The Torch — Edition 1 // Volume 49

september 26, 2013

eugene, oregon

Volume 50 // Edition 1

CAMPUS MAP | 4 & 5

SPORTS | 8

FALL CROSSCOUNTRY PREVIEW

L A N E ’ S

I N D E P E N D E N T ,

S T U D E N T - R U N

N E W S P A P E R

College settles contract with classified union

SLEEPS fights the camping ban

MOHAMMED ALKHADHER // NEWS EDITOR

Free Speech Plaza closing overruled in court, but still enforced joel deVYldere // A&E Editor Lois Brown, 16, has been living on and off the streets for just a few months.

“Before I left home, I literally knew nobody,” she said, noting the struggles of navigating street life alone.

She feels she has found a safe place to stay in one of several campsites that have been dubbed by the local media as “Whovilles.” see SLEEPS | 6

MISSY CORR // editor-in-chief A SLEEPS participant sits in front of an encampment consisting of approximately a dozen tents on the corner of 7th and Pearl St.

Alternative high school students’ aspirations rise as they find a home on Lane campus alyssa leslie // photo editor One hundred and sixty Eugene 4J high school students will begin attending classes on the Lane campus this fall with the relocation of Early College and Career Options.

ECCO has partnered with Lane’s High School Connections program, bringing with them a nurse, principal, teachers, counselors and child development center for teen parents.

“Power of the place,” High School Connections Director Deron Fort said. “If you put younger people in a college environment their maturity level tends to go up, their aspirations tend to go up, their performance tends to go up.”

ECCO was created last year by consolidating parts of the

alyssa leslie // photo editor Above: Early College and Career Options students direct their attention to their computers in their new classroom in Building 10, Sept. 19. Right: Teacher Kristin Stone helps a student. alternative high schools in Lane County. Unlike traditional high schools, ECCO is designed to help students achieve their goal of earning a high school diploma while continuing on to earn a college education..

“We are showing students from day one where you can be after high school,” Fort explained, “The high school diploma is something they get along the way. They’re here to get a college education.”

ECCO office manager Valerie Falleur explained that new students go through a

12-week course during which they stay in the same group with the same two teachers.

This trial course is intended to see if students are determined to complete their education and introduce them to the ECCO program. After the initial 12 weeks, students join the rest of ECCO and continue in classes that include writing, trade skills, geography, service learning and LCC prep, which will help students make a smooth transition to Lane.

Fort estimated that 15 students per term move on to Lane classes.

“These again are students that haven’t had success in a typical high school,” Fort said. “But these students have often done well or even better than a typical college student coming in through a regular system.”

ECCO student Samantha Gargett said that she loves the small atmosphere of her classes and finds it inspirational being on Lane’s campus.

Gargett has been with ECCO for one year, and plans on attending Lane to get either a welding certificate or transfer degree.

The union representing Lane’s classified staff and the college reached an agreement on the ratification of their contract over the Summer.

However, faculty representatives of the Lane Community College Education Association remain in bargaining that will resume in the fall, despite the June 30 contract expiration.

Details of the contract were not available at press time.

“As meager as the advancements seem to be in contrast to our education friends in other areas, we’re not seeing advancement to the level that we’d expect that our employees should be getting,” Board of Education member Pat Albright said. “But due to our revenues and the Pat Albright money situation, enrollments, and the fact that we’re still improving advancements in salary and benefits relative to other people that I know and am very intimately acquainted with, this is kind of incredible.”

As of July, the Lane Community College Employee Federation had passed the 90-day mark for negotiations with Lane’s administration and was mediation bound to find a resolution to the stand-still between the two parties.

If mediation had failed the next move would result in a strike vote, LCCEF President Bob Baldwin said.

“We’re happy the bargaining has concluded for our union with the successful ratification of the contract Mary Spilde opener,” LCCEF Grievance Chair Denise Brinkman said. “It doesn’t mean we’re happy with how we got there.”

