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
M AY 8 , 2 0 1 4
The Torch volume 50, edition 23
INSIDE CROSSFIT CRITIQUED TITAN BASEBALL FALLS PLAYFUL PIANO PERFORMANCE EU G ENE , O R E .
ELECTION
WEED
WILL
LEAD Lane students elect next government
EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Current Lane student body president Paul Zito stands over the shoulder of newly-elected student body president Michael Weed during a work session in the ASLCC office on May 5.
Sean Hanson Managing Editor Nearly 600 Lane students elected Michael Weed as their next president, filled their senate, and approved ballot measures to increase
the activity fee and continue funding a student advocacy group during a four-day election last week. Weed shared a ticket with vice president-elect Malisa Ratthasing. Together, they defeated presidential candidate Francisco “Kiko” Gomez
and vice presidential candidate Ben Buchanan by winning 73.3 percent of the 540 votes cast in the executive race. Gomez and Buchanan earned 23 percent of the votes, and write-in candidates snagged the remaining 3.7 percent.
All-Oregon Academic Team picks Titans Oregon Community College Association selects 2014 members
Chris Piepgrass Reporter A mother of two studying business and a father seeking a new career in computer science will represent Lane on the AllOregon Academic Team. The Oregon Community College Association has appointed Audrey Barney of Fall Creek and Sean Baker of Eugene to represent Lane on the team, the organization announced April 22. Two students from each Phi Theta Kappa chapter are given the award each year, and only members of the honor society can apply for the scholarship. Being chosen for the academic team does not guarantee the students will receive the scholarship due to stiff competition. “They’ll be honored at graduation. The President of Lane will introduce them as the Lane All-Oregon Academic Team members,” Lida Herburger, Student Success Program manager, said. Halfway through her en-
Audrey Barney
rollment, Barney made the decision to change her major to Business Administration. Barney, a 51-year-old mother of two, has attended Lane for four years and will graduate this June with a 3.98 GPA. “Raising kids and at the same time going to school and work is a big juggle,” Barney said. “I started going to school to inspire my children to go to college. I wanted to normalize the idea for my kids.” After graduation, she hopes to do administrative work in the office of nonprofit organiza-
tions such as Goodwill or The Arc. “I think they have honorable missions,” Barney said. “It’s nice to know that your work is for a greater cause.” Barney treats Lane like she would organizations such as these. She is motivated by the sense of community she has helped create on campus. “I’ve created study groups, sometimes before the class even started. It’s so much better to go through the course with a group of people,” Barney said. There’s no point in isolating yourself.” She served as PTK vice president in the past. Barney also held a work-study position in the academic and student affairs office. “I would love to be able to just work at the college,” Barney said. “I know all of (Lane’s) policies and procedures.” Baker, a 41-year-old father with two daughters, has been a member of PTK for a year and maintains a 3.5 GPA. He ACADEMICS ON PAGE 3
By tighter margins, only half of the 598 respondents approved one measure which will increase the per-term student activity fee by $4 to benefit ASLCC Legal Services. Approximately 65 percent of voters ELECTION ON PAGE 3
BASKETBALL
Titan forward signs with Marauders University of Mary takes Mahaffie after injury Jarrid Denney Sports Editor Tori Mahaffie, a Lane basketball standout who saw her season end early with a knee injury, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Mary, a Division II four-year university in Bismarck, N.D. Mahaffie, a sophomore, earned Second Team AllNWAACC Southern Region honors for the Titans during the 2013-14 season and was named to the NWAACC All-Star Team. She averaged 10.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and was sixth in the conference with 1.5 blocks per game. She was the Titans’ second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer before suffering a torn ACL in a Feb. 17 game. “That was one of my biggest fears, because I hadn’t really thought of other plans for next year,” Mahaffie said. “I was just lucky enough
Tori Mahaffie
that University of Mary had watched me play beforehand and still recruited me. They were not at all concerned with the injury.” Mahaffie will join a Marauders team that finished sixth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference last season with a 14-8 record. “I think it shows a lot of character on their part to stick with her through the injury, and I think she’s rewarded them by really rehabbing hard,” Lane head coach Greg Sheley said. “She’s excited to go there. It’s going to be great.”
2 The Torch LCC TORCH.COM LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S P A P E R
STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alyssa Sutton MANAGING EDITOR Sean Hanson SPORTS EDITOR Jarrid Denney A&C EDITOR Penny Scott REPORTERS Jackson Dietel Eddie Leach Laura Newman Courtney Springer Chris Patrick Chris Piepgrass COPY CHIEF Zack Bear PHOTO EDITOR Eugene Johnson CARTOONIST Riley Webber PRODUCTION MANAGER Byron Hughey GRAPHIC ARTISTS Wes Fry James Capps WEB EDITOR Tenaya Smith AD MANAGER Randy Maxwell DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Patrick Blough NEWS ADVISER Paige Parker 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.
