Daniel Mackay / page 2 Local indie game / page 3 Volleyball recap / page 4
TORCH the
OCT 3, 2018 - VOLUME 54, EDITION 1 - EUGENE, OR
"...I’m just worried they’ll start to raise my tuition more and more to make up for it." -Derek Mooney Second-year mathematics student
Seven Year Slide As unemployment falls, so does college enrollment Marek Belka Editor-in-Chief According to the official budget approved and adopted by the Lane Community College Board of Education, approximately 8,200 students are enrolled in Fall Term classes, an 11 percent drop from the previous year. This is cause for concern for the college since continuing enrollment woes signal a decline in state and federal funding. Enrollment has dropped every year since the peak of the Great Recession in 2011, when over 15,000 students took classes at LCC. Historically, college enrollment rises during periods of economic upheaval and higher unemployment. As the national unemployment rate approached 10 percent in 2010 and 2011, people flocked to community colleges to learn new skills and find new careers. This was a boon for state and federal funding for colleges, but as those students earned degrees and rejoined the workforce, the
illustration by Quentin J. Piccolo / illustrator
money slowly began to disappear. The 11 percent drop in enrollment is the greatest decline among Oregon community colleges, according to LCC’s budget and data obtained from Oregon’s 16 other colleges. Though the college has yet to make any hard decisions about cutting services this year, second-year mathematics transfer student Derek Mooney has his own ideas. “My classes feel smaller, the line for coffee is shorter, everything feels less crowded on campus,” Mooney said. “I can already see it happening. It’s not necessarily a bad thing right now. I’m just worried they’ll start to raise my tuition more and more to make up for it.” In Oregon, state funding for public higher education institutions is set every two years by the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development and divided between the state’s 17 community colleges. Additional funding is levied through property taxes in each college’s respective district. Most of the remaining money is raised through tution, fees and private donations. How much state and tax money each college receives is based in part on enrollment numbers, which can put pressure on smaller community colleges in rural areas. Most of the remaining money is raised through student tuition, fees and private donations. Many of Oregon’s community colleges have been forced to raise tuition to help make ends meet – this spring, LCC's
Water Conservation Program Restored Jess Roten Reporter T h e Nat i o n a l S c i e n c e Foundation awarded Lane Community College’s Energy M a n a g e m e n t a n d Wa t e r Conservation department a grant of $537,310 to relaunch the Water Conservation Technician program beginning Fall 2019.
The grant will be paid over the course of three years after which the college can re-apply for more funds. This is the third year in a row that Roger Ebbage, director of LCC's Water Conservation and Energy Management programs, requested the grant. With funding finally secured, Ebbage and his team are ready to relaunch the program after it was cut due to funding concerns. The Water Conservation Technician curriculum is almost identical to the current Energy Management program, the only difference being the geographic regions in which the
board approved a tuition increase for the sixth straight year. Oregon residents now pay $113.50 per credit hour to attend classes, up from $90 in 2012. But even though the price of classes has gone up, students like Julia Crenshaw – who is attending college for the first time – are cautiously optimistic. “I’d rather pay a little bit more now if it means everything else stays the same and no one loses their jobs,” Crenshaw said. “And it’s still cheaper to go here than Portland [State University] or [University of] Oregon, so what’s a few dollars more if I still get to be a lawyer after I’m done?” Despite the steadily increasing concern about funding, LCC is also investing $2.5 million into its infrastructure, including several improvements mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act and a roof replacement for Building 16. In the past several years, LCC has been forced to cut or restructure certain degree programs to save money. In 2017 alone, the Watershed Technician Program and Sustainability Coordinator programs were nixed, along with several social science and humanities courses, due to low enrollment. Though LCC has taken steps to encourage new enrollment and retain existing students, Vice President of Student Affairs Brian Kelley cautioned members of the budget committee in May that the college may be forced to borrow money “as soon as [fiscal year 20]20” if the current trend continues.
program is offered. The courses are 100 percent online, "a student doesn't ever have to set foot on campus," Ebbage said. Upon enrollment the student is paired with a "FieldWork Mentor," typically an employee of a public utility, students then work one-on-one with the mentor gaining hands-on experience. “Oregon has more public utilities than anywhere else in the country and many of these companies are looking to hire graduates of the program,” Ebbage said. It is not yet known whether there will be any scholarship funds available, however applications for Fall 2019 are now being accepted.
