Western Oregon Journal (2010-2011) Issue 7

Journalthe

We s t e r n O r e g o n U n i v e r s i t y

November 3, 2010 WWW.WESTERNOREGONJOURNAL.COM VOL. 11, ISSUE 7

INSIDE >> 2 NEWS 6 CULTURE 8 POST 10 SPORTS4 CAMPUS LIFE

WEEKEND WEATHER

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

SNEAK PEEK >>NEWS

Stay informed about the decisions being made on your campus: take a look at what was discussed at the Master Plan meeting on Thursday, Oct. 28. Proposals for upcoming construction and improvements on campus are in the works.

SEE PAGE 2

It’s all part of the plan

CAMPUS LIFE

The rumors of the hauntings of Todd Hall were put to the test on Oct. 22 as Officer Keith Carlton took a group of intrigued students throughout the four floors, explaining the buildings unexplained mysteries.

SEE PAGE 4

Western’s Haunted Hall

SPORTS

SEE PAGE 12

Women’s soccer

Dia de los Muertos celebrationMSU and MEChA organize the traditional Mexican holiday event for spirits of the deceased to visit their loved ones once again

Kelsey Carrier | Freelancer

From sea to shining sea and beyondMallorie Sanitz is ready to graduate and well on her way to a career overseas, thanks to Western’s educational opportunities

Sydni Wiese | Culture Editor

Lexington Martin Freelancer

LOS MUERTOSSEE PAGE 5

SANITZSEE PAGE 6

FOOTBALLSEE PAGE 10

As children, some bring their dreams to life through play. A few picture themselves as their favorite heroes, others play house and still others act out different child-like fantasies in every world imaginable. However, it is rare that one of these dreams should come true. Western, however, is blessed to have aided a young woman in accomplishing one such “crazy” childhood fantasy.

“As a kid, all I wanted was to travel the world,” said senior Mallorie Sanitz.

“I spent countless hours in my playroom imagining myself in France as a princess in a castle, then an exotic dancer somewhere in Arabia; I went everywhere I could think of as a child, if only in my own head.”

Sanitz’s dream may have begun as a child, but it was never fully realized until she decided to return to school after a four year break. High school, she decided at 18, was enough school for a while.

“I had no desire to come back to the classroom

after graduation,” she said. “It was like this huge wall I had no idea existed before. I graduated high school and wanted to simply leave. I would have traveled then, if I had the money or any way to do it, but I was not going back to school – I knew that much.”

During her four years away from school, the young woman who plans to graduate college with her master’s degree this winter, spent her days working and moving from place to place.

“I could not travel the world, so I tried to travel Oregon,” Sanitz explained. “I moved from Eugene to Portland, down to southern Oregon and then back up to Salem. I never really found a good home for myself. I suppose there comes a time when your parents home just isn’t your home anymore, and that was my breaking point. It wasn’t until I met my husband that I finally settled down though.”

On Nov. 2, Multicultural Student Services (MSU) and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA) jointly sponsored Dia de los Muertos, or “The Day of the Dead.” Dia de los Muertos corresponds with All Souls and All Saints Day. Students at Western and members of the surrounding communities have the opportunity to honor people who have passed away by remembering and sharing stories about their lives.

For this event, relatives and friends bring mementos of their loved ones, including pictures, food and drinks to be offered to their souls. An altar is created that is decorated with flowers, fruits and vegetables, candles, incense, saint statues and pictures and any offerings, also known as “ofrendas.”

Dia de los Muertos is a day where the souls of the deceased can return to their homes and visit their loved ones once again. The food, drink

and music that is offered is for their enjoyment.

MSU has been coordinating Dia de los Muertos since 2000. This year, Rosibel Perez, historian for MSU, and Laura Perez-Raza outreach for MEChA, coordinated the events together. There were sugar skulls, face painting, games and activities, with a candle light vigil and walk that evening. There was an altar placed outside of the entrance to the WUC decorated with many ofrendas.

“The goal for Dia de los Muertos this year was to educate students at WOU about the different celebrations other cultures celebrate and to also share this event and the cultural ties it comes with,” said MSU member Luis Arce. “Not everyone gets a chance to go to a Latin American country and celebrate the Day of the Dead, so we bring it to campus.”

This year was the first

Heard throughout the stadium from the moment the referee blew his whistle – the howling of the Wolves began. During last Saturday’s Senior Day for Western football, never did the roar of the crowd seem to end until Western athletes ultimately claimed their victory of 42-7 over Dixie State.

“I really feel our offensive line is coming together and playing better, and obviously having Demario Ballard is a huge plus…Our defense did a great job as well,” said head coach Arne Ferguson. “The most positive thing was that offense, defense and special teams are really getting better. This was our most complete game to date, and it is great to see our team get better throughout the year.”

Saturday’s game was more than a game, but a timeline or story. It was a remorseful realization that Saturday would be the last game of competing together on McArthur Field for the seniors. Each athlete through the years created brotherhood under the same lights every home game. Adding a few transfers here and there, regardless, they were in this fight together. This must have given the team the needed motivation to prove their ability as a team and – more importantly – a family.

Western played to their full potential on all teams. Offensively, the Wolves took an early lead during the first half, out-

Ballard, Peila lead the Wolves to a command ing 42-7 v ic to ry

Women's soccer wins 4-0 in the last home game of the 2010 season. Sophomore Marina Austin helped lead the Wolves to victory over CWU on Saturday, Oct. 30.

53° 46°

54° 42°

Women’s soccer wins big

Westernsucceedson Senior

Day

Photo by | Emily Laughlin

2 NEWS November 3, 2010

www.westernoregonjournal.com

Alicia Webb | Freelancer

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown visits Western to encourage women’s involvement in the voting processAbby’s House hosts “Women in Politics” event for second consecutive year, connecting the national need for increased female perspectives in the world of politics with this year’s election season

For many Western students, construction has been an ever-present sight on Western’s campus: the layout of the health and wellness center is well underway; Ackerman Hall is finished and being used to its full capacity; the remodeling of Bellamy Hall has ended; and updates are nearing their completion with regard to West House.

Although the projects may seem to be sporadic, they have been a part of a proposal known as the Master Plan. All of these projects were proposed and outlined in the 2000 Master Plan which was updated in 2005 and created by Western with the help of SERA Architects, a company who “work[s] with clients and stakeholders to formulate a sustainable development framework: the social, cultural, economic and ecological infrastructure that underpins the making of whole and beautiful places.”

Every 10 years, Western creates a new Master Plan with projects to be implemented within the next decade. For this

Monica Millner | Freelancer

Students, staff get insight into Western’s tentative futureWith current upgrades well on their way to being completed, Western begins the process of creating the 2010 Master Plan for the layout of the university, calling for the voice of campus community members

reason, SERA consultants returned to campus on Thursday, Oct. 28 to create this plan alongside Physical Plant Director Tom Neal. Before any plans could be put to paper, however, SERA and Western have to find out what projects are most important to the future of Western.

In order to find out how best to improve the university, Western will be hosting several brainstorming sessions at the school, all of which are open to students, staff and faculty.

It is important to include the opinions of all who are affiliated with the campus because a wider variety of projects can be suggested if more people are involved in the process of making the plan. For instance, at the Oct. 28 meeting, SERA Architect’s Senior Project Manager Gregg Sanders asked attendees, “How do you think WOU will be different in 2020?”

Some of the more popular answers given included “more green buildings like Ackerman,” “mass transit” and “more parking space[s].”

Additional changes

proposed throughout the brainstorming session were “covered bike racks,” “upgraded faculty offices” and an “improved crosswalk situation” between Monmouth Avenue and Church Street.

The idea of creating the Master Plan is to take the changes that people would like to see and meet the expectations of Western’s community as

effectively as possible. There were a total

of six projects proposed in the 2005 Master Plan, with four having been implemented since then. SERA consultants present at the meeting stated that four accomplished projects out of six in five years is nothing short of miraculous.

One of the projects that Neal hopes to include

in the 2010 Master Plan is an answer to the “cross walk situation.”

“We discussed closing off Monmouth Avenue during class hours (9-2 p.m.),” Neal said. “But we’d like to explore other solutions as well.”

The combination of impatient cars and the flood of students crossing Monmouth Avenue and Church Street often causes

irritation and congestion. The main problem is that Monmouth Avenue is a common back-route to Dallas, and it happens to cut straight through campus. In the 2005 Master Plan, a mock-up of how traffic could be redirected behind Rice Auditorium

MASTER PLAN SEE PAGE 3

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown addresses the importance and impact associated with increased political involvement among students.