CONTACT The Torch Lane Community College 4000 E. 30th Ave. Eugene, OR 97405 torch@lanecc.edu (541) 463-5654
OPINION&COMMENTARY EDITORIAL
Child care cuts should be avoided Lane’s parents, students and staff currently cope with many struggles, including passing classes, juggling jobs and finding time to be with their families outside of school. This is why we at The Torch were surprised when the administration’s recent budget proposal for next school year included cutting $100,000 from the Early Childhood Development Center. The proposed cuts reduce classrooms from four to three, maintains two vacancies in the center and cuts down on part-time classified staffing. The Board of Education is trying to remove $12.6 million from the college’s budget, which is no simple task. However, of the many cuts in the budget proposal, we find this one to be shortsighted. The proposal cuts from a program in need of more support, not less. Craig Taylor, director of Lane’s Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning estimated that as of Spring 2011, 29 percent of Lane students were parents or expecting children. The development center is currently licensed to care for 99 children. The development center provides key services to some of those most in need on campus, as childcare is not affordable, especially in Oregon. According to a November 2013 report from child care advocacy group Child Care Aware of America, Oregon is the least affordable state in the country to purchase childcare, for two-parent or single-mother families. Currently, tuition for a full-time student is $1,116. The base cost of childcare at Lane runs as high as $2,288 per term. A student with a child pays over three times as much to attend school — and that’s before factoring in housing, food, books and fees. With the median income for a single mom in Oregon at just under $22,000, a child care bill could easily gobble up nearly two-thirds of her income. Some of this cost can be subsidized at Lane through grants available to Pell Grant
RILEY WEBBER / THE TORCH
recipients. However, need is clearly substantial and the grants do not provide for all parents. An April 17 report in The Torch described students’ challenges as parents on Lane’s campus. These learners and providers were forced to make difficult decisions about child care from term-toterm — especially parents of older children — as they cannot receive child care through the development center. Additionally, a feature in this issue highlights the two students with the highest GPA on campus, both of whom are parents. The answer to this problem is simple, despite the difficult budget climate. The Board of Education needs to stand up for students in need and maintain the current investment in the Early Child-
hood Development Center. Even with reduced enrollment expected next year, student need remains substantial and varied. If the current needs of students with children between ages 2 and 5 is met, invest money into a program to provide childcare for older children and provide services to students in dire need, especially singlemothers. We are not asking for growth. We are not asking for increased investment. What we are asking for is a continued commitment to Lane’s most vulnerable students and their children, and ongoing support for students with some of the greatest needs of all. Doing so means maintaining the college’s ideals, even during the hardest of times.
POINT-COUNTERPOINT CrossFit is a new form of conditioning that is rising in popularity and sparking controversy across the U.S.
Should people exercise with CrossFit routines? Training leads to a hard core
Jarrid Denney Sports Editor Depending on who you ask, CrossFit is either a killer workout, or a workout that could give you a killer injury. Those who are dedicated to the sport see it as a lifestyle more so than a form of exercise. Its popularity has skyrocketed over the past 10 years, and there are over 7,000 affiliated CrossFit boxes open around the world, a mind-boggling number when compared to the mere 15 that were open in 2005. Recently, the sport has been under heavy criticism,
THE TORCH / Thursday, May 8, 2014
and many are questioning its safety and practicality. I’ve been involved with CrossFit for almost a year now and have never experienced an injury (with the exception of a few calluses and bruises). I spend more time stretching and recovering most days than I do actually working out, and anytime I have ever complained that I was sore or felt like a workout was doing more harm than good, the trainer supervising the workout would make an adjustment or simply advise me to stop for the day and rest. PRO ON PAGE 2
Training is too hardcore
Alyssa Sutton Editor-in-chief Last summer, I went from training non-stop for 5K runs to lying on my cement porch at 1 a.m. under a sliding glass door. Apparently, if the top of glass doors aren’t screwed into the runners, they fall off the track when opened. It may have been the dumbest way to acquire a concussion, but it led my doctor and my coach to ban me from any sort of training. Finally back on the trail, I started training with a four-mile run. When we finished, my running partner gave me a half-glare, half-
laugh. We had maintained a 7:40 pace for the entire run, when the goal had been to maintain an easy 8:45 and keep it conversational. We left the trail, joking that I should get a concussion more often. However, back on the track the next day, when I was figuring out how long it would take me to get to a garbage can in case I needed to vomit, my coach disapprovingly pointed out that I had pushed myself too far. Whether we run, lift or play a sport, we all like to push past our limits. We like the sense of competition that gets us there. CON ON PAGE 2
NEWS&FEATURES
3
ELECTION: Weed takes presidency
ACADEMICS: Lane students make the cut
