Mount Hood

Executive order an attempt to curb gun violence

By: Alvin Wilson 
Staff writer

President Obama issued a series of executive actions regarding gun control on Tuesday, Jan. 5. He issued the order with the intention of reducing gun related deaths in the U.S. by tightening already existing laws.

The White House website released a statement regarding the executive order, explaining the reasoning behind it and what they hope it will accomplish.

1. Keep guns out of the wrong hands through background checks.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) will require any person “in the business of selling firearms” to obtain a license and conduct background checks. The language is intentionally broad, but it essentially limits online sellers and collectors from selling their firearms without going through a licensed dealer. The FBI will overhaul the background check system, making it more efficient, according to the statement from the White House. The FBI will hire an additional 230 staff members to help process the background checks.

2. Make our communities safer from gun violence.

The President’s budget includes funding for 200 new ATF agents and investigators to help enforce existing gun laws. To track illegal firearm sales online, the budget provides more staff and an additional four million dollars for the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network, a system that helps to identify lost or stolen firearms.

3. Increase mental health treatment and reporting to the background check system.

The order proposes a $500 million investment to increase access to mental health care. The Social Security Administration will now be required to “include information in the background check system about beneficiaries who are prohibited from possessing a firearm for mental health reasons.” Soon states will also be able to provide information about mental health history for background checks.

4. Shape the future of gun safety technology.

The order also directs the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security to “conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology.” It directs the departments to conduct research on smart gun technology, and to explore potential ways to increase gun safety.

The controversial nature of this executive order has caused a large debate, especially in the 2016 presidential field. Any time a president bypasses Congress to get something done, it has often been met with opposition.

Despite claims about the constitutionality of the order, Dr. Ed Dover, professor of political science at Western, claimed the order was within Obama’s authority.

“When a president issues an executive order, he is more or less dealing with the implementation of public law. A lot of what he is introducing is based upon the USA Patriot Act, which was passed right after 9/11. It gave the president and the government a lot of discretion when dealing with acts of terrorism,” said Dover.

“There are laws that allow the president to take various actions to prevent people from having guns. We gave him a lot of power, and he’s using it.”

Dover briefly explained the history of important executive orders, and why sometimes it is necessary to bypass Congress.

“There are some very powerful instances when presidents have used executive orders because they can’t find that congress will allow them […] It took until the 1960’s to get a Civil Rights bill through congress. But Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 issued an executive order requiring equal employment opportunity in the federal government and the defense industry […] It started with an executive order and, in time, grew to the point where it is now federal and state law.”

Seaside students take charge of safety

By:Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

In mid-December last year, Seaside High School student Taylor Barnes created a GoFundMe page titled “Don’t Catch This Wave” to fundraise the relocation of an entire school system.

“The purpose of this project will be to relocate our schools within the seaside school district outside the tsunami zone that is earthquake resistant,” states the GoFundMe page.

During the summer of 2015, the New Yorker published an earthquake article titled “The Really Big One.”

The odds of this earthquake happening within the next 50 years are one in three, according to the article.

This article reported a series of earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 8.7 to 9.2 happening along the Cascadia subduction zone and the San Andreas fault line, with the latter of the two running nearly the entire length of the state of California.

The earthquakes would affect the majority of the Pacific Northwest, with tsunamis predicted as a side effect to such massive fluxes to the earth.

“The northwest edge of the continent will drop by as much as 6 feet and rebound 30 to 100 feet to the west,” reports the Oregonian.

According to the Oregonian, the combination of these two powerful natural disasters would “kill thousands and decimate stretches of coastline west of Interstate 5.”

“Children will be trapped in schools ranging from Gearhart to Seaside,” continues the Oregonian.
“Because of this daunting reality, we as students have taken initiative to start a campaign to raise awareness for this inevitable disaster with our main focus being to relocate our schools (3 of which, in our school district, are located in the tsunami zone),” writes Barnes on the fundraising page.

