The Commuter: March 11, 2022

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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 16

C O L L E G E

MARCH 11, 2022

WE ARE

FIRST-PLACE ESSAY BY KERI GRIGAS

VALID.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY,

WE ARE

STRONG.” Unity Day Celebrates Black History Month Essay Winners

PHOTO COURTESY OF KERI GRIGAS

A strong selfie.

GRAPHICS FREEPIK.COM

50 YEARS OF NURSING

SEE PAGE 5

Black women have been leaders in movements and innovation, despite being treated as less than. We carry the weight of the world and are expected to do so with grace otherwise we are “ghetto.” “Ghetto” for being angry with the world just as anyone else when injustices impact the environment around us.

Discussing this is still an internal fight with myself as I feel the need to not complain, just take my experiences in stride… but in doing so, important conversations are not being had and thus the cycle continues.

Mental health in the black community almost seems like a taboo topic. Often, mental scars are masked by strength that we draw upon, from an inner finite well.

Normally being labeled as strong is great, however not when it dehumanizes another human being.

I often felt as though my feelings didn’t matter, as though I was somehow impervious to the pain of physical ailments or racial slurs.

For the longest I struggled with going to therapy as time and time again I found myself in the care of those that found my issues to be nothing more than complaints rather than cries for help. For years afterwards, my mental health declined as I avoided therapy, deciding to just shoulder it all silently as I had been taught to do so many times before.

As had been expected of me, so many times before.

We are strong, however we’re human all the same and need support. We are strong, but not numb and incapable of feeling pain.

Even though I am seeking help for my mental health, I am no less capable of a black woman.

I still succeed in whatever I put my mind to, while making sure to reach out for help when I need it. While it is taking some time for me to break away from certain parts of this trope, I am glad that it is being talked about as I feel that there are many black women that need to hear and have conversations like these.

There is nothing wrong with being a strong black woman, but there’s a problem when it impacts our mental health. We are allowed to feel, we are valid. We are strong.

JR.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

“WE ARE ALLOWED TO FEEL,

MARTIN LUTHER BLACK HISTORY MONTH ESSAYS

INSIDE THIS EDITION

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

SEE PAGE 6

SOFTBALL SUCCESS

SEE PAGE 13

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CAMPUS NEWS

MARCH 11, 2022

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wellness wednesday Powerful Listening. Huh, What?!

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.

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Our Staff

STORY BY

LISA HOOGESTEGER

I’ve been working with the ChangeMakers group, aco-curricular club through the HDFS department (Human Development and Family Services) over the past two years to introduce and try out the concept of “Powerful Listening”. It is a thing.

Think of a time when you felt really listened to - what was that like?

Some comments I’ve heard when I’ve asked that question — I felt like they really tried to “get” what I was saying.

— I thought they were feeling what I was saying ­— I didn’t feel rushed.

— When I stopped talking they didn’t jump in right away.

— The listener was not distracted with their phone or anything.

One of the themes in powerful listening is that communication is our currency for building relationships. Think of someone you talk with regularly and reflect on the last five conversations. This could be a conversation in a family, with a colleague or boy/girl friend.

What does that tell you about the relationship? Was it transactional? (what are you going to do, eat; what time is the show on…). Was it about things you cared about or had a personal stake in? Was it tense or relaxed? Were there pauses that allowed for you/the other person to gather their thoughts?

With powerful listening, it is listening for listening's sake. To merely understand. In the ebb and flow of everyday conversation sometimes we’re just waiting our turn to talk or interrupting to

Some great quotes about listening “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” — Ernest Hemingway.

“I need to listen well so I hear what is not said.” — Thuli Madonsela “The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply.” — Stephen R. Covey “The difference between hearing and listening is paying attention”. — ­­ Unknown author “Listening is being able to be changed by the other person.” — Alan Alda

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add our two cents. Observe conversations with people. It’s fascinating. Look at body language, distractions, pauses between people speaking, eye contact, etc. Side note: great conversations happen in car rides and on walks outside too. Not as much eye contact and certainly many distractions, yet it can be more free flowing and sometimes less awkward because you’re not just looking at each other. Especially true with teenagers).

Powerful listening demonstrates care and interest in what the other person is saying. Listening without distraction so you “get” it. It is not rushing to answer anything, nor trying to problem-solve. It is allowing a pause when someone stops talking and even asking “tell me more”.

Powerful listening is being calm, taking it in, listening for clarity, not certainty or an opinion so you can share your perspective next.

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MARCH 11, 2022

CAMPUS NEWS

Fast­-track Careers

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Automotive and Heavy Diesel/Equipment Technology Program

A row of cars, some of them donated by any of the dealerships that the auto program certifies through. These include Chrysler, Dodge, Subaru, Mercedes, Toyota. They certify through Snap-On tools as well.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY AVERY LEÓN-CASTILLO Are you interested in automotive technology or heavy equipment and diesel technology? Do you want to get an education while having the perfect mix of in-class and lab instruction? Is a stateof-the-art car shop and professors with extensive knowledge, experience, and training appealing to you? If any of these apply, you should consider checking out the automotive programs!

