Mount Hood

Weekly update: Incidental Fee Committee

By: TK  Layman
Staff Writer

Week two of the Incidental Fee Committee took place on Jan. 27 for on-campus programs to present their proposed budgets for the upcoming school year. The committee heard presentations this week from three organizations: Creative Arts, Student Media and Campus Recreation.

The previous week’s presentations included proposed budgets for accessibility through the Office of Disability Services, Abby’s House, Childcare through the Children’s Development Center, WOLF Ride and Service Learning and Career Development. Of the organizations who have presented, they’ve proposed their internal budget in relation to on and off-campus events to take place, as well as compensation for the workers involved in the departments.

Week three begins on Feb. 3 with the final round of budget presentations for student organizations: Athletics, Student Engagement and ASWOU. Following the final set of presentations, the Incidental Fee Committee will make their preliminary decision of the proposed budgets and the fee for the 2017-18 school year on Feb. 10.

For students looking to keep up with proposed budgets for on campus groups and organizations they are encouraged to go to wou.edu/ifc.

Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu

Creating an inclusive community

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

Inclement weather and blustering winds showed a small but intimate turn out for speaker Kerani Mitchell’s community discussion “Exploring What Makes Us Oregonian.”

Ten people total showed up to talk about community inclusion and how they can, as a group, share stories of how they have all felt included or excluded from their particular community, and explore options to help those who may not feel welcome to be a part of their surroundings.

Kerani Mitchell, a graduate of Seattle University with a degree in international studies, started the group by leading them through a quick reflection and having them consider what brought them to the discussion. By laying out the guidelines of creating a safe inclusive space and keeping an open mind, Mitchell got the audience thinking.

Introductions led way with participants stating their name and one thing they love about their community in Oregon.

During introductions, one audience member prompted the question, “When can someone call themselves an Oregonian?” As participants pondered on what makes someone an Oregonian, they all came to terms; an Oregonian is one who lives in Oregon.

Mitchell had the audience break up into two groups to discuss times they felt included in their community, and how they can identify ways to help others feel included in their daily lives.

One member, a teacher within the community, spoke about the difference between the “golden rule” and a different concept called the “platinum rule,” giving a description of treating others how they wish to be treated, rather than how one would want.

Mitchell ended the conversation with a recording of Maya Angelou’s poem “Human Family.”

By the end the group came back together to discuss ways they can help someone who may feel excluded from their community feel more welcome. Several of the ideas discussed included having themselves step outside their comfort zones and immersing themselves in a new culture, or searching for community involvement opportunities and above all treating everyone with human decency. As the conversation died down, the words of Maya Angelou resonated over the crowd: “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”

Oregon Humanities Conversation Project continues Thursday, Feb. 16 with the next installment, “The Space Between Us, Immigrant Refugees, and Oregon” by speaker Manuel Padilla. Starting at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Room at the Salem Public Library
Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu

Social media backlash to the new administration

By: Zoë Strickland
Managing Editor

On Jan. 24, the Trump administration ordered the employees of multiple federal agencies, including the EPA, USDA, HHS and DOI, to halt external communication with both the public and the media.

According to the New York Times, the communication halt is in place “… while the Trump administration struggles to put political appointees into position.” The moratorium on communication from those departments came after the administration began re-doing the White House website on Jan. 20, during which they deleted any mention of climate change.

As a result of these combined events, the Twitter account of Badlands National Park began posting scientific facts relating to climate change. The National Park Service then came forward and admitted that the information was being posted by a former employee who had hijacked the account and proceeded to delete what they had tweeted.

Though the National Park Service attempted to correct what had happened on their Twitter, the tweets sparked an onset of unofficial ‘resistance’ government accounts. Among those accounts are @altUSEPA, @RoguePOTUSStaff, @RogueNASA, @altNOAA and @NotAltWorld, which was originally used for the unofficial National Park Service but has since been handed off to non-government workers.

Since all of the Twitter accounts being made are working against the orders of the Trump administration, it’s unclear which accounts are being run by people inside of the the organizations. Some, like @NotAltWorld and @RogueNASA, publicly admit to being run by non-government employees.

The Rogue POTUS Staff twitter claims to be run by people within the government. Their website identifies them as the “Official White House Resistance Operation,” saying that they “are White House staffers, working at various levels, operating in secrecy to reveal hidden truths of the Trump administration to the American people.”

