Beaver's Digest Vol. 2 Issue 2

featuring

vol 2 Issue 2

RADIATION CITY JAMIE WEISNER GARY PAYTON II JAKE CHAMSEDDINE

EAT DRINK SHRINK

Under

$3 Beer

FOR SHASTA pg. 34

DANCING MIKE

pg. 6

THE MAN, THE MYTH, The Legend EAT RIGHT FOR LESS $$$

(SNAP

THIS)

vol 2 Issue 2

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF_HALIE SUTTON Dane Dickerson Samantha Lopez Brittni Cooper Emily Doherty Madeline Bright Victoria Rivoire Nic Clarke Jason Owen

PHOTOGRAPHERS Reyn Ignacio Cheyenne Lever Christina Mason Hana Kimmelman Hannah Jarden

DESIGNERS

PUBLIC RELATIONS

PR DIRECTOR_MARANDA MCARTHUR Elaine King Jordan Wilkie Brittany Bell ABOUT US Produced three times a year, Beaver’s Digest distributes 12,000 magazines a year around the Oregon State campus and Corvallis (4,000 each term). When we say “by the students for the students”, we aren’t kidding. Our typeface is hand crafted by Gabe Fleck, a junior in Graphic Design and our Graphics Director. The body font you are reading is one of a kind as well, created by Jeremy Banka, a sophomore in Graphic Design.

The front cover was taken by our featured artist and fantastic photographer, Jake Chamseddine. Questions, comments, and concerns are encouraged and can be emailed to beavers.digest@oregonstate.edu.

watch.

Comcast channel 26 or stream at orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_tv

GRAPHIC DIRECTOR_GABE FLECK Courtney Kaneshiro Supakan Dechnarong Mikayla Pearson Makenzie Bittinger

WE APPRECIATE YOU for the continuing support in all that we do. For contributing in any way, shape or form. Beaver’s Digest is written by students, for students - showcasing student life and the events that make up our Oregon State community. We give special thanks to Erika Peterson, Alex Cartmill, Kailia Walter, Nicki Silva, Brad Anderson, and Aaron Davis for being guest contributors to this issue. To say this publication was an easy task would be lying; to say that you make this publication possible is the truth.

We are what you make us, and we thank you.

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88.7 FM or stream at orangemedianetwork.com/kbvr_fm

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR IT’S A BIG THING... to come a long way into the magazine industry. Beginning with our last issue — redesigned and re-imagined — we will learn from one another what a magazine is, what it can be, and what our readers want from it.

Let me start by saying I am a magazine enthusiast; a junkie who from my earliest school days have been obsessed with flipping through the pages of magazines, first absorbed in the images and then the stories. With that in mind, as an editor I gathered engaging stories, beautiful imagery, and innovative designs for you to also share the same obsession.

Editor-in-Chief Halie Sutton

There is a story this issue that I particularly liked because it combines a great read with intriguing photography - our front cover feature, Michael Ambrosius. It leaves you with this deep, heartwarming feeling inside. He tells a story on life and how to live it to the fullest. You will be moved and inspired through the language of dance.

This issue is full of amazing work. The bright color and eye catching photography brings a bolt of energy and joy to the magazine’s pages. We, the content creators, will strive to always keep you updated and engaged.

Graphics Director Gabe Fleck

Stay with us and expect more.

Halie B. Sutton Public Relations Director Maranda McArthur

Contents

16

14

DANCING MIKE

34

8

STUDENT LIFE

ARTS & CULTURE

#GOBEAVS

HEALTH & FITNESS

2

12 Pints On a Penny

22 Gary Payton II

30 Dirt-Cheap Dining

4

Jake Chamseddine SING

6

Tinder Confessions

8

Pinteresting...

10 Short Timing Graduation Preparation

14 Radiation City

16 Dancing to the Rhythm of Life

20 Javacoustics

24 Leaders of the Pack

26 Teamwork.

Determination.

Beaver Nation.

34 Shastasizing

38 Eating Right on Campus

Student life JAKE CHAMSEDDINE

A CREATIVE, DRIVEN INDIVIDUAL

Jake Chamseddine, dressed in his signature dirty-white converse and hoodie, sits patiently waiting for me to grab my coffee. It’s just past 10 a.m. on a Tuesday morning in late January. The Oregon sun shines through the glass windows for the first time in days, and I’m sitting across from him at a coffee shop right off of campus. The café is loud and busy with students from Oregon State lining up at the counter ready to grab their caffeine fix for the day.

Jake, fresh from class, begins telling me about his first experiences with success explaining how it all began.

As we start to finish our highly caffeinated drinks, and begin talking about his days as a beginning videographer, the barista watches our interview and makes Jake laugh. He lifts his hood above his head, as if he doesn’t like the attention he’s getting. He is, after all, the most humble 22-year-old I’ve ever met. I, on the other hand, am not use to the attention and find myself excited about it. I’m sort of hoping they think I’m a big shot reporter from Travel Leisure Magazine, but more on that later.

WRITTEN BY HALIE SUTTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON DAVIS

2 Beaver’s Digest

Student life Life DESIGN BY SUPAKAN DECHNARONG

Jake was destined to be the creative individual he is now. From Tualatin, Oregon, Jake has always been interested in media. Around the age of 8, he was caught borrowing his mom’s camcorder to make skateboard videos - and that was just the beginning. In high school, his interest went from videography to graphic design and that was his primary focus until he got into college. Still creating videos on the side, Jake and a few friends started their own group called Left Brain Media Productions during his first year of college. Constantly posting videos to YouTube and sharing them through Facebook, showed how easy it was to get content out in the world.

