LCC TORCH.COM
LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R
The Torch
APRIL 10, 2014
volume 50, edition 19
INSIDE ATHLETE COMPENSATION ASLCC RESIG NATION SPORTS OVER BREAK
EU G ENE , O R E .
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CITY ROLLS OUT SKATE
PARK Crowds amass for new project completion Justin James, a local skateboarder sponsored by “Tactics Boardshop” sends a massive kickflip down the stairset at Eugene’s Skatepark Grand Opening on April 4.
ALEX QUADRINI / THE TORCH
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Faculty responds to labor negotiations Board member contemplates stepping down Taya Alami Reporter While Lane and its faculty union remains at an impasse in negotiations to settle a collective bargaining agreement, dozens of students and faculty attended the April 9 meeting of the Lane Board of Education to pledge support for the faculty. Lane Community College Education Association supporters also attended the March 12 board meeting. Board Chairwoman Rosie Pryor said there appeared to be even more faculty supporters at the meeting than there were last month. “We by no means underestimate or undervalue any one of you,” she said. Pryor said the board shares
the faculty’s desire for a resolution that will work for the college and themselves. “We do hear you, and we think about what you have to say,” Pryor said. LCCEA Action Team member Marissa Hastie told board members that Lane’s faculty deserves a resolution because the instructors make the college economically viable. “Not only are we scholars in our academic fields, but also in instruction,” Hastie said. Physics instructor Dennis Gilbert said he believes the college is in trouble. “Lane has problems that public relations and coercion won’t solve,” Gilbert said. During the March 12 meetBOARD ON PAGE 5
ALEX QUADRINI / THE TORCH
Board member Bob Ackerman, board member, listens during an April 9 Board of Education meeting while Lane instructor Jody Anderson stands behind him.
Conflict erupts during funds request debate Student senate approves $1,900 Taya Alami Reporter After an extensive debate and a surprising emotional outburst, Lane’s student government pledged $1,900 of of its budget to support the seventh annual Peace Symposium. The symposium will be held April 25 and 26 in the Longhouse at Lane. The twoday gathering will include guest speakers, workshops and performances. Peace Center Steering Committee Chairman Stan Taylor brought a $3,000 funds request before the Associated Students of Lane Community College Senate during its April 2 meeting. During the meeting, Taylor told members of the student government the Peace Symposium has had a good student turnout in the past, especially since it typically commences on a school day. ASLCC Sustainability Coordinator Michael Weed said the Peace Symposium is a lifechanging event that brings much-needed awareness to issues that affect students. Lane’s Media Arts PEACE ON PAGE 5
Food pantry to beef up security Organizers to install cameras J. Wolfgang Wool News Editor Lane’s student food pantry is installing security cameras after a series of thefts. Its location in the Center Building is shared with the No-Cash Clothing Stash. Associated Students of Lane Community College Sustainability Coordinator Michael Weed became concerned near the end of winter term. He received reports from people who work in the area by the pantry. “I made the decision that I would start taking a picture of how the shelves were when I left,” Weed said, ”that way I would not just have a written but a visual representation of what was on the shelves.” Over the course of several days, Weed saw items FOOD ON PAGE 4
2 The Torch LCC TORCH.COM LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S AUTONOMOUS S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R
STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alyssa Sutton
MANAGING EDITOR Sean Hanson
NEWS EDITOR
J. Wolfgang Wool
SPORTS EDITOR Jarrid Denney
A&E EDITOR
Laura Newman
REPORTERS
Taya Alami Jackson Dietel Crystal Gasser Tran Nguyen Chris Patrick Chris Piepgrass Penny C. Scott
COPY CHIEF Zack Bear
PHOTO EDITOR Eugene Johnson
PHOTOGRAPHER Alex Quadrini
Cartoonist Riley Webber
PRODUCTION MANAGER Byron Hughey
GRAPHIC ARTIST Wes Fry
WEB EDITOR Tenaya Smith
AD MANAGER Randy Maxwell
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Patrick Blough
NEWS ADVISER Winston Ross
PRODUCTION ADVISER Dorothy Wearne
POLICY • Letters to the editor should be limited to 300 words. • Guest commentaries should be limited to 500 words. • Please include the author’s name, phone number and address (for verification purposes only). • The Torch reserves the right to edit letters and commentary for length, grammar, spelling, libel, invasion of privacy and appropriate language. • The Torch reserves the right to publish at its discretion. All web and print content is the property of The Torch and cannot be republished without editiorial permission. • Up to two copies per issue per person of The Torch are free; each additional copy is $2.
