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The sixteenth issue of the 2010-2011 school year (year that I was the Sports Editor) for the Western Oregon Journal.
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Journalthe
We s t e r n O r e g o n U n i v e r s i t y
INSIDE >> 2 NEWS 6 CULTURE 8 POST 10 SPORTS4 CAMPUS LIFE
DesJardin, Gillette, Palmer score in Western’s 17-12 victory over Southern Oregon University
Heather Worthing | Freelancer
The largest festival held within the Chinese culture, the New Year heralds the start of spring and the hopes for new beginnings
Comedy Week proves popular among attendees at WesternWith a number of hilarious acts throughout the week, students and faculty were given a much needed break from the stress of the winter term
The longest and most important festivity of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, the Chinese New Year is an event that is celebrated by Chinese cultures throughout the world. Centuries old and reflective of Chinese culture and history, the New Year marks a rebirth and is a celebration of changes and new beginnings.
Falling on a different date each year based on lunar and solar movements, the beginning of this 15-day
Christina Tilicki | Culture & Campus Life Editor
NEW YEARSEE PAGE 6
One week. Two nationally recognized comedians. Three bagged heads. Four nights of hilarity.
“Comedy Week was a success that produced more than enough laughter to get us through the remaining winter months,” said Student Organizations and Activities Coordinator Stephen Cucchiara.
TuesdayLast comic standing
was held on Tuesday as a
venue for student comics to get an opportunity to
be the opening act for featured comedian Ronnie Jordan on Thursday. The Summit was packed with students who were either supporting their favorite
COMEDY WEEKSEE PAGE 4
It was another muddy game at the rugby field on Western’s campus Saturday, Jan. 29. Although no signs of rain and a few bursts of sunshine on the pitch, the players, coaches, officials and fans got their fair share of the mud.
Nationally-ranked No. 21 Western Oregon Rugby (WOR) faced the Raiders of Southern Oregon University (SOU), a team the Wolves have consistently defeated over the past four years.
“SOU really stepped it up this game,” said senior club president Joe Boyd. “This is
comedian or just coming for a laugh.
“I need some laughter in my life right now, I just want to get away from the
festival falls on Feb. 3 this year and is the year of the rabbit. Generally occurring in January or February, the New Year also marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, giving farmers a chance to welcome warmer weather as they plant their crops for the year. Due to the time of year the Chinese New Year occurs, it is also known as the Spring Festival.
56 / 39thursday
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FOUR DAY FOURCAST
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FinD US Online
@WOUJOURNAL
/WOUJOURNAL
westernoregonjournal.com
“Comedy Week was a success that produced more than enough laughter to get us through the remaining winter months.” - Stephen Cucchiara
Student Organizations & Activities Coordinator
Western to celebrate Chinese New Year
FEBRUARY 2, 2011 WWW.WESTERNOREGONJOURNAL.COM VOL. 11, ISSUE 16
Senior Marc DesJardin blasts through SOU’s defense to earn Western’s first try of the game. Photo by | Emily Laughlin
the closest . . . match we have played against them in the past four years, when we only won by a point.”
The Wolves were able to come away with another win over SOU to sweep the Raiders this season. Western narrowly defeated Southern by one try with the final score of 17-12.
In the first eight minutes of the game, SOU jumped out to the early 5-0 lead by scoring the first try of the game.
Five minutes later, the Wolves pushed almost half way down the field to be within a yard of earning a try. After three minutes of
mauling through the tough Raiders defense, senior Marc DesJardin earned Western’s first try of the game to tie things up at 5-5.
Another five minutes passed before SOU would get within two yards of the try line. After a lineout, the Raiders made their way beyond the try line to get the 10-5 advantage over Western. SOU made the two-point conversion to increase its lead to 12-5.
About 10 minutes later, senior Marc Gillette earned the Wolves another try to put them within two points. Western missed the two-point conversion wide left. The Raiders held onto the two point lead as the game went
into halftime.The second half was filled with attempts
by both teams to make it beyond the try line; however, only Western sophomore Ryan Palmer made it to give Western the 15-12 advantage. The Wolves made the two-point conversion to give them the one try lead of 17-12.
“We played a solid game,” said DesJardin. “The forwards took a heck of a beating today but they did a very good job of controlling the game.”
The Wolves still have some work to do to prepare for their next game against Willamette in Salem, Ore. on Feb. 5.
Jeffrey Larson | Sports Editor
2 NEWS February 2, 2011
www.westernoregonjournal.com
M STREET DINERSEE PAGE 3
Thomas Fernandez has been cooking for most of his life. As the oldest of seven children in his family, his mother taught him how to cook and do other chores at an early age. He has spent part of his life in New Mexico and now he ties the skills he learned as a child and the flavors of New Mexico together to create the dishes served at M Street Diner.
Thomas Fernandez co-owns M Street Diner with his wife Trisha Owens. “[The diner is] something that I’ve been wanting
M Street Diner brings New Mexican nutrition and culture to Monmouth
Jodessa Chappa | Freelancer
Owners Fernandez and Owens hope to give students delectable southern dishes at an affordable student price
M Street Diner, located across from Yang’s Terikayi, is now open and running from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Both owners are willing to work with student clubs and athletic groups to accomodate special meal times, however. Many of the meals served at the restaurant are under $5.
to do for some time,” Fernandez said. “I’m kind of particular about some of the foods that are out there. I wanted to do something different and since I lived in New Mexico for a while, I thought I would try and bring a different type of taste to the area.” In addition to Monmouth, Fernandez and Owens searched for different locations for the diner in Dallas and Independence. They ended up settling the diner right next to campus in the little red house on Monmouth Avenue.
M Street Diner has been carefully planned since October. In less than four months, renovations and preparations were made to the house to transform it into a diner. Two weeks ago everything was finalized and M Street Diner opened for business on Jan. 17. “We’re excited, but it’s a lot like choosing a college; there’s a lot of anticipation and a lot of anxiety,” Owens said.
Fernandez works with the different spices and flavors in the kitchen, while Owens is the bookkeeper.
How did they decide on the name for the diner? Simple, Trisha came up with it. “We are on Monmouth Avenue, so we felt that it would be appropriate to call it the M Street Diner,” Fernandez said.
M Street definitely has a New Mexico flavor to its food specials, but do not worry if you are not a fan of southern spices: M Street Diner has something for just about everybody. The menu features traditional
Tracy Knofla has been a motivational speaker for more than 25 years, running hundreds of presentations, seminars and workshops within that time. Her audiences are of all ages, and she has written a book called “Thriving in Chaos” to further extend her advice to individuals who take interest in her methods on how to live life to the fullest.
Knofla was the keynote speaker, Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Focus on Leadership conference.
Knofla kicked off her welcome speech by shouting “Who’s got hot air?” and proceeded to bat three balloons around the audience. She energized the group with jokes, trivia and free gifts to make them receptive to a new learning experience.
Her technique was later explained in her small group lecture, “Creating Creativity,” where students learned that creativity and ideas stem from the right brain. “Everyone has the potential
Speaker Tracy Knofla presents creative, accessible solutions to expanding student leadership
Monica Millner | Freelancer
Focus on Leadership conference gives students methods for thriving in the chaos of life
to be in the right brain, you just need the right environment for it,” Knofla stated.
Knofla has plenty of practice creating this environment. Taking her style to heart, the dynamic duo Adam and Kevin Jussel, attorneys at law, ran a lecture on “Networking Utensils,” one of the many sessions offered at the conference. The brothers iterate that the average
LEADERSHIPSEE PAGE 3
Photo by | Emily Laughlin
IFCSEE PAGE 3
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‘The best bang for our bucks’Jake Logan | News Editor
A look into the current events of the Incidental Fee Committee
The pound of a gavel and a roll call started the Incidental Fee Committee’s (IFC) meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31. IFC monitors and accounts for various student organizations and services. According to Darin Silbernagel, director of
Business Services, the members for IFC are selected three ways.