Just one year after being accepted, Jake went viral with his video about Oregon State University’s Shasta Trip in 2013 with over 50,000 views. It wasn’t until he started posting his videos and photography to social media that he got his recognition. After being kicked out of concerts multiple times for sneaking his camera in, and being asked to take down those photos multiple times, he was finally offered a job by a promoter.

Now he has photographed concerts for artists such as G-Eazy, Hoodie Allen, Dizzy Wright and Logic. Jake now has 24 thousand Instagram followers and rising.

“I just wanted them to see my content,” Jake explained. Continuously posting his photos and videos of concerts to

social media lead to success. “I kept shooting concerts and through shooting concerts, I was meeting artists, meeting managers and other people in the industry,” he said. Not only was he shooting for concerts - he was shooting for Instagram.

“I got on that social media grind – trying to gain a following [on Instagram].”

Jake was networking as much as he could. “I’ve definitely gained a lot of knowledge about how the photography business goes and how things are ran strictly through Instagram people.”

His successes on social media led to him landing some big time jobs. Jake was offered jobs with 3D Robotics (3DR), a drone company, because of his connection with an artist he was shooting for. “That’s honestly what blew everything up,” Jake says. When his first trip with the company to Banf, Canada became a pleasing experience, 3DR sent him and a few others to Iceland and Germany to take videos and photos. Travel Leisure Magazine picked up the video and teamed with 3DR, giving Jake even more exposure.

A question had been on my mind the entire interview – how did he balance this all with college? Well, he explains how it wasn’t always easy but he managed. “Professors were generally understanding,” says Jake, “It wasn’t like I was blowing off class, I was out on jobs with these companies.” He goes on to explain what professors did to accommodate for his absence and how they worked with him. “In the end it was definitely worth it just for the experience.”

Jake Chamseddine is planning on graduating Spring Term of 2016 with his degree in New Media Communications. “I don’t know how long the success of social media is going to last,” Jake explains, “my dream job is to be a Creative Director or Content Creator for a company - and having a degree for that will be helpful.” With his amount of experience as a freelance photographer and videographer, I have no doubt that he will continue onto success.

“Go out, network, stay modest, and stay humble. Take what you can get and remember you are never too good for a job” ◊ @jakechams @jakechams

WHEN FRIDAY APRIL 29 (MOM’S WEEKEND) WHERE GILL COLISEUM TIME 7 P.M.

It’s that time of year again! The time where you reveal your inner Britney Spears and belt out those high notes with your friends. Before Mom’s Weekend, teams rehearse for the big chance to perform on stage like a true superstar.

N a M

S ( f a m t f h p a G i O p p

d c m t d

WRITTEN BY NIC CLARKE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAKE CHAMSEDDINE

E E

Student life

Not only is SING an exciting event, it’s a great way to start the first night of Mom’s Weekend.

SING is an event put on by the IFC (Inter-fraternal Counsel), organizing fraternities and sororities to pair up and do a synchronized dance to a mash-up of three songs. In honor of the 80th annual IFC SING, the theme for this year’s performance is the hardcore-punk 80’s. Teams will be performing some of the most popular artist from the time period. Featuring Guns N’ Roses, making proud moms in the crowd cheer, that “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” and of course, Cyndi Lauper, making you want to watch those performances “Time After Time”.

So how are these SING mashups decided? Fraternities organize events called “SING-posals,” which includes making breakfast and serenading the desired sorority at their formal dinners. After a long, tedious, and

DESIGN BY NIC CLARKE

emotionally draining two-week process of fraternity gentlemen melting their brains harder than the Physics 212 midterm, that perfect “SING-posal” successfully convinces a sorority into being their SING partner.

SING is more than an event with �ips, tricks and acrobatics. It’s a life changing production that is a package deal with building friendships. Senior Tau Rodondi, the Event Coordinator for SING, expresses, “I created lifelong friendships with my sing group, we still hang out today.” When people always ask Tau why she is so involved, she replies with, “the life long bonds created and the experience are what makes SING so special.” Sigma Chi’s SING Coach, Sophomore Thomas Callahan, says, “it teaches time management and quality leadership skills.” SING practices three days a week and collectively works toward that trophy to put into their trophy case on the top shelf to represent their house with honor.

The teams have about 25 Greek students from each house paired up to make symphonic magic together.

Guys and girls alike are directed to project their voices throughout Gill Coliseum to make the audience feel like they’re at a true concert. SING performers are found flipping, rolling, and embracing their perfect routine.

However, nothing has proven to put moms in higher moral for Mom’s Weekend than seeing their child happily perform. Thomas could not have said it better, convincing me that there is one word to sum up SING, “SING is lit.” Yes, now we can all agree that sing is most definitely ‘LIT’. ◊

student life

TINDER CONFESSIONS THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE AWKWARD

Speaking to students about Tinder was an interesting experience, it seemed to be that more women felt comfortable discussing their experiences opposed to men. Very few males disclosed their Tinder stories and others shied away when ask about Tinder. Understanding that Tinder can be an awkward conversation, reaching out to students over Facebook was the best way to approach the topic and make others feel at ease.

Run forest Run “I have been on one Tinder date in my life and I can say without a doubt it was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. I matched with this kinda cute girl who we will call Jessica and asked her on a date when I was in Portland. I picked her up and instantly I notice that Jessica looked nothing like her profile. I do not know if she was a master with lighting and angles but I did not even recognize her. Knowing instantly that this date was not gonna go so well I took her to the closest restaurant, which was Applebee’s.

The date wasn’t as bad as expected and we went back to Jessica’s apartment to talk some more because it was still relatively early. Ten minutes into sitting on her couch and her roommates bust through the door.

Jessica was a short 20 year-old white girl. Her roommates where two

6 Beaver’s Digest

WRITTEN BY MADELINE BRIGHT 28 and 25 year-old guys that were absolutely jacked with both being over 6 feet tall. They looked at me and yelled “Who the f--- is this dude?”