Brinkman was dissatisfied with the bargaining process — from the opening offers which she regarded as insulting to the required mediation in the end. see BOARD | 6

2 OPINION

EDITOR Missy Corr

The Torch / 9.26.13

TAKE BACK

LANE C OMMUNITY C OLLEGE ’ S i n d e p e n d e n t, student-run n e w s pa p e r

LCCTORCH.COM STAFF// EDITOR-IN-CHIEF// Missy Corr PRODUCTION MANAGER//

Char Houweling

NEWS EDITOR// Mohammed Alkhadher A & E EDITOR// Joel Devyldere SPORTS EDITOR// Jarrid Denney PHOTO EDITOR// Alyssa Leslie RESEARCHER// Crystal Kingery REPORTERS// John Van Mulligen Keoni Conlu DESIGN EDITOR// Stephanie Orndorff GRAPHIC ARTIST// Connor White

YOUR SCHOOL

Lane’s campus will be hit by an 11 percent enrollment slide this Fall term, a far cry from the 2 percent decrease built into this year’s budget. That could add up to a $2.9 million deficit.

President Mary Spilde said, and the administration has set out to find a way to balance the budget.

“It isn’t where we were hoping it to be, but we are closing the gap,” Spilde said.

Tuition is at an all-time high according to The Institute of College Access and Success.

Faculty is still in bargaining with administration on their contract that expired last June, Textbooks still aren’t affordable.

While federal and state governments can be disillusioning in their inaccessibility, the administration is awaiting your input in Building 3, just yards from the cafeteria.

We have a student government in place in Building 1 to represent us as students, and groups all over campus to accommodate unification of our voices.

There are monthly board meetings open to the public that provide a public platform to be heard.

These are all forums to for students.

But are we paying attention?

Spilde was tasked with finding a way to balance the budget over the Summer and returned to this September’s board meeting with a proposal.

Albright attributed the budget shortfall to the state’s disinvestment in community colleges and the 43 percent enrollment increase Lane saw between 2008 and 2011.

“Our legislatures will take great pride I think we’re going to have in saying ‘We’ve given some tough conversations. the biggest increase With every financial in public decision we make, we have to funds,’” Albright said. be thoughtful about its “That’s kind ramifications. of a misnomer because Dr. Mary Spilde we’re still are Lane President not up to the same funding level as when I came Spilde has proposed to onto the board six years ago.” balance the budget by calling Gov. John Kitzhaber will for a deferral of capital outlay convene the Oregon Legislaexpenditures, which means ture September 30. less spending on buildings and “You never know. There equipment. may be a plan there,” Spilde Reductions of part-time said. “In the proposals we’ve classified employees, part-time seen, it’s $15 million for comfaculty, vacancy savings, and munity college.” materials and services spendOf the projected $15 miling were also proposed. lion, Lane could expect to see “We took the principles that $800,000 to $900,000 a year had been established in past for the next biennium, Spilde years,” Spilde said. “And then said. some of the strategies we used “We’re really focusing on to balance the budget.” veterans and the new ECCO Board representative Pat program, that will increase

“

”

full-time equivalency,” Spilde said. “And for international students, we are up 51 percent in full-time equivalency.”

As for next year, “I think we’re going to have some tough conversations,” Spilde said. “With every financial decision we make, we have to be thoughtful about its ramifications.”

Tuition is continuing to rise, no one is doing anything about the record-shattering student debt and textbooks still aren’t affordable.

We at The Torch attend the meetings held by the Board of Education, student government and campus clubs. It’s disheartening to see the rooms filled with the people we’ve chosen to represent us, running the show without us.

ASLCC President Paul Zito and Vice President Anayeli Jimenez ran and were elected unopposed.

We question our lack of control but fail to acknowledge that we’ve given up control.

We need to take advantage of the platforms that are provided to us. Fill the boardrooms, swarm the student government’s meetings and join a club.

Take notice of how education is changing. Take advantage of these opportunities.