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theTorch // www.lcctorch.com Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
theTorch // www.lcctorch.com
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TORCH the
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Convicted Instructor Returns Writing instructor Daniel Mackay appealing sex solicitation conviction Marek Belka Editor-in-Chief A for mer pr iest and L ane Community College instructor convicted on three counts of sex solicitation is teaching classes again this fall. Daniel Mackay was convicted on three counts of sex solicitation – a misdemeanor in Oregon – in 2016 photo courtesy of anonymous Lane student and was sentenced to 90 days in jail Chalk messages protesting Daniel Mackay’s continued employment at and three years of probation. Lane Community College appeared on Thursday, hours after a Eugene Weekly The controversy surrounding article` breaking the news was released. Mackay’s employment at Lane has cast a shadow on the first week of fall “I had no idea when I signed up for this in 2016, claimed that members of their class term, after a Eugene Weekly article class that he was a sex criminal,” the student were prepared to file a formal complaint breaking the news was released last said. “I was already on the fence about him against him with administration. The class Thursday. Within hours of the article’s as a teacher on Tuesday, and by Thursday, didn’t file the complaint once Mackay was publication, chalk grafeveryone was sending me links removed from his position. fiti appeared around to the [Eugene] Weekly article “He was refusing to respect some our campus criticizing the about him.” classmates’ gender identities and pronouns,” college’s decision to The student also said that Tarhuni said. “And many of us didn’t feel employ Mackay and many of their classmates said comfortable being in his classroom.” calling for his immethat they would also try to Mackay maintains his innocence regarddiate firing. One chalk drop Mackay’s class, but is ing the prostitution charges and is currently message read “Students unsure how many followed appealing his conviction. are watching, Pres. through. According to the Eugene Weekly, Mackay Hamilton.” “I don’t even care what the served nine days of his 90-day sentence. He’s -Anonymous Student One of Mackay’s whole story is, I don’t want to also completed roughly half of his three-year current students, who agreed to speak be associated at all with him,” the student probation, as well as the state-required “Sex on condition of anonymity, says the said. “But I’m stuck with him unless Lane Buyer Accountability Course.” news about the former priest caught decides to get rid of him.” The Torch will continue to investigate them and many of their classmates Moe Tarhuni, who was enrolled in this developing story in future editions. off guard. Mackay’s class when he was first arrested
"I’m stuck with him unless Lane decides to get rid of him."
A Letter From Your Student Government*: We, the Associated Students of Lane Community College Student Government (ASLCCSG), stand in solidarity with the Portland State University Student Union (PSUSU) and their requests to Portland State University in response to the fatal shooting of Jason Washington by two PSU campus police officers. The shooting further fueled protests against a policy the school implemented in 2015 to arm part of their campus safety force as sworn officers. Their requests are as follows: “We, the Portland State University Student Union will be occupying the space directly in front of the Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO) on PSU’s campus at 633 SW Montgomery St. until; 1. PSU immediately disarms all of their campus public safety officers 2. PSU fires officers Shawn McKenzie and James Dewey, the two officers who murdered Jason Washington 3. PSU creates a permanent memorial for Jason Washington, and allow this process to be led by the Washington family” Of the 17 shots fired by the two campus police officers, 9 struck Jason, and the other 8 bullets flew down the street toward campus, demonstrating the use of excessive force and the irresponsibility of the officers in this situation. The US Department of Justice has released reports of investigations into police brutality in cities across the country, including Portland, Oregon. These reports have shown patterns of abuse and excessive force by police officers, particularly against people of color. These communities deserve equal protections and equitable support from those sworn to protect. We, the ASLCC Student Government, believe it is in the best interest ofstudents to refrain from arming campus safety officers with lethal weapons. Feeling safe on campus is an integral part of every student’s ability to learn & the presence of armed officers on campus can disproportionately affect the safety of students of color, victims of gun violence, and students with disabilities. Students deserve an inclusive and equitable campus where they can feel safe and supported so that they may be successful in achieving their dreams. As fellow Oregon student body representatives, and representatives of students who may transfer to PSU, we stand in solidarity with PSUSU in doing what they feel is best to support the safety and success of the students they represent. We commend those leading the #DisarmPSU movement and all those taking part in the occupation for the amount of organization & dedication that goes into standing up for the best interest of students and demanding justice for victims of police brutality. Our hearts go out to the family of Jason Washington and all those affected by this tragic situation.