OPINION&COMMENTARY GUEST COMMENTARY
Lane faculty asks for respect, settlement Lane’s faculty members have been working for the past nine months without a contract, which expired June 30, 2013. This is, sadly, not the first or even second time in recent years that we have had to wait over eight months for the administration to settle a fair and reasonable faculty contract, a fact that suggests a clear lack of respect for the work that faculty do at the college. Substantively, the lack of agreement reflects the administration’s continued treatment of the faculty primarily as an expense to be limited, rather than as a primary source of expertise. We are the principle creators of and contributors to the learning environments that serve the community and provide the basis for the economic viability of the college. We work tirelessly because we are professional teachers, counselors, librarians and oth-
er professionals who value the mission of the college. We believe in each student’s right to learn and have access to affordable education. We believe in the strength of our programs, which we have built and labored to maintain. We have proven this through years of dedicated service, sacrifice and hard work. What we expect in return is a fair and reasonable contract. However, over the past decade faculty members and staff have routinely been asked to shoulder a sizeable share of the college’s fiscal challenges. Whether in times of enrollment growth or retraction, Lane faculty, along with the classified staff, have not received the normal cost-ofliving-adjustments necessary to protect our salaries from inflation rates; not received the salary steps that we have earned; had dozens of our positions left vacant annually
and ‘backfilled’ by faculty working ‘part-time’ (usually involuntarily) at substandard salaries and benefits; changed our healthcare carriers and plans to save the college money; and taken more and more students in our classes while receiving less time to do the necessary course preparation; among other sacrifices to the college. Adding insult to injury, in contrast to the faculty’s willingness to negotiate constructively, the administration and its bargaining team have resisted bargaining in the common sense understanding of ‘good faith,’ even on costneutral “non-economic issues” that cost the college nothing. Session after session, month after month goes by, with little or no progress and few or no proposals from the administration. It took the college 10 months to even respond to the LCC Education Association’s non-economic proposals
submitted last April, and in almost every case the ‘response’ was simply an unexplained “no.” Compare that with the association’s response to the administration’s non-economic proposal on part-time faculty assignments that the Association worked diligently to resolve and agreed to immediately implement, even prior to ratification. In spite of the administration’s lack of respect for our sacrifices and what is not happening at the bargaining table, Lane’s faculty remains focused on student learning. We call on the administration, acting in the college’s name, to bargain in good faith, treat faculty with respect, adhere to the mission of the college, and settle a fair and reasonable contract. — LCCEA Action Team Chairman Lee Imonen, Jane Benjamin, Marisa Hastie, Christina Howard, Jay Frasier, Polina Kroik, Tamara Pinkas, Kenneth Zimmerman
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CONTACT The Torch Lane Community College 4000 E. 30th Ave. Eugene, OR 97405 torch@lanecc.edu
THE TORCH / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
RILEY WEBBER / THE TORCH
3
OPINION&COMMENTARY COLUMN
UConn men’s run in the NCAA tournament made the American Athletic Conference $9.5 million. Meanwhile, athletes are going hungry.
86 percent
$340,197
$3,222
of college athletes live below the poverty line
Fair market value of NCAA tournament basketball player
Average annual shortfall (out-of-pocket expense) for full-ride athletes
The Price of Poverty in Big Time College Sport, National College Players Association
What Is The Fair Market Wage For Playing In The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament? Perhaps, $340,000?, Forbes
The Price of Poverty in Big Time College Sport, National College Players Association
WHERE’S THE MONEY? Jarrid Denney Sports Editor On April 7 the University of Connecticut Huskies men’s basketball team defeated the University of Kentucky Wildcats 60-54 in the NCAA National Championship, claiming its second title in the past four years. There were plenty of headlines surrounding the game: UConn head coach Kevin Ollie’s rise to fame in just his second season, Kentucky’s incredible tournament run with a starting lineup of five freshman and rapper Drake’s support of seemingly every team that won a game. However, there is another story concerning the Huskies that many have overlooked. Several days before the National Championship game, UConn’s All-American point guard, Shabazz Napier, said during a press conference that there are nights he goes to sleep “starving” because he can’t afford to buy food. “We do have hungry nights that we don’t have enough money to get food in. Sometimes money is needed. I don’t think you should stretch
it out to hundreds of thousands of dollars for playing, because a lot of times guys don’t know how to handle themselves with money. I feel like a student athlete. Sometimes, there’s hungry nights where I’m not able to eat, but I still gotta play up to my capabilities.” Napier said. Meanwhile, on the other end, it is estimated by Forbes that UConn’s trip to the Final Four alone earned the American Athletic Conference $9.5 million. Correct me if I’m wrong, but something isn’t adding up here. “I don’t see myself as so much of an employee,” Napier said. “But when you see your jersey being sold … you feel like you want something in return.” It is true that thousands of Division I athletes are given full-ride scholarships each year to cover tuition and housing. But what happens when you need to buy groceries? Napier is one of the rare college basketball stars who has stayed in school until his senior year, as opposed to making the jump to the NBA. His reward for doing so is two national championship
“We do have hungry nights that we don’t have enough money to get food in. Sometimes money is needed. I don’t think you should stretch it out to hundreds of thousands of dollars for playing, because a lot of times guys don’t know how to handle themselves with money. I feel like a student athlete. Sometimes, there’s hungry nights where I’m not able to eat, but I still gotta play up to my capabilities.” Shabazz Napier
UConn point guard
rings and, in May, a college diploma. However, what is Napier, or any other major college athlete supposed to do when they need to cover their basic necessities? Sit back and try to think of another business in America in which the company’s workers provide unpaid manual labor while the company’s presidents and higher-ups earn millions of dollars off of those workers? One of the men who reaps the benefits of hard work put in by players such as Napier is NCAA president Mark Emmert, who, ironically presented the championship trophy to Napier and the Huskies, just days after he publicly said that the unionization of college athletes is “grossly inappropriate.” According to USA Today, Emmert made $1.6 million in 2011. The average value of a college basketball scholarship? $27,923 per year. Many will argue that a free education is enough and college athletes are already more than fairly compensated. However, the goal of many college athletic programs isn’t to help its athletes earn a de-
gree. In 2011, the NCAA issued a two-year tournament ban to UConn because of low academic progress rates. From 2007 to 2011, only one in 12 players graduated from Connecticut in each of the four years. No, it’s college athletics’ goal to keep the money train rolling. That Napier is on track to receive his degree is a statistical anomaly. Why is it that players like Napier — an athlete who has gone about his business the right way, are staying up at night hungry, while literally every other party involved is living large off the money created by college sports? Between classes, workouts, practices, press conferences and traveling across the country for games, it’s unrealistic for a college athlete to go out and get a part-time job like the average college student would. And they shouldn’t have to. At the very least, student athletes deserve a portion of the revenue earned by colleges who profit off their names. They shouldn’t be millionaires. They shouldn’t be treated as professional athletes. But they do deserve a slice of the pie.
