WEEK OF MONDAY, OCT. 31, 2016 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • VOL. CXVIV, NO. 6
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Fostering inclusivity New fraternity on campus aims to create a welcoming environment for men of all sexual orientations and gender expressions Page 8
NEWS: Making change on campus—4
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SPORTS: Andrews still grinding—10
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OPINION: Dr. Tech: Technology and democracy—16
Community Calendar
NEWS
Recording history
MONDAY, OCT. 31 Trick-or-Treat Tour
Come to the Memorial Union Family
Lounge where you can get a trick-or-treat map of various locations on campus that
are handing out goodies. This event takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. and costumes are
OSU Sesquicentennial Oral History Project aims to capture the past through collecting stories By Thomas Ebrahimi, News Contributor
encouraged but not required.
TUESDAY, NOV. 1 Food Talk
Mike Truong will lead a presentation called “Food Transformed: Passion to Reality,”
where he will speak about his passion for food and how he traversed a traditional
career path. This event takes place in the Asian and Pacific Cultural Center from 5 to 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2 Lunch Club
The Asian and Pacific Cultural Center is hosting a “Lunch Club” where one can
enjoy a meal and discuss various social
justice. Bring your own lunch light snacks
will be provided. This event takes place in the APCC from noon to 2 p.m.
THURSDAY, NOV. 3
Women’s Leadership Lecture Patty Bedient ‘75 OSU College of Business alumni and retired Weyerhaeuser
vice president will lead a lecture on female leadership. This event takes place in the Austin Auditorium from 7 to 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, NOV. 4
STEPHANIE KUTCHER | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK
Conservation Talk
The OSU Sesquicentennial Oral History Project collects stories and first-hand-accounts from people in the OSU community, and each person interviewed is photographed. The Project aims to piece together OSU’s history through the different interviews.
Dr. Ian Mananura OSU assistant professor
of Forest Ecosystems and Society will lead a presentation titled: Sustainable Conservation of Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda:
Improving the livelihoods of illegal hunters through Ecotourism.” This event takes
place in Waldo Hall room 201A from noon to 1 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 7 Ettihad Games
The Ettihad Cultural Center is hosting a
day filled with sports, games, raffles, prizes and more. This event takes place in the
McAlexander Fieldhouse from 5 to 9 p.m.
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To place an ad call 541-737-6373
WEB & MOBILE MANAGER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Riley Youngman
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COVER: Design by Natalie Lutz, photo by Zbignew Sikora 2 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
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newsblast1@oregonstate.edu
Halie Sutton
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NEWS
T
he tunnels moan under the pressure of the ground above. Sounds echo, bouncing crisply from wall to wall. A cold tension fills the air. Someone was murdered in the catacombs underneath Sackett Hall. The story has been told again and again. Kathy Parks was attacked by serial rapist and murderer Ted Bundy in May of 1974, and left for dead in the catacombs. But it didn’t happen. The truth is Kathy was never attacked on campus, and there’s no catacombs beneath Sackett Hall. The story is fabricated, historically inaccurate and a product of years of misinformation and assumption. These are the types of rumors that oral historians aim to clarify, and the types of mysteries they aim to illuminate. “You can’t accept what you hear as fact, it’s just a point of view,” said Chris Petersen, project lead for the OSU Sesquicentennial Oral History Project. “But facts can be hard to identify.” This unique approach is what drives the Oregon State University Sesquicentennial Oral History Project, a project celebrating the school’s 150th anniversary in 2018. The goal of the project is to record the history of OSU through the stories of both alumni and current students. “I usually don’t know the person,” Petersen said. “But I’m asking them questions no one has ever asked them before.” Public Historian and Archivist Michael Dicianna heralded the opportunity this project provided to study historically underrepresented groups on campus and around the community. This work can be seen in the black railroad porters presentation put together by the Oral History Project earlier this October. Dicianna said without the stories of the porters being recorded by archivists, the struggles of being a black porter in the Pacific Northwest may have been lost forever. Now they can be used as tools for learning. The project is interviewing current students, asking them about their struggles and beliefs. Dicianna said college campuses are reflections of the world around them, the documentation of students today, despite how mundane their lives may appear are vital aspects of understanding this era, both for future Beavers and historians. Speaking to how history becomes warped as it is told over time, Petersen said people seek to explain the unexplained and to inject spectacles into their boring lives. This, he warned, can create some historical inaccuracies
in the community. “Memory is a very slippery thing,” Petersen said. Petersen also noted that personal accounts come with personal biases and can be subject to nostalgia. “All historians come with a point of view,” Petersen said. “Oral history is a record of what happened, and what people think happened or maybe what they wanted to happen.” Oral history, Petersen argues, is a one sided conversation about the story of a person’s life, a sort of unofficial record of the good and bad of his or her life and times, and gives texture to the largely featureless stories of history. In his interview Petersen was able to ask questions such as, “What was Linus Pauling like to hang out with?” and “What was it like on campus the day after Pearl Harbor?” It is that uniqueness that permeates oral history, and what has drawn Tiah Edmunson-Morton, archivist and curator for the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives, to oral history, “I had this ‘a-ha’ moment that I was creating something special,” Edmunson-Morton said. Edmunson-Morton explained that oral history adds another dimension to the typical paper documents. As opposed to just focusing on bigger names in history, she said she liked to focus on people who haven’t had their stories told. Petersen completes this thought through his description of the “texture” of history. History is not just actions of important men and women in power. It is also the human experience of the commoner during that time. It’s one thing to understand the implications of Pearl Harbotr, it’s entirely different to hear someone give a first hand account of the sullen faces and silent halls of OSU the next day. Dicianna explained that Oregon State and its students and faculty reflect the culture of the times. Essentially, OSU mirrors the world outside of the borough of Corvallis; its fears and hopes, its motivations and failures. Dicianna reasons, then, that the stories that are told, the oral history that is created, reflects the community. “Oregon State is just a mirror of the culture,” Dicianna said. The stories OSU tell today, of overtime victories over Cal, of Clown Hunting Mobs, and of everything in between textures the fabric of the history on campus, defining the culture for a new generation of students.
STEPHANIE KUTCHER | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK
Christopher Peterson, project lead for the OSU Sesquicentennial Oral History Project, poses next to a bust of Linus Pauling. Peterson aims to gather information about past OSU events and figures.
