CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
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THURSDAY MAY 28, 2015 VOL. CXVII, NO. 145
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Yoga benefits for the college experience n
Yoga in the Quad promotes staying limber for a healthy lifestyle By Chris Correll
THE DAILY BAROMETER
Taking advantage of Wednesday’s sunny weather, Counseling and Psychological Services held open yoga sessions in the Memorial Union quad for anyone needing a break from dead week and finals preparation. Yoga in the Quad is a campus wide collaboration — CAPS, the MU, Recreational Sports, ASOSU, Health Campus Initiative, Peer Health Advocates and the Physical Activity Courses program — to promote positive stress-management. CAPS student worker Virginia Tat said the added support is helping make “the trend of yoga” more accessible on campus, and that administration is hoping to make the event annual. Practicing yoga has many recognized benefits, from vastly increased flexibility to being an effective treatment for depression, fatigue and anxiety. University students in particular deal with high stress levels on a regular basis. A 2013 study from the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal listed under the World Health Organization found significant reductions in the “body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate” of subjects practicing therapeutic yoga for coronary artery disease. “We’ve got a lot of stressful moments in our lives, especially weeks nine, ten and eleven. This makes it a little bit easier,” said Tawni Talavera, a junior in human development and family studies. Talavera found Yoga in the Quad through a friend, and said it was “a really good idea” to help the student body deal with the end of the term. Pharmacy student Svetlana Cooper said stretching in her morning PAC course makes her more productive throughout the day. “When I do it I feel better having done it, and when I go to study I feel like I’m more focused,” Cooper said. “I didn’t think it would, but it actually does help me — at least for those 50 minutes — relax and unwind.” OSU yoga instructor Tsipora Berman, who led group sessions Wednesday, said since arriving at the university two years ago she’s been Nicki Silva | THE DAILY BAROMETER “very impressed” with the overall Students from the yoga physical activity course and other passers-by, presence of yoga on campus. instructed by Tsipora Berman, participate in yoga in front of the Memorial See YOGA | page 3 Union Wednesday.
Student finds her way at Black Cultural Center
Nicki Silva
Motorcyclists stay visible n
Motorcycle event Wednesday emphasizes community, promotes safety for motorcyclists, other commuters By Abigail Erickson THE DAILY BAROMETER
Engines rumbled and freshly polished paint jobs shone as Oregon State University students, faculty and staff members gathered with their motorcycles for the annual on-campus Motorcycle Visibility Day event. From 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., members of the Corvallis and OSU community interested in motorcycles could come together, show off their bikes, and enthuse with other riders. Event organizer and OSU Associate Director of Enrollment Management The event started Rick DeBellis said this is the 10th 10 years ago with Visibility Day on campus. a group of staff “The event started 10 years ago with a group of staff members that rode members that rode together,” DeBellis said. “We wanted together. ... more visibility on campus, so we got it We wanted more going. We used to hold this event at the Memorial Union brick mall between visibility on campus, Strand Agricultural Hall and the MU, so we got it going. but due to the construction we had to move the event this year.” Rick DeBellis In addition to DeBellis and the throng Event organizer of local motorcycles, instructors from the Team Oregon program were also present to promote their motorcycle education courses. Greg Nicol, one of the Team Oregon instructors at the event, was excited
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See MOTORCYCLES | page 2
Leaders to discuss new academic program, presidential employment agreement THE DAILY BAROMETER
A new Ph.D. program in women, gender and sexuality studies and an employment agreement for the president are among the action items on Friday’s Oregon State University board of trustees meeting agenda. The governing board, which will meet for the third time this year, convenes Friday, May 29 at 9:30 a.m. in the Willamette Room at the CH2M HILL Alumni Center. Separate committees will also meet in the same location beginning at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 28. The board of trustees, which became active in July 2014, decides on all major financial and structural university decisions and then reports to the state of Oregon via the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. In addition, they are responsible for appointing and reappointing the university’s president.
Oregon State track and field could see season extended News, page 3
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Motorcycles belonging to faculty, staff and students and Corvallis community members line up in front of the Hallie Ford Center Wednesday afternoon for OSU Motorcycle Visibility Day event.
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OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
See TRUSTEES | page3
Vandever talks about cons of the Oregon kicker refund Sports, page 6
Forum, page 7
2•Thursday, May 28, 2015
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Calendar Latest Oregon pot battle: Marijuana growers vs. help growers Friday, May 29 Meetings
By Saul Hubbard THE REGISTER-GUARD
Wednesday, May 27
DUII A man reportedly crashed his vehicle into a light pole and left the scene. The responding officer found the man and arrested him for driving under the influence. The man’s breath sample measured a blood alcohol content of .15 percent.
Tuesday, May 26
Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest Corvallis police officers responded to a call reporting a fight between a male and a female. The male and female were found in a gravel parking lot of a local business, and both individuals had blood on their faces. Witnesses reported that the man chased the woman down the street and tackled her to the ground. The man reportedly attempted to punch two police officers and tried to run away when officers moved to arrest him. He was then tackled and remained uncooperative as he was transported to the hospital and then the Benton County Jail.
Drugs upon arrest A Corvallis police officer conducted a traffic stop and took two men into custody as they both had warrants for their arrest. After transporting the men to the Benton County Jail, the officer asked one of the men if he had any drugs or weapons in his possession. Despite denying that he had any drugs on him, the man was found to be carrying methamphetamine in his right front pocket. The man was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine and supplying contraband.
