FALL 2019
extend LBCC
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THE MAGAZINE OF LINN-BENTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COMMUNITY WELCOMES MORE THAN 800 NEW LBCC GRADS
From automotive tech to graphic design, LBCC grads are ready to contribute. Pg. 54
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LBCC is the first community college honored for outstanding leadership on free expression and viewpoint diversity.
Re Co g m on istr m a Pa Au tio un ge gu n i s 5 st sta ty -5 20 rts Ed 2
CIVIL DISCOURSE CLUB LANDS NATIONAL AWARD
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Talking Across Differences
LBCC is the first community college in the country to be honored for Civic Discourse Leadership “We aim to promote dialogue that enchances understanding among individuals with diverse viewpoints in an open and respectful environment.” which also happens to be part of a campus art gallery. Some people found the art offensive and wanted it removed, while others found it expressive and were okay with it being uncensored and displayed. Student panel at the Heterodox Academy’s Conference: Student-led Efforts to Bring Heterodoxy to Campus. left to right: American Council on Education’s VP for Research, Lorelle Espinosa; Bridge USA CEO, Manu Meel; Author and Ted Talk Speaker, Zach Wood; LBCC Civil Discourse Club President, Brandon Calhoun; and the Power of WE at FSU’s Founder and Executive Chair, Inam Sakinah.
IN TODAY’S DIVIDED COUNTRY, is it really possible for people who identify as “red” and “blue” to talk across their differences and find common ground? LBCC students think so, and recently the Heterodox Academy, a national organization that studies viewpoint diversity in higher education, agreed. Linn-Benton Community College is the first community college in the country to receive the “Open Inquiry Award” for its student-led Civil Discourse Club – a club that has shown outstanding leadership in facilitating pathways for people in our community to work together despite completely divergent ideological perspectives. “This award recognizes what is possible when a campus community works together to create an environment that supports free expression, viewpoint diversity, and civil discourse. Our college and club’s student leaders are modeling what we need to see more of in the United States,” said Mark Urista, LBCC Civil Discourse Club advisor. Students Brandon Calhoun and Anthony Lusardi accepted the award for the college at Heterodox’s annual convention on June 20 in New York City, where they also served as panel speakers. As a highlyrespected non-partisan advocate of constructive disagreement, the Heterodox Academy conference also attracted media personalities, administrators and professors across the country, and other student leaders.
The debate drew students, faculty and leadership from across the college campus, and students saw it as an opportunity to practice the Civil Discourse skills they were learning in class. The club was born as one team of students spoke in favor of the art, the other spoke against. Both teams were instructed on how to use constructive, informative and engaging dialogue that allowed people on both sides of the issue to be heard – a key component of the Heterodox Academy’s mission. “At the time, our campus community was highly polarized with little to no engagement with those of differing perspectives on the artwork,” said Calhoun. “A small group of students decided to get together to hold a debate that did not aim on producing a winner or loser, but instead our goal was to accurately portray different perspectives from those that were being produced in echo chambers on our campus, for the purpose of learning.” Since then, the Civil Discourse Club has made a concerted effort to create open and respectful environments that enhance understanding among individuals with diverse viewpoints; part of the club’s mission. Club members have held campus debates and group discussions on controversial topics, attended town hall meetings with U.S. senators, held Free Intelligent Conversation events in their local community, hosted TED speakers, and provided civil discourse training to the college community. This past year, the club hosted two major speaking events that were free and open to the public: TED Talk speakers, Red Mom and Blue Mom; and John and Ciaran from the organization, Better Angels. Both events focused on how to share differing viewpoints in a meaningful and respectful way - without trying to change the other’s point of view.
LIGHTING THE SPARK
RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR COURAGE
As a member of the Communication faculty, Urista watched the Civil Discourse Club emerge from a debate in his classroom over sexually explicit artwork on display in a busy hallway in North Santiam Hall,
As a testament to their work, the LBCC Civil Discourse Club was recently awarded full-chapter status as part of Bridge USA, the first (and so-far exclusive) community college branch of the
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Heterodox Academy’s awards ceremony in New York City. left to right: Brandon Calhoun, Civil Discourse Club President and Original Founding Member Mark Urista, Communication Faculty and Civil Discourse Club Advisor David Brooks, Columnist for The New York Times and Political Analyst for PBS Newshour Anthony Lusardi, Original Founding Member of the Civil Discourse Club
LBCC Civil Discourse club leaders at this year’s BridgeUSA Summit in Dallas, Texas.