Oral history is a record of what happened, and what people think happened or—maybe—what they wanted to happen. Christopher Petersen Project lead for OSU Sesquicentennial Oral History Project
WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 3
NEWS
Creating Change Anesat León-Guerrero works towards creating an inclusive space at OSU through her position as the Executive Director of Diversity Programs. By Nicole Drapela, Practicum Contributor
PHOTO COURTESY ANESAT LEON-GUERRERO
A
nesat León-Guerrero has faced barriers. Coming from a migrant family in rural Eastern Oregon as a first generation college student and U.S. American, she has felt the constraints of being a minority. During her time at Oregon State University, León-Guerrero strives to break down those barriers for other students every day. León-Guerrero is welcomed by ASOSU as its newest Executive Director of Diversity Programs. This academic year, she emphasizes a need for building campus connections with Cultural Resources Centers, promoting community inclusion and championing campaigns to promote a stronger sense of community at OSU. “It is imperative to get the voices of students from different communities, so as a collective student body, we can enact change by informing admin that there needs to be a policy enacted, a procedure or a shift in campus culture,” León-Guerrero said. León-Guerrero has become a strong advocator for cultural inclusion and helping build connections within her community. Her personal experiences as being labeled a minority and having been involved with diversity engagement workshops at OSU have given her a unique view on the importance of equal opportunity and learning how to strive in a society that isn’t always as inclusive as it could be. “When I first got used to the idea of being a college student, I felt the stereotype threat really came in. (Feeling that) being a person of my identities shouldn’t be in college, because the university system was not catered to me,” León Guerrero said. “There were social barriers and financial barriers that I experienced, that the general student from dominant communities would not.” Despite these barriers, León-Guerrero was able to rise above and has gained innumerable life skills. Through the years she has been at OSU she has learned how to “take on leadership positions, and really focus on owning the leadership position; not saying sorry when making a statement (and) not doubting myself.” Within ASOSU León-Guerrero strives to tackle issues on social justice and inclusion; especially concerning students of color 4 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
and students of low income families. She recognizes that OSU has traditionally been predominantly white in both student body and faculty, and that in recent years it can be seen that more students of color and multiculturalism are on campus. As good as she views this influx to be, León-Guerrero still has her concerns. “The higher education system isn’t prepared to receive the diversity that the U.S. is creating,” León-Guerrero said. Universities are in need of programs to assist these students. This is exactly where she comes in as Executive Director of Diversity Programs. According to León-Guerrero, her goal is “providing students with opportunities for professional development. Be that conferences or networking with students and admin, internships, and developing and directing programs that serve communities of color and intersecting identities, such as gender, sexuality and social status.” León-Guerrero and her diversity team are currently working towards the upcoming 16th Annual Oregon Students of Color Conference on Nov. 11 through 13. The conference is geared for students of color, including students of color with intersecting gender and sexuality, to hear presentations, engage in networking, receive education on social and political inequalities and develop methods of positive and empowering action. Marquina Mendiola Hofschneider, a diversity team member, is keeping involved with the OSCC. Hofschneider attended the conference last year, and this year has been working with León-Guerrero to gather support for the conference and to generate ideas for workshops. Hofschneider describes León-Guerrero as a student leader who is “straightforward and honest. She has incredible decision making skills and I would say her leadership style is a mixture of participatory and authoritative while she values group input, she also knows when it’s more appropriate to take the initiative and make the decision herself based on her instincts. And I’d say that’s a good attribute to have as a leader.” León-Guerrero happily expressed that her proudest achievement is her diversity team. “They have passion… I was very happy to hire a staff that is
all of color and they have different identities that range from being queer, international, having different areas of studies, living experiences,” León-Guerrero said. “That’s probably my proudest moment because with this kind of work that we do, it is extremely vital that the person that is communicating to student groups, trying to build community, has that awareness of who they are personally and at the same time, how to interact with different people.” In addition to her pride in her team, León-Guerrero is also looking forward to helping them develop additional hard and soft skills. She wishes to assist them in skills that are not taught in a traditional classroom, such as how to craft a letter, how to make requests for goods and services and how to follow up with others. Hofschneider reflects that León-Guerrero has inspired her to use more inclusive language, such as using gender neutral pronouns. In addition, León-Guerrero challenges her team to be more and to do more than what they have limited themselves to. In particular she encouraged Hofschneider run for a seat on the ASOSU Senate, which Hofschneider connects to her current involvement with ASOSU. León-Guerrero has influenced several members of her diversity team, including Assistant Director of Diversity Programs, Natalie Vega Juárez. “She has been pushing me to do things that even I don’t think I am capable of doing,” Juárez said. Juárez is always pleasantly surprised by the professional network León-Guerrero has built over the years and how she always knows just who to contact. This network, and skill to navigate it, leads Juárez to believe León-Guerrero will lead ASOSU to build strong ties with Cultural Resource Centers across campus and develop a better foundation of relations. If Juárez were to describe León-Guerrero in one word, it would be: dynamic. Not only can León-Guerrero enact change, but Juárez believes that people take notice of it, and that she leaves a lasting impact. Despite being from the land of watermelons, León-Guerrero is not too fond of them herself. She’d much rather enjoy a spicy flavorful dish. She also happens to be quite fond of succulents.
NEWS
AARON TRASK | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK
FAFSA now requires two years of tax information and the application can now be filled out as early as Oct. 1, giving students an extra three months to fill out the form.