Sunday, May 24
Theft An employee of a local store called Corvallis police to report a theft. According to the witness, three males in their 20s walked into the store and stole a bottle of cologne valued at around $70. The store also had surveillance footage of the incident. The case is currently pending follow-up with the victim. The Daily Barometer
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Need to Know Consent to breath or blood test: According to Oregon Revised Statute 813.100, anyone operating a motor vehicle on premises open to the public or on Oregon highways has given consent, under the implied consent law, to a breath test or a blood test, if taken to a health care facility after a motor vehicle accident, if they have been arrested for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants. The statute further states that no chemical test may be given if the person refuses the test after a police officer informs the person of the rights and consequences of refusing a test, which are listed in ORS 813.130. According to ORS 813.130, refusing a test after being arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants will result in suspended driving privileges, confiscation of Oregon driver license or permit, and “evidence of the refusal… may also be offered against the person.” The Daily Barometer
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SALEM — Pot growers worry that Oregon’s emerging hemp industry could take the buzz out of their recretional and medicinal weed. Some lawmakers hope to clamp down on the state’s still-embryonic industrial hemp crop due to concerns that through cross-pollination hemp could harm outdoor medical marijuana grows, particularly in southern Oregon. Hemp — a cousin of marijuana which contains much lower levels of THC, marijuana’s psychoactive component — can ruin valuable marijuana crops through crosspollination, by lowering marijuana’s THC content, pot advocatese say. Hemp fiber can be used to make cloth, rope and other products. And, like marijuana, hemp, consumed as an oil, has medicinal value, hemp supporters say. But you can’t get high from smoking it. Hemp was first approved for cultivation by Oregon lawmakers in 2009, but a longstanding ban at the federal level blocked any legal hemp grows here. That changed with the 2014 federal Farm Bill, which allowed researchbased hemp crops. Earlier this year, the state Department of Agriculture started issuing licenses for legal hemp grows for the first time. It has not gone smoothly. Department officials initially issued licenses to hemp growers without obtaining GPS location data and maps of where the crop would be planted or information about the size of the grows, in violation of the department’s own administrative rules. Immediately, existing medical
MOTORCYCLES n Continued from page 1 to talk to passersby about motorcycle safety. “I love exposing people to things they’ve never seen before and I love motorcycling, so I get to help educate people about safety when riding,” Nicol said. “If people are interested in it, then taking one of the Team Oregon courses can lead to years of safe riding.” The major idea behind Motorcycle Visibility Day was the promotion of safety and awareness. “Coming to the event sounded like a good idea,” said Max Pole, a sophomore in pre-electrical and computer engineering who has been riding for two years. “I had two close calls getting home earlier this week alone just from cars not paying attention.” Bart Eleveld, an associate professor in applied economics, helped to watch the bikes during a portion of the event. “I think this event makes motorists more aware of motorcycles and it also exposes the general public to something else other than a car, something more efficient and even a bit more fun,” Eleveld said. “The place to go if you’re interested in learning more about riding is definitely Team Oregon, especially now that it’s required to take one of their courses before your get your endorsement.” DeBellis added that it’s important to have an event like this in Corvallis to help remind other community members about how to be safe around motorcycles. “I think one of the biggest challenges in Corvallis is not just other motorists but also bicycles and pedestrians,” DeBellis said. “Especially if they’re not paying attention, for example if a pedestrian just starts crossing the street without looking the other way. I myself was even hit in about 2004-2005 by a car who didn’t see me at the end of a line of traffic.
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marijuana farmers became concerned that several of the proposed hemp grow sites in southern Oregon might cross-pollinate with their crops. Lauren Henderson, the Department of Agriculture’s assistant director, acknowledged his agency’s error in an interview today, attributing it to the “pains of setting up a completely new program and doing it expeditiously.” But he added that Oregon’s 2009 hemp law didn’t direct the department to try to account for “coexistence” between marijuana and hemp crops. “Those (location) requirements were designed so we would know where the (hemp) crops are” to comply with federal law, Henderson said. “It wasn’t a consideration related to co-existence.” Now, pro-marijuana lawmakers are stepping in, to the dismay of new hemp growers. Under new amendments proposed for House Bill 2668 on Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture would revoke all 13 licenses it has issued to hemp growers so far. Those licenses have been issued for areas in southern Oregon and the Willamette Valley, though none appear to be in Lane County. The amendments would then allow six “test plots” throughout Oregon, where Oregon State University would study cross-pollination risks. None of those plots could be within five miles of a registered medical marijuana grow site. Backers say that some of the existing licensees could qualify to become a test site. The state would reimburse those that aren’t allowed to convert to one, for their prior
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setup costs as well as the value of their crop if they’ve already planted it. The amendment would also block approval of any other new hemp grow sites until the end of 2017. Rep. Peter Buckley, an Ashland Democrat who drafted the amendment, said it is intended to correct “the haphazard approach that we’ve taken so far in introducing hemp.” Lawmakers “made the assumption in 2009 that possible conflicts with medical marijuana would be addressed by the Department of Agriculture,” he said. “We want to set up good areas for growing hemp, without damaging anyone else.” The House Rules Committee didn’t adopt Buckley’s proposed amendments on Wednesday. Another amendment, which would be more lenient on the hemp industry, has also been proposed. Critics say Buckley’s amendment would significantly damage the hemp industry just as it’s starting up, potentially causing most farmers to miss three more growing seasons. The amendment “is designed to kill this industry,” said Mark Gatlin, a Grants Pass city councilman at a brief hearing on Wednesday. After receiving his license earlier this year, Cliff Thomason planted hemp on 43 acres near Williams in Josephine County last month. His main goal is to produce hemp for medical purposes, as a nonpsychoactive alternative to medical marijuana, he said. Thomason said he can’t understand why lawmakers are proposing such a heavy-handed approach. “I’ve been waiting 8 years (to grow See MARIJUANA | page 3
Being aware at all times, no matter what mode of transportation you’re using, is so important. We’re out there.” Nicol added that another great aspect of Motorcycle Visibility Day is the showcasing of the motorcycle community. “(This event) shows that motorcycling is definitely a community thing, so it’s cool to see people come together over bikes,” Nicol said. DeBellis also teaches a clinic at Mr. Ed’s Moto in Albany to help riders who have just gotten a bike after getting endorsed. “It’s a one-hour class followed by an 80-mile or so ride, and then we get lunch,” DeBellis said. “We ride at an easy pace, stop halfway through to talk about it, and just in general we go over important concepts like what to do in an emergency situation, et cetera.” DeBellis said that this year’s event had a bit of a lower turnout than normal, but that the sense of community and the opportunity to engage with the general public was great. “We get a lot of people who stop and look,” DeBellis said. “It’s cool because you can see that it’s students, faculty and staff members here, not just one group or the other. When we put on a helmet, you don’t know who is riding the bike, but it could very well be one of the vice presidents on campus, or it could be a student. It’s been nice to have a group to come together and help promote motorcycle-friendly policies and call safety issues to the attention of the university.” More information about Team Oregon motorcycle programs can be found at www.team-oregon.org. Abigail Erickson, news reporter
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Student Organization Resource for Community Engagement (SORCE), 2-4pm, SEC 354.
