The Daily Barometer OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY • CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 541-737-2231
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 • VOLUME CXVI, NUMBER 38
DAILYBAROMETER
@BARONEWS, @BAROSPORTS, @BAROFORUM
Pending utility rate increase n
Water utility rates may rise 2.8 percent next year, to be discussed at next meeting By Emma-Kate Schaake THE DAILY BAROMETER
Corvallis City Council is considering an increase to water utility rates. If approved, the increase would be effective starting Feb. 1, 2014. The proposal would cause a 4 percent increase in wastewater rates and a 7 percent increase in storm water rates, with no change in water rates. The increase would apply to all single and
multi-family residences as well as commercial customers. Average single-family residential customers could expect an additional $1.60 on their monthly bill. This increase amounts to an overall 2.8 percent raise, up from last year’s 3 percent from combined water, wastewater and storm water increases. The Public Works Department reviews utility rates every year to maintain a viable business model for the services it provides. “We look at our upcoming expenditures versus our expected revenues,” said Public Works admin-
istrative division manager Kris De Jong. “Based on that analysis, we make a recommendation to our city council.” The gathered funds work to maintain safety standards, cover operating costs and provide capital investments. The expenditures for operations, like water treatment, and the maintenance of infrastructure and urban stream systems, are valued at $490 million. Water utility services are not usually on the forefront of public awareness, but the services See Utility | page 4
Taking a Semester at Sea n
Oregon State students set sail to travel to various countries, take classes on MV Explorer
By Dacotah-Victoria Splichalova THE DAILY BAROMETER
Students who enroll in the Semester at Sea program set sail for new opportunities, stopping around the world as part of a 66-day adventure. “The first 30 seconds of knowing that you’re getting on the ship and knowing that you’re going to be there for next 66 days, that’s the moment that changes you,” said Patrick Thom, a junior in sociology and criminal justice at Oregon State University. “You realize that it’s not a dream.” Mackenzie Hoy, a junior in digital communications arts at OSU, said See SEA | page 4
Courtesy of Patrick Thom
Patrick Thom stands in front of the MV Explorer about to begin his 10-week voyage on Semester at Sea. The MV Explorer will become his home during the duration of the voyage.
Civil War Blood Drive hits 13th year n
OSU’s blood drive not meeting anticipated donations early on By Kaitlyn Kohlenberg THE DAILY BAROMETER
Fall 2013 marks the 12th annual Civil War Blood Drive between Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. The blood drive works as an opportunity for the Red Cross to receive a high volume of donations in preparation for the winter season. Winter is typically a time when donations decline, yet need for donations increases. The OSU Blood Drive Association is hosting the blood drive daily from Monday through Friday in the Memorial Union Ballroom. The current setup can accommodate 32 donors at a time, and the donation center is open from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Volunteers at the event noted that mornings were the more crowded timeslots. Dillon Odle, a third-year microbiology student, commented on how long some students had to wait. “I’ve been here 15 minutes so far, and nobody has moved,” Odle said. “Everyone’s really helpful, it just doesn’t really seem like things are moving.” Students are welcome to come in for a walk-in donation; however, both the Red Cross and Blood Drive Association emphasize that the best way to ensure a minimal wait time is to schedule an appointment in advance. Crowds aside, OSU is currently behind the pre-set goal of anticipated See BLOOD | page 4
Fertilizers, pesticides harmful to amphibians THE DAILY BAROMETER
Courtesy of Tiffany Sacra Garcia and Megan Cook
The Pacific tree frog is one of the most common amphibians in Oregon.
Common pesticides and fertilizers can damage the development and survival of amphibians to varying degrees, according to a new analysis by Oregon State University researchers. The new meta-analysis is the first effort toward carrying out a large-scale summary on the negative effects of specific chemical classes on amphibians, according to Tiffany Garcia in a press release. Garcia is a co-author of the study and an associate professor of wildlife ecology within the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Former OSU doctoral graduate student Nick Baker led the meta-analysis, with assistance from Garcia. Baker and Garcia assessed more than 150 scientific studies outlining the impact of fertilizers and pesticides on amphibians. Around 30 percent of amphibian species are now extinct
or endangered due to a range of factors, including habitat loss, disease and exposure to contaminants, including pesticides and fertilizers, according to Garcia. “Billions of tons of agrochemicals are used in farming every year,” Garcia said in the press release. An expert in aquatic ecology, Garcia stated that “any disruption to frog, toad and salamander communities has clear negative impacts on biodiversity and can also set off a domino effect throughout the ecosystem by damaging the food base for amphibian predators, including birds, snakes and fish.” Amphibians are also valuable to the environment as grazers, herbivores and predators of pests, such as mosquitoes, she added. Timing is critical in order to reduce the effects See PESTICIDES | page 4