Vol. 17, Issue 20 (April 5, 2017) by The Western Howl

NEWS The proposed American Health Care Act bill was pulled prior to vote Page 2

SPORTS Wolves track and field sets two new school records Page 5

ENTERTAINMENT Local theatre brings music, concerts and more Page 9

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 VOLUME 17 ISSUE 20

Hawaii club prepares for 11th annual luau at Western Page 7

NEWS

THE WESTERN JOURNAL

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF STEPHANIE BLAIR

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MANAGING EDITOR ZOË STRICKLAND

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NEWS EDITOR JADE RAYNER

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CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR PAIGE SCOFIELD

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ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ASHTON NEWTON journalentertainment@wou.edu

SPORTS EDITOR BURKE DE BOER

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PHOTO EDITOR PAUL F. DAVIS

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DESIGNERS DARIEN CAMPO ELISSA SORENSON

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COPY EDITOR KRISTIN ECK

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Reflecting on the life of Mary Maples Dunn

After an expansive career, women’s college advocate and historian, Dunn dies at age 85 By Jade Rayner News Editor March 19, 2017 marked the death of 85-year-old educator, scholar and historian Mary Maples Dunn. She is regarded as, “... a champion for womenand women’s history” according to Smith College. Dunn did her graduate work in U.S. colonial history at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and began teaching there as she worked to complete her Ph.D. Her career at the women’s liberal arts college was extensive. Among other positions she held, Dunn took on the role of Dean in 1978, and ultimately became Academic Deputy to the president in 1981. From 1985 until 1995 Dunn served as Smith College’s eighth president. During her time

at Smith, she faced multiple challenges but left a positive impact by the end of her presidency. The Smith College Archives note that the time of Dunn’s presidency was, “... an economically troubled period for the college. Campus diversity, internal communication flow, and socially responsible investment were also significant issues.” Dunn’s hard work at Smith paid off: she helped the women’s college raise more than $300 million during her time there, which helped allow the opening of the Bass Science Center and the Young Science Library on campus. Five majors were added to the curriculum as well

as the improvement of on and off campus communications. Her tenure at Smith saw the introduction of the internet, email and voicemail on campus as part of her process of getting Smith on the “Information Highway,” explains the Smith College Archives. Approaching retirement in 1995, Dunn stated that, “... it’s true that acquiring budgetary accountability is among my most important achievements, but I hope I’ll be remembered as a president who helped open the college up to a more diverse population,” according to Grécourt Gate, Smith College news. The New York Times reports that her work in diversity at Smith was partially prompted by a number of racist incidents that had occurred on campus. Following those incidents, Dunn’s administration instilled a number of programs, one of the most notable being the 1988 Smith Design for Institutional Diversity. “By the time she stepped down

Contact the author journalnews@wou.edu

Dunn passes away at age 85 on March 19

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How the Affordable Care Act affects students

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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.

in 1995, minority enrollment had risen to 571 from 342, out of a student body of about 2,800. And minority representation on the faculty had increased by about six teaching positions,” the New York Times stated. The programs primarily dealt with race, but also touched on derogatory language, race and physical disabilities as noted in the Smith College Archives, adding, “... Dunn maintained a cheerful image and a sense of humor throughout, and persevered through the trials of her difficult position.”

Photo courtesy of BRIAN MAUER ALUMNIE BULLETIN

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

By Stephanie Blair Editor-in-Chief Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, led the opposition of the ACA

On March 24, fewer than 20 days after its initial release to the public, the bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and replace it with American Health Care Act was pulled from the House floor before being put to a vote. “We did not have quite the votes to replace [Obamacare],” said Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-WI. “We are going to be living with Obamacare for the foreseeable future.” The Affordable Care Act was passed in March 2010 and has

provided insurance coverage for 20 million adults in its first six years, as estimated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The proposed bill would have discontinued the individual coverage requirement, which would also provide the demise of the ACA’s famous penalty for those who can afford coverage but do not have it. As stated on healthcare.gov, “The penalty is 2.5% of household income or $695 per adult ... whichever is higher.” Penalties are paid

Oregon residency status, students should apply for insurance in the state they attend school in. The Oregon Health Plan has open enrollment, yearround. Special coverage is available for those who cannot afford insurance and meet certain criteria: Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. These programs, “... provide free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities,” as stated on healthcare.gov. The Oregon Health Plan and Medicaid can both be applied for online at oregonhealthcare. gov. For more information about healthcare penalties, exemptions and more, visit healthcare.gov. For information about resources specific to Oregon, visit oregonhealthcare.gov.

through federal tax returns. Students do not receive a special exemption from the aforementioned penalty. For students who are not listed on their parents’ insurance plan, finding healthcare coverage is required. Because Western does not offer a student health plan to domestic students, any uninsured U.S. students should either attempt to be added to their parents’ plan or fill out an application for insurance using the Health Insurance Contact the author at Marketplace. Regardless of journaleditor@wou.edu

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NEWS

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Date: March 17, 2017 Time: 3:11 p.m. Incident: Public Safety took a late stolen item report valuing $250 at Old P.E.