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Events Air Force ROTC, 1-3:30pm, IM Fields. Join Oregon State Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps for ultimate frisbee or soccer. Bring appropriate clothing and footwear and any questions you have about Air Force ROTC. Center for Civic Engagement, 1-4:30pm, MU Lounge. Day of Caring - choose from six different service projects. In partnership with United Way. Register at CCE website.
Tuesday, June 2 Meetings ASOSU Senate, 7pm, MU Journey Room. Senate meeting.
Wednesday, June 3 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.
Thursday, June 4 Meetings Baha’i Campus Association, 12:30pm, MU Talisman Room. Open consultation as a key to well being. A discussion.
Friday, June 5 Meetings Student Organization Resource for Community Engagement (SORCE), 2-4pm, SEC 354.
Saturday, June 6 Events College of Business, 10am, MU Quad. 5K Fun Run.
Correction In article “Bingo, puppies counter infamous preachers,” which ran in the Wednesday, May 7 edition of The Daily Barometer, the Socratic club was incorrectly said to have met with and tabled alongside the preachers that came to campus Friday. The Socratic club did not attend the event or meet with the preachers. Additionally, the article misattributed the puppies in the Memorial Union quad Friday to the Advocates for Freethought and Skepticism’s event. The Advocates for Freethought and Skepticism did not host the puppies. The Daily Barometer regrets the errors.
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Finding her footing at Oregon State ighly involved, socially active and academically strong, Courtney Jackson has fully experienced what Oregon State University has to offer from Greek life to internships, and cultural resource center activity to volunteerism.
H
Undergraduate student explores research, identity, culture through experiencing life at OSU By Jasmin Vogel
THE DAILY BAROMETER
Jackson is a graduating senior in marine biology. She is originally from Olympia, Wash., and attended OSU in search for self-identity. Jackson said her motivation to go to Oregon State University stemmed from wanting to experience new things in a new place. “I wanted to get away from everything in Washington,â€? Jackson said. “I wanted to find out who I was without being influenced by everyone in high school.â€? After visiting OSU, Jackson knew Corvallis was where she wanted to be. “I felt comfortable when I got here‌I like the downtown local shops with the small mom and pop stores with restaurants only found in Corvallis,â€? she said. To Jackson, the size of Corvallis reminded her a lot of Olympia and she felt it was very similar to home.
Research experiences Getting involved in the College of Science allowed Jackson to take on an internship related to her field almost every year she has attended OSU. Her first internship took her off the coast of St. Petersburg, Ala. for one month in the summer of 2011, where she studied humpback whale communication. While working in Alaska, Jackson had a moment of realization as she was washing the research boat in the pouring rain. “That’s when I decided to be a field researcher. I love being out in the ocean in the intertidal,� Jackson said. Her second internship took place during her junior year. She worked as a seasonal research assistant for the Partnership of Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans at OSU. The organization is a conglomerate of multiple oceanic disciplines that allows students and researchers to study various aspects of coastal regions. During her internship, Jackson completed a lot of data processing from samples collected in the field. The research she completed was used to discover the various organisms and biodiversity in the intertidal. Every month, Jackson and fellow students would have to collect data at the lowest low tide of the month on the Newport coast. Having that opportunity only reaffirmed Jackson’s love for field research. “I love being able to work in that sort of environment,� she said. During her fourth year at OSU, Jackson worked for the PROMISE program at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. Her internship included working as an assistant to the academic program director. Along with 12 other interns, Jackson worked doing surveys See JACKSON | page 4
hemp) and now they’re already trying to shut me down,� he said. Lawmakers “are trying to give preference to medical marijuana over hemp on what is notoriously some of the best farmland for cannabis.� Thomason said he understands “the threat I pose to medical marijuana industry� because of cross-pollination. But he said he believes “farmers and neighbors could work things out together� without a statewide rule. For example, he said, hemp farmers could be limited to growing only female plants outdoors. That way no cross-pollination could occur between male hemp plants and all-female medical marijuana crops, Thomason said. “No one wants to be in the agro-terrorism business,� he said.
TRUSTEES
Geoff Sugerman, a lobbyist who represents marijuana growers, said the female-only hemp crops “might provide an avenue� to co-existence between the two crops in the future. But, he said, marijuana growers would first need in-depth study of whether that solution was feasible. “Right now, we want a timeout (on hemp grows) so we don’t damage our existing and successful medical marijuana crop,� he said. The conflict over cross-pollination mirrors a longstanding conflict in the Willamette Valley between farmers who want to grow canola and established specialty seed and vegetable farmers. Lawmakers stepped into that conflict as well, most recently limiting canola crops to 500 acres in the valley until 2017, while the crop contamination risks were studied.
The finance and administration committee will cover n Continued from page 1 action items including 2015 Board members meet and 2016 university operating four times a year to discuss budgets and presentation of the the feasibility of continuing 2015-17 biennium capital plan changes and respond to public at 1 p.m. These plans focus on construction needs, campus comment. The academic strategies accessibility and other funccommittee, which meets at tions, including research and 9:30 a.m. Thursday, will discuss athletics. All meetings are open to the the new Ph.D. program being offered through the College of public and will hold special sessions for open comments. Liberal Arts. Additional information and The executive and audits agenda information can be committee, which meets at found at leadership.oregon12:15 p.m., will discuss the state.edu/trustees/meetings. presidential agreement and a quarterly report from the office The Daily Barometer of audit services. news@dailybarometer.com
YOGA n Continued from page 1
American culture, many students are still self-conscious about giving yoga a try. “Some people are hesitant “It’s very accessible here at OSU. Everyone takes a because they don’t think they PAC class in their four years can do it, or they don’t feel like here. It’s now included in the they look like what a yogaCollege of Human Health person is,� Berman said. Berman advises them to go and Sciences. I see people with yoga mats all over,� to at least one class and get “whatever they can� out of it. Berman said. Berman noted that despite increasing popularity in
Chris Correll, news reporter news@dailybarometer.com
Classifieds Help Wanted ATTENTION: All returning OSU students and staff. OSAA (High School) Soccer and volleyball refs needed for Fall Term 2015. FREE training provided. Games start after Labor Day. If you are interested, 2 “Q&A� sessions are scheduled on Monday, June 1 and Monday, Aug. 10, 5-6:30pm at Woodstock’s Pizza. Can’t make meetings? marcuseng.meson@gmail.com (soc) or darcigarwood@gmail.com (vb).