“Three are appointed by Western’s President, three by [the] ASWOU President, [and] three are elected by students,” Silbernagel said. An election for the following year’s IFC members takes
place during spring term. “Students must be in good academic standing and have at six credit hours,” stated Silbernagel. Silbernagel explained that funds for IFC come from
IFC chair Bob Holcomb begins the Monday night meeting in the Oregon room.
seekingADS MANAGER
for the “Western Oregon Journal”
editor@westernoregon journa l . com
think you got the skill?e-mail editor
Photo by | Tim Miller
NEWS 3 February 2, 2011
www.westernoregonjournal.com
M STREET DINERFROM PAGE 2
diner foods like burgers and hotdogs, but it also has some southwest favorites like soft tacos and green chili.Garden salads and desserts are also on the menu along with an assortment of breakfast dishes. Fernandez commented, “I live by a philosophy: if I won’t eat it, why would I serve it?” Thus, M Street Diner makes food fresh and delicious for each order.
Something unique to M Street is that they use a greaseless fryer to make their tater tots, fries and other traditionally
greasy foods so that they are healthier. Fernandez says customers are a little hesitant to try these foods but that they can’t get enough once they do. It is still a great taste and so much healthier for you.
Fernandez currently has the diner themed around New Mexico. He is in contact with some family members that still live in New Mexico and is working on getting pictures of the beautiful scenery of that area to decorate the diner. Fernandez wants to also keep an open mind in the case that Western students have any ideas on how they may like to see the diner themed. They
want to keep an open mind on most things and keep the focus on making great food.
At M Street Diner they are serving up big flavors for a small price; nearly everything on the menu us under five dollars. For Fernandez and Owens, it’s not about the money.“Our goal is to provide good quality food at a decent price,” Fernandez said. The M Street Diner is currently open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. However, Fernandez and Owens want to keep the schedule flexible.
“Even though our hours are set from seven to two we are willing to be flexible with our schedule according to some of the activities that western may have, like sports events,” Fernandez stated. “I will be in contact with some of the coaches and the college, and if they want us to stay open, we will.”
Located just South of campus and across from Yang’s Teriyaki, M Street Diner is a great place to grab a meal and catch up with friends.
M Street Diner opened its doors on Jan. 17.Photo by | Tim Miller
person knows 700 people, but the average person does not take advantage of this. “You’re expected to do it, expected to network,” Adam Jussel said. “Just don’t come across as a sleazy used car salesman,” Kevin Jussel chipped in. Networking is all about who you know, and who you know affects what opportunities are open to you. “80 percent of jobs are filled without ever having been advertised,” Kevin Jussel stated. “You might even meet someone here at this conference.”
They concluded the session with “homework”, which was to meet and talk to two new people at the buffet. Four “Breakout session,” fun and informational lectures like the Jussel brothers, a buffet, and Knofla’s keynote speech entitled “Expanding your Leadership Horizons” were offered on Saturday. Each Breakout session had at least five topics on offer, such as “Networking Utensils,” “Effective Communication During Times of Conflict,” “Life after WOU” and “21st Century Leadership.” Each session had a small and intimate atmosphere, and the speakers
LEADERSHIPFROM PAGE 2
encouraged people to speak up and chip in ideas.
The “Poke Me: Developing Your Online Leadership Identity” session was fully interactive, led by Assistant Director for University Housing Valerie Bagley, who immediately warned, in reference to social networking websites, “Not here to scare you off these sites, but you have to be careful about what you say and who sees it.” Nearly the whole room raised their hand when she asked who had a Facebook,
and over half confirmed that they checked it at least once a day.
“People really love Facebook,” Bagley asserted. This is true, but even as a student one needs to be careful what they post on it. She advised students to post pictures that enhance a resume, don’t use “textspeak” and don’t complain about employers on a public profile. 30 percent of employers search Facebook before
“80 percent of jobs are filled without ever having been advertised. You might even meet someone here at the coference”
ATTORNEY AT LAW
- Kevin Jussel
hiring a job applicant, and 50 percent of Universities check students’ online profiles. It pays to be wary what you share. The conference was all day long, and offered a lunch buffet partway through. Some attended alone, some, like the National Society for Leadership and Success, attended en masse. The things everyone had in common were that each table had a mix of friends and strangers that mingled all sorts together. It was a total success.
Directly after was Knofla’s keynote session Expanding Your Leadership Horizons. Whereas the Breakout Sessions focused on minute skills needed to be a leader, or related topics, Knofla cut right to the chase. She didn’t lecture, or present a bulleted PowerPoint about “How to Be a Leader.” She asked the audience what characteristics they thought were important for leaders to have, then worked from there.
IFCFROM PAGE 2
student’s mandatory tuition. “IFC is an umbrella organization,” he stated, going on to describe that IFC is how various clubs and organizations account for funding.
There are certain requirements or guidelines that groups must meet to receive funding from IFC, however, with IFC leaving the majority of that [process] up to ASWOU
Bob Holcomb, the current IFC chair, and has been involved with IFC for a
few years now. “Basically I got
elected,” said Holcomb of his current position. “I have a good understanding of budgets with thirty years of experience with budgets dealing with millions of dollars.
Holcomb stated that this year’s budget is “4.2 million with this year’s enhancements.” Given the current economic climate, IFC is considering a twelve-dollar increase in student fees.
“[This is] so that we don’t have to cut budgets.” Holcomb explained. “I understand that times are tough
financially, but I am just trying to get the best bang for our bucks.”
“One way or another we all benefit from IFC funding,” “Everyone submits a budget based on the guidelines [created by ASWOU] and we look at monetary decisions, but we can’t tell how to allocate or spend the money.”
IFC open hearings will take place Monday, Feb. 7 and Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Oregon room. Following these hearings, a final decision on fund allocations will take place Monday, February 14 in the Oregon room.
Photos by | Erica Wills
Tracy Knofla gave her presentation, titled “Expanding Your Leadership Horizons,” to a full house of students. Knofla hoped to give students new methods to lower their stress levels and manage their time in order to more fully live and appreciate life.
4 CAMPUS LIFE
www.westernoregonjournal.com
February 2, 2011
stress of winter term,” said attendee Javier Pineda.
The first comedian up to the challenge of making the audience laugh was junior Blair Osburn. The audience fell in love with her honest and exaggerated material using such references as Portland, glitter and Oprah, many thought Osburn did an outstanding job.
“I heard about this night through Facebook invites and flyers,” said fellow comedy-goer Marco Garcia. “Blair is a good friend and I wanted to support her.”
The judges determined the fate of the student comedians based on the flow of the act, audience participation and audience enjoyment; the use of props and the quality of jokes would also be taken into account.
James O’Neil followed Osburn. Daniel Chalen, Cole Egly and Tyler Cheny also performed, making humorous antidotes out of sports, college and Lil’ Wayne. Egly had the audience roaring with impressions of various stereotypes. As the night drew to a close, the results were anxiously awaited. Third place went to Plus Team Coordinator Nawwal Moustafa and with one point separating second from first place, Egly received second with Osburn being the winner and opening act for Ronnie Jordan.
All students were respectful of each other and produced quality acts, introducing Western to seven forthcoming hilarious comedians.
WednesdayOn Wednesday, the
humorous Latino Comedy Team featuring DJ Cooch performed. DJ Cooch, a Latino comedian who has worked exclusively with George Lopez and is featured regularly on Comedy Central, impressed many.
“I was expecting an average comedian but that’s definitely not what we got,” said enthused freshman Ally Sanders. “I loved DJ, he is amazing!”
Walking onto the stage accompanied by festive Spanish music and making cultural jokes, Cooch delivered a show not easily forgot.
“I really hope we
COMEDY WEEKFROM PAGE 1
DJ Cooch, a Latino comedian, has worked with the likes of George Lopez.
The Improv Jam act entertained with reverse acts and impersonations.
Ronnie Jordan joked about real-life issues while remaining unoffensive.
Winner of Last Comic Standing, Blair Osburn, opened for Ronnie Jordan.
“[Ronnie Jordan] had a great laugh, and everything from his impressions to his songs he incorperated into the act were hilarious. He made fun of himself and everyone else but you could see everyone in the audience loved it.”
