The Commuter: January 19, 2022

T H E

L I N N - B E N T O N

C O M M U N I T Y

VOL. 53 EDITION 11

C O L L E G E

JAN. 19, 2022

MARTIN LUTHER JR.

Martin Lut her King Jr., along with many other key players of the civil rights movement, have a cemented place in posterity and are deserving of our time and attention. It is our responsibility to be informed, to be constantly learning, and to be capable of sharing our knowledge in the attempt for a more civil landscape. Forward movement always begins with education. To help with those steps, here is a diverse list of what to read, what to watch, and what to listen to in order to arm yourself with knowledge and understanding, the elements required for change.

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GRAPHICS FREEPIK.COM

CAMPUS COVID UPDATES

SEE PAGE 2

INSI D E TH IS E DITION

CIVIL DISCOURSE: CENSORSHIP

SEE PAGE 3

DOUG SPREI & BRAVER ANGELS

SEE PAGE 4

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CAMPUS NEWS

JANUARY 19, 2022

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Remote and In-person Winter Term COVID-19 Updates STORY BY AVERY LEON-CASTILLO

The Commuter is the weekly student-run newspaper for LBCC, financed by student fees and advertising. Opinions expressed in The Commuter do not necessarily reflect those of the LBCC administration, faculty and students of LBCC. Editorials, columns, letters, and cartoons reflect the opinions of the authors.

LBCC is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Letters Welcome The Commuter encourages readers to use its “Opinion” pages to express their views on campus, community, regional and national issues. The Commuter attempts to print all submissions received, but reserves the right to edit for grammar, length, libel, privacy concerns and taste. Opinions expressed by letter submitters do not represent the views of the Commuter staff or the College.

Deliver letters to: Address: The Commuter Forum 222 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW Albany, OR 97321 Web Address: LBCommuter.com Phone: 541-917-4451, 4452 or 4449 Email: commuter@linnbenton.edu Twitter @LBCommuter Facebook LBCC The Commuter Instagram @LBCommuter

Our Staff Adviser Rob Priewe

Editor-in-Chief Dakota Gange Layout Designer Kailyn McQuisten Marketing/Advertising Sean Ramos ‑­ Director Alicen Arsenault - Asst. Marketing Director Naomi Thomas - AD Designer Photo Editor Sabrina Dedek A&E Editor Leah Biesack A&E Steven Pryor Sports Editor Logan Hannigan-Downs Student Voice Editor Avery Leon-Castillo Web Master Marci Sischo Contributors Chrissy Veach Brenda Autry Kolby France Arianna Stahlbaum Carsyn Meyers Bowen Orcutt

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Many colleges and universities have made many added adjustments to the state’s already established masking, distancing, and quarantine rules by having students attend Zoom school instead. LBCC was no different.

Winter term has started off with “26% more in-person classes offered,” said Jennifer Boehmer, the Executive Director of Institutional Advancement.

She gave a full account of how the school plans to respond and keep regulations updated and it’s students and faculty safe.

Boehmer said that LBCC is keeping in very close contact with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), County Health Services (CHS), and the other colleges and universities in Oregon for updates on cases and what they recommend doing. “We just learned of a new federal distribution of testing kits in our area and are working quickly to determine how LBCC can assist in distributing these kits to our community.” All updates will be posted on LBCC’s COVID site which can be found here as well as a form to fill out if anyone has knowledge of any positive cases. She stresses that along with help from health authorities, students and staff who report cases are also vital to keep us safe.

Chair member of the BoE, Kristin Adams elaborates, “LBCC board members represent a very diverse student and family population. We know that the experiences of COVID-19 are varied, with different levels of comfort for both the vaccine and other safety measures. Our goal is to provide the very best education for as many students as possible, all while keeping a safe, welcoming environment.

It is not always easy to navigate, but we will continue to pursue what is right for LBCC step by step.”

There are vaccination mandates in place for students and staff in health care, but currently are not mandating it for general students, faculty, or staff. However, she expects a mandate will be put in place for Oregon sometime this season for LB’s employees, if it passes at the Supreme Court and the OregonOSHA rulings. “The Board of Education takes the decision very seriously and has reportedly reviewed multiple sources of input and have spent many hours considering what the right path for LB will end up being,” said Boehmer.

Along with discussion about vaccines, LBCC has implemented cleaning protocols that “match and exceed CDC recommendations” by examining the HVAC systems to prioritize airflow and filtration and have added touchless equipment throughout major entrances on Lebanon, Albany, Sweet Home, and Corvallis campuses for soap, hand towels, hand-free door use, and hand sanitizer. Signage for mask reminders and stations that have free masks in every entrance have also been increased this term.

Free, walk-up vaccine clinics are offered as often as they can and will continue to be in order to help with the county-wide vaccination rates.

One was hosted one on Jan. 12 and had Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson vaccines offered. No requirements or appointments needed!

There will be another one in February; be sure to look out for dates and times in your student or staff email and on The Commuter website as we will be posting updates.

President Lisa Avery says that “with all of the uncertainties of COVID-19,

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CAMPUS NEWS

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Social Media Censorship Social Media Censorship: More Good Than Harm STORY BY MORIAH RIVERALAWRENCE, NICK MAY, YAHAIRA SUAREZ, AND THE CIVIL DISCOURSE PROGRAM

Please Wear a Mask it is so important that students can depend on LBCC to continue with the plans we've laid out to offer a mix of remote and in-person learning.” The Business Office has dispersed almost $2 million in relief funds by sending checks to students throughout the pandemic.

During fall term, Boehmer states that a $500 “Rebound Scholarship” was created for students who were forced to drop out due to the pandemic so they can return to LB with extra monetary assistance. Live Chat was also offered to aid students with many problems.