The New Yorker article reports that the predicted mega-quake will send an enormous tsunami ashore “in a 700-mile liquid wall that will reach the Northwest coast, on average, 15 minutes after the earthquake begins.”

This leaves very little time for warning to take place and evacuation to occur.

“To survive, the 71,000 residents of Cascadia’s tsunami inundation zone would have to reach high ground during the narrow window between the quake and the waves,” reports the Oregonian.

Those who are differently abled, elderly, or simply visiting the town for the day risk the possibility of being left behind with such a tiny time frame for evacuation.

The Oregon State University Wave Lab even created a simulation of what the tsunami would look like as it tore through the town of Seaside. The two-minute video can be found at bit.ly/1RECKCE.

“The price tag to relocate our schools is $128 million dollars. Bond measures have been on ballots before in our town, but have been unsuccessful. So, we are now taking matters into our own hand as students,” states the collective GoFundMe page.

To this date, the GoFundMe page has raised $2,750 of the predicted $200 million. Thirty-four people have donated to the cause in just one month, with contributions ranging from $10 to $1000.

“With your help not only can we reach our goals of this campaign, but we can also go above and beyond with other preparations and save thousands of lives in the event of this disaster,” coaxes the fundraising page.

The page has been shared over 1,300 times and local news stations, such as the Daily Astorian, are taking part in promoting the fundraiser.

“The earthquake is something we have known about since we were little kids; we prepare for the eventual disaster in our schools but conducting earthquake and Tsunami drills, but there is only so much we can do,” reads the fundraising page.

To donate to this cause, show support, or share to increase visibility, visit the GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/cascadiaevent

Protests Spark after Multnomah University Requests Title IX Exemption

By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

On Saturday, Dec. 12, a small group of students protested outside of Multnomah University after the school requested an exemption from Title IX.

“Multnomah University is one of dozens of Christian colleges and universities applying for Title IX exemptions following the Obama administration’s decision to include gender identity under Title IX, a federal statute that prevents discrimination on the basis of sex,” writes A.J. Mendoza, the Racial Justice Organizer for Basic Rights Oregon.

Enacted in 1972, the Title IX statute focuses on sexual discrimination in educational settings.
“Title IX protects any person from sex-based discrimination, regardless of their real or perceived sex, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Female, male, and gender non-conforming students, faculty, and staff are protected from any sex-based discrimination, harassment or violence,” informs the informational website titled knowyourix.org.

“It also addresses sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, and sexual violence,” the website continues.

Title IX has been a hot topic in Oregon recently, as the issue arose beginning April 2014 with a resident student filing a complaint.

The student, a transgender male named Jayce, had not been allowed to house with other male roommates on campus at George Fox University.

George Fox University eventually won the battle for a Title IX exemption regardless, on the basis of religious grounds.

The university also claimed “that they were objecting to a housing request only, and that they haven’t kicked the student out of the university” according to insidehighered.com.

Jayce moved to an off-campus house to complete his schooling at GFU and later graduate.

Some universities are going so far as to expel transgendered students if they are ‘out’ on campus.

Multnomah University’s latest push for exemption suggests the same – that the school would “dismiss a transgender student, if one emerges in its student body” reports the Portland Mercury.

“Treating transgender students in a way that’s consistent with their gender identity would conflict with their religious tenets,” stated the University’s president, Rev. Dr. Craig Williford, in a written response to Koin 6 News.

Andrea Zekis, a policy director for Basic Rights Oregon, is a transgendered woman who attended a religious college and loved her experience there.

According to Fox 12, Andrea “worries about individuals on some religious campuses who struggle with these issues and may not feel welcomed or accepted.”

Many religious campuses, such as Multnomah University, offer counseling for those struggling with either gender or sexual identity, or a resulting sense of negative campus culture as a result.
In the last year, over 27 schools were allowed exemption from Title IX, with another nine pending applications nationwide.