Changes to FAFSA
What students need to know to apply for federal aid next school year By Reed Morris, Practicum Contributor For some students, financial aid can mean having enough money to afford rent, textbooks or even more daunting, the price of an education. The 2017-18 school year marks the beginning of students ability to apply for FAFSA earlier than previous years, changing from Jan. 1 to Oct. 1. Doug Severs, Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, sees the changes in a positive light. “We’ve gone to this, what we call early FAFSA for students that file early and part of that is using prior, prior year data. So we think that’s going to be good in regard to providing much better data,” Severs said. Severs is referring to FAFSA altering the required information necessary to apply. Students are now required to provide two years worth of tax records, up from one prior year. For many students, that information can be found in their previous year’s income taxes on their 1040 or 1040-EZ form. This information comes as a bit of a surprise for many students who are unaware of the recent changes. OSU student Kolby Baethke, felt left in the dark about the changes and was preparing to apply for FAFSA with a single year’s worth of tax info, as he had done in previous years. Baethke was surprised to hear that this year, it would be different. “Well for me it raises the question as to how two years tax info would change the outcome. Plus people could go through a huge change in that time and in their taxes, which could alter what they should be
provided,” Baethke said. PJ Harris, another student, was unaware and unprepared for the changes. “It sounds like they’re trying to figure out a new system to how they distribute the aid. I’m not sure that’s a kind way to do it but it sounds effective for the majority,” Harris said. Severs said the changes being made are meant to aid students in their application process, but the changes do come with the potential for complications. However, Doug Severs’ outlook remains hopeful for the roughly 21,000 Oregon State FAFSA awardees, despite the possibility of issues arising. “They’ll still have plenty of time to get the information on the form and it will be much better in that regard,” Severs said. For OSU students looking for assistance with FAFSA or financial aid, Associate Director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Brian Hultgren, advised making use of campus resources. “We always encourage students to meet with (us), come in ask questions, give us a call. We can set up times to meet with an advisor if the have more complicated or special situations with the FAFSA,” Hultgren said. Oregon State students can now apply for early FAFSA through the office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. The Priority Filing Deadline for the 2017-18 school year at OSU is Feb. 28. For inquiries on financial aid, students can visit the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, located in Kerr 218, or via phone 541-737-2241 or email at financial.aid@oregonstate.edu. WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 5
NEWS
Funding research
JOSHUA ROLLO | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK
(ABOVE) Students work in a lab in Johnson Hall for class. (LEFT) Peter Eschbach removes a sample from the electron microscope in the electrom microscopy lab in Linus Pauling Science Center. (BELOW) Ryan Mansergh searches for the tiny crystals he has in the electron microscope on his computer screen in the electron microsopy lab in Linus Pauling Science Center.
6 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
NEWS
Oregon State University received 336 million dollars to fund research projects, impacting Oregon economy By Thomas Ebrahimi, News Contributor Last year Oregon State University received $336 million dollars in research funding and is one of only two universities in the country with a land, sea, space and sun-grant designation. “ We are becoming a huge powerhouse in research in the nation,” said Steven J. Clark, vice president of University Relations and Marketing. The money received by OSU is primarily being used to fund research projects, according to Clark, that have a profound effect on Oregonians and the Oregon economy, work that is only possible thanks to the research funding. The money comes primarily from federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army, as well as private industries and the state government A study conducted by ECONorthwest on Oregon State in 2015 estimated that in 2014, OSU had more than a $2.3 billion economic impact in Oregon, including the creation of 31,660 jobs. Clark called to light the work of the College of Forestry, which is currently working on a method to use lumber to construct high rise buildings. He said the project could have a huge impact on the struggling Oregon lum-
ber industry, and the rural communities that once thrived on it. Dr. Irem Tumer, associate dean of research and economic development for the College of Engineering, also discussed the work the college is doing to improve the quality of life for Oregonians. “Healthy economy, healthy environment, and healthy people; that’s our goal,” Dr. Tumer said. Dr. Tumer pointed to small scale nuclear reactors that were originally developed by OSU faculty and students as a prime example. This project has birthed its own business called NuScale Power, which aims to continue the work done at the university by pushing for easy access to emission free and affordable energy throughout Oregon. According to Elain Fu, assistant professor of bioengineering, the money isn’t just improving the community OSU serves, it’s also providing opportunities for researchers and students alike. “It’s a cycle,” Fu said. “We do more research, which enables us to do more research and hire more students.” She is currently researching methods for more effective monitoring of diseases in healthcare. She detailed the ease of access to
the funds and students she needs to pursue her research. After starting with a standard start up package of research funds to hire graduate students and purchase equipment for her work, she had enough research done to begin seeking greater sums of money with an actual body of work to show. Dr. Tumer said that the College of Engineering has allocated funding for a new position in the college aimed at giving undergraduates greater access to research, and facilitating their pursuits. “(Undergraduates) are part of the foundation here for research,” Clark said. Money, however, isn’t the only factor that makes OSU a premier research institution. Collaboration plays a huge role. Dr. Tumer touted the Marine Studies Initiative as the ultimate collaboration project. A true multi faceted initiative, the Marine Studies Initiative unites all disciplines, from the College of Engineering to the College of Liberal Arts, to study and better the Oregon Coast. “Collaboration helps people understand and help solve the really big problems not one discipline can solve,” Dr. Tumer said. This attitude found in OSU’s faculty has also found its way into the buildings
themselves. Johnson Hall opened this past September and has floor to ceiling glass panels instead of closed doors in its laboratories. Instead of making research exclusive and done in solitude, the goal is to promote inclusivity and collaboration. “There’s a great collaborative atmosphere with the faculty,” Fu said. When looking to the future of research at OSU, Clark said that the goal isn’t about the numbers, but rather a continuation of OSU’s current work. He reasoned that doing world class research attracts world class staff. The world class research done at OSU helps the school secure further funding. “We have rockstar staff,” Clark saidx. It is clear that this research funding enables OSU in a number of ways to have a substantial impact on the lives of Oregonians. According to Cynthia Sagers, vice president for research, projects on the horizon include projects to improve the sustainability and productivity of agriculture, designing two to three regional class coastal research vessels, and environmental responses to climate change. “Without this money, we would not be changing the world,” Clark said.
