When Earth and Art Collide New exhibits on page 7
WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2016 VOLUME 17 ISSUE 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE...
Luke Cage: Netflix’s third Marvel series Page 4
Dear Esmerelda is back with more advice Page 6
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Paul Revis sets two football records Page 8
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NEWS
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
THE JOURNAL 345 N. Monmouth Ave. Monmouth, OR 97361 Student Media Department TERRY HOUSE NEWSROOM 503-838-8347
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF STEPHANIE BLAIR
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MANAGING EDITOR ZOË STRICKLAND
journalmanaging@wou.edu
NEWS EDITOR TBD
journalnews@wou.edu
CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR PAIGE SCOFIELD
journalcampuslife@wou.edu
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ASHTON NEWTON journalentertainment@wou.edu
SPORTS EDITOR BURKE DE BOER
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PHOTO EDITOR KEITH MATHEW
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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
Contraception and controversy
A 100-year history of Planned Parenthood By TK Layman | Freelancer The Planned Parenthood website states that in 1916 Margaret Sanger defied societal expectations by opening a clinic offering contraceptive services to women. In Brooklyn, New York, before women had voting rights, before the ability open their own bank account, a revolutionary idea was started that would be challenged throughout history. Among the first of women’s rights activists to publicly push for change, Sanger started a clinic offering reproductive health and contraceptive services for women. 100 years later, Planned Parenthood now offers many services for both women and men, ranging from contraceptives and sexual and reproductive health services, to hormone therapy. Planned Parenthood has been the subject of public
outcry since its inception in 1916, as well as being in the news in recent years. Protest groups and religiously affiliated groups have pushed for years against the organizations because of public opinion regarding abortion services, funding, and other accusations. In August of 2016, Huffington Post also reported that Ohio Gov. John Kasich had signed a bill into law, February of that year, defunding the state’s 28 medical centers. The bill would have removed 1.3 million dollars from the organization. US District Judge, Michael Barrett, stated “irreparable injury” would come to the clinics and the community they serve. Barrett also stated that the law was unconstitutional and the law was eventually overturned in May of 2016. Funding has been a major
issue in the fight for Planned Parenthood. In September 2016, the government passed a short-term spending budget that had originally involved restrictions in funding Planned Parenthood, according to the New York Times. In the face of public disparaging, they have managed to overcome many accusations. Contrary to popular belief, Planned Parenthood reports on their website that only three percent of their patients receive abortion services. Over 80 percent of services revolve around pregnancy prevention and contraceptive services. Planned Parenthood, on average, assists families in preventing approximately 579,000 unintended pregnancies a year. Other services offered at the 650 clinics throughout
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SUBMISSIONS THE 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 JOURNAL does not guarantee the publication of all letters or columns. THE JOURNAL reserves the right to edit for punctuation, grammar, and spelling, but never for content. Please bring submissions to THE JOURNAL at Terry House or email to journaleditor@wou.edu. Submissions must be received by Wednesday at 5 p.m. to be considered for print. All opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do necessarily reflect those of THE JOURNAL or Western Oregon University.