Without these exemptions, discrimination may result in the complete withdrawal of federal funding for these universities in question.

Currently, there is no update as to whether Multnomah University’s exemption will pass or not as the request was only recently made.

For more information on a student’s rights regarding sexual discrimination and Title IX, visit the website knowyourix.org.

Snow Safety

By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

As inclement weather approaches, having already affected the first day of school for Western Oregon University, there are some important precautions to keep in mind.

Commuters especially need to take precaution and know their personal limits when it comes to driving in winter weather.

AAA recommends some of the following tips and tricks for driving in snow and ice.

Keeping a vehicle well taken care of is the first measure of prevention, with tires properly inflated and appropriate tires for the season installed, with chains as another option.

Having a tank that is at least always half full will keep the gas line from freezing up, and also allows for drivers to have enough time to travel to another gas station without being left out in the cold on the side of the road.

If the above option is unavailable, keep a half tank of gas in the car in order to fill up in case of emergency. For situations where a vehicle may end up off the road, pack cat litter or sand in the car to provide traction for the wheels in icy conditions.

When driving, make sure to stray away from the use of cruise control, and accelerate and decelerate slowly on slick surfaces. Give enough time to stop at a turn, or enough space to stop behind another car in case the vehicle does not gain traction right away for a clean stop.

Always leave lights on for better visibility, even in the daytime hours, and give other drivers plenty of room on the road to account for any human error that may occur.

In worst case scenarios, always be prepared. A kit in the back of the vehicle could contain some of these items: a blanket, heat packs, extra water and food, and another way to contact those in case of emergency. Never leave the vehicle in these instances, as it provides temporary shelter and allows for easier discovery by rescue teams.

On campus, faring against the chill is easier but implements the same idea of traveling slowly.
While de-icer is applied to most campus sidewalks and heavier areas of traffic, areas may still be slick and dangerous if not approached with caution, and areas outside of campus may not have been attended to yet.

Buildings on campus, such as the modules, may also vary in temperature compared to their clustered counterparts on the main street.

For those who may not have the means to purchase warmer clothes, the WOU Food Pantry offers free clothes donations outside of their location.

“If you find yourself a little cold or in need of clothes stop by the food pantry. We have winter clothes located outside the pantry for easy access even if the pantry isn’t open. Clothes donations are coming in regularly so don’t hesitate to come pick some up!” states a post on the WOU Food Pantry Facebook group in November.

Some of the donated items include scarves, jackets, sweaters, hats, gloves, and socks.

The Western Oregon Food Pantry is located on the first floor of the Academic Programs Support Center (APSC) building, and the hours change on a weekly basis for the actual food pantry itself.

The Food Pantry is always accepting food and clothes donations from other students who have no use for them.

To keep tabs on the Food Pantry and see the latest contents, follow their Facebook page “Western Oregon University Food Pantry” or drop by in person.

Students interested in staying informed of campus closures are encouraged to check the WOU website frequently or pay attention to local news stations covering the weather’s impact on the local area.

New education policy may spell trouble

By: Alvin Wilson 
Staffwriter

Oregon is expected to see a dramatic increase in the number of high school seniors who enroll in community college due to something called the Oregon Promise.

The Oregon Promise is a new program that aims to help high school seniors attend community college for as little as $50 per term by having the state cover some of the bill, all at little expense to the taxpayer.

In order to qualify for the Oregon Promise, high school seniors and students completing a GED must have a GPA of at least 2.5 and be Oregon residents for at least 12 months before applying.

The senior classes of 2016 will be the first to enjoy this program, and nearly 20 percent of public and private high school seniors say they will, according to the Oregonian.

For four-year colleges, this could be good or bad news.

Bob Brew, Oregon’s director of student access and completion, told the Oregonian that some students who would have otherwise gone to a four-year college might be persuaded by the offer to attend community college.

Dave McDonald, Associate Provost of the Strategic Planning and Options Committee (SPOC) at Western, thinks that the Oregon Promise has the potential to affect admissions at Western.

