Mount Hood

Squirrel “militia” takes over Mount Hood conference room

Screen Shot 2016-01-26 at 10.52.17 PM

By:Katrina Penaflor 
managing editor

Last Tuesday campus was in shock when a rampant group of angry squirrels took over a medium-sized conference room in Valsetz dining hall.

“Nobody really knows what point they are trying to make. Or why they believe they have the right to do what they’re doing. They just keep pointing at the ground and stomping their feet,” said a faculty member who was monitoring the incident.

“I’m worried,” said onlooker Marissa Barrer, who may or may not be a student at Western (I forgot to ask.) “I’m pretty sure the max capacity for that room is like 35. I overheard someone saying there were 40 squirrels in there. That’s five over the limit.”

The university quickly posted a message on their website stating that due to these events, campus would be delayed until noon. They also urged students to stay away from any potentially dangerous areas on campus.

Many students were disappointed, hoping for a full day off.

So far the only people who have been able to breech the aggressively unarmed squirrels were two theater arts majors. They managed to dress and act like squirrels in such a convincing manor that the group welcomed them into the room with open arms.

The students were sent in an attempt to communicate with the squirrels and settle the situation.

“Yeah, that didn’t work,” said Richard, one of the students in disguise. “No one from the militia talked to us. I’m not even sure they really knew what they were going to do next.”

Linda, who accompanied Richard, said, “I’ve been working on a squirrel-hostage-situation monologue for weeks, it was sheer fate that this opportunity came to me at this moment. My performance today, I dare say, is some of my best work.”

In a recent turn of events, an anonymous note, that is believed to be from the squirrels, was delivered via carrier pigeon to Monmouth Police reading “Send snacks. Preferably Planter’s brand honey-roasted cashews.”

A secretary at the police station said she was temporarily taken aback by the literacy of the squirrels. “They didn’t strike me as the most educated animals out there, but after reading this I’m afraid of what they could be capable of.”

For any questions or concerns regarding recent updates of the situation please contact TheseAreNotRealEvents@gmail.com or follow my updates on Twitter @EntirelyFictionalNews

Oregon Department of Energy overdue for makeover

By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

On Jan. 14, the first joint legislative committee meeting of the year focused most of its attention on the Oregon Department of Energy.

“Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek last month called for a ‘full and open Legislative overhaul’ of the agency, including the possibility of disbanding it altogether,” reports The Oregonian.

Many problems have been brought up in association with the Department of Energy, such as controversial sites for new energy facilities and some of the department’s policymaking activities.

One of the biggest problems, according to The Oregonian, will be finding lawmakers who are “prepared to dive into the agency’s many potentially embarrassing problems, and who it will call for testimony.”

Nearly $1 billion in energy tax credits have been issued by the Oregon Department of Energy since 2007 to support conservation and renewable energy projects by various businesses and government agencies.

A tax credit is given as an incentive, allowing taxpayers to subtract that given credit amount from the total owed to the state.

A large controversy the Department of Energy faces is the agency’s decision to allow tax credits to be sold at highly discounted prices to investors, often times at prices discounted more than the state allows.

“I’m hoping the committee will explore these issues in depth, and take steps to make sure it will not happen again,” said Sen. Doug Whitsett of Klamath Falls, a republican lawmaker, in an interview with The Oregonian.

Whitsett, along with four other lawmakers, urged both state and federal authorities to engage in a criminal investigation on the tax credit issues within the department last month.

“The state Justice Department and the FBI, for example, are currently investigating its issuance of nearly $12 million in tax credits to support the installation of solar panels at Oregon State University and the Oregon Institute of Technology,” continues The Oregonian.

This brings Western into a possibly sticky situation in the future, with Ackerman being one of the first large-scale residence halls in the nation to achieve a LEED platinum rating.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

The point system is as follows: Certified at 40-49 points, Silver at 50-59 points, Gold at 60-79 points, and Platinum at 80+ points.

“Rooftop solar thermal panels pre-heat water and air for use in the facility, resulting in a 50% reduction of potable water usage and a 35% reduction in energy consumption,” reports Western Oregon University Housing.

Ackerman uses rooftop solar ducts to extract heat energy from the sun as well as thermal panels to preheat domestic hot water.

“The Peter Courtney Health and Wellness Center received the LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, to obtain this Western Oregon University Peter Courtney Health and Wellness Center employed numerous sustainable features, from the management of storm water runoff to the use of natural ventilation in the building,” states a university report.

