WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2016 VOLUME 17 ISSUE 8
Fishnets, puns, and full-body contact
Page 6
INSIDE THIS ISSUE...
2016 election introduces new education plans Page 2
Western’s Community touches base post-election Page 4 WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
A student’s frustration with Moodle Page 11
2
NEWS
The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
THE WESTERN JOURNAL
345 N. Monmouth Ave. Monmouth, OR 97361 Student Media Department TERRY HOUSE NEWSROOM 503-838-8347
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF STEPHANIE BLAIR
journaleditor@wou.edu
MANAGING EDITOR ZOË STRICKLAND
journalmanaging@wou.edu
NEWS EDITOR JADE RAYNER
journalnews@wou.edu
CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR PAIGE SCOFIELD
journalcampuslife@wou.edu
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ASHTON NEWTON journalentertainment@wou.edu
SPORTS EDITOR BURKE DE BOER
journalsports@wou.edu
PHOTO EDITOR KEITH MATHEW
journalphoto@wou.edu
DESIGNERS DARIEN CAMPO ELISSA SORENSON
journaldesigner@wou.edu
COPY EDITOR KRISTIN ECK
journalcopy@wou.edu
ADVERTISING MANAGER BRIAN TESCH journaladvertising@wou.edu
WEB MANAGER GEANELL BERNARDO journalweb@wou.edu
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER SAMANTHA DUNAWAY
2016 General election outcome: what it means for students
Proposed policies and ballot measures can have a major impact on students By TK Layman | Staff Writer The 2016 Election has come to an end after a tumultuous campaign. president-elect Donald J. Trump will assume his role in the Oval Office come January. The US Senate and House will have a Republican majority, giving the party control of both the legislative and executive branches. Citizens in nine states voted on ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana for both recreational and medical purposes and voted yes in all states except Arizona. As President Obama counts down his final days in office, Trump will begin to prepare for his role as president. He has a plan to reduce college costs for students by, “making a good faith effort … in exchange for federal tax breaks and tax dollars,” according to his campaign site. Along with reducing costs,
Trump’s website states that he wants to make it easier for students to attend a two or four-year college. He also proposes to create an additional 25 million jobs over 10 years and increase the economy by creating 1.2 million new jobs for every 1 percent growth in national GDP. Oregon’s gubernatorial election is making national headlines with incumbent Kate Brown, who took office after the previous governor John Kitzhaber resigned, becoming the first openlyLGBTQ governor in national history. Brown’s website lists her accomplishments since taking her place as Oregon’s governor: she has passed a plan to increase Oregon’s minimum wage in relation to local population, expanded the Oregon Opportunity Grant and created the Oregon
Promise Grant which allows low-income students to attend community college for as low as $50 a semester. By creating an affordable education, Brown hopes to create an educated workforce that can earn a livable wage. Oregon also passed several ballot measures that affect students. Measure 98 passed with a 65 percent vote. The measure is set to help Oregon students prepare for higher education by helping reduce the dropout rate and create college preparedness courses. The Oregon Voter’s Pamphlet details that Oregon has one of the worst graduation rates in the nation, with 10,000 failing to graduate each year. Almost 75 percent of high school graduates who do seek higher education will be placed into remedial courses. The measure claims that it will invest no less than $800
Contact the author tlayman16@wou.edu
at
Courtesy of TIME.COM
STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER RHYS FINCH finchr@wou.edu 503-838-9697
SUBMISSIONS THE WESTERN JOURNAL encourages readers to share their opinion through letters to the editor and guest columns. Submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name. Contact information will not be published unless requested. Unsigned submissions will not be printed and original copies will not be returned. Letters to the editor may be up to 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 500 words. THE WESTERN JOURNAL does not guarantee the publication of all letters or columns. THE WESTERN JOURNAL reserves the right to edit for punctuation, grammar, and spelling, but never for content. Please bring submissions to THE WESTERN JOURNAL at Terry House or email to journaleditor@ wou.edu. Submissions must be received by Monday at 5 p.m. to be considered for print. All opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do necessarily reflect those of THE WESTERN JOURNAL or Western Oregon University.
per student within the state of Oregon, based on attendance, to improve graduation rates and offer more college-level courses for students to be better prepared for higher education. In our Nov. 2 issue, news editor Jade Rayner wrote about measure 95, a ballot measure allowing public universities to reinvest their equities to reduce financial impact on students. Measure 95 passed with a 70 percent “yes” majority. The campaign has come to an end and there is still much more to come. The midterm election of 2018 is just two years away. Students hoping to get involved are encouraged to contact their party’s headquarters for more information.