“We may lose some freshman. We hope if we lose them that it’s only a delay and that they go to a community college, have a good experience, then transfer to us and complete their degree. That may become the ‘normal’ path,” McDonald said.

But he acknowledges that it is still too early to be sure.

“It’s in its first year, so all we can do right now is speculate as to what the impact will be state-wide. Certainly anything that provides students with additional resources to go to college is a good thing, and Oregon definitely needs to have more educated individuals.”

McDonald said he has hope for this program, but he doesn’t see it translating into increased admissions for universities.

“The real challenge is that community colleges have such a broad mission. They serve students who have such wide needs: from short-term vocational retraining to auto-mechanic and culinary programs to students who are using it as a two-step process for getting a bachelor’s degree,” McDonald said.

“It makes this type of program a little harder to predict because there are a lot of different kinds of students who may find themselves eligible to receive money from the Oregon Promise.”

“But,” McDonald explained, “the bigger problem is that a lot of the students who start at community college never finish community college.”

According to the Statesman Journal, only 24 percent of Oregon community college students who started in 2007-08 finished their degree within seven years. Oregon ranked 32nd out of 36 states for community college completion.

This means that many of the students who are eligible for the Oregon Promise might not even finish the classes necessary to transfer to a university.

Although it isn’t necessary to finish a transfer degree before transferring from a community college to a university, it is recommended because students may otherwise lose credits.

“While we all work hard, there’s little doubt that students do lose some credits, or they find that the subject they studied at one school is different than the subject taught at the school they’re transferring to,” McDonald said. “So the average student that is able to transfer ends up finishing with 15 more credits than the student who started at a four-year school.”

Those 15 unnecessary credits means more money from the student, and more time before completion. To McDonald, the trade isn’t worth it.

“Those 15 additional credits cost money, and they also reflect an opportunity cost. That’s four months that you’re not earning money somewhere with a job. So some of the savings that were there start to erode a little bit for the average transfer student,” he said.

The Oregon Promise has the potential to dramatically affect the enrollment of both community colleges and universities in Oregon. It could take away potential freshmen from universities, but it could also bring more transfer students to universities. How it ultimately affects colleges in Oregon will be revealed in time.

“I think anything they do that can move more students to college is a good thing,” McDonald said. “But only time can tell us if it was the right thing to do.”

New Year, New Laws

By:Brianna Bonham 
Staff Writer

Motor Voter: Scott Moore, the communications director for the Oregon House Majority Office, said: “While other state legislatures are working to limit voter participation, Oregon is moving in the opposite direction by removing unnecessary, outdated barriers to voting.” House Bill 2177, called the new “Motor Voter Law,” ensures that every eligible voter will receive a ballot to vote upon receiving a driver’s license. Renewing a driver’s license will automatically register one to vote as well. Individuals just have to be 18 and show proof of citizenship. The state will send a postcard reporting eligibility to vote unless a box is checked saying that it is unwanted. Oregonlive reports an estimated 10,000 voters will be registered per month once the year starts.

Birth Control: According to The Oregonian, in 2015, Oregon was the first state to require insurers to cover 12-month refills for oral contraception. Beginning Jan. 1, House Bill 2879 allows pharmacists to prescribe birth control (oral contraceptives) to women. This saves many women potentially costly trips to doctors or gynecologists in order to get prescriptions. According to U.S News, some forms of birth control can cost $600 a year. This new law should help diminish the cost of doctor visits for women who regularly use birth control.

Pumping Gas: Oregonians everywhere now need to learn how to pump their own gas because as of 2016, Oregon now allows drivers of noncommercial vehicles to pump their own gas, but only under certain circumstances. Drivers must be stopped at a service station in a rural area in counties with populations of 40,000 or fewer people, and it must be between the hours of 6 p.m.-6 a.m. This law was passed to combat the likelihood of those traveling in remote areas from becoming stranded due to gas stations being closed. Those that are planning on late night travels in rural Oregon may need to brush up on their gas pumping capabilities.