stories that matter
FEATURES LCC Revamps Retention Support College takes on project to help guide students Sabrina Piccolo News Director Since 2012, Lane Community College has been faced with rapidly declining enrollment and wavering completion rates. Seeking a solution to these problems, LCC has joined the Oregon Pathways Project, a guided program toward increasing graduation and student success rates in community colleges in Oregon. This project is under the guidance of the Oregon Student Success Center, which supports the state’s 17 community colleges by clarifying academic paths to meet student goals. OSSC helps students choose educational and career paths, making sure that students stay on track. Also joining the project are Chemeketa Community College, Clackamas Community College, Rogue Community College and Southwestern Oregon Community College. Elizabeth Cox Brand, the executive director of the OSSC, explained the specifics of what these guided pathways would look like at LCC and the other community colleges in the cohort. With the Oregon Pathways Project, she said, LCC will have new students pick from a selection of general areas of study, such as health care or manufacturing, rather than have students choose from over 300 different specific majors. The goal is to have students narrow their focus as they explore career options over time. The project will also include program-mapping, Brand said. Under this guided pathway, when a student chooses a major, they will be given a map of courses, including
elective suggestions, to take per term. Students will not be required to follow these maps, she added, but these maps will serve as guideposts toward student end goals. She added that the project will incorporate events during orientations to help students know if they are eligible for financial aid or other benefits. According to Brand, the Oregon Pathways Project will especially benefit underrepresented students and those who are not ready for college-level work. “This is just a way to help students become successful and to smooth out the crazy journey we call community college,” she said. LCC Vice President Paul Jarrell said that he believes that the Oregon Pathways Project will help close the gaps in student success at the college, acknowledging the 50-50 chance that a student will return the following fall term, the decreasing rate of enrollment and the falling completion rates in certain areas of study at LCC. According to enrollment and degree statistics at LCC, enrollment has decreased by 534 students between 2016 and 2017, and by 6,659 students since 2012. Although awards given to students have technically increased overall since 2016, technical awards dropped from 1,038 to 816 and Associate of Science awards dropped from 87 to zero by 2017. Jarrell focused on the need to view the higher education system from the perspective of the student. “LCC’s system was designed for students of privilege, high educational background and knowledge of college education,” Jarrell said, regretting that the college was not created with the majority of students in mind. “Our college is almost designed to fail them.” The vice president also said that the Oregon Pathways Project will help the college have an open conversation about how to best serve and invest in current LCC students. Those who run the college must be open to constructive
photo by Jason Petorak / photojournalist
Dr. Paul Jarrell discusses his vision for the future of students at Lane Community College. Jarrell, who spearheaded the implementation of the Oregon Pathways Project, is the new Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at LCC.
criticism during these dialogues, he said. “Shame on us as an institution if we’re not willing to have a conversation.” According to Brand, each of the five colleges under the Oregon Pathway Project will go through a training period for two years, ending in November of 2019. According to the OSCC, participating colleges are likely to turn around slumping enrollment and graduation rates within a decade.
Nintendo Signs Eugene Indie Game A game starring a cat in a robot suit to be released on Nintendo Switch Sabrina Piccolo News Director On Aug. 31 at the PAX West gaming convention in Seattle, Doinksoft, a Eugene-based startup, announced that it will release a game called Gato Roboto in 2019 for Nintendo Switch and PC platforms. The action-adventure game revolves around a cat in a robotic suit sliding and leaping across platforms while firing at enemies with blasters. The 11-minute demonstration of Gato Roboto at the convention revealed the game’s minimalistic black-and-white color scheme. Doinksoft, less than half a year old, is a threeperson team comprised of Cullen Dwyer, Joseph Bourgeois and Britt Brady. Dwyer and Brady, who have a long history of making games together, cofounded the company when they were seeking a new flow of income and decided to take on a hobby project that Brady and Bourgeois had been working on.