FRESHMAN
- Keifer Arce
Photo by | Emily Laughlin
Photo by | Emily Laughlin
Photo by | Scott Takase
Photo by | Erin Wilson
get the chance to have DJ back,” continued Sanders.
ThursdayThursday featured
Ronnie Jordan whose opening act was Last Comic Standing winner, Blair Osburn. Osburn performed for about 10 minutes with good audience responses and then Jordan took the stage. Connecting fantastically with the audience with material from race to race cars, Jordan addressed real issues in a hilarious way while still not offending anyone.
Jordan has appeared on television BET’s comic view and is a brilliant writer who collaborated with other comedians and wrote “That Comedy Show” that aired on the Turner South Network. Jordan
broke college touring records last spring with 102 colleges in 112 days within two regions and is a great part of the “Bad Boys of Comedy” series.
The response from Western was overwhelmingly positive with over 100 in attendance.
“He had a great laugh, and everything from his impressions to his songs he incorporated into the act were hilarious,” said freshman Keifer Arce. “He made fun of himself and everyone else but you could see everyone in the audience loved it.”
“All in all, Ronnie Jordan was funny as hell,” Arce concluded.
FridayIt is a rare night
in which family-fr iendly humor and col lege s tudents are a compatible level . However, the Comedy Sports Improv Jam Act accomplished such a feat on the las t night of Comedy Week. The red and blue team competed for audience laughter throughout the night with reverse acts , dance par t ies , accents and impersonat ions.
“The weird sketches
and the craziness that the audience comes up with always makes for a great time,” said freshman Kevin Lopez, who had seen the talented group before.
The night was refereed by a member of Group John who called the shots and determined when inappropriate humor was being relied upon. When such material was used, both members of group and audience had to put a paper bag over their head for punishment, which made the night all the more interesting.
“I was definitely not expecting it,” said freshman Lex Martin on being called out when he suggested a suggestive chapter for the group to act out. “But it was really fun to be a part of the show. It made the experience more fun for the
entire audience and me.”There was high
audience participation throughout the night and the group never failed in making spontaneous hilarity.
There was high audience participation throughout the night and the group never failed in making spontaneous hilarity. Angelia Shrock, a graduate of Western who majored in the arts, was a key player from the Improv group. She made a living as a regional actress for quite some time but with two young children decided to “join the real world again” after reading an advertisement in the paper searching for team members for the Sports Comedy Jam team.
“That was 18 years ago, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it,” said Shrock. “It’s fun to make people laugh, especially when you can appeal to all ages.”
An overwhelming portion of the audience responded positively to the group, making the Comedy Sports Improv Jam the perfect final chapter of Comedy Week.
www.westernoregonjournal.com
February 2, 2011 CAMPUS LIFE 5
Joanna Walker | Freelancer
First breath underwater can change a lifeOne diving experience can spark an enthused desire to become involved in another world
For those six proud participants who dared to take the journey to experience the joy and wonder of scuba diving at the Dallas Aquatic Center, their choice – whether through hesitation or eagerness – would more than pay off they would discover. Little did they know that they would get to enjoy a personal experience submerging themselves under the surface and exploring the intricacies involved with
Divers take their first few breaths under water at the Dallas Aquatic Center.Photo courtesy | Carol Cline
scuba diving. Spinning and twirling beneath the surface, floating upside down and discovering neutral buoyancy were just a few of the fun activities participants found themselves doing as they explored and played in the deep end of the pool.
On Sunday, Jan. 23, nervousness and excitement spread through the straggling participants who chose to carpool from Western’s campus. With bags and backpacks in hand for the pool, participants loaded up in the Wolf Ride van and made their way to Dallas.
Junior Julianne Solheim, elementary education major was motivated by her family to discover the underwater world of scuba.
“My dad did scuba when I was little, and I always wanted to try, to become certified and to go diving with my dad but he stopped diving before I was old enough [to be certified],” said Solheim.
Though Solheim has had some prior exposure to the sport of scuba diving,
sophomore elementary education major Melissa Chavez indicated that she had no prior exposure to scuba, but rather decided to participate “just for the experience.
“[My friend, Claudia Gallegos] told me about it by saying, ‘Let’s go do it,’ and so I decided to just try it,” Chavez said.
She continued by saying that from this experience she just hopes to have fun and to “Just have an adventure.”
Solheim added that for her, “It’ll be a new experience, and fun.”
Whatever the reason,
they were on their way, off to a new adventure.
When the group arrived at the aquatic center, a brief orientation began about scuba diving “common sense” rules and points to remember. Upon being properly fitted and suited into wetsuits, boots, fins and finding a mask that fit, Matt Jenkins, PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) master scuba diver trainer, went over what a Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) was and how to use it. The crew from HydroSports hooked up the regulators to the tanks and secured the tanks in the BCDs and moved them into the water as participants made their way into the pool.
When in the water, participants were strapped into their BCDs and were then taught the hand signals used when underwater since speaking is not an option. Hand signals such as “Something is wrong,” like when one has trouble equalizing (evening the pressure from the inner ear as one descends further into the water) or “I’m okay.”
After adding weight to the vests so that people would actually sink to the bottom, and after some practice breathing with the regulator both on the surface and by sticking faces in the water, fins were put on and the explorers were led beneath the surface and down to the depths of the pool where they were free to roam in the bottoms of the deep. Playing with underwater toys, floating, standing, floating upside-down, and having fun exploring scuba
can only begin to describe what went on beneath the surface.
As the practice continued, Mark Fischer, owner of HydroSports and PADI Course Director brought a camera to film those exploring the fun of the underwater world. Meanwhile, Carol Cline, an assistant instructor, took photos of people swimming and enjoying themselves.
When asked what he found most interesting about the day’s events, Fischer remarked that he most enjoyed “watching people take their first breath underwater.”
Jenkins stated that he too enjoyed “watching the students enjoy the experience of breathing for the first time and just the process of breathing [and] discovering new things.”
From the experience, Chavez remarked that “You have to get used to equalizing. You have to remember you’re underwater. I had trouble, so I had to stop [to equalize].”
Whether by discovering the possibility of doing something once impossible, or by learning a skill involved with the sport, many of the students found enjoyment through the process of learning.
“I can do a lot of things I never thought I was able to do,” said Solheim. “I learned I could breathe underwater. It was so cool! What I enjoyed most was being free. I enjoyed learning from this new experience.”
“Just being in the water and learning how to breathe underwater, that was enjoyable,” added Chavez.
Aside from the learning and enjoyment through the process and the outcome of learning, there is much to be said from the instructors about the sport of scuba diving.
Fischer explained that scuba diving is “an activity that can be pursued by virtually anyone. It’s a life-long sport to discover how to breathe underwater empowers, and then people gain the confidence to do other activities once thought undoable.”
“It’s an incredible sport.” Jenkins added. “[Many] have to overcome fear of claustrophobia and many get over fear of confined space, depth, the unknown…once one gets over that fear, it becomes a relaxing environment.”
Aquatic and Outdoor Program and Activities Coordinator Melissa Ineck felt that the event was a successful one “because those who attended had a good time.”
“That’s what the trip was planned for, the experiences and that’s why we have the program. Both Fischer and Jenkins agree that the overall response of the students was positive because of the smiles, the enjoyment by all, new skills learned, to name a few.”
Ineck went on to remark that for next time, and she would like to allow this opportunity to happen twice a year, she hopes for more people.
“I want more people to have this experience,” and added. “Hopefully in our pool!”
For those who missed out, Solheim says, “Try it! There’s no harm in trying, [for] we only live once.”
Fischer adds that for those who missed this experience, there is another opportunity, a better one that will arrive come spring term. Since this “discover scuba” experience was not a certification through working with Western, HydroSports will be holding a scuba certification course at Western in which students not only can get their certification, but they can also earn academic credit as a PE credit. Students will be able to register online and sign up for this class for spring term. Fischer ends with an enthusiastic “So clear your calendars and join!”
“[Scuba diving is] an activity that can be pursued by virtually anyone. It’s a life-long sport to discover how to breathe underwater empowers, and then people gain the confidence to do other activities once thought undoable.”