Front page photo courtesy of OREGON.GOV
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
NEWS
The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Fall term blood drive comes to successful end
Photo by JADE RAYNER
Western students and surrounding community come together to donate
By Jade Rayner | News Editor On Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 Western hosted its first blood drive of the 2016-2017 school year. The American Red Cross took blood donations in the WUC, and were met with many eager volunteers. Western students, alumni and community members, both
first time and regular donors, came together during the two day event. In an interview, Marisa Wyckoff, account manager with the American Red Cross, stated that their, “goal was to collect 50 units of blood, each unit being a pint of blood,
end that we bring out enough staff, enough beds, enough equipment so that the wait time and processing goes faster.” The Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply according to their website. “The beauty about the Red Cross is that we’re a nationwide organization, so we definitely first make sure that the hospitals that we serve-their needs are met first. We can, and we do, ship our blood nationwide to make sure that the needs are met nationwide” answered Wyckoff when asked where blood goes after it’s donated. Another way you can help out during the blood drive is volunteering to assist people after they make their donation. “As a student volunteer, essentially what I do is I go in the snack area. When people are done donating I offer them snacks, water and
and yesterday we collected 66 units … which is basically a phenomenal day.” Wyckoff added that, “ a couple things that made a really big difference was that a lot of students took the time to make appointments … it helps us to prepare on our
3
juice,” explained sophomore Andrew Henneman. “We essentially make sure they (the donors) are okay and they stay for about 10-15 minutes or however long they need.” One of Henneman’s reasons for volunteering was in part because, “I’ve donated blood a couple times myself, and I knew some people that have had tough times donating.” Henneman went on to add, “it was always nice to have someone to talk to when you sat down afterwards because you’d have to wait awhile.” Whether you want to donate blood or volunteer to be there for someone donating blood, you can make a significant impact for those in need. Be sure to look out for the next blood drive at Western, or go to redcrossblood.org to find where you can donate blood locally. Contact the author journalnews@wou.edu
at
A day for putting out the smoke and picking up a healthy lifestyle Photo by MADISON HOCKER
Take advantage of campus resources during the Great American Smokeout By Jade Rayner | News Editor Western Oregon University is now in its second year of being a tobacco free campus, yet many students and employees continue to gather around the edge of campus to smoke throughout the day. While it is ultimately up to the individual if they would like to smoke, Nov. 17 is a day aimed at informing smokers of the health benefits of quitting along with providing advice on how. The American Cancer society hosts the Great American
Smokeout each year with the aim of getting people to set a quit date or use that day to quit smoking. Cancer.org states that, “by quitting – even for 1 day – smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk.” Tobacco use is the largest preventable cause of premature death and disease in the world as reported by the American Cancer Society. It may not be easy to quit, but the CDC website claims
that, “the urge to smoke is short—usually only 3 to 5 minutes.” The CDC suggests making a list of activities to do you when you start to feel the urge to smoke; activities could include calling or texting a friend, drinking water or taking a walk/exercising in some way. The Student Health and Counseling Center on campus provides multiple resources to help students quit; free tobacco quit kits are available to pick up in the
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
waiting room of the SHCC. The kit includes a mint, gum and lollipop to give you something to reach for other than a cigarette, a book of tips for staying tobacco free and a tobacco use tracker in order for you to keep track of when and why you smoke. Students can also make medical and counseling appointments to get help with quitting by calling the SHCC
center at 503-838-8313, or visit their website at www. wou.edu/health. The decision to quit smoking can be difficult, but the Great American Smokeout is a great day to start the process. With all the resources available on campus, you won’t have to go through it alone. Contact the author journalnews@wou.edu
at
4
The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Are you graduating the right way?