Date: March 17, 2017 Time: 9:38 p.m. Incident: Public Safety was contacted about a medical assist in Spruce Hall.

Date: March 19, 2017 Time: 8:51 p.m. Incident: Public Safety took a theft report at the Peter Courtney Health and Wellness Center valuing $100.

Date: March 22, 2017 Time: 6:58 p.m. Incident: Public Safety contacted an individual in Cedar Hall regarding the odor of marijuana in their room. Date: March 22, 2017 Time: 9:37 p.m. Incident: Public Safety responded to a medical assist at the Werner University Center.

The cost of your browsing data Congress votes to repeal the Federal Communications Commission’s new internet privacy rule By Darien Campo | Designer Tuesday, March 29th, Congress met to pass legislation that has sent the internet into an uproar. In one of the last moves made under the Obama administration, the Federal Communications Commission issued a rule which gave internet users a greater amount of control over how Internet Service Providers share their information. Data, like browsing history, app usage and shopping trends could not be given away until the ISP asked users for permission to do so. The House cast the final vote of 215205 to reject the rule. This rule, which had not yet actually gone into effect, only affected ISPs and not internet companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon – who are given permission to collect your information when you use their services and agree to their terms and conditions.

Rep. Michael Burgess, R-TX, argued that this gave an unfair advantage to unregulated internet companies and that rejecting the rule would, “... level the playing field for an increasingly anti-competitive market.” Many users are outraged at the prospect of a company purchasing their private browsing information; when in reality it’s not individual’s

“

But many users and Democrat congress members fear that this gives ISPs too much power over private information. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-CA, argued, “I don’t want anyone to take my information and sell it to someone and make a ton of money off of it just because they can get their mitts on it.” Democrats argue that while companies like Google and Facebook are not regulated, users have a choice to not use those services, while most

It’s highly unlikely that you’re going to see [ISPs] actually parsing out individual’s data and selling it person by person

browsing data they want, but the data trends of a large group of people – for marketing purposes. As the Washington Post explains it, a marketer will ask a company like Facebook to advertise to a specific demographic, not individuals. “The two companies will settle on a deal, and the marketer’s advertisements will be displayed on Facebook to that group, but the marketing company will never see specific information about those people,” explained Brian Fung of the Washington Post.

users have little or no choice over which ISP they get to use. Some have taken it a step further. Max Temkin, creator of the popular game “Cards Against Humanity” has promised to, “... buy the browser history of every congressman and congressional aide and publish it,” if the repeal of the FCC rule is passed by President Trump. But it may not actually work that way. “It’s highly unlikely that you’re going to see [ISPs] actually parsing out

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individual’s data and selling it person by person,” said Gabriel Debenedetti, Politico reporter, before adding on, “... not that they couldn’t.” However, not much has changed now for everyday users; the FCC’s rule never actually went into effect, so ISPs are still allowed to sell data just as they were before. If a user feels uncomfortable with their data being used this way, most sources recommend using a virtual private network. As PCMag explains, “... a VPN creates a virtual encrypted ‘tunnel’ between you and a remote server operated by a VPN service.” This helps mask a user’s identity and keeps an ISP from seeing their data. The bill now awaits a signature from President Trump, who is expected to pass it, though many groups are urging him to veto. “President Trump now has the opportunity to veto this resolution and show he is not just a president for CEOs but for all Americans,” said Neema Singh Guliani, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. Contact the author at journaldesigner@ wou.edu

SPORTS

New teams for veteran players A look at some moves in NFL free agency By Burke De Boer Sports Editor It has been a whirlwind offseason for the NFL. Teams are radically changing, as some move cities and others move schemes. The free agency opened with a blast and continues to roll. Teams that were nearly in the championship hunt last year look to make good on their “next year” promises. Alshon Jeffery will change the game in Philadelphia,

as Carson Wentz now has a legitimate number one target. Last year Jeffrey picked up 821 yards on 52 receptions. He will also be joined by Torrey Smith, a veteran receiver who reportedly turned down better offers in order to work with Carson Wentz. Wentz, meanwhile, managed to prove himself both a durable and competitive quarterback last year, breaking the record for most completions by an NFL rookie. His receiving corps last year was a motley crew, which will be beefed up with the arrival of two new star targets. The team making the most waves in the NFC North so far has been the Detroit Lions, though they haven’t been particularly flashy about it. Offensive line signings generally don’t make headlines, but the Lions were abysmal at keeping their running backs healthy and keeping their ground game going last year. Rick Wagner was the best right tackle on the market, and he and T.J. Lang are the new

