Is it time to arm LBCC public safety?

In my freshman year writing class I wrote a persuasive paper about changing LBCC Campus Safety into an actual police department.  In my communications class I gave a speech about the same topic.

Now that I am in my sophomore year of college, school massacres have occurred closer to home.  This Fall Umpqua Community College (UCC), was attacked by one of their own students. In support of UCC, all around our campus, we hung signs stating, "I am UCC."

It is nice that we were supportive of UCC during their time of horror. But what is the purpose of it all if we don't change our mindset. Isn't it an educated choice to learn from the past.  One learned man once said, "It is smart to learn from your past, it is genius to learn from other people's past."

We can all argue until we are blue in the face about do guns make campuses safer? Is it realistic to pay for the training to send all of our campus safety officers to the police academy? Are campus safety officers less approachable if they have a gun on their hip? All of these questions can be asked, but isn't it more important to ask, "Can we put a price on safety?"

While writing my persuasive essay for my writing class, I was sitting in the library. I could count from my seat, 23 emergency items relating to fire.  Fire sprinklers, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, fire strobe lights. All of these items will help students get out of the building in case of a fire.

Did you know that the last time more than ten people died in a school fire was in 1954, in Cleveland, Ohio.  That is due to the fire code. All of the building materials that are used to build schools have to meet certain specifications. From the drywall, to the carpet, to the ceiling tiles, all are chosen because they meet fire code.

Remember when you were a kid and you had earthquake drills in school. The teacher would say, "okay kids, we are having an earthquake, get under your desk." This practice is still used today. We have had both fire and earthquake drills here at LBCC this year. In the same time that an earthquake has killed two students at school, 120 students have been murdered in school massacres.

Obviously fire and earthquake prevention work. So why do we do nothing at all to prevent school shootings? I have been a student at LBCC for almost two years now, and all I have seen to inform students of what to do in case of a school shooting is this.

The intercom system activated and told us that there was an emergency. The instructor turned off the lights and locked the door. The whole time it was happening, students were grumbling about how stupid the drill was.

However, when I interviewed 20 students and asked them if they would feel safer if LBCC has an actual police department instead of the current campus safety, 15 of them said they would. This was prior to UCC. I would imagine that percentage would be higher today.

When I asked a staff member at campus security why they aren't armed, he honestly answered with, "we want to be approachable for the students, and we are less so if we are armed." Seriously? I was in law enforcement for almost eight years, and in that time I wasn't less approachable for carrying a handgun. Being approachable has to do with being professional and having a good personality.

People expect police officers to have a gun, like they expect firefighters to have a hose. Lets stop putting off the inevitable.  I bet if you asked the student body at UCC today if they wanted armed security on their campus, and the majority of them would say yes.

Times are changing, yet all we do to support people for their loss is hanging a sign saying, "I am UCC."  If that is truly how we feel, that we "are UCC," then we must know that a school massacre could happen here at LBCC.  You can't have it both ways. You can't say, "we are UCC," in support, but not say "we are UCC," and never expect a massacre to happen. I truly hope we never "become UCC."

Week 9 Blog Forum

123 Main St

Lebanon, OR 97355

(555) 541-0000

benjamin.clark.4282@mail.linnbenton .edu

March 4, 2016

Glenn Beck

CEO

Mercury Studios

P.O. Box 143189

Irving, TX 75014-3189

Dear Mr. Beck,

As a police officer in a small coastal town in Oregon, I was dispatched to a burglary in progress in an abandoned home. The weather was typical for a winter's night, strong wind, sideways rain, and it was darker than a coal mine.  While walking through the home looking for the “burglar,” I went upstairs and could hear the house creak and moan with the wind. I pulled my firearm after hearing a sound come from one of the bedroom closets.  With my flashlight in my left hand and my firearm in my right, I kicked open the closet door.  Standing about three feet in the closet staring at me was a full-size cutout of John Wayne. No shots were fired, luckily.

