Tuesday, May 17, 2011

First African-American Female elected to Oregon State Senate Coming to OSU

Avel Gordley will speak at LaSells

First African American woman of the Oregon State Senate will read from her memoirs

Joce DeWitt

Issue date: 5/17/11 Section: News
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Living a successful life in the public eye as a politician and activist can only be achieved through words of affirmation and progress.

Avel Gordley, the first African American woman elected to the Oregon State Senate will read from her memoir "Remembering the Power of Words," based on her commitment to public service tonight at 7:30 p.m. in LaSells Stewart Center.

"I enjoy this time in my life where I have the opportunity to pass on all that I have learned about servant leadership," Gordley said. "I say that as one who believes that public service is a noble calling and profession."

Gordley, now an associate professor in the Black Studies Department at Portland State University, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1991 and then became the first African American woman to be elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1996.

"I think it's important to be identified as the first," Gordley said.

The former senator attributes the significance of her career to her peers, including Margaret Carter, the first African American woman elected to Oregon Legislature, and Jackie Winters, the first African American woman to serve as a Republican in the legislature.

"We haven't done well in lifting up the stories of the wonderful people who have provided great public service in Oregon," Gordley said. "We need that story because they all contribute to building Oregon; we can't let those stories get lost."

In "Remembering the Power of Words," Gordley provides an analytical interpretation of the state government in which there is "nepotism that we still find rampant."

Her memoirs also include her upbringing in the '40s and '50s, a setting in which social discrimination imposed the challenges that later motivated her lifelong commitment to public service and African American representation, especially for the Northeast Portland area.

"I will probably read some passages that describe the experience of acting on a call from community to look at service in the legislature and talk about how I made that decision," Gordley said.

Gordley also plans to provide insight on her partnership with the Oregon Health and Science University through the creation of the Avel Gordley Center for Healing, a behavioral health clinic aimed at meeting the mental health needs of the African American community and Oregon's diverse populations.

According to Gordley, culturally specific services are being provided to people of the community through the clinic.

"As a black woman at one time looking for a mental health counselor and not being able to find someone who could identify with my need to talk about the place I'm raised and racism in my life," Gordley said, "there is a need for treatment professionals who have some deep understanding of the background and culture and history and tradition that people of color bring with them."

Gordley's presentation, sponsored by Oregon State University Press, is open to the public and free of cost. She will be signing copies of her biography after the reading.



Joce DeWitt, staff writer

737-2231 news@dailybarometer.com

Understanding Relationship Violence

Resources available for survivors of domestic violence

As many as 1 out of every 4 relationships will experience some form of violence

Joce DeWitt

Issue date: 5/13/11 Section: News
Last week the Corvallis community watched in horror as coverage of double homicide unfolded in the media; a student had murdered his former girlfriend and their 1-year-old son in an episode that exposed the potentially fatal consequences of relationship violence.

Representatives of local resource centers for victims of domestic violence testified to the frequency of abuse in intimate relationships and the support that is available for survivors seeking help.

Women's Center Director Beth Rietveld said news of the murders influenced the community in dramatic ways, including the motivation of resource centers to spread awareness about domestic violence.

"It shatters feelings of safety," Rietveld said. "When something like this happens in the community you think about your own relationship."

Though not a rape or abuse crisis center, The Women's Center provides victims of relationship violence with connections to centers with legal services and psychological counseling.

"Some people think you have to be beaten up to be a survivor of domestic violence," Rietveld said.

According to experts, domestic abuse does not solely imply that the victim has been physically assaulted, but also implies verbal and emotional abuse.

Counseling and Psychological Services, located in Snell Hall, offers multiple ways in which victims can successfully seek support, including Sexual Assault Support Services in which OSU students who have experienced unwanted sexual contact can receive confidential information and counseling.

"We provide a whole range of services, including couple's counseling," CAPS Director Jackie Alvarez said.

Alvarez pointed out several statistics that illustrate the growing problem of domestic abuse, including as many as one out of every four relationships will experience some kind of violence.

