1.31.14

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theJournal

www.wou.edu/student/westernjournal

Volume 14 Issue 10 | Friday, January 31, 2014

Commemorative dinner brings attendees together to celebrate MLK by Allison Opson Clement News Editor

Photo by Tori Gannon

New police department building coming soon by Chelsea Hunt Freelancer Monmouth’s police department will be moving to a bigger building at 450 Pacific Avenue North by the end of 2015. The new building, which costs about $4 million, is 10,000 square feet, whereas the current building is 3,000 square feet. This upgrade is due, in part, to what Mayor John Oberst described as severe overcrowding. The new building in Monmouth will be the “first true building that will be reconstructed inside to be a real police station,” said Police Chief Darrell Tallan. A bond measure, approved by the voters in the latest Polk County election, made the move possible. The bond provided $4 million to pay for the building as well as for the needed renovations.

Wolves Softball Kick-Off Rally Sunday March 2 2-4 p.m.

@ Wolves’ Softball

Oberst said the consultants brought in to inspect the property determined that it would have cost $5 million to build something from the ground up, as opposed to remodeling. Oberst said renovations will likely begin this spring. Remodeling will be necessary for the new building to become a proper police station. “It’s almost like it was made for it,” Oberst said. He explained that the building comes with the added benefit of being highly secure because Boise Cascade, the previous owners, “rebuilt it like a fortress” after the Earth Liberation Front set it on fire during the winter of 1999. “It has the added security we’ve always needed,” said Tallan. He described the new building as a “modernization of essential functions and needs for the police department.” Patrol officers will get more space, there will be rooms dedicated for interviews and an

actual locker room will be included in the new building. Other features of the design will be additional parking, public restrooms and a “multipurpose community room.” Another way the department is being updated is in the area of energy efficiency. Oberst said the new building was built to “current standards.” Part of the problem with the current building is the fact that it was not built to be a police station nor was it remodeled for that purpose. Tallan said that the current building used to be the city’s library until it became the home of the police department in 1995. Prior to that, police facilities were located at City Hall. “It wasn’t until recently that we knew it was going to happen,” said Sgt. Isaiah Haines. “It’s going to be far different from what we’re used see

“If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain.” Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington, keynote speaker for the seventh annual Martin Luther King, Jr. dinner, walked up to the podium and sang these words. He says he tries to live life by these lyrics. Washington said that for this remembrance celebration it’s fitting to recognize those who serve, as well as those who came before. “I want you not to forget them and feel their presence,” Washington said. That is one of the things that are all too easy to forget: that it doesn’t end here. “We show up at these events, and we have done our thing for diversity,” said Washington. It is important not to be “stuck in 1963,” he said, but to pause and engage, to help make sure King’s dream wasn’t in vain. Every generation is responsible to be true to the dream and help it move forward. The theme of this year is “Dream Keeping: Personalizing the Vision.” Washington gave his audience a chance to discuss that concept with each other, instead of just sitting passively. “It is not enough for me to talk, but you must use your voice,” said Washington. “You’re lazy if you can’t rise above that,” said attendee Bonnie Morihara as she discussed white privilege with her tablemates. For those who feel that they are like the “proverbial choir being preached to,” Washington said, “the choir needs rehearsal,” to pay attention and “begin to explore what it means to personalize the vision.” “We live today trying to figure out how to navigate a world of inclusion that is different than we have ever known,” said Washington.

POLICE page 2

see

preview

News

Breaking the basics of ACA/Obamacare page 5

Opinion

Don’t duck my dynasty page 2 Students lack extracurricular drive page 3

Campus Life

MLK Week Review page 6

Sports

Women’s Basketball: Wolves face GNAC’s best, fall in four straight page 10 Men’s basketball extends losing streak to five page 11

Entertainment

Movie Review: I, Probably Shouldn’t Have Been Created page 8

DINNER page 7


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