This feature is offered on the college’s main website at the bottom right of the home page. There are also resources for students to access technology and many other support services.

The Vice President of Finance and Operations, Sheldon Flom, sent out an email regarding updates to LBCC's isolation and quarantine regulations.

"These guidelines reflect the CDC recommendations, which have been approved by OHA." He says the guidelines will be implemented for all campuses today and will be added to the Rebound Plan as soon as possible.

Flom also added a link to OHA's website for updated tips if you or someone you know has tested COVID positive. You can find the CDC's quarantine and isolation plan here.

With each passing year, it feels like social media takes on an increasingly vital role across the globe. Many use these platforms as a tool to stay informed, keep in touch with people who are important to them, and expand their social networks for the purposes of business or personal satisfaction. With this rise in importance, some users have begun to question the seemingly free flow of information on these platforms.

Censorship is the suppression of communication, whether beneficial or hurtful, depending on context and

perspective. Moderators do often fail to bring the appropriate context and perspective to their censorship. This is seen in the human biases echoed in AI systems or when mass bad-faith reporting is used to lock targeted people out of their accounts. When used properly, however,

censorship can significantly reduce the spread of untrue or hateful content.

Many Twitter users notice that long

after misinformation has been corrected by a news source, it isn’t updated because

Tweets about the misinformation go viral and the correction is barely read.

Social media during the 2020 Oregon wildfires caused such a large spread of misinformation that the FBI had to step in and make a public statement decrying the false claims. A ‘cool down’ period for posts that are going viral to slow their growth while a team checks it for accuracy could help prevent situations like these or even slowing the total reach of a post containing misinformation.

Using moderation and reporting to censor media like hate speech and dog whistles can help everyone participate in social media. Censorship can prevent violent and discriminatory posts from becoming face-to-face interactions.

Research shows that women will avoid social media and public-facing jobs due to harassment. One woman put it simply when she said she had to “wade through all this filth…just to do the basic function of participating.” Societal bias in the real world echoes itself online for more than just women, as well. Better moderating hate online prevents inperson harm.

Finally, research has svvhown that There is no such thing as a perfect during the pandemic, 1 in 7 children solution, but something clearly needs to have seen harmful content, and 60% be done. We are in the midst of a techof children approached their parents nological revolution, and if we don’t take afterward to discuss what they saw. Al- the proper steps to control the situation, though many social media platforms it will most certainly control us. have age requirements, children often find their way online easily. One Pew Research study found that 42% of children under the age of 12 have an active account on TikTok. Of these young children online, research has found that cyberbullying is prevalent, especially for LGBTQ+ EL S PE X kids, and peaks M FRO NI around ages AG M LEG 12-15. Censor:O TO O PH ship of social media would be beneficial for the mental wellbeing of children, as there would be more preventatives put in place to protect them from the possible horrors that could be lurking on the internet.

Social Media Censorship: More Harm Than Good STORY BY CHEYANNE RIDER, MILES HENDERSON, GABRIEL KNOX, AND THE CIVIL DISCOURSE PROGRAM 53% of Americans get their news from social media.

It’s where ideas and opinions are shared, explored, and debated.

Granted, not all of them are gems but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to be heard. The debate over social media censorship has recently intensified with the banning of former President Trump from several platforms and now Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ban from Twitter.

Social media companies like Twitter and Facebook have terms and conditions that all users agree to when creating an account. These include community standards that regulate what kind of language is allowed and what will get you thrown in time-out.

Companies have the right to do this, but it’s not always humans that make the decisions on what gets to stay and what gets censored. According to Brookings, “While computer programmers may not create algorithms that start out being discriminatory, the collection and curation of social preferences eventually can become adaptive algorithms that embrace societal biases.” These adaptive algorithms lead to bans that push users off of mainstream platforms and into darker corners of the internet.

Some acts of censorship seem totally appropriate. Twitter has banned well over a million accounts associated with terrorist groups. Few would dispute this is bad.

But does taking them off of Twitter make them go away altogether? No. These extremist groups move off of these mainstream platforms and onto sites like Diaspora and Telegram. These sites are heavily encrypted and can’t be monitored in the same way as mainstream platforms.

These largely unmonitored sites create echo chambers for fringe thoughts and

offer little to no competing ideas.

This takes away any hope for learning to welcome diverse opinions or to exercise intellectual humility. Some monitoring is necessary to prevent mass spread of misinformation and dangerous speech but censoring users altogether only pushes them to places where that rhetoric is much more acceptable.

When it comes to elected officials and politicians, it’s especially important not to completely censor them; if for no other reason than to give voters the clearest view of who is asking for their votes. According to the ACLU, “at a minimum, statements of political leaders are important for government transparency — they give the electorate more information about the people running for office, and they may also reveal intent or uncover the meaning of policies in ways that matter for voters and courts alike.”

Folks on both sides of the aisle can agree that government transparency is crucial in democracy and part of that transparency is knowing who you are electing and what their motives are.

Like most things in life, moderating is good in moderation but too much becomes censorship. As history has shown us time and time again, suppression is dangerous.

It was used with disastorous consequences

during t h e Holocaust and in the Soviet Union vunder Joseph Stalin.

Suppression also occurred in the United Red States during The Scare. Stunning examples are continuing today in Hong Kong by the Chinese Government (see here and here). While we are not seeing these levels of censorship right now in the US, we should remain vigilant of the possibility it could happen.

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COLUMN

JANUARY 19, 2022

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Maintaining A Healthy Debate How Do You ‘Civil Discourse?’

