2021 Commencement | June 7, 2021 by The Daily Barometer

JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • VOL. CXXV, NO. 27

Celebrate.

Commencement

Class of

2021

June 2021 CAMPUS: International grads 7 • SPORTS: Joel Walker looks back on OSU career 18 • CITY: Job market after COVID-19 looks hopeful 16

INDEX

@ D A I LYBA RO @O M NSP ORTS

@ DA I LY B A R OM E TE R

RIDWANA RAHMAN | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK Godson Okechukwu Chiduziem Ehiemere, an industrial engineering graduate, in front of the International Living-Learning Center. After graduating, he plans on moving up to Portland, Ore. to begin a position in the field. Continue reading about graduating international students on page 7.

IN THIS ISSUE

First-generation graduates reflect o n t i m e a t O SU, o f f e r a d v i c e

OSU- C a s ca d es pre p a res for h ybrid C om me nce me n t cel ebra tion s

OSU v ir t ual C o m mence me n t , h a s ef fec t s o n lo cal b us iness es EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Claire Corbitt beats several record bests before graduating

Ca stles: T he si g n i fi ca nce o f gra du a t i o n i s st i l l t he re , e ve n i f t he celebrat i o n i s no t

LeCocq: Pandemic will impact students’ path to graduation for years to come SPORTS CHIEF

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The Barometer is published on the first Monday of every month during the academic school year, and publishes weekly news coverage and other content such as columns and videos on The Baro website at http:// www.orangemedianetwork.com/daily_barometer/. The Barometer, published for use by OSU students, faculty and staff, is private property. A single copy of The Barometer is free from newsstands. Unauthorized removal of multiple copies will be considered theft and is prosecutable. Responsibility: The University Student Media Committee is charged with the general supervision of all student publications and broadcast media operated under its authority for the students and staff of Oregon State University on behalf of the Associated Students of OSU. Formal written complaints about The Barometer may be referred to the committee for investigation and disposition. After hearing all elements involved in a complaint, the committee will report its decision to all parties concerned.

COVER: Photo illustration by Jacob Le, OMN Photographer. Cooper Baskins, left, Jack Powell, Serena Hanna and Juny Seol are all Oregon State University graduating seniors approaching Commencement amid an unprecedented year during the pandemic. 2 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • JUNE 7, 2021

CAMPUS

COOPER BASKINS | ORANGE MED I A NETWORK A photo illustration of a graduating student opening up Zoom to view the 2021 Commencement ceremony. While more students and Corvallis, Ore. residents are getting vaccinated, the school believes it is best that the graduation ceremony for both campuses be held virtually. Each student eligible for graduation will have a slide that will be shown on the screen during the ceremony. If the student turned in a slide before May 15, it will have a picture they have uploaded along with a quote/message in under 120 characters.

Oregon State’s 2021 Commencement ceremony to be different than years prior By TREVOR HORN News Contributor

As the school year draws to a formal close, Oregon State University’s Commencement weekend will be a different experience than prior years for graduates, their families and faculty. Commencement weekend begins on Friday, June 11 at 12:30 p.m. with a celebratory in-person processional for the classes of 2020 and 2021. OSU graduates who attend either the Corvallis, Ore. or Ecampus campuses will gather in areas designated for their specific college in the Memorial Union and Valley Library quads on the Corvallis campus. Graduates will then depart for Reser Stadium. Once graduates arrive at Reser Stadium, and throughout the entire processional, graduates will be required to wear masks and follow all OSU COVID-19 safety guidelines. The university strongly encourages graduates to wear comfortable shoes and to bring their graduation caps and tassels. Remarks will be heard from OSU’s Interim President Becky Johnson, Provost and Executive Vice President Edward Feser and the deans of the colleges within OSU. This event is expected to end at 3 p.m. Starting at 10:30 a.m. the next day, June 12, will be the virtual Commencement ceremony for graduates attending OSU either in Corvallis or

through Ecampus. OSU-Cascades will host their Commencement ceremony and events on Sunday, June 13, beginning at 9 a.m. in Bend, Ore. Attendance for the in-person processional is limited to just graduates and university faculty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and gathering restrictions. At the processional, graduates should not expect to hear their names called or to receive their diplomas. Andrea McDaniel, the director of Commencement at OSU, said in an email “This year, and last year, for the first time in many years, diplomas will only be mailed out to eligible graduates after their degree audit confirms that they have completed all of their degree requirements,” breaking a longstanding tradition at OSU. “OSU is known for meaningful Commencement ceremonies that are rich in traditions,” McDaniel said. “We are one of a handful of large universities nationally that still provide students [with] their actual diplomas on the day of Commencement. We know how to do great in-person Commencements and provide our graduates and their family and friends with a meaningful and memorable experience.” Usually beginning the process for planning a Commencement in October, McDaniel and her team’s Commencement plans were thrown into the wind when COVID-19 restrictions made it more difficult for large groups to gather. “Graduates were surveyed regarding what they wanted for the 2020 Commencement as a result of the pandemic,” McDaniel said. “Graduates responded by saying they favored postponing

Commencement from June [2020] to the fall of 2020. In response, we wanted to celebrate our graduates with a gift box and a virtual celebration.” The university began planning a fall Commencement for the class of 2020 during the summer last year. But as COVID-19 case numbers kept rising throughout 2020, McDaniel said the chances of hosting an in-person event kept going down. “We began discussing the possibility of an inperson activity of some form as early as January, but it remained very uncertain what local and state health authorities would allow for any in-person events,” McDaniel said. “With an interest in contributing to safety and wellness for all involved, we chose to not proceed with any plans for an in-person activity.” Seniors at Oregon State have been vocal in their desires for an in-person event of some sort to commemorate the class of 2021. Emily McKillip, a senior in the College of Business, lodged a petition in the hopes that OSU would follow her sister school’s example. “I’ve heard that the University of Oregon is doing in-person activities… I was like ‘Oh, okay. Oregon State usually follows what University of Oregon is doing, they’ll probably announce something within a week.’ And then the weeks went on and there wasn’t a single word ever said,” McKillip said. “I took a screenshot of UO’s website with their plans and put it on my Instagram story just to see if other people would react. Some people messaged me, one of them was like ‘Are you going to start a petition?’”

On May 17, McKillip posted her petition to Change.org and it caught the attention of many members of the OSU community. In the petition, McKillip raised the question: if UO can have inperson events on graduation day, why can’t OSU? The petition currently has over 3,500 signatures. “One of my friends said, ‘You just got to move on,’” McKillip said. “I can’t do that!” Regarding OSU’s announcement on May 24 that there will be an in-person processional, McKillip said, “I’m happy about it, it’s not an actual graduation, but it’s something where we all get to celebrate together. I think the reaction about it from everyone has been pretty happy about it.” “I thought it was great that [the university] was giving the students the opportunity,” said Shelley Jordon, a professor of art at OSU. “I did ask my students what they thought of it and if they were going to do it. One student, who’s now living in Portland with their parents, said she was going to talk to their friends and see if they want to do it.” Jordon’s daughter graduated from Whitman College last spring. In unison with the majority of other colleges in the nation, they held their Commencement ceremony virtually. “I think everything is so chaotic right now… there’s so many moving parts and it’s a huge school, things have really just loosened up [recently],” Jordon said. “It’s like this huge train that’s moving—how far in advance do you have to pull the brakes? I think the train is too big to change in that amount of time. I’m glad that there’s an option, it’s just been a bad year and a half.”

JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 3

CALENDAR

JUNE 2021 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY 1

Intro to Olympic Lifting Workshop Spring 2021 Dixon Rec. Center, Studio 2 5 - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 - 6 p.m. 6 - 6:30 p.m.

OSU-Cascades Campus, Main Parking Lot | 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

CCVM Virtual Graduation

Virtual Event | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

CTL Tuesday Teaching + Tech Talks: Reflection and Metacognition

Virtual Event | 10 - 11:50 a.m.

Family Business 360: The Value of Legacy After Unplanned Tradegy Virtual Event | 8:30 - 10 a.m.

Food Pantry Hours

DataLab

Using learning outcomes to create clear assignments

14 work + life

The Great Move Out

DataLab

Considering Self Employment

Virtual Event | 6 p.m.

Commencement Drive-Thru Celebration

OWRI Spring Webinar Series

Your Inner Ecosystem: How to assist your gut microbes for better health

WEDNESDAY

How improv can improve your Virtual Event | 10 - 11 a.m.

OSU parking lot near 13th and Washington 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Virtual Event | noon - 1 p.m. Virtual Event | 2 - 4 p.m.

OSU Drupal 7 Basics Remote Workshop Virtual Event | 10 a.m. - noon

Virtual Event | 2 - 4 p.m.

Champinefu Lodge | 10 - 3 a.m.

Virtual Event | 2 - 3 p.m.

OSU Drupal 7 Fundamental Media Remote Workshop Virtual Event | 10 a.m. - noon

Virtual Event | noon - 1 p.m.

The Great Move Out

OSU parking lot near 13th and Washington | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

DataLab

Virtual Event | 2 - 4 p.m.

Travel Talks Series: On the Road to Freedom Virtual Event | 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Community Building Workshop Summer 2021 Virtual Event | 3 - 4 p.m.

