and Andrew Davie of Bear’s Den
ENTERTAINMENT
Take a trip to 1930s Hollywood Western students take a trip to 1930s Hollywood in Western theater’s “Shakespeare in Hollywood”
By Ashton Newton Entertainment Editor
Western students are hitting the stage once again with the upcoming performances of Ken Ludwig’s “Shakespeare in Hollywood.” Directed by Western’s Ted deChatelet, “Shakespeare in Hollywood” features a cast of Western students who have
been hard at work rehearsing for the play. “‘Shakespeare in Hollywood’ is based around ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by William Shakespeare. Oberyn and Puck, the two fairies in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ come to Hollywood and find themselves in Hollywood by accident and have a bunch of hijinks and run around Hollywood making a bunch of mayhem” said Hunter Atkin, sophomore Bachelor of Fine Arts acting major and cast member. “It’s a fictional story about the making of the film ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ back in the 1930s, it’s a real film” added John Bryant, sophomore Bachelor of Fine Arts theater major and cast member. Much like Western theater’s previous production “All in the Timing,” “Shakespeare in Hollywood” is a comedy focused on bringing laughs and lightheartedness to campus. “The play’s farcical, which pretty much just means slapstick, ridiculous comedy, way over the top acting, very heightened. It’s hilarious” said Atkin. “With this being a comedy, we get to lighten the mood with the 1930s setting. It makes it easy to go with the setting. Some of the costumes and props we use coincide
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Photoby AMBER HOLLAND
The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Pictured from left to right: Aaron Saddler as Jack Warner, Becky Bond as Lydia, Angeliki de Morgan as Max Reinhardt and Sarah Cotter as Puck
with it being in the 1930s, so it is harder than if the play was in modern day, but it didn’t make it difficult and we were still able to have fun with it” added Bryant. Reflecting on being in the cast, Atkin said, “My favorite part of being in the cast is that Ted, the director, pretty much let the cast decide what’s happening in the play. He let us do whatever we want. He gave us the scripts, gave us the parts and just let us go, so he had an image in his head, but we really just threw out ideas and just did stuff and he just kept it in and kept integrating all of our ideas together.” “Ted’s a really good director. A lot of directors will just say ‘this is what I want, do it this way,’ but what Ted does with his actors is he will give suggestions, but he’ll also trust his actors and see what they will bring to the table. It’s a nice mix of what we can bring and if something doesn’t work, he can fine tune it” said Bryant. While working on “Shakespeare in Hollywood,” the cast had a great time working together has cast members and as friends. Asked separately about a story that stuck out during rehearsals, Atkin and Bryant reflected on the same event. “Our director, Ted, was hanging out and we were rehearsing a bit where one of the characters comes on with a wine glass and gives
Gabriel Elmore strikes a pose as Oberon
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it to another character very nonchalantly, because he’s the big boss man. We did it a few times and Ted was worried that we were going to drop the wine glass, so he comes up and takes it from one of the characters and asks our stage manager if it was plastic and drops it on the ground, the wine glass shattered and we had to take five minutes to clean it up. It was hilarious” said Atkin. “Everybody just bust out laughing, it was really funny. We haven’t gotten to a stressful point overall where we’re too stressed about the play or things are tense. It feels really chill throughout because we’re working on such a fun show” added Bryant. In the end, “Shakespeare in Hollywood” is a fun, audiencepleasing comedy. “Overall, I hope this is a show audiences get to enjoy. It’s a farce, it’s a chance to kick back and have a laugh. I hope it’s an opportunity for students and faculty of Western who may have busy lives, so I hope it’s a chance to leave this world and get immersed in this. Not for our sake, but to give everyone a break from the stresses of life” said Bryant. “Shakespeare in Hollywood” runs in Rice Auditorium from March 2-4 and 8-11 at 7:30 p.m. with March 5 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $14, $10 for seniors and $8 for Western students. Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou. edu
of
Shelby Snook, junior guard, was the Wolves’ biggest contributor this year, leading the team with 339 points and 84 assists. She averaged 13.6 points per game.
