OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
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DAILYBAROMETER
MONDAY MAY 4, 2015 VOL. CXVII, NO. 129
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Top mom recognition n
Memorial Union Program Council returns Mom of the Year Award to weekend festivities By Chris Correll THE DAILY BAROMETER
Thousands of mothers descended on Oregon State University’s campus last weekend for three days of shopping, touring and indulging in Corvallis’ night life. Many traveled hundreds of miles for some quality time with their children. One, however, got a little something extra from her time in town. Thanks to a contest-winning essay written by political science freshman Annika Heramb, her mother Ingvill Heramb received the OSU Mom of the Year award. Annika Heramb said she traveled all the way from Norway to attend OSU last fall and get the university experience she couldn’t have at home. “I knew I wanted to study in the U.S.,” Annika Heramb said. “I wanted the whole American college experience — living in the dorms, getting involved with campus, all that — and we don’t really have that in Norway.” After attending several seminars, Annika Heramb finally found “everything I wanted in a school” in OSU. She says “sometimes it’s hard” being so far away from her mom, brother and dog, but that keeping busy on campus takes her mind off of it. However, when she found out about the essay contest, she put together her best argument for why her mother deserved to be acknowledged: “My mom has always encouraged me to be myself as fully and honestly as I can, as she, more than anyone I have ever met, celebrates the differences between people. She has always supported me in all the decisions I have made, even when it has broken her heart or taken me away from her.” Once all the submissions were in, she got the call naming her this year’s winner. See MOMS | page 4
Chris Correll
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Annika Heramb, a freshman political science major, and her mother, Ingvill Heramb, receive the Mom of the Year Award after winning essay contest.
Furry friends come to OSU Pet Day, charm guests OSU treats “(Pet Day) is a great oppor- program, especially since it’s going to be tunity for anyone who is inter- kitten season, and we’re also promoting ested in animals,” said Reese our thrift shop on Third Street where Douglas, Pet Day co-chair and second- people can volunteer and shop there. year veterinary student. “It also provides Thirty percent of our annual income a great socialization opportunity for comes from the thrift store, so it’s a great way to help out animals even if you can’t pets.” As co-chair, Douglas was responsible adopt one.” for coordinating with anyone tabling at Other local businesses, like Best the event. The event saw booths from Friends Obedience and Agility School corporate sponsors such as Purina, Incorporated, were also there to proPetSmart and Banfield, as well as local mote their training classes as well as businesses and shelters including showcase some dog tricks and demHeartland Humane Society and Alpine onstrate agility runs through a course. Animal Hospital. According to Best Members of the Friends owner Benton County 4-H Dana Stillinger, (Pet Day) is a great club were also presBest Friends School opportunity for ent and showcased has attended every llamas, ponies and anyone who is single Pet Day event goats. The local shelsince the very first interested in animals. ters present not only one almost 28 years ... collected donations ago. and promoted their It also provides a “Pet Day is the best business, but also party in Corvallis,” great socialization brought dogs availStillinger said. “Once able for adoption. opportunity for pets. we find out about a According to Vanessa party, we come, and Klingensmith, volunwe’re always trying Reese Douglas teer coordinator at to show owners Pet Day co-chair Heartland Humane the different things Society, one of the they can do to help keep their dogs senior dogs, Tucker, had an interested engaged.” family stop by to visit him on Pet Day. Stillinger also added that Best “(Heartland) is always taking volunFriends is also starting classes for K-9 teers,” Klingensmith said. “We’re looking See PETS | page 4 for people to help with our foster care
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Abigail Erickson
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Debby Gremmels shows off her medium wool male llama, Kandahar, with the rest of the Benton County 4-H club Saturday afternoon during Pet Day.
Greeks perform at 79th annual Sing event for Moms Weekend News, page 2
Five former OSU football players make NFL draft Sports, page 5
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Veterinary school hosts Pet Day to celebrate pets of all types
OSU Pet Day. Pet Day, an event coordinated by the first and second-year students of the College of Veterinary Medicine, spanned from 10 a.m. to By Abigail Erickson 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. The event THE DAILY BAROMETER was an opportunity to celebrate the As the afternoon sun warmed the health and happiness of all pets small Oregon State University campus, a and large, and saw upwards of 5,000 chorus of music, barking dogs and attendees from both OSU and the genwhinnying ponies filled the air on eral Corvallis community. n
Dr. Tech continues his summary of popular sci-fi inspired gadgets Forum, page 7
Equine Herpes Virus THE DAILY BAROMETER
Last week, Oregon State University diagnosed a horse with Equine Herpes Virus 1, according to a May 1 press release from OSU. EHV-1 is a “naturally occurring virus that can cause serious illness in horses when activated,” reported the release. According to the release, the horse is currently being isolated at the Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital and no other horses who have attended recent events with the infected horse have shown signs of infection from EHV-1. In the release, John Schlipf, a large animal internal medicine specialist at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, said that symptoms of the neurological form of EHV-1 includes uncoordinated, stumbling movements; an unusual gait; a weak tail tone; difficulty urinating and dribbling of urine; and nasal discharge, frequently accompanied by a fever. The Daily Barometer news@dailybarometer.com
Editorial: Making sense of peta2 and “I, Chicken” Forum, page 7
2•Monday, May 4, 2015
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his breath. The man was also reportedly slurring when speaking and had bloodshot, watery eyes as well as drooping eyelids. After allegedly consenting to field sobriety tests and failing them, the man was transported to Benton County Jail with a blood alcohol content of 0.05 percent. The man was cited for driving under the influence and operation of a vehicle without required lighting.
Friday, May 1
Minor with alcohol
Found drugs
A Corvallis police officer observed a minor look into the passenger window of a nearby car, according to the log. Upon talking to the minor, the officer could reportedly smell alcohol on his breath. The minor allegedly admitted to having a few drinks, and reportedly told the officer that the car he was looking into belonged to his friend. He was reportedly looking for his backpack. The officer was A Corvallis police officer stopped able to confirm his story and cited a car leaving a restaurant for having the minor for alcohol possession a headlight out, according to the under 21, according to the log. log. The driver got out of his vehicle upon being stopped, and the officer could reportedly smell alcohol on A Corvallis police officer reportedly found a small bag with a white crystalline residue in it. The substance was tested as methamphetamine, according to the log. It was reportedly found in the grass east of the public library, and was entered as evidence to be destroyed.
DUII
Thursday, April 30
Stolen items A man reportedly stole underwear, sunglasses, a spark plug and some seeds from a store. The store manager saw the man stuff the items in his pockets and exit the store without trying to pay, according to the log. The manager reportedly caught the man outside and the store escorted him back inside. Corvallis police cited the man with third-degree theft and served him a trespass notice.
Trespassing A Corvallis police officer was dispatched to answer a call from a store regarding an argument, according to the log. The suspect had allegedly had a verbal argument and challenged an employee to fight before being told to leave the premises. The suspect reportedly left on foot after being escorted away by management. The business reportedly did not wish to press trespassing charges.