Make yourselves heard.

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CONTACT// The Torch Lane Community College 4000 E. 30th Ave. Eugene, OR 97405 toRcheditor@lcctorch.edu Twitter: @llctorch

stephanie orndorff // design editor

NEWS

EDITOR Mohammed Alkhadher The Torch / 9.26.13

3

Campus food pantry continues its search for a new home john van mulligen // reporter The Sustainable Food Committee’s efforts to open Lane’s first food pantry have lost momentum with attempts to secure a location falling short.

“We’ve gotten so much overwhelming support here on campus,” ASLCC coordinator and Sustainable Food Committee chair Michael Weed said.

“The biggest problem has been trying to acquire space for it.”

To aid in the committee’s

efforts, a four-and-a-half-week survey campaign is planned for Fall term, which will designate what the ASLCC fights for in the coming year, with food insecurity and food sovereignty being options.

“The more we get signed, the more it represents our student body,” Weed said. “It will give us more ability to spread awareness and find a space in order to make this food pantry available to the students.”

stephanie orndorff // design editor Once a location is found, Weed expects the pantry to be up and running within two weeks.

“Our number one goal and priority is just to get it off the ground this fall, make it happen, make it work, and prove N to the administration and

BUILDLING 11

everyone at Lane that this is something that can and should exist at Lane,” OSPIRG Organizer Darlene Azarmi said.

While the committee continues to iron out the kinks, students can do their part by filling out the surveys, as well as attending the Sustainable Food

Committee meetings.

For meeting times and location, information or to find out ways to help, contact Michael Weed at aslccsustainabilitycoordinator@gmail.com or Darlene Azarmi at darlene@ospirgstudents.org.

REV IV ED BY RENOVATIONS

MISSY CORR // editor-in-chief contribution by alyssa leslie // photo editor

Left: Facilities Project Manager Todd Smith said the Academic Learning Skills department relocation from the Center Building to the second floor of Building 11 is a step towards construction set to begin on the Center Building with the demolition of terraces in December.

Above and below: An elevator on the West side of Building 11 is set for completion in November. It is part of a series of more than $1 million in changes Building 11 has seen this summer, including seismic retrofitting to increase stability in the event of an earthquake and upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment.

Right: Data projector in one of seven new “enhanced classrooms” added downstairs that are equipped with data projectors, projection screens and control podiums.

Left: Instructors will control the data projection equipment from podiums made by Lane carpenter Steve Kayl.

WELCOME TO LANE C N 31

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smoking station

bus stop

atm

water refill

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bike rack

handicap access

elevator

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CENTER. bookstore/library/cafeteria 1. STUDENT SERVICES 2. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3. ADMINISTRATION 4. HEALTH PROFESSIONS 5. PHYSICAL EDUCATION 6. PERFORMING ARTS 7. FACILITIES/PRINTING & GRAPHICS 8. WELDING 9. AUTO/DIESEL 10. RTEC/ART/ECCO 11. ART/ESL/GED 12. manufacturing/auto/construction 13. ANNEXES/PUBLIC SAFETY 15. ELECTRONICS/DRAFTING 16. SCIENCE/MATH 17. FORUM/MEDIA ARTS 18. DRAFTING/GRAPHIC DESIGN & HEALTH CLINIC 19. business/cit/workforce/co-op ed/cml 24. family connections/child development 25. INFANT/TODDLER CENTER 26. PRESCHOOL 30. HEALTH AND WELLNESS 31. LONGHOUSE

mathmatics

6 NEWS

EDITOR Mohammed Alkhadher The Torch / 9.26.13

SLEEPS from p. 1

The Safe Legally Entitled Enclosed Places to Sleep camps are intended to protest a ban on camping in Eugene. They sprung up in December, starting with one at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza. The saga of recent weeks is a continuation of a year-long struggle between homelessness rights advocates and the city and county governments.