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the United States include STD/I testing, men’s and women’s sexual health, OB/ GYN services, Pap tests, mammograms and LGBTQ+ services. Oregon has 12 locations, the closest to Western being in Salem and Portland. Both locations offer STD/I testing, HIV screening, pregnancy services, as well as men and women’s sexual health. The northeast Portland location additionally offers hormone services for transgender patients. Throughout history, Planned Parenthood has been challenged as an organization. By offering many locations throughout the United States, as well as reduced costs for low income clients, Planned Parenthood continues to be a driving force in providing care for all. Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu
NEWS
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
relative risk hormonal IUD 1.4 ring 1.6 patch 2.0 pill (progestin) 1.3 pill (combined) 1.2
New study links birth control with depression
A recent Denmark study found that women taking hormonal contraceptives were at higher risk for depression. By Zoë Strickland | Managing Editor Can your birth control be negatively affecting your psyche? From 1995 to 2013, three researchers from the University of Copenhagen aimed to answer that question. Charlotte Wessel Skovlund, Lina Steinrund Mørch and Lars Vedel Kessing conducted a study wherein they tracked the relationship between women in Denmark on hormonal birth control and women who were prescribed antidepressants. Though this topic continues to be disputed by various factions of the medical world, this study found that women who were prescribed hormonal birth control were more likely to be prescribed antidepressants later on in life. According to the study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, over 1 million women living in Denmark were used to gather the data. The women in the study ranged from age 15 to 34. Though the information overall shows that the likelihood of depression increases with the use of hormonal birth control, the overall impact that birth control has is also dependant
on the type of hormonal birth control that is used. The study examined five different forms of hormonal birth control: the patch, vaginal ring, hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), combination estrogen and progestin hormonal birth control pills and progestinonly birth control pills. The statistics gathered are expressed using RR, or relative risk. Relative risk describes the probability of something, in this case depression, occurring when exposed to something else, in this case hormonal birth control. For example, an RR of greater than one means that the risk is that many times more likely to occur in the experimental group than the control group. According to the findings of the study: users of the patch are at +2.0 RR, vaginal ring are at +1.6 RR, the hormonal IUD are at +1.4 RR, combined birth control are at +1.2 RR and progestin-only birth control are at +1.3 RR. In a separate write-up of the study, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stated that “the fluctuating levels of
oestrogen and progesterone may be responsible” and that “studies have linked raised progesterone levels in particular to lower moods.” The data also indicated that adolescent women were at an even higher risk of being prescribed antidepressants later on in life. Heathline Media stated that “Adolescent girls who used non-oral products such as the patch and [IUDs] had a 3 times higher risk for first use of an antidepressant.” Though this is an important study, there is still further research that needs to be done. The information gathered by the researchers helps inform people of the possible risks of taking hormonal birth control. However, there is no definite information directly linking hormonal birth control to depression; hormonal birth control can be one of the many factors in contributing to a person’s risk of developing depression. In some cases, such as a 2013 study of 6,000 women that was published by the American Journal of Epidemiology, research has pointed to hormonal birth control aiding in the reduction
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of depressive symptoms. The large-scale study done by the University of Copenhagen is another step in figuring out the causation of depressive tendencies, particularly relating to women. Depression can be caused by a multitude of factors in someone’s life. The type of birth control you choose has the possibility of being one of these factors. Before choosing a type of contraceptive, hormonal or otherwise, it’s important to educate yourself on the types of contraception available. To seek contraceptive counseling you can make an appointment with your primary care provider or general practitioner, by visiting Western’s Student Health and Counseling Center or by visiting Planned Parenthood. If you’re experiencing depression or any of its related symptoms, contact the Student Health and Counseling Center. All services are confidential and all counselors are either licensed professionals or are in training to become one. Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu
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ENTERTAINMENT
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Review: “Luke Cage”
Netflix’s third Marvel show is the best one yet By Ashton Newton | Entertainment Editor Marvel’s Netflix shows have proven one thing in the past: they know exactly what they’re doing. “Daredevil” and “Jessica Jones” both had incredible performances, compelling stories and plenty of details straight from the comics. Marvel’s “Luke Cage” is the next show in the ever-growing lineup, and it follows the footsteps of its predecessors. Luke Cage made his debut in “Jessica Jones”: the bulletproof man with a mysterious past. The new show picks up right where the first left off. Cage moves to Harlem and tries his best to live a normal life by working multiple jobs and trying his best to lay low. Obviously, things don’t go as planned. “Luke Cage” makes it clear that everyone is human. Although Luke has bulletproof skin, he reacts to things and feels the same emotions that any human would. On the other side, the villains Cornell ‘Cottonmouth’ Stokes, a Harlem crime lord, and his
cousin, Mariah Dillard, are equally human. The hardships and tragedy these characters endure make them feel both real and relatable. This is done by fabulous performances all around. The side characters don’t get as much focus as the main characters in “Luke Cage”. While Misty Knight plays a prominent role, her presence almost never seems necessary. Claire Temple plays a larger role. She is the only character to have appeared
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her presence in “Luke Cage” is only logical. Her character arch has been building over years in television and I imagine that “Luke Cage” is just a small step in a long journey for her. One of the biggest differences between “Luke Cage” and previous Netflix shows is the soundtrack. Main events and action sequences are almost always accompanied by music. Scenes at Cottonmouth’s club repeatedly show live music; sometimes the musicians are featured
The hardships and tragedy these characters endure make them feel both real and sympathetic.