HYDROSPORTS OWNER / COURSE INSTRUCTER
- Mark Fischer
Discover Scuba attendees learn basic techniques and skills prior to submersion into the deep end.
Photo courtesy | Carol Cline
6 CULTURE February 2, 2011
www.westernoregonjournal.com
Sociology 407 focuses on the struggle for Civil Rights, mainly in the United States. However, instead of reading textbooks students are watching films. There is a recommended text that goes with the class
and after watching one of the films; students use the remainder of the class periods to discuss what they watched.
With a variety of documentaries such as “Citizen King” in addition
to well-known films such as “X” starring Denzel Washington, the course is being offered both for credit and to those who are simply interested in civil rights movements.
“The class is meant
Alex Riecke-Gonzales | Freelancer
Western’s Civil Rights Film series welcomes allThis winter’s series to focus on the ongoing struggle for civil rights amongst a variety of ethnicities in the United States
to acquaint people with the huge inequities and hypocrisies that were built into America for a long time,” said Dr. Dean Braa, the sociology professor teaching the course. Braa explained that even after civil rights were written into the constitution, it took another century for those rights to include all citizens. Even with the establishment of the Bill of Rights, the government that claimed to uphold the constitution passed and enforced other laws that actually upheld segregation. “It took a movement from
outside of government, putting government under duress, as a condition to extend constitutional rights to eventually all Americans,” Braa remarked.
The other goal of the class is to raise a critical consciousness to American issues, including the good and the bad. “Traditionally civil rights is the struggle of African Americans against segregation,” Braa continued. This struggle against segregation spans a wide variety of fields- in education, and businesses. Not to mention that almost a decade after successes in
reducing segregation in other areas were equal voting rights given.
“[The African American Civil Rights Movement] often focused on individuals such as Martin Luther King, but there are many other individuals involved with it,” Braa said. Spin offs of the original civil rights movement include the Black Muslim movement and Malcolm X, movements made by the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee,
CIVIL RIGHTS SEE PAGE 7
Prior to New Years Eve, there are a number of traditions and customs that take place including paying off all debts, resolving differences with family and friends and a hardcore cleaning of one’s house to herald in the new year. On New Year’s Eve, close family members get together for a reunion dinner, respect is paid to deceased ancestors and all the doors and windows are opened at midnight to let the old year out.
New Year’s Day is when the fun begins. Households are colorfully decorated in symbols of good fortune. During the next 15 days a variety of celebrations and traditions are observed including much socialization with family and friends, beautiful displays of fireworks and eating many traditional foods such as rice dumplings. On the final day, the reverent Lantern Festival takes place.
Not only celebrated in China and other Asian countries, the Chinese New Year is also observed across the United States. Here at Western, the Chinese Club is doing just that. On Feb. 4, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the club is hosting a Chinese New Year celebration to bring a little bit of traditional Chinese culture to the local community. The biggest celebration the Chinese Club puts on during the school year, this event gives local Chinese students and community members a chance to experience Chinese traditions.
“The original reason was we wanted all of the Chinese students to feel like [they were] in China during the holiday and can celebrate with all the Chinese students together,” said Shengnan Thomas, the Chinese Club advisor. “Later on, more and more American students, faculty and staff knew the Chinese culture and wanted to join us for this event, even the local community started to join.
“For the Chinese New Year Event, we usually have around 60 and 70 students involved. Half of them are performers and the rest are helping with food serving and decorations,” continued Thomas. “This year we have around 40 members and 10 officers. All the officers are assigned different duties such as design posters, [sell] tickets, fundraising, arrange the performances, etc. Our goal for this year is getting more people to celebrate with us and try to make everything better than the years before. We expect between 400 and 450 people attend our event, and we hope them enjoy the performances and the food we prepare.”
The celebration is open to the public and will take place in the Pacific Room in Werner. The event is open to the public and free for on-campus students, with a $5 charge for faculty and off-campus students and a $7 charge for off-campus community members.
NEW YEAR | FROM PAGE 1
(Top) Chinese dancer performs at Spring Festival. (Middle) The 2010 Spring Festival took place in Werner’s Pacific Room. (Bottom) Performer’s at the February 2010 New Year’s celebration take a bow.
Chinese New Year 2011: Year of the Rabbit
Photos courtesy | Shengnan Thomas
CULTURE 7February 2, 2011
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Book Review
It’s hard not to relate to Katniss Everdeen, even when her problems are so obtuse in comparison to most. As a 16-year-old girl, she has taken on the burden of supporting her younger sister, Prim, and her mother who continues to grieve her father’s sudden death in the coal mines. That’s the material of District 12. While Districts 1 through 11 delve into agriculture, innovation and metals, District 12 is stuck with the nasty business of mining coal. Needless to say it’s one of the poorer districts. Katniss remains trapped in District 12, with one of the many rules of The Capitol being this: No one leaves their district.
The society itself is called the Seam, which is a ring of Districts (one through 12) surrounding The Capitol, which rests in the center. Through punishment, suppression and something called the Hunger Games, The Capitol remains in power while its people barely survive. Katniss is able to keep her family afloat by disobeying many of The Capitol’s rules – such as venturing out beyond the boundaries of District 12 to go hunting with her one true friend Gale, and then selling the majority of her catches at the Hob, the hub of the black market.
Katniss’s routine comes to a halt, however, when Prim is chosen to enter the new Hunger Games at the reaping. The Hunger Games are both a punishment set up by The Capitol for a rebellion that occurred in what used to be District 13 and a form of entertainment for those who live in The Capitol, unaware or insensitive to the conditions of those who live within the 12 Districts. A male and a female are chosen from each district (making 24 children), ranging from
ages 12 to 18 and are sent into an arena created byThe Capitol. These 24 children then fight to the death.
With District 12 being one of the poorest districts, the hopes of any child going into the Hunger Games and coming out the victor are slim. In fact, District 12 has had only two previous winners, only one of which, Haymitch, still remains alive in a drunken stupor.
Katniss, of course, volunteers herself to take the place of Prim in the Games. This leaves Katniss and her male counterpart Peeta Mellark to enter into the games at such a disadvantage that the reader can’t help but sympathize and hope. The reader may find that though the protagonist has a heartbreaking story, so do many of the other contestants in the game, including Peeta. Throughout the novel the reader is sent through an inner emotional fight—wanting to keep Katniss alive, but constantly searching for signs of Peeta, making sure he’s ever present in the games. With Haymitch’s intuition and surprising cunning, Katniss’s defiance to The Capitol, and Peeta’s smooth Praised by Booklist as “[A] stylish post-modern ‘Lost’ in direct collision with ‘Lord of the Flies,” and noted as “...enthralling, imaginative and creepy...” by the Los Angeles Times, this New York Times Bestseller is sure to captivate the mind of sci-fi readers and book lovers alike. With a background in children’s television, including such popular shows as “Clarissa Explains is All” and “The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo,” Collins has extensive experience crafting storylines that individuals of all ages can enjoy.
Suzanne Collins brings to readers a heart-
wrenching tale of the quest for survival
Alex Riecke-Gonzales | Freelancer
What do a worm, a spider and a fly have in common with one another? Aside from the obvious, they are characters in Oregon Children’s Theatre’s play “The Diary of a Worm, Spider, and a Fly.” Oregon Children’s Theatre has created a play by combining the three books: “The Diary of a Worm,” “The Diary of a Spider” and “The Diary of a Fly” written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Harry Bliss. The play will be running through Feb. 20 on weekends at Newmark Theatre in Portland, Ore.
Oregon Children’s Theatre created a play that will have adult and children audiences excited, entertained and satisfied. In “The Oregonian’s” review of the play, they stated that “Rap, hip-hop, smart ballads and boogie-woogie spill across the stage in this slick, witty and charming show using one of the most striking sets ever crafted on the Newmark Stage.”
Cronin and Bliss teamed up to create the three diaries of three very unusual creatures. The worm’s diary is filled
with complications of not having arms or legs. The spider’s diary is filled with his complications from his relationship with his little sister and his tension-filled relationship with the Fly. The Fly has problems from fitting in during the first day of school to finding a babysitter for her babies. Cronin and Bliss create wildly hilarious and beautifully illustrated children’s books that are said to make children and adults alike laugh uncontrollably.