The facility is state-of-the-art with two shops in two buildings that are big enough to simulate real-life job environments. Along with the lobby, two shops, and multiple rooms for real-life simulations, there are many classrooms that are fit for the training needs you’d expect. Some have electrical training and display boards, some hold specialty tools for more advanced students, as well as traditional classrooms with tables, chairs, and a projector. It’s located in Lebanon, in the Advanced Transportation Technology Center.

This Q&A will look at a few areas of the Automotives Technology program as well as the Heavy Equipment/Diesel Technology program.

What do students learn in the automotive program?

Students are trained and certified to use four-wheel alignment machinery and tire balancing equipment, Snap-On and other factory scanning tools to diagnose modern computerized electronic systems, how to analyze horsepower, speed, torque and simulate emissions testing using the Mustang Chassis Dynamometer, said RJ Ehlers, Chair of the Board of Automotive Technology.

How are classes structured?

The program combines classroom and hands-on lab instruction. We certify students through Chrysler Dodge, Subaru, Mercedes, Toyota and Snap-On tools where we also sometimes have cars donated to us for students to play with.

Snap-On donates a lot of tools to us as well which is helpful since third term students will get their own set of tools.

Most beginning and continuing students work on things as they’re learning them while more advanced students and almost-graduates work in the shop on projects they have to finish, said Nick Garber, Instructional Assistant to the program.

When one looks around the community, what kinds of places might they find CTE graduates?

Well, you can really do a lot with the skills and degree you get here. Lots of students will go to the dealerships through our program and work for them, others go to work for some private car shops or like, ‘mom-and-pop’ shops. Some might go sell car parts or tools, become car repairmen. It’s a pretty versatile area.”

Nick Garber, Instructional Assistant.

Classes meet 8-11:50 during the week with the first hour being classroom time and the second part being lab work time.

A car transmission.

This room is full of these "cadavers," as auto instructors call them, for students to work on with their hands during their lab time.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

(Front to back) A Honda Civic, Subaru Legacy, and a Chevrolet sit in the Automotives shop.

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MARCH 11, 2022

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Several students, part of Gar Burroughs' steering and suspension class, work on re-attaching the front axle for this truck.

As for the heavy diesel/ equipment technology program, Instructional Assistant Francis Tice said that pre-COVID, the program had about 20 students to four instructors but at the moment there’s about half that now.

How is the program overall structured?

We have several companies for trucks, farming equipment, excavating equipment, and even school districts that are able to come in and choose students to sponsor. Right now, there are a lot of Coastline, Pape, and John Deere sponsored students, including one who’s sponsored by the SalemKeizer school district. Once he graduates he’ll be a bus technician, said Tice.

Sponsored students get their school paid for and usually go to work for the respective company.

The companies will also sometimes donate things for us to work on which is really nice because the students need to do live testing as part of the program.

How are classes structured?

It’s a mix of lab and classroom time but mostly lab work. The students in the program take classes like shop skills, electrical and electronic systems, technical writing, customer service, and first aid and CPR. The program as a whole will take seven terms, including a CWE lab during the summer.

What kind of salary can graduates from your program expect in future jobs?

The expected salary that some of these students can expect is around $37,00-$51,000, but it varies depending on which specialty and company they go into. Luckily, it’s a pretty versatile job if they ever decide to switch careers.

Tice got into automotives right after high school and is now an instructional assistant. She’s one of two women in the program.

“I had a rough time growing up. I had a counselor who was concerned about me and told me about this automotive program when I was leaving high school. So I got into it, and started with 60 guys plus me and finished it out with 13 guys.”

How does this program differ from the rest in Oregon?

We really want to set the tone for the nation; we want to be good, and to be the best, and we’re trying to display that. We have the best equipment and all of our instructors are so well trained and have reallife experience. Plus, we advertise to and host all kinds of students from all over the nation who have a variety of skills and experiences that are applicable to their career.

Francis Tice, an instructional assistant with the Heavy Equipment/Diesel Technology CTE program at the ATTC in Lebanon, poses with one of four motorcycles in their possession.

Describe what students learn in the heavy diesel/equipment technology program.

The program is meant to have us ready to be trained out in the field. Each of the instructors are very careful in helping place students and are really involved in encouraging what they’re good at. Even if you're not sure, the instructors can lead the way based on what they notice. That’s why they have many certifications through the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED).

From McCall, Idaho, Daniel is now in Lebanon. He says he likes it better in Idaho but is glad he can be here to study. There are many students who have come to LBCC for the program from many places like Nevada and California.

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CAMPUS NEWS

MARCH 11, 2022

Years of Nursing Natural Caregivers in Professional Careers

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SABINRA DEDEK

She also works in labor delivery. After networking with faculty colleagues, she happened to give teaching a try and found her passion.

Peacock adores learning and reading, riding her exercise machine Peloton, being with her two young children, riding horses, and anything outdoors. She has four horses, four cats, two dogs, 10 chickens on 22 acres.

She has been a nurse for 10 years.

“You should surround yourself with inspirational people because you are only as stagnant as the weeds around you,” Peacock said.

“Because of COVID many classes are now online and it gives flexibility but lacks the bond of classmates,” she said. In clinical studies each student has one 12-hour session a week in either Lebanon, Albany or Corvallis, where they do rounds or observe surgical operations.