The Torch / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
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NEWS&FEATURES
FOOD: Thief not identified
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CONTINUED FROM P. 1
ALEX QUADRINI / THE TORCH
Senator Francisco “Keiko” Gomez discusses potential ballot measures while Chief of Staff Brandi Hoskins looks on during an April 9 ASLCC meeting.
Senator announces resignation Gomez plans departure after outburst
J. Wolfgang Wool News Editor One week after student senator Francisco “Kiko” Gomez had an outburst during a meeting, he said he planned to leave the Senate during its April 9 meeting. “At the end of this meeting, I will officially resign,” Gomez said. During the Associated Students of Lane Community College’s April 2 senate meeting, Gomez yelled an expletive and threw a pen at another senator after the senate passed a motion to fund the Peace Symposium at $1,900.
ASLCC Treasurer Zach Wais urged Gomez to postpone stepping down and reconsider the decision. Wais said did not think the Gomez’s actions warranted resigning. “We all have emotional outbursts sometimes,” Wais said. “especially at meetings.” Because Gomez hasn’t submitted a written resignation, his statement makes nothing official. He did, however, officially resign from the Student Finance Board. Gomez nominated newly appointed Senator Felicia Dickenson to replace him on the SFB as one of two sena-
tors who sit on the board. Dickenson was appointed unanimously by the other senate members. She abstained from voting for her own appointment. At the end of the April 9 ASLCC senate meeting, Trevor Moore was also appointed as senator. Moore said he wanted to be a senator because he has a passion for finance and tuition, and because he wants to make sure that student voices are heard. After answering senators’ questions from the senate, they voted unanimously to appoint Moore.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Campus community director quits ASLCC currently looking for replacement
J. Wolfgang Wool & Crystal Gasser News Editor, Reporter Associated Students of Lane Community College Campus Community Director John Price sent a March 30 email resigning from his position. Price attributed his departure to money and time issues. The campus community director sits as the chair of the Council of Clubs and helps organize events for students at Lane. These duties will be carried out by ASLCC Chief of Staff Brandi Hoskins until the position is filled. “I have decided to begin to continue my employment and education elsewhere, effective April 1, 2014,” Price wrote in the email sent to members of the student government and The Torch. Price said that he decided to leave his position because of the amount of time it required and insufficient pay for his needs. He received a
John Price
monthly stipend of $300 and six free credits for his position. Price was accepted into Western Governor’s University, an online college, and now works a full-time job with benefits. Price did not comment on where he works. ASLCC President Paul Zito said he found the short notice frustrating, but he understood that college students’ lives could change quickly. “It was a bit of a hiccup,” Zito said, but one he expected with the “populations we deal with.” Hoskins said that an April 16 event for Lane students
THE TORCH / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
had to be rescheduled due to the change in leadership. She said Price failed to accomplish planning for the event during spring break. “We had to re-organize the club fair … it was on a short timeframe anyway,” Zito said.“Without the original leadership there, to keep on that timeline was kind of impossible.” “Unfortunately, I did have to resign in order to take care of the things (that) I need to do to better my future and help support my family,” Price said. ASLCC will be taking applications for the vacant campus community event director until April 11. Members of the ASLCC executive branch will screen the applications. A hiring committee consisting of student government members will interview the selected applicants. Then the final applicant must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the senate, Zito said.
disappear from shelves. They are planning to install a camera in the pantry’s food storage room. There is a camera in the distribution area pointing towards the storage room door currently as a deterrent. After the camera installation, food stopped disappearing from the storage room. A Clothing Stash employee came forward to Weed and admitted to taking some food that was returned by a Food Pantry customer after the pantry had closed. The person did not admit to any other thefts. The unnamed person later resigned, though Weed says it was for other reasons. “I don’t think that was the person taking anything out of the pantry,” Weed said. “Why would they tell on themselves that way?” ASLCC Senator Zack Wright, who works as a manager in the pantry, said no charges had been filed against anyone. Weed said food is disappearing from the donation bins as well. He said he believes this activity is unrelated to the thefts from the pantry’s storage room. The pantry employees are currently instructed by Weed not to say anything if somebody steals items from the donation bins. “My rationale on that is I don’t want to hold somebody accountable who feels they are so hungry that they need to steal something out of a donation bin, because I’ve been
there,” Weed said. Pantry employees wish to discourage theft. Weed said he believes the pantry can encourage more people to come in and reduce any perceived stigma. He says pride has been a commonly reported reason for not approaching the pantry, and may have motivated thefts. Weed also said that the thief remains unknown and may still work there currently. Volunteers at the Food Pantry can also receive distributions as long as they meet the requirements. “Many of the people who work in the Food Pantry are people who utilize it,” pantry manager Summer Manier said. “But at the same time, if it isn’t being given to you and you’re not... going through the program the same way as the rest of us, then it is stealing.” The pantry has problems with vandalism, with people taking down their signs and throwing trash in the donation bins. Weed said he once found a new unwrapped sandwich thrown in a donation bin with a soda container open and poured into the bin. He said two bags of food were ruined. The Food Pantry is spending roughly $200 a week in addition to donations and supplies from Food for Lane County. “We are slowly dwindling down the money we do have right now,” Weed said.
COUNCIL OF CLUBS
Council to nullify $3,000 club vote Penny C. Scott Reporter After failing to meet quorum at its April 8 meeting, newly appointed chairwoman Brandi Hoskins said the Council of Clubs will nullify its vote to approve a $3,000 funds request. Five voting clubs failed to attend, and the Chess Club representative left during the meeting, which initially went unnoticed. The Council of Clubs needs six members to make quorum. Before the Chess Club representative departed, the present clubs voted to host two spring events. The first is an April 23 Club Fair, where the clubs will interact with
students and try to recruit new members. A club fair was hosted winter term in the cafeteria. The council also voted to host a spring event for all Lane students May 21. Details are still being discussed. They also voted to hold the yearly Club Awards ceremony on May 27 at the Longhouse from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. After the meeting, Hoskins said that the French Club’s frequent absences caused it to lose voting status under the Council’s bylaws. Absent from the meeting were American Water Works Association, Religious Diversity Club, Green Chemistry Club, Table Tennis Club and French Club.