“Diary of a Worm, Spider, and a Fly’s” stage is made from 90 percent reused, recycled and locally made products. As part of the play, Oregon Children’s Theatre has created a “Diary of an Eco-Challenge” blog, wherein each week they post a new challenge for readers to implement eco-friendly acts in their lives. Oregon Children’s Theatre said that the worm, spider and fly are just as much a part of the Earth as humans are, and they hope that through their use of recycling and being eco-friendly that it will encourage children to do so as well.
Activities such as recycling a certain product, biking to the grocery store or work instead of driving, or implementing a vegetarian diet are some of the many challenges posted on the blog. The blog is hosted on Oregon Children’s Theatre’s webpage for those who may want to take on the challenges. The blog also contains pictures of the various elements in the set and the products used to create the set. A parent blogged on the PDX Kids Calendar webpage that “Oregon Children’s Theatre knows kids and this play draws on the coming of age dilemmas all of us face of defining ourselves and looking to be a hero/heroine to change the world. The theme that the characters’ differences are what makes them special resonated in a witty and entertaining way.”
Sondra Pearlman as the “Theatre for Young People” created Oregon Children’s Theatre in 1988 at Portland Civic Theatre. When the Civic Theatre closed in 1990, Pearlman created Oregon Children’s
‘The Diary of a Worm, Spider, and a Fly’ adapted
from three children’s books hits the stage at Portland’s Newmark
Theatre
Jillian Calahan | Freelancer
CIVIL RIGHTS FROM PAGE 6
the Black Panthers as well as others. Sociology 407 appreciates all players within the movement, recognizing each one for the difference they made in achieving the ultimate goal of eliminating segregation. The second half of the semester will focus on Native American civil rights and tribal rights movements.
Those who wish to expand and discuss their understanding of the civil rights movement are welcomed to join the class.
WHAT: SOC 407,Civil Rights Film Series
WHERE: Natural Sciences Building room 101
WHEN: Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Theatre. In 1991, it became a part of the Portland Center for Performing Arts and has since performed at Newmark Theatre. Oregon Children’s Theatre hopes that by introducing children to live theatre, it will enrich the lives of children and will fuel their lifetime appreciation for performing arts.
The running time of “Diary of a Worm, Spider, and a Fly” is 70 minutes with no intermission. The show runs now until Feb. 20, with shows Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. There will be no 5 p.m. show Feb. 12 and 19, and no shows Sunday Feb. 6. Tickets range in price from $16 to $26 for adults, and $13 to $20 for children.
Citizen King
Based on the life of the civil-rights activist Malcolm X, “X” or “Malcolm X” is a biography that details this Muslim martyr. After being arrested for gang-related crimes, Malcolm Little learns the teachings of the Islamic faith while in prison. Upon his release, he travels to Mecca where he adopts the Muslim faith and changes his name to El Hajj Malik El Shabazz.The film documents his journey as he rises as a prominent black Muslim to his eventual assassination in 1965. Starring Denzel Washington and Angela Bassett, “X” was directed by Spike Lee and released in 1992.
Photos courtesy | IMDb
Photo courtesyChildren’s Theatre
Malcolm X
A two-hour documentary chronicling the final five years of the life of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Citizen King” is a collection of personal accounts and eyewitness testimony. Produced and directed by Noland Walker and Orlando Bagwell, “Citizen King” starts with Dr. King’s infamous “I have a dream” speech in 1963 and documents his triumphs, struggles and his tragic assassination in 1968. “Citizen King” was released in 2005 and is part of the “American Experience” series of documentaries produced by PBS (Public Broadcasting Station).
8 POST February 2, 2011
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DREAM SEE PAGE 9
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Letters to the editor
JakeLogan
NewsEditor
Jo Bruno
Freelancer
A cup of Jo: Sharing the passion, dream and love
We all know Martin Luther King Jr.’s actions made a huge change in America. I do not want to remind everyone of his great deeds. I do not want to remind everyone of his strong voice. Nor do I want to remind everyone of his wonderful ideas. What I do want is ask everyone what we will do now that we have celebrated a whole week of remembering him. Will we forget until next year? Will we continue to believe his dream? What can we do to keep his dream alive? I asked myself these questions after taking the time to remember what he has done for this country. I have decided that it is important enough to me that I will continue to think about the good he has done. I will not wait until next year to celebrate.
Just last week, I reread the speech he gave on the footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. I also watched a video of the people who joined him that day to listen to him speak. I was blown away. People
were crying, praising and cheering. This was not my first time watching the video or reading his speech; nonetheless, it moved me. I wonder how many other people have viewed the video or even read the full speech. I wonder how many people know that there was more to his speech then sharing his dream. If you have never read the whole speech, you should. I also suggest watching a video of his speech.
A friend of mine shared a story with me about her children who asked why they were celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. She sat her children down and explained who he was and how he made a difference. I believe this is something children should study in school and not just something that pops up every year to remind
them or teach them. The passionate message should not be lost or forgotten.
The message behind his speech was equality for all. He stated, “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” I believe this statement is still true today. We, as a nation, have come too far to allow the color of our skin to hinder our growth. It is extremely important to realize that we are all brothers and sisters. We all bleed red. We all need food and water to survive. We all need oxygen to breathe. Disrespect and hatred are what get in the way of allowing us to grow as individuals and as a nation. Take the time to understand your neighbor and respect your neighbor. Even if you do not believe in what they do, it is important to respect them. If we stopped the hatred among ourselves then we could stop the
Reflections about changes, paradise
Although it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the term and work, I am starting to believe that college is so much more than earning a degree. It is about meeting and making new friends, undergoing new experiences and discovering who you really are and want to become. And, yes, I know I sound like those horribly dull and boring college previews that many of you went to in high school, and it is now, halfway through my junior year, that I am finally realizing it is true.
After a weekend of reflection and remembering, I have realized that the person I was my junior year in high school is no where near the person I am today; I have experienced life and the world in ways I hadn’t in high school.
I had lived my whole life in Hood River, Ore., where my life consisted of class, friends, going to the river and desperately trying to find something to do on the weekend. I had the joy of stumbling upon an old journal from my junior year in high school and reading it was quite the experience of looking back at the hopes and dreams of a 17-year-old.
At 17, I was sure that I was going to be the future of journalism, a mixture of Carrie Bradshaw and Anderson Cooper. I had planned that I was going to move to New York City and live a fast pace and awesome life as the new youngest ABC news anchor, literally rubbing elbows with Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson. However, at 21, I realize this will not happen –
not because it is impossible, but simply because I no longer want that life.
When I started at the journalism program at Southern Oregon University, I realized that to achieve my dreams that I may have to give up some others and I ultimately decided that I wasn’t giving them up for my career. So, I changed my school, major and future career.
Another thing that has changed from high school to college is that I am not student club obsessed any more. When I was in high school, I was in every club that I could be in: OSSOM (Operation Student Safety On the March), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), French Club, Earth Club, CONSENT (a club dedicated to teach about sex, rape and violence) and Save Darfur club. I even co-founded one called HYPE (Helping Youth Pursue Excellence) where we would help middle schoolers transition to high school. Then I realized that I don’t have to book every single minute to seem like I have a life.
Now I don’t mind spending a weekend of doing nothing; in fact, I actually enjoy spending a weekend on the couch in my sweats while watching a Julia Roberts movie marathon and can’t wait for another one. While some would regard my changes in life as a give up, or settlement, I think it is simply a change in pace and goals.
Sometimes we have to come back down from the clouds to realize the paradise around us, and every other after school special, public service announcement cliché about enjoying and living life . I can’t wait to tell it to my future history students.
