OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
The Daily Barometer
DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 541-737-2231
DAILYBAROMETER
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2015 VOL. CXVII, NO. 76
@DAILYBARO, @BAROSPORTS
OSU students share science with K-12 n
College student volunteers teach K-12 students about science at Discovery Days By McKinley Smith THE DAILY BAROMETER
Chen Ng lowered a piece of limp cabbage into an icebox, a cloud of gas rolling out as he pulled back the lid while a group of curious children looked on. The cabbage made contact with the fluid within. It sizzled. The fluid was liquid nitrogen. Ng, a senior in chemistry, volunteered Monday for Discovery Days, an event geared toward getting K-12 students excited about science. The event features interactive exhibits to give children hands-on exposure to physics, biology, chemistry and more. Discovery Days also features an exhibit from Brad’s WORLD REPTILES. Students from Oregon State University volunteered during the event to share their enthusiasm for science. “It’s so exciting to see kids get really excited,” said Georgeann Booth, a sophomore in microbiology. “It’s cool to see their enthusiasm.” Booth said her science training helps her understand issues like genetically modifying organisms of vaccine controversies. She added that it’s always helpful to know more, not See SCIENCE | page 4
McKinley Smith
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Georgeann Booth, a sophomore in microbiology, leads children in a game during Discovery Days Monday, Feb. 2 at LaSells Stewart Center.
Associated Students of Oregon State University Begins ‘transition to representation’ n
ASOSU legislation to increase representation, involvement By Courtnee’ Morin THE DAILY BAROMETER
The Associated Students of Oregon State University legislative and executive branches have been working on increasing student involvement and representation within ASOSU. The newest plan being the “Transition to Representation,” a series of bills and open seats in the ASOSU Congress to increase student representation. This idea of a transition to a more representative model of government began last year with then Speaker of the House, Thomas Bancroft, who wanted to make the ASOSU House more inclusive, as well as to make a homogenous student government more diverse and more effective as a result.
ASOSU legislative meetings Who: Senate When: Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. Where: Memorial Union Journey Room Gallery open to the public Who: House of Representatives When: Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. Where: Memorial Union Journey Room Gallery open to the public
The current Speaker of the House, Saul Boulanger, believes that adding more seats will help with the difficulties associated with representing the entirety of the student body. ASOSU wants to target groups that aren’t traditionally targeted. ASOSU is starting this process by speaking to cultural and support groups on campus such as the Black Cultural Center, Asian See TRANSITION | page 2
House seeks improved representation n
House struggles with low diversity, reaches out to support, cultural resource centers By Jasmin Vogel
THE DAILY BAROMETER
The Associated Student of Oregon State University are taking steps to reach out to minority groups and involve them in student government. ASOSU’s current House majority is prominently male white representatives, with the exception of Phillip Rakowski, an undergraduate who identifies as multiethnic, and the sole woman, Kayleen Cremin. “It feels like I’m not being represented; like I’m being hidden,” said Luis Velasquez, a sophomore majoring in exercise and sport science with an option in pre-therapy, who also works as an academic mentor at Centro Cultural
OSU women’s swimming team has successful day at Osborn Sports, page 5
Cesar Chavez. Next year, the ASOSU House plans to allocate seven seats, one for each of the cultural and support centers on campus. “We ideally want a diverse group of people (in the House)” said Saul Boulanger, speaker of the House at ASOSU. The first introduction of the bills in the House were read at last Wednesday’s meeting; this Wednesday, Boulanger confirmed that the bills — J. B. 06.04-06.10 — will be up for a pass-fail vote. These bills wouldn’t go into effect until the 2015-2016 academic year. Because the bills do not go into effect until next school year, many students are concerned about the representation of the student body this year. “I don’t think it’s possible unless more than one community is represented,” said CCCC Student Liaison, Pedro Arenas, a junior majoring in history. “When we talk See DIVERSITY | page 2
Column: Take the vaccines, not the diseases Forum, page 7