STORY & PHOTOS BY DAKOTA GANGE Do you hear that? That faint scream in the background? The screams of our neighbors - the hurt, the passion, the fear, and the hope for a happy and healthy future - the screams for someone to listen. We all want the same things; the majority of us want to live in a world where people don’t suffer day in and day out. We just all can’t agree on the same avenue to get there.

In a country of undignified presidential debates, civil discourse appears to be not just an action, but a skill. And in a social media dominated era where nobody wants to have a conversation and rather only spew their opinions, we are left with a growing society who struggles to connect.

Honing in on that skill of diplomacy is 501 New York based non-profit organization, Braver Angels, (previously known as Better Angels), seeking to spread an element of grace and patience while embracing the time honored tradition of listening.

Beginning right after the Trump election in 2016, these organized civil debates have become more and more prevalent, sweeping through the nation.

They are growing quickly among the community college and university settings.

LBCC has hosted several debates with Braver Angels, many in which Doug Sprei has led the debates as chairman.

Sprei is the Director of Campus Partnerships and Multimedia at the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, or ACTA. He is also the Director of the Braver Angels College Debates Program. The ACTA is a nongovernment funded organization, which relies solely on individual support.

When first discovering Braver Angels, Sprei’s heart “began to dance” and he instantly knew he wanted to be a part of the organization.

“I just thought, this is something I need personally because I was so concerned about the state of toxic conversation in the country and I was feeling very discouraged. And here’s a program that actually teaches people skills and encourages them to reach out to the other side and find each other's humanity, find our common humanity, and find a way to engage that’s constructive, not destructive,” said Sprei.

The ACTA started partnering with Braver Angels, and not long after that they began to work with BridgeUSA, “where students on campuses all over the country

Doug Sprei during a Zoom interview.

At A Glance: Who: Doug Sprei: The Director of Campus Partnerships and Multimedia at the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, or ACTA, and the Director of the Braver Angels College Debates Program.

What: Braver Angels, a Civil Discourse 501 New York Based Non Profit Organization.

When: Find Upcoming Events, both within Oregon and nationally, as well as in person and over Zoom.

Why: Be a Part of a Civil Debate. who believe in depolarization, discourse, and civil discussions can come together.”

If you’ve never attended a Braver Angels debate, you’d find a room, be it in person or over Zoom, full of 50+ people, debating hot topics such as vaccine mandates, abortions and surrounding laws, BLM protests, government healthcare, transgender athletes, and much more. What’s unique about these debates however, are the grace to which they are executed without a single interruption. Speakers speak, and at the end of each speech, questions are welcomed and answered.

How can a room full of over 50 people eloquently debate such messy topics? It’s with the direction and coordinations of chairmans like Doug Sprei, who conduct a peaceful and welcoming platform, keeping the process in check, respectfully managing the floor.

Now peaceful doesn’t mean passionless; personal experiences are

highly valued and welcomed within these debates. There is a formal process to speaking and asking questions, which then allows the speaker a chance to feel truly heard, and a chance to clarify any comments.

“And then here's what a debate looks like when it's on a campus. We're all together. The students are very, very involved. They ask lots of questions. They make statements. This was in Washington DC. It's just a marvelous experience.

The atmosphere is, sometimes when someone speaks, you could hear a pin drop because everybody's listening so hard and so intently. And then they ask lots of questions and there's just so much respect in the atmosphere for everyone who has the courage to say anything,” said Sprei.

This last November, a Zoom debate with Sul Ross State University was held on abortion - the first debate with college students on this topic.

“It went really, really well. It was very, very civil. It was intense. It was emotional, but everyone respected the other side.

There were many points of view. People realized that it's a very complex topic. And yes, it was raw in spots, but the Braver Angels format that you've experienced held true. Because we run the debates in a kind of a parliamentary style, it makes the discourse kind of elevated because people are not talking one to one and arguing with each other. They're framing their own speeches and saying what they believe and elevating the discourse so everyone is listening to each other. And it's not a competition. No one's trying to win the debate, right?”

These debates aren’t just full of folks leaning one way, either. They are

carefully constructed to have speakers of both the positive and negative. It’s your fellow peers; friends and students, that select the debate topics.

“We give students a lot of ownership of planning their own debate. What do they want it to be about? What's the headline and how will we publicize it?

Who will be the opening speakers? We work with them.”

But Braver Angels isn’t just about swooping in and urging us to talk about hot topics. They’re here to teach, encourage, and guide us into a world of civil discourse among topics we already care so much about. And hopefully, with the skill of civility we may actually connect with the opposite side. If we can reach each other, side to side, maybe we can grow together rather than apart.

“We are really focused on college leadership and influencing higher education to create an atmosphere and a culture of academic freedom and free expression on college campuses,” said Sprei.

Once held solely on campus(s), but like many, the organization was affected by the pandemic. Though, not in the way they thought. Fearfully, it was expected that these Angels were in danger.

However It was soon made clear that we, the students, recognized our unorganized and torn apart state of the country; the conversation toxicity that has been seemingly brewing since the 2016 election.

“It turned out that there was a huge demand for them [Zoom debates]. We got requests from all over the country to launch these Zoom debates for students.

It opened up so many opportunities that we never thought we would have.”

Students bring their personal experiences to the floor; “there was a healthcare debate where a young woman at American University got up and spoke about how she wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for government sponsored healthcare. And you could have heard a pin drop in that atmosphere. Everyone became silent.”

Braver Angels asks that people say what they believe, and to tell personal stories and not just research facts and figures on Google, but to actually say why do you believe what you believe. Why do you believe in gun control? Why do you believe the police should be defunded?

Why should the Southern Wall be built?

