C
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 19
C O L L E G E
APRIL 22, 2022
HEALING MARTIN LUTHER at your own pace
PHOTO: SABRINA DEDEK
Maggie Bedrin.
Using Trauma to Fuel Healing Through Art STORY BY DAKOTA GANGE Much like many famous painters who’ve expressed their heartache on canvas, poetry too can often be a method used to convey pain and trauma; Processing it through the mind and then out to the fingertips, with words that flow mellifluously onto paper as a symptom of a tumultuous road. Student Maggie Bedrin is no exception, using her poetry as an outlet to her deepest thoughts and emotions. Afterall, even our innermost sensations deserve to breathe. Bedrin’s poetry comes from the inspiration of the misfits; “A large part of it [where her inspiration comes from] is being generally misunderstood by lots of peers. There seems to be a lot of disconnection between my home life and mental illness,” Bedrin says. “There was a severe lack of communication in my childhood; I’ve worked very hard at communicating as a person.” She began using poetry as an outlet her freshman year of high school, writing a poem daily; Sometimes up to twelve. She had just moved to Oregon from Dublin, California, and she “didn’t have any friends. I felt less lonely when I was writing about my feelings.” Bringing her process into adulthood, at the young age of 19 Bedrin carries herself like a fine pink floral aged mead, only getting richer with time and a little wild in its complex flavor. She continues to do poetry because she feels she can accurately express herself that way, hoping to be better understood. Most recently, she has been
GRAPHICS FREEPIK.COM
EXPLORE LB
SEE PAGES 2-3
diagnosed with complex PTSD. “I have a very new diagnosis that I think is commonly misunderstood because it’s hardly studied. It’s called complex PTSD, which you can think of as the worst umbrella term. Complex PTSD, for me, can include OCD, bipolar, personality disorder, anxiety and depression, memory loss, and more.” This diagnosis in her case is caused by childhood trauma. Like gasoline on a fire, Bedrin uses this trauma as fuel for her poems. To date, she has written three poetry books, the first is titled “The Underwater City (My Deepest Thoughts.)” However, she has a fear of copyright, so if you're interested in purchasing one of her books, she has asked that you reach out via her email; Margaret.bedrin.4172@ mail.linnbenton.edu. “Maggie is so talented and good at everything she does. I just wish she liked her own art as much as everyone else does,” says student Anna-Marie Smith. Though studying graphic design, her primary mediums include writing, painting, and ceramics. One of her most proud pieces is a series of paintings and poems called “The Bluest Tears.” This four part series is “about a girl who loses the ability to see the primary colors because of grief. In each painting and poem, she regains one of the primary colors through healing.” Stay tuned for another article featuring this set. Bedrin's goal as a writer is to try and reach the public, to “help people understand [mental illness as a whole] and to create a better dialogue.” She does ceramics “mostly for my mental health.” Ceramic Professor Renee McKitterickcan often be heard telling her students that “ceramics is cheap therapy.” She hopes that within her artwork, both of the writing and the 3D plane, she can reach those who may or may not be struggling with mental health. “I’m sorry for the possible hardships you have faced. I hope my poetry brings you comfort.” In reference to mental health treatment, Bedrin says, “I think one should only seek therapy when they are ready to listen. Everyone needs to heal at their own pace.”
JR.
See Bedrin's Poems on Page 8
INSIDE THIS EDITION
FEATURED WRITING
SEE PAGES 5-6
PHOTOJOURNALISM
SEE PAGE 7
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CAMPUS NEWS
APRIL 22, 2022
LBCOMMUTER.COM
Preview Night In-person Exploring What LB Has to Offer at Preview Night STORY BY ALICEN ARSENAULT
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
Explore LB was held on Thursday at the Albany Campus. Faculty and staff who represent LinnBenton's programs in Healthcare, Agriculture, Business, Applied Industrial Technology, Arts & Humanities, Education & Social Services, and Science & Engineering set up displays where students could interact and get information. Interactive display tables, banners, and most importantly candy, made getting to know these programs fun and interesting. Advisors and support staff were available to answer student questions about resources available such as financial aid, accommodations, tutoring, dual enrollment with OSU, and more. One of those representatives was Julie Hessel, an Accommodation Specialist in the Center for Accessibility Resources. She was able to chat with current and prospective students about resources available on campus. Student ambassadors and Student Life & Leadership representatives shared about getting involved on campus, including how to be part of our many Clubs and Co-Curricular groups. Rocky the Roadrunner joined Student Leadership representatives Rachel Biscoe and Kaydence Strait to show some school spirit and get students involved. Cheyanne Rider with the Civil Discourse Program encouraged students to participate in a white board discussion. The question to answer was: "What is better, online or inperson classes?" Zeph Portukalian stopped by to weigh in. Admissions staff were also on hand to help prospective students apply for the Fall term. Those who attended the event and enrolled were awarded a free 1-credit tuition waiver.