in “Daredevil”, “Jessica Jones” and “Luke Cage”. She is what holds these heroes together so
Photo Courtesy of IMDB.COM
just as much as the actors. The soundtrack is absolutely fantastic and is used to convey common themes and emotions. While the story is very strong, the writing feels a little off at times. There are cheesy lines so predictable they made my eyes roll. Luke Cage, specifically, is super corny. It’s partly his character, getting called out on it by other characters, but it felt a bit distracting. The show is also a bit more adult than “Daredevil” and “Jessica Jones”. While those were very mature in their own right, “Luke Cage” has some pretty strong language and graphic violence. It’s mostly
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Photo Courtesy of IMDB.COM the characters in the show staying true to comics, just as The Punisher in “Daredevil” is more foul mouthed than anyone else on the show. “Luke Cage” fits well in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There are plenty of callbacks to other Marvel films. At one point Luke is referred to as “Harlem’s Captain America”. I’ve wished that there were more ties to the Marvel Universe since Daredevil season one, and I felt that Luke Cage did a very good job. There are huge ties to “Iron Man 2”, and for the first time, Avengers Tower was even in the background of the promotional art. Overall, I’d recommend “Luke Cage” to anyone. It doesn’t require an extensive knowledge of superheroes, it’s culturally relevant, there’s action and drama and the performances are top of the line. It’s well rounded, wildly entertaining and easily the best Netflix Marvel show yet. Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou. edu
ENTERTAINMENT
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Becoming a YouTube Hero
Helping YouTube enforce guidelines and help user inquiries By Blayde Biacan | Freelancer Do you want to become a hero? A YouTube hero, that is. The YouTube hero program is something YouTube has come up with to encourage users to make it a better place and to make the entertainment process unhindered. When I say encourage, I mean there will even be rewards to encourage users to be a part of the YouTube hero program. The actions that help users earn points towards rewards for these incentives also help to improve YouTube overall. At times when you click the “closed captioning” button, it
doesn’t align with what is said in the video. You are now able to edit the subtitles in videos and doing so will earn you a point towards rewards. If you’re watching a video and hear excess swearing, which takes away from a video, giving it a flag warns YouTube that the video may violating YouTube’s new guidelines which were recently set on Sept. 1. If you wish to reap the most points, answering questions on the YouTube help forum will not only help you, but help others with their inquires as well. However,
Photo Courtesy of YOUTUBE.COM
answering inquiries will only get you points if you have the best answer. These everyday actions can help get you into the YouTube hero community, get closer to the YouTube staff, allow you to to get special sneak previews and even test new products that come out before release. If you’re interested in becoming a YouTube hero, all you need to do is search “YouTube heroes” on Google and click on the top link to sign up. All you need to provide is an email to sign up and you’re on your way to being a hero. Like any hero, “with great power, comes great responsibility.” YouTube asks for these actions to be used appropriately in order to make it a better place. Contact the author at bbiacan16@wou.edu
Editor’s Picks By Ashton Newton | Entertainment Editor
Editor’s Recommendations:
No music truly captures autumn like folk. There’s something about listening to folk music on a rainy fall afternoon that really can’t be matched. The mellow guitar, soft vocals and poetic lyrics just seem fitting in the fall season. Even if you’ve never listened to folk music, I’d highly recommend giving it a try this fall. Some of
my favorites are Bon Iver’s album “For Emma, Forever Ago”, Fossil Collective’s “Tell Where I Lie” and anything by Lighthouse and the Whaler. I highly recommend checking out the movie “What We Do in the Shadows,” directed by Taika Waititi. The film is a mockumentary following a group of vampires who are living in a New Zealand flat in modern day, and it has to be one of the funniest movies I’ve seen all year.