How Much Should I Charge? Virtual Event | 4 - 5:30 p.m.

Building Trust & Access in Oregon’s social services Virtual Event

4 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • JUNE 7, 2021

DataLab

Virtual Event | 2 - 4 p.m.

IV, The Landscape of Public Procurement Virtual Event | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

CALENDAR

COMMUNITY CALENDAR THURSDAY

FRIDAY 4

SATURDAY

EVENTS INFORMATION

Most Oregon State University

virtual and in-person events require registration in order

HMSC Research Seminar-Insight into the population structure of gray whales using genetics Virtual Event | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Supportive Drop-In Group for Indian & Indian-American Students Virtual Event | 5 p.m.

Commencement Processional In-person | 12:30 - 3 p.m.

Healthy Beaver Bags

Champinefu Lodge | noon - 2:30 a.m.

Applied Economics Seminar

OSU Corvallis Commencement Virtual Event | 10:30 a.m.

The Great Move Out

Overqualified or Underqualified? Which is it, and what to do about it

information can be found on the Oregon State Events Calendar

website, Oregon State’s 2021

Plants and their environment seminar

Commencement website, OSU

Virtual Event | 1 - 2 p.m.

OSU Drupal 7 Great Layouts with Paragraphs Remote Workshop

All June 2021 event descrip-

tions as well as registration

OSU parking lot near 13th and Washington 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Virtual Event | 1 - 2:30 p.m.

to attend and participate.

Alumni Association’s website and on the Great Move Out page.

Virtual Event | 9 a.m.

Virtual Event | 10 a.m. - noon

Regional Connections

Champinefu Lodge | noon - 2:30 a.m.

All Regions Connections to welcome 2021 Graduates Virtual Event | noon - 1 p.m.

Regional Connections

Virtual Event | noon - 1 p.m.

HMSC Research Seminar-Process studies to quantify ecosystem dynamics in the California Current

Use a QR code scanner or Snapchat to view

Virtual Event | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Oregon State University’s 2021

Regional Connections Welcome Grads Virtual Event | noon

Commencement website

Use a QR code scanner or

Use a QR code scanner

Use a QR code

Snapchat to view Oregon State

or Snapchat to view more

scanner or Snapchat to view

University Alumni Association’s

information about the Great

Oregon State University’s

upcoming events

Move Out donation drive

Events Calendar in full

JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 5

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2021 summa cum laude graduates share their stories, look forward to future plans ANGELA TAM News Contributor

Three students—Kristen Travers, Mahal Miles and Kristina Tucker—are among many Oregon State University students that have received the highest Latin distinction of summa cum laude. At OSU, summa cum laude is determined by the grade point average range from 3.85 and above. Graduates with summa cum laude are distinguished typically wearing white honor cords. These students have also been nominated for this article by faculty members and deans. Kristen Travers is graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from OSU, minoring in aerospace engineering. In her freshman year, Travers became involved in the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and the Arts Engage program, a program that provides opportunities for first and second-year students to pursue research or creative activity under the guidance of an OSU faculty mentor. Her faculty mentor through the URSA Engage program was Dr. Brian Fronk, who runs a thermal energy systems and transport laboratory. “I was interested in working with Dr. Brian Fronk because he works with energy-efficient systems, which was what I was interested in and it was a good way for me to get my foot in the door,” Travers said. “So I ended up working for him from winter to spring term of my freshman year on solar thermal panels.” Travers then interned for Intel that same summer of 2018, through these experiences at Fronk’s lab. Currently, she has secured a position with Boeing as a systems engineer. Travers said one misconception about Boeing is that it builds an entire plane, but according to Travers, Boeing actually works with several different manufacturers to purchase all the necessary parts to build the plane. As a systems engineer, Travers will see the coordination of projects through from beginning to end. “My group specifically works on modelbased systems engineering, so retroactively, going back and seeing how we could have avoided failures with the airplanes,” Travers said. “I’m hoping to move to something more propulsion-based at some point, though, because that’s closer to what I’m interested in.” Mahal Miles is set to graduate with a major in economics within the College of Liberal Arts and holds a current cumulative GPA of 3.91.

COURTESY OF KRISTEN TRAVERS Kristen Travers graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in aerospace engineering and will be working at Boeing as a systems engineer. Travers is among many Oregon State University students that have received the summa cum laude honor.

Being in the Economics Program at OSU, Miles said the program has been very kind, inclusive and nurturing of her academic and professional aspirations. Additionally, clubs and activities involving economics have been highlights to her OSU experience. “My work at the Office of Advocacy has [also] been a really cool way to meet people in [Associated Students of OSU] and connect with local community organizers as well,” Miles said. “I also am very appreciative for the Center of Humanities; I had an internship with them a couple summers ago and that also was a great place to find community and conduct community outreach essential to my research.” Miles hopes to see more diversity in the field of economics in the future, particularly due to the fact that the field has among the lowest rates of underrepresented minorities and women. “I hope to see more women in econ mentorship,” Miles said. “Doctor Elizabeth Schroeder and Camille Nelson have been incredible mentors, [and are among the few women in the economics department]. But of course, they’re asked to do a lot, so if there were more women hired on, or if alumni were compensated to serve as mentors, I think that would be really valuable.” Kristina Tucker graduated with a 3.98 GPA through OSU’s Ecampus, majoring in psychology with minors in philosophy and

6 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • JUNE 7, 2021

COURTESY OF KRISTINA TUCKER Kristina Tucker graduated with a 3.98 GPA through OSU’s Ecampus and will be continuing her education in an Applied Psychology Ph.D. program. Tucker is among many Oregon State University students that have received the summa cum laude honor.

human development and family sciences. She will be continuing her education through graduate school, having been accepted into an applied psychology Ph.D. program. With her degrees and acceptance into grad school, Tucker hopes that she can become a professor and contribute meaningful psychological research to the psychology community and the world. “I hope that I can find the one thing or many things that contribute to resilience after suffering a trauma, so that more of us who have dealt with earth-shattering pain can grow through it and overcome it, instead of remaining stuck,” Tucker said via email. In addition to having graduated summa cum laude, Tucker attributes her persistence and dedication to her academic career to her four children, ages 16, 13, 9 and 5. Raising her children alone, she said she has not only her future successes to think about, but also theirs. “If I failed, I would be failing them,” Tucker said. “While there are many students who do not have children, I would say find that one thing that you know you would do anything for and never forget about it as you progress through your degree. Hold onto your 'why' and never let go. That is what I had to do and it made every moment, every assignment, every class, a crucial aspect of my reality that I was fully present for because I knew that it contributed to the bigger picture.

COURTESY OF MAHAL MILES Mahal Miles is set to graduate with a major in economics within the College of Liberal Arts and holds a current cumulative GPA of 3.91. Miles is among many Oregon State University students that have received the summa cum laude honor.

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International student graduates find ‘home is nowhere and everywhere at once’ 2021 graduates reflect on their time and experiences at Oregon State JEREMIAH ESTRADA News Contributor

Oregon State University graduate student Godson Ehiemere is graduating with a Master of Science degree in industrial engineering this June, and he is one of many international students who will be graduating this spring. Ehiemere is from Nigeria where he got his undergraduate degree before coming to the United States to attend OSU. “My overall college experience has been pretty good,” Ehiemere said. “It started off bumpy because I’m the only one in my family who’s here in the United States, everyone is back home. So my first few months here, it was really difficult to adjust, but after some time I found a community of people and things eventually got easier because those people were helping me solve problems.” OSU international students graduating this term look back at their time spent in college pursuing their bachelor’s or master’s degree away from home and look forward to their future plans after graduation. Ehiemere said he adapted to the American system, which is much different than what it is like in Nigeria. Shuyan Zhang, OSU fourth-year student, is from China and is graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. “It was very nice to live in Corvallis, [Ore.] and the people in the college are friendly and supportive,” Zhang said. Fatuma Ali, an OSU graduate student, is from Kenya and is going to graduate with a Master of Public Policy degree. She said she has also attended OSU for her undergraduate degree. Ali said her experience coming to the U.S. in the beginning was a culture shock. “Coming from Africa, being considered a ‘blank canvas’ and then coming to a predominantly white institution where there’s not a lot of people who look like me, I think in the beginning, just navigating and trying to find people who look like me and kind of having that support,” Ali said. According to Ali, she was eventually able to find that support through the university’s Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center and African Students Association which played a big role in her feeling like she belongs at OSU. Vania Halim, OSU fourth-year student, is from Singapore and is going to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering.