CAMPUS LIFE
Important information for 2017 Graduates: steps to take before you receive your diploma By Katherine Ljungquist | Freelancer to apply for graduation and how to get your cap and gown. Western offers a handful of graduate programs in areas such as criminal justice, management and information systems, and education. If you’re planning on attending graduate school in the future and are seeking information regarding your specific program Student Administration encourages you to meet with Western alumni, Amber Deets. Amber is on campus Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and students are also welcome to schedule app oi nt me nt s with her via email at deetsa@ wou.edu. When preparing for life after graduation, Photo by AMBER HOLLAND
If this is your last year at Western, chances are you’re counting down the days until the commencement ceremony on June 17. In addition to finishing your coursework there is still a lot to be done before you graduate. If you were unable to attend the Senior Kickoff on Wednesday Nov. 9, this article can catch you up on what you missed, including where to find help building a résumé, how
students are encouraged to meet up with a counselor at the Service Learning and Career Development Center for help building a resume, practicing job interviews, and figuring out your next steps during your senior year. The Service Learning and Career Development is located downstairs in the Werner University Center in room 119, where you can find the development director, Adry Snorradottir Clark, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Students are also encouraged to meet up with alumni mentors through the Career Mentoring Program, where alumni share their knowledge and experience with students. It is important that students visit the Registrar’s and Financial Aid Offices before their final term at Western. At the Registrar’s Office, seniors need to fill out paperwork to apply for graduation and they also need to check their Degree Works to make sure they will be finished by their last term. The Financial Aid office will help students navigate exit
loan counseling and advise students on different loan payment options. Perkins loan exit counseling must be completed before a student can get their degree. If you are planning on attending graduate school, the 20172018 FAFSA is available now. On April 3-5, there will be a Spring 2017 Grad Ordering Event outside the bookstore. Jostens is the company that supplies students with caps and gowns, personalized announcement cards, tassels, and official Western rings. If you are unable to attend this event don’t worry, after April 5 you can purchase your cap and gown at the bookstore or online at wolfstore. wou.edu. Finally, as a graduate of Western Oregon University, you are encouraged to register as a Western Oregon alumni. You can register with the alumni program by filling out a contact update available at alumni@wou.edu.
Contact the author kljungqvist16@wou.edu
at
ASWOU tackles students questions and concerns regarding the presidential election WOU is Alive: President Fuller, school officials comment on political climate By Paige Scofield | Campus Life Editor we can all agree that this election cycle has been exhausting, stressful and thought provoking. For some, the result of Donald Trump’s win was devastating and for others, a glorious triumph. Within this election cycle, it has been no secret that presidentelect Trump, who has no past political career, has used hate speech and hate rhetoric Photo by JOSHUA DAVIS
Politics in the United States can be very dividing for our country and our citizens. Regardless of who won or lost the presidential race,
towards certain ethnicities, groups and individuals. Regarding these facts, some students at Western have concerns. On Friday Nov. 11, ASWOU put on the event, “WOU is Alive,” to answer some questions and concerns, regarding what might happen to Western’s students once Donald Trump takes office. The panel to answer said questions and concerns included: Jaime Silva, Director of the Student Health and Counseling Center; Ryan Hagemann, Vice President & General Counsel; Rex Fuller, President of Western; Rebecca Chiles, Director of Public Safety; and Gary Dukes, Vice president
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
of Student Affairs. The event was moderated by the president of ASWOU, Alma Pacheco. The questions were from the audience who attended the event. Question: Will campus security be up to combat or deter violent acts against minority groups, like women, LGBTQ folks, people of color, etc. What is Western doing to keep campus a safe space for all? Chiles: We’re doing the same things we’ve always done in addition to just being more vigilant, being more open, being more watchful.
Continued on page 12
CAMPUS LIFE
The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
All the resources you need to ace the interview process
5
Student Learning Career Development interview do’s and don’ts By Shaylie Pickrell | Staff Writer If you’ve ever doubted yourself over an interview because you were nervous or didn’t know how to act, you’re not the only one. Jennifer Hansen, from the Service Learning and Career Development Center, took the time to help students understand the important aspects that go into acing an interview and feeling comfortable while doing it. She not only talked about the basics on what to wear and how to format your resume, but she also talked about the follow up portion of interviews and even how to behave during video calling and phone interviews. “The center helps with resumes, cover letters and helps you to succeed here … and in your career. We even help alumni,” Hansen explained. “When you first get called for an interview, it can be exciting. It’s the questions that can be scary.”
She explained the overall purpose of interviews is that it’s a two-way street. The employer is there to check you out and you’re there to check out the company. There are many types of interviews that were talked about. For example, she mentioned the face-to-face interviews we are all familiar with, as well as the increasing amount of video calling interviews and informal interviews. From there she went on to talk about interview prep. “You need to prepare to speak about you,” Hansen said. “You’ll also want to further your knowledge of the company and utilize the job description.” During the event, she redefined how we approach the interview process. “The interview process starts as soon as you walk in the door. It could even start in the parking lot,” Hansen explained. She continued,
explaining h o w employers may ask the receptionist about how you acted in the lobby. She touched on every single portion of the interview p r o c e s s as well as making sure students knew about the resources to help them that are on campus. “If you need to practice a video call interview or you need an opinion on your handshake or outfit, just come in,” Hansen said. “We are always here to help and we want to see you succeed.” To learn more about the Service
Get where you need to go for free
Western’s WOLF Ride program provides a safe alternative to walking By Jade Rayner | News Editor
Western provides a wide range of services to ensure the safety of its students. One of those services is WOLF Ride. WOLF Ride is a, “reliable shuttle service (for) students of Western Oregon University who would otherwise walk alone at night and risk their safety or possible assault,” as stated on Western’s Division of Student Affairs website. Whether you live on campus or off, you can use WOLF Ride to go grocery shopping, see a movie or to simply have a safe ride home. Using WOLF Ride is completely free, and you can be picked up or dropped off almost anywhere in Monmouth and Independence. For
a map detailing the areas in which you can be transported, go to www. wou.edu/student/wolfride. Service hours are Monday-Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. In order to receive a ride, you can call WOLF Ride at 503-428-7238, then request where you would like to be picked up and where you are going. All ride requests are taken on a first come, first served basis. There will be days when this service is unavailable; all of which you can find on the website mentioned above.