INDEPENDENCE CINEMA 8
450 S. 2nd Street Independence, OR 97351503-606-3000 | www.IndependenceCinema8.com
GREEN HORNET (35MM) (PG-13) (11:30) (2:05) (4:40) 7:20 9:55
BLACK SWAN (R) (2:35) (4:50) 7:05 9:20
TRUE GRIT (PG-13) (12:00) (2:30) (5:00) 7:30 10:00
THE KING’S SPEECH (R) (11:30) (1:50) (4:20) 6:50 9:15
MECHANIC (R) (1:00) (3:10) (5:20) 7:35 9:45
RITE (PG-13) (1:40) (4:10) 6:40 9:10
DISNEY’S TANGLED (35MM) (PG) (12:25)
NO STRINGS ATTACHED (R) (12:10) (2:40) (5:10) 7:45 10:10
Showtimes for Feb. 4 - Feb. 10Matinees are all shows starting before 6PM.
Tickets available at box office, WOU bookstore and online at www.PrestigeTheatres.com.
*No passes on starred attractions
SANCTUM (3D) (R) (11:40) (2:10) (4:35) 7:05 9:35
February 2, 2011
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POST 9
A deranged man, not a gun, committed a crime in Tuscon
To those of you who are calling for stricter forms of gun control in light of the recent tragedy in Tuscon, Ariz., I ask that you consider this: Hold people accountable for their actions, not the means by which they chose to utilize these actions. It all goes back to the old adage that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Any argument in opposition to this saying goes directly against the common sense that I hope (though I fear this is not the case) people possess. Wanting stricter gun control is the same as believing that cars drive themselves drunk, pens misspell words and spoons make people fat.
This, of course, seems completely ridiculous. People are responsible for all of these actions and the results of these actions; not the car, the pen or the spoon. On the news recently, I heard that New York state wants to ban the use of cell phones while walking along a busy street. Apparently there have been a number of recent accidents in which a pedestrian was talking on their phone or texting and blindly walked into a street, getting hit by a oncoming car. Frankly, it was their choice to play with their phones knowing full well that there is a risk involved with being distracted when crossing the street. Rather than taking responsibility for their own idiotic actions, these individuals make the illogical decision to sue the driver. The solution? Ban cell phone use when walking along a street. This makes so
much sense.This ridiculous
proposal is another prime example of how our country fails in a number of ways at holding individuals accountable for their actions. This directly parallels the concept of gun control. Guns, when used properly, serve a useful and necessary purpose. When used inappropriately, the consequences can certainly be fatal, but one has to consider the fact that shooting a gun is a choice. A conscious decision to pull a trigger with the intent of harming another human being.
There are areas of this country in which hunting is a necessary part of life. In order to prepare for winter, hunting is essential to ensure you have a freezer stocked full of food. Ranchers and other outdoorsmen need firearms to ward off dangerous wildlife. And let’s not forget our military and law enforcement officers who require firearms on a daily basis to protect their country and communities.
I’ve heard arguments in opposition to this stating that if we just removed firearms from our society altogether, it would solve all of our issues. Though this might work in an ideal world, reverting back to the use of bows and arrows for hunting and eliminating the
use of weapons in all other venues is just not a plausible alternative.
Though I am not in favor of complete gun control, I do think that there should certainly be tighter policies in place when an individual goes out to buy a gun. In the state of Oregon, individuals must pass a background check when purchasing a gun from a shop, a gun show or any other official establishment. A simple background check is just not enough and as a result, firearms are falling into the hands of psychotic individuals who shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a weapon.
In addition, if the individual who initially purchased a gun wants to sell it, he or she has no legal obligation to file any paperwork. With this being the case, any dangerous person could easily buy a gun for cash on the street. Though this would definitely be a more difficult regulation to execute, something needs to be done to help reduce the activity of illegal gun sale.
Bottom line, hold people responsible for their actions. In the majority of cases such as the tragedy in Tuscon, these instances were premeditated and deliberate. If not with the use of a firearm, these disturbed individuals will find some way to carry out their plans; as a community we need to do what we can to ensure they don’t. Making the majority of gun wielding citizens suffer for the poor choices of a minority of gun users is not the answer.
ChristinaTilicki
Campus LifeEditor
DREAMFROM PAGE 8
violence.It is up to us to make
the change we want to see in the world. A few years back, a close friend of mine told me to be the change I want to see. That was during the time I started thinking about who I wanted to be and why I was not that person yet. I made the changes in
my life that I wanted to see in the world. I have faith that I have touched the lives of other people who have also changed for the better.
The passion Martin Luther King Jr. had is the same passion I have. The dream he had is the same dream I have. The love he had is the same love I have. I hope more people share our passion, dream and love. I have faith,
just like he did, that one day we will all work and pray together. So, now that we have celebrated a whole week of a great man, will we continue to celebrate the common dream we share? We need to continue spreading the knowledge of the powerful message he brings to us. Every day people are struggling and it is up to us to see that change.
CORRECTIONS:
Every week there will be a close-up photo of a random object that can be found on campus. The first person who emails the “Journal” at [email protected] with the correct identification wins a free Little Caesar’s pizza. In your email,
please include your name, phone number and area of study/title.The answer to the photo hunt will be printed in the following week’s issue. Good luck!
Last week’s answer: Decor on the fountain wall behind Campbell Hall.
Photo by | Emily Laughlin
The BIG Picture
ASWOU holds open forum to discuss repeal of DADT (Issue 15, page four): In the caption and article, the “Western Oregon Journal” stated that Megan Rasumssen co-led the forum. Both the caption and article should have read that Nicole Williams was co-leading the event.Campus Crusade for Christ (Issue 15, page four): The article stated there are over 120 clubs on campus. There are over 120 groups on campus, not clubs.
CRANBERRY JUICE Stephanie Merritt | Design Editor
February 2, 2011
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10 SPORTS
Americans win Aussie Open. Anyone notice?
ChrisReed
ManagingEditor
Serena Williams didn’t enter this year’s Australian Open due to a lingering injury. Her sister, Venus, was knocked out in an early round due to an injury of her own. America’s biggest star on the men’s side, Andy Roddick, didn’t advance very far, either.
Given these facts, I’m willing to bet that most of you tuned out the tournament (that is, if you even had any interest in it to begin with). If so, you’re not doing anything wrong: you’re an average American. When not following the sports in our own borders, the average American has a tendency to care passionately about international sporting events when it involves highly-successful American athletes or squads. On the other hand, when Americans are not the ones winning, the average American fan is more oblivious than a smoker who starts a forest fire.
To illustrate, the average American follows the Olympics because our fellow-countrymen tend to perform quite well at the games. The average American, on the other hand, does not follow the ICC (for those average Americans reading this, that is the International Cricket Council). And the average American follows the FIFA World Cup…until the U.S. team is eliminated, of course.
So it may surprise you to find out that a pair of Americans came home with yet another Australian Open championship. That’s right: twins Mike and Bob Bryan teamed up to win their fifth men’s doubles title Down Under, and they did so in dominant fashion. The Bryans, amid their numerous chest bumps and racquet taps, have been ranked No. 1 in the world for eight years running and have claimed 68 championships, including 10 majors.
I am not an average American when it comes to watching tennis. I love watching the international stars (in fact, my favorite player is a certain Swiss chap whose name rhymes with “betterer”) and my attention to the sport does not fluctuate even remotely in accordance with America’s presence in a particular tournament or match.
Yet, I’m with you guys
on this one: I simply do not care that the Bryan brothers won another title.
Don’t misunderstand me here; I love their personalities, talent and flair. The Bryans are definitely good for the game and they are unwavering faces for American tennis.
So what’s the problem? They play doubles.
To summarize, doubles tennis is boring, dull, lame, unexciting, lackluster, dreary, bland, stale, banal and wearisome. It lacks the mano-a-mano fire that fuels the flame that is singles tennis, the lunging forehands, the precise passes, the wicked backhands and the single warrior’s fight to stay afloat in a constantly sinking ship.
Doubles players play a style that lacks the complete physical torture singles players must endure in a five-setter (see Isner, John and Mahut, Nicolas).
Adding even more yawn points, doubles players can pick on the weaker of their two opponents, making the matches predictable and tiresome. (Not only that, but the match turns into one that sees only the weaker players hitting the ball while their more talented teammates watch, waiting for someone to be dumb enough to send it their way). Singles players don’t have that luxury. If you want to beat Nadal, you have to beat him and only him.