Editor’s Disparagement:
“No Man’s Sky” was made to seem like a video game that had an infinite universe filled with planet sized planets and an unlimited number of procedurally generated plants and creatures. I watched the trailer hundreds of times, I was there at release to pick up the game, and I’ve never been more disappointed in my life. The game’s “infinite
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planets” are the same thing just colored differently. The discoverable creatures aren’t giant dinosaurs like the trailer suggests, but instead similarlooking small animals that don’t really differ much from planet to planet. The game is repetitive and bland. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou. edu
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CAMPUS LIFE
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Dear Esmeralda, I’m a freshman bisexual girl, and I have a big problem with relationships. They make me feel awkward. I don’t like holding hands and the mushy-gushy stuff hurts my soul. I’m asking for help to come out to my parents and also what I should do about not liking relationships. Am I the only one like this? I told my friend once, and she was really confused. Confused in the Closet Dear Confused in the Closet,
Life got you down? Problem with your lover? Get some advice from the fabulous drag queen Esmeralda. Get your life straight, unlike her.
You have written to the right drag queen on this kitty girl! First of all, there is no rush in coming out to your parents. This can be one of the hardest things to do! Take a deep breath and, if possible, talk to them in person. I know it can be harder than a go go dancer’s abs but it will make you a happier person in the long run, for better or worse! As for not liking relationships, this is easy as pie! There are many layers to an LGBTQ identity (not unlike onions)!
There is romantic orientation, sexual orientation and finally gender identity! For example I have this friend, they are kinda a goofball and annoying but I love them anyway, whose full blown identity is panromantic-grey-asexualgenderqueer. This means they are romantically attracted to all genders of people but rarely experience sexual attraction. No tea, no shade, no pink lemonade hunty, but it sounds like you could be the flip of them. You could be an aromantic bisexual. Be very careful to note the
difference between aromantic and aromatic. One means you don’t experience romantic attraction and one means you have a smell about you. To wrap it up, you are never alone in your struggles. Visit the Stonewall Center on campus or attend Triangle Alliance. Please, if anyone out there has questions about their orientation ask the folks there or even bug me about it! Best of luck my dear!
Erase the stigma
World Mental Health Awareness Day By Paige Scofield | Campus Life Editor On Monday Oct. 10, Western observed World Mental Health Awareness Day. In the Werner University Center, ASWOU had a booth to bring awareness to our campus about the stigma surrounding mental health. Their goal was to educate the masses by using trivia and pamphlets from the National Alliance on Mental Illness website. They printed out pamphlets on the most common mental illnesses that afflict Americans. The pamphlets state the facts below: Obsessive compulsive disorder affects nearly 1 out of 40 people in the U.S. Post Traumatic Stress disorder affects 3.5 percent of the of the U.S. adult population which is roughly 7.7 million people. Self-harm or self-injury affects mostly teens and young adults which is a sign of emotional distress.
Schizophrenia affects 1 percent of Americans. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects nearly 9 percent of children between ages 3-17. Nearly 4 percent with mental illness. ASWOU of adults are diagnosed with member Madison Harner, a ADHD. junior international studies Anxiety disorders affect major, eagerly wanted students an estimated 40 million to know the resources that are (18 percent) of adults and available. approximately 8 percent of “We’re supporting our students children and teens. on campus and I think it’s Depression affects about 16 important that students here million (7 percent) of the U.S. know what resources they population. Young adults in have, like the Student Health the age range of 18-25 are 60 and Counseling Center and percent more likely to have what services they provide,” depression than those above said Harner. 50. Max Norr, senior history Eating disorders affect 1 in 20 major, is also a member of people at some point in their ASWOU, is trying to get this lives. knowledge to all who are The students of ASWOU willing to listen. would like to bring these “The goal is to educate as facts to the attention of many people as possible and Western students, as well as the more educated people support those who struggle become, the less stigmatized WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