PHOTO: ALICEN ARSENAULT
Current student Zeph Portukalian stops by the table for the Civil Discourse Program.
PHOTO: ALICEN ARSENAULT
Sean Daniels from the Physical Sciences Department shows how his skull compares to those of early man at the display for Geological Sciences.
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
PHOTO: AVERY LEÓN-CASTILLO
Head of the history department, Scott Mcaleer, at his table recruiting students for history.
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 Arianna Stahlbaum Carsyn Meyers Hathai Sangsupan Rebecca Sturm
PHOTO: ALICEN ARSENAULT
ICONS:FREEPIK.COM
Julie Hessel from the Center for Accessibility Resources chats with a student enrolled for Fall term about resources to which he will have access.
COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU
APRIL 22, 2022
CAMPUS NEWS
3
PHOTO: AVERY LEÓN-CASTILLO
Danae Fouts and Riley Coleman giving their spiel about what the Change Makers co-curricular program does and the benefits of joining.
PHOTO: AVERY LEÓN-CASTILLO
At the Change Makers table, (pictured right to left) Riley Coleman, Emma Bales, and Danae Fouts organizing handouts and prizes for students to take.
PHOTO: AVERY LEÓN-CASTILLO
Leslie Hammond, Dean of Students, preparing a tong to make herself a melted marshmallow using the forge in the non-destructive testing building.
PHOTO: ALICEN ARSENAULT
Rachel Biscoe and Kaydence Strait represent the Student Leadership Council along with Rocky the Roadrunner.
PHOTO: AVERY LEÓN-CASTILLO
At the math table, Sherri Rogers and Mary Campbell have class maps, lots of buttons, and a fun art activity.
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CAMPUS NEWS
APRIL 22, 2022
LBCOMMUTER.COM
Roadrunner for a Day New Program for Area High School Seniors to See What College Life Is Like
Students wait together for their next activity to start in LBCC's courtyard on Tuesday, April 12. The groups were organized to mix students from different schools: This group is a mixture of South Albany and Corvallis High School students.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY AVERY LEÓN-CASTILLO On Tuesday the Student Leadership Council hosted about 280 senior students from LBCC’s zoned high schools in Corvallis, Albany, Lebanon and Philomath. These schools included West Albany High School, South Albany High School, Corvallis High School, Santiam Christian High School Crescent Valley High School, Lebanon High School, Sand Ridge Charter, Philomath High School, and King’s Valley Charter. The program is meant to happen every year from now and its purpose is to introduce seniors to what they would expect if they attended LB after graduating, in hopes to help motivate them to enroll for fall term, if interested. The program was first brought up by the Dean, Leslie Hammond and the Director of High School Partnerships, Virginia Mallory. They think the seniors in these high schools would benefit from having an exposing experience like this in order to destigmatize the idea of going to community college before a university. The SLC made plans for a full day of interesting learning opportunities with Hammond and Mallory’s help with a schedule of different classes, a drink-break in the Courtyard Café, and an opportunity to play Jackbox Games in the Student Union or do a Kahoot trivia game in the Roastrunner’s Café. They also had class tours going which were headed by the Student Recruitment Specialist, Trista Ochoa who was aided by SLC members Morgan Sylvia and Levi Pagel. The “classes” that were offered ranged from education, English, and anthropology to criminal justice, philosophy and machine tool technology. They were an entire hour and set up as if they were actual classes so that the students could have the whole experience. Senior at Corvallis High School, Zahraa Ahmed, said she really enjoyed the
day and was excited to look into coming here. “I am a little nervous because it seems like a big school with way more people and I might not have many friends next year because mine are going to universities.” She said even with her nerves about being in a community college, she was really glad to get a taste of what it’d be like. Ahmed is a very outgoing person and quickly made a few friends from the other highschools. Many of the students who attended are part of their school’s AVID class. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination and is a class which teaches students lots of skills for applying to college and jobs and helps them build skills for time management and studying. Lots of students who had AVID in high school agree that it helped them be more successful in college. Something that the SLC hoped to accomplish by doing this program is helping prospective students have an understanding of all that going to a community college, specifically LBCC, can offer. The Kahoot consisted of fun trivia questions as well as questions about the education structure here; Smaller classes, better one-on-one learning, the benefits of joining a co-curricular club (where you can earn grants) like the SLC or Change Makers, and the advantages LB has in terms of going into CTE fields like dentistry, welding, or automotives, as there are well funded programs and facilities and professional opportunities here. A group of students who are seniors at South Albany High School said they liked the information they received and think they’d be able to succeed. “Today I learned that the classes here might actually be more helpful for me because they’re slower paced and seem to have great information,” one SAHS student said. Zahraa Ahmed and Rowan Dawson posing for a photo on April 12 after they arrive to campus. They are both seniors at Corvallis High School.
