THE
TORCH - FEB 13, 2019 - VOLUME 54, EDITION 8 - EUGENE, OR -
Eug. News / pg 4
LCC News / pg 6
Lane maintains dominance
Anti-Vax Nation
Titans don’t hold back against rival David Galbreath Reporter The Titans took full advantage of home court on Feb. 11, making easy work of their opponents. The Clark Penguins put up 54 points over four quarters, but Lane had 59 points by half time. The onslaught ended 104-55. Lane’s starting guard Megan Still had an unprecedented 10 three-point goals that tied the school’s single game record. Adding in-guard Mya India Thomas’ 29 points, these two teammates scored more than Clark’s entire offense. Clark started with a two-point lead, but one minute and thirty seconds into the first quarter, Lane flipped a switch and gained a six-point lead in under a minute. Clark made a valiant effort, but Lane’s defense forced 28 turnovers to Clark’s 12. Consistently giving the ball back to the Titans, who were making 54.1 percent of their three-pointers, ultimately led to a massive separation in points. 36 of Lane’s points came directly off of turnovers. Clark was limited on available players, having only three eligible reserves. They struggled to find an answer to the highpowered Titans’ offense in the second half. Still was not quitting on her attempts at the three point line, she made three of four continued on page 8
I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed Public Safety needs more transparency
Evan Curby Multimedia The story starts with the hiring of a new Director of Public Safety at Lane Community College, and I am assigned to cover the story. There are three candidates for consideration, but I’m unable to attend the forums due to work obligations. This doesn't deter me from obtaining some information about the candidates. Considering that this an important position the school is hiring for, any information such as qualifications, and goals relating to safety at the campus, would be beneficial information for the student body. I ask a contact at the college for the email addresses of each candidate so that I can send them pre-written questions. I receive a kind and formal email back stating that “I am not authorized to provide the information you've requested.” My contact forwards my request to Dennis Carr, Chief continued on page 2
Sports / pg 8
A Plausible Cause for a Measles Outbreak
photo by Marek Belka / editor in chief
Titan guard Megan Still launches her record-tying three over Clark’s Turner Joy during their matchup on Feb. 11. Still drained 10 three-point shots during the game, tying the single-game school record.
Kayla Akiona Columnist The measles virus, scientifically known as Rubeola, is one of the most contagious and infectious diseases known and is considered to be one of the leading causes of death among young children around the world. If one contracts the disease, they alone can infect 90 percent of the people that come into direct or indirect contact with them. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 79 individual measles cases have been documented in the United States over the month of January alone, and that number is expected to rise. This sudden, but not so surprising, outbreak is causing communities, states, and the nation to call for a state of emergency. Due to poor peer influence and the ever-growing negative opinion emphasized on the internet by the Anti-vaccination movement, measles is coming back with a vengeance, and is here to show why everyone is wrong for believing that the preventive measures set in place are ineffective. The current outbreak in the United States is likely connected to the massive outbreaks happening in Ukraine and Israel. continued on page 2
Interview with a Vice President An interview with the ASLCC Vice President Matthew Merchant Photojournalist At the Associated Students of Lane Community College Student Government meeting in January, Amadeo Rehbein was unanimously ratified by student senators as the new ASLCC Vice President. Rehbein previously campaigned for the office in spring 2018 on an executive ticket with Becca Hill, but eventually lost the election to Keely Blyleven and Dan Good. After the election, Rehbein briefly became the Gender and Sexuality Diversity Advocate for the student government before Good and Blyleven’s resignations dropped the ASLCC into turmoil and set in motion the events that led to Rehbein’s ratification as Vice President. Now a month into his term, Rehbein spoke with The Torch about his background, his experience working with the ASLCC and his plans for the future.