Courtesy of WOU.EDU
Upcoming days to watch out for are Nov. 23-27 due to Thanksgiving break. On the other hand, special ride request forms are now available for
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
Courtesy of NBCNEWS.COM
Learning and Career Development Center or about how to ace your next interview, you can stop by the center downstairs in the Werner Center, room 119, or at www.wou.edu/slcd. Contact the author at spickrell15@ wou.edu
students who need a ride to connect to other means of transportation in Salem. During finals week, Dec. 7-9, you can make a request to be driven to the bus station, Amtrak train station or the Salem airport which has a connecting shuttle to the PDX airport for a $10 fee. The forms must be completed and the fee must be paid by Dec. 1. For students who would like a safer and faster form of transportation than walking, WOLF Ride is an efficient and free option. WOLF Ride is in no way a designated driver service; intoxicated students will be refused service. If you are seeking more information, or have questions call the office of the Vice President of Student Affairs at 503-838-8221. Do not contact this number for ride requests. Contact the author at jrayner14@ wou.edu
6
SPORTS
The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Photo by JADE RAYNER
A look inside The Madhouse
Pantry Raiders beat the Thrill Kill Kittens in 246-90 bout
Blockers gather for the jam start
By Zoë Strickland | Managing Editor
“
point.” The bout started off strong with Tiny Tank scoring the Panty Raiders their first four points in the first jam. The Thrill Kill Kittens got a slow start and landed their first points during the fourth jam. Each jam is a twominute playing period that can be ended early if the lead jammer puts their hands on their hips, signalling an end to the period. The final scores at halftime were 128-37, foreshadowing the Panty Raiders’ eventual victory. Juno Nothin’ powered through the second jam of the second half, earning the first points of the second half and gaining the Thrill Kill Kittens a promising ten points. The 14th jam of the second half started off with Thrill Kill Kitten jammer Flex Appeal being benched
I started for the athletic aspect, but I stayed because of my team and my league
for a penalty, only to be allowed back on the track early because of a penalty on the part of Panty Raiders jammer Lucy Skates n’ Diamonds. The dual jammer penalty resulted in there being no lead jammer during the 14th jam. Roller derby is high-energy and ruthless, but every person at the bout exuded a strong sense of community. “I play roller derby because I love the athletic sport of it, and I also love the girls that I play with. We really do become like a family ... you just really get to know each other ... I started for the athletic aspect, but I stayed because of my team and my league,” said Cherry Pi, a skater with the Panty Raiders who has been involved since the Cherry City league was founded seven years ago. “The league is like one whole big family ... It’s a great release; it’s a great way to have fun and the adrenaline is amazing. And at the end of the day we all love each other and we all support each other,” Jab-her ‘jaws added. The bout continued on for another 12 jams, resulting in the Painty Raiders holding the Thrill Kill Kittens
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
hostage with a final score of 246-90. The Rydell Belles face the Dolls of Anarchy in the next home bout on Nov. 19. Tickets are sold online at cherrycitygirls.com or in a select number of locations in Salem. Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu
Photo by JADE RAYNER
It’s time for roller derby. The Panty Raiders boasted a nearly threefold win in their bout against the Thrill Kill Kittens. After a combined 50 jams, the scoreboard totaled 246-90. The bout was hosted on Nov. 12 at The Madhouse, the home of Cherry City Roller Derby, a Salembased flat track derby league. The amount of points earned may seem drastic, but roller derby is no stranger to high scores. “You have four blockers from each team, and you have one jammer. The jammer wears the star on her helmet, and she’s the only one that can score points,” explained Jab-her ‘jaws, a three-year native with the Thrill Kill Kittens. “So the object of the game is to get your jammer through one time around and then every opposing blocker that she passes gets (her) a
Players award and congratulate one another after each bout
SPORTS
The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Hoops return to Motown
7