Summer Employment WANTED SUMMER HELP on grass seed farm. Seed warehouse/equipment operator. 541-753-5615.
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 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.
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Today’s
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
MARIJUANA n Continued from page 2
Gov. Brown signs e-cigarette restrictions By Saerom Yoo
STATESMAN JOURNAL
SALEM — Oregon has begun regulating electronic cigarettes in ways similar to tobacco cigarettes, banning sales to minors and the use of the devices in indoor public spaces and workplaces. But some people who use e-cigarettes say the new law, signed by Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday, is an overreach. E-cigarettes and the liquids they vaporize are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and their long-term health effects are unknown — as are the often unlisted ingredients of the liquids, or “e-juice.” Unlike combustible cigarettes, there’s no burning in e-cigarettes. Instead, a coil inside the device heats up the e-juice, turning it into cloud-like vapor. Preliminary testing of e-juices has found chemicals known to cause birth defects and cancer, said Karen Girard, OHA’s health promotion and chronic disease prevention manager. Some e-juices contain nicotine, at varying amounts, and flavorings — the pairing of which makes e-cigarettes both attractive and harmful to children, critics say. Use of e-cigarettes — or “vaping,” as it is known — tripled among youths from 2013 to 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The percentage of high school students using e-cigarettes was 13.4 percent in 2014, up from 4.5 percent in 2013. The middle school percentage also surged — to 3.9 percent in 2014, from 1.1 percent in 2013. In Oregon, 11th graders’ use of e-cigarettes rose 150 percent between 2011 and 2013, Girard said. Keeping e-cigarettes out of the hands of minors is a simple concept that has consensus among vapers and nonvapers alike. Many vape shops, like head shops, operate as 18-and-older businesses. The same is true for South Salem’s I-Vape, which is Joey Kim’s second vape shop. Kim agrees with the law that vaping should not be a kids’ activity, but he doesn’t believe that flavors that sound like candy target children. “I think that’s bogus,” he said. “I have no interest in kids’ lunch money. ... Who’s to say adults don’t like cherry flavor? Or strawberry?”
Kim also doesn’t like that the new law now makes it much more difficult to vape in public. Starting Jan. 1, 2016, vaping will be prohibited in movie theaters, restaurants, offices, bars or malls — in the same way smoking is already banned in those places. In addition, the Oregon Health Authority is required to make rules on child-safe packaging and preventing the marketing of e-cigarettes to kids. While many states have banned the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, Oregon is the fifth to roll vaping into its Clean Air Act. Logan Bell, 18, who works at I-Vape, said he began vaping when he was 16, because it was cleaner than cigarettes. He said he had friends who were 18 who had vape pens, a type of e-cigarette. “I just felt more healthy about it,” he said. “I didn’t smell disgusting.” His favorite flavor is candy apple-strawberry, he said. Vaping at the vape shop with his friends while watching Netflix has improved his lifestyle, Bell said. Before, he was hanging out at illegal car races, where “bad things” happened. Currently, he vapes in movie theaters and restaurants. He used to vape at his second job, at the Safeway gas station in South Salem, until his boss told him to stop. He said he wasn’t worried about the new law that would no longer allow him to vape in those places. “I do it because I like to do it for fun,” he said. “I’m not addicted to it whatsoever.” Many vapers claim that e-cigarettes helped them quit smoking cigarettes, but that claim is not backed up by the FDA, which approves smoking-cessation devices. Kim said he used to smoke more than a pack of cigarettes a day before he started vaping. Now he has quit smoking, he feels healthier and more fit, he said. Dan Carroll, a patron at I-Vape, told a similar story. However, OHA’s Girard said, the opposite could be true. Youths who may not otherwise start smoking are being introduced to nicotine addiction through e-cigarettes, she said. A study showed that youths who had tried e-cigarettes were twice as likely to try conventional cigarettes, Girard said. “This is a real win for protecting Oregon’s kids,” Girard said.
JACKSON n Continued from page 3 and then turning them into visual data, which were used to present to the head director of the HMSC. The experience allowed Jackson to consider the academic and education side of marine biology. “It made me think about going into academics,” Jackson said. I’ve always wanted to go into field research. But, I really like surveys and the idea of making improvements every year.” Her dream job after college is to study the ecology of cold water sharks, focusing on aspects such as life history, migration patterns, and predator-prey relationships. “Having the opportunity to have hands on experience and becoming close with professors” is an opportunity she hopes every student will experience.