“You can be as passionate as you want. I mean, last night in the abortion debate, we had a man just step up and point blank say "All abortion is murder."

He was that categorical about it from the moment of conception. This was a debate with a school in Texas where the harshest laws in the land have been passed, right?” Said Sprei.

You may be getting hot and fueled just looking at these questions, but the Angels format allows for these feelings up to a point, but not to attack other people, not to interrupt them, and not to speak over someone or criticize what someone has said.

We may never agree, but being able to talk about intense and important issues will allow us to move forward.

5 The Man, the Message, the Movement COLUMN

JANUARY 19, 2022

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Ways to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. Through Written Word, Film, and Dialogue STORY BY LEAH BIESACK WHAT TO WATCH:

WHAT TO READ: A People’s History of the United States,

by Howard Zinn.

With clear prose backed by scholarly research, this book recounts a history from the perspectives of women, African Americans, Native Americans, the factory workers, lowerclass, and working poor.

It shines a light on the history that was all too frequently omitted in traditional textbooks.

Originally published in 1980, A People’s History

of the United States has become a staple on many bookshelves.

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop,

by Alice Faye Duncan.

A children’s book that tells the story of the Memphis sanitation

strike of 1968, where Martin Luther King Jr. took his final stand before being assassinated.

Written through a combination of poetry and prose, this story highlights not only Dr. King’s efforts during that point in history, but the work and coming together of community during the movement.

I Am MLK Jr.

I Am Not Your Negro

This 2018 documentary showcases Dr. King’s life, his work, his death, and the many parallels between the civil rights movement of his time and the Black Lives Matter movement of the present.

With commentary from activists, celebrities, and political leaders such as Diane Nash, Reverend Al Sharpton, Shaun King, Carmelo Anthony, and the late, great John Lewis, this powerful documentary tells the stories that are needing to be heard at

An award-winning documentary born out of and based on James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript Remember This House, which was set to be a personal account of his ties and friendships with revolutionary civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and Medgar Evers.

Directed by Raoul Peck and narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, this 2016 film explores the extensive history of racism in the U.S., as well as Baldwin’s

Soundtrack For a Revolution

A 2009 documentary that takes viewers through the civil rights movement by way of music. The focus of the film is centered on

You’re Not Alone Dealing with Grief and Loss in the New Year STORY BY REBECCA STURM Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy, but can be especially hard as we move into the New Year. Personally, and in my time as a death worker, I’ve seen the impact that grief and mourning can have on a person’s outlook. This can be especially hard in the New Year as you feel you are moving on, but you know your deceased friend, family and/ or loved one cannot. This can bring about feelings of depression, self-hatred, trouble eating, sleeping and just existing in a world you feel is no longer the same without them. You’re not alone. These are very natural, real and hard feelings to cope with, especially if you have a very small or minimal support group.

Two years ago, I was the death worker on my Grandmother’s personal journey out of this world. She was a very influential woman in my life and one of the main people who helped raise and shape me into the person I am today— more than a Gram, a best friend. It was a long and hard journey dealing with my own feelings on this, helping family

the forefront. Directed

by John Barbisan and Michael Hamilton.

Available on Amazon Prime.

and meanwhile guiding her through those last years of her life. She suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, a rapidly growing form of memory loss among older generations, and I was helpless but to watch as it slowly stripped her of the woman she once was.

This form of dying, some call it dying twice, is a particularly difficult thing to watch someone you love go through. Day-by-day they recognize you a little less, knowing you only as perhaps a parent or old friend, and maybe not at all in the case of my young sister. All you can do is keep a happy smile on your face so as to not set off a disagreeable episode and leave you no choice, but to exit their room quietly and quickly, hiding a tearyeyed face as nurses rush in to settle your terrified loved one. Leaving you short of one more visit with them knowing tomorrow is never promised.

I watched as she rapidly declined over 3 years until she no longer knew me as myself, the best friend she’d confided in for years, only a shell staring back at me calling me “Momma”. I had a newborn at the time—because life never waits for

personal observations of this nation’s history.

Available on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime

WHAT TO LISTEN TO: the power and impact of music had during the time of protesting, organizing, and rising up. Directors Dan Sturman and Bill Guttentag have assembled heavy-hitting musicians such as The Roots, Blind Boys of Alabama, Mary Mary, Wyclef Jean, and John Legend to create a beautifully deep soundtrack to a monumental time in history.

Available on Amazon Prime and iTunes.

Interview with MLK Jr, 1964 Pulitzer prizewinning poet and novelist Robert Penn Warren interviewed Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta, in 1964.

While working on his book Who Speaks For the Negro?, Warren was traveling the country to speak with civil rights leaders and organizers.

This interview only

the bad times; we move through as best we can, trudging on toward what we hope is better times, grappling with what we’ve been dealt with and facing what must come as bravely as we can muster.

It’s difficult living a life, cooking, eating, some days even breathing knowing our loved ones can’t continue on with us forever. We feel alone, sad, angry, sometimes even afraid of what’s to come and that is natural. We might find solace in journaling, talking about it, screaming into a pillow, hiking or possibly even just shut down at times. All natural responses to a deeply seemingly unnatural feeling - loss.

I saw the last moments of her life. I cooked for her, bathed her, changed her and helped dress her. But these were my choices, and what I was capable of doing, and even still it shook me to my core. It still lies behind my eyelids and I break down in tears even years later. These things are never easy and not for everyone; don’t feel bad if you’re personally unable to complete them alone or at all—you are only human, and we all have different levels and ways of coping. Try to think about ‘the now.’ What can you do today to make it to tomorrow? Write, read, listen to music, reach out to a friend or loved one, therapist, focus on the next 5 minutes at a time and no further. Breathe

aired for the first time in 2006, and while we are no stranger to the lilt and cadence of King’s powerful speeches, this interview allows us to hear him in a more intimate setting, resulting in thoughtful, intelligent, and insightful conversation.