For students with ambitions to achieve their master’s and doctorate, Linfield College in McMinnville and Bushnell University in Eugene have an articulation agreement with LBCC. Registered nurses can expect to begin at $39 per hour and with specialties such as midwife, anesthetist, and general nurse practitioner, the wage can increase significantly.

‘With the versatility of nursing, there are a multitude of places to go during a career. Nursing isn’t for everyone – future nurses must like the unexpected, to be on their toes, and be able to think critically,” said student Victoria Larsen.

Students in training find little time for anything else, dedicating most of their time to intensive learning. By graduation, new nurses find a rewarding career and enter them prepared because of the education received at LBCC.

Since 1972 the college has offered a nursing program, which is open to applicants once a year. This two-year program requires an additional rather intense set of prerequisite courses before one is able to apply for admissions, however. This leaves graduating students with an associates degree after three to four years of schooling.

With a limited number of students accepted, applications must stand out from the competition.

Students come from all backgrounds but all seek a career in care. Most of the students interviewed had children; these natural care providers from experience are now seeking a professional environment.

There is a national shortage of registered nurses so the demand is high.

“A professional RN works with healthcare providers and patients in a variety of settings. Our graduates are in so many healthcare settings; all three acute care hospitals in the area employ our graduates as well as many other facilities in the state and other states as well,” said the Director of LBCC’s Nursing Program Bonnie Larsen.

Students acquire clinical experience from instructors such as Heather Peacock, who leads her students at Albany Samaritan Hospital.

Peacock has an Associate Degree from LBCC, then went on to her Bachelor’s Degree and now has a Master’s Degree. She is currently working towards her doctorate in nursing.

Peacock said she loves learning to further her education, which opens more doors for her career to grow. She fell into her dream job – teaching and molding the student nurses at a pliable stage. She said she feels like a mama duck, guiding them in the correct way to do things, which keeps the medical field safe in a structured way.

Heather Peacock, MSN.

Students John PeBenito, Victoria Larson, Amber Basting, Victoria Van Laere, Steve O'Callaghan with instructor Heather Peacock, MSN.

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MARCH 11, 2022

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Practice Makes Perfect Phlebotomy Department Hosts Practice Blood Draw

Healthcare Occupations Center in Lebanon, hosts "Blood Draw Day" for the phlebotomy program.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SABINRA DEDEK The Healthcare Occupations Center in Lebanon held a phlebotomy program lab Saturday, where students drew blood from volunteers, getting hands-on experience locating veins and using their sterile needles to draw vials of blood from volunteer’s veins.

But don’t worry, they’re not keeping your blood for further use - vials will be incinerated at the end of the day.

Phlebotomy technicians are trained professionals who work directly with patients, collecting blood and urine samples to provide to clinical labs. Entry level phlebotomists can expect to make around $19/hr.

Surrendering your veins to help students learn is so imperative to the learning growth of students within the program. And while it may take bravery to volunteer, the actual act of getting poked is very simple and remarkably painless. Snacks are also provided for volunteers.

One volunteer and student mother, Martha Debnam, is a retired phlebotomist. She reminisced how her training was quite different; learning to draw from puncturing oranges not

live volunteers. Debnam admired the bright lab and students treating their volunteer subjects with care.

Willing participants are checked in and walked through the process as their soon-to-be certified phlebotomist displays their newly acquired skills and professionalism. One of the goals of this lab is that students become more comfortable working with blood and needles, so that they can go on to work in a multitude of medical settings from clinic labs to blood and plasma donation clinics.

Elyse White, 32, entered the phlebotomy program after a traumatic accident. It was during her recovery that she had the “kindest phlebotomists” and was inspired to pursue her own career.

“This phlebotomy program is awesome! It takes hard work and practice. The instructors really take the time to help you learn your skills and make it easy to understand. My experience is one I will never forget! I can’t wait to put all that I learned to good use,” said White Sage McCloskey-Potter, 27, found her phlebotomy career path as a solo parent looking to provide a comfortable future for her family.

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Like what you see and read in The Commuter each week and online?

You can be part of the team – cover campus events, take photos, and write on topics about which you are passionate.

Sign up for Spring Term classes: JN217 – Feature Writing (3 credits; 42155) JN134 – Photojournalism (3 credits; 40579) Connect with The Commuter staff at commuter@linnbenton.edu Editor-in-Chief: Dakota Gange Arts and Entertainment: Leah Biesack Student Voice: Avery Leon-Castillo Sports: Logan Hannigan-Downs Photos: Sabrina Dedek For more info on Journalism classes, contact Commuter Adviser Rob Priewe at priewer@linnbenton.edu Commuter online: lbcommuter.com

Sage McCloskey-Potter and volunteer Martha Debnam.

Elyse White.

Elyse White and her brother Michael Peters.

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Civil Discourse Program Op-Ed: Oregon Should Allow People to Pump Their Own Gas STORY BY GABRIEL KNOX, MILES HENDERSON, AND THE CIVIL DISCOURSE PROGRAM

the debate

7

forty-eight states have allowed people to pump their own gas for some time now.

However, Oregon remains one of the two that doesn’t. The reasons are unclear, but the vast majority of Oregonians haven't been able to pump their own gas since 1951. During the legislative session that ended last week, there was a new bill that could have changed our state’s current policy, House Bill 4151.