According to court documents long-time Eugene resident David Picionni was arrested in the plaza this January, along with 20 other free speech activists who stayed past the deadline after Lane County attempted to evict a previous protest camp last winter.

Last winter’s protest, also targeted at ending the city’s urban camping ban, was declared unlawful on December 11th when Lane County closed the Plaza claiming health concerns.

Picionni and others remained, defying police warnings.

“I wasn’t going to sleep in the plaza, but I wanted to stay and get a ticket to defend our constitutional right,” he said.

After the arrests, attorney Mark Jordan of the Eugene-based Civil Liberty Defense Center went to court on behalf of several of the activists.

“The Oregon and U.S. constitution protect speech MISSYMissy CORRCorr // editor-in-chief // Editor-in-Chief there after 11:00 p.m. unless they can point to very speApproximately a dozen protesters begin their hour-long “sleep-in” Sept.

13 at Kesey Square on Broadway and Willamette St., cific and credible evidence why it’s unsafe to the public,” objecting to the treatment of those without houses in Eugene.

Jordan said.

In August Jordan argued for the dismissal of charges “Public protests in Eugene are part of constitutionfor 21 of the activists, including David Picionni. ally protected free speech. And it takes place within the The Eugene Municipal Court ruled August 15 that laws,” McLaughlin said. the nightly closure of the Plaza “significantly limited…

“The city is continuing to enforce the existing camprights to speech and assembly, regardless of the curfew’s ing ordinance and other applicable laws,” McLaughlin intent.” said.

The Plaza, nestled between several county buildings Meanwhile the city of Eugene has pursued the posand adjacent to the park blocks in downtown Eugene, is sible opening of more homeless shelters and continued perhaps best known for its weekly drum circles during to support St. Vincent DePaul’s car camping program.

Saturday Market each Summer. After the August ruling After the August closing “Whovilles” began popit again became the site of a protest encampment and ping up all over town. The main camp at Pearl St. and Lane County ordered it closed at night due to public Seventh Ave. served as a headquarters from which many health and safety concerns. different camps launched with varying success.

Lois, who at the time was living in a tent at the Plaza, Across the street where activists padlocked themremembers eviction night vividly. She says that the selves in their tents on the patio of the Lane County residents of the plaza had four hours to pack up and go.

Service Building, they say they awoke to find ‘No CampMembers of the protest camp encouraged Lois to obey ing’ signs around their encampment. On Sept. 12 campthe police and leave, while others stayed to get arrested ers said they saw the protesters engaged in a struggle for maintaining their protest. with what turned out to be undercover police officers.

At the subsequent city council meetings an outraged Multiple people were injured, including SLEEPS police group of activists and homeless people expressed outliaison Angela Bartow. She said she was injured in jail rage on behalf of those arrested and displaced. Lois was after being arrested for videotaping and arguing with among those to speak out. police during the arrests at the Service Building.

“I went up there and said ‘Your behavior in dealing Just hours after her release Bartow had a gash on her with the homeless situation has been unacceptable.’ face and held her arm in a sling.

And they just looked at me all wide-eyed,” she said.

“Having fibromyalgia, I was in a lot of pain,” Bartow Melinda McLaughlin, Public Relations Director for said. the Eugene Police Department, maintained that the She felt that the attending officer didn’t believe that plaza closings are not a political move on the part of she had a serious medical condition. When she comEPD. plained of pain, she says, the officer “wrenched my left arm up the center of my back, and had my hand directly behind my neck, and bashed my face into the wall.”

On Sept. 13 people joined SLEEPS to march down // Editor-in-Chief MISSYMissy CORRCorr // editor-in-chief to a public “sleep in” protest at Eugene’s Kesey Square.

Joshua ‘Jersey’ Tonkin said he sustained a wrist injury and a Protesters rolled out sleeping bags and laid down in the square to demonstrate the desperation of their plight. In laceration on his face during a Sept. 12 interaction with the Eugene sleeping under a blanket is considered camping Eugene Police Department. and violates city code.