So I stood up and introduced myself to Breezy and Dre. They quickly ran to one of the bedrooms near by and returned with a large box of nitrous whip-its.

They both did three whip-its back to back then offered me some. I declined but started talking to the guys to be friendly in hopes I would not make either of them angry - as they were visibly drunk and now high on nitrous. This is when Breezy told me they had been at a party earlier but he had been kicked out for being “a problem” and before I can ask him what he means he pulls a loaded hand gun from his waist and throws it on the closest table. At this point I was pretty scared and was planning my exit strategy. I will never for-

get what he said to me though after I asked why he carries a gun “Yo, when you Breezy s--- goes down in the streets everyday!” I told him that was tight and he then offered to sell me one of his older guns he didn’t carry anymore. Dre who had pretty much passed out during my conversation with Breezy perks up at this point, says he needs to do some coke and runs to the bedroom again taking Breezy with him.

This was my chance to leave so I quickly grabbed my jacket told Jessica I would call her to hang out again and ran out the door. Never talked to Jessica again but I ran into Breezy at a rave a couple weeks ago and he greeted me with “Yo, what’s good my n----?” I am the whitest person I know and I have never been so proud.”

Student life DESIGN BY ELAINE KING

Something New “I had dated a guy for a few years at the end of high school and the beginning of college, but we broke up. I hadn’t dated since this and was wanting to move on. I tried to meet guys, but my major was mostly girls and I lived in a house full of girls, so it was difficult to meet guys. My friend suggested I try Tinder (kind of as a joke) to get my mind off of my ex. I figured I would give it a shot, but I thought it was only for hooking up and I was against that. I got the app and talked to a few guys, but they all seemed to just want in my pants.

Then I started talking to a guy that actually wanted to get to know me.

I talked to him for a week and then we met in person. We have now been dating for a year and a half and have been talking about getting engaged.”

Bye Baby

Three’s a crowd

“I matched with a guy on Tinder but he was from Eugene. We talked for a while and then he wanted to come see me so I let him meet me at my house. He came up about 5 times before I even came down to see him once. He invited me to his 21st birthday, I went down, and was greeted by mom and dad at his house.

I asked why they were there and he replied, “Oh. I didn’t tell you I live with my parents?” What? No. I still gave him a chance and we dated for about a year. Around Christmas we exchanged presents and he got me a $200 Michael Kors purse. After I left, he texted me he loved me for the first time and I was thrilled! Then, not even a week later, he called me to tell me we were over and he found someone else. Turns out, he got a girl pregnant. Now he’s happily a baby daddy with some random chick while I’m celebrating single life at the bars!”

“There was one time I was on a Tinder date and we were just out for drinks.

Everything seemed to be going well until my date said she needed to use the restroom. Five minutes turned into 20 and I was confused so I got up to start looking around and no joke she was in the corner (of Impulse) making out with my roommate. I was considerably upset so I left. The next morning I go to use my bathroom that I share with said roommate and it was occupied by my original date. I later confronted my roommate and he said they had met on Tinder as well. So Tinder in this instance screwed me over.” ◊

Beaver’s Digest 7

STUdent Life Pin it

Like

Send

Pinteresting...

These boozy-themed Pinterest DIY crafts are sure to be a great addition to any college party, using mini red solo cups, wine bottles, and beer or glass Coca Cola bottles. All things a lot of college students can relate to and even have on hand already.

So before you get rid of those empty beer and wine bottles, give these crafts a try and spice up your living space, party or no party.

WRITTEN BY VICTORIA RIVOIRE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINA MASON 8 Beaver’s Digest

Student Life

Bottle Vase

Chalkboard Wine Bottle

This was the quickest, yet also the most unsuccessful craft.

Once the stubborn labels are off your choice of beer or Coca-Cola bottles, take a group of three and tie them together with twine. Simple, right?

Chalky isn’t a word often used to describe wine. However, the word can be great when applied towards an empty wine bottle turned chalkboard.

All you have to do for this pin is acquire a can of chalkboard spray paint and an empty wine bottle. So grab a nice red and enjoy a night of Netflix as you prepare yourself for this easy DIY chalkboard bottle.

The most frustrating part was the label removing process. After soaking the bottles overnight and nearly scrubbing my hands off, glue residue still managed to stick around. I resorted to a paste made of baking soda and canola oil to remove it and even then it wasn’t spotless luckily the paint covers it.

After finishing a couple bottles, I got a little creative with some masking tape and sprayed a large band of chalkboard paint around a bottle, about the width of the label that took forever to remove, and kept the rest unpainted. The contrast of the green glass and the black chalkboard makes a nice decoration that also serves as space to write small notes or reminders.

Red Solo Cup Garland

These solo cups won’t be used for shots any time soon, unless you’d like your (expensive) liquor to plummet to the floor.

This string of mini red solo cup garland is probably the easiest of the three pins. All it involves is a box of white indoor Christmas lights and a plethora of plastic mini solo cups. It’s as simple as cutting small ‘X’s on the bottoms of the cups then plugging the lights into them.

And ta-da! A simple and unique decoration that can distinguish your party from the rest.

Wrong. It’s difficult to tie a loop around the bottles tight enough to keep them snug against each other. After wrapping several rows of twine tightly around to create a wide strip, there was a little more stability. Even so, it’s a delicate item and must be moved with caution, as I don’t seem to possess the sorcery that allows for the tying of tight knots around three circular bottles. As long as it’s sitting on a table it’s fine and makes an amusing alternative to a traditional vase. ◊

DESIGN BY VICTORIA RIVOIRE

Beaver’s Digest 9

STUDENT LIFE

Short Timing Graduation Preparation

WRITTEN BY JASON OWEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICKI SILVA

DESIGN BY MIKAYLA PEARSON

Where We Have Been?