Photos by | Alicia Webb

(From left to right) SERA architects Gregg Sanders and Travis Dang lead the Master Plan meeting. Photo by | Erin Wilson

On Monday, Oct. 25, a small but mighty crowd trudged through the wind and rain to hear Oregon Secretary of State, Kate Brown, a guest speaker at Western during the “Women in Politics” event put on by Abby’s House.

Sometimes, citizens can feel disconnected from politicians even though the latter are supposed to be representatives of the people. This, however, was not the case with Brown. Before she began addressing the group, Brown walked through the crowd, introducing herself and taking the time to shake hands with each person. This made for a comfortable environment that reassured campus community members about Brown’s priorities when it comes to interacting with the public.

“I want students to understand that elected

officials in Oregon are very accessible and that it’s really important for them to speak up about issues that they care about,” Brown stated.

Brown has held a variety of political positions over the years. In addition to her current position, she has worked as a lawyer, a lobbyist, a representative and a senator. She has a passion for making a difference in the lives of Oregonians, be that through civil rights, women’s health or the environment.

According to Samantha Reining, an Abby’s House staff member, the reason the Women’s Center wanted to put on this event was to encourage people to vote, especially young women. They also wanted to help resolve some issues voters may have by giving students, staff and faculty someone they could meet

face to face with.In one of her stories,

Brown told the crowd about her past campaign to run for the House of Representatives. She explained that although she was running against a well-known representative at the time, what got her the seat was her determination and her ability to get a group of students from Lewis and Clark to go door-to-door with her to ask for votes. These efforts allowed her to win the seat by a slim seven votes.

“Everyone who voted for me believes they were the reason that I won, and they were,” Brown said.

Erica Wills, a freshman at Western who attended the event said that “being able to talk to a woman in politics [was] helpful.”

Wills went on to say that she is interested in becoming involved in

politics herself and that having a strong woman that she can talk to has inspired her to continue pursuing her current goals. It is reactions such as this that Brown aims to inspire, particularly among female community members.

“The reason I was so excited to speak to a group of young women is that I really want to encourage young women to get more involved in the political process,” Brown stated. “Whether it’s running a campaign, getting elected to office or being a chief of staff, there are so many roles that are available to women. We have reached a ceiling of sorts in Oregon in terms of the number of women elected to the legislature. I think it is important that the legislature, our city councils, and our congressional delegation reflect the changing faces of Oregon in terms of race and gender.”

NEWS 3 November 3, 2010


MASTER PLANFROM PAGE 2

Jodessa Chapa | Freelancer

Fact or fiction: 31 myths, truths about breast cancerWolves Against Breast Cancer club defuncts a few long-standing misconceptions about the disease

On Wednesday, Oct. 27, Wolves Against Breast Cancer (WABC) presented “31 Myths & Truths about Breast Cancer.” During the evening, the advocacy group addressed some of the misconceptions people have when it comes to breast cancer, the research and the treatment, giving audience members some surprising information.

A relatively new student club on campus, WABC works directly with the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) in Washington D.C. The club was created with the help of Katrina Rothenberger, a graduate student studying public health.

“We didn’t have a student organization on campus that specifically targeted breast cancer,” Rothenberger said. “We figured it would be a good idea to help students who were going to Washington, D.C., [for the annual conference] to raise money for the flight over there.”

Last year, Rothenberger was the club president. Since then, the club has become

well known for being the youngest advocacy group within the NBCC.

Some of the members of WABC travelled to Washington D.C. last year for the NBCC Advocacy Conference. There were over 800 men and women from all over the country who attended.

For four days, WABC members attended close to 100 meetings and seminars all based on breast cancer. They learned about different types of breast cancer, new research, new treatments and what it takes to be a lobbyist for breast cancer research funding. In addition to this, alongside the other attendees WABC members got the rare chance to make congressional visits on behalf of the NBCC.

Perhaps one of the most notable aspects about NBCC is the fact that the organization has set a date for the eradication of breast cancer, working to find a cure by Jan. 1, 2020. The NBCC is the first organization to set a date for this, and the group is serious in its ambition

to be held accountable for the end of breast cancer-related deaths. By setting a deadline, the NBCC feels they have also created a sense of urgency in breast cancer research, as there is no time to waste when meeting a deadline.

Labecca Hampton is a senior at Western, and WABC’s vice president this year. She found a lump in her breast at age 18 and had it removed. Tests later proved it to be a cancerous lump. When she was told of WABC last year, she decided to check it out and ended up falling in love with the group. Hampton attended the conference last year.

“There [was] so much emotion there,” Hampton explained. “Every time we gather together, we have a moment of silence for those we’ve lost within the year. It’s sad to see someone who has done a lot of work for NBCC lose their battle with cancer.”

Hampton’s favorite part of being a member of the WABC is that she can come back from the NBCC conference and help

educate other people on the new developments in breast cancer research.

Hampton is majoring in community health studies, but she hopes to continue working with NBCC in the future.

“I hope that I work myself out of a job,” Hampton stated. “I hope by 2020 I won’t have to do this anymore, that breast cancer will be cured. We cured polio in seven years; why can’t we get breast cancer cured in 10 years?”

Brittany Mason is WABC’s President this year. A member since winter term of last year, Mason became interested in the club because of close family members who have been affected by breast cancer.

“My grandmother and my aunt both have stage four breast cancer,” Mason said. “I wanted to make a difference and be able to see where my donations to breast cancer research went.”

Mason’s favorite part of the WABC is “getting others involved.”

Myth: Monthly breast self-exams save lives.Truth: Exams can help detect lumps, but they often lead to elevated anxiety and unnecessary procedures, like biopsies.

Myth: Men don’t get breast cancer.Truth: Men have a small amount of breast tissue; therefore they can get breast cancer. It is extremely rare, but men are still at risk. In 2010, there have already been 1,970 men diagnosed with breast cancer and 390 deaths from breast cancer.

Myth: The mortality rate of breast cancer is the same in all women.Truth: It is higher in African-American women than in Caucasian women. For every 100,000 women in an ethnic group, an average of 126 Caucasian and 118 African-American women will be diagnosed with cancer. However, out of that same number of women, the mortality rate is 23 for Caucasian women and 32 for African-American women.

Myth: Once diagnosed with breast cancer, it is very important to make treatment decisions immediately.Truth: There are about 10 different types of breast cancer, so it is important to take your time and research your particular case first. Then you should research the different treatments available to you and decide what steps you would like to take.

Myth: If I am not a scientist, then I won’t be able to understand breast cancer research.Truth: It can be hard to understand some of the research being done, but there are thousands of resources available to help you. You can talk to your doctor or get in contact with WABC here on campus. One helpful website to visit iswww.knowbreastcancer.org.

and Hamersly Library was drawn in full color as a possible solution to traffic congestion in the center of campus.

Neal believes that “if drivers have a better alternative, then likely we won’t have to close off Monmouth Avenue at all.”

Creating an alternate route would make traffic less congested and would also be safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

After SERA representatives and Western’s planning committee made a note of all of the suggestions given during the meeting for future discussion, The Master Plan brainstorm meeting was concluded with the question, “What do you love about WOU?”

Answers given by participants included “Ackerman [Hall],” “the catwalks to Valsetz,” “the safety and security,” “the landscape” and “the small campus feel.”

“I like to educate others, and then in turn have them educate others,” she stated.

Mason feels it is very important for students to know what really happens when it comes to breast cancer, and for this reason she is dedicated to continuing her involvement with NBCC.

“I am an active member of NBCC and hope to stay that way for

life,” Mason stated. “I will be a graduate student next year and can’t wait to start spreading the NBCC message at my new school.”

Students interested in learning more about the WABC are welcome to contact Labecca Hampton at [email protected] or attend a WABC meeting. Meetings are held every Thursday evening at 5 p.m. in the Ochoco room in the WUC.

Quick Facts: Five myths

About Breast Cancer

Vice President and senior Labecca Hampton, President and senior Brittany Mason, junior and returning club member Natalie Nibler, and Western Graduate and club alumna Katrina Rothenberger organized an informational session presenting common myths about breast cancer research.

Students interested in voicing their ideas or concerns for future campus renovations are invited to the next Master Plan meeting scheduled for Monday, Nov. 8, with the exact time TBA. Students may also get in touch with Neal directly at [email protected].