“I’m a third culture kid, so home is nowhere and everywhere at once,” Halim said. “My family is Chinese-Indonesian, and I was born in Indonesia. We live there now, but I grew up in Singapore for almost a decade so I consider it my home. Even there, the distinctly American accent I picked up at the international school I went to made me stick out, so because of that, and my Indonesian citizenship, I could never really claim to be Singaporean.” Halim said she came to OSU as an International Cultural Service Program speaker and scholar. She said she was soon able to meet other ICSP scholars and have a meaningful way to contribute to the campus. According to Halim, she was involved in OSU’s community through cultural organizations, campus ministries, the International Peer Mentoring program, residential education and undergraduate research. She said she made a lot of good friends through these involvements and her experiences have been instrumental in her growth as a person and leader. “From a young age, my parents instilled a deep love of learning in me, and the opportunity to meet brilliant, dedicated people here and to work and learn alongside them has been an amazing experience that I will always cherish,” Halim said. “There’s nothing quite like the feeling of pure joy I get when I finally understand a concept after countless calculations, textbook pages, failures, office hours, diagrams, revisions of diagrams and discussions with my friends.” According to Ehiemere, being away from his family, which includes his three sisters and his parents, was difficult. “I talk to my mom every day just to still get that sense of family that I had when I was back home and that helps,” Ehiemere said. “I think missing home was the most difficult part.” Ehiemere said he also had difficulties being a student again. He said he worked for two years after getting his undergraduate degree at home. He had to get used to being a student again such as doing homework and going to office hours when attending graduate school. Ali said it was a challenge being away from home and on her own especially because she is family-oriented. She said she also felt a lack of community at OSU. “In classes, where you’re the only Black person and trying to find people who are able to understand you or able to engage with you in those classes and my professors, that was a little bit challenging as well,” Ali said. According to Halim, school was a challenge

RIDWANA RAHMAN | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK Godson Ehiemere, an Oregon State University international student and industrial engineering graduate, in front of the International Living-Learning Center on the OSU Corvallis, Ore. campus. After graduating, Ehiemere plans on moving to Portland, Ore. to begin a position at a manufacturing company.

because chemical engineering did not come naturally to her. The program is rigorous and she had to constantly push herself after each failure. She said this took a toll on her physically and emotionally to where she started to think of herself as a machine instead of a person. She said the challenge now is finding a more healthy relationship with the work so she can do what she loves with excellence.

Halim said winters were more challenging at OSU than she expected and that she struggled emotionally during her freshman year. She said this helped her appreciate the rest of the See INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, page 11

JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 7

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Graduate school applicants facing increased competition, fewer opportunities JESS HUME-PANTUSO | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK A photo illustrating one of the processes one must complete when applying to graduate school, writing a statement of purpose. Many applicants over the last year have experienced the changes in the programs due to an increase in applicants, and by proxy, competition.

By CARA NIXON News Contributor

Oregon State University fourth-year bioengineering student Jacob Buckner had plans to pursue graduate school immediately after completing his bachelor’s degree, but COVID19 unexpectedly contributed to changes in his career trajectory. The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly altered many students’ plans. For the class of 2021, graduate school goals have been modified due to the pandemic, largely because of fewer available opportunities and increased competition. Buckner knew even before the pandemic that the graduate school application process wouldn’t be easy—as a first-generation college student, he has less familial resources for navigating the higher education system than others. Ultimately, Buckner was able to get help from his research advisor to guide him through the application process. However, he still faced a thrown-off honors thesis project due to COVID-19 restrictions, which limited his research and lab experience. Buckner, who is working toward a career in science policy, said he had conversations with multiple graduate school professors and researchers who he was interested in working with after applying, but unfortunately, nothing worked out. Buckner pointed to less funding for universities as a problem caused by the pandemic which impacted the graduate school application process this past year. “There’s the whole issue of the pandemic

affecting how much funding is going to the states, so the states have to readjust how much money they’re affording to the universities every year,” Buckner explained. “And you know, higher education is always one of the first things to get cut.” The graduate school application process is also known to be competitive, but Buckner said it was “intensely more competitive” than he expected. “Anytime there’s an economic downturn people go back to grad school,” Buckner said. “It’s an easy way to pull out of reality for a couple of years.” Karla Rockhold, the assistant director of career development at the OSU Career Development Center, echoed Buckner’s assertion. She said many graduate schools have had an increased number of applications over the past year. This increased number of applicants during the pandemic is due to a number of reasons, including workers getting laid off from their jobs and seeking to retrain, more downtime contributing to career reevaluation among many people and because multiple graduate schools have been waiving the Graduate Record Examination, according to Rockhold. “I think that’s encouraged people to apply to graduate school programs as well, because some people have a fear of test taking,” Rockhold explained. Rockhold also mentioned there was an increase in applications from low-income, first-generation and marginalized communities. More applicants means more competition, but this hasn’t been the only issue facing graduate school applicants during the pandemic, according to Rockhold. “I think the biggest thing that’s made

8 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • JUNE 7, 2021

career planning difficult for students, especially undergrad, is a lack of internship opportunities,” Rockhold said. Approximately 80% of internships in the United States were canceled last year as a result of COVID-19, Rockhold said, and many students struggled with this. Beau Baca, an academic advisor for the OSU Honors College, said he has noticed the effect of fewer internship opportunities on students. “Many students have been concerned about difficulty getting internships or job shadowing experience (this was especially an issue last summer),” Baca said in an email. Not only do internships provide students with insight into their career desires and sometimes open up doors for job offers, but they also help build experience and resumes for those applying to graduate school. Rockhold said resumes are really important for students—they’re a person’s “marketing tool” and the first impression one gives to employers. At the Career Development Center, Rockhold said they have been continuing to work with students through the pandemic with a focus on building good resumes, preparing for the interview process and strengthening job search strategies. Director of Career Education at the Career Development Center Jonathan Stoll said the center has also continued to use assessments and conversations to help students decide their future career plans in general. He said he guesses there have been more students applying to graduate school in an attempt to make themselves more marketable for when the economy rebounds after the pandemic. Despite the struggles students have faced with graduate school applications this

past year, Rockhold said she is hopeful for the coming months. “I think the market right now is getting brighter,” Rockhold said. “We hope it continues to go in the right direction, especially with more people being vaccinated and businesses being able to have people back in person.” Rockhold and Buckner had similar advice for students considering graduate school: start early. “I think it’s really important that students start thinking about graduate school early and start the preparation process early,” Rockhold said. “I mean, a lot of students think about it at the beginning of their senior year and that’s kind of actually too late to start thinking about it. They really need to start preferably their sophomore year. Junior year is great, too.” The reason for this is because going to graduate school is a big investment of both time and money, according to Rockhold. She said students need to start thinking early about whether or not graduate school will provide a good return on their investment for their chosen career. Buckner, who is now job hunting and will be applying to graduate schools again in a couple of years, said starting the preparation process and research early is important. He also recommended focusing on getting good letters of recommendation, which was another difficult COVID-19-related issue that came up for him. The Center has several resources for OSU students preparing to apply for graduate school, including a Prepare for Graduate School webpage, an Undergraduate Career Guide, a list of tips and resources for graduate student careers and access to Aurora, a career preparation tool for graduate students.

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First-generation college graduates reflect on time at OSU, offer advice to incoming students By MCKENZIE MOORE News Contributor Julia Zavala is a first-generation college student graduating this spring from Oregon State University. When reflecting on her experience, Zavala stressed that being the first in her family to go to college means a lot to her. Zavala, who is majoring in biology with a pre-medicine option, said being the first in her family to graduate college “is very humbling and very important for me to bring pride to my family, especially since my parents labored a lot for me and my siblings to have the best resources to go to college.” For first generation college graduates, knowing how to navigate college can be a challenge. For these students, it can be difficult to know what resources to seek out and the lack of knowledge about the college experience can make the transition from high school difficult. Emma Suzuki, a nutrition major with a pre-dietetics option, is also a first-generation college graduate. According to Suzuki, “It’s really exciting. When you grow up with parents who don’t go to college it’s not necessarily the first thing that you think of,” Suzuki said. “It’s really exciting to have found that path and to have found a passion that I could do by going to school.” First-generation college students face many challenges that may be foreign to those who have had a parent or grandparent graduate from college. Zavala said the biggest challenge she faced being a first-generation college graduate “was overall learning what it meant to be in college whether that was applying for financial aid or just applying in general.” In addition, Zavala said she found adjusting to the world of academia to be a challenge. For example, learning about the proper ways of finding sources and reading scientific literature were all things that Zavala said she “had gotten a glimpse of in high school but not to a great extent.” While Zavala did not have a parent or grandparent to teach her about the college experience, she said her previous experiences helped her prepare. “In high school [and] middle school, I was super independent just because my parents had their education in Mexico so they couldn’t help me with any of my classes,” Zavala said.

LYANNA HOANG | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK Julia Zavala poses in front of the Memorial Union on the Oregon State University Corvallis, Ore. campus in her graduation cap. Zavala is one of OSU’s first generation college graduates, and has earned an Honors undergraduate degree with a biology major and pre-medicine option.