Need to Know Animal waste:
According to the City of Corvallis Code of Ordinances Section 5.03.050.020.03, “no person shall permit or allow to accumulate or remain in, on, or about any yard, lot, place or premises owned by or resided in by such person any dead animals, or the refuse or offensive part of any dead animals, or any animal waste or excrement; nor shall such person suffer such yard, lot, place, or premises, to be or remain in such condition as to cause or create noisome or offensive smell or atmosphere or thereby to become, cause or create a public nuisance.” According to the ordinance, each day the code is violated earns separate Class A infractions. The Daily Barometer
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herbivores threatened
Greeks get musical at All University Sing event By Jyssica Yelas
THE DAILY BAROMETER
Gill Stadium was packed half-full Friday night as the community celebrated the first night of Moms and Family weekend at the 79th-annual Greek competition: All University Sing. Moms, families, students and community members watched as pairs of Greek sororities and fraternities brought back memories of favorite musicals to life with costume, song and dance. Emily Semler, a senior and a Sing consultant, said this is the best set of performances at Sing in the last few years. “(Sing) is pulling Greek Life closer,” Semler said. “There are only a couple of people in AGD, so most people I hang out with are in other Greek organizations.” Semler explained that teams are judged based off of energy level, execution of dance moves and stunts; rhythm, volume, quality of vocals; and the cohesiveness of the performance with the chosen musical. One of the first groups to hit the stage this year was Alpha Omega Pi with Sigma Pi, singing tunes from 1950s classic flick, “Grease.” The women wore head-to-toe black, with red bandanas tied at the head, portraying protagonist Sandy’s look at the end of the film, as the men imitated opposing character Danny’s all-black outfit. The group ended their performance with “Grease’s” last song, “We go Together” as they waved and ran off stage. Kappa Delta and Tau Kappa Epsilon also danced to tunes from a musical featuring actor John Travolta, “Hairspray.” The group added humor to talent when one fraternity brother did a double pirouette, and later two brothers danced together to imitate ‘married’ characters portrayed by John Travolta and Christopher Walken in the recent version of the film. Members of Delta Gamma and Pi Kappa Phi wowed the crowd when, after a marching transition, they performed “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” dancing at speed all the while.
THE DAILY BAROMETER
Jyssica Yelas
Members of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Pi Epsilon celebrate their win at All University Sing 2015. The team performed musical numbers from The Sound of Music at Friday’s event. Encouragement from moms like ‘your team was the best one!’ and other praise could be heard in the Coliseum hallway. One such mother was Stacey Connall, mother to Alexandra Connall, a sophomore in animal sciences. Stacey Connall is an example that proves that mothers of performers weren’t the only ones in attendance. “I came to support (my daughter’s) sorority, and brought my friend along,” said Stacey Connall. At that point in the night, she said that Delta Gamma and her own daughter’s house, Alpha Chi Omega, were her favorites. Also in attendance rather close to the stage was Corvallis resident Mike Ambrosius, commonly known as “Dancing Mike.” He was given a free ticket to Sing, and even joined in during some teams’ practices. Ambrosius said his favorite part was “the passion and training they put into the dancing,” but he also offered some advice.
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Oregon State University Distinguished Professor William Ripple led an international team of scientists to study large herbivores around the world, drawing attention to their dwindling numbers and the root causes, according to a press release from OSU. The study focused on 74 species of herbivores, which averaged 220 lbs, according to the release. Zebras, Eastern gorillas, European bison and lowland tapirs featured among those animals studied. “I expected that habitat change would be the main factor causing the endangerment of large herbivores,” said Ripple, who works in the College of Forestry, in the release. “But surprisingly, the results show that the two main factors in herbivore declines are hunting by humans and habitat change. They are twin threats.” The absence of these species could create “empty landscapes,” according to the release. The study was released in the journal of Science Advances. “We hope this report increases appreciation for the importance of large herbivores in these ecosystems,” Ripple said in the release. “And we hope that policymakers take action to conserve these species.” The Daily Barometer
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Correction In the article “Greeks anticipate, prepare for Sing competition,” which ran in the Friday, May 1, issue of The Daily Barometer, Associate Members of Lambda Chi Alpha were incorrectly referred to as a “pledge class” in a quote. Lambda Chi Alpha does not have pledges; they have Associate Members. The Daily Barometer regrets the error.
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“It’s important to be safe,” he said. He explained that he had encountered a team that was practicing when one girl badly hurt her wrist. According to Ambrosius, she was told to quickly wrap it and go back to practicing. “Dancing should never be dangerous,” he said. “There is no win or lose in dance.” Later in the event, members of Alpha Gamma Delta and Phi Delta Theta performed numbers from “Annie Get Your Gun,” including, “Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better).” Women wore imitations of Annie Oakley’s western dress, and men wore jeans cut into shorts with black button-ups. Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Pi Epsilon won first prize of the night with their performances from “The Sound of Music,” with the women in green dresses and men in lederhosen. The group imitated the music and dance moves of the Von Trapp children, wooing the crowd.
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Tuesday, May 5 Meetings ASOSU Senate, 7pm, MU Journey Room. Senate meeting.
Wednesday, May 6 Meetings ASOSU House of Representatives, 7pm, MU Journey Room. House meeting. College Republicans, 7pm, Gilkey 113. Join the College Republicans for friendly conversation on current events and politics. Bird Nerds, 5pm, Nash 032. Monthly member meeting with speaker Kyle Pritchard.
Events Craft Center, 1-3pm, Craft Center, Student Experience Center Basement Level. Watercolor Wellness. Supplies provided.
Thursday, May 7 Meetings Baha’i Campus Association, 12:30pm, MU Talisman Room. Is travel a tool for global peace? A discussion.
Friday, May 8 Meetings
OSU Greek students perform at Sing Large n
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Student Organization Resource for Community Engagement (SORCE), 2-4pm, SEC 354.
Tuesday, May 12 Meetings ASOSU Senate, 7pm, MU Journey Room. Senate meeting.
Wednesday, May 13 Meetings ASOSU House of Representatives, 7pm, MU Journey Room. House meeting. College Republicans, 7pm, Gilkey 113. Join the College Republicans for friendly conversation on current events and politics.
Events Craft Center, 1-3pm, Craft Center, Student Experience Center Basement Level. Watercolor Wellness. Supplies provided.
Friday, May 15 Meetings Student Organization Resource for Community Engagement (SORCE), 2-4pm, SEC 354.
Tuesday, May 19 Meetings ASOSU Senate, 7pm, MU Journey Room. Senate meeting.
Events Student Health Services, Noon-1pm, MU Journey Room. Novo Veritas: Honest Change. 2 Stories, 1 Common Thread: Join Betsy Hartley and Spencer Newell for an authentic conversation about battling substance addiction and obesity, and their healthy new lifestyles in recovery. Snacks provided.
