Hannah Briggs and Dylan Smith chosen in LBCC Student Leadership Elections

 After a tense few months in American history, the word “election” might be panic-inducing. But don’t be afraid: this one was far less heated.

The LBCC Student Leadership Council works to provide “opportunities for networking, social interactions, and outreach activities,” according to their mission statement. In practical terms, this has led to the creation of scholarships, food assistance programs, and other methods of support for students. 

In an election that ended last week, the SLC elected a new president and vice president. Both ran unopposed, with a 7% turnout carrying them to office.

Your next SLC president is a first-year LBCC student, Biology major Hannah Briggs. Briggs will “act as a student advocate and represent the SLC at the Linn-Benton Community College Board meetings,” among other duties, as set out in the SLC’s bylaws.

Briggs has been the SLC’s executive assistant since September, and was urged to take a leadership role by other members. 

“I think it would be great if we could get more students involved and really have LBCC feel like a community where everyone’s welcome.” Briggs said.

“I want to be a representative and an advocate for every single student at LBCC. It is so important that every student has a place where they feel safe, where they feel like they can go to school, they can get their education, and there are further steps out there afterwards.”

Hannah Briggs, Courtesy of Hannah Briggs

The new vice president is another first-year student, Dylan Smith. The vice president’s role is to “chair the Student Judiciary Board, prepare agenda for those meetings and report on those meetings weekly to the SLC.” 

Smith has not been a part of Student Leadership before, and was motivated to run for vice president to get more involved in the college community. “I liked everything they were doing and everything they were about, so I figured I would give it a shot.”

Smith expressed a similar goal for the SLC next year: to help those who haven’t been helped, create more programs, and draw the community together as students and friends.

Dylan Smith, Courtesy of Dylan Smith

In line with their goals for LBCC in general, Briggs and Smith also encouraged more students to take on leadership positions by joining the SLC. “I highly recommend every student to try to get involved with SLC or apply, because we have a ton of openings and positions for next school year. It’s a great way to grow your leadership and make connections within the LBCC community,” said Briggs.

To find out how to join Student Leadership, visit their website.

Dr. Mae Jemison Speaks at OSU Provost's Lecture

 In a hundred years, Dr. Mae Jemison wants the capabilities for interstellar travel. 

So she told a silent audience of almost 2000 people, an audience that spanned multiple cities, states, and countries. They were all attending -- in the broad sense of the word that’s come to be accepted in the age of Zoom -- the OSU Provost’s Lecture Series. Last Thursday, Jemison was the featured speaker. And she is, among many other things, the leader of a government-funded initiative to be capable of traveling to other solar systems in the next century.

This seems audacious to say the least, and perhaps that’s the point. As Jemison talked about diversity, science, and space, it seemed that this project -- simply titled “100 Year Starship” -- was perhaps most importantly a symbol of innovation. In her words, it is driven by the question, “How do you foster an environment such that something that big could be attempted?”

There are many challenges to the goal of interstellar travel, not least of which is the sheer amount of time and distance it would take. 

“The moon is three days away, Mars is four months to a year away. Interstellar is much further from that,” Jemison said. “Voyager, that just left our solar system, has been traveling at over 30,000 miles an hour since 1977 and it just left our solar system.” 

This massive distance means that many realms of science would need to advance far beyond where they are today. And that’s just one of several comparable problems.

Yet Jemison's bright outlook made interstellar travel seem eminently possible. She said about the U.N. sustainability goals, which include such massive problems as eradicating global poverty, that “not one of those goals is something we do not have the technology and the capabilities to address right now.” She reflected sadly on the pessimism she sees in younger generations. And as she spoke, neighboring stars felt closer for a moment, in reach if only we had more people like her.

Jemison is a polymath. As she introduced herself, she listed her credentials: “astronaut, a Peace Corps medical officer, a physician, a chemical engineer, an environmental studies professor, a business owner, and an educator.” That’s nowhere near a comprehensive list. She was also the first woman of color in space, though she shrugged off that distinction, “I was surprised. I didn’t even think about the fact that I’d be the first.”