According to Quintero, mental illness and addicWhoville resident Morlan Quintero has lived in one tion can cause a lot of problems in the Whoville camps. of the new camps for a couple of weeks. A long-time Quintero remained hopeful. traveler and homelessness advocate, Quintero identifies “We wanted to have a safe, legally entitled place to with the police that stop by from time to time. sleep. You can’t be drinking, you can’t be using,” Quin“I was a marine and a good portion of my unit were ex tero said. “Yeah, there’s a bunch of tweakers… but you’re // Editor-in-Chief MISSYMissy CORRCorr // editor-in-chief law-enforcement officers. I have compassion for them. going to get that anywhere. We’ve been trying to get the A sign listing statistics related to homelessness posted by They deal with people who are mentally ill all day long,” tweakers out.” protesters during the downtown demonstration.

Quintero said.

Titan Court apartment leases at 96 percent

BOARD from p. 1

Lane Board Member Matt Keating announced at the September 17 Board meeting that 96 percent of Titan Court is leased for the Fall term, and 70 percent of its occupants are Lane students.

The June 5 Torch reported Titan Court only leased 61 percent of its capacity, and had 20 percent pre-leased for this Fall term.

“We had a lot of help from different departments from within Lane,” Titan Court General Manager Makenzie Sargeant said. “We did some master leases over the Summer with Lane and the U of O.”

“I’ve been on the bargaining team for six years and I’ve never seen it this bad,” Brinkman said.

Brinkman, on behalf of the LCCEF, said they felt and continued to feel as if the administration chose the wrong year to have a fight this big.

“Our full-contract is up in 2015 and we believed that would’ve been a more appropriate time for the college to come out at us with both barrels,” Brinkman said.

Brinkman thanked the Board and the administration for the solidarity they created within Lane’s unions throughout this negotiation period, and the faculty union for their support throughout the contract reopener.

“We hope to pay them (faculty) back when they resume their negotiations in

Titan Court wasn’t available for viewing during the leasing season last year, said Sargeant.

A model and amenities helped the leasing process. ”Last year they didn’t start leasing until later because the building wasn’t here,” Sargeant said in June. “But this year I think we have the advantage because we started earlier.”

Lane’s International and Athletic departments were specifically thanked for their referrals. Thirty-Five percent of Titan Court is occupied by International students, Sargeant said.

“The Downtown campus was a huge undertaking, not without its risks,” said Board Chair Rosie Pryor in an email to the Torch. “It is great to see that willingness to take on a big challenge be rewarded with such a positive response.”

As part of its contract with Lane, the management firm Campus Advantage must strive to maintain a 95 percent occupancy rate, which they’ve proven they have been able to accomplish.

“We’re really excited to be starting the year full,” Sargeant said. ­— Muhammed Alkhadher

the Fall term,” Brinkman said.

Albright responded to Brinkman’s statement by reminding her that the board makes proposals based on board directives.

“We’re responsible to the unions to make sure that we can provide them the fairest contract that we can afford to give them,” Albright said. “At the same time we have to make sure we don’t sell the college down the river.”

Lane’s administration will continue bargaining with the faculty union this fall, in hopes of ratifying the faculty’s contract with the administration for this academic year.

“These unions, you know, would like to get everything they can get,” Albright said. “Our responsibility as a board is fiscal management.”

7 A&E

EDITOR Joel Devyldere

The Torch / 9.26.13

Lane Calendar Joel DeVyldere //A&E editor

Gallery Openings Lane Arts Faculty Exhibit “SKETCHBOOK, the Process of Creating” is the Lane Art Gallery’s annual fall exhibit.

The exhibition will include media from instructors from the Art and Applied Design faculty.

According to the press release, faculty has been asked to share work that exemplifies their art careers along with pages from their sketchbooks and journals to show the creative process behind the artwork on display. A reception will be held Thursday, Oct. 3 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

When: Sept. 30 - Oct. 17 Location: Lane Art Gallery, Building 11 Cost: Free More Info: http://www.lanecc. edu/artgallery

Powwow The Lane Community College Native American Student Association invites the public to its annual Powwow. All drums and dancers welcome.