Sick Leave: According to Koin News, as of Jan. 1, Oregon will become the 4th state to require paid sick leave for employees, along with California. Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Senate Bill 454 requires that companies with 10 or more employees provide up to 40 hours of paid sick leave each year. Scott Moore, the communications director for the Oregon House Majority Office, stated that “No one should have to decide between taking care of their health and keeping their job.” This law means that employees may not have to choose between taking care of their health and retaining their job. The new law upholds the Portland 2013 sick leave measure that applies to smaller businesses.

Vaporizer: Some people believe that using a vaporizer, or ‘vaping’, should be treated like cigarette smoking and banned in public places, and others believe that the smoke may not be as harmful as cigarette smoke and that it should be allowed in most public places. Although there currently have not been enough tests to prove this belief true or false as of yet. As of Jan. 1, vaping and electronic cigarettes are no longer legal to smoke in publicly owned areas. Western Oregon is also a smoke free campus and does not allow smoking of any kind on campus, whether it is vaping, electronic cigarettes, or a typical cigarette.

Terrorism around the world

By:Brianna Bonham
Staff Writer

Terrorist attacks are no stranger to the modern world. On Nov. 13, 2015 and the days surrounding, the world mourned with many countries as terrorism made its appearance once again. In the light of the Paris attacks, many terrorist attacks around the world were overshadowed.

The news coverage of the Paris attacks was significantly more than the attacks on Baghdad, Beirut, Yola, and Kano, even though some of those attacks took place on the same date.

The terrorist attacks on Paris, Baghdad, and Beirut were reported to have been carried out by the Islamic State militant groups. Both attacks on Nigeria are suspected to have been carried out by the extremist group Boko Haram, but neither attack has been claimed.

In light of the attacks on Paris, social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter promoted awareness for the attacks by offering banners or stickers to add to profiles so that users could show their support for the country.

Twitter social justice activist Shaun King (@ShaunKing) used Twitter to promote awareness of the terrorist attacks around the world. Twitter users enacted hashtags such as #PrayForHumanity.

Baghdad, Iraq
According to the Al Arabiya News, a suicide bombing killed 19 civilians and injured 33. The bombing occurred in the Al-Ashara al-Mubashareen mosque during a funeral south of Baghdad.
The attacks were claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group according to Al Arabiya News. Two roadside bombs near Sadr City in north Baghdad killed two civilians and wounded at least nine.

Beirut, Lebanon
According to CNN, a pair of suicide bombers killed 43 civilians and about 240 civilians were injured in the attacks. Also according to CNN, a would-be suicide bomber told authorities that he was sent by ISIS [Daesh].
The Lebanese authorities believe that the bombers were part of a sleeper cell group. A sleeper cell is a terrorist that blends into society until told to act. In this case, the cells were reportedly created and dispatched by ISIS [Daesh].

Paris, France
The attacks in Paris left 137 people dead, and hundreds wounded, according to BBC News. The attacks occurred minutes apart in restaurants, a concert hall, a stadium, and bars. Many attackers wore explosive vests, and used guns to shoot civilians.
The New York Times called the attack “Europe’s worst terrorist attack in 11 years.” A video was posted of ISIS [Daesh] claiming responsibility for the attacks, according to CNN.

Yola and Kano, Nigeria
The bombings that took place in a marketplace in Yola were allegedly carried out by two girls, one 11 years old, and one 18 years old. An official from the National Emergency Management Agency gave a toll of 32 dead, and 80 injured, but hospital officials gave an even higher toll according to CNN.
400 miles northwest, two collective bombings killed 15 people and injured over 123 in a mobile phone market in Kano.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the prime suspect is reportedly Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group. The group operates mainly out of Nigeria, but has become the most deadly terrorist group in the world according to the Global Terrorism Index 2015.

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