This bill would have allowed people to pump their own gas while still obtaining assistance from an attendant, if that is their preferred choice. Although the bill failed to make it out of committee, due to its bipartisan support, we anticipate similar legislation coming up again in the future.

The biggest advantage of HB 4151 is that it saves time. Once a person is parked, they can start pumping. During busy hours when attendants are scrambling from car to car, people won’t be required to wait for them. Another benefit is that people will be able to obtain gas 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Maybe a person needs to fill their tank during a roadtrip in the middle of the night.

They won’t have to worry about the gas station being closed because they can pump the gas themselves. Now there is some worry of improper use of gas station equipment and dangers that could come along with it. Some examples of this may consist of equipment damage, using the wrong type

of fuel, and unawareness of surrounding vehicles. However, people in other states have somehow figured out a way to educate themselves on these issues. We’re confident Oregonians will be able to as well.

The most crucial part of HB 4151 is that it won’t get rid of gas station attendants. For Oregonians who prefer someone to fill their gas tank for them, that option will still be available. The bill will simply allow people to pump their own gas if that is what they prefer. Some may fear that self-service will inevitably be the only option once this bill is passed. Certain people like the handicapped, elderly, youth, and many others may prefer an attendant to help. This shouldn’t be a terrible problem because if the owner doesn’t have an attendant present, they could get fined.

Another question is: would this bill take away available jobs? The answer is no. The gas stations still need to provide full-attendant service. Oregon’s problem is not the shortage of available jobs, but the shortage of labor. As a dual-enrolled college student, Gabriel has to drive between Corvallis and Albany daily.

It is astounding the number of “now hiring” or “help wanted” signs he sees during that short drive.

Imagine pulling into a gas station and seeing more vehicles than pumps. One attendant is slowly moving from vehicle to vehicle. If you had the choice, would you pull into the self-service section? If you’re even considering “yes,” then the main objective of HB 4151 is worthy of your support.

Oregon Should Not Allow People to Pump Their Own Gas STORY BY NICK MAY, CHEYANNE RIDER, YAHAIRA SUAREZ, AND THE CIVIL DISCOURSE PROGRAM Only two states have laws prohibiting individuals from pumping their own gas, Oregon and New Jersey.

Residents in these states can go their entire lives without a full understanding of how fuel gets into a vehicle. We’re glad that House Bill 4151 failed to get out of committee this past legislative session.

While the bill may have seemed like an innocuous change, we feel it could have led to many unforeseen consequences.

After experiencing a global pandemic, cleanliness and sanitary conditions remain ongoing concerns. For that reason alone, it doesn’t feel like an appropriate time

for our state to be encouraging people to touch things they never previously had a reason to touch. Gas stations are not the cleanest of businesses and it is unlikely that unattended customers will reverse that trend. Additionally, the effects of the gasoline spills can be disastrous on the areas they occur in. Advancements have been made to pump technology that significantly decreases the likelihood of spills, but with 3.1 million potential novice gas pumpers, anything could happen.

While Oregonians and New Jerseyans may not have a full understanding of how to get fuel into a car, residents of other states don’t get to experience the luxury of staying in your car when it’s pouring down rain, freezing, or the temperature is hotter than the Mojave Desert. Think of the tired mother with a baby in her car, the

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newly licensed teen out late, the elderly couple in their Sunday best on the way to church, or the disabled drivers that may need assistance to exit their vehicles and find someone to help them. These folks appreciate the convenience of an attendant pumping their gas.

The other thing we have that other states don’t are lots of jobs for gas station attendants. While HB 4151 would still have required an attendant to be present, far less would be needed to fulfill the needs of each station. With Oregon’s unemployment rate at 4.1%, these are jobs we don’t want to lose.

Jobs wouldn’t have been the only thing we lost if this bill had passed. The uniqueness of Oregon goes beyond our beautiful landscapes and majestic lack of sales tax. It also includes our friendliness and superior drive to take care of our

neighbors. If we pump our own fuel, we’ll destroy another little interaction that creates community by losing the opportunity to connect with our friendly gas attendants.

Finally, advocates of HB 4151 will be quick to say that the bill would not eliminate the attendant position and that drivers will still have the option of having their gas pumped for them. This is true, but for how long? California used to have many stations with selfserve and full-service pumps but now it’s almost impossible to find a full-service pump in the state. Do we want to be more like California? Are we willing to lose a piece of what makes us unique?

Preserve our cultural heritage. Protect Oregon’s current gas pumping laws from being changed.

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MARCH 11, 2022

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Underpaid and Undervalued IEDI Celebrates Women’s History Month STORY AND PHOTOS BY SABRINA DEDEK In honor of March, Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, Institutional Equity, Diversity and Inclusion hosted a Zoom presentation and discussion on “Underpaid and Undervalued: How Inequality Defines Women’s Work.” Speakers included faculty

of the IEDI, Tania Mendez, Heather Morijah, and Student Ambassadors Riley Coleman, Leo Butler, Rosario Romero.

An acknowledgment for queer and trans women was announced, but given the time constraint, wasn’t spoken on indepth.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to learn positive change,” said speaker Rosario Romero.