“So, I was pretty used to kind of figuring things out on my own, but when it came to college, the rigor of that definitely was a challenge.” According to Suzuki, reaching out for help when necessary helped her overcome some of the challenges associated with being a firstgeneration college student by utilizing the

resources offered on campus. “If I was unsure about something or had a question about a process or you know anything,I couldn’t just ask my parents ‘what would you do or how does this work?’” Suzuki said. “I had to search and ask professors or advisors or other students who

might also know.” Zavala utilized on-campus resources and found the SI Tables, Science Success Center, attending office hours and going to one of the cultural centers to use their printers to be helpful. Suzuki said the resources that she found to be most helpful were her advisors. “I got switched around a couple of them, but they were really helpful and they almost always have the answers,” Suzuki said. Suzuki said she also utilized the undergraduate writing studio. “That was really helpful for several papers that I wrote when I was starting out,” Suzuki said. “You know to get a feel of what really counts as a college level paper.” In addition to the writing studio and her advisors, Suzuki also went to the Mole Hole for chemistry help and the Career Center for resume and interview advice. While both Suzuki and Zavala found the resources offered on campus to be helpful, both felt that there is more that OSU should offer its students. Zavala wished she felt more of a sense of community on campus. She said “we are in a predominately white institution so I could probably count with my two hands or less how many students that look like me in my classes.” Suzuki said she wished that there was better advice for students when taking out loans. “I don’t know that it’s easy to find advice on that. Maybe the financial office would tell you if you asked. But I feel like that could be something that is promoted more.” “Use the challenges that you are facing in college to drive you to do your best,” Zavala said. “It is going to be rough, it is going to be hard sometimes. You can’t really vent to your family because they don’t really understand it and that’s okay. That’s what friends are for, that’s what teachers are for, that’s what advisors are for. So knowing that you’re not at it alone, that many people before you have been able to do it so you are just as able.” Suzuki also found reaching out to others to be the best advice she could give to future and current first-generation college students. “I think the biggest advice I could give is don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Suzuki said. “You know you are totally going to drown and flounder if you don’t ask somebody, anything that you are struggling with. Somebody’s going to know the answer.”

JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 9

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OSU-Cascades campus prepares for hybrid Commencement celebrations By QUENTIN COMUS OSU-Cascades Beat Reporter

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to push college Commencement ceremonies across the country online, Oregon State University’s Cascades campus in Bend, Ore. is preparing for a hybrid approach. “Last year was definitely not what we wanted to have happen but we did the best we could,” said Nathan Moses, assistant director of events and engagement at OSU-Cascades. “With us being a little bit smaller, we have to be a little bit more crafty with what we are putting together [this year].” Moses, who is leading the development of the Cascades campus’ Commencement festivities, said the university plans to host both a virtual ceremony and an in-person drive-through celebration event on June 13. Graduates of the Corvallis and Ecampus campuses are invited to attend an in-person processional in Corvallis on June 11. Former OSU President F. King Alexander said in an email to students and staff in February that spring 2021 Commencement ceremonies at both the Corvallis, Ore. and Bend campuses would be held virtually for the second year in a row due to, “continuing public health concerns related to COVID-19.” In his email, Alexander said graduating students will continue to play a crucial role in the planning of the celebrations and the university would incorporate engaging personal touches to make the virtual ceremonies more interactive. “We are putting together a traditional ceremony in a virtual format,” Moses said. “We’ve [also] created a drive-through event that will have some key points seniors wanted to see.” Graduating students will be able to watch a pre-recorded ceremony including guest speakers, faculty components, a student slideshow and reading the individual names of the graduating class. The in-person drive-through event will feature things that will remind graduating students of their college experience and allow them to connect with the people that were there for their journey. Moses shared that student employees, faculty and even family members will have a spot in this year’s festivities, citing one-of-a-kind visuals and long-delayed personal interactions as highlights of the event. While Moses was hesitant to reveal details See OSU-CASCADES, page 11

CYAN PERRY | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK This illustration depicts an option for students graduating in spring 2021 to drive through in-person or attend virtual celebration events. This event is for students from the from the Oregon State University Cascades campus in Bend, Ore.

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Continued from page 7

HAI LEY T H O M A S | OR ANG E MEDIA NETWOR K

OSU-CASCADES Continued from page 10 of their Commencement plans in order to preserve surprises for those involved, he said the event will be a unique opportunity for the campus community to come together to celebrate the class of 2021. This includes a slate of guest speakers who will make remarks at the June 13 virtual ceremony. Former Hydroflask CEO Scott Allan has been selected as the Commencement speaker while graduating senior Kelsey Abbott has been selected as the senior speaker. Associated Students of Cascades Campus President Taha Elwefati will address the audience as well. “What prompted me to apply for the student speaker position was wanting to tell my story,” Abbott, a tourism, recreation, and adventure leadership and sustainability major, said via email. “I am a non-traditional first-generation college student who has gone through a lot and I wanted to share that. I know other students can relate to my experience and I want them to take away something as well; they are not alone.” Abbott, who is a prominent face on campus, said she owes some of her success to getting to work with all different walks of life. “My history at OSU-Cascades has been a little bit of everything,” Abbott said. “I started and am the president of the Paddle Club. I worked as an event assistant and summer resident assistant to Nathan Moses before working for Lori Waters with logistics. I have participated in Cascades Adventures trips and the Costa Rica trip that Andrew Hawley and Ron Reuter host.” Abbott said she plans to speak about resilience and perseverance in addition to the struggles from the last year and a half in her speech. This is something Elwefati also plans to address. “We’ve been through a lot as a student body this year and I hope to highlight the challenges this senior class has overcome,” Elwefati, a sophomore social science major, said. Elwefati, along with others involved in the festivities, is looking to celebrate everything this class of graduating students have accomplished. “Regardless of how people choose to participate this year, congratulations!” Moses said. “We’re incredibly proud of the work that everyone has put in and whether you know me or not, it doesn’t really matter, I’m still proud of all of you.”

seasons in Oregon. “But I also vividly remember looking up one day, seeing the entire campus covered with flowers, and realizing that the world had come alive while I was busy looking down,” Halim said. “For the first time in my life, I realized how wonderful the sunshine was, and how beautiful spring could be.” Ehiemere said his favorite part about going to OSU was the surroundings. He said he never appreciated nature as much as he does now since after coming to the U.S. He has been able to go on hikes and walks with friends and being in touch with nature was a new experience for him. Ali said she enjoyed learning a lot about different cultures and people while going to school in the U.S. She was able to experience that during her time as a graduate teaching assistant. She said she got the opportunity to engage with students, learn different opinions and perspectives and be understanding and empathetic. “The challenges might be language and cultural differences,” Zhang said. “Sometimes it is not easy to form very strong relationships [and] friendship with domestic students, and sometimes [I am] not very comfortable being in a English-speaking environment when alone.” Zhang said she plans to work in the U.S. for three years then attend graduate school afterward. Ali said her plans after she graduates include applying for jobs. She said she also plans to get experience and use her Optional Practical Training for a year before returning home to work in the public policy field. OPT is a period where students can find a job in their major or find areas of interest to work in. After a year, students can either become fully employed or return to their home country. Ehiemere said he is going to work for a paid manufacturing company in Portland, Ore. after he graduates starting in June. He said he is also going to get a graduate certificate in engineering management. “I came back to get my master’s done because I wanted to change career paths,” Ehiemere said. “Now that I’m done, I’m starting in that line of industrial engineering and engineering management. So in my new job, I get to manage people in a paid production facility and I’m excited for that.” Halim said she got accepted for an internship with Genentech’s Global Supplier Quality team in San Francisco, Calif. She said she is still waiting for her employment authorization document before she can start but is excited to go into the biotech field. “Knowing that I’ll never be able to truly call one country home is a little bittersweet, but I love that I get the best of all these different cultures,” Halim said. JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 11

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Seniors on the Internet: What do you plan on doing next, where are you going? By KELSY VALENTINE, News Contributor

Editor’s Note: All photos are contributed by the seniors.

ANTHONY HAN

ALLY SUTTON

B U S I N E S S I N F O R M AT I O N S Y S T E M S

MERCHANDISING MANAGEMENT A N D D E S I G N A N D I N N O V AT I O N MANAGEMENT

“Finding jobs can be stressful and challenging. I was planning to start a job or internship after graduation about a year ago, however, facing the pandemic and the crowded job market this year, I decided to go to graduate school instead. Although the decision was made quickly, I still think it is the best course of action for me at this point. A graduate degree can help me stand out in the job market and I do need to equip myself with more related knowledge and skills. I am very excited about my new journey ahead! I already planned out my graduation trip when I was a freshman: visiting Iceland to see the aurora. Although I cannot do it this year, hopefully, I will go there one day soon!”

“As of right now, I do not have a solid plan after graduation. I will be continuing my journey with Pensole Design Academy and learning about footwear design which will potentially lead me to new connections and internship or job opportunities. I think COVID-19 had an effect on the job search for many of us this past year as many companies were not looking to hire. We are starting to see it come full circle I believe as more companies get more confident in hiring employees again. I have many non-related goals that I am excited to cross off now that I am graduating. I think the biggest one is to get to travel. I have many places I want to visit, my dream would be to go to Italy someday soon.”

“I met my fiancé at OSU and we are having a wonderful time here, which makes OSU such a special place to me. We are both graduating and would like to move to Texas together, where he was born. Going to a new state means a fresh start. I am excited to learn new things and make new friends but also worried about what is waiting for us in the future… No matter where I will be, I will always remember I am a part of Beaver Nation. Go Beavs!”

