LBCC Students Debate Legalization of Marijuana

Colorado did it. Washington did it. Who’s next?

Students, staff and faculty joined forces in the DAC on May 15 to debate the legalization of marijuana and
hemp in Oregon.

Frank Clark and Cole Coleman argued in favor of marijuana legalization while Eric Noll and Grant Garcia
argued in opposition.

Those in favor of the proposition argued that, “Marijuana is safer than both cigarettes and alcohol, which are both addictive. They also pointed out that it has never killed anyone from over-consumption.

Additionally, the medical benefits are evident for people with glaucoma, AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, Fibromyalgia, arthritis and other diseases, according to Coleman.

Clark further urged adoption to compensate for reductions in state education funding due to the loss of tax revenue from declining home values.

Coleman later stated, “Knowledge is power, but enough with ‘just say no and drugs are bad.’” He argued for having safe drug classes akin to safe sex classes. He further stated, “Educators must be honest about the harm or risk associated with different drugs.”

Clark also said that hemp should be made legal. He proclaimed, “Hemp is illegal despite its diverse uses.”
He noted that the drug cartels are using Oregon forest regions to hide and grow a multi-billion dollar marijuana industry.  In the meantime, our “rural economy is suffering” and since “one of the main revenues of this state is farming,” it would make sense if we cultivated marijuana.

Clark pointed out that Oregon has “the optimal climate, necessary equipment, a ready workforce looking for jobs, and a need to increase the quality of living.”

Both noted that legalization would lead to a reduction in arrests, especially for recreational users. This would enable police to devote more time to pursuing ‘real’ criminals.

On the other side of the aisle, Eric Noll argued that the voters have already spoken by defeating the legalization measure in the last election. He also argued that “legalization for the purposes of funding education is wrong.”  He felt that there are other bills that should be adopted by legislators. He also inquired as to what would be done with people who had broken the law and were already incarcerated. Do they get a free pass even though they broke the law? Is there a guarantee that money will actually be made from this legalization scheme? He also questioned whether it was possible to regulate the industry, since pot is so easy to grow.

Garcia basically supported the opposition with references to HB 3194 and SB 822 which have addressed this issue.   He also stated, “Excessive use of marijuana reduces cognitive learning.” Both contenders against legalization stated that legalization should not be done to subsidize funding for education.

Javier Cervantes, director of the DAC, was concerned with the excessive impact on people of color by law enforcement due to drug laws. He stated, “How can we justify the disproportionate amount of arrests in our communities?”

The debate ended with the audience giving the nod to the team arguing for legalization. All of the team members were commended for doing a great job.

Mark Urista, communication instructor, hosted the event and the audience was shown the short movie, “The Art of Debate”, from THNKR. According to this short, people are continuously engaging in debate, even when they are not aware of it.

While conducting a survey of 12 students, there were three against and nine for the legalization of marijuana/hemp.

Brianna Hook stated, “Marijuana has put my mother’s Crohns Disease in remission for a year and half so far, and I believe that it’s better to prescribe than chemically made drugs in a lab.”

Deanna Page responded by saying, “It grows in the wild; we can go pick it. So why not make it legal? If you don’t like it, don’t do it.

While researching this subject, the Pew Research Center has reported that 52 percent of Americans are supporters of legalization marijuana. Proponents in Oregon are getting ready to get signatures for the ballot in 2014, so remember the seven percent loss from last year.

Below are the many uses of hemp in the past in history:

MIZOZO- The History of Hemp from 2727 BC to present

Ormond Galvin: Sculpting Strong

When this song was being introduced to the world by the Beatles, Ormond Galvin was 50 years old. Yes, our oldest student, Mr. Galvin is a young 96. Galvin is taking classes at LBCC/Benton Center because it makes him feel young.

Ormond Galvin, a 96-year-old ceramic student, working on an abstract piece at the Benton Center. Photo by Nora Palmtag.

Wednesday, May 22, Laurie Childers, Ceramics instructor, and Lin Olson, the administration liaison of Benton Center held a reception celebrating Galvin’s works and his contributions during World War II, where he enlisted and served 18 months in Europe as an armourer, repairing and maintaining guns and explosives for “The Mighty Eighth Army Air