Listen here.

If you or a loved one are dealing with something and need to talk, please reach out:

National Lifeline:

Suicide

Prevention

1-800-273-8255 (TTY) 1-800-799-4889

[LGBTQIA+] The Trevor Project’s TrevorLifeLine:

1-866-488-7386

Alzheimer’s Association Helpline:

1-800-272-3900

[Grief] Red Cross Virtual Family Assistance Center: 1-833-492-0094

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline:

1-800-662-4357

Veteran’s Crisis Line:

1-800-273-8255

and remember you deserve to live this life too—focus on those breaths. Cry, scream, run, go drink your water and remember there are people out there that are going through this also and you can reach out to them.

6 Travel Is Made Possible with Planning LOCAL NEWS

JANUARY 19, 2022

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Rules, Tips, and Tricks for Taking a Trip During the Covid Era STORY BY BRENDA AUTRY As travel resumed in 2021, we learned that doing so in the Covid era requires a little more planning, and a lot more flexibility. Travel interruptions due to Covid can affect both domestic and international travel. In the United States alone, almost 7,000 flights were canceled between Dec 24 and Dec 30 - that’s over 1,000 flights a day on average.

So, if you choose to travel right now, what can you do to make sure Covid doesn’t ruin your plans?

Plan Ahead When traveling outside the U.S., you’ll need to do a little research to find out what the entry requirements are for any countries you’re visiting. You’ll also need to comply with the rules of any countries in which you have a layover.

Things to know: —Are vaccines required? If so, how recent must they be?

—Are booster shots required?

—Are negative Covid tests or proof of recovery required? How recent?

—Are there testing sites available for return tests within 24 hours of your departure?

—Is travel insurance required?

—Is Covid medical coverage required?

If any of these requirements are not met, you may be denied boarding, or denied entry on arrival.

Give Yourself a Buffer With the possibility of delays and cancellations so high, it's a good idea to plan a couple days off after your trip in case your flights home are delayed. This way you’re not stressed about missing work/school on top of dealing with delays.

Have a Back-Up Plan This is where being flexible really comes into play. My original plan when I took time off over Christmas was to go to Hungary, Germany, and France to visit Christmas markets. I bought a plane ticket to Paris (cheap hub!) in

September when the Covid situation in Europe looked completely under control.

In October, that started to change.

I saw that cases were beginning to rise in Hungary and Germany, and I didn’t want to chance buying more plane and train tickets and making hotel reservations just to have the Christmas markets be canceled - which they were.

I still had my flight into Paris, so I decided to just fly south instead of west and visit Portugal instead! But in November, cases started to skyrocket in France and Portugal as well. Not wanting to end up in another lockdown situation, or end up catching Covid and having to quarantine until I got a negative test, I decided to stay stateside and go to Florida for Christmas.

Know Your Airline’s Change/ Canceling Policies Due to Covid, many airlines have relaxed their policies on ticket changes and cancellations. They may allow you to change your travel date, flight, or even cancel your ticket if you become sick, or just no longer feel safe about traveling.

However, the most basic (cheapest) economy tickets may still be nonchangeable so make sure you read the rules when buying your ticket and choose accordingly. Sometimes paying extra for flexibility is worth it.

What If Your Flight is Delayed or Canceled?

If you experience a flight delay or cancellation, you are at the mercy of the airline. If your flight is canceled, your airline will probably try to book you on the next available flight - but this may not be for hours, or possibly until the next day or longer. On a trip home to Oregon, my connecting flight in Orlando was delayed overnight and I was rebooked the next day through Charlotte, Minneapolis and finally Phoenix before finally boarding a flight to Portland 19 hours later.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, if your flight is canceled or "significantly delayed" and you choose not to travel, you are entitled

to a refund of your ticket cost.

Flights are usually canceled with a little advance notice. So, it’s a good idea to check your flight status before heading to the airport. You can also sign up for text alerts from the airline and you’ll be notified of any schedule deviations.

If your flight is delayed or canceled after you arrive at the airport, try to get to the agent's desk as soon as possible because service for rebooking is firstcome, first-served. It’s also a good idea to jump on the phone with the airline while you wait, as you may be helped faster that way.

If your flight is delayed overnight, or the airline can’t rebook you until the next day, they may be able to offer things like a hotel voucher and meal tickets, but you’ll have to ask for them. Research the airline's policies to see what they offer while you’re waiting in line.

Where You Book Matters When booking with a third-party such as Expedia, you’ll need to deal with them in the event of a cancellation or delay for things that are not the airline’s fault (such as weather). When booking, check the price if purchased directly from the airline and, if it’s the same or similar, book directly with the airline.

How You Pay Matters Many credit cards offer perks like trip insurance when used to pay for plane tickets or vacation packages.

This can include things like meals, lodging, transportation, or even buying essentials if your bag is lost or delayed. Check with your card company to see what’s covered.

If You Get Covid While Traveling If you become ill with Covid while traveling, or if you’re outside the U.S. and your mandatory return

Covid test comes back positive, you may be in a very expensive situation.

You’ll need to quarantine in a hotel or private residence until you can test negative and can fly home. If you need medical attention, you may be paying out of pocket in some cases. This is where travel insurance comes in.

Buy Travel Insurance Travel insurance has always been an essential —especially when traveling overseas. But for travel in the pandemic era, it is more important than ever.

