07/17/17 Emerald Media - Monday Edition

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D A I LY E M E R A L D . C O M

⚙ MONDAY

EUGENE’S

BACKYARD LANE COUNTY IS OFTEN CHARACTERIZED

by Eugene’s iconic counter-culture, but the small town of Creswell, located only 18 minutes away, offers a taste of life at a slower pace.

TUITION INCREASE REDUCED TO 6.56%

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CARRINGTON DISMISSED FROM UO FOOTBALL TEAM

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UO’S LIVE-ON REQUIREMENT POSES PROBLEMS

UO live-in requirement poses problems for student diets ➡ ERIN

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When the University of Oregon decided to enact a new policy that freshmen are now required to livein dorms, it raised the issue that everyone has different dietary needs.

This raises questions in regards to students with specific dietary restrictions.

Many of the needs of students range from food necessity - religious restrictions like Jewish or Muslim foods, to allergies and disease- related issues.

Leah Andrews, the Director of Marketing and Communication for UO Housing has worked to understand student’s needs.

“Because food is so much a part of someone’s community and experience, that’s something that we’ve always worked with when students have special requests,” said Andrews. “And if it’s not possible, then they would be eligible for an exemption.”

If a student’s dietary needs are something that university dining can’t accommodate, then the student is able to fill out an exemption form.

This means they would be excused from the live- in requirement and can choose a different place to live will be reviewed by a board throughout the summer. The board consists of members of various university groups, including the dean of students and financial aid.

Andy Gitelson is the Executive Director of Oregon Hillel, who worked with housing to understand the needs of students with dietary restrictions.

Particularly those common in Jewish communities and Muslim communities, who subscribe to Halal, or having foods prepared according to Muslim law.

“There’s just not a lot of options for us here in Eugene,” Gitelson said.

“There are no Kosher restaurants per

se, and none of the dining halls could ever pass as Kosher. So we’ve talked to housing about trying to find some pre-packaged options.”

While the university’s Jewish communities aren’t as large as other universities, the new live- in requirement could cause a potential problem for Jewish freshmen students looking at UO. “Ideally if the university sees its Jewish and Halal communities grow, they will probably want to consider what other universities like Indiana University or Penn State that have larger Jewish populations with a lot more students who follow the dietary restrictions [and have] come up with a singular dining facility that fits the needs,” said Gitelson.

When a student faces a challenge like Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine when gluten is eaten, it can be daunting for them to move into a hall where they’re one among thousands of students that need to be fed.

Those in charge of the food choices for the halls are prepared to meet the needs of a variety of student diets and restrictions, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free.

The Director of Food Services Tom Driscoll understands the concerns that students have when coming into a new situation like the live- in requirement.

“I don’t think there’s any blanket approach that works for everybody,” Driscoll said. “I think that it’s best to meet with the individual, find out where their dietary needs are, see how we might be able to meet those and make everyone feel included and comfortable on campus. This is certainly not a ‘one size fits all’ kind of diet program.”

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University of Oregon freshman Hayley Mueller purchases a drink from LLC’s dining hall. (Phillip Quinn)

đ&#x;”Ś NEWS Union protests discrimination of University Health Center employees ➥ MAX

Johnson Hall at the University of Oregon. (Eric Cech)

Board of Trustees reduces tuition increase to 6.56 percent ➥ MAX

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The University of Oregon Board of Trustees, minus three who could attend the telephonic meeting, unanimously approved to reduce the amount in-state undergraduate students will pay next year on Tuesday.

The Board approved a 10.6 percent increase in March as a result of no increased state funding for higher education.

But with the approval of Senate Bill 5524, the Board was able to change course. In-state students will pay $13 more per credit hour next year as opposed to the $21 per credit hour set forth in the original increase.

A reduction plan that was included with the Board’s original decision laid out a path to lowering tuition based on state funding. The plan was based on $20 million increments — for every $20 million the Public University Support Fund (PUSF) received, tuition would be reduced 1 percent.

The original Governor’s Recommended Budget (GRB) allocated $667 million to the PUSF.  The new senate bill increases that amount by $70 million, to $737 million.

Because the PUSF level doesn’t fit into the $20 million increment formula provided by the Board, tuition will increase 6.56 percent

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next year — in line with the formula and requirement laid out in the bill.

Board Chair, Chuck Lillis, started the meeting by recognizing the efforts made by members of the Board and students advocating for lower tuition in Salem.

In his opening statement, UO President Michael Schill said he was delighted that the state legislature provided the additional $20 million but there are still battles the university must face. “Even though we got the tuition down to 6.56 percent, we haven’t solved the problem,� he said.

As state funding levels increase, university spending cuts will decrease. Schill said that substantial cuts will be made, in addition to the $4.5 million made earlier this year, but the number had fallen. He said the exact amount has not been determined.

It is likely the scope of the cuts will be determined this summer. “We are in an uncertain world because we don’t know our tuition revenue yet,� Schill said. “We have to do our best to estimate what the amount of those cuts are, but they’re substantial and we will have to make those decisions.�

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About 20 SEIU members marched in front of the University Health Center Thursday afternoon. They carried signs calling for a change in the treatment of health center employees, a battle that has taken place beyong closed doors for years and was aired publicly in a letter earlier this week. “We are standing up for the rights of nurses who have been facing discrimination -- racism, sexism, ageism and bully boss situations,� Louie Vidmar, a local area contact for SEIU said. “People have a right to work in a dignified environment and be respected in the workplace.�

In a recent survey distributed to health center employees, over half of the employees who responded said they didn’t think supervisors apply rules and policies “fairly and consistently.�

One anonymous comment from the survey, which the Emerald obtained a copy of, read that, “management has ignored reports of harassment, sexual harassment and stalking, and has refused to act to provide a safe work environment.�

Vidmar said that there have been “several steward cases from this worksite,� referring to the health center.

Stewards are members of the union responsible for enforcing contracts, reading contract language and ensuring that it is adhered to.

John Taylor, a chief steward said that these issues have been going on for years but the conversations haven’t gained any

traction. “We’ve been met with a more or less dismissive attitude so we decided to was time for direct action,� he said.

While SEIU represents university and public employees, they are concerned about the impact these practices are having on students. “This is something that affects the entire university,� Taylor said, “especially the student populous who rely on a functional medical center to have adequate health care.�

Union members hope that their vocalizing will draw greater attention to the issue and result in actions by the university. “This situation is optional, it’s something we can change,� Taylor said. “If we stand up and let our voices be heard we have the power to make this university live up to the standards of inclusiveness and diversity it claims to stand for.� “The university takes very seriously claims of discrimination and leadership in the health center and student services are committed to ensuring that all UHC employees have a healthy work atmosphere free of discrimination,� the health center said in an email through a university spokesperson. “While we cannot comment on individual personnel matters, we have robust procedures in place relating to reporting, investigating and remedying claims of discrimination to ensure that our employees are protected from discrimination.�

SEIU union members protested discriminatory practices in the University Health Center. (Phillip Quinn) VIDEO EDITOR KYLIE DAVIS

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A PICTURE OF CRESWELL’S HISTORICAL MUSEUM. (MATEO SUNDBERG)

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đ&#x;“– COVER Creswell’s town museum, which was originally a church. (Mateo Sundberg)

Military vehicles parade through the streets of Creswell’s annual 4th of July parade. (Mateo Sundberg)

Creswell offers an alternative Oregon The Urban Echo Chamber

Oregon’s character is often defined by its urban areas: cities filled with flavorful food carts, copious coffee shops, and laid-back liberal attitudes. Due to these cities driving Oregon’s social, economic and political conversations, the voices and perspectives of rural Oregonians are sometimes drowned out.

Lane County is no exception. Eugene is the county seat and largest population center, with over 40 percent of the county’s population residing within the city. While Eugene may feel small at times, other Lane County towns such as Creswell, located 10 miles outside the city, have a population of just over 5,000 people.

Creswell on Fourth of July is classic Americana.

First, the town’s families meet in the park to eat a pancake breakfast together. Then they crowd the sidewalks of the main street, catch candy tossed from floats and watch 1950s hot rods pass by as biplanes soar overhead. The spectators stretch as far as the eye can see and are packed three deep. Creswell is the poster child of small-town America.

Small Town Feel The friendly and enthusiastic attitude of the crowd at the Fourth of July parade is an accurate representation of Creswell’s character. Michelle Amberg, a city administrator, says there is a lot to be gained from a tightly knit community such as Creswell. “In a town like this, the real capital you have is knowing people,� says Michael Dehart, the city’s economic development coordinator.

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of Creswell saying that,“There’s no such thing as a missing animal in Creswell,� Everyone here looks out for each other, down to their pets.

While the town may seem small to those who visit, some residents remember a time when the population was substantially smaller. “There are a lot of people who have lived here for several generations,� says lifetime Creswell resident Suzanne Holt Peterson. “I can remember when it was 800 or less people. I’ve seen it turn into a town of 5,000 people.�

Change in Creswell is often gradual, at a “Creswell pace,� as coined by Mayor Dave Stram, but in the past, the unexpected dramatically altered the course of the town.

The Fire that Changed Creswell Months before stock markets crashed in 2008, Creswell experienced an economic tragedy of its own.

The Bald Knob Veneer Industrial site burned to the ground that May. But the industrial site was not the only casualty; approximately 100 Creswell jobs were lost when the company decided not to rebuild the industrial site after the fire.

Mayor Stram remembers the devastating effects the fire had on the community and its members. “It was a major fire, and it shut them down, and they decided not to rebuild. All that employment, just like that, ended,� he says. “During that time I was pastoring a church, and people lost jobs. Just their job was gone.�

Amberg, the city administrator says the fire affected the timber industry as well. The damage to the industry was so severe the city thought it wasn’t

worth rebuilding When the Bald Knob Lumber company decided not to reinvest in Creswell, it represented more than just a vacant industrial site; it signaled a profound shift in the town’s identity. “That was when Creswell started to become less of a nuclear community and more of a bedroom community,� says Dehart.

Transitioning from a stand-alone town to a town reliant on Eugene has been drastic: about 85 percent of Creswellians leave the town to work each day, according to city councillor Richard Zettervall.

Losing a local mill has been a crippling blow to small towns across Oregon, but being situated only 18 minutes from Eugene turned out to be a blessing for Creswell. “By anchoring to Eugene and becoming a bedroom community, Creswell kind of saved itself,� says Dehart.

Each passing year, Creswell becomes increasingly intertwined with Eugene; however, Mayor Stram assures that does not mean Creswell will lose its small-town character. “We love being near Eugene, not being Eugene.

We’re Creswell. We’re different. We’re unique.�

Blue State, Red City Despite Creswell’s beneficial economic relationship with Eugene, there are stark contrasts between the philosophies of both communities.

These differences are apparent to those who understand the cultures of both cities, such as Dehart, who lives in Eugene and works in Creswell. He says the differences between the two towns appear even

Creswell’s main street offers a glimpse of the past. (Mateo Sundberg)

Creswell historical museum sign.

(Mateo Sundberg)

n experience to Eugene before he enters Creswell.

“I’d leave Eugene where I see all the Bernie signs over the hill on Dillard Road and then see the Trump signs. You get this real vivid sense of the urban/ rural divide when you live in Eugene and work in Creswell.”

In the 2016 general election, 53.07 percent of Creswell voted for President Trump while only 35.17 percent voted for Hillary Clinton. The remaining 11.76 percent voted for a third party or wrote in a candidate. Eugene was the opposite — with the overwhelming majority of the electors casting their vote for Clinton. Dehart’s observation is not unique to Lane County: While Eugene and Oregon’s large metro areas vote Democratic, Oregon’s rural communities tend to vote conservatively.

Despite the election being a national upset, Dehart was not entirely shocked.

“It was kind of less of a surprise to me when Trump got elected. Because I knew that beating heart of conservatism was around.”

The divisions between Creswell and Eugene are not drawn by red and blue lines but rather by an adherence to traditional values. Creswell, for example, voted down the sale and production of marijuana while Eugene has welcomed the new business with open arms and wallets.

Eugene’s reputation as a liberal haven is solidified by the presence of the university, which acts as an anchor for academics and social justice advocates.

Dehart, an alum of the university, says that sometimes there is a bubble between academia and other parts of the state such as Creswell.

“There’s a lot of closed-minded, liberal opinions at the university,” he says. “I saw a timber harvest

➡ MICHAEL

protest at the UO, and they were holding wooden sticks and paper signs.”

However, he is quick to note that this phenomenon is not at all unique to college campuses and cities, saying that rural communities will have closedminded, conservative opinions as well.

At the most fundamental level, some members of both communities refuse to engage in dialogue with one another.

The Friendly City Looks Out for Each Other Creswell is sometimes overlooked when it comes to grants or other available state funds.

“A lot of resources are captured by the large cities.

With a city staff of eight people, it’s hard to get those,” Amberg said.

With money and resources flowing to big cities like Eugene, Creswell’s community has to find its own means to combat issues in the city. That is where Creswell First steps in.

Creswell First is a 501(c)(3) community foundation that brings city money to facilitate projects that address Creswell’s issues, as well as building on prior community success.

“One of the downsides of a small community is that you don’t have as many resources available for people and that’s something else we’ve tried to address,” says Su Liudahl, vice president of Creswell First and director of the local library.

In an effort to bring more resources to Creswell, Creswell First helps facilitate Women Space, a local nonprofit organization that helps victims and survivors of domestic violence.

T O B I N & M AT E O S U N D B E R G

There were 80 cases last year where women in domestic violence situations wanted to leave their situation completely. Based on how many cases reported, and possibly unreported, in such a small community, president of Creswell First Steve Carmichael made sure Creswell First stepped in to help fund Women Space in Creswell.

“It was the project that touched me most emotionally of these projects that came to us,” Carmichael says.

The spirit of Creswell shines the brightest when fellow residents need a boost in life. The Friendly City goes far and beyond friendliness.

An Open Invite Although the city’s economic changes have transformed the way citizens work, there is still a strong sense of small town identity and culture among Creswell’s residents.

“Creswell is a vibrant community. I think it’s a healthy community, and we’re growing,” Mayor Stram said. “We’re growing at a slow pace, a Creswell pace. A thoughtful pace. We don’t have aspirations to be Eugene or Springfield. We want to continue to be Creswell. The Friendly City.”

While being only 10 miles from Eugene and the university, Creswell may seem like a blip on Oregon’s radar. This is far from the truth. Creswellians make the trek from their community to the bustling city of Eugene, and Eugenians have the opportunity to journey to Creswell to experience life at a slower pace. Stram invites Eugenians to visit Creswell with the same cordial attitude his town had on the Fourth — “come have breakfast with us.”

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⚡ SPORTS

Taggart dismisses Darren Carrington from football program

➡ JACK

PITCHER, @JACKPITCHER20

Darren Carrington is no longer a member of the Oregon football team, the university announced Friday afternoon.

“I have visited with Darren Carrington and informed him that he is no longer a member of our program. We will always consider Darren a Duck and support him in any way we can. “We wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” head coach Willie Taggart wrote in a statement.

The announcement follows Carrington’s DUII arrest on July 1, along with a series of other behavioral issues, including a previous suspension for the 2015 national championship game against Ohio State after testing positive for marijuana.

Earlier Friday, Carrington appeared in a since-deleted post on the Taylor’s Bar and Grill Instagram account.

The post read: “You still got work to do out here! We all know you can make everyone forget about one poor decision!”

It is unclear if the post was related to Taggart’s decision to dismiss Carrington.

When Taggart took over in December, he talked tough on discipline.

“Someone is going to try me,” Taggart said in a December interview with the Oregonian. “It hasn’t failed yet, and I hate to say make an example of them but it is what it is.”

It appears Carrington may have been that example.

Carrington was Oregon’s top receiver in 2016. He graduated from UO in June, making him immediately eligible to play for another school.

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Darren Carrington II (7) speaks at media availability outside the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex (Adam Eberhardt)

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đ&#x;‘Ľ FEATURE

Familiar Face. Untold Story.

➥ ANNA

Katia Varo gazes into a mirror in the Blue Room of Carson Hall.

(Phillip Quinn)

LIEBERMAN

Before she became the bold, outgoing and light-hearted woman that is Katia Varo, she was Roberto, a small Mexican boy running every day in his home village and not knowing why.

At 14, Varo jumped over two of the tallest fences she’d ever seen. She waded through streams fully clothed and hid in silence while the thorns of bushes poked her skin. That’s when she knew why she was running.

She was building up her stamina to cross the border to the United States with her family without getting caught by border patrol.

That was over 20 years ago. Now, Varo works at Carson Dining Hall doing everything from preparing food to scrubbing tables. Six classes of UO students have seen her behind the hall’s food counter with her perfectly tweezed eyebrows, strong build and ombre brown hair slicked back against her head. But few of them know her story.

She compared her experience immigrating to the United States to an action movie. “When you’re that young, you don’t realize the magnitude of the danger or the trouble you can get into because you don’t understand you’re doing something dangerous,� Varo said After weeks of traveling in cars packed like sardines, Varo finally reached what her family described as having all the luxuries those in poverty would dream of.

But reality set in. She ended up in the rainy,

coastal town of Newport, Oregon. Her six family members all cramped in a two bedroom apartment eating foods like sausage McMuffins for breakfast. “It was depressing,� she said. “It was so depressing - and we’re talking about everything.�

She missed the sunshine, fresh food and the giving culture from back home so much that at times she’d feel physical pain in her chest. “And I couldn’t explain it,� she said. “And the reason I understand it is that I looked outside and I tear up so bad because I haven’t seen the sun in three weeks.�

But Varo said she knew going through each shock while living as an illegal immigrant, with no government benefits, was still better than living in her home village. “If you were to live, or if you were to be in that situation, you would understand,� she said. “There’s nothing for people there. And unfortunately, we have to leave home and go to another culture for us to really try to get a better life.�

When Varo came to the United States, she attended middle and high school instead of starting work as a preteen She also transitioned to Katia, an identity that she said would limit her opportunities in Mexico. “You have to be a prostitute or you have to be a hairdresser or you have to come from money

and have your own business because they won’t hire you,� she said. “But I promised myself I was going to be Katia. No matter what. No matter how hard.�

While in the United States, Varo also discovered her passion: dancing. She learned modern ballet at age 16 and at one point her dance teacher said she’d be good enough for Juilliard. “This is where it gets hard because you come here for a better life,� Varo said, teary eyed. “And then you taste it. And then you don’t have the documents to do it.�

Although Varo now has a work permit to stay in the United States, her green card is still pending. Her status doesn’t offer her many benefits. “I had to give up my dream,� she said. “I choose work over it. I choose surviving.�

Varo hopes to one day achieve some of her goals, including becoming a professional dancer.

But in the meantime, she incorporates her passion into her hobbies. She cooks, crochets, and also takes dance classes whenever she can, especially salsa or Zumba. “I haven’t accomplished a lot that I need to accomplish,� Varo said. “But I feel like I’m still breathing. We always say that in my country. If you have health, you can do whatever you set your mind to.�

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