For additional information on the history of SERA Architects or the company’s past and present construction projects, check out www.serapdx.com/index.php.

Photo by | Scott Tasake

4 CAMPUS LIFE


November 3, 2010

Heather Worthing | Freelancer

The hauntings of Todd Hall live on through storytellingLong after former headmistress Jessica Todd’s physical form vacated the building in the late 19th century, numerous unexplained happenings cause many to believe her departed spirit still lingers

(Above) Public Safety Officer Keith Carlton educates and entertains students with haunting stories. In this hall, for instance, fire extinguishers were said to have moved around without any explanation. (Below) Carlton gives all the spooky details about the history behind the haunted swing on the ground floor level of Todd Hall.

For the past 14 years, Public Safety Officer Keith Carlton has been leading ghost tours throughout Todd Hall, Western’s very own “haunted house.”

“It all started years ago when I was asked by a student if I had ever had any ‘strange’ experiences in Todd Hall,” said Carlton. “After explaining some of my encounters, they explained theirs. We had similar types of experiences, and I guess the rest is history.”

On the chilly Wednesday evening of Oct. 27, Todd Hall filled with psychology students and WOUPSA members, skeptics and believers alike, all anticipating stories of unexplained events said to have occurred in Todd Hall.

Freshman Kate Anderson was one such fascinated student.

“There are lots of rumors concerning the supernatural quality of the building and events that go on there,” Anderson stated. “I wanted to see if they were true.”

WOUPSA president Kayla Willhite organized this adventurous tour.

“I chose to plan and participate in this . . . because I thought it would be a great Halloween club event,” Willhite said. “My hope is that the students will leave knowing more of the stories behind Todd Hall’s haunting. Who knows, some of them might leave with their

own experience to share.” During this tour,

Carlton explained the rich history of Todd Hall and how the building was originally a women’s dormitory where Jessica Todd was headmistress. Todd ruled the house with an iron fist and cultivated a group of women who were competent enough to compete with their male peers. As a result of her success in making future women CEOs, it took Todd five years after her allotted time to retire to move to Pennsylvania where she died of natural causes.

The death of Jessica Todd however, did little to reduce activity in her previous domain. Ever since her death there have been many “sightings” of the paranormal.

“In all this time I have seen lots of strange, unexplainable things happen in Todd Hall,” explained Carlton. “The things that have happened to me add to the history and mystery of the building, and are just plain fun; I hope I never forget my time in the building.”

Many who came on the tour were extremely curious about what the mystery surrounding Todd Hall was all about.

“My mum had a book on haunted places in Oregon and Todd Hall was one of them,” said senior Shawn Fageundes. “After reading the book myself, I had to check it out.”

While on the tour, Carlton kept on reassuring those who were following him that he had no bias either way as to if the building was haunted or not.

“I can’t tell you that the building is haunted, but I can’t deny that in the 14 years being here unexplainable events have occurred,” Carlton said.

Some of these unexplainable things include lights going on and off, doors opening and closing, people looking out of windows, closed and locked windows, voices of young ladies, fire extinguishers that have been found off the hook and placed on the floor, people going into the building through windows and then disappearing, and many other strange occurrences.

The tour lasted for about two hours, in which time many stories were told and many nerves tried.

“I thought it was a great history of Western and Todd Hall, and [it] gave me great insight of the college I am attending,” said freshman Aaron Burg.

Carlton has been leading students like Burg through the floors of Todd Hall for over a decade and does not plan on stopping anytime soon.

“Ghost hunters have tried to explain some of the stuff to me, but it just doesn’t work for me,” Carlton said. “Personally, I try not to look for explanations and try to just enjoy the mystery and history of it all.”

Kelsey Carrier | Freelancer

A view from the “Far Side” of life: After many years at Western, Dr. Eric Cooley prepares for his retirementWhile setting aside time for travel and extended research, Cooley will continue to leave his mark at Western

Known for his love of “Far Side” comics (and linking them to concepts in the classroom) and his “dry” sense of humor, Dr. Eric Cooley began teaching at Western, then called the Oregon College of Education, in 1976.

Having graduated from high school in Salem, Cooley went on to get his undergraduate degree at Claremont Men’s College and received his Bachelor of Arts in psychology. He continued on to the University of Texas at Austin to receive his doctorate in clinical psychology, after which he returned to Oregon to begin his career as an adjunct professor before moving onto a tenure track.

Cooley has frequently taught

behavior modification, abnormal psychology, the maladjusted child, social psychology and psychology of sports. His interest in the psychology of sports sprung from being an athlete himself and from teaching tennis at Western.

When asked about his decision to retire, Cooley said it was not a hard one.

“It was just the right time in my life to be able to go on and do all of the things I want to do,” he explained.

Of those activities, traveling is most certainly included. Cooley said he has traveled to a few places, but there are even places inside the United States he would still like to visit. One of the places he wants to visit again is London, not to teach, but to visit

and explore. Cooley also plans on catching up on his reading as he has stacks of research that he has yet to enjoy.

Cooley has not only been an inspiration to many students at Western, but he has contributed incredible research and findings to

the psychology community. He has performed many studies with Dr. Tamina Toray. Toray and Cooley have known each other for 19 years and have worked closely together in many fields of research, most of these including student participants.

When asked about his research, Toray said that Cooley is a “dedicated and passionate researcher and he is in his element in these group meetings. He is an amazing statistician and very humble - a great combination!”

When Cooley and Toray began doing research together, they focused on eating disorder behaviors in college students. Within the past five years, they have focused their research on the impact loss (both death and non-death related) has on college students because they both care so much about college students, a fact which is apparent when interacting with either professor.

Not only has Cooley contributed new research, he has also helped shape

policies on campus to benefit the students. According to Toray, Cooley has always shown incredible respect for both students and his colleagues.

Senior Amanda Rhoton is one such student who has benefited from Cooley’s teaching. “I took him my sophomore year,” said Rhoton. “I took social psychology from him and I really enjoyed his teaching methods.”

Even though Cooley might be retiring, he will not stop furthering his studies and understanding of psychology. He explained that he will still continue research and will most likely return to teach a course once a year “because without me, there would be no sports psychology offered.”

Photos by | Brandon Woodard


2010 marks Dr. Cooley’s 34th year at Western.


November 3, 2010 CAMPUS LIFE 5

Christina Tilicki | Campus Life Editor

After nearly 10 years, Dr. Ben Lowe and Professor Christy Lowe are leaving Western for a new beginningCurrently teaching in the history and language departments, the international couple will be traveling to Denmark with their four-month-old son where a new job opportunity and lifestyle awaits them

“If you live in Europe, history is an ever-present part of daily life,” said Dr. Ben Lowe, explaining his reason for choosing to pursue a career teaching history. “It’s around you all the time. In Europe, you renovate a building that is centuries old so the primary architecture stays intact. Here, you knock everything down and start again. And so, you’re never going to have a building that is over 20 years old.”

He received all his education in the United Kingdom, completing his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Durham and his doctorate at the University of Edinburgh. Ben began teaching in 1993 in the UK. Shortly thereafter, Ben started teaching in the states at the University of Georgia where he met his wife, Professor Christy Lowe who teaches Greek, Latin and Hebrew at Western.

“[The subjects are] close enough so we don’t annoy each other but it’s different enough that it complements the other,” explained Ben.

Ben came to Western and began teaching in 2001. Though living and teaching in America, he has had the opportunity to travel each summer to Pompeii and Spain where he runs archaeological projects. This allows him to do more than just teach the subject; instead, he gets the opportunity to truly live the history that fascinates so many.

Though Ben and his wife have been in the area for nearly 10 years, they

Enjoying some free time, Ben and Christy Lowe stated they will miss the chance to socialize with colleagues, friends and students they have met during their memorable time in Oregon.

““When you do things you enjoy, you put more time into [them] and you’ll get better grades. Don’t listen to people who tell you you can’t. If you love it, you can. You’ll find your niche and will find a job.” - Dr. Ben Lowe

History Professor

LOS MUERTOSFROM PAGE 1

One of many memorial skulls adorning the Dia de Los Muertos altar in the WUC. Alongside skulls such as this, altars were decorated with flowers, food, drinks and photographs of the deceased. The altar will be up in the WUC all week, giving students the opportunity to remember those that have gone before them.

that both MSU and MEChA put on this event together. In past years, individual clubs have celebrated the traditions separately. Both clubs have also asked local schools within Monmouth and Independence to celebrate and learn the importance of Dia de los Muertos.