Photo courtesy of USATODAY.COM

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

After making the Pro Bowl seven times, Adrien Peterson has yet to find a new team

additions to keep the Motor City Kitties’ engine running. For other teams in the NFC North, the news is more about exits than entrances: Eddie Lacy is gone to Seattle, Alshon Jeffery to the Eagles and Cordarrelle Patterson and Jared Cook are becoming Raiders.

Meanwhile, free agents Jay Cutler and Adrian Peterson still look to find homes. Lacy in Seattle will surely help the Seahawks rediscover their hard-rushing roots. But the Packers are now short staffed and head coach Mike McCarthy knows it. At this

in the nightcap game, where the Wolves took a 4-1 victory over UC San Diego. Senior third base Destiny Kuehl hit a home run in the sixth inning to take the lead. The second day was another pair of wins for Western Oregon, defeating the Academy of Art, as well as California State Dominguez Hills. In both of the matches, Western took the lead early and never gave it up, working

towards a 7-3 win over the Academy of Art and a 9-4 victory over California State. Junior pitcher Lizzet Dominguez won the first game of the day, her first starting win of the year. Fabian pitched again in the California State game, to advance to a 6-6 record as starter. The third day of competition saw the tournament end on a sour note for the Wolves, as they dropped their games

point they’ll likely look to the draft for a solution. Though, for the right price, Vikings legend Adrian Peterson could become Packers legend Adrian Peterson. Contact the author journalsports@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM

Wolves play in Tournament of Champions

Softball goes 4-2 in California tournament

Softball enters a month of GNAC play with a conference record of 1-6

By Burke De Boer Sports Editor With only seven conference games to account for, Wolves softball is at the bottom of the conference standings. A trip to California for the Tournament of Champions saw them pick up four wins and suffer two losses in nonconference games. The first day of competition

on March 31 saw Western Oregon defeat both Holy Names and UC San Diego. Holy Names took the lead first in the opening game of the tournament, before the Wolves rallied and put up runs in each of the final three innings on their way to a 7-2 victory. Sophomore pitcher Haley Fabian earned her fifth win of the season. Sammi Cadwallader earned her own fifth win of the season

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against San Francisco State and Sonoma State. With the losses, the Wolves slid to 1413 overall on the season. They remain only 1-6 in conference play, and now enter a month of conference play for their chance to climb the conference ladder. Contact the author journalsports@wou.edu

Two school records broken Outdoor season underway for Wolves By Burke De Boer Sports Editor Coming off an indoor season where the track team broke several indoor school records, Wolves runners have now set two new outdoor school records, and David Ribich also posted a national best time. The women’s 4x400 meter relay team set a new record with a run of 3:49.01 at the Willamette Invitational in

Salem. Then Olivia Woods came in second in the 800 meter race at San Francisco State with a time of 2:08.46. The Willamette Invitational saw three Wolves win their events. The meet was held at Willamette University in Salem. First-year student Grayson Burke, juniors Megan Rose and Suzanne Van De Grift and sophomore Olivia Woods made up the women’s relay team that broke the school record to win the women’s 4x400m relay. Senior Nicole Maurmann, a Salem native, won the women’s 1500-meter race. Her time of 4:40.60 was a personal best. Western Oregon sophomore runner Grace Knapp finished shortly behind her with a time of 4:45.14 for a fifth place finish. Junior AJ Holmberg brought the third win for the Wolves as he finished the 800-meter race in 1:53.02. Holmberg was also part of the men’s 4x400

meter relay team that came in second place, along with juniors Dustin Nading and David Ribich and senior Josh Dempsey. The team that won the national championship in the indoor relay started their outdoor season well, finishing in 3:23.23. Western Oregon throwers also had a good day in Salem, with junior javelin thrower Amanda Short posting an NCAA provisional distance of 40.84 meters. Junior Keegan Allen also took second in the hammer throw with a distance of 48.27 meters. The Wolves then traveled to the San Francisco Bay Area at the end of spring break for three days of contest, taking part in the Stanford Invitational and the San Francisco Distance Carnival. Ribich and Nading competed in the Stanford Invitational, racing in the 1500-meter event. Ribich’s time of 3:43.77 was an automatic NCAA national qualifier, and currently stands