Though most relationship violence reported to CAPS does not escalate to the level of homicide, it is not uncommon for them to come across cases in which victims are in grave danger.
According to Alvarez and the Domestic Violence Resource Center, one in four women has already experienced domestic violence in her lifetime.

"One out of every six women and one out of every 33 men will experience attempted or completed rape," Alvarez said. "So one in every six has experienced rape and one of every four has experienced violence; if we do the math we see people aren't experiencing just one."

Toni Ryan, the executive director at the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence located in Corvallis, attested to the "startling information" on rates of domestic abuse.

"Four thousand calls total were received last year," Ryan said in regards to CARDV's 24-hour hotline. "An important thing for you to know is that from 2003 to 2009 there was an average of 18 murder deaths in Oregon due to domestic violence."

More statistics from the Domestic Violence Resource Center reveal that violence among intimate partners is not exclusive to a certain ethnicity or socioeconomic class. Women of all races are almost equally vulnerable to violence from an intimate partner.

"There is no distinction of class or race of victims, and it's not just women," Rietveld said.

The erroneous stereotype that society imposes on situations of domestic abuse is that they only occur in poor communities.

Alvarez noted, however, that the frequency and severity of violence in reported cases generally increases with higher stress, with homicide being the most severe form of violence.

Domestic abuse is not expected to happen as frequently in an educated population, but in reality "it cuts across communities," Alvarez said.

"At an organization like CARDV, who we're going to hear from are people with fewer resources and no access to money," Ryan said. "Who we see are usually of a lower socioeconomic class but by no means is that indicative of who it happens to."

As one in 10 Oregon women has experienced domestic violence and/or sexual assault in the last five years, OSU students are not exempt from the national and state-wide figures on rape and abuse.
Ryan said that national statistics completely apply to local demographics, so there is no reason to believe that OSU would be exempt.

"My bet is that our students aren't too unlike the population at large," Alvarez said.

With the amount of adults and teens that will experience sexual or domestic violence in Linn and Benton Counties this year reaching more than 5,000, CARDV maintains a 24-Hour Hotline, confidential emergency shelter and transportation for survivors of violence.

In collaboration with Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services, CARDV is currently undergoing construction of Permanent Supportive Housing, which will be provided to low-income survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

"It's about that second-level response," Ryan said. "We want to emphasize prevention and partnerships that will bring other services to our location."

The Permanent Supportive Housing, which is not to replace the currently available emergency confidential shelters, will break ground this spring with goals to promote education and long-term self-sufficiency of survivors of violence.

In light of the local tragedy that rattled the entire community, anti-violence resource centers are inclined to alert students of their own relationships.

For students seeking counseling, safety and/or legal action regarding violent relationships, CAPS can be reached on campus at 541-737-2131 as well as CARDV's 24-hour hotline at 800-927-0197.

"There are a lot of resources and people who care. When they are ready, and only when they are ready, there are a number of different access points." Reitveld said. "Healthy relationships are our goal."

Joce DeWitt, staff writer
737-2231 news@dailybarometer.com

Becoming Homeless

Student group attempts to know the life of the homeless

A group of business students have been living in cardboard boxes to raise awareness

Joce DeWitt

Issue date: 5/4/11 Section: News
Jessica Criger, Brian Reyheke and Scott Harper are attempting to earn money while simulating the life of someone who is homeless.
Media Credit: Hannah Gustin
Jessica Criger, Brian Reyheke and Scott Harper are attempting to earn money while simulating the life of someone who is homeless.

Sometimes the best way to raise awareness about a stigmatized community is by joining them.

Students of a business practicum class created a fundraising project meant to educate the Oregon State University community about the homeless by living in cardboard boxes around campus Monday, Tuesday and today.

Group coordinator Scott Harper, a senior in business, developed the idea of "Build Your Own Box" as the final project of the class. He and five other students have been living homeless this week in solidarity with those of the homeless community.

"We are doing day to day what normal homeless people would do," Harper said.