Get in the Game, Play Indoors! Men’s, Women’s, Coed Soccer Leagues Available Winter League 1 Final deadline Wednesday, November 2
175 SW Twin Oaks Circle, Corvallis www.corvallissportspark.com 541-757-0776
@cspsoccer CorvallisSportsPark WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 7
COVER STORY
Delta Lambda Phi colonizes at OSU IFC fraternity to focus on creating an inclusive environment within the Greek system, support LGBTQ+ community By Anna Weeks, Greek Peek Blog Manager In an effort to create a more inclusive environment within the traditional Greek system, Delta Lambda Phi has officially colonized on the OSU campus. “Founded by gay men for all men,” part of DLP’s mission statement, summarizes the fraternity’s goal to create a place within the fraternal system that enhances the quality of life among men irrespective of sexual orientation or gender expression. On Oct. 22, Delta Lambda Phi was installed as an Interfraternity Council colony and invited 10 pledges into the nationally recognized brotherhood. Delta Lambda Phi was founded in 1986 in Washington D.C. Those that helped bring DLP to campus hope the chapter will provide a welcoming community for men who identify as gay, bisexual or transgender—as well as those who do not —a nd allow anyone who wants it to get a true fraternity experience. Cory Zimmerman, the current DLP president and one of the individuals who worked to bring the fraternity to the OSU campus, had debated whether or not to participate in traditional recruitment while attending OSU. Because of this, he sought out alternatives, which eventually led him to DLP. “I couldn’t think of any fraternity on campus I would fit in with, so I looked up national LGBTQ friendly fraternities,” Zimmerman said. “That’s how I found Delta Lambda Phi.” One of the main attributes of DLP that stood out to Zimmerman was the national philanthropy, the Delta Lambda Phi Foundation. One of the many charities DLP raises money and awareness for is The Trevor Project, which benefits LGBTQ youths in crisis, especially assisting those who struggle emotionally with how they identify themselves in today’s society. After researching more about the chapter infrastructure, Zimmerman sent an email to the DLP National Headquarters requesting more information on how to start a colony on a college campus. Zimmerman wanted to bring DLP to campus to help give those looking for something outside of the traditional Greek system an opportunity to get involved. “(DLP) is an alternative way for men in the LGBTQ community, and those who aren’t, to have a classic Greek experience
without the stereotypical testosterone-filled events,” Zimmerman said. From start to finish, the colonization process took about a year. After contacting DLP National Headquarters and getting approved, Zimmerman met with Leslie Schacht Drey, the director of the center for fraternity and sorority life at OSU. The approval from the university was the first step of the process of crafting the roughly 15 page document filled with details about OSU, the Corvallis community and surrounding area that was then sent to the national fraternity headquarters. Facing a colonization fee of $600, Zimmerman and those working with him began reaching out to friends and family with a GoFundMe account to reach their goal. Additionally, they introduced themselves to local fraternities and sororities. Those who generously donated were rewarded with personalized recognition on social media accounts and a promise of further recognition at DLP’s first event. Alpha Phi, a member of the Panhellenic Council at OSU, decided to assist the fundraising by donating $200 toward DLP’s colonization fee. “Greek life is gender based by nature, so people who do not fit into the typical gender or sexual orientations might feel as though they do not have a place within the Greek community,” said Nissa Johnson, the president of Alpha Phi. “Alpha Phi believes that it is important to maintain an inclusive Greek community, and the colony members of Delta Lambda Phi are working to provide that inclusive environment.” Anthony Maier, from the Beta Zeta Chapter of DLP, and Ben Sokoloff, from the Chi Chapter of DLP, are DLP alumni stationed in Portland, who have served as the OSU colony’s mentors throughout the process. DLP’s Colony Installation ceremony, held on Oct. 22, in the Memorial Union, was lead by
8 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
the two mentors, as well as brothers from the Iota Chapter at Sacramento State University and various alumni in the area. After 100 years of existing on the campus, many involved with the fraternity and sorority life at OSU are thrilled to add an LGBTQ chapter into the community. “I think it is awesome,” said Colton Sheets, a member of Sigma Nu. “Oregon State does a lot to expand the diversity of its students. I’m glad to have more Greeks on campus and I can’t wait for them to make the impact that I know they are going to have.” While many aspects of the colony installation remain a mystery to outsiders, the bond of Delta Lambda Phi’s newfound brotherhood is evident. Delta Lambda Phi will be holding their first event called “Meet the Lambda Men” on Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union, room 206. Refreshments will be provided.
ZBIGNIEW SIKORA | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK
(ABOVE from left to right) Roman Battaglia, Cory Zimmerman, Chris Hands and Tyler Paine are new members of the recently colonized IFC fraternity Delta Lambda Phi at OSU. DLP focuses on creating a space for men of all sexual orientations and gender expressions to have the traditional Greek experience on campus. (CENTER) Zimmerman flashes the official DLP sign.
WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 9
SPORTS
Capitalizing on time
Kendall Hill will be back next year at OSU despite injuries
D
uring the second quarter of a Texas quarterfinal playoff football game, La Marque High School’s Kendall Hill trotted back to the sideline after an offensive drive. His left knee bothered him a little after taking a hit a couple plays earlier, but this moment — potentially the last game of his senior year and with then-Oregon State assistant coach Chris Brasfield in the stands watching — was no time to quit. Hill didn’t know it at the time, but he had completely torn his anterior cruciate ligament as well as his medial meniscus, an injury that takes the better part of a year to recover from, if not more. He played the rest of the game without thinking twice. La Marque ended up losing by three points, but Hill had showcased his talents enough to pave the way to a scholarship offer from OSU, where he’s now in his fifth of six years with the Beavers. Injury problems have hampered Hill ever since that game, but he hasn’t forgotten the lessons he learned over the next few months. “I didn’t even know what an ACL was at the time,” Hill said. “I was talking with the doctor and I said, ‘So, that means like two or three months I’ll be down?’ I always felt like I was Superman. I felt like I could do anything. It’s very hard when you’re humbled and you’re at your lowest point in your life.” Hill went through his rehab process, came to OSU in 2012 and redshirted, looking forward to being healthy for the 2013 season. Two days before his redshirt freshman year, Hill’s right knee buckled on a punt return drill. This time, his other ACL was ruptured and the medial meniscus as well. Sometimes learning a lesson the hard way doesn’t mean there won’t be more pain later on. Hill learned that, of course, the hard way. “I knew how everything was supposed to go mentally,” Hill said of the repeated rehab process. “I actually got cleared faster than the first time.” Hill’s collegiate career was far from over. He switched from safety to wide receiver in 2014, playing in eight games as a special teams contributor. He went back to the defensive side of the ball in 2015, earning time at cornerback. He finally got his first career start halfway through last year — it was teammates’ injuries, ironically, that afforded Hill the opportunity — and he went on to start five straight games, making 31 tackles in that span alone. That story line has been repeated this season, as Hill is getting more and more playing time as the season progresses. He’s made 16 tackles this season, mostly coming in the last three weeks. Finally, Hill has been able to stay healthy and capitalize on playing time. “I feel like I’ve been through the worst of the worst,” Hill said. “I just go out there and try to be a war daddy for coach. Just
By Josh Worden, Senior Beat Reporter
