The Daily Barometer
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
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DAILYBAROMETER
THURSDAY MAY 15, 2014 VOL. CXVI, NO. 137
@BARONEWS, @BAROSPORTS, @BAROFORUM
Spinrad dedicated to progress in research n
Outgoing vice president of research is selected to represent NOAA as chief scientist, will work closely with Obama administration in Washington, D.C. By Sean Bassinger THE DAILY BAROMETER
In eighth grade, Rick Spinrad took his first shot at constructing an echosounder for his earth science class project. The device, which allows marine researchers to measure the depth levels of the ocean floor, requires various technical parameters to function properly. Naturally, it didn’t go so well. “Of course, I failed miserably,” Spinrad said. “But I was so excited about it — I was hooked.” Because of his instructor’s encouragement, COURTESY OF Oregon State University The White House appointed OSU Spinrad learned well from his experience and pursued a career in ocean and atmospheric sciences. VP of research Rick Spinrad as the The White House appointed Spinrad as chief chief scientist for NOAA. scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Friday. Initially, Spinrad heard the news from Kathryn Sullivan, NOAA administrator. “She basically said, ‘Rick, you fit the bill,’” Spinrad said. Spinrad, who earned a Ph.D. in 1982 from Oregon State University, will take a two-year leave of absence from the university as vice president of research and return as an OSU faculty member. The university selected him as the vice president of research in 2010. Spinrad’s career began with more than 20 years of work in the United States Navy. During his time at OSU, he and other graduate students invented a new technique for detecting water clarity, which prompted its own company and was then purchased by the WET Labs organization in Philomath. He previously worked for NOAA, but planned on retiring after he returned to Oregon and began his position at OSU. Though he has loved his time at OSU, Spinrad said he’s ready to take on new challenges and
address greater issues in terms of climate change and the continuing needs of the United States. “Fortunately, I do know the environment, and I know the issues, having worked there before,” Spinrad said. Spinrad’s new position, which will involve continuing conversations with Congress and the Obama administration, will allow him to provide scientific input to assist the Washington, D.C., political scene in terms of decision-making and best practices in the next few years. One challenge, according to Spinrad, will be attempting to accomplish so much during the last two years of the president’s term. “I’m going there right at the start of the midterm elections,” Spinrad said. Other professors at OSU have testified to Spinrad’s continuing devotion to the college’s research. Jack Barth, professor and associate dean for research at the College of Earth, Ocean and See SPINRAD | page 4
Transport app tracks bus system in real time n
OSU app club, OPAL partner to launch GPS-tracking app for OSU, Corvallis residents By Emma-Kate Schaake THE DAILY BAROMETER
THE DAILY BAROMETER
A screenshot of Transport’s second screen option, which shows detailed addresses of each stop along bus routes.
The Oregon State University app club, in partnership with the OSU policy analysis laboratory, has launched a new app, Transport, for iPhone and Android with real-time updates of the Corvallis Transit System. The OSU policy analysis laboratory, OPAL, contacted the app club last fall with the idea of creating an app that OSU and the wider Corvallis public could use. “OPAL’s mission is being able to find real policy applications for what we are studying in the School of Public Policy,” said public liaison for the project Ian Davidson, who
is a grad student in the School of Public Policy. The plans were laid out during winter term, followed by the app’s creation in April. The apps were given a soft launch last week without public marketing and advertising. “We’re pretty confident; there’s one more update we are going to do before marketing it next week,” said Transport creator Chris Vanderschuere, who is a senior in electrical engineering. At the start of the project, OPAL conducted a marketing research survey to see why more people do not utilize the free bus rides. “We looked at the different habits and how people use the bus,” Davidson said. The No. 1 complaint found in the survey was that the buses were often off schedule and late. Riders
Extravaganza promotes sustainable transportation n
Sustainable organizations educate passers-by, provide resources on alternative transportation By Ria Rankine THE DAILY BAROMETER
There is a way for students to use transportation that is more sustainable, cheaper and more convenient than driving a car. This was the fundamental message at the 2014 Bike Extravaganza. The Bike Extravaganza took place in the Memorial Union quad at the same time as the Alternative Transportation Fair, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday. Members of various sustainability programs set up booths, including the Department of Public Safety, so students could register their bikes. “This event gives students an opportunity to know about all of their options,” said Olivia Poblacion, director of the Student Sustainability Initiative. As she passed out free trinkets and T-shirts,
she informed students about what makes Corvallis so unique. “Buses are free in Corvallis,” Poblacion said. “There are tons of bike lanes. We have sidewalks, which makes it easy to walk. Some places, like Texas, don’t even have sidewalks.” Due to its size, Corvallis is a great place for students to walk or ride their bikes to school, Poblacion said. She wants to see a decrease in the number of single-occupant drivers, and one way is through spreading the word. “It’s more expensive to drive, and in Corvallis it takes more time (to get around),” Poblacion said. “So it’s more convenient and less expensive. And in Corvallis, it’s extremely safe.” If nothing else, the Bike Extravaganza was designed to inform the public. At the event, OSU sustainability coordinator Brandon Trelstad handed out a comprehensive brochure about transportation options, which he and a few members of SSI put together. They also provided information from other sustainable agencies, such as Valley Carpooling and
Sibling rowers overcome short stature
Sports, page 5
See EXTRAVAGANZA | page 4
cited frustrations with trip-planning and waiting longer than necessary in the rain. The club then took that information to figure out what the most important elements would be in a new app. “The survey led us to believe that an app would increase the riders,” Davidson said. Many people surveyed said they would use the bus system more if they were able to track the actual arrival and departure times of the various routes. “The app uses the GPS on the buses, so it tells the time the bus is actually going to be there, not what’s on the schedule,” Vanderschuere said. In April, OPAL hosted a weekend “Hackathon” during which teams gathered to try out their ideas for
Roosevelt elk in Turtle Flats
JUSTIN QUINN
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
At the Finley National Wildlife Refuge, a heard of Roosevelt elk run through the water in Turtle Flats Monday evening.
Golfer David Fink’s career coming to close Sports, page 5
See TRANSPORT | page 4
THE DAILY BAROMETER
A screenshot of Transport’s map, which shows the trajectory of each route and the user’s location.