If WOU continued on the path to solar panel usage for electricity, or to receive tax credits in return from the Oregon Department of Energy, the university may find itself in hot water as well.

The plan that Gov. Kate Brown has proposed would restructure the entire Oregon Department of Energy in every regard, and is planned to restructure Oregon’s energy supply by 2040.

The reformation plan would eliminate coal-fired energy, which in turn would result in over half the consumers receiving renewable energy instead.

“The Governor supports charting a course to lower greenhouse gas emissions and believes expanding the availability of renewable energy in Oregon is one way to make a meaningful impact,” said Chris Pair, a spokesman for the governor, to The Oregonian.

The next meeting is planned for Jan. 29 to allow an insight into the bill from a utilities standpoint. Within a week, the state could see the biggest change in history to Oregon’s energy policy.

Students experience a preview of poverty

By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

On Jan. 21, about 60 participants assumed the roles of 26 different families struggling with poverty-induced limitations.

The event took place during Martin Luther King, Jr. week in remembrance of King’s antipoverty movement known as the Poor People’s Campaign in 1968.

“King planned for an initial group of 2,000 poor people to descend on Washington, D.C., southern states and northern cities to meet with government officials to demand jobs, unemployment insurance, a fair minimum wage, and education for poor adults and children designed to improve their self-image and self-esteem,” reports Stanford University’s King Encyclopedia.

King’s actions have not been forgotten.

With poverty continuing to be an issue to this day, students partook in role playing to experience a problem that Martin Luther King Jr. fought to end in the 1960’s.

The poverty simulation allowed students to experience what living month-to-month is like for a typical low-income family.
Those 26 low-income families were formed within a large room with the families seated in small groups towards the center of the room.

Along the perimeter of the room, tables represent available services and community resources for the families to make use of as needed.

Some goals of the simulation may seem simple: keep the family intact while providing basic necessities, such as shelter.
In order to achieve these goals, the families had to make difficult choices, including pawning off items or scraping together enough money to buy a bus pass to the pawn shop.

“The latest figures from the American Community Survey show 16.7 percent of Oregonians live below the poverty line,” reports Oregon Public Broadcasting.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty rate in 2014 was 14.8 percent, meaning that 46.7 million people lived in poverty.

The simulated families range from both parents working, to one parent working, to the children also trying to make ends meet, and every variation in between. Poverty can affect an entire family, including children under 18.

The poverty rate in 2014 for children under age 18 was 21.1 percent, while the rate for people aged 18 to 64 was 13.5 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

By garnering a greater grasp of what it meant to be impoverished and to experience another human’s struggle, participants became more aware of not only their privilege, but how to assist the community.

According to Stanford University, the Poor People’s Campaign “succeeded in small ways, such as qualifying 200 counties for free surplus food distribution, and securing promises from several federal agencies to hire poor people to help run programs for the poor.”

The goal of the simulation was ultimately to raise awareness, but also to encourage students and other participants to make a difference against poverty.

Senator Wyden visits Polk County

By:Alvin Wilson 
Staff Writer

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden visited Polk County on Jan. 16 to hold one of his annual open meetings.

Wyden has made it a point to visit every county in Oregon at least once a year. This was his 762nd town hall meeting since he became an Oregon senator in 1996.

Here is what Wyden had to say about some of the topics covered during the meeting:

On the militia occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge:

“It is very understandable that the people in Eastern Oregon are frustrated about the economy. It is also frustrating, and understandably so, that they feel the government doesn’t much listen to them.

Obviously this is putting a lot of stress on the people of Harney County, and it cannot be allowed to go on … I want it understood: once this issue is resolved, I expect that there are going to be appropriate legal consequences.”

On gun control:

“A number of years ago, a man by the name of Jay Dickey added a provision into law that barred the government from doing any research into the causes of this recent gun violence. I say let’s get some serious, objective research going to take a look at these things.

The real question for me is whether, after another attack, we get to the point in America where we just shrug our shoulders and say ‘that’s the way it is.’ That’s not good enough for me. I am for some practical steps that are completely consistent with the second amendment.”

On making higher education more affordable:

“I am the author of the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides up to $10,000 of relief for students in college. Now, obviously $10,000 isn’t all you need to pay for college, but it’s a decent start.”

“There are two other matters I’m working on that are not law. The first would create the first ever federal incentive for a state to freeze or lower tuition […] State colleges would be eligible for some federal help to reduce costs.