“The significance of Dia de los Muertos is to let others know about why we celebrate Dia de los Muertos and the significance it has on us,” said MSU Historian, Rosibel Perez. “Many students at the university come from different backgrounds and we love

sharing a little part of our culture.”

Dia de los Muertos can have different meanings for different cultures. In Mexico, they display an altar, similar to the one outside the front entrance of WUC, and decorate it with pictures, drinks and foods of what the loved one who has passed away liked. Generally, the flowers consist of marigolds because they are native to Mexico and Central America.

Since Dia de los Muertos occurs so close to Halloween, it may be seen as a similar holiday. However, there are many differences. It is a day to honor the deceased by building altars and visiting their graves with their favorite items from when they were alive.

Offering these items is meant to encourage the souls to visit so they can hear the prayers and comments directly from the living. Along with food and drinks left out for the dead, which is later eaten by the family, blankets and pillows are left out so the dead can rest after their long journey.

In the afternoon, students were treated to free traditional Mexican Pan Dulce and Champurrado. The event closed up with a silent candlelight vigil through campus remembering loved ones that have passed away. After the walk those participating gathered in a circle on the patio of the Werner patio where they enjoyed watching two traditional Mexican dances.

feel that it is time for a new adventure for their growing family. With a new baby in tow, Ben and Christy Lowe are about to embark on the next stage in their life which will lead them to Denmark.

The decision to move to Denmark came when Ben applied for and received a position teaching at the University of Aarhus.

“We just had a baby boy and we have to start thinking about him,” said Ben. “How are we going to start saving for his education and so on? Staying here, it is difficult. We started looking for a better paying position. My commitments in Pompeii and Spain mean that I’m doing a lot more research

and with my teaching load, I can’t do research.

“We were looking for a research university with a better salary and advertising for a senior professor,” he

and our families. We have been looking at Northern Europe for a long while. It’s a very different culture. Being European, I wanted that for my son. So, to see a

pass it up.” Christy is looking

forward to the move just as much as her husband. While there, she will have the opportunity to complete her doctorate, teach and spend time raising her four-month-old son, Tiberius. Besides her family, teaching is one of the primary things that gives her a sense of fulfillment.

“I am happy just about anywhere as long as I’m teaching,” said Christy. “As far as just me goes, teaching is the most important thing I’ve ever done. I’ve wanted to teach since I was 13. It’s about helping people, encouraging people and improving the quality of their lives. I try to encourage people, make

them smile and we do a little Latin along the way.”

Leaving behind their students is the hardest part of making this move. Ben has a bit of advice to those students he is parting with, stating, “There are an awful lot of advisers who tell you ‘Look, this degree will get you a lot of job offers, this will not.’ And, I think that is a real injustice to the students. What you should do is do what you enjoy.

“When you do things you enjoy, you put more time into [them] and you’ll get better grades. Don’t listen to people who tell you you can’t. If you love it, you can. You’ll find your niche and will find a job,” he went on to say. “The other thing I would say is do studies abroad. This is the one chance in your life where you can go to Mexico, go to Athens, go to Italy, to Australia. You won’t get another chance to spend 10 weeks on the other side of the world. Those are my two things: Do what you love and study abroad.”

“Even if you’re broke, you still have the thing that interests you, the thing that you love,” Christy said, agreeing wholeheartedly with the advice her husband gave. “Even if you’re unemployed, you still have that. The way I feel, I get to teach Latin and there is someone crazy enough to pay me for it. Do what you love because you always have that, even if the job market is bad. No one can take Latin and Greek away from me.”

went on to explain. “We also wanted to be in Europe because that would be closer to Rome, Pompeii

job that fit everything, right rank, right salary, right kind of university and for it to be in Denmark, we couldn’t



6 CULTURE November 3, 2010


Michael Sanitz brought a new scope to Mallorie’s lifestyle. Four years her senior, he had already graduated with his bachelor’s degree and was on his way to the subsequent degree as well. Although she had vowed never to go back to the classroom, Mallorie was motivated by her new boyfriend’s passion for school and longed for the respect he received from friends and family.

“It wasn’t that my family didn’t like me because I didn’t go to school, it was just that they saw such potential going to waste,” said Mallorie. “I knew I could be good in school, I simply didn’t know how to make myself want to go back. Michael just said out of the blue one day, ‘Why don’t you go back this year with me,’ and I said, ‘OK,’ and that was that. I did decide to go to a different school than him . . . but we always put what was best for one another first, and I think it was a good decision for what I wanted to study.”

Within just two years, Mallorie found herself

moving forward quickly, majoring in education and linguistic studies.

“She wanted her master’s and vowed to do it faster than I did,” said her husband, “I have to admit, if her plans go through this winter, she will have done the whole process much faster than I accomplished it in.”

Mallorie wanted to become an English teacher in foreign countries, but she wanted to make sure she was fully prepared, both in her own education and how to impart that same sort of passion in which she felt from her husband.

“He gave me such hope,” she said. “I want to pass that on. I also believe that when developing or having an impact on the lives of others, especially children, you must first have a strong personal life. Until recently, I didn’t have that. When Michael and I got married and had our first child, I began to realize just how important my education is, not just to myself, but for the benefit of Alice as well.”

Mallorie will graduate this winter break with a high GPA and her master’s degree. Two weeks after, she will achieve her dream

of flying to Germany as an English teacher.

“I can’t wait!” she exclaimed with a smile. “My whole family has been behind me, and I never would have gotten this far without them. We have slowly been moving to our new home over the last few months. Alice is too young to understand, but I am excited to see how she will react to the new environment. She will grow up bilingual and enjoy far more opportunities than I did. I am excited to start the life I have always dreamed about, but sad to leave my home and my extended family and friends behind.”

“She is so thankful just to have the opportunity,” said Michael. “We are so proud of her and the next step is just to support her dream. The cool thing is I can live anywhere to do what I love as a career, so it opens up possibilities to her and our daughter. I think it will be a great experience, and we couldn’t be more thankful for the help and guidance from the people at both of our universities.”

“I don’t know how I would’ve gotten this far without them,” Mallorie agreed.

(Above) Mallorie Sanitz looks forward to teaching English in Germany. (Below) Mallorie’s husband, Michael, rests with their baby daughter, Alice.

SANITZFROM PAGE 1

Photos courtesy | Mallorie Sanitz

CULTURE 7November 3, 2010


Songs to celebrate around the countyHigh school choral festival returns to Western for 15th year

Rice Auditorium fills with students from around the area, idle chatter filtering throughout the room as students make their way to their seats to sit with their school choirs. Then, the room’s lights dim as the lights on stage brighten and the first choir to perform steps on to the stage. The room goes silent as the choral director raises his hands, and then out of the silence comes the crisp opening notes of the first song marking the start of the 15th annual Western Oregon University Choral Festival to take place Monday, Nov. 22, from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

According to music professor Dr. Solveig Holmquist, the choral festival started “when I first came to teach…and as a way of providing a service to Oregon schools, bringing high school singers to our campus.”

In addition to Holmquist, music professor Dr. Kevin Helppie and two other clinicians from Portland will be in attendance to offer their advice.

The day’s proceedings will start out with each choir performing in the morning, each of which will receive a private clinic with one of the adjudicators, after which there will be a break for lunch. When lunch finishes, the Western Chamber singers will perform for all of the choirs, and then there is a short rehearsal of all of the choirs – forming one choir numbering between 300 and 400 students – on their two mass choir numbers, of which they are coming prepared to work on. Shortly before the festival ends, these numbers are recorded with all choral directors listening and watching.

According to Silverton High School choral director Brace Langenwalter, he enjoys bringing his students to the festival because “I like giving my students the ‘singing in front of a judge’ feeling in a more relaxed environment. I feel that it helps them come springtime when it is for real.”

He also noted that

he feels this event is an important opportunity for his students. One of the two choral pieces that the choirs will be singing as a mass group is a “really cool setting” of “Amazing Grace.” The second is a medieval song, “Gaudete,” which, according to Holmquist, is from 1327. This allows for a theme to their music because “…we are going to be singing two double-choir pieces of music,” Langenwalter stated.

For Holmquist, she remarked that she enjoys “the energy of the high school singers. It’s especially fun to look out as they’re singing their mass choir numbers, and seeing the obvious fun they’re having performing with students they hadn’t met before.”

L a n g e n w a l t e r expressed no particular aspect that he or his choir are specifically looking forward to, other than enjoying the festival.

