The Torch // Volume 54 // Edition 9 by The Torch Newspaper

THE

TORCH - FEB 27, 2019 - VOLUME 54, EDITION 9 - EUGENE, OR -

LCC News / pg 2

From Asia, with drums

Eug. News / pg 7

CLOSED

Basketball / pg 10

Annual celebration encompasses the diversity of a continent

Trayse Riggle Reporter

“I felt that I needed to give a voice to those of us who are immigrants and have our stories told so that folks know that we’re all connected.” Melissa Nolledo, founder of Our Immigrant Stories photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

In a playful duet between Paul Comery and Meredith Wood, the two members of Portland Taiko work off one another’s energy to perform a piece named “Confluence.” Wood, an alumni of the University of Oregon, founded the club Ahiru Daiko in 2010 as a way to stay in touch with her Japanese heritage and break the stereotype of being a quiet Asian female.

Marching for education Teachers and students hold rally to protest lack of educational funding David Galbreath Reporter Governor Kate Brown has been facing criticism for her new plans to lower state funding for community colleges. Educators from across Oregon gathered at the feet of the State Capitol in Salem on Feb. 18. The March For Our Students was organized by the Oregon Education Association to tell Governor Kate Brown that she needs to allocate more money to Oregon schools. Oregon has steadily increasing graduation rates in the past few years, but the state still ranks among the lowest in high school graduation rates.

“It’s going to be devastating. Our students won't be very well served.” Margaret Hamilton, Lane Community College President The rally quickly took to the streets with teacher and student unions on megaphones demanding additional funding for education. The supporters concluded their parade of clever signs and red shirts that said “I stand with students” inside the Capitol. The supporters made sure their voices were heard with a synchronized chant shouting “four billion more” echoing through the governor’s offices. At the end of the rally, people were hand-delivering personal testimonies to their public representatives, explaining why the budget should be increased. The budget shows an continued on page 6

Embracing the shift From Black History Month to Black History 365 Chavon Wright Vice President, LCC Black Student Union

“The span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips” "Phenomenal Woman", Maya Angelou W.E.B Dubois spoke of a double consciousness that is an inevitability of being Black in America. The double consciousness acknowledges that we, Black people, see ourselves as we are. However, we are simultaneously required to view ourselves through a caucasian point of view due to historic and present systemic opposition to blackness. This is a requirement for safety because of the consistent violence and discriminatory murder our people have faced since the beginning of our time in this country. Stokely Carmichael once said, “If a white man wants to lynch me, that's his problem. If he's got the power to lynch me, that's my problem. Racism is not a question of attitude; it's a question of power. Racism gets its power from capitalism. The power for racism, the power for sexism, comes from capitalism, not an attitude.” Black History Month is an attack on the attitude. Black History 365 is the beginning of dismantling the systems of oppression. Many philosophers and Black scholars argue that racism is permanent. True or not, we have a collective obligation to ourselves and others to do everything we can to fight against all systemic oppression. After all, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This Black History Month, I implore a shift in the continued on page 5

Upon entry of the 34th annual Asian Celebration on Feb. 16 and 17, folks were struck by the potent scent of Asian cuisine. The stages throughout the Lane Events Center showcased an array of cultural continued on page 8

Board weighs outsourcing bookstore College hosts forum with corporate representatives James Croxton Reporter The proposed lease of the Lane Community College bookstore to Barnes & Noble Booksellers is inching closer to reality despite major concerns being presented by faculty members. More importantly, some students claim that the Board of Education is attempting to make these important decisions without student input. At the Feb. 14 Board of Education meeting, Barnes & Noble representatives were in attendance and provided new information during their proposal presentation. It was a full house with at least another fifteen attendees outside the Building 4 boardroom listening in. There were also more than fifteen statements from the gallery, most of which were regarding the proposed Barnes & Noble lease. With so many speakers, the three-minute maximum was heavily enforced.

"On paper, it appears the college is saving money..." Robin Geyer, the President of the Lane Community College Employees Federation The first gallery statement was by Director of Retail Services Tony Sanjume. He repeated his expressed support for the bookstore and its staff. During his statement, he argued that if the bookstore has to be leased out, it should continued on page 4

stories that matter

theTorch // www.lcctorch.com

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

NEWS THE

TORCH THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THE STAFF Editor-in-Chief Marek Belka

Production Manager/Art Director Anna CK Smith

News Director Sabrina Piccolo

Copy Editor Janelle Dutton

Reporters Ali Casanova James Croxton David Galbreath Trayse Riggle Audrey Scully Sioux Sternath positions open