No alcohol or drugs.

When: Dec. 1, 1-7 p.m.

Location: Gymnasium, Building 5 Cost: $8 general admission; $5 for students, seniors, and Lane staff. Season tickets available.

More Info: (541) 463-5238

J.S. Bird’s “Trinity-Psyche and Pan” will be featured in the Lane Arts Gallery’s “SKETCH BOOK” exhibit in Building 11, starting on Sept. 30. Bird is a fine art instructor with Lane’s Department of Art and Applied Design.

Plays and Auditions

When: Oct. 2 and 3, 5:30 p.m.

Location: Blue Door Theater, Building 6

Auditions for “In the Next Room” Auditions for the Student Production Association’s production of “In the Next Room,” a risqué romantic comedy set in the Victorian era at the dawn of household electricity.

When: Nov. 13-16 and 20-23 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 17 at 2:00 p.m.

Location: Blue Door Theatre, Building 6 Cost: $8 general admission; $5 for students, seniors, and Lane staff. Season tickets available.

More Info: (541) 463-520

Production of “In the Next Room” “In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play,” is a critically acclaimed play by Sarah Ruhl. Its Eugene premiere will be directed by New York-based Willow Norton, returning to her native Eugene.

When: Dec. 7, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Location: Blue Door Theatre (Building 6, Room 103) Cost: Free (Donations accepted) More Info: (541) 463-5202

Shakespeare Showcase A collection of Shakespearean scenes and monologues performed by students, returning students and guest artists.

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8

SPORTS

EDITOR Jarrid Denney

The Torch / 9.26.13

Men’s cross country reloaded with local talent Jarrid Denney // Sports Editor

Led by NWAACC champion Elias Gedyon, last year’s mens cross country team dominated the Southern Region on the way to placing second at the NWAACC championships, their best finish since 2006.

The only returning runner from last year’s group is sophomore Javier Velasco, who finished seventh at the Southern Region Championships, but spent the entire summer recovering from a calf injury and may not be able to compete until late in the season.

“We’re hoping to get Javi back. He’s been doing a lot of pool and bike time right now; so he may be doing that for the next month before we’re ready to race him. We’re hoping to work him in but if not we can also redshirt him,” said Mike Blackmore, head coach.

To top last year’s success, the Titans must rely on an entirely different group of athletes and a much more team-oriented strategy.

“We don’t have a superstar like Elias this year,” Blackmore said. “But I think we honestly have four guys who are better than our number two guy from last year, so we’re really solid up front.”

The Titans are lead by a talented group of freshmen who have dominated the Oregon high school track and cross country scene for the past several seasons.

“What’s different from last year is that we have four guys that on any given day, whoever is on, could be the first guy across the finish line,” Blackmore said. “When you have four guys who are all running within ten seconds of each other, some good things can happen that

Missy Corr // Editor-in-Chief Running for Lane, Eduardo Juarez (left), Jonathan Cornish (right) and David Cornish (behind) of the men’s cross country team compete on the home course in the Northwest Classic on Sept. 20. Jonathan Cornish was the Titans’ top finisher with a time of 20:42. way.”

Eduardo Juarez of Hermiston ran the fourth fastest high school 5k time in the state of Oregon in 2012 and was the Titans top finisher in their first meet of the season. He and Velasco were both part of Hermiston’s 2010 5A cross country champion team.

Matthew Campbell and Hayden Schaffner were both members of Siuslaw’s back-to-back state champion cross country teams in 2011 and 2012. Both were also individual champions at the 4A level. Campbell took home the 2012 cross country title and Schaffner was the 800 meter champion during the 2011 track season.

Twin brothers Jonathan Cornish and David Cornish of North Valley High

School finished third and fourth respectively in the 2012 4A cross country championship and led their team to a second place overall finish.

