The Commuter - April 2024

LETTER

FROM THE

EDITOR

Spring term is finally here! The sun is out, sometimes, hopefully more often than not, but with Oregon you never know. Spring term is always my favorite term, the sunshine elevates my mood and helps me motivate myself to put my all into my assignments. The allergies aren’t great, we are located in the grass seed capital of the world as they say, but I’d take sunshine and a stuffy nose over the cold dreary skies any day. Seasonal affective disorder during the winter seems to slow everything down and covers our days in a blanket of gray. The sunshine is a refreshing change; it's energizing, uplifting, and positive. The weather seems to say “let's finish this year strong! I encourage you all to get outside and enjoy the sunshine this term, it’s a resource you should take advantage of. Getting outside is a great way to destress and recharge when you’re feeling burnt out. We do our best work when we’re in a good headspace so don’t sleep on that.

For some of us graduation is on the horizon, closer than the horizon, it’s two and a half months away. All the hard work

is about to pay off and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Not only is spring term sunny and warm but it’s the home stretch term. Whether you’re graduating or not, spring term is exciting. You may be finishing your first year in college or just excited to have a break from classes over the summer. Whatever your educational plan is, spring term is a marker of progress that deserves to be celebrated.

The Commuter recently took a trip to La Jolla, California for the Associated Collegiate Press Spring National College Media Conference where we got to meet with other colleges and receive feedback on our magazine and website from professionals. We’re proud to announce that the Commuter placed fourth for feature magazines from two-year colleges. With the feedback we received at the conference in mind we plan to include more local, community-focused stories and revamp our website with a new design.

As always, thank you all for your continued support. Our loyal readers are what motivate us to provide you with this magazine filled with compelling articles for you to enjoy. I hope you all have a great start to spring term and enjoy the sunshine. Let’s finish this year strong Roadrunners!

Ryan Janowitz Editor-in-Chief

ABOUT US JOIN THE TEAM

the Commuter is the student-run magazine 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” section 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.

wanna get together? We’re really nice and fairly cool and we’d love to hear what you have to say. Not big on journalism but love to journal? Perfect. Are you a STEM major with major opinions? Let’s hear ’em. Like writing about ’80s film? Local animals? Snack hacks? Maybe you have a hefty folder of flash fiction on your laptop, just dying to be published and printed. Drop us a line. We’d love to meet you, read you, and support you. Think your ideas might be too weird or too niche for submission? Even better. The Commuter is an awardwinning publication because of our wide range of contributions and our unique contributors. So reach out. We’ll be staring at our email inbox in the meantime, not an ounce of chill to be had.

Iclassroom:

beyond the with Mike Storrs

interview by BRENDA AUTRY

f you’ve ever gotten help from the Math Help Desk in the Learning Center, chances are, you’ve met Mike Storrs. Storrs began working at LBCC in 2000 as an Instructional Assistant for Math 20. Since that time, he’s taken on different roles within the math department and is currently a part-time math instructor, and a full-time Instructional Assistant 2 at the Math Help Desk.

Originally from Santa Rosa, California, Storrs moved to Bend, Oregon with his parents in middle school. He attended Bend High School, and started his college education at the University of Colorado. Before finishing his degree, he came back to Oregon and attended Central Oregon Community College, and then Oregon State University where he completed his bachelor's degree and began working on his master's in math.

Currently Storrs lives in Corvallis with his wife, Michelle Storrs, and son, Sam Storrs, in a small home they purchased 20 years ago and have enjoyed fixing up over the last couple of decades. Michelle manages the gift shop at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, and Sam is in the automotive program here at LB.

When you were in college, did you know you wanted to be a math teacher?

Yes. There were a couple of reasons I wanted to become a teacher. When I was a kid my dad lost his job and went back to school. He was going to try to get an education to get a better job but he failed out because of his math class. I tried to help him with his math, I was in sixth or seventh grade and the math was easier than the math I was doing. He ended up finding a job in Oregon before he finished school, but I kept thinking that if he could have passed that math class we could have been in a better position in life. He could have gotten a better job. When I’m helping students I think about how they’re someone's mom or dad and how they’re trying to pass this class to do better for their family. I keep that in my mind.

The other reason is, when I was in high school, I was tutoring and I remember this one student I helped ended up doing well on a test and she shared her happiness with me afterwards

stress

the importance of things...

and it felt like my happiness too. Even now when a student comes back to the desk and tells me that they passed and they’re so happy it makes all of this worth it.

How did you end up working at LB?

My original major was math so I could become a high school math teacher, but I struggled in my math classes and I actually flunked calculus my freshman year. Part of why I left Colorado was my grades. I wasn’t doing well and I needed to find a way to pass calculus, so I took Math 241 Business Calculus, which is all elementary school teachers needed, so that got me interested in maybe teaching elementary school. But, I sat in with a third grade class at Lincoln Elementary and could not meet their level of energy. So, I sat in a high school geometry class at Corvallis High, and again, I just felt like I couldn't match their energy level. I also knew the hardest part of teaching is dealing with the parents, so I knew I had to get higher than this.

I finally passed calculus and then I was on my way to possibly becoming a college math teacher. But after I got my bachelor's, I was kind of burnt out on education. I went back to Bend and got a job building houses. I did that for about a year. I was back in Corvallis visiting friends and while I was at Winco I saw one of my old math professors in line and I asked him what kind of jobs I could get with this math degree. He asked if I’d checked the community college, which I’d never thought of, I’d never even been to LB. So, I came here and they immediately put me to work in the Math 20 classroom and this is where my energy matched.

...I like to give equations in

I always try not to silly ways

that make it more approachable and set them up to succeed.

What do you like about teaching?

I like it when the students tell me that they were never good at math but now they feel better about it. I like when I hear that they have always struggled with math but now they feel like they’re getting it. I always try to not stress the importance of things; I like to give equations in silly ways that make it more approachable and set them up to succeed. And when they get that little bit of success and they run with that that is the best. People have such negative attitudes towards math they have bad history and to plant finally a positive memory is my favorite part.

Which do you like better, teaching or working the Math Help Desk?

I like the desk better. They're both good, but I like the lack of structure at the desk. You don’t know what you’re going to get and I don’t have to grade students' work.

What hobbies do you have outside work?

Disc golf. I’m really active with the Willamette Disc Golf Club in Corvallis. Back when I was the president of the club, I helped build the course out in Adair. About 20 years ago, we started working on that and we renovated the course in Willamette Park, as well. I used to run a lot of the tournaments and I still travel with friends to tournaments all over Oregon.

I have this old 1984 VW Westfalia that we used to travel around in. I blew the engine and put in a new one but it overheated and I was tired of putting money in it, so I just parked it in the backyard. But we have a lot of memories of road tripping in that.

My friend John Ollis and I play a doubles tournament down in Whistlers Bend every year. This will be our 23rd year playing that tournament together. Our team name is The Rancho Relaxo AllStars Team. John is Rancho and I’m Relaxo. He has an amazing amount of energy, and he’s one of those urban farmers who has chickens and vegetables.

My wife and I love exercising together. We love taking hikes, small trips to the coast. We’re also big Blazers fans. We go up to Portland often. One of my friends has season tickets and he shares them with us. We also love doing projects around my house. One of my hobbies is keeping that house from falling down.

Photo by Brenda Autry

We also love playing games. I have a friend who is really into structuring game nights, so on Friday nights we play games with friends. We have a legacy board game called Clank, or we’ll play online Jackbox games on Zoom. That’s something we started back during Covid and we still do it when we don’t feel like going out, or if someone isn’t feeling well. We also do murder mystery nights where we make dinner and take on roles and solve a murder mystery. We also like hanging out at Squirrels in downtown Corvallis catching up with friends.

In the summer we love camping on the river. We take canoe trips where we load up our canoe with camping gear and try to find our favorite little spot out on the river.

What’s something interesting about you?

I take the bus to work every day. I’ve been doing that for a couple years now. I try to be an environmentalist in the ways that I can be. I try to make healthy choices for food and for the house and taking the bus. But at the same time I own a 1999 Tahoe. I didn’t want to buy another car so I decided to take the bus. I like it. You get that time to just listen to music or play games on your phone, and I feel safe. No road rage issues. I used to come to work seeing a lot of students racing to campus to get to class on time and I would come into work frustrated and worried about these students getting in accidents. Now I don’t see any of that anymore so it’s a lot better coming into class just rocking out.

What is something you’d like to tell students?