If you are like me, you have thought all along that graduation could not come soon enough - well here, we are.

The final weeks are upon us. With graduation comes new possibilities, new hopes, and new dreams. You may move to a different city, state or even a different country.

For many of us this is a pivotal point in our lives. We are crossing the threshold of 16 years of preparation into “real adult life.” So much time has been spent checking boxes, dotting i’s and crossing t’s. So what do we do now?

Where We Are Going?

‘What to do now?’ - is the BIG question.

Some of us will find jobs (hopefully good ones). Some of us will have the privilege to work in our chosen field of study. An even smaller number of us will continue our studies in graduate school.

10 Beaver’s Digest

If you are like any other college student, you are probably a bit worried about finding a job after college. This is a valid concern many graduates have, so find solace in the fact that you are not alone.

How to Get There?

I hope that you have been networking in your desired field, and now have many contacts you can connect with.

If not, it is never too late to start!

Spend some time quantifying the experiences and skills you have spent all this time earning. Then you should put all of those experiences and skills down on your resume.

If your skills are lacking in the resume-writing department, do not worry! There are plenty of resources here to help you. Consult with the writing center on the first floor of Waldo Hall.

Consult Google. Consult a family member or anyone else that might be able to offer a different perspective.

Reach out to the company you did an internship with during summer between junior and senior year. Make or update a LinkedIn profile. Make sure your social media accounts reflect the level of professionalism that potential employers will expect. Those embarrassing photos from freshman year when you were trashed at a party may not receive the same praise from someone you expect to get paid from.

Why Will It Be Worth It? They did not promise it would be easy, but they did say it would be worth it.

To quote Steve Jobs from his commencement address to Stanford’s 2005 graduating class, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.

So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever”.

I want to echo those sentiments as much as I possibly can. Everything is in its right place. You are doing better than you think. ◊

Arts & Culture

Pints on a Penny Where to get a beer for $3 and under

WRITTEN BY EMILY DOHERTY & ERIC NYGREN PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICKI SILVA

Beer. We (students of age) love it. As Oregonians, we’re fortunate enough to live in a state that is well known for its delicious craft brews. Going out for a pint of beer is a popular pastime for students at Oregon State of all social groups. There’s nothing like going out with a few friends and chatting over a couple of cold ones.

However, going out for a brewski isn’t so easy to manage on a college budget.

Even cheap beers at restaurants and

Here’s our list of some places to get a pint for three dollars or cheaper throughout the week:

bars may need to wait until payday.

One night my roommate and I were discussing this problem, when he brought to my attention that some places have daily specials on beer that are surprisingly cheap. That’s when we hit upon the idea to make a list of all the best places to grab a glass on any given day. Our budget was the amount of money we had in our wallets at the time.

We had three dollars.

Mondays

Wednesdays

Tuesdays

Thursdays

-American Dream on Monroe (microbrew) -Downward Dog Campus (microbrew) -Bombs Away (any pint .8% and under) -University Calzone (domestic)

12 Beaver’s Digest

-Downward Dog Campus (domestic) -HONORABLE MENTION: Clodfelters for a pint and a free glass (look for the third tap in to see what you can get)

-Suds and Suds (domestic) -American Dream on Monroe (Sky High brews) -Peacock (microbrew)

CUSTOM BUILT PIZZAS & SALADS SINCE 1977 White, Whole Wheat, or Gluten Free Crust.

Choice of 5 sauces & over 32 toppings

Free Delivery! to most of Corvallis

541-752-5151 1045 NW Kings

www.woodstocks.com

DESGIN BY EMILY DOHERTY

Over 35 taps!

Friday & Saturdays

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any great deals on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hey, it’s the weekend! It makes sense.

Sunday

-American Dream on Monroe (domestic) -Downward Dog Campus (any pint)

With an excetpional selection of microbrews, bottled imports, ciders and other beverages

So even though you may need to spend most of your money on books, rent, and food, just remember there’s almost always a place for a beer in your budget. And your heart. ◊

Get your Growlers filled!

Located next to

Woodstock’s Pizza 1035 NW Kings Blvd.

Arts & Culture A LUSHFUL INDIE BAND Reigning from good ol’ Portland, Oregon, Radiation City is an indie rock band founded in 2010. The band is comprised of Cameron Spies (guitar, vocals), Elisabeth Ellison (vocals, keyboards), Randy Bemrose (drums, vocals), Matt Rafferty (bass, vocals), and Patti King (vocals, keys, bass).

Together the five create a glowing and budding love affair of bubblegum-pop with synth-flare.

Initially, the band was composed of Elisabeth (Lizzy) Ellison and her boyfriend, Cameron Spies, adding drummer Randy Bemrose for their second show, and bassist Matt Rafferty for their third.

Their debut album The Hand That Takes You was originally released in February 2011 on Ellison and Spies own cassette-only label Apes Tapes. After garnering interest through their live shows, they were picked up by the record label Tender Loving Empire and the album was re-released nationally on September 27, 2011. After the addition of multi-instrumentalist Patti King, they followed their debut up with the Cool Nightmare EP released on April 10, 2012. Their second full length album, Animals in the Median was released on May 21, 2013 to positive reviews. The quintet’s early live shows and debut LP The Hands That Take You quickly earned them a reputation as one of Portland, Oregon’s most promising young acts.

Their music is infectious with it’s swing-pop orchestra and indie exotica that exudes a certain lustful lavishness that won’t let you stop listening. They infuse retro-like guitar tempos with bossa-nova bass, mirroring bands like Tune-Yards, St. Vincent, Stereolab, and even further down in music history, The Monkees and The Banana Splits.

Radiation City has mastered the art of superb pop craft with their swooping melodies, luxuriant choruses, and imperative voice of lead singer, Lizzy.