Doubles is great for leisurely weekend get-togethers and social gatherings. It’s easy on the body and it takes away the competitive edge that oftentimes tarnishes such meetings. But it certainly does not make entertaining television.
The purpose of this isn’t to propose change to the game of tennis, nor is it to whine and complain. I guess I just find it fascinating that I can love a game so much and so heavily despise one version of it. When a singles match comes on, I feel like I can watch for hours and hours, but the second the network begins broadcasting doubles, I switch the channel without a second thought. And the Bryans are nice enough guys that I’m sorry that I feel this way. I want to like doubles more, I really do. I want so badly to support the Bryans the way I support the “Federer Express” and “Aussie Kim,” but I just can’t.
Imagine how bad it would be if the Bryan brothers didn’t chest bump every other point!
Kyle Bruce | Freelancer
Wolves fall to SMU in GNAC clashPete rson sco res 15 po in ts i n l oss t o Sa in t Mar t i n ’s Un i ve rs i t y f o r 4 th consecu t i ve doub le f i gu re game
Sophomore guard Hannah Whitsett goes for one of her two three-pointers in the loss to Saint Martin’s on Jan. 29.
Photo by | Melissa Swagerty
WOMEN’S B-BALLSEE PAGE 12
Wolves gain GNAC, NCAA qualifications Relay teams and individual athletes prove they have what it takes to go head-to-head with Division I athletes
Paige O’Rourke | Editor-in-Chief
Continuing strong from their record-breaking performances at the University of Washington’s (UW) Husky Preview, myriad the Wolves made the indoor top 10 school list, snagged more Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) qualifications and earned five National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) provisional qualifying marks at the UW Invitational held Friday, Jan. 28, through Saturday,
Jan. 29, in Seattle, Wash.Following the
Husky Preview on Jan.15, assistant coach Jessica Harper explained that one of the target goals for future indoor season meets would be to present strong distance medley teams. Such a hope was achieved last weekend, with both of the men’s relay teams and the women’s relay team earning prestigious times.
Western’s distance medley team ‘B,’ consisting of freshman Michael
Shogren, sophomores Tim Mowery and Ryan Chapman and junior Zach Massari, snatched a record time of 10:18.64 in the 4,000-meter race. This placed the quartet at number seven among the top 10 in GNAC history and put them four seconds above the previous school record of 10:22.99.
Their record was quickly followed by that of Western’s relay team ‘A.’ Made up of freshman Josh Elliott, sophomore Anthony
Yakovich and seniors Kyle Larson and Chris Reed, the team surpassed their teammates’ time by approximately 17 seconds, coming in at 10.01.47. This placed them at the top of Western’s all-time list and gave them a third place standing in GNAC history. As a result of this time, the team earned an NCAA provisional qualifying
TRACK & FIELDSEE PAGE 11
Western women’s basketball team played 10 minutes of near-flawless basketball Saturday against visiting Saint Martin’s. Unfortunately, it was the remaining 30 minutes that decided the outcome.
Western junior forward Rylee Peterson scored a game-high 15 points and was one rebound away from her third straight double-double but a 22-7 first-half run by Saint Martin’s (SMU) gave the visitors a 72-52 victory over the Wolves Saturday, Jan. 29, in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.
The loss, combined with victories by other GNAC members, puts Western (7-11, 5-5 GNAC) alone in seventh place. The Saints (11-7, 6-4) gained sole possession of fourth place with the win.
The Wolves led 15-11 after 10 minutes of play thanks to some hot shooting but SMU ended the half on a 22-7 run, capped off by a buzzer-beating three-pointer to go up 33-22 at the break.
After the first 10 minutes, Western had connected on 66.6 percent of its shots while SMU had hit just 23.5 percent of their attempts. The tide changed, however, as Western made three of 15 shots over the remaining 10 minutes. The Saints made nine of their 14 tries in that span.
Western narrowed the margin to 37-31 on a Sara Zahler triple with 14
February 2, 2011
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SPORTS 11
Men’s basketball split a pair of home games
Matthew Curran | Freelancer
Wheadon leads team with 22 points over MSUB, before scoring 14 points against SPU
After a grueling road trip in Alaska, Western’s men’s basketball squad traveled back to Monmouth for two home games. The first game was against Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) rival Montana State University Billings (MSUB). Coming into the game, MSUB was on a three-game losing streak.
On Thursday, Jan. 27, Western overcame a 17-point lead to win a tightly contested basketball game, 83-79. The loss dropped MSUB’s record to 5-12 overall, 3-7 GNAC.
The first half of the game was a dominant performance from MSUB. They came out fired up to play and took a quick double-digit lead. With 5:22 left in the half, MSUB had a sizeable 17-point lead. This was when Western started a quick run to end the first half.
The large MSUB lead was cut short when Western responded with a 22-8 run. The Wolves scored 10 points in a row and only trailed 41-38 at halftime.
As the second half of the game unfolded, it followed the same pattern as the first half. MSUB started out with a quick run and controlled the first 10 minutes. The final 10 minutes of the basketball game displayed a keyword of the Wolves basketball season; resiliency. The biggest lead of the last 10 minutes was a MSUB 4-point lead.
Western never quit and cut the lead to two points with 7:57 left in the game. Both teams traded shots until Western got its first tie with 3:56 remaining. After a missed shot from MSUB, Western took its first lead of the game. After taking the lead, Western never trailed. To close out the game, Western nailed clutch free-throws.
“Offensively, we got better execution from our guys, which fueled our defensive effort,” explained Western head coach Craig Stanger. “Defensively, we made adjustments to keep them off of the offensive glass.”
Western took advantage of turnovers by scoring 20 points on MSUB’s giveaways. MSUB outshot Western 58
percent to 53 percent.Western’s big three, juniors Kyle
Long and Blair Wheadon and sophomore Tarance Glynn, combined for 57 of the teams 83 points. Glynn had a game-high seven rebounds to go along with his 19 points. Freshman DeAngelo Davis was the fourth Wolf to score in double-figures with 10 points.
“Good teams in this conference are going to have three or four scorers on the floor at all times,” declared Stanger. “For us to be successful, our transition offense is key.”
The next basketball game came on Saturday, Jan. 29, against Seattle Pacific University (SPU). Western lost the game, 77-59. The loss dropped Western to 11-10 overall, 6-5 GNAC and SPU improved to 13-5 overall, 7-3 GNAC.
The game was a tale of two halves. In the first half, Western executed well on offense and shut down SPU defensively. At halftime, Western had a comfortable 35-26 lead.
The second half, however, didn’t go as Western planned. SPU came out on fire and nailed 64 percent of its second half shots compared to Western’s 41 percent. SPU scored 23 of the first 36 points of the half and outscored Western 51-24 in the half. SPU outscored Western in the paint, 44-24.
“We held our own in the first half and even in the second we did some good things,” said Stanger. “We broke down when they stepped up their defense and we began taking ill-advised shots and turning the ball over.”
Wheadon led all Western scorers with 14 points. Glynn had 11 points and a team-leading nine rebounds. Junior Jamaal Veal came off the bench to contribute 10 points for the Wolves.
Western’s next two games are on a road trip starting out with Western Washington on Thursday, Feb. 5, and then Simon Fraser on Saturday, Feb. 7. After the road trip, Western has a three-game homestand.
Junior Blair Wheadon leaps for two of his team-high 14 points against SPU on Jan. 29. He had 22 points against MSUB on Jan. 29.
Photo by | Brandon Woodard
men’s basketball gnac standings
W=Win L=Lose H=Home A=Away N=Neutral
CONF. ALL
Men’s Basketball W L W L H A N Central Washington 10 1 17 2 5-1 7-0 5-1 Alaska Anchorage 8 2 16 5 10-2 3-1 3-2 Seattle Pacific 7 3 13 5 8-3 4-1 1-1 Western Washington 6 4 11 7 8-0 2-4 1-3 Western Oregon 6 5 11 10 9-3 2-5 0-2 Saint Martin’s 4 6 11 9 5-4 3-5 3-0 Northwest Nazarene 4 7 8 10 6-4 1-6 1-0 Alaska Fairbanks 3 7 6 11 4-7 1-3 1-1 Montana State Billings 3 8 5 13 2-6 2-7 1-0 Simon Fraser 1 9 2 14 2-3 0-7 0-4
standard.Of these runs, head
coach Mike Johnson noted that “both records were set up by great lead-off legs.”