Students need to schedule time in their day to do homework. Go to the Learning Center and work together with your classmates and come up to the desk for help after you have spent some time on the problem already so we have something to talk about. I joke that I like to be the help desk, not the teach desk.

We have drop-in homework help for any math class, but it’s going to be a short amount of help. If students need more help they should sign up for tutoring, which is free for an hour three days a week.

There are so many resources available here at the school, but also in life. Always be looking for the people who want to help you. I just want to help them with math, but there are people all over who want to help them and no one has to do this alone. That’s something I love about LB, there are so many resources to help with food and housing and I’m here helping with math.

The Math Help Desk is available online and in-person from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Friday and Saturday - Sunday online from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For food and other resources, students can contact Rob Camp in the SLC.

▼ Photo by Brenda Autry

▼ Photo via Mike Storrs

▼ Photo via Mike Storrs

CAMPUS

Breathing Life Back Into RUSSELL

TRIPP THEATER

Linn-Benton Community College’s Theater Program was cut in 2019 due to budget constraints. Since then, the Russell Tripp Theater has been mostly empty. It has hosted meetings, choir concerts, and a few other performances periodically, but for the most part it has been waiting for someone to use it.

MidValley Productions (MVP) is a non-profit organization founded by multiple LBCC alumni through their shared passion for performing arts. Their origin dates back to February 2023, when the group had an idea for a production company.

"We were all pretty devastated when we heard that the theater program was defunded,” said Erah McMullen, one of MVP’s co-founders. “It was a shame that such a beautiful theater was just sitting there. So the idea was born to approach the college and ask if we might be able to use it and strike up a deal."

It took about a year, but through their connections at LBCC they met with the college board of education, along with the president, which ultimately led to the partnership we see today.

“I've never worked so hard for so long and kept my mouth shut about it. It is such a big deal for us,” Erah said. Although MVP is utilizing the Russell Tripp Theater, it is important to mention that they are neither accredited nor a cocurricular. They are an entirely separate entity and not funded by LBCC at all. It is fully a passion project. This means that students cannot earn college credit for participating in the program. This does not discourage them, however. Their mission is to integrate with LBCC as much as they are allowed to.

“We are very much about education for the arts, getting students involved at every level, whether that is on stage, behind the scenes in our workshops, or classes that we're going to provide. We plan to provide training on tech on rigging, set building, and all kinds of things. Ultimately we would like to run almost up to a trade school level,” Erah said.

words by EAGLE HUNT photos by SARAH ROSE LARSON

This aligns with LBCC's educational objectives of providing practical, hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for diverse career paths. This also means that their program is open to everyone, not just LBCC students.

“This program is for the entire community and is basically just held here. It's for Linn County and beyond. We hope to partner with people who have connections down in the Springfield and Eugene area and then all the way up to Salem.” The inclusivity of their programs ensures that individuals from all backgrounds and skill levels have access to these enriching and rigorous opportunities.

When Erah attended LBCC 20-plus years ago, she told the theater program’s manager that one day she would get a hold of Russel Tripp Theater and make something out of it. He told her not to bother and to go out and live her life. But Erah’s dream never stopped and has finally come full circle. MVP is now in full swing to bring life back to the Russell Tripp Theater after the program cuts in 2019.

The journey from conceptualizing Midvalley Productions to preparing for their inaugural show, Hitchin', is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the founders and team members. It involved months of planning, negotiations with LBCC, securing funding, and coordinating logistics.

Each step of this journey reflects their passion for theater and their commitment to realizing their vision of a thriving performing arts scene in the region. Everyone is welcome to attend, and they plan to offer students a discount for each of their productions. They hope to work with some professors to give students some extra credit for attending as well.

The synopsis of the musical is captivating: Hitchin’ is the story of a young man who hitchhikes from Detroit, Michigan to Seattle, Washington during the summer of 1970. On that journey, he encounters a variety of people who stop to pick him up and share their lives with him. Many themes presented through these encounters include scenes of friendship, rebellion, sexuality, homophobia, and aging. Hitchin' takes place during the contentious times of the Vietnam War and depicts the societal upheaval it created.

For those eager to get involved with any of MVP's projects, you can visit their website www. midvalleyproductions.org and contact them from there. Whether it's performing on stage, working behind the scenes, or simply lending their support as enthusiastic audience members, everyone of all backgrounds is invited to become part of this mission.

While Midvalley Productions stands as a beacon of hope for the revitalization of LBCC's Russell Tripp Theater, its impact extends far beyond the stage curtains. The void left behind by the theater program’s defunding in 2019 left a critical need for avenues where students could engage with their passion for performing arts. MVP has emerged as a catalyst for change, offering not just a platform for artistic expression, but also a gateway for students to engage, learn, and grow.

▲ The lead team of alumni who are to bring performing arts back to Linn-Benton Community College. From left to right: Laura Blackwell, Director of Education; Erah McMullen, President & Creative Director; and Ander Sandoz, Executive Director of Operations.

WHAT IS GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE?

Gender-affirming care is a supportive form of healthcare that can include medical, surgical, mental health, and nonmedical services for both transgender and nonbinary people. There are a variety of different types of affirming care used at different stages of life:

⊲ SOCIAL AFFIRMATION adopts gender-affirming hairstyles, clothing, name, gender pronouns, restrooms, etc. It is used at any stage of life and is classified as reversible.

⊲ PUBERTY BLOCKERS use hormones to pause pubertal development. It is used during puberty and the Office of Population Affairs classifies it as reversible.

⊲ HORMONE THERAPY uses either testosterone or estrogen hormones to cause physical changes associated with someone’s gender. It is used during early adolescence and onward and is classified as partially reversible.

⊲ GENDER-AFFIRMING SURGERIES vary widely and are typically used in adulthood or on a case-by-case basis for adolescence. They are not reversible and are typically classified as:

⊲ “Top” surgery - which creates a male-typical chest shape or enhances breasts.

⊲ “Bottom” surgery - which changes genitals or reproductive organs.

⊲ “Facial” surgery and other procedures - surgery to change facial or other features of the body to affirm someone's associated gender.

WHAT IS PARENTAL CONSENT?

Parental consent laws refer to consent given on a minor's behalf by at least one parent, or a legal guardian, or by another person properly authorized to act for the minor, for the minor to engage in or submit to a specified activity. Laws of some jurisdictions require parents' consent to be given for a minor to legally engage in certain activities. For example, parental consent is required before a minor child undergoes medical treatment.

CIVIL DISCOURSE

NO

words by CHEYANNE RIDER, ZION OKANO, AND THE CIVIL DISCOURSE PROGRAM

Puberty is a scary and confusing time for everyone. Imagine how traumatic it would be to go through puberty in the wrong body. This is the reality for trans youth whose parents deny them gender-affirming care. The age of consent for most medical procedures in Oregon is 15. We believe this is the appropriate age for trans youth to receive gender-affirming care regardless of the guardians’ wishes. Parents are not medical professionals and may not be accepting of their child’s gender identity. There are also many misconceptions about what gender-affirming care entails.

Most parents are not medical professionals and often lack the understanding and credentials to decide what is the best way to care for their child. Of course, this doesn't mean that a parent should have no say in the matter; they should be able to have multiple doctors and psychiatrists consult their child if they want. However, if the majority of doctors agree something is the best option, there is no reason for the parent to be able to refuse. When parents refuse to follow the medical advice of multiple medical experts, it allows dangerous consequences to occur. Consider the case of Christina Gale Dixon, a parent who put her child’s life in great danger by removing her from chemotherapy and instead treated her daughter’s cancer with oils and vitamins. This is reckless behavior. No parent should be allowed to interfere with evidence-based practices that are recommended by a consensus of doctors to treat a serious medical condition.

Many parents are unsupportive or completely against gender-affirming care in its entirety. In cases like these, it could be obvious that their child is transgender but due to some personal reason, the parents would be unwilling to consider allowing their child to receive gender-affirming care. This can lead to extremely negative outcomes. Zion knew a trans woman whose parents did not allow her to receive gender-affirming care until she was 18. This gave her such mental distress that she was unable to make friends and failed so many classes that she had to retake a year of high school. Now, she has been out as a woman for three years, has a large friend group, and gets straight A’s at college while working a part-time job. Unfortunately, she still suffers from dysphoria and trauma and wishes she could have transitioned earlier.