Above: Dean of Students Leslie Hammond and Dean of Instruction Katie Winder checking in on the Roadrunner for a Day event. The second group of students out of five groups getting settled down to play some Kahoot trivia.
COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU
APRIL 22, 2022
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
My Grapefruit
5
Accepting the Joy of Pregnancy STORY BY SABRINA DEDEK My good friends Kat and Joe had asked me to fill in for their nanny for their 18-month-old son, Ronan. Of all their friends with experience with kids, I had the most experience with people who had special needs. Ronan has PKU, which means he can’t process protein and thanks to his super mom who understands nutrition better than most, he lives off a vegan-type diet. This particular sunny morning Kat was working from home on her laptop at the kitchen table; I was in the kitchen making Ronan his scrambled “noteggs” and his low-pro milk in the bottle warmer. I brought him his food but he was happier to eat on the ground, so we sat together. We spent most of the day sitting and scooting, but as I was on my back he rolled over my tummy and it hurt. “Ouch” I said, but smiled so he knew it wasn’t his fault. It was a weird hurt and he still wanted to play so I rolled over onto my stomach to protect the hurt spot. But now it felt like a grapefruit-size mass in my upper right quadrant. So I stood up; This got me worried, why hadn’t I felt this before? I had chronic back issues so I rarely tumbled on the ground. On my way home I tried to make a doctor’s appointment but they told me to come in right away. I walked into the immediate care of Corvallis Clinic thinking I might have cancer. I walked out pregnant. My follow up appointment was three days later. I was 16 weeks pregnant – I didn’t tell anyone. I had broken up with my boyfriend about three months prior because he told me he never wanted children. I was told I couldn’t get pregnant without medical assistance by my OBGYN (who I clearly stopped seeing after this.) ‘Shouldn’t a woman know
PHOTO: SABRINA DEDEK
when she is pregnant?’ Yeah, maybe if she stepped out of a health textbook, but I’m a unique snowflake with medical variables so no, all of the regular signs weren’t there. I was on birth control pills, which I took religiously. I was freaking out. I walked to the labs department to make my next appointment, and ultrasound. While I didn’t have many answers, I did know I always had wished I could be a mom so I was most concerned about the health of my fetus “grapefruit.” I sat waiting for my name to be called, and the woman next to me saw tears in my eyes. She struck up a conversation with me. She told me she didn’t know she was pregnant with her first child until three days before she gave birth. She told me her story in a fun way which got me to laugh. I thanked her as I walked up to the receptionist who had called my name. The receptionist scheduled my appointment and asked me about my pregnancy, and I explained how I had just found out. She told me she didn’t know about her first pregnancy until 20 weeks and that it is very common in unplanned pregnancies. I didn’t tell anyone about my pregnancy until after my fetal health appointment, which meant holding in this personal news for two weeks. But once I knew my baby was real and healthy and I was going to get to be a mom, I set out to break the news to my closest friends and family. I had always imagined motherhood would arrive like a nursery rhyme, “First comes love then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage.” Most of society had told me that's how it should happen, yet here I was hoping the standards I had set for myself wouldn’t define a chasm between my loved ones. I told my best friend Sarika first. She is sensible and majored in psychology so she looks at things boldfaced. She is also the most thoughtful and caring friend
Sabrina as a part-time nanny with baby Ronan.