However, since all of the Twitter accounts are openly resisting the new administration, none of the account managers have come forth to identify themselves.

The Twitter accounts join together as part of a larger movement that draws attention to the communication halt as well as the “… recent proposals from the Trump transition team for drastic cuts in environmental science in federal agencies,” as reported by Scientific American.

Most recently, on Feb. 3, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-F.L., introduced a bill into congress that seeks to completely terminate the EPA.

The recent setbacks to the scientific community have helped draw attention to the work that has already been done by each agency. People are drawing attention to old research, such as the database that NASA introduced in August of 2016 where they post the peer-reviewed articles of research that NASA has funded. Articles on the database range from studies about how spaceflight may increase certain clinical symptoms in astronauts to if it’s possible to inhabit Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.

The rogue twitter accounts, government employee run or not, are starting a conversation that helps spread awareness for government-funded scientific research.

The science community is planning the Science March on Washington on April 22 for Earth Day. A satellite march is currently set to take place in Portland.

Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu

Weekly update: IFC Meeting #3

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

Friday, Feb. 3 the IFC meeting took place in modular 101 outside Rice Auditorium. After the committee saw presentations from all other campus organizations, the remaining – Athletics, Student Engagement and ASWOU, presented their budget proposals for the 2017-2018 school year.

Student Engagement included budget proposals for campus structures such as operations and student employment, leadership, inclusion and the Student Activities Board. With their proposed budgets for the year, they look to re-up their contract with OrgSync, the web application hosting all on-campus organizations.

Athletics holds the highest budget on campus and is looking to add safety improvements to the Women’s Softball field, adding an NCAA required safety netting to the dugouts. Their fear is that if the IFC cuts funds, they will have to reallocate funds to make sure equipment is kept up to date in terms of safety standards, as well as reducing the number of athletes who attend road games. Teams attending road games typically fly to their locations. The Athletics department stated if the budget was reduced, they would have to travel by bus, increasing the number of hours traveled and the amount of class missed for student-athletes.

Before ASWOU gave their presentation, they asked to reallocate funds from their non-specified account to cover their trip for Student Lobby Day, a day for student’s to speak with state representatives about their school experience and encumbrance of student loans. ASWOU asked for $500 to cover the travel costs, and it caused some trepidation from the IFC Committee. After discussion, the motion passed to reallocate travel expenses for Student Lobby Day 7-1-0.

The next meeting is Friday, Feb. 10 where the committee will make their preliminary decision on the budget before opening the floor to hearings.

Contact the author at tlayman16@mail.wou.edu

Helping the environment: don’t just talk about it

By: Jade Rayner
News Editor

Many people talk about the importance of helping the environment but few know where to start. For those wanting to put their words into action, the Luckiamute Watershed Council is there to help.

“We’re a non-profit and our mission is to engage and assist landowners in restoration of the Luckiamute and Ash Creek Watersheds,” stated Kristen Larson, Council Coordinator of the Luckiamute Watershed Council in our interview at the council’s Burgerville fundraiser on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common body of water; Ash Creek Watershed starts in Dallas, travels through the Polk County communities of Monmouth and Independence and drains into the Willamette River.

When asked what the council does in the area, Larson explained that they, “do things like controlling invasive weeds to allow the native vegetation to thrive; we plant native trees and shrubs along stream banks and the rivers. We do restoration projects to help fish habitats …”

Volunteering for the Luckiamute Watershed Council can include a variety of jobs.

“We participate in the Fourth of July parade, and help clean up the litter after the parade: we always need help for that. In the summer season we have field opportunities to help with our temperature monitoring program, and also weeds, so in our planting areas there’s often times we can use people helping us clip weeds so they don’t drop seeds and spread,” added Larson. “We have space on our committees, and on our board and we’d love to have student engagement and organization itself.”

For those interested in learning more about the Luckiamute Watershed Council, meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.; locations of the meetings vary and can be found on www.LuckiamuteLWC.org. Volunteer interest forms can also be found on their website.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Community gathers to discuss race in Oregon

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

“Racism is an emotion filled topic,” Willamette University sociology professor Emily Drew began her lecture. “If we’re aware, we are feeling something.”

The night began as attendees gathered in the Anderson Room of the Salem Public Library for the first installation of Oregon Humanities’ “Conversation Project:” a series of lectures given by community leaders to engage members in a thoughtful discussion of the world around them.

Drew led the night discussing Oregon’s image on race in her presentation titled “Power, Privilege, and Racial Diversity in Oregon.”