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NEWS&FEATURES STUDENT GOVERNMENT
New senator appointed Former Student Finance Board member selected
Felicia Dickenson
Taya Alami Reporter The Associated Students of Lane Community College Senate voted unanimously to appoint student Felicia Dickenson as a senator during its April 2 meeting. Dickenson has been involved in Lane student governance for the past year as an elected member of the Student Finance Board, a six-member student advisory committee that audits the budgets of programs that receive funding from the student activity fee. Senators are elected during the annual ASLCC general election during spring term. As Senate seats become vacant, students can be appointed to positions. As a senator, Dickenson said she’ll still regard student money as a point of importance. “We’re all not paying just for an education, but we’re also paying for an experience,” Dickenson said. “As a senator, I want to make sure that our money is spent wisely and appropriately in every area.” Dickenson told members of the senate that she hopes to bring the ability to examine issues from every possible angle to make Lane a better place. “This is a chance for me to act put my brain power to something that’s truly important and affects every student on campus,” Dickenson said. ASLCC Treasurer Zach Wais, who doubles as SFB chairman, proposed the motion for Dickenson to be appointed. Student leaders approved the motion unanimously. ASLCC President Paul Zito said he was glad Dickenson decided to become a senator. “She is a smart young lady who has a lot to offer the students at Lane,” Zito said.
ALEX QUADRINI / THE TORCH
Lane counselor Doug Smyth stands with other faculty supporters in the April 9 Board of Education meeting.
BOARD: Faculty addresses grievances CONTINUED FROM P. 1
ing, board member Gary LeClair said “It bothers me philosophically that we have all of these people coming in here wanting a raise in their contract, and that’s not reality-based. This is silly to be doing this.” Gilbert’s colleague, speech instructor Jay Frasier, said the current “nonbargaining” has real costs.
“We’re here now to ask you to direct the team representing you to truly bargain with us in a genuine, respectful manner. Is that a silly request? I don’t think so,” Frasier said. “Please, give us the notsilly-at-all respect that we deserve.” Near the end of the meeting, LeClair said the obstacles preventing a deal being
reached are bigger than some may realize. “This is a societal issue that we don’t have money for this college. It’s not my fault,” LeClair said. “So quit blaming me for it. Quit blaming the board. Most especially, quit blaming the administration and Mary Spilde.” Near the end of his report, LeClair announced he will be
absent for the Board’s meeting May 14, due to stress. “I do not, as a recovering alcoholic, put myself into situations of negativity,” LeClair said. Although the college’s Board of Education typically meets once per month, there will be a special meeting April 28 at 5 p.m. in the Building 3 boardroom.
PEACE: Controversial funding approved CONTINUED FROM P. 1
Department will broadcast the symposium’s events live over Livestream service. Taylor said he expects to reach at least 10,000 viewers by broadcasting the event online. “In the past, we’ve had up to 8,000 people at the event via live-stream,” Taylor said. Co-sponsors of the event plan to coordinate their own social media networks to broadcast the event to approximately 250,000 people, Taylor said. ASLCC Senator Emily Aguilera told her peers they should support the event, because the Peace Center publically supported the student push for “cultural competency.” The college’s Board of Education passed a policy this year that requires all Lane employees to complete some form of diversity training, although the procedural details of that policy are still determined by the Diversity Council. Approving such a large request, however, proved to be controversial for some student leaders. “Granting the full $3,000 would be fiscally unsound,” ASLCC Treasurer Zach Wais said.
Delansky advised student leaders to not get bogged down in whether a deficit would roll into next year. “You do have access from other funds like the Snack Shack, which I think has a balance at this point that’s pretty healthy,” Delansky said. “You could maybe see if you could co-sponsor, let’s say, with Student Life.” The Snack Shack is a student-run kiosk upstairs in Building 1 that sells snacks and beverages to supplement the ASLCC budget. According to Delansky, Student Life and Leadership Development could also contribute “about a thousand” dollars to the Peace Symposium. Recently, business at the Snack Shack has been going well enough for the Senate to approve the full $3,000 without causing a deficit in the ASLCC budget, according to Jennifer McCarrick, the student government’s resource center director. McCarrick manages the Snack Shack, and encouraged her peers to support the event. “Let’s get this paid off. We have the money in the Snack Shack, so I’m doing an ask,”
McCarrick said. “If not for us, then for the other students, our kids.” The Snack Shack is the student government’s only source of revenue besides the student activity fee, according to Wais. ASLCC Senator Zack Wright said he agreed with McCarrick on how important the symposium is, and also encouraged student leaders to fund the event. “Despite money problems, or possibilities of money problems, I still think we should help continue this,” Wright said. The Senate voted down the $3,000 funds request. After the motion was voted down, McCarrick said the Snack Shack had enough money to fund the request, and again stressed the event’s relevance to students. Wright said he was shocked by the Senate voting to not pass the funds request in full. “Who cares about deficits, or whatever?” Wright said. “Money isn’t everything. This is so important.” Wright proposed a motion to pass a funds request of $1,900 to aid the symposium. The motion passed.