Illustrators Lucien Guidotti-Lawrence Quentin J. Piccolo Prenapa Techakumthon

Cartoonist Emmett Crass

Photojournalists Selina Scott Trent Toyama positions open

Business Director Jason Petorak positions open

Multimedia Evan Curby Zach Lyons positions open

Web Designer Ian Kersey

News Advisor Charlie Deitz

Printer Oregon Web Press Albany, Oregon

Once confined, now free

In new production, Hazel Hall’s poetry transcends the printed page

Audrey Scully Reporter Matt Svoboda, an LCC music instructor and literature enthusiast, has incited a creative revival of poet Hazel Hall's works based on his research and compositions. Svoboda’s music is inspired by Hall’s words. This performative event encompasses music, dance, lecture and readings. Paralleling Hall’s own history, the part of Hazel Hall will be danced by Karen Daly, who has used a wheelchair since losing a leg to cancer at age 11. Hazel Hall, a poet born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1886, moved with her family to Portland, Oregon as a child. At age 12, she became paralyzed by either scarlet fever or a fall – historical accounts vary. She dropped out of school in fifth grade and sought a job she could work from home. Hall turned to sewing, a longtime hobby, to help support herself and her family. She lived out her life in the top floor bedroom of the family’s home and set up her work area in front of a large window overlooking the street. Hall began writing poetry in her early 20s. She published her first poem at thirty and continued writing until her early death at 38. During her career, she published three books of poetry, one posthumously. “Curtains,” musings of her work as a seamstress, explores her surroundings of interior spaces and feelings of isolation that sometimes accompany such a life. “Walkers,” which is about seeking a sense of connection to the passersby that she would see when working near her window. “Cry of Time” is about introspections of the plight of women, mortality and goodbyes. As an acclaim to her literary status, the Oregon Book Award is named jointly for Hall and poet William Stafford.

THE

TORCH Torch Staff Our Bodies, Our Voices, Our Open Mic was held at Tsunami Books and sponsored by Siren. Siren, named after the Greek mythological sea nymphs who use the power of voice and song to lure sailors to their demise, is a local nonprofit organization. According to the website, it is the “nation’s first spoken word performance educational organization dedicated solely to girls.” The event’s organizer and host, Melissa Rose, said they have had a variety of acts from poetry, music, singing and stand-up comedy to a hula-hooping, performance art and dance. Anyone

CONTACT theTorch Lane Community Collegte 4000 E. 30th Ave. Eugene OR 97405 (541)463-5655

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“I first came across a poem of hers, ‘Maker of Songs,’ many years ago and was immediately taken by the musical sensibility and metaphor in her writings,” Svoboda said. “She’s a keen observer of life with a strong musical voice.” Impassioned to discover all he could about the life of Hall, Svoboda tracked down her former home on Lucretia Street in Portland – now NW 22nd Place – and met with the author of her collected works to gain more insight. He knew then that he wanted to create something to celebrate her life and work, but wasn’t sure what that would look like. Over the years, Svoboda’s career led to working with performance artists of other disciplines. While on sabbatical this year, he composed music inspired by Hall’s poetry. Decisively choosing the best way to honor Hall’s life story would be through dance and music, bringing in this diverse network of other artists. Originally scheduled for Feb. 28, “The Room Upstairs: Uncovering The Life and Poetry Of Hazel Hall” has been been postponed. It has been tentatively rescheduled for March 14 in the Ragozzino Performance Hall.

Local bookstore hosts poetry session and music by women

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Karen Daly (in gray) and other performers rehearse a scene from “The Room Upstairs: Uncovering the Life and Times of Hazel Hall.” The performance, written and directed by LCC faculty member Matt Svoboda, explores the life and work of Oregon poet Hazel Hall.

Sharing stories through the arts

LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMNS

photos courtesy of Cat Frink

photo by Evan Curby / multimedia

Local comedian Leigh Anne Jasheway entertains the crowd at Our Bodies, Our Voices, Our Open Mic, an event hosted by Tsunami Books on Feb. 15. The event was themed around women’s experiences and featured exclusively female performers on stage.

that identifies as female is encouraged to use spoken word and all forms of creative expression. The event opened with two featured performers. The first, a musical duo, was a Japanese bluegrass musician named Machiko Shirai, singing and playing guitar while accompanied by Rambling Robert, a banjo player from local radio station KRVM. Leigh Anne Jasheway, a hilarious featured comic, followed. Catering to a full house, many others performed a variety of poetry, music accompanied by song and comedy expelling a variety of personal feelings through the arts. Siren has an office at the Public House in Springfield and collaborates with other nonprofit organizations. They will sponsor four events at Tsunami Books this year, with the two remaining performances falling on March 15 and April 19.