Constructive vs. destructive criticism
Forum, page 7
2•Thursday, May 15, 2014
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Not off to the best start Benton County sheriffs allegedly witnessed Amber Lundin, 22, texting while driving and failing to maintain a lane. As she pulled over to the side of the highway, she struck a mailbox with her passenger mirror. Lundin admitted to drinking and failed standard field sobriety tests. She was arrested for driving under the influ- Benton County sheriffs left a note for the ence of intoxicants. owner to keep his cattle under control.
he and his friend got into the car, directly outside of Finley Hall, and another male came over and poured the chili on the front windshield. The suspect admitted to committing the crime over an ongoing dispute between the students. No charges were pressed after the suspect cleaned up the mess. Tuesday, May 13
One for one in stolen bases Around 2:30 a.m. someone observed Thursday, May 8 Friday, May 9 a male, approximately 5-foot-10 with a The grass is always greener Using the dining plan for revenge stocky build, allegedly put a “baseball A male contacted Oregon State police diamond” under his shirt and run off Someone reported cattle breaking out of a fenced area near Highway 223 and about another male who allegedly threw near McAlexander Fieldhouse. Oregon going next door to a neighbor’s pasture. a cup of chili on his car. The victim said State police weren’t able to locate the
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Meetings
Baha’i Campus Association, 12:30pm, MU Talisman Room. A discussion - A world commonwealth. Educational Activities Committee, 6-8pm, SLI Lounge - Snell Hall. Transition Meeting.
Events
Asian and Pacific Cultural Center, 6-8pm, MU 211. The Question of Palestine. This event will examine the occupation of Palestine from a historical perspective, looking at it as a process of ongoing settler colonialism. The role of Palestine within racial justice organizing historically and today will also be examined. Human Services Resource Center, 11am-2pm, MU Lounge. What is being done on campus to increase affordability of and access to educational materials? Join OSU faculty, staff and students to discuss various efforts on campus.
Meetings
OSU Chess Club, 4-6pm, MU Commons. Come play with us and learn more about this classic game. All skill levels welcome.
statesmanjournal.com
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Thursday, May 15
Friday, May 16
By Michael Rose
STATESMAN JOURNAL
SALEM — It’s a foodie’s dream. A collection of food vendors, assembled in a bustling “pod” on an inner-city lot. Each small-time entrepreneur sells made-from-scratch foods, often for modest prices. If that sounds appetizing, head to Portland. City of Salem regulations dating to 1994 ban clusters of food trucks and trailers from gathering on private property. No vending is allowed in the public-right-ofway. And food trucks that call on multiple locations can stay in one spot for no longer than two hours. “The rules in Salem pretty much make it impossible for most of us to make a living at it,” said Richard Foote, a representative of the Salem Food Truck Association. He has a vested interest in seeing food trucks succeed: His Oregon Crepe Company includes a specialty bakery that supplies breads to food vendors. But Salem may yet catch up with the street food craze. Salem City Council recently asked city staff to draft an ordinance that would loosen restrictions on food trucks and trailers. “Council asked us to fast-track this item, so we are intending to do that,” said Glenn Gross, they city’s community development director. The city hopes to have a new ordinance ready for council consideration by the summer, he said. Most mobile food vendors in Salem have a second job or rely on income from a spouse to pay the bills, Foote said. He estimated that about 20 food trucks and trailers operate in Salem. The only way for several food vendors to gather in one spot, even temporarily, is to obtain a special events permit, such those issued for the city’s World Beat festival. “I would love to see a little taste of what Portland’s got, or even Eugene,” said Chad Lewis, owner of Chad’s Smoking Barbecue, a
Calendar
Monday, May 19 Events
International Students of OSU, 4:306pm, MU Lounge. Coffee Hour. Come enjoy international food, mingle with other OSU and international students and become culturally aware.
Wednesday, May 21 Meetings
College Republicans, 7pm, Gilkey 113. Come join us for discussion on current events in the state and nation.
Thursday, May 22 Events
TIMOTHY J. GONZALEZ
| STATESMAN JOURNAL
Minh and Carmen Nguyen are photographed with their food truck, “Fusion Semi-Authentic Vietnamese Food,” at b2 Taphouse Wednesday. The city may loosen restriction on food trucks. food truck and catering service. Lewis sees plenty of potential customers in industrial areas with few nearby restaurants, as well as in Salem’s downtown where state employees, Willamette University students and others might want to grab a quick bite. Since October, Carmen and Minh Nguyen have run “Fusion Semi-Authentic Vietnamese Foods.” Finding places to park their food truck, however, has been an obstacle. The couple once did a good business selling curry rice bowls and Vietnamese sandwiches in the parking lot of a Salem shopping center. But nearby restaurants soon complained to the landlord about the competition. Fusion, which was initially invited to the location, had to leave. “It was really unfortunate. It was a fun place to be,” Carmen Nguyen said. The Fusion food truck has been making the rounds to local taphouses and breweries, and the Nguyens have made it a fulltime business. In December, Salem City
Councilor Diana Dickey brought up the idea of easing the city’s restrictions on food trucks and trailers. Since then, Dickey has received several dozen emails and calls from residents about the subject. Only one commenter, who sent a note anonymously, objected to Dickey’s push to revise the city’s rules, she said. In essence, the anonymous complaint asserted that mobile food vendors were unfair competition. Food trucks and trailers have low overhead costs compared to
restaurants. Could Salem eventually have something akin to Cartlandia, a prominent spot for food carts along Southeast 82nd Avenue in Portland? The only way to answer that question, Foote said, is for the city to give food trucks and carts a reasonable chance to succeed. Obstacles. What’s holding back the food truck businesses in Salem? The Salem Food Truck Association wants several city rules to change:
KBVR TV manager selected for 2014-15 THE DAILY BAROMETER
Oregon State University’s student media department selected Justin Matthews as the KBVR TV station manager for 2014-15. Majoring in digital arts communications, Matthews brings experience from co-producing the television show “Glimpses” on KBVR TV since July 2013. He went to high school in Halsey and brings experience from his leadership role in Central Linn High School’s associated student body. managing@dailybarometer.com
Step out of your story and into Healing! Discover how letting go of human history and accepting our God-given identity leads to healing National speaker, Jon Benson, is a practitioner of Christian Science healing and a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship.
17th of May, 2014 at 2:30pm At West Hills Congregational Church 4514 SW West Hills Rd, Corvallis Sponsored by the Corvallis & Albany Christian Science churches Child care provided
International Students of OSU, 5pm, International Resource Center in the MU. Cultural Exposition. An exposition of culture through songs, poems, cultural stories and presentations of cultural items. Active Minds, 8am-4pm, MU Quad. Join Active Minds in honoring those who were taken by suicide. Active Minds will lay 1,100 daisies down in the MU Quad to honor the 1,100 students who commit suicide across college campuses each year. Campus Recycling, 6-8pm, 644 SW 13th Street. May Repair Fair - Bring your broken items and questions; receive free repairs. Recreational Sports, 11am-Noon, Dixon Rec Center Conference Room. Recreational Sports Board Meeting.
Friday, May 23 Meetings
OSU Chess Club, 4-6pm, MU Commons. Come play with us and learn more about this classic game. All skill levels welcome.