PHOTO: ALTERNATE HISTORY
Maternity portrait of Sabrina Dedek
anyone could hope for and immediately knew how exciting I needed this to be. She reinforced to me that I was going to be an amazing mother. Next I told my mom. Her reaction was every single reaction in onehundredth of a second, and ultimately landed on being so excited to be a grandma. However she warned me about the timing of telling my dad, which kind of had me worried; Hormones and rational thoughts have a correlation. I was worried my announcement was going to disappoint my father who surely believed I should be married to the father and have a life plan. Not all people are meant to raise children. The biological father of my daughter was informed by phone call just as I found out, and then text message, but no reply. He did end up meeting with me in person at New Morning Cafe on a Thursday morning. My pregnancy gave me two new superpowers – I was no longer lactose intolerant and I had superhuman smelling abilities. So I could smell every drop of alcohol this man had consumed the night before. He only showed up to inform me I would be proceeding into parenthood alone, which was not a surprise to me and I gave him the legal papers to fill out to relinquish him of responsibility. I waited until my dad had got off work for the day. I had dinner ready
for him and my mom but he wanted to rest on the couch first. So as soon as he seemed to be in good spirits and relaxed I asked if I could have a serious discussion. He sat up and said “Of course.” I had a copy of my ultrasounds to show him. I held the long glossy paper in my hands shielding him from the images. I was nervous. “I went to the doctor,” I said. “I don’t want you to be mad at me, I did everything I was supposed to do, I love you so much…” He stared at me with the most serious face nodding. “Dad, I’m pregnant.” I handed him my ultrasound pictures. “I’m going to have a baby.” He looked at the ultrasound pictures for a minute, a little confused at first, then he looked up at me. “Why are you crying?” he asked with a firm smile. “This is amazing news! I get to be a grandpa?! I’m so excited, you're going to be a good mom!” He stood up and hugged me. I breathed and felt relief. I was finally able to accept the full joy I was about to receive in motherhood.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
APRIL 22, 2022
LBCOMMUTER.COM
A Grateful Grumble A Life Forged Without Me STORY BY HATHAI SANGSUPAN This morning there was a knock at my bedroom door. It was followed by my daughter’s muffled voice, “It’s almost 7:45.” “I know,” I sighed. “I’m up. Be out in a minute.” Not long ago, I was the one who roused my sleepy girl from bed for school. I’d cajole her into clothes. Put breakfast in front of her. Braid her hair. Rush her out the door. Now 15, she no longer needs my reminder to brush her teeth. Instead she knocks to make sure I haven’t overslept. The buses have become too unreliable. She needs me to drive her. “Please,” she says, “Let’s not be late again.” Grumbling, I pulled on cold jeans and a sweatshirt. A night owl by nature, I focus best in the evenings. I often don’t finish work until well after midnight. During the school year, I don’t shift my schedule, I just burn the candle at both ends. It’s been my m.o. since becoming a mother. Mornings like today, I wonder whether 21 years of sleep deprivation might finally be catching up to me. Not long from now though I know my daughter will stop knocking at my door. The time we spend traveling to and from school together will end. While I might finally get enough sleep, I realize that when that happens, I won’t feel relieved. Instead, I’ll feel a bittersweet ache as another chapter of parenthood comes to a close. When my daughter was a toddler, she used to wrap her arms and legs around my calf, like a bear cub climbing a tree. Turning up her big eyes to mine, she would beg me to walk. She wanted to go with me wherever I was headed – the grocery store, the mailbox, the living room. She was my second and, likely, last child, and I knew this exhausting but excruciatingly sweet phase would be all too brief. Although it was futile,
I couldn’t help but try to freeze time. I used to squat down, squeeze her tiny squirming body and beg, “Please don’t grow up!” Giggling, she’d squeak, “I can’t stop growing, Mommy!” before running after her big sister. Later she would skip beside me in her pink jacket and leopard print backpack on our way to elementary school. On sunny days we’d race each other down the forest path, leaping over rocks and tree roots to arrive flushed, out of breath, and early. On rainy days, though, she stopped to rescue so many marooned earthworms that we were almost always late. This morning, my daughter climbed into the passenger seat of the car, brushed her long dark hair, and stared nervously at the clock. She had a social studies presentation to give. When it became clear that we would make it on time, she relaxed a bit. We chatted about the car ahead of us, how the shape of the state of Minnesota hardly seemed worth putting on the center of a license plate. As I turned eastward, the rising sun glared through the windshield. We squinted, but the sun wasn’t the only reason it was hard to see. My daughter chided me for not wiping off the film that had built up inside the glass. “It’s a driving hazard!” I nodded. She should know. She’s taking driver’s ed. We arrived with three minutes to spare. In a single graceful motion she put on her mask, grabbed her backpack, and swung open the car door. Stepping out, she mumbled, “Bye” without looking back. I tried to wish her a good day and “I love you” as the door slammed shut. For a moment, I watched as her long legs carried her swiftly across the parking lot and into the building. In six months, she’ll have a driver’s license and the keys to her sister’s old car. Then I’ll wake each
PHOTO BY: HATHAI SANGSUPAN
Sangsupan with her two daughters.
morning and check the driveway to see if she’s left for the day. Eventually, the car will remain, but my daughter, like her big sister, will fly off somewhere, to forge a life without me. For now, there’s still some time. Tomorrow, she’ll knock on my door again. I’ll grumble, but also, I’ll be grateful.