The first discussion began with a quote by W.E.B. Du Bois, “The problem of the 100 years ahead of us,” Drew repeated, “is a problem of ‘the color line.’” With that quote in mind, the groups engaged in thoughtful conversation about perceptions of race during the Civil Rights Era to today.

Throughout the night the audience broke off into small groups to discuss with their peers about several topics including ideas such as the prevalence of “Sun Down Towns” within Oregon. Drew cited a study conducted by James Lowen and a team of graduate students that found a collection of “Sun Down Towns,” or a town within the state where minority groups may feel unsafe or unwelcome. The groups got together and expressed their surprise and concern with the list of Oregon cities seen today as “Sun Down Towns;” Drew led the discussion back toward the community, tied it into Portland’s presence not on the list and their vision of diversification.

A common perception of Portland has sources, such as The New Geographer, believing it has a lack of racial diversification. Drew, unshaken, proved otherwise stating recent studies.

“The Coalition of Communities of Color studying Multnomah county,” Drew said, “1-out-of-3 people living in Multnomah county are people of color.”
Before the final group discussion, a U.S. Census Data report was displayed for the audience to see the diverse makeup of those living in Salem and had audience members engaged thinking critically of the identities of those on the census.

Drew closed out the discussion looking for community thoughts on how to create a more equitable and inclusive community, prompting more group thinking and reflection. Each group shared their insights as they worked together toward a common goal of creating a holistic environment for all.
The Oregon Humanities’ Conversation Project continues their series on Feb. 2, with speaker Kerani Mitchell and her presentation titled “Where Are You From?”

For those interested in being a part of the community discussions, the event will be held at the Salem Public Library, Thursday Feb. 2 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

To learn more about Oregon Humanities’ Conversation Project, go to www.oregonhumanities.org/programs/conversation-project

A timeless oath and an American tradition

By: Alyssa James
Staff Writer

With his right hand in the air and his left hand on two Bibles, President-elect Donald Trump proclaimed the oath that swore him into office on the Jan. 20: “I, Donald John Trump, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.”

Soon after he went to the podium and gave his inauguration speech promising to put “America first.” As he started his speech, President Trump stated with a spirit of perseverance, “We will face challenges. We will confront hardships, but we will get the job done.”

As he thanked President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their grace through the transitioning of presidents, he also addressed the state that Washington D.C. is in compared to that of the people.

According to the New York Times, President Trump expressed that “Washington flourished” but the United States citizens had no part in acquiring any of that wealth. He further made the point that, through this transition of presidency, it does not matter which party controls the government but that the power is put in the hands of the people of the United States.

President Trump asserted that the citizens of America will never be forgotten, and that our “… nation exists to serve its citizens.” He discussed some of the tragic realities that people live with day in and day out, promising to work to stop it. His tone was hopeful and ambitious when voicing the unity he wants for the American people: “We are one nation, and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams, and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny. The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.”

Much of his speech used the same rhetoric about the concerns he had discussed throughout his campaign. With his use of pathos and patriotic themes throughout, he received many cheers and applause from the crowd that gathered to see him speak.

It’s important to not neglect to vote in local, state and federal elections in order to have your voice heard under the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump.

Contact the author at ajames16@mail.wou.edu

Incidental Fees: Where does it all go?

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

Western’s Incidental Fee Committee meets every winter term to determine the budget for on-campus organizations and events.

The committee began meetings last week to discuss potential budget increases and cuts. Once a week on Friday from 12-4 p.m. in the Willamette Room, a panel of advisors from on-campus organizations, faculty advisors, elected student committee members from presidential faculty appointments, ASWOU appointments and current ASWOU members meet to discuss the 2017-2018 projected extracurricular budget.

Some of the student organizations in attendance include Student Media, Campus Recreation, Abby’s House and the Student Activities Board. Along with allocating and budgeting for campus organizations, they also set the rate of the incidental fee charged to student accounts per term, with a projected rate of $341 for the 2017-18 school year, according to a memo released by the IFC.

Over the duration of the term, the committee will look at potential variables such as student enrollment and minimum wage increase to help come to a decision. They make information public through OrgSync on their open page. There you can find updated meeting minutes showing the main topics through the discussion, and current meeting agendas.

Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu

Polk County has its voice heard

By: Jade Rayner
News Editor

Western had the opportunity to host the Polk County town hall meeting on Jan. 14. Many concerned members of the community and Western students gathered in the Werner University Center to voice their opinions and have their questions answered by the U.S. Senator for Oregon, Ron Wyden. Wyden has been a senator for Oregon since 1996; he holds open town hall meetings in all 36 counties in Oregon each year. This meeting marked Wyden’s 784th town hall meeting; topics discussed ranged from environmental issues, the election and health care.

Question: How can we get the entire country to vote by mail?
Wyden: I’d introduce legislation to take “Oregon’s Vote by Mail” national in effect to ensure that everyone in America would get a ballot in the mail. In other words, the Constitution makes it clear that elections are essentially governed by locals. But we could have the federal government give all Americans the opportunity to get a ballot in the mail … The fact that our vote by mail system ensures that there’s a paper trail probably helps us advance that cause, so I’m going to push that very hard.

Question: What do you see the federal government’s role [being] in maintaining water quantity, and water quality?
Wyden: It’s very appropriate that you bring this up, because there’s no question that water is going to be one of the paramount challenges of our time. Right before I left Washington D.C., there we some discussions about infrastructure; I and others were making a point that in addition to roads and bridges, we need to consider a basic part of infrastructure.
Things like sewer, and water systems and the like because you clearly cannot have big league economic growth and big league quality life with all these outdated kind of systems … When you hear legislatures talk about infrastructure, roads and bridges and transportation systems, I think the operative question is, will you include in that water and sewer which has too often in the past not been.

Question: What is a way on a more immediate basis that we can make our voices heard … are all calls equal?
Wyden: Well, we’ll be able to tell you more as we get there on Friday and we actually start to see what a new administration chooses to do because, clearly, we’re moving out of the campaign and into the kind of governing period … so, what we’re gonna have to see is exactly what, you know, policies are.
I, personally, think there are a few things that are sort of natural. If we get a budget, for example, that substantially cuts the funds for low-income hunger programs. Number one, I’ll use my seat on the budget committee to oppose that, but number two, we’re gonna need a lot of people pitching in at the pantries and the shelters … so people are gonna be able to get involved that way.
I think probably the best thing you can do is find one more person to join you in this effort of speaking out with elected officials, participating on local programs … but if there’s one thing you can do, it’s find one more person to join you in pitching in.

If you would like to contact Senator Ron Wyden with your own questions, you can fill out a form at www.wyden.senate.gov/contact.
Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Career recruiters on campus

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

On Thursday, Jan. 12, Western had a recruiter from the US Border Patrol explain to students the process of how to apply for both Border Patrol and US Customs. Through the Department of Homeland Security, the US Border Patrol secures the southern perimeter of the United States hoping to deter any illegal activity. As for Customs agents, those interested can expect to be stationed at a state port, examining international travel and shipping.

For 2017, the Department of Homeland Security is looking to bolster their Customs and Border Patrol forces by hiring up to 21,070 Border Patrol agents and 23,821 Customs agents, according to to the budget outline released by DHS.

The recruitment process is fairly easy, as Matt Zurcher, a recruiter for US Border Patrol explained. “There’s no degree required, but it must be someone willing to move,” Zurcher elaborated that they should also be “law enforcement motivated. That’s the main focus.”

The willingness to move was stressed, noting that most people who start with Border Patrol are stationed somewhere along the southern US Border. “Arizona, California, Texas or New Mexico specifically,” Zurcher explained. “For the Customs side of it, it can be a landport, seaport or airport.”

Those looking to apply can go to cbp.gov or usajobs.gov and submit their resume online.

Western was also going to host Buckeye International on Wednesday, Jan.11; unfortunately, due to weather, the recruiter could not make it. Buckeye International is looking for students close to graduation who are interested in sales and business for full-time sales positions in Portland, Oregon.

Buckeye is an international distributor and an, “innovative leader in the cleaning/maintenance industry,” as their website states. Their program targets recent college graduates for their Sales Management Program to give students experience in the business and sales field, offering “accelerated training, performance feedback, increased responsibility in direct decision-making” as a part of the experience according their careers page. Students can find more information at buckeyeinternational.com/careers

Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu

Connecting peers together

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

The new year is upon us and with that comes National Mentoring Month. Mentoring.org reports that beginning in 2002, by a partnership between MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, January became the month to foster new relationships between mentors across the country. For students at Western, there are a variety of different organizations and services that can help you find a working relationship between you and your peers.