“After graduation, I plan to return back to the Portland area. It is familiar as I continue to figure out the next steps of my future, and it is also the hub of many footwear and performance wear brands. Although Portland, Ore. is somewhere comfortable for me, I would love to go somewhere new if the opportunity was presented.”

well as running social media, editing podcasts, the whole gambit really… formatting case briefs. I’ve been working for them for a little less time than I’ve been working for Anthony, but it’s kind of gone hand-in-hand the whole time. So, my plan post graduation is to continue working for them. I’m [also] pretty sure I want to go [to law school], I’m just trying to decide when I’m going to apply. I’m going to take at least a year off. My plan right now is to take the LSAT around the end of the summer and then get my applications in for the 22-23 school year. And I’m just doing that because I went straight from high school straight to college and I’m finishing in four years flat and I’ve just been going, going, going and I want to have a little bit of breathing room. But I’m really excited about the opportunities I have through the law firm.”

ANALIESE HERNANDEZ MARKETING

“So I’m going to actually be moving to Minneapolis, Minn. I’ve never even been to the city before, but I got a job with Proctor and Gamble, so I’ll be an account executive. I’ll be going into sales and I’ll be an account executive on their target team, which is located in Minneapolis, which is why I’m moving and going to go there. I start in August.” “[For non-career related plans], I think COVID-19 kind of changed things. We were always planning—my mom, brother and I—to make a trip out to South Africa or to do something but obviously with COVID-19, that’s not happening. But hopefully, I’m getting my second vaccine on Friday, so hopefully things are opening up and I can do something fun before I make the big move. I’m really close with my family, so I think a majority of the time will just be, after I move out of Corvallis, spending time with my family and my siblings and stuff.”

12 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • JUNE 7, 2021

EMMERSON DONNELL AMERICAN STUDIES

“I’ve been working for the city councilor, Anthony Broadman, for the last year here in Bend, Ore. and so ... It’s not even an internship, it’s really just my job now. I’m his research assistant and I kinda just do everything, whatever he needs. And then I also work for the law firm that he’s a partner in, which is based out of Seattle, Wash. And I’m a research assistant for them as

“I just bought a truck and built it out for camping, so I’ll be pretty mobile all summer. I’ll be hopefully climbing around Yosemite and surfing in California and skateboarding. And, lucky, my job allows me to travel a lot because it’s all remote anyway. So, as long as I can get on my laptop at some point, I’m able to travel as much as I want. So I’ll be road tripping around this summer, but I think I’ll be pretty based in Bend still because I like Bend and a lot more of my friends are staying here than I thought.”

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KELSEY ABBOTT

T R A V E L , R E C R E AT I O N , A D V E N T U R E , L E A D E R S H I P A N D S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

“I have a lot of options right now. So, I’m just figuring out which path I want to choose and which direction, whether that would be like a long term career or volunteering abroad, I’m

kind of trying to figure out which one is going to be my next venture. I’m thinking about doing volunteering abroad for a couple years. If I were to get into the program, it wouldn’t start unt il winter 2022 so it would be a while. It’s a long process. In the meantime, I would probably do some local volunteering. But I could also go down the career path. I don’t have any ties or nothing’s holding me back at the moment. I’m kind of an open, free bird that’s going to land somewhere. I’ve been talking to a lot of people at main campus, a lot of career counselors, trying to figure out what would be the next thing. But I like to travel, I like to float, I like to just explore, so that might be a good route. Long term, I would love to visit every continent. Every country would be amazing, too.” “I am in Bend, Ore. until August and then I will enjoy the summer, water sports, all that. And then I could go up to Portland, Ore. I could go back to NorCal, or I could go to the south. It’s more looking like Portland right now is the direction I’m going to go, but we’re figuring that out. I know it’s going to be sooner than I want it to be. But we’re working on it.”

I am still currently doing that. I did just accept a position to do some consulting work for a resort in Sisters, Ore. which is about 20 minutes away over summer. So that’s something new and exciting. I’m calling it, I guess, my first ‘big girl job’ with my degree. Just because I consider what I’m doing now, I work full time and all of that, but I’ve been doing since before I started going to school so I’ve never really felt that next step. But the consulting job kind of does.”

KIRSTEN WEISS

H O S P I TA L I T Y M A N A G E M E N T

“So I am actually the student beverage manager at OSU-Cascades and I actually was doing that for about three months before I decided to go back to school. So, I went back and got my hospitality management degree while I was working. So I am a full time manager for dining over here, but

CATHERINE ROMANAGGI

summer. So that’s what I’ll do. And then I’ll come back in the fall and I’m not sure what I’m going to do in the fall actually, although I have a couple businesses I’m starting. In the fall, I also want to buy a van. So, I’ll probably do that, and then maybe travel, just do some road trips. I’d like to go to Europe as well and travel a little bit, but I guess it just depends on what the world looks like.”

MEGAN BOLT

B U S I N E S S A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

“What I’m doing right after graduating is that I’ve worked in Alaska seasonally for the past four years so I’m going to go back to do that for the summer. I work at a fishing lodge, so I’m training to be a fishing guide this

EMILY PATT

H O R T I C U LT U R E A N D A G R I C U LT U R A L SCIENCES

“I just started a job two days a week and I’m going to start full time in the summer. I’m working for the research and development team at Fall Creek Farm and Nursery so I’m

“My family lives in Bend, Ore. so [I’ll live] the next few years here in Bend and then kind of just wherever. I’m kind of curious to see where the industry goes with… the hospitality industry took a really big hit with COVID-19… It was actually the hardest hit industry in general with COVID-19. And it hasn’t retaliated back yet, and that’s why it’s so dramatic still. So I’m kind of curious, getting a degree in an industry that’s gotten wrecked the last year and a half. And it’s exciting to graduate but it’s also scary. Not a great industry right now but I love it so much. So I’m seeing where things go and then, in the next couple years, move wherever the wind takes me.”

INTERIOR DESIGN AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT

“I am technically not graduating until the fall and so I have a little bit of time until then, but I do not have any plans at the moment right now. I was going to do an internship last summer, which got cancelled because of COVID-19 and so, because of that, there’s not a lot going on, and there’s not a lot of job openings in my field at the moment also. I’ve been going to apply for interior design jobs and because a lot of firms are still not in person at the moment, they are not doing interns or entry level jobs, but talking to people in the field, I’ve heard that, hopefully come fall when things are more in person, they will be doing more entry level jobs.”

“I don’t really—I mean, other than starting my businesses—well, I probably will need to get another job in addition. So I’m not sure. I might just serve. I’ve served at restaurants before, so I might just serve while I’m starting my businesses. Or, I mean I have a couple internships right now where I work with a couple different small businesses so I might just keep doing stuff like that. [Where I end up] kind of just depends on what job I’m able to get. [Because] then my end goal in like a year is to not work for anyone else. I’m trying to figure out how to do that.”

“Come fall, I will probably be moving back in with my mom. My mom lives in Portland, Ore.”

about six different places. With trying to get a teaching job, it’s kind of hard because I’m not licensed yet. I’m not licensed until I graduate from Oregon State. So, sometimes filling out applications can be really stressful because it asks what license do you have and I don’t have it on me so I’m not 100% sure and I have to email my supervisors and all that. [After graduation], I’d just like to relax. I have a wedding two weeks before I graduate, so I’d kind just like to get stability and find out where I’m going to be.”

working with breeding blueberries essentially. Just like with all agricultural products, we breed blueberries to make them more marketable and just more saleable. So, for blueberries, you breed for things like long storage, that they can be shipped far places and that they can be stored for longer. You wanna breed for plants that have higher yield, and you can breed for taste, and then breed for different growing regions and different climates. I [also] have my application at the peace corps and I would love to go into the peace corps next year. That’s just kind of been going slow because of the pandemic. They’re just opening back up so we’ll see if that pans out. And then if not, I’m hoping to live abroad and work with the company that I’m at right now. So that’s a major goal of mine, is to live abroad.”

NAOMI CORBETT

“The company I’m working for is in Eugene, Ore. It’s actually in Lowell, Ore. which is kind of a small town outside of Eugene. I’ve never lived in Eugene before. It’s not completely foreign. I’m from southern Oregon, so I’ve kinda lived around it, but I lived an hour south of it.”

“So I do not have a job and I do not have an internship lined up. I’ve been applying for jobs since about mid-April, I’ve applied to

E D U C AT I O N D O U B L E D E G R E E P R O G R A M W I T H E D U C AT I O N A N D H U M A N D E V E L O P M E N T A N D F A M I LY SCIENCES

“I’m planning to go back up to Portland, Ore. where I was born and raised, hoping—you never know—but I’ve applied to jobs in Tillamook, Ore. so maybe I might live out on the coast. Still looking at Bend, Ore. because they have a lot of opportunities for online schooling if I really can’t find a job, that’s a viable option for me. But no, I like Corvallis, Ore. but I think being here for almost four years, I think I’m ready to go back home and know where—you know, get closer to malls and all that. Just be closer to the town and the city.”

JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 13

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OSU virtual Commencement has effects on local businesses Businesses lose estimate of $2 million in the spring season, according to local experts ByANGELA TAM News Contributor

Wi t h O re go n St a te Un ive rs i ty ’s Commencement being held with virtual and in-person counterparts, the usual traffic that Corvallis, Ore. receives from students’ families and friends in an entirely in-person ceremony will be significantly lowered. Executive Director of Visit Corvallis Christina Rehklau said via email that any OSU major event such as Commencement week, a football game or family weekend typically generates millions of dollars for the community. “At Visit Corvallis, we conservatively estimate that Commencement week generates over $2 million dollars of economic impact for the community,” Rehklau said. Rehklau said many businesses, such as lodging, restaurants and retailers have also had a generally difficult year due to health restrictions on capacity indoors with COVID-19. Two lodging properties closed down in March of 2020 and remained closed until August. Furthermore, at the start of the pandemic,

Use a QR scanner or Snapchat to view the It’s On Us website and get more information on supplemental meals through local restaurants.

fewer OSU students in town led to more difficulties on top of restrictions and changing health guidelines. “It’s hard for a restaurant to purchase food, bring staff back on within 48 hours or use up extra food that was purchased if they need to go to a lower capacity without wasting it,” Rehklau said. Heidi Lewis, creative operations director of human resources for both Sky High Brewing and American Dream Pizza, provides an insider perspective on restaurant success and downfalls during the pandemic. She has been employed by both companies for three years as the HR director, but worked previously as a consultant with both companies since 2012. Last year, in-person Commencement was also canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Lewis said that business was down during that time, estimated at 50% of what it normally had been outside of the pandemic. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Lewis said that both restaurants—like others—are only allowed to seat up to 50% capacity, due to Corvallis’ low-risk categorization. As such, the restaurants do not plan on doing any special outreach for the Commencement week as they will likely be at their capacity during the week. “It’s a balance act,” Lewis said. “We don’t want to over-promote and then have guests be disappointed by having to wait too long to get in.” Simon Date, president of the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce said that in a typical year outside of COVID-19, Commencement week would increase traffic by a couple thousand families. But due to current circumstances, he said it is difficult to gauge how many families will come into Corvallis this year. However, the community has also been supportive of small local businesses during this time. For instance, the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition ran the “It’s On Us Corvallis” program that raised over $200,000 for restaurants to provide free meals throughout the pandemic. “We are starting to see less of [these programs] now,” said Date. “But they are still very much available.” Rehklau said the outdoor dining proSee LOCAL BUSINESSES, page 15

14 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • JUNE 7, 2021

ELI SMART | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK Simon Date, the CEO and President of the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce outside the Chamber of Commerce building in Corvallis, Ore. Because the 2021 Commencement ceremony will be held virtually, many local businesses are expecting lower revenue than usual during the weekend it is held.

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MALIK HARDY | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK ARCHIVES The indoor counter inside of American Dream Pizza on Monroe Ave. The pizza joint is a common choice amongst OSU students due to proximity to campus, and is therefore one of many restuarants losing revenue due to a partially remote Commencement and lack of travel into Corvallis.

LOCAL BUSINESSES Continued from page 14

gram that was spearheaded by the Corvallis Benton County Economic Development Office, Downtown Corvallis Association and Corvallis Chamber of Commerce has been a huge help to local restaurants. Gyms have also been able to make use of parking spaces in the downtown area for workouts. Regional Economist Patrick O’Connor said via email that loans from the Paycheck Protection Program have been the most visible resource to assist small companies, but that program is intended for businesses more generally impacted by COVID-19, rather than seasonal drops. Overall, Benton County typically shows some slight job loss during the summer in leisure and hospitality, typically around 150 jobs, according to O’Connor. “This has been such an unusual year, in particular with students at OSU, it is tough to say if we will see the normal seasonal employment declines during the summer for Benton County,” O’Connor said. After Commencement week, Rehklau said that the summer vacation months mean long and slow recovery for the local economy. For instance, in July, OSU had several large

in-person conferences scheduled, and not being able to have in-person conferences this summer will greatly impact the local lodging industry. On May 11, Governor Kate Brown stated that when 70% of eligible Oregonians receive the vaccine, she will lift most COVID-19 restrictions on businesses. As of June 5, 46.6% of the Oregon population has received one dose of the vaccine and 46.6% of the population is fully vaccinated. It’s not certain when Oregon will reach the 70% requirement. Still, Rehklau said Visit Corvallis is pleased to see the possibility of these new guidelines and what they can mean for the local economy working its way back to stability. “We are very proud that our community leads the state in the percentage of the population vaccinated,” Rehklau said. “We are hopeful Benton County will be given the green light by the Governor to start easing restrictions and that will be a big boost for the local businesses.” In regards to Commencement week being held virtually, Date said he is not overly worried about its effects on local businesses. “It’s not positive business all the time, but it is business as usual,” Date said. “I don’t think having Commencement virtually this particular year is going to have a significant effect, just because we’re not expecting a lot of folks.”

ELI SMART | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK Sky High Brewing in Corvallis is a popular restaurant and pub in the downtown area. Because the 2021 Commencement ceremony will be held virtually, many local businesses are expecting lower revenue than usual during the weekend it is held.

JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 15

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By ANGELA TAM News Contributor

SOLEIL HASKELL | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK This illustration shows a woman handing her business card to another professional in her industry. Networking is a critical step to infiltrating the job market.

Job market after COVID-19 looks hopeful, graduating students prepare By ELIJAH DODD News Contributor

Oregon State University students starting their careers are preparing for rapid changes in the job market as businesses around Corvallis, Ore. hire graduates towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last year, COVID-19 has brought an economic recession to Corvallis. Unlike other recessions, students wanting to start their careers soon can look forward to a fast recovery and a competitive job market this summer. Patrick O’Connor, Oregon’s regional employment economist for Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn and Benton counties, anticipates a fast economic recovery when public health regulations return to normal. “I expect it to be a real good market out there, for new graduates,” O’Connor said. With the 2008 recession, Corvallis experienced a fairly slow economic recovery. During COVID-19, the forces on the labor market are

different. O’Connor expects a fast recovery because people are able to save money, and will spend it after health regulations are lifted. “It’s lining up to be very much a job seeker’s market,” O’Connor said. “It’s going to be labor market forces that we haven’t seen for decades, probably since the 1990s.” Students starting their careers have already begun to capitalize on the competitive job market, O’Connor predicts. Danny Sullivan, a recent OSU graduate in mechanical engineering, just landed a job with the engineering firm, SSOE Group, based out of Beaverton, Ore. “I didn’t apply to more than 20 places,” Sullivan said. “About half were responding back with interviews.” He said the main thing that’s helped him find employment was the professional network he’s built through internships and friends. Sullivan mentioned how projects and internships gave him tangible evidence of the work he’s capable of as well as references to make him stand out from other applicants.

16 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • JUNE 7, 2021

“It’s lining up to be very much a job seeker’s market. It’s going to be labor market forces that we haven’t seen for decades, probably since the 1990s.” - Patrick O’Connor, Oregon regional employment economist for Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn and Benton counties.

Although recent graduates will start their careers headed into a competitive job market, it’s important for them to differentiate themselves from other potential employees, said Jonathan Stoll, the director of Career Education at Oregon State. Although he said the market looks optimistic for students after the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s still passionate about making students stand out. “It’s still competitive,” Stoll said. “There’s always going to be more than one person applying to a job.” Stoll said he mainly focuses on working with students to convey human skills like career competencies such as problem solving, cultural fluency, leadership and communication to businesses looking to hire. To do this, he encourages making use of See JOB MARKET, page 17

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ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK ARCHIVES Pictured is the Career Development Center, where Director of Career Education Jonathan Stoll works with OSU students to find employment after college. The department has been working remotely during the 2020-21 academic school year due to the pandemic, but worked with students through online career advisor appointments and other online career resources.

JOB MARKET Continued from page 16 the resources offered through the Career Development Center. Students have free access to VMOCK, a resume-checking tool, and Focus2, which matches strengths to potential careers. Stoll wanted students to use these resources as tools to reflect on their achievements and experiences in order to build self-confidence. Communicating the value a student adds to a prospective employer can include sharing stories that demonstrate resilience and the ability to overcome adversity, Stoll said. “The underlying value is believing in yourself and genuinely having confidence in who you are,” Stoll said. Stoll said the most important thing to find success in a career is a professional network to rely on, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said networking is cultivating relationships with people and sharing yourself with others and making connections. He mentioned that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know—and it’s not who you know, but who knows you.

“The underlying value is believing in yourself and genuinely having confidence in who you are.” - Jonathan Stoll, director of career education at OSU. “Have the confidence to seek out and ask for help,” Stoll said. “We all need people in our corner for support and assistance.” Furthermore, Stoll said students who put effort into their professional and social network will have people to rely on for anything from emotional support to references as they prepare to enter the job market after graduation. “The COVID-19 pandemic has just accentuated what has already been important,” Stoll said.

COOPER BASKINS | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK An OSU student searching Indeed, an employment website for job listings, to see what jobs are still available in the Corvallis area.

JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 17

SPORTS

Joel Walker, distinguished scholar athlete

looks back on OSU career

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOEL WALKER Joel Walker, a senior on the OSU Men’s Soccer team, was awarded the PAC-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year award on April 30. The award is presented to a senior student-athlete, on track to receive a degree, have a cumulative 3.0 GPA, participate in 50% of scheduled contests in sports and have attended their respective universities for at least one year.