It’s hard to avoid the word “dreamy” when describing the ethereal charms of the band, since such songs like “Wary Eyes,” “LA Beach,” and “Lark” gently persuade us to kick back and bask in a wonderfully sunny, indefinite present. Their music is an assemblage of never-really-resolved orderly pop-song fashion that is intoxicating.

Each song is a highly polished gem, glittering with a whimsicality that provides a pulse for a sophistication, complete with orchestra-pop that never venture past the five-minute mark.

It’s safe to pronounce Radiation City to be a band filled with an abundance of riches and the perfect soundtrack for spring.

Check out their music on Spotify, as well as on radiationcity.bandcamp.com ◊

WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA LOPEZ PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF POLY VINYL RECORDS DESIGN BY GABE FLECK

Beaver’s Digest 15

DANCING TO THE RHYTHM OF LIFE WRITTEN BY DANE DICKERSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAKE CHAMSEDDINE If you’re a resident here or student at Oregon State University, you’ve certainly witnessed “Dancing Mike” grooving his way around town and campus if not stopped to joined him in a dance. To those new here, Michael is a campus icon nicknamed “Dancing Mike” popularized for showcasing his uniquely fluid dance-style in town for the past five years.

The first time you walk by “Dancing Mike” twirling his jacket and breakdancing on the sidewalk, with his shaggy mane and bubbly disposition, it might be a little frightening. In our society we reserve dancing for “appropriate occasions”, and any violation of this social standard sticks out and can even make some people uncomfortable.

After a few encounters, Michael’s dancing can become more of a daybrightening novelty, and less off putting. To see someone enjoying themselves despite fear of judgment can naturally bring a smile to your face.

Although widely profiled in newspapers and video segments for his dancing “novelty”, a look behind his past and daily life gives one much more meaning to the celebrated persona of “Dancing Mike”, and to the motives behind his craft.

Arts & Culture Michael Joseph Ambrosius, better known as “Dancing Mike” was Born in 1971 in Lawton, OK, but spent his adolescent years growing up in New Mexico after being adopted at the age of three. While a stable home might seem commonplace to most people, Michael struggled to find a wholesome living environment in his early years.

“I had a really, really strict adoptive dad who was ex-military. We didn’t exactly get along” says Michael. “I was physically abused at a very young age, and had four seizures.”

After enough was enough, Michael moved in with his adoptive grandma whom he lived with until he was 19 years old. Before passing due to emphysema, she served as a mentor for a troubled and damaged Michael. She taught him to read and write, and his first dance routine; “The Heel-Toe”.

At the age of 19, Michael moved to Oregon to live with his sister and grad-

18 Beaver’s Digest

uate from Monroe High School. He reflects on the transition away from his adoptive parents as a huge turning point in his growth.

“It’s liberating to finally get out on your own and do your own thing. To be your own person” said Michael. “I was able to do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it.”

Although he escaped the speckled past he left in New Mexico, he was far from unscathed. The abuse-induced seizures Michael endured at such a critical time in his development left him with a disorder that renders him unfit to work and dependent upon government funding.

Despite his financial situation, Michael married young and welcomed his son, Toron Ambrosius, in 1998. Due to what Michael describes as “inconsolable differences”, Michael eventually divorced. Although he had agreed on joint custody of Toron, Michael was

left alone to foster young Toron as a single parent for much of his youth.

Despite the anxiety of raising a kid on disability benefits in the aftermath of a divorce, Michael somehow managed.

“I tried not to make the same mistakes my dad did. The point of life is to learn from other people’s mistakes and learn from your own…” said Michael. “I had CSD [clinical depression] in my life because I was trying to mentally take care of a kid while dealing with divorce… when you have a kid you’ve got no time for depression.”

When his wife was able to begin gradually taking more responsibility in Toron’s life, thing’s really started to change for Michael. Unsure of what to do with more time on his hands, he found himself searching for boredom remedies. With little money and no plan, he took to the streets of Corvallis to kill some time.

When the music from a Corvallis

Arts & Culture DESIGN BY GABE FLECK

club peaked his interest, Michael entered the live scene and simply did what came natural to him “…I went and found myself at the balcony of Impulse [Bar & Grill]. The bouncer kicked me out, so I came back next week!” says Michael. “All of a sudden I was reminded of all the things I used to do as a kid. I just started dancing on the sidewalk because, I felt like doing it.”

Unbeknownst to Michael, his sporadic decision to follow the music at Impulse that night would lead to an entirely new persona for himself.

Taking no discouragement from the bouncing staff, Michael continued to perfect his dancing, practicing on whatever stage he decided to make for himself in town. He explains developing his wacky dance style was mostly through improvisation, but he also drew from swing-dancing and salsa influences he experienced in New Mexico’s dance cultures, as well as break dancing and rock & roll influences he picked up as a child of the 80s.

Dancing requires letting go of inhibitions, forgetting the fear of being judged. Most people will dance when they’re comfortable, but dancing on a sidewalk in midday sounds like a nightmare. While most spectators get a kick out of Dancing Mike, others simply can’t deal with the societal norms they feel he violates.

“I’ve had people been so insecure that they will attack me because they’re

uncomfortable” says Michael. “I’ve heard I’m crazy, I’ve heard I’m gay, I’ve heard I’m homeless. If I stopped to worry about what everyone thinks, I won’t be me anymore. ” Ignoring the negative feedback, Michael stuck to his craft and has gained great support in the community in the last 5 years of public performing.

Since his leap out of boredom, his ventures around town have earned him a huge spot in the heart of Beaver Nation.

He’s been profiled numerous times by local media, performed in Greek affiliated dancing competitions and festivals, and has even invited to college house parties on a regular basis.