The project is not only meant to raise awareness, but also to erase the stigma that follows homelessness.

Group member Jessica Criger, who contacted the media as well as involved the Corvallis Police so the group's safety was ensured, said the motivation of the project was getting students to realize "it's so much more than not having a place to sleep at night."

The group has spent the last two days and nights outside on or around campus in boxes taken from dumpsters, attending classes when necessary and living on contributions from local resource centers, including the Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center.

After volunteering their time Monday evening at a student-run spaghetti feed in order to obtain a free meal, Criger recalled the initial feeling of what it was like to live homeless as the group was rarely sure of when the next meal would be available.

"I was constantly looking on the ground for change," she said.

According to the official BYOB Facebook page, the group strives to accomplish their goals by "taking a holistic approach to understanding why individuals end up homeless" and looking at all sides of the issue so assistance can be more effective. One major side of this issue is sleeping without shelter.

"We set up camp under one of the big trees in the quad. It was freezing," Harper said of the first night. "We wrapped ourselves up in old copies of your newspaper."

In the state of Oregon, there are more than 17,000 people living homeless. The indignity that society imposes on the homeless community is unmerited, since in reality many have college degrees, Harper said.
Chamroeun (Nathan) Lim, the public relations and risk management officer of BYOB, wanted to gain insight on what this large community has to do to survive through emotional and psychological perspective.

"The homeless stereotype is that they are lazy," Lim said. "We're trying to understand and research about the homeless community and trying to see if we can survive without touching our wallets."

The project will continue raising awareness and begin fundraising efforts with an all-campus BYOB event in the Memorial Union Quad on May 26. The purpose of the inclusive event is to provide students with an environment that imitates that of the homeless for a single night and raise proceeds for the Daytime Drop-in Center.

All participants will construct their own shelter for the night out of cardboard donated from local businesses and recycle centers. The box that allows the most people inside will receive a prize.

The event will assist those already living homeless and alter misconceptions about homeless people through personal experience.

"Everyone struggles with something," Harper said. "We're fortunate that (the) stuff we struggle with doesn't put us on the street."


Joce DeWitt, staff writer
737-2231 news@dailybarometer.com

Helping the children of Gaza

Students can exchange art with children of Gaza

A UN-sponsored program will bring US student-created art to the war-torn Gaza strip

Joce DeWitt

Issue date: 4/26/11 Section: News
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Coordinators for the U.S.-Gaza Cultural Exchange presented in front of an art class yesterday in Fairbanks to discuss an upcoming art exchange with children of a refugee school in Gaza.

Official program coordinator Jessica Campbell, along with colleagues Emmet Whittaker and Shady Athamneh, introduced the cultural exchange program and its benefits to the students of professor Julie Green's Painting I class.

"This is a really wonderful time in history to start working with these kids," Campbell said.

Located in the Middle East on the Mediterranean coast, surrounded by Israel, Gaza is currently under a complete blockade, its citizens frequently going without daily necessities.

On her first trip to Gaza in December 2009, Campbell brought 2,000 backpacks after learning of the lack of school supplies for children in Gaza due to political conflict and isolation in and around the small nation.

"I was reading about the refugee camps, schools being bombed out and that students were having to share pencils," Campbell said, who decided to fundraise for school supplies that were later distributed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Upon giving supplies to the children, Campbell realized her humanitarian aid was not what the children wanted most.

"The kids cared more about me being there," Campbell said.

In efforts to connect classrooms on the international level and ease sentiments of isolation felt by the children in Gaza, Campbell established the U.S.-Gaza Cultural Exchange.

The program is fully recognized and sponsored by the United Nations and students in the United States can create art of various medias and exchange it with art created by students in Gaza.

In order to generate a cultural awareness of what youth across the world experience in their daily lives, the theme for artwork developed by students in Oregon and Gaza is: What I See When I Look Outside My Window.

Athamneh, a Palestinian student at Western Oregon University, was inspired by the cause after he visited the West Bank two years ago for volunteer work.