Wednesday, May 20 Meetings ASOSU House of Representatives, 7pm, MU Journey Room. House meeting. College Republicans, 7pm, Gilkey 113. Join the College Republicans for friendly conversation on current events and politics.
Events Craft Center, 1-3pm, Craft Center, Student Experience Center Basement Level. Watercolor Wellness. Supplies provided.
Friday, May 22 Meetings Student Organization Resource for Community Engagement (SORCE), 2-4pm, SEC 354.
Monday, May 25 MEMORIAL DAY
Tuesday, May 26 Meetings ASOSU Senate, 7pm, MU Journey Room. Senate meeting.
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Monday, May 4, 2015•A
ISOSU Night Market
Patricia Djuhadi
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Classifieds
House passes bill on student debit cards By Joce Johnson
STATESMAN JOURNAL
SALEM — A bill about student debit cards approved by the Oregon House on Wednesday aims to protect consumer rights of students by requiring universities to consider federal guidelines when entering into contracts with third party financial institutions. HB 2832 passed 36-24 after a discussion about whether the bill is in the best interest of students. Eleven percent of colleges and universities have college card agreements, in which the school maintains a contract with a third party financial institution to distribute financial aid for students, according to a 2014 report by the Unites States Government Accountability Office. No laws currently govern the use of the cards or the contracts. Supporters of the bill say college cards can be detrimental to students because financial institutions that contract with universities have fewer regulations than traditional banks and credit unions. Issues include charging students for each PIN transaction, in-network ATM withdrawal and monthly inactivity. “Students often believe these debit cards are the only way to receive financial aid to cover books and living expenses. Cards often carry the school logo or may be linked to a student ID. This may give
the impression that the card is official or required for distribution of financial funds,� said Rep. Nancy Nathanson, D-Eugene, who carried the bill. A presentation by the Oregon Student Association submitted in March to the House Committee on Higher Education, Innovation and Workforce Development said six state universities and community colleges contract with Higher One, a higher education financial firm that reportedly dominates 56 percent of the campus debit market. The six universities are Oregon Institute of Technology, Southern Oregon University, Portland State University, Lane Community College, Rogue Community College and Mount Hood Community College. A 2013 survey by the Associated Students of Portland State University found that 69 percent of respondents wanted an alternative to Higher One for financial aid disbursement. Seventy-eight percent said Higher One’s fees were not reasonable or acceptable. “These are students who, if something happens with their financial aid, they may lose their housing, they may not be able to go to class. Those are real consequences for students,� said Rep. Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland. “To take away their right to seek a remedy or join a class action, I just think it’s untenable to take that right from students when they have no choice but to
enter into these contracts.� HB 2832 says public and private universities must use federal guidelines issued by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education when forming contracts with third parties. The contracts may not allow revenue sharing, a fee for initial disbursement of financial aid, a fee for debit or PIN transactions or inactivity fees. The contract must also be available for public inspection and published on the institution’s website. Additionally, universities and community colleges negotiating a contract with a third party financial institution must attempt to make collaboration agreements with other public universities and colleges. Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Hood River, voted against the bill because of its language that says an enrolled student who uses a college card has a private right of action against the third party financial institution. “The inadvertent consequence here could be that putting some of these restrictions upon these third party financial firms that currently do this because the colleges and universities don’t want to do it, because it would be expensive for them, it may lead to some of these financial firms simply walking away from a college or university and say ‘thanks, but no thanks. It doesn’t pencil out any more,’� Johnson said.
Portland has additional $49 million to spend By Jim Redden
PORTLAND TRIBUNE
PORTLAND — The City of Portland will have at least $49 million more to spend in next year’s budget, according to the most recent budget estimates. The increases include an additional $13.1 million in ongoing resources and an additional $35.9 million in one-time resources. “This increase in resources will allow the City to further prioritize basic services. Residents can expect that my proposed budget next week will include substantial investments in paving, parks and housing. This forecast is reflective of not only the broader economy, but also a sign of the desirability of Portland as a place to work and live,� says Mayor Charlie Hales. Commissioner Steve Novick was the first City Council member to say how he believe the additional funds should be sent. He issued the following statement shortly after the City Budget Office announced the new revenue projection Thursday morning. “I urge Mayor Hales to dedicate at least fifty percent of the one-time revenue to transportation maintenance and safety, and the lion’s share of the new ongoing revenue to addressing, one way or another, the problems with the Portland building. “By allocating $18 million for transportation, the City could invest $10 million in paving and other major maintenance projects, and pay for the full $8 million in improvements to safety and access to transit along 122nd that TriMet and community members have identified as a significant need. TriMet has told us that making those investments would strengthen the case
for making frequent service on 122nd a priority, and East Portlanders have told us loud and clear that improved service on that route is critically important. “Meanwhile, if the Portland Building is unusable after an earthquake, it will be very difficult for city government to function. If city government can’t function, Portland’s ability to respond to and recover from the earthquake will be severely compromised. Fixing or replacing the building is a classic example of the kind of investment that responsible leaders make, knowing there isn’t anything glamourous about it. The details matter, of course, and I’m not yet endorsing any particular plan for the future of the Portland Building.� The new revenue projection is the final one the council will receive before it approves next year’s budget. The CBO said revenues are currently growing at near record levels, although they don’t expect the rate to last. The CBO says the primary change to the forecast was related to the City’s business license tax collections. After a record $81 million in fiscal year 2013-14, collections may pass $100 million in fiscal year 2014-15. According to the CBO, “the influx of revenue provides the opportunity for the City to make large scale investments in City infrastructure.� Total General Fund resources are estimated at $484.8 million. The full document can be found at www.portlandoregon.gov/cbo/article/528803. The council will consider, revise and approve the budget the begins on July 1 over the next two months or so. The next Community Budget Forum is set from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, at George Middle School, 10000 N, Burr Ave.
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Cultural organizations within the ISOSU showcase their countries’ meaning and values of family at ISOSU Night Market held Friday evening.
Crater Lake opens for biking, hiking on Rim Drive By Zach Urness
STATESMAN JOURNAL
SALEM — If you’ve ever wanted to ride a bike around Crater Lake without worrying about cars, the next two weeks might be your best chance this decade. Record low snowpack and warm spring temperatures mean that a 15-mile stretch of West Rim Drive is open to bikers and hikers only — until May 15. The road between the Rim Village and north entrance has been cleared of snow and features many spectacular views of the United States’ deepest lake, including Wizard Island. The national park offers a few hiker- and biker-only days each year — normally in June and September — but Superintendent Craig Ackerman said this year is the first in memory that the park has offered up such a long period. “It’s an especially good place for bicyclists and families,� Ackerman said. “This section has some of the most level terrain of the entire Rim Drive.�
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Services PREGNANT? Free pregnancy test. Information on options. Non-pressured. Confidential. Options Pregnancy Resource Center. Corvalllis 541-757-9645. Albany 541-924-0166. www.possiblypregnant.org
For Rent FREE SUMMER RENT - To store your belongings if you reserve an apartment for the Fall now. Call for details, 541-754-0040. Fillmore Inn Apartments, www.fillmoreinn.com
Buyer Beware The Oregon State University Daily Barometer assumes no liability for ad content or response. Ads that appear too good to be true, probably are. Respond at your own risk.