Holmquist agreed, stating that the festival will be about “just having it all work well, as usual!”

As it turns out, there is a lot of coordination involving a student committee to make the day a successful one for everyone.

Holmquist said that she “want[s] this year’s festival to be as strong as all the others.”

Though Western is a smaller campus compared to most, no negative experiences have been felt or experienced from the Silverton group, and nothing has really influenced whether or not the group comes back to the festival, for as Langenwalter puts it, “I just really believe in what the festival offers my students.”

Coming from a different perspective, Holmquist commented that as being a part of the festival, and then teaching here at school, “The fact that I talk to WOU students every year who tell me that their decision to come here to study was strongly influenced by attending the choral festival with their high school choir, I am really proud of that.”

Joanna Walker | Freelancer

“The Street Lawyer”There are book smarts and street smarts – then there’s Michael Brock

Book Review

Joanna Walker | Freelancer

Think balancing work, classes, a social life and family is stressful? Try leaving work, only to find out that you cannot go home because a homeless man points a gun at your head and, with dynamite strapped to his chest, gives you a lecture about how inhumane you are. You think: what did I do wrong? Get a job? Earn money? Go to work? Have a want to succeed? Live in a comfortable apartment? Buy food or own a car?

Such was the case for lawyer Michael Brock, a man who was on the fast track to partner with the number five lawyer firm in the nation, Drake & Sweeney, in John Grisham’s novel, “The Street Lawyer.” After being part of a near-death hostage situation alongside a handful of his colleagues, Brock comes to the realization that what he does is not really that enjoyable. As a result, Brock’s life is drastically changed and the next month proves to be a roller coaster ride as he sets out to find where his skills can best be used.

Learning more about street life and the homeless, Brock discovers the injustices of the American government and realizes how serious of an issue homelessness is within the Washington, D.C., area where he lives. Due to this change of heart, Brock faces ridicule from his employer, his family and his wife – who happens to be a surgeon - but finds contentment at the 14th Street Legal Clinic and by visiting various shelters to assist the homeless and fight for their rights.

Just before quitting Drake & Sweeney and starting his practice at the clinic, Brock discovers that the man who held him and his colleagues hostage was one of a slew of evictees from a building that the city recently purchased and that had been inspected by an associate from Drake & Sweeney. Police were brought in to kick out these “squatters,” though they were actually tenants who had been paying their rent. Brock uncovered these names by “borrowing” the file containing the information, wherein he discovers proof that the “squatters” were, in fact, tenants. Though intending to return the file, an unfortunate event prevents Brock from returning the file as anticipated: the company finds out and goes after him.

Brock’s struggle thereafter is to find the missing information that proves that the homeless individuals were living in the building legally, that the eviction was wrongly pursued and that Drake & Sweeney acted unethically. Many tragedies take place as a result of the eviction, one being a mother and her three children who were found dead in a car parked along the street because they had no place else to go to keep warm. Because of his contact and personal experience working with the homeless, Brock is determined not to let these deaths go unnoticed and to try to instigate the change necessary to make things right.

After graduating from the University of Mississippi, author John Grisham worked as a criminal and personal injuries lawyer for 10 years; it was not until 1984 that he started to write his first novel, “A Time To Kill,” which was published in 1989.

“Divine Misdemeanors” novel comes to the stage

A successful series brings to life a mythical land in a new play in downtown Portland

Sydni Wiese | Culture Editor

Author Laurell K. Hamilton is famous for her fantasy fiction series with her main character, Anita Blake. However, in a twist of recent events, Hamilton has created another series for her fans, entirely new and loaded with surprises and set to hit Portland theater this November.

“I’d written five Anita books in a row and was starting to have job anxiety dreams about her life, instead of mine,” Hamilton said to Amazon books in her latest interview.

“[My new character,] Merry was created to give me a different voice, a different world to visit. She’s like a second child that you have so the first one won’t be an only. Then, …I discovered, like a parent, a second child doesn’t double your workload, it quadruples it.”

Enticing fans with a new series was difficult, according to the author, but a fun challenge as well.

“I had to find the unique joys of a second character that are specifically different than those of Anita, who writes faster and clearer through my head,” Hamilton commented.

Hamilton’s newest novel, “Divine Misdemeanors,” was released December 2009 from the Meredith Gentry series. A princess of a mythical land called Faerie, Merry, as the character is fondly called, is also a Los Angeles private eye who “has confronted horrendous enemies, royal intrigue and celebrity drama throughout the entirety of her life,” according to the book.

Having turned away court and crown and thrown away the right to claim the throne in her own land, the main character has chosen exile to the human world.

However, as she is still a member of the fey people,

Merry finds she cannot abandon those who exist in the other world with her, especially after the appearance of several horrid murders. As a private eye, she begins a journey to aid the baffled LAPD in finding who is killing her people; along the way, however, Merry finds stranger things are happening. Mortals who she once healed with magic are suddenly performing miracles and though she is innocent, the dark suspicions of banned magical activities begin to swirl around her.

Whatever her idyllic dreams of a peaceful life in sunny LA may have been, Merry now faces a whole new slew of terrors very much outside her former political problems in Faerie.

Rich in color and fun in script, the new play is sure to present a delightful tale to a new audience this coming month.

Puppets create the fictional world of the new play.Photo by | Sydni Wiese

8 POST November 3, 2010


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Is Native American imagery of sports mascots racist?

What is in a name? A name is something an individual identifies with, a title. A name can tell you a lot about a person or group. Because names hold so much meaning, the use of Native American imagery, particularly in sports mascots, is wrong and needs to be banned.

For many years, different groups of Native Americans have been fighting for racist and discriminatory Native American nicknames and their use as mascots to be banned. One winning battle occurred in April 2010 when the University of North Dakota (UND) was ordered to change its team name, the Fighting Sioux. It was a four year battle between UND and the NCAA. In the end, UND was unable to gather enough support from

Indian reservations in the area and will have to change its name and logo by Nov. 30 of this year. We believe the NCAA made a wise decision; therefore, why are other institutions, such as the Washington Redskins, unable or unwilling to change their names?

Using the names of these specific people is not showing honor or respect; instead, it is hurtful, degrading and misleading. Names such as the Redskins, Fighting Sioux, the Warriors and the Braves are well-known sports teams and school mascots. By using these names the portrayed images we see are negative and false. It is important that we show and teach the truth of all people and not mislead or misdirect peoples’ idea of Native Americans. We believe we should get rid of Native American-related mascots and show that there can be mascots that do not hurt or degrade any one type of person.

Violet Rhodes | Guest Columnist

It has happened with some institutions before; therefore it should not be too difficult for others to follow and make the much-needed name change.

One argument is that there are more than 900 high school, college and pro teams that use American Indian-related images to pump up players, fire up crowds and sell t-shirts. Therefore, it would be too difficult to change all the names, right? Although it would be a long process, it would be beneficial to the population as a whole because Native Americans would no longer be represented, at least in the sports world, as uncivilized.

“‘Redskin’ is the most derogatory word you can use to describe a Native American,” said Bill Means, founder of the International Indian Treaty Council.

The term originates from the bounty hunting days, when colonies and companies would pay settlers for dead American Indians. Scalps, called

“redskins,” were used as trophies and proof because it was too difficult to carry the entire body. In some cases male scalps could be bought for 80 cents, female scalps for 60 cents and children for even less. Why is this heinous action celebrated by representing a professional sports team?

To make matters worse, Native Americans are the only minority group to be denigrated as sports mascots. By allowing these subtle jabs at an entire population, we perpetuate the demeaning stereotypes that go with it. Do we really want our children to see all Native Americans as naked, spear throwing, warrior-savages? Perpetuating that image demeans each of us, and trivializes the contribution that Native Americans made in being the first pioneers to colonize the U.S.

There are no other minority groups represented as mascots, especially by use of racial terms. Columnist Michael Tomasky said it best:

“Obviously, no one would name a team the Washington N-----s . . . .” Why then are derogatory words for Native Americans used to represent sports teams?

Some teams have stepped up to the plate before, usually not by choice, and changed their mascots to something much more pleasing and socially acceptable, but the Redskins refuse to even consider changing their name. As anthropology students, in the class Social Constructions of Race, we identify the meaning these derogatory names hold and their significance in our world today and plead to the Washington Redskins and the other 900+ teams with similar names to change their team names to something more respectable, honorable and appropriate.

