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Gymnastics hosts NCAA regionals
FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013 • OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
DAILYBAROMETER.COM
VOLUME CXVI, NUMBER 108
OSU student death still an open investigation The Daily Barometer
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Senior, graphic design
Michael Robb
Senior, political science, communications
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Layla Hubbard
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The first problem is that there are only certain types of topics that work online. I took a 200 level Russian class and it’s very difficult to be immersed in a language online.
I didn’t like the online classes at all. It’s way different. I took my first math class online and it was a waste of money. I am here to get help, not to help myself. Fares Almutairi
Pre-civil engineering students
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I took two summer classes online. It was nice to get some classes out of the way, especially since I am working, and the classes overall were nice.
I think Ecampus works in some cases. I took classes online to save time. For some classes, it’s just more efficient to take them online. Alyssa Hersh Senior, public health
Ecampus adapts OSU courses Ecampus lands top honors with ranking from SuperScholars, receives varied reviews from educators, students on online courses
“Some of these students cannot get to traditional classes,” said Lisa Templeton, Ecampus executive director. “Online education is a real solution for adult students.” The financial cost of Ecampus courses for students By Jack Lammers is one area where students carry misconceptions. The Daily Barometer The per-credit tuition cost for Ecampus courses is Oregon State University Ecampus has transformed the same as the cost of courses on campus, $185, but the classroom experience to look a lot different than the fees differ. Ecampus courses are not included in the on-campus tuition plateau, meaning all Ecampus it did 30 years ago. Ecampus recently ranked eighth on SuperScholar’s courses are full-price, regardless of the number of list of the best online colleges in the United States credits taken by the student. The tuition plateau applies to on-campus courses for 2013, a “greater emphasis on degree selection diversity” than the 2012 ranking, according to the only, allowing students to take anywhere from 12 to SuperScholar website. This is the second consecu- 16 credits without additional costs. While on campus students hit a plateau when tive year the program has made the top 10 rankings. Ecampus goes back to the 1980s, when the univer- taking 12 to 16 credits, which totals $2,712.57, the sity first considered an online focus for education. The Ecampus price per credit continues to build on itself. program currently has students from across the world, In other words, an Ecampus student must continue to with a main focus on adult non-residential workers. pay $185 per credit and $75 per credit for the distance Using animations, readings, videos and confer- education fee even after paying for 12 credits. The distance education fee replaces the student ences, administrators and faculty have put together fees — like the building fee — paid for by on-campus Ecampus as an alternative system of academics. n
students for those only taking Ecampus courses. If students enroll in both on-campus classes and online classes, they will be charged both student fees and the distance education fee. Templeton, and other proponents of Ecampus, look at the flexibility of the classes as an advantage for people with demanding work schedules. With more than 30 bachelor’s and graduate programs, including top-ranked agriculture and fisheries and wildlife degrees, Ecampus covers much of what the university offers. “We want to develop departments that will meet the marketing need, like computer science, business and engineering,” said Jessica DuPont, Ecampus director of marketing and communications. Templeton argues that the online classes can be even more engaging than those on campus. “These classes can be so much more interactive,” Templeton said. “Right now, when we do an online course, the students can discuss with other students and faculty, and aren’t limited to the class meeting times.” See ECAMPUS | page 2
Rich writing: From the page to the silver screen n
Mike Rich, a renowned screenwriter, talks about his reach from radio to screenplay By Katherine Choi The Daily Barometer
Many of Mike Rich’s screenplays have a common theme: Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. In Rich’s first screenplay, “Finding Forrester,” an ordinary student learns to pursue his dreams as a genius writer and basketball player, while befriending a Pulitzer Prize winning author. This award-winning film was screened to the public as a part of Rich’s visit to Oregon State University on April 4 at the LaSells Stewart Center. A question-andanswer session followed the film. “Finding Forrester” is a story about Jamal Wallace, the ordinary student, who scores exceptionally high on a standardized exam and finds himself sent to a prestigious school. There he meets William Forrester, a reclusive writer who helps Wallace pursue his dreams as both a writer and basketball star. Along the way, Wallace in return helps Forrester Jackie Seus | THE DAILY BAROMETER confront his past. “It speaks to what a lot of us want,” Mike Rich, famous for screenplays including “Radio” and “Finding Forrester,” spoke at LaSells Stewart Center See RICH | page 2
Thursday night.
The Corvallis Police Department is still investigating the death on Monday of Oregon State University student Matthew William Anderson. Anderson, 23, was a senior engineering student at OSU. Corvallis police received a call from Anderson’s girlfriend at his residence, 1113 NW 13th Street, at about 5 p.m., and she reported Anderson was not breathing. Anderson was taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis after paramedics failed to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead after his arrival. As of Thursday, Captain Dave Henslee of the Corvallis police said they were still waiting for the state medical examiner to issue a report.
A healthy discussion n
Active Minds supports, communicates concerns about mental health on campus By Ryan Dawes The Daily Barometer
Beginning with early childhood, every human being experiences injuries, illnesses and other physical problems at some point in life. Oregon State University’s chapter of Active Minds points out there is a spectrum of afflictions many people refuse to acknowledge: mental illnesses. “People talk about their diabetes, and broken legs and other physical ailments all the time,” said Dave Downing, a senior in psychology. “I don’t see why it can’t be the same for mental ailments as well.” Active Minds is a 10-year-old nonprofit organization that has spread through campuses internationally. OSU’s chapter opened seven years ago, and is dedicated to providing help for anyone with any form of mental illness, as well as seeking to open up discussions on the reality of mental illnesses on campus. This is an issue that, according to Active Minds, is often neglected, despite how many it has personally effected in some way. Becca Smith, vice president of active minds and a junior in public health with a psychology minor, joined the group at first to simply help build her resume. Later, however, her mother developed a serious case of clinical depression, to the point where she was unable to even get up from the living room couch, a two-year-long trial that significantly affected Smith. “The education I’ve received through Active Minds on helping others deal with clinical mental illnesses, such as depression, significantly helped me through the situation,” Smith said. “I was lucky I joined early at the time I did.” While not having the same personal struggle as Smith, Downing also joined the group to help show the community the importance of being open about mental health. “I think it’s necessary to destigmatize the topic of mental illness,” Downing said. “I want to help people See MINDS | page 2