When choosing a plan, make sure it clearly states that it includes a Covid travel endorsement. Without this, any Covid-related medical expenses or trip cancellation costs won’t be covered.

Many countries even require you to carry a travel insurance policy with certain medical thresholds in case you fall ill with Covid while traveling.

In addition to emergency medical care, travel insurance also covers things like meals, transportation and lodging if your flight is canceled, or if you ne e d to quarantine with Covid. It will also reimburse you for lost or delayed luggage.

And because it’s quite affordable, usually only $100 or so, it’s definitely worth purchasing.

Even though travel is a little more complicated right now, it is far from impossible.

If you’re ready to travel, do your research, make a plan, and enjoy your trip!

JANUARY 19, 2022

LOCAL NEWS

The Vertigo You’ll Beg For

7

Dizzy Hen Serves Up Unparalleled Breakfast in Philomath STORY & PHOTOS BY LEAH BIESACK In a time when the days and weeks are laden with grey, the foreseeable months destined for their true calling of wet on wet on wet, comfort has become crucial. It is our best bet, the ace up our sleeve when the table goes cold. Having an arsenal of tactics to combat the long winter is integral. A smart place to start is breakfast. And the best place for that is Dizzy Hen. Naturally sunlit on a corner of Philomath’s Main Street, Dizzy invites without the help of bells or whistles.

It doesn’t need them. Instead, this breakfast cafe relies solely on scratchmade food using quality, local ingredients and serving it all up in an easy, open setting with breezy, kind staff. This restaurant has put all its eggs in the honest-to-goodness basket from the start. And it shows.

Once inside, it’s near impossible to feel anything but warmly, casually and genuinely welcomed. With the familiarity of a diner wrapped up in the rustic sensibility of a farmhouse, Dizzy Hen sweetens the deal with thoughtful, simple but masterfully executed dishes. The bakery case makes

the first impression upon arrival; stacks of cookies, the chocolate crumbs glittering the display board, baskets of croissants, both sweet and savory (I tried a variation of a bear claw that entailed countless buttery layers protecting a sweet, almond paste center. It was like the traditional bear claw that went out, bought a suit, and got his life together.). Scones are part of the regular cast, along with something called Morning Buns, a signature at The Hen. The case begins the day chock-full, but don’t count on that cornucopia as lunchtime rolls around — the goods go fast. While Dizzy shines brightest as a sit-down restaurant, one where customers can linger over the paper through multiple coffee refills, it has also

cultivated a name for top-tier bakery togo. Secret’s out.

A variety of seating fills the restaurant, from cozy corner tables to a small counter in the window (for when you want to be away from the crowd but still have a good view of the crowd).

Cookbooks are stacked and shelved around the perimeter of the restaurant, the decor a mix of tasteful, colorful art and farmhouse fun.

If you sit at the bar, like I did, you’ll get a good view of a chicken statue in the corner. You might hear Johnny Cash ringing out on the radio, reminding you that, in fact, good country music does exist. The feel of Dizzy is bright without being overbearing, friendly

without being intrusive, and homey without being disheveled — a beautifully set stage for the plated main event.

The menu is one page, not laminated, as their dishes can vary depending on seasonal produce and weekly inspiration.

Classics such as biscuits and gravy, omelets with fried potatoes are staples, but Dizzy has its own set of reliable aces to play, setting it apart and above and beyond. The pork ragu served over grits and topped with a fried egg is the aforementioned ace, the queen, the king and any other royalty left in the deck.

The pork falls apart in its own juice, likely to have been cooking patiently for hours in anticipation of its big moment.

The flavors are rich and balanced, which elicits the layered feelings of old nostalgia and new excitement. This is the dish that will get me out of bed during a downpour. It’s the meal that makes me think maybe I do know what it is to be in love. I am unabashedly committed to this pork ragu.

At a time when we’re desperately seeking a way through the heaviest season, even just a rumor of a route to follow, Dizzy Hen is our pillar, our beacon, our lighthouse. Thank you for answering our S.O.S.

TOP: Interior shot of the Dizzy Hen. BOTTOM: Pork ragu over grits, with Swiss chard, topped with a fried egg.

Where the Old Meets the New The Grand Reopening of Corvallis’ Old World Deli STORY & PHOTOS BY SABRINA DEDEK PHOTO: ANNA SHVETS FROM PEXELS

Waverly Park Cleanup The Student Leadership Council Cleans Up Albany’s Waverly Park

Jordan Smith volunteers with the cleanup.

 COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU

This Monday, in honor of Martin Luthier King Jr. Day, Student Leadership Council (SLC) members Krista Thortenberry, Amanda Mendell, organized a clean-up for Albany’s Waverly Park. Dr. King quotes could be found throughout the park while the crew worked. Sawyer Brubaker acted as on-site lead. According to Rob Camp, who is the SLC’s adviser, Albany Shopping cart collected at Parks and Recreation had budget Waverly Park. cuts resulting in their staff of 22 to be The day was full of challenges reduced to just 2 current employees. The but reportedly, the biggest effort was SLC adopted Waverly Park at the end of extracting a shopping cart from the November planning a cleanup for every lake.

Rob Camp went into the water to term except summer, when staffing retrieve it while being supported by his opportunities are available through City crew.

They pulled it free from the mud of Albany Parks and Recreation. For and chilly waters with a rope. this reason, the public has stepped up More than 10 bags were filled with to take responsibility and help keep the improperly disposed waste from the park clean. Volunteer opportunities can park within three hours. Waverly was be found through The Noble Hour via; transformed thanks to the people who email, LBlive, and noblehour.com.

volunteered their time to remove the trash and clear up the invasive blackberry and english ivy vines.