One major opportunity for first-year students to get help navigating through the newness of college life is to get in touch with the Peer Mentor program on campus. “We, as peer mentors, help connect the first year residents at Western,” Junior Community Health student, Kyle Arthenayake said of the program, “through wellness education and being a resource to those residents, not only as a knowledgeable student, but as a friend.”

Another resource is the Student Health and Counseling Center, located across Church Street from the Werner University Center. The center offers free and confidential counseling services to those in need from several licensed practitioners and psychologists.

For students looking for tutoring or help with homework, you can schedule an appointment through your Portal in the “My Programs” box. By clicking on “Schedule a Tutor” students can set an appointment in the Academic Programs and Support Center, located on the south end of campus, to receive help with any subject. To become a tutor, a 3.0 GPA is necessary along with a faculty recommendation in your specified subject. For further information, students should contact the Academic Advising and Learning Center in APSC 401 or at advising@wou.edu

The Writing Center, located on the third floor of the APSC is an area students can go to get individualized attention and help with their written work.

If you would like to get involved with Peer Mentors, contact advisors Pam Medzegian or Craig Wimmer through the SHCC Wellness Education Department.

Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu

A contentious Electoral College outcome

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

The Electoral College system convened in December to cast their official votes for the next president-elect. Protests and disputes broke out across the country after the general election outcome, including a recount effort in key battleground states led by Green Party candidate Jill Stein as an effort to block the general election winner Donald Trump.

Historically, the Electoral College maintains itself as a formality, electors casting their votes for the state’s winning candidate. With this election cycle, the nation saw a historic movement for electors to turn “faithless”, or vote against the state winner. Many states impose a penalty on “faithless electors”, as a way of deterring them from voting against the final result. Such is the case for a Minnesota elector, who declared a vote against Clinton, the state’s winner. As a result the elector was disqualified and replaced. As electors met in their state capitols, most remained faithful, as many have historically, but a total of seven electors shied away from the results and cast different votes.

In Washington, a state that voted democrat, four electors chose different candidates as a protest vote. In a New York Times vote tally, three democratic electors had voted for former Secretary of Defense Colin Powell, and one elector voting for Faith Spotted Eagle, a Native American activist that led the fight against the Keystone XL Pipeline. Hawaii, who was pledged to Clinton, had one of their four votes cast for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, leaving a total of five democratic electors voting for an alternate candidate.

Republicans, too, had “faithless electors” with two Texas voters, one going to Gov. John Kasich, R-OH, and the other Ron Paul, a candidate during the 2012 Republican Primary elections known for his Libertarian-leaning views. Ultimately, Texas was the state that determined the outcome giving Republican Candidate Donald Trump the 270 electoral college votes necessary to secure the presidency.

Per the constitution, presidential electors are not required to vote for their party’s candidate. However, the 2016 General Election saw the highest amount of faithless electors on record with seven. Many citizens and politicians, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, are criticizing the effectiveness of the electoral college. “We may want to take a look at the whole Electoral College, which is seating a man for president who didn’t get the most votes,” Sanders said speaking up about the system during an interview with USA Today. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton saw a victory in the popular vote with nearly 3 million more total votes. Referencing the 2000 General Election where incumbent Vice-President Al Gore won the popular vote, but former Republican President George W. Bush won the electoral vote.

On Jan. 6 congress met, led by Vice-President Biden, and tallied the final votes for the electoral college. Reuters reported that during a half-hour joint session in congress, some house representatives had tried to object the vote after the official tally. House representatives cast objections to the official tally on the grounds of “Russian interference” according to US Intelligence agencies, others citing concerns about long lines at polling stations as a way to deter voters. Biden quickly dismissed objections stating to representatives, “It is over,” while looking to finish the tally. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, had concerns about the final vote, “That’s why people have some level of dismay today on the vote … about the Electoral College,” Pelosi spoke to the press during a news conference, “How much is known about the foreign disruption of our election? “

As the session ended the final tally came in, ultimately deciding on Donald Trump as the next president-elect with a total of 304 votes to Clinton’s 227. The official inauguration is set for Jan. 20 in Washington D.C.

Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu

Higher wages for employees: Oregon’s minimum wage increase

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

Western’s students may see an increase in pay with the 2017-18 school year after the Oregon House of Representatives passed legislation to increase the state’s minimum wage through 2022. After deliberations were halted by demonstrators in February 2016, the proposal went through with a total vote of 32-26. Although the minimum wage is increasing statewide, there are some caveats within the increase.