Monday, May 26 MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
Wednesday, May 28 Meetings
College Republicans, 7pm, Gilkey 113. Come join us for discussion on current events in the state and nation. W7OSU, 5pm, Snell 229. OSU Amateur Radio Club meeting.
Friday, May 30 Meetings
OSU Chess Club, 4-6pm, MU Commons. Come play with us and learn more about this classic game. All skill levels welcome.
Volunteers Center for Civic Engagement, 2-4:30, 3-5:30, check-in begins at 1:30pm in Dixon lower courts. Choose from more than six different service projects. Pre-registration is required. You can register online.
Wednesday, June 4 Meetings College Republicans, 7pm, Gilkey 113. Come join us for discussion on current events in the state and nation.
Friday, June 6 Meetings OSU Chess Club, 4-6pm, MU Commons. Come play with us and learn more about this classic game. All skill levels welcome.
Correction
In Monday’s Barometer, it was reported that Corvallis police arrested Ben Wetzler for first-degree criminal trespass and second-degree criminal mischief when attempting to enter a residence on Northwest Fourth Street. It was on Northwest 14th Street. managing@dailybarometer.com
managing@dailybarometer.com • 541-737-3383
Thursday, May 15, 2014• 3
Columbia Maritime Museum staffers including Facilities Manager Hampton Scudder, right, and Curator Jeff Smith, middle, provide instruction to Mike Abrahams, not pictured, owner of ABA Construction.
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Looking down the barrel of history DAILY ASTORIAN dailyastorian.com
ASTORIA — After five years of painstaking restoration work, two cannons from a 19th century American ship that surveyed the region are now ready to be displayed at the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Museum staff used a forklift Tuesday to hoist the 1,300-pound iron cannons and carefully place them in replica wooden carriages and original mounting pieces. Although the ship was broken apart on the Columbia River bar 168 years ago, the cannons still technically belong to the U.S. Navy. The museum partnered with the Navy and the state of Oregon to restore and display them. “To us it’s so much more than just a maritime story,� said Dave Pearson, deputy director of the museum. “This was the dawn of the Oregon territory. This is something that I think has a bigger story to tell.� The two cannons, known more specifically as carronades, were discovered in 2008 during Presidents Day weekend. Mike Petrone of Tualatin and his daughter Miranda, who was 12 years old at the time, discovered the first cannon while walking along the beach in Arch Cape. Two days later the second one was found by Sharisse Repp of Tualatin. Staff with the Nehalem Bay State Park and others had to use a backhoe for the first cannon and dig trenches alongside it before pulling it out. Both were displayed in tubs at the park as officials tried to determine their origin. When they were first extracted, many
thought the cannons could be from the USS Shark, a schooner that navigated the Columbia River in 1846. After closer examination, it turned out to be true. The ship was deployed to settle territorial disputes with the British along the river, but was never used in combat. When the crew tried to cross the Columbia River bar to leave, the ship was ripped apart on a sandbar near Fort Stevens State Park. A chunk of the ship was sucked out into the ocean and drifted south along the coast. The first cannon from the ship was found in 1898 and gave Cannon Beach its name. Survivors of the shipwreck made it to Astoria and set up cabins while they waited for two months for passage to San Francisco. On a stone slab, which was placed in the museum in 1965, survivors carved “Here the Shark was lost. September 10, 1846.� Carronades Carronades were short-range naval weapons and commonly used in the early 19th century. Jeff Smith, CRMM curator, said the British navy used them for close combat naval battles with France during the Napoleonic wars. During the War of 1812, the British were outmatched by American ships with longer-range cannons. The carronades that were dug up in Arch Cape were among 12 total cannons on board the Shark, which was built in a Washington, D.C., shipyard in 1821. Because of a maker’s mark on the bottom, officials were able to determine that one was American-made and the other was made in Great Britain.
The cannons have been at the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University since April 2009. The process of restoring them has been laborious. A thick layer of sand and rock that had formed around the cannons had to be delicately chipped away. Experts found pieces of wood, leather and rope inside. They were all soaked in their own separate chemical bath. Smith said they had to slowly change the chemistry to reduce the chloride-level that accumulated from so many years of saltwater exposure. The iron pieces were even given a jolt of electric current to remove buildup. It allowed the rust to turn back into iron. “That was the stabilization process and that took years,� Smith said. “Each object underwent its own particular chemistry and treatment.� The iron rings and guards that were part of the original mounting were too unstable to be used in the display, but will be in a separate case for visitors to view. The museum already has other artifacts from the Shark, including an officer’s sword that washed up. Pearson said the cannons help complete the story of the naval ship and are a reminder of the dangers crews faced when crossing the river bar. The cannons will be in climate-controlled cases to keep down the relative humidity. “That’s part of their care to keep them from rusting and to keep any moisture out of that,� said Pearson. The exhibit will be officially unveiled May 24 for all visitors to see.
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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 TUTORING: English language skills. Individuals/ groups. Editing: Dissertations, theses, publications, term papers. Experienced retired professor. 541-740-3707
Health & Fitness OSU GUYS! Get answers to questions you have always had and get paid for it! Attend a free MARS appointment and receive a $20 gift certificate to Fred Meyer. Talk 1:1 with a MARS peer educator about sexual health and relationships. All appointments are confidential. To schedule call OSU Student Health Services at 541-737-2775. studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/mars
For Rent Remodeled 6 bedroom directly across street from campus new kitchen, new bathroom, hardwood floors, new wood stove, large private yard with patio. 503-931-7021 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 NOW ACCEPTING FALL RESERVATIONS! Studios $450 Furnished or unfurnished. Close to OSU. Fillmore Inn Apartments, 760 NW 21st St. Call 541-754-0040. www.fillmoreinn.com
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Chintimini Senior & Community Center at Chintimini Park 2601 NW Tyler Ave., Corvallis OR 97330 www.corvallisoregon.gov/rentchintimini
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HOUSES AND TOWNHOUSES for next school year. Walk to class. www.ppnw.com MINI STORAGE STUDENT SPECIAL Pay for three get one month free when paid in advance. Valid thru June 15th. Busy Bee Mini Storage 541-928-0064.
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OSU Black Graduate Student Association Presents
The 3rd Annual Research Forum
Supporting Minorities in Academia: Communicating Through Research
May 20 , 2014, 12:00pm – 1:00pm th
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Research posters and presentations from undergrad and grad students Snacks provided! Contact the BGSA at bgsaatosu@gmail.com
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
By Ted Shorack
4•Thursday, May 15, 2014
managing@dailybarometer.com • 541-737-3383
Polk County deputy under criminal investigation By Joce DeWitt STATESMAN JOURNAL statesmanjournal.com
RIA RANKINE
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Korina Steinbergs, a senior in exercise and sports science, decorates her bike for free at Wednesday’s bike extravaganza.