illustration by Prenapa Techakumthon / graphics
continued on page 7
A new beginning for ASLCC Student government filling up positions
James Croxton Reporter The Associated Students of Lane Community College Student Government held their open meeting in the Building 3 Boardroom on Jan. 31 and with the recent signing of the Unity Letter and a shift in
leadership, it was a certainly a productive one. Unlike the previous few meetings, there were statements from the gallery. One student, Shawn Zousel, who is relativelynew attending his second term, was surprised to find out that LCC had an active student government. His reason for speaking was not only to express his enthusiasm for ASLCCSG, but to also raise awareness for the lack of social meet-ups and student government meet-and-greets for new students. His comments were received very well. Michael Gillette, who was recently made the President Pro Tempore of the senate, mentioned that if all goes well, the members of the student government will have the
matching shirts they’ve already ordered in an effort to be more visible to the LCC population. Additionally, it was announced that the school has recently hired a Dean of Student Services who will be handling things, including social events. Additions to ASLCCSG were also made at the meeting as two senators and two staff members were ratified. The first of the senators—Seat 6—to be ratified was Valerie Hoffman. Hoffman stated during her public interview that the reason she wanted to join the ASLCCSG was so that she could have an impact on the students at-large. When asked about her continued on page 6
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Wednesday, February 13, 2019
OPINION THE
TORCH THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THE STAFF Editor-in-Chief Marek Belka
Production Manager/Art Director Anna CK Smith
News Director Sabrina Piccolo
Copy Editor Janelle Dutton
Reporters Ali Casanova, James Croxton, David Galbreath, Trayse Riggle, Sioux Sternath positions open
Columnist Kayla Akiona
Illustrators Lucien Guidotti-Lawrence, Quentin J. Piccolo
Graphics Prenapa Techakumthon
Cartoonist Emmett Crass
Photojournalists Matthew Merchant, Selina Scott, Trent Toyama, positions open
Business Director Jason Petorak
Multimedia Evan Curby, Zach Lyons positions open
Web Designer Ian Kersey
News Advisor Charlie Deitz
Printer Oregon Web Press Albany, Oregon
LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMNS • Letters to the editor should be limited to 300 words. • Guest columns should be limited to 700 words. • Please include the author’s name, phone number and address (for verification purposes only). • The Torch reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length, grammar, spelling, libel, invasion of privacy and appropriate language. • The Torch cannot guarantee publication of letters or guest columns, and may not be able to reply to all submissions. POLICY • The Torch is editorially independent and reserves the right to publish at its discretion. All web and print content is the property of the Torch and cannot be republished without editorial permission. • Up to two copies per issue, per person of the Torch are free; each additional copy is $2. CONTACT theTorch Lane Community Collegte 4000 E. 30th Ave. Eugene OR 97405 (541)463-5655 @lcctorch @thetorchnews Emails: editor@lcctorch.com letters@lcctorch.com advertising@lcctorch.copm tips@lcctorch.com CORRECTIONS In “Traveling designers wanted” (Vol. 54, Ed. 8), we incorrectly printed the name of Otago Polytechnic Institute. We sincerely apologize for the error.
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Anti-Vax Nation International travelers that are either unvaccinated, or not fully vaccinated, are contracting the disease outside of the country and bringing it back to the U.S. as a souvenir. In most cases, measles is said to be silent in the beginning stages of infection, causing a slight fever, dry cough, runny nose and swollen eyes. Once the virus is fully engaged in warfare among the immune cells of the body, the most obvious symptom becomes a rash that covers the body from head to toe. An infected individual is considered contagious four days prior to developing and four days following the rash. Not only are pockets of unvaccinated people at risk, but studies are showing that those who did not complete the two-step vaccination process are also at a very high risk. The CDC states that the recommended double dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine heightens immunity and dramatically decreases-and almost eradicates-a person’s chance of being infected. The first vaccination should be given anywhere from twelve to fifteen months of age, and the second vaccination is recommended between four to six years of age. One dose ensures 93 percent immunity against the disease, while two doses increases that number to 97 percent. According to a National Immunization Survey done by the CDC, the overall MMR vaccination rate in Oregon from 1995-2017 for infants 19 to 35 months of age is as high as 90.3 percent. With the outbreaks occurring mainly around the Portland area, researchers are finding that there is a connection between vaccination rates and the high occurences of measles they are experiencing. Clark County, Washington, currently has 53 documented cases with two suspected cases and are advising residents that it is mandatory to get vaccinated. Clark county is one of the five least vaccinated counties in Washington with a vaccination rate of 84.5 percent among children two years and older. Multnomah county, here in Oregon, has a slightly higher rate of 87 percent of vaccinated infants, and has documented a total of three cases of measles so far. Of all the current outbreaks, most are children under the age of 10. Many people are on the fence about vaccinating their children because of a number of factors that have contributed to the
anti-vaccination movement. It’s plausible that the movement was started by a discredited study published by Andrew Wakefield, in which he made the conclusion that the MMR vaccine caused a gastrointestinal syndrome in some children, thus triggering the autism gene. The controversy was further spread by many Hollywood A-listers speaking out against vaccinations. Add to that the availability of unreliable information on the internet and it is easy to see how many American parents could be feeling leery about the safety
illustration by Lucien Guidotti-Lawrance / illustrator
of vaccinating their children. With outbreaks occurring across the country, ranging from New York to Hawaii, measles is steadily becoming the talk of not only the Pacific Northwest, but the nation as well. There are currently 10 states with active outbreaks: California, Colorado, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Washington and Oregon. Researchers are predicting that as the number of infected individuals not seeking professional medical attention and the number of children going unvaccinated increases, the disease will continue to work itself through the entire state, hitting the ones that do not believe in vaccinations the hardest. Every American has the duty to wade through the plethora of information in regards to the effectiveness and safety of the MMR vaccination and make the best decision for their health and the health of their family. We simply cannot make decisions based on the opinions of others, especially when it comes to something as important as our health.