What’s wrong with a name that represents your city? How about the Washington Redskins change their name to, like the NHL team, the Washington Capitals?

Jennica Warnock | Guest Columnist Lindsay Scott | Guest Columnist Sandi Biester | Guest Columnist

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INDEPENDENCE CINEMA 8

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Advance tickets on sale now for:HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS 1

Showtimes for Nov. 5 - Nov. 10Matinees are all shows starting before 6PM.

Tickets available at box office, WOU bookstore and online at www.PrestigeTheatres.com.

November 3, 2010


POST 9

SydniWiese

CultureEditor

At the heart of mankind, there is something priceless. We start each new year in celebration; children rustle open packages of “Pop-it’s,” some for the first time, some for the millionth, parents pour glasses of champagne and toast to healthy lives while lighting off sparklers and canons of ribbon, paper flakes and colorful gun powder. And everywhere you look, it seems, there is a smile.

At the heart of mankind, there is something . . .Mid-February brings tiny candy cards to classrooms, each vibrant in color and familiar in phrase or cartoon. Women dress up in beautiful clothes to impress their men who rush to make plans, all in memoriam of a long passed Saint. And everywhere you look, it seems, there is a smile.

At the heart of mankind, there is … St. Patty’s Day flourishes in emerald as winter slowly lifts the snow away in March. Old men, young men, and all those in between pin on green and pinch those who refuse, or worse, forgot! We are reminded of mothers and the how special their care is to us all, each one. And everywhere you look, it seems, there is a smile.

At the heart of mankind … In April it pours and gusts with winds and drizzles. Rain jackets donned, cars run through puddles, ‘till finally May’s flowers spring up from

beneath the cold, muddy ground. Red, purple, white, yellow and pink splash all the sidewalks, on the desks of business people and in every backyard. And everywhere you look it seems, there is a smile.

At the heart … June, July, August—they just seem to fly past, especially for little tots who constantly move, always in motion, dreading the thought of September. Dads are honored with gifts for the garage, lawn and cars—and maybe a new shirt, for when all their hard work is done. Independence rings out with its call of freedom, and the sun shines out hot, beating down on now tan faces; children dance through sprinklers and dive into pools, their excited faces never fading. And everywhere you look, it seems, there is a smile.

… Labor Day means a break for those who just need a break. It also signals the last day for students to gather their school supplies. New friends, old friends and new subjects to learn all meet in front of those big doors, and sliding out of yellow buses children begin to dig through sets of new knowledge. The air becomes crisp and clear and the harvest sets in.

And everywhere you look, it seems, there is a

smile.October brings out

the ghouls and ghosts, little children running scared from costumed performers. Apples ripen into Grandmother’s pies and round, orange vegetables become faces under flickering candle light. ‘Crunch, Crunch!’ go the leaves under our feet, while those on the tree turn bright orange and yellow.

And everywhere you look, it seems, there is a smile.

November and December bring the most holidays. We welcome the turkey, ham or sometimes roast or lamb, cranberry jellies, hot rolls, green bean casserole and an entire feast of tastes that bring our hearts to life. Family and friends gather close, singing songs and making memories. The year doesn’t die out without a warm, happy feeling resting in all our souls.

And everywhere you look, it seems, there is a smile; but why?

Why? Because the world can’t function without happiness. Why? Because we are only as strong as our weakest link. Why? Because life matters. Why? Because in our darkest hour, when the sea pounds away at one individual’s fortress, there will always be another to help. Why? Because love, even in the darkest night, is always there.

At the heart of mankind, there is something priceless.

Deep in the heart of mankind Pumpkin patches and turkey feathers: “It’s a Wonderful Life”

As the fall weather quickly changes to winter, I cannot say that I am looking forward to the next six months or so of constant rain and overcast skies, but I am excited for the holidays which are fast approaching. The holidays are a time for traditions. I have been blessed to have a family that enjoys numerous traditions for almost every holiday. Although I now live away from home, I feel that it is important to still participate in as many family traditions as I can because it helps me stay connected with the ones I love.

October marks the beginning of the holiday traditions for my family. I made a trip home in order to make it to Thompson’s farms in Damascus, Ore., where we always get our pumpkins. After watching football on Sunday morning and suffering through another loss for the Dallas Cowboys, we carved our pumpkins.

My dad was feeling so dejected he carved 1-4 into his pumpkin which was the record for the Cowboys that weekend. After carving, my dad went to work on cooking the pumpkin seeds with his secret recipe (which changes every year). Our family always eats the seeds during the World Series or playoffs.

Although Christmas decorations are already in stores, it is important to not

skip over Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all of the things to be thankful for. It is a time to gather with family or friends to eat without worrying about diets; that can wait until Jan. 1.

Thanksgiving is a time for pumpkin pie and football. One tradition that my family has done for years is make turkey feathers out of construction paper. Each family member then writes something they are thankful for on the feathers, and we read them and pray before our meal.

My family has countless traditions for Christmas. My dad and brother put up lights that we have had at least since the 70s. My mom and I decorate the house while listening to Dean Martin’s Christmas songs. We decorate our tree with so many ornaments that there is rarely a twig without one.

Each Sunday in December, we light an advent candle and count down until Christmas arrives. Probably one of the most unique traditions my family has done is have a “Shepherd’s Night.” When my brother and I were younger, we would enjoy dressing up as shepherds and roasting hot

dogs over our fireplace. We would then listen to my mom or dad as they read Luke 2:80, from the Bible about the shepherds being told by angels of the birth of Jesus. For the past few years, my family has hosted a Christmas Eve open house for friends and family to come visit. After the Christmas Eve service, we go home and make hot cider for our guests. We watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” when we don’t have someone visiting. This most recent tradition is one of my favorites. I love making Christmas a time to spend with friends along with family.

The holidays would not be the same without including some of the traditions that my family has created over the years. I think it is important to go home to participate in as many traditions as I can because it makes the holiday season so much more meaningful. I want to encourage students at Western to participate in traditions, whether visiting family or creating traditions of your own.

Traditions do not have to only include family. Friends can create their own holiday traditions too. Whatever your plans may be for the upcoming holidays, whether it is staying on campus or traveling to see family, incorporate some old or new traditions. It will bring some holiday cheer to whomever is participating.

Kelsey Davais

NewsEditor

ChristinaTilicki

Campus LifeEditor

Isn’t America known for its support of religious freedom?

There are times when I am ashamed to call myself an American and this is one of them. The ongoing debate regarding the project known as “Park51,” or more widely referred to as the “Ground Zero Mosque,” has been enraging individuals on both sides of this argument. The proposed location of the community center and prayer space is two blocks from ground zero and it is understandable why Americans still grieving over the loss of their loved ones on 9/11 are upset. However, we are currently involved in a war against terrorism; not a war against Muslims.

By blatantly being so opposed to the mosque, Americans are screaming to the world that our nation

has no religious tolerance. Our country was initially founded as a means for Europeans to escape religious persecution. Coming to America to live and worship freely has been a reason for immigration for centuries. All people living in this country are here because someone in their ancestry immigrated here in an attempt to make a better life for themselves and their families. Knowing this, it is shocking to me that some people can be so cruel to others who simply want the same thing.

The primary argument of those opposed to the

building of the mosque and community center surrounds the belief that this establishment is a stab in the heart to those who lost loved ones on 9/11. I cannot imagine what that loss must be like, but that hurt and anger needs to be properly directed and targeting the Muslim community is not the right way to go about it.

For starters, the building is not strictly at ground zero. It is blocks away from the former location of the World Trade Center. The Muslim community in New York City could propose to build a mosque miles away from the ground zero site and radical American groups would still have an issue with it.

Secondly, the building

isn’t even strictly a mosque. It is primarily a community center with a proposed cinema, basketball court, a swimming pool and a mosque. You wouldn’t call OHSU a church simply because it has a chapel in it. In the same sense, the building should not be considered a mosque.

By believing that supporting the Park51 project is supporting terrorism is asinine. In no way do I feel that the actions of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban are justified. The terrorism in the Middle East is tragic and should not be supported in any way. However, I completely support religious freedom and feel that everyone deserves that right.

Stating that the Muslim community does

not deserve to build their community center and mosque is no different than stating that Japanese-Americans have no right residing in Hawaii. If you’re going to play fair (and I know for these individuals this is a difficult concept) than any individual, group of individuals, religious group or other culture who have done America wrong should not be allowed to enjoy the same freedoms and rights as other American citizens.