 

But it’s a fact that Jemison has accomplished far more already than most people ever will. And she shows no sign of stopping.

Jemison was not the first remarkable person to speak at the OSU Provost’s Lecture Series, which Provost Edward Feser described as a way to “use the intellectual strength of the institution to draw in great thinkers and leaders and then invite in the community to hear from them.” Nor will she be the last; Ibram X. Kendi and David Eagleman are slated to be the next entrants in this illustrious crew.

Feser said this year the lectures have been oriented towards racial and diversity issues. However, the inclusion of Jemison this year is a segue into the 2021-22 academic year, when there will be a focus on science. He’s also been working to increase the number of events to two or three per year rather than one. The next lecture will be given, still online, by Ibram X. Kendi on April 14 at 5 p.m. To sign up, click here.

Above all, Feser said, the goal is “to encourage students to take advantage of the broader intellectual activities at the university.” 

“We’re just trying to create opportunities for people to hear these ideas,” he continued.

Nearly 2000 people could pledge to the success of this goal on Thursday as they listened to Jemison speak. She touched on many topics, as might be expected from a person with such a variety of interests. But perhaps the most important theme was the importance of diversity in scientific thought. And in that vein, Jemison had a simple but poignant take.

“It matters who asks the questions.”

At a Glance:

Who: Dr. Mae Jemison

What: The Provost’s Lecture Series at OSU

When: Thursday, Feb. 4.

Who’s next: Ibram X. Kendi, April 14.

Links

Provost's Lecture Series 

Sign up for Kendi lecture

100 Year Starship

Dr. Mae Jemison (Photo courtesy of OSU)

Help is Out There for College Students Struggling with Hunger

Forty-two percent. Nearly half. That’s how many community college students struggle with food insecurity, according to the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice -- and the number has likely gone up in recent months.

LBCC is not immune to this problem. Hundreds of students require some sort of food assistance, according to Rob Camp, Student Leadership Coordinator at LBCC. Fortunately, this assistance is available at the college and outside of it.

Several years ago, Student Leadership founded the LB Lunch Box, a student-run program that provides grocery gift cards for those who need them. They previously provided food directly, but have changed their services due to with COVID considerations.

“The Linn Benton Lunch Box is just a place for students to reach out and say, ‘Hey, I need some help’ and they can get something two times a term as long as they’re a current student,” said Camp.

For those needing more, the local, federally funded Linn Benton Food Share supports a group of over 70 partner agencies, including food banks and soup kitchens. 

“Our task is to access and distribute food to local agencies that actually interact with the public and provide the food either as food boxes or meals to people in need,” said Colleen Dyrud, the Agency Relations Manager at LBFS.

“The pandemic has really hit college students in the area very, very hard, and college students often have a hard time qualifying for food stamps,” Dyrud said. 

A 2018 study, published by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, found that 36% of university students and 42% of community college students reported food insecurity over a thirty-day period.

As a result of this situation, the food pantry based on the OSU campus has been distributing more food than any other in the area. This food bank is open to the public, not just OSU students. It’s located at Champinefu Lodge, 1030 SW Madison Ave. in Corvallis.

Unfortunately, some may not be aware of what’s available. 

Camp said, “I think a lot of the reason [students] haven’t reached out is that they just don’t know it’s there.”

For those who can afford to help, both organizations accept monetary donations. Dyrud said that donors to the LBFS range from companies and organizations to individuals who can spare “an extra five dollars.” 

To donate to Linn-Benton Food Share, visit this site or send a check to P.O Box 1920, Corvallis, OR, 97339.

To donate to the LB Lunch Box, send a check to Linn-Benton Lunch Box, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Forum 120, Albany, OR, 97321.

At a glance:

What: Food banks are a way to help students who are unable to cover basic needs.

Where: Linn and Benton counties

What’s next: Seek aid if you need it, donate if you can.

Links:

Roadrunner Resource Center | LBCC 

Linn Benton Food Share Donation Page

Linn-Benton Lunch Box (LBLB) | LBCC

Linn Benton Food Share (has contact info for local agencies such as food banks.)