Holocaust Remembrance Day

Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) - April 28th Monmouth Ave.
Holocaust Remembrance Day begins Wednesday, April 27th and ends the evening of Friday, April 29th. Each year, Western Oregon University puts on an event to commemorate the lives lost during the Holocaust. The Holocaust encylopedia defines, “The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million European Jews by the Nazi German regime [more…]

Internships and how to get them

For multiple majors in college there is a requirement to gain internship hours, but if your major doesn’t require you to, is it worth your time to search for one? In short, absolutely. An internship can give you valuable experience in your field and may end in a job offer. It may seem obvious to [more…]

Ron Wyden visits WOU

As part of his commitment to the state of Oregon, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden visited Western Oregon University on Saturday January 14. Upon being elected Senator Wyden pledged to visit every county in Oregon, every year and as of 2017 has held well over 700 town hall meetings. The major issues presented at the town hall [more…]

De-stress during Dead Week

Fall term 2016 is coming to a close, but there are still plenty of events to attend before heading off for winter break. If you’re looking to take a break from the books, here’s what you can find around campus. Tuesday, November 29  Free Massages: 12-2pm in the Ochoco room, WUC. Sponsored by Student Engagement, sign [more…]

The Northwest Passage wants your opinion

The presidential election of 2016 split the country in half and no matter which way you voted, it’s important to have an outlet of thoughts and opinions. The next issue of the Northwest Passage, WOU’s literary and art magazine, will be completely online, and is accepting submissions until December 9. Submissions to this special issue [more…]

Kernsensus Review: The Jungle Book (2016)

Turning a classic book into a cartoon favorite is no easy task, but turning that cartoon into a live action remake almost 50 years after the fact? It’s a risky move, but like all things in life, success normally takes a large amount of risk. With Jon Favreau behind the camera, The Jungle Book shines [more…]

Kernsensus Review: Zootopia

For me, Disney movies have become very hit or miss. In recent years, the company has been digging from the classics and making remakes that aren’t necessarily bad, they just don’t scratch the itch of the original movies. I enjoyed 2015’s Big Hero 6, as well as Inside Out, but I thought Frozen was a [more…]

The Spring Break Binge Lineup

Spring Break is about being out in the sun, grabbing your flip flops and sun tan lotion and heading to the beach, but not if you’re like me. If you’re like me the house is quiet, you have no homework to do, and it’s finally time to get your binge-watching done that all that work [more…]

Got any plans this summer?

How about considering a summer internship? Believe it or not, it is time to start putting in the work to find and apply for summer internships in the area! There are many ways to find out who’s hiring, and where you should be looking. The first place that you should look is the Western Oregon [more…]

The Magic of Aoife O’Donovan

I first heard singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan while listening to a track from one of my favorite albums, the Goat Rodeo Sessions. The other musicians playing on the record were powerhouses – Chris Thile on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on violin, Edgar Meyer on bass, and Yo-Yo Ma on cello. I had never heard of O’Donovan, but [more…]

Have You Hit the Wall?

Dead week is fast approaching, students! Winter term can be especially stressful, and SAB has put together a week full of activities to help you destress starting this Saturday by hosting a screening of the USC fight sponsored by the Veteran Success Center on campus. This will start at 7pm in the Willamette Room. On [more…]

WOU Theater and Dance Department present “Cabaret”

Got plans for the weekend? Looking for entertainment right on campus? The Western Oregon University Theater and Dance Department is putting on its second week of “Cabaret!” This show is being performed by WOU Students and directed by Dr. Michael Phillips. The shows runs March 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium. Bases in 1930s [more…]

Alternative Spring Break 2016

Have you ever thought about using your spring break to help others? WOU offers many options for alternative spring break and this year our students are really doing some spectacular things. There are four trips slated out for this year that students have fundraised vigorously for. These trips include Reno, San Fransisco, Sacramento, and Portland/Seattle. [more…]

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

It is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and Abby’s House is participating by putting on events to help bring awareness to eating disorders, as well as hosting fun activities to encourage positive body images. According to the NEDA website, “the goal of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (#NEDAwareness) is to put the spotlight on eating [more…]

Preview: SLDC Workshops

Are you interested in applying for a new job? Can’t remember the last time you updated your resume? Stop by the Service Learning and Career Development Center to take advantage of several upcoming events. The SLDC will be hosting resume workshops on Monday and Tuesday, as well as an interview workshop on Tuesday. If you’re [more…]

Love…In College

I’m no love doctor, and I can’t give professional advice, but I am a college student like you with experiences, both good and bad when it comes to relationships. When it comes to long-term relationships in college, these are my five tips. 1.Be realistic This is number one for a reason. You’re in college, perhaps [more…]