The second bill is the Wyden-Rubio Student Right to Know Before You Go Act.

It allows families to see what graduation rates were, debt levels, remedial education, and for the first time, what you would be likely to earn if you got a degree from that school.

One thing I like about this bill is that if one school is doing a good job at these things, the school that is not doing a good job better clean up its act, or they’ll be out of business. So for the first time you’re beginning to inject some marketplace forces into holding down the cost of college.”

Some of his responses weren’t taken particularly well, due to Senator Wyden being a Democrat and Polk County being mostly conservative.

But Wyden didn’t alter his views as a Democrat among conservatives, and he ended the meeting by acknowledging the differences between them.

“I’m sure you go home today disagreeing with me about one subject, two subjects,” said Wyden. “Maybe you walk out of here thinking ‘this fella doesn’t know much about anything.’ But I hope you go home today thinking that this is what the founding fathers wanted us to do. This is what they wanted it to be like.”

West Coast, best coast

oregon population

By: Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

On Jan. 2, the United Van Lines’ 38th Annual National Movers Study reported their 2014 results concluded Oregon as the top moved-to destination in the country.

66 percent of recorded moves from both in and out of the state were inbound, resulting in a 5 percent increase of inbound moves since 2013.

The top ten inbound states, from most to least, were as follows: Oregon, South Carolina, North Carolina, Vermont, Florida, Nevada, Texas, District of Columbia, Oklahoma, and Idaho.

“We’ve been tracking the number of inbound and outbound domestic moves for nearly four decades, and through our data are able to identify the most and least popular states for residential relocation year after year,” stated Melissa Sullivan, the director of Marketing Communications at United Van Lines on their website.

“This year we also surveyed customers to determine why they were relocating,” said Sullivan.
38 percent of new moves to Oregon were reported to be for a new job, while 29 percent were reported for retirement purposes.

“Oregon is gaining both older and younger people,” reports Michael Stoll, chair of the Department of Public Policy at the University of California, in a contribution to Forbes magazine.

“It has walkable neighborhoods, public transit, cool places to eat. It’s a big magnet for young people who want that kind of lifestyle,” continues Stoll.

However, the thing Oregon may not have for the younger generation is jobs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oregon’s unemployment rate is at 5.7 percent as of November 2015, 0.2 percent above the national average.

California shares a similar unemployment rate with California, so some people could be moving north due to Oregon’s lower cost of living.

On the other end of the spectrum, the most outbound moves from states from most to least were: New Jersey, New York, Illinois, North Dakota, West Virginia, Ohio, Kansas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

Speculations about these moves focus on the higher rate of living in these areas, with New York charging an average of $3,000 for a one-bedroom in the city. That is triple the national reported average of $1,100, according to Daily News.

Illinois has lost a third of its manufacturing jobs and a quarter of its construction work, resulting in more unemployment and less desirability for prospective movers.

Stoll predicts that in upcoming years, New Mexico and California will begin to see more of an improvement to their inbound moves.

“With economic stability growing nationally, the current migration patterns reflect longer-term trends of movement to the southern and western states, especially to those where housing costs are relatively lower, climates are more temperate and job growth has been at or above the national average, among other factors,” concludes Stoll.

Executive order an attempt to curb gun violence

By: Alvin Wilson 
Staff writer

President Obama issued a series of executive actions regarding gun control on Tuesday, Jan. 5. He issued the order with the intention of reducing gun related deaths in the U.S. by tightening already existing laws.

The White House website released a statement regarding the executive order, explaining the reasoning behind it and what they hope it will accomplish.

1. Keep guns out of the wrong hands through background checks.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) will require any person “in the business of selling firearms” to obtain a license and conduct background checks. The language is intentionally broad, but it essentially limits online sellers and collectors from selling their firearms without going through a licensed dealer. The FBI will overhaul the background check system, making it more efficient, according to the statement from the White House. The FBI will hire an additional 230 staff members to help process the background checks.

2. Make our communities safer from gun violence.

The President’s budget includes funding for 200 new ATF agents and investigators to help enforce existing gun laws. To track illegal firearm sales online, the budget provides more staff and an additional four million dollars for the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network, a system that helps to identify lost or stolen firearms.