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I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed Human Resource Officer at LCC. I receive a response stating, “All information about candidates who are invited to interview for positions with Lane Community College must be gathered within the context of the scheduled candidate assessment processes such as open forums with candidates who have been invited to interview.” It was at this point I knew that I had struck out. My next goal was to gather some information not about the candidates themselves, but more about the hiring process. Questions such as “What qualifies a candidate?”, “What type of experience would you look for?” I made my way to down to Public Safety in Building 12 to see if I could get in contact with someone, hopefully the head of the department. I left my name, phone number and email, and brief summary for my visit with the receptionist. One day passed, then another. I went back to follow up, only to repeat the steps mentioned before. Three days had passed, and it became clear to me that I was not going to get a response from Public Safety. I pondered how a department at school could be so ineffective in replying back to students. I was talking amongst some friends who have also had quarrels with the department about response time. It seemed as if this was the standard whenever one was working with the department. I talked to a close friend and current student Ryan Miller and he said, regarding the department: “Every time I’ve tried getting something done with Public Safety, it seems I’m never talking to the person that has the answers. On top of that, to get in touch with the person with the answers will take a few days at a minimum.” Ryan is just one of four peers I know personally who have complained.
It was comforting in some odd way to know that my experience was shared These might just be the writings of someone who is jaded, and a little defeated, but it seems that this a repeated pattern when it comes communicating with Public Safety. I find it concerning that we as students have a certain running joke about “being in the dark” when it comes to trying to get a response back. The only way I could describe the experience is that it is like playing catch with a brick wall. Hopefully, we can change that soon. Hopefully.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
stories that matter
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NEWS Oregon Senate sides with renters Tenants and landowners clash over rent control bill Trayse Riggle Reporter Renters and college students locked horns with landowners over Senate Bill 608, a rent control measure. The bill passed 17-11 Tuesday, Feb. 12. Although the bill was passed through the Senate, it has a couple more obstacles to pass before it becomes law. First it must pass through them Oregon House. If it goes through the Oregon House, it will go on to Gov. Kate Brown, who has already expressed her support for the bill. Oregon is not a cheap state to live in and rent costs are a large component of that. According to SmartAsset, the average cost of a studio apartment in Oregon is $1,090, 18 dollars more than the national average. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment is $1107, $109 more than the national average. SB 608, introduced on Jan. 14, aims to regulate a few of the things landowners can and cannot do. Under this bill, after a year of renting, the landlord is not able to evict their tenants without proper cause. The second function of this bill is to limit the amount a landowner can increase rent, capping it at seven percent per year. So after 12 months of renting, a person can’t get evicted unless they: don’t pay rent; damage the rental, consume illegal substances or otherwise violate the lease. This also means a renter won’t be surprised by a 30-percent increase in rent within a year. For renters, this potentially means less moving and more rent stability. While this bill may excite some, many landowners don’t find it as appealing. Oregon property owner Kent Coppinger believes that the free market should dictate the price of apartments, saying, “If someone wants to raise their rent to $3000 then nobody will live there, supply and demand controls the price of rent.¨ Another landowner concern is the price of maintaining and upgrading apartments. ¨Why would you improve your rental and spend a substantial amount of money to improve quality of life in your rentals if you can’t raise rent to break even?¨ Coppinger said. One more cause of worry for landowners is the fear that this will be a slippery slope, meaning that once the rent increase cap is seven percent, renters still won’t be happy and it will be decreased to four percent and then two percent. A lot of people are moving to Oregon and, according to 24/7 Wall Street, Oregon is number two on the list of most popular states to move to growing from 3.83 to 4.26 million within the last decade. As of publication time, it was unclear when the house plans to vote on the bill.
illustration by Evan Curby / multimedia
King tides scatter microplastics on Oregon beaches Surfrider Foundation exposes 'Trash Blindness' Ali Casanova Reporter Equipped with brooms and filters of varying gauge, from chicken wire to window mesh, nearly two dozen volunteers set on Feb. 3 to remove trails of microplastic from Otter Rock beach at Devil's Punch Bowl State Park. Tiny plastic pieces that range in size from a bottle cap to a single kernel of styrofoam litter the beach. From a distance, the beach is innocuous. There are no plastic bags, flipflops, or bottles on this beach. Instead, what looks like a colorful display of tiny shells is actually plastic so small it has to be passed through a series of filters to be removed from the sand. Since the beginning of January, the Newport chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has organized beach cleanups every Sunday. Based on data collected after a clean up on Jan. 22, volunteers removed over 700 pounds of debris from the beach. The heavy weight is likely on account that plastic is mixed in with wet sand and organic debris. In an effort to calculate the weight of plastic free from sand, Surfrider and Mountain Rose Herbs hosted a microplastic focused cleanup event last year. A team of 35 volunteers removed 20 pounds of microplastic in just two hours. Additionally, Surfrider launched an Oregon Beach Ambassador program to improve
its data collection efforts. “Analysis from the first six months of data shows that plastic pieces are the most common item," Briana Goodwin, Field Manager of Surfrider Newport, wrote. According to Goodwin, the amount of microplastic that washes up is underreported by those collecting data because the quantity of plastic pieces are just "too many to count." Winter swells and King Tides, named because they are the highest of high tides, could be to blame for the recent influx of marine debris. However, according to Goodwin, the amount of coastal debris is not higher than is usually expected after King Tides, but public awareness and media attention has increased. On whether or not the plastic collected could be recycled, the plastic that washes ashore is extracted by volunteers and moves from ocean to landfill since the plastic's quality is deemed too low to enter a normal recycling system. Goodwin does not anticipate that beach clean-ups alone will solve the problem and states that Surfrider's main focus on reducing marine debris is through prevention. She is set on including "solution-based messages so that hope is not lost on people." Local and regional ordinances that restrict single-use plastics such as shopping bags and straws have proven to have positive and measurable environmental impacts. For instance, a litter survey in the Final Environmental Impact Report for the city of San Jose, California, found that bag litter from the storm drain system was reduced by 89 percent and that it decreased by 59 percent in the city streets. Surfrider and other environmental groups will be hosting a "Rise Above Plastics Day” in Salem on March 14, where they will discuss the global plastic pollution problem and speak with legislators.