"Last time I was there I saw a 10-year-old get shot in the face with a rubber bullet," Athamneh said.

Through the cultural exchange, he hopes to "educate children here through the eyes of children in Gaza."

A political activist for Palestinian rights and member of the Palestine Action Group, Whittaker expressed the dire separation people feel in Gaza, especially children, due to government-imposed regulations and limited points of entry into the country.

Gaza, a country of 1.8 million people, is 25 miles long, 8 miles wide at the widest point and completely isolated by a concrete wall.

"Freedom of movement is a huge issue," Campbell said.

Since the UNRWA supports the program, school and refugee camp, the likelihood of the children receiving the supplies is much higher.

The U.S.-Gaza Cultural Exchange plans to travel to Gaza in July with the artwork of American students, including those done by OSU students in Green's Painting I class.

"This is the first step, to hear about Gaza and the history of Gaza," Green said. "The best way to become a painter is to gain an overview."

For more information on the U.S.-Gaza Cultural Exchange and how to contribute, visit gazaexchange.org.



Joce DeWitt, staff writer

737-2231 news@dailybarometer.com

Look what students can do

Students' coupons to help Japan

Two students collaborated with several local businesses in an effort to raise money for the relief efforts in Japan, coming up with an idea that can save students money

Joce DeWitt

Issue date: 4/18/11 Section: News
Media Credit: Alexandra Taylor

When news hit of a tsunami in Japan ignited by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, Oregon State University students watched with no initiative or capacity to help.

When encouraged by their international business professor Steven Lawton, two OSU juniors developed an idea for a coupon that will assist earthquake relief in Japan and generate revenue for local businesses, while saving OSU students money.

John Hadden and Josh Yundt, both local to Corvallis, have produced a voucher available for a $10 purchase this week, which provides discounts at 10 different restaurants on and around campus.

Of the Corvallis businesses contacted, Yogurt Extreme, American Dream, Qdoba, Pita Pit, Panda Express, Nearly Normal's, Flat Tail Brewery, Downward Dog, Block 15 and Dominos agreed to offer discounts on the coupon.

The discounts include $2 off items for some establishments and "buy-one-get-one-free" for others.

100 percent of proceeds will be sent to the American National Red Cross Japan Relief Fund.

Lawton sparked an unforeseen business proposition in Hadden and Yundt that could potentially raise 50 times more than expected.

"We could easily make $10,000 for the cause," Yundt said. "Steve's idea was to raise $200, and we raised an idea that was upwards of $10,000."

Through the cooperation of all 10 eateries, buying a single voucher for $10 would allow a student to use the punch card up to 3 times at each establishment.

"The card is going to have on the back Yogurt Extreme, American Dream, Panda Express and all those things, and right next to each one is the coupon," Hadden said. "There will be three logos for each individual restaurant acting as punches."

When news of the disaster in Japan surfaced in March, neither Hadden nor Yundt had tangible plans to contribute.

"I can't leave the country and go help," said Yundt, a staff sergeant in the Oregon National Guard whose military involvement requires him to remain in the country. "I can't go which was frustrating, but I can do something."

Hadden recalled his initial thoughts after relief efforts were mentioned in class and realized the potential impact of a good marketing proposal.

"We needed a way to make money and we're all poor students," Hadden said. "We thought, 'how can we involve students and get all students to do marketing?' The idea just evolved from there."
Kathleen Edwards, also a junior in business, was in class when the announcement of the coupon was made.

"I think it has the potential to have a big impact," Edwards said. "To me the best part is it is run by students and focused toward students. All the restaurants are places I go on a regular basis."

The list of restaurants that provide discounts on the card has grown immensely since the earliest plans were discussed.

"That day and the next day we called 60 businesses," Yundt said. "It saves students money, and our mindsets are always about how to increase business and PR. The most important thing is it's important for Japan."

Getting the project started was no easy task. According to Hadden and Yundt, the most difficult part was gaining initial collaborators.