Everyone has those moments where they’re randomly inspired to get up and dance, and Michael likes to help people act on those impulses more often. “[people] put a lot of shame and guilt nowadays to things that don’t have shame or guilt to them” says Michael.

“When they get rid of the worry of what they’re doing or how they look or whether or not they’re doing something wrong, they dance beautifully”.

When he’s not dancing, Michael spends his time without much of a plan. You might catch him surfing Facebook with his three-hour guest pass at the Valley Library computers, or maybe making friends along Monroe Ave. and Interzone Café. At home in his small one bedroom apartment in Corvallis, Michael passes the time playing Xbox or watching television.

Except the occasional visitors on holidays, Michael says he likes to live a pretty private life outside of street dancing.

Dealing with tendinitis in his legs since the age of 24, Michael is definitely slowing down these days with dancing. He aims to dance as long as possible, but admits he can’t keep being “Dancing Mike” forever.

“I told one interview that I’ll probably retire and it got taken the wrong way” says Michael. “As you get older you do things at your own pace. I haven’t done it as frequently as I used to because I want to continue to dance.”

In light of a possible end to his time as “Dancing Mike”, Michael encourages people to understand his story and look past his dancing as solely a form of entertainment or novelty. When you review the and hardships he’s endured and see him busting a headstand and smiling on a street corner, the message Michael dances for is clear.

“There are times when I’d just like to walk in town. The whole point of me dancing is to inspire people to actually enjoy life and do what they want to do, not what everyone else wants them to do” Michael says. “Life’s going to throw adversity at you and if you can accept yourself for who you are and all of the adversity, the fact that you’re still dancing means you’re not afraid to be yourself.” ◊

Beaver’s Digest 19

Arts & CUlture JAVACOUSTICS

Nothing pairs better with the smell of fresh, grounded coffee than the blissful sounds of acoustic music. Java 1 in the MU fills with students sipping on lattes as they study or read while listening to fellow students such as Brandon Barlett and Ross Morrow perform. It’s a music-focused event that fills a void that was missing from the campus music scene thanks to the work of Sarah Sutton and Calvin Nguyen. Javacoustics STORY

BY CAT IPSUM gives students a chance to show off their BY @HALIEBABES creative sidePHOTOGRAPHY in an environment that’s low pressure, laid-back, and relaxing. ◊

JAVACOUSTICS

WRITTEN BY EMILY DOHERTY PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANA KIMMELMAN DESIGN BY GABE FLECK

Despite being the son of an Oregon State Basketball legend and his ESPN highlight worthy dunks, Gary Payton II [GP2] is in many ways just like any other college student.

Recently, Beaver’s Digest had the opportunity to quickly catch up with the Oregon State Men’s Basketball guard before practice.

WRITTEN BY BRITTNI COOPER PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICKI SILVA & BRAD ANDERSON DESIGN BY EMILY DOHERTY

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#gobeavs When we met GP2 outside of the basketball practice facility next to Gill Coliseum, he was dressed down in practice gear and sporting his usual number “1” on the back of his jersey. We only had about 10 minutes until the team’s practice started so together we headed up the elevator to the men’s basketball court. When we arrived on the 3rd floor, most of the guys on the team were already warming up and shooting hoops. However, this did not discourage GP2’s willingness take a quick seat and answer some of our questions.

BD: What are you studying?

GP2: HDFS. Human Development and Family Sciences.

Why HDFS? I like dealing with kids, you know, helping kids with disabilities and helping them feel normal in whatever environment they’re in.

If you had to pick your favorite spot on campus, where would it be?

The MU [Memorial Union] area. It’s pretty nice, you can just go there and chill in the grass, do homework, and study.

What is your favorite part about game days?

The student section [OSU Beaver Dam].

They’re loud and rowdy. They get us going.

Where do you see yourself after Oregon State?

Hopefully, I have the opportunity to play in the NBA. If not, I can always fall back on my back-up plan and that’s to build a school for young infants and kids with disabilities. ◊

Is there a song you can’t stop listening to right now?

Not really, [laughs] the J.Cole album, Forest Hills Drive, that’s a repeat. The whole album.

What is your favorite memory at Oregon State?

Recently, beating the Ducks in this new year, that’s got to be [at the] top of the list right now.

In what ways are you like each of your parents? How are you like your dad?

Your mom?

I’m like my mom in pretty much every way, [laughs] in literally every way.

I’m like my dad, you know, we like to stay at home and watch movies, watch cartoons.

Beaver’s Digest 23

#GoBeavs

LEADERS OF THE PACK “These kids are my inspiration”

WRITTEN BY NIC CLARKE PHOTOGRAPHY BY REYN IGNACIO

DESIGN BY NIC CLARKE

Too often we find ourselves reminiscing on the glory days of youth sports, wishing we had the chance to go back and do it again. Playing sports as a child came with nothing but infinite stories and lifelong memories.

Two OSU Sophomores have the opportunity to coach side by side and provide kids with the memories that we all cherished ourselves. Jaelyn Funk and Rylee Salutregui got involved coaching basketball to a group of second grade boys through Corvallis Parks and Recreation.

With the team name, Blue Timberwolves, I don’t think anyone would contest such a ruthless squad of ballers and two Alpha Gamma Delta’s leading the pack.

24 Beaver’s Digest

#GoBeavs

Neither of them could let go of the basketball life. They played through high school and even coached over some summers. They kept their passion alive, living their youth days through these second graders. They coach only the necessities, providing assistance with dribbling and shooting through games of knock-out and bump. They are a well oiled machine, together-a dynamic duo. “We’re like good cop bad cop, I have the patience, and Jaelyn is the enforcer,” Rylee said, “We balance each other out.”