EXTRAVAGANZA n Continued from page 1
signed students up at Drive Less Connect. Trelstad wants to see the number of students who travel by car reduced by half. “If we can get fewer than 25 percent commuting in the next five years, I think that would be a huge goal,” Trelstad said. “But it would never be zero. Not in our lifetimes, probably.” He calls 25 percent a “stretch goal.” “It’s realistic, but would take a lot of effort,” he said. Beyond free T-shirts and bike decor, past transportation statistics and surveys, the Bike Extravaganza included some science. Standing near the end of the booths was Zach Jones, a sophomore studying chemical engineering and volunteer for the sustainable energy initiative.
Just beside Jones was a hydrogen trailer. “The trailer is used to find a source of sustainable hydrogen production,” Jones said. The design runs through a simple process of putting hydrogen in the system and then letting it enter the fuel cell. Energy is then produced, which is stored in batteries. “And then from the batteries we can hook cables up to a motor for a bike, and we can run the bike off that,” Jones said. This essentially produces a bike that runs off of hydrogen. While the original way to power a bike is also environmentally friendly, the message behind the design is obvious. “We want to raise awareness and get other people interested in sustainable or alternative sources of energy,” Jones said. Ria Rankine
Greek and clubs reporter managing@dailybarometer.com
SALEM — A Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy is under criminal investigation, the sheriff announced Tuesday. According to Sheriff Bob Wolfe, Deputy Josh Williams, 41, is on paid leave and faces allegations of theft and official misconduct. Wolfe said that upon the discovery of alleged criminal conduct, he requested the assistance of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Williams is scheduled to appear May 22 in Marion County Circuit Court for an arraignment. Williams was never booked in the jail, Wolfe said; he was cited and released. Williams has been with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office since 2004 and works in the corrections division. Wolfe said that his duties included booking and receiving prisoners, as well as caring for prisoners. With Williams on paid leave, there are now 19 deputies left at the sheriff’s office. The investigation is coming at a bad time, Wolfe said. “Makes it difficult for us,” he said.
TRANSPORT n Continued from page 1 the app. “Everyone got to make an app and try the marketing ideas you wanted,” Vanderschuere said. Out of five teams, three successfully completed their projects. The results were one app for Android and one for iPhone that have launched, with another iPhone app scheduled for launch to the public soon. The completed apps are meant for commuters who understand their travel destinations and distances in and around
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Atmospheric Sciences, said Spinrad played a key role in continuing efforts to improve electronic research proposal submissions. “He brought us into the 21st century in terms of making the faculty get their research done,” Barth said. Spinrad’s efforts have improved program relations between the Corvallis campus and offerings at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Barth said. Dudley Chelton, a professor emeritus at the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, said Spinrad often checked in with his research efforts at OSU. “That is unprecedented in my experience, to have anyone in the research office show that level of interest,” Chelton said. It may be difficult to find anyone who is as good or better than Spinrad, according to Chelton. Vince Remcho, professor and associate dean at the department of chemistry, said he’s had the pleasure of knowing Spinrad since he first arrived at OSU in 2010. “His positive impact has been equal, well outside of marine science,” Remcho said. “We’re losing a real quality administrator.” The search for an interim vice president of research will likely consist of an internal selection committee. A greater national search will then take place to find a candidate suitable for OSU’s needs. Though his absence will be noticed, staff and faculty will continue moving forward and remember his contributions. “I will miss great conversations with him,” Remcho said.
Corvallis. “The apps target users that are fairly familiar with the system,” Vanderschuere said. “It’s meant to be quick.” In other words, the app gives a list of the current stops and their times, rather than mapping information that would be helpful for someone who is touring Corvallis and needs navigation. There are three separate screens on the app that show different aspects of the transit system. The first shows the real-time estimated arrivals for each of the routes at their respective stops with a drop-down menu of the proceeding stops later in the day. The next screen displays the street addresses of the specific stops
Sean Bassinger
Higher education reporter managing@dailybarometer.com
along each route, and the final is a colorcoded Corvallis map highlighting each route and the user’s location. The information for the app was all gathered from Corvallis Transit System, but CTS is not specifically associated with the app’s management. CTS was interested in OSU’s partnership, encouraged the creation of the app and met with the app club and OPAL several times to ensure accurate application of the route data. “CTS was amenable to this project,” Davidson said. “We wanted to make sure we were on the same page.” Emma-Kate Schaake
City reporter managing@dailybarometer.com
Amanda McDougall Hometown: Kona, Hawaii LBCC/OSU Degree Partnership Student ASLBCC Student Body President, 2 years AAOT in Education, June 2014
“
I learned that I could come to LBCC to take a lot of my transfer credits and to catch up on my math, then transfer to OSU. It’s a great place. LBCC gives students the ability to take their bacc core classes at the community college, which is cheaper than the university but you still get quality education, then transfer to Instructors give a lot of time to their students, and helped me to make sure I was taking the correct classes for transfer.
”
at LBCC this Summer!
linnbenton.edu/summer LBCC is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
“We’re already operating at minimum staffing.” The Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Marion County District Attorney are in charge of the investigation. It is standard procedure for an outside agency to investigate alleged criminal activity within a law enforcement office. The charge of official misconduct, a misdemeanor, applies only to public servants. Public servants can be found guilty of official misconduct if they abuse the power of their office or position either to benefit themselves or harm someone else, according to Oregon law. Official misconduct often is added to other charges against a public servant accused of crime. Even if the servant is not convicted of the alleged criminal activity, jurors still might find they had committed official misconduct. The worst penalties for a conviction of official misconduct are often professional: A government official might lose his job or find a once-promising career suddenly at a dead end.