It is important to understand the various forms of gender-affirming care and the order they are typically administered. Gender identity exploration and working with a behavioral health provider usually occur before puberty blockers and hormone therapy are prescribed. According to Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry, “Social interventions are considered reversible (meaning that if gender identity shifts in the future, these decisions can be adapted). For example, children may first begin to use a new name or pronoun. Social transition may also involve the use of different clothing or engagement in new activities, such as transferring to a new camp or sports league, that are more congruent with the child’s gender.” A gender therapist “is a licensed mental health therapist [who helps] clients explore and process their gender identity.” One of the biggest benefits of working with a therapist is that they can help a questioning individual make a distinction between whether they are experiencing gender dysphoria or body dysmorphia. This is an important distinction to make and will help determine subsequent interventions.

If the outcomes of these interventions are positive, then the individual might begin taking puberty blockers. Puberty blockers, which have no known permanent negative effects and are widely seen as completely reversible when taken with proper vitamin supplements, are often taken before gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) starts. If a minor remains on puberty blockers consistently for a significant period of time, there is no reason to doubt that they are transgender and should then take the relevant sex hormone. A 2022 study showed that transgender individuals who begin GAHT during adolescence are less likely to experience depression, suicidal thoughts, and attempts at ending their lives. Physically developing one’s body in a way that is congruent with their gender identity can have an incredibly positive effect on their mental health. As Dylan Brandt, a 17-year-old transgender minor, puts it, “My outside finally matches the way I feel on the inside. I have my days, but for the most part, this has changed my life for the better. I can look in the mirror and be okay with the way I look, and it feels pretty great.” Surgery is rare for minors. According to a recent study, fewer than 8% of gender-affirming surgeries in the United States were done on minors. The vast majority of transgender individuals who undergo surgery do so as adults after the previous treatments have been administered.

Medical care is an extraordinarily personal and crucial part of a healthy life. Autonomy is a human right. Everyone deserves to be treated in a way that is best for them, not their parents.

Should parental consent be required for minors 15 and over to receive gender-affirming care?

YESwords by ALLEYAH FORRISTER, EAGLE HUNT, AND THE CIVIL DISCOURSE PROGRAM

The question of whether gender-affirming care should be available to teenagers 15 and over without parental consent is a complex issue and should be handled with care. Everyone should have access to the care that they need. But if they’re a minor, not without the explicit approval of a parent or legal guardian.

A person under the age of 18 is a minor, legally. There are little to no exceptions to this in the United States. You have to be a legal adult to vote, adopt a child, and consent to your own medical care. Even less serious things like buying spray paint, working the deli slicer at a grocery store, or getting a Costco card are not allowed until you are 18 years old. These restrictions are put in place for a reason and acknowledge the ongoing developmental maturity of minors. However, we are not talking about buying spray paint or Costco. We are talking about making life-altering decisions without a parent’s consent. Even tattoos, which can be argued as an expression of oneself, require parental consent (the majority of states don’t allow minors to get tattoos at all). Allowing a 15-year-old to get a life-altering medical procedure or treatment without parental consent goes against all of the regulations we have put in place to protect them.

Think back to when you were 15. Were you 100% confident in who you wanted to be? Do you look back on your younger self and realize everything you did not know? I’m sure many of you do. A close friend of Alleyah’s wanted to get hormonal treatments when she was 15 years old, and if given the chance to do so, she would have. However, her parents did not approve and there was no possibility of treatment without parental consent. This friend resorted to nonmedical methods of gender-affirming care, none that would affect her permanently. Checking in with this person at 18 years old - she is now fully confident in herself and her gender identity. She expressed that when she was younger, so many other factors were at play that made her uncomfortable in her own body and made her want to change it. After multiple years of thought and getting to know herself better, she realized that she didn’t truly want to transition, but at 15 years old she didn’t understand what she thought she wanted. Kids these days already have so much pressure from society to look or act a certain way, and it is easy for that pressure to make them want to change themselves. Alleyah certainly remembers what she was like when she was 15 years old; she was not confident in herself or her body. If she had the opportunity to make a change without having to talk to her parents, she’s not sure what she would have

done. But if she had made changes then, she knows that she would regret it now.

Allowing minors as young as 15 to get medical procedures or hormonal treatments without parental consent opens the doors to a whole new set of problems. Parents are responsible for keeping their children safe, but cannot do so if they are kept in the dark about their child’s medical history. If a teenager seeks out treatments without knowing their full medical history, they could create potential medical issues for themself in the future. The parent, unaware of their teen’s medical background, would face challenges in the event of an emergency when full knowledge of their teen’s medical history is imperative. Most teenagers don't have the foresight to consider all aspects of these treatments. Without their parent's supervision, they could be easily manipulated into expensive treatments that they don’t need.

Finally, we do not know the full effects of puberty blockers and hormonal treatments on minors. There simply hasn’t been enough evidence collected to figure out the long-term side effects of these drugs. In the United States, puberty blockers and sex hormones do not have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for children’s gender care. Oregon Health & Science University states that “researchers have not finished studying how safe puberty blockers are in the long term. So, there might be some risks that doctors do not yet know about.” OHSU also discloses that puberty blockers can make bones weaker and might make some individuals feel more depressed. They add that hormone treatments can affect one's ability to have a baby in the future. The National Institutes of Health told Reuters in 2022 that “the evidence is limited on whether these treatments pose short- or longterm health risks for transgender and other genderdiverse adolescents.” Additionally, the World Health Organization recently introduced health guidelines for transgender individuals that only cover adults because “the evidence base for children and adolescents is limited and variable regarding the longer-term outcomes of gender-affirming care for children and adolescents." To be clear, these notable agencies, full of well-qualified medical experts, have not made up their minds on the risks and outcomes teenagers face when taking puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Thus, it only makes sense to conclude that teenagers are also not capable of weighing the costs and benefits of taking these powerful pharmaceutical drugs.

This op-ed is not an argument on whether genderaffirming care should be available to those who need it, but whether minors should be allowed to obtain it without parental consent. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for the well-being of teens under their care until those individuals turn 18. They need to know their teen’s medical condition, what gender-affirming care treatments are being recommended by doctors, and the power to approve or disapprove of any high-risk medical interventions.

Do Go Chasing

WATERFALLS

Getting outdoors is a great way to relieve stress, get some exercise and improve your mood. We are lucky to live in the Willamette Valley where we are surrounded by so much incredible and accessible nature—especially waterfalls. Even though spring can still be a bit wet in the Pacific Northwest, the abundance of rain makes this the best season to experience our local waterfalls in full cascade.

There are also fewer people on the trails in spring, making your outdoor experience more relaxing and enjoyable, especially on more popular trails. Some of my favorite waterfall hikes lie in the Cascade foothills just east of Albany and form a loop that makes a great little outdoor adventure road trip.

The loop encompasses both very popular and some lesser known waterfalls. The total loop is about 200 miles and could easily be driven in one day, but it would take at least two days to visit every fall on the loop due to the hiking distances. If you wanted to make a weekend of it, there are several campgrounds along the loop, as well as cabins located at Clear Lake. Or, you could just choose one hike, and visit the other falls that have short walks.

It is important to note that at higher elevations snow can stick around until midJune, so it’s a good idea to double check road and trail conditions on tripcheck.com and https://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette/ before heading out.

As with any outdoor adventure, be sure to pack the necessities including water, food and proper footwear, and to practice the leave no trace principles. Happy trails!

MCDOWELL CREEK COUNTY PARK

Lower McDowell Creek Falls, Royal Terrace Falls, Crystal Falls and Majestic Falls

The first stop on this road trip is just a few miles east of Lebanon near the small town of Waterloo. Starting from the lower parking lot, you can hike a moderate trail through some beautiful forest and visit four waterfalls in one stop. If you don’t want to hike, you can view Majestic Falls just a five minute walk down a well maintained, albeit steep, staircase from the upper parking lot.

LOWER SODA FALLS

Starting in Cascadia State Park, this trail leads you up Soda Creek, past giant ferns and quiet forest to the towering cascades of Lower Soda Falls.

HOUSE ROCK FALLS

Beginning at the House Rock Day Use Trailhead, this short trail winds through lush old-growth forest, views of the river, and includes a short stretch of the historic Santiam Wagon Road - another great trail if you have the time - and ends at the majestic House Rock Falls. LENGTH

words and photos by BRENDA AUTRY

SAHALIE & KOOSAH FALLS

Sahalie and Koosah Falls are two of the most popular falls in the state. Partly because of how amazing they are, and partly because you can view both of them just a few feet from their respective parking lots. If you’re up for more than a quick peek, you can hike the Koosah and Sahalie Falls trail which connects both falls along the McKenzie River Trail, and loops back on the opposite side of the river on the return trip.

