Mount Hood

The time is now to rise for revolution

IMG_96662

By KATRINA PENAFLOR
 Campus Life Editor

Abby’s House brought the campaign, One Billion Rising Revolution, to Western’s campus Feb. 12, for its third year. One Billion Rising is a national event that started in 2012, with its focus to end violence against women.

According to www.onebillionrising.org,“One in three women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. That’s one billion women and girls.”

One Billion Rising has taken place in over 200 countries, and people can show their support by rising against these injustices.

The One Billion Rising Revolution campaign continues the previous year’s One Billion Rising for Justice campaign.

Promoting the campaign brings awareness to the issues and Andrea Hugmeyer, assistant director of Abby’s House, said she hopes students will, “recognize the incredible amount of violence women experience in their lives.”

Abby’s House played music and provided free hot chocolate to students. They also set up tables and posters with statistic about racism, ableism, classism, sexism, and heterosexism for students to recognize the different systems of oppression.

One of the posters included a quote from Lilla Watson, a woman’s activist from Australia: “If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us walk together.”

There was also a large sign for students to paint their handprints to support the campaign.

Jessica Galbraith, who is doing her practicum with Abby’s House, said she likes “the idea of getting the youth involved.” The many handprints on the sign was evidence of Western’s students support for One Billion Rising.

The event was set up on the front plaza of the Werner University Center. Being in such a high traffic area gave more students the opportunity to notice what was happening. The campaign “forces people to think about it,” Hugmeyer said.

“We want them to think about social injustice,” said Abby’s House advocate Jessica Fontaine.

One Billion Rising was the kick off for the upcoming Valentine’s Day events Abby’s House will present in February, such as the Vagina Monologues.

“Together we can rise for revolution,” Hugmeyer said.

IFC decision sparks controversy

Screen shot 2015-02-16 at 3.19.41 PM

By JACK ARMSTRONG & CONNER WILLIAMS
 News Editor & Staff Writer

Proposed changes during the preliminary decision of the Incidental Fee Committee’s (IFC) 2015-2016 budget were met with resistance from students, staff and faculty.

The committee drafted a budget which would maintain the previous year’s operating budget for every funded area except athletics.

If ratified, the suggested budget would reduce athletics’ overall budget 5 percent.

The Incidental Fee Committee is a group of student leaders supervised by staff advisers. The only voting members of the process are the students who sit on the committee.

Incidental fees are collected from students every term and are used for student clubs and activities that fall outside the realm of academics such as student leadership activities, special interest clubs, health and wellness, and athletics.

All of the academic-related expenses (professor salary, administrative expenses, etc.) are covered through tuition.

Speaking on the value of the IFC, Western’s President Mark Weiss stated that all students should have a voice.

“Some students are concerned about raising fees while other students believe it important to fund co-curricular activities at even higher amounts,” Weiss said.

The current year’s incidental fees total $322 per term or $966 per year. If the proposed budget is voted through unchanged, fees for 2015-2016 will increase 3.7 percent to $334 per term or $1,002 per year.

The preliminary budget increases the student fees per term despite the divisive cut to athletics due to an increase in enhancements granted to various funded areas.

Enhancements are one-time increases in funding for clubs to use towards a specific item (e.g., a new computer, travel to a conference, etc.).

After IFC reached an initial decision, the student body was given the opportunity to present their opinions directly to the committee in a series of town-hall style open hearings.

OPEN HEARING BEGINS

Held on Thursday, Feb. 5, the first hearing drew large audiences and raw emotions as students packed the Summit room in the Werner University Center.
Some student groups attended to express their appreciation for the difficult decisions of the IFC.

The Child Development Center presented the committee with crafts the children had made, while the directors discussed the importance of easy access to day care for student with children.

The creative arts department also had multiple representatives express their gratitude from jazz band, theater arts, marching band and drum line.

While praise flowed from many who spoke, the majority of students in attendance were athletes with grievances.

One student presenting on behalf of Western football asked for all the representatives of the athletic department to rise, and nearly threequarters of the room stood.

Student athletes lobbying for Western’s track and field, football, and volleyball teams were met with uproarious cheers and rounds of applause.

Nicole Anderson, a senior track and field athlete, was moved to tears as she said she was “ashamed to be a part of a university that doesn’t support all student endeavors equally.”

Anderson stated that “Western athletes are scraping the bottom. We’re the least funded program in the GNAC.”

David Mcleod, a sophomore track athlete, revealed his intention to leave Western as a result of what he saw as the committee’s “continued lack of support for athletics.”