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4•Thursday, May 28, 2015
I don’t know where I’d be without the BCC in my life; I know I’d probably be a lot more introverted. Courtney Jackson
Senior, marine biology
you to think about it and allows you to form you own opinions.” Her interactions with other active students has shaped Jackson into the person she is today. “I don’t know where I’d be without the BCC in my life, I know I’d probably be a lot more introverted,” Jackson said. She also became involved with the Black Student Union in her Throughout her time at OSU, Jackson has been able to become freshman year. The BSU is a group more involved not only in the on campus dedicated to activism field of academics but with the and participation on the OSU Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural campus. “Since the black student popuCenter. Jackson worked as a peer lation at OSU is so small, the BSU facilitator at the center for almost three years, connecting with and helps students connect,” Jackson educating students around topics said. of black culture. “It helped me grow as a person. I was able to develop my identity In 2014, Jackson along with four as a black woman,” Jackson said. other female OSU students char“It definitely helped me reach my tered Zeta Phi Beta on the OSU roots. I found a way to be in con- campus. The historically Africannection with my black half. I’ve American sorority is part of the always identified as black, and National Pan-Hellenic Council, becoming involved allowed me to also known as the Divine Nine. really understand my intersecting Currently the sorority has five identities and explore them.” members. “We like to be present at OSU. Being able to connect to her identity and roots as a black It’s easy to be overlooked when woman allowed Jackson to grow you are small,” Jackson said. and dive deeper into all aspects Becoming a founding memof identity. ber of Zeta Phi Beta at OSU has “I was discovering my identi- allowed Jackson to look deeper ties, meeting a lot of new people into her cultural history, as well as involved in social justice and strengthened her personal idenhaving those conversations about tity with the community. “We want people to see that we social justice,” she said. “It forces
Finding her identity
Zeta Phi Beta
are supporting and here standing in solidarity,” she said. Dominique Austin, interim assistant director of the BCC, has known Jackson for four years and is highly impressed by her involvement in the black community and her determination for excellence in the field of academics. “Courtney, being a black woman in sciences, it speaks to her character and the impact she is having on the community,” Austin said. Austin recalls an interaction they once had in Washington. “She broke everything down to me, I was impressed, intrigued, and excited for her and her future she’s doing something that she loves,” Austin recalled. When Austin first met Jackson at the BCC, “she was quiet and shy.” After getting more involved in the center and working to connect with students “she blossomed and went outside her comfort zone, now she accepts challenges and finds little things to learn about in them.” When Jackson founded the sorority, Austin was shocked. “Finding her own identity, that’s something I wouldn’t have expected. The Courtney I first met probably wouldn’t have done that, but she has grown.” Austin said Jackson’s involvement as an African American woman in the science field “brings excellence to our community and the BCC.” “It shows that we are really established in academic culture here on the OSU campus,” Austin said. Jackson said getting involved with the cultural resource center has shaped Jackson into the person she is today. “It’ll change the way you think about people. It also changes the stereotypical view of cultures,” Jackson said. Jasmin Vogel, news reporter news@dailybarometer.com
The Daily Barometer 5 • Thursday, May 28, 2015
Sports
Beaver Tweet of the Day
Inside sports: Column: selection committee makes mistake
page 6
“I've come to the conclusion that there's nothing more stressful than someone watching & waiting for you to parallel park”
@megsjimenez Megan Jimenez
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6•Thursday, May 28, 2015
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Transcript Notation for OSU Students in All Majors
The grudge against OSU baseball T
here is an old saying that goes “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” Twice in the past decade, the Oregon State baseball team has made the selection committee look like they had no business making the selections. The first was in 2007 when coming off of their first National Championship a year before, OSU was one of the final teams selected for postseason play. All that happened after that was the Beavers waltzed their way through the postseason, going undefeated in Omaha en route to their second consecutive National Title. Alright — you got us, OSU. The most recent time OSU made fools out of the committee was just last season, after earning the No. 1 national seed and home field advantage until Omaha, the
Brian Rathbone @brathbone3
Beavers would go on to lay an egg and were unable to get out of the regional round. Seriously OSU, what the heck?! I can imagine the discussion behind closed doors with the selection as the committee: “Oregon State, let’s see…second place finish in Pac-12 behind the best team in the country, winners of six straight series, good but not great RPI, Goss Stadium is one of better venues on the West Coast. Looks like a great choice to be a regional. But do you know what would be Hilarious? Let’s give them a No. 2 seed in a regional 2,000 miles away with not one, but two Texas schools. And if they advance, let’s feed them into a
OSU students who have done significant, independent research or creative efforts under the guidance of an OSU faculty mentor can get a permanent notation on their transcript designating them as an
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Interested? For more information see http://oregonstate.edu/students/research/
justin quinn
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Head coach Pat Casey against Cal in Goss Stadium Sunday.
super-regional that is the furthest possible location from Corvallis in Miami.” And they would all bust out in a menacing laugh and roll with the plan. As paranoid and unlikely as that may sound, it’s the only scenario that makes sense on why OSU got snubbed; the committee is holding a grudge against head coach Pat Casey and his squad. How else could you justify choosing UC Santa Barba to host a regional when they will have to play their games three hours from the UCSB campus in Lake Elsinore? Or forcing the second best team in the conference to make the furthest travel to play their games — not to mention putting UCLA, USC, Arizona State, Oregon and Cal all in a regional closer to their campus’. And the cherry on top from the selection committee is putting the University of Texas as the No. 3 seed in the regional — which is also the Beavers first opponent on Friday. Texas began this year as a team who was within a game of playing for the nation title a season ago. They just made an incredible run through the Big-12 tournament in order to reach the postseason, and are coming in as one of the hottest and dangerous teams in the whole field, let alone the regional. The people of Texas love their Longhorns. So when OSU takes the field Friday night there is going to be a sea of orange — burnt orange. So while this is the Dallas Baptist regional, it will be
more like the Texas regional, at Dallas Baptist. Theoretically this should be a neutral playing ground for all of their games against all the other teams they play except Dallas Baptist, but with Texas in the regional, that changes and now unless they play against VCU, they will be playing on the road. Despite all of this, you have to like the Beavers chances. They have shown throughout the season that they are tough. There were several points in the season where they could have turned it in. Dropping three of their first four Pac-12 series, crumbling in the late innings against opponents, watching Andrew Moore get lit up in a pivotal home game against USC. But each time a sliver of doubt crept into the minds of people watching, the young team found ways to scrap their way back and become a team that could make a deep run into the postseason and potentially find themselves back in Omaha for the fifth time this decade. If the committee is holding a grudge against OSU baseball, the Beavers will find themselves in a no-win situation. Advance and they screw over the committee yet another time — if they lose, their season is done. I have a feeling that OSU is going to give the middle finger to the committee one more time. Brian Rathbone, sports reporter On Twitter @brathbone3 sports@dailybarometer.com
or send email to Kevin Ahern at ahernk@onid.orst.edu
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justin quinn
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Oregon State and Utah runners compete during the Beavers’ meet, where they hosted the Utes and won in Corvallis March 21.