Two shootouts in two weekends, Women’s Basketball wins first
Photo courtesy of WOUWOLVES.COM
By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor
Strong end to season as Wolves steamroll on the road
Paul Revis, along with defensive linemen Highburger and Moore, were named to all-conference first team
Duckworth, Highburger lead both sides of the football in win
By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor The Wolves dominated in the final football game of the season when they traveled to Canada to beat Simon Fraser University 40-13. Wolves were lead on offense by a strong passing game. The rushing game stalled on its way to a net loss. Though the team rushed for -63 yards, quarterback Nick Duckworth threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns, a season-best game for him. The game saw Duckworth,
Volleyball bests Montana State Billings Before two final road games, Wolves win a last one at home
By Burke De Boer | Sports Editor
For the first time in 12 years, the women’s basketball team has won two games to start a season. The Wolves put a balanced team on display last weekend as they won the Western Oregon/Hampton Inn D2 Shootout. St. Martin’s, San Francisco State and Cal State East Bay came to play in the four team tournament. A 7263 win over SF State followed the next day by a 73-63 win over Cal State East Bay crowned Wolves the champions. Ball movement and distribution helped the Wolves over the competition, as six players got double digit points on the weekend. Shelby Snook and Savannah Heugly scored in the double digits on both days. Aggressive defense also shined as they pulled in more rebounds than the competition. This coming weekend, the New P.E. Building will again host a basketball tournament, this one for men’s basketball. The men’s team is undefeated as well, coming off a high scoring weekend that saw them blast the competition in California. 16 three-pointers led men’s hoops over Fresno Pacific, 85-54. The Western Oregon/Doubletree by Hilton D2 Shootout will see the Wolves play San Francisco State and UC San Diego. The first game is Friday and the second Saturday, with 7 p.m. tipoff both nights.
ordinarily a backup, pass 1,000 yards passing on the season. Wideout Paul Revis had eight receptions to pass 1,000 season receiving yards, while Zack Suarez caught two of these touchdowns. “We really didn’t figure things out until after halftime,” Suarez said. “We made our adjustments and our offensive line stepped up.” Suarez led receivers with 117 yards. “I felt we were flat in the first half,” Duckworth agreed. The opening score of the day was actually a defensive score. Defensive back Danny Hankins intercepted the Simon Fraser QB and ran it back for six points. Bo Highburger lead the defense with tackles, racking up 19 of them off the line. He was crowned GNAC’s defensive player of the day for his performance. “We knew they had a solid running back coming in, so we really tried to shut him down and get them one dimensional,” Highburger said.
“A huge pick six from Danny in the first drive really helped us have confidence that they couldn’t do anything on us.” While the defense set the tone against SFU, the offense regrouped to lock the game down. “In the second half I was more decisive with my throws,” Duckworth said. “As an offense we just had more energy.” Following the sweep of Simon Fraser, Wolves finish the 2016 season 4-6. “We wanted to send these seniors off the right way,” Duckworth said. He’s looking to improve for 2017, and said he’ll focus on timing with the receiving corps. “I hope spring football will prepare me for next fall.” Highburger added high hopes, and said “I’m getting myself and my team ready to win a GNAC title in 2017.” Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu
Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu
Volleyball won their last home game of the season, picking off Montana State Billings in four sets. The win ended a two-game losing skid and elevated the 2016 home record to 5-5. A loss to Concordia earlier in the week had the Wolves looking to rebound. After picking up a win with the first 25-17 set, the Wolves dropped three in a row: 19-25, 17-25
and 21-25. The match against Montana State Billings began similarly, with Wolves dropping yet another set, this one tied for their worst set loss of the season at 13-25. But the Thursday night game against Montana was Senior Night, and after the first set the Wolves rallied to fire off three dominant sets on the road to victory.
Alisha Bettinson led the team in kills with 19 and also had 9 digs. Christie Colasurdo led on digs with 21.