SPINRAD n Continued from page 1
LBCC is an equal opportunity employer and educator
learn more at linnbenton.edu/osudpp
The Daily Barometer 5 • Thursday, May 15, 2014
Sports
sports@dailybarometer.com • On Twitter @barosports
Determination overcomes height n
Tina, Bobby Vernazza have excelled for Oregon State rowing despite short statures By Mitch Mahoney THE DAILY BAROMETER
When Tina Vernazza came to Oregon State University in 2010, she came without an athletic scholarship. This is in spite of the fact that in high school, she’d had great success rowing for the Stanford Rowing Center from 2006-10. Upon graduation, she was one of the most celebrated rowers in the state of California. In 2007, she was named the Most Valuable Novice. In 2009, she won the Coaches Award. And in 2010, she was named the Most Valuable Oarswoman. However, these accolades did nothing to catch the attention of a rowing school. The thing about Vernazza is her height. Standing just 5-foot-3, Vernazza is dwarfed by every other rower on Oregon State’s roster. Rowing — much like basketball — is a sport that unquestionably favors tall people. As men’s rowing head coach Steve Todd explains, “One of the primary functions of how to go fast is how long a stroke you take through the water. When you are a shorter individual, it limits you.” A shorter rower has shorter legs, a shorter torso and shorter arms. This reduces the range of motion of the oar the rower controls, and therefore limits how fast the boat can go. But that hasn’t stopped Vernazza, who has been proving conventional wisdom wrong for years. She currently rows in the Varsity 8 crew for the 19th-ranked rowing school in the nation. She’s risen from the ranks of
a walk-on freshman to the highest level of collegiate rowing, but it was far from easy. “When I first came here, I was in the back of the pack just because I was so small, even though I had raced in high school,” Vernazza said. “I just kept coming back and kept getting fired up wanting to compete with all the bigger girls. I was just so frustrated that these girls — who didn’t know how to row, didn’t know anything about rowing — were getting boated ahead of me, and I’d rowed for four years.” Determined to prove her doubters wrong, she stepped up her intensity in the weight room and on the water, while continuing to hone her rowing technique. Eventually, she got the attention of her coaches and was rewarded with a seat in the elite boats. “For her to make the Varsity team at her height, it’s an amazing accomplishment,” said women’s rowing head coach Emily Ford. For someone so adept at her sport, Vernazza’s introduction to rowing was quite bizarre. Growing up, she had never planned on being a rower. Neither of her parents were rowers, and she had little, if any, experience on the water. “I didn’t really know anybody who rowed. I was just like, ‘Why not?’” Vernazza said. “I just got it in my head that I was going to try rowing, and so I did it.” Then in her first year for Stanford Rowing Center, she was named the Most Valuable Novice. “That was hilarious to me, because I was so tiny. I was nothing. I was so small,” Vernazza said. “I think I had played volleyball for one or two
THE DAILY BAROMETER
Oregon State baseball head coach Pat Casey said he is still unsure of senior left-handed pitcher Ben Wetzler’s status for this weekend’s series against No. 5 Washington. Wetzler was arrested Saturday at around 4:30 a.m. for criminal trespass in the first degree and criminal mischief in the second degree. He was booked in Benton County Jail and released the same day. “(I) spent a lot of time on it (Wednesday), but right now I don’t have any decision,” Casey said. Wetzler, OSU’s ace of the pitching rotation, has a 9-1 record and 0.94 earned run average in 11 starts this season. courtesy of scobel wiggens
| OSU ATHLETICS
Fink finishing OSU career on high note n
Senior Kavin Keyes has missed last 13 games with broken thumb, could play against Washington By Andrew Kilstrom THE DAILY BAROMETER
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Senior first baseman Kavin Keyes rounds third base against the University of Portland March 4.
Oregon State senior Kavin Keyes started 32 of the first 34 games at first base before fracturing the thumb on his non-throwing hand when a runner collided with him while making a tag April 13 against Washington State. As the No. 2 Beavers (39-9, 20-4 Pac-12) prepare for a pivotal Pac-12 series with No. 5 Washington this weekend, they do so hoping Keyes will be back in the lineup. The switch hitter practiced Wednesday, taking ground balls and batting practice without a brace. Keyes will meet with doctors Thursday to determine whether or not he’ll be available for Friday’s series opener. If cleared, he could be back in the starting lineup just 32 days after suffering the injury. “(Thursday), I have a bone scan and CT
scan, and if everything’s back OK, I have a chance to play this weekend,” Keyes said. “I don’t know at this point, it’s just a ‘maybe’ for this weekend, but a ‘probably’ for next weekend.” Head coach Pat Casey didn’t know whether or not Keyes would start right away, but said that he would play in some capacity if cleared to play. Oregon State doesn’t want to risk further injury with the postseason right around the corner, but are excited about the possibility of getting Keyes back at first base. “He could potentially play Friday depending on what (Thursday) reveals,” Casey said. “He’s gradually been doing more: taking ground balls, hitting off the tee, hitting Wiffle Balls and (Wednesday) he hit live. Kavin, the trainers and the doctors will figure it out and when he’s ready to play they’ll let me know. I’m excited to finally get him back.” Keyes was third on the team in batting average at the time at .325 and was hitting See BASEBALL | page 6
Turney excels in familiar environment Michelle Turney has been big for Oregon State since arriving on campus last year
track and field team, has been able to put off at least one of those stresses. She’s a local product out of Corvallis’ Crescent Valley High School, where she was a four-year letterman in track. “The biggest reasons I chose OSU By Scott McReynolds was the track team and track coaches,” THE DAILY BAROMETER Turney said. “During high school, I College students are in a different was definitely thinking it’d be really environment than they’ve known cool if OSU had a track, and once I for the majority of their lives with a heard they were building a track, I new school, new friends and new was wondering if they were bringing responsibilities. Many often have on more people, and fortunately for to adapt to the new area they have me, they were.” moved to, which can lead to stress and Turney came to OSU the year that homesickness. the new Whyte Track and Field Center Sophomore Michele Turney, a See TURNEY | page 6 standout triple jumper on the OSU n
On Twitter @barosports sports@dailybarometer.com
Below: Tina Vernazza rows in the women’s V8 Varsity boat.
Keyes could play against UW
Nicki silva
The Daily Barometer
Above: Bobby Vernazza races in the men’s V8 Varsity boat.
See VERNAZZA | page 6
n
Wetzler’s status uncertain for weekend
justin quinn
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Sophomore jumper Michelle Turney flies through the air at the Oregon Relays April 18.