approved a measure to continue funding Oregon Student Public Interest Group, which receives $3 of the $50.30-per-term student activity fee. More than half of 513 voters elected senatorial candidates Emily Aguilera, Sarah Pishioneri, Jennifer McCarrick, Felicia Dickinson and Robert Schumacher. The remaining winners — Nicole Rund, Brandi Hoskins, Caleb Miller, Sofie Crandall and Christian Mello — each received at least 40 percent of the votes. Mello edged out his closest opponent, Wesley Allen, by only one vote. Allen, Trevor Moore, Scott Compton and Esau Gavett could still fill seats on the ASLCC Senate if one or more of the winners decline their positions. “Me and Malisa are really adamant about following up what this administration has done,” Weed said. “We tried to put on a lot of successful events to get students engaged with student government. … We want to go with that. We want to move forward with that.” Current student government President Paul Zito said he was pleased voters elected Weed, who was instrumental in launching the Rainy Day Food Pantry, which Zito said was the greatest success of his presidency. He urged incoming leaders to realize their pet projects will change from inception to completion. For example, Zito said, student leaders faced a minor clash with Lane staff over appropriating space for the pantry, and the process by which students could shop at the pantry differed from his initial vision for the project. “Your projects oftentimes become subject to the social thinktank,” Zito said. Weed and his staff will appoint a treasurer and multicultural programs coordinator, two positions that were previously elected. This year, student elections moved from myLane to OrgSync, and the number of respondents doubled. The polls were open from April 28 through May 1. Fewer than 1 percent of Lane students voted in last year’s elections. Weed and Gomez faced controversies during their race to the top. Through the crowdfunding website gofundme. com, Weed began asking for donations as early as Feb. 25, but student government bylaws prohibited candidates from “campaigning” before April 14. As he was asking for donations — not votes — the Elections Committee ruled on April 23 that his fundraising activities did not violate campaign rules. Meanwhile, Gomez walked out of the April 23 student senate meeting twice and admitted to using his senatorial position to influence the elections, mere hours after he jumped onto a cafeteria table during lunchtime and attempted to address students. That night, Gomez said he had untreated anger management issues, but would persist in his bid for the presidency because no candidate should run unopposed, even though Gomez felt that he was at a severe disadvantage to Weed’s campaign. “I’m running against a machine,” he said on April 23. The candidates on a third ticket, Clinton Fear and Kathy Renfrowand, left the race before elections began. (Former News Editor J. Wolfgang Wool and former reporter Taya Alami contributed to this report.)
graduates in December with an associates degree in Computer Network Operations and Electrical Technology. “I’ve got a beautiful wife and two daughters. We get to babysit our grandchildren,” Baker said. “To be able to keep that up and care for them after I get out of school is a big motivation.” Before he enrolled at Lane, Baker worked in TV and radio antenna maintenance. When the technology turned digital it virtually eliminated Baker’s work and he decided to pursue higher education. “I needed a better education to proceed. I didn’t want to go back to bartending,” Baker said. During his first work-study job with Applied Scientific Instrumentation, Baker built and repaired electronic lab equipment from scratch. “I spent a lot of time soldering. I got really good at it,” Baker said.
An opening for a technician at the Lane Workforce Development Department piqued Baker’s interest and he jumped on the opportunity. “This is exactly what I want to do. I put my head into a computer and figure out what’s going on,” Baker said. After graduating from Lane, Baker would like to move on to the University of Oregon to pursue his education in computer science and networking. PTK is the oldest community college honor society in the country. The society provides scholarship, leadership and community service opportunities for its students. The All-Oregon Academic Team is one of those scholarships. Eligibility is dependent on a student's cumulative GPA. Students must have a GPA of 3.25 on all Lane and high school coursework and maintain at least a 3.0 to be in good standing.
d a r G Fair nnual A d ir Th
Main Campus
uates d a r G 2014 in —
CanlassW Ring
• C own p & G ments a C • ce noun ch More! • An u M ch, • Mu
4 1 0 2
CONTINED FROM P. 1
CONTINED FROM P. 1
4 1 y Ma
. 0 p.m 3 : 3 – . y 10 a.mloor Lobb F 2nd r Bldg. Cente
— ttend uld A o h S i ion n You cipat emony i t Why r a p n cer firm e rchas • Con graduatio s t s r to pu n g u e y n o t i i m y n h aw rtu fres & Dr oppo d gown • Re heel s First n W a • e p z ca s • Pri 014 Grad es your prize 2 l t a r a S fo gre wn n i o : s ring r s G W o a • p & es f ur cl v o s i ts y t e c a r • Ca i e nt erv emen • Ord prese raduate S ounc n n th Ty a i • Re r rs G ure w Orde t c • i Mine undation p r o appa e you LCC F i Theta K • Tak h P gram PTK– rs Pro Hono t Life n Stude
titanstore.lanecc.edu
Graduates!
Present This Coupon for
15% off One Cap and Gown Package
Valid through May 14, 2014 • Web Sale Orders excluded Not to be combined with other discounts
Graduates!
Present This Coupon for
10% off One Grad Item
Valid through June 14, 2014 • Web Sale Orders excluded Not to be combined with other discounts
The Torch / Thursday, MAY 8, 2014
4
SPORTS&RECREATION
EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Lane sophomore infielder Blake Montague hits a single against Mount Hood Community College May 2 in Eugene.
Hitting Batting Average 1. Konner Reddick — .342 2. Jarren Goddard — .341 3. Forrest Garcia — .308
RBI’s 1. Jarren Goddard — 27 2. Darin Nelson — 19 3. Spencer Smith — 16 3. Eric Long — 16
Homeruns EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Sophomore pitcher Beau Uealand threw a scoreless inning in relief in Game 1 of a double-header against Mount Hood Community College May 2.