An essay contest and parade in 1974 in Santa Rosa, California, spread across the country. President Jimmy Carter elected the week of March 8 to be Women’s History Week. In 1986, the National Women's History Project, which is a non-profit organization that targets multicultural awareness, expanded the week into a whole month.

A presentation included a short video from Hearts Magazine, “History

of Women,” describing the stigma surrounding women and what women face today; how women must present themselves in a cognitive,calculated and mindful way.

A student slide-show featured a history of women in the United States workforce from the industrial revolution and WWII, such as the “Radium Girls” (AKA, “Ghost Girls,”) who painted radium on watch and dial faces for 5 cents a face. These women then suffered radium poisoning and social propaganda stigma.

“Sweatshops in the USA are found in major metropolitan areas, like places with high population of undocumented workers.

These are hidden in old warehouses spread across cities,” said Romero. Fast fashion is the biggest culprit.

One speaker shared her cousin’s story of being sex trafficked while living in a remote village in Mexico, pointing out that it could happen to anyone.

At the end, questions and comments were discussed and addressed, such as how we as individuals can help combat women inequality; we can shop ethically, support women, lift eachother up, and vote for women.

Most importantly, call out sexism.

Particpants during the Underpaid and Undervalued event.

A slide shown during the event outlining ways we can affect change.

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Celebrating Community Celebrating 13th Annual Unity Day

Unity Day Celebration held over Zoom.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY AVERY LEÓN-CASTILLO February held the 13th annual Unity Day Celebration over Zoom, which is intended to celebrate the diversity, equity, and inclusion of our college and award members of the community for exemplifying those standards.

Jason Dorsette, new Executive Director of the office of Institutional Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, introduced the event.

The awards presented are the Analee Fuentes Unity Award, the Gary Westford-Robin Havenick Community Connections Award, and the winners of the annual Black History Month Essay Contest. Participants also heard from the award-winning choir performing “The New Colossus,” by Emma Lazarus, and this year’s Poet Laureate Sophia Griffith reading her poem “Live Your Life.”

Dr. Keith Dempsey was this year’s keynote speaker. He is a mental health professional, specializing in advocating for Black mental health. He was formerly the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Counseling at George Fox University and is the first African American to receive tenure in that position and has won several awards for his work.

Dempsey was invited to speak this year by Ramycia McGee, who is an English professor at LB. Dempsey is passionate about teaching others that Black trauma is valid and the need for therapy and counseling should be destigmatized for every Person of Color. This especially fits in with this year’s prompt for the Black History

Month Essay Contest: The “Strong Black Woman” trope.

He has been exploring how diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are represented in mental health, and said he’s found that the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics supports efforts to represent Black mental health.

Dempsey also said he found that the CDC declares racism as “a threat to mental health.”

Though he still wonders why mental health is so stigmatized for Black People; why is it so well represented on paper and not in real-life practice. Dempsey refers to common stigmas; “Counseling is for White folks,” or “you don’t need therapy, you need to go to church.”

After Dempsey spoke, English Professor Tristan Striker introduced the first-place winner for this year's BHM Essay Contest, Keri Grigas. She is a firstyear student studying Networking & Systems Administration, specializing in Cyber Security. She plays the flute, piano, and oboe.

Second-place winner Krystal Overvig spoke next. She originally wanted to pursue engineering, however is now dual majoring in English and education. Her essay is about a personal experience where being the “Strong Black Woman” affected her greatly.

Third-place winner is Angelyna Geno, who is a proud Asian woman and shared how the trope affected her view of Black women and how she hopes it’ll change. She will be graduating this year with an Associate of Science degree in Biological Science. She is also currently the Director of Legislative Affairs of the

Student Leadership Council.

The Analee Fuentes Unity Award is awarded every year to one employee, or employee group, and one student, or student group. The employee award nominees included Anne Magratten, Lena Gates, Rob Camp, and Tania Mendez, and winner Kristen Jennings.

Jennings is an Academic Coaching Coordinator.

“Kristen is an advocate for underrepresented students, staff, and faculty. She isn't afraid to speak up when she sees or hears about an inequity issue at LBCC. Kristen has strongly advocated for English Language Learner (ELL) students to receive the adequate academic support they deserve by the college. Students often share that Kristen makes them feel welcome and less intimidated to ask for help. They also mention she is extremely patient, kind, and resourceful. Kristen is an ally for faculty, staff, students, and community members of color and I believe she has earned recognition for her commitment to equity, diversity, and social justice at LBCC,” said winner announcer Bryan Miyagishima.

Riley Coleman, student ambassador of Institutional Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and Danae Fouts, Executive Assistant and next year's president of the Student Leadership Council, won the student award. They are both also part of the Change-Makers Co-Curricular program.

“These two students were nominated

by LBCC employees for their leadership roles in the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Co-Curricular Program, the Change Makers Co-Curricular Program, and

leading the charge at cultivating a positive and forward-thinking environment for all students,” said Miyagishima.

Casa Latinos Unidos of Corvallis won the Gary Westford-Robin Havenick Community Connections Award, which is presented to an individual, organization, or business. Angel Harris, who is the previous president of the NAACP, was nominated for her work in diversity, inclusion, social justice, and equity contributions to the college and community.