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
Contact the author at journalsports@ wou.edu
Photo courtesy of EMPIREOFTHESUN.COM
8
ENTERTAINMENT
The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Review: “Two Vines”
Empire of the Sun’s new album has its highs and lows By Ashton Newton | Entertainment Editor
Empire of the Sun is known for their upbeat electronic music and their quirky style. Members Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore wear elaborate costumes and are often accompanied by dancers. The spectacle and music are entirely original. Empire of the Sun’s latest album, “Two Vines”, doesn’t try to reinvent their sound; instead, it expands their library and only adds to the sounds of their past albums. Their originality is expanded, rather than changed. The highlight of the new album is the song “Friends”. One of the most upbeat songs that Empire of the Sun has ever produced, “Friends,” blends slow poetic verses with an extremely upbeat chorus that sounds like electronic dance music. This song is made to be played loud. “High and Low” is another
fantastic fast-paced song. “High and Low” is currently the only song on the album with a music video, which features plenty of Empire of the Sun’s signature costumes and dancers. “Two Vines” doesn’t only have fast-paced songs though. Songs like “There’s No Need” and “To Her Door” slow things down and put more focus on vocals. The album also has some less memorable songs; “ZZZ” and “Way To Go” are both repetitive and don’t really add anything to the overall sound of the album. “ZZZ” especially is aptly named for how it makes me feel. The deluxe edition of “Two Vines” was released at the same time as the normal version, and includes four additional songs. One of the songs included is “Walking on a Dream” from the band’s first album. It’s a little strange that they
included it, but it’s a great song so I’m not complaining. The inclusion of “Walking on a Dream” enforces the similarities between Empire of the Sun’s earlier work and “Two Vines”. Someone who’d never heard “Walking on a Dream” probably wouldn’t be able to tell that it was a song from two albums ago. For the most part, “Two Vines” is a fantastic addition to Empire of the Sun’s library of music. It has both fast and slow songs, danceable music accompanied by meaningful lyrics and stays true to the band’s style. Although slightly brought down by some unmemorable songs, “Two Vines” takes its rightful place alongside the albums before it. Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu
Photo courtesy of THEAMAS.COM
A reflection of this year’s music scene
A preview of what to expect in 2016’s American Music
By Blayde Biacan | Staff Writer This has been a truly crazy year. An event that signifies the coming of the end, as well as a new year, is the 44th annual American Music Awards, which will take place on Nov. 20 in the Microsoft Theater. The American Music Awards will also premiere live on ABC’s “Good Morning America”, which will be hosted by Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah. There are many wellknown names included in the nominees for the many different music categories. Drake currently leads with 13
nominations, the most in the event’s history. Previously, Michael Jackson’s 11 nominations held the top spot from the 1981 American Music Awards. Drake’s album, “Views”, has kept the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart, and one of the songs, “One Dance” was given the title of Billboard’s “Song of the Summer 2016”. Following him is Rihanna with 7 nominations, and Adele and Justin Bieber who hold 5 nominations each. This year, the American Music
Awards is adding in new categories such as, Tour of the Year and Video of the Year, as well as adding in a favorite song category for the different genres of music. The nominees for favorite album and favorite song in each genre aren’t the same, so don’t fret too much if we hear too much of the same names. An anticipated category is the Artist of the Year, which features the nominees such as Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Drake, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Twenty-
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
One Pilots, Carrie Underwood and The Weeknd. These are some highlights of the American Music Awards, however there is more information on the American Music Awards website itself with more information. If not you can always surprise yourself when it’s showtime on ABC. Contact the author bbiacan16@wou. edu
ENTERTAINMENT
The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Classic tales retold
9
By Alyssa James | Staff Writer the Beast. “I knew all the words by heart. I knew all the songs by heart,” said Watson to Entertainment Weekly when asked about the film. This is going to be the classic fairy tale retold. If you aren’t familiar with the story, it is about a prince who, due to his arrogance, becomes the Beast and must learn to love and receive love before he can turn back into the prince. The story follows
Photo courtesy of MOVIES.DISNEY.COM
Walt Disney Pictures has been working hard on making many new live-action movies recently: “Cinderella” and “The Jungle Book” to name a couple. Although, they haven’t stopped there. They are in the midst of working on and releasing new live-action movies within the next few years. The new live-action version of “Beauty and the Beast” stars Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as
What’s Western Watching?
Photo courtesy of MOVIES.DISNEY.COM
Many new live-action Disney films in the works
the young woman whom he traps in his castle and their love story. There has also been talk about two other live-action movies. “Snow White” and “Oliver Twist” are in the works, both being produced by Marc Platt, known for such performances as Broadway’s “Wicked.” There is not much information currently about who will star in these movies or when they will be released. Although information is lacking, we still know a little about each of these movies. “Snow White” will be a musical and will expand on the
“90 Day Fiance”
Elizabeth Anderson, senior, elementary education
original story while “Oliver Twist”, though also a musical, will be set in present-day America. Other upcoming movies to watch out for information about are the liveaction adaptations of “The Little Mermaid” and “The Lion King.” “Beauty and the Beast” will be in theaters March 17, 2016. Contact the author at ajames16@ wou.edu
“Supernatural”
Lane Kroeker, first year, criminal justice
By Ashton Newton | Entertainment Editor
Tell us what you’re watching at journalentertainment@wou.edu Photos by JADE RAYNER
“The Walking Dead” Hamza Iqbal, first year, biology
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
“Friends”
Berlyn Buncal, sophomore, computer science
10
HUMOR
The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Love in an uncanny valley
By Darien Campo | Suspicious Lover I’m looking for some relationship advice. I’m a senior college student and I’ve been with my girlfriend for about two years now. We’re very in love, but lately I’ve been starting to get a little weary about some of her more… unique traits. Maybe it’s the way her eyes glow when we go out together, or maybe it’s how when I put my head on her chest at night I can hear something whirring inside. There’s really no easy way to put this, so I guess what I’m trying to say is that I think my girlfriend might actually be a lethal military android. It’s just little things that have been adding up over the years, bit by bit, and I think I might be onto something. I started to suspect my love was actually a mechanical war device designed by foreign agencies when I began paying closer attention to her eating habits. Mostly, her lack of them. In fact, besides her nightly glass of motor oil, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen my girlfriend eat something in all of our two years together. Am I just not paying attention? That could be the case. In fact, I’m a little embarrassed to even admit, but I didn’t realize until very recently that my girlfriend is the only person on
Photo by KEITH MATHEW
Relationship advice needed: is my girlfriend actually a lethal military android?