How is this in any way fair or just? Not all Japanese were responsible for Pearl Harbor, not all Germans are Nazis and not all Muslims are terrorists. Stereotyping an entire culture based on a small group of evil individuals is wrong in every sense.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution gives the Muslim community the right to practice their religion freely. As law-abiding citizens, who are we to deny them this right? If we do so, all other religious practices and cultural traditions should be abolished as well.

The Muslim community should be able to build their community center and mosque in downtown Manhattan. Muslims – not Al-Qaeda or the Taliban, but Muslims – deserve the same right as all American citizens have to live and worship freely. They should not be punished for the crimes of a group of individuals they have no ties with aside from their religion.

Denying the American-Muslim community the right to build their community center and mosque in downtown Manhattan goes against everything America stands for and believes in

November 3, 2010


10 SPORTS

ChrisReed

ManagingEditor

Junior Trevor Gates (4) had four receptions for 44 yards in the victory. Redshirt senior Demario Ballard (1) blocks to assist Gates on the run.

scoring Dixie Sate 28-7. With senior Demario Ballard dominating the field with his 127 yards received and two touchdowns, he was an obvious threat on the field, which was not just for his height of 6’ 7”.

“All of us gotta just compete at our best as a team. It’s all about going for that GNAC [title] and every win helps us… [We] just gotta keep it going,” said Ballard with a smile.

Senior Justin Ore, junior Trevor Gates and freshman Lucas Gonsalves were also key aspects to the Wolves’ success, totaling 196 all-purpose yards collectively against the Red Storm defense.

The explosive hurricane of Western’s defense only followed its offense in satisfaction. Sophomore safety Bryce Peila did not just compete to the best of his ability, but had a phenomenal game all-around.

Dixie State scrambled to achieve only four first downs during the first half due to the strong defense Western possesses.

“Being patient was key for our defense today,” explained Peila. “Coming out as a defense really fired up and looking to run around and make things happen [is what we did].”

During the second quarter when Dixie State put a seven on the board by sophomore Zach Fox,

Freshman Lucas Gonsalves had three receptions for 21 yards, two rushes for 12 yards and added 67 yards on punt and kickoff returns for a total of 100 all-purpose yards in the Western victory. He averaged six yards per carry.-

FOOTBALLFROM PAGE 1

Western conquered against all odds keeping the lead.

Junior Evan Mozzochi added a total of 84 completed yards passed to Ballard, with junior Cory Bean also having an edge of a 29-yard pass to sophomore Kyle Lavender in the third quarter – securing the Wolves’ place in the GNAC.

However, the defense finished the game with a staggering finale. Holding Dixie State at the goal line after receiving a first down, the Red Storm hoped to blow right pass the Wolves’ defense and claim the final touchdown of the quarter. Instead, Western held them for all four downs and prevailed triumphant.

Humboldt State University is the next team for the Wolves to beat, on Nov. 6, in order to stay in the running for the GNAC title. Then, Western faces the biggest hindrance of them all, Central Washington University, the week after on Nov. 13.

Sometimes life can seem miserable. You feel stuck, like the world is crashing down upon you. We’ve all had those days.

Edison Peña had 69 consecutive days like that, except they were all real. The world literally did crash down on him and he literally was stuck.

From Aug. 5 to Oct. 13 of this year, Peña was trapped inside a copper-gold mine in Chile.

For over two months, Peña’s life was such that “two little spoonfuls of tuna, a sip of milk and a biscuit every 48 hours” constituted the entirety of his energy intake; Peña’s life was such that half a mile of earth rested above him and water was next to impossible to locate, let alone retrieve.

Yet every day that Peña was trapped in the San Jose mine, he ran. Not a figurative run where he tried to escape a memory or a thought: an actual, three- to six-mile daily run.

Some say he did it to maintain, or perhaps, restore sanity. Some say he did it because he lost his sanity. Some say he just wanted to stay in shape. Maybe Peña, like Forrest Gump, “just felt like running!”

The reason is irrelevant. I am incredibly inspired by his sheer willpower, dedication and heart. You couldn’t ask for worse circumstances than the ones he was given, nor could you ask for a more uplifting response.

Peña’s dedication reminds me of a story my roommate told me. When quarantined for a week by the Chinese government during the H1N1 scare two summers ago, my roommate ran up and down the halls of his locked hotel for up to six miles in order to maintain his fitness as he trained for the upcoming cross country season.

On Friday, Oct. 15, New York Road Runners chief executive Mary Wittenberg announced that Peña would be an honored guest at this year’s New

2010-2011 GNAC Football Standings

From running in the dark to running through Central Park

York Marathon, to be held Saturday, Nov. 7.

Wittenberg originally expected that the capacity in which Peña would participate would be ceremonial in nature, from holding the finish-line tape to firing the gun to begin the race. But Peña, gracious in his acceptance of the invitation, stated on Nov. 1 that he wants to participate in a different way: he wants to run in the 26.2-mile race.

I don’t know how fit Peña is. I don’t know how fast his pace was while running in the mine. I don’t know if, or to what extent, his now-celebrity lifestyle has affected his training. Heck, I don’t even know if he will reach the finish line in Manhattan’s Central Park.

But none of that matters. Peña lived in a hole half a mile underneath the rest of humanity with tiny food rations and nearly no water, as close an experience to a literal hell on earth as one could conjure. He embodied the undying capability of the human body, spirit and mind. At this point, the fact that “The Runner,” as Peña is now famously known, is willing to challenge himself once more is inspiring, even if he is unable to finish.

Distance running is a peculiar sport. A runner is constantly bombarded by his own thoughts and doubts: “Why do I run all of those miles? Why do I do something that is seldom comfortable and rarely easy? What am I going to gain from this arduous pursuit?”

Naturally, I have these thoughts all the time. A story like Peña’s gives me hope and optimism, yes. But it also gives me a kick in the face. The things I think are hard suddenly aren’t hard anymore. The bad times are really not that bad. I may cry and moan about running through the rain and wind, but for 69 days of his life, Peña wished he could have had that luxury.

Peña’s story of determination was a reality check for me. I can only hope it has the same effect on you.

Conference All W L PF PA W L PF PA Humboldt State 5 1 169 88 7 2 267 156 Central Washington 5 1 180 108 6 3 249 178 Western Oregon 4 2 175 92 6 3 254 163 Dixie State 2 6 132 262 2 7 146 296 Simon Fraser 0 6 105 211 1 7 150 262




Photos by | Nick Charbonnier

Seniors Stephanie Beeler and Jorden Burrows played outstandingly the entire match. Burrows led the match with 43 assists and Beeler had 12 kills with a hitting percentage of .323.

“Steph Beeler was terrific tonight,” said Western head coach Brad Saindon. “She played like a seasoned veteran and really stepped up when we needed someone to step up. I am really happy and proud for her.”

The final home game of the season was a must-win for Western and also Senior Day. Going into the game, Western held a one game lead for fourth place in the GNAC over Central Washington (CWU); the team Western was facing on Saturday, Oct. 30. Western won the match in four edge-of-your-seat sets (18-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23).

“This was an important match for us and keeps all of our goals alive,” explained Saindon. “We still want to finish third

November 3, 2010


SPORTS 11

Western’s final two home games of the season were not only a grueling test, but also a weekend to show the true potential of the Western volleyball players.

On Thursday, Oct. 28, Western played Northwest Nazarene (NNU) in a game dedicated to breast cancer awareness also known as “Dig Pink.” The Wolves won the match in three out of four electrifying sets (25-16, 27-29, 25-21, 25-15). The win bumped up their record to 9-5 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) and 11-8 overall. NNU dropped to 5-9 in the GNAC, 5-15 overall.

Western stormed out of the gates quickly by taking the first set. The second set was a battle to the end as Western led the entire set until NNU rallied to tie the set at 23-23. It ended up going into extra points as NNU pulled away to win 29-27. Western won the final two sets in thrilling fashion, making numerous comebacks to win the sets.

Wolves hang on to fourth place in the GNAC with back-to-back home wins

Matthew Curran | Freelancer

Western wins final home games, three sets to one

in this conference and go to the NCAA tournament.”

Despite losing the first set, Western showed extreme perseverance by storming the final three sets and knocking out CWU. The final call of the game ended on a controversial no-call that gave Western the win.

“I feel really bad that the match ended on that note,” said Saindon. “It was a really good match, and it is never good to have a controversial call end it and I feel bad for Central Washington because that was probably their point.”