I am applying to The Blaze as an off-site contributor.  As a police officer for eight years, and a firefighter for almost 11 years, I have vast experience covering crime and disaster situations. I was known by the defense attorneys in my area as having “crack-proof” police reports.  I have since moved on from that career to pursue a law degree.  I have maintained good grades throughout my first two years of school, and intend to do so as my schooling continues.

I will be in Texas late this summer, and would be available to meet you during my time there to further discuss this position and my qualifications.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Clark

Enclosures:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronclark9

benjaminaclark.blogspot.com

Week 8 Blog Forum

1. Being a sports fan, I liked the story about the gym floor by Austin. His story tells the falling state of athletics at LBCC. Taking pride in your facility is one way that helps coaches recruit students to come to LBCC. Why wouldn't you want to play football for the Oregon Ducks? The facility there speaks volumes about the way you will be treated as a student/player.
   
   

   LBCC Athletic Department Seeks Improvement in Facilities

   
   
   
   
2. What do you think the reporter did well in reporting/writing the story?
   
   
   I think that Austin interviewed important people that certainly have an understanding of the condition of the gym floor. He was able to get good quotes from them.
   
   
3. If you were that reporter’s editor, how would you suggest improving the story? (Note: You can’t cop out here and say, “Nothing, it’s perfect!”)
   
   
   One thing that I would have written about would be the cost to redo the gym floor. Nowhere in the story did it mention that. I think that is a key part of the story. If LBCC is looking for donors, and one of them happens to click on his story, I would want to know how much it costs. Is it $200,000 or $2 million.
   
   
4. Tell what you would suggest as a follow-up to this story.
   
   
   A follow up story would be if any donors actually offered to fix up the floor.
   
   
5. Finally, post your comment in the “Comments” section of your classmate’s blog, right beneath the story.
   
   
   Done!!!

Week 7 Blog Forum

TOPIC 1: PROFILE FOLLOW-UP -- Contact the subject of your PROFILE in person, by phone or e-mail. Ask them what they thought about the story. Then answer these questions:

What was their response? Did they like it? Hate it? Were they flattered? Disappointed? Surprised? Do tell ... 

News seemed to be very surprised that a story was going to be written about him in the first place. He was very thrilled about the story, and excited about it.

Did the story contain any factual errors? (You fixed those by now, right? And you said, "I'm sorry.”) What was wrong? 

As far as I know there were no factual errors in my story.

What did you learn for the next time you have to write a profile?

One thing that I learned about the profile, is let the person talk. Use the simple phrase, "tell me more." It is amazing how freely people will share stories about their personal life.

Journalism: OSU Forum helps scientists connect to journalists

Left to Right:  Christoper Joyce NPR, Ed Jahn OPB, Nicola Jones Freelance, Ashley Ahearn Earthworks/NPR

On March 9, at 5 pm, over 100 students, faculty, and reporters gathered at Oregon State University (OSU) to listen to a panel of science journalists. The event was held to teach scientists how to get their work and studies into mainstream media. "Bringing science into the conversation," is how the emcee of the event, Nancy Baron stated it.

The event was brought to OSU by a company called Compass. Compasses mission is to bring scientists into contact with the media, policymakers, natural resource managers, and the public.  Through a series of three day workshops held worldwide, Compass is able to make their mission  possible.  

Baron said that the first commandment of science is to know the audience. With that short introduction, Baron got to know a little bit more about who was in attendance. The majority of the room was filled with undergrad or graduate students attending OSU. A smaller minority were faculty members, and a few of the attendees were neither. Some people were from the media, while others were citizens who were concerned about science and journalism.  

Baron then introduced the audience to the panelists.  

Ashley Ahearn works in Seattle Washington with Earthworks and NPR radio podcasting. Ahearn enjoys riding her vintage motorcycle while not writing about science. Ahearn has a masters in science journalism and enjoys teaching the public about false scientific stories that are possibly harmful to communities.  