"Once we got several businesses, it was easier," Hadden said. "It was intimidating because we weren't sure if it was going to work out at all. Neither of us had done anything like this, except giving money to Santa Claus."

As the two-man team paid for the printing of the vouchers out of pocket, the biggest factor in the success of this venture is finding volunteers to sell the cards. The OSU Bookstore agreed to sell and the team plans on making coupons available in the MU Quad this week.

The business-based fundraising idea inspired others in the class and around campus, including selling Japan relief T-shirts and a dance fundraiser on Saturday, April 23rd.

"The way I saw it was we needed someone to get the ball rolling; why not us?" Hadden said. "It's not hard to do, someone just has to do it."

Joce DeWitt, staff writer
737-2231 news@dailybarometer.com

Global Poverty Project

Initiative to end global poverty comes to OSU

The Global Poverty Project Team will be presenting 1.4 Billion Reasons in LaSells

Joce DeWitt

Issue date: 4/6/11 Section: News
Every day, 1.4 billion people world wide live on less than $1.25.

This fact translates into something even more alarming: one-fourth of the world's population is living in extreme poverty.

The nationally recognized Global Poverty Project Team is making its way to the Oregon State University campus 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, in LaSells Stewart Center to encourage student involvement in the fight against extreme poverty.

The Global Poverty Project Team, along with their United Nations-recognized presentation called "1.4 billion reasons," established itself in five different countries outside of the United States after its 2009 premier in Australia.

"It's a really respected campaign by the UN," said student Molly Jones, who got involved as the OSU campaign manager when the Global Poverty Project agreed to bring their presentation to campus. "The point of the project is to educate and increase efficiency of people who are willing to take action."

The overall purpose of the project since its start in Melbourne, according to the official Global poverty Project website, is "a world without extreme poverty within a generation."

The presentation suggests there is enough food to feed the planet one-and-a-half times over. Therefore, it is now possible for a generation to completely eliminate extreme poverty.

The presentation will seek to answer basic questions about the world's current status on extreme poverty and what can be done to help.

"The presentation addresses five different questions: What is poverty: the definition; what can people do in their own lives to stop poverty, which is not just by donating money," said OSU student Sarah Creedican, who is also involved in bringing the project to campus. "What are the barriers to ending extreme poverty; what can we do ourselves; and why should we care."

One of the ways to make a difference is through the purchase of fair-trade products at grocery stores. Another is through a campus-wide challenge that will be posed to the audience at the presentation.
"This thing called Living Below the Line is a challenge for people to try and live below $1.25. The specific days are May 16th through May 20th," Creedican said. "You can do it on your own or create a team to create awareness."

The 45- to 90-minute presentation at La Sells, which will be delivered by expert presenters and customized for a student audience, will be divided into these five separate sections.

The project also strives to connect large audiences with leading global organizations that are already effectively combating extreme poverty.

It is becoming increasingly possible for anyone to contribute to the cause, even if there is no option for monetary support.

"The main thing is that even though we can't contribute to it financially as college students, we all have the power to make the difference," Jones said. "It tells us what change we can make as individuals and the lifestyle changes that translate into bigger effects for people living in extreme poverty."

Backed by numerous internationally recognized celebrities and launched as a United Nations High Level Event, the project and its ambassadors are highly qualified, and have already made substantial impact on the countries they have already toured.

"They've raised a lot of awareness," Creedican said.

As the website states, the presentation has been delivered to more than 20,000 people at more than 100 events. It has activated more than 5,500 people to make a commitment to take action to end extreme poverty. It has also reached more than 15,000,000 people through media coverage in three countries.

At the presentation, students will have an opportunity to join over 22,000 others world wide who have made personal commitments to aiding the cause in their own ways.

"It's about making a commitment to buying fair trade projects, or telling people about this or learning what we can do," Jones said. "The presentation is supposed to help us understand what the root causes are, what obstacles there are and what power we have."

Joce DeWitt, staff writer
737-2231 news@dailybarometer.com