Friday Night Lights Lessons Learned in the Mud STORY BY JOSIAH GUNN Growing up my parents didn’t force me to do much. I had my chores around our small farm and house, but I made a lot of my own choices. When middle school came around, I discovered a lot of my friends didn’t have the same freedom. Their parents forced them to join clubs, try out a sport, or be more involved at their church. I was always appreciative of how my parents raised me. I did, however, feel a little jealous of my friends. It sounded fun to be a part of something. When I heard that one of my friends was joining the football team, I knew it was my cue. We signed up together and the rest is history. That first year I played, way back in 2015, we kicked some serious ass. Our team went undefeated and I made memories I will carry with me forever. Our coaches were a ragtag group of loud dads that were passionate about their kids and the sport. Coach Kaumans was a short, muscular man with a salt and pepper beard. His dark sunglasses and flat-bill were as consistent as his temper, all playing into his tough-love style of coaching. When I first met Mr. Kaumans I actually thought he hated me. He yelled at me in practice a lot and always said I wasn’t trying hard enough. It was only after explaining how he admired my potential that I realized he was trying to help me. He helped me to understand that just because someone isn’t being nice to you doesn’t mean they don’t have your best interest in mind. Our head coach, Coach Knutson, was the opposite. He spoke softly, unless addressing the team, and always had an analyzing scowl when prowling the
sidelines. When he wasn’t rocking the “you should run harder” glare, he wore his trademark, goofy smile. In Coach Knutson’s pre-game speeches, he always reminded us to have fun. He’d tell us to loosen up and enjoy the moment. “If you’d rather be anywhere else, I don’t know what to tell you!” he’d shout across the locker room, clutching an oversized clipboard in his hand and gesturing with the other. Knutson reminded us to smell the roses and enjoy the moment. Only later did I find out this would actually apply more to life than football. The last of the Three Musketeers was Coach Kohn. A man that seemed to fit in his shirts less and less the longer we were in school. Kohn was the literal anchor of our team. His booming laugh would carry over the practice field, letting everyone know the lineman were stuck in one of his genius, torturous conditioning circuits. He made sure that everyone always was working their hardest; this was especially the case with his son on the team, Connor. Poor Connor. Despite our oversized shoulder pads and the fact we were a group of hooligans, these misfits led us to an 8-0 record. We could’ve lost every game that year, though, and I would’ve still looked back on it as a positive experience. The lessons I learned from football are much more important than the outcome of our games. In those moments, those lessons weren't worth trudging through the mud or clashing pads in the hot sun. I hated a lot of practices. At first I didn’t really have many friends on the team and I questioned if I was meant for football. Something one of our coaches said, I wish I could remember which one, will stick with me forever. I don’t know if he could tell I was struggling, but what
he said really helped me in that moment and since then. He told me to look to my teammates for support because they were in the mud with me. He was more right than I could ever imagine. I am now living with a friend I made on the football team and regularly see teammates when I am back in my hometown. Those people are like family to me. I’m always one call away for them and I know they are for me too. The “mud” my coach was talking about is something that is prominent in all our lives. It’s that stuff that sticks with us and slows us down. Football taught me to find solace in the fact we share that common struggle. Struggle in general has become easier for me since football. Now, that might seem kind of dramatic, but it’s become second nature for me now to push harder when met with resistance. I relish challenges more than I ever have and have overcome a fear of failure. I don’t know if I would have been able to get to this place without the Friday night lights. I doubt these lessons are unique to football, but I do think everyone should try a team sport like I did. I know everyone says they won’t raise their kids like their parents, but I think I might have my kid try some sort of sport. Maybe the magic was in me finding football on my own. Maybe it was exactly what I needed and not everyone would have the same experience. All I know is that my life was never the same after those oversized pads.
COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU
APRIL 22, 2022
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Photojournalism Showcase
7
This Term Brings a New Crew of Photojournalists
PHOTO: CARLOS TORRES
Corvallis residents bearing the cold weather as the beginning of the season brings back the outdoor farmers market to Corvallis' first street.
PHOTO: KAIONA MENGUITA
Lead singer Mark Bombach strums his guitar as he leads the church congregation in hymns on Easter Sunday in Lebanon.
PHOTO: SPENCER WEATHERLY
Des, and Anne Williams pose for a photo at Bob Smith Memorial Park for their Easter Sunday Celebration. PHOTO: KAIONA MENGUITA
Cellist plays live in church following the loosening of COVID restrictions in Lebanon.
The Linn-Benton Lunchbox Program The Linn-Benton Lunchbox Program is an initiative started by the Student Leadership Council (SLC) years ago in response to the Swipe Out Hunger movement. Swipe Out Hunger is a nationwide campaign on college campuses to help end student hunger. The organization has partnered with over 400 college campuses. Since the start of this initiative, 63% of students nationwide feel less stress and anxiety about where they will get their next meal and are able to eat regularly, according to Swipe Out Hunger website. The Linn-Benton Lunchbox program was started as a food pantry where students could get plenty of non-perishables and some perishable items. Due to the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, the SLC decided
to revamp the Linn-Benton Lunchbox program. Instead of a food pantry, the Linn-Benton Lunchbox program now offers gift cards to Safeway. Now, with the gift cards, you can get the food you need and like. You can get two $50 gift cards a term through the Student Union. Please contact Student Life Coordinator Rob Camp at campr@linnbenton.edu or come by the Student Union in Forum 120 to utilize this awesome program to Swipe Out Hunger on our college campus. This service is funded by the SLC. If you don’t need food assistance but would love to see this program continue, please consider donating to the program by donating bottle returns into our organization Bottle Drop account.