organization. Similar to Heterodox, Bridge USA works with future leaders on college campuses to foster spaces where a diverse range of ideas can be heard. In addition, LBCC was the only community college featured in a recent Reason magazine article written by Jonathan Haidt and Debra Mashek. Titled “10 Colleges Where You Won’t Have to Walk on Eggshells,” the article highlights schools that are committed to civil and diverse debate, and included universities such as Arizona State, Chapman, University of Chicago, Kansas State, and Purdue. In its award letter to LBCC, Heterodox Academy noted: The levels of commitment, ambition, and innovation demonstrated by the Linn-Benton Community College Civil Discourse Club are truly extraordinary — and a model for students and faculty at other colleges and universities nationwide. THE ADVANTAGE OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE Heterodox has gathered data that reflects how community colleges are unique among universities and private colleges. That data shows that community colleges tend to have more diversity when it comes to socio-economic standing, political points of view, demographics, and life experiences. “Because of our unique situation – that being a red county, blue county community college – we didn’t really have much choice but to figure out how to have these two worlds interact with one another and to provide space where everybody feels included,” said Urista. “I think the work the college has done around free expression is a testament to our college leadership. This work takes a tremendous amount of courage. Fortunately, we have that here.”
Heterodox Academy’s Open Inquiry Awards Ceremony in New York City. left to right: Brandon Calhoun, Civil Discourse Club President and Original Founding Member Debra Mashek, Heterodox Academy’s Executive Director Anthony Lusardi, Original Founding Member of the Civil Discourse Club Mark Urista, Communication Faculty and Civil Discourse Club Advisor Jonathan Haidt, Co-Founder of Heterodox Academy and Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business
This work takes a tremendous amount of courage. Fortunately, we have that here.
LBCC Civil Discourse Club. Brandon Calhoun and Trevor Lane tabling at Mayfest 2019, Albany Campus.
~ Mark Urista
LBCC Civil Discourse Club at the Albany Campus.
Find out more! Heterodox Academy Open Inquiry Award to LBCC’s Civil Discourse Club, 2019
Mark Urista, Club Advisor uristam@linnbenton.edu facebook.com/LBCCCivilDiscourse
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“It is my mission to educate people, to empower them to educate others, and create a culture where sensitives can live in alignment”
through Sensitivity
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ental health counselor Catherine VanWetter is working to educate people on a little-known and often misunderstood neurological trait: Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP. Rooted in her own personal experience of growing up feeling different from others, VanWetter is among the roughly 20 percent of the population today who are identified as Highly Sensitive Persons. Born with a highly sensitive neurological system, HSPs have a heightened sensitivity about themselves, about others and about their environment. They tend to feel the moods of those around them, often taking on emotions that are not their own, making it difficult to decipher if what they are experiencing is their own feelings or someone else’s. “Where most people have 10 fingers to feel with, imagine that the HSP has 50,” said VanWetter.
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HELPING OTHERS
We live in a culture that is sometimes less than kind to people who are timid, kind and emotional. Those people often find it hard to fit in.
Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and isolation are often side effects of being a highly sensitive person, said VanWetter. Over her 30 years working in mental health, she has helped many clients who are battling depression and contemplating suicide. About 75 percent of those clients turned out to be HSPs. With their heightened physical, mental and emotional responses, HSPs often feel overwhelmed and find it difficult to quiet all of the stimuli around them. VanWetter believes that many of them suppress or ignore their sensitivity due to a societal mindset of being strong and thick-skinned. “When ‘sensitives’ are in a room together, it is like we’ve written each other’s story. We live in a culture that is sometimes less than kind to people who are timid, kind and emotional. Those people often find it hard to fit in,” she said.
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and their families to create proper balance in their day through meditation, creative arts, walks in nature and yoga. This fall, VanWetter will offer a class through LBCC Community Education on HSP: Thriving in the Workplace, which covers how to create a functional and welcoming work environment for HSPs. “I’ve made it my mission to educate people and empower them to educate others - so we can help create a culture where sensitives can live in alignment,” she said. To learn more or to register, check the LBCC Community Education fall term schedule.
VanWetter has dedicated her career to helping other HSPs. Through her work, she helps them
Need help paying for College? The LBCC Foundation can help! The Foundation offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for every kind of student. Apply during the Fall Scholarship cycle opening on September 25.