Based on the county, citizens across the state will see a variance in proposed rates. According to the Oregon Bureau of Labor Statistics, residents of the Portland Metro Area will see their wages go up to $11.25, while non urban residents will have an increase to $10. The state standard will be at $10.25 an hour; Polk county being within the range of standard counties.

The wage increase came after a turbulent campaign during 2016 in the “Fight for $15” movement. The movement proposed to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour in order to support the cost of living after wages remained stagnant as the national cost of living increased with inflation. Governor Kate Brown signed Senate Bill 1532, the bill set to increase the state’s minimum wage, in February of 2016, reported The Oregonian. “I started this conversation last fall, bringing stakeholders together to craft a workable proposal,” said Brown of the bill, “I look forward to signing this bill.”

While wages will increase steadily until 2022, some are worried of what may come with the wage increases. For public universities, such as Western, many student workers are not under federally funded work-study jobs, and those workers will be entitled to almost $450,000 through 2019, per the Oregonian. While students are gearing up to make more money through higher wages, public universities are looking to compensate for lost revenue. Public universities are believing it will come in the form of tuition increases. In the case of University of Oregon, they will see a 4.8% tuition increase for in-state students according to OregonLive.

As students are gaining more in wages, employers and universities face a number of decisions to compensate for revenue. Some opponents fear it will result in lost jobs, such as House Minority Leader Mike McLane, R- Powell Butte. As The Oregonian was reporting during the debate, McLane argued with Democrats during the deliberations, “Do you believe that no one will be laid off? Seriously? We’ve got to look you in the eye and we’ve got to ask — do you really believe that no one will lose a job? Do you believe prices will not go up?” As speculation occurs, the bill will remain in effect, and students can expect to see a steady increase through 2022.

Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu

A “revolutionary” fourth year for TEDxSalem

By: Jade Rayner
News Editor

Through the hard work of an all-volunteer team with the desire to build a stronger, more connected community, TEDxSalem successfully held its fourth event, “Revolutions,” on Jan. 7 at the Salem Convention Center. TEDx is an independently organized TED event where you can see live talks on a broad spectrum of topics, as well as videos of TED talks.

Kelsey Juliana, 20, spoke about her experience being a part of the landmark US climate lawsuit alongside twenty other youth, and the power that millennials have to make a difference, specifically when it comes to climate change.

“When I was fifteen, before I could vote, drive or even have my first kiss, I sued the governor of Oregon” Juliana stated to begin her speech.

Juliana has now attended court six times for filing cases against the state and federal government because “by choice my government has been funding and permitting excessive amounts of fossil fuel projects that are polluting our land, air, water and contributing to climate destabilization.” She demanded that “youth need to be taken seriously … I see youth as revolutionaries.”

While closing her talk, Juliana encouraged that we act in whatever way we can to make a difference. For those needing a place to start, Juliana explained, “The steps to being an agent of change, to committing to being a changemaker, starts like this: you show up, you say yes and then you bring your magic. It’s a reflective process … no one can bring what you have.”

The second session of the conference started strong with Vanessa Timmons, executive director of the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence in Portland, Oregon. She spoke the courage in those she works with, courageous storytelling, and community.

In an interview with Timmons she explained that for her first TED experience she “wanted to focus on resiliency for survivors … often people think about what I do and they think about victimization. But when you’re an advocate doing this work, what you really experience and witness is resilience and power; the absolute brilliance of survivors.”

When asked what students can do for survivors of sexual assault Timmons explained, “The first line of response for survivors is often a family member or friend…so when someone tells you about domestic violence or sexual assault the first thing, and the most important thing you can do is believe them … then you allow the person to explore options with you. You don’t have to have all the answers.”

Bringing the interview to a close, Timmons said, “the most important thing for me to communicate in my talk, and in my work is that we all matter. We are all important, and we are all essential to changing the world.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Yes, we did: Obama’s eight years in office

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

President Barack Obama is nearing his final days in the Oval Office, and he leaves behind a historic legacy. As the first African-American president of the U.S., his campaign slogan, “Yes We Can” led him to a victory over his opponent, Senator John McCain. During his eight years in office Obama has implemented many new laws and policies, those of which affect not only students as a whole, but students at Western as well.

