The Torch // Volume 54 // Edition 7 by The Torch Newspaper

THE

TORCH - JAN 30, 2019 - VOLUME 54, EDITION 7 - EUGENE, OR -

LCC News / pg 2

Activism / pg 5

Eug. News / pg 6

A week of activism Eugene hosts rallies promoting political activism and inclusivity

photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

photo by Selina Scott / photojournalist

photo by Marek Belka / editor in chief

Top Left: Dr. Lawrence A. Rasheed, Program Coordinator for the Black Student Union, introduces CNN correspondent Bakari Sellers for his Keynote speech. Top Right: A member of the Raging Grannies choir holds a sign during the Eugene’s Womxn's March. Bottom: Members of the Eugene/Springfield NAACP Youth Council march across the Willamette River during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community March.

David Galbreath Reporter The media these days can make us feel like we are at that moment before the dawn when everything starts to fall apart. It’s important to remember that citizens can show the government what they stand for. Since 2016, people in cities and small towns alike have become more vocal, taking to the streets to show their support for issues like women’s rights, racial equality and gun control. Over the course of one week in Eugene, thousands of community members united together to show their support for many different reasons. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lane Community College hosted Bakari Sellers, the youngest African-American politician in American history. Sellers was asked to deliver a keynote speech and later held a Q&A with his audience. Later in the week, Eugene joined other cities around the country for the third annual Womxn’s March. The week of activism came to an end on MLK Day with a NAACP-led march. Most of the organized protests went on without a hitch but–like many recent protest movements–there was controversy. Several national Womxn’s March organizers have been accused of anti-Semitism, as well as excluding transgender people and sex workers from their organization. As a result, fewer people participated in the march than previous years. Despite the controversy, the week of activism ended on an optimistic note with the MLK Community March and Celebration, which saw thousands of people descend on the Shedd Institute in downtown Eugene to celebrate the life and work of Dr. King. continued on page 4

Barnes & Noble may replace Titan bookstore Uncertain future for campus hub James Croxton Reporter Much like Food Services as highlighted in the previous edition, the Titan Store and the Bookstore are facing major cuts or a possible corporate buyout. The Titan Store is losing six-figures annually–facing a projected loss of $350,000 for 2019–as they have for the last five years It faces an uncertain future that will likely consist of additional cuts that could affect students and staff. The projected loss–much like that for Food Services–is “probably a bit inaccurate, but not by a large amount,” according to Tony Sanjume, the director of Retail Services. The reason for this loss is the same as it is for Food Services: a lack of enrollment and subsequent sales. “Overall, the low enrollment is a contributing factor, so if we could increase enrollment at LCC, then we would see some of our difficulties go away,” Sanjume said. The department, he says, also needs to make it so “payroll [is in] alignment with our sales.”

He argues that this is feasible “if we reduce the equivalent of one to one and a half full-time employees from our permanent staff while also budgeting strict limits on our part-time staff that is set as a percentage of our sales. I believe this can best be done by sharing the hours of two existing full time employees with other departments at LCC.” There are no plans to completely eliminate the Titan Store, although that comes at a cost to students and faculty. Instead, Sanjume says that “we may see the lines grow a bit longer,” adding that the limiting of their payroll as proposed to the Board of Education at the January 2019 meeting will possibly mean that “less backup [will be] available to cover the times when the lines are longest, such as [the] middle of the day when classes let out.” Another possible outcome is that certain products will be eliminated depending on future contracts and whether or not the Titan Store is outsourced. What products will be eliminated is anyone’s guess at the moment. However, one would certainly hope that the essentials–personal hygiene products, menstrual products, etc.–are not at risk. LCC has a sizeable homeless population that calls the woods right outside campus their home. For them, the Titan Store, among other LCC services are critical to everyday life. continued on page 2

Scholarship season

comic by Emmett Crass / cartoonist

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Wednesday, January 30, 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 Dylan Bennett, James Croxton, David Galbreath, Trayse Riggle, Sioux Sternath positions open

Illustrators Lucien Guidotti-Lawrence, Quentin J. Piccolo

Graphics Prenapa Techakumthon

Cartoonist Emmett Crass

Photojournalists Matthew Merchant, Selina Scott, Trent Toyama, Elizabeth West

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

LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMNS • Letters to the editor should be limited to 300 words. • Guest columns should be limited to 700 words. • Please include the author’s name, phone number and address (for verification purposes only). • The Torch reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length, grammar, spelling, libel, invasion of privacy and appropriate language. • The Torch cannot guarantee publication of letters or guest columns, and may not be able to reply to all submissions. POLICY • The Torch is editorially independent and reserves the right to publish at its discretion. All web and print content is the property of the Torch and cannot be republished without editorial permission. • Up to two copies per issue, per person of the Torch are free; each additional copy is $2. CONTACT theTorch Lane Community Collegte 4000 E. 30th Ave. Eugene OR 97405 (541)463-5655 @lcctorch @thetorchnews Emails: editor@lcctorch.com letters@lcctorch.com advertising@lcctorch.copm tips@lcctorch.com CORRECTIONS In “Dancing in the dark” (Vol. 54, Ed. 6), we mistakenly referred to Paula Tomczak as a Lane Community College student. Tomczak is actually a full-time faculty member in LCC’s Nursing department. We apologize for the error.

Traveling designers wanted New program allows LCC students to earn their bachelor’s degree in New Zealand Sabrina Piccolo News Director Graphic design students at L ane Community College now have the opportunity to study in New Zealand for one year to obtain their bachelor’s degree. The initiative, referred to as the 2+1 Program, allows graphic design students to receive their Associates of Applied Science in Graphic Design within two years at LCC and then their Bachelor of Design at Otago Polytechnic School of Design in Dunedin, a southwestern city in New Zealand. According to Otago’s website, 97 percent of the school’s graduates are already employed or continuing their education. In addition, the average class has 16 students per instructor and the institute, and students can receive help from more than 20 support staff members and more than 20 student ambassadors. Graphic design students who study for a year at Otago take specialized courses such as strategic design and communication design classes and participate in research projects. Finalized during fall term of 2018 by LCC’s International Programs, the 2+1 Program gives LCC’s graphic design students the opportunity to save time and money while working toward their bachelor’s degree, according to Judy Gates, an LCC academic adviser for art-related majors, including graphic design. Taking tuition and fees, books, living expenses and health insurance into account, LCC’s resident students pay about $5,900 and its international students pay about $10,500 every year at the community college. These costs are often more than doubled at four-year universities in Oregon, Gates added, but one year at Otago would cost $26,301. LCC’s International Programs department acknowledges that the 2+1 Program is still not affordable for many students. Tia Gomez Zeller, an LCC adviser for international students, said that financial aid does not cover expenses for the trip, and this is a roadblock for many LCC resident students who rely on financial aid. The International Programs is working to expand what financial aid can cover, Zeller Gonzales said, so more students can be involved in the 2+1 Program. Nonetheless, being able to compress two years of learning into one year is an incentive for students who want a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Nicole Espinosa, the first LCC graphic design students who will study in Otago this year, said that saving time and money was the main factor that led her to take up this opportunity. Living overseas for a year in itself is a benefit, Espinosa added. “I believe that traveling provides a series of lessons that you can only learn by being immersed in a different culture than your own,” she said. “I will not only receive my bachelor’s degree, but I will obtain international experience, meet many new friends

and see a part of the world I have not been able to see before.” Gates said that she believes exposure to a variety of cultures can deepen one’s global perspective and help graphic designers develop their artistic expression. Although all of the classes in Otago are taught in English, Gates said, the school and community are blended with Maori culture and language that are native to New Zealand. Gomez Zeller stressed the value of leaving one’s own culture to experience another one. “Leaving everything behind and going to a new country and learning to be flexible with other cultures will make you ready for anything, not just your major,” she said. Graphic design and studio arts instructor Thomas Madison knows of three other students in addition to Espinosa who are interested in completing their bachelor’s degree at Otaga. Madison said that he believes a designer’s success is heavily reliant on their portfolio rather than the school that they graduate from, but an overseas experience can aid a designer in the improvement and development of their portfolio. In addition, he said, studying abroad can provide students with “a valuable international experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life.” Espinosa will arrive in Dunedin on Feb. 5 and will attend a week of orientation at Otaga before classes begin on Feb. 18. Graphic design students interested in being a part of the 2+1 Program at Otaga apply in the spring.

See exclusive coverage

Titan Bask at

lcctorch.c

illustration by Prenapa Techakumthon / illustrator

... continued from front page

Barnes & Noble may replace Titan bookstore

Regarding the Mary Spilde Downtown Center, the Titan Store there “is operating as a service to the students who take downtown classes and for the students who live there. It also serves the downtown staff,” Sanjume said. However, he warned that “it would not be viable as a stand alone store at this time” and that they would “need to see an increase in daytime classes being offered at the downtown center for it to be successful.” Nothing has been decided for the downtown center as of yet. Attached to the Titan Store is the Bookstore. Facing the possibility of a corporation coming in and taking over, it is beginning to seem like it can look forward to an equally, if not more so, tumultuous future. It's currently safe financially. Sanjume stated that “the bookstore still has a positive fund balance–think of it as a rainy day bank account–but the college traditionally takes money in excess of our operational end balance to help out the college’s general fund.” The general fund being what has kept Food Services operating. Due to this constant drain, he says that their currently positive fund balance “will likely go away after this year.” But that isn’t the only thing plaguing the bookstore. There have been mounting complaints by both students and staff regarding textbook availability and the ever-increasing prices for them; many having to resort to online retailers such as Amazon or CampusBooks which can lead to the student having to rush and catch up with the rest of their class. There have also been complaints by employees–both former and current–about unethical and controversial practices.

Editor’s Note

This is the second of a three-part series exploring the potential impact of budget cuts on the services and resources available to students, faculty and staff at Lane Community College. Check out Edition 8 for a report on the Center for Meeting and Learning which is also on the “chopping block” for elimination.

continued on page 3

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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

NEWS ... continued from page 2

Barnes & Noble may replace Titan bookstore Janusz Malo, a current LCC student who recently quit working in the bookstore, said that one of the worst practices were their markups. He explained that if, for an example, a textbook company sells the bookstore a bunch of books at a discounted bulk rate, the bookstore puts the price for each at retail value. Students and staff have also complained that their books never arrived, or did so very late. Malo said that often the staff were “told to lie to customers and say their books are on the way when in fact they haven’t even been ordered yet” and that higher-ups have repeatedly forgotten what was ordered and what wasn’t. Making matters worse, he said that “they don’t keep data as to what students will buy or not buy.” A current bookstore employee, speaking with The Torch on the basis of anonymity out of fear of possible repercussions, corroborated these accusations. There is a proposal currently being considered by the Board on whether to have Barnes & Noble–the largest book retailer in the United States–come in and run the store. When asked how a Barnes & Noble “takeover” would impact the operation and its many products, Sanjume made it clear that Barnes & Noble “runs a full service

bookstore” and that he believes “they will sell and provide almost identical services.” However, he did warn that “they will use different vendors in some instances.” How it would impact employees is another issue. There are currently two ways this could go. The first potential impact, Sanjume explained, is that “full-time staff remain LCC employees and Barnes & Noble reimburses the college for that expense, but the rest of the staff will become Barnes & Noble employees.” The second option would be that “Barnes & Noble takeover all employees.” Regardless, there is support for the buyout from low-level employees as some feel that LCC “is running that place into the ground,” as Malo stated. The anonymous current employee agreed saying “Barnes & Noble needs to buy out the bookstore.” Currently, the Board is looking at the proposals for the Titan Store, however, Sanjume says that “it is up to them to devise a timeline” and that “they could vote or table it for later.” He plans to attend to the February Board of Education meeting to “speak against leasing.”

illustration by Quentin J. Piccolo / illustrator

A letter from ASLCC Editor’s Note

On Jan. 17, the Associated Students of Lane Community College Student Government held their first public meeting of the new term. At the meeting, new President Nick Keough announced that the ASLCC would circulate a “unity letter,” signed by all sitting members of the student government, that would address the controversies of the previous term and outline a path forward for the new administration. After the ratification of Vice President Amadeo Rehbein and President Pro Tempore Michael Gillette that evening, Keough read the letter aloud to the students present at the meeting. The Torch has agreed to publish the ASLCC’s open letter. We have not made any changes to the content of the letter.

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NEWS ... continued from front page

Marching for OUR rights

photo by Selina Scott / photojournalist

Hundreds gather as music plays at the end of the Eugene Womxn’s March on Saturday, Jan. 19. There was dancing in the street as marchers came together, taking pictures of their favorite signs. However, the third annual march was shadowed by rumors of anti-Semitism and transphobia among certain members of the Womxn's March community.

The Womxn’s March organization assembled a rally at the Wayne Lyman Morse Federal Courthouse in downtown Eugene on Jan. 19. People of different backgrounds came to stand by 500 Women Scientists as they marched through the downtown streets. Before the march began, groups of women stood on the steps of government property and spoke their minds about the systemic injustices against genders in our country. The Womxn’s March first assembled three years ago when President Trump took office. The marches helped lead into the #MeToo movement. The day after the presidential inauguration in 2017 was the largest single protest in U.S. history, pulling together millions of participants in cities all over the world. However, this year saw the number of participants dwindling. Some blame the poor turnout on the organization’s board members’ close relations with Louis Farrakhan, the controversial leader of the Nation of Islam. Farrakhan is

known for his anti-Semitism and has made a number of misogynist comments in the past. Many accusers claimed that the board members told reporters to write about how Jews are the primary exploiters of black and brown people. This information did not sit well with a large number of supporters; the Democratic party even terminated their partnership with the organization entirely. Leaders of the Womxn’s March released many statements claiming that no one on the board is anti-Semitic and the marches will still be held in regards to women’s rights. Eugene’s Womxn’s March had a dramatic hiccup. A local woman named Mariah Leung took the stage and switched from talking about systemic injustices to the Palestinian slave trade. As she held her graphic of a crying Palestinian child, the event organizers frantically searched for a way to get her offstage. The crowd was only quiet for a minute. “This is a women’s march!” people shouted. After speaking for under two minutes, her microphone was cut off and she was swept off stage. The rest of the rally took a minute

to gain steam but got right back on pace. The event was to show the government that their community has a voice and stand united on these issues. “Political change is bottom-up not top-down; today is what it’s all about,” Senator Ron Wyden said in an impromptu interview at the rally. Wyden expressed that Republican Senator Mitch McConnell proposed “expediting senate procedure” so that citizens can have a vote on his antiabortion proposal. Wyden strongly stands against going backwards on women's reproductive choices and wanted to join the rally to show his support. Shortly after personal testimonies about personal experiences with systemic injustice, a booming voice came from the sound system: “Lets March!” The march was led by bands Samba Ja, An Unpresidented Brass Band and One More Time Marching Band. Escorted by police officers, Marchers made their way to 8th and Charlnelton where everyone gathered for a celebration with dancing and loud music from all the bands in the street.

photo by Zach Lyons / multimedia

photo by Selina Scott / photojournalist

A Womxn’s March supporter stands waiting for the crowd to go past while holding her handmade sign advocating for a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Marchers unite in solidarity during the 2019 Womxn’s March. Though marchers were divided on certain issues, the empowerment of women was celebrated, as change is happening in local and national government.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

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NEWS

photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

Jeremy Thomas, President of the Black Student Union at LCC introduces Fruitvale Station, a 2013 film based on true events surrounding a policeinvolved shooting on New Year's Eve in San Francisco.

'The uncomfortable conversation' LCC hosts Bakari Sellers for keynote speech

photo by Marek Belka / editor in chief

Two marchers carry signs bearing the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. across the Willamette River during the MLK Community March. The march, organized by the Eugene/Springfield chapter of the NAACP and led by drummers from Ghana, was attended by an estimated 1,000 people, including Eugene mayor Lucy Vinis and Rep. Peter DeFazio.

A march and commemoration Activists invoke Dr. King’s message on inclusive education

The Torch has agreed to publish the ASLCC’s open letter. We have not made any changes to the content of the letter.

Editor’s Note

The Monday following the Women’s March was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The NAACP gave the community another reason to set aside differences. Hundreds of people gathered at the north gate of Autzen Stadium to peacefully march on Jan. 21. The NAACP works to ensure political, educational, social and economic equity and to eliminate race-based discrimination. Before the March began, Eugene-Springfield NAACP President Eric Richardson took the stage and introduced members from his own and other activist groups. With every speaker came inspirational MLK quotes and a common theme of peace among all races. People of different ethnicities took the stage to share poetry and songs with the crowd. The rally must have been loud, because the Oregon Ducks football team came out of their practice facility to a sea of “black lives matter” and “equality for all’ signs.” The players walked to the stage, wearing black hats with “MLK” inscribed in bright yellow letters and gave a special thanks to show their support for the march. Suddenly, over the drums, choir and crowd noise, a man grabbed the mic and shouted, “Let’s start marching!” The supporters walked nearly two miles to the Shedd Institute at E Broadway and High St. The long parade was escorted by police and shut down a section of Mill St. and E Broadway. The march came to a stop while some individuals gathered in drum circles and started dancing. The train of bodies then took over the street and sidewalks in a celebration. These events are always taking place in our community and as numbers of participants start to sink, LCC’s African American Student Program Coordinator Dr. Lawrence Rasheed says it’s time to get involved. “In the greater community, I think we need to be proactive and not reactive.” Individuals looking to be involved in Eugene’s community of activists can start by going to the Get Involved In Eugene website.

Bakari Sellers started the week of activism by providing a keynote speech on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Lane Community College hosted Sellers at the Center for Meeting and Learning on Jan. 15. Sellers is an attorney, CNN commentator and former South Carolina House Representative. He came to Lane with a goal to have uncomfortable conversations with the students and faculty present. “My only goal is to make people want to go out and change the world. I need help.” Sellers said. Sellers opened his speech talking about the public’s misconceptions of Martin luther King Jr.’s legacy by comparing his approval ratings to Donald Trump. According to a recent Gallup poll, President Trump has a 37 percent approval rating, but Sellers noted that King had an approval rating of 32 percent the year of his assassination. Sellers also shared his story on how King’s legacy changed his life and paved the way for many others like him to be in the position he is in today. “We’ve been through the darkness and we emerged victorious.” he said. By the end of the speech he hoped people would leave with a better sense of self and understanding that there is “nothing new under the sun.” As a people, Sellers believes, we have seen it all before and we will see these things again. He feels If we can learn the history correctly we can be more successful in our further endeavours. Sellers, who turns 35 this year, will be running for Congress in 2020 and hopes he can empower people to start changing the world. The youngest man to ever be elected into the United States House of Representatives left the crowd with with a optimistic message. “You don't have to be King to change the world.”

See exclusive video of

Women’s March at lcctorch.com

photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

Bakari Sellers, political commentator for CNN, sits for questions after his keynote speech at the Center for Meeting and Learning during the annual MLK Day Celebration. Sellers explained how Martin Luther King’s legacy should inspire students to learn from recent history and become more involved in their communities.

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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

NEWS Taking a chance on dance Salvadoran native bring joy to Eugene with salsa Trayse Riggle Reporter At age 12, Jose Cruz started dancing. Cruz was born and raised in El Salvador, and after moving to the U.S., he turned dance into his profession. This year marks the 20-year anniversary of Cruz’s Salseros Dance Company. Cruz founded the Salseros Dance Company in Eugene, and is also the founder of the Eugene Salsa Festival. ̈́¨When I came to the U.S., I started dancing a lot more,¨ Cruz said. He initially moved to Los Angeles where he practiced a variety of different dancing styles. After spending some time in Los Angeles, he moved to Eugene so he could be closer to family. Naturally, moving to another country presents some challenges. And language is a big one.

JOSE CRUZ

his profession. ¨After a few years of dancing and taking classes in Eugene and Portland, I decided to start teaching my own classes and leading my own performance group in 1999,¨ Cruz said. Cruz started Salseros Dancing Company in 1999. Through Salseros and his various events, he aims to teach people the fundamentals of salsa. ¨A lot of people have heard of salsa dancing, but have misperceptions (sic) about what it is. From seeing movies, they might think that salsa is danced really close or that you have to be really in shape to dance salsa,” Cruz said. “But salsa can be danced by all different people and you don’t have to have a partner to go dancing because everyone dances with each other. In the salsa community of Eugene, we have people of all different ages and cultures and backgrounds.¨ Through dance, Cruz wants to bring people together, celebrate diverse cultures and bring joy into people's lives. For Cruz, that is really all he finds necessary to feel satisfied. ¨Success for me is getting to see people brought together by salsa, and having people appreciate this Latin music and dance,¨ Cruz said. Salseros Dance Company and Jose Cruz continue to grow and find ways to bring Latin culture to Eugene. Cruz and his Salseros Dance Company are also gearing up for the Eugene Salsa Festival, which will take place between Feb. 22 and 24.

"Success for me is getting to see people brought together by salsa, and having people appreciate this Latin music and dance" JOSE CRUZ

¨When I first moved to the U.S., I didn’t really speak English, so that was difficult. It was actually through going salsa dancing that I started to make American friends. Through speaking with friends, my English got a lot better,¨ Cruz said. Oregon is where Cruz was able to turn his hobby into

"Salsa can be danced by all different people and you don’t have to have a partner to go dancing because everyone dances with each other."

illustration by Evan Curby / multimedia

... continued from front page

A new pinball wizard is crowned Lane County pinball hotshots compete in statewide championship Matthew Merchant Photojournalist The Oregon State Pinball Championship rolled into Eugene's Blairally Vintage Arcade on Jan. 19 for the first time in the

event's six-year history. Hosted by the International Flipper Pinball Association, 2019 is the first year in which Eugene produced qualifying players for the tournament – five of the 24 competitors live and work in Lane County. The opportunity to compete in the Championship tournament has been scarce in the past, as the IFPA requires a history of sanctioned tournaments to qualify. Matt Walton and Mira Mason-Reader helped make this possible for local residents when they co-founded Emerald City Pinball

photo by Elizabeth West / photojournalist

Zoë Vrabel, currently ranked sixth in the world among female pinball players, competed in Saturday’s competition at Blairally. She battled it out until the third round when she was finally defeated by John Fujita.

League, hosted in Eugene out of Blairally Vintage Arcade and Level Up Arcade. Emerald City Pinball League is open to all skill levels, an all ages community of enthusiasts. Reigning state champion Colin Urban of Portland, ranked 47th overall, was a favorite heading into the competition. At 16 years old, Urban's prodigious skill at the game had his rivals worried for good reason, advancing into the finals comfortably against Daniel Rone of Portland. Rone has been playing the game in bars for over 10 years, but only took up the competitive mantle four years ago when the opportunity to play in a league presented itself. "I like that I can be out, but still play a game if I want to," Rone said. Like many other competitors, Rone enjoys the social aspect of the game. Ranked 220th overall, Rone claimed he had a "rocky start" in tournament play, but still enjoys it every time he plays. Rone defeated several veteran players, including IFPA Oregon Representative Greg Dunlap as he rose through the ranks to challenge Urban. In a best of seven, Rone won the tournament 4-2 and claimed the $3,000 cash prize. Two of the five qualifying players from Eugene made it to the third round. Brandon Rangel and Darren Dorman both put forth admirable performances, alongside Women's World Champion Zoe Vrabel of Portland, who currently holds the third spot in the international women’s league. Coming off a four-game winning streak in the second round, Dorman, a resident of Eugene for 53 years, offered some insight to a few of the night's upsets. "It can come down to something simple, like having too much caffeine," he said. "You can be a really good player ... sometimes you just have a bad night." Dorman empathized, later being defeated himself. Though the Oregon State Pinball Championship had only one victor, the tournament was lively and successful, drawing large crowds of all ages into Blairally’s Vintage Arcade. Competitors and visitors alike enjoyed Blairally's “free-play weekend” and fully stocked bar. As Rone tilts toward the North American Championships, the game has just begun for Eugene's Pinball league.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

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NEWS Protecting students in the age of mass shootings Lockdown, lockout protocol vary from region to region Dylan Bennett Reporter School should be a safe place for children to learn and seek a higher education. When events arise that could potentially put students in harm's way, all schools have procedures in place to keep their students safe and secure. Recently, Cascade Middle School in Eugene was put on lockdown after Charles Landeros, the parent of a Cascade student, was forced to leave the campus. According to the report released by the Lane County District Attorney’s office, Landeros began struggling with the officers escorting them out of the building. Landeros pulled a gun and fired two shots at the officer during the struggle. One of the officers proceeded to pull his gun and fire at Landeros, striking them in the temple. The report stated that the death of Landeros had no malicious intent and that it was done strictly for the protection of the students. The school was then put in an immediate lockout to ensure the safety of the students. The school remained in lockout until after all students left the school at 4 o’clock. Most school lockdown and lockout procedures are similar. In a lockdown, the school locks the door to every entrance and

classroom and students are required to stay in the classrooms they are in until the campus is declared secure by the authorities on the scene. In a lockout, all entrances are locked but school remains in session as usual. Students are not allowed to leave the building until the lockout has ended. Although the procedures are similar nationwide, the requirement for these procedures to be put in place varies from place to place. Any situation that could cause harm to students warrants a lockdown, unless the authorities believe the situation is under control and students are not in any danger. As the authorities have developed a better control over school campuses and responses to various situations, lockdowns are needed less frequently than they used to be. Teachers and faculty work to make schools a comfortable learning environment and to give students a safe place to learn. Lockdowns can often take away from the comfort of the students if there is a possibility that they are in harm’s way. Unfortunately, with the rise of the frequency of school shootings and events related, school security has constantly improved. Faculty members are constantly being trained to handle situations like the incident at cascade and ones alike to keep everyone as safe as possible. Schools run drills on a monthly basis to keep students informed on what to do in case of disasters like earthquakes, fires and active shooters on campus. Authorities and school district safety officers are continuously working to improve the effectiveness of these procedures and to keep schools as safe as possible. illustration by Lucien Guidotti-Lawrence / illustrator

Construction creates detour

Building of the new Civic Stadium temporarily blocks roads toward LCC

photo by Matthew Merchant / photojournalist

Traffic cones line Amazon Parkway between 19th and 24th Avenues. This section of the road is off limits until Feb. 7. The five blocks have been shut down to lay sewage pipes beneath the road, replacing those beneath the Civic Stadium construction site.

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Effy West Photojournalist Amazon Parkway has been shut down due to construction of the new Civic Stadium. Those traveling by car or bus to Lane Community College will likely need to take a detour for the two weeks while sewer pipes are being built. Construction of the new Civic Stadium has been met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction from those living in Eugene. In recent years, the city has seen a net loss of eight elementary schools as buildings were closed and schools consolidated. Each closure accounted for the loss of a gym and field. Kidsports, which has been serving the community for 65 years, has nearly 15,000 children participating in its programs. For these kids, the new resources will prove invaluable. However, the new Civic Stadium will cater to more than just the youth of Eugene. The Lane United Football Club of the Premier Development League, the highest level amatuer soccer league, will also call this new facility home. The Eugene Civic Park will be a place for people of all ages to watch and enjoy playing sports in Eugene.

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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

SPORTS Titans take top spot in division Women’s and men’s basketball continue winning streak

photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

Titan guard-forward Kalina Rojas stretches for a rebound late in Jan. 26 game against the Clackamas Cougars. With an undefeated conference record and a 15-game winning streak, Lane has secured the top spot in the NWAC rankings.

Trayse Riggle Reporter The Titans continue to trounce their opposition and are riding an astounding 15-game win streak. Over the last couple weeks, the Titans have won all three of their games by a large margin, amplifying their momentum. They first matched up against the Mt. Hood Saints, who are no easy opponent coming into the game with a 5-1 conference record. The Titans gave them their second conference loss after controlling much of the first half, which ended with a score of 30-15. In the second half, the Saints brought some heat, but the Titans held onto the lead, closing the game 77-60. Lane guard Mya India Thomas had a game high 28 points with Kylie Guelsdorf dishing out assist after assist, ending the game with nine. Next, the Titans opposed the Linn Benton Roadrunners. The Titans outscored their competitor in every quarter and took a large lead after a dominating third quarter performance scoring 20 points while holding the Roadrunners to 6. Lane felt confident following 14 wins in a row coming into the game versus the Clackamas Cougars. The gym was packed full for the “Jam the Gym” game, and the Titans showed out for for their abnormally large crowd. They finished the first quarter with a whopping 27-10 lead on the Cougars and they took their momentum into the second quarter as well. Lane forward Megan Still had a monstrosus first half performance, totalling seven rebounds and 11 points. The momentum carried into the second half and the Titans held onto their lead ending the game with a score of 87-66 and another conference victory. On Jan. 30, the Titans face a confident Umpqua Riverhawks team who enter the game having only lost one conference game. The Titans hope to give the Riverhawks their first loss in the last six games on their matchup this Wednesday on the road. They play another road game Feb. 2 against the 9-9 Chemeketa Storm. Titan guard Tarik Cool drives past Mt. Hood’s Kahlon Whitley on his way toward the basket. Cool, a sophomore from Arizona, has started 16 of 17 games this season and leads the team with 25.1 points per game.

Trayse Riggle reporter The last two weeks have been incredibly prosperous for the Lane Titans Men’s basketball team. Lane first squared up against the Mt. Hood Saints on Saturday Jan. 19. The Titans came into the game after winning four in a row with a record of 14-2. The Saints held a 6-10 record after losing four in a row. The Titans came out strong, controlling the first half of the game with halftime score of 44-30. The Saints fought back going on a run of their own. The lead was reduced to 10 with four minutes remaining. The run was not enough to stop the Titans, ending the game with a score of 95-74. The following Wednesday, the Titans matched up against the LinnBenton Roadrunners, which turned out to be a tightly contested game. The first half ended with Lane up by eight, 49-41. The Roadrunners came into the second half swinging, but it was not enough. The game ended with the Titans on top, 99-92. The Titans then faced the Clackamas Cougars on Jan. 26. This was a greatly anticipated game for multiple reasons: the Cougars beat the Titans in their earlier matchup, the Titans were riding a six game win streak, and it was the “Jam the Gym” game. The gym was absolutely packed, and its anticipation was well worth it, with the game coming right down to the wire. Both teams came out swinging, and the first half remained very close until seven minutes remaining when the Cougars went on a 25-12 run to end the half with a 55-40 lead. To start the second half, the large home crowd helped the Titans make a run of their own, bringing the lead back to single digits. The Cougars responded and took the lead to 17 with 12 minutes remaining. ¨We decided that the crowd needed to be louder. So we started getting more involved in the game,¨ Lane student and track athlete Josh Peterson said. The crowd helped spark a momentum shift in the game. With 4:15 left in the game, the Titans reduced the lead to three points following a three-pointer from Lane guard Tashon Brown. On the next possession, Brown attacked the hoop and floated in a layup making the score 93-92 with the Titans only down by one. The Cougars responded on the next possession with a three of their own. With 1:27 left, following a layup by Titan Cody Mathis, the lead was again down to one point. The Cougars responded with a layup of their own, increasing their lead to three. After a Cougar timeout, Titan guard Tarik Cool hit a clutch three to tie the game. Coach Joe White promptly called a timeout with 17 seconds left on the clock. A Cougar foul put Lane forward Lucas Wilson on the free throw line with two seconds remaining. After missing his first attempt, Wilson was able to make his second bringing the score to 100-99 giving the Titans their first lead since minute 11 in the first half, and sealing the Titans’ win. The Titans are currently riding a six-game win streak with an overall record of 17-2 and a conference record of 6-1, putting them in the top spot of the NWAC South. They look to continue this streak as they match up against Umpqua on Jan. 30 and Chemeketa on Feb. 2.

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photo by Trent Toyama / photojournalist

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