play and have fun.” Hill also got a big piece of good news just before this season began. The 22-year-old learned the NCAA would allow him to use a redshirt for 2012 and a medical redshirt for 2013 since he missed both seasons with ACL tears, meaning he’ll be back next season as a sixth year senior. Not only was Hill excited about another year of eligibility, he also looks forward to another year of school. He already completed his Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Sciences and he’s close to completing his double degree in Sociology as well. “It’s not just for football, I want to be well off when football is over,” he said. “My main goal is to be a positive impact and give back to my community. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. La Marque football has put me in a position to be here today, and Oregon State has given me all the tools financially for paying for my athletic scholarship.” “Kendall has matured so much,” added Gary Andersen, head coach. “The pride he has in school now, it’s pretty special. At least every two weeks he comes up and tells me what he’s got, where he’s going.” Since Hill has been in the program since 2012 and still has more than a season left to play, his leadership skills have grown immensely. “He’s a motivational guy,” said junior wide receiver Xavier Hawkins. “He talks to everyone and tries to keep everyone’s head up. He’s had his ups and downs, but he’s been able to overcome them.” “I love being around Kendall,” Andersen said. “He’s a straight shooter. He doesn’t mix words. He loves this university and he’s battled his tail off to be in the spot that he’s in.” So where does Hill’s motivation come from? In large part, it’s his family. He still talks regularly with his parents back in Texas and calls himself “a momma’s boy.” His only tattoo is a large, scrawling inscription of her name, Emma, on his chest. “She was upset at first, and then she saw it and realized what it was,” Hill said of the tattoo. “Then she wasn’t upset anymore, but she was like, ‘no more tattoos.’” Hill’s relationship with his parents is based on trust and reliance, rather than just a superficial display of ink. After he came to campus for a film session in early August and parked near Gill Coliseum without a pass, he came out later to find his 2011 Dodge Nitro with a boot on and a $300 ticket as well. Naturally, his parents were his first phone call, and his mother paid the ticket — not before giving him “a mouthful” of admonishment, though. “She was like, ‘what are you doing?’” Hill said. “The conversations you want to have with your mom as you grow up are ‘I’m
10 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
proud of you, you’re growing and being responsible.’ So when you have those slip ups, that’s what life is all about. Because eventually I can’t call mom. Eventually I need to have my own to be a man in order to do the things I need to do. They do a good job of supporting me. Without her, I wouldn’t be rolling around with a car right now.” For most of Hill’s family life, he’s played the role of a son. More recently, though, he’s added a sort of father-figure position to his daily life. About a year and a half ago, he and his girlfriend, Alexis, began dating. She has a five-year-old son from a previous relationship named Johnny, and now Hill has to hold the responsible, mature position. Luckily, he can be in his comfort zone during that process, since Johnny is a budding football star. He was named MVP of his league up in Wilsonville while playing running back and Hill’s position, safety. “[Johnny] is amazing,” Hill said. “He’s athletic. He’s everything you can ask for in a child. Who wouldn’t love him?” Hill went to the games and “helps out” with football tips when he can but mostly just focuses on watching and cheering. Ultimately, Hill says, he wants to encourage Johnny because years ago, Hill had people in his life encouraging him in the same way. “I just try to be mindful of what I’m doing and that I’m an example,” Hill said. “What he sees from me reflects into what he does as a person.” “He sends me videos of summer activities with his kid,” Andersen added. “He’s a special young man. He’s gone through a lot and he’s handled it well. He’s a quality student-athlete, that’s what I would say of Kendall Hill.” Hill doesn’t like to overplay the role he plays as a father in his relationship with Johnny, since they’re not biologically related and Johnny’s father is still in the picture. Still, Hill is grateful for what he has. “I just love him being Kendall,” he said. “That’s all I can do.” During his five years at OSU on and off the field, Hill has experienced a lot: rehabbing two ACL tears, growing in responsibility as a son and a responsible man, finishing his degree and improving as a football player. Perhaps the memories of all his growth is what Hill values the most. “I came here at 17 years old,” he said. “I turned 22 years old on Aug. 28. It’s crazy how fast time goes here. You appreciate the years that you get and the people that come into your life. Because these are memories that will last forever. “I’ve just been thankful for God and everything, just being humble. Never getting too high or too low, just staying in between.”
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I feel like I’ve been through the worst of the worst. I just go out there and try to be a war daddy for coach. Just play and have fun. Kendall Hill OSU football player
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(LEFT) Cornerback Kendal Hill and safety Landry Payne play during the Idaho State University game. (ABOVE) Kendall Hill poses in the locker room. Returning halfway through the 2015 season after two ACL tears, Hill started five straight games and made 31 tackles. This season, he has made 16 tackles. WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 11
SPORTS
Still grinding Senior offensive lineman Gavin Andrews is finally nearing his career’s end By Josh Worden, Senior Beat Reporter
T
he only thing between Gavin Andrews and what was supposed to be his last year at Oregon State in 2015 was the final day of spring football and the ensuing offseason. The 6-foot-5, 327-pound offensive lineman was prepared to finish up the spring game and start his senior year a few months later, getting the opportunity to play with the two other offensive linemen he arrived with at OSU: Josh Mitchell and Isaac Seumalo. Andrews had played alongside Mitchell in 2014 but hadn’t been able to play with Seumalo yet. Andrews missed chunks of time early in his career by contracting mono and breaking his foot, while Seumalo missed 2014 with a broken foot of his own. Seumalo and Mitchell would both go on to leave after the 2015 season, so this was Andrews’ last shot to play with both of those teammates while also completing his senior year in Corvallis. Partway through the 2015 spring game, though, he felt a pop in his foot again. He was barely able to hobble back to the sideline; Andrews had broken his foot a second time. Though he knew he could play again in 2016, Andrews wished he didn’t have to spend the 2015 season on the sidelines redshirting. “It was a letdown to see them go and not go with them,” Andrews said of Mitchell and Seumalo’s departure. There was one positive of spending the extra year in Corvallis, though: Andrews got to act as an unofficial assistant coach on the sidelines. He wasn’t able to play in games, but he still traveled with the team, helped signal play calls to the offensive line and mentored some of the younger offensive lineman like first year starter Drew Clarkson. Andrews wants to be a graduate assistant and eventually a coach after his playing days are over, so the opportunity to grow as a teacher and leader was significant. “I was like a GA, hanging out and talking with other GAs, watching film and trying to do as much as I could,” Andrews said. This season, Andrews finally is playing his last year in Corvallis. He’s moved around on the offensive line again, currently playing center after an injury to Yanni Demogerontas and the return of tackle Sean