Jasmine Miller, junior forward, scored 257 points this season and also tallied a team-high 137 total rebounds and 17 blocks.
A different competition for women’s rugby olves fall short of W regionals; accept Small Colleges invite By Burke De Boer Sports Editor The women’s rugby team saw its championship streak come to an end at the hands of Western Washington. From 2014 to 2016, the Wolves three-peated as league champions. But a tougher 2016-17 season has seen
Western Oregon fail to qualify for regionals to compete for their title. But their season won’t be ending prematurely either. “Because of how we played and were able to hold our own, we have been invited to play in the Small Colleges National Tournament in Southern Oregon,” said Maddi Fagnani, a junior lock who has also played half on occasion this season. “We played with heart for the full 80 minutes, even when we had to play down two players,” said Madeline Turner, senior, president of the club. “I am very proud of my team and cannot wait to see how this club continues to grow.” “Western Washington and us have
women’s
basketball
Kaylie Boschma, sophomore guard, grabbed the most steals this year, racking up 31. She also scored 211 points and grabbed 115 rebounds.
Despite only appearing in 22 games, junior guard Sydney Azorr scored the thirdhighest points tally of the year, racking up 220, with 28 assists and 94 rebounds.
been battling back and forth for four years,” Fagnani added. “This year just wasn’t our year. And that’s okay. Do you know why? We have beaten them with a majority rookie team the past two years. This year we are building our program up and will be fired up even more for next year.” Wayne State College from Nebraska were last year’s Small Colleges Champions. The 2017 tournament begins April 1. Whether the two champions will face remains to be seen. Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu
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Photos courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM
highlights
SPORTS
Photo by STEPHANIE BLAIR
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The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
The Wolves lost to Western Washington rivals
SPORTS
The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
By Burke De Boer Sports Editor
Cover photo by STEPHANIE BLAIR
It looks like we’ll be getting a massive crossover fight as Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. signal they’ll be meeting one another. Both camps have confirmed that a deal is in the works, and Mayweather told ESPN that they are getting “very, very close.”
put up a good fight and it will be a victory for the McGregor brand. Even failing this, McGregor will be winning at the bank. His disclosed UFC earnings, disregarding any bonuses or sponsorships, are $9,542,000. The guaranteed salaries being floated for this fight? 100 million for Mayweather and 15 million for McGregor. Amidst its world-touring spectacle, it can be easy to forget that the UFC promotion is actually small potatoes in the context of professional sports. Perhaps McGregor feels he’s outgrown the promotion. In fact, he’s already launched his own, following the Mayweather model. But UFC are ready to fight tooth and nail to keep their star on their side, and without
their permission, the idea of this fight is going nowhere. Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu
Photo courtesy of THEGUARDIAN.COM
McGregor and Mayweather are itching for a fight
But would the 40-year-old retired boxer with an unblemished 49-0 fight record have his first ever mixed martial arts bout against the UFC’s biggest draw and current lightweight champion? Read that sentence again and you tell me. Given McGregor’s strike-heavy style, a boxing match is the obvious answer, and that’s what the two have been campaigning for. This leads many to forecast a beatdown of the Irishman. I’m not inclined to agree. McGregor’s long history as a brawler is what earned him a reputation in the first place. If Conor McGregor does lose, then he loses to one of the most notable boxers in history. All he has to do is
Conor McGregor looks beyond the UFC promotion