Nicola Jones is an outdoorsy person and is a freelance journalist. She lives in rural Westler Canada, in an area as close to nature as she can possibly get. Jones has her under-grad degree in Oceanography.

Ed Jahn is the host for Oregon Field Guide. Jahn got is start on television as a young man performing on Nickelodeon.  

Christopher Joyce is a NPR radio host, and used to be the political reporter for NPR in Washington D.C.

After the quick introductions Baron set the mic lose on the panelists to talk about the importance of scientists getting their work known through journalism.

Joyce stated that, "Journalists are people who don't know how to do anything, who gravitate to people who know what they are doing." Joyce was talking about how journalist attempt to remain objective in their stories and attempt to let the experts talking.

Baron asked the panelists what their opinion was about journalism going from print to electronic.  

Jones said that, "there are so many more opportunities for stories to get out to the public than in the past." 

Ahearn commented by saying, "The only growing demographic for NPR right now are people the age of 65+.  NPR is currently trying to figure out how to get the podcasts into the forefront." With the growth of social media, Ahearn feels that millennials are doing their own research and only searching for stories that they care about. With this mentality, millennials are not listening to the radio to listen about things they don't care about.  

Joyce said that NPR is hiring a lot of people right now, but not one of them is working for the radio.

Jahn feels that social media is getting people you would have missed otherwise with your stories if there was only one media platform. He continued by saying, print media is always quicker than television, but if the stories are intermingled, the effectiveness is amazing.

Many of the panelist shared stories about how something that doesn't seem interesting at all will get the most hits online and go viral.

Joyce shared an experience of when he was interviewing a lady scientists who studied how plastic garbage waste gets into the ocean. While doing her research, she frequently visited garbage dumps. While at a particular garbage dump she met another scientists. They fell into love and got married. Joyce said that the story of the scientist who met her husband at the garbage dump immediately went viral and got more hits than other more pressing serious stories.

Jahn relayed a story of a time on Oregon Field Guide when he was riding a miniature train in a man's backyard.  Over night there were over a million hits on the story and people asking how they too could ride the train.  This story overshadowed the story of "unprepared," Oregon's lack of preparedness documentary on the cascadia fault line massive earthquake.  

Jones once was on a ship doing methane research on a boat full of german men scientists.  During the research, Jones would operate a crane to the bottom of the ocean and pull up frozen methane ice cubes.  The ice cubes you could hold in your hand and catch them on fire.  The seriousness of the story was not important, but people were fascinated by being able to light ice cubes on fire.  

At the close of the event, a question and answer time was given to the audience.  A lady asked the panelists why science stories are so hard to get into the media.  For example, with the sit in at the Malhuer Forestry Center, why were the only stories being reported were what the protesters where wearing or eating, but nothing about the damage to the Carp fish or the Sage brush habitat?

Jahn said that OPB was broadcasting what was happening to nature in that area.  Ahearn voiced her opinion by saying that, "the hot stories always get the headlines."  

The panelists agreed that the stories of science are being covered, you just have to look deeper than the headlines to find them.  

Joyce made an interesting comment by saying, "Journalists do not teach, they just hold up a mirror to the world, we just decide where to hold the mirror."

Baron asked the panelists to give the audience their best advice.

Jahn said, "remember why you do the science. Why do you do it in the first place, why is it interesting, and always say, tell me more."

Jones ended by commenting, "be proactive and make connections with the colleges public relations department and other local journalists."

Ahearn, "the best stories come from the Thanksgiving dinner table. What are the common folks angle of science and the world, then report about it."

Joyce ended on the comical side of reporting.  He once did a story about a humming noise that was coming from the Pacific Ocean during night time hours.  One scientists reported that her studies showed that it was prey fish coming up to the surface to feed at night while the predator fish were lower in the waters, and what you were hearing were billions of fish farts.  Joyce reported this story on the radio and the scientist got stigmatized by her peers.  He told scientists to settle down and don't take it too seriously, it's just science.

At a glance:
When: March 9 5 pm
Where: OSU
What: Science Journalist panel
Cost: Free


   

Nels Iverson - Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

Nels Iverson, a man of family, flowers, and farming.  Nels Iverson is a the owner of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, Ore.  Every year the Tulip Farm hosts a Tulip Festival from March 25 through May 1.

Iverson's parents bought the Tulip farm in 1950.  Living in the Willamette Valley for his entire life, Iverson is no stranger to farming.  Since the age of six, Iverson has been picking beans, and nuts, then eventually started moving irrigation pipe in the fields.

Farming isn't the easiest way to make a living.  "I know what it's like to do hard physical work," Iverson said.  After graduating from Canby High School, Iverson continued his education at Oregon State University, where he judged soil for three years during his undergraduate studies.

Shortly after graduating college he went up to Portland to attend a church dance.  There he met his wife of 34 years, Patty.  "We both went to the dance being stalked by other people, and we protected each other," said Patty.  Patty and Nels started dated that January, were engaged by the end of January, and were married in October of that year.  Together they have six kids and four grandkids with one on the way.

Iverson quickly instilled in his children the importance of physical work and farming.  He raised his kids on a farm in Jefferson, raising all sorts of items.  "Over the years we have grown everything from rhubarb to bell peppers," commented Iverson.

Two years after marrying Patty, the Iverson's started the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival.  The first Tulip Festival was in 1974 with Patty and Nels selling tulips at the end of their driveway in a wheelbarrow.  That first year the Iverson's had about 50 to 75 cars come out to the farm, Patty commented, "We have made it!"

Before selling the flowered tulips, they used to sell the bulbs for the varieties of flowers that you saw during the festival.  The bulbs were selling for four to five cents a piece.  When Iverson realized you could sell the flower for eight or nine cents a piece, he said, "You don't have to be very smart to realize where the business is at."  Ever since then they have been selling the flowers.

Currently if you go out to the Tulip Festival, you can see about 100 varieties of tulips, with 30 major varieties on display.  Iverson said he is trying to create his own tulip strand, but it is very time consuming and somewhat expensive.  It can take up to seven years for the new tulip to bloom.

Patty said that it "was a very slow start, but last year they had their biggest day ever, with just under 10,000 cars in one day."  There are many things to do when you get to the festival.  Amanda Dant, a local who went to the festival last year commented, "The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is the perfect place to take your family for a fun filled day, there are activities for people of all ages to enjoy.  From breathtaking views of Mt. Hood to cow trains, this northwest tradition is sure to bring a smile to your face!"

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival carries on the tradition of old Holland.  Iverson carves by hand wooden shoes out of Cottonwood and Poplar.  He still uses the traditional tools that were used originally.  It takes him anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple of days to carve the shoes.  The smallest set he has made were under an inch long.  The biggest, over seven feet, estimated to be a size 168.  Obviously they are not all one size fits all.  Iverson's daughter-in-law then paints them to the traditional paint patterns.

At a glance:
What:  Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
Where:  Woodburn, Ore
When: March 25 - May 1
Cost: $5/person or $20 max/car

Photo courtesy of Patty Iverson

Youth Basketball in Linn-Benton Counties

The sound of the whistle erupts the crowd in a singular chant of "Are you kidding me!" When the Lebanon basketball coach asked what the call was, the referee shrugged his shoulders and said, “I forgot, I got caught up in the moment.”  This is how the day and the life of a parent watching their child play youth sports.

On Jan 29 and 30, families from all over the state of Oregon went to watch their children play in a huge basketball tournament in McMinnville, Ore.  The tournament hosted by the McMinnville Basketball Association, gathered teams from almost the entire Willamette Valley all the way over to Bend, and Forest Grove.  About 26 teams in total ended showing up.  The age groups were from fourth grade to eighth grade, boys and girls.  

It is great watching these little athletes put everything they have into winning.  Diving on the hardwood floor after a ball, jumping as high as they can for a rebound after every shot, running as fast as they can up and down the floor, all while being yelled at by coaches, fans, parents, and the occasional heckler from the other team.