See videos of

Open Mic night at Tsunami Bookstore at lcctorch.com

See videos

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

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NEWS Thousands of years with a modern flair

photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

Queen Clytemnestra, played by Ally Tigue, stands center stage with supporting cast members creating the illusion of one dancer with multiple arms. “Electra’s Oresteia” is the second iteration of the Student Production Association’s “Oresteia Project,” which debuted in 2015.

Electra’s Oresteia wins Best Spotlight performance

photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

Prince Orestes, played by Christopher Ridgley, sits to sing a solo after murdering his mother the Queen under Apollo's direction. Organized by the Student Production Association, “Electra’s Oresteia featured a unique livestream of the show displayed on screens throughout the theater.

Trayse Riggle Reporter The Ragozzino Performance Hall showcased “Electra’s Oresteia,” the Lane Student Production Association’s most recent creation. The performance was shown four times over the course of the second week of February. “Electra’s Oresteia” is the SPA’s rock ‘n’ roll adaptation of Aeschylus’ Greek tragedy of the same name. The production shows Agamemnon's return from the Trojan War and the various lies and murders that fuel Electra’s rise to power upon his return. As most of the leaders portrayed portrayed in the Greek tragedy were corrupt, the actors often made subtle connections to the administration

Listening to silenced voices LCC hosts night of storytelling and indigenous languages Sabrina Piccolo News Director On Feb. 21, individuals of different ethnic backgrounds, occupations and ages gathered at the Lane Community College Longhouse to recount and listen to Native American legends. The event was organized by Lane Community College’s Native American Student Association in honor of International Mother Language Day, a day that encourages the speaking of native languages and appreciation of multilingualism. Attendees celebrated the history and values intertwined with stories that have been passed down for centuries. For some, the stories were ones they had grown up with. For others, it was a way to connect with their native roots. LCC writing and English instructor Drew Viles, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, did not grow up hearing traditional legends. He learned ancestral stories that he now tells his granddaughter and performs at events like this one. The first two traditional stories were performed by University of Oregon students, Native and non-Native,

leading the United States today. What made this particular production unique was the incorporation of rock music and contemporary stage design. The group also decided to include the use of live footage displayed on screens around the theater. The live casting of the performance, done by an stagehand wielding a smartphone on a gimbal, was used to show a close-up view of the actors and also to give the performance a real news feel when the news anchors gave their report in the show. The novel production techniques brought a new dynamic to a performance that the SPA has already performed three times. The production won an award for “Best Spotlight Performance” during the Kennedy Center American College Theater Conference at the University of Oregon. “I think the book and lyrics are so very much stronger than they were the last time,” Brian Haimbach, lead theater faculty member, said. “Electra’s Oresteia” was free to the public with donations accepted. An estimated 339 guests attended the four performances. The group hopes to receive enough donations to continue showcasing high-quality student performances free of charge.

in the river, back to land. Coyote laughs at Squirrel’s excitement and how she had been trying to save her husband studying the language Ichishkiin. The students performed by soaking her tail in the water and wringing it out to in a dialect of the language spoken within the Yakama empty the river. Coyote puts paint on Squirrel’s back Nation in Washington. With a handcrafted backdrop to mark its silliness. and stick puppets for characters, the first “That’s how chipmunks came to be,” group of students presented an story Snyder said abruptly, followed by friendly about a race to a river between a rattlelaughter from the audience. snake and eel. The rattlesnake attempts to In Snyder’s next story, the Creator cheat, but the eel’s sense of smell leads him to shows fire to Coyote for the first time and the river. While the first group’s story discussed tells him to teach the people to respect it. morals, the second-year students who folHeadstrong Coyote keeps the fire to himself lowed told a story about the origin of the and refuses to share it until it grows large trumpet-shaped yellow bells flower. and sets his home ablaze. According to the story, the flower faces “Whenever I notice that I’m being too downward because of the Yellow Sister, stubborn,” Snyder commented, “I tell who felt ashamed after not promptly myself that I’ve got too much Coyote getting ready with her two sisters. in my life.” Following enthusiastic applause for Many Native Americans found that the students, Jimmy Snyder, a teacher this night underlined the necessity of and member of the Kickapoo Tribe storytelling. Native American Student in Kansas, told traditional stories he Program Coordinator, Lori Tapahonso had grown up with. of Navajo and Acoma Pueblo origins, With a voice that carried across the said that children are born with everyLonghouse, he told two stories about a thing they need in their lives, and they character prominent in many Native American learn through stories. When they grow stories: Coyote. The first legend told of Coyote illustration by Quentin J. Piccolo / illustrator up, they can share those stories with helping Squirrel bring her husband, stranded out their children.

stories that matter

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Wednesday, February 27, 2019