1. Jarren Goddard — 4 2. Kyle Beam — 2 3. Kyle Watson —1 3. Darin Nelson —1
Pitching Strikeouts 1. Jeff Hardy — 54 2. Jackson Bertsch — 24 3. Jared Priestly — 23
ERA 1. Travis Kelly — 0.42 2. Jeff Hardy — 2.70 3. Eric Ruaro — 2.78
Wins 1. Jeff Hardy — 5 2. Jackson Bertsch — 4 2. Travis Boggs — 4
Lane falls to second Seven games remain as Titans trail Clark Community College
Jarrid Denney Sports Editor Lane’s hopes of capturing an NWAACC Southern Region title are on life support after dropping three of four games over the weekend. The Titans entered the week in first place, but were swept in a May 2 home doubleheader versus Mount Hood Community College, and the next day lost 7-8 in a nailbiting opener versus the Chemeketa Community College Storm. With a record of 13-10 in Southern Region play, the Titans now find themselves in second place behind the Clark Community College Penguins (17-7) and tied with the Southwestern Oregon Community College Lakers (13-10). “I think we’ve been inconsistent,” Lane head coach Josh
Blunt said. “I don’t know if it’s because we take for granted the moment that’s been given to us, or we just think we’re better than other teams. But there’s not a lot of difference between top and bottom in our conference.” In the first game versus Mount Hood, Saints’ cleanup hitter Eddie Jones blasted a two-run, opposite-field homerun off of Lane starting pitcher Jared Priestly in the first inning. That was all the offense Mount Hood needed. Lane evened the game by scoring a run in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Saints shut the door on a Titans’ comeback by answering with two more runs later in the game to secure a 4-2 win. Lane sophomores Eric Long and Jarren Goddard each went 1-for-4 with an RBI for Lane, and Long picked up two sto-
THE TORCH / Thursday, May 8, 2014
len bases. Jake Dahlberg pitched a complete game for the Saints and struck out three Titans to earn his fifth win of the season. In the second game, the Saints picked up two quick runs in the first inning on a bases-clearing triple by shortstop Cole Hamilton, and held the lead for the rest of the game. The Titans tacked on a run of their own when sophomore designated hitter Konner Reddick drove Long home with a single to right field, but that was the only offense the Titans would produce. In the bottom of the sixth, Lane saw its best opportunity to break even. The Titans loaded the bases with the heart of their batting order due to come up. But Long and sophomore
second baseman Blake Montague each failed to reach base, and the Titans ended the inning scoreless. Reddick relieved Titans starting pitcher Eric Ruaro and struck out two batters to hold the Saints in check in the seventh. Sophomore centerfielder Spencer Smith reached base on an error to lead off the inning, and Goddard followed with a single. Reddick bunted both runners over, and sophomore outfielder Darin Nelson followed by driving in Smith on a groundout to shortstop. With the tying run on third, shortstop Tucker Campbell hit a laser back to Saints pitcher Michael McCall, who easily flipped the ball over to first to end the game. Freshman outfielder Forrest Garcia went 3-for-3 and tripled for the Titans, and Red-
dick was 2-for-3 with an RBI. The next day the Titans took on the Storm in Salem, but the result wasn’t any more positive. Six unearned runs and three errors by Lane cummulated into an 8-7 Game 1 loss. Nelson went 3-for-5, scored twice and stole three bases for the Titans. In the nightcap versus Chemeketa, the Titans ended their weekend on a positive note. They committed only one error and surrendered just two walks and picked up a 4-3 win to end a three-game losing streak. Freshman Travis Boggs pitched 3.2 innings and struck out two batters to earn the win for Lane. Long and Reddick each had two hits and scored a run. Reddick now leads the Titans in hitting with a .342 average.
5
SPORTS&RECREATION
Titans seek region championship Lane men will battle Clackamas for 11th consecutive title, women favored to win fifth straight
Jarrid Denney Sports Editor Lane track and field competed in the last meet of the regular season at the May 2 Oregon State University High Performance Meet, and now have their eyes set on the NWAACC Southern Region Championships. The Titans’ men have brought home the previous 10 Southern Region titles, while the women have claimed nine of the past 10. This year, both teams are in the mix to add to the school’s trophy case. However, the battle for the men’s title could be much closer than in recent years. Clackamas Community College has four athletes who own the top spot in the conference in their respective events and 19 ranked in the top five. Lane has 26 athletes ranked in the top five, while six Titans’ men are at the top of the form chart in individual events. Several Lane athletes are dealing with injuries, and Lane head coach Grady O’Connor said that his main focus is on keeping his athletes healthy for the NWAACC Championships, even if it means sacrificing points at regionals. “We aren’t going to have everybody compete in two or three events like we will at NWAACCs,” O’Connor said. “It’s team track and field; we want to defend the title and win the team championship, but we’re not going to do it at the cost of people’s fitness.” Freshman Rohan Cain had a breakout meet for the Titans at OSU. He finished seventh in the 400-meter dash in a time of 48.73 seconds and eighth in the 200-meters in 22.1 seconds. Both marks were lifetime bests for Cain. O’Connor said that Cain and sophmores Diego Gonzales were both “a little banged up after the meet” and injuries will limit their participation at regionals. “The meet was great but we had a few setbacks,” O’Connor said. “So we’re in scramble mode and hopefully those guys will be back for (the NWAACC championships). But for now, we’re two bodies lighter for regionals.” Freshman Jonathan and David Cornish both ran seasonbests in the men’s 5,000-meter race, with times of 15:24.89 and 15:28, respectively. Jonathan Cornish now owns the second-fastest 5,000-meter time in the conference this
EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Lane freshman David Cornish takes the baton from his brother Jonathan to begin the third leg of the men’s 4x400-meter relay at the April 24 Titan Twilight. Jonathan Cornish is second in the conference in the 5,000-meter run and David Cornish ranks fourth.