David Fink is competing in his 4th-career NCAA Championships Thursday By Grady Garrett THE DAILY BAROMETER
When David Fink was a seventh- or eighth-grader, he estimates, he traveled across the Pacific Ocean to visit his brother Michael, then a student at Oregon State University. Fink, a Honolulu native, was taken aback by the Pacific Northwest scenery. The small-town feel of Corvallis intrigued him. And when he played a round at the local golf course, Trysting Tree, he thought it was “the coolest thing ever.” Never mind the fact that he was years from having to choose a destination for college. He was sold. “I put the image (of attending OSU) in my mind right then,” Fink said Tuesday. Nearly a Fink decade later, it’s safe to say the Oregon State experience was everything a teenage Fink imagined it’d be. And then some. Fink, a fifth-year senior teeing off Thursday at the NCAA Eugene Regional, will graduate from OSU as one of the most decorated golfers to ever don the school’s orange and black. “The stats speak for themselves,” said OSU assistant coach Jonnie Motomochi, a collegiate teammate of Fink’s from 2009 until 2012. That they do. Fink’s 72.53 career-scoring average ranks fourth in program history. He holds claim to the school’s second-best ever three-round score, a 13-under 203 posted in February. And he recently became the first OSU men’s golfer since 2000 to be named second-team all-conference (or better) in consecutive seasons. “My experience at Oregon State has been awesome,” Fink said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.” See FINK | page 6
6•Thursday, May 15, 2014
sports@dailybarometer.com • 541-737-2231
TRACK n Continued from page 5 was built, and became a part of the track team, which before had simply fielded cross-country athletes and dual athletes from other sports. She seems to be at home when competing in Corvallis. In her first two years for the Beavers, each of her season PRs have been achieved at the Whyte Track and Field Center. “My home success comes from having family support and friends coming out to watch me compete,” Turney said. Turney has found a home not far away from home. She has formed family-like relationships with many of the girls on her team. Having her family close by is just another benefit for the sophomore. “I have the best of both worlds,” Turney said. “If I need something from my parents, I can easily go back, but I can also create a new life here with my team.” Turney has been one of the key components in the resurgence of Oregon State track and field. She held the top freshman mark in the Pac12 in the triple jump last year, and has improved this season. “She’s a pretty focused young
lady for a sophomore,” said head coach Kelly Sullivan. Sullivan says her focus is one of the things that will be driving her and helping her reach her goal for this season: to qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary Championship. Turney picked up right where she left off after her freshman season, getting a new PR in just her third meet, and consistently improving upon that mark nearly every week. She will be competing for the opportunity to continue her season this weekend when she heads to Pullman, Wash., to compete in the Pac12 Championships. She will need to improve her mark of 40-0 in the triple jump by roughly three inches to move on. It’s a big step for an athlete who didn’t even know if she would make a collegiate team during high school. Now she is one of the top triple jumpers in the Pac-12, and a cornerstone for this new Beaver track and field team. “It’s very cool,” Turney said. “I never thought I’d be here, and it’s just nice because I have a lot of support around me. It’s fun to bring track back to Corvallis.” Scott McReynolds, sports reporter On Twitter @scottyknows80 sports@dailybarometer.com
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VERNAZZA n Continued from page 5 months before I ever rowed, but that was the extent of my athletic experience.” The award was enough to persuade her to continue. “That was part of the reason I came back, too, because I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m good at something. Oh man, I can’t just let this be.’” Soon after she discovered her talent, another member of the Vernazza family found his. It too happened to be rowing. Tina’s younger brother, Bobby, decided to take up the sport after watching his older sister compete in high school. “I went to some of her races,” he said. “I was like, ‘Oh, this looks kind of cool. There’s a bunch of fit people and it looks kind of cool and competitive,’ so I started rowing my freshman year of high school.” Standing 5-foot-10, Bobby faces the same challenges Tina does. Like Tina, he more than makes up for it in his training and in his technique. “Of the guys in the Varsity, he’s the shortest,” Todd said. “But he makes up for it. He rows a lot bigger than he is.”
fifth in the lineup behind junior right fielder Dylan Davis. With the most games played of any player on Oregon State’s roster, Keyes’ injury meant his leadership as well as his bat were suddenly missing from the lineup. Davis said Keyes’ return could be a big boost at the perfect time with the biggest series of the season about to begin in a day’s time. With the Pac-12 Championship on the line, he said OSU will take all the help it can get. “He’s been working hard to get back and he’s looking good,” Davis said. “It’s huge for us because he’s such a key part of our team. He has a lot of experience and he’s a great player. “He’s one of the better hitters on our team, so it would be big for him to come back and be a key piece of the puzzle.” Sophomore Gabe Clark has been Keyes’ primary replacement at first base during his absence, and has been effective, particularly at the place. Clark is hitting .296 in 115 at-bats this season, and has contributed 29 RBIs and a home run. He’s been solid in the field as well, recording just one error in the 13 games Keyes has had to watch from the dugout. Junior Jerad Casper and freshmen Billy King and Dan James
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Sophomore Gabe Clark fields a grounder against Wright State March 2 in Goss Stadium.
justin quinn
THE DAILY BAROMETER
have also filled in at times, but have struggled offensively. Casper is hitting .159 on the season and King and James combined to go 1-for-16 during the span. Despite the statistics, Casey said he’s been pleased with how the rest of his team — and Clark specifically — has stepped up the past four weeks. “I’m really impressed with the way that Gabe Clark has handled the whole situation, and Jerad Casper too,” Casey said. “Billy
An all-state golfer and all-league volleyball player at Iolani High School, Fink arrived at OSU in the fall of 2009 eagerly awaiting a new challenge. Adapting to a new environment proved challenging, however. Around so few familiar faces, Fink suddenly lacked confidence. He was “like a small fish in a big pond,” as Motomochi put it. And his performance suffered as a result. He couldn’t crack OSU’s six-man lineup his first fall on campus, and was told over winter break that the coaches had decided to redshirt him. “My game just wasn’t there,” Fink said. So Fink got to work, putting in his fair share of extra hours on the course. He picked the brains of veteran teammates and learned the nuances of the college game, realizing that “par is your friend.” It paid immediate dividends, as he capped off a redshirt freshman campaign
Take control.
and thinking this is the last time I’m doing all these different things,” Tina said. “I don’t feel too emotional about it, I’m just focusing on the Pac-12s and focusing on day-to-day things.” No matter what happens in the next few days, Tina’s rowing career is not over. “I’m thinking about coaching next year, coaching the walk-on team just because I came in through the walk-on team,” she said. “I want my voice to be heard, be a voice for all the little people.” Both Vernazzas have been told over and over again that rowing is reserved for tall people, but they’ve accomplished much more than most thought possible. In fact, Tina and Bobby may even owe their rowing prowess to their short stature. “I like to think that I’d be better if I was taller,” Tina said, “But then, if I was taller, I probably wouldn’t feel like I need to prove myself all the time.” Bobby echoed the sentiment, “Since you’re shorter than the other people, you feel like you have to make up for it, so you try harder than the taller people, just to prove them wrong.”
BASEBALL n Continued from page 5
FINK n Continued from page 5
Pregnant?