NEWS ... continued from front page

Board weighs outsourcing bookstore be with local businesses. would be greatly affected or even barred Supporting his argument, Sanjume from working there. This was again voiced brought up to the Board that since being by Board member Lisa Fragula, to which introduced as a featured product of the Schmit responded that they would actually store, there have been $20,000 in sales for prefer their staff be students and that interHydro Flask, a product locally produced out national students were especially welcome of Bend, Oregon. Furthermore, he stressed because “they seem to have the most open that since the last time he spoke in front availability.” of the Board, the department had moved Adrienne Mitchell, the president of the some people around and got their “payroll LCC Education Association, said the union’s in-line.” Just before leaving the podium, he concerns are that “Barnes & Noble would gave a quick shout-out in support of Food maintain staff in the short-term [but] as the Services which, like the Titan Store, is facing employees retire or leave the college, they an uncertain future. would be replaced with Barnes & Noble Sanjume did not respond to multiple employees, the long-term impacts of which requests for comment. would affect the Lane workforce and local Robin Geyer, the president of the Lane economy negatively.” Community College Employees Federation, When pressed by Carrasco if there were expressed frustration with how much maneuany reasons why Barnes & Noble wouldn’t illustration by Quentin J. Piccolo / illustrator verability the administration has given the go with the existing team, Schmit said that service directors to solve their own problems. would never be the case–unless the existing She explained that outsourcing LCC’s said. “Whether that same language will be included in a Barnes & Noble/Lane contract team chose not to stay. plumbing is a good example. is yet to be seen.” However, student input is absent. “On paper, it appears the college is saving Two restrictions are highlighted in a report by Open-Oregon Education Resources. At CCC, the student government had money,” Geyer said, “because even the The first says that “if your institution does not have a strong faculty-driven OER presence, an active role in the decision on whether most expensive year Barnes & Noble will, by default, become the driver of OER efforts to go with a lease or not. Here at LCC, the since [the college on campus.” Making this problematic is the fact that “Barnes & opposite has been observed. outsourced], plumbNoble is the first to admit they are not OER experts nor do they On Feb. 20, a budget forum was held in ing has been lower provide OER support.” a corner meeting room in the Center for than the cost of a Secondly, “Barnes & Noble provides a monetized model of OER.” Meeting and Learning. There, Nick Keough, full-time plumber.” This concern, shared by Wright during her gallery statement, was one of only two students in attendance and However, “that confirmed shortly thereafter by the representatives during their the president of the Associated Students v i e w, on p ap e r, presentation. of Lane Community College Student does not show that Jane Littlefield, a librarian at CCC, was quoted in the Clackamas Government, asked, “What are you doing to the work by the subPrint saying that “there’s language in here about exclusivity clauses include students in these budget discussions, contractor, in some of what Barnes & Noble basically dictates, what faculty can and and what kind of outreach are you doing?” years, has been far cannot put on their Moodle sites regarding where students would LCC Director of Public Affairs Brett fewer hours than a be purchasing their textbooks from. To a lot of us, it read as ‘Barnes Rowlett said that they can announce these full-time plumber & Noble gets to say what you can and can’t tell your students.’” meetings in future Titan Times newsletand only accounts Of course, the most anticipated agenda item of the meeting ters. At the same time, he blamed the lack for work that MUST was the proposal by the two representatives from Barnes & Noble: of notice to students on the transition of Open-Oregon Education Resources Lori Schmit, regional director of Campus be performed by a ASLCC emails from licensed plumber,” Groupwise to Gmail. report Relations, and Russell Markman, Vice she said, adding President of Campus Relations at Barnes Keough was quick to that “back when we employed a full-time & Noble College. deny the accusation plumber, he did far more than just the work Markman stressed that, if leased, the bookstore will be “low-cost” and noted that prerequiring a licensed plumber. We now have and that they would “price match.” The latter piqued the interest of cautions had been far more bathroom stalls, sinks, etc. that sit a few Board members, specifically Phil Carrasco. When Carrasco taken to prevent with out-of-order signs than we had when asked if there were any exclusions to the price match guarantee, possibility. a plumber was on staff.” Schmit said that any third-party seller would be exempt. She Keough sent out LCC’s Open Education Resources librar- explained that the guarantee was mainly targeted toward Amazon. an email on Feb. ian, Meggie Wright, stressed to the Board Statista, a website that records e-commerce by the quarter, 23 to the student that “the ‘O’ in OER only works if the ‘O’ is reported that in the fourth quarter of 2018, 52 percent of items on body about getting without restriction,” and that this has been Amazon were sold by third-party sellers. This is up one percent a student presence Nick Keough, President of the Asso- at the forum. an unclear part of the Barnes & Noble pro- from this time in 2017. posal. Prior to the Board meeting with the Contradicting the concerns made by the Open Oregon report ciated Students of Lane Community Another open College Student Government forum featuring company’s representatives, all the information and LCC’s Meggie Wright, Markman said that there will be “onegathered about the proposal was coming hundred percent academic freedom.” He was also sure to point out Barnes & Noble repfrom the public contract with Clackamas that, if leased, the bookstore would remain relatively how it is, as an extension of LCC, resentatives was scheduled for Feb 25, but Community College. and will not be transformed into something radically different. was canceled after a snowstorm closed the Employment in the bookstore is also an issue that has been raised. “There is language in the CCC contract college. As of publication, it had not been When the Barnes & Noble lease was first reported in January, Sanjume had said that rescheduled. that restricts the use of OERs and that's extremely concerning to us here,” Wright in any of the situations presented, LCC’s international students and work-study students