Mcleod highlighted his lack of opportunity within the team as his main motivation to seek out another school.

“I came to compete, but I didn’t get the chance,” Mcleod said. “The budget definitely limits the amount of athletes who can travel to races. To work and train so hard to not see that work rewarded with races is difficult to swallow.”

Themes of fairness and unrewarded hard work were common in the presentations by athletes.

IFC’s decision had divided the student body, and Chair Quinn Forner was expecting the response. “I wasn’t surprised by the emotion, it is understandable,” he said.
Screen shot 2015-02-16 at 3.45.17 PM

Screen shot 2015-02-16 at 3.45.33 PM
SECOND HEARING BEGINS

The second open hearing, held on Monday, Feb. 9, played host to even more students than the first, and once again the athletics department dominated the attendance sheet.

In addition to more positive feedback from groups like creative arts, Abby’s House, and Stonewall Center, various club sports teams voiced their appreciation for continued funding.

Members of the both the men’s and women’s rugby teams, along with representatives from men’s soccer and men’s lacrosse all highlighted their gratitude for the chance to play.

While the club teams expressed support for their own continued funding, many also pleaded for a reconsideration of the cut to athletics.

Several of the presenting students who were involved in multiple IFC funded areas also stressed the importance of the range of activities currently available, especially as a means to raise Western’s image in the communities where athletics conducts their outreach.

The impact on prospective student recruitment and the impact on the overall community and culture of campus was often cited as the main reasoning behind the cross-club support.

Almost all spoke on unfavorable travel conditions for away matches, uniforms in dire need of replacement, and equipment improvements required for maintaining compliance with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The argument against budget cuts had become one of a return on investment for athletes who train daily for the chance to compete and are also expected to maintain academic excellence.

While many of the pleas were similar to those from the first hearing, one student had a message that was different from the rest.

Jenesa Honda, judicial administrator and head of the Associated Students of Western Oregon University Judicial Branch, supported the proposed cut to the athletics fund because of the overall effect on student fees.

“The rest of the departments can’t always take the hit,” Honda said. She added that “each one has some excess fluff that can be trimmed.” Honda specified that athletes and athletics can bring a certain spirit, but that usually only involves those who choose to participate.

“Students sometimes question funding athletics, especially those who aren’t associated with them,” Honda said. “This fee was $277 per term in 2011, and now it is expected to rise to $334 in 2015.”

The difference between these two figures is $171 annually, and that can amount to the cost of all textbooks in a term for some students.
Honda’s opinions are not uncommon among the student body. Juan Esparza, a business administration senior, initially didn’t know that his incidental fees went towards athletics.

“I actually wasn’t aware that I paid for clubs and athletics, and no, I don’t think it is fair,” Esparza said. He said that while he “understood that the school must fund activities, tuition is already a stretch for many.”

Students looking for more explanation of the IFC process or more information on how to become involved for the 2016 academic year can speak to IFC Chair and ASWOU representative Forner.

Forner is available for student feedback at the ASWOU table on the second floor of the Werner Center, across from the bookstore, every Tuesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

A meeting for the final deliberations will be held in the Columbia Room of the WUC, Monday, Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m.

Disclaimer: The Journal is funded through Incidental Fees via Student Media.

Students attend state capitol rally to restore higher education

PHOTO BY ALYSSA TAYLOR
PHOTO BY ALYSSA TAYLOR

 

By JACK ARMSTRONG
 News Editor

Over 100 Western students attended the Rally to Restore Higher Education at the Oregon state capitol building, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015.

The rally was part of an effort by the Oregon Student Association to push the further investment needed for Oregon to freeze state university and community college tuition rates until 2017.

Representatives from Western joined students from 26 other community colleges and state universities from across Oregon.


The Oregon Legislature would need to invest $755 million for state universities and $560 million for community colleges to ensure that tuition rates could remain the same. If the legislature cannot approve this investment, tuition could rise as much as 10 percent in the next year.

“Education is an opportunity everyone should have a chance to experience,” said Kristen Case, a sophomore and a resident assistant who attended the rally. “There is so much power in it.”

Other students attending the rally were focused on maintaining the financial viability for currently enrolled students.

“The financial burden is always present for students and it’s the most stressful thing, even above grades,” said Emiliano Cruz-Barrera, first year student.

Some students like Javan Davis, a mathematics and dance major, face the possibility of having to drop out if the tuition freeze does not go through.

“Currently if I don’t find a job, I’ll have to drop out before the next term even starts,” Davis said. “If we keep making entry into college harder and we keep raising prices, we won’t get anywhere.”