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NOW ACCEPTING FALL RESERVATIONS! Studios $480 Furnished or unfurnished. Close to OSU. Fillmore Inn Apartments, 760 NW 21st St. Call 541-754-0040. www.fillmoreinn.com MINI STORAGE STUDENT SPECIAL Pay for three get one month free when paid in advance. Valid thru June 20th. Busy Bee Mini Storage 541-928-0064.
su•do•ku
To play: Complete the grid so that every row, column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. There is no guessing or math involved, just use logic to solve.
Yesterday’s Solution
Patricia Djuhadi
Visitors get a glimpse of several different countries showcased at the ISOSU Night Market, held by the International Students Organization of Oregon State University Friday evening.
4•Monday, May 4, 2015
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Oregon Supreme Court overturns majority of PERS cuts By Tracy Loew
STATESMAN JOURNAL
Minelle Merwin
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
People crowd in at the Art Festival in the Memorial Union brickmall that extends into the SEC plaza Saturday morning.
MOMS n Continued from page 1 “I was super excited,” she said. “I didn’t think I would win. Of course, I wasn’t sure exactly what it entailed, but I was super proud because everyone gets to see how awesome my mom is.” Mom of the Year had historically been part of Moms and Family Weekend, but was discontinued several years ago. As part of a larger effort to expand the overall scale of the event, members of the MUPC decided to revive the old award. “We were discussing ways that we could try to make the weekend better, and they said that in the past, they had done Mom of the Year. It’s been quite a while since they’ve done it, so
it was something we were trying to bring back,” said Curtis Orona, a bioengineering sophomore in charge of coordinating Moms and Family Weekend. Linda Howard, MUPC program adviser, said she first suggested the idea as a way to “honor one special mom.” Eventually, they decided the best essay submission would be deemed the winner. Ingvill Heramb said she was “breathless” when Annika Heramb first texted her, and that she considers it a “very big honor” to be 2015’s outstanding OSU mother. The two of them received free attendance to the Moms Weekend brunch, comedy show and fashion show. Chris Correll, news reporter news@dailybarometer.com
SALEM — The Oregon Supreme Court has overturned part of a package of pension cuts for public employees enacted in 2013. The decision means that schools, cities, state agencies and other public employers likely will face steep increases in the rates they pay toward the pension fund. “That translates to teacher layoffs and higher class sizes,” said Jim Green, deputy executive director of the Oregon School Boards Association. Two bills passed by the Legislature, SB 822 and SB 861, reduced the 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment for retirees in the Public Employees Retirement System. SB 822 also ended a payment meant to compensate out-of-state retirees paying Oregon income taxes. Retirees appealed, saying the changes violated the contractual agreement between the state and workers. The court consolidated several lawsuits challenging the cuts. All argued that PERS benefits are a contract between the state and its employees and cannot be changed retroactively. In its unanimous opinion issued Thursday, the court denied the challenge related to the income tax offset, and said the legislature can change the COLA as benefits being offered to current and future PERS members. But it agreed that it is unconstitutional to cut the COLA retroactively. That provision accounted for the majority of the approximately $500 million in
annual savings to public employers. The COLA for current and new members is calculated with a series of graduated levels similar to tax brackets. “As a result, PERS members who have earned a contractual right to PERS benefits both before and after the relevant effective dates of SB 822 and SB 861 will be entitled to receive a blended COLA rate, reflecting the different COLA rates applicable to benefits earned at different times,” the Oregon Judicial Department said in a news release. That will create an “actuarial nightmare,” OSBA’s Green said. “Our attorneys are still analyzing the decision and weighing our legal options,” he said. Facing skyrocketing retirement costs for teachers, firefighters and other public employees, Oregon lawmakers approved the so-called “Grand Bargain” of pension cuts in a 2013 special session. The cuts reduced employer contributions by about $800 million in the current two-year budget. “For us, obviously it means long-term cost reductions won’t be as significant as expected,” said Mike Wolfe, chief operations officer at the Salem-Keizer School District. The district has saved tens of millions of dollars over the years by bonding some of its PERS liability, Wolfe said. “We’re probably in a better position to absorb the increase,” he said. Though the increases won’t hit governments until 2016 or 2017, they likely will impact Marion County’s budget
discussions this year, chief administrative officer John Lattimer said. “We’re going to talk about whether we want to put some money aside to be ready for it,” he said. “We may do that.” In a statement, Senate President Peter Courtney said now that the Supreme Court has done its job, it’s time for the Legislature to do its job. “We need to balance the budget,” Courtney said. “We need to give Oregon what she needs to grow. We need to boost the economy. We need a transportation plan. It’s time for us to come together for Oregon and her people.” In a joint statement, Republican Leaders Rep. Mike McLane and Sen. Ted Ferrioli said the decision is a step backward for the state. “Once again, Oregon faces billions in unfunded PERS costs that will hurt schools, police departments and other local critical services,” they wrote. “It is clear that we will need to work together again to streamline government and create jobs in order to protect Oregon from a looming fiscal crisis.” Former Gov. John Kitzhaber said last year that if the court overturned the cuts, he would not try to cut PERS again. In a written statement, new Gov. Kate Brown said, “I will be reviewing the ruling and assessing next steps, including the short and long term fiscal needs of PERS, and I will be working with the PERS Board to determine what next steps they will take.”
Eugene City Council tables request to send $50,000 for earthquake relief
PETS n Continued from page 1 nose work, a sport inspired by police K-9 units. Jessica Kramer, an OSU alumna and technician at Alpine Animal Hospital, was also tabling during Pet Day and promoting the clinic. “Pet Day is a really good day, and a lot of the local everything is out here,” Kramer said. “We’re excited to support pet health and it’s a great way for OSU to let people know that they have a vet clinic here. The pre-vet program I was in was fantastic, the faculty and staff were super supportive and Pet Day is a great way to show that to the community.” Pet Day is free and open to the public, and attendees are more than welcome to bring their pets to the event. From rabbits to ferrets to cats, dogs, lizards, snakes and turtles, there was something available for every pet owner during Pet Day. “Pet Day is a great event,” said Gabrielle Wallace, a second-year veterinary student. “Last year I didn’t even bother bringing my parents because I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal, but it definitely is and the community gets so excited about it.” Abigail Erickson, news reporter news@dailybarometer.com
By Edward Russo THE REGISTER-GUARD
Abigail Erickson
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Sandy Lindell brings his three Siberian Huskies — Sabaka, Kakoshken and Dakota — to Pet Day Saturday afternoon.