Photo by AMBER HOLLAND it will become, because they’ll understand more about about mental illnesses,” said Norr. “Just trying to get the information out and letting people know that one, they’re not alone, and two, there are real reasons behind mental illnesses. It’s about erasing the learned discrimination and the learned internalized feeling towards mental illnesses. If we can work towards educating people and erasing that stigma, that’s our goal achieved.” If you’re interested in learning more about the very real affects of mental illness visit www.nami.org for more information. Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu
CAMPUS LIFE
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
New exhibits in Hamersly Library By Shaylie Pickrell | Freelancer
Cocktail Corner
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Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble By Paige Scofield | Campus Life Editor
It’s that time of year! The time for goblins, ghouls, witches, scary movies and alcohol. Now, any good witch knows they need the perfect potion for dancing naked under the harvest moon, but also one for a chill kick back. If this sounds appealing, then dust off your pointy hat and cauldron, because,“Witches Brew,” is the drink for you! Here’s the recipe courtesy of food.com:
Photo by AMBER HOLLAND On Wednesday, Oct. 5 there was a reception held for the new exhibits in Hamersly Library. The exhibits are the collective work of current faculty, past faculty and alumni. The “Painting and Photography-- A Friendship” exhibit has a collection of photographs done by Vincent Leandro, a former art student at Western, and a series of paintings inspired by his work done by Elaina La Boda Jamieson, a Western emeritus art professor. They developed a friendship during his attendance at Western and it has lasted throughout the past 15 years. Seeing the artists together, you could feel the creative chemistry around them. Elaina had struggled to complete three of the paintings before having carpal tunnel surgery in April. The passion she expressed
towards her paintings was incredible and added meaning behind the exhibit and their relationship. The Earth science exhibit was not shy of passion either. The exhibit is a collection of work done
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...nothing will be as powerful as watching his students succeed in their endeavors
by professors and alumni in the earth science department during the process of projectbased learning, research and community service. Dr. Taylor, one of the professors who put the exhibit together, spoke with a heartwarming sense of nostalgia as he
explained that the collective work, over the past 20 years, has meant so much to him and the Earth science department. All the time and effort put into the research is the result of the meaningful relationships that were developed during these project-based learning experiences. To him, nothing will be as powerful as watching his students succeed in their endeavors, especially a former student, Beeb, who has now become a faculty member in the Earth science department. The exhibits not only display impressive works of art and detailed collections of research, but convey an underlying sense of pride and accomplishment. The exhibit will be open until Dec. 9, the end of first term. Contact the author at spickrell15@wou.edu
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Servings: 12-16 (makes one punch bowl) What you need: 1 (6 ounce) package of lime gelatin 2 cups of boiling water 3 cups of chilled pineapple juice 1 chilled 2 liter bottle of lemon lime soda or gingerale 2 cups of vodka Directions: Pour gelatin mix into large bowl and slowly stir in boiling water. Continue stirring for at least two minutes until gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir in pineapple juice, the entire 2 liter of soda and vodka. Let cool to room temperature and serve! This recipe is simple and sweet. To add flare, try serving the cocktail out of a cauldron. Or serve in glasses that have gummy teeth, or creature candy off the side of the cup. I will be adding a new spooky cocktail each week of October so your Halloween party can be the talk of the wizarding world! Please drink responsibly and have a happy Halloween! Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu
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SPORTS
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Young bucks lead the way
MLB teams carry young rosters into the postseason By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor The MLB playoffs kicked off last week and since spring training this season has been sold as the year the Cubs break their curse. But it’s not only the supposed year of Chicago. This is also a year where young players have come to the front. The Boston Red Sox have found an MVP frontrunner in Mookie Betts, who is only in his third professional season. He’s joined in the outfield by Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi. All are products of the Boston farm system. Rookie Tyler Naquin has been outstanding since being called up by the Cleveland Indians, joining the team’s leading batters, 22-year-old Francisco Lindor and 24-yearold Jose Ramirez, in a high powered lineup. Naquin has a .296 batting average, just shy of the .300 mark his millennial teammates have notched. The Dodgers have seven rookies on their playoff roster after an injury plagued season. But the NL deals the Dodgers a more defensive path to the World Series than the power hitting AL. Count ‘em up: Lester, Scherzer, Bumgarner on down. Between all the aces, eight of the NL’s ten best ERA pitchers made it to the postseason. Analysts predicted a Cubs-Red Sox World Series from a long ways out. My own prediction is IndiansNationals. No matter what, we know that a lot of fresh faces are currently going through the ringer to come out October veterans. Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu
Jacob Bannister kicks against Simon Fraser University
One for the books Football wins big and breaks two records
By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor Western’s football team put on a show in Monmouth as the Wolves hosted Simon Fraser on Oct. 8. The Wolves won 33-7, improving to 3-3 on the season. Nick Duckworth connected with wideout Paul Revis to set new school records for single-game passing yards and receptions. The opening three possessions kept the game scoreless as the Wolves looked to get their feet under them. A 27-yard touchdown pass to Revis from starting quarterback Philip Fenumiai opened the scoring at the end of the first quarter. But the day under center would belong to junior Nick Duckworth, who took over in the second quarter and went on to complete 26 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns. In addition to Revis, Duckworth found reliable targets in junior
wideout Zack Suarez, who put up 42 yards and a touchdown, and senior tight end Andy Avgi who proved a particular threat in the red zone. The Woodburn native caught two touchdowns. “It felt good being back after being out two weeks. I thought it was a great home win for us to get back on track with Central coming up next week,” Duckworth said. Duckworth also threw a pair of interceptions, but didn’t let them shake his focus, “I just tried to come back on the next drive and get an early completion to get my mind off the last throw.” He finished the day with a 91.5 passer rating. The new records belonging to Revis are 17 receptions in a game and 250 receiving yards. “I was just trying to get open and create opportunity,” Revis said after the game. He’s less focused on the records, being more concerned with the season to come. “I was
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Photo by JOSEPHINE KLOOCK
fortunate to get the ball thrown my way and make things happen. Hoping to build off the momentum to continue for the rest of our season. Getting a record is a huge honor and couldn’t happen without the play of the rest of my teammates. This is something I’ll enjoy more down the road.” On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Tyler Johnson had two sacks and an interception as part of the effort that kept SFU to one score. Revis and Johnson were named the GNAC offensive and defensive players of the week for their impressive performances. The Wolves are on the road this week, taking on Central Washington. Next week they host Humboldt State for homecoming on Oct. 22. They beat Humboldt in their first meeting earlier this year. Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu
SPORTS
Raiding Oakland Owner Mark Davis shops relocation
By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor In the eyes of St. Louis, Stan Kroenke is a worm of the lowliest caliber, who swept their Rams away following the allure of Los Angeles. Mark Davis and Alex Spanos look toward relocation as well, and fans of the Raiders and Chargers may need to prepare to join St. Louis in grieving. Kroenke, owner of the Rams, moved his team out of St. Louis this year. Spanos wants his Chargers to leave San Diego and Davis has been courting the Raiders to a variety of cities. Most deals fell through but a recent proposal from Las Vegas is gaining significant traction. The perpetually 7-9 Rams could have been playoff contenders in St. Louis. Regular demolition jobs of top opponents like Seattle, Arizona and Denver showcased their talent. The problem was that Los Angeles became a wideopen football market with the fall of USC. All Kroenke had to figure out was how to get there. The surest way to get out of town was to put out a paltry product and alienate
local fans. It worked for Clay Bennett, Robert Irsay and now Kroenke. It may work for Spanos, who spent this offseason refusing to give the third-overall pick the terms and payment topdraft-picks expect. Unfortunately the tragedy in Oakland is not Mark Davis’ fault. Oakland’s decrepit O.co Coliseum has the lowest capacity in the NFL. The Raiders need new ground but Davis is not one of the league’s billionaire owners. Packing a thin wallet, he can almost justify the notion of stadium subsidies. After all, a sports team is a massive part of a city’s identity and economy. The argument of owners is that teams are essentially public goods. The taxpayers of Alameda County aren’t having it. Various outsiders are open to helping Davis with the expensive art of stadium construction. Though the most recent is Las Vegas, other contenders were nominated in recent years.