Upon the passage of the $1,900 funds request, Senator Francisco “Kiko” Gomez, who voted against both motions, yelled an expletive and threw a pen across the room towards another senator. The situation was pacified in seconds by Weed removing Gomez from the building and calming him down. “OK,” Senate Speaker Rebekah Ellis said after Gomez’s removal. “Well, we still have quorum, so we’re moving on.” Delansky told Taylor that Student Life and Leadership will fund the remaining $1,100. Before Taylor left the meeting, ASLCC Senator Meg Geldart apologized to him for Gomez’s behavior. Later in the meeting, a visibly calmer Gomez returned and apologized to his peers for his outburst. “That will never again be allowed in Senate,” Gomez said. Gomez delivered a formal apology during the April 9 ASLCC Senate meeting. Lane’s Media Arts Department will broadcast the Peace Symposium live at http://www. lanecc.edu/it/media/live-streaming between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. April 25 and 9 a.m. to 1 pm on April 26.
The Torch / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
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SPORTS&RECREATION
Lane freshman Colton Thurman placed 11th with a time of 15.79 seconds during the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the March 22 Oregon Preview at Hayward Field.
Five Titans earn NWAACC athlete Head coach Grady O’Connor says Lane women’s 4x400 meter Jarrid Denney Sports Editor With three meets under their belt, the Lane men’s and women’s track and field teams are starting to hit their stride as they prepare for the upcoming Chico Twilight in Chico, Calif., from April 11 to 12. Several Titans have shined in the past several meets, and due to their accomplishments, five Lane athletes were named NWAACC Track and Field Athletes of the Week in the past three weeks. On March 27, freshmen Jonathan Cornish and Kristine Dunn, and sophomore Anna Jensen all earned Athlete of the Week honors. Cornish set a lifetime personal record in the 1,500-meter with a time of 3:59.22 at the Oregon Preview on March 22, and Dunn ran a 2:19.44 800-meter time in
her first time running the race this season. Jensen cleared a height of 11'7" in the pole vault at the Oregon Preview, just one-quarter of an inch off of her NWAACC winning height from last season. One week later, two Titans were recognized after their performances at the Lane MultiEvent qualifier, a meet which featured only Lane decathletes and heptathletes. Sophomore Colton Thurman earned the honor on April 3 after scoring 6,037 points in the decathlon and sophomore Kara Hallock was recognized as well for her performance in the heptathlon. Hallock scored 4,323 points and set an NWAACC, leading mark in the long jump with a leap of 18'01". With nine meets remaining, Grady O’Connor’s teams may have already cleared one of the
THE TORCH / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
biggest hurdles of the season. All 59 Lane athletes were deemed academically eligible following the release of grades from winter term, meaning athletes will no longer have to compete unattached, as many of them have been during the first few meets of the season. “Every program deals with losing some athlete, be it transfer petitions denied, grades, redshirting etc,” O’Connor said. “I would say this year was better than average.” The Titans have shown strong overall performances in the three opening meets. At the Lane Preview on March 15, eight Titans won individual events while competing against larger schools such as Western Oregon University and Southern Oregon University. Returning All-American sophomore throwers Leah Wilson and Madison Seaman both
captured victories, Wilson in the hammer throw and Seaman in the discus. Three Lane sprinters swept the 400-meter women’s event. Dunn finished first in a time of 58.39 seconds, and was followed closely by sophomores Macaulay Wilson and Jahzelle Ambus. Cornish claimed a victory for the Titans’ distance crew with a dramatic finish in the 3,000-meter race. Cornish passed runnerup Joachim Krauth with 100 meters remaining, narrowly beating him with a time of 8:48.19. Freshman jumper Dakarai Hightower showed why he was one of the top recruits in the nation during the men’s high jump. Hightower soared for a leap of 7'0.50", four inches higher than the runner-up. Hightower’s effort in the season’s opening meet has already surpassed the highest jump from any NWAACC athlete last
season. A week later, 18 Lane athletes competed in the Oregon Preview, a qualified-athletes-only meet held at Hayward Field on March 22. The Titans tested themselves against several former NCAA national champions from UO, as well as former Olympian Bridget Franek of Nike Oregon Track Club Elite, who won the 3,000-meter event. Hightower claimed the only Titans victory, a first-place tie in the high jump with a season-best leap of 7'1". “He’s lights out ... . He’s shown that without adrenaline, he’s a 7 foot jumper just stepping on the track and he’s proven that over and over in practice,” O’Connor said. Jensen led a quartet of Titan pole vaulters, all of whom cleared 10’8” or better, and Wilson claimed the highest fin-
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SPORTS&RECREATION
EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Lane freshman Kristine Dunn ran a 2:19.44 in the women’s 800-meter run at the March 22 Oregon Preview at Hayward Field.
Alyssa Sutton / THE TORCH
EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Lane sophomore Caleb Buzzas took second in the men’s long jump with 22'9.75" at the Lane Preview on March 15.
EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Lane sophomore Kara Hallock jumped a distance of 17'8.25" in the women’s long jump at the March 22 Oregon Preview at Hayward Field.