LENGTH

2.4 miles

RATING Moderate

ELEVATION GAIN

ROUTE TYPE

364 ft

TAMOLITCH FALLS (BLUEPOOL)

This Instagram-famous waterfall is severely overcrowded in the summer, making a visit in spring ideal if you’re longing to see the topaz blue waters without the crowds. Follow the signs to the Trail Bridge Campground off Highway 126 to reach the trailhead. Then you’ll hike along the McKenzie River trail through lava fields and old growth forest until you come to one of the clearest pools of water you’ll ever see. This trail tends to stay snow covered until late spring, so check conditions before heading out.

LENGTH

RATING

ELEVATION GAIN

3.9 miles

Moderate

351 ft

ROUTE TYPE Out & Back

PROXY FALLS

Located on the Old McKenzie Highway which doesn’t open until late June, this waterfall is far less trafficked than those on Highway 126, but just as incredible. If the snow is melted, you can walk the two miles past the gate to the trailhead, or wait until the road opens and begin from the parking lot. The trail passes through lava fields and old growth forest culminating at Proxy Falls.

LENGTH

RATING

ELEVATION GAIN

1.6 miles

Moderate

164 ft

ROUTE TYPE Loop

The Benefits Of NATURE

words by JANA SVOBODA

The Healing Power of Nature

Feeling stressed, unfocused, disconnected? There’s good medicine available to everyone, right outside your door.

LBCC sits in the heart of the PNW wonderland. A lush valley between two mountain ranges, we’re less than two hours to both the ocean and snowy peaks. We’ve got rivers for floating, fly fishing and kayaking, and miles and miles of trails for walking, running, biking and hiking.

Curiosity and awe, that profound feeling of deep appreciation and wonder, can arise. These positive feelings lead to feelings of connection, contentment and well-being.

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.

Frank Lloyd Wright

And science says time outdoors is good for you, physically and mentally. What are you waiting for?

The Benefits of Nature

Over 1000 science studies find good news about reconnecting with the natural world. In nature, we’re calmer and happier. Blood pressure and stress hormones go down; oxygen levels and immune responses increase. Our senses sharpen and our tensions fade as our parasympathetic nervous system calms.

Urban life taxes the brain. The constant noise of traffic and machinery and barrage of visual information take a toll on us. The quiet pace of nature encourages contemplation, relaxation and a regular rhythm for body and brain. We become present with what is around us, releasing fears about the future.

In nature, our senses relax but open: we hear birdsong, notice pops of color, smell pine and mint.

No wonder we feel better when we reconnect with nature. The more time we spend voluntarily outdoors, the less depression, tension, and anxiety we experience. It doesn’t require travel or majestic scenes. Studies show similar benefits to sitting in a garden or watching the stars in the backyard. The key: take in the nature around you. The clouds above, the hawk on a transmission line, a dandelion growing from a crack in the sidewalk—they all have stories when you learn how to listen.

Is Nature Equal Opportunity?

Despite all the science encouraging us, people are spending less time than ever in natural settings. What are the barriers and how can we reduce them?

⊲ Busy lives: We report less leisure time than a generation ago, but also spend two hours/ day on average on cell phones. Our brains and attention spans are tired. Getting out may seem an effort.

curiosity or awe.

⊲ Lack of transportation: We’re lucky; most of us live within a mile or two of a trail, park, or river, or in a rural area with nature all around. At LBCC’s Albany campus, you’re literally yards away from the Wellness Trail loop. No car? A bus ride will take you close to parks and trails, even to the coast. Bikes make a cheap escape possible. The OSUsed store, other thrift shops, and the Corvallis Bike Collective have used ones at low prices.

⊲ Accessibility Concerns: If mobility is a concern, look for wheelchair-accessible parks and trails, and short-distance natural areas that can be enjoyed by driving up and taking out a chair, like Finley Wildlife Refuge where you can watch migrating swans or grazing elk herds. JacksonFrasier Wetlands and Irish Bend Bridge in Oregon are wheelchair-friendly, as is Talking Waters Gardens in Albany. Search “accessible trails'' on traveloregon.com for more.

⊲ Safety: You’re probably safer walking in the woods than crossing a street downtown, but if you’re uncomfortable being in wilder places alone, try a group hike. The Chemeketans, Sierra Club and several other groups offer regular hikes. Search online for more.

Time spent amongst trees is never wasted time.

Try a simple experiment. Instead of scrolling when you get a break, take a short walk. Look for something beautiful or unusual that sparks

⊲ Get outside with LBCC: Join the gardening club and get your hands in dirt. Sign up for a trip to the coast April 20 for the annual SOLV beach clean up. Celebrate nature with Earth Day events April 22. See the events calendar for more.

ASK A THERAPIST: Q&A

Questions welcome! Email svobodj@linnbenton.edu Questions may be edited for length and clarity, and details changed for privacy.

“ “

I have a medical condition that sometimes (but rarely) causes severe, sudden pain. That happened Friday night and now, Monday, I’m much better. But I can’t stop thinking about what if it happens in class? And what if I have to miss three days of school? It’s the start of the term and I can’t stop worrying about it. I have been doing a lot of breathing work to calm myself but it's only a temporary fix.”

Signed, Really Anxious and Worried

It's not surprising you’re anxious about this. Something painful and not too predictable happened.

You've identified it’s resolving, and your anxiety is about (like all anxiety always is) the future. You can recognize anxiety because it always starts with "what if?"And then usually ends with an imagined horror story.

Examine your what ifs. What if you do have sudden pain while in class? Worse case likely scenario: you have to leave mid-class, maybe miss a day or two. You may need assistance getting to your car, getting to urgent care. People generally like to help others. Let them help.

Now look at what is. While anxiety focuses on the possibility of worse case scenarios, remember all the other hundreds of days of your life where you didn't have an event. Percentagewise, way over 99%. Odds are in your favor. Prepare, but don’t overestimate risk. Tell brain: "I'm doing what I need to do to address this; worrying doesn't make it more or less likely to happen." Then gently but firmly find another direction for your attention.

If you miss school: Contact your instructors ASAP and ask for make-up work early on so you don’t fall behind. You can also contact Accessibility Resources to set up a plan to support you in successfully completing studies while dealing with disability.

Breathing’s a great way to slow anxiety in the moment. Anything that brings you back to the actual present where the what if’s aren’t happening will help. See the QR code for more tips and try them to change your brain state away from anxiety.

"I have severe panic attacks. I feel therapists don't really understand what that’s like. Maybe academically, but not from actual experience. How can they help me if they don’t get me?”

Signed, Frustrated

No therapist has personally gone through every kind of hardship, but we’ve all been through something. Therapists with compassion and insight know what it feels like to be scared, hopeless or stuck, and have training on treating MH disorders. Yours won’t know exactly what it feels for you to have a panic attack, just like your doc may not know what it feels like to have a heart attack. They can still treat them effectively. It helps to talk to others who’ve been through your particular experience, and to know you're not alone. Peer support groups are great for that.

But if you don't think your therapist gets you, tell them. Be clear about your experiences and curious and open to their feedback. Give therapy time. Even bad habits are afraid of dying.

If after honest conversation and self-reflection you still feel unheard, disrespected or just plain mis-matched, remember you can vote with your feet. Ask for a referral to someone that could be a better fit. Nobody can be everybody's everything (and if they say they are, run). Finding a good therapist isn't much different from finding a perfect pair of jeans. You might have to shop around and try a few before you find what really works for you.

words by JANA SVOBODA

photo by SARAH ROSE LARSON

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT:

Catalina ContrEras-Colin

interview by RYAN JANOWITZ

photo by SARAH ROSE LARSON

What’s your major and how'd you end up at LBCC?

My major is Human Development Family Studies. First, this is my third time around. I have settled on this major. I joined LBCC back in 2011. I wanted to go into nursing and then I had kids. I didn't finish the nursing degree, but I came back and wanted to be a medical assistant. But in that, I was teaching some students and tutoring them, and I wanted to expand more on how much I could bring to students. So then I decided to change my major again into education or teaching. With that, I had another child, so my priorities were to find a job and be able to raise my kids. I worked for a

while as an educational assistant. I realized it wasn’t for me.

Then, I found a job with Benton County as a health navigator. It's like social work as well as working as a community health worker. I was sitting in my office one day, and I was like, "Okay. You know what? I have the hang of this, but I just feel like I need more of a challenge or a push." And so I thought I should just go to school.