Patricia Djuhadi
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Visitors pet animals, such as goats, llamas and ducks at Pet Day 2015, held by College of Veterinary Medicine Saturday morning.
Patricia Djuhadi
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Visitors line up to get their dogs washed at a dog wash booth at Pet Day 2015, held by College of Veterinary Medicine Saturday morning.
EUGENE — The Eugene City Council may be willing to help Eugene’s earthquake-ravaged sister city, Kathmandu. But a council majority on Wednesday wasn’t ready to approve a $50,000 donation to disaster relief in the Nepalese capital. Councilors voted 6-2 to delay until Tuesday a request by south Eugene Councilor Betty Taylor to direct City Manager Jon Ruiz to consult with Mayor Kitty Piercy and decide how to spend $50,000 on earthquake recovery efforts. Most councilors said they were uncomfortable with the request because Ruiz couldn’t tell them where he would get the money. “I want to support Kathmandu, but not knowing where the money will come from, I’m in a quandary,” said southwest Councilor Chris Pryor. The council has a contingency fund for unforeseen expenses, but Ruiz told councilors that much of that fund’s remaining balance was used to buy an easement for a bike and pedestrian path on the Civic Stadium property. The city reserve fund is another option, he said. Ruiz said he could tell councilors more on Tuesday evening, when the council will participate in a budget committee meeting. But Taylor, who visited Kathmandu in 2000, asked her colleagues to act right away. “This is urgent,” she said. “People don’t have water.” Full article online at registerguard.com
The Daily Barometer 5 • Monday, May 4, 2015
Sports
Beaver Tweet of the Day
Inside sports: Track and Field host season’s final meet page 6
“Pita Pit doesn't deliver anymore, and I am so sad about that.” @BrookeMey
Brooke Meyer
sports@dailybarometer.com • On Twitter @barosports
Eckert paves the way for Beavers n
Beavers win the third straight Pac-12 series, but lose Morrison for remainder of regular season By Andrew Kilstrom THE DAILY BAROMETER
Justin quinn
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Sophomore shortstop Trever Morrison begins his throw to first last season against Stanford. Morrison will miss the rest of the regular season with fractured left hand.
Tied with Washington at one game apiece and looking for its third-consecutive Pac-12 series win, Oregon State battled its way to a victory Saturday night behind the right arm of junior Travis Eckert. Oregon State (29-14, 12-9 Pac-12) knocked off Washington (24-21, 9-15) in game three’s rubber match, 4-1, despite blowing a four-run lead to lose game two on Friday, 8-6. Reminiscent of both OSU’s two prior conference wins against Arizona and No. 13 USC, the Beavers bounced back with strong pitching and timely hitting. Eckert was the biggest difference in the game, tossing 7 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits. The junior improved to 5-0 on the season in what was his seventh quality start in 12 tries. Sophomore shortstop Caleb Hamilton, meanwhile, paced the OSU offense hitting his third homerun of the year to give the Beavers an early 1-0 lead in the third inning. Junior centerfielder Jeff Hendrix boosted the lead to 2-0 with an RBI triple later in the inning, growing his hitting streak to 10 games — the second best mark for the Beavers this season only as he inches closer to 12-game hitting streak that he started the season with. Freshman first baseman KJ Harrison drove in the other two runs for OSU despite going hitless in the game. Freshman right-hander Mitch Hickey recorded his eighth save of the season in relief of Eckert, making sure the Beavers returned to Corvallis on See BASEBALL | page 6
Five former OSU football OSU Softball Defeats No. 20-Ranked Washington players drafted in NFL Draft n
n
Former Oregon State football players Sean Mannion, Steven Nelson, DJ Alexander, Obum Gwacham, Ryan Murphy all selected in NFL draft THE DAILY BAROMETER
The 2015 NFL Draft saw five Oregon State Beavers drafted over the course of the three-day event that spanned Thursday through Saturday. Quarterback Sean Mannion was the first former Oregon State football player to hear his name called, going to the St. Louis Rams with the 89th overall pick in the third round. Mannion became the all-time Pac-12 leader in passing yards (13,600) during his four-year career and broke virtually every passing record in Oregon State history. The 6-foot-5 Pleasanton, Calif. native is the first OSU quarterback selected in the draft since the New Orleans Saints took Sean Canfield in the seventh round in 2010. Cornerback Steven Nelson, who was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs just nine picks later at 98th overall, closely followed Mannion in the third round. Nelson was All-Pac-12 Second Team in his senior season including two interceptions and eight passes broken up. Nelson was also one of just two players in the nation that didn’t miss a tackle all season, recording 60 in total. Nelson will join linebacker DJ Alexander in Kansas City, who was also drafted by the Chiefs two rounds later at No. 172 overall. Alexander started 32 games in his final three seasons as a Beaver, amassing 209 tackles and 23 tackles for loss during that time. Alexander is the first OSU linebacker taken since the New York Jets took Joey LaRocque in the seventh round in 2008. The final two former Oregon State players to be selected won’t have to travel far to fulfill their NFL dreams. The Seattle Seahawks drafted both defensive end Obum Gwacham (No. 209 overall in the sixth round) and safety Ryan Murphy (No. 248 overall in the seventh round) to round things out. Murphy accumulated 235 career tackles and seven interceptions in his four-year career at Oregon State. Gwacham, meanwhile, recorded 28 tackles and 5.5 sacks in his first year playing defense after transitioning from wide receiver. Gwacham and Murphy are just the third and fourth former Beavers drafted by the Seahawks, respectively, and the first since Doug Nienhuis in 2005. The Daily Barometer sports@dailybarometer.com
Beavers lead from start-to-finish in 14-8 victory over Huskies By Mitch Mahoney THE DAILY BAROMETER
Redshirt sophomore first baseman Natalie Hampton hit two home runs, freshman left fielder Lovie Lopez hit a grand slam and the Beavers (26-24, 6-17 Pac-12) led from wire-to-wire in game two of a three-game series against No. 20 Washington (38-14, 9-10). Oregon State’s victory comes a day
after they lost the first game of the series to a walk-off home run, 5-4. In Sunday’s game, the Beavers went ahead early. In the opening frame, OSU’s first three batters all reached base safely before the first out was made. With the bases loaded, junior left fielder Sammi Noland hit a sacrifice fly to score the first run of the ballgame. Senior catcher Hannah Akamine got on base with a walk, and senior third baseman CJ Chirichigno hit a two RBI single to cap the scoring in the first inning.
The Beavers almost blew the game wide open after they would load the bases again in the same inning, but Lopez was unable to capitalize on the situation, as she flew out on a catch made on the warning track. The Beavers led the Huskies 3-0 after the first frame. Starting on the mound for the Beavers was freshman pitcher Rainey Dyreson, who kept the Huskies scoreless through the first two innings. See SOFTBALL | page 6
Justin quinn
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Junior secondbasemen Mikela Manewa takes a pratice swing before going up to bat against Utah. The Beavers faced the Utes at home between April 10-12.