season, while David Cornish owns the fourth-fastest. The highlight of the meet for the Titans came in the women’s 5,000 meter run, where three Lane runners set season bests and two ran lifetime best times. Freshman Nicole Maurmann finished third with a time of 18:10.28. She was followed by freshman Katy Potter in fourth at 18:16.8 and freshman Alli Cross in fifth at 18:18.01. “The distance girls all ran well and they ran together,” O’Connor said. “Huge PR’s for all of them. The 5K was just a great tune-up for them.” Maurmann, Potter and Cross now own the second-, thirdand fourth-fastest 5,000-meter times in the conference. Community Colleges of Spokane sophomore Jessica Mildes, who recently signed with Gonzaga University, owns the top time at 16:47. Lane sophomore Madison Seaman set an NWAACC leading mark in the discus with a throw of 149'10" and finished seventh. Sophomore Kristin Clark finished sixth in the long jump with a season best leap of 17'07". The Southern Region Championships will be held in Gresham on May 10, and the NWAACC championships will take place in Spokane, Wash. on May 19 and 20.
EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Freshman Nicole Maurmann ran a 4:56.31 in the women’s 1,500-meter relay at the March 22 Oregon Preview at Hayward field. Maurmann is second in the conference in both the 1,500- and 5,000-meter runs.
The Torch / Thursday, MAY 8, 2014
6
OPINION&COMMENTARY POINT-COUNTERPOINT
PRO: Respect your boundaries for a safe workout CONTINED FROM P. 2
Never at any point have I felt like I was pushing past my limits during a workout, or that a trainer was encouraging me to do something that wasn’t in my best interest. CrossFit doesn’t have a safety problem. Rather, a small number of people who participate in the sport have a severe common sense problem. It’s easy to criticize the morons on YouTube attempting to do an overhead squat with a barbell while standing on a medicine ball (yes, this does exist, and it’s hilarious). However, they have nothing in common with those who use CrossFit
as a smart and healthy way to train. Yes, there are plenty of people in the CrossFit world who end up injured as a result of over-training, poor mechanics or just flat-out stupidity. However, the same can be said for any sport. If a football player leads with his head every time he makes a tackle, he’s going to end up concussed. If a baseball pitcher continually throws with bad form, he’s going to injure his elbow. If a runner doesn’t listen to her body and tries to run through the pain, she will end up injured.
A study done at the All Wales Trauma and Orthopaedic Training Program found that injury rates among CrossFit athletes are similar to those for other exercise forms such as Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting and gymnastics — and that CrossFit injury rates are lower than sports such as rugby. Is there a good chance you could suffer a minor injury from CrossFit training? Absolutely. The same study found that 73.5 percent of those who participate in the sport do. This number is also comparable to minor injury rates of Olympic
lifting and powerlifting. However, the study also found that only 7 percent of participants suffer injuries that require surgical repair, a rate lower than that of competitive contact sports. So what do these injuries rates show us? That the world is, overall, a dangerous place, and that if you partake in any form of physical exercise, the chances are pretty good that you’re going to end up getting hurt sooner or later, whether it be a minor or major injury. However, statistics prove that CrossFit isn’t any more dangerous than any other form
of popular exercise. It’s only as dangerous as you make it. I always thought the most fascinating thing about the cries against CrossFit is that the critics make it sound as if CrossFit itself is literally inflicting injuries upon innocent bystanders, and that they are helpless to stop it. At the end of the day, each person is responsible for what they do in the gym, whether it’s at a CrossFit box, an International Fitness or the home gym they set up in their garage. Use common sense. If something doesn’t feel right during a workout, don’t do it. It’s as simple as that.