“The three of us decided to go full-force on the cat-in-amech-suit game that had garnered some interest on Twitter,” Dwyer said. “Soon enough, we were teamed up with Devolver Digital, making this thing into a full-on game.” Because the Eugene game company’s small staff, each member takes on a variety of responsibilities, Dywer said. Although Dwyer’s and Bourgeois’s skills lie mainly in programming while Brady’s focus is on arts and sounds, each member often finds himself contributing beyond his main areas of expertise. “We are all equal partners and have at times multiple or crisscrossing roles,” Brady said. The concept behind Gato Roboto was inspired by games both Dwyer and Brady had enjoyed playing. Exploration games like Metroid and Blaster Master, the latter of which gives the player’s character the ability to exit their in-game vehicle, inspired the creators of Gato Roboto. Unlike the character in Blaster Master, however, the cat in the Doinksoft game can be played in or out of its robot suit. Gato Roboto’s appearance on Switch next year will be a success for the indie game and a milestone for Doinksoft. Dwyer said that having the game on the Nintendo Switch was a goal from the beginning.
“The entire game we’ve made, we’ve made ensuring that it would play well on the Switch. The color scheme, the size of the art on-screen, the theme of the game. I’m very excited for this.” Although the Doinksoft team members see a bright future for Gato Roboto, the game is still in its early stages of development. The three-person team is slightly on edge to meet their self-imposed deadlines, Dwyer said. He added that the “cute and bite-sized” nature of the game can be deceptive of the amount of work required to design, plan and create the game. Brady and Dwyer took on the task of Gato Roboto when they were living off of savings and were unsure if this game would be successful. However, after teaming up with Devolver Digital and presenting Gato Roboto at the PAX West convention, Dwyer feels confident in this project “as a livelihood as well as a game that people will enjoy.” Although he is hoping to take a break after the game is released on the Switch in 2019, Dwyer said, he believes that he will probably soon start tinkering with new game prototypes again. Doinksoft is currently working on a mobile game that will soon be released, but the company’s current focus remains on Gato Roboto.
In Solidarity, Keely Blyleven ASLCC President And The Associated Students of Lane Community College Student Government *The views and comments expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the The Torch or its editorial board.
comic by Emmett Crass / cartoonist
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theTorch // www.lcctorch.com Wednesday, October 3, 2018
SPORTS
photo by Shannon Powers / photojournalist
Kaitlin Hampton prepares to pass the ball during the match against Clark College on Sept. 28. Hampton has recorded 123 kills so far this season.
photo by Jason Petorak / photojournalist
Kaitlin Hampton spikes the ball through an attempted block to record one of her five kills, contributing to the Titan's sweep of the Clark College Penguins. The win improved the Titans’ conference record to 3-1, one game behind first-place Linn-Benton in the Northwest Athletic Conference’s Southern Region.
UPCOMING GAMES 10 05
Southwestern Oregon Community College, Coos Bay Oregon 6:30pm
10 06
Umpqua Community College, Eugene Oregon 6:30pm
10 10
Linn-Benton Community College, Eugene Oregon 6:30pm
10 12
Chemeketa Community College, Eugene Oregon 6:30pm
10 16
New Hope Christian College, Eugene Oregon 6:30pm
illustration by Anna CK Smith and Shannon Powers / art director photojournalist
Titans Dig In
Cameron Gray Reporter The Titan's volleyball team has started off conference play strongly, winning three of their four games and losing to Chemeketa after fighting to the fifth set. With their 3-1 record, the Titans are sitting at second place in the Southern Region of the Northwest Athletic Conference, only behind LinnBenton Community College who they will face on October 10. Overall, the Titans are ranked 14 in the NWAC. The team played in several pre-conference tournaments up and down the west coast to mixed results, but Coach Stephanie Willett remains ready. “Every pre-season match and tournament play helps us in the long run. The more they get to play together, the easier it is to find out what works best.” Coach Willett says that since the beginning of the season, the team’s goal has been to make the NWAC tournament. Being in second place currently, Coach Willett remains confident in their chances. Sophomore Kaitlin Hampton and freshmen Megan Briggs and Hannah Hayes currently lead the team in points with 161.5, 171.5 and 183.5, respectively. Sophomore defensive specialist Sophia Panther has 335 digs, where a player saves a spiked or difficult-to-get ball, greatly helping the team defensively. Her digs make up a quarter of the team's total. Freshman setter Taylor Russell leads the team in assists with 354, over 200 more than the next player and almost half of the team's 725 total assists. Freshman defensive specialist Abby Mayta says the team is comfortable and that they trust each other, which helps them stay focused and together on the court. The teammates only get to play with each other for, at most, two years and most have just started playing together this season. Looking forward to the rest of the season, Coach Willett says that they plan on taking things week by week and focusing on the next match in front of them. While some tough competition lies in front of them in the coming weeks, the players remain hopeful and ready to fight for the title they hunger for.