as the top time in the nation. Nading’s time of 3:50.45 was also a national qualifier, and is a top 10 in the nation. At the San Francisco Distance Carnival, first-year student Alani Troutman won the long jump with a distance of 7.26 meters. Olivia Woods went on to set a school record in the Carnival’s second day of competition, running the women’s 800-meter in 2:08.46, finishing second in the race. Megan Rose finished behind her at 2:09.13 for a fourth place finish and the second place time in the Western Oregon school record books. David Ribich then ran the 800-meter in 1:49.41 for a second place finish and another NCAA provisional time. Another group of Western Oregon runners visited Linfield College on April 1 for the Jenn Bowman Memorial Invitational where junior Keegan Allen threw a hammer 49.61 meters and had a discus

Baseball splits six games

seven shutout innings. While Miller locked down Saint Martin’s batters, striking out five, Wolves batters opened up scoring in a big way; third baseman Nyles Nygaard and shortstop Garrett Anderson both scored two runs, while catcher Boog Leach picked up three RBIs. The second game of the day was much more defensive, as the teams were able to only pick up one run a piece before sending the game into extra innings. First-year pitcher Connor McCord struck out four, giving up only one unearned run in what was declared a no-decision start. Second baseman Jay Leverett put up an RBI single to bat in first baseman Koty Fallon for the tying run in the fourth inning. The Wolves traveled to Nampa, Idaho for a pair of doubleheaders the following weekend against Northwest Nazarene. The first day of play saw the Wolves drop both games, losing 10-13 and 3-4, which allowed Northwest Nazarene

Wolves still top dogs of the conference despite some spring break losses

Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM

By Burke De Boer Sports Editor

Wolves offense scored 37 runs in four games against Northwest Nazarene

After splitting their games over the break, Wolves baseball sits atop the GNAC standings. Games in Ravendale and Nampa saw Western Oregon go 3-3 to maintain a 11-5 conference record. The Wolves played a doubleheader against Saint Martin’s on March 25, winning the first game, 8-1, before falling 1-2 in extra innings. Junior right handed pitcher Brady Miller started the first of the two games and pitched

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Olivia Woods sets a school record in the 800-meter

Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM

SPORTS

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

throw of 43.52 meters, both personal best distances. Contact the author journalsports@wou.edu

to take over the top spot on the conference standings. They held this position only briefly, and Western was able to reclaim their place at the top with a pair of wins on April 1. 11 runs in the second inning supercharged the Wolves to a 15-1 victory in the first game. The second game again went into extra innings, but the Wolves fared better this time to win 9-7. In his start on April 1, Miller was able to strike out five in six scoreless innings. The 11-run second inning saw Boog Leach get batted in by Jay Leverett to open scoring. Northwest Nazarene couldn’t slow down the offensive effort, and Leach was able to score a second run in the same inning. The second game went to 10 innings before Leverett was hit by a pitch. Designated hitter Joey Crunkilton hit a homerun for his second run and third RBI of the night, sealing the game for the Wolves. Contact the author journalsports@wou.edu

CAMPUS LIFE

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Receiving a Bachelor of Arts in visual communication design with a focus in graphic design 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, take a look at what receiving a Bachelor of Arts in visual communication design entails, and the kinds of work fields it can lead to. Emma Douglas is a junior at Western who is currently in the process of working towards receiving a degree in visual communication design. Her specific focus in this major is in graphic design. “Ideally I want to work in an animation house like Disney, Gobelines or Laika. Another passion of mine are zines and illustration. Doing either of those freelance is also a possibility” said Douglas. Douglas came to Western because, “The cost is significantly less than art colleges, and it provides the same quality of education. Campus is beautiful and that was also a big deciding factor.” “Graphic design approaches images and type as powerful tools giving shape to ideas,”

according to Western’s website, “In graphic design courses at Western, students learn to bring together message, meaning and form to create memorable communications. They gain a broad range of practical skills, applying typography and design processes to challenging creative projects guided by supportive faculty. Graphic designers must thoughtfully incorporate type and image into visual experiences fueled by the design elements and principles inherent in all art processes.” Western’s visual communication design major has three foci which include graphic design, video and animation and interactive media. Western is, “... exponentially less than actual art colleges. We also have great studio spaces, and the nature around campus is so inspiring,” said Douglas. When asked what her favorite class was that’s offered for her major, Douglas replied, “The A320-A322 graphic design sequence I’m in at the

Top-left: piece titled: “Reflections”; top-right: piece titled: “Shadows B-roll”; bottom-right: piece titled: “Haim”

moment. I’ve learned so much in these past semesters about how graphic design works and my own process. It’s been really helpful in guiding my style.” According to Western’s website, “Visual Communication Design is a broad profession that includes many specializations and covers all ends of the creative spectrum. Many of these job descriptions overlap heavily, and an education in VCD will serve useful in many fields.”