comic by Emmett Crass / cartoonist
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Wednesday, February 13, 2019
NEWS Student protests aimed at sheriff Outraged students demand sheriff stop aiding ICE Trayse Riggle Reporter The Lane County Sheriff ”s department has been accused of using their resources to assist the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in various ways. Many Eugene citizens and students came forward to protest these actions on Friday, Feb. 8. Prior to the protest, the sheriff ’s department had been accused of using resources to aid in ICE arrests regarding federal immigration law. They also had allegedly given ICE access to the back entrance of the county jail to give them quick and easy access to make arrests. In 2017, Eugene’s City Council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance offering certain protections to all Eugene residents, including immigrants. According to the official ordinance draft, it “prevents the city and police from enforcing federal immigration law.” While Eugene is not technically a sanctuary city, these laws make the city act as such. With Eugene’s ordinance laws, many people throughout the city found the Sheriff Byron Trapp’s actions unlawful and against voter expectations. A formal letter was written by various people, including Council Oregon, to Trapp, asking that he “immediately cease these practices, and confirm
when you do so.” With Trapp not addressing the letter, the University of Oregon student group Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán staged a protest for Friday, Feb. 8. The students hoped this protest would encourage community involvement and entice Trapp into responding. Friday’s protest brought many tears as various community members shared their stories. “The depression I had to go through as a kid in order to adapt was incredible,” University of Oregon student Montse Mendez said. “Children who are having to be separated from their families and who have to go through that alone and in detention centers, I think about that every single day.” According to an analysis of government data by the American Civil Liberties Union, “Nearly four months after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reunite families separated at the border, 245 children remain in government custody,” Trapp eventually responded in an interview with KEZI saying, “The access that ICE has to the Lane County Jail isn’t unique, it’s the same as all law enforcement,” he said. “We don’t ask our employees, nor will we ever ask our employees, to do anything that would violate any of the laws.” “It is up to the sheriff to end this,” Council Oregon member Joel Iboa said. The protestors plan on making sure the sheriff ’s department changes their policies or they may take legal action.
photo by Lucian Guidotti-Lawrence / illustrator
Montse Mendez, a UO student, speaks in open forum in front of the Lane County Sheriff’s Department about how immigration enforcement has affected her and many others. “It’s ridiculous when I’m trying to get an education while those children are losing their identity and experiencing psychological trauma with reparations we will never be able to fix.”
Drumming, dancing and swinging Yearly celebration to recognize mosaic of Asian culture Sabrina Piccolo News Director From Chinese folk music to Middle Eastern belly dancing, the 24th annual Oregon Asian Celebration will honor and encourage better understanding about Asian and Asian-American cultures. The celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16 and until 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the Lane Events Center. One of the new features of this year’s Asian Celebration is the Minidoka Swing Band, named after the Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho where many Japanese-Americans were interned during the 1940s. Various singers and musicians of the Portland-based band had lived in internment camps or have relatives who had. Many of the songs the Minidoka Swing Band performs were once played and sung by those living in internment camps. Other performances on the Main Stage will include Japanese taiko drumming as well as dances and music from the Philippines, South and North India, Indonesia, the Middle East, China and Nepal. Through karaoke, video games and cosplays of Star Wars and anime characters, the Kumoricon Room will illustration by Emmett Crass / cartoonist celebrate the influences that Asian cultures have had on U.S. pop culture. David Yuen Tam, director and chair of Eugene/Springfield Asian Council hosting the Asian Celebration, said that the Asian Celebration also serves as a reminder that many aspects of U.S. pop culture have roots in Asian culture. For example, he said, George Lucas was heavily inspired by Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1960 film The Hidden Fortress when he directed Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. The Asian Heritage and Justice Exhibit will be held in the Exhibit Hall features for
the third year in a row, featuring new photos and their accompanying stories by Eugene photographer and artist Melissa “Mimi” Nolledo. The photo essays, called Our Stories: Immigrants of America, share individuals’ personal immigrant experiences in the U.S. The Oregon Celebration will also feature arts and crafts exhibits, including displays of calligraphy, watercolor and Chinese ink brush paintings and demonstrations of ukulele crafting, pottery and Japanese bookbinding. In addition, the Martial Arts Stage will feature a variety of performances, including karate, kung fu, tai chi, tae kwon do and even dances. Although the Asian Celebration is a way for members of the Asian community to gather together, the main demographic that the celebration reaches out to is “youth and families,” according to Tam. “We believe that kids are the next generation,” he said. “We want to make sure that the next generation understands and appreciates Asian culture.” As Tam looks toward future Asian Celebrations, he hopes to include more diversity in entertainment. Although he believes it is vital to honor tradition, he wants to include Asian pop culture in upcoming celebrations. For example, he is looking to include K-pop performances next year.