I just felt like I needed to go back to school and finish a degree. This is officially my second year here. I was supposed to finish this year, but because I'm currently planning my daughter's quinceañera, I can’t juggle practicum and that. So, I'm pushing into the fall, when I’ll start with OSU. So, yeah, that's my

So how'd you get involved with the EDI?

They sent an email out to students that there was an opportunity to fly to Chicago for the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. They reached out asking if there was anybody interested in joining or attending, and I was just like, "Oh my goodness, I feel so bad that I have not stepped foot to the club's meetings." The EDI is just like this community space where it's just like you share your story. We all collaborate and we can make something amazing out of this from us. I just felt it definitely is a staple of what the school is and what it represents when we have support from people from the EDI. So that's why I'm like, "Okay, now that I know more about it, and oh my gosh, I cannot believe I wasted all this time." But yes, I am an active member of the Estudiantes del Sol now. I enjoy it, I really do.

Can you tell me more about the Hispanic Leadership Conference?

Yeah, that was in March, the first week of March, and it was for four days. It's all these leaders and activists in the nation who attend this conference that's once a year. If you identify as Latino or Hispanic you are welcome to attend, but I feel like you can’t just go. I feel like you have to be under an institution so you're going to be part of a club or something, then I guess you have a way in. Plus it does require some fees for the conferences, etc.

Are you excited about OSU?

I am. It's been a dream to attend just because, like I said, I've started a major and I never finished one that ends here at LB to be able to transfer.

I've been desiring to attend OSU. After I had my daughter, when she was about a year old, we lived in areas with a lot of college students. We were like one of the very few families that were there. I would ride the

bus, I didn't drive back then, and there were like 60 students waiting to board the bus with us but they would all allow me and my child to board first.

I was just like, "Oh, my goodness. They get to go free on the bus." Back then, the bus wasn't free. You had to pay. But if you had an OSU ID card, you could ride them for free and LBCC ID cards did not count. So then I was just like, "Oh my goodness, one day I'm going to have an OSU ID, and one day I'm going to get on the bus for free." So from then on, it's been a life goal. Anything else you want readers to know or anything? Any last thoughts?

Be proud of the journey that life takes you on.

Whether it is a decision you made as an impulse or a decision you took time to make, just hold on to hope that that path you take will eventually give you greatness. And yes, in that process, there will be ups and downs. They say there's a light at the end of the tunnel, but sometimes it feels impossible to see that coming. There are people, resources, services, and communities around you that you don't necessarily know you have. So if you see that any of them are at some point available to you, absolutely take them.

Any help or resources that exclusively, let's say, LBCC serves, take advantage of them because there's not one group or organization here that doesn’t do something to help you. They definitely help you excel. I'm very, very proud of my journey. I had a tough journey with economic hardships and with my disability, but you know I really held on to that. My purpose, which is my children, and what I wanted to do is just have them look into higher education.

Catalina has also been featured in Mom Magazine’s FebruaryMarch 2023 Edition.

Read the full interview at lbcommuter.com.

Esther ManzanoLopez

Tell me about your major and why you chose to study it.

I’m majoring in psychology. I think the reason I chose it was due to different factors. I want to become a therapist, specifically a bilingual therapist. I know in the city of Albany, and just in Oregon in general, we need more bilingual therapists to understand those who are having troubles with mental health, specifically among immigrant families who come from a place where mental health is very much stigmatized. So I want to help my community, and I also just like helping people in general. I always knew that I never really wanted to become a nurse or a doctor, but rather help people emotionally.

What brought you to LBCC?

What brought me to LBCC was definitely just that it was local, and I heard from many other professionals who went to community college first and then went to a four-year university and they saved so much money around that, and I wanted to do the same. And also, I got a hold of LBCC resources before I even decided to attend here, specifically among the IEDI Center. They helped me a lot finding those resources and just helping me in general, even before I could consider going over there. Overall I’ve had other people that I know who went to LBCC and they said it was an amazing school, so that’s why I decided to attend LB after highschool.

What are your plans for after graduation at LBCC?

My plans after graduation are to hopefully attend Oregon State University and continue on with my studies. Definitely find a job, like many other college students, and hopefully further all my education. I really want to become a therapist and hopefully I can get even more,

like get a PhD or something like that. I just want to earn as many degrees as I can.

What classes have you enjoyed most within your major?

Within my major, definitely my psych classes. I did take AP psychology in high school, but these classes have shown me the concepts even more in depth. I learned more about therapy, I learned more about human behavior and all of that, and my professors were amazing.

Are you involved with any clubs or organizations at LBCC?

I’m a student worker at the IEDI Center, the Equity Center, and I just love them. I mean, our mission is to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion among campus and I’m all about that. I’m all about helping my community. I love that I get to be a part of that and help create events to further educate people, making it known that these communities are also welcome on campus.

values, and they stand very close to my values and beliefs about everything. I just love it there and I get to help with their events, many projects, and overall it’s an amazing community and everyone there is super nice and really understanding. How did the recent Ushli National Conference go?

Tell me more about your experience with the Institutional Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Center and how you got involved with them.

I first got involved with them through Angel Dorantes. He is a Latino outreach retention manager at the Equity Center. When I was in high school, he came to one of my classes and basically said what the Equity Center is and I was so interested in it. I got a hold of him throughout the summer and then at the beginning of my first year I believe, the Equity Center was one of the first places I went because I knew that they had resources and they could help me. That’s when he offered, “Do you want to work here?” And I decided yes, I wanted to work there. I got to learn even more

It was amazing. It was definitely an experience. It was my first time going on a plane, going really far away in this country. It took place in Chicago, Illinois. Overall, that conference was super amazing. I got to learn so much from many Hispanic leaders, more importantly women leaders among the Hispanic community, and it just motivated me even more to understand that they also grew up like me in immigrant households and now they're at the top of their careers. It was really an amazing experience and I’m grateful I got the opportunity to go learn so much more from my community and also meet so many people there. It’s really nice to know you can relate to someone and they’ll understand.

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of school?

Outside of school I like to play my instruments. I used to be in band for several years before I took a break from it, so I like to play my flute sometimes so I can not lose that memory of playing. I also like arts, crafts, baking, and hanging out with my friends and family.

Is there anything else you’d want people to know about the IEDI?

What I want to say about the IEDI Center is that you can always come in. Everybody is welcome. There’s amazing people there. If you ever need help, I know there’s someone in there who can definitely help you. It’s a loving community.

The Institutional Equity, Diversity & Inclusion office is located next door to The Commuter office in Forum 220 on the second floor.

interview by EMILY JIMERSON

photo by SARAH ROSE LARSON

AARTIST SPOTLIGHT:

Asia Bowen

sia Bowen is currently a student art gallery coordinator at LBCC and is majoring in history. She is contemplating switching to majoring in anthropology with an art minor, but says it’s just difficult to have so many interests sometimes. Some may recognize Uncanny Scene, that won several awards in last year’s student art show. Asia primarily works with acrylic and sometimes oil paints, but says she’s interested in exploring water color and gouache.

In 2017, Asia explained that when she moved from Albany to Jefferson, she had to start at a new school and was separated from most of her friends. The move is what inspired her to start painting because it was a way for her to have something fun to do and used it as a way to be creative. She began painting with acrylic, mainly because it was what was available, but also because she likes the way it dries and how it looks. “I think the texture is very unique when trying to blend and it's fast drying time… [and] I love the boxy feel you get sometimes and how it looks slightly unblended.” Asia draws a lot of inspiration from artists such as Van Gogh when thinking about colors, because she’s usually drawn to warmer tones and boxier blending. She also really likes Edgar Van Goss’s ballerina paintings. “If I feel like I just have to create something though, and don’t have any ideas, usually I gravitate towards making ballerinas. I just like how fluid and elegant they are, and they’re one of the few things I can really make from memory.” Her favorite thing to sketch is ballerinas and practicing different poses and she also likes to paint cityscapes because of how aesthetically pleasing

We spoke a lot about how with creating from scratch, especially painting or drawing human features, Asia struggles with visualizing “from the mind’s eye,” as some say. “I usually need to use a reference, like not exactly copying something, but I really just need a guide because it’s so difficult to picture a human face

interview and photos by AVERY JADE

in my head. I can tell where things should go, but it’s difficult to translate from my brain to my hands.” She says this is one of the hardest things she’s had to practice over the years, but she’s getting a bit better.

Even if she doesn’t decide to study art in school, Asia wants to continue creating. She says she really hopes someday to get recognition for her work; not in a conceded way, but in the way that every artist wants their art to mean something to someone and for people to like it. She doesn’t create art necessarily for other people, especially if they ask for something really specific, but it acts as some kind of validation.