An education in visual communication design can place students in advertising and marketing, speciality design jobs, such as book or editorial design, and even public relations positions like brand or product managing. This list of jobs doesn’t cover all of the careers that can be pursued with a visual communication design major, even more can be found on Western’s website.

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Visual communication design is a broad field which gives Western’s students the opportunity to explore the different fields they wish to pursue. Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu

Designs by EMMA DOUGLAS

CAMPUS LIFE

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Club spotlight

Western is home to many clubs and organizations that are willing to open up and share culture with the rest of campus. This is important for students, because they can get the ability to peer into and enjoy other cultures to better understand their peers. Among these clubs that so kindly share their culture is Hawaii club. Hawaii club is a campus

Photo courtesy of NOLAN ARASATO

21 and up Cocktail corner By Paige Scofield Campus Life Editor Spring is on its way, and there’s nothing better than a nice refreshing drink on a sunny day. Let’s kick off spring term right, with a refreshing mojito cocktail. This recipe is fairly simple, but some of the ingredients might not be in everyone’s home, so a grocery store run may be in order.

organization that promotes the sharing of Polynesian culture on Western’s campus. “It was also created to be a place for Hawaii students to go. Coming from a small island it can be a culture shock for a lot of the freshmen” said Nolan Arasato, Hawaii Club president. “It’s to share our Aloha spirit and knowledge with the people here at Western.” “We sometimes perform banquets on campus,” said at campus events like the Arasato, “But we put on a Luau International Nights or some every year during spring term.” This event is the biggest and sometimes only event Hawaii Club puts on the whole year. It’s an event that takes a lot of planning, and Western students get the chance to go to it again. The Luau is held on Western’s campus for anyone to come enjoy and learn about Polynesian culture. “It is a dinner and hula show that is planned and performed by the club and we share our Polynesian culture with people that attend. We have songs and dances from all over Polynesia,” said Arasato. This is the 11th annual luau that Hawaii Club has put Hawaii Club performing at 2016 luau

What you need: 6 mint leaves .75 ounces simple syrup .75 ounces fresh lime juice 1.5 ounces white rum 1.5 ounces club soda Directions: In a shaker, lightly muddle, smash or grind the mint. Add the simple syrup, lime juice and rum, and fill with ice. Shake well and pour unstrained into a highball glass. Top with the club soda and garnish with a mint sprig.

Polynesian dance group Pasefika performing at 2016 luau

on, and it will take place on April 15. Admission is $5 for students with a Western ID and general admission is $7. Arasato also wanted to make it very clear that everyone is encouraged to join Hawaii Club. “Anyone can join the Hawaii club. Even if you’re not from Hawaii. It is a place where we learn from one another’s experiences. Please feel free to join us and maybe even perform with us on stage at our next Luau,” said Arasato. “Hawaii Club is important to me, because the Hawaiian culture is a dying culture. The only way we can help our culture, is by sharing and educating others about where we live and who we are. We

This cocktail is sweet, simple and can be made simply for one person, but can also be made for more just as easily. This is the kind of drink that makes you want to find a good book and a nice chair in the sun to relax in. Please enjoy and drink responsibly. Recipe courtesy of Dale DeGroff from Liquor.com. Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu

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are an oral culture, meaning a lot of our history was told through stories, chants and hula. Without language we have nothing,” stated Arasato. Hawaii Club meets Fridays at 6 p.m. in the Columbia or Pacific Room in the Werner University Center. Attend meetings to learn more about Hawaii Club, Polynesian culture, dances and history. Feel free to drop into any of the meetings to meet and learn about fellow peers on Western’s campus. Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu Cover photos courtesy of THE WESTERN JOURNAL ARCHIVES

Photo courtesy of LIQUOR.COM

By Paige Scofield Campus Life Editor

Photo courtesy of NOLAN ARASATO

Hawaii Club

ENTERTAINMENT

Photo courtesy of VOX.COM

Review: “Ghost in the Shell”