6•Monday, May 4, 2015
news@dailybarometer.com • 541-737-2231
Memorable performances in Beavers’ final meet n
Oregon State’s final track meet of season shows signs of program growth, continuing progression By Brenden Slaughter THE DAILY BAROMETER
The OSU track team held its final home meet of the year on Friday. The meet was only the second home meet of the season for Oregon State. The Beavers, who are still in the process of building their track program after it was discontinued in 1988, took a big step toward establishing their program Friday, by way of some memorable performances. The charge was led by Freshman Kerissa D’Arpino, who placed second in the 100 and 200 meters with top-three all-time performances, freshman Sam McKinnon set a
school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and sophomore Melissa Ausman won the discus to lead the Beavers. More than 500 male and female athletes from teams all around the nation competed at the meet, the deepest group since the opening of the Whyte complex in 2013. D’Arpino was clocked at 11.89 seconds in the 100, the second-fastest time in school history. She finished the 200 in 24:27, the third-fastest time in program history. “She had a great, great day,” OSU coach Kelly Sullivan said of D’Arpino, whose previous bests were 12.22 and 25.07, respectively. Running the steeplechase for the first-time ever in college, McKinnon took third place in 10:30.81. “That’s probably going to give her an NCAA-regional berth,” Sullivan said of McKinnon, who had competed in the 800 and 1,500 in previous outdoor meets. “That’s
incredible for the first time running that event. It’s what I hoped she’d run, but probably better than I expected.” Ausman captured the discus in 162-7, a tad bit shy of her season-best of 164-2. She also placed sixth in the shot put (41-9.25), and 10th in Thursday’s hammer (150-5.50), held at Western Oregon University. Jasmin McKenzie placed fourth in the long jump in 18-6.50, the seventh-best mark in OSU history. Friday’s meet was an example of the positive steps that the newly resurrected program has taken. “We had great fan support, we had a great crowd, we’re getting more teams every year and the level of competition was outstanding,” Sullivan said. Brenden Slaughter, sports reporter On Twitter @b_slaught sports@dailybarometer.com
The Corvallis Water System provides a reliable supply of high quality drinking water. We are pleased to report on our annual testing in accordance with EPA and Oregon Drinking Water Program guidelines. Our water surpasses all state and federal requirements. We strive to provide the best water possible. Download the 2015 Water Quality Report at www.CorvallisOregon.gov/WaterReport To request a paper copy, call 541-766-6916 or send your name and address to: Water Quality Report Corvallis Public Works PO Box 1083 Corvallis OR 97339-1083
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THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS IN THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE PRESENTS
26th Annual Physics
Yunker Lecture Series Prof. Howard A. Stone, Princeton University
justin quinn
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Junior centerfielder Jeff Hendrix squares up the ball against Grambling State. The Beavers faced the Tigers at home in Goss Stadium on Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, Feb. 29.
BASEBALL n Continued from page 5
his left hand in the third inning of a win against USC on April 26. Morrison stayed in the game, but x-rays later revealed a good note. While Oregon State held on the injury. Head coach Pat Casey to its grasp of fifth place in the Pac-12 standings with the told the Oregonian’s Connor series win, the team suffered a Letourneau after Thursday’s significant loss going forward. extra-innings win that Morrison Sophomore shortstop Trever will be out for the remainder of Morrison fractured a bone in the regular season, but could
potentially return to the lineup for the postseason should Oregon State qualify. Hamilton will move over from third base to shortstop in Morrison’s absence, while freshman Michael Gretler will fill in at third. Morrison was hitting .319 with 19 RBIs and eight extrabase hits before the injury.
Oregon State returns home to host Oregon in a nonconference meeting Tuesday before gearing up for a three-game home Pac-12 series against Utah starting Friday. Tuesday’s game is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Goss Stadium. Andrew Kilstrom On Twitter @AndrewKilstrom sports@dailybarometer.com
SOFTBALL n Continued from page 5
Fascina�on with Fluids and Flows
The relevance of uid mechanics is linked to understanding all of life’s processes, spanning those that are natural, industrial and planetary. A leading theorist in uid mechanics, Stone will highlight ideas relevant to industry, physiology and environmental health.
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In the top of the third, the Beavers even extended their lead. For the second time in the game, Lopez stepped into the batter’s box with runners at every base. In this at-bat, she hit an RBI single for a 4-0 OSU lead. With the bases still loaded, junior second baseman Mikela Manewa drove two runners home on a single, upping OSU’s lead to 6-0. Up next in the batter’s box was freshman designated hitter Alysha Everett. She scored a run on a sacrifice fly, giving OSU a 7-0 advantage. The Huskies answered in the third. Washington managed five runs in the inning, where four came in at once off a grand slam from junior catcher Kimberlee Souza. A day earlier, it was Souza who hit the walk-off home run. Washington’s big inning could only narrow the gap, as they still found themselves trailing, 7-5. In the top of the fourth, the Beavers got a bit of insurance in the form of a solo home run off the bat of Hampton. In the bottom of the fourth, Dyreson gave up two singles to the first two batters of the inning. The second single came right up the middle and caught Dyreson on her right wrist before bouncing for a hit. Dyreson was relieved immediately afterward by sophomore pitcher Taylor Cotton. On the day, Dyreson allowed seven hits and five earned runs to a top-ranked Washington team. Neither team would score again until the sixth inning. For the third time in the game, Lopez stepped to the plate with runners at
JustIN Quinn
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Freshman outfielder Lovie Lopez takes a swing against UCLA at Goss Stadium on April 27. first, second and third. This time, Lopez connected and sent the ball flying over the fence for a grand slam, her third home run of the year. Lopez pushed the score to 12-5. The Huskies made a bit of noise in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on a solo home run and scoring again on a two-run home run. Still, they entered the final frame trailing 12-8. In the top of the seventh, the Beavers kept piling on the runs. Hampton drilled a two-run home run, her second of the game and sixth of the year, to give the Beavers 14 runs in the
ballgame. Those 14 runs are the most Oregon State has scored in a Pac-12 game all season. Up 14-8, the Beavers closed out the Huskies in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cotton was credited with the win after pitching 2.1 innings and allowing two earned runs, two hits and striking out two. The Beavers and Huskies will play the final game of the series Monday at 7 p.m. Mitch Mahoney, sports reporter On Twitter @MitchIsHere sports@dailybarometer.com
The Daily Barometer 7 •Monday, May 4, 2015
Forum
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Make your opinion known.