Harlow, so Andrews has now logged starts at tackle, guard and center at OSU. Most importantly, Andrews is seven games into the year and hasn’t gotten injured. No season-ending foot injury, no additional calamity like in years prior, no playing time lost due to uncontrollable circumstances. That doesn’t mean he’s not banged up, though. He doesn’t like to talk specifics about his health, but Andrews has still had to play through a lot of nicks and bruises this year. “I’ve been fighting through it,” Andrews said. “It’s not something that’s totally off the charts, but it’s there.” “He’s displayed a fair amount of toughness being able to battle through what he’s going through right now,” said offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator TJ Woods. “He’s similar to a lot of offensive linemen with a lot of miles on their tires. Your body starts to break down a little bit. We saw that with Mitchell last year and Isaac [Seumalo] last year too, and Gavin is in that same boat right now. But, his resilience and passion for the game and for our unit really shows up by the way he’s battling through a lot more than most of the guys.” Ever since Andrews moved to center, Woods said, there have been noticeably fewer missed assignments up front. Andrews’ five years of experience at OSU have helped in a big way, and it’s shown on the field. No. 5 Washington led the Pac-12 in sacks with 4.0 per contest coming into the OSU game this weekend but recorded just one versus the Beavers. Two weeks prior, OSU’s offensive line opened gaping holes against California en route to recording 474 rushing yards and no sacks allowed in the 47-44 win. “What he brings mentally is invaluable,” Woods said of Andrews. “He’s a veteran and he knows all the calls and how to conduct it up front.” “He’s focused, he knows his assignments and he knows what the coaches expect of him,” said senior cornerback Treston Decoud. “He’s a hard worker and a good offensive lineman. He grinds it out, he’s a physical guy. He’s a war daddy.” Decoud saw Andrews fight through the injury and subsequent rehab last year, gaining plenty of respect for
Andrews’ battles. Decoud would know what it’s like to miss time with injury: his concussion in the Colorado game last year sidelined him for more than two weeks. “A guy like that, you see him overcome those injuries,” Decoud said. “A lot of people don’t overcome those injuries and when you get them, you get down on yourself and your confidence goes away. He’s one of those guys who stayed positive with himself through his injuries. I love that; he’s a great guy.” Now the question lies in what Andrews can do the rest of this season and beyond. He says his main goal this season is “to beat the Ducks,” and he’ll evaluate his NFL aspirations after the year. “That’s a decision I’m going to make after the season,” Andrews said. “It’s going to be purely based on how healthy I feel I am… I’ll try to play as many years as I can possibly and I’ll deal with the decisions I make. There’s consequences to everyone’s decision, whether they want to play at a higher level or stop, but I feel I should at least give it a shot.” “His size and strength and aptitude are all really good resources that he possesses for the next level,” added Woods. No matter what, Andrews wants to go into coaching long term. His passion for the game of football has remained throughout all the injuries, and he’s already received enough recognition for his awareness and cognition rather than just physical attributes, so a coaching career seems reasonable. “I really have a love for this game, and I think so far I have a really good understanding for what needs to be done with coaching and game planning,” he said. The Granite Bay, Calif. native has already made an impression on the OSU program despite his injuries and missed opportunities. He can recall how “troublesome” it was to break his foot twice, but his drive for being a leader on and off the field has not gone unnoticed. “He cares a lot about Oregon State and the game of football,” Woods said. “He’s always been able to do whatever it takes. Play guard, play center, play tackle. He’s not one to gripe or complain, he’s just a tough guy that wants to win and be successful, and he’ll do whatever it takes to do that.” COURTESY OF SCOBEL WIGGINS| OSU ATHLETICS
OSU offensive lineman Gavin Andrews gets fired up during the game against Utah. Despite suffering multiple injuries, Andrews looks towards beating the Ducks this season, and possibly following his NFL aspirations after the season ends. 12 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
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Gavin Andrews plays agains the University of Colorado. Andrews is playing in his last year for Oregon State, and plans to go into coaching longterm. WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 13
OPINION
Letters to the Editor The Voice of the Community
Defending forest management
I graduated in 2015 with a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from the Department of Public Policy at Oregon State University I write to take exception to the letter by Dan Roper published in the Oct. 24 print issue of the Barometer. The reason the Mac Forest is such a nice place to visit is precisely because of the forest management practices of the College of Forestry. The reason the forest is such a valued and integral part of Corvallis life is because of the welcoming and tolerant policies of the College. I believe that the active forest man-
agement is an important aspect of the forest in that we the public have the opportunity to view the linkage between forest practices on private land, forest health, and the open policy the College has for community use of their land. I am grateful that the College allows virtually unrestricted access and use of their land. It is only because of their care for the land and their largess that we community members have access to such a wonderful open space. Andrew Meigs
From the desk of the ASOSU President
Dear students, Beavers and Ducks are almost always at odds. This year, however, Oregon State University and University of Oregon students share a common vision: creating a safer campus, so students can thrive. We are proud ambassadors of our institutions and members of our communities. Both ASOSU and ASUO are committed to ensuring the safety of students across the state. We ask you to join us in this effort. Take care of yourself. Let’s take care of our friends, guests, and each other. Please remember, the legal drinking age is 21 and that it is illegal to provide alcohol to minors. These laws are always enforced in the state of Oregon, and will be highly enforced around Halloween in Corvallis, Eugene, and the surrounding areas. The heightened police presence is an effort to ensure the safety of our community. We also recognize that some students may choose to engage in high-risk behaviors, such as binge drinking or illicit drug consumption. At the end of the day, our priority is ensuring and maintaining the safety of students. A few years ago, medical amnesty was passed at the state level. Medical amnesty allows folks to call emergency services, such as 9-1-1, when needing medical support. It protects you if you call for help for yourself or for another person from incurring a Minor In Possession (MIP). This law is especially helpful when someone needs attention for alcohol poisoning or assault. Don’t forget the signs of alcohol poisoning – shallow breathing, unresponsiveness, cold or clammy skin, pale or bluish color, vomiting, and mental confusion. We want to encourage you all to call and get help for alcohol poisoning or assault.
Additionally, we recognize that this time of year is a popular time for risky behavior that can create vulnerable spaces. Alcohol is the number one drug used to facilitate sexual assault. It is our responsibility as students of Oregon State University and the University of Oregon to actively intervene in potentially harmful situations. Do not assume that others will intervene. It’s the responsibility of us ALL to prevent sexual violence. When you hear something, say something. When you see something, do something. We also want to remind everyone that cultural appropriation is not acceptable. Cultural appropriation is the act of borrowing or using aspects of a culture by another culture, typically a dominant culture. Around the time of Halloween, we often see people dressing as a culture or a character, which is offensive and reinforces negative stereotypes. These costumes reinforce racism, sexism, and classism. As active and respectful members of the OSU and the UO communities, we expect everyone to not engage in cultural appropriation. We are proud of everyone’s commitment to ensuring a safer campus for all. ASOSU and ASUO want our students to be leaders in creating safer and healthy communities. Do not hesitate to intervene in unsafe situations. Be an active bystander. We are here to support students in their college experiences and academic pursuits and the first step in achieving that is establishing safer campuses. Happy Halloween, Rachel Grisham, ASOSU President Quinn Haaga, ASUO President
Submitting letters to the editor 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 Baro reserves the right to refuse publication of any submissions. Each reader will be allowed one published letter per month.
e-mail: baro.editor@oregonstate.edu The Baro 488 Student Experience Center 2251 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis, OR 97331-1617
14 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
The opinions expressed in the Letters to the Editors are entirely from the individual that sent the letter and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Baro’s staff or editorial board. The publication of letters of endorsement and letters from candidates do not indicate an endorsement from the Baro staff or editorial board.