“I think that one of the big keys to our potential success is that all of these guys have been on the podium at the state meet, including some state champions,” Blackmore said. “We’re focusing on this whole team thing and not just individual titles. If that happens that’s great, but our overall goal is to win a team championship.”

Despite Blackmore’s team first approach, there has been some friendly competition during the Titan workouts thus far.

“Everyone has a different set of skills, as we were all trained differently at the

high school level,” says Campbell. “It has been competitive these first couple of weeks, as we all test to see what each of our strengths are.”

Having so much talent in one group is certainly a luxury, but Blackmore is aware that it can also become problematic throughout the season.

“I think the biggest challenge, especially on the guy’s side, is that there’s a lot of talent up front and it’s easy to get carried away in practice and start trying to compete and race with one another and turn your season into a mess at the end,” explained Blackmore.

“I think if we come together as a group, as opposed to working against each other, we’ve got a chance to do some really good things this season.”

Women’s cross country looks to go from worst to first Jarrid Denney // Sports Editor

Torch file photo 2012 Macaulay Wilson is the Titans’ top returning runner from last year. She finished third in the Titans’ first meet of the season in Battleground, WA. Wilson covered the course with a time of 21:18

After going through a rebuilding year in 2012, this year’s Lane women’s cross country team looks to return to winning form and contend for a regional championship.

Last year’s team, which finished last in the NWAACC South Region, was short on natural cross country runners and was made up of mostly sprinters and middle-distance runners who were trying to stay in shape for track season.

This year, Head Coach Mike Blackmore has brought in a mix of local prep stars and talented transfers from other schools.

“Our number one girl from last year is actually our number three on this year’s team,” Blackmore said.

“The women’s team is in really good standing right now compared to where they were last year.”

Macaulay Wilson is Lane’s only returning runner from last season.

She finished 8th at the NWAACC South Region Championship and was consistently the Titans’ number one runner.

“This season has been completely different, especially on the girls team, because the girls that were recruited to run are actual distance runners, unlike last year,” Wilson

said. “I feel a lot stronger than I did last year and more confident being able to run side by side with my teammates.”

The Titans will lead with a talented freshman who has already proven that she has what it takes to bring home an individual title in a championship race.

“Our top runner is Katy Potter from Siuslaw, another state champion that we’re happy to have,” Blackmore said. “She was second last week in our first meet — about 19 seconds behind last year’s NWAACC champion — and she’s only going to improve.”

Potter is the 2012 4A Cross Country state champion and finished the Titans’ first 5k in 19:29 — a half ahead of any other runner from the NWAACC Southern Region.

Blackmore said he will also depend heavily on freshman Kristine Dunn, a high school sprint champion from Cottage Grove, who is making her cross country debut for the Titans.

“She’s kind of our hidden gem.

She’s a 400- and 800-meter runner and a soccer player and she was our fifth woman in our first meet, really not knowing how to run a cross country race,” Blackmore said.

“Now that she’s got a race under her belt, and is starting to understand

the whole cross country training process. I think we’ll see good things from her going forward.”

Chelsea Spencer and Allie Cross are new additions who could both make a huge impact for Titans if they are able to run to their full potential.

“Chelsea was second in the 4A cross country meet twice a couple of years ago. She transferred in from Air Force Academy. She’s maybe a little behind in her aerobic fitness, but I think she’ll come on when she needs to,” Blackmore said.

He said Allie ran an 18:35 5k as a junior, but last year she had some injuries that probably inhibited her from having a really good track season.

“She had a tough senior year and hardly ran at all during track season, but right now she’s our second girl and she’s been great,” he said.

It is very rare for a team to make the jump from last to first place in a single season in any sport. However, Blackmore believes this year’s Titan team has a chance to do just that.

“With all the talent in the conference it could be tough to crack into the top,” Blackmore said. “But if this group continues to grow like they have over the last couple of months, I think there is certainly a chance of winning a trophy.”