CON: Company brags about danger of training CONTINED FROM P. 2
But when does it become too much? Like running or any other athletic pursuit, CrossFit, a “constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement,” has a sense of competition. However, this community might be taking it too far by pushing both athletes and amateurs alike to a physical breaking point. "If you find the notion of falling off the rings and breaking your neck so foreign to you, then we don't want you in our ranks. (CrossFit) can kill you. I've always been completely honest about that,” CrossFit founder Greg Glass-
man told The New York Times. According to a 2013 study published by The Journal of Strength and Conditioning, 16 percent of 54 participants of a 10-week CrossFit program dropped out due to “injuries and overuse.” That’s an alarming number for one type of “sport.” These injuries vary from recoverable injuries like sore joints and skeletal misalignment, to more permanent injuries like tendonitis, torn rotator cuffs and slipped disks. CrossFit faced scalding reports in the health section of publications such as Outside Magazine, Huffpost, Women’s Health and the Examiner. They
also faced the blame for causing rhabdomyolysis among participants. Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle fibers that leads to the release of muscle fiber contents, or myoglobin, into the bloodstream. Myoglobin is harmful to the kidneys and often causes permanent damage. Currently six cases of rhabdomyolysis have been reported among participants of CrossFit. One of CrossFit’s unofficial mascots depicts an extremely fit clown attached to a dialysis machine, with his kidney ripped out on the floor in a pool of blood. Sad part is, CrossFit created the cartoon
not to scare people away from CrossFit, but instead to inform members that it is possible to get hurt to this extreme when participating in the conditioning they provide. But hey, like Glassman said, at least they’re being honest. This is not to say that the only reason for injuries is CrossFit (I did get hit by a sliding glass door.) Regardless of the conditioning you choose or the type of athlete you are, there is always the chance of a serious injury. What concerns me is that CrossFit is providing the public with unsupervised workouts, no gym required. Partici-
pants can use what they have in their garage to complete the workout. This is concerning because, already faced with a dangerous form of conditioning, participants can now train without a certified coach to point out bad form, or remind them to take a break. It’s possible to get injured regardless of whether you are standing in one spot, playing a sport or participating in a form of conditioning. I prefer to play it safe by working with a certified coach or trainer, who is interested in my health and physical safety over one that is perfectly fine with his form of conditioning killing me.
Break into print ... with a job that will give you a valuable life experience
Applications for 2014-2015 Torch and Denali editors will be available Wednesday, May 7, in The Torch office, Building 18, Room 214, Lane Community College, 4000 E. 30th Ave. Eugene, Ore. Applications are due Friday, May 23, at noon. Return applications to Building 18. Room 214 Denali Editor
Torch Editor L cc Torch.coM
LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S P A P E R
The Denali editor selects and manages the 20142015 student staff, organizes a production schedule and has the final word on all matters concerning the magazine. He or she must have a concrete understanding of, or the commitment to learn, the technical skills of the prodution process of a magazine. He or she can expect to work an average of 20 hours per week. A background in literature and art is recommended. Knowledge of InDesign and Photoshop is extremely helpful. The editor must be an officially registered Lane student and must maintain a 2.00 GPA or higher. The Denali editor will be paid a stipend of $550 per term and will serve, fall, winter and spring terms of the 2014-2015 academic year.
THE TORCH / Thursday, May 8, 2014
The Torch
inSide STUDENT ELEcTIoNS Q&A: FILMMAKEr, INSTrUcTor BASEBALL AND TrAcK
The Torch editor is responsible for directing newsgathering and the publication process, and has control of the news and editoral content of the paper. The editor should have journalistic, management and organizational abilities, training and/or experience. REPLACE He or she should also have previous service on a newspaper staff, and have gained an adequate understanding of the operation of a newspaper. The applicants must have completed at least six credits at Lane Baseball headline Baseball headline within the last 12 months and be registered for three credits per term at Lane while editor. The editor must maintain a 2.00 GPA or higher, can expect to work 30-40 hours per week, and will recieve a monthly stipend of $700 per month for 12 months. The editor will serve fall, winter, and spring terms of the 2014-2015 academic year. M AY 1 , 2 0 1 4
voluMe 50, edition 22
euGene, oRe.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Budget proposals shelved pending further information Initial budget slated for May 14 meeting
Sean hanson Managing editor
MidSuMMeR PhANTASM
Liz Gibb helps Michelle Nordella with her robe in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Ragozzino Hall on April 19.