By CLAIRE PLATT Sports Contributor

Senior Joel Walker has contributed to Oregon State University on and off the field, proving himself to be the definition of a student-athlete by making great strides with the Beavers Men’s Soccer team while also achieving his goals in the classroom. As seniors celebrate their graduation from OSU this month, it is worth looking at Walker’s distinguished career. He has gained his degree from the College of Business this year and hopes to achieve his Master of Business Administration within less than years years at Oregon State. Recently, Walker has been awarded PAC-12 Scholar Athlete of the year and credits his success to his support system on and off the field. “I found out [about the award] in North Carolina [during the NCAA Tournament], my teammates told me and it was a total surprise then my fiance and family texted me about it and I was in complete shock,” Walker said. “As student-athletes, and even just students, you’re always trying to push yourself to be the best and so often you’re your biggest critic and I know this past year I was my biggest critic so to get that award was a true honor.” These last four years, Walker has succeeded in meeting his academic goals, and credits his success and his academic habits to the student-athlete academic coordinators, Lindsey

Goodman and Kimya Massey. Together, they have sent Joel along with many other students down the path of success and have provided them with resources to help them along the way. One of the programs that has stuck with Walker is the Best Bridge Program, a program that serves incoming college athletes to help them gain strategies to apply to the classroom, time management, and even has helped many with interview etiquette as well as networking skills to expand their college experience. “I know from the moment I came to campus that I went through the best bridge program,” said Walker. “Just those five weeks made a huge impact on me, I never used a planner in high school but ask anybody I just always use my planner consistently every week, and every Sunday I am so diligent to do my planner, a little to-do list, and a priority list for different areas of life whether it is activities in church, soccer, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and other areas. Planning has been a huge benefit for me, but most importantly this past year I have forced myself to slow down and learn what to say yes to, which is still a challenge but something I am continuing to grow in. This has all made my academic and athletic career so enjoyable.” Walker also made sure to continue to credit his success to his religion, which is a big part of his life off the field as well. “I’m a big man of faith and I just knew that it was all by the grace of God that I got that. I was just so thankful,” Walker said. Walking back through time, Walker has had some notable experiences with the team

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and all of the opportunities Oregon State has brought him. From freshman year, learning the ropes in the classroom and experiencing hands-on learning with the college of business microbusiness groups to his senior year and asking one of the biggest questions of his life, Walker has grown as a man, a teammate and as a student. On the field, however, Walker recalls his greatest memory of OSU soccer back to his sophomore year. “Sophomore year, going to the [NCAA] tournament for the first time was a highlight, our season got cut short there which was unfortunate but something I will never forget,” Walker said. “Being able to host the Bennies [an OSU Athletics in-house awards show] along with my girl Sydney Baker on the track team is a huge highlight and honor.” In Walker’s junior year, he felt blessed by his teammates who all supported him through his struggles and his religious process. “Junior year was a whirlwind, academically and athletically,” Walker said. “That was a year where there were a lot of challenges and growth that I am very thankful for. I got baptized that year which is, after my engagement, the second most special moment in my Oregon State career because half of my team is international so they have a lot of different religions, backgrounds, cultures, and seeing the guys support me at my baptism was something I’ll never forget about because we have a whole spectrum of guys on the team.” All of these memories have served Walker with a purpose these last few years, and have allowed him to grow into the man he is proud

to be. The biggest memory, however, is the biggest question he has ever asked. “The biggest one, for sure, is being able to propose to my fiance in February, that takes the cake for sure,” Walker said. Though Walker will be moving on academically and professionally, Oregon State hasn’t seen the last of him. Walker will be returning to the Oregon State Men’s Soccer program this fall to play one last season as he finishes up his MBA. “I’m coming back for sure! I am so excited for this next fall and to see what happens with the team and the rest of the guys after graduation in December,” Walker said. Walker has made the decision to come back for the fall 2021 season to maximize his time at Oregon State and see where his love of the game can take him in terms of next steps. “From freshman year to now, I want to maximize my opportunities at Oregon State so this extra eligibility and then the scholarships being honored in this next year is a huge blessing I didn’t want to miss out on,” Walker said. As Walker’s time with OSU comes to a close, he would like to leave with some thank you’s for all that have loved and supported him throughout his academic career. “My list is so extensive, but shoutout to my parents, my family, my friends, my church family, my mentors, my professors, really just everybody far and few in-between,” Walker said. “That’s the good thing about college, some people might be in your life for a season, a term, and some might be there for the whole thing, but each person has played such a critical part in this experience and this is cliche but

SPORTS

Claire Corbitt beats several record bests before graduating By BEN PAHL Sports Contributor

Throughout her career at Oregon State University, Track and Field senior Claire Corbitt has never been one to back down from tough challenges. As graduation approaches and her career concludes, it’s worth looking back on her significant career. When Corbitt arrived in Corvallis, Ore. as a freshman in 2018, she began training for Heptathlons, a seven-event contest which she had never competed in. “It was definitely a new experience that pushed me outside of my comfort zone,” Corbitt said. “Picking up three new events that I had never done before college [javelin, shot put, and the 800M dash] was something that showed me how to push through new challenges and how to push past frustrations. Training for all of these events at once meant being the first one at practice and the last to leave.” As a freshman, Corbitt competed in six separate meets for the Beavers and finished 14th in the Heptathlon event at the PAC-12 Championships. Despite this success in her first season, she was determined to keep improving and become the best athlete she could be. “Claire has always been fantastic to work with,” said Assistant Track and Field Coach Pete Herber. “[She is] always asking questions about why we are doing something a certain way, and then applying it to be better. It’s been great watching her develop into the person and athlete she is today.” In her sophomore season, Corbitt set personal records in all seven heptathlon events at the 2019 PAC-12 Championships. After the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 outdoor track and field season, Corbitt has made the most of her senior season. In the 2021 PAC-12 Championships earlier this month, she earned a PR of 4,976 points on the heptathlon, nearly 1,000 points improved from the first one she competed in as a freshman. In addition, she PR’d in eight different events in the 2021 season, six of which came at the PAC-12 Championships. When it comes to seeing results, Corbitt puts emphasis on both the physical and psychological aspect of preparation. “I think what really made the biggest difference in my results was changing my mentality and how I was thinking during workouts and competition,” Corbitt said. “I have found that if you trust your training, the results will be there when you need them... I think believing and trusting that you can achieve your goals is half the battle and once you can overcome that it just comes down to showing up every day and giving it your all on the track, in training, in the weight room and during competition.” Not only has Corbitt achieved personal success, but she is also praised for her leadership qualities and being a great teammate. “In the two years I’ve been teammates

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID NISHTANI Claire Corbitt pictured competing in 100m hurdles race in a tri-meet against Western Oregon University and Humboldt State University. Corbitt came in first with a time of 15.27, and the Beavers finished the meet in first, scoring 267 team points.

with Claire, I have learned so much from her,” said Track and Field sophomore Anneke Moersdorf. “She’s helped me a lot in gaining confidence in my own abilities and I admire her desire to always want to be better in everything she does... I admire her taking me under her wing this year as it was my first season competing in the heptathlon.” In addition to her qualities as an athlete and teammate, Corbitt has also been important in another key aspect of college athletics: recruiting. “With the group we have she has been instrumental in the recruiting process,” Herber

said. “She’s been giving campus tours and connecting with recruits, and that will make an impact now and for years to come.” With the conclusion of the PAC-12 Championships earlier this month, Corbitt competed in the final meet of her collegiate career. However, the impact from her time will last for years to come. “Claire will be remembered for the atmosphere she created,” Moersdorf said. “She always brought a positive attitude to the track, cracking jokes whenever she could. Her overall personality will be greatly missed.” When asked to reflect on her time at

Oregon State, Corbitt said there are many lessons that she now takes away from her career. “Sports have taught me not to be afraid to fail and how to be adaptable,” Corbitt said. “Not every time you step on the track are you going to be first, or get a life-time best. This has shown me how to be adaptable, shake things off, try again, and come back stronger. Remember to find joy in what you are doing even when it gets hard! Track has taught me commitment and how to work together to accomplish a goal. I learned and have grown so much from my time here at Oregon State and I’m so grateful for the experience.”

JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 19

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Castles: The significance of graduation is still there, even if the celebration is not By CHRISTINE CASTLES Columnist

As I am writing this, I am on my way back from visiting my sister for her college graduation. This seems to be foreshadowing toward Oregon State University’s upcoming Commencement. In contrast to OSU, however, my sister’s walk across the stage was watchable to family and friends over a livestream. OSU graduates, on the other hand, will be seen as pictures on a slide show for Commencement. Corvallis, Ore. students will also have the option to participate in an inperson processional which family and friends will be unable to watch. OSU fourth-year ecological engineering student Katelin Godwin said, “it is important to be safe, however it is definitely sad.” Certainly the announcement to hold Commencement online was disappointing, but perhaps necessary when examining the climate of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Except for class of 2020, everybody before us got this huge celebration,” Godwin said. The class of 2021 has had over a year to reckon that they will be having an alternative ceremony to their predecessors yet are still seeing curve balls such as the last-minute decision to hold the Corvallis, Ore. processional. Godwin is pleased that there is now an option to celebrate graduation in person but said, “it doesn’t feel very real still.” Comparing the ceremonies of this year and pre-pandemic years is frustrating even more to students who have been anticipating this celebration for a long time. “The feeling of you walking and just thousands of people cheering you on is just phenomenal,” Mohammed Alkharashi, fourthyear mechanical engineering student, said while reflecting on watching his two older siblings graduate from OSU before him. While considering the still imminent threat to public health that COVID-19 poses, celebration plans following graduation have also been forced to be modified. Had COVID-19 not persisted so long, Alkharashi would have expected to see his parents fly into Corvallis, Ore. College graduation ceremonies may only take a few hours, they might even be pretty boring to sit through, but for most graduates, they only happen once. Julia Hunter, third-year kinesiology student, on the other hand, is pursuing physical therapy and looks forward to walking across the stage in her white coat. “For my doctorate, that has to be big,” Hunter said about her future celebration plans.