“I have observed this organization actively strive to serve the Latino/ Latina/Latinx community in a variety of heroic ways from vaccine clinics to a wide range of paralegal support and translation services. They do a great deal with a limited budget and even during leadership transitions continue to serve the community. They have hosted LBCC Human Services interns for many years, including during the pandemic. Even during uncertain times they have remained committed to LBCC by supporting our students' professional growth,” said Miyagishima.

Next year everyone has high hopes that the event will resume in-person again. For more information on this event, visit the Unity Celebration web page.

10

CAMPUS NEWS

MARCH 11, 2022

LOCAL

LBCOMMUTER.COM 

Because I'm a "Strong Black Woman" Black History Month Essay Contest Winners

SECOND- PLACE ESSAY BY KRYSTAL OVERVIG Sadly, I have experienced the “Strong Black Woman” trope on more than one occasion. The most painful time was during the summer of 2015.

At this point, I was pregnant for my fourth time, but with one already having ended in a miscarriage.

While working my usual 8-hour shift one day, I started getting unbearable false labor pains. For the remainder of my shift, I tried to push through them, to be the “Strong Black Woman” I’m supposed to be. When it was finally over, I was willing to let my significant other take me to the hospital to get checked. After some time had passed, they did an ultrasound, and he was doing fantastic. His growth was on track, and his healthy heartbeat was music to my ears. I went home comforted, even though I was still in pain.

As soon as I got home, I went to bed and hoped to sleep the pain away. However, the next day I woke up with even worse pain. I dreadfully sat up in my bed and thought about how I would possibly make it through the day. After some time, I finally got up, and once in the bathroom, I saw the most horrible thing I have ever seen in my life. While it is something that I see once a month, I will just roll my eyes and go about my day; seeing the blood while pregnant shattered my world. Finally, I realized I was having real labor pains and would lose this baby.

We immediately rushed to the hospital even though, in our hearts, we knew it was too late. When we made it there, I got put into a room and then felt like I just got forgotten about. The pain kept increasing, yet nobody was doing anything to help.

I just had to lay there and be strong, but that was a task I failed. When my screams of pain had reached an unbearable level, a nurse charged in and snarled at me “Can you keep it down? The other patients can hear you,” then promptly left and was gone before I could utter a single word back.

I felt so let down in my body for doing this to me, but worse than the failure in myself was the brief moment of heartlessness I felt from this nurse.

Shrugged aside while enduring labor pains and feeling despondent, knowing my child will die once out of my womb. But how dare I bother the other patients in the hospital with my agony and heartache?

Black women are stronger than this, right? I had to get through this painful ordeal quietly because I’m a “Strong Black Woman.” I had to suffer losing my child before meeting them because I’m a “Strong Black Woman.” I had to accept that “these things happen, you can try again” because I’m a “Strong Black Woman.” I had to deal with life immediately, moving on, as usual, the next day because I’m a “Strong Black Woman.”

THIRD-PLACE TIE ESSAY BY DAHLIA SEITER Coping strategies, while always developed and enacted for a good or protective reason, often have their downsides. These strategies, especially in a person who is depressed or suicidal, are not always sustainable or healthy but they can be incredibly useful if their main objective is survival by any means necessary.

In the article, “Black Girls Don’t Get to Be Depressed,” Samantha Irby makes clear that she has developed coping strategies to keep herself alive despite her sometimes general disdain for that idea. A common coping mechanism for people struggling with mental illness is to try to trick their brains into thinking that maybe the constant unhappiness that they experience is the way that life should be, even going as far to say that life would be worse without experiencing constant fear, panic, or sadness.

Irby writes “... I don't want to be some shiny, happy idiot. This is gritty, this is real.” In the span of one thought, Irby identifies coping strategies that are incredibly damaging while simultaneously convincing herself that a life without the pain she has endured would somehow be a disservice to herself. In other words, she finds that the pros and cons of coping with her depression coexist in her.

This tension runs throughout her piece.

In explaining some of her unhealthy coping mechanisms, Irby unconsciously reveals a benefit-by attempting to convince herself and those around her that she’s better off the way she is, it lessens the burden of her pain.

Similar to Irby, a coping strategy that I have used in my struggle with anxiety and chronic physical pain has been to pretend like everything is fine. On the positive side, this benefits my daily functioning.

By giving myself permission to pretend that I don’t need help, I don’t need to share my struggles with others. While this may seem like a practical tool that my mind and body can use to get through the day, it is also a kind of crutch. By convincing myself that everything is fine, I have a hard time asking for help when I really need it. Irby’s writing teaches us all an important lesson: coping strategies allow for a passive experience, but it is never too late to advocate for yourself, admit when you're struggling, and get the help you deserve.

THIRD-PLACE TIE ESSAY BY ANGIE GENO I am afraid I must begin with an apology for my unawareness of how extremely paralyzing the “Strong Black Woman” trope affects so many of my fellow peers, co-workers, friends, and future people I have yet to meet. We are miscommunicating- Let us clear it up. While I cannot argue that Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks played some of the most substantial roles in the fight for equality in the Black race in America, I would not also discourage the thought that even they had some “silly little feelings.”

One cannot recognize inequality, inequity without feeling the rage of the lack of respect they were given.