One of his landmark decisions as a president was to sign into law the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010” giving service members of the U.S. Military the ability to serve as an open member of the LGBTQ+ community. During the signing, Obama said of the act, “For we are not a nation that says, ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ We are a nation that says, ‘Out of many, we are one.’”

obama-family-colorabcnews-comThe belief that members of the military could be open in their sexuality was a turning point in opening opportunities for those to serve. The White House Press reported during his signing speech that President Obama said, in a show of solidarity:

“I want to express my gratitude to the men and women in this room who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Services. I want to thank all the patriots who are here today, all of them who were forced to hang up their uniforms as a result of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” but who never stopped fighting for this country, and who rallied and who marched and fought for change. I want to thank everyone here who stood with them in that fight.”

The Obama Administration also continued to fight for the right to affordable higher education for all students who seek it. As a part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation act, the Obama Administration states that, “nearly 5 million federal direct student loan borrowers have the opportunity to cap their student loan payments at 10 percent of their income,” allowing students to pay as they earn. Obama’s administrative staff reported that this act also reinvested into the Pell Grant increasing the maximum total amount to $5,730 for the 2014-15 school year, increasing the maximum award by nearly $1000 since 2008. By expanding the amount, President Obama also increased the opportunity for students to receive the award by nearly 50 percent, the administration states.

Reforming K-12 education was a key point of the President’s first term. As Obama stated, the No Child Left Behind Act was overdue for a reform. The president implemented a blueprint for reform of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act giving schools a platform to create more college-readiness classes over standardizing education. This act gave students within the K-12 system the ability to be more ready for life after high school with college and career readiness programs.

A major talking point in recent years came from opponents of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The New York Times reported discussions opened up around congress as they ruminated on the legality of the act, a provision stating that U.S. citizens must enroll in health insurance or pay a penalty. Ultimately that discussion carried up the ladder to the Supreme Court in 2010 where they ruled in favor of the act 5-4.

Chief Justice Roberts helped sway the vote to a majority “yea” vote writing in their dissertation: “The Affordable Care Act’s requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax. Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness.”

Along with the Affordable Care Act ruling, the New York Times states that a unanimous decision was made to limit the expansion of Medicaid, a federally funded program. The justices came to an agreement that Congress has used too much of its power by attempting to limit state funding to agree to the expansion.

During the “Occupy Wall Street” campaign, President Obama had signed into law the Dodd-Frank Act, which limits risk taking by business and reduces the burden on U.S. taxpayers according to the Obama Administration. The Washington Post stated that the president said Dodd-Frank will, “ … protect consumers, and lay the foundation for a stronger and safer financial system, one that is innovative, creative, competitive, and far less prone to panic and collapse.”This bill had been paramount in rebuilding an already failing economy and increasing consumer confidence after an economic recession in 2008.

President Obama has been a part of many historic moments. From being the first African-American President, to expanding healthcare and education reform, Obama started to implement policies that would help reshape America. He also started the beginning of withdrawing the Army’s presence in Afghanistan, signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and implemented numerous others. As Obama ends his final term in office, he leaves behind a legacy of change, reform and hope for all citizens.
Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu

A day for putting out the smoke and picking up a healthy lifestyle

By: Jade Rayner
News Editor

Western Oregon University is now in its second year of being a tobacco free campus, yet many students and employees continue to gather around the edge of campus to smoke throughout the day. While it is ultimately up to the individual if they would like to smoke, Nov. 17 is a day aimed smokeout-colorat informing smokers of the health benefits of quitting along with providing advice on how.

The American Cancer society hosts the Great American Smokeout each year with the aim of getting people to set a quit date or use that day to quit smoking. Cancer.org states that “by quitting – even for 1 day – smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk.” Tobacco use is the largest preventable cause of premature death and disease in the world as reported by the American Cancer Society.

It may not be easy to quit, but the CDC website claims that “the urge to smoke is short—usually only 3 to 5 minutes.” The CDC suggests making a list of activities to do you when you start to feel the urge to smoke; activities could include calling or texting a friend, drinking water or taking a walk/exercising in some way.

The Student Health and Couseling Center on campus provides multiple resources to help students quit; free tobacco quit kits are available to pick up in the waiting room. The kit includes a mint, gum and lollipop to give you something to reach for other than a cigarette, a book of tips for staying tobacco free and a tobacco use tracker in order for you to keep track of when and why you smoke.

Students can also make medical and counseling appointments to get help with quitting by calling the center at 503-838-8313, or visit their website at wou.edu/health.

The decision to quit smoking can be difficult, but the Great American Smokeout is a great day to start the process. With all the resources available on campus, you won’t have to go through it alone.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

Western students and surrounding community come together to make a difference

 

By: Jade Rayner
News Editor

Last week Western hosted its first blood drive of the 2016-2017 school year. The American Red Cross took blood donations on Nov. 10-11 in the WUC, and were met with many eager volunteers. Western students, alumni and community members, both first time and regular donors, came together during the two day event.

In an interview, Marisa Wyckoff, account manager witblood-drive-2-colorh the American Red Cross, stated that their “goal was to collect 50 units of blood, each unit being a pint of blood, and yesterday we collected 66 units … which is basically a phenomenal day.”

Wyckoff added that “ a couple things that made a really big difference was that a lot of students took the time to make appointments … it helps us to prepare on our end that we bring out enough staff, enough beds, enough equipment so that the wait time and processing goes faster.”

The Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply according to their website.

“The beauty about the Red Cross is that we’re a nationwide organization, so we definitely first make sure that the hospitals that we serve-their needs are met first. We can, and we do, ship our blood nationwide to make sure that the needs are met nationwide” answered Wyckoff when asked where blood goes after it’s donated.

Another way you can help out during the blood drive is volunteering to assist people after they make their donation.

“As a student volunteer, essentially what I do is I go in the snack area. When people are done donating I offer them snacks, water and juice,” explained sophomore Andrew Henneman. “We essentially make sure they (the donors) are okay and they stay for about 10-15 minutes or however long they need.”

One of Henneman’s reasons for volunteering was in part because “I’ve donated blood a couple times myself, and I knew some people that had tough times donating, like they got real dizzy after. I never did but know it was always nice to have someone to talk to when you sat down afterwards because you have to wait awhile.”

Whether you want to donate blood or volunteer to be there for someone donating blood, you can make a significant impact for those in need. Be sure to look out for the next blood drive at Western, or go to redcrossblood.org to find where you can donate blood locally.

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu

2016 General election outcome: what it means for students

By: TK Layman
Staff Writer

The 2016 Election has come to an end after a tumultuous campaign. President-elect Donald J. Trump will assume his role in the Oval Office come January. The US Senate and House will have a Republican majority, giving the party control of both the legislative and executive branches. Citizens in nine states voted on ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana for both recreational and medical purposes and voted yes in all states except Arizona.

As President Obama counts down his final days in office, Trump will begin to prepare for his role as president. He has a plan to reduce college costs for students by “making a good faith effort … in exchange for federal tax breaks and tax dollars,” according to his campaign site.

Along with reducing costs, Trump’s website states that he wants to make it easier for students to attend a two or four-year college. He also proposes to create an additional 25 million jobs over 10 years and increase the economy by creating 1.2 million new jobs for every 1 percent growth in national GDP.

Oregon’s gubernatorial election is making national headlines with incumbent Kate Brown, who took office after the previous governor John Kitzhaber resigned, becoming the first openly-LGBTQ governor in national history. Brown’s website lists her accomplishments since taking her place as Oregon’s governor: she has passed a plan to increase Oregon’s minimum wage in relation to local population, expanded the Oregon Opportunity Grant, and created the Oregon Promise Grant which allows low-income students to attend community college for as low as $50 a semester. By creating an affordable education, Brown hopes to create an educated workforce that can earn a livable wage.

Oregon also passed several ballots measures that affect students. Measure 98 passed with a 65 percent vote. The measure is set to help Oregon students prepare for higher education by helping reduce the dropout rate and create college preparedness courses. The Oregon Voter’s Pamphlet details that Oregon has one of the worst graduation rates in the nation, with 10,000 failing to graduate each year.

Almost 75 percent of high school graduates who do seek higher education will be placed into remedial courses. The measure claims that it will invest no less than $800 per student within the state of Oregon, based on attendance, to improve graduation rates and offer more college-level courses for students to be better prepared for higher education.

In our Nov. 2 issue, news editor Jade Rayner wrote about measure 95, a ballot measure allowing public universities to reinvest their equities to reduce financial impact on students. Measure 95 passed with a 70 percent “yes” majority.

The campaign has come to an end and there is still much more to come. The midterm election of 2018 is just two years away. Students hoping to get involved are encouraged to contact their party’s headquarters for more information.

Contact the author at tlayman16@wou.edu

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