Beautiful visuals electrify this bland sci-fi action film By Ashton Newton Entertainment Editor Another highlight of the film was Johansson’s compelling performance. She grapples with the humanity left inside her. “Ghost in the Shell” is easily one of Johansson’s most compelling performances in recent years. The biggest drawback of “Ghost in the Shell” is the writing. Were it not for Johansson’s acting, the film would feel like a total mess. Conversations between characters feel bland and boring, making me feel impatient toward the next action scene. “Ghost in the Shell” definitely looks the part of a good sci-fi action movie. The stunts, the costumes and the setting feel very much tied to a different and exotic world. Even the society is completely alien toward our own, people getting cybernetic enhancements like it’s plastic surgery. One character enhances his liver so he can drink more. These cybernetic enhancements raise big moral questions about

Editor’s Picks Editor’s Recommendation: With popular games like “Tiny Tower” and “Pocket Planes,” NimbleBit has become one of the most recognizable and influential mobile gaming studios around, so it’s always a big deal when they release a new game. “Bit City” has been out for a couple weeks now and is absolutely spectacular. Not only is it an in-depth city building game, it’s one that can be played with one hand. The goal of the game is to build a city and reach a certain population level before moving onto the next city. Players click to build new buildings to make more money, while spending money on new vehicles and upgrades. “Bit City” is available now for free on iPhone and Android.

Scarlett Johansson as the compelling Major in “Ghost in the Shell”

humanity, questions that Major struggles with throughout the film. The film tries to make the viewer grapple with how they’d respond to the options of enhancements and raises questions about what it means to be human. This would have a much stronger effect though if these questions were paired with better writing and a better performance by the supporting cast. It felt like Johansson was the only one

By Ashton Newton Entertainment Editor

Photo courtesy of NIMBLEBIT

“Ghost in the Shell” has been the center of some controversy over Hollywood whitewashing, after casting Scarlett Johansson as the main character, Major Mira Killian. Due to this, the film already had a bad public view, but despite the whitewashing, “Ghost in the Shell” is a beautiful, though poorly written, action movie. From director Rupert Sanders, “Ghost in the Shell” is an adaptation of the manga by the same name. The story follows Mira Killian, who is trained as a cyborg counter terrorist after she almost dies in a cyber terrorist attack. The highlight of the film is the unique artistic style. Bright colors and futuristic settings bring a unique feeling to the film. I never found myself bored of the visuals. Whether it was seeing a building through the lens of heat-sensing binoculars or seeing the advertisement-filled city streets, “Ghost in the Shell” is bursting with color from start to finish.

putting 100 percent into her acting. “Ghost in the Shell” is a mediocre film at best. The beautiful visuals and great performance from Scarlett Johansson aren’t enough to save the film from its bland writing and poor supporting cast. Contact the author journalentertainment@wou.edu

+ Incredible visuals

- Bland writing Editor’s Disparagement: The fourth TV show in Netflix’s continuation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Iron Fist,” fails to match the quality of the shows before it. The main character, Danny Rand, returns to New York after being presumed dead for 15 years with a mysterious superpower and lots of enemies. One of the best parts of the other Marvel shows was the character development of both the heroes and villains, which “Iron Fist” lacks. Viewers are thrown into the world with a naïve protagonist and many unlikeable side characters. “Iron Fist” is not a bad show, but it isn’t nearly on the same level as the shows that came before it. Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

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Photo courtesy of IDIGITALTIMES.COM

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

The Shins’ new album is nothing breathtaking, but still a great listen

By Ashton Newton Entertainment Editor The Shins’ fourth album, “Heartworms,” was announced with the release of the song “Name For You,” an upbeat, groovy tune that felt very Shins. “Name for You” is poppy, but delightfully unique addition to the album. Unfortunately, “Name For You” is a rarity in “Heartworms,” many songs sound much like The Shins’ previous music but fail to be anything

Community spotlight: The Elsinore Theatre Affordable events make Salem’s historic theatre a must-see

memorable. “Painting a Hole,” “Cherry Hearts” and “Fantasy Island” all fall into this category. They’re not bad songs, but they just zoom by and don’t catch my attention in any way. Neither the lyrics or the music stood out in any particular way. The highlight of “Heartworms” is the song “Mildenhall.” This folky song tells an entertaining story with catchy lyrics and mellow music. “Mildenhall” goes down for me as the best song on the album and one of the best songs that The Shins have ever released. “Heartworms” lacks a song that will be remembered for a long time. Each Shins album prior has a song or multiple that has gone down as a classic, but “Heartworms” songs are just not memorable. The album doesn’t catch attention like some of the best Shins-songs. That’s not to say that “Heartworms” isn’t a great album. The music is

enjoyable, just not on the same level of The Shins’ previous albums. Another great song off the album is the title song, “Heartworms.” The song really stands out from the other songs in the album with a unique sound which is almost Beatles-eque. The upbeat music is matched with very meaningful lyrics, making for an enjoyable yet engaging listening experience. “Dead Alive” is the song I’d recommend to people looking for a song that matches the sound of previous Shins music the most. The lyrics are simple and catchy and the song is similar to songs in albums prior. If already a Shins fan, “Dead Alive” is the perfect new addition to their musical lineup. Overall, “Heartworms” is a good album. There is nothing horribly wrong with the album, but it fails to be memorable, most of the music just

blends together rather than being a continuous enjoyable listen. With a few songs that catch the ear and some that don’t, The Shins new album is worth the listen, but it’s nothing that will be mindblowing.