There is nothing these kids want more than to be a Beaver basketball player someday. They look up to the Beavs, Jaelyn and Rylee collectively explained. Every time they

try to make the team do a drill they’ll reply with, “but we never see the Beavs doing this.” As coaches of superior intelligence, they started using, “but the Beavs are practicing everyday,” as a motivating phrase. If the Beavs are doing it, the team is doing it.

Every practice is a challenge, but a challenge they always look forward to. It’s always five minutes into practice when the kids start asking, “when are you going to show us how to do a dunk shot?”

This question is usually asked at least three times during practice. Every kid wants to lace the kicks up and dunk the ball like coach Tinkle. It will be half way through practice and a kid will randomly pipe up asking about the dunk

shot. These kids have a one track mind where they would need Gary Payton II himself to demonstrate a dunk to grab their kid’s attention.

“Every practice and game is a challenge, but through the process I have learned a lot about myself,” Jaelyn explained. We can all agree that seeing a kids face light up with joy after they have accomplished is fulfilling. “These kids are my inspiration; they are the highlight of my week,” Jaelyn said with a gracious smile.

“As student coaches, it’s funny to think we’re the ones making the impact, when in reality, these kids are the real inspiration for us.” ◊

Beaver’s Digest 25

#GOBEAVS #t teamwork. d e t e r m i n at i o n . b e av e r n at i o n .

BD

WRITTEN BY KAILIA WALTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA LUCAS

JW

#GOBEAVS #GOBEavs DESIGN BY COURTNEY KANESHIRO

BD: JW:

was

Beaver’s Digest 27

Oregon State University’s

Premier Fashion & Lifestyle Magazine CHECK OUT www.DAMchicMagazine.com TO READ OUR LATEST ISSUE Interested in joining the team? Email DAMchicMagazine@gmail.com

Spring Fashion Show May 14

Health & Fitness

DIRT-CHEAP DINING Oregon State students take a stand against take-out and frozen pizza dinners, and learn how to cook on a college budget.

More often than not, I’ve heard how students are too restricted on either their time or their budget to cook delicious and healthy meals. Cooking can save you money in the long run, as well as save you from your clothes

becoming too tight. Here are some easy and cheap recipes you can do this week! So dust off your pots and pans, get some groceries, and make these for dinner tonight!

CREAMY VEGAN GARLIC PASTA Ingredients 3 cups grape tomatoes halved 2 tbsp olive oil 2 medium shallots 8 large cloves of garlic

Yields: 4 servings Total Cost: $8.39

3-4 tbsp of all purpose flour 2 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk sea salt and black pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Toss halved tomatoes in 1 tbsp of olive oil and sea salt. Place open side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.

2. Cook pasta according to package instructions. When done, drain, cover, and set aside.

3. In a large skillet, over medium-low heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil, the garlic, and shallots. Add salt and pepper and stir frequently, cooking for 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant.

4. Stir in 3-4 tbsp flour and mix with a whisk. Once combined, slowly whisk in the almond milk a little at a time so clumps don’t form. Add salt and pepper, bring to a simmer and continue cooking for another 4-5 minutes to thicken. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

5. If you want an extra creamy sauce, transfer sauce to a blender to blend the sauce until creamy and smooth. Place back in pan and reduce heat to a low simmer until desired thickness is reached. Then add pasta and roasted tomatoes and stir.

WRITTEN BY EMILY DOHERTY PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHEYENNE LEVER 30 Beaver’s Digest

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health & Fitness DESIGN BY GABE FLECK

CHICKEN AVOCADO BURGERS Ingredients 1 lb ground chicken 1 large ripe avocado 1 chopped clove garlic 1/3 cup whole wheat bread crumbs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 pepper

Yields: 5 Burgers Total Cost: $8.20

1. Dice up avocado or lightly mash into desired avocado chunks 2. Mix chicken, avocado, garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper into a bowl. Form 5 quarter-pound patties and cook in a non-stick pan or griddle on medium-high heat.

3. Cook for about 5-6 minutes on each side or until patty is cooked all the way through.

-Remove from heat and dress however you like!

Health & Fitness

32 Beaver’s Digest

health & Fitness CAJUN FISH TACOS

WITH A GREEK YOGURT CILANTRO SAUCE Fish tacos are surprisingly healthy and simple to make. Dress your taco how you like, but substitute plain sour cream with this Greek yogurt sauce!

SEASONING: 6 tbsp cajun seasoning 2 lbs of white fish 10 corn tortillas Non-stick cooking spray SAUCE: 6 tbsp Greek yogurt 1/2 cup cilantro 1 tbsp olive oil 1/2 lime, squeezed 1 tbsp dill weed salt and pepper to taste

Yields: 10 tacos Total Cost: $11.57

1. In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the Cajun rub. Generously coat the fish with the rub. Let fish marinate with you prepare the remaining ingredients.

2. In a blender, combine the ingredients for the Greek yogurt sauce and blend until desired consistency. Chill in refrigerator until ready to use.

3. Over medium-high heat, add a coat of oil in pan. Once the pan is hot, sear the fish until browned and charred to your liking. Depending on how thick the fish is, fry 2-3 minutes on each side. When you can flake the fish, it’s ready.

4. To assemble, break up the seared fish and place them on a warm tortilla.

Don’t be afraid to add in your favorite taco toppings! (I usually use cabbage, guacamole and pico de gallo in mine.) *Pro Tip: Substitute those corn tortillas for butter lettuce or romaine leafs for a healthier dish.

So Beaver Nation, break out your pots and pans and get cooking! ◊

*Prices based off of Corvallis Fred Meyer grocery prices. Excludes the cost of spices and oil.

