Photo Essay at SafeHaven Humane Shelter

The SafeHaven Humane Shelter, located 33071 Highway 34 SE, Albany, OR does not believe in euthanizing for space. Here, they work tirelessly to provide a warm temporary home for cats and dogs.

For Christmas, SafeHaven created a giving tree for their animals, with pictures of all the furry friends people can donate to even adopt this winter.

There are several ways to volunteer at SafeHaven, including morning cleaning assistant, dog socialization, cat socialization, photographer, community outreach, fundraising/special events and foster care provider. For more volunteer information, follow this link at http://www.safehavenhumane.com/?q=node/20 or give them a call at 541-928-2789.

Alicia Neuschwander instructs her children on the proper ways to hold a cat in the cat's room. The cat being held is Meeko, a female Snowshoe Siamese X, only three years old.

Moving clockwise is Alicia, Caitlynn, age 8, Elsa, age 5 and Maggin, who is holding Meeko, age 4.

The cat's room is well lit and warm. These felines enjoy being able to lounge around and spend some time out of their cages. Pictured is Caitlynn, comforting a new friend.
SafeHaven is able to provide shelter for around 60 cats and between 30 to 40 dogs at one time. SafeHaven has earning revenue to afford renovations for a new, larger location. In about two years from now, they hope to have the means to renovate their new home, which would allow more cats and dogs to be sheltered.

Meeko takes a liking to Caitlynn.

In a slightly more active area, Calvin Prucha, age 11 spends some time teaching Malamute mix puppies how to earn their treats. The Malamute mix puppies are new to the shelter. Sadly, puppies tend to find homes quicker than older dogs.
Calvin enjoys his time with the puppies. They certainly enjoy those tasty treats he offers.

Movie review: “Something Borrowed”

“Something Borrowed” follows the old cliché of a great girl who has everything but no man to make her complete. One part of her life has remained constant, her best friend from childhood, Darcy. “Something Borrowed” takes the old adage with a twist: Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) has found the man of her dreams, and the only problem is he is already engaged … to Darcy.


After a night of drinking on her thirtieth birthday, Rachel sleeps with Darcy’s fiancé Dex. Matters only worsen as Rachel and Dex struggle to undo past mistakes and the wedding day quickly approaches. There are several comical moments when tensions flare and a few nice twists to keep you guessing. However, with the running time at 103 minutes, the ending is quickly wrapped up due to the long lead in.

The film is the adaptation of the bestselling novel, “Something Borrowed” by Emily Giffin. “Something Borrowed” illustrates the pressure set upon single women, while it begs the question, “What would you do in the name of love?”

Rachel fits her character’s descriptions, while Kate Hudson struggles to sell her role as dominating and selfish. John Krasinski (The Office) plays Rachel’s friend, Ethan and her rock when things get tricky. He delivers well, providing his normal go-lucky demeanor.

Despite the usual flaws found in every romantic comedy, the actors mesh well with each other. There is talk of creating a sequel to follow the second book, “Something Blue.” If so, hopefully the same actors return to deliver again.

“Fast Five:” Lights, Camera, Action!

The boys are at it again in “Fast Five,” in the next part of “The Fast and The Furious” franchise, when Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and former cop Brian O’Conner find themselves on new territory.


After breaking Dom out of custody, they seek a new haven in Rio de Janeiro, where they plot to one last job to set them free. Meanwhile, federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) is hot on their trail.
Directed by Justin Lin, audience members can rest assure they will not be shortened on any action scenes or hot … cars. In “Fast Five,” all the old faces are back to settle the score including Jordana Brewster (Mia), Tyrese Gibson (Roman) and Ludacris (Tej) among many others.

The returning characters jived well together except for Dwayne Johnson, who started off a little ridiculous with an overkill tough guy performance. However, the macho-ness settles down and pulls you in for the ride of a lifetime.

Car enthusiasts as well as action junkies delight with the numerous and lengthy car chases and fight scenes.

Usually the more movies you add to a series, the worse they become, however, “Fast Five” destroyed the stigma. Setting the stage with the jaw-dropping and appealing cars and action did well to set silent those who might have disliked the originally cheesy and overrated previous “The Fast and The Furious” movies.

What lacked in car-drooling screen time was made up for with squealing tires, fists and lots of damage.

Cooper Shows Limitless Range

There are many times when a wonder drug could be helpful. In the new movie “Limitless” that fantasy becomes a reality for Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper).

Eddie is a writer, stuck in a rut until he is introduced to a mysterious and provocative drug that allows him to access his full mental capacity. He soon finds himself more successful than ever and climbing the rungs of the ladder. Everything Eddie has seen or heard in his life, once locked away, becomes available and useful. Eddie becomes everything he ever dreamed of. However, as supply begins to dwindle, Eddie soon discovers the underbelly of success.

“Limitless” is directed by Neil Burger (“The Lucky Ones,” “The Illusionist”) and takes place in New York. Also starring in “Limitless” is Robert De Niro and Abbie Cornish.