“Singin’ in the Rain” on May 17. The times and prices for these events are the same and are still open to those under 21. On April 28, LaserSpectacular will have a live concert laser show to the music of Pink Floyd. The show will feature “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Best of Pink Floyd.” Tickets are $15-$30 for students, depending on seating, and the doors open at 7 p.m. The Elsinore Theatre also features a plethora of locally produced theatre

events. With frequent high school drama festivals and shows from Theatreworks, the Elsinore never goes too long without an opportunity to see a show. The next show from Theatreworks is “Junie B Jones” on May 11. There are two showtimes: 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Tickets for this show are $14. For a slightly higher price, the Elsinore also regularly has famous musicians and comedians do shows as well. Gordon Lightfoot will be playing

a concert on June 12. Tickets for this are between $49-$69. Country singer Ned Ledoux is playing a show on June 30 for only $20-$30. There’s a little something for everyone at the Elsinore Theatre. Tickets to these events and more information about these and upcoming events can be found online at elsinoretheatre.com.

Contact the author journalentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of DIGITALTRENDS.COM

Review: “Heartworms”

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Pictured above: James Mercer of The Shins

Contact the author journalentertainment@wou.edu

With the start of spring term, school and work are starting to pick and up finding fun things to do is getting harder. Not too far from Western though, there’s a fun and affordable activity for all ages. Salem’s Elsinore Theatre is only a 20 minute drive from Western, in the heart of downtown Salem. The theatre has been around for over 90 years. It’s a beautiful and historic place to check out, not to mention there are a ton of fun events there, too. The Elsinore Theatre is currently in the middle of its Wednesday film series. Each Wednesday, a different classic movie is shown. The films are shown each Wednesday at 7 p.m. for only $6, the next, “The Wizard of Oz” being on April 5. For those over 21, some of these films also have wine pairings. There are two upcoming films with wine pairings: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on April 19 and

Photo by PAUL F. DAVIS

By Ashton Newton Entertainment Editor

WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL

Salem’s iconic Elsinore Theatre sits as a beautiful landmark downtown

HUMOR

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

this week in completely made up horoscopes Compiled by Western Journal Staff Leo 7/23-8/22 If spring cleaning feels daunting, just remember that fire cleanses all, Leo. Fire cleanses all.

Virgo 8/23-9/22

Libra 9/23-10/22

The stars are unable to provide wisdom this week, sweet Virgo. They are still trying to recover from winter term. After all, it’s only been one week.

You don’t have a weird cold, Libra. It’s time to start taking allergy pills again.

Cancer 6/21-7/22

A palindrome is a word or phrase that is spelled the same both forwards and backwards. For example: the phrase “Good dog.”

Aries 3/21-4/19

Scorpio 10/23-11/21

Try not to spend too much time reliving the hazy memories of spring break, Aries... Your classes are too important for that.

Cancel any loan that you have made to a fellow Israelite.

Gemini 5/21-6/20 Moonchild, if you find yourself in a rut this week, you should probably quit driving.

Taurus 4/20-5/20

Sagittarius 11/22-12/21

Don’t sit in the wrong seat this week, Taurus. You’ll regret it for the rest of the term.

Pisces 2/19-3/20

Aquarius 1/20-2/18

Pisces procrastinator, embrace the perfection of life at this moment because we all know how long that’s going to last: not long, you filthy communalist.

Aquarius, the stars are telling me that now would be a good time to start leading an environmental campaign to clean up the oceans.

WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL

Let yourself enjoy cautious optimism, Sagittarius. You survived winter, revel in the sunshine and give yourself a break.

Capricorn 12/22-1/19 For the love of all that is good, stop spending all of your money on guided painting and wine nights.