Three Wolves had double-figures in kills. Redshirt freshman Krissi Kemper had 14 kills, redshirt sophomore Danielle Reese 12 had kills and sophomore Samantha Ward added 10 kills. Beeler added nine kills with 15 digs and Burrows had 46 assists.

Western improved to 10-5 in the GNAC, and 12-8 overall, trailing Alaska Anchorage by half a game for third place. Western must win their final three games of the season to get into third place and make the NCAA tournament.

Western’s women’s basketball team opened the 2010-2011 season on the road with an exhibition game against NCAA Division I opponent, the Portland State University (PSU) Vikings, located in the heart of Portland, Ore. Although playing against such a high-caliber team,

the Wolves held their own, only losing by a score of 94-83.

Junior Rylee Petersen and senior Sara Zahler led the Wolves scoring efforts by obtaining double-doubles. Petersen had 23 points off of 7-of-15 shooting from the field and 8-of-9 from the charity

Petersen, Zahler get double-doubles in Wolves’ lossJeffrey Larson | Sports Editor

Western’s women’s basketball fell to NCAA Division I opponent, PSU Vikings, 94-83 in exhibition game

Western Oregon 3Northwest Nazarene 1

Western Oregon 3Central Washington 1

stripe. She also added 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Zahler added 23 points off of 6-of-13 shooting from the field and 10-of-12 from the free throw line. Zahler also contributed 12 rebounds, three assists, one block and four steals.

The Wolves

also received scoring contributions from sophomore Lorrie Clifford, who scored 15 points off of 6-of-14 from the field, and sophomore Hannah Whitsett, who scored 11 points and shooting 3-of-7 from beyond the arch.

Junior Jade Haas scored four points

and sophomore Jamie Richardson scored three points to round out the Wolves’ scoring.

Western did well on the glass by pulling in 45 rebounds, equaling the rebound total for the Vikings.

“You can’t coach effort and we got a lot of

it from everyone tonight,” said assistant coach Katie Torland.

The Wolves’ next game is another road exhibition game on Nov. 6. This time, the Wolves will travel to Spokane, Wash., to face another NCAA Division I opponent, Gonzaga University.

2010-2011 GNAC Volleyball Standings

Redshirt sophomore Danielle Reese goes for one of her 12 kills against CWU on Oct. 30. She also registered a season-high 24 digs in the game.

(From left) Senior Stephanie Beeler (7), redshirt sophomore Danielle Reese (18), sophomore Samantha Ward (16) and redshirt freshman Krissi Kemper (5) prepare for the offensive as libero, freshman Katie Bashaw (2) go for the dig.



Photos by | Melissa Swagerty

W L W L H A N Western Washington 13 1 16 2 7-0 6-1 3-1 Seattle Pacific 13 2 21 2 7-0 10-2 4-0 Alaska Anchorage 10 4 15 7 8-1 5-4 2-2 Western Oregon 10 5 12 8 9-5 3-3 0-0 Central Washington 8 6 10 9 5-2 4-4 1-3 Northwest Nazarene 6 9 6 15 3-6 3-5 0-4 Alaska Fairbanks 4 10 6 14 3-8 2-5 1-1 Simon Fraser 4 11 4 15 2-6 2-8 0-1 MSU Billings 4 11 4 20 2-5 2-11 0-4 Saint Martin’s 1 14 2 19 0-8 2-8 0-3

November 3, 2010


12 SPORTS

The Western Oregon Rugby (WOR) women’s team faced the Oregon U19s Red Hawks on Saturday, Oct. 30 seeking revenge after being shut out, 15-0, on Saturday, Oct. 16. The Wolves would move on to obtain their revenge by easily defeating the Red Hawks, 39-5.

“You know that if we can rush them, we can beat them!” women’s rugby club president, senior Anna Fraine, shouted before the game. And the Wolves did just that.

Within the first minute, the Wolves opened the game with a try and a missed the conversion, but still held onto the early advantage over the Oregon U19s. Moments later,

Western scored another try to give the Wolves a solid 10-0 lead early in the first half.

Later in the first half, the Wolves would continue to put pressure on the Red Hawks by scoring another try, this time making the two-point conversion to give the Wolves a 17-0 advantage. Shortly after, the Red Hawks would make their way beyond the try line to obtain five points in a desperate attempt for a comeback.

The Wolves quickly showed the Oregon U19s that they are in Wolf territory by increasing their lead with another try bringing the first half to a close with the Wolves on top, 22-5.

The second half kicked off much like the first. Western quickly added to their score by making another try and two-point conversion to bring the lead to 29-5 early in the second half. Western increased their lead by scoring two more tries to end the game with the 39-5 win.

“We were able to get a lot of the kinks worked out before we get into league play next weekend,” Fraine said about the game.

Moments before the game ended, some of the Wolves shouted what would truly embody the feeling that many had on the bitter-cold afternoon, “It’s a great day to be a Wolf, ladies!”

Senior Bradleigh Cameron, painted like a zombie for Halloween, runs for her first try of the game to help lead the Wolves to the decisive 39-5 victory.

WOR women’s team wins home-openerFraine, Cameron led the Wolves to a 39-5 victory over the Oregon U19s

Jeffrey Larson | Sports Editor


Sophomore Kymberly Witmer (14) (pictured against SFU on Oct. 10) had two goals and two assists in the victory over CWU on Oct. 30.

The Wolves traveled to Seattle for their last away game of the season to face the Seattle Pacific Falcons (SPU) on Oct. 28. The Wolves, hopeful for a win, left with an unfortunate 3-0 loss against the No. 13 Falcons.

Western had a rough all-around game. The Falcons took 22 shots on goal, while the Wolves took only five. Sophomore forward Marina Austin was responsible for three of the shots on goal. Goalie Brittney Rigtrup also showed a great effort in the game with nine saves against SPU’s constant attack.

The SPU attacker for the game was Megan Lindsey, who had nine shots on goal, and two goals in the second half. SPU’s Maddie Dickinson finalized the shut out with an assist from Brooke Yokers, also in the second half.

The Saturday, Oct. 30, home game was the Senior Showcase, highlighting five seniors, one being the captain midfielder Naomi Shimabuku. The Wolves faced the Central Washington Wildcats (CWU) and defeated the ‘Cats with an amazing 4-0 shut out.

The game started out rough; the Wildcats, playing an overly physical game, held possession most of the first half. Upset by the physicality of CWU players, Austin was yellow carded for misconduct. Shortly after, CWU’s Serena Tomaso was red carded in the 34th minute for violent conduct.

By the end of the game, Western’s fouls totaled 16 while Central had 15. After a brutal, scoreless first half, the Wolves took the field with a new revival

in their game. Ten minutes into

the second half, Austin, assisted by sophomore Kymberly Witmer, scored in a one-on-one situation against CWU goalie Kori Butterfield.

Three minutes later, Witmer had the ball again and shot from outside the 18-yard box and scored in the top left corner making the score 2-0.

Seven minutes later, Witmer once again came firing in, scoring in the 64th minute off the goalie’s deflection.

Witmer’s last highlight of the game was an assist to freshman Kelsey Herrick who finished the shut out with a goal with 12 minutes left (4-0).

“Witmer was without a doubt, the player of the match,” head coach Rod Fretz said proudly.

The win helped the Wolves record, now 3-14-0, and the last game will be Sunday, Nov. 7 at Saint Martin’s.

Western shut out by SPU while away, shut out CWU at home

Hannah Swanson | Freelancer

Western Oregon 0 Seattle Pacific 3

Western Oregon 4 Central Washington 0

2010-2011 GNAC Soccer S t a n d i n g s

Photo by | Nick Charbonnier



W L T GF GA Pts W L T GF GA Seattle Pacific 11 1 1 35 7 34 14 1 2 41 8 Simon Fraser 8 3 2 19 7 26 9 4 2 21 8 Montana State Billings 8 5 0 18 14 24 11 5 1 28 17 Western Washington 7 4 2 25 9 23 10 4 3 31 10 Saint Martin’s 6 7 0 22 28 18 7 10 0 27 37 Central Washington 4 8 1 16 28 13 4 11 2 19 35 Northwest Nazarene 3 10 0 13 31 9 5 12 0 23 36 Western Oregon 2 11 0 11 35 6 3 14 0 15 44

Witmer led Western to a 4-0 home victory on Senior Day, Oct. 30, by getting two goals and two assists

Western Oregon Journal (2010-2011) Issue 7

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