“We believe that kids are the next generation... We want to make sure that the next generation understands and appreciates Asian culture.”
- David Yuen Tam, chair Eugene/Springfield Asian Council
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
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NEWS Physician exposes sexism in healthcare “Bias is natural, engrained,
Prognosis: treat the causes, not the symptoms Ali Casanova Reporter What if mustaches outnumbered women? Based on a cross-sectional analysis of 1000 academic medical leaders, the number of mustached chairs, 19 percent, outnumber those held by women, 13 percent. This study was done by Eleni Linos and was among the many striking studies Dr. Esther Choo gave Feb. 7 at the Valley River Inn. Dr. Choo's presentation, titled Sexism in Healthcare, was hosted by the Lane County Medical Society with about 150 people in attendance. Dr. Choo's medical career includes an undergraduate and medical degree from Yale, residency at Boston Medical, and a Masters in Public Health from OHSU in Portland, where she is currently an Emergency Physician and Associate Professor. Over the course of an hour, Dr. Choo covered gender disparities in medical careers and academia, the implicit bias that causes both men and women to undervalue women, the high prevalence of sexual harassment in medical school and beyond, the reasons why increasing the number of women in leadership positions should be prioritized, and how it benefits the business of medicine and improves patient outcomes. In short, women are "paid less, promoted less, and rarely in charge." There is no specialization in which women earn more than men, including those traditionally held by women, such as pediatrics and nursing. The career trajectory after a woman leaves residency and enters the workforce flows through what Dr. Choo calls a "leaky pipe,” in which the number of women seeking and hired for leadership positions decreases as they move toward more prominent leadership positions. "Overall, women constitute 65 percent to 80 percent of the healthcare workforce, including all roles, but only 30 percent of senior leadership positions, 13 percent of CEOs overall, and 0 percent of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies,” Dr. Choo said. The underlying mechanisms that contribute to gender inequity are complex and compounded when intersected with race, ethnicity, and ability. "To fix harassment, we need to change the culture of medicine so that there is equity across the board in hiring, salary, promotion, leadership, and inclusiveness,” Dr. Choo said. “To fix equity, we have to create a culture where we address harassment with urgency and rigor and have zero tolerance for it so that women, and everybody, can thrive and be productive, and move up without barriers to advancement. We need to believe, understand and talk about how these efforts are smart for business and healthcare investments," Dr. Choo said during her final statement before taking audience questions. A man who has a private practice in Eugene asked the first question. “Maybe I’m blind, ‘cause I don’t see it. Is this a regional difference? Is this just academic medicine?” Dr. Choo responded that data from academia is more accessible and people are available to respond to surveys. Wage gaps are greater in private practice than they are in academia because there are “some checks and balances”. Wage gaps are even greater in
and universal. We all have it. Men have it. Women have it. Therefore, we are all part of the problem, and that means we are all part of the solution.” -Dr. Esther Choo Emergency Doctor and Associate Professor at the Oregon Health & Science University
photo by Selina Scott / photojournalist
Dr. Esther Choo, a full time professor at OHSU speaks out against sexism in the healthcare industry Thursday, Feb. 7. The event was hosted by Lane County Medical Society and held at Valley River Inn where approximately 150 guest attended.
private practice than academia. She also said there are no regions where the gap disappears. “As far as not seeing it, that is a whole section of a longer talk that I give. It is very hard to see it on a day to day basis. It’s a huge barrier to this conversation that I give all of this data, but people say, ‘It’s just so disproportionate to my day by day experience’, and that's particularly true from white men - and you happen to have a mustache.”
Debating with dignity Students gather to discuss controversial topics
photo by Selina Scott / photojournalist
Chavon Wright debated her opponents on whether Facebook is a legitimate news source during the third annual SpeakOut. Wright is a member of Lane’s debate team which has recently partnered with the University of Oregon.
Sioux Sternath Reporter If one expected stories of strife and anger amid conflict, they were not to be found at the the Lane Community College third annual speak out on Feb. 2. The morning was spent with organized discussion addressing polarization in America; everyone spoke in turn, while discussing their beliefs on various subjects, such as cultural conditioning, toxic language and the need for limited campaign funding. Daniel Lee Henry, communication instructor and debate coach, said “he wanted an activity on campus to bring people together to strengthen their communication skills; by forming debates, using both schools of communication to aid students the ability to speak their minds more effectively.” The morning session focused on the Kettering Institute’s
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Deliberative Dialogue technique led by longtime LCC Communication instructor Karen Krumrey, PhD, along with Daniel Lee Henry and Laura Pelletier. As explained by Henry, “It’s a non-threatening process in which each person gets to state their opinion without fear of judgement. The idea behind deliberative dialogue is to give everyone a chance to be heard.” As with the debates, both sides calmly and respectfully discussed opposing opinions without conflict. After a catered lunch, participants were invited to enter a two-person flash debate on topics related to media ethics. Given many phenomenal arguments, there were no losers, with all teams scoring points. The final deciding debate, over whether or not Facebook is a legitimate news source, was strongly defended with a convincing argument heard from Bryant Everett and Nick Keogh; however, Chavon Wright and Dan Good went on to win first place with their outstanding facts for why it is not a legitimate news source. Each of the four finalists received a $25 gift certificate to Market of Choice.