Cowboys aren’t a myth, I’ve seen them Some clarifying thoughts on a culture’s existence By Burke De Boer Sports Editor It has been explained to me a few different times over the past couple of years that there is no such thing as a cowboy. It was a myth, created by wild west carnival shows who ripped off Hispanic culture. If there were any people that could be called “cowboys” or “cowgirls,” they only existed for a few decades in the 19th century. And they certainly weren’t white. Being from a town that dubbed itself “The Cowboy Capital of Oregon,” I was a bit shocked to hear all this. The explanation, often given to blow the minds of the audience with revisionism, takes the history of western expansion and astonishingly oversimplifies it. The idea is that Mexicans were in the west before Americans and did all the work before the American government stole the land. Eventually, touring shows made up the idea of gunslinging western icons and it was their lie that captured the imagination of the Americans. Of course it is true that Mexican vaqueros raised cattle on the high plains before American cowboys did, but when people say that the English word “buckaroo” is a corruption of the Spanish “vaquero” they conveniently forget that this would require English speakers to be in the west to adopt the term. The English speakers adopted much of their vernacular and techniques from the Spanish. And they also learned a lot from the Native tribes that had developed their own horse cultures. This is important to remember when we consider the history of the west. And it’s equally important for the contemporary culture of the west. Because history is not some closed book. I like to think of history as the genealogy of a culture - it allows you to see where a people and their customs

come from. I grew up alongside a lot of Chicano kids, many of whom went on to work ranches and farms in Central and Eastern Oregon. My father went to high school and worked on ranches on a Shoshone-Paiute reservation. Raising agricultural prosperity from the desert was a tough business and a diverse array of tough people took up the task. Yet some say the cowboy is dead, that with the invention of barbed wire fences, which quickly spread across the west, the cowboy disappeared. The duty of the ranch hand had been keeping the owner’s livestock on the owner’s land, a duty now fulfilled by grids of fenceline. But that’s only true most of the time. I remember on more than one occasion as a child when the phone would ring in the middle of the night; a neighbor calling that our cows were out, or their cows were out and they would like some help. It’s very rare that automation actually kills an industry, or even a specific job within that industry. Ranching has certainly not been hurt by automation. At the end of the day, humans are needed should fences fail. At the start of the day, humans are needed to put the fences up. And fences aren’t even a universal rule. I’m not sure if this happened before I was born or when I was simply too

young to remember it, but my father still brings it up regularly; sometime after he came in from the range and got a job in town, Pop and his brotherin-law were hired by a coworker at the mill to cut a bull calf; so, they drove up to his little house on the mountainside to do some castrating. They found that the bull in question could barely be called a “calf ” anymore, and this big old boy was penned up in a corral that was half made out of broken appliances. The notion that the range is settled, whether by fence or any other means, hits its biggest snag when you consider the Bureau of Land Management. Ranchers need as much range and pasture as they can get. Enter the BLM land lease system, where ranchers buy permits and leases to range rights. The BLM office in my hometown presides over 284 leases a year, and another 122 permits. The most of any in the state; and yet people say Pendleton’s the real cowboy capital. They also maintain land for recreation such as offroading, and administer one of the state’s 17 wild horse management areas. It’s a lot of ground to cover. A calf without an ear tag or brand is open game to illicitly tag and sell. Furthermore, bears, cougars and the recently reintroduced wolves pose threats to unguarded cattle. And most outfits birth their calves in January and February - which gives them the entire

WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL

spring and summer to grow, but are also born into prime blizzard months. Mama cows will leave weak calves to freeze in the drifts. Without men and women patrolling the livestock, any number of these misfortunes would befall them. These ranch hands will be needed as long as people eat beef. The men and women working any industry will reflect the society they live in. It’s all a matter of demographics, and the demographics of western cattle country are fairly diverse. A diversity that includes, to some people’s evident dissatisfaction, white folks. We do need to respect the cultures and experiences of the wide array of people who made our nation. But respecting the legacy of one does not need to come at the expense of another, especially when what’s being dubbed cultural appropriation would more accurately be called cultural exchange. The iconic images of cowgirls and cowboys on the range and in the rodeo arena are shining examples of what voluntary economic and cultural exchange can do. In this instance, raising an industry and an identity that became a vital element of the backbone of the nation. Contact the author at bdeboer11@wou. edu

A young Burke De Boer practicing bull riding on the family ranch

Photo courtesy of JACKIE DE BOER

EDITORIAL

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

TAIL-END

The Western Journal Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Student Media is hiring media heads for KWOU, The Northwest Passage and The Western Journal.

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we goofed...

In issue 19, the Western Journal published a graphic containing misinformation alongside the article “How to find the best birth control.” Arm Implants, IUDs and sterilization are the most effective methods of birth control, while fertility awareness, condoms and diaphragms are the least effective. The graphic stated otherwise.

sorry about it

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