Beaver runners head to Austin for postseason n
Two OSU women’s track and field distance runners head to Austin for NCAA championship preliminary THE DAILY BAROMETER
On Thursday, two members of the Oregon State University women’s track and field team will have the opportunity to participate — and possibly extend — their time in the postseason when the athletes head to Austin to take part in the annual NCAA Division I 2015 Track & Field Championships West Preliminary meet Thursday through Saturday. Redshirt sophomore distance runner Morgan Anderson and freshman distance runner Sam McKinnon were named to the regional on May 21 when the selections were announced. Anderson will be coming into the meet ranked as the 41st runner in a 48-woman field in the 1,500-meter after her season-
best time in the Oregon Relays on April 18 where she came home with a time of 4:24.55. Anderson is also coming off a quality performance at the Pac-12 Championships, where she placed 16th with a time of 4:26.31. The redshirt sophomore will also be looking to run a time under her preseason goal of 4:20. If she can complete the goal at the regional, she might just come in contact with the school record held by former athlete Laura Carlyle, who set a time to beat of 4:17.77 back in 2012. The first round of the 1,500 will take place Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Upon its completion, half the field — or 24 runners — will be selected to compete in a second round that will take place Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Of those 24 runners, 12 will be selected to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene June 10-13. McKinnon will have to wait until Friday at 6:50 p.m. before she gets the chance to compete at the meet.
The freshman runner qualified as the 27th-ranked athlete in the steeplechase and is No. 4 overall as a West Regional freshman. This is remarkable considering the distance runner just began competing in this particular discipline less than a month ago. On May 1 at the High Performance Meet in Corvallis, McKinnon ran her first steeplechase, and in it set a school record with a time of 10:30.81. A little over a week later she broke her own record while competing at the Pac-12 Championships where she placed fourth, and stormed through the finish line with a time of 10:25.77. McKinnon will be part of a 48-women field that will break down into three heats of 16, with the top 12 placers advancing to Hayward Field for the championship. Coverage for events will be available on NCAA.com. The Daily Barometer On Twitter @barosports sports@dailybarometer.com
The Daily Barometer 7 •Thursday, May 28, 2015
Forum
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Make your opinion known.
Sean Bassinger Editor-in-Chief McKinley Smith Managing and News Editor Kat Kothen Associate News Editor TeJo Pack Sports Editor
Suspension training for functional fitness Prevent invasive A species, save fter a number of weeks of training, it is easy to get Dr. Erica Woekel bored or complacent. Trying something totally difAsk dr. fit ferent can be time consuming, so adding in new exercises could It’s portable, adaptable and be just the thing to spice up the monotony. Suspension training practical, allowing you to use helps keep your workout fresh your body weight and adjust your and fun. Although suspension body angles to create just the right style workouts began with train- amount of resistance. Dixon has TRX suspension ing aerial acrobats, this is not just for the Cirque du Soleil dreamers training apparatus’ throughout their facility, two in weight room or aerial yoga enthusiast. A suspension training system two — the smaller gym on the is a muscle fitness training appa- north side — and one in the main ratus that uses your body weight weight room. Suspension training allows and gravity to complete a total you to gain strength, endurance, body weight workout. balance and The system is flexibility. made up of a pair The TRX transof straps with A suspension forms a onehandles that are anchored to a training system is a legged lunge into a multi-dimendoor or ceiling. It works to engage muscle fitness training sional exercise the entire body apparatus that uses that works your core, balance and at multiple angles your body weight stability. within your exerand gravity to I personally like cises while engaging your stabiliz- complete a total body suspension training, as it targets ing muscles. weight workout. my whole body The fun part while also workof suspension ing on fitness training is that it allows you to do familiar exercises functionality. This attention on functional with a twist. The most common suspen- body movements is especially sion training system is the TRX, important, as these exercises which stands for Total Resistance transfer to movements we consiseXercise, although there are other tently do in our daily lives. brands of suspension training For example, a plank is chalsystems available. lenging but a plank with putting The TRX was developed by a your feet in the TRX straps adds Navy SEAL with the intension of further instability and difficulty multidimensional training with while focusing on balance and very little equipment. strengthening the entire body.
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G
iven the beautiful weather we’ve been experiencing, water activities and outings should be right around the corner. We mean, if the Editorial Board had access to jet skis, the likelihood of a daily paper reaching you would be somewhat slim. People will understandably want to go out and cannonball into whatever available lakes, rivers and other bodies of water are available — and no one will be forgetting their inflatable arm floaties. But what should be done upon the end of a glorious river float? Clean your stuff. By this we mean, wash that stuff off so that there is no visible mud, plants, fish or animals and no excess water. Why? Because if you are remiss in this — it can be as simple as letting your wet dog go from one lake to another — potentially invasive species can and will start to affect the environment. We’d like to take this moment to discuss a plant near and dearly hated to almost every Oregonian’s heart: Scotch Broom. Like most irritating things, Scotch Broom was brought over by Europeans as an ornamental piece to the average garden. Finding itself in an environment where there were minimal obstacles to state-domination, Scotch Broom twirled its metaphorical curly mustache and began to spread like a disease across the Pacific Northwest. It is noxious, invasive, competes with native species and is disgustingly difficult to remove. According to a 2009 piece from the Oregon State University Extension Service page, “Scotch broom costs Oregonians an estimated $40 million per year in lost timber revenue and control efforts.” And we’re not even talking about transported crawdads used for middle school education that are then let loose into Oregonian rivers and attack the native species. Yes, the environment is going to be affected by minor changes regardless of human involvement, but it seems to definitely speed up the process when people are involved. A healthy environment is diverse and rich and invasive species run the risk of ruining all of that. They are hard to stop and an inevitable side effect of modernity. All it takes is one instance to transfer an invasive species to an unsuspecting environment and a few years of uninterrupted growth. Humans defy evolution — we change things and move around to different continents. But ultimately, it’s the little things that matter. Be mindful of traveling between environments, because you never know what you might be carrying back home with you. You never know what might be invasive.
If we are stronger and more stable, then these movements become easier and we are less likely to get injured. Since life is unpredictable, this type of training helps with practical and adaptable skills. Whether it’s movements like pushing, pulling, squatting, carrying, hinging or lifting, it supports versatility and stability with regards to physical wellbeing. It makes my muscles in my entire body shake while working hard on each set of rows, pushups, planks, squats, lunges, hamstring curls or mountain climbers. It also takes my mental training to a new level, as I need high awareness, concentration and body control to execute each exercise. Given that my mind is always processing the next thing I need to get done, using a TRX makes me think more about stabilizing, balance, and my technique instead of what’s on my to-do list. So if you are feeling like you need to spice up your workout, give the TRX a try for fun and function. t
Dr. Erica Woekel is an Assistant Clinical Professor and the Program Director of the Lifetime Fitness for Health Program. The opinions expressed in Woekel’s columns do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. They can be reached at forum@ dailybarometer.com.