“One of my friends asked for a painting of something like a skeleton drinking rootbeer, and you can see the rootbeer going down. It sounds cool, but it’s just not something I actually want to make. Sometimes if I’m in the middle of making something and my partner walks in or my parents, I just tell them to go away! I don’t like when people see the unfinished work. But when I do finish something and someone likes it, it motivates me to make similar paintings. It feels good to have people like what I make.”

One of Asia’s favorite paintings is one she made that is a portrait lightly inspired by Michael Malm, an artist known for painting his subjects with a very unique backlight technique. She prefers using warmer colors but has been experimenting with the contrast of cool tones, and for this reason she really likes the few paintings she’s done using this type of technique for lighting. Oil painting tends to have a smoother blend style, which works for some of Asia’s paintings, but she really does prefer when the painting looks less blended out, similar to Van Gogh’s paintings.

Asia usually likes to focus on painting with music, a podcast, or a movie/TV show in the background. She says that when she’s not painting she likes to play video games, loves to play with her dog, Montreal, and spends time with her partner. She’s excited to plan some hiking adventures with her pup and her partner as the weather gets warmer.

Are You Ready for Spring Fest?

Thursday, May 9th

11AM-2PM

Albany Courtyard

Watch this TikTok for a glimpse of last year’s fun at Spring Fest!

As the flowers bloom and the sun shines brighter, it's time to embrace the spirit of growth and renewal. Join us for a vibrant celebration of community, resources, and endless possibilities at our Spring Fest Resource Fair!

Check out local resources, join clubs, play games, make friends, and eat free food!

Mental Health Awareness Week

May 6th through May 10th

Education isn't just about academics; it's about holistic development. LBCC recognizes that mental health is a crucial component of overall well-being. By supporting mental health and erasing its stigma, we’ve created a campus culture where students and staff can thrive. Join us for Mental Health Awareness Week!

5/7 - Wellness Walk - 11am to 12pm - Meet in Forum 120

5/10 - DeStress with SafeHaven - 10-11:45am - COME PET SOME PETS!

Check out more events on the events calendar

Ethan Kleinschmit

LBCC freshman Ethan Kleinschmit took the time in between a six-games-in-one-week stretch and finals to chat with the Commuter about his baseball career and plans for the future. Coming off of two-straight state championships to end his high school career, the lefthanded pitcher will be making a oneyear stop at Linn-Benton in 2024 before moving on to Oregon State University, with the goal of eventually making the major leagues.

How did you first get into baseball?

I first got into baseball when my parents signed me up to play T-ball in our youth program in Mount Angel, and have loved it ever since.

How did you decide to play at LinnBenton?

I chose Linn-Benton because the program is a top NWAC team with a great connection to Oregon State to help me move onto the next level when my time is up here.

Your high school team at Mount Angel was back-to-back state champions to end your time there. What have those experiences meant to you and your confidence level heading into this chapter of your baseball career?

Going back to back was such a fun experience which gave me a lot of confidence coming into this year. It made me soak up every moment I could with that team. We had almost all been playing together since we were little so it was such a cool moment to send everyone off on the right foot.

Linn-Benton has a historically strong baseball program, what is it like to be a part of that?

Linn-Benton is a great baseball program and super fun to be a part of because of how competitive it is in every aspect. From the weight room, to getting a starting spot on the field, even to playing a game of hacky sack before practice, everyone is always wanting to win which translates to the culture of the program.

The same could be said about Oregon State University, which you are verbally committed to. What has that been like for you and what is your timeline towards becoming a Beaver?

I first had contact with Oregon State the spring of my senior year but it was just a few phone calls. This fall is when they reached out to me again and then offered me a scholarship which led to me committing early in the fall. After this season at LinnBenton I will be transferring to Oregon State for next season.

Did you grow up a Beaver fan?

Yes, I have been a Beaver fan my whole life, going to football and baseball games growing up.

You’ll be joining the Corvallis Knights this summer alongside LBCC utility player/ pitcher Kellen Segel. What does that opportunity mean to you?

This will be a good opportunity for me to face some Division I hitters which will be good to prepare me for next year.

You throw 90+, do you have an exact number?

I have hit 94 mph.

What’s your major? Business administration.

What do you like to do outside of school and baseball?

I love to go hunting and fishing while I can. I also really enjoy hanging out with my friends from back home.

Long-term goals, baseball or otherwise? My baseball goal is to play as long as I can and play in the major leagues. Life goal is to be successful and raise a good family.

Back to focusing on LB baseball: what are the team’s goals this season?

End goal for us is to win the NWACs. We need to just take it one game at a time though and focus on the now to prepare us for the whole season.

Any personal goals?

I just want to fill up the win column and do what it takes for our team to be successful. PLAYER

photos by SARAH ROSE LARSON interview by RYLAND BICKLEY

PUNCHES ROLLING WITH THE

words by RYLAND BICKLEY

photos by SARAH ROSE LARSON

It should’ve been a highlight. In a Feb. 7 women’s basketball game against Southwestern Oregon, Linn-Benton sophomore Muriel Jones-Hoisington stole the ball in the last minute of a tight first quarter and broke away towards the other side of the court. As she drove into contact near the basket, she suddenly collapsed. A dead silence fell over the home crowd in Albany.

“I was going in for a layup, it was a fast break,” explained JonesHoisington. “I was trying to go in for contact, and while I was trying to do that, my knee just buckled and it felt like it was touching my other knee… then I heard a loud pop and I was down for the count.”

The knee injury marked the last play of Jones-Hoisington’s LinnBenton career. It wasn’t the way the sophomore point guard wanted to end her time as a Roadrunner. “It was definitely tough, because at that moment you just know something’s not good,” said Jones-Hoisington. “Just because this is my first major injury… So you know, it was hard for the first couple of weeks. I was very much in denial. I was like, you know, I'm not hurt, like what?” she laughed.

Jones-Hoisington gave her interview while standing despite a large brace on her injured knee and two crutches. A few minutes before, she had been trying to convince her trainer that she’d be able to drive again in a week, a claim he got a good laugh from. As a competitor, Jones-Hoisington admitted that it was difficult dealing with the injury news.

“You have that optimistic [feeling] like, no, maybe it just tweaked it really bad. And then when you get the MRIs back that's when it sets in,” she said. Her path to recovery hasn’t been easy – Jones-Hoisington learned that her injury was season-ending on the same day as a Linn-Benton away game, and she added that physical therapy can be “mentally exhausting” at times. “It's really sore… you're like, ‘why won't my quad flex?’ or ‘why can my knee not bend?’”

Still, Jones-Hoisington continued to support her team

despite the injury, starting on the night it occurred. “I came out after I calmed myself down and [put ice on my leg] and walked to the bench to watch my teammates finish out the game,” she said. The Beaks needed every bit of support they could that night, emerging with a 52-51 victory over the Lakers.

“Muriel has been a very important member of our women's basketball program over the last two years,” said head coach Leslie Reinecker. “She was an impact player on the floor as our point guard and a valuable member off the court as well… Despite the personal challenges she has faced this season through injury, Muriel has handled it with class and remained supportive of her teammates by assuming a different team role. She is wellrespected by all who know her and will continue her success in her next phase because of how she approaches things and how she interacts with others.”

A two-year starter for the Beaks, Jones-Hoisington was a top scorer for Linn-Benton in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. “It's been amazing. I feel like my whole basketball career I've always been a leader, as a point guard especially,” she said. “But this year, it's been a lot… I am the sophomore now and the point guard – it was definitely a bigger role that I had to step up to. And it was amazing. The girls were amazing to play with. It was really easy to tell them how to fix certain problems that were going through the game and just being able to fluidly work with them.”

Jones-Hoisington’s leadership remained strong despite her injury. But the team still clearly missed having one of their top players on the court. Linn-Benton left the Activities Center on February 7 with a 12-5 record, hoping to make a late-season playoff push. However, they finished the year 16-10, missing the postseason. After a Sweet 16 appearance and a 21-7 record the year before, it was a disappointing end to the season for the Beaks. To make matters worse, Jones-

Although the season didn’t end in the playoff spot the Roadrunner women were hoping for, JonesHoisington, along with four other departing sophomores in Brooklynn Walters, Laney Snelling, Hallie Romig, and Cienna Hartle, helped lead Linn-Benton to two consecutive winning seasons and plenty of great memories on and off the court. For Jones-Hoisington, her next stop will be Warner Pacific University in Portland, where she intends to join their nursing program and take a redshirt year before playing healthy again in the 2025-26 season.

“I think this sophomore class is

It takes a deep breath or two midsentence to read off the full list of T.J. Zimmermann’s career accolades at Linn-Benton. The sophomore forward on the men’s basketball team was named first-team all-NWAC South in 2023 and 2024, a junior college All-American, the NWAC Freshman of the Year, as well as the second all-time leading scorer in school history.

However, his road to get there wasn’t as linear as you might expect.

“To be honest, going into [playing basketball at Linn-Benton], I didn't really know what things were going to look like for me having not

played basketball in two years since my junior year of high school,” said Zimmermann.

Zimmermann, who went to West Albany, played junior college

accepted and then I attended New Mexico briefly – I was doing some stuff on the football team in the spring. But I ultimately had to come to a tough decision, that it wasn't

organization needs to do,” said T.J. Zimmermann.

A culture change was apparent in Todd Zimmermann’s first season as head coach, with the Beaks

T.J. Zimmermann’s favorites as a Roadrunner.

“I think both times that we clinched the playoffs and being able to celebrate as a group, you know, the first year it was throwing water on Jalen because my dad was sick. This year was throwing water on him because he's healthy all year. I think those probably were just about the top,” said T.J. Zimmermann. “Knowing all the hard work you put in paid off, everybody's smiling, laughing, dancing, and throwing water. I would say those are probably the best.”

And through it all, Todd and T.J.’s relationship as coach-player and father-son has remained strong. “Having the opportunity to coach my son has been even better than I could have imagined it being,” said Todd Zimmermann. “These past two years have been so rewarding. To wake up every morning and know that I’m going to get to spend at least two to two-and-a-half hours with my son has been one of the greatest experiences I've had the opportunity to take part in.”

T.J. Zimmermann leaves LinnBenton as part of a talented sophomore class, including Kamana Lapina, Tre Cannon, Kevin Sanchez, Bennet Bos, Sam Myers, Davion Burdette, and Anders Turman – a group that was instrumental in the men’s basketball team’s turnaround as a program.

“This group of sophomores will always have a special place in my heart,” said Todd Zimmermann. “I have been so fortunate in the two seasons I have had here at LB. Last year’s sophomores did such a great job of setting the tone for what being an LB men’s basketball player should look like… establishing the culture for the program.”

As for T.J. Zimmermann, he leaves Linn-Benton as an all-time great of the basketball program. He’s still deciding what to do next, having ruled out a return to football but talking to several schools about continuing his basketball career.

He was similarly unsure when he first joined the Beaks after leaving his football career behind back in 2022. But the bold decision ended up working out.

“To be honest, I didn't have any real set-in-stone expectations coming into LB other than I just wanted to help the team win and have fun. And you know, I've done that. It is something, all those accomplishments that I'm very happy with. It's always a good feeling when hard work pays off.”

FEATURES PHOTOJOURNALISM

JACOB SMITH

HIGHLAND BOWL

Highland Bowl, located at 2123 NW 9th St, Corvallis, was first opened on May 29, 1959. The current owner is Scott Yarrow, who has been with Highland for several years. Highland has been a staple of Corvallis, with some regulars bowling at Highland for as long as it has been in business. Highland Bowl has 20 lanes for bowling, a kitchen, bar and lounge, and a small arcade. It also hosts bowling leagues six out of the seven days of the week, some days holding multiple leagues per day. While its main crowd consists of the league bowlers who come in at the same times every week, Highland also is frequented by several families and college students looking for a fun time.

▲ Manager Jon Magnani announcing the beginning of the Exiles

All leagues have a practice period where bowlers are able to warm up. Once that period is over, an employee will use the microphone to announce that practice is over, and that once the scores are up and machines are reset, everyone is free to begin their league bowling. Another frequent use of the microphone is to make trouble calls to the back for an employee to fix a machine.

▲ Manager Jon Magnani moving the oiler in order to prepare the lanes for league bowling. New oil needs to be applied to keep the lanes fresh every so often. The oiler gets filled with oil and cleaner, then gets moved and set on each lane before it automatically goes down the lane and applies new oil.

league.

▼ A lone pair of Highland's bowling shoes sit on the counter, with the Tuesday night Ladies Classic league in full swing in the background. Ladies Classic is one of two leagues on Tuesday, with the Exiles league taking place at the same time on the other half of the alley. Ladies is just one of the 15 leagues Highland Bowl hosts.

PHOTOJOURNALISM FEATURES PHOTOJOURNALISM TIM

OSU LETTERPRESS

Ifound myself in the OSU letterpress studio located on the garden level of Moreland Hall, home to the School of Writing, Literature and Film. Students gain access to the letter press studio by taking a 10-hour weekend workshop with Karen Holmberg. I was fortunate enough to gain my own access through Ellison Rose, an MFA student who had previously taken the workshop and was now able to freely use the studio to create their own projects.

Letterpress is an outdated printing technology and is now used primarily by artists. As an artist themself, Ellison says they are drawn to this printing processes because of its "tactile nature" They say, "It's like listening to music live -- someone's hands are interacting with a series of strings and a perfectly shaped piece of wood to create the sound that you hear. The letterpress is the same -- I get to use my hands to choose and set these pieces of metal, slather them in ink, and press them into paper. Working with words is usually so cerebral, but this is very physical."

Ellison's process begins by finding the perfect image from the catalog of "cuts,'' the name given to the larger blocks with images on them. Each cut is made of lead nailed to a wooden block. The selections are very limited so the artists have to shape their designs around what is available to them. Ellison considered a few different images before landing on this one.

After selecting the image, the text is next. They first begin by choosing a "type case," a drawer of metal type in a font and size that compliments their image. Then they meticulously set the words

on a composing stick one "sort," or letter, at a time. The entire image is constructed upside down, but with practice an artist can set type quickly by paying close attention to notches cut into the type called "nicks."

Once the text is set, the space can be adjusted. Ellison felt that the type was too tight so they used "coppers," which are very thin slivers of copper, between each letter to create more space. During printing, everything must be as snug as possible. The slightest movement can create smudges or illegible text, so the coppers and other spacing material are used to fill in any gaps in the finished set type.

Now that the design is set and secured, it is moved from the composing stick to a "galley," the metal tray that houses the text during printing. Magnets are placed around the type to secure it

in place and ink is applied to the design. Inking requires a light touch. Too much and the image becomes too blurry. Too little and there will be gaps in the final image. It takes a few sample prints to find the right balance, but Ellison is tenacious and eventually produces a perfect print.

This project is a gift for one of Ellison’s classmates. They say they were inspired to make this print when the classmate “recently included this fragment from Marilyn Monroe’s journals — my body is my body/every part of it — in one of her own essays. Marilyn almost feels like an idea at this point, like she belongs to the world. But she was a person with a body; it wasn’t her but it was hers. I just really appreciated my friend sharing Marilyn’s words through her art and I wanted to honor them as well.”

ALBUM REVIEW

ALBUM: Loss Of Life

ARTIST: MGMT

words by RYLAND BICKLEY

PRODUCER: Daniel Lopatin; MGMT; Patrick Wimberly

OVERALL RATING: ★★★★

It took me about five listens to finally “get” MGMT’s latest studio album, “Loss Of Life.” Call it musical Stockholm syndrome, but there was truly something that kept me coming back.

Before explaining why, it’s important to contextualize MGMT’s latest work with their back catalog: the indie pop hits of their 2007 debut “Oracular Spectacular” such as “Kids” and “Electric Feel,” or even the gothic-yetcatchy synthpop of their previous album, 2018’s “Little Dark Age.” With that in mind, it’s easy to see how “Loss Of Life,” built around bombastic drums, layered acoustic guitars, and the textures of late 80s/early 90s adult contemporary, is such an initially offputting left turn for the band.

Still, there are enough synth and electric guitar flourishes throughout to serve as a reminder that “Loss Of Life” is indeed an MGMT project. And some songs were immediately accessible, such as lead single “Mother Nature,” a Britpop-inspired tune with a pre-chorus that could’ve been ripped straight from an Oasis track. By the duo’s avant garde standards, the song is rather vanilla, but Andrew VanWyngarden’s lyrics are bittersweet and vague, previewing an album that feels more mature, both sonically and lyrically, than the band’s past work.

MGMT’s trademark idiosyncratic, and for lack of a better word, goofy lyrics are still alive and well, though. The album even starts on an intro track labeled as a “part 2.” The penultimate song “I Wish I Was Joking,” a rare synth-led tune that could’ve fit on “Little Dark Age,” contains some real gems, with VanWyngarden’s pseudesincere delivery of lines like “Here’s the thing about drugs…” and the hilariously mournful “Nobody calls me the gangster of love” adding some levity to the runtime.

Other times, the lyrics walk a fine line between intentionally cheesy and genuine. On the album’s final single, “Dancing In Babylon” featuring Christine and the Queens, VanWyngarden repeatedly sings, “I want to tell everyone I know, ‘I love you’” in the coda. It’s almost jokingly sweet, and the song, a melodramatic duet dripping with saccharine 80s production, seems to hammer the

point. But the song’s title evokes the same feeling that permeates much of the tracklist: a theme of coming to grips with change, hard times, and life’s natural conclusions. MGMT have long made a name for themselves with their satirical and irreverent lyrical style, and while it survives on “Loss Of Life,” there’s a deeper meaning this time around that’s hard to shake.

It’s palpable in VanWyngarden’s vocals as well – often high-pitched and glistening with pop production in past records, sounding lower, more world-weary, and even broken at times on “Loss Of Life.” Spacious, acousticled ballads like “People In The Streets” and the achingly beautiful “Nothing Changes” ooze solemnity and reflection, although an undercurrent of hope adds depth to the material; the latter ends with a key change as an unexpected horn section bursts into the mix.

On the other hand, “Bubblegum Dog” shows that the band hasn’t lost their musical fun side, complete with synth patches that emulate a dog’s howl to rollicking acoustic guitars, a fuzzy electric, and even a harpsichord passage. Why not?

Folk influence shows up as well, straightforward and charming on “Nothing To Declare,” and with modern, Sufjan Stevens-esque electronic stylings on “Phradie’s Song” and the title track, which serves as the album’s closer. The project ends in equally beautiful and unsettling fashion as VanWyngarden sings about beginnings, death, and love as the duo throws in a kitchen sink of sounds, melodies, and effects.

In a way, it makes perfect sense that MGMT’s “Loss Of Life,” an artful exploration of complex topics, can take some time to click for the listener. It takes a while to process such dense material, and the often muddled lyrics don’t always help the cause. But as MGMT finds as they grapple with loss of life in a rapidly changing world, taking the time to find the beauty in it all can be well worth the effort.

Anthem of the Month

“Float On” by Modest Mouse is the band’s most popular song that revolves around the idea that despite all our failures and slip ups, life goes on and things will turn out alright. “Don’t worry even if things end up a bit too heavy, we’ll all float on.”

DUNE: PART TWO

A Thrilling Sci-Fi Adventure

MOVIE: Dune: Part Two

DIRECTOR: Denis Villeneuve

STARRING: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgård, Josh Brolin, and Charlotte Rampling

RATED: PG-13

OVERALL RATING: ★★★★

Dune: Part Two, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is a captivating motion picture full of high stakes and aesthetically pleasing visuals.

The movie officially hit theaters on March 1 and it is already a raging success, earning $178.5 million in its opening weekend, according to IMDb.

Sequel to Dune: Part One, released in 2021, Dune: Part Two begins by introducing two characters from House Corino, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) and her father, Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken). The two discuss how they believe Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) may still be alive, despite the massacre of House Atreides in Part One. The Emperor was partly responsible for wiping out House Atreides, including Paul’s father. Princess Irulan will do everything in her power to keep her father in dominion over the Sardaukar.

Jessica plays a significant role throughout the movie and influences many of her son’s decisions.

The acting in this movie was phenomenal when it came to the newest villain from House Harkonnen, FeydRautha (Austin Butler). Austin Butler played a very convincing villain that had viewers cringing in their seats in horror and disgust. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya put on great performances as Paul and Chani once again, but Austin Butler definitely outshined them in this film.

While their chemistry could have been more convincing, there were still some very wholesome and romantic moments between Paul and Chani. “I’d very much like to be equal to you,” Paul said, before passionately kissing Chani for the first time. They complement each other well, but they perform even better in their own independent roles in the film.

Dune: Part Two is carefully crafted with elements of sci-fi action and adventure, gory battle scenes, fear, revenge, and romance. The cinematography was incredible and the soundtrack created an eerie and mysterious ambience. The combination of the movie’s beautiful desert landscapes and sunsets, soft lighting and golden color palette, and unique camera angles are just a few examples of its wonderful cinematography.

The rest of the movie follows Paul Atreides in the year 10191 as he learns the ways of the Fremen, blue-eyed people who inhabit a desert planet called Arrakis, in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy and get vengeance on House Harkonnen. It is prophesied that an outsider will lead the Fremen to paradise and become the savior of Arrakis, also known as Lisan al Gaib. Chani (Zendaya) guides Paul in the practices of the Fremen, such as how to sand walk and successfully call a sandworm. She and Paul quickly fall in love and it’s clear that they would do anything for each other. However, Chani fears for Paul’s safety and doesn’t approve of his willingness to step into the Fremen prophecy because of the war and destruction that it could lead to.

Paul's mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), is encouraged by the leader of the Fremen, Stilgar (Javier Bardem), to become the Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit by drinking the poisonous Water of Life. Drinking the poison would give her access to the memories of every Reverend Mother from the past, as well as give her insight into the future of Arrakis. Lady

Original fans of Dune by Frank Herbert, as well as new fans of the movie alone, are sure to love part two. The film ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers wanting more and eager for part three. Despite being almost three hours long, Dune: Part Two felt like the perfect length and didn’t drag on as much as the first film did. The sequel is beautifully put together and is arguably better than the first when it comes to story pacing and cinematography.

words by EMILY JIMERSON photos via WARNER BROS.

PIX: the

BUSINESS: The Pix Theater

ADDRESS: 321 SW 2nd Ave, Albany, Oregon

OVERALL RATING:

words by MASON WILLS photos by BRENDA AUTRY

The Pix Theatre can be considered a local landmark in Downtown Albany with its long history and vintage look.

The building stands on Second Street with its recognizable sign proclaiming it as The Pix jutting out of the building. Past this classic exterior though is a great and welcoming atmosphere.

The lobby is decorated with movie memorabilia that makes it feel homey and welcoming with a mix of natural light from the large front windows and some nice yellowish overhead light adding to the ambiance. The staff are all incredibly nice and the owners are at the front counter helping and smiling at customers along with the employees. The employees help foster the inviting environment that was already there and elevate it higher.

The tickets are exponentially more affordable than other theaters in the area. The first daily matinee is $7.50 and the second matinee and evening shows a $9 per ticket. It is a single theater so they can only show one movie at a time, but they regularly switch movies and if anything there only being one theater room adds to the quality of the establishment.

The concessions are also incredibly well priced being much cheaper than the chain theaters in the area and there is much more variety in what you can get. You can get

the basics like popcorn and candy, but also larger items like hot dogs, cheeseburgers, quesadillas, soft pretzels, and more all at very affordable prices. All of the concessions are better quality than the chain theaters. If you do order a hot item the employees will bring it to your seat in the theater so that you don’t have to wait in the lobby or miss parts of the movie while your food is being prepared, which is a very nice perk to have at a theater. The drink selection is also large and pretty varied, they have the classics like soda and icees, but also offer a pretty wide variety of coffees and beers.

The theater itself creates a great viewing experience. The chairs are super easy to relax and get comfortable in. There is also a pull out tray on each seat that allows you to comfortably eat any larger food items you buy. The theater is formed in somewhat of a U shape which helps vary the heights of the seat and for the most part eliminate the problem of people’s heads blocking the screen. The audio in the theater is also great and is always very clear and crisp.

With great staff, great prices, and great ambiance this is a definitive way to view a movie in the Albany area and definitely worth your time.

BEACH CLEAN UP

Saturday, April 20th

Nye Beach, OR 11-1PM

Waverly Park Clean Up

Saturday, May 25th 11-1PM

Go to Noblehour.com/linnbenton to volunteer!

OUR

ROGRAM NLookupopportunitieson oblehour , govolunteer , andearnrewards! Didyouknowthat100 volunteerhoursgetsyou THREEFREEcredits! student spotlight student spotlight

I have been the volunteer coordinator for SLC for this last year. I help students find volunteer opportunities in the community or at school. This job has not only been enjoyable to work with students but also working with the community. The Waverly Park clean-up is a great example of this partnership of LBCC students and the community. It has been a great distraction when I need my mind to focus on something else other than school.

COME TO THE WAVERY PARK CLEAN UP!

Peeta Arenas Galicia SLC Volunteer Coordinator