Penny c. Scott A&C editor
As spring welcomes back the blossoms and warm breeze, Karlie Schwartzwald has brought the Chess Club back to Lane. The Associated Students of Lane Community Col-
lege Senate ratified the Chess Club on April 2. Schwartzwald is a second-year mathematics student. Hoping to introducing chess to more students around campus, Schwartzwald harbored the passion for chess club in Winter 2014. “I love chess,” Schwartz-
FACULTY ON PAGE 5
wald said, “and I want to have a chance to play with students on campus.” The club currently has no chess sets. Schwartzwald has been cutting out paper to substitute with real chess sets. The Chess Club is waiting to receive $100 from the Student Government, the
BOARD ON PAGE 3
CHRIS PIEPGRASS / THE TORCH
amount ratified clubs get each term. Despite a lack of chessboards, 20 students have already signed up in the Chess Club, and approximately 10 students attended the first two meetings. “We welcome everyone PErKINS ON PAGE 3
GoMEZ ON PAGE 5
The Lane Board of Education fielded two plans this week to balance the budget against a projected $12.6 million shortfall and an estimated 12 percent drop in enrollment as other cuts loom on the horizon. Each of those plans calls for drastic measures: shuttering the Cottage Grove campus, reducing the subsidies offered to Lane students who pay for on-site childcare, increasing per-credit tuition by $3, and/ or passing on the card-swipe fees assessed at the Titan Store and cafeteria to customers. Citizens, faculty members and student leaders offered hours of testimony as spectators strained to listen from the foyer during the April 28 special session. After the testimony and the proposals, the board voted 6-1 to suspend laundry service in the 2014-15 school year, a measure that will save the college $257,300, just 2 percent of the shortfall. The college provides laundry service for several departments, including athletics and culinary arts, as well as outside institutions. The board will likely adopt one of the two proposals, one from administration and another from the college Budget and Finance Subcommittee, in June. A $3 per-credit tuition hike would net Lane almost $1 million in additional revenue, but student government Vice President Rebekah Ellis said the effect this could have on enrollment would be devastating. “I just wanted to make sure that everyone is aware … what (a tuition hike) means for me as a student. The choices that I make on a day-to-day basis over my personal health versus my education, what I can afford and what I can't afford — any increase in tuition is just basically asking me for money that I don't have,” Ellis said at the meeting. With their proposal, administrators sought to close the $12 million gap without increasing tuition. The Budget and Finance Subcommittee crafted its compromise proposal around a $3 tuition increase and the closure of the Cottage Grove campus, which would save Lane an estimated $440,544. The administration considered closing the Cottage BoArD ON PAGE 5
7
ARTS&CULTURE
CHRIS PIEPGRASS / THE TORCH
Lane staff rehearse “Ride of the Valkyries” by Richard Wagner in Ragozzino Performance Hall May 5.
Faculty delivers epic performance Concert wows with five grand pianos and Viking costume
Chris Piepgrass Reporter Lane instructors raised scholarship funds while showcasing their creativity and a variety of skills at Piano Mania in Ragozzino Hall on May 6. The night began with five grand piano players pounding out Wolfgang Mozart’s “Overture” from The Marriage of Figaro, arranged by Piano Mania Coordinator Barbara Myrick. “What better way to start this unique concert than with Mozart’s sparkling overture?” Myrick said. The introductory piece was conducted by symphony instructor Hisao Watanabe, who wore an 18th-century suit, complete with a powdered wig, as Mozart would have.
After the ensemble left the stage, a crew emerged to rearrange the pianos for the upcoming duet. Second-year Lane music student Cassidee Fosback helped as a stagehand. James McConkey, Ragozzino Hall stage manager, used tape to mark how pianos would be arranged during each set. “We just had to roll the pianos to their blocked positions,” Fosback said. After the introduction, two pianos remained. Genevieve Mason, a part-time instructor at Lane and UO graduate from France, performed “Andante and Variations, Op. 46” for two pianos by Robert Schumann with Myrick. The piece was originally composed in 1843. Trills ran back and forth between the two like a conversation.
“The piece grabbed me with its emotional contrasts and subtle dissonances,” Myrick said. The staff then rotated, performing variations of solos and duets of their choosing. Sandy Holder and Vicki Brabham started the transition with a few jazz tunes. At one point, Brabham feigned a few kicks to the piano as she played. Like a jukebox skipping, she repeated the first ending of her tune until the final kick fixed the problem, bringing her improvisation to its conclusion. “I played around with it and tried to create a mood. I play from a lead sheet, which is just the melody and the chords,” Brabham said. “I just improvised and threw in things that I was thinking of.” As the concert resumed after
a short intermission. More pianos were gradually returned to the stage until all five were present for the finale. Seth Mulvihill conducted his arrangement of Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” adorned in Nordic attire, complete with helmet and staff. The concert finale concluded with ”Stars and Stripes Forever,” composed by John Philip Sousa, arranged by Myrick and conducted by Lane instructor Ron Bertucci. At its climax, Myrick was handed a flute and a trombone that was literally constructed for Bertucci. Red, white and blue lights added to the showmanship as they played, while some audience members waved miniature American flags.
Myrick concluded by thanking the audience, her colleagues and all those involved in the event. McConkey attributes a portion of the concert’s turnout to successful advertising through social media. “We put three videos up on Lane’s social media and got more than 1,250 hits in a three day period,” he said. “It was a good crowd,” Lane instructor Larry Clabby said. “It makes it easier to perform when you have an enthusiastic audience. It’s like you're connecting; there’s a give-and-take.” The revenue from all concerts held on Ragozzino's stage are used to provide scholarships for the performers’ area of study.
Art exhibit tackles difficult subject Faculty and students express how cancer touched their lives
Penny Scott A&C Editor Media arts student Rainer Anderson, who prefers to be called RB, said his life was shattered when he found out he had cancer. He uses writing and art to express what it’s been like starting over again. Anderson got a chance to express himself in the Big C exhibit in the 4x4 Gallery's introductory show in Building 17. It contains both media, and is dominated by black writing of all sizes. Included is a faculty segment called "Life Landscapes." "I thought it would be great if I could speak and write myself into existence," Anderson said. Displayed at the Big C exhibit are paintings, photography and
other works of art by media arts faculty and students whose lives have been touched by cancer. The exhibit began as a faculty project last fall. The contributors were media arts instructors Teresa Hughes, Jeri Mrazek, Meredith Keene-Wilson and Richard Lennox. The project began as a community service to increase awareness of breast cancer. However, the show kept changing and growing into something else. They soon realized that, either directly or indirectly, cancer touches most people's lives. So they decided to open the exhibit up to students. While the project moved through different phases, cancer continued to touch the lives of the contributors. "I had a friend who was giv-
Penny Scott / THE TORCH
Rainer Anderson examines his piece "Shattered" which he entered in the Big C Exhibit in the 4x4 Gallery in Building 17 May 1.