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Wednesday, February 13, 2019
NEWS Moore hopes to set Lane up for victory
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A new beginning for ASLCC goals as a senator, she said that “my main goal is to get more student engagement with clubs, unions, and student government.” The second and last senator—Seat 7— ratified during the meeting was Laney Baehler. Well-prepared, she said that she viewed the senate position “as an opportunity” and that she hoped to bridge the gap between LCC and local high schools by discussing both environmental issues and gender diversity with them. She was almost ratified unanimously.
“My main goal is to get more student engagement with clubs, unions, and student government.”
- Valerie Hoffman, Senator
illustration by Quentin J. Piccolo / illustrator
Lane acquires former Oregon head coach of women’s volleyball David Galbreath Reporter After the departure of head coach Stephanie Willett, who is now coaching for Southwestern Oregon Community College, Athletic Director Greg Sheley has appointed Jim Moore as head coach of the women’s volleyball team. Moore coached two women whose career took them to the Olympics. At the University of Oregon, Moore coached for 12 years and led his team to the Division I postseason in 10 of those years. Over his career, Moore has been National Coach of the Year three times. His career with Oregon left him the ninth winningest coach in Pac-12 history. There, Moore accumulated 186 wins and only 98 losses. Moore and his wife, assistant coach Stacy Metro, faced major criticism over their coaching style while at Oregon. Two former players, Naya Crittenden and Nicky Kevorken, wrote scathing letters to the college and many news networks. In the letters, the two women made claims that Moore’s coaching style was “verbally abusive.” Kevorken even wrote, “I would get screamed at if I stepped on the court and be told to get off,” continuing to say she was “never coached.” However, these accusations are the only two official complaints against Moore as a coach in his 28-year career. Upon Moore’s retirement in May of 2018, another letter was sent to UO’s president Michael Schill. This letter was signed by three former players of Moore’s, Kristen Rott, Sonja Newcombe and Natalie Bookout Gonzalez. “The purpose of this letter is not to void their opinions. The opinions they express are real to them,” Kristen Rott wrote. The trio of women vouched for their former coach and offered another point of view. “Should Jim Moore be forced to resign, his reputation as an excellent coach, man of integrity, and educational leader should be honored.” Moore says his proudest moments as a coach come to him as his past alumni reach out to him and stay in touch. “They’ve been great to me, and that’s what sticks with me the most,” Moore said. Moore sees his opportunity to work for Lane as a chance to share his Division I experience and have fun with the game he loves. His wife, Stacy Metro, has since taken a head coaching position at Western Oregon University. Metro still finds ways to help her husband when she can. “I can’t say she’s not helping. She’s coaching club at the same time and helping me recruit,” Jim Moore said. “I think we have an outstanding candidate, who is overqualified for the position,” Sheley said. Sheley feels Moore’s experience will help build the student athletes and they can learn from his experiences.
The meeting powered on with the ratification of two staff members. Ratified as the new Multicultural Programs Coordinator was Chavon Wright, the current Vice President of the Black Student Union. President Nick Keough gave her a stellar recommendation. Both the ASLCCSG and the gallery were thrilled with her plans for LCC including “the idea of setting up a union of unions so we can have a unified voice.” More importantly, as she plans to graduate soon, she wants to “make an MPC manual so my successor will be able to hit the ground running.” The last ratification of the evening was for the new State Affairs Director, Rick Williams. Another well-known and active member of the LCC community, they are not strangers to the student government. When asked what they want to accomplish once ratified, they said “I want LCC to have more of a presence in the county.” They also “want to start a database of contacts and resources for students and student groups,” which would also help to potentially bridge gaps between groups both on and off campus.
illustration by Quentin J. Piccolo / illustrator
Williams’ unanimous ratification marks a new beginning for their relationship with ASLCCSG. During their interview process, it became known that they have applied twice for positions within the student government and said that they had “faced racist and transphobic hiring discrimination,” later adding that they had been “intentionally attacked in this safe space.” More ratifications took place at the following ASLCCSG meeting held on Feb. 7. It was led by President Pro Tempore Michael Gillette as Vice President Rehbein was out with a flu—for which President Keough jokingly apologized for being “patient zero” and getting other student government members sick—that’s stricken many at LCC lately.
“I want LCC to have more of a presence in the county, [and I] want to start a database of contacts and resources for students and student groups.”
