THE LINN-BENTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

VOL. 51 EDITION 16 FEB. 26, 2020

Spring in Their Step Coach Peterson and His New Squad Carry Last Season’s Success into Opening Weekend Inside This

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CAM HANSON Edition It was a bright and beautiful weekend at Dick McClain Field, where Women in Trades the Roadrunners had no issue taking care of the new competition. Second year Head Coach Andy Peterson made sure to let his men know that their field was their home, and to defend it, and they did. LBCC started the weekend off with a double header against the Yakima Valley College Yaks, where they started slow each contest but used a solid five runs to secure the wins. Yakima finished last season 30-19 with a 19-9 record in division, so the competition is nothing JJ Hoover winds up for a practice swing. In top photo, assistant Coach Mike to scoff at. Takamori jogs to the dugout. See Page 4 Centerfielder Ian Mcintyre nailed two hits in the early innings that fielded the diamond first in the NWAC north last season, set up the bases for success, and brought “This is a special group of with a 39-11 overall record and a 19-5 the energy for it, giving a quick flex to the players and coaches, and I just want to record in division. Nobach and his Word Mob dugout whenever he stopped at second bring a lot of energy to the field each Trojans get their chance at payback on base. His energy and commitment was and every time I get the chance to play,” their own turf, as LBCC looks to play something that stuck out any time he said Mcintyre them in a four game series on the road The Centerfielder took a break next weekend. from school to work on his game in “Being the first weekend, I Kent, WA, and the success will be was very impressed with how the guys measured as the season goes on. showed up competitive and confident. After a successful series on The little mistakes are expected this Saturday, LBCC went on to play the early in the season, but are great for the Everett Community College Trojans. younger guys to learn from,” said Coach Coach Peterson and his history with Peterson. the Trojans goes beyond baseball, After the Beaks finish up on the See Page 5 as he coached Everett's head coach, road against Everett they’ll head down Kyle Nobach, during his tenure as an to Yakima Valley to not only play the undergraduate at Oregon State. Nobach Yaks, but to play in two games against played for Everett before heading to the Southwestern Oregon Community Blowin' Smoke Oregon State, eventually taking the HC College Lakers for their first in division job at his alma mater. match-up of the year. “I plan on beating Petey’s “Seeing the freshman compete (Coach Peterson's) butt,” said Nobach for the first time was fun to see. The light heartedly. whole lineup was competitive top to Nobachs plans didn’t go the way bottom, and they showed up believing he planned, as the Beaks let the offense in their stuff. Everyone has something rip, scoring nine runs in both contests to work on ahead of Everett. It’s a long on the day, led by an impressive eight season, so who knows whats ahead,” total runs from Trey Hagerman and added Peterson. The Roadrunners run to the outfield Maxwell Long. The Trojans finished at the start of a new inning. See Page 8 2 CAMPUS NEWS FEBRUARY 26, 2020 LBCOMMUTER.COM  Dear LBCC Colleagues:

It is with deep and heartfelt sadness I share the news of the passing of Part-Time LB English Instructor, Peter Bañuelos. Peter passed away February 15, in Corvallis. For three years Peter taught in the LBCC English Department. He was a dedicated servant to students and an amazing colleague. It was not uncommon for people to see Peter working with students in the Learning Center, the Writing Center, the Library, CFAR, and in the EDI Department in addition to teaching classes. The Commuter is the weekly student-run newspaper for LBCC, -Javier Cervantes financed by student fees and advertising. Opinions expressed in I taught with Peter in the LBCC English The Commuter do not necessarily department as a fellow writing teacher. reflect those of the LBCC Peter was a very talented teacher and administration, faculty and students someone I always looked forward to of LBCC. Editorials, columns, letters, Learning Center staff who worked with chatting with and hearing from and and cartoons reflect the opinions of Peter in his developmental writing class the authors. department events. Every term when we thought that Peter was an incredible, all gathered to grade our students' final LBCC is an equal opportunity compassionate instructor. We always looked educator and employer. exams, Peter would share keen insights forward to opportunities to work with Peter. to help me better assess my students' Letters Welcome I am deeply saddened to hear about his The Commuter encourages writing, appreciate their experiences, and readers to use its “Opinion” pages passing, and hope that these brief words value them as individuals. I am grateful to express their views on campus, about him let you know his impact endures in for having shared a part of his life. My community, regional and national many hearts. deepest condolences. issues. The Commuter attempts -Chareane Wimbley-Gouveia -Stephen Rust to print all submissions received, but reserves the right to edit for grammar, length, libel, privacy concerns and taste. Opinions expressed by letter submitters do not represent the views of the Commuter staff or the College. Deliver letters to: Councilman Speaks Address: The Commuter Albany City Councilman Alex Johnson Held a Town Hall-type Talk in the IEDI Forum 222 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW Albany, OR 97321 encouraged Johnson to run for his seat. Web Address: At-A-Glance The town hall style discussion LBCommuter.com STORY BY then meandered towards the importance Phone: KAREN CANAN of getting involved in local politics. 541-917-4451, 4452 or 4449 IEDI Departmental Events, “I’m really interested in local taking place in Forum 220 Email: The overarching theme of Albany politics,” said LB student Brionna North. [email protected] City Councilor Alex Johnson II’s talk unless otherwise noted. “I think it’s a lot easier to help directly, with Twitter last Wednesday in the IEDI was one of • Unity Celebration Thursday a group of less than a hundred at once, like @LBCommuter community outreach. At the beginning Feb 27 5-6:30 p.m. in the Fireside he [Johnson] was talking about getting Facebook of the meeting, Johnson, sporting his Room, CC-211 “With literature, the lights fixed in two weeks.” Johnson The Commuter Councilor of Albany’s Ward 2 hat, speeches and food, LBCC had told of a situation where one of his celebrates community diversity.” Instagram announced, “This is your meeting, what constituents in Ward 2 had noticed quite a @LBCommuter would you guys like to talk about?” few streetlights were out. Johnson was able • ”Think Outside the Johnson was the fourth out of Classroom” Wednesday, March to call PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric), Our Staff five speakers for LBCC’s Black History 4- Noon-1 p.m. “Interdisciplinary and using the book the constituent had Month Speaker series. Johnson is Albany’s panel of staff and students talk made for him, located the specific lights Adviser first black city councilman, and his talk at Rob Priewe about the value of attending and got them fixed, as well as many others the IEDI approximated more of a Town conferences in their field.” Food Johnson had identified from driving up Editor-in-Chief Hall style meeting than a formal speech. and down all the streets. Caleb Barber provided. Johnson led the meeting as an “I really liked hearing the process Layout Designer opportunity to meet and hear from his • Latina Empowerment event, of how involved he was before becoming a Rebecca Fewless constituents, as well as a chance to talk Monday, March 9 at 1:30 - 3 p.m. councilman and then what he deals with Managing Editor: with them about the beneficial connections “Celebrate the contributions of now as a councilman,” said North. “I love Davis Ihde between LBCC and Albany. He talked Latina women with presentations hearing about him doing the town halls. I and food.” All are welcome. A&E about past successes of partnerships he loved hearing about the invisible people, Steven Pryor has fostered with LBCC, and encouraged and about needing businesses to come Photography Editor political involvement from the audience here and create jobs. A lot of cool stuff, Jakob Jones members. Also, at the end of the meeting, who worked at HP before becoming an like wanting people to stay in Albany and Web Master he announced that he was running for insurance broker for True Life Financial create jobs and thinking about Albany as a Marci Sischo mayor. Solutions, was at one point tasked with community.” hiring new folks for a more diverse Web Editor Johnson’s talk was hardly political, Afterwards, both Johnson and Katie Littlefield despite Johnson being clearly willing department over at HP. As a veteran, he IEDI Director Javier Cervantes gave and capable of discussing controversy. put up recruitment posters in military encouragement and advice to North for Advertising “I started a firestorm last night,” said locations, and was able to hire people of Vicki Ballestero how to get involved with politics. Johnson, referring to a comment he made color, and for women employees he turned “Every city has city advisory on social media criticizing President to LBCC. 11 female technicians had committees, that’s the best place to start,” Sports graduated from the program at LBCC, Cam Hanson Trump’s decision to pardon a man said Johnson. “They have groups that convicted of selling a U.S. Senate seat. and three years later not one of them had advise the city council.” Photographers: But as Wednesday’s talk began, been hired. One of the women, Johnson The vibe was active in the Dhe Yazan Alkomati the discussion could not be farther from recalled, had gone to 11 job interviews. Cindy Lin room. The event was well-attended, with national politics. Johnson mentioned All 11 of these technicians from LBCC’s President Hamann in attendance as well program had great test scores and Johnson Contributors there’s a problem with feral cats in Albany. as English Department hosts Tristan Bowen Orcutt “What about feral turkeys?” Eric Bryant, hired them all. Striker and Dr. Ramycia McGhee, staff, Isaiah Haqq LBCC Moodle Administrator asked, “I would like to hear from you students and community. After the event, Georgia Ry Dunn-Hartman smiling. But Johnson was not kidding. what it was like running for city council,” several audience members buttonholed Arianna Stahlbaum said IEDI Program Assistant Heather Sabrina Parsons After the talk was over, he mentioned Johnson since audience members could get Mckenna Christmas that he has gotten 300 emails about the Morijah, in answer to Johnson’s opening help they needed as constituents and talk Konoha Tomono-Duval problem with feral cats in Albany. question. about campus issues. Also, as a provider Brenda Autry One of Johnson’s strengths has Johnson replied that he was of medicare in his dayjob, Johnson is just Logan Helm-Williams encouraged to get involved in city politics Karen Canan been his ability to work on many different good at talking to people. levels with his constituents. Johnson, by his neighbor, who later retired and  [email protected] FEBRUARY 26, 2020 ASTROLOGY 3 Astrology Corner: CAMPUS

We are now a week into our Piscean VOICE If your life season, as well as Mercury retrograde in Pisces. On Sunday we had both the sun, moon, Mercury and became a Neptune all swimming in the mutable waters of our dynamic fish movie, who sign. Perhaps the depths of your dreams came bubbling up to your daily would you life, spilled out through mercurial expressions, or inspired attention to detail or choose to play processing with Neptune’s influence. With all of this in mind, we are being called as a collective to do our diligence in deciphering between Mercury’s potential confusion in his you and why? retrograde cycle, and the dreams we must have in order to live out our best lives with the time we are given.

Mercury rules our thought patterns, communication, personal transformations, and learning. During LIAM BRILES this cycle, it is recommended to hold off on making decisions, especially impulsively. Focus instead on BIO HEALTH SCIENCE “EWAN MCGREGOR redefining your communicative style, revising any work or projects you have in place or restore passion to BECAUSE HE'S ALWAYS accomplish goals. Considering Pisces as the sign of Mercury’s detriment and fall (where Mercury is most JUST SO HAPPY.” likely to be illusioned by the abstract, dreaminess of the Piscean processes) we may find ourselves examining how we can better ally with trusting the unknowns in our lives and make peace with surrendering to the voice of our intuition rather than our logical minds.

On Wednesday the moon will be in Aries, giving us an emotional boost of energy to get things started and ignite our fire with the goals we want to come to life in this new moon cycle. This week will be about attending to details and care for the watery season. Thursday all planets aspecting the moon will be in square, aside from a conjunction to Venus, giving us challenges to show up and attend to. The planets involved in Thursday’s musings are Jupiter (abundance and advocacy), Venus (pleasure and beauty), Pluto (power and rebirth) and Saturn ( boundaries and commitment). Friday we will have more of RITA BLADES a variety of aspects, giving us more momentum to our weekend. The moon will also be entering DIAGNOSTIC IMAGERY and staying in Taurus, our value loving and earthly bull, until Sunday. If you are feeling “AMY POHLER JUST pulled to re-examine where you place values in your life follow this pull over the weekend BECAUSE SHE'S OVERALL and into next week as the moon will be sextiling Neptune (intuition) and trining AN AMAZING PERSON.” Jupiter (abundance and joy) on Saturday, before moving into the sign of Gemini which will most likely bring about some dualistic and playful energy. Allow these transits to take effect while keeping in mind that we are in the waxing gibbous phase of the moon, where we are emerging and expanding our inner and outer horizons.

EMMA KOCH Astro Dictionary: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE Retrograde: When a planet appears to move backwards in the sky and is closer to “I WANT TO BE DR. POL the Earth which is physically passing the other planet. *increases those planetary BECAUSE I WANT TO BE themes A VET, AND THAT'S MY GOAL IN LIFE.”

YAZMEEN MORENO CHEMICAL ENGINEERING “EMILIA CLARKE BECAUSE SHE'S A BADASS. I JUST REALLY LIKE HER.”

Square: Trine: • Challenges from others or • Energy is flowing with ease external forces • Experience and expression give Change or exposure of a course • way to wisdom and creativity taken being unbeneficial

Sextile: Opposition: • Influences relationship • Increase self-awareness through to groups and immediate potential confrontation with environments another • Is a time of balance and review • Inner and outer world meeting ELIZABETH STANEART NURSING “EMILY BLUNT BECAUSE Conjunction: I LOVE HER." • A beginning of a new cycle • Intimacy or culmination of a phase • Aha moments

STORY BY GEORGIA DUNN-HARTMAN @CATALYST.CO.RY STORY AND PHOTOS: MCKENNA CHRISTMAS 4 THEN & NOW FEBRUARY 26, 2020 LBCOMMUTER.COM  Women in the Trades Careers in the Trades Are More Accessible to Women Than Ever Before

workers in fabricated metals product STORY AND PHOTOS BY manufacturing in the United States, BRENDA AUTRY making it one of the more male- Emily Whittier was hired dominated trades. But that doesn’t stop last term as a part-time instructional women from seeing the benefits of a specialist in the non-destructive testing career in welding. program at LBCC. She began working “I was a major in food and in the industry about 15 years ago when fermentation sciences and when I finished she found that her job as a hairdresser I ended up working at Fred Meyer,” said just wasn’t paying the bills. Charis Thompson, one of two female “I had to figure something else second-year welding students. “I wanted out,” Whittier said. “I got a job at Selmet to do something else. I took a welding through a temp agency. I started out as class in high school, and I remembered an entry-level darkroom attendant and it was fun. So, I looked into it and read I really liked it. It was easy, fun and that welding was headed for a retirement even though I initially made less money exodus and thought as a woman in my per hour, I was making more because I 20s I’d be an attractive employee.” always got 40 or more hours a week.” Thompson was initially a little Whittier, who also works as a nervous entering a male-dominated field level II radiographer with Pacific Cast Emily Whittier prepares a component of an engine for testing. but it turned out to be the right fit for Technologies, makes about $29 an hour that Are Traditionally Male” referred “I started at Selmet eight her. now. She worked at Selmet for 11 years to a program called “Women in Non- months ago after I graduated from OSU “I’m glad I chose this field and received on-the-job training that traditional Roles,” which gave “women a with a degree in chemical engineering,” because it’s really fun. I like making enabled her to move forward in the chance to explore careers other than the Ditullio said. “My main duties are to things, and the environment at LB is field and obtain her level I and level II traditional secretary, waitress, nurse or oversee the qualification process of our really inclusive, thanks to the teachers. radiographer certifications. sales clerk.” welders and leading efforts to reduce They treat us all like people with no Currently Whittier is one of Women who participated in the weld-based defects.” special considerations [for gender]. Once only two females employed in academic program had the opportunity to “get Dutullio’s role is more you get in and get started you and your roles in Advanced Manufacturing exposure to education as they learn some supervisory than hands-on, but is an classmates just become buddies.” and Transportation Technology (not basic skills in: wood working, welding, example of how females are being Even though women are still including the culinary arts department, metal working, tools, blueprint reading, integrated into all aspects of the under-represented in the trades, the which also falls under this division). auto body repair, electronic fabrication manufacturing industry. doors are open for them wider than ever Even though this seems like a small and electronics.” Welding is another area that before. And as more and more women percentage, if you look back just three Or, if the woman had enough consistently has females enrolled in continue to seek their career in the trades, years, there were none. background, they could “enter more their program. They are also the only the torches they light along the way will This year is the centennial of the challenging classes such as college manufacturing department that can glow brighter for other women to follow 19th Amendment, which gave women algebra, physics, third-term English boast of having a female instructor. without the trepidations that once came in the United States the right to vote. composition and creative writing.” “There are more female welders with entering a male-dominated field. Women’s equality has come a long way The LBCC of today looks much now than there used to be, but there is Marietta Glazner looks towards in the last 100 years. According to the different than it did back in 1978. still room to grow,” said Marc Rose, a her career in NDT with this thought: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of Females enrolling in trades programs is welding instructor. “I think a lot of “There may be situations where I am December 2019 women made up over no longer a new or novel concept. Today, females are probably afraid to enter a perceived as different because I’m a half of the U.S. labor force for the first females make up 54% of LBCC’s student typically male-dominated trade but woman, but I haven’t experienced that time in history. body and are present, although in much women make better welders because yet. This is what I want to do, so I’m not Women outnumber men in smaller numbers, in every trade program they have better hand-eye coordination going to let what might happen stop me many fields such as finance (52.6%), on campus. One of the programs where and they’re better at attention to detail.” from doing it.” education (74.8%) and health services females make up the largest percentage Women make up just 16.6% of (78.1%). But in many of the fastest- is Non-Destructive Testing. growing and highest-paying fields like “Females consistently make construction and manufacturing women up about 20-25% of our program,” make up only 10.3% and 29.4%. said Scott Ballard, an NDT instructor. Even though women began “The days of balking at hiring a female entering the workforce in large numbers are gone. I think it’s a great career path during the 1960s, jobs in the trades for women. There are lots of jobs and didn’t start opening up to women until I believe it will be to their advantage, the late 1970s. not disadvantage, to be female as the An article published in the industry becomes more gender blind.” April 26, 1978 edition of the LBCC “I started as an engineering Commuter titled “Women Explore Jobs student and found NDT because it’s under that umbrella,” said Megan Close- Schibig, a third-year student at LBCC. “It’s very hands work on and there is a high demand for workers. It’s detailed work and women are detail-oriented so girls are a better fit.” “I really like creative problem- solving,” said Marietta Glazner, a first- year NDT student. “This is a way to have a job that is hands-on but is also intellectual.” The percentage of females in the program is reflective of what can be found in our local industry. According to Rick Palmer, Selmet’s HR manager, 17% of their non-administrative employees are female. Although the highest number of females can be found in radiography, there are women present in almost every area, including welding, dimensional inspection and quality control. Caitlin Ditullio, a welding Charis Thompson, an ex-food and process engineer at Selmet, is one such ferm major, welds a table together female. in the Industrial Building.  [email protected] FEBRUARY 26, 2020 CAMPUS NEWS 5

Poets, Writers, and Acceptance! Oh My! LBCC’s Poetry Club’s Word Mob Encourages Anyone to Share Their Poems

of encouragement from the zealous STORY AND PHOTOS BY audience after performing her piece. “I MCKENNA CHRISTMAS think it's connecting to yourself and just showing that to other people, making yourself vulnerable, making that human Illuminated by the warm glow of connection and keeping that alive,” she the dimmed lights, the open stage had an concluded. inviting presence to the single mic placed Also attending the event was in the center of the stage, tempting any Mark Weiss, a professor at LBCC going eager poet to share their work with the on his fourth year teaching psychology crowd of willing listeners. as well as child development. In addition LBCC’s Poetry Club puts on to being a teacher, he has also been a an event each term to represent their counselor at LBCC for 27 years and is club members and provide them with a one of six members of the poet laureate platform to present a few of their best advisory committee. and favorite poems. For winter term, the According to Weiss, LBCC is the Poetry Club held its annual Word Mob in Mark Weiss of the Poet Laureate only community college in the country to the Benton Center on Friday from 6:30 Committee attends the Word Mob have a student poet laureate in which a p.m. to 7:30 p.m. held in the Benton Center. selected member travels to spread their The first 30 minutes were With two terms under her belt, Brickley poems in order to inspire others to pick dedicated to the students involved in plans to graduate with an English degree. up a pen and paper and start writing. the poetry club to read any original She started using writing as an outlet when This year's nominated student poet crowd was welcoming. Stagefright was poem they felt needed to be expressed. she was 12 years old to express herself in laureate is Kel O’Callaghan, who has the nowhere to be found in any person in the The second half of the night, the stage places where she felt she couldn’t. She has responsibility of passing on the concept room leading the event to go over-time. opened up to other LBCC students or performed at open mics in Portland and of how relevant poetry and writing is, The thirst to hear other people's deep community members to take the time Corvallis, and uses events like Friday’s even in modern-day and age. It truly profound expressions quickly crushed any to share their work for other people to Word Mob as an opportunity to practice is an art form that allows a person to hint of judgment, leading to almost every interpret and enjoy. her public speaking skills. release tension, boggled thoughts, stuffed person in the audience that attended the Students such as Kali Brickley “It's more of a space on the page emotions, or even some light jokes with open mic to go on stage at least one time. took advantage of the night and used that's sacred just to understand who I am complete creative freedom through the “Take a deep breath and know the stage to read her poem about her and who I'm becoming,” said Brickley. hand of the author. that in the history of your life it's not a very hometown and childhood memories. Brickley left the stage on a wave “The purpose of the event is to big deal,” Weiss suggests to anyone that enjoy poetry. It's that simple. We think might feel any stage fright or uncertainty. poetry is very important in life and It is important to keep writing as a poet contributes to the enrichment of people, or writer and to recognize that poems are so we want to see it promoted and want a reflection of your own genuine feelings people to experience it,” Weiss comments. so it can never be correctly criticized. The participants were encouraged For information of when and where the to keep their poems down to a few Poetry Club meets, contact Instructor minutes without any limitation of how Tristan Striker at striket@linnbenton. many they can read. Although the event edu. was scheduled to be an hour long, the

Kali Brickley of LBCC performs on stage reciting a poem written about her time in Alaska at Word Mob last Friday. 6 SPORTS FEBRUARY 26, 2020 LBCOMMUTER.COM  PHOTOS: LBCC NEWS SERVICE

Elizabeth Chavez had 16 points and six rebounds to lead Linn-Ben- ton Community College past Clark in NWAC South Region women's basketball action.

Racing for the Chance The Roadrunners Narrow in on a Final Bid for the Postseason

Luckily for the Roadrunners, blocks. It was a narrow win with miscues the team gets the Titans at home for and setbacks, such as Lowes 3-13 from STORY BY their home season finale. In their only the field and the bench holding only CAM HANSON match this season, the two teams battled three reserves, but the team held on. it out until the final buzzer with the Their final game will be on the road and Linn-Benton Women's Basketball Titans edging out the Roadrunners may prove to be the Roadrunners win has only two games left in the season; 60-59, despite a combined 32 points or go home game for their ticket to the and have more on the line in these two from Amyr Lowe and Elizabeth Chavez playoffs, so the competition will prove to games than in recent history. Thus far, coupled with a monster ten blocks from be higher than ever. the Roadrunners are 19-8 overall, with a Allison Killion. LBCC is hungry for It's a true nail biter as the 2019- 8-6 record in division, and stand just two revenge, and the Titans may not find 2020 regular season ends quicker than games behind Mt. Hood Community themselves so lucky when the buzzer it even started, and the team is more College for the fourth and final spot in sounds. The Runners have a 10-3 record than in position to sneak their way the playoffs, as the Saint Bernards have when playing at home this year, and the into a postseason berth, but It will take a 10-6 record in division. Just ahead sophomores will be playing in their final determination and focus in two final of these two are the Lane Community home game. games, against two final opponents that College Titans, who hold an overall Against the Saint Bernards, the make every single possession count. The record of 21-6, with an in division record story is almost the opposite, as LBCC sophomores want it, the fans want it, of 10-4. These two are coincidentally the was able to steal away their first contest, and everyone in the program want it, so Roadrunners last two opponents, and 48-46. Megan Wagner and Amyr Lowe it’ll be an intriguing finish to an already are both a must win if they intend on were able to lead the way with 10 and successful season of Lady Roadrunner Molly Hendricks hit two free making it to the postseason, barring a 17 points respectively, complemented by basketball. throws with 8 seconds remaining to complete collapse from Mt. Hood. hustle defense with nine steals and five tie the game at 54-54 and force the overtime period.  [email protected] FEBRUARY 26, 2020 A&E 7 The Sound of Immunity Clairo Adds Some New Sounds and Higher Production Quality to Her Signature Style

On Genius, Clairo generally describes the

STORY BY At-A-Glance lyrics as: DAVIS IHDE “Whether it’s relationships or if @_DAVISI you relate it to something bigger in your Album: Immunity life, it’s definitely about learning to be In the last few years, we have Artist: Clairo comfortable in a place of the unknown seen a plethora of new music genres Release Date: August 2, 2019 and kind of just being okay with not spring up from the ground and take the knowing the outcome of something.” world by storm. One of the most popular, Genre: Alternative/Indie The only major negative aspect although niche during the beginning of Label: Fader Label that I see in the album is the inconsistency its life, is bedroom pop. Bedroom pop of the sound of each track. Clairo seems Rating:  can be described as music with the sound to jump from genre to genre, not really and aesthetic of recording at home, rather pinning down one style to focus the than a studio. It usually has a quieter album on. This is most likely because sound, with muted drums and dreamy are still as warm and inviting as ever and Clairo rose to fame extremely fast, and or ‘fuzzy’ vocals. One of the artists that uses subtlety greatly to her advantage. still needs some time to figure out exactly truly pioneered the genre is none other release of her album Immunity. Although In fact, I believe this subtlety is the who she is as a musician. than Clairo. she had released a couple of singles strongest factor in why the album is so However, this variance in songs is Born Claire Cottrill, Clairo first and a short EP in the two years prior, outstanding. There are many moments not completely a bad thing; the different rose to fame when her homemade song Immunity was her first studio album where the songs on Immunity could have music styles make for a thoroughly and DIY music video “Pretty Girl” went and cohesive project. The album has a turned into the overproduced nonsense entertaining and charming listening viral on YouTube in 2017. The video noticeable increase in production value that is so common of other pop songs that experience. Immunity sounds almost like currently has over 45 million views and due to Clairo’s utilization of a professional you might hear on the radio, but Clairo a mixtape made by a dear friend, with all was one of the first major bedroom pop studio and the co-production from instead chooses to use infectious rhythms your favorite songs in mind. There are songs, unofficially crowning Clairo as the Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend and silky vocals to accompany her lyrics. songs like “Alewife” and “Sinking” that queen of the genre. Once record labels fame. Clairo flexes all her creative muscles Clairo’s lyrics are another are serious and emotional, and songs like caught wind of who she was and what she and sheds her single-genre shackles, strongpoint of Immunity. She includes “North” and “Sofia” that are infectious, had made, the fight to sign her to a deal introducing some alternative, pop, indie, themes from her own life such as sexuality, upbeat, and lighthearted. began. Although she had several options and soft rock sounds on the album. suicide, love, and love lost that she conveys All in all, I am very impressed to choose from, she decided on Fader Although she shows tremendous in a personal way. Even though she lets with the way that Clairo cashes in on the Records, since her father has relations growth on Immunity, she manages to out some personal information about lo-fi and indie feel that made fans fall in with the company. She now joins other stay true with the elements of her music herself, she makes sure the messages are love with her music, while boosting her superstars with indie beginnings such as that made her into a big name in the broad enough for all listeners to relate to, production value and going outside of the Rex Orange County and Brockhampton. first place. Her voice and singing style increasing the immersion of the album. box to make a one-of-a-kind record. This brings us to 2019 and the

Complete the grid so each row, column, and 3x3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit.

8 THEN & NOW FEBRUARY 26, 2020 LBCOMMUTER.COM  Smoking, Not as Hot as it Used to Be? Society Has Seen a Lot of Changes Throughout History on Tobacco Policies

STORY BY cancer and higher death rates. HELPFUL RESOURCES IF YOU’RE KATIE LITTLEFIELD To do this they collected 22,000 volunteers across 10 states to follow men TRYING TO QUIT While walking towards Takena on their past and current smoking habits. Hall before your day of classes you may Each volunteer was assigned to 5 to 10 • smokefree.gov have noticed a designated smoking area men from ages 50 to 60, which added or two in the parking lot. Has it always • betobaccofree.hhs.gov/quit- up to a total of 188,000 men being now/index.html been like this? monitored. Around 50 years ago there wasn’t Every few months the volunteers such a thing as designated smoke areas. followed up with their assigned men to When you walked into a classroom there note whether they were dead, alive, or through the changes we have seen over would be big glasses, wild hair, and puffs unavailable. Hammond and Horn then the last 50 years or so. of smoke coming from students and collected the death certificates on the “It has progressed. A lot more teachers during lectures. deceases. After only 20 months of this people are sensitive to smokers, cause In 1981, Oregon legislation study, they came to what was a clear there's just less smokers now.” says Olson. passed the Indoor Clean Air Act which conclusion. Many people have struggles with prohibited smoking inside public “It was found that men with a where to begin when it comes to quitting buildings. This was to protect non- history of regular cigarette smoking have smoking. Above are a few resources to smokers from second-hand smoke. a considerably higher death rate than look into if you’re interested. In 2009, the Indoor Clean Air Act men who have never smoked or men who had some modifications that included have smoked only cigars or pipes,” wrote banning smoking within 10 feet of Hammond and Horn in their publication public doorways. After this ban, colleges In the 1950s, cigarette of their research on August 7, 1954 in everywhere had to make arrangements advertisements were commonly the Journal of the American Medical for the students who partake in smoking. “doctor recommended” in order to Association. “They [Linn County Department sell more products. The American Cancer Society of Health] came out here and they told would be if a full campus ban was worked off of this study for years to come, us, ‘If we find cigarette butts anywhere implemented, “I have a friend who has which led to the information we have close to your doors, you’re going to get dangerously low blood pressure and his today. cited,’” said Marcene Olson, Director of doctor informed him to keep smoking, it’s This new knowledge made the Public Safety at LBCC. “That's when we like the safest option for him. It can be a U.S. Congress raise their heads. They pushed shelters farther out away from the little off putting or almost discriminatory implemented the Cigarette Labeling buildings and got a lot more strict about to have a full campus ban.” and Advertising Act of 1965, which making sure people were there.” There was a time where smoking required cigarette companies to print Oregon State University has tobacco was not seen as a potential health warnings on their products packaging. gone a little further than LBCC with risk, and doctors would even go as far as Phrases in 1965 read as, “CAUTION: smoking policies; they’ve implemented recommending it to patients. From the CIGARETTE SMOKING MAY BE a full campus ban. The average cigarette 1930s to the 1950s, advertisers used the HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH,” smoker starts before the age of 26, making phrase “doctors recommended” to sell and they then shifted the wording due to smoke-free and tobacco-free policies more cigarettes. Back then it was only the Public Health Smoking Act of 1969 at universities and colleges important, seen as a product to give you a smoker's to, “WARNING: THE SURGEON according to CDC (Centers for Disease cough, but lung-cancer or heart-disease GENERAL HAS DETERMINED Control and Prevention). A full campus were never considered. THAT CIGARETTE SMOKING IS ban may be ideal for the health of students I’m sure you’ve noticed that DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH.” on campus, but it’s easier said than done. things have altered quite a bit since then. Today the policies in place “We [LBCC] haven’t gone that During the 1950s was when this require warnings to take up at least 20% far because we don’t think we could really change slowly started taking off. The study of the visible packaging and 30% of the control it, and I know they can’t control that jump-started this switch was conducted sides of the product depending on their it. They get complaints all the time.” says by E. Cuyler Hammond and Daniel Horn; size and shape. These regulations are Products containing nicotine are Olson. scientists working for the American Cancer also enforced on all non-smoke tobacco advertised as detrimental for your health, contradictory to how they “Designated smoking areas are Society. In January of 1952, they began products; not just cigarettes. were advertised in the 1950s. great, we don’t need to be able to smoke their study, gathering information that With all of these health- anywhere,” says Arron Morris, a student could connect smoking habits with lung threatening factors to tobacco, it’s at LBCC, when asked what his reaction understandable why campuses have gone

BACKGROUND PHOTO: MACROVECTOR