SOLEIL HASKELL | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK This illustration shows three OSU Graduates celebrating Commencement. They are shown against an orange background to represent the ambiguity in what/how graduates are celebrating this year.

“That’s a lot of work, I’m going to need a vacation after that one.” For the rest of graduates not pursuing another degree though, this is all they will get. COVID-19 is still keeping people apart, making it more challenging even to see friends to celebrate their graduation. Alkharashi said he would likely see his friends while still being socially distanced. Godwin and her friends have all been vaccinated, but finding time to all say their goodbyes before going separate ways is going to be difficult. The online nature of school is also a strange atmosphere to complete classes in. “I’m submitting my last assignment [during] finals week and then be like, ‘aight, I’m done,’” Alkharashi said. Similarly Hunter said, “I’m going to take that last final and I’m going to hit that submit

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button and I’m just going to be like, ‘that’s it.’” This strangely mundane way to end your college career would make the transition into the workforce seem robotic. Students now are not only working through the process of finding their first jobs post-graduation, they are also competing with even more people who have the same degree, but many more years of experience. “I’m excited but terrified,” Alkharashi said. “I don’t know what my life’s going to look like in two months or a month and a half, I have no idea.” The usual celebrations are not happening, at least not like they used to, but students are still graduating. This achievement does not seem to be less meaningful because of the lack of family visits or parties. As the only one in her immediate family who will have a bachelor’s degree, Hunter said,

“I know that even though we’re in a pandemic and I don’t actually get to physically walk across that stage, it’s still a big thing.” Conversely, Godwin said, “It doesn’t feel as exciting to be done.” Rightfully, students are frustrated. After over a year of online classes, we are ready to stop spending so much time in Zoom meetings. Between finishing another exhausting term online and missing the graduation that might have been, Hunter said, “I am trying to be positive.” So even if the celebration does not feel the same, graduation is still graduation. Students are still completing their college degree, amidst a global pandemic nonetheless. Although we cannot go out and party or do all the things we want to, we can still recognize the huge accomplishments of graduating students this year.

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LeCocq: Pandemic will impact students’ path to graduation for years to come By RILEY LECOCQ Columnist

Oregon State University student Max Peterson is one of many who have been forced to decide whether to follow his planned degree path or make sacrifices for the sake of experiencing the graduation he’s always imagined. “Do you want to study abroad or do you want to walk across that stage at graduation? You have to choose,” said Peterson, a thirdyear student majoring in accounting and business information systems. The switch to remote or modified learning modalities for the 2020-2021 academic year changed the plans of many students not just in their living or work arrangements but also in regards to their academics. Graduation is among the plethora of traditions and events that have taken a new form since the pandemic began. The shift has affected more than just those graduating now but rather altering plans of graduating classes to come. Being a first-year student myself who has just begun the path towards graduation, I have had my reservations about how the pandemic and mixed course modalities will affect my expected graduation four years from now. Carey Hilbert, the associate head advisor and coordinator for Pre-Med & Allied Health Professions at OSU, has seen the various impacts that the pandemic has had on students’ approaches to adjust their learning. “I would have to say that some students have ‘stepped out’ and I really hope they have the motivation to come back to finish their degree. Some have decided, since they aren’t able to do anything else, to pile on the classes, take 20 [plus] credits [per] term and get their degrees done earlier than planned,” Hilbert said. Even the students who have not quite “stepped out,” as Hilbert said, but rather stepped back, have struggled with the adjustment in non-academic ways which has impacted their planned coursework. Second-year OSU student Aria Back, an ethnic studies major, has been one of the many students now in the position of needing to step back in some way. “The biggest change that the pandemic has made for me is that it has been really, really difficult to continue my classes. My mental health has been extremely impacted in a negative way. It has been so much more difficult to be assigned extra work in a lot of my classes,” Back said. “I have been having to take a lot fewer credits than I anticipated having to this year. I started out trying to do the same

JACOB LE | ORANGE MEDIA NETWORK Oregon State University junior Maxwell Peterson believes the pandemic has made graduation difficult but it has provided new perspectives and he embraces the change.

18-credit term that I would normally do. In spring term of last year, I did 17 or 18, then the next term went to 14 and now I am only doing about six because that is all I can handle.” Hilbert acknowledges these struggles on the student experience end of things, in addition to describing the stress felt by the faculty. Hilbert sees that the process of degree completion can come at the cost of self-care or mental health for many in a regular year, let alone now. “Many teaching faculty, professional faculty and students are more fatigued, stressed and exhausted than I recall in my 25 years. Count me in that group. Our faculty, staff and advisors CARE about students, and when they are struggling, [we] work to find ways to alleviate their struggle, which takes an additional toll on us,” Hilbert said. “I really hope they have pride in what they have accomplished but also have learned the importance of self-care. I hope students see how resilient and adaptable they are.” For students and advisors alike, a derailment in course load even for just a year raises issues when looking ahead towards graduation. For Back specifically, her expected graduation has

been postponed by about a year. While this change is a drastic adjustment for Back, she has also seen her new pandemicacademic situation providing more flexibility. “Having more time to reflect on what I am studying is kind of a blessing in disguise of remote learning, I was able to change my major from sociology to ethnic studies during the pandemic.... It has been hopeful looking into the possibilities of research once we are back in person,” Back said. More time for self reflection has often been one positive many people have been able to take away from the pandemic. In terms of student education, the reflection and pause has made some students dive deeper into their interests and explore new options. Peterson had his plans significantly deviate from what he thought his last few years as an OSU undergraduate would be and what he would be doing. “I was originally going to study abroad as a part of the international business program with the College of Business but because of the pandemic, [everything] is so uncertain and I really wanted to walk at graduation... so I just

decided to axe it and not do [study abroad] anymore,” Peterson said. Peterson’s adjustment has not been an easy decision but has allowed him to look past graduation now knowing that he can still achieve his goal of graduating in four years. Peterson’s ideas to explore new options for post-Baccalaureate achievement came from his pandemic-academic adjustment, giving him a new perspective on what his future could hold. “Now I can get out in four years, take a little bit of time for myself and I think I can get a Masters degree somewhere, which before the pandemic I was not even considering, but now that is like what I want to do,” Peterson said. “I am really glad I [began to] consider that.” Each individual’s experience has been overwhelmingly unique in this past year, with no wrong or right path in sight. While Peterson was able to take more difficult and heavier course loads during remote learning to alleviate the work in terms to come, Back’s experience shifted in the opposite direction. Despite the disappointment and receiving, as Back said, “not the college experience we had signed up for,” all students, myself included, have been able to rethink, reflect and reform ideas about the future and why we are all pursuing the education that we are. Similar to Back, I had never imagined or expected my college experience to be writing lab reports off of videos or only seeing two faces on a screen in a class of nearly 200 people. However, I have taken the opportunity to stretch myself in both aspects of course work, to get a jump start on my credit-heavy track to graduation and extracurricular work. The noncredit experiences I have been able to partake in this year are just a few of the results from my own time spent reflecting on not what my experience has lacked or disappointed in, but rather what I want to get out of my experience. “Looking on the positive side… you get to consider things you hadn’t before, you get to slow down and enjoy life a little. [The pandemic] is very negative but finding the positive is also really good,” Peterson said. As we seem to near the end of this pandemic reality in the near future, student experiences, and the pre-pandemic path to walking across the stage at the end of a four-year journey has been changed for years to come. Hilbert likes to remind students that amidst the chaos of it all, they should celebrate the monumental achievements made by simply continuing education and living in this time. “I know we adapt to our circumstances, but it just boggles my mind. They are warriors and saints,” Hilbert said.

JUNE 7, 2021 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • 21

FORUM V i ri d i a n : F ro m F i rs t M ate to C aptain By KATIE LE

YAYS & NAYS The Barometer lists OSU’s favorite and least favorite things this month.

YAYS • Yay to ending the year on a positive note. • Yay to all graduating OSU students! • Yay to s’mores. NINE : C o n g r a t s Sis ! By REID FUJIMOTO

• Yay to working AC units. • Yay to glamping. • Yay to Olivia Rodrigo’s new album SOUR. • Yay to summer break.

NAYS • Nay to a bad housing market. • Nay to finals and final projects. • Nay to the oxford comma. • Nay to fruit flies. • Nay to saying goodbye to our seniors. • Nay to heat waves. 22 • DAILYBAROMETER.COM • JUNE 7, 2021

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