Waverly Park, which is located on Pacific Boulevard in South Albany, is best known for its giant duck that floats in the pond and paddle boats which are available to rent in the summertime.

The environment is also home to ducks, swans, and geese, and stocked with rainbow trout for patron’s fishing enjoyment. A few members of the cleanup crew were thanked for their efforts by local fishermen on the edge of the lake.

For more information about Waverly Parks activities, visit their

New Year’s Eve marked the grand re-opening of Old World Deli, located on the corner of 2nd and Adams St. in Corvallis. A local favorite through the decades, Old World Deli originally opened its doors in 1977 and was recently sold to long-time Corvallis resident Waylon Pickett. The new owner aims to provide the original Deli feel as before, but with something extra.

“We could not be more

excited to keep the Old World Deli going after 45 years of serving the community,” said Pickett.

Walking in, one will see the familiar gates, village facade, and murals on the ceiling along with other unique details. While the menu still has familiar favorites, a fresh taste might be noticeable. Chef J.D. Monroe is house-smoking the turkey, pork, and beef. House recipes, such as the cornbread and sauces, are made from scratch. Chef Monroe will soon be adding a New York style deli counter for purchase of sliced meats

Come Get Some Lunch!

Check out what LBCC's 2nd Year Culinary Students have to offer!

Hours:

Owner Waylon Pickett and Head Chef JD Monroe.

and cheeses by the pound.

Some of the updates include a new kitchen and espresso bar, along with a revamp of Oregontrail Brewery. While the brewery is still being finished, the event stage has been repurposed and is ready to go, making for a great, local, all-ages venue. To book bands and events for use of the stage visit the Old World Deli website.

Weekend brunch is also new on the Old World Deli menu.

Breakfast is served 7am - 11am Monday - Saturday and 9am - 2pm on Sunday.

website.

Old World Deli's storefront.

Monday: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Thursday: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Friday: CLOSED Saturday: CLOSED Sunday: CLOSED ONLY OPEN ON SCHOOL DAYS

Click here to order

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SPORTS

JANUARY 19, 2022

LBCOMMUTER.COM 

Men's Basketball Drops NWAC South Opener First Game of '22 Lost

The LBCC Men's Basketball team lost 94-74 against the Mt.Hood Saints on Monday, Jan. 17 in their NWAC South conference opener. This was the first game for the Roadrunners since Dec. 18 due to COVID-19 delays in the NWAC and inclement weather cancellations.

The Roadrunners started the game off strong, trading leads with the Saints and led by six early in the first half when they were up 12-6. Unfortunately, that

With 9:09 left in the half Mt.Hood took a 20-19 lead and never looked back. By halftime Linn-Benton found themselves trailing by 17 with the score being 51-34.

Leading the Roadrunners were a duo of Freshman Ayden Foster and Sophomore Kye Blaser. Combined they totaled 41 of the 74 points LB scored, with Foster having 21 points, six rebounds, two steals and one assist in 30 minutes. Blaser contributed 20 points, four rebounds and one assist in 31 minutes. He also had four of the seven

Garret Workinger reacts to a foul call during the first half of LB's game against the Mt. Hood Saints at Linn-Benton Community College on Jan. 17.

shot 57% from beyond the arc.

In the second half, LB found themselves slipping further behind, trailing by 25 points with 11:15 left in the game. The Roadrunners started forcing turnovers and their shots started falling.

They closed the deficit to 14 points after a Blaser three point shot capped off a 12-4 point run by LB. A timeout by Mt.Hood stalled the momentum and the Saints were able to cruise to the final buzzer.

The second half brought better shooting for LB with a 50% field goal percentage and 80% from the free throw line. Compared to 38.7% and 63.5 respectively in the first half. From beyond the arc the Saints out shot the Roadrunners 10-26 (38.5%) compared to LB’s 7-22 (31.8%).

LB did force more turnovers (16) Gavin Weisweaver shoots a free throw. and capitalized with 15 points from them. Mt. Hood forced 13 and scored 13 added three rebounds. Gavin Weisweaver points from them. Inside the paint, the added three points, and a team high six Saints thoroughly dominated, scoring assists and four steals, and two rebounds.

54 points including some forceful slam Landon Bowman scored three points and dunks that left the rim rattling. LB added one assist. Toby Stueve also had three points. scored 36 points in the paint.

The Roadrunners move to 2-6 in the Leading the Roadrunners in minutes played was Tyson Parker with 34. He season. They next take on Southwestern also had five points, three steals and two Oregon on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at home rebounds. Jace Mills added seven points with tip off scheduled for 7:30pm. The and four rebounds. Connor Torell had Lakers sit at 8-6 and most recently beat six points and rebounds and one steal. Chemeketa 106-94.

Garrett Workinger also had six points and

Women's Basketball Starts League Play with a Win STORY BY CARSYN MEYERS were able to find their footing

defensively, forcing Mt. Hood into 11 turnovers and holding them to 35% shooting from the field. A 6-0 run late in the fourth quarter to put the Runners up 10 and was enough to hold off a late three-point barrage from the Saints.

LBCC freshman Brooklyn Hankwitz said that “although we struggled it still feels good to win and the team is looking forward to the rest of the season.” Hankwitz finished the game with 10 points, six rebounds,

STEVEN PRYOR

@STEVENPRR2PRYOR

Live-action adaptations of anime, particularly in the sphere of Netflix and other streaming services have often had a rocky history. Though the medium has had many influential stories, few have been able to make the transition to real flesh and blood actors.

Now, another adaptation has started streaming that marks a decent, albeit not spectacular effort for both Netflix and other live-action anime in development: “Cowboy Bebop.”