PHOTO: CARLOS TORRES
OSU students hand out samples of various flavored cheeses produced by the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
APRIL 22, 2022
LBCOMMUTER.COM
AN UNFORGETTABLE FEAST
ONE'S WISE, ONE'S WICKED
“This poem is about overanalyzing yourself in search of a solution.”
“This is about me not opening up to people in fear of being hurt. It’s about my vulnerability, consent, and my feelings.”
The rabbit feasted on the moon As it’s only source of life Picking at the craters Using teeth like a knife
“If you’ll only part your ribs, Enough for me to see, I’ll plant a flower, But I need your key.”
“It doesn’t taste like cheese,” The rabbit tells the black “It tastes more like dust, And the life is does lack”
I scowled at him For I knew That once a flower’s rooted It tangles around and through Each bone Every organ And every single thought Leaving me defenseless Leaving me to rot I spun my ring of keys on my fingers And he stared at my heart Locked and guarded And not to be torn apart
While the rabbit’s eating It’s running out of room No room to place it’s feet While it still moves to consume So feast away it does Till standing on a rock Balancing on its tip toes It still does try to talk “I’ve feasted on myself,” The rabbit tells the moon “For myself I have destroyed, And now I lack a room, Tell me simple stars, If I didn’t feast, Would I still be empty? Or would I be at peace?”
“You must think yourself very wise, With such a full proof plan, But I promise you, I’ll never give my heart to such a man, You may have given me flowers, A letter and a ring, But one thing you never brought, Is the love you couldn’t bring.”
PHOTO: SABRINA DEDEK
Maggie Bedrin reading her book "The Underwater City."
THE UNDER
APRIL 22, 2022
COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU
A FEARFUL FLIGHT “This one is about misconceptions with anxiety and the ability to do things; Once you are about to do something, it is easy. Well it’s not.”
“If we fear the fall, We will never fly, Since a bird never doubts its wings, Why the hell should I?” “You’re forgetting the most important piece, The steps to the cliff, The baby bird would look at the ground, And just go straight up stiff, For each feathered thing must learn, What it’s like to fly, Also how to fall, And not to fear too much to die.”
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
9
SECOND THOUGHTS OF A SECOND SKULL
COMPLEX PTSD
“This is about how trauma robs you of a lot of things. Such as energy, motivation, or even relationships.”
“This poem is specifically about complex PTSD, paranoia, and memory loss. One of my favorite lines in this poem is ‘as I seek forgiveness for things I did not do.’”
I suppose carrying trauma Is like having a second head Probably rotten Rotting Probably broken Probably dead It feeds off your life Yet stays so dull and sore Like an eraser only taking life When you only wish for more I suppose it happens in the worst of times Where you're already too tired It sucks the color from your words Leaving kindness to be desired And I suppose it takes the happiness From both you and I For you can’t act too nice And so I can’t reply And suppose you’re trying very very hard just to change Trying to find Not having a second head won’t be too very strange And soon you’ll lack your second thoughts Of another skull to your brain You’ll have color You’ll lack strife You’ll be free and full And full of life
RWATER CITY
The farther I reach into my mind, the less I can grab And the nothingness naws at me, as I am a mindless fool Full of too many thoughts and not enough memories to think of But questioning if I really want them leaves me thankful that I can’t remember My memory doesn’t serve me well, and for that I should be thankful or maybe just afraid Afraid of what waits for me as I seek forgiveness for mistakes I didn’t make Afraid of the realizations, the thoughts, and the fears that wait for me in the dark I find myself seeking fear, as I cannot help it There has to be something there, behind the corner, just past that door, on the other side of my bedroom walls Something waits. It has to be waiting, I have not seen it I must have a reason to be afraid. It is what’s not there that I fear, and everything invisible that keeps me there Before the corner, in front of the door, and inside my bedroom walls It is I who keeps myself here, and for that I am thankful and also afraid
POEMS BY MAGGIE BEDRIN
Using Trauma to Fuel Healing Through Art
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APRIL 22, 2022
Beaks Split Friday
LBCOMMUTER.COM
Roadrunners Find Two Wins on Easter
Doubleheader
STORY BY CARSYN MEYERS The Linn-Benton Baseball team split their doubleheader against Southwestern Oregon Community College on Friday, April. 15. The Roadrunners moved to 20-7-1 on the season and 7-3 in the NWAC South Region. The Lakers moved to 1515 on the season and 4-6 in the NWAC South Region. In game one the Roadrunners defeated the Lakers 2-1. Roadrunners pitcher Rhett Larson pitched 9 innings allowing only 1 run on 7 hits. Larson pitched 8 scoreless innings allowing only 2 hits before surrendering the lone run in the ninth. This is Larson's second straight game pitching 8 scoreless innings. "It feels pretty good. It's my first nine inning, one run game you know," Larson said. Larson improved to 5-1 on the year. In game two the Lakers defeated the Roadrunners 3-2. Dallas McGill picked up the win on the mound for the Lakers, McGill went 4 innings in relief. An error by Lakers Anu McCabe in the sixth inning allowed the Roadrunners to score two and tie the game. In the eighth inning Laker Taigo Sato knocked in the deciding run with a single to shortstop that allowed Payton Cleaves to cross home. Next up the Roadrunners travel to Coos Bay on Sunday April. 17, to finish their four game series against Southwestern Oregon Community College. Game one and two first pitches are set for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively, at 1988 Newmark Ave, Coos Bay.
