OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
The Daily Barometer
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DAILYBAROMETER
WEDNESDAY APRIL 2, 2014 VOL. CXVI, NO. 105
@BARONEWS, @BAROSPORTS, @BAROFORUM
Slight enrollment increase stems from retention rates n
Enrollment projections show 1 percent increase mainly due to retention of current students By Tori Hittner
THE DAILY BAROMETER
COURTESY OF ORegon state University
Electron micrograph image of membrane vesicles isolated from N. gonorrhoeae.
Gonorrhea: On the verge of drug-resistance n
OSU researchers discover innovative proteins on surface of bacteria that causes gonorrhea
Early projections show next year’s enrollment at Oregon State University increasing by 1 percent — but the slight change isn’t due to incoming freshmen. Following a consistent trend from the past three years, the increase appears to stem from improved retention rates, according to Kate Peterson, OSU’s associate provost for enrollment management. With no concrete or certain numbers, the projections are based upon previous trends and the applications received thus far. Although the number of applications received jumped up roughly 2.5 to 3 percent, the relatively small increase is no accident. “We didn’t really want to have any large growth in the (2014-15) incoming class for a lot of different reasons,” Peterson said. “(We want to) control our growth a little bit so that we are able to ensure a good quality experience for students when we are here. We really don’t want to outpace our ability to provide that service.” Peterson said the improved retention trend likely continues due to the current enrollment plan’s focus on quality and student success. In recent years, the university has hired more faculty, student advisers and service personnel to promote consistent student satisfaction. See ENROLLMENT | page 4
By Dacotah-Victoria Splichalova THE DAILY BAROMETER
Gonorrhea, an ancient bacteria-causing disease that plagues only human populations, is the second most commonly reported infectious disease in the United States. Studies published this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite gonorrhea as a disease that currently sits on the fence of being untreatable due to its evolved resistance to the few treatments that are left, including ceftriaxone along with either azithromycin or doxycycline. The worst-case scenario is that in the near future — based on its evolutionary ability to become resistant to previous drugs — doctors may have no way to cure people with the disease. The CDC is highly encouraging research of new treatment avenues, such as the development of the field of proteomics. Proteomics is the high-resolution study of the structure and function of proteins. The identification of specific proteins by Oregon State University scientist and assistant professor Aleksandra Sikora provides a fresh plan of attack against a venereal disease, which is showing increased resistance to the antibiotics used to treat it. According to the 2012 United Way Community Health Assessment of the Health of Benton County, gonorrhea in Oregon has increased 38 percent since 2010. Most cases are in the Portland tri-county area, but there were 20 cases diagnosed in Benton County during the first six months of 2012, up from 18 cases in all of 2011. Multi-drug resistant gonorrhea has not yet been found in Benton County, but is a growing problem nationwide and poses an imminent public health challenge, according to United Way of Benton County. Using the evolving science of proteomics, Sikora has identified many proteins that reside in a space within the gonorrhea bacteria, which can be considered an “envelope” or membrane vesicles, according to Medical Press. This cell envelope buffers the interior of gonorrhea from the external environment and is essential for survival, as well for its ability to cause disease. In the process of proving nutrients, the proteins localSee GONORRHEA | page 4
2 named distinguished professors
News, page 2
Gaia movement comes to Corvallis streets n
Illinois-based environmental nonprofit for textile recycling moves into Corvallis area By Emma-Kate Schaake THE DAILY BAROMETER
Gaia, the nonprofit organization dedicated to the environment, has moved its clothing donation project into Corvallis. The project emphasizes the importance of re-wearing, reusing and recycling unwanted clothing, shoes and textiles. Community members can donate their unwanted clothing and save these items from becoming waste. “Eighty-five percent of clothing ends up in the landfills,” said Gaia’s Oregon operations manager Kevin Escobar. The bright green bins, which are now scattering throughout Oregon, aim to offer many communities with the access to recycling. “It’s a free service,” Escobar said. “You just donate, and we take care of the rest.” Gaia sorts the donated items in the bins to be sold to thrift stores, while clothing with minor flaws are usually donated to developing countries, which then use the clothes to repair, distribute or resell. This process aims to not only reduce waste, but also provides democratic access to clothing. Any items that cannot be repurposed or worn are recycled. Gaia began in 1999 in Illinois, and has since expanded to Indiana,
Kentucky, California, Tennessee and, most recently, Oregon. “We want every community to have access to it,” Escobar said. “We can bring that waste number way down.” The program started in Oregon more than a year ago, and through the sale of textiles, has become more financially stable and is looking to expand its programs surrounding the Portland headquarters and elsewhere in Oregon. Aside from its recycling project, Gaia also partners with other nonprofits, provides educational programs in schools and runs community events to raise sustainability awareness. All Gaia facilities aim to be zero-waste by involving volunteers and recycling on the premises. “We are hoping to start a bunch of projects,” Escobar said. “It’s a big team and it’s exciting to be a part of.” Escobar said he has been receiving calls from many different organizations and Gaia has been saving children’s toys as well as accumulating volunteers for the clothing pick up and sorting process. “It’s a lot of labor,” Escobar said. As a part of the educational recycling program, volunteers and groups are taught how to extract and separate the different materials for sale, donation or recycling. Gaia Portland is expanding with potential partnerships with OSU in the future, because as Gaia preaches, “there is no Planet B.” Emma-Kate Schaake
City reporter managing@dailybarometer.com
Baseball survives comeback threat Sports, page 5
Emma-Kate Schaake
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
A Gaia donation box on Kings Boulevard and Fillmore Avenue in Corvallis.
Is there a point to teacher evaluations?
Forum, page 7