For if you did not have feelings, why would you want change? Why do you feel anger when you are treated less than you should be?

Your “silly little feelings” are not a negligible variable.

I am sheltered. I have been blinded by the precarious ideology of social media. I never realized the extent of the trope of the “Strong Black Woman” is affecting Black Women. When I think of the “Strong Black Woman” I see a warrior, I see pride, I see comfort in their skin, I see confidence, I see talent, I see ambition, I see advocates, I see educators. To me, a “Strong Black Woman” is a Black Woman who looked inequality in the eyes and said, “you can’t put me down if you tried.” But if my idea and knowledge is not the truth, I was just fortunate to have so many Black Women from whom I can learn.

To the “Strong Black Woman” who I see in the news, social media, music representation, engineering, science, and every space in between- I look forward to hearing about you. I look forward to hearing about your “silly little feelings” which propelled you to tackle the challenges in our community.

To the “Strong Black Woman,” I hope you learn to relish and find comfort in your “silly little feelings” and come to an era where your feelings are neither “silly” nor “little.” It is time that you acknowledge that our feelings are okay. That you understand anger is not a “bad” character trait or personality flaw- but a part of our experience to learn as a person in the world. It is okay to feel anger when you are not treated right, you SHOULD experience all your emotions to the fullest.

To the “Strong Black Woman,” I am rooting for you. I hope mental health is destigmatized. I hope you continue to walk with your head held high. I hope to continue to learn from your innovation, research, and dedication to all the fields so many Black Women are leading important conversations. I am rooting for you. I wish you nothing but the best, and I look forward to your disruption in society- we need it as much as we need you.

 COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU

MARCH 11, 2022

CAMPUS NEWS

11

A Step Towards Normalcy Motivational Speaker Darryl Bellamy Jr. Speaks at In-Person Event STORY AND PHOTOS BY AVERY LEÓN-CASTILLO The Student Leadership Council hosted Darryl Bellamy Jr. for the third time this year, however, this was his first in-person event. He first appeared at West Albany High School to speak to the seniors and other students. Later in the day, Bellamy moved on to speak at LB. The live event at WAHS was required for seniors, although other students attended, as well as faculty of the school and members of LB’s Student Leadership Council. As expected, the event was high energy with an introduction from Hannah Briggs, SLC

president, and Angie Geno, legislative affairs director. Bellamy kept everybody engaged with his body language and colorful slide presentation.

Those who attended the event received a pencil and note card for an activity where Bellamy asked students to write down their fears. Not fears of snakes or spiders, but more like impending and looming fears of failure or of death. The students handed the note cards to the SLC members who put them in bowls at either end of the stage for him to read aloud, engulfed in fake flames. Bellamy said the exercise is “so that students know they aren’t alone in their fears or challenges.”

Principal of WAHS, Susie Orsborn,

thanked LBCC for coordinating the event, and said she hoped the students, especially the seniors, gained a lot from it.

High school senior Nishant Drspice said that it meant a lot to him that Bellamy had shown up. “I really want to be like Darryl when I graduate. I want to help people be motivated to do what they dream of doing.”

After the event at WAHS, Bellamy was invited to lunch with SLC members before his second in-person speech in Forum 104.

President Lisa Avery, SLC members, staff, faculty, students alike were welcomed.

Bellamy's presentation was different from his previous Zoom events, where he’s been known to talk about overcoming your fears. This time, his

focus was on individual mindset.

“Look up and smile real wide. Then try to get as sad as you possibly can while still having that smile on your face,” said Bellamy.

Clearly it was difficult and that was the idea of the exercise.

Bellamy then repeated the exercise where he read out people’s fears.

“I’ve been all over the nation, listening to these student’s fears and I have collected so many of these little note cards; there are probably more than five thousand now in my house.”

He plans on having a gallery for them all some day.

Bellamy reading fears of staff, students, and faculty of LBCC.

SLC student employees helping hand out pencils and notecards before the presentation at West Albany High School.

Bellamy presenting at LBCC on Feb 23.

12

A&E

MARCH 11, 2022

DIRECTOR: Matt Reeves (Based on the graphic novel series by Bob Kane and Bill Finger)

LBCOMMUTER.COM 

PHOTO: WARNER BROS.

STARRING: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano and John Turturro RATED PG-13 OVERALL RATING:

★★★★★

THE BATMAN (2022)

REVIEW BY

STEVEN PRYOR

@STEVENPRR2PRYOR

“The Batman” is the latest adaptation of the long-running DC Comics character. As the latest reboot of the series and the first standalone live-action film of the character in nearly a decade; director Matt Reeves has delivered another spectacular entry to a long history of acclaimed film adaptations.

Much like 2019’s “Joker,” the film is separate from the main DC Extended Universe. Following the exploits of a younger, less experienced Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson, “The Lighthouse”), his role as Batman sees him contend with

Back to the Big Screen with a Vengeance

a host of villains led by the Riddler (Paul Dano), the Penguin (Colin Farrell) and Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz).

The film focuses much less on the superhero aspects of the character and plays more like a detective story and crime drama; a direction which was previously used to great effect in adaptations such as the 1989 Tim Burton film, “The Dark Knight Trilogy” by Christopher Nolan and the highly-acclaimed “Batman: The Animated Series.” In particular, Reeves has admitted major influence from films such as “Se7en” and “Zodiac” by

PHOTO: IDGB

David Fincher. Paul Dano even based his performance of the Riddler on the antagonists of those respective films.