campus I’ve ever seen whose method of mobility is a set of steel treadmills. You know what they say, love is blind, and sometimes we only see the best in the ones we love. But lately I fear my new suspicions are beginning to affect our
“
away from her vision sensors and the alarm on top her head goes off and she starts screaming, “Proximity alert! Proximity alert!” It’s all just getting to be a real strain on us as a couple. Sometimes I just want to sit her down
I guess I never realized that when she said to me her primary goal was destroying the whole human race that she meant it literally
relationship, and I can feel our ability to communicate starting to dwindle. They always say that the best way to keep a healthy relationship is to stay open and communicate with each other, but that just gets so darn difficult when she starts speaking in endless strings of binary. I try to be intimate, but she keeps shutting me out. I reach out my hand to hold, and she pulls her steel claw away from me. I try to brush her hair
and say “Hey, I love you and I accept you no matter what, but I need you to be honest and let me know if you are secretly a government designed machine built for destruction.” But I’m so scared to take that big step, what if we can’t go back from there? We had an argument last week and it got pretty heated. I have work at 7 a.m. every day, which means I get up pretty early to keep up with my morning routine, and so I
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
suggested that maybe she could stop deploying her built-in shortwave antennas in the middle of the night to communicate with secret Russian organizations across the sea - but she was not having it. We fought, we both said some things we’ll regret, but I guess I never realized that when she said to me her primary goal was destroying the whole human race that she meant it literally. I mean, sometimes women are hard to read. I don’t want to jump the gun and make assumptions on what has, traditionally, been a pretty healthy relationship. I feel like the two of us have grown together really well, and we feel very comfortable being honest with each other. The only real sticking point is the fact that I think she might actually be a man-made tool of death and malice, sent to the United States in order to destroy us from the inside and pave the way for a foreign assault. So if anyone could email me with some advice, I’d love the help. I tend to have a bad history with relationships; heck, it took me five years to realize my last girlfriend had actually been a very well-crafted Target mannequin. Please advise the author at dcampo13@wou.edu
EDITORIAL 11 Oodles and Moodles of stress: the 24/7 school week The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Why virtual learning platforms are ruining student’s lives By Kristin Eck | Copy Editor I never had to turn in assignments or take tests over the weekend when I was in high school. That’s because most high schools weren’t using virtual learning platforms such as Moodle, Blackboard or Desire to Learn. These programs are intended to make the lives of professors and students easier, but in my opinion, they really just complicate our lives unnecessarily. When I first came to Western, I remember being introduced to Moodle and not really comprehending what it was for. I soon realized that no professor uses Moodle in the same way and that, as a student, you simply have to catch on to their personal preferences. This inconsistency added anxiety and unnecessary stress to my life. Some professors use Moodle in its entirety: posting homework, quizzes, tests and readings for you to peruse in your spare time. Some professors simply use it to post grades or
readings, while others don’t use it at all. I asked Dr. Keulks, an English literature professor at Western, how he feels about using Moodle. “My emotions about using Moodle are mixed. Sometimes it doesn’t provide anything more than a web page would, but I’ll admit I don’t use it as dynamically as some profs do. I don’t think it’s necessary to create Moodle shells automatically for every class,” said Keulks. Moodle shells are created for every class on campus, regardless of whether or not they’re used. He adds that, as a campus, “We’ve done good work ... in making Moodle training available for faculty. The Center for Academic Innovation is always available to help, and they’ve rolled out many initiatives. With that said, I wouldn’t say that all faculty, myself included, always follow best practices. As a campus, we’re still adapting to digital environments. I’m sure it’s frustrating for students to confront this learning curve visually.” Yes, it is frustrating. Not only is this very inconsistent but the very idea of virtual learning platforms, like Moodle, are intrusive to the student’s life. Dr. Keulks added, “I’ve now begun disabling discussion boards on my Moodle shells. I’ve