Love Is…

The weeks surrounding Valentine’s Day can be tough for some. This includes a lot of self pity, discount chocolate purchases, and potentially staying up late watching chick flicks sobbing about the thought of another Valentine’s Day alone. Snap out of it. So many people think of Valentine’s Day as only a day for romantic partners, [more…]

The February Five

It’s hard to pick just five movies for one month. Hail, Caesar! – February 5. I have always been a fan of the Coen Brothers from Fargo to Inside Llewyn Davis, I have enjoyed their dark comedies   Deadpool – February 12. Maybe it’s my love of comic books or my immature sense of humor [more…]

Kernsensus Review: Deadpool

What is a hero? What is an anti-hero? And what makes a good redemption story for Ryan Reynolds’ acting career? All are good questions that are answered in the Deadpool movie that is officially released as of February 12. Whether you’re a fan of comic book movies (as I am) or a romantic comedy person [more…]

Apply for WOU Scholarships now!

It’s that time of year again when students need to fill out countless applications for scholarships. Or is it? Not so with WOU’s new scholarship application system. Now it is easier than ever for WOU students to apply to over 150 scholarships by filling out a single application. The new system centralizes the process for [more…]

After the Iowa caucus…now what?

If you have turned on your phone, gone online, or passed by any newspaper recently you’ve probably heard about the Iowa Caucus, especially this year.  The presidential election of 2016 has been on news headlines since the beginning of last year and when it comes to politics, no matter what side you’re on, it’s clear [more…]

Stalking in the Media

In the age of lightening speed multimedia platforms, stalking, especially cyberstalking is becoming more present and relevant than ever before and it expands every year. An advancement of technology and mobile applications has a risk of increasing stalking, and we have to realize that stalking, in any way, shape, or form is not okay. In [more…]

What I wish I knew

When I graduated high school I was convinced that I was done with schooling, I wasn’t a bad student; I just wasn’t a big fan of studying. I went to work and after 6 months of working an over 40-hour work week and no chance of ever being promoted I had gained the confidence and [more…]

Your guide to winter driving like a boss

It’s that time of year where we experience the beauty of snow, ice, and everything in between. Although it’s nice to view this from indoors, it’s an entirely different experience on the road. Keep yourself safe by following these winter driving tips. Stay alert. Turn down the Death Grips a tad. Put your phone into [more…]

A long time ago…

Peter Courtney Health and Wellness Center.
2015 will be a year to remember for people who love movies, or want to remember their childhood. In June, theaters were flooded with people from all generations to witness the reboot more of less of their favorite series about dinosaurs and genetics. Jurassic World made a crater at the Box Office, breaking all previous opening [more…]

For the holidays are nigh, and full of lights

A nice way to emerge from the darkness of finals is to brighten your day with holiday lighting. If you’re staying in the Willamette Valley for December grab a friend and check these out! Portland Winter Wonderland Since 1993, the lights held at the Portland International Raceway have been an event for the whole family. [more…]

Preview: Dead Week

It’s the dreaded week before finals when students rush to beat the deadlines – dead week! To help students get through the busy week, the Student Leadership and Activities has sponsored several events to help students relax, get a break from studying, and enjoy free snacks and hot chocolate. Monday, Nov. 30 10am-2pm Hot cocoa [more…]

Thanksgiving traditions

It’s that time of year again when we meet with friends and family, drink eggnog, and and eat turkey and mashed potatoes. Thanksgiving. Each of us celebrates the holiday a bit differently, so we are here to share some of our Thanksgiving traditions. Erin Each November my mom’s side of the family gets together. And when I [more…]

Water you talking about?

As soon as summer cools down and the leaves start turning, many people start lessening their water intake. During the heat of summer drinking water is essential, and we consume leaps and bounds more to compensate, but when the weather decreases our biological incentive to drink water lessens with it. With this being said it [more…]

You auto know

As the weather grows colder car problems are bound to happen, from dead batteries, to flat tires some things are just unexpected and happen at the worst of times. The first instinct most people have is to panic, but have no fear WOU Public Safety is here to help. The vehicle assist program provided by campus [more…]

Learn how to protect yourself, ladies!