of the week honors A-team will debut at next meet ish for all Titan women, placing third in the shot put with a heave of 41’9.25”. Freshman Jesse Goodier, Lane’s lone entrant in the men’s sprint events, finished tenth overall in a time of 11.05 seconds. Hallock claimed fifth place for both the long jump and 100-meter hurdles, and also teamed up with Dunn, Wilson and freshman Laura Donaldson to finish third in the 4x400-meter relay. In the Titans’ most recent meet, the Linfield Icebreaker in Mcminnville, O’Connor gave a teaser of what could be the Titans’ most exciting group this season. Dunn, Wilson, Ambus and sophomore sprinter Jalen Timms cruised to victory in the women’s 4x100-meter relay event, winning by nearly a second and a half. Although the four Lane sprinters excelled at the Linfield
meet in what was their first time running together, O’Connor said the best is yet to come. He expects them to challenge the school record in the 4x400-meter relay this season. “On paper, I have never had this kind of women’s 400 speed, or depth,” O’Connor said. “It’s exciting. It’s fun for us to have that team to rally around.” O’Connor said he is planning to unleash the group in the long relay for the first time at the upcoming Chico Twilight. Sophomore Alex Sattley picked up two wins in the long jump and the triple jump for the Titans, and Hightower won his third consecutive victory in the high jump to help the Titans sweep the men’s jump events. Sophomore Sean McGetrick took first in the 110-meter hurdles and second in the 400-meter hurdles. Seamen, and Trevor Walker
each picked up wins in the shot put, and Wilson finished third in the shot put and the hammer throw. One area of concern for O’Connor has been the men’s pole vault group, one of the Titans’ most talented units. The Titans have four returning All-American vaulters on their squad, but the group has been troubled by injury and inconsistency, leading to disappointing results thus far. Sophomore Zach Olivera, last year’s NWAACC champion, has failed to clear a height this season and has been troubled by a back injury and concussion, and 2012 NWAACC champion Eric Jorgensen season may be over due to a broken finger. “It’s affected me a lot,” Olivera said. “But practice has been going really well. I cleared 17 feet today, so I’m hoping to do well this weekend.”
EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Lane sophomore Anna Jensen cleared 11'7.75", tying for second place in the women’s pole vault at the March 22 Oregon Preview at Hayward Field.
The Torch / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
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SPORTS&RECREATION
EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Lane third baseman Eric Long attempts to break up a double play during Lane’s home loss to the Chemeketa Community College Storm on April 6. Long went 1-for-3.
Lane lands in eighth place in opening rankings Titan ace Jeff Hardy is tied for third in NWAACC with 34 strikeouts Jarrid Denney Sports Editor With their preseason in the books and South Region play underway, the Titans have a record of 13-8 overall and have earned a spot in the first Alaska Airlines Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Baseball Poll. Lane took the eighth and final spot in the ranking, which is decided by coaches from around the conference. The Clark Community College Penguins were the only other team in the South Region to receive a vote. The Titans have won six of their last 10 games, and currently sit in second place in the South with a regional record of 5-3-1. Sophomore slugger Jarren Goddard provides a huge spark for the Titans’ offense this season. He leads the team in almost every offensive category, and owns a .412 batting average thus far. “He’s a legitimate middleof-the-order hitter and for his size, he’s a plus athlete. He runs really well,“ Lane head coach Josh Blunt said. “He’s bought into it and it shows with his energy and what he brings everyday. He’s been
good.” The Titans’ first baseman’s bat has cooled off as of late; he has just one hit in his last nine at-bats. However, he is still third in the conference in home runs with three, and sixth in RBIs with 19. Goddard has been supported by a gritty group of sophomores, who despite scoring less than two runs per game in regional competition, have found a way to grind out numerous close wins. Sophomore infielders Tucker Campbell and Eric Long both have on-base percentages of .400 or better, and sophomore outfielder Spencer Smith is hitting .311 and leads the team in stolen bases with five. Despite the Titans’ success in close games, Blunt acknowledges that there’s still room for improvement. “We need to tidy up the loose ends. If you watch us play, there’s been one pivotal moment in every single game where we haven’t executed a small-ball thing,” Blunt said. “You’re never going to be perfect, but pretty close to perfect is what we need to be.” Sophomore utility man Darin Nelson, a transfer from Linn-Benton Community
THE TORCH / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
College, has been a pleasant surprise for the Titans; he has driven in 12 runs while platooning in both corner outfield spots. Catcher Colby Rice, also a sophomore, is second among the Titans with a .333 batting average, and has possessed one of the hottest bats in the Titans’ lineup over the past several weeks. “He’s such a good defensive player,” Blunt said. “Even if he wasn’t hitting, his defense is still the strength of his game.” On the mound the Titans have been led by sophomore right-hander Jeff Hardy, who has emerged as the ace of a deep Titan staff. Hardy has a 2-2 record in six starts and is second among Titan starters with a 3.34 ERA. He has surrendered 14 runs in 37 innings of work, and most impressively, has struck out 34 batters, third most in the conference. “It’s not a surprise at all ... His stuff is definitely there,” Blunt said. “What he has been able to do really well is pitch through some adversity.” Sophomore righty Eric Rauro sits atop the Titans’ rotation with a 2.40 ERA in three starts, and freshman Jackson Bertsche leads all Titan start-
EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Lane freshman Malik Evans throws a curveball during Lane’s 8-3 home loss to the Chemeketa Community College Storm on April 6.
ers in wins with three, despite a 6.42 ERA. Freshman closer Travis Boggs is carrying the back end of the Titans bullpen with a nearly flawless resume. Boggs has surrendered no runs and just five hits in six appearances, and has picked up three wins and a save. “Boggs is arguably as good as anybody we have on our team,” Blunt said. “He’s our guy at the end of every single game.” Rainy weather has affected
the Titans’ schedule tremendously, and several of their games have been postponed or relocated in order to avoid inclimate weather. Blunt said his team wasn’t able to practice on their field as a collective group a single time during spring break. The Titans will be in action again in a home doubleheader versus Clackamas Community College on April 11. The next day, they will travel to take on the Cougars in Oregon City for another doubleheader.
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Q&A: KEYNAN MIDDLETON The Los Angeles Angels selected former Titan Keynan Middleton with the 95th overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, making him the top Lane player ever selected in the draft.