PHOTO: SABRINA DEDEK
Roadrunners high-five after another win.
STORY BY CARSYN MEYERS COOS BAY — The Linn-Benton Baseball team defeated Southwestern Oregon Community College in both their games on Sunday April. 18. The Roadrunners improved to 22-7-1 on the season, and 7-3 in the NWAC South Region. The Lakers fell to 15-17 on the year, and 4-6 in the NWAC South Region. In game one the Roadrunners won 5-2. Kian Hogan took the mound for the Beaks, and improved his record to 3-1 on the season. Hogan went 5 ⅓ innings allowing only 1 run on 4 hits. Lakers Jordan Cezar picked up the loss, going 3 ⅓ giving up 4 runs on 4 hits, and 5 walks. Roadrunner Jake Hoskins knocked in the eventual winning run with a single in the top of the second, bringing in Michael Soper. In game two the Roadrunners won 6-4. Beaks Kaden Miller picked up the win going a strong 6
innings allowing 1 run, on 6 hits. Lakers Derek Atkinson took the loss, giving up 2 earned runs, and 4 runs total on 4 hits. The Lakers defensive woes continued with 8 errors total on Sunday, combining for 16 total throughout the four game series against the Roadrunners. Emiliano Alarcon continued his strong start to league play, knocking in two runs on a double and single. Alarcon has been a big catalyst for the Roadrunners offense this season, leading the team in batting average(.318), hits(34), and RBI's (20) Next up the Roadrunners stay home in the birdcage, to take on Clark Community College, Thursday, April. 21. Game one first pitch is set for 1 p.m, and game two first pitch is set for 4 p.m at 6500 Pacific Blvd SW, Albany on the Linn-Benton Albany campus.
Grand Opening Linn-Benton Community College to Cut Ribbon on New "Chinook Hall" in Corvallis BY LBCC NEWS SERVICE students who are dual enrolled with LBCC and Linn-Benton Community College will hold a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Grand Opening for its new Chinook Hall at its Benton Center location in Corvallis, 931 N.W. Reiman Ave., on Saturday, April 23, 2022. The public is welcome to attend a formal program and ceremony at 11 a.m., followed by a general open house from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. At the event, LBCC President Lisa Avery will be joined by OSU Interim President Becky Johnson, Corvallis Chamber President Simon Yates, Co-Vice Chair of the Corvallis School Board Luhui Whitebear, LBCC Benton Center Director Jeff Davis, Board of Education Director Tony Lapiz, among other distinguished guests and speakers. Attendees will also hear a performance by the LBCC Choir and an original poem by LBCC Poet Laureate before a formal ribbon cutting ceremony. Following the program, the public will be treated to tours, music, refreshments and information about LBCC programs. "Completing the new Chinook Hall is a milestone moment for LBCC, and for the people of Corvallis," said LBCC President Lisa Avery. "It greatly expands our ability to serve the community with accessible, quality education, including stronger resources for our
OSU, community members taking personal enrichment classes, and organizations needing collaborative work space. We are incredibly proud to fulfill our commitment to Benton County through this facility and we can't wait to celebrate." Chinook Hall is the direct result of widespread community support, funded through the college’s 2014 voter-approved general obligation bond, and taking shape over many stages involving community input. The Hall now provides six classrooms, two STEM classroom laboratories and one lab preparation room. It also offers two small and two large conference rooms and collaborative spaces, as well as staff offices and student gathering areas. Finally, the new space greatly enhances parking availability in the area as well as provides accommodation for bicycles. Total cost of the building was $14.5 million and includes many built-in energy efficiencies. It is truly designed to be a community resource For more information, please visit www. linnbenton.edu/chinook-hall.