Students at the rally also had a chance to hear from bi-partisan speakers of the legislature such as house representative Mark Johnson (R), and co-chair of the Ways and Means committee representative Peter Buckley (D).

For more information on the tuition freeze, visit www.orstudents.org

Western sees continued growth in online course offerings

By JACK ARMSTRONG
 News Editor

Online courses are an integral component of learning on campus. Most students have now taken a class that involves the use of Moodle or Yammer. Many professors also use their own personal websites and spaces like WordPress to enhance student engagement.

The growing number of students expressing interest in online learning tools has prompted Western’s Center for Teaching and Learning and Extended Programs, located in ITC 204, to look toward expansion. Director Dan Clark and Strategic Partnerships Manager Elayne Kuletz are leading the charge towards technology-enhancedleading the charge towards technology-enhanced learning.

Clark said he is most excited about the possibility of an expanded online catalog because it would “meet the evolving needs of the students in our region.”

Kuletz said most students who have been asked about the benefits of online class options tend to cite the flexibility afforded by the lack of a set-in-stone, face-to-face schedule.

Clark said that often it is the availability of online classes that can be the make-or-break for students with extenuating circumstances to attend Western at all.

The flexibility of online courses is especially important for students who work when they are not in class, commuter students who live in Salem and beyond, and students who have children.

During a Jan. 9 meeting, the Division of Extended Programs discussed proposing a list of practices and processes to support flexible learning opportunities. At this point, policies for programs like Moodle, or course syllabi are limited or non-existent.

It is also unclear to DEP how many classes are offered online and calculations could be in dispute because certain online courses or partial online courses are only offered to certain students.

This number is especially difficult to determine because of the lack of standard definitions concerning what constitutes an online course.

Kuletz stressed a “push for more clarity.” She added there was a belief in the department that “students have the right to know what they are signing up for.”

According to Clark, there are seven categories of Technology Enhanced Classes. Classes are broken into: Technology Enhanced, Online, Online Proctored, Online Plus, Hybrid, Live Virtual and Virtual Hybrid. Each one attempts to address a different need for time or location flexibility.

All classes have the option of creating an online presence through Moodle. It is up to the professor and the department as to whether or not that option is exercised. Many faculty members make frequent use of Moodle as a document delivery system and a way to make class announcements.

Students have already experienced classes using the hybrid methodology. Courses in this style are taught through in-person meeting times and online work.

Online courses are classified as courses delivered only online with no pre-arranged time commitments.

In moving forward with an extended range of offerings, however, Clark said he encourages faculty to utilize the Online Plus format.

Online Plus is similar to the “only online” offerings in that all of the content is delivered online, but this iteration would also provide students with regular (but optional) meetings and activities.

These additional activities could range from professor-run question and answer sessions, to simply having access to an on-campus tutor on particular days.

Clark said he champions Online Plus because “there are hurdles when you never meet the students.” Some students will not be able to attend, but for those who really need a face-to-face (or even virtual) meeting, it is an opportunity to retain some of the feel of a more traditional classroom experience. Online Plus is designed to appeal the widest range of student learning styles while still accommodating students who are not able to attend regular class meetings.

Clark said he hopes this approach will bring more faculty members on board with a more expansive online catalog.

To help further their cause among the faculty, the department is in the process of interviewing candidates for an additional team member who would be responsible for training faculty in the creation of a cohesive online course.

This new position will be important as every online class is designed and maintained by a professor in conjunction with their department. This is an important distinction from other online colleges as it should result in more relevant and useful courses for the students.

In addition to new staff, the Center for Teaching and Learning and Extended Programs is offering a recurring series of seminars for tenure-track faculty to better understand what it takes to create a dynamic and effective online course.

The most recent of these events called the Winter Online Teaching Institute, took place during winter break, but there are several offered throughout the year.

Clark and Kuletz said more participation in the Institutes will translate to a higher quality of online education. Clark recognizes students are turned off by massive online colleges like the University of Phoenix and said Western has a unique opportunity to offer “something that is devised to fit the needs of Western.”

The Center is committed to expanding the possibilities at Western and, in the meantime, will continue streamlining Moodle and Yammer for both the student and faculty benefit.

Service Learning and Career Development to host Internship and Volunteer Fair on campus

By AMANDA CLARKE
 Staff Writer

The Service Learning and Career Development Center (SLCD) will be holding their second annual Internship and Volunteer Fair Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Pacific Room of Werner University Center.

Last year, approximately 200 students attended the event. The SLCD is hoping to
see more students attend this year.