LANE’S FORMER DUAL-SPORT ATHLETE TALKS WITH THE TORCH Jarrid Denney Sports Editor Keynan Middleton made history last June when the Los Angeles Angels selected him in the third round of the Major League Baseball draft, the earliest round in which a former Lane player has ever been selected. Middleton, a two sport star at Lane who shined on both the baseball field and basketball court. Almost a year removed from his only season in Eugene, he now finds himself in Tempe, Ariz., for extended spring training. Middleton spoke with The Torch about making the difficult transition to professional baseball and struggling with giving up his first love, basketball. The Torch: What was your offseason like? Middleton: It was just a lot of me relaxing, because that’s what they wanted me to do mainly. I didn’t start throwing until right before January started. I was actually coaching my old high school basketball team. Q: What kind of specific things have the Angels told you that they want you to improve on? A: Just repeating my mechanics, and stuff like that. But that’s what they told me coming in here, and they haven’t told me really anything. That sounds weird to say, but I guess I’ve been doing exactly what they
want me to do. Q: What’s been the toughest part of adapting to pro ball so far? A: Just the grind... It’s the first time I’ve thrown this much or played a season this long.
Q: Are you missing basketball right now? A: Oh yeah! This offseason was terrible. I wish I could have just grabbed the ball and played on somebody’s team. Q: Any regrets?
Q: How big is the difference between a major league baseball spring training camp and starting off your spring at a junior college like you did last year?
A: I miss basketball, but I do not regret it one bit for signing. The only thing I regret was not playing last year’s games like they were my last.
A: Oh it’s way different. You can’t make any excuses. They expect you to do it right. Coming here, we’re supposed to be in shape and be ready to throw. And coming out of basketball season and going into baseball season this year, people could understand why I wasn’t on my A-game because I’d been playing basketball for so long. But while I was home this year, I was just worried about playing baseball.
Q: How much did your time at Lane help you prepare you for a pro career?
Q: How much has that helped you? Obviously you loved basketball, but has it helped you to just be able to focus on one sport? A: Oh yeah, that’s helped me a lot. I think I’m picking up the game a lot faster than they thought. I don’t think they really took it into consideration that my main sport was basketball. I love basketball way more than I like baseball. I don’t really think they knew that. But then this offseason, I really worked on my baseball game, and they’re pretty surprised at how I came back.
because I would have been the only sophomore to return. Q: How much has playing baseball changed for you now that it’s a job and not just something you do for fun? A: You just have to take everything seriously now. Everybody expects you to do everything right and 100 percent all the time. There’s no being lazy. I mean, it’s not like they yell at us or anything. You just know that
if you’re messing around, it’s your career. Q: Are you looking forward to getting out there for some game action? A: Oh yeah! During spring training I’ve been throwing a lot of strikes and been getting up to 96 (mph). So I’m excited about the season. Q: What was your first big purchase after you signed? A: My baby! A 2014 Camaro.
A: It helped me a lot. Going into baseball season, I obviously didn’t think I was going to be drafted in the third round or anything like that; I wasn’t really all that serious about baseball. But once it started getting more serious, they told me what to expect more and (Lane picthing coach) Jeff Lyles told me what to expect and what to say and what to do and how to carry myself, and that’s helped me out a lot because honestly I had no clue. Q: Did you expect this to happen? Were you ready for this? A: No, last season I was not at all. Last season going into my baseball season, to be honest, I was just so excited for baseball to be over so I could get back to basketball season at Lane for my sophomore season. I definitely know now if I had come back it would have been my team,
The Torch / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
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Rescheduled powwow delights Participants dance to the beat of their own drum Laura Newman A&E Editor
Laura Newman / THE TORCH
Southern Oregon University instructor Brent Florendo dances in traditional regalia with other participants at Lane’s powwow in Building 5 Gymnasium on April 5.
Laura Newman / THE TORCH
Hundreds of people flocked to Lane’s Building 5 gymnasium April 5 for a rescheduled powwow. This free ceremony, hosted by Lane’s Native American Student Association, typically takes place in December. However, a winter snow storm led to a cancellation of this event in 2013. This is the first time in the powwow’s history that the event has been pushed to the spring. Lane native groups and the administration have decided to continue this event during the spring season. NASA faculty adviser Andrew Viles has been involved with the powwow since 1999. “It’s always been the first Saturday in December. People have put that weekend aside in their schedules,” Viles said. “This year because of the snow, it was impossible to have it and we’re trying it in the spring.” This event has been an annual celebration for over 20 years, and was started by now retired Frank Merill, who was the visionary behind the Longhouse. Many vendors set up for the event selling goods such as jewelry, textiles, clothing, tea, art and pottery. The line for fry bread, a traditional native sweet bread, was never short and continually sold out between batches. Participants gathered in elaborate traditional regalia. The emcee called each native dance group to the floor to demonstrate traditional dances. Other dances were intertribal, featuring both tribe members and anyone else who wanted to join in. Several groups gathered in drumming circles and chanted, which set the steady rhythm for the dancers. James Florendo, the primary adviser for NASA and Lane instructor, is a dancer himself. “Dance, to me, is a prayer to the Creator,” he said. “Tribes are coming from all over the place and to me, it doesn’t make a difference where they come from or how they dance. It’s that they’re
allowed to dance their prayer the way they want to.” The importance of passing these traditions down through generations was stressed by participating members. Several dances were limited to younger performers. Florendo’s nephew joined in a number of the traditional presentations. “He was listening to the drum while still in his mother’s womb. He was born with rhythm,” he said. “The heartbeat of Mother Earth.” NASA, with the help of several community and Lane members such as MEChA and Facilities, made this powwow happen. Gifts were donated to the native elders of tribes and toys were gifted to the child participants. With the help of Lane’s culinary department, the event included a free salmon and turkey dinner. “NASA feeds the masses,” Viles said. “There’s a lot of different coordination that goes on and a lot of people have been involved with it. That’s part of the spirit of the powwow.” NASA is open to students of all backgrounds and traditions. The club meets on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. in the Long House near Building 30. “NASA is open for all students, but for people who are tribal or native students it’s a place to be safe,” Viles said. “It’s a place where they can do work they were trained to do in a public institution.” One of the four co-chairs of NASA, Daniel Gibson, has been involved with the student organization for three years. “I major in intercultural communications,” he said. “To me communication is the biggest part. With texting and cellphones … no one is communicating anymore. I want to bring that communication back.” Florendo agreed. Powwows by nature are a way for communities to come together and speak through storytelling and dance. “The powwow is a native way of communicating,” Florendo said. “A place to come together as people. Human to human communication, that’s what’s important.”