In the opening weekend premiere, “Limitless” raked in a decent $18,907,302 in the box office. Following “A-Team” and “The Hangover,” Cooper proves in “Limitless” his range of abilities.

Shia LaBeouf was originally cast for the part of Eddie, but was replaced by Cooper when he had to discontinue due to an injury.

Although the story idea is not outlandish in its originality, the movie holds your attention to the end. The beginning scene was a nice touch to bring the audience through the starting (and slightly boring and shallow) development of the character. The relationships of Eddie are hardly established therefore the audience has to piece certain elements together.  However, once the story gets going, there are several sustaining scenes.

Please Sir, I Want Some More

As many anticipate, summer tuition is set to be $91 per credit. Any potential increases in tuition or reductions there may be are still up in the air, since the budget for the 2011-12 biennium has yet to be finalized.

The State Legislature is still deliberating on how much revenue will be distributed to Oregon community colleges. As part of this deliberation, the State Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee has been conducting public budget meetings in order to hear the concerns and testimonies of those effected by community college budgets, such as community members, students and staff.

On May 6, in Newport, members of community colleges as well as members of surrounding organizations attended one of these meetings. Several members from LBCC, including LBCC board members, staff members, and students traveled to attend and give testimony about the financial hardships caused by increases in tuition and lack of financial support.

The meeting was separated by counties, which allowed 70 people to give their testimonies. “It was very interesting – it opened my eyes to all of the people who need their budgets met,” said Barbara Horn, LBCC student activities coordinator.

Horn recognizes the difficult decisions legislature members face in their deliberation. “Some won’t be able to operate as they are.”

James Smith, vice president of Student Life and Leadership, was one of the members to attend and present his side. He advocated for the continuation of funds to support “Day Programs,” which allow individuals with disabilities the opportunity to work.

Every individual presented a unique testimony; no two were exactly the same. However, what many can agree upon is that community colleges are a critical element in society and are an investment for the economy.

The approved budget for the 2011-12 is said to be finalized between late May and June.

Related articles

• LBCC Preparing for More Reductions (lbcommuter.com)
• Tuition Situation Hovering Over Community Colleges (lbcommuter.com)
• Students Lobby to Save Oregon Schools (lbcommuter.com)
• Community Colleges Historically Short-Changed (lbcommuter.com)

“Bridesmaids” – Here Comes the … Trouble

Weddings are a stressful time; it helps to be surrounded by people who make matters go smoothly. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

In the movie “Bridesmaids,” Annie (Kristen Wiig) is chosen to be her best friend Lillian’s (Maya Rudolph) maid of honor. Despite her own relationship troubles, Annie embarks on a mission to make Lillian’s big day a memorable one. However, there are numerous glitches along the way, including a rag-tag group of bridesmaids and food poisoning.

Maybe it is just the season, but there are a lot of bridal-themed movies to please any nuptial-minded gal, or just those looking for a good laugh. “Bridesmaids” is chock-full of hilarious moments to break up the predictability attached to every rom-com.

Wiig, who co-wrote the film, polished her comedic style with her roles on “Saturday Night Live,” along with Rudolph, a fellow SNL star, which translated into some of the improvisation that occurred in the film.

“Bridesmaids” is directed by Paul Feig, also known for his film “Knocked Up.” The hilarious moments helped to break up the lengthy runtime. “Bridesmaids” proves that it can play well along side the male-dominated comedies, such as “The Hangover” and “Wedding Crashers,” delivering similar raunchy scenes.

Of course, the ending follows that of a typical chick-flick, but overall “Bridesmaids” is worth watching.

Editor Swap

Former Editor-in-Chief: Justin Bolger	Incoming Editor-in-Chief: Jill Mahler
Catch You Later, Team! It’s been swell, ladies and gentlemen, but it’s curtains for me!  My time serving the campus as the editor-in-chief of The Commuter has been a fantastic experience, but as with all things, it must come to an end. Have no fear! I’m leaving you in the hands of someone who is more than capable of maintaining and furthering the excellence of your friendly neighborhood newspaper. Honestly, Jill Mahler already has more experience leading a news team than I do, so I’m excited to see what new wonders she’ll bring about. Yes, I’ll still be around to see how it goes. Until Winter term of next year, I will be going through extensive training under the tutelage of Webmaster Marci Sischo, acquiring the secrets behind the most elusive of all journalism skill-sets. I’m going virtual, baby! Though I need to stay down to earth just a bit longer. I feel like I could monologue forever about the people I’ve learned from, grown with and struggled alongside of – those I would thank. For brevity’s sake, I’ll leave it at this: Thank you, team. I am sincerely thankful for everything we’ve done together, and I wish you the best in all things. You’re awesome – never forget! More specifically, I’m going to give a shout-out to Ryan Henson, editor-in-chief during the beginning of the 2009-10 school year. He invited me to write for The Commuter and is the reason I was able to pursue college in the first place. That said, I’ll catch you next year, LBCC!	Embarking on a New Journey After one year quickly passing by, I find myself embarking on a new adventure as the next editor-in-chief to lead The Commuter.  Not only is my new position a great honor, but a great responsibility. I am excited to be working alongside several talented and hardworking individuals, who have dedicated themselves every week to produce a quality product. In order to follow in this excellence, I have huge shoes to fill. Justin Bolger has led our staff incredibly over the last year and thankfully will continue to be a part of our paper for another year. His dedication is evident in the countless hours spent to ensure each page of The Commuter was above par. The staff of The Commuter works well together and produces a solid and integral publication for the community because they have a strong leader. Among many other goals, my first priority to the readers of The Commuter is to advance the range of news we cover and produce an excellent paper. I believe that students deserve stories that are entertaining, informative, and that cover areas of interest in addition to campus events. With the assistance of returning staff and a number of new members arriving, I have no doubt we will be able to increase readership and deliver worthy news. The news isn’t much good, if it is not integrated with its readers, so I encourage anyone who has feedback, a story they’d like us to investigate, or wants to be involved, to contact me at The Commuter.

Human Trafficking Lurking in Oregon

Oregon is known more for its lush scenery and diverse counties, rather than the rising amount of kidnapping and human trafficking cases. Human trafficking has become one of the fastest growing and most lucrative criminal industries; which increases the avenues investigators must pursue in order to locate the victim(s).

Human trafficking is the “modern form of slavery.” It varies in motives and areas. Some areas of trafficking include sexual exploitation, child and involuntary labor.

The amount of people enslaved annually in the U.S.  is much lower in comparison to the rest of the world,  but the numbers are still alarming. In the U.S. there is an estimation of 14,500 to 17,500 and 600,000 to 800,000 worldwide.

In 2009, the Los Angeles Times reported Phoenix, Arizona as the kidnapping capital in America, with hundreds of ransom kidnappings occurring every year, mostly associated with human and drug smuggling from Mexico.

In 2009, The World reported that state officials were seeing an increase in human trafficking in Oregon. Places like North Bend, served as prime locations for human trafficking to occur, due to the high number of homeless youth acting as targets.

“It’s happening and people don’t realize it’s happening,” said Chris Kilmer, a member of the Oregon Human Trafficking Task Force.

A nationwide anti-trafficking sting orchestrated by the FBI’s Operation Cross Country III, found the Portland area is the “second worst hot spot in the nation for commercial sex trafficking.” Keith Bickford, head of the federal human trafficking taskforce in Oregon, reported that in Portland alone, he investigates over 200 victims of commercial trafficking a year.

According to Hopkins Relations Law office, “Oregon’s location on the I-5 corridor, as a connector to Seattle and Los Angeles, makes it attractive to human traffickers.”

In addition, “the lack of human trafficking training available for law enforcement coupled with Oregon’s weak human trafficking statute makes Oregon a safe haven.”

Therefore, Oregon will need to find solutions to their weak statutes in order to properly handle human trafficking cases. Fortunately, change might be on the horizon, with more Oregon legislatures being introduced to increase funding to programs geared towards ending human trafficking, supporting victims and higher punishments for those found responsible.

Ten Ways to Keep Yourself Safe

1. After dark, have keys ready when nearing your vehicle or home to enter quickly.
2. If you walk a route regularly, alone- try to vary, using known routes only!
3. Always plan your journey/route, avoiding short-cuts through unlit or secluded areas. Inform family and friends of where you will be going and for how long.
4. Using items such as an IPod, or any listening device with headphones will stop you from hearing possible trouble approaching.
5. Avoid giving out your personal details to strangers, such as name, address and/or place of employment.
6. If you feel that you are being followed- call a member of family, a friend and/or the police. Cross the street, head for an area where there are people, an open business premises or any public place.
7. Endeavour to walk in the centre of the pavement. Always keep away from secluded alleyways and buildings. If a vehicle pulls up next to you… never approach, but walk in the opposite direction.
8. Be alert! Walk with purpose and confidence.
9. Safety awareness is key to making ‘one’ feel more secure. Consider self-defense classes.
10. Remember your voice is one form of defense- use it! If someone threatens you ‘shout’ for help.

“New Girl” Shows Promise

“New Girl” is a new comedy from Liz Meriwether (“No Strings Attached”), starring Zooey Deschanel “(500) Days of Summer”) as Jess, a girl in her late 20s, who is awkward, lovable and sometimes too trusting. After a bad breakup, Jess finds herself living with three single guys she found through an apartment listing. She quickly finds herself in an new environment, working over her heartbreak.

One of her three roommates is Nick (Jake Johnson, “No Strings Attached”). He is a bartender and the most understanding of Jess, from also going through a bad breakup. Schmidt (Max Greenfield, “Ugly Betty“) is the typical shallow womanizing guy trying to climb the ladder of success. He persuades the guys to let Jess stay, seeing her as a way into the female realm after learning of her best friend and model, Cece (Hannah Simone, “Beautiful People“). The third roommate, Coach (Damon Wayans Jr., “The Underground“), is a personal trainer. He struggles with learning how to communicate with the opposite sex. Cece is Jess’s level ground, believing in direct approaches to relationships. As their time together continues, they become a family.

The predictability is there. It would be no surprise if Jess and Nick find themselves in a delayed romance. Jess is an adorable character, comfortable in her own ways, which gains an attraction with the potential to earn a sizable audience. Deschanel’s personality is there, providing hope there will be better episodes on the horizon. However, the on-screen acting could be smoother and less forced. The best sitcoms are with characters who know how to play off of each other. The cast is fresh and filming of the show is done by single camera, also adding a new dimension. The pilot episode was decent, although the tragedy, like most pilots is leaving the viewer feeling dumped on, instead of enticed. However, the show has enough time to improve before interested viewers move onto a new comedy.

“New Girl” airs Tuesday’s at 9 p.m. of Fox.

Sex and the Campus: Marking Your Territory

In the animal kingdom, after an animal has marked its territory, that space is respected. Others wandering by, know to keep moving. At least, that is how territory was meant to be upheld. However, recent studies suggest,  “marking” your mate may lead to more competition. Marking one’s territory can be observed through several ways, most commonly there is a “highly noticeable display.” Some would believe that when a man is married and a ring is adorned on his left hand; this clear display would suffice to ward off potential competition.

However, according to Woman’s Day, Psychology researchers at the University of Stirling and University of Aberdeen have determined, we find someone attractive based on others. The researchers conducted an experiment with male and female undergraduates about their ideal partner. Some participates were involved in romantic relationships; others unattached.

They were told, they had been matched by a computer with a like-minded partner and were shown a photo of an attractive person of the opposite sex. Half of the subjects were told that their match was romantically involved with someone else, while the other half were told that their match was single. Results found, women already in relationships found no difference whether their match was attached. However, single women showed a preference for those described as attached. A man described as unattached had 59% of the single women interested in pursuing him. When that same man was described as being in a committed relationship, 90% were interested. Although, the researchers concluded, there were many possible explanations for the data, the results are hard to ignore.

Is this notion due to the fact poaching another’s mate “speeds up the process of assessing a potential mate and is more effective than through individual trial and error.” Or is it that they just aren’t marked well enough? In the journal, “Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences,” men were rated more desirable when they were surrounded by women than when alone or with other men.

All too often, we bypass the perspective of the other woman. Is it a matter of laziness or insecurity, refusing to risk being disappointed by “pre-screening” through another? Is it the perception that “all the good men are taken” or that “taken men are better?”

There must be a solution to this, when sisterhood isn’t enough and predatory women lurk. Do you refuse to get married, wear a wedding ring, lock him inside the house or perform surveillance over all his communication to others? No! The answer might prove to be harder to do than glaring down every surrounding female. Trust. The key to a strong relationship is being honest and open. Knowing who your mate is and what their needs are is the best way to keep each other happy and make severing ties harder.

Have a question or comment, drop us a line at The Commuter

Sex and the Campus: He Said She Said

Communication is the foundation for any successful relationship. So why does it seem we have more misunderstandings when it comes to communicating with the opposite sex?  Why can we tell our closest friend whatever we are feeling and what we are thinking, but stumble with the person we share a bed with?



According to curiosity.com, the difference in discourse styles is formed by how there relationships developed in their childhood. Girls’ friendships were built on discussing and sharing experiences and secrets, while boys tended to focus on “activities rather than conversation.” This translates into their future relationships. “Women communicate through dialogue, discussing emotions, choices and problems. Males remain action-oriented — the goal of communication is to achieve something.” In short, women want men to work at understanding where they are coming from, while men struggle to mind read.

The question isn’t who is more complicated or more at fault. Communication barriers are a constant issue in relationships. The trick is to understand the natural divide between each other, then focus on how to effectively communicate despite those differences.

In Deborah Tannen’s book, “You Just Don’t Understand: Men and Women in Conversation,” “Men use conversation as a way of inserting independence. Women use language as a tool for intimacy.”
There are simple techniques to implement into your relationship to decrease the chances of a misunderstanding arising.

• When confused, ask for clarification.
• Maintain eye contact.
• When giving each other directions, pretend as if your mate is a stranger. You will invest more energy into making sure they don’t get lost. The same applies in relationships.
• Avoid being passive aggressive and withholding of feelings. It will get you nowhere.

Remember, it doesn’t matter what the road you travel down, when you end up at the same destination.

Sex on the Campus: Personality Quirks

 

It’s Not Me, It’s You

Clipping nails in bed, going to the bathroom with the door open, being constantly late for events are examples of the everyday annoyances couples endure from their better half. Sometimes you want to say, “Stop that,” but if you’re not careful, you can create a bigger issue. Avoiding issues that present potential speed bumps in your road to bliss can be detrimental. When you see those signs early on, you want to be honest and voice concerns, without driving your partner away.

First, know what is your partner’s personality. Habits are tricky to kick, but personality quirks are part of the individual. Some quirks are hard to break from, such as adding too much ketchup to foods and obnoxious laughing. Picking your battles is the easiest way to win the war. Once, you have assessed what the issues really are, it’s time to communicate them to your partner. The best way to confront them is to have a game plan. Know how you are going to handle the situation. Timing is everything as well. You want to bring it up when you see them behaving in the moment, otherwise they will feel attacked, as if the complaint is coming out of nowhere.

Although, it may take patience if several issues exist, deal with one problem at a time. Bombarding them with past grieves is never helpful. Instead of listening, they will be defensive and will not obtain anything you have to say. Besides knowing what in your partner they are willing to improve for your relationship, the other important key to a well-planned critique is to know what methods your partner responds to. If you know your significant other doesn’t bode well with direct approaches, find a way to ease into the conversation. Take the “I” route, where you put yourself into the equation such as, “I like it when you…” or “I was wondering…” This avoids having to make “You” statements, leading to them feeling accused.

Sometimes, those touchy conversations can be bypassed. If they are always late for an event, perhaps tell them the event is earlier than it is or maybe a new alarm clock will suffice. The hardest part of improving yourself, is doing it alone. However, by asking your partner how you can help them with an area they have trouble in, allows them to feel as if you are on their side. This also leads to remembering your role in the relationship, so keep it fair. Don’t expect to critique your partner if you aren’t willing to know the truth about your imperfections. By allowing yourself room for improvement, you may find they are more willing to as well. If they feel they are the only one in the relationship doing the work for the other person, that desire may burn out quickly. When it comes to finding a way to perfect those unattractive qualities, remember to be gentle, and you may never find another toe nail in bed again.

LBCC Preparing for More Reductions

On Wednesday, April 27, interested members of staff and faculty alike, met to continue part of a three day series to discuss the LBCC budget for the upcoming.


During the conference in the Vineyard Mountain Room, Vice President of Finance and Operations Jim Huckestein presented the financial matrix being used to calculate how much revenue they can count on receiving and how much ground they have left to cover.

Since the final budget for community colleges for the 2011-12 school year is still up in the air, many are working off of estimation. The governor’s budget will hopefully hit around $410 million, however, currently; LBCC is budgeting for $400 million for the community college support system.

According to Huckestein, “The final numbers won’t be known till after the may forecast.”

Earlier in April, members of the LBCC board approved a $7 raise in tuition; effective July.  The rise in tuition will contribute to 40 percent of the upcoming budget, leaving the remaining 60 percent to result from reducing expenditures such as in the forms of staff, programs, supplies, etc.

“Some reductions made in the current year moved forward, some did not.”

Huckestein believes less than 12 classified positions will be removed “as a result of input and priorities.” Those priorities revolving around attempting to minimize any impact on students and the programs affected along with reducing part time faculty and a concentration on core classes rather than having a variety of classes for students.

“We are trying to make reductions that won’t hurt us in the long run.”

However, the state funds have not been settled yet. Huckestein said there is some indications that enrollment will decline 2.5 percent for the 2011-12 year, however there are more financial aid applications being processed than ever before. Times have hit students hard as well. The amount of money available per student has dropped.

“We have hit a low point in dollars per student. We are growing state wide, but structures for students aren’t adapting as quickly as we wanted them too.”

Huckestein reported that over the last three bienniums, the budget has been reduced by 20 percent, while enrollment increased 20 percent. He added that although federal assistance has increased, state funds have fluctuated, but ultimately decreased.

Huckestein says there is a concentration on building up the ending fund balance for the year, to avoid drastic changes if there was to be an unexpected dip in revenue, such as the unexpected $2.6 million reductions in state resources that occurred last year. The budget for community colleges was $450 million, but was reduced to $416 million, rippling its impact down the line; thus, building up a fund that will withhold is crucial.

“The end fund balance serves two purposes; it’s a cushion to continue operating the year’s activities as well as for grants and contracts.”

If the governor’s budget of $410 million is met then those additional resources will be used to build the fund balance without as many cuts. The approved budget will be settled on later in May.

Camo, Lures and Guns, Oh My!

Cabela's gets ready to open their doors Thursday, May 5, in Springfield.

Cabela’s will make some dreams come true when they open a new store at the Springfield Gateway Mall on Thursday, May 5. This will mark the second location for Cabela’s on the West Coast, with the nearest Cabela’s stationed in Lacey, Wash. Cabela’s will be located on the west side of the Gateway Mall, a space previously occupied by Ashley Furniture Homestore.

Cabela’s stores offer thousands of outdoor products, including fishing, hunting and camping gear. The store comes equipped with wildlife displays, an aquarium, trophy animal mounts, a “gun library,” fly fishing shop, general store and bargain cave.

Cabela’s is based in Nebraska, but decided to make use of Oregon’s outdoor recreational culture. “It really is an area filled with wonderful outdoor activities, so it makes sense from a fit perspective,” said Cabela’s spokesman John Castillo.

The Springfield store will employ 150 to 200 people. Cabela’s location along the I-5 corridor will appeal to avid recreationalists. Although the store is not as wide as the Lacey store, it will reflect the company’s next-generation layout, having the ability to hold as much product as the larger stores.

Cabela’s is one of the largest outdoor retailers in the nation and its expansion on the West Coast has been long awaited. A large turnout is expected during the grand opening, based upon the Lacey store’s drawing 3.5 million visitors in its first year open. Whatever the turnout, however, those who visit are sure to enjoy what they find. According to Dan Egan, executive director of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, visiting one of the Cabela stores is an “experience.” “It’s like bringing the outdoors indoors.”

Tuition Situation Hovering Over Community Colleges

On Thursday, March 24, public officials met at the Salem Capitol building to discuss the lack of funding looming over Oregon community colleges. One of the major points of the public meeting was what community colleges are trying to do to help the economy recover and the role they have.

“The hearing went really well,” said Bruce Clemetsen, vice president of LBCC. “There was a strong message that came from presidents and boards of education from (Oregon) community colleges about the issues surrounding their colleges and communities if funding continues to go the way it is.”

There was representation from Community College Workforce Development Agency, small and large businesses of various industries, such as ATI, contributed to the hearing. A point was made of the importance community colleges play in developing the workforce.

“Some of the owners talked about how they got their start from community colleges and wouldn’t be where they are today without those resources.”
“Another group present was students of various walks of life, explaining how important it is to have access to education.”

According to Clemetsen, summer tuition for 2011 is on track to be raised $7 per credit.

The increase in tuition is due to the decrease in state funding. Based on the anticipation for the budget for the next biennium to be below the needs of the college, tuition will have to be increased. Clemetsen expects the legislature to release the budget for the next biennium near the end of May.

“They have no easy task. They have to designate priorities of where the revenue will go.”

The current community college budget for this year stands at $417 million, with the estimated budget for the next biennium to be between $400 and $410 million. However, according to a calculation for the 17 community colleges in Oregon to fully function without reductions and raises in tuition, funding would need to reach $623 million. The actual goal community colleges hope to obtain from the state is $425 million.

“It isn’t enough to support students without reducing as many classes, services or increasing tuition as much.”

The rise in student tuition will contribute to 40 percent of the budget, but LBCC will have to make reductions to cover the other 60 percent of the gap. These cuts could result in employee wage concessions, eliminating positions, retirement reductions, classes and services.

Some of the previous eliminations made this year equaled in a loss of four faculty positions and a contract reduction for water waste. As a result of those eliminated faculty positions, an additional eight classified positions were removed.

When classes or subjects are cut, the goal is to eliminate what will have the least impact on students.
“We look at where are the high demand programs are, what will be the minimum impact on students.” However, cuts of any size are no easy task. “We pick the least worst of the worst. We are already very lean, everything is connected.”

“People have been very patient and understanding even though it hasn’t been painless … everyone’s doing the best they can.”

“We are in an unprecedented time.” When the economy slumped, community colleges felt the change. The 2010-11 school year marked the first time in LBCC’s history, there was a tuition increase in the middle of the year due to two 10 percent governor imposed reductions. Higher enrollment and fewer resources meant that LBCC became stretched to over capacity.

“We are offering the same amount of classes as last year, so we are not growing.”

According to Tim Babcock, student and member of the LBCC student body, the unemployment rate has led to higher college enrollment, a lack of housing and an increase in rent cost. Babcock spoke at the meeting about the issues of raising tuition.

“There are a lot of business leaders to market this area. Other businesses won’t come into our area unless they have a market to back.”

Babcock believes by bringing revenue into our communities and supporting our students – the upcoming leaders, inventors and engineers, we will turn Oregon around.

“It’s time to show America that the Willamette Valley, known for being a great area of research and development, is a great place to work.”

However, some believe there might be a light at the end of the tunnel for Oregon community colleges and Oregon’s current economic status, but it will have to come in the shape of marketing local resources.

“Communities will grow if we have people who can do the jobs the community needs and businesses will expand if they have workers to get the work done,” said Clemetsen.

“Our job is to get people done with their professional objectives and certificates with skills and knowledge they need to thrive and bring in more jobs … the community is successful because its people were successful.”

“Sanctum:” Can You Survive?

Trapped, lost, running out of air, running out of time, what would you do? How do you survive?
“Sanctum” answers those questions and more. An underwater cave-diving team are on the cusp of discovering one of the last unexplored cave systems in the world, when disaster strikes.

Trapped by a raging cyclone, the team has no options for a new way out other than descending further into the inner sanctum of the cave. There is no more sinister villain than Mother Nature. The team must navigate themselves free, while battling against chance and circumstance.

Following in the line of “Titanic” and “Avatar,” Executive producer James Cameron presents this action-thriller in 3D. Watching “Sanctum” in 3D optimizes the viewing experience. Not only are you watching as man’s will to survive is tested, you are fighting alongside of him.

“Sanctum” is directed by Alister Grierson, and stars Ioan Gruffudd, Richard Roxburgh, and Rhys Wakefield.

The movie’s co-writer, Andrew Wight, was once cave diving when he became trapped with 14 other people. For two days, they had to search for a way out. These events inspired the film.

“Sanctum” was filmed in Queensland, Australia, and visually it does not disappoint. The deep caverns and dangerous mystery give you an idea of why any sane person would cave dive in such a remote and dangerous location.

Although you spend the first part of the movie waiting for something to happen, you are soon wrapped around the inner battles and surrounding plight of the characters.

The ties between the characters are interesting, but are not fully developed. The acting is a little predictable and the trapped and fighting to survive idea isn’t new. There are some key elements of the movie that seem to be overlooked. However, if you can see past some of the glitches, the movie is worth watching. 

Active Minds Taking First Step Forward

Due to numerous students who expressed interest, LBCC is forming a chapter of Active Minds, an organization aimed at targeting suicide prevention. The organization’s website states that Active Minds is a “national non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of mental health issues amongst teens and young adults.” According to the National Safety Council, suicide is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

The leader for the LBCC chapter of Active Minds is Sharon Sielschott, a second-year psychology major. Sielschott said she first heard of the organization after reading about an Active Minds speaker at Oregon State University – a person who had attempted suicide.

Sielschott could immediately see, “Active Minds is an organization people are passionate about.”
In order to form the chapter at LBCC, the club must be student-run and have an adviser/sponsor. Psychology instructor Greg Jones became the adviser for the LBCC chapter.

Sielschott says, “The goal of our chapter is to promote awareness, understanding, and remove stigmas associated with mental health issues; bring attention and respect to the conversation, hopefully empowering other young leaders to become advocates and educate.”

Although Active Minds is new to LBCC, it has touched numerous colleges and people.

“We’re the 304th chapter of Active Minds to be formed.”

Active Minds was originally started in 2001 by Alison Malmon, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. Malmon lost her older brother, Brian, in 2000 after he committed suicide. After searching for existing groups that worked against issues such as suicide, she found none that she could bring to her campus. As a result, Alison created her own example: Open Minds. Open Minds became so popular it expanded to other campuses and was renamed Active Minds in 2003.

According to the Active Minds website, it is the “only organization working to utilize the student voice to change the conversation about mental health on college campuses.”

Jones said the club will benefit students by allowing them to have “a fluid transition between students and resources.” He believes, “Students should know exactly what resources are in their neighborhoods.”

Or, as Sielschott puts it, “Someone with a heart problem isn’t afraid to talk about it, so why are we ashamed to talk about mental health issues? It’s time to get the conversation going.”

Active Minds’ first meeting will be held in North Santiam Hall, Room 110, at noon on Friday, Jan. 21.

Getting from Point A to LB

Monday morning, the Linn Shuttle is cramped with people the Linn Shuttle and as it nears its next stop, another trimester at LBCC begins. Condensation lingers on the windows as the mixture of smells circulates the shuttle. More people climb into the crowded bus, finding handles to hold and empty seats to fill. Although considered a bit stuffy, and sometimes lack space, shuttles have become increasingly popular as a mode of transportation for students and commuters.

One of the many riders relying on the shuttle system is Carrie Wilson, in her fourth term as a Medical Assistant. She says she rides for the obvious reasons, “To save gas, it’s convenient, and free to students.”

There are many options for students to find alternative transportation to and from college. Shuttles and buses offering routes to LBCC and OSU include the Linn Shuttle, Linn-Benton Loop Bus and Albany Transit. Thanks to LBCC and OSU, students can take advantage of riding the Linn Shuttle, Linn-Benton Loop Bus and the Albany Transit for free with a student ID card. The cards only cost $10 and with these cards students have made their money back just after a day or two. This pass program is made possible for students from funding between partners from local government agencies including Linn and Benton Counties, LBCC, OSU, Hewlett-Packard as well as state and federal funds.

However, the shuttles and buses are not the only modes of transportation available to students. There is also the option of carpooling.

An option called “AlterNetRides” allows students to utilize a secure system that connects drivers and riders. Carpooling is made easier with this system, and there is no charge to the user. Students can designate preferences like “no smoking” or “no radio” to further advance their search.

According to Barry Hoffman, Albany transit program supervisor, the last three years have seen a substantial spike in shuttle ridership. The Linn-Benton Loop, which has 11 runs between Albany and Corvallis, provides transportation to LBCC and OSU for students. The Loop provides services to 105,843 commuters. Ridership has increased by 16,671 from 2007 to 2009. Of those riders, 46,738 commuters ride on LBCC passes and 28,040 commuters ride on OSU passes.

The Albany Transit buses are no different, having gained 27,525 riders since 2007. Part of the reason for the increase is “more people are choosing to use the service due to personal economic situations.” Hoffman said some causes for this increase circle around the decline of the economy, the rise in college enrollment, and gas prices.

The increase in commuters has had profound effects on the order of the shuttles and the number of routes. An example of this is the Albany Transit System that added an additional bus to the morning and afternoon commute from LBCC to downtown Corvallis in order to handle the increase in demand.

The increase in student enrollment and demand has posed a dilemma for shuttle and bus managers with routes being far from perfect. Ken Bronson, manager of the Sweet Home Senior Center, which operates the Linn Shuttle, met this dilemma after taking over his position in April 2010. He said he rode the shuttle and talked with other riders about what they would like to see improve. Not only did he add new morning and afternoon route, he delved deeper into how the shuttle could improve. When ridership decreased in the summer, he  used the time to analyze Sweet Home and Lebanon partners, as well as LBCC services to find when the highest usage was.

Transportation Quick Links
Linn Shuttle
Albany Transit
Linn-Benton Loop
Alternet Rides
Carpooling Options

“We revamped the routes and reshuffled everything to fit best for the fall term.”

Bruce Clemetsen agrees with the adjustments made to better facilitate students and commuters. “Shuttles have become an integral part in students being able to achieve education and have taken pressure off parking resources.”

However, there seems to not be enough shuttles and buses. “We continue to look for ways to expand transportation from federal and state grants.”

As gas climbs and more structures are being built, like the Samaritan Health Sciences Center in Lebanon, the need will only increase. However, with the overwhelming cost to own, operate and maintain shuttles and buses, there are no immediate additions to expect for the time being.

Sex and the Campus: When Friends and Relationships Collide

Friendships are key to our growth as individuals. The people we surround ourselves with have the greatest influence over us. For women, friendships are created by sharing information, experiences and secrets. Whereas, men tend to relate by participating in activities together. However, what happens when our friendships pose a divide between our relationships? What if you don’t like his friends, or he doesn’t like yours?
Friendships can cause issues within a relationship, if the friend’s personality doesn’t mesh well with yours. On the same note, sometimes you like the majority of his friends, but there is a particular individual that you can’t seem to stand. Your new devoted time to one another naturally creates a distance with friends. However, they still have a place in his life. Although, you can not understand the bond he has with his friends, realize the importance they have and hard it would be hard for him to sever them. Those qualities that make it hard for you to stand are what he has grown to accept and may not pick up on them as you do.
Most baggage we accept when we enter into a relationship with our partner. We handle the clingy mothers, past relationships and the personality quirks. However, we overlook the carry-on. The friendships he has from over the years, are part of the whole package. Believing you can separate him from his friends is ill-advised. Just as you hope your friends will like who you are with, he wants you to like his friends as well. This doesn’t mean that you have to be as good of friends with them as he is, but making a point to be with him when his friends are not around will enviably create a distance with him.
On the other side of the coin, your partner should be willing to step in if his friends step out of line. Most of the time, if his friends care about him, they will also make an effort to like you as well. However, when those pesky friends arise, finding out why those friendships are so important may be a solution. Understanding how their friendships began and the qualities he enjoys in his friends, gives you the insight you need to develop a better middle ground with his friends. Although your partner may be able to sustain your needs, there will always be some roles friends can meet better. Another way to endure his friends is to participate in common events and interests. If nothing else, he will see the effort you are making. In the end, what you put into the relationship will translate into what you get back in return.

Lady Runners Basketball Shots

 

 Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR hosted the scrimmage woman's basketball game on Tuesday, November 15th at 6 p.m. During the game team support came from all shapes and sizes.

Head Coach Teresa Guerra of the LBCC Lady Runners takes a moment to instruct her players.

The Lady Runners know how to show their team spirit.

 Player Haley Dixon prepares to make a basket.

Ginna Lorusso knows the importance of defense.

Free Shoot

McDowell Creek County Park offers beautiful trails and waterfalls to enjoy. McDowell Creek is located at 43170 Lebanon, OR. The park is open all year round and is a great way to have some inexpensive fun.

My Neighborhood

The Albany Depot is an Amtrak station in Albany, Oregon. The Albany Station is also a stop along the bus line. The station was constructed in 1909 for the Southern Pacific Railroad. It is built of masonry and is one of the oldest passenger rail stations that continues to operate in the U.S.

Kevin Hansa works at the Amtrak Station. Here he is checking lost baggage.

Josiah Kollaer enjoys interacting with his customers at Dutch Brother's Coffee. Kollaer has been a Dutch Bros. employee for the last two years.