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Satire: Solution to disordly protests is colorblindness Travis
Chambers Not so swift America with all the other nervous white people, but I still feel like there is an issue we need to address that is even more important than demanding an end to the systematic extermination of people of color. In fact, I feel like it might very well be the central issue of all the major civil rights demonstrations we’ve had in the past 50 years. How do you make these protests more convenient for white people? It’s a tricky question, but as a middle-class white man who has never
experienced racism, I believe I’m the perfect person to define what is or isn’t an appropriate form of protest against the systems and institutions that I benefit from. It’s like if you wanted to protest a slaughterhouse for the inhumane treatment of animals. Who’s going to know the most effective method of protest: the pigs or the butcher? The first thing to remember is that any protest needs to be calm, orderly and convenient. If there’s one thing that the national attention and media focus on the protests in Baltimore proved, it’s that confrontational and violent protests don’t solve anything. There is no benefit to breaking windows, burning buildings or flipping over cop cars and it will ultimately do nothing but alienate the white people
who have spent their entire lives lations of civil rights, like if the British tax you too much or a university ignoring your struggles and plight. unfairly fires a footAlways remember ball coach for coverthe lessons of Martin ing up over a decade Luther King, Jr. of sexual abuse. The first thing I mean, the imagiFinally, an effective nary one that has to remember protest needs to be been appropriated armed. is that any by white people. Not I know that may the one the FBI once protest needs sound extreme, but called “the most danmy research has gerous Negro of the to be calm, shown that a protest future of this nation.” orderly and is much more effecIt is especially tive if they are carryimportant that proconvenient. ing guns. testers don’t engage In 2014, Cliven in any destruction Bundy and a group of property. In the United States, property is more impor- of conservative protesters engaged in tant than the life of a human being. acts of civil disobedience against the The destruction of property is only state and federal government over justified as a reaction to important vioSee CHAMBERS | page 8
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O
n Friday, May 1, six Baltimore Police officers were arrested and charged with the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man whose illegal arrest and subsequent death from injuries incurred while in custody sparked a series of protests nobody in the country seemed to care about until things were on fire. The announcement of the indictment was met by tears of joy from a crowd of people who have had their standards for the justice system lowered so far that a court of law admitting the fact that police officers murdering a black man should be considered a crime is cause for celebration. This is all wonderful news and I’m happy to go back to pretending that systemic racism doesn’t exist in
PETA welcome to freedom of speech, though actions questionable M
onday, May 4, peta2 — the little sister college section of the main organization, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) — will set up shop in the Memorial Union Plaza with their cinematic debut of “I, Chicken.” This virtual reality installation is “designed to help students learn about what chickens see, hear and feel,” according to a press release from peta2. We can imagine how the chicken movie ends. Our current bet is in a McDonald’s Happy Meal box. Apparently, peta2 was set to run through this in late April, but their permit was denied by Oregon State University. Marta Holmberg, director of peta2, was quoted in the release as stating “Our cuttingedge project provides students with a unique educational opportunity to really be able to feel what it’s like to be a chicken destined for slaughter, and we should have the university’s support.” We are on the fence about this one.
Editorial Yes, we completely agree that freedom of speech should allow student groups to set up and state what they want. Freedom of speech is our business. Our paper runs on freedom of speech. Freedom of speech was what separated America from the monarchy and allowed the press to safely critique a government without being thrown in jail or executed for their words. It’s our first amendment for a reason. Ergo, even PETA deserves the opportunity to say what it wants to without censoring its main message. Still, however much we love the first amendment, it can allow for some pretty upsetting messages. It’s what allows the armpit scum that is the Westboro Baptist Church to picket soldiers’ funerals with belligerent anti-gay signs.
It’s what allows groups that peddle hatespeech or stir the social pot toward violence to continue to flourish unpunished. Groups that abuse this right ruin it for the rest of us. So while peta2 can and should express its opinion about issues it finds prevalent, it has had some scrapes with the sketchier side of life. But it is hard to take seriously a group that puts forth a bill advocating changing the name of fish to “sea kittens.” It is also hard to want to approve of a group connected with the murder of a little girl’s dog back in November 2014 — having a pet is apparently worth the death of a dog — or that is known for slaughtering 80 percent of the animals in its so-called “shelter.” Granted, PETA paid a $500 fine and expressed their devastation at the action of one of its members. But when such a group advocates viciously against owning pets and stirs the pot, is it so
hard to see why a member would be inclined to act on those implications? The Virginian shelter/slaughterhouse looks like it will be put out of business since the overwhelming passing of a new bill that states that a private animal shelter is “a facility operated for the purpose of finding permanent adoptive homes for animals,” according to a March 26 piece from the Huffington Post. But bringing it back home, peta2 will be showing off “I, Chicken” — we can hear old Isaac Asimov rolling in his grave — to express to students what it’s like to be a chicken up for slaughter. Hopefully they don’t mind if someone exercises their own freedom of speech rights and creates a VR entitled, “I, Pet” that details what it’s like to be one of the 80 percent of animals up for euthanization at PETA’s Virginia shelter. t
Editorials serve as means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board’s majority.
Science fiction and other realities, part 2
S
cience fiction has been described as the mythology of modern technology. Last week we considered the origins of science fiction film in the 1920s to the 1969 milestone of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” This week spans the 1970s to the present and operates with Arthur C. Clarke’s Second Law, “The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.” “The Andromeda Strain” (1971): Michael Crichton is a master of science-gone-wrong fiction as the many films made from his novels attest — “West World,” “The Terminal Man,” “Runaway,” “Jurassic Park” — and his depiction of scientists battling an alien virus brought to earth by space exploration is a prime example. This film is notable in its depiction of an ultrasterile medical research facility complete with nuclear self-destruct; the difficulty of deploying safe pathogen isolation became clear during the 2014 Ebola pandemic. “Sleeper” (1973): This satirical critique of science and society from Woody Allen brilliantly futurecast cryopreservation, cloning, biometrics, genetically modified food, domestic robots, electronic recreational psychedelics and the sexual technologies. 200 years from now the existence of God has been mathematically proven, past symbols of evil are used as fashion statements and health science has changed such that deep-fried foods and cigarettes are “the best things for you.” “Star Wars” (1977): This iconic film is more magic than science fiction particularly given that it occurs “long, long ago, far, far away” rather than our own future. “Star Wars” is a great story of spiritual awakening and is based closely on Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1958 film “The Hidden Fortress.” “Runaway” (1984): the emergence of cybercriminality is forecast in this film through the depictions of smart bombs and bullets, autono-
Dr. Jon Dorbolo