Email questions for the column to forum@dailybarometer.com, with the subject “Ask Dr. Fit.” Your name will not be published.
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.
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Letters to the editor are welcomed and will be printed on a first-received basis. Letters must be 300 words or fewer and include the author’s signature, academic major, class standing or job title, department name and phone number. Authors of e-mailed letters will receive a reply for the purpose of verification. Letters are subject to editing for space and clarity. The Daily Barometer reserves the right to refuse publication of any submissions. e-mail: editor@dailybarometer.com or The Daily Barometer c/o Letters to the editor 2251 SW Jefferson Way Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331
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Cassie Ruud Eric Winkler Nicki Silva Zach Schneider
Jacob Vandever Forum Colummnist
Hands off my kicker
T
he kicker is a beautiful thing that makes the Oregon tax system very unique. Essentially the way it works is that when the State of Oregon takes in tax receipts more than 2 percent over projected revenues then the excess money is “kicked” back to the Oregon Taxpayer. The kicker used to come in the form of a check, but it has since been changed to a tax rebate. The kicker is a wonderful thing because it supports the philosophical idea that your money belongs to you and not to the government. When the government collects more money than it allocated then the money should be returned to the taxpayer. This year an estimated $437 million should be returned to the taxpayer. That is unless certain folks in the state legislature have their way. House Bill 3555 suspends the return of kicker money to the taxpayer and instead directs the money to pay for education funding. Now don’t think the money is being given to education because the bill’s supporters love education so much. It is simply a political tactic for big government proponents to take more of your money away from you and use it to fund our ever-growing government. Politicians in Salem believe they can spend your money better than you can, and that they didn’t do a good enough job prioritizing education the first time so they need to take even the excess money away from the Oregon taxpayer. The real solution is to appropriately fund education and to fund it first, but also make the structural changes necessary to improve our failing education system. Unfortunately Oregon schools sit at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to graduation rates and absenteeism rates when compared to the rest of the nation. If Oregon spent it’s money in a more responsible way maybe I — and many other tax payers for that matter — would be more likely to trust them with our hard earned tax dollars. But unfortunately all we have seen this legislative session is a far left overreach with focuses on partisan issues such as “Motor Voter Registration” and the “Low Carbon Fuel Standard.” Having sat in on several meetings of the Oregon House Revenue Committee I can tell you that most of the meetings sound like our representatives conspiring new plans to get more and more tax money from Oregonians. In the immortal words of Ron Swanson, “The government is a greedy piglet that suckles on the tax payer teat until they have sore chapped nipples.” There are an infinite amount of needs that government could address, but only a limited amount of resources to address those needs with. Leadership means making tough decisions when allocating those resources. If you don’t think education is being funded properly then the solution is to fund education appropriately the first time around, because relying on the rare occurrence of the kicker to improve our struggling school system is not the solution, but a political ploy to separate the tax payers from even more of their money to feed the ever growing behemoth of government. Because in the eyes of far too much that work in Salem that money doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to them. We must render unto Caesar that which are Caesar’s after all. t
Ryan Mason is a senior in graphic design
Jacob Vandever is a senior in political science. The opinions expressed in Vandever’s columns do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Vandever can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.
8 • Thursday, May 28, 2015
forum@dailybarometer.com • 541-737-2231
Derek Saling A&E Columnist
‘Tomorrowland’ aims for positive, achieves ‘meh’
A ’Wilder Mind’ as a tame afterthought N
ovice dream-pop and underwhelming originality can easily be experienced in this forgettable mixture that Mumford & Sons debuted May 4 as their third studio album under the title “Wilder Mind.” The once “camp-fire-stomping” rhythmic approach that the London natives took on with albums such as “Sigh No More” and “Babel” have been completely obliterated in this “fresh take.” In many aspects, the very essence of what fans loved about the group was the grit and classic semi folk themes they infused in many of their hit songs with the use of banjos and mandolins to further perpetuate this notion of wholesomeness. Now, by putting forth a faux rustic and halfhearted collection that seemingly starts off on an exciting fresh take with “Tompkins Square Park” and “Believe” that reminisce bands such as Bright Eyes and My Morning Jacket, by composing
Skye L. Lyon A&E Columnist
each piece with fluidity and harmony that are delicately laced in softened vocals by front man Marcus Mumford. However, as quick as I was strangely pleased by these “ambiance creating” noises, I grew infuriated by the obnoxious droning of a vocalized whisper that never seemed to let up, with exception to track three “The Wolf,” which provided a slight glimpse of what “could have been” or what could have sounded much like a new release for Snow Patrol. Vanilla sounds washed away any potential of success this album could have possibly achieved commercially, and all for the failed attempt of sounding unique. Yet, even with that pressing bias ingrained in my head regarding
the entirety of the collection, the poetry embedded in their songs still obtain their integrity in a sea of their shallow pop peers. Track four, “Wilder Mind,” a self-portrait of a slightly dysfunctional lover and his partner are portrayed with such beautifully intoxicating language that forces the listener to dig deeper into the meaning: “You can be every little thing you want nobody to know / And you can try to drown out the street below / And you can call it love / If you want / Beholden now I find myself awake / Waiting on the edge again / You sleep so sound with your mind made up / Drinking from your cup of broken ends.” Cognizant of what they were trying to accomplish with their album, Mumford & Sons have torn themselves away from their prior British-folk work to experiment without the likes of any organic sounds or fable subject matters.