The women’s 4x800 relay team also gained notoriety when they achieved a time of 9:50.97. This earned freshmen Jenny Leaf and Amanda Lee and juniors Megan Everetts and Zoe Skordahl second place among the top 10 record times for Western.
Among the individual participants for the women’s team, junior Amanda Wright made her mark while competing in the 5,000-meter run by achieving a time of
18:13.39, a career best that was over 25 seconds faster than her previous indoor time of 18:38.94. As a result of this time, Wright moved up three positions to claim the school record and gained automatic qualification for the GNAC Indoor Championships.
Reed came back again on Saturday, Jan. 29, to achieve another school record and NCAA provisional standard with his mile run time of 4:08.99. This was a career best run for him, replacing his previous time of 4:10.17 and moving him up to second place among the GNAC top 10. Larson followed in Reed’s footsteps with a career-best run of 4:13.64 in the mile race, earning him fourth
place in school history and 10th place by GNAC standards.
Yakovich also stood out once again when he and sophomore Matt Kaino ended the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.44, tying them for 13th place in the race and ninth among Western’s top 10. This race earned both athletes an NCAA provisional standard.
Like Yakovich and Kaino, senior Annan Applebee and junior Janelle Everetts came in hot on each other’s heels during the women’s 800 meter race. With times of 2:14.70 (Applebee) and 2:15.86 (Everetts), both runners earned NCAA provisional standards and maintained their spots
among Western’s top 10 (first and second).
In the 60-meter dash, sophomore Josh Moore ran a time of 6.97, tying for seventh with Carl Horsely of California State, Northridge. This score afforded Moore a new career best.
When asked how he prepares for each meet, Moore stated, “I just try my best to stay focused on the task and remember everything that my coach tells me to do in order to prepare for meets, which means getting the proper nutrition and rest that my body needs, as well as making sure I have my timing down and phases of my race down. It is not very difficult competing in the multiple events that I do;
my coach trains me to be able to compete in multiple events, so my body is . . . prepared for it.”
Moore was closely followed by sophomore Bobby Alexander’s time of 7.08. Both runners retained their third (Moore) and fourth place (Alexander) standings in school history.
Participating in the women’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.35 and the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.40, senior Kaitlyn Reid earned seventh place among Western’s top 10 for both events. In the hurdles, Reid bested her previous personal record by 0.24.
Having snagged eighth place among school records at the Husky Preview, freshman Katie
Pelchar tied for eighth with six other runners at the UW Invitational. Moving up to sixth place among Western’s top 10 with a height of 5 feet, 4.25 inches, Pelchar gained automatic qualification for the GNAC Indoor Championships.
In two weeks the Wolves will travel to Seattle, Wash. for a third consecutive time, competing in the Husky Classic on Friday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 12. This will be the indoor teams’ last opportunity to earn qualifying marks for the GNAC Indoor Championships before heading to Nampa, Idaho on Friday, Feb. 18, and Saturday, Feb. 19, to compete with several Division I and II athletes.
TRACK & FIELDFROM PAGE 10
February 2, 201112 SPORTS
W=Win L=Lose H=Home A=Away N=Neutral
women’s basketball gnac standingsCONF. ALL
Women’s Basketball W L W L H A N Western Washington 10 0 17 1 7-0 6-0 4-1 Alaska Anchorage 8 3 17 5 12-2 3-2 2-1 Seattle Pacific 7 3 13 5 7-2 5-2 1-1 Saint Martin’s 6 4 11 7 6-2 3-3 2-2 Northwest Nazarene 6 5 11 8 4-2 5-4 2-2 Montana State Billings 6 5 10 9 5-3 4-5 1-1 Western Oregon 5 5 7 11 5-3 2-6 0-2 Simon Fraser 2 8 5 10 1-7 2-3 2-0 Central Washington 1 9 6 11 4-3 0-6 2-2 Alaska Fairbanks 1 10 1 17 1-11 0-4 0-2
WOMEN’S B-BALLFROM PAGE 10
Women’s rugby shut out by Oregon StateWolves fall to NCAA Division I powerhouse Oregon State University, 31-0 on Saturday, Jan. 29
Jeffrey Larson | Sports Editor
“Defense wins game” is a popular statement known to all competitive athletes that was exemplified in this intense match-up of Oregon universities.
Oregon State University (OSU) utilized superb defense to blank the Wolves, 31-0 on Saturday, Jan. 29. Western was unable to make it within 10 yards of a try until 17 minutes into the second half when a lineout resulted in the Wolves making it to the eight yard line until OSU pushed the back out of the redzone.
Western was also plagued with injuries. Senior Jeana Torgerson sat out the entire game with a thumb injury. Twenty minutes into the game, sophomore Rayshayne Zimmer was carried off the field with an ankle injury by two men’s rugby players — senior Joe Boyd and junior Tyler Hogeland, who were supporting the women’s rugby team before their game at 2 p.m.
Two minutes into the second half, senior Bradleigh Cameron tackled an OSU player and then left the game with an injured right shoulder.
About 15 minutes after Cameron’s injury, sophomore Chelsea Neahring left the game with a head injury and almost a half an hour into the second half, Sasha Byrd left the game with a injured left leg. None of the injured players returned to the game.
The game kicked off at 11:04 a.m. and within seconds, the first scrum began and the Beavers gained possession of the ball. After six minutes of battling, OSU made it on the board first by earning a try and making the two-point conversion to take the early 7-0 lead.
Nearly a half hour into the game, the Beavers added another try to give them the 12-0 lead, which they carried into halftime.
The Beavers did not let up in the second half. Within
seven minutes, OSU earned another try and made the two-point conversion to increase its lead to 19-0. Only three minutes later, the Beavers made a strong push and ran over 50 yards to earn another try. They made the two-point conversion to increase their lead to 26-0.
After another scrum, OSU pulled the ball out and ran five yards to earn the final try of the game and take the 31-0 victory over Western.
“Although the score didn’t go our way, I feel that we learned a lot and we can improve greatly from playing such a team,” said senior Patty Blakley. “OSU is one of the better teams we have played this year and I feel that
the only way we can improve as a team is to challenge ourselves with more difficult matches in order to prepare for the most important matches we have yet to play.”
“The game was rough,” added club president Anna Fraine. “We started out flat and never had full control of the game.”
The Wolves had difficulty working together as a team, which affected them on the field and resulted in a number of mistakes.“We had good moments and there were people that performed well,” Fraine added. “But we didn’t work together as a team very well.”
minutes left to play but the Wolves got no closer as SMU’s lead ballooned to as many as 25 before settling for the final margin.
“I thought we battled early,” Western head coach Greg Bruce said. “Unfortunately, we went cold there for a while and lost our momentum. We couldn’t seem to do anything consistently, either offensively or defensively, to get back
into the game.”It was Peterson’s fourth
consecutive double-figure scoring outing. She also added a game-high nine rebounds while blocking four shots and dishing out three assists. Sophomore guard Lorrie Clifford added eight points,
three assists, and two steals.Western will take a
week off before hosting GNAC foe Simon Fraser Saturday, Feb. 5. The Wolves will then welcome No. 8 Western Washington in a rare Monday game (Feb. 7).
Western defeated
Simon Fraser (5-10, 2-8 GNAC) 84-74 earlier this season. Peterson and senior guard Sara Zahler scored 25 points apiece in the victory.
Western Washington (17-1, 10-0 GNAC) knocked off the Wolves 83-67 in their first meeting.
“Both Simon Fraser and Western Washington are play very well right now,” Bruce noted. “Both teams have great individual talent, and they will push us to defend better.”
Game times are set for 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
Sophomore Crystal Lopez rushes past Oregon State University defenders during the game on Jan 29.
Photo by | Brandon Woodard
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