3. Increase mental health treatment and reporting to the background check system.

The order proposes a $500 million investment to increase access to mental health care. The Social Security Administration will now be required to “include information in the background check system about beneficiaries who are prohibited from possessing a firearm for mental health reasons.” Soon states will also be able to provide information about mental health history for background checks.

4. Shape the future of gun safety technology.

The order also directs the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security to “conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology.” It directs the departments to conduct research on smart gun technology, and to explore potential ways to increase gun safety.

The controversial nature of this executive order has caused a large debate, especially in the 2016 presidential field. Any time a president bypasses Congress to get something done, it has often been met with opposition.

Despite claims about the constitutionality of the order, Dr. Ed Dover, professor of political science at Western, claimed the order was within Obama’s authority.

“When a president issues an executive order, he is more or less dealing with the implementation of public law. A lot of what he is introducing is based upon the USA Patriot Act, which was passed right after 9/11. It gave the president and the government a lot of discretion when dealing with acts of terrorism,” said Dover.

“There are laws that allow the president to take various actions to prevent people from having guns. We gave him a lot of power, and he’s using it.”

Dover briefly explained the history of important executive orders, and why sometimes it is necessary to bypass Congress.

“There are some very powerful instances when presidents have used executive orders because they can’t find that congress will allow them […] It took until the 1960’s to get a Civil Rights bill through congress. But Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 issued an executive order requiring equal employment opportunity in the federal government and the defense industry […] It started with an executive order and, in time, grew to the point where it is now federal and state law.”

Seaside students take charge of safety

By:Jenna Beresheim
News Editor

In mid-December last year, Seaside High School student Taylor Barnes created a GoFundMe page titled “Don’t Catch This Wave” to fundraise the relocation of an entire school system.

“The purpose of this project will be to relocate our schools within the seaside school district outside the tsunami zone that is earthquake resistant,” states the GoFundMe page.

During the summer of 2015, the New Yorker published an earthquake article titled “The Really Big One.”

The odds of this earthquake happening within the next 50 years are one in three, according to the article.

This article reported a series of earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 8.7 to 9.2 happening along the Cascadia subduction zone and the San Andreas fault line, with the latter of the two running nearly the entire length of the state of California.

The earthquakes would affect the majority of the Pacific Northwest, with tsunamis predicted as a side effect to such massive fluxes to the earth.

“The northwest edge of the continent will drop by as much as 6 feet and rebound 30 to 100 feet to the west,” reports the Oregonian.

According to the Oregonian, the combination of these two powerful natural disasters would “kill thousands and decimate stretches of coastline west of Interstate 5.”

“Children will be trapped in schools ranging from Gearhart to Seaside,” continues the Oregonian.
“Because of this daunting reality, we as students have taken initiative to start a campaign to raise awareness for this inevitable disaster with our main focus being to relocate our schools (3 of which, in our school district, are located in the tsunami zone),” writes Barnes on the fundraising page.

The New Yorker article reports that the predicted mega-quake will send an enormous tsunami ashore “in a 700-mile liquid wall that will reach the Northwest coast, on average, 15 minutes after the earthquake begins.”

This leaves very little time for warning to take place and evacuation to occur.

“To survive, the 71,000 residents of Cascadia’s tsunami inundation zone would have to reach high ground during the narrow window between the quake and the waves,” reports the Oregonian.

Those who are differently abled, elderly, or simply visiting the town for the day risk the possibility of being left behind with such a tiny time frame for evacuation.

The Oregon State University Wave Lab even created a simulation of what the tsunami would look like as it tore through the town of Seaside. The two-minute video can be found at bit.ly/1RECKCE.

“The price tag to relocate our schools is $128 million dollars. Bond measures have been on ballots before in our town, but have been unsuccessful. So, we are now taking matters into our own hand as students,” states the collective GoFundMe page.

To this date, the GoFundMe page has raised $2,750 of the predicted $200 million. Thirty-four people have donated to the cause in just one month, with contributions ranging from $10 to $1000.

“With your help not only can we reach our goals of this campaign, but we can also go above and beyond with other preparations and save thousands of lives in the event of this disaster,” coaxes the fundraising page.

The page has been shared over 1,300 times and local news stations, such as the Daily Astorian, are taking part in promoting the fundraiser.

“The earthquake is something we have known about since we were little kids; we prepare for the eventual disaster in our schools but conducting earthquake and Tsunami drills, but there is only so much we can do,” reads the fundraising page.

To donate to this cause, show support, or share to increase visibility, visit the GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/cascadiaevent

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