Since its initial release in 1998, the original anime (which is also streaming on Netflix) has shown considerable influence in pop culture the world over.

This adaptation initially began life as a film that would have starred Keanu Reeves as Spike and been directed by the Wachowskis.

Now, the adaptation has finally seen release as a 10-episode first season that certainly isn’t the groundbreaking masterpiece the original anime is, but also isn’t a complete disaster like other adaptations such as the 2017 version of “Ghost in the Shell” and Netflix’s own “Death Note” film.

The creative team behind the series have described it as a sort of “remix” of the original anime, keeping the overall look and feel in a new medium while also expanding on the source material. In many ways, it succeeds. The main cast does a great job of capturing the mannerisms of their anime counterparts, adding new elements to their respective character arcs while also

understanding what made them work in the first place.

Visually, the production design does a great job of translating the distinctive art of the anime to the new medium, with a “used future” aesthetic giving the show plenty of personality. One element that really helps bolster the show is the return of Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts, whose free-form jazz soundtrack remains one of the best parts of the original anime, and is easily the best part of this new one.

As a live-action adaptation, the Netflix version of “Cowboy Bebop” thankfully isn’t a total disaster, but it’s also not quite “the real folk blues” either. Existing fans should find plenty to enjoy here, though newcomers should probably watch the original anime first.

@STEVENPRR2PRYOR

and five blocks.

“We are going to have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” Head Coach Jerod Gibson said after Monday’s win. With this win the Roadrunners improved to 9-2 and 1-0 in league play. The Mt. Hood Saints fell to 2-7 and 0-1 in league play.

With only one day off before their game against Southwestern Oregon

Community College (SWOCC), Coach Gibson is looking forward to seeing other players step up and play different roles they may not be used to. The Runners take on SWOCC Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 5:30 pm in the Activities Center, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW on LBCC’s Albany campus.

STARRING: John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, and Daniela Pineda DEVELOPED BY: Christopher Yost and Jeff Pinkner (Based on the animated series by Shinichiro Watanabe) Available on Netflix RATED: TV-MA-DLSV MY RATING: ★★★★☆

The Time to Fly Is Now STEVEN PRYOR

PHOTO: LOGAN HANNIGAN-DOWNS

Elizabeth Chavez looks for a pass during Linn-Bentons game against Mt. Hood at Linn-Benton Community College on Monday, Jan. 17

REVIEW BY

REVIEW BY

Blake Barbee drives to the hoop during the Roadrunners game against the Mt.Hood Saints.

PHOTO: LOGAN HANNIGAN-DOWNS

Not a Hit, Not a Total Loss

‘The Matrix Resurrections’ is a Must-see Return to Form

Roadrunners defeat Mt. Hood 65-56 in League Opener

The Linn-Benton’s Women’s Basketball team started their league season with a 65-56 win over Mt. Hood Community College on Monday, Jan. 16.

The Roadrunners had four players score in double figures. Halo Parks led the way, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds. The Runners started the game off slowly going into halftime with eight turnovers while shooting only 35% from the field, and 0-9 from the three-point line.

In the second half the Roadrunners

9

Neither a Netflix Disaster, Nor the Real Folk Blues

STORY & PHOTOS BY LOGAN was the largest lead of the night for LB. three pointers LB scored in the game and HANNIGAN-DOWNS

A&E

JANUARY 19, 2022

 COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU

“The Matrix Resurrections” is the latest film in “The Matrix” franchise, and the fourth film overall. Even with more than twenty years having passed since the original film was released in 1999, director Lana Wachowski has returned to the helm to make the best installment since the first, reinvigorating the series in the process.

Taking place decades after the events of the original trilogy, the film reintroduces the setting of the Matrix in a way that plays around with the events of the original installments (especially the first) while also makes for an intriguing film to potential newcomers. The story also manages to raise thoughtprovoking questions about the series’ impact and franchise reboot culture overall.

On top of Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) returning, the film also contains an array of new characters such as the eccentric “Bugs” (Jessica Henwick) and the enigmatic Analyst (Neil Patrick Harrris). Existing characters such as Smith (Johnathan Groff ) and Morpheus (Yaya Abdul-Mateen II) are also given a new spin while still respecting what made them memorable to begin with. Without any major spoilers, the journey that

Neo and Trinity undergo to rediscover who they are across the film’s 148-minute runtime makes for one of the most thrilling franchise revivals in years. The film sports a massive $190 million budget, and the special effects and action scenes result in some of the most spectacular action in Wachowskis’ filmography.

Whether you’re watching the movie in theaters or on HBO Max, “The Matrix Resurrections” is a return to form that’s well worth recommending. The “time to fly” is now.

STARRING: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yaya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff and Neil Patrick Harris DIRECTOR: Lana Wachowski (Based on characters created by the Wachowskis) Available in theaters and on HBO Max (Streaming till January 21) RATED: R MY RATING: ★★★★★

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A&E

JANUARY 19, 2022

LBCOMMUTER.COM 

CLICK HERE FOR SUDOKU

Complete the grid so each row, column, and 3x3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit.

Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.43) 6

5-Word Book

reviews

BY LEAH BIESACK

Conversations With Friends, Sally Rooney Mediocre writing, but a page-turner.

Letter to the King and Queen of Spain, Christopher Columbus Penned by gold-driven, heartless monster.

4

1 8

2 3 3 2

3

4

8

5 5

5 1

5 2

4

7 7

1

9

9

8 6

4 9

1 3

8

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Wed Jan 19 02:03:22 2022 GMT. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE FOR CROSSWORD

Narrative of Captivity and Restoration, Mary Rowlandson A masterclass in projection. Long.

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