Just a sophomore at Oregon State, Bobby rows in the stroke seat of the Varsity 8 boat, which is arguably the most important of the eight positions. Whoever rows in the stroke seat sets the pace for the entire boat; the stroke seat sits in front of all the other rowers who have to paddle in time with him. “He’s kind of the leader of the Varsity 8,” Todd said. “He’s the guy who sets the rhythm, sets the pace. As just a second-year guy, he’s done a great job of controlling the race. I think he’s a big reason as to why this group is rowing well.” The Beavers are the 14th-ranked men’s rowing team in the nation, and they appear to be headed to the IRA National Championship at the end of the month. The Championship is reserved for 24 of the best teams in the country, and OSU will likely earn an invitation barring a collapse in the Pac-12 Championships this weekend. Similarly, the women’s team has a chance to qualify for the NCAA Championships, something OSU has accomplished once in the past 14 years. For Tina, who is a senior this year, it is her last chance to qualify. If they don’t, the Pac-12s will be her last race. “It’s been weird these last couple weeks
King was over there a little bit, as was Dan James, but Gabe has put in most of the time at first and he’s done a good job.” With Keyes’ return, it’s likely Clark would move back to designated hitter, where he spent a good chunk of the season before moving to first base. Regardless if it’s Keyes or Clark at first base Friday afternoon, though, Oregon State feels ready for the task at hand. Despite having to sit out for
during which he appeared in all 11 of OSU’s tournaments by firing a 1-under 212 at the NCAA Arizona Regional. After a wrist injury cut his sophomore season short, he returned as a junior and racked up five top-10 finishes, leading OSU in scoring average in the process. “It’s all about being able to learn from things,” Fink said. “And that’s what I did.” A change in mentality helped, too. Fink’s transition from a timid freshman to a go-getter reminds Motomochi of a story he’s heard told about OSU baseball great Jacoby Ellsbury. As the story goes, Ellsbury approached his coach, Pat Casey, his freshman year and said he was one day going to be a first-round draft pick. Well, Casey proclaimed, Ellsbury better start studying, eating, sleeping and practicing like a first-round draft pick. “That’s what Dave learned after a few years,” Motomochi said. “He learned how to carry himself, how to be successful.” This season, all Fink has done is add
four-and-a-half weeks, Keyes said he’s ready for whatever role he’s needed in. “I’ve been excited to get back out there since the injury to finally start playing again,” Keyes said. “I want to make sure everything is OK with the doctors first, but I’m extremely excited to get back on the field. I’m prepared for anything.” Andrew Kilstrom, sports editor On Twitter @AndrewKilstrom sports@dailybarometer.com
12 more tournament appearances to his resume (his 127 career rounds is fifthmost in program history), post the best single-round score (66) of his career and qualify for the NCAA Championships for the fourth time. Among other accomplishments, of course. If Fink, who will represent OSU alongside teammate Alex Franklin, is to advance to nationals, he’ll have to finish first among individuals not a part of the top-five finishing teams at the Eugene Regional, which runs Thursday through Saturday. It’s a tall order, given that there are 13 teams and 75 individuals total in the field. But Fink is just going to enjoy the ride, as he’s done for the past five years. “I want to go out there and make some good shots, continue my college career and represent the Beavers at nationals, too,” Fink said. “I’m excited.” Grady Garrett, sports reporter On Twitter @gradygarrett sports@dailybarometer.com
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NOM denied in latest gay marriage ban saga installment W
e spent Wednesday waiting on tenterhooks for news from federal circuit court judge Michael McShane’s Eugene courtroom on if the same-sex marriage ban would be lifted. At 10:30 a.m., we got the thrilling news that McShane basically told the National Organization for Marriage to step off, because it wasn’t their fight. Wednesday was the day planned for NOM’s oral arguments on the case and their motion to intervene. It was shut down by mid-morning, after only an hour of making their case to the judge. NOM filed its motion to intervene in the court case very late in the game, which was one strike against the organization. Another was that they were basing their right to intervene on the fact that there were three members of NOM in Oregon who oppose the ban. Those three members hid behind anonymity, citing fear of harassment, and NOM didn’t even disclose their names to the judge in private. The Oregon Initiative Petition No. 8
Editorial (2014) by Oregon United for Marriage to put the Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection Initiative (the Oregon Same-Sex Marriage Amendment) on the 2014 ballot for the November election gathered the 116,284 names required for the amendment to be eligible for the ballot by December 2013. OUM has kept and will keep gathering signatures until the petition is due in July. Three vs. 160,081 (at last count). We would have decided that NOM wasn’t enough in the majority to have a valid reason to intervene, too. By the end of the business day, McShane hadn’t yet ruled on the greater case of the constitutionality of Oregon’s Measure 36, which bans same-sex couples from marrying in the state of Oregon as well as the recognition of legal same-sex marriages that were performed out of state. This process is taking forever, but we don’t doubt that Measure 36 will
be eventually declared unconstitutional, considering the smackdown of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and the subsequent wave of states declaring same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional sweeping the nation. Idaho’s ban was declared unconstitutional Tuesday. Friday, Arkansas was the first state in the Bible Belt to declare its ban unconstitutional. If the Bible Belt can do it, we can do it. The thing is, declaring a ban unconstitutional isn’t generally an automatic legalization of same-sex marriage. Most of the states that have been in the news lately for declaring their bans unconstitutional have had stays placed on the rulings by higher courts or in anticipation of appeals. Placing a stay on the ruling means that while the state’s same-sex marriage ban has been declared unconstitutional, it is not actually currently legal to marry a person of the same sex in that state. It may be in anticipation of the ruling getting overturned, because the state doesn’t want to lose
paperwork through the cracks in the system or deal with the complicated legal issues of determining if a marriage is still valid when it comes to the federal government, rather than the state government, in the event the decision is overturned in appeals or by a higher court (in Oregon’s case, this would be the Supreme Court). It’s going to be a long, painful process for Oregon, as well as for most of the rest of the states that have recently deconstitutionalized their bans — because anything done in a court of law usually is. It’s why lawyers and judges are stereotyped as getting paid the big bucks. However, the way it seems like the majority of the nation is jumping on the same-sex marriage bandwagon, the outcome is finally beginning to look like an eventuality, rather than an endless struggle. 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.
There’s a difference between constructive criticism, being a jerk
C
riticism is an underrated art. Rather like etiquette and flirting, it’s not always a technique that folks understand how best to utilize or receive. It’s not always easy to tell if someone is being constructive or simply trying to imitate Simon Cowell — who is not a good role model when it comes to constructive criticism. When utilized correctly, the art of criticism has the power to revolution-
Constructive criticism is tactful — it follows the Mary Poppins “firm but kind” rule of thumb. This form of critique is intended to be helpful. It Cassie looks at what is in front of it, points out the positives, addresses the things it doesn’t understand and, most imporize how someone does business and tantly, makes suggestions for methods of improvement. subsequently leave them better off. Negative criticism, sometimes So how do you tell the difference between constructive and negative known as destructive feedback, only gives the critiqued informacriticism?