en two months to live while this was going on," Hughes said. "Sometimes I thought 'I don't want to do this anymore,' then good things happened, and we were off again." According to research con-
ducted by the American Cancer Society, an estimated 585,720 people are expected to die from cancer in the United States in 2014. Hughes, Mrazek and KeeneWilson decided to participate in a twenty year American Cancer
Society study. However, the focus of their involvement is expressed through art and the creation of opportunities for their students to do the same. "Several students said ‘I had no idea I was hanging onto this issue,’" Keene-Wilson said. Responses to the exhibit have been mostly favorable. However, some students have found the topic confronting and have shielded their eyes upon seeing the artwork. Some of the posters around campus have been torn down as well. "I'm impressed by the response to the call to artists,” Jan Halvorsen, media arts instructor said. "Every piece is interesting and has a story. As I look at the work, I'm thinking 'I want to know more about this.'"
The Torch / Thursday, MAY 8, 2014
8
ARTS&CULTURE
PHOTOS BY EUGENE JOHNSON / THE TORCH
Dance Northwest showcases in front of a packed Ragozzino Performance Hall May 3 during the Down 4 It performance. The show consisted of nine different Oregon dance companies.
Concert raises funds for dance foundation Nine Oregon troupes perform on Ragozzino stage
Courtney Springer Reporter Dance Northwest celebrated National Dance Week at Lane last Saturday, May 3 by gathering regional dance groups to perform at their 9th annual Down 4 It event in the Ragozzino Performance Hall. The event raised money for the Lane Dance Foundation, which helps serious dancers pay for tuition and attend national and international conferences and events. Anita Sanford, co-founder, director and Lane dance instructor of 14 years, established the group with Kim Ely in 2005. “We had a group of dancers, and then we just bonded through our passion for dance and decided to take it to the stage,” Sanford said. The group produced Saturday’s event and invited guest companies from Eugene, Springfield and Prineville. The performing ensembles included: Dance Northwest, D2, Sixx, High Desert Dance Arts, Gotta Dance Tap Company, ZAPP, Urban Pulse and The Prestige Sr., Work Dance Company, Flex and Pointe Performance Group, King’s Krew, and the Lance Dance Company. The auditorium was nearly full as the first group of dancers took the stage. The audience’s excitement was audible with hoots and hollers; during the show a few dancers echoed back through the darkness, encouraging the energy. The event had a blend of hip
Anita Sanford, founder of Dance Northwest, greeted guests at the Down 4 It show.
Urban Pulse and The Prestige dance groups warm up in the hallway outside of the mainstage before their performances in Down 4 It in Ragozzino Performance Hall May 3.
hop, modern, jazz, tap and burlesque. The costumes ranged from sneakers with stocking caps to tiaras with tulling. “I like the formations, and the duet was stunning!” Lane dance student Angela Chan said. She gestured a thumbs up for the choreography. The duet mentioned was performed by hip hop group D2, entitled “I Got a Dollah” featuring dancers Megan Panos and Nicco PeBenito. The event was to benefit the Lane Dance Foundation which has touched the lives of many local dancers, including current members of Dance Northwest, through its scholarship fund. Gina Knox, Northwest Dance member, found her
passion for dance at age 17 through a ballet class and was hooked. Knox initially started her dance career at Lane when she met dance director Bonnie Simoa. Knox was then offered a talent grant from the Lane Dance Foundation bringing the event full circle for her. Knox has been dancing in the group for about a year and calls it much more than a dance company. “In this company the amount of collaboration and community is incredible ... we’re like family. They would do anything for me and I would do anything for them,” Knox said. Gina Evans, Dance Northwest member for three years,
THE TORCH / Thursday, May 8, 2014
started her dance career at Lane before transferring to the UO. “I love Lane. Coming to Lane first was one of the best decisions ever,” Evans said. The lights went up for intermission and people stood to stretch. After a few minutes, circus-themed characters filled the hall from all sides. A mermaid sat on stage along with the ringmaster as a bearded woman, mime and other characters streamed in from the lobby entrances. The audience held its energy throughout the second act with more hollering and shout-outs, and the performers reciprocated. Cole Brown, Dance North-
west member since August 2013, met Sanford by taking her Hip Hop course at Lane. Brown has been inspired by the group’s strong bond and Sanford’s passion for the art of dance. “I love her artistic ability and she pushes us to become artists, not just dancers,” Brown said. The company will celebrate a decade of shows in 2015. Sanford is already thinking about next year, but was trying to hold off at least until Monday, after wrapping up this year’s show. Dance Northwest’s next performance will be at Lane for the Eugene Dance Factory’s recital, Saturday, May 31.