There will be at least 40 local businesses at the event, ranging from public, private and non-profit. The attending businesses will be looking mostly for interns and volunteers.

There are opportunities such as Marion County Volunteer Services, Springfield Police Department, Peace Corps, the Bureau of Land Management and more.

“Only in college will people come to you. It’s not going to happen once you graduate,” said Adry Clark, director of the SLCD, who organized and founded the event.

Clark got the idea for the fair after she noticed that there was not a general careers fair on campus like other colleges frequently have, but specific career fairs for certain majors. She said she “felt like the career fair was missing.”

“I think it’s important for students to get internship and volunteer opportunities to develop [their] skills,” Clark said. Both internship and volunteer work allow students to have some opportunities while in school.”

All Western students can come into the SLCD between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays
for drop-in resume advice, ranging from helping students to begin a resume, to
giving helpful editing advice. The SLCD is located in room 119 of the WUC.

“Every Western student has the opportunity to have a great resume,” Clark said.
“It’s really helpful to come prepared to the fair. Do your research. Bring your resume.

Think about what you want to tell businesses about you.” Wolf Link also provides
more information regarding the Internship and Volunteer Fair. Students can find
a complete list of businesses scheduled to attend and some additional information on the companies by going online to Wolf Link (https://wou.edu/student/career/wolflink.php).

There is also a list of upcoming SLCD events on the Wolf Link calendar (http://
wou.edu/student/career/calendar.php). By following the link, students can view locations and times of other career fairs, both on Western’s campus and nearby locations, which any Western student can attend.

There are events through the SLCD that students may have to pay to attend but that
information is available on the listing, and in the regular emails sent to all students from SLCD.

Wolf Link also has information about the Western internship program, which will be discussed in length at the upcoming fair. Currently there are 13 paid internships
in varying locations across campus listed on Wolf Link as well.

Annual food drive returns to Western

By CONNER WILLIAMS
 Freelancer

This month marks the arrival of Western’s annual food drive. The Governor’s State Employees Food Drive is dedicated to former Oregon Governor Vic Atiyeh who passed away in July 2014.

Atiyeh founded the Oregon Food Bank in 1982 and devoted much of his time to helping provide food to Oregon’s hungry.

The drive will take place Feb. 2 through Feb. 27. During that time, there will be boxes scattered throughout the campus for non-perishable food contributions.

Examples of accepted donations include canned goods, soups, beans, vegetables, and tuna. Boxed foods, such as pasta and rice, are acceptable as well. Personal hygiene items like toothbrushes and toothpaste also are welcome donations.

According to Debbie Diehm, assistant to the vice president of student affairs, Western has donated the most food out of all Oregon public universities in each of the last ten years.

Last year, the Western community raised 104,575.68 pounds of food, which amounts to 153.11 pounds per student. There will be several other ways to donate outside of giving physical food items.

According to the food drive’s website, employees can make monetary donations by cash, check, credit card or payroll deduction. Employees can also meet the Governor’s Challenge by donating at least $144 annually.

Diehm along with Nora Solvedt and Lisa Catto, who are coordinating the food drive effort for Western, estimate that a $1 donation amounts to about four pounds of food.

The two main beneficiaries of the donated food are the WOU Food Pantry, in the Werner University Center, and the Ella Curran Food Bank in Independence.

Diehm holds a particular passion for the food drive. “This event is great at making sure that the food stays here and benefits the Western community,” she said. “We try to take care of each other as best we can, and I hope we can beat our impressive numbers from last year.”

For more information on the different ways to contribute and for other information, visit www.oregon.gov/fooddrive.

Incidental Fee Committee reaches preliminary decision

By JACK ARMSTRONG
 News Editor

The Incidental Fees Committee (IFC) met on Jan. 29 to compile a preliminary
budget decision for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year.

IFC meets every year to decide on a budget for the money received from students as a part of their tuition. This year’s fees amounted to $322 per term for each student.

While most of the clubs operating budgets remained un-cut, athletics experienced a 5 percent reduction in their overall budget. Most clubs were also granted a few items requested from IFC funds (including athletics).

The current proposed budget, if ratified, will result in fees increasing to $334 per term, a 3.7 percent increase.

As a part of the IFC process, an initial decision is made on the budget so students and faculty alike can get a sense of the committee’s intentions before
attending the open meetings to present a case for continued or additional funding.

The next open meeting will take place Monday, Feb. 9 in the Pacific Room in the Werner University Center at 5:30 p.m.

Individuals who wish to present on behalf of an organization are offered three minutes, and groups are offered five.