on to the tourney
Photo by STEPHANIE BLAIR
Dispatches from the sports desk:
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Men’s basketball won the final home game of the season and will enter the GNAC title tournament as the third seed. The win came in the form of a 72-56 thumping of Montana State Billings. Four players scored in the double digits, as Tanner Omlid hit the teamhigh 17 points, Ali Faruq-Bey and Demetrius Trammell each scored 11, and senior Evan Garrison scored 10 points in the last regular season game of his Wolves career. The Wolves defense held Montana State to a .315 shooting percentage on the night. The Wolves play Montana State again on Thursday in the first round
of the GNAC Championships. The quarterfinal matchup will be the third time the teams play each other this year, after splitting the regular season series with a win a piece. The tournament plays in Lacey, Washington. The other quarterfinal matchup pits St. Martin’s against Concordia. The top two seeds are Western Washington and Alaska Anchorage, and both have earned byes with automatic berths into the Friday semifinals. The tournament promises thrills, as Western Oregon has played balanced against the other top teams this season. The only exceptions are Western Washington, who swept the Wolves,
and St. Martin’s, whom the Wolves swept. The tournament winner qualifies for the NCAA West Regional, which includes two other conference champions and five at-large bids in the eight-school playoff. At last rankings, Wolves were on the cusp of qualifying, ranking tenth. Coming off the heels of the big win, Western Oregon at least has the psychological advantage over Montana State Billings. Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu
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Photo by STEPHANIE BLAIR
Wolves will face MSU Billings in the quarter finals
JJ Chirnside had 42 points over the last four games
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HUMOR
The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
This week in completely made up horoscopes Compiled by Western Journal Staff Aries 3/21-4/19
Taurus 4/20-5/20
Tonight you will dine as brothers and sisters under the blood red flag of mother Russia. On that note, I think it’s time to stop watching Russian spy dramas.
The stars are foreseeing Frisbeeweather ahead, Taurus. You know what this means.
Gemini 5/21-6/20
Cancer 6/21-7/22
The stars are seeing you accidentally farting in public next week. So... avoid your crush.
When does it end!? You will remove your own ears before giving in to the incessant chanting beyond the dark veil!
Leo 7/23-8/22
Virgo 8/23-9/22
Fight the temptation to go blonde, Leo. The stars say it’s tacky.
It’s time to get your priorities in order, Virgo. Try using your time for studying rather than watching all the new releases on Netflix.
Libra 9/23-10/22
Scorpio 10/23-11/21
Try to balance your diet out a little more this week, Libra. The number of pizza boxes in your trash is atrocious.
Elvis Presley is still alive, and this is the week you meet him.
Sagittarius 11/22-12/21
Capricorn 12/22-1/19
Watch your step, Sagittarius. Each moment carries more meaning this week, be careful.
With finals week coming up, you need to take care of yourself. Don’t forget to take that Vitamin C, Capricorn.
Aquarius 1/20-2/18
Pisces 2/19-3/20
For the last time, Aquarius, do not eat the fish sticks that have been in your freezer since before you moved in.
Stop reading this and take a selfie with your copy of the newspaper. Then, and this is really important, tag us in the photo on social media. Illustrations by ELISSA SORENSON
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EDITORIAL
The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
A millennial takes on marriage Common misconceptions about marriage among young people
By Kristin Eck Copy Editor There are some definite pitfalls that are related to getting married young. The most obnoxious being what people think they have a right to say to you leading up to and after your wedding. If I’m honest, I never thought I would marry young or even marry while I was still in college.