- Rick Williams, State Affairs Director
John Brakebill, who has worked with the student government before, was ratified as the new Sustainability Coordinator, beating out several prospective candidates. He had originally wanted to be a senator in the past, but stated that he didn’t go through with it “because of where the student government was last year.” In his new position, he hopes to be transparent and to help improve the food pantry. When asked how he was going to improve the food pantry, he said that he wants to help them switch to “using reusable bags” and to “work closer with green clubs.” The second ratification for the evening was tabled—also thanks to the flu—until the following week’s meeting. Then, ASLCCSG plans to ratify Carmen Santiago as the Gender and Sexual Diversity Advocate. Another highlight of the meeting was the passing of a resolution to hopefully have an official ballot drop-off box installed on campus. It passed unanimously with the contingency that Keough read the proposal at the next Board of Education meeting on Feb. 14.
Editor’s Note
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
On Jan. 17, the Associated Students of Lane stories that matter Community College Student Government held their first public meeting of the new term. At the meeting, new President Nick Keough announced that the ASLCC would circulate a “unity letter,” signed by all sitting members of the student government, that would address the controversies of the previous term and outline a path forward dents. For the rest of the year, I hope to be a voice canfor happen. The Torch does valuable work for the new administration. of reason and accountability, frankly Afterworking the ratificationthis of school, bringing to light events on and off Vice President Amadeo towards the best interests of the Senate while ad- campus, talking about our sporting groups, and Rehbein and President Pro vocating for the executive team’s Tempore goals in my own Gillette even reporting about resources and groups that Michael that evening, Keough time. I hope to work with groups outside student students might not know about. ASLCCSG foread the letter aloud to government and continue our existing work, and the students presentcuses at theon the reporting work you all do for us, the meeting. I don't forsee any of the issues that arose last term student body.
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theTorch // www.lcctorch.com
NEWS
... continued from front page
Interview with a Vice President Editor’s Note
Some answers have been edited for length, clarity and grammar.
Are you from Eugene originally? I am not from Eugene! I'm from Portland, moved to Willamina and graduated from McMinnville High school, eventually coming down here with my partner in 2015.
What is your major? I've finally decided to narrow my focuses into physics. Lane has given me a challenge in finding the right path, but along the way I got a degree in studio arts, which has proven to be a passion. I also took astronomy classes as an extracurricular and realized that my true interests lie in physics, so I'm starting on my journey now, four years into community college.
Why did you decide to run for office? When I originally looked into applying for student government staff positions back in spring 2017, there were many of the same issues going on. There was lack of communication, disconnected politics and choices I felt were being made without all the right pieces present. That same feeling was present when I applied for staff this fall, so when Nick Keough asked me to be his appointee for Vice President, I saw an opportunity to speak up and use my voice for justice within these spaces where I feel inequity, to lead people who have been left without support by those tasked to do so, and to get things done. That's why I hoped to be considered by senators, and was grateful to be eventually ratified!
Do you have political aspirations beyond Lane CC? I get asked this a lot actually. I actually abhor bureaucratic institutions. There's a lot of change that needs to happen to make them accessible to the people who need it most in our communities, especially people of color and LGBTQ people. I just don't have the drive within me to continue on at a large scale level. That being said, I really respect small and local level organizing and politics. I come from small towns and organizations, so I see the power in that. I could see myself in 5 or 8 years sitting on a city water board or running for an underrepresented district chair, but that's as far as it ever could go. I live for that, and maybe that's why I love student government–the empowerment!
Since the ASLCC has been notably controversial this year, what changes do you hope to bring? I think the controversy from last term was due to a lack of accountability and leadership from the executive team. There needs to be a certain amount of presence and accountability as the face of an organization for the issues and mistakes that happen. There also have to be conversations and team building, working through things to make sure you put on your best face for the stu-
to pop up again. While governments will always The Torch has agreed to be rife with controversy, becausepublish we make thedeciASLCC’s open Your past conflicts with the adminisletter. We have sions and those decisions are bound to reflect not made any changes to the some students and not all. I hopecontent to lead of as the an letter. tration seem to be fairly well known example for the rest of the year until the last term by student government. Do you anis put to rest.
What do you like about it? I really love how much passion everyone has. You can ask people pretty much any time what they're looking forward to doing, what their ambitions are, and what their next steps are and they'll always have an answer. Everyone involved in student government right now has some story and some reason right now. It almost makes me want to cry right now when I think about the passion these people have for their dreams. In most places, people don't always feel comfortable talking. But, once you start building them as a leader, once they petition on as a senator or apply for staff, suddenly people start sharing ideas, wanting to shape this campus and make this place better for everyone. When you think about the fact that most of these people are going to school full time… it makes me want to do better, make this place better.
Have you acclimated to your new role in the ASLCC? I'd love to say yes! I'm still getting used to it, but mostly the meetings are happening smoothly and I'm running at 90% efficiency. The student government is a really great team, so we're all super understanding of everyone's capacity. I have a list of projects to get to and I'm already getting started on some big ones.