Beaver’s Digest 33

shastasizing WRITTEN BY ERIKA PETERSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY HALIE SUTTON

Shastasizing: the rush to get in shape before soaking up the sun on houseboats and surviving off of hotdogs and beer for a long weekend in Shasta, California. Shastasizing has a bad reputation of dramatic weight loss and starvation, but we are here to tell you that there are healthier ways to get in shape. To help you with your Shastasizing pursuits and help prepare your body for the fun weekend coming ahead, we’ve created some helpful tips.

health & fitness

DESIGN BY ELAINE KING

H20, H20, H20

Drinking an adequate amount of water each day is necessary to stay hydrated and it is one of the fastest ways to speed up weight loss by efficiently metabolizing stored fat. Also, drinking enough water contributes to feeling full and thirst control, which is often confused for hunger. The amount of water your body needs varies greatly depending on age, body size, and physical activity. However, The Institute of Medicine has set the adequate intake of water at 125 ounces for men and 91 ounces for women a day as a general guideline. So drink up!

BUT avoid the liquid calories; your body doesn’t register liquid calories the same way it does solid calories.

Drinking a 16 oz café mocha, for instance, won’t make you feel as satisfied as a bowl of pasta; even though

36 Beaver’s Digest

the café mocha probably has more calories. So monitor your intake of coffee drinks, juice, soda, and alcoholic beverages. If you consume each one of those beverages during the day, you likely have taken in at least 800 extra calories by the evening.

Eat more fiber

When you eat foods that lack fiber your blood sugar can spike quickly then crash, causing hunger, which often leads to overeating. When you eat foods that are high in soluble fiber - which is exclusively found in plant foods, it helps you feel full without adding a lot of extra calories. Soluble fiber also helps sugars and fat enter your bloodstream at a slower rate giving you a steady supply of energy. So next time you’re feeling hungry opt for wholewheat items, fruits and veggies.

Avoid processed sugars

Most processed foods contain high fructose corn syrup or another type of refined sugar, which are empty calories and get turned into fat easily. When you consume a Grande Frappuccino, or doughnut for breakfast, you get a huge spike followed by a plummet in blood sugar; leaving you hungry, tired, and probably craving more sugar an hour later.

In conclusion, stay hydrated but don’t drink your calories, stick with eating whole foods, which have lots of fiber, and avoid processed sugars. Combine these tips with daily exercise and you’ll be on your way to achieving your Shastasizing goals. Always remember to talk to your doctor before. ◊

Bodyweight Shasta-Size Workout Program level: Beginner Perform 2-4 days a week with at least one day in between each session Rest 30-60s in between each set Pro Tip: Add the high intensity interval training to this routine for best results

Workout Routine 90 Degree Squats 3-4 sets of 10-15 repetitions or 30-45 seconds Walking lunges 3-4 sets of 10-15 repetitions each leg Push ups 3-4 sets of 30-45 seconds (Can be performed on toes or knees, with a clap in the air, or with the feet elevated)

Pull up/assisted pull up 3-4 sets of 10-15 repetitions (Bodyweight pull up can be performed anywhere.

Assisted pull ups can be performed on the assisted pull up machine at Dixon, or anywhere with a partner holding the feet and providing assistance) Bicycle crunches 3-4 sets of 15-30 each leg High intensity interval training (optional, but ideal for optimal results) Pick a high intensity body weight movement (I like sprinting) Perform the movement for 20-30 seconds at full speed, rest (or perform a regression of the movement like a walk or jog) for 60 seconds Repeat 5-10 times TRAINER: ALEX CARTMILL

Beaver’s Digest 37

EATING RIGHT ON CAMPUS

WRITTEN BY BRITTNI COOPER PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANA KIMMELMAN

health & fitness DESIGN BY MAKENZIE BITTINGER

As a freshman living in the dorms, campus dining is your means of survival. When your every meal is prepared and as easily obtained at the swipe of a card, it can be tempting to settle for calorie heavy selections.

Let’s be honest, we all know how good pizza, burgers, and a bag of chips sound when you have a severe case of the late night munchies. However, many upperclassmen can stand by me when I say the “freshman fifteen”, is in fact a very real thing.

Campus dining halls offer much more aside from the pastas, burritos, and deep-fried foods. A wide range of specialty items exist such as vegan and vegetarian, gluten-free, Halal and low cost “Make Cents” meals. At Marketplace West, the busiest campus dining location, students are presented with healthy alternatives at each concept.

Looking for a healthier choice at the Clubhouse Deli? Head for the salad bar or grab a sandwich on gluten-free bread. Not sure what to get from Cooper’s Creek during lunch? A range of made-to-order salads are served Monday through Friday between 11 am and 2 pm with a “special” salad each week. Serrano’s offers more than burritos and quesadillas, hop in line for a Go Grain Bowl instead this week. The Go Bowl at Serrano’s is made up of quinoa, beets, sweet potato, raisins, green onion, then topped with goat cheese, a lime and your choice of dressing. If you aren’t feeling the vegetarian route,

you can also select a source of protein: grilled steak, grilled chicken, or blackened tofu. At Ring of Fire, build your own bowl and fill it with bean sprouts, carrots, cilantro, tofu, and more. It doesn’t stop there though; Calabaloo’s has health conscious offerings like grilled chicken breast, grilled pineapple, and gluten-free buns.

Whether you are a freshman looking to stay fit, or an upperclassman wanting to eat better and shed the ruthless “freshman fifteen”, University Housing and Dining (UHDS) has your best interest in mind. On the UHDS website a full menu and nutrition guide can be found to serve as an aid in your meal planning.

Stop in at a campus dining location in the near future and grab a bite to eat. Don’t forget your student ID card!

Using Orange Rewards earns you a 10% discount at campus restaurants. ◊

#beaversdigest “Today for only 2 hours it was absolutely gorgeous outside.

Those 2 hours happened during my promo event for @BeaversDigest.

I sure love my job and love my campus! #beaversdigest #studentlife” -Maranda McArthur,

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Beaver’s Digest 41

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