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tend to think they know what’s best in these kinds of situations, and while I respect that, I found much of the advice to be completely irrelevant. I think the first instance was when my grandma told me that men don’t have a mind for things like wedding planning. She encouraged me not to bother him about colors, venues and flower choice. Grandma, I thought to myself, would you not ask your best friend for help on one of the biggest days of your life? More importantly, a day that the both of you are sharing? Of course, times are much different than they were in her day. But let’s get this straight, my husband’s critical thinking ability doesn’t vanish when confronted with the “domestic trivialities of life.” The second question that really took a few years off my life: are you two waiting to go on a honeymoon until later, I hear a lot of people your age do that? First of all, unless you’re willing to help pay for a honeymoon, it’s not really any of your business. Secondly, this question is just downright rude, especially when it’s directed at two young people. It implies that you can’t afford a honeymoon because you’re either too young to have savings for that or you don’t have savings because you’re marrying too quickly. This leads me into my third grievance: my age. Countless times I heard people tell me that I’m marrying too young. There’s no way I could possibly know what I want or who I am because my brain isn’t fully developed yet, right? Wrong. Certain experiences can shape a person from a very young age. At some point during my childhood, I got a good look at the world and figured out what I wanted from it. More importantly, when I grew up I saw what I wanted and put a ring on it. While my age is enough for some people to share their unwanted opinions, my education was another concern. Some people would ask me if I planned to take a year or two off
school. This one made me laugh. When did your relationship status begin dictating your enrollment status? School, college and classes are all just like having a full time job. Which, if I’m correct, is something normal, adult, married people do every day in lots of places. I planned my wedding while I was enrolled in school fulltime. If I can plan my wedding and go to school, I think I can be married and stay in school. This list could go on for a lifetime, and it probably will. But I’ve come to realize that most of these issues
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deal with negative misconceptions towards millennials. Millennials work hard, they pay their bills, they go on honeymoons and they pay off their student loans. They marry if they want to, who they want and when they want. Most importantly, millennials are redefining marriage for the first time in decades and I’m honored to be a part of the movement. Contact the author at keck14@wou.edu
… my husband’s critical thinking ability doesn’t vanish when confronted with the ‘domestic trivialities of life’
Furthermore, I never thought my wedding would end up being more for my family than for me and my husband. That’s the realization I had about four months into wedding planning. I can honestly say that if we hadn’t already been knee deep in the process we would have eloped. It was my husband who kept reminding me that weddings aren’t just for the bride and groom. It’s a time for the people you love, family and friends, to come together and celebrate something that transcends the superficiality of existence. At least, this is the approach we took. We wanted to throw a party for the special people in our lives and I’d say we were very successful. Regardless, that doesn’t mean the process wasn’t thoroughly tedious and obnoxious. Weddings are tied up in age-old social conventions, traditions and gender roles and other people are not afraid to share their opinions on these issues. It’s no surprise that older people
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Illustrations by ELISSA SORENSON
TAIL-END A film by WOU students, starring WOU students, and filmed on WOU campus. Todd Norton’s day starts out on a bad note when he wakes up in an alley having been mugged the night before. Though his fresh concussion prevents Todd (Burke De Boer) from remembering who cold-cocked him, he is not deterred — and now armed with a list of every person he’s ever pissed off, Todd blows his way through the Pacific Northwest University campus in a desperate search to identify the perpetrator. March 17, 6:00 pm at Hamersly Library room 107 - admission is free!
Six more Wolves qualify in last chance meet Final qualifier of the indoor track season held in Seattle
Photo courtesy of PRWEB.COM
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The Western Journal Wednesday, March 1, 2017
By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor
The Wolves lost to Western Washington rivals
Follow us online @ theWOUJournal and use #WOUnow to stay updated on what’s happening around campus!
Western Oregon runners took advantage of Seattle Pacific’s final NCAA indoor qualifier by posting six provisional times and recording a new school record. Three of these were recorded in the women’s 800 meter. Sophomore Olivia Woods crossed the finish line first, at 2:10.14. Her event-winning time set a new school record. She was soon followed by junior Suzanne Van De Grift, with a time of 2:10.57 and junior Megan Rose with a time of 2:13.18. Junior Kennedy Rufener then ran the women’s mile in 4:57.01 to be the fourth Western Oregon woman with a provisional time. The time places her
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third in the school’s record books. Sophomore Dustin Nading won the men’s mile race, recording a provisional time of 4:05.22. Senior Josh Dempsey, who won the GNAC title for the men’s 800 meter on Feb. 17, shaved two seconds off his time to bring Western Oregon its sixth provisional finish. He ran the 800 in 1:50.94. The NCAA Division II Track & Field Championship will be in Birmingham, Alabama, March 10 and 11. Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu