Mount Hood

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

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