Endorsing Sami Al-AbdRabbuh As a scientist and an advocate for the use of scientific knowledge in political decisions, I find both despairing and uplifting things in the upcoming election. The bi-modality of our nation’s political scene leaves little hope for unity and bi-partisan progress. What gives me hope in this election is the progress that can be made at the local and state level. There is a candidate for Oregon State Representative who will help our State thrive: Sami Al-AbdRabbuh. Sami is a great man and leader for whom I have immense respect. I have known Sami since he was in the ASOSU senate; where he was always a vocal advocate for students rights and making OSU a better place for all. Sami is running for OR house district 16, which is the district that covers Corvallis, and
although our town and OSU was founded on agriculture, we have also thrived and grown on science, technology, and engineering. This town has one of the highest education levels in the country and OSU is a phenomenal research institution which employees nearly 2000 graduate students doing research. Sami was a teaching assistant at OSU, helping our next generation learn and prepare for the future. I cannot think of a better person to represent our community than a scientist, an engineer, and a teacher: Sami Al-AbdRabbuh Kris Osterloh Soil Scienc PhD Student Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Oregon State University
Remember to vote To the OSU Community: Ballots for the Nov. 8 General Election have been mailed to voters. If you are registered to vote and have not received your ballot, you may check the status of your ballot by calling your county elections office or on the Oregon Secretary of State website: http://sos.oregon. gov/voting-elections/Pages/default.aspx Benton County Elections Department: (541) 766-6756, https://www.co.benton. or.us/elections Deschutes County Elections Department: (541) 388-6547, http://www.deschutes.org/ clerk/page/elections-and-voting Lincoln County Elections Department: (541) 265-4131, http://www.co.lincoln.or.us/ clerk/election-history For all other county elections offices in Oregon: http://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/ countyofficials.aspx In order to be counted, your ballot must be received by a County Elections Office or deposited in an official ballot drop site no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 8. Note: Postmarks do not count. The ballot must be deposited or received by Nov. 8. If you are mailing your ballot, in order to ensure that it is received in time, mail it no later than Thursday, Nov. 3. There is an official ballot drop site on the OSU Corvallis Campus: OSU Valley Library Monday: Open 24 hours Tuesday: Open 24 hours Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours Friday: Closes at 10 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. no closing For official ballot drop sites throughout Oregon: http://www.sos.state.or.us/dropbox/ Note: On Election Day all official ballot drop sites will be open until 8 p.m. For additional voting and election information from the Secretary of State’s website: http://www.oregonvotes.gov/ We hope you will take time to participate in the November 8th General Election. Sincerely, Edward J. Ray, President Oregon State University Kate Halischak, President Faculty Senate Rachel Grisham, President Associated Students of Oregon State University Molly Svendsen, President Associated Students of Cascades Campus Leonora Rianda, President SEIU Local 083 Thomas Morrill, President Coalition of Graduate Employees
C R O S S W O R D
Go Beyond
Across
Happy Halloween from the Barometer and Orange Media Network! What is a mummy’s favorite type of music? Wrap music Why did Dracula take cold medicine? To stop his coffin.
1 Tumblr competitor 10 Workers’ rights org. 14 Dunkin’ Donuts buy 15 “Gimme five” 16 Go wild 17 Sticky corner piece 18 Shot target 19 Joint room? 20 Zero on stage 21 “Later!” 23 Marks meaning the same thing 25 Tongue attachment? 26 Pulls hard 28 Dynamic start 29 Lose at the table, with “out” 30 Flier to Helsinki 32 Coach in six Super Bowls 34 Fencing maneuvers 38 Kim of “Army Wives”
39 “I agree!” 41 Grumpy pal 42 Works in Madrid? 43 Singer with a domed nest 45 Trick users, in a way 49 Your, in Tours 50 Sri Lankan exports 52 “Off the Court” author 53 Acted badly 55 True-to-life 57 Cut 58 Used a drive-thru, maybe 59 Online shopping button 61 Tilts 62 Dominican-born designer 63 WWII Allied invasion vessels 64 Put on
Down
1 Music industry woe 2 Samos neighbor named for the son of Daedalus 3 Partner of Marcus 4 ESPN highlights 5 Util. bill 6 Went fast 7 Latin catchall 8 Overly formal 9 Number worn by Tony La Russa as a tribute to Sparky Anderson 10 Goes (for) 11 Like some Chinese TV stations 12 Closing subject 13 Google Wallet rival 15 The __: two-time WWE Tag Team Champions 20 Daydreamed
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HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (10/31/16). Listen to your spirit this year. Get quiet and notice your inner dreams for the world, for yourself and others. New professional pursuits this spring lead to flowering romance. Home changes next autumn come before your career reaches new heights. Rituals comfort and soothe. Share them with love. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Celebrate without spending a fortune. You can do a lot with glitter and paint. Collaborate to get the effect you’re looking for. Contribute to a good cause. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is an 8 -- You and a partner incite some fun, inspired by last night’s New Moon. Craft the perfect situation. Glamorize the
proceedings with special flair. Your relationship transforms. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Discover a New Moon breakthrough in health, vitality and your work over the next few weeks. Determine your goals. The pace quickens. Practice and grow stronger. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Fall in love all over again. A romantic relationship transforms under the New Moon. Imagine perfection, and devote yourself to another’s happiness. Share art, creativity and laughter. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Enjoy a new domestic phase. Decorate your place and fill it with delicious flavors and fragrances. Family fun grows your heart stronger. Share a sense of wonder. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Today is an 8 -- Launch a new
22 “Well, why not?” 24 Walked 27 Beauty pageant band 29 Rumba relative 31 Simmered 33 Sty supper 34 “No more for me” 35 Finder’s words 36 Total mess 37 Cutty __: Scotch 40 Ask for more 44 Item for a sewer 46 Hong Kong, e.g. 47 Nest sound? 48 Set of seven 50 Farm houses 51 Used, as a counter 54 Trifling criticisms 56 Accumulated accounts 59 Payroll service co. 60 Historic span: Abbr.