“If your institution does not have a strong faculty-driven OER presence, Barnes & Noble will, by default, become the driver of OER efforts on campus.”

“What are you doing to include students in these budget discussions, and what kind of outreach are you doing?”

A charge for safety Eugene proposes tax increase for public safety Evan Curby Multimedia According to an Associated Press report, the Eugene City Council is considering a payroll tax to help cover the rising cost of public safety in the city. Estimates show the proposed payroll tax would raise more than 22.8

million dollars per year. The money generated by the tax, according to the AP, would help with the strain that public safety has felt with Eugene’s population increase. Two-thirds of the funds would go to Eugene Police, and the remaining funds would be spread amongst municipal courts, fire/EMS and homeless services. Under the proposed tax, Eugene Police would add or retain 40 patrol officers, four sergeants, and a lieutenant. It would also add five more detectives and ten more jail beds. The tax would expand both the community and mental health courts, while the remaining money would help improve emergency medical response and homeless

outreach services. The proposed tax, if enacted, would be paid for by both employees and employers. A report in the Register-Guard claims that for an employee who is making $20 hourly taxed at the rate of 20 percent, the tax would be roughly around $7 per month. For the same employee taxed at a 30 percent rate, it would be around $10 dollars per month. The proposed tax is a first of its kind, considering that City Council could enact it on their own with no public vote required. As of now, no final decisions have been made. According to the AP, the City Council plans to vote on the proposed tax “in the next few weeks.”

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

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NEWS Museum comes to life After Hours A 21-and-over departure from typical museum conventions Ali Casanova Reporter On Feb. 21 at 5 p.m., the Museum of Natural and Cultural History closed its doors to the general public. Then, an hour later, the doors reopened to over 250 attendees of drinking age for its first ever Museum After Hours event. Within minutes, the event sold out. The event was organized "so people can come and take in the museum and enjoy the exhibits knowing they are going to be with an adult only crowd," Program and Exhibit Developer for the MNCH Lauren Willis said. The main hall was filled with people drinking local beer and wine. Attendees could choose to imbibe from a selection of wines from Walnut Ridge Vineyards, and beers from Falling Sky and Viking Braggot Breweries. Stacks of pizzas were provided by Falling Sky and an eight-piece rock band, Ray Troll and the Ratfish Wranglers. The band’s first hour-long set was a rhapsody of original songs about paleontology and cephalopods. Inside the exhibit halls, guests participated in games and competed to win prizes such as museum store memorabilia and tickets to future After Hours events. The Cultural Anthropology Hall hosted a team-based dinosaur puzzle competition. A paper airplane contest challenged museumgoers in both distance and accuracy, and was a nod to MNCH's most recent traveling exhibit, “Dinosaurs Take Flight: The Art of Archaeopteryx.” The halls containing the reconstructed fossils of Archaeopteryx received heavy traffic. Bryan, 25 and a self-described paleontologist, unloaded facts to Danny, 32, about the "transitional fossil" that bridges the gap between non-flying feathered dinosaurs and modern birds. Sharon Roberts, a retired microbiology professor from Alabama and current volunteer at the MNCH, also played private tour guide to a friend. Roberts moved to Eugene to be close to, and work at, the MNCH.

photo by Lucien Guidotti-Lawrence / illustrator

“Museum After Hours” attendees participate in an interactive paleontology exhibit at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. The first-of-its-kind event featured live music, lectures and optional alcohol for adult patrons.