When hearing “Wilder Mind” for a total of three times straight, it was very clear to see that Marcus Mumford and his group tried with great might to make waves in the dream-pop realm, with melancholic echoes that fade into a sea of repetition and relaxing undertones that strongly mimic artist Lord Huron. Perfect for atmospheric enhancement to any space, “Wilder Mind” proved to be nothing more than a tame version of what had the potential to be drastically different, and yet conforms to a generic cookie cutter compilation of dull riffs that can virtually be heard at any open mic event in the Pacific Northwest. t
Skye J. Lyon is a junior Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Creative Writing and Ethnic Studies. The opinions expressed in Lyon’s columns do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Lyon can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com
Courtesy of Mumford&sons.com
‘Game of Thrones’reigns supreme this season A
fter a year of nail-biting withdrawal, fans of the iconic HBO powerhouse “Game of Thrones” are finally getting their muchneeded fix, and I’ve been glued to my television every week wondering who’s going to get the axe. But with so many fun (and traumatizing) memories behind us, can a show in its fifth season still keep the hype-train going? The answer is a tentative “yes.” While the first seven episodes released by this review contain everything I like about “Game of Thrones” in spades — superb acting, great character interactions and an unapologetically brutal take on the fantasy genre — they also leave me with the impression of building to something far grander down the road. I have a feeling there’s going to be an incompleteness to season five. Unless they attempt to wrap up several complex plotlines in the handful of remaining episodes — which wouldn’t give them the attention they deserve — this year’s finale will likely feature major cliffhangers. Producers have wasted no time stirring up just as much controversy as previous installments. If you thought Joffrey’s death meant no longer having to deal with psychopaths in power, I suggest you cover your eyes and do your best to hide from a certain Bolton. Scenes of graphic violence and disturbing content are ever-present, but they may take a backseat to discussions about the narrative, which is now break-
Chris Correll A&E Columnist
ing away from George R.R. Martin’s best-selling books. As someone who’s experienced both formats, I believe the changes are, as they have been up until now, for the better. No character is truly safe in this brand new rendition of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” which has enough surprises to keep readers and viewers coming back for more. This may not win me any support from die-hard fans of the novels, but after the enormous shock of the Red Wedding the written plot slows down quite a bit for “A Feast for Crows” and “A Dance of Dragons.” It never reaches boring, but the burning intensity from earlier does smolder out for a time. Most of the big players who managed to survive the War of Five Kings are beaten and battered from their losses. A big chunk of two books is essentially just tying up loose ends and recovering before the next big showdown. It’s a quieter point in the story with little action; everyone is taking the time to find themselves, which doesn’t always translate to the small screen very well. As entertaining as it would be to put microphones in the actors’ heads that let us hear their inner monologues, there’s really no better option to develop characters than letting them say and do things that stray from the source
material. Luckily, the writers are clever enough to know when to take liberties and when to stay true to Martin’s work — or, as odd as it may seem, somehow manage to pull off both at once. In many cases it’s not so much the ‘what’ of the plot that’s been altered, but the ‘who.’ In the books, dozens of minor characters we don’t know and aren’t given any time to learn about end up playing significant roles. In the meantime, fan favorites (Tyrion, Brienne, Jon Snow) are off doing what seems like frustratingly little by comparison. Season five solves both problems by giving people we’re already invested in something important or dangerous to do — no lazing around in this adaptation. For example, Sophie Turner’s role as Sansa Stark fills in for a minor book character that travels to Winterfell and enters a terrifying marriage to Ramsay. However, her prior relationship with Theon — Alfie Allen — makes their moments together far more meaningful than a stranger’s. Bronn — Jerome Flynn — who was supposed to be settled down with his wife by this point is instead playing James Bond in the desert with Jaime Lannister — Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. These two rogues hardly interact in Martin’s version. Here, they set out on a buddy-buddy rescue mission complete with undercover infiltration, giant spear fights, and the not-so-subtly alluring Sand Snakes that practically begs for a spin-off.
Courtesy of hbo
In stepping out of the shadow of its creator, “Game of Thrones” has won me over in believing it can stand tall as an independent production. These episodes dispelled any worries I had about the show’s quality declining as it finally passed the last book published so far. I could go on and on about all the high points this series has to offer, but chances are you’ve already heard them. This monumental struggle for the Iron Throne is simply fantastic, and the coming winter only brings more promise.
I
’m not necessarily a pessimist. I like to think I can see the good in most things, but sometimes too much optimism can be off-putting. That’s one of the reasons “Tomorrowland” is the first blunder in director Brad Bird’s (“The Incredibles,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”) film canon. Not that the movie is terrible — there are much worse movies out there — but there are so many parts in the movie that are annoying, unfitting and that don’t make much sense. The story centers around Casey Newton (Britt Robertson), daughter of a NASA engineer, who always wants to see a positive future. This optimism causes her to come into contact with Athena (Raffey Cassidy), a young, British, robotic girl, who recruits Casey, because she thinks Casey can help a big problem. We find that the big problem is the destruction of Earth, when Athena takes Casey to visit Frank Walker (George Clooney), who was once a genius optimist as a kid, but now spends his days holed up, tracking the end of the world from his house. When Casey shows some hope, Frank’s whole system wavers, and shows that the world has a chance. With Frank’s renewed hope, they embark to where Frank and Athena were banished: Tomorrowland. It is a place that the best and brightest from Earth created, to cultivate the possibilities of humanity. Tomorrowland ends up becoming so exclusive, that they don’t want any normal people infecting it with their negativity, and shut it off from Earth. Frank and Casey discover that the reason of Earth’s destruction is due to all the negativity that people are being fed, which leaves them a feeling of hopelessness. They find out that Nix (Hugh Laurie), the leader of Tomorrowland, is the one feeding the negativity to Earth, and have to destroy his machine before it’s too late. One of the big failings of the movie is that hardly any time is actually spent in Tomorrowland. It is a world that looks out of the mind of a child in the ‘50s, with jetpacks, hover trains and a sleek design all around. It looks excellent, and I was disappointed that they didn’t use such a well-made fantasy. The film is extremely preachy, telling you to stop making and supporting a negative future, so they want people to stop going to apocalyptic movies — they probably wouldn’t like “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Robertson is very good in her role. She has an enduring sense of optimism that fits well with what is asked of her character, and charm to match. It took me a little to appreciate Cassidy’s work. For a young teen, she does a very good job of playing a robot that also has a little spunk to her. For a PG movie that is supposed to be kid friendly, there is a strange casualness to the violence. In one situation, innocent police officers are disintegrated for absolutely nothing. “Tomorrowland” is a good idea for the eternal optimist, but as a film, it was less than it should have been.
t
t
Chris Correll is a senior in Psychology. The opinions expressed in Correll’s columns do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Correll can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.
Derek Saling is a junior in English. The opinions expressed in Saling’s columns do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Saling can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.