Ask Dr. Tech mous machines out of control and efforts by the law enforcement community to adapt to these changes. “Brazil” (1985): This film anticipated the expansion of executive government power during the Bush/Cheney presidency which continues under Obama including rendition, secret prisons, torture, total surveillance, militarized police, assassinations and perpetual war. “RoboCop” (1987): This film and Starship Troopers (1997) are notable for the background messages about future culture given via television shows and commercials within the films. “Back to the Future Part II” (1989): Some films are explicitly about the future and this one is specifically about 2015. The film effectively futurecast augmented reality, consumer VR goggles, plasma flat screen TV and video-conferencing, localized weather reporting, card scanners, Tasers, holographic advertisements, audio-enabled clothing, hover boards and1980’s nostalgia shops. If we focus on the year then we are thinking about prediction, but if we focus on the extrapolation of the technologies we are thinking about future casting; remember that this film was produced before the web existed. The film is premised on the magic of time travel and much of the plot revolves around paradoxes, which raises a philosophical question; did the film futurecast a technology such as self-tying shoes or did the popularity of the film cause that technology to be created? “Jurassic Park” (1993): Perhaps resurrecting dinosaurs is a bad idea, as another vehicle of Crichton’s techno-pessimism asserts, but that is not stopping Russian biologists from attempting to clone a wooly mammoth. See Dorbolo | page 8
Ryan Mason is a senior in graphic design
8•Monday, May 4, 2015
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Letter to the Editor Benton Food Freedom deliberately misleading voters
about the effects of Measure 2-89. Anyone reading Measure 2-89 can see how this would impact Oregon State University research activities because of sections 3b: “It shall be unlawful for any corporation or governmental entity to engage in the use of genetically engineered organisms within Benton County.” and 8c: “ ‘Genetically Engineered Organism’: Any organism, organisms, or life forms, in which the genetic or self replicating material has been changed, engineered, modified or altered using techniques such as…” I saw that the Benton Food Freedom Facebook page allowed dissenting comments, so I expressed my concern. I explained how those two sections would ban OSU research, and yet Benton Food Freedom insists that because the title is “Local Food System Ordinance,” it will only impact food and not research. When I explained that the title of the legislation is meaningless because the definitions and sections do not restrict the measure to just food, my comment was deleted. I reposted this comment later and it was deleted again. Some of my peers posted to the page asking why my civil comment was censored. Their comments were deleted. In addition, we were banned. No dissenting comments are allowed on the page anymore. Benton Food Freedom is censoring anyone who suggests that they are deliberately misleading voters into thinking that Measure 2-89 will not impact Oregon State University research. This calls into question their real intentions. They claim to just want to protect local and organic growers. Because of their swift censorship despite civil discourse, I cannot help but worry that they are intentionally trying to undermine one of the premiere research institutions in the United States. I dislike baseless conjecture, but I cannot ask them directly. I hope my fellow classmates will pressure them into addressing this concern. Amber Barnard, Senior, chemistry.
DORBOLO n Continued from page 7 Did you know that the idea of extracting DNA from insects fossilized in amber, the main technological premise of “Jurassic Park”, came from Oregon State University researcher George Poinar? “Men in Black” (1997): The global imaging system in this film is within a dozen meters of what you can do now with Google Earth, which — appropriate to the movie — was originally developed by a CIA-funded research lab. “Minority Report” (2002): The film like the writer who inspired it, Phillip K. Dick, is a treasure of provocative ideas — I am fond of its solution to campus parking — but the most celebrated is the gesture-based interface used by the main character to solve murders before they occur. The power of any technology is limited by the user interface (UI), which is how the human interacts with the control system. The great leap in UI was the computer mouse which uses 3D hand movements to control computer operations and was invented by OSU alumni Douglas Engelbart; note that prior to the mouse humans interacted with computers solely via keyboard commands and punch-cards. In “Minority Report” the UI is gesturebased by which the person’s whole body controls the computer operations and interprets the data. The big deal about more powerful and intuitive UI is that it will allow us to multitask at higher levels and extract more meaning from greater complexity. John Underkoffler was a science advisor for the film and has demonstrated working gesture based UI in a 2010 Ted Talk — see jondorbolo.com for resource links and your comments. Our current touch-screen interfaces are a transitional stage between mice and gesture UI. Your friends at TAC are working to provide students with 3D UI such as virtual anatomical models of animals for veterinary classes, immersive environments such as Beaver Island where your avatar may cavort and full virtual reality simulations for instructors who will use new classrooms in the Learning Innovation Center (LINC) that you will experience next year. “Limitless” (2011): Augmenting human intelligence through neurochemistry has
Dr. Tech’s Blog: jondorbolo.com Email questions for the column to forum@dailybarometer.com, with the subject “Ask Dr. Tech.” Your name will not be published.
a plausibility inherited from the history of mind altering drugs of the last century and this film is based on a novel that explores the potential frontiers of cognitive enhancement. The topic of changing thinking capabilities through drugs is relevant to us now given the 6 million children being treated chemically for ADHD and the derivative rise of “smart drugs” in the college and general culture. “Interstellar” (2014): Kip Thorne is a professor of theoretical physics at the California Institute of Technology and was science advisor in the production of this film. Thorn’s challenge was to explain a black hole so that the special effects crew on the film could create something worth looking at. He produced a data set for the CGI animators to render and the task turned epic requiring 100 hours and 800 terabytes to render visualized data on a single frame. The result was not only cool movie graphics but a genuine scientific discovery as Thorn recognized in the images a physical consequence of the data; that light trapped around a black hole forms a complex shadow that may appear to an observer as a halo. The notion that the effort to communicate complex ideas to others may itself lead to discovery is an astonishing dynamic that lies at the core of education; we are here not only to tell students what we know, but that a new generation may step into the void of what we do not know in order to find new truths — you, dear students, are here to learn the future. If this journey into the intersections of imagination and technology has succeeded in whetting your appetite for analysis consider the forthcoming science fiction movies as potential subject matter: “Chappie”, “Tomorrowland”, “Self/less” and “The ThreeBody Problem”. Post your thoughts on my blog; over and out, for now. t
Dr. Jon Dorbolo is the associate director of Technology Across Curriculum at Oregon State University. Dorbolo supports instructors and students with technology and teaches philosophy. The opinions expressed in Dorbolo’s columns do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Dorbolo can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.
CHAMBERS n Continued from page 7 grazing fees and land management in Nevada. The situation was tense, but Bundy and his followers were never arrested and police officers on the scene reportedly refrained from wearing helmets or protective gear “for fear it might be seen as a provocation.” This level of respect and tolerance by officers for a group of people threatening violent insurrection against the United States government is entirely because the group was heavily armed. There is no other factor that can explain the difference in responses between these two events. The police reacted to the protest of a white rancher refusing to pay grazing fees by deescalating the situation, and they reacted to the protests over a black man’s spine being broken while he’s traveling in the back of a police van with tear gas and riot batons. The difference between the two seems pretty obvious to me. But ultimately, the most important thing is that we all acknowledge that none of this is about race. It is fine if you protest a lack of opportunity for the lower class, the militarization of the police, or the corrupt criminal justice system, but it would be best if race were completely erased from the conversation. The topic of race is just too divisive. It makes it difficult for me and other white commentators to speak with the authority we’re used to having. Talk about poverty, politics, or even the police if you want, but it is important that future protests aren’t about race. Otherwise, we’ll never get what we want. t
Travis Chambers is a senior in English. The opinions expressed in Chambers’s columns do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Chambers can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.
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