"I'm that much of a paleo-nerd," Roberts said. Catherine Janson, an educator working at the museum and a senior studying biology at the University of Oregon, hosted a crafting table where guests could use fossils to make impressions in clay. One of the fossils was a nautilus, a species determined to persist through major extinction events. "The nautilus has been around for about 500 million years...and nautilus are still around today,” Janson said. “They're hardcore." Adult only after hour events at science and art museums have grown in popularity across the country. Museum Hack, a website that offers consulting for museums, says on their website that After Hours events have the ability to attract new audiences, such as those who work during standard business hours. Andrew Boehm, a research archaeologist

... continued from front page

Embracing the shift conscious collective to begin to view racism from its systemic roots and seek education from that perspective! I invite our community to begin the work of unraveling the threads of anti-Blackness within our countries foundation! Blackness and the experience therein is one of the richest and most beautiful ways to live! From our deeply ingrained and respected senses of humor to our reverent love of the arts, music, theatre, and poetry – so much highly regarded eclecticism makes up our self expression. The world enjoys our ethnic cuisine and values the generations of creative innovation that bore those sacred recipes. Maya Angelou revelled in “the span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips” in the poem Phenomenal Woman, See exclusive video of speaking to the can't-quite-put-your-finger-on-it “swagger” that's been associated with the walk, stance, and conversational cadence of the Black community since the beginning of recorded history. The ability to gather together, break bread, dance, and enjoy each other is one major at aspect of our culture. This is lost when living in a place that is less diverse. Lack of diverlcctorch.com sity can also increase the amount of microaggressions a student of color experiences. Psychology Today defines microaggressions as “the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership.” Students of color: I ask that you make sure that you are practicing diligent self-care. Non-students of color: I ask that you seek education on the rich cultures and philosophies that African-American heritage has to offer. It's very important to make sure that you are educating yourself on microaggressions and macroaggressions and consistently striving to be more self-aware and self-educated on the believably impressive history of African-Americans and the African diaspora's impact on the educational, and fundamentally fascinating, Black culture of today. Happy Black History 365! Say it loud! I'm Black and I'm Proud!

tball

Women’s March

Editor’s Note

Any opinions presented in this editorial letter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Torch or its staff. Minor edits have been made for space, clarity and grammar.

working for the museum and frequent attendee to museum events, was witness to the sea of unfamiliar faces. Asked how many people he recognized from the MNCH community, he said, "not that many, which is a great thing, because we love to see new faces." News of the event reached over 600 museum members via email, and many attendees heard about the event through social media such as Facebook. The $20 ticket cost included two drink vouchers, food, live music, and the opportunity to socialize in an atypical museum setting. UO students have free access to the museum during regular business hours, and recently the museum has expanded its free admission program to include LCC students. The next After Hours event is scheduled for April.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2019

NEWS ... continued from front page

Marching for education

photo by Jason Petorak / business director

Thousands of teachers, parents, and students braved cold temperatures to unite in hopes of making a difference for the future of education in Oregon. The “Red for Ed” movement aims to raise awareness of the hidden cost of budget cuts in Oregon schools.

increase in funds, but educators expressed it isn’t enough. Though the governor’s budget would add an additional $2.7 billion dollars to education funding, she still plans to cut the funding for community colleges by 4.7 percent. Overall state funding for community colleges would fall by $3.8 million next year. This isn’t the only way community colleges receive money, however. The other sources of funding are tuition and local property tax revenue. Property tax funding has increased by $76.4 million since the last budget plan. The property tax and state funding will be allocated between the 17 community colleges in Oregon. Brown claims the additional property tax money will ensure that community college tuition won’t grow more than three and a half percent. Lane Community College President Margaret Hamilton was at the rally showing her disapproval with the budget cut on

community colleges. “It’s going to be devastating,” Hamilton said. “Our students won't be very well served.” If Brown’s budget passes, the administration will be stressed to find funding for already poorly funded programs. LCC is currently experiencing low enrollment numbers, which means revenue from tuition is also suffering. Though money for community colleges will be tight, Hamilton looks at the bright side. “We will do alright,” Hamilton said. For public universities like the University of Oregon, Brown plans to add almost $857 million to a Public University Support Fund. She claims that the colleges have indicated they will not raise tuition more than five percent because of the extra funds. Though Brown’s proposal may cause an increase in tuition at colleges and universities across the state, she plans to increase

photo by Jason Petorak / business director

Portland Public Schools elementary school teacher Nichole Watson gives an impassioned speech to nearly 5,000 educators on the steps of the Oregon Capitol in Salem on Feb. 18. Watson was one of six speakers at the March For Our Students rally who demanded an increase in public funding for Oregon schools

photo by Jason Petorak / business director

Paul Jarrell, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at LCC, marches with fellow educators from around the state.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

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NEWS “Ensuring that all Oregon students graduate with a high school diploma and have multiple pathways to careers and postsecondary degrees is critical to our economy.” Governor Kate Brown funding for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, nearly doubling the fund with an additional $121.5 million. This grant has helped about 40,000 students pay for college each year. The criteria for this grant is simple: a student must be an Oregon resident pursuing an undergraduate degree, not have prior bachelor degrees and be enrolled for at least part time by fall term. This budget will also provide for more than 1,200 publicly funded K-12 schools and 25 public colleges with funding over the next two years. In many ways, Oregon schools will be seeing an increase in public funding. The total funds for educational programs is $13.7 Billion, which is greater than the last budget of $11 billion. This money will go towards paying for school administrators salaries all the way down to the gas in the school busses for the next two years. See videos Brown’s budget plan shows her ofinterest is not in higher education, but on getting kids to graduate high school. “Ensuring that all Oregon students graduate with a high school diploma and have multiple pathways to careers and postsecondary degrees is critical to our economy,” Brown wrote in her proposal. She claims this atbudget is an investment to ensure growing graduation rates and “to put Oregon on lcctorch.com a path to graduating every student in high school.”

Open Mic night at Tsunami Bookstore

See videos of

March for Education rally

I AM #RedForEd

at lcctorch.com

photo by Jason Petorak / business director

Alannah Maher, 14, makes her statement on the steps of the Oregon Capitol in Salem as a part of the “Red for Ed” campaign on Feb. 18. Maher is a student at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

WinnebaGONE

James Croxton Reporter After planning to have wrapped up production of their premier Class A coach, Winnebago Industries is closing their Junction City location leaving only thirty employees. They will relocate to another campus in their home state of Iowa. The service center will remain open. They had only been here two years when the announcement was made. In a statement to the Register Guard, Winnebago Vice President Brian Hazelton said the reason was that they “have not achieved our targeted operating efficiency and profitability goals.” When first arriving here, the city commissioners voted to allocate $100,000 of video lottery funds to fund what was necessary to open the plant. Sadly, that only left around $60,000 for them to allocate to other projects that first year. This 2019 closure will result in the current staff of 250 being diminished to only thirty employees. Where the rest will go remains to be seen, however, there are some hopeful prospects here in Eugene. Mohawk Metal, a locally-owned metalworking business here in Eugene, was reported by KVAL as interested in “scooping-up” some of the displaced employees. The companies owner, Tony Bloom, said that it would be a way to help the local economy. He added that “Winnebago employees are well-trained and have skills very similar to what we need at mohawk.” However, if going into another job right away isn’t their “cup-of-tea,” they are very welcome to come here to the

CLOSED illustration by Lucien Guidotti-Lawrence / illustrator

Lane Community College Diesel Technology program. LCC Diesel Technology faculty member Steve Webb said “we would be happy to accommodate their former employees and help transition them into new careers,” adding that “the diesel industry continues to get stronger and in

turn produces many job opportunities for our graduates.” Furthermore, Webb said that they “have an advisory committee in our program with more than 30 companies represented, they are all looking for new employees currently and many of them have several positions to fill.”

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Wednesday, February 27, 2019

NEWS ... continued from front page

From Asia, with drums presentations, including Chinese lion dancing, Japanese taiko drumming and Hawaiian ukulele performances. Children and adults explored the site, eating a variety of food and learning about Asian cultures. Following a Chinese New Year event in the Eugene Hilton hosted by a local Chinese restaurant owner 35 years ago, a group of Asian-Americans decided to form a communitywide event to celebrate various Asian cultural activities.

“Each ethnic group has its own celebration. Here in Oregon, why not do something with everybody?” Ken Nagao

photo by Anna CK Smith / production manager

A crowd of children watches dancers pass in a traditional Chinese lion costume at the Lane Events Center on Feb. 18. Over 30,000 people attended the annual Oregon Asian Celebration, which honors the culture and contributions of Asian peoples.

“Each ethnic group has its own celebration. Here in Oregon, why not do something with everybody?” Ken Nagao, who has worked with the Asian Celebration since its inception, said. The celebration has changed significantly since its first year. “When it first started it was only a four-hour event,” Nagao said. Now, 34 years later, the event lasts a total of 17 hours over the course of two days. Nagoa estimates that 30,000 people attended the event. Among the highlights of the weekend was a performance by Portland Taiko, one of the largest traditional Japanese percussion collectives in the Pacific Northwest. Meredith Wood, a University of Oregon alumni who performs with the group, first discovered taiko when her mother signed

photo by Anna CK Smith / production manager

Nemo Debevoise, a political science student at Lane Community College, celebrates her ramen-eating contest victory at the Oregon Asian Celebration on Feb. 17.

photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

A patron pauses to read one of the many photo essays by Melissa “Mimi” Nolledo, a Eugene-based artist. Nolledo, founder of Our Immigrant Voices, began work on the project after the 2016 elections to put a face on America’s immigration debate.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2019

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NEWS

photo by Anna CK Smith / production manager

Shirley McNaught watches the Chinese lion dance during the Oregon Asian Celebration at the Lane Events Center. The lion dance, a part of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations, supposedly brings luck to anyone who places money in the lion’s mouth.

her up for youth classes. “I saw [taiko] as a way to get in touch with my Japanese-American heritage,” Wood said. “I also wanted to break the stereotype of the quiet Asian female.” The majority of the proceeds paid for the event center, and the leftover profit are to be circulated back into the community. “We want to be sure that all the community groups that help us with the event share in the profits,” Nagoa said. Over 100 vendors were in attendance, and every booth had something different and special to share with the local community. Some were very educational, while others were strictly fun. One booth, known as Our Immigrant Stories, showcased different immigrant experiences of hardship and encouragement as they journeyed into the States. This booth is not just for the Asian Celebration, however; it is a project that has been showcased at various events and locations. “I started the project right after the November 2016 elections,” Melissa Nolledo, founder of Our Immigrant Stories, said. “I felt that I needed to give a voice to those of us who are immigrants and have our stories told so that folks know that we’re all connected.” Nolledo and her husband have been helping immigrants share their stories for the last couple of years. They hope the movement gets national recognition as they continue to spread awareness of the hardship and different perspectives immigrants have to offer. There were other activities that were geared toward dance and performance. The main stage showcased a Chinese Lion Dance, which is often performed at the start of a new year in hopes of bringing 365 days of good luck and fortune. As the lion on stage danced to the beat of the drums, the audience grinned and moved to the rhythm. The lion made its way into the crowd, where it was surrounded by children

photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

Members of the Dragon Puppet Theatre perform using a traditionally handmade dragon puppet to portray a Northwest Native American fable about a raven. The Dragon Puppet Theatre is under the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art’s educational branch of resources, serving both K-12 classrooms and community groups.

wanting to see it up-close and feed it money. With the many booths the Asian Celebration had, there was a little something for every person who attended. “It's really important, especially as a small community, to come together and have the Asian Celebration. It’s cool,” Chinese Lion Dancer Cody Ngo said. Although this year’s Asian celebration came to an end, the Eugene/Springfield Asian Council will plan for its next annual celebration. More information about upcoming events and next year’s plans will be posted on the Asian Celebration webpage.

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photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

Matthew Kertesz and Lisa Minakami, members of Japanese percussion group Portland Taiko, perform at the Oregon Asian Celebration on Feb. 18.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2019

SPORTS ‘Til the bitter end Lane women are primed for a rematch against second place rivals David Galbreath Rporter Since losing to Umpqua, the Lane women have accumulated a six-game win streak, clinching a playoff berth. Sitting firmly in first place, the Titans control their own fate heading into the postseason. Hosting Linn-Benton on Feb. 20, Lane was off to a slow start trailing their opponents for the first four minutes of the game. Once they gained control, they had Linn-Benton on their heels and never gave back the lead. Guard Mya India Thomas came through for the Titans with 27 points, only missing four shots out of 15 and leading her team with five steals. The third quarter was the most productive for Lane, scoring 29 points while the Roadrunners struggled to hit any shots. This led to a large point margin that gave Lane a comfortable lead. Lane bested their competition 99-68. Next, Lane took their efforts to Mt. Hood on Feb. 23. The first quarter showcased a strong contest, between the two rivals, with seven lead changes. However, once starting guard/forward Kalina Rojas made two back-to-back free throws, taking the lead late in the first quarter, Mt. Hood never saw the lead again. Rojas controlled the game with her 27 points. She had only 7 field goals, but Mt. Hood kept sending her to the line, where she made 14-14 free throws. Lane missed only two of 20 free throws all game. “I definitely have to have my routine,” Rojas said about her free throws. “We work on it every day.” Mt. Hood struggled to keep up with the high-powered offense of the Titans all four quarters. Lane stayed consistent and came out on top 79-61. Lane is currently in first place in the South standings. Earlier this year, they had a 15-game winning streak, that was broken after a road game to Umpqua. Losing by four points, the smallest margin of their year, the Titans have a grudge match against Umpqua on Feb. 27. Umpqua is currently in second place in the south. “That [loss] hurt a little bit, so we have some more fire going into this game,” Rojas said, looking forward to the rematch. Lane’s conference record is 13-1, and Umpqua’s record is 12-2. Both teams are guaranteed a playoff position, but if Lane loses to Umpqua Lane will fall to second in the south.