The film’s mysteries unfold across a mammoth 175-minute runtime that makes one of the freshest takes on the character in the past decade.

Sporting a massive $200 million budget, the film is rife with distinctive visuals; taking many elements from decades of comic book stories and making them work in a modern context.

The score from Michael Giacchino is an ideal musical accompaniment to the film,

and award-nominated cinematographer Greig Fraser delivers camera work that’s as exciting as it is often shocking and surprisingly beautiful.

With the film laying the groundwork for future installments (including a sequel and spinoff series planned for HBO Max), “The Batman” is a must-see event; recommended to bring standalone stories centered in Gotham City back to the big screen with a vengeance.

PUBLISHER: Nintendo STARRING: Nintendo

PLATFORM: Nintendo 64 Online for Switch

CLICK HERE FOR CROSSWORD

ESRB Rating: E

OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★

retro review: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA’S MASK

REVIEW BY

STEVEN PRYOR

@STEVENPRR2PRYOR

Standing the Test of Time

“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” has come to the Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo 64 Online application. With more than 20 years having passed since the game’s original release in the year 2000, the game remains one of the best installments of the series, and a worthy successor to the groundbreaking “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.”

Taking place in the land of Termina, the player must prevent the moon from crashing into the land within three days. The gameplay loop comes from the fact that one minute of playtime translates to one hour in the game’s world, meaning the player only has 72 minutes to complete tasks in each play session. This presents a unique approach to exploration

and encourages experimentation to each mission. The game has often been compared to the classic film “Groundhog Day,” with each 72-minute loop presenting new opportunities for players.

Though the game received a remake on the 3DS in the year 2015, the original N64 game still remains a beloved classic among fans of the “Zelda” series. Building on what was done in 1998’s “Ocarina of Time,” the game pushed the N64 to its limits (even requiring the console’s

Expansion Pack in its initial release); and still stands one of the biggest technical marvels released in the console’s lifecycle. In terms of graphics, gameplay and sound; the game still remains an engaging title now that it’s come to the Switch.

Joining a host of other titles on the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” has easily stood the test of time and is highlyrecommended for newcomers and longtime fans alike.

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)

5-Word Book

reviews

BY LEAH BIESACK

The Heroic Slave, Frederick Douglass Sets the bar for storytelling.

An Idle Fellow, Kate Chopin Sounds weighty. Actually just meh.

Benito Cereno, Herman Melville Intentionally foggy, then uncomfortably clear.

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sat Mar 12 01:13:12 2022 GMT. Enjoy!

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 COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU

SPORTS

MARCH 11, 2022

13

Softball Success OSU Softball Defeats Robert Morris STORY AND PHOTOS BY LOGAN HANNIGAN-DOWNS Oregon State Softball defeated Robert Morris 8-0 and 3-0 on a sunny Monday afternoon in Corvallis. The Beavs played the Colonials in a double head matchup, and eight ruled them in the first game. The Beavers are currently ranked 24th

in the nation on the USA Softball/ESPN poll. Sarah Haendiges and Tarni Stepto both pitched no hitters for the Beavers in game one and game two respectively. Stepto is a 2020 Olympian for Australia and helped the Boxing Kangaroos to a fifth place finish. OSU head coach Laura Berg was an assistant coach for Team USA Softball at the same Olympics.

Harleigh Braswell (44) yells a chant during Oregon State's softball game against Robert Morris in Corvallis on Monday, March 7.

Grace Messmer (17) catches a ball.

Charity Sevaaetasi (21) of Oregon State throws the ball to first base.

Charity Sevaaetasi (21) at bat.

Lici Campbell (35) walks back to second base.

Charity Sevaaetasi (21) awaits for a pitch as Lici Campbell (35) times up her swing.

LB Baseball Wins Three of Four Games

Oregon State pitchers Tarni Stepto (14) and Sarah Haendiges (30) hug after both pitching no-hitters.

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Linn-Benton racked up 24 runs on 23 hits in four non-conference games in Roseburg this past weekend, and also included three shutouts and a combined no hitter. The Roadrunners improved to 7-1 on the season.

In Saturday's first game, LinnBenton easily handled Spokane 100. Trey Nelson and Jake Hoskins collected two hits apiece and Rhett Larson earned the win on the mound in five innings of work.

In Saturday's nightcap against Umpqua, the Roadrunners nipped the Riverhawks 1-0. Ruben Cedillo went 2-for-3 and Emiliano Alarcon doubled to lead Linn-Benton. The game's only run came when Cedillo scored on a

passed ball in the fourth inning.

Sunday's first game against Spokane was another 10-0 Roadrunner victory with Kian Hogan and Kaden Miller combining for a no-hitter.

Umpqua handed the Roadrunners their first loss in a 4-3 decision in Sunday's nightcap. Hoskins had two hits, including a double, to lead LinnBenton. The game was tied a 3-3 going into the eighth inning before Umpqua scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error.

Linn-Benton next travels to Yakima this weekend to take on Everett and Yakima Valley both Saturday and Sunday.