heard too many students argue that being swamped by weekly posting requirements -- for multiple classes -- works in reverse: instead of more deeply engaging the material, they simply become task-driven.” Dr. Keulks makes a very good point. I could be eating dinner with my family on Sunday night and have to excuse myself because my professor has a test opening at 6 p.m. When did this become okay? Suddenly professors have the right interrupt our out-of-class activities with annoying tests and deadlines. Not only do I think this is unhealthy, it’s also a violation of student’s privacy. I personally don’t feel that it’s necessary for professors to know what time their students submit their work. If we have to use programs that require online submission, professors should only see if it is late or on-time. Frankly, if I want to procrastinate on an essay my professor doesn’t need to know that I turned it in at 11:59 p.m. This information is only useful when poking fun at a student and that is not okay. Virtual learning platforms now provide professors the opportunity to demand twice as much from their students as before. Where are their guidelines? How do we measure this extra work in terms of student health
and realistic expectations? Even if professors do have this training available to them, are they taking full advantage of it? I think it’s time that students demand the answers to these questions from their professors and universities. Senior Ashley Letts, education major, thinks that the biggest problem with using Moodle is that, “Professors not putting grades on it, but not being available to talk about grades either. Other professors don’t use it at all, and just expect you to remember everything. Although one of my profs puts everything on Moodle, and it takes forever to find what I need. It’s confusing and irritating.” If it’s not obvious by now, I personally dislike Moodle and all other virtual learning platforms. It doesn’t make sense to have these in place without applying some kind of control. We need guidelines. We need accountability. We need consistency. And finally, If I’m accomplishing twice as much work for one class, then give me twice as many credits for it. If you have ever been discouraged or frustrated with using Moodle, please send me an email so we can do something about it. Please contact the author at keck14@ wou.edu
Photo by KEITH MATHEW
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL
12
TAIL-END
The Western Journal Wednesday, November 16, 2016
WOU is Alive Continued from page 4
We’re monitoring social media more than we ever have before … to see what is going on on our campus. We (Public Safety) are always here, 24 hours a day. To always be a person that anybody can go to for any reason at all. We want to have that opportunity available to everyone on our campus. Fuller: If you see something that’s out of line be sure to report it, call for help if you need it and rely on the services that are available.
protect our students who are in that population? What can we do to become more involved so that maybe in the future we can have a voice in the political situation? Fuller: In terms of the DACA student standing, nothing has changed. The risk, of course, is as an executive order, it may be subject to revision or change. That’s the concern you see nationally and locally. One of the things that can help mitigate against that is to be actively engaged with those involved with the Question: What exactly is federal level, with regard to the concern of danger that influencing the direction of the individuals should be worried next administration. That’s one about on campus? thing we can do. We also can be Chiles: I don’t know if there speaking as a group of presidents Courtesy of ASWOU around the country talking about are any specific concerns that have been put forth. Because of this election, the need for immigration reform and to be part there were racially charged, racially motivated, of that. With this change in administration, now ethnically motivated, gender motivated speech is the time for higher education to speak to the from some of the politicians involved in that. public good aspect of what the university is. Both Certain segments of people are concerned in terms of closing the educational attainment because they have heard those threats or those gap, but also in terms of a reasonable policy angry, hate words said about their particular around what does immigration looks like, and groups. how does that benefit from higher education. Question: Can you address the concern of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival students? How is Western specifically going to
Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou. edu
Do you want to: Improve your writing? Get your work published? Eat free pizza? AND Get paid for doing so? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, we’d love to have you work with us at The Western Journal. We’re always looking for freelance writers and photographers. Visit http://www.wou.edu/westernjournal/ apply-now/ for more details.
Follow us online @ theWOUJournal and use #WOUnow to stay updated on what’s happening around campus!
A note from the Humanities and Social Science Faculty: We affirm that our diverse students, faculty and staff are important members of our campus community. Due to the national political environment, some members of our community may fear being targeted directly, excluded, marginalized or deported. Others may fear supporting democracy, civil rights and civil liberties. We want students, staff and faculty to know that we unconditionally support your contribution to the Western community.
We join with President Fuller to encourage a community that is safe and inclusive for all. Furthermore, we urge the university to take action when anyone fears for their rights or safety, on campus or off campus. We pledge to continue to work to make Western an academic center of teaching and research which offers safe haven and fulfillment for all.
WOU.EDU/WESTERNJOURNAL