TUESDAYS at the Co-op
15% off produce FOR STUDENTS
with valid student ID from an Oregon college
2 Corvallis locations open 7am-9pm daily
North: 2855 NW Grant Ave. South: 1007 SE Third St. @firstaltcoop
APRIL 22, 2022
COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU
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BASED ON CHARACTERS BY: Satoshi Tajiri
PHOTO: THE POKÉMON COMPANY
STARRING THE VOICES OF: Sarah Natochenny, Zeno Robinson, Cherami Leigh, Ray Chase, Billy Kametz, Michelle Knotz, Jimmy Zoppi, Lisa Ortiz and Casey Mongillo with Eileen Stevens, Emily Jeness and Ikue Ohtani RATED: TV-Y7-FV
Available on Netflix (New Volumes Streaming Quarterly) OVERALL RATING: ★★★★
POKÉMON MASTER JOURNEYS: VOLUMES 1 AND 2
REVIEW BY
Another Great Outing
Following the success of “Pokémon Journeys” on Netflix, the streaming platform has rolled out the first two volumes of the next season, “Pokémon Master Journeys.” Picking up where the previous season left off, this latest incarnation of the franchise manages to shake up the status quo while still respecting what made it work to begin with.
STEVEN PRYOR
@STEVENPRR2PRYOR
As the series continues, the challenges faced by Ash (voice of Sarah Natochenny) and Goh (voice of Zeno Robinson) deepen. Not only does the series contain key allies such as Professor Cerise (voice of Ray Chase) and his daughter Chloe (voice of Cherami Leigh), the second volume also sees the return of fan favorite characters such as Dawn from “Pokémon
DIRECTED BY: Jeff Fowler (Based on the video game series by Sega and Sonic Team)
Diamond and Pearl” (voice of Emily Jeness) and Iris from “Pokémon Black and White” (voice of Eileen Stevens). Of course, that’s not to say the series is devoid of humor. Far from it -- some episodes contain outlandish situations like a barreling ball of Gulpin, balanced with lighter comedic moments such as Cerise’s aide Chrysa (voice of Casey Mongillo)
having a love for Psyduck. The animation is rife with Easter eggs from the franchise’s history, making this another great outing for fans and families everywhere. With more volumes streaming later this year, “Pokémon Master Journey” is worth checking out as the 24th season of the hit series.
PHOTO: SONIC.FANDOM
STARRING: Ben Schwartz, Colleen O’Shaughnessy, Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Lee Madjoub and Idris Elba RATED: PG
OVERALL RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW BY
STEVEN PRYOR
@STEVENPRR2PRYOR
BY LEAH BIESACK
The House Behind the Cedars, Charles Waddell Chesnutt Spotlights chosen and discarded identities. Letting Go, David Sedaris Funniest way to experience cigarettes. Why I Write, Joan Didion All hail the queen. Period.
reviews
artifacts known as “Chaos Emeralds” with the aid of Knuckles the Echidna (voice of Idris Elba). Teaming up with a fox known as Miles “Tails” Prower (voice of Colleen O’Shaughnessy, reprising her role from the video games), a globetrotting adventure takes place to save the planet from disaster over the course of the film’s 122-minute runtime. Much like how the second video game released on Sega Genesis in 1992 built upon the success of its senior, the film follows a similar pattern. Taking the best elements from the first movie and its video game source material, the movie provides a satisfying followup that also gives a preview of what fans can look forward to in the future (both a third film and a spinoff series on Paramount Plus centered around Knuckles are in early development as
5-Word Book
Just over two years have passed since the release of the live-action adaptation of “Sonic the Hedgehog.” Following in the footsteps of 2019’s “Pokémon Detective Pikachu,” the film marked a pleasant surprise among video game movie adaptations, making well over $300 million worldwide during its initial run. Now, the sequel has arrived in theaters, fittingly titled “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” Picking up where the events of the first film left off, Sonic (voice of Ben Schwartz, TV’s “Parks and Recreation”) is adjusting to life on Earth while housesitting for Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) as he attends a wedding for the in-laws of his wife (Tika Sumpter). Matters are further complicated when Dr. Ivo “Robotnik” Eggman (Jim Carrey) returns to Earth, searching for
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 Welcome to the Next Level
of this writing). On a budget of $110 million, the film takes place in locales from Seattle to Siberia to Hawaii, featuring nods to games spanning the entire history of the franchise to date. Some are obvious, such as the “Death Egg” robot that Sonic faces in the film’s final battle. Others will reward keen-
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eyed fans looking for Easter eggs from the series, young and old alike. Overall, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” is a sequel that will not only please fans of the first film, but is easy to recommend as another running step forward for future video game adaptations. “Welcome to the next level.”
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Complete the grid so each row, column, and 3x3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit.
Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.46)
9
3 7 7
3
4
1
5 8
5 3
1 9
2
6
9
4 3
1
1 2
6
2
7
5
6
2 3
6
Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Wed Apr 20 22:56:57 2022 GMT. Enjoy!
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