People of all ages participated in the different forms of traditional dance during Lane’s powwow in the Building 5 gymnasium on April 5.
“Dance, to me, is a prayer to the Creator.” James Florendo NASA adviser
THE TORCH / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
11 photos by Alex Quadrini / THE TORCH
SPORTS&RECREATION
Danny Maretz pulls off a late backside pop shuv-it down the eight count stairset at the Eugene Skatepark Grand Opening on April 4.
Lucian Fiore, Ashland native, visited the new Eugene park on April 4 and successfully landed a frontside flip over the hand-rail in the street section of the park.
Eugene skatepark openS
REPLACE
Jonathan Williamson makes for a clean frontside boardslide on the handrail at the Eugene skatepark on April 4.
Danny Maretz lays out a huge backside blunt slide down the right bank of the street stairset at the new Eugene skatepark on April 4. The Torch / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
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ALEX QUADRINI / THE TORCH
Visiting featured artist Jonathan Swanz discusses his career as an artist and explains his glass-blown series to an audience in Building 11. Swanz’s exhibit Vibrant Matter will be on display in the gallery in Building 10 from March 31 to April 24.
Artist brings glass sculpture lecture to Building 10 Chemistry, architecture, engineering discussed with glass media Laura Newman A&E Editor Jonathan Swanz, an artist specializing in glass sculptures, visited students in Building 10 to talk about his work and process. Accompanying his talk was a large installation named “Rites of Passage.” He explained this piece as one of self-reflection, as there are several “portals,” or doorways, made entirely out of mirrors that hang from the ceiling.
Most of the work for this show was made in Louisville, Ky. Swanz also teaches in Hawaii, where he currently lives, and has a special interest in incorporating glass and ceramic art. In Building 11, Swanz’s sculptures are displayed on reflective tables and stands, emphasizing the reflective properties of glass light and color. “I made some of the clear pieces in Hawaii and silver pieces in Kentucky, so (the pieces) never met until they got to (Lane),” Swanz said. “I
kept saying in my head, ‘I hope this works.’” “When I went into college I wanted to major in art and double-minor in physics and philosophy,” Swanz said. “My adviser was completely confused.” Chemistry, architecture and engineering are large parts of his work through the intense process of heating, cooling and spinning. “With my interest in the nature of materials and how they behave, and working with them in unique ways,
trying to take traditional foundations of glass-making, but then approaching it in a unique way; having a knowledge of how things work, coming from physics or biology, it forms the way I approach the material,” Swanz says. Safety is a big concern with glassmaking and blowing. “You are going to get burned. You have to wear an ammonia respirator,” Swanz said. The exhibition will run for four weeks, from March 31 to April 24.
Shakespeare adaptation comes to Ragozzino Hall A Midsummer Night’s Dream receives creative treatment
Chris Piepgrass Reporter Lane theater instructor Judith “Sparky” Roberts’ adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed at Lane’s Ragozzino Hall April 17 to April 19 and April 24 to April 26. Because only Shakespeare’s scripts were included, much of the stage direction is left up to the director’s modern interpretation. This allows them the freedom to adapt the play as they would like to present it. “One of the most creative aspects of doing Shakespeare is retaining what the director thinks is essential,” Roberts said. Roberts is collaborating with other members of Lane’s staff
as well as her own students in order to bring her interpretation to life, she said. “Alberto Redondo is producing the music for the play. James McConkey will be using his ideas to make the play come alive visually,” Roberts said. Redondo has developed original music for this particular staging of the play. While the original lyrics are from Shakespeare himself, the music and melodies are Redondo’s work, he said. “The music really makes the world come to life,” Redondo said. Together, using Roberts’ vision as a guide, cast and crew will incorporate many tools Ragozzino’s main stage has as story telling devices. The “pit”
THE TORCH / Thursday, APRIL 10, 2014
SHOWTIMES RAGOZZINO HALL, BLDG. 6 April 18-19, 24-25 7:30 p.m. April 26 2:00 p.m.
where the orchestra sometimes plays will be raised to its “thrust” position, allowing stage members to walk farther into the audience. This enables them to interact more with audience members as is customary in Shakespearean theatrics. The vomitoriums beneath the stage will also be used, allowing cast members to emerge among the audience. “We are using the full technical capabilities of our
exceptional theatre. There are aspects of the theater that make a performance very special,” Roberts said. The creative process takes time and evolves in many stages, Redondo said. “It’s amazing to see a show come together. I’ve worked with (Roberts) a lot. She is a master of Shakespeare,” he said. Having directed 11 Shakespeare plays, Roberts is aware that Shakespeare’s diction can be difficult to follow. “Elizabethan English is a second language, but it’s easy to catch on when the actors really know what they’re talking about. The poetic environment becomes very intriguing and welcoming to the audience,” Roberts said. “Shakespeare has so much to offer. There is some-
thing for everybody.” As opening night approaches, Roberts’ cast and crew are confident. “I would like to think if (Shakespeare) came back he would dig what we have,” she said. The cast was chosen just after winter break and has had time since then to prepare. Kaitlin Baugh, a first-year student at Lane, will be playing the part of Hermia, a main character involved in a love triangle. “It’s definitely been a fun experience,” she said. Audience members can expect a few creative twists in this telling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. “People have done A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but not like this,” Redondo said.