This is what youth sports are for.  They teach our children how to handle adversity, how to lose while being a good sport, but even more importantly, how to be a humble winner.  It also teaches them how to react when something unfair happens to them, which is bountiful with the level of referee's that shows up to a youth basketball tournament.

The coach for Lebanon seemed to be feeding off of the loudest crowd in the gym that day, the Lebanon parents who were not stop cheering for their team.  "It energizes me and gets me excited," said the fifth grade boys coach Ryan Quigley.  So far this season Quigley's boys are undefeated in league and went 3-1 during the tournament.

A Lebanon parent said that her heart rate was at 111 during an intense point of the game.  “It is going to be the death of me,” she said.  I know how she feels.  I fully immerse myself in the game, losing my voice and having a great time.

It is great knowing that the feeder programs for places like LBCC, Chemekata, OSU, UO, and Linnfield are going full throttle.  Some day these boys and girls will hopefully have their dreams come true and have the opportunity to play some level of college ball.

At a glance:

When: Jan 29, 30

Where:  McMinnville, Ore

Who: 4th - 8th grade basketball teams

Cost: $4/person

History of LBCC's mascot

Photo by William Allison

Somewhere between the sounds of a foghorn in Eugene and a chainsaw is Corvallis, you can hear the sound of a quiet, “Beep, beep.”  

That is the sound of the Linn-Benton Roadrunner, Rocky.  There are five different types of ducks in the state of Oregon, which is formally known as the Beaver State.  So it is no surprise why the two main state colleges in Oregon have the mascots of Ducks and Beavers.  

So why is the mascot of  Linn Benton Community College (LBCC) the Roadrunner.  

In her book, The History of Linn-Benton Community College, Rosemary Bennett gives a quick history.  In 1969, Linn and Benton Counties voted to start up a community college to meet the needs of the Willamette Valley.  The classes in the beginning (strictly evening classes) were, “held in 30 leased, begged or borrowed facilities in various locations throughout the district,” according to Bennett.

Could you imagine having to go to Sweet Home for math, Corvallis for history, and then Albany for communications.  This was the day in the life of an early LBCC student and faculty member.  In 1970, the first student council came together to vote on two important items.  Starting the first college newspaper, known as The Commuter, and picking a mascot to represent the college.  It is rumored that the students complained about running around on the road all day just to get to classes, that they decided to pick the mascot of Roadrunner.  Seems to fit.

Getting to know Rocky.  It is important to note, that Rocky, isn’t just a costume, he is a Roadrunner.  Barb Horn, Rocky’s handler, stated that, “They are going to have tryouts soon to get a new Rocky.”  So if your looking at furthering your mascot career, check with Barb.  Unfortunately, restrictions do apply.  “You have to be at least 5-8 to be Rocky,” said Barb.  

Roadrunners are well adapted to their environment.  Some can run faster than humans, and even the more lethal roadrunners can kill venomous snakes.  LBCC’s Rocky is a little more housebroken.  He is polite and conservative.  His domicile at LBCC remains “undisclosed,” Barb stated in a secretive tone.

Did you know that there is more than one Rocky?  Unlike the movies, there isn’t nine LBCC Rocky's, but there is a counterpart over at the Benton Center, that “appears to have a nicer face, kind of smiling,” laughed Barb.

Should Rocky run by us as fast as he can and keep on running? As of today, LBCC has four main campuses.  One in Corvallis, Albany, Lebanon, and Sweet Home. The days of running the road are somewhat over.  

So what if today’s students were to pick a more up to date mascot to represent the school.  My idea, the platypus.  Half duck, half beaver, perfect!  We could be colored in green and orange, and have the best of both worlds.  The Civil War for LBCC students would be found only in history books.  We could remain neutral as Switzerland during those epic football battles.  

At a glance:
What: LBCC Mascot
Where: Linn-Benton Counties Oregon
The Commuter: http://lbcommuter.com/2016/01/20/the-history-of-rocky/