OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
The Daily Barometer
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Thoughts on the teams fighting during the Super Bowl?
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I thought it was a little childish of the Seahawks because they played a pretty good game, and just for it to get out of hand, even though the Patriots had a little bit of a hand in it. I just thought it was getting out of control. It was kind of exciting at first, but looking back at it, for both teams to react like that after a really good game, I don’t know, it was kind of disappointing.
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Emily Doherty Junior, marketing
DAILYBAROMETER
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Stevi Peters
Freshman, elementary education
VOL. CXVII, NO. 75
@DAILYBARO, @BAROSPORTS
Emphasis on social justice n
MEChA groups come to OSU for Regional Conference By Courtnee Morin THE DAILY BAROMETER
Last weekend, Oregon State hosted this year’s MEChA Regional Conference. MEChA was formed in the ‘60s for chicanos. MEChA represents chicano and Latino students and members of the community, aiming to promote higher education and provide a safe place to address social justice issues. The regional conference brings together MEChA groups from Portland, Corvallis, Monmouth, Hood River and Eugene in an annual forum to socialize, participate in workshops and talk about college and social justice issues concerning the Courtesy of Kayla Martin community. Alejandra Mendoza, a co-chair of MEChA group members participate in a workshop during the MEChA Regional Conference, hosted at Oregon MEChA with Amparo Mata, helped State University. plan the event. The conference balshops,” said Mendoza, a mathematics came really showed that they care about event after forming their group last year. anced fun and work with games, a talent show and workshops about major. “To motivate and inspire stu- the event and what MEChA stands for.” After a few students attended last year’s Mata also said she learned a lot about Chicanita Tour of OSU, the students gathering money for schooling, prepar- dents for college with student panels policies and how college works while turned an existing Latino group at the ing for graduate school or college and and college tours.” promoting social justice through art. Antonio Saavedra, multicultur- helping to make this event become school into a MEChA group. The event also included an “action” al affairs director for the Associated a reality. Mata said she was able get “Last year was the first time they’d in which all of the attending stu- Students of Oregon State University, experience that can’t come from a class visited a college campus; it’s good for dents and MEChA members wrote helped with the event, speaking to stu- or lecture. them to learn more about MEChA and “When you’re in college, it’s not so its history, as well as the history of their letters to state senators or representa- dents about the “action,” letting them tives regarding the recent events in know where to send their letters and much about the classes you take, but the culture,” said Juan Vasquez, a teacher Ferguson, Mich., and the 43 missing telling them how they can make a dif- experiences you make,” Mata remem- at South Albany High and the MEChA ference in their communities. bered from the keynote speaker from group supervisor who attended the students in Mexico. “This conference is about promoting “The turnout at the event was slightly last year’s regional conference. event with the students. higher education in high schoolers and smaller than expected, but that only A group of high school students, new Courtnee Morin, news reporter undergraduates and bring awareness served for closer connections to be to MEChA this year from South Albany news@dailybarometer.com to social justice issues through work- formed,” Mata said. “The people who High School, were able to attend the
Discovery Days offers Media instructor responds to video Jeff Hale discusses interactive science for K-12 pornography, adult n
video filmed in library
THE DAILY BAROMETER
“I didn’t really care either way that they were fighting. I was just pissed at the last call, so that’s it.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2015
From Feb. 2 to 3, the Oregon State University College of Science and College of Engineering are sponsoring Natural History Discovery Days, a free outreach program designed to spark children’s interest in higher learning. Working with undergraduate students from several majors, children in K-12 can see live demonstrations of scientific principles at work. For more than two decades, students and staff have come together to organize and manage the two-day event. Fun displays like the reptile room and the physics department’s centrifugal force presentation have made the university a popular visit for Oregon school field trips. The doors are also open to local families and the Corvallis community. Margie Haak, senior instructor of chemistry, said the event is meant to stir children’s interest and get them “excited about science and engineering.” Participants can see a wide variety of “hands on” exhibits hosted by their respective fields. They can view microscopic organisms with the microbiology department, learn about Geiger counters with nuclear engineering or experience chromatography and dry ice with chemistry volunteers. Discovery Days is held in LaSells Stewart Center. The event begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. both days. The Daily Barometer news@dailybarometer.com
By Jasmin Vogel
THE DAILY BAROMETER
Many Oregon State University students, faculty and administrators were surprised when a pornographic video was allegedly filmed in the OSU Valley Library. But professor Jeff Hale, an instructor in New Media Communications, couldn’t be more indifferent. “It could happen anywhere,” Hale said. “Hundreds of girls doing this in libraries around the world.” Hale teaches digital pornography, NMC 427, a course that analyzes the social, cultural, gender, technological, economic, legal and ethical sides of pornography in society. “I don’t find it terribly out of context; obviously it’s way outside of appropriate
Men’s basketball returns after tough weekend in Arizona Sports, page 5
higher education behavior, but not outside the box for the younger generation of normalcy,” Hale said. The story has gone international since its release. “It brings some attention to the school. It’s just a mini scandal. It’s not a big deal,” Hale said. OSU has previously received similar attention regarding sexualized women. In 2005, Playboy released an issue titled “Girls of the Pac-10,” in which former OSU student Sara Jean Underwood was featured on the cover in a painted OSU football jersey. “We are in a different world here,” Hale said. Hale explained that there are many different types of social media pornography. “There are sites that are knock offs of other sites. So there is Pinterest, now there is Pinsex; for every format of media, there is a similar version for porn,” Hale
said. “There’s kink sites just dedicated to sexual fantasies; those communities are in play and social media is important to maintain those communities, communication structure, set up deals. “Porn is labelled as a taboo in society, which is why it’s sought after,” Hale said. “In 2006, the pornography was a $97 billion industry worldwide.” According to NBC News, approximately $10 to $12 billion of pornography comes from the United States. With piracy and the wealth of free porn sites, the industry’s revenue has been falling. Pornography has “an educational component that we can’t deny,” according to Hale. “(Porn creates) community pulling together, interested in a particular experience,” Hale said. Kevin Nickerson, a junior See VIDEO | page 4
Editorial: Moving on from the public porn scenario Forum, page 7