phase in creative expression with last night’s New Moon. Share what you’re up to and invite others to participate. Include music, sparkle and ritual. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Consider possibilities. A profitable new phase begins with the New Moon. Expand your operation, as you strengthen and build support. Keep a spiritual view. Give thanks. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Realize a personal dream over the next two weeks, with the New Moon in your sign. You can make it happen. Hone to what’s most authentic. Keep the faith. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Past, future and present mingle in your thoughts. This New Moon provides fertile ground for imagination and spiritual discovery. Enjoy meditation
and ritual. Contemplation illuminates previously unseen possibilities. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Together, you’re an unstoppable force. Community efforts grow stronger with this New Moon. Compassion feeds your movement. Organize and support each other. Display your colors proudly. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Launch a new professional venture with this New Moon. An enticing possibility is worth going for. Practice your moves, prepare your lines and dress the part. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -Today is an 8 -- An adventure tantalizes. Embark on an educational journey over this New Moon phase in Scorpio. Collaborate with long-distance partners and teachers. Develop new capacities and talents.
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OPINION
The technology of democracy By Dr. Jon Dorbolo, Ask Dr. Tech
Our national election occurs on Tuesday Nov. 8 and I urge you to vote however your heart and mind lead you, but I also want to tell you who will be our next President and one significant reason why I believe that candidate will succeed. The important point I want to demonstrate is far beyond a single election because the matter at issue is the future of American democracy. In 2008 the Obama campaign produced an unprecedented combination of data analysis, social media and campaign outreach to win the presidency. The data analysis aspect used new techniques in what is commonly known as data-mining or big data analytics. Both Democrats and Republicans have long kept databases of voters; you and I and every other eligible voter in the U.S. is in these data-sets. What Obama’s campaign innovated was a 100 item index that pulls from public and for-sale data sources such that every voter is categorized by education level, home ownership and value, permits and licenses, magazine subscriptions, charitable contributions and much more. The campaign also buys data from companies such as Facebook to track which ads you click on and who your friends are. The Democrat campaign knows more about you than you know about yourself in the sense that you may forget some of the details while their database, called “Catalyst,” does not. The campaign technicians render all this data into a 1-5 scale that assigns probabilities to 2 behaviors for every voter: whether they will vote and who they will vote for. What the campaign does with those ratings is the key to their electoral strategy because those individual profiles based in huge correlations of personal data are used to produce campaign tactics aimed specifically at you and voters like you; this tactic is called micro-targeting. One way that micro-targeting is used was revealed when the Obama campaign recruited 2 million volunteers through Facebook and then provided each of them with instructions for doorto-door visits with specific individuals based on their ratings in Catalyst. Another use of micro-targeting is to assign campaign ads to individual social media users. The political ads that you see on social media may well have been crafted uniquely for you, at least if they are from the Democrat campaigns. Moreover the reactions of micro-targeted individuals are gathered and fed back to the database
creating a dynamic loop that is capable of measuring large group responses based on tracking behaviors of individuals within the group. After the 2008 election victory Obama directed the data analysts on his campaign to develop ways to use that technology for conducting White House policy efforts and called the resulting system “Legacy.” This ultra-sophisticated use of data analysis to conduct a political campaign is studied in a fascinating book, “Hacking the Electorate: How Campaigns Perceive Voters” by Yale political scientist Eitan D. Hersh. In addition to describing how political dataanalysis and micro-targeting work, Hersh postulates that the sources of public data that campaigns draw from are likely to skew the data-set to preference some voter characteristics over others; for instance consider the data sources in which individuals are classified by race. Why does any of this matter to you? It matters because human beings have a peculiar relationship with our own thoughts in two ways. The first is that it is hard for us to distinguish between our subjective feeling of certainty and the objective degree to which a claim about the world is certain. For example, in this column I am claiming to know who will win the 2016 election. In fact I cannot know that for certain because all sorts of events could occur to prevent that from happening, so I am really asserting a probability of an outcome based upon assumptions about the conditions. Still, in my gut I feel totally certain about it despite being a skeptic about most things, and cannot convince my subjective sense to entertain more doubt. The second peculiarity of human thought is while you and I know what we think and believe, we typically do not know where those thoughts and beliefs came from. Try it yourself; consider some of the ideas (thoughts and beliefs) that you feel strongly about. Where did you get those ideas? Were you born with them? Were they taught to you? Did you inherit them? Did you discover them or make them up yourself? If you are like most of us, then even the thoughts that you feel most certain about do not provide you with signs of their origins. I am confident that you have reasons in favor of those ideas, but are those reasons actually the
16 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
causes from which you formed the belief in the gains in the House. first place or are they premises that you developed That may not seem like a bold prediction to you to justify a belief that you already held? because it has become common wisdom on the Attend closely and I think that you will find eve of the election, but I am basing my view on that it is not easy to be sure about the workings the uses by the Clinton campaign of whatever the of your own mind. Catalyst data-base has become. Why does this matter? Because there are interOne point to draw from this observation is that est groups who work hard to put ideas into your a candidate’s campaign foreshadows what their mind and once an idea is in your mind it is likely administration will be like. that you will experience it as certain and true, Clinton’s campaign, like the Obama campaigns, largely because it presents itself as your own idea. are highly organized, disciplined and data-driven. To put it as clearly as I may: if I can get an idea I view organization and discipline as positive into your mind and also get you to view it as your attributes of an executive administration and they own idea, then I have succeeded at manipulating stand in stark contrast to the Trump campaign your mind. which spent The manipumore money lation of beliefs on “Make - the deliberate America changing of Great Again” The future of the American people’s minds hats than on political system is all about data - is an ancient data analysis. practice that However and the more you know about the we find today you evaluate process, the better equipped you in advertisers, these facts propagandists, the reality of will be as a citizen and voter. magicians, contempopreachers and rary political teachers. dynamics This mental calls for rigmanipulation is orous critical what the data-driven campaign is designed to do. thinking about the messages that you receive and To be fair, politicians have sought to understand believe, if you care about your individual freedom the public mind and put ideas into the minds of as a thinker. the people since at least ancient Greece. The future of the American political system is Data-driven campaigning is not new, although all about data and the more that you know about the technological sophistication produces an those processes, the better equipped you will be unprecedented level of control over messaging. as a citizen and voter. That brings me to my prediction that Clinton The opinions expressed in Dr. Dorbolo’s will be elected President by a wide margin with column do not necessarily reflect those of the the Democrats taking the Senate and making Baro’s staff.