Find a scholarship that’s right for you!
“…the LBCC Foundation scholarship allowed me to spend time after class learning how to research and develop new foods and new tastes.”
– Freddy
Associate of Applied Science, Culinary Arts Recipient of the Jen Juell Memorial Scholarship
Applying is easy.
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www.linnbenton.edu/scholarships 541-917-4209
Theater Program earns
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NATIONAL
Kennedy Center Award
The LBCC Theater Program received national recognition from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for its original play “I Got Guns.” LBCC’s was the only community college production selected from two-year colleges and universities in the nine Pacific Northwest states. Written by LBCC Theater Director Dan Stone, the play picked up awards for directing, ensemble and original music. Stone received a Distinguished Achievement in Teaching Artistry Award for his play, which examines political viewpoints and gun issues using improvisational Commedia dell’arte style theater. Stone originally wrote the play in 2016. Although rooted in comedy, the play does not attempt to ignore the tragedy of gun violence, but instead chooses to focus on all sides of the extreme politics we see today.
Awards for Distinguished Performance, Original Music & Ensemble Performance!
“It’s a very serious issue we’re talking about,” said Stone. “We make it clear in the beginning of the play that we’re making fun of people who deserve to be made fun of. It focuses on extreme politics, not just gun ownership.” Student awards included LBCC graduate Alyson Fewless for Original Music; TJ Hagey and Falyn Lazerus, Distinguished Performance in a Play; and Hagey, Lazerus, Sophie Brown, Austin Allen, Nate McCullough and Korina Rayburn, Distinguished Achievement in Ensemble Performance awards.
Find out what’s up with LBCC Theater including music and lectures! www.linnbenton.edu/tripp 541-917-4531
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Celebrating Our Graduates Congratulations LBCC class of 2019! The class of 2019 packed the Linn County Expo Center to celebrate college graduation at LBCC’s 51st annual Commencement Ceremony June 13. LBCC awarded 1,000 degrees and certificates to 838 students this year. These grads earned degrees in over 60 different disciplines, from automotive technology to graphic design, engineering to healthcare, business to biology and more! LBCC welcomed Governor Kate Brown as this year’s keynote speaker, and outgoing Student Body President Shelby Pick gave the student address. In addition, local realtor Chris Hanson was recognized with the college’s Distinguished Alumni award for his contributions to our community. Chris earned his Associate of Science degree from LBCC in 1988. An Honorary Degree was presented for former LBCC Board of Education member Shelly Garrett, who passed away April 16. As director of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, Shelly was instrumental in bringing LBCC’s Advanced Transportation Center to Lebanon, among many other accomplishments. 54
Chris Hanson recieved the Distinguished Alumni award.
Governor Kate Brown was this year’s keynote speaker.
Degrees in over 60 different disciplines, from automotive technology to graphic design, engineering to healthcare, business to biology and more!
LBCC
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Night at the Knights!
LBCC Night at the Knights highlights the Foundation in a
“Sea of Blue”
A sea of blue descended on Goss Stadium in Corvallis June 18 for LBCC’s Night a t the Knights – an event that celebrates our new graduates and showcases Roadrunner pride and LBCC’s impact on our communities – and of course, supports local Knights Baseball! Sponsored by the LBCC Foundation, admission to the game was free for all students, and guests had the opportunity to win one of two $1,000 scholarships! This year’s winners were LBCC engineering student Connor Sherlock, of Corvallis, and incoming freshman welding student Gabiella Hedgpeth, of Philomath. Special thank you to Scott and Kristin Ramsey of Ram-Z Fab in Corvallis for becoming a $1,000 scholarship sponsor this year.
Scholarships winners Connor Sherlock and Gabiella Hedgpeth.
Distinguished Alumni Chris Hanson throws out the first pitch!
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Linn-Benton Community College 48 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW Albany, OR 97321-3755
Periodical Postage PAID Albany, OR 97321
Residential Postal Patron
Need help paying for college? THE LBCC FOUNDATION CAN HELP! See page 4 for more details.
– Anna
Associate of Applied Science, Nursing
Recipient of Boone Nursing Scholarship, 2019
EXTENDED LEARNING
GROWING BUSINESSES, CAREERS, LIVES
Community Education • Small Business Development Center Driver Education & Vehicle Safety Corporate Training & Professional Development
Registration starts on August 26 Fall Term 2019 classes, pages 5-52 Most begin the week of Sept. 30