Ruud
tion revolving around what the critic thought was bad. It is entirely possible to receive negative constructive criticism, but this typically comes in the form of “here is what you did wrong and here is what you can make better.” If you leave people with only the vague “it sucks,” then they aren’t going to know what they did wrong and they’re probably going to keep sucking, simply because no one took the time to tell them exactly why they sucked and how they can suck less. So congratulations if you’re a critic who specializes in destructive criticism; you have officially done nothing to correct the problem you spotted, and said problem will continue to exist like an obvious spaghetti sauce stain within the critiqued person’s work. But what do you do if you’re the critiqued person? How do you respond to criticism? This is a very important life skill, being able to view criticism from the proper perspective, especially considering that the person critiquing you might be your boss in a work setting. The correct reaction is to humble yourself back a notch, seriously listen to what the critic is saying, try not to act defensive, refrain from losing your temper and work to improve on the skills brought up in the critique. “We all learn by making mistakes, and learning how to deal with criticism positively is one way that we can improve our relationships with others,” are true words of wisdom from the piece, “Dealing with Criticism,” on the Skills You Need website. General ground rules for being a critic revolve around tact, sandwich methods and I-statements, according to the piece in Psychology Today, “The Art of Constructive Criticism.” Understand that if you’re looking at something people has created, you are essentially looking at their baby. They took time, effort and maybe money to make what you see before you. No matter how much it may suck understand and respect their work. Use the sandwich method by listing something they did well, then something they did poorly, and finish with what they can improve on. I-statements are gold, because they are independent of the work and its creator, come from a unique perspective and reinforce in the critiqued person’s mind the concept that other people — with other opinions and biases — exist in the world. So if you want to make a clear and defined point about something, use constructive criticism, not destructive feedback. If you want to improve, then be open to it. t
Cassie Ruud is a senior in English. The opinions
Ryan Mason is a junior in graphic design
expressed in Ruud’s columns do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Ruud can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.
Gabi
Scottaline
Origins of holidays not as important as current meaning
H
olidays are a special time — or so we’d like to think. Generally, people see them as a time to spend with family or eat copious amounts of food — or travel to a foreign land in order to do both. No matter what you’re celebrating, it’s rarely the same way the holiday was celebrated originally, or even in the spirit of why the holiday was originally created. The importance of today’s holidays lies in how and why we celebrate them. Some people are sticklers for recognizing the origins of holidays. They’re not about to celebrate Valentine’s Day, because St. Valentine was brutally martyred, gosh darn it — not to mention the St, Valentine’s Day massacre in New York in the 1920s. The same goes for holidays like Christmas. Some people wouldn’t be caught dead putting up a Christmas tree in their homes. Saint Nicholas is a fictional character (sorry to break it to you), and the holiday itself has turned into a capitalistic excuse to burden ourselves with massive debt. On some levels, I can agree with these justifications. I don’t, however, see any justification to treat people like they’re terrible individuals for giving chocolates to their girlfriend on Feb. 14 or hanging out with family and exchanging gifts on Dec. 25. Let’s be reasonable. Those who participate in these holidays aren’t intentionally condoning martyrdom or cheap fairy-tale lies. They’re simply taking time out of their busy schedules to endure family and give (and receive) gifts. That’s why it’s not about the origin, it’s about how we spend the day. Mother’s Day was Sunday, and I’m sure there were a lot of happy mothers running around with their sons and daughters, going out to eat and reaping the benefits of 18-plus years of childrearing. I doubt many of them cared that Mother’s Day was founded on a radical feminist premise, and was later fought against by its founder for the consumerist turn it took. Most mothers deserve a little recognition, and that’s what the day is about now. So if you see something that’s good for others, but allow yourself to hate it and disdain the people who celebrate it, either because you’ve done some cursory research or don’t believe in it, you might want to reevaluate the way you’re making people feel. We shouldn’t invalidate others because of what we do or don’t believe in. And even though holidays are only a small part of this problem, it’s important to realize how your beliefs make others feel. Pay attention to how you present yourself. Even though they can be complicated, friends are nice to have — therefore it might behoove us to think before we drive everyone away. t
Gabi Scottaline is a senior in English. The opinions
expressed in Scottaline’s columns do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Scottaline can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.
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8•Thursday, May 15, 2014
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Lincoln City balances rentals, residents By Anna Staver
STATESMAN JOURNAL statesmanjournal.com
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LINCOLN CITY — Lincoln City is struggling to find a compromise between its vacation rental property owners and its year-round residents. “This has gone on for three years. That’s the frustrating part of it,” said Gene Scrutton, who owns eight rental homes and manages 22 others. “It’s been three years we’ve been in limbo not knowing if we could keep our business.” Tourism is a mainstay industry for the coastal town of about 8,000 people. There are about 500 vacation rental homes sprinkled throughout the residential zones, and the city has started to wonder whether it’s time to regulate their growth. The issues at the center of the controversy are where should vacation properties be located, should there be limits on how many days they can be rented and what are reasonable safety requirements for rental properties. One idea proposed in 2013 was to create yes and no zones within residential areas. A yes zone would allow unlimited short-term rentals, and a no zone would restrict the number of short-term rental days. The proposal would have grandfathered in existing rental properties in the no zones with the caveat that upon sale or death of the current owner, the new owners would have to comply with the rental restrictions. “I’m very ambivalent on that idea,” Councilor Chester Noreikis said. “I have yet to come up with an alternative to the yes, no idea.” That proposal also raised questions about whether the city could be sued by home owners in the no zone for devaluing their properties.
ZACH URNESS
| STATESMAN JOURNAL FILE
A beautiful stretch of beach in Lincoln City draws tourists. The town is grappling with how to handle the more than 500 rental homes that are sprinkled in residential areas. Noreikis wants to impose regulations because the price of rental homes have made it difficult for Lincoln City residents to buy property in their own city. “Right now, there is very little affordable housing in the city,” Noreikis said. The median household income in Lincoln City rose by about 10 percent between 2000 and 2011 while the median house price rose by about 45 percent during that time period, according to CityData.com. Severely restricting the rental homes also could harm the tourism industry and jeopardize the jobs of city residents. “I’m frustrated about it because it’s our sole employment,” said Sandy Hecht, who cleans rental homes for a living. “I’m done with my job by the time my kids are getting out of school so I can be there with them ... I know four other moms that clean beach rentals that depend on this income too.” City Manager David Hawker said the city is searching for a solution that creates the smallest impact existing rental homes. “There’s a certain amount
of hysteria around this effort,” Hawker said. “We are not attacking older (vacation rental dwellings). The question is for new (rental homes): Where are we going to allow them? Are we going to allow them in every residential neighborhood with unlimited use?” Scrutton’s not sure he believes that. He’s spent the last 23 years renovating older beach homes and renting them. During that time, A1 Beach Rentals has become his full-time business. Scrutton’s worried that proposed safety regulations could be written in a way that makes keeping his older homes as rental properties impossible. He’s also worried about ideas floated about limiting the number of people would could occupy a rental at one time because some owners cater specifically to church groups and other organizations for retreats. “For 30 years, no one has ever said anything like that. No one has ever said you couldn’t own multiple (homes); no one has ever limited how many days you could rent,” Scrutton said.