Photo courtesy of RAIDERS.COM
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
The Raiders tried to join the Rams and the Chargers in Los Angeles. They lived in L.A. once before, but like any Hell’s Angel, they came roaring back to Oakland. San Diego has been considered if Spanos succeeds in relocating the Chargers, or the west coast could be abandoned altogether for San Antonio. Nothing beats Texas football. What makes this all a bummer is that for the first time, since the Jon Gruden days, the Raiders are on the come-up. With Jack Del Rio as head coach and Derek Carr under center, they’re likely to make the playoffs this year. The people of Oakland, who have watched the Raiders gurgle with mediocrity for a decade and a half, now face the prospect of seeing the rebuilding era pay dividends to another community. Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu
Wolves go north Volleyball lose one and win one in Alaska trip By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor A long road trip saw Wolves volleyball take on Universities of Alaska at Anchorage and Fairbanks. Top tenranked Anchorage beat the Wolves, but they returned to Monmouth with a win after besting Fairbanks 3-1. The Wolves put up some solid plays against Anchorage,
out digging them 44-41. Senior Christie Colasurdo led on defense, racking up 19 of the digs. But these 44 digs were the result of a game played on the defense. Anchorage was all around too tough and with the win they advanced to a 17-1 record on the season.
The match against Fairbanks opened with a loss in the close first set, 22-25. The Wolves then rattled off a dominant performance the rest of the match and took three sets in a row. “Our mentality really changed,” Colasurdo said after the game. “We decided
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Extra time thriller
Soccer takes match to the wire in 3-4 loss By Paul Davis | Freelancer The Western soccer team lost their seventh game, against Saint Martin’s University on Thursday Oct. 6, 3-4. The first half was a slugfest. Neither team dominated the other. In the 12th minute, star player Taylor Higa, scored the only goal of the half with an unassisted shot to the lower left corner of the goal, a shot that the goalie had no chance of reaching. The second half of the game, however, was a stunner. In the fourth minute of the second half SMU forward, Hannah Frakes, scored a header off of a corner kick to equalize the game. Then a high scoring back-and-forth began. In the 67th minute, the Wolves scored another goal thanks again to Taylor Higa. Six minutes later SMU struck back and equalized the game again. Both teams scored another goal in the last 10 minutes of the game; Western in the 81st minute and SMU in the 88th. But sadly, 49 seconds into extra-time SMU forward, Kelli Bannerman, ended the game by scoring a goal by kicking the ball over Western’s goalkeeper’s head to end the game with a loss for our ladies. Contact the author at paul. davis1255@gmail.com we wanted to dictate the game and control what happened to our side and we did just that. We came out much more aggressive and started playing to win, and it worked.” Alisha Bettinson posted yet another double-double on the Continued on page 12
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HUMOR
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Elon Musk’s million dollar fetish I just don’t get Elon Musk’s sexual fascination with space exploration By Darien Campo | Concerned Citizen/Normal Guy
Bad Photoshop job by DARIEN CAMPO Just last week SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced his plans to begin work on sending humans to the planet Mars by the year 2022-just six years from now. People around the globe are reacting to the news with excitement, rallying together with a great outpouring of support for the California-based aerospace company. But the whole idea is incredibly baffling to me, because I just don’t get Elon Musk’s sexual fascination with space exploration. I guess maybe you can call me old fashioned, but I like the way things are right here on Earth. I’m a regular guy: I enjoy coffee, beaches and an atmospheric pressure high enough to support liquid water. So when a guy tells me he wants to spend
millions of dollars launching himself on a fancy rocket to some barren rock in the sky, I have to wonder-what kind of elaborate fetish is this guy playing out? Look, I get it. Space is a “cool” thing now. I’m just as curious about, like, space rocks and stuff as the next guy; but for the life of me I just cannot seem to fathom Elon Musk’s unstoppable need to penetrate the darkness of the infinite void. What kind of far-out sexual gratification drives a man to shoot rocket after rocket into the sky, watching each one explode, one after another, only to say “Yeah, I’m gonna ride one of those things.” All of our greatest telescopes have already gone a’knockin’, and scientists can confirm:
Mars is empty-no one’s home! So what could he possibly think he’s going to find up there? Does the possibility of extraterrestrial microbial life bring a stirring to his loins? Maybe the media is to blame. Has the science fiction genre sexualized outer space enough to drive a man to this point? All I know is that Mr. Musk is just one, of a whole generation of young men, who grew up reading things like Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Princess of Mars” books-a series which blatantly fetishized Martian women as extraterrestrial sex objects. It is books and movies like this that give young men the wrong ideas, and next thing you know the government is allocating funds for perverts like NASA. All I’m asking for is a little
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practical decency. Back in my day, we took our disgusting, overcomplicated fetishes and shoved them deep down into the back of our minds where, sometimes at night, I can still feel the desire burning away like a match lit eternal-the way it’s supposed to be. I don’t know what sort of sick fantasies Musk is hoping to play out in the ancient dust of the vast Martian desert, but I want to know why he can’t just keep it to himself. Just think about it: if Elon Musk would just stop and take a cold shower, we could instead divert all of that taxpayer money to a more dignified endeavour-perhaps a detailed exhibit at the Smithsonian on women’s feet. Contact the author at dcampo13@wou.edu
EDITORIAL
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
CAMPUS VOICES
“Yes, because I might meet a Martian and we could have an epic love story and it would be great.” Billyann Stempel, sophomore, education
“Yes I would like to go to Mars. I’ve always been interested in other planets and Mars is one of the possible planets we could go to, so I think it would be kind of cool to check it out and see what I could do.” Gael Marin-Valdez, senior, exercise science/ pre-education
By Ashton Newton | Entertainment Editor
Would you go to Mars?
“Probably not because one-the time to get there, two-I have plans for my life and three-I’m not an astronaut.” Katelynn Van Gelder, sophomore, English
“No, I’m very terrified of the unknown, I think. It would be a very cool life changing experience but I’d be too afraid to not come back that I wouldn’t.” Nathalie Olds, senior, communication
Photos by JOSHUA DAVIS
Don’t man up
The toxicity of masculinity in our society By Keith Mathew | Photo Editor
Man up. Grow a pair. Be a man. These off-handed comments said mainly towards men are harmful in a way people may not fully understood. As a man, I detest the use of those phrases as it creates an atmosphere
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where the person feels they have to do something to make up for the inadequacy. I say “inadequacy” because telling someone to “be a man” or to “man up” typically occurs when a man is not doing something “manly.” In the media, there is a plethora of female empowerment and pushes for feminism to rid women of the plagues of sexism. However, there is very little on the other side of sexism, the part dealing with men. Telling a person, no matter their gender, to grow a pair is sexist. I have seen “grow a pair” or “man up” used towards men who are not acting in a “manly” way. When I say “manly” I am talking about actions I have observed from other people and documentaries.
My look on society’s definition of a man consists of: not showing emotions, strong, assertive/aggressive, handy, fixer, highly sexual, knows what they want, and not afraid of anything. There are many more than just that though. The reason these parts of the male typical gender role can be harmful to the men is because if they do not feel like they fit any of these things they can overcompensate and cause harm to themselves and other people. On Netflix I have seen a documentary exploring the problem with these ideas of forcing men into gender roles. The documentary, called “The Mask You Live In,” has interviews from men understand the pressure to conform to hyper-masculine
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gender roles, most of the adult male interviewees have been to or are in prison because of the pressure. They have been told since they were little they were not man enough and as they became older they acted out more in a negative fashion to compensate for what they were told they were lacking, thus leading them to prison. I think it would just be better for all of us to treat every human being as an individual not as a person who is part of the collective of the gender they identify with. If someone identifies as a man then in my book are a man no matter what, even if they don’t act the way people think a man should act. Contact the author at journalphoto@wou.edu
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TAIL-END
The Western Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Volleyball Continued from page 9
season in the game against Fairbanks, racking up 15 kills and 12 digs. Colasurdo had 21 digs, and Sydney Blankinship put up 12 kills and a block. The team hit .267 on the day. Wolves volleyball came back from Alaska with a 6-9 record, 3-5 in-conference.
Your next chance to see them at home is Oct. 20 against St. Martin’s, who the Wolves beat earlier this year. The night will be a pink out, so wear pink for breast cancer awareness. Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM
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