This Wednesday, November 11th from 5-9 p.m., the Campus Recreation Department and Public Safety will be hosting women’s self defense workshops. The event is completely free, and will be taught by on-campus public safety officers. The idea here is that these officers wish the women on campus to have viable techniques to protect themselves in [more…]

Preview: Career Fitness Week

This week the Service Learning and Career Development Center (SLDC) will be hosting several events to jumpstart your career fitness level! The first two events of the week cover resumes and interviews, providing tips and advice. The last event of the week is a photo booth for students to take professional photos for LinkedIn. Each event [more…]

Makeup – it doesn’t last forever

When was the last time you replaced your mascara? Eyeliner? Lipstick? If you can’t remember, it might be time to dump it. Unlike food products, which are required to show an expiration date, makeup products are not required to list it on the packaging. As we use makeup products, we expose them to brushes, our [more…]

12 tips for getting into grad school

This week WOU hosted its annual Grad School Week, which featured presentations for students interested in attending grad school. The presentations, which were sponsored by WOU’s Service Learning and Career Development Center, gave insight to the application process. Did you get a chance to attend any presentations? If not, read some of their best tips [more…]

Getting involved with ASWOU

The ASWOU representative assembly is taking place this Friday October 23 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  and if you are looking for a way to be a part of the whole process there are currently three major sources. The senate If you are interested in getting involved with representing the voice of the students [more…]

Reinstating history

Even though Oregon is not a state to observe Columbus Day it’s a huge step in the right direction that Portland has decided to join the act of abolishing the federal holiday and renaming it Indigenous Peoples Day. It has been a federally observed holiday since 1937, but starting in 1990 when South Dakota decided [more…]

Another Year at WOU

There are so many things that excite me about a new year here at WOU. I’m an upperclassman now, so it’s almost like I’m a real adult. I have more responsibilities, but most importantly more opportunities. Here’s just a little bit about what I am looking forward to in this coming year: (besides watching the [more…]

The year ahead

Western Oregon basketball's Tanner Omlid doing a layup.
The thing I like most about Western Oregon University is the ability to be close to everyone. I never have to have fear for a class because the professors are always able to help one-on-one, no matter how discouraged I get, there is always someone just around the corner to lend a helping hand. A [more…]

Senior Year Highlights

The 2014-2015 school year has been an eventful year for me, and most importantly, the last one to complete my undergraduate degree. I have spent years longing for the time when I would finally be able to call myself a senior, have my own recital, and leave the music department knowing I had made an [more…]

6 Tips for Better Sleep

Do you constantly rely on coffee or Red Bull to stay awake during class? Have you ever found yourself driving while drowsy? Are you unable to wake up without several alarms? Do you just wish you could skip class and take a nap? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, you may be [more…]

WHO & WHV Spring Tour 2015 – Bay Area

On April 21, 2015, two ensembles from the WOU Music Department left for Berkeley, CA for their annual Spring Tour. The two ensembles, the Western Hemisphere Orchestra and the Western Hemisphere Voices, represent part of the groups that play popular music in the WOU Music Department. The Western Hemisphere Orchestra (WHO), directed by Dr. Keller [more…]

Have no fear, midterms are almost here.

As the halfway point approaches, exams are becoming plentiful and hours of sleep each night are decreasing, but fear not there are tips that could help those fearful days become not so daunting. Here are some simple and effective ways to ease the stress of the upcoming tests and exams. Organization is key It may [more…]

WOU Opera Workshop presents: “The Pirates of Penzance”

This weekend the Western Oregon University Opera Workshop presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” in a fully-staged production with chamber orchestra. Performances: Friday April 17th / Saturday April 18th Time: 7:30 PM Location: WOU Campus, Smith Recital Hall Tickets: $8 general admission, $5 students/seniors, Free with WOU ID. For more information, see the upcoming [more…]

The importance of winding down

College can be a stressful time from pages of notes to quizzes, to that eight a.m. class where one cup of coffee just isn’t cutting it. While studying, reviewing and attending class is of utmost importance at this level of education it is also essential to remember to wind down after a long day of [more…]

Pathways and Opportunities

Marget Gentle Hall
Tuesday February 17 was a day of opportunity for Western Oregon University as it held an internship and volunteer fair and later that day the student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) had a presentation by a guest speaker. The internship and volunteer fair started at 1 and went until 4 p.m. [more…]

A Break from the Grind

Eliot Dickinson
Coming down with the winter term blues? Don’t let it get to you. Sometimes we just need a break from the grind, and a new experience to revitalize our lives. Below is a list of fun and cheap things to do in the area surrounding Monmouth. Grab a friend and get going!   Take a [more…]

Action: The Cure for Procrastination

Aleisha Douthitt
Why do we procrastinate? There are several different types of procrastinators. One type is the thrill seeker, who enjoys the rush of energy from finishing something at the last minute. Another is the indecisive procrastinator, who is unable to move forward because they have made themselves exempt from any possible outcome from their lack of [more…]

Preview: WOU Homecoming 2014

Homecoming – the time for football games, tiaras, and face painting is about to begin. WOU’s 2014 Homecoming, “Howl with the Pack,” will last from Monday October 20th to Saturday October 25th. Each day will feature several different activities, offering something for everyone to enjoy! The best part? Almost all activities are free to students! [more…]