What are your goals and plans for the remainder of your time at ASLCC? I would love to support Senators in all their projects and events, and staff in all of their programs. I would like to have the Inclusive College Committee regularly meeting again. I hope to work with unions and amplify their voice in this college, and do better to support and explore the vast and exciting on campus groups and resources that we have.
Have you witnessed any friction between ASLCC and The Torch? No, I don't think so! I can't speak on behalf of any individuals, but for the organization, the Torch's reporting activities are fine. I think any defensiveness felt from members of student government are from them as people, as many of them are new to positions of interest where interviews
ticipate that this will cause any more friction?
I think that they are well known because I make them well known. I'm phrasing it like that because I believe my conflicts to be fairly one-sided. I don't know how unwilling administration has ever been to work with me, or ever will be in the future. Most of my conflicts are with the system and individuals. As I progress, I meet with people and haven't been turned away or gotten student government or the students at large in a bad position. As for friction within student government, I don't think it will cause any. I'm sure they understand where I stand and have stood and that in my time as an elected representative of the ASLCC , it is my duty to fairly and ethically speak on behalf and for all of them. If I were to start fights or bring up drama with anyone in this school, I would get in the way of that goal. So I don't anticipate it, no. If it were to cause friction, I'd just tell them what I just said, and leave it at that. I'm here to solve problems, not create them.
Do you have anything else that you would like to add? I'm glad to be working with this new team of senators and staff towards bettering LCC and the lives of our students. I hope that students feel empowered to speak out andand realize that there are more ways to get involved than ever. There are clubs, identity unions, and other specific student groups, all targeted to fitting into student schedules.
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stories that matter
theTorch // www.lcctorch.com
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
SPORTS ... continued from front page
photo by Marek Belka / editor in chief
Kylie Guelsdorf sails over Clark defenders to bank a layup late in their Feb. 11 matchup at Titan Coliseum. The Titans iced the Clark Penguins by 49 points, tightening their grip on first place in the NWAC.
Lane maintains dominance
photo by Marek Belka / editor in chief
Kylie Guelsdorf draws a hard foul from Clark defenders Payton Wangler and Taylor Mills. Guelsdorf dished out 15 assists and snagged six rebounds during the Titans’ 104-55 victory on Feb. 11.
shots in the third quarter, creating a larger deficit for the Penguins. The fourth quarter showed nothing different. The Titans kept their foot on the gas and added 20 points in the fourth to Clark’s 11. Where the Penguins slacked the most was in their three-point plays. Attempting 18 shots past the three-point line, the Penguins only one sank one. They held their own with 38 rebounds, three higher than average, but Lane still outshined their opponents with 49 rebounds. This game wasn't crucial to Clarks’ season, seeing as they are out of the running
for a playoff position. Currently, they have a conference record of 3-8. However, Lane is in control of their destiny. Having lost one game out of the last 19, they still hold first place in the NWAC south standings. The one loss came from the team that’s second in the south, Umpqua. Only one game behind Lane, Umpqua is looking forward to the rematch on Feb. 27 at Titan Court. Much is undecided but after Lane plays Umpqua, the playoff picture will be more complete. The Titans hold the best overall record in the league and will make it into the playoffs, but their seed placement can still change.
points in the second half. Combined with starting forward Cody Mathis’ nine rebounds, the Titans found a winning recipe. Not having a lead for more than 30 minutes of the game, Lane pulled ahead with six and a half minutes left to play. Taking the lead by one point, the defense closed the game strong, not allowing a single point for the last five minutes in the game. “It was a decision that our guys made, to go out and get what was ours,” Head Coach Joe White said. White gives all the credit to his players and their skill. “The challenging part is what makes it so fun.” The Titans’ conference record advanced to 9-2, leaving them in second place in the Southern Standings. The team was in the final stretch with five games to play in the regular season. Of all 34 teams in the NWAC, Lane holds the second best record at 20-3.
photo by Marek Belka / editor in chief
Head Coach Joe White catches Lezjon Bonds as he tumbles into the Titan bench after a loose ball on Feb. 11. White made several critical halftime adjustments, including putting the ball in Bonds’ hands on seven straight possessions, to help the Titans overcome a 17-point halftime deficit.
All four phases Lane takes late lead to beat division rivals David Galbreath Reporter
Lane beat Clark at home on Feb. 11 after overcoming a 17-point deficit. The game was played on a Monday night after being postponed due to weather conditions. After a shaky start, the Titans pulled together for a
strong finish to end the game 76-64. The key to this game was making the correct adjustments. Lane started with little traction in the first half and allowed Clark 40 points by halftime. As a team, Lane was making only 31 percent of their field goal attempts. Fired-up head coach Joe White was able to make efficient adjustments in the second half, putting Clark on their heels. Showing up in a big way for his team, Guard Lezjon Bonds made 19
photo by Marek Belka / editor in chief
Lezjon Bonds leaps over Clark point guard Sam Scarpelli during the second half of their matchup on Feb. 11. Bonds was the lynchpin of the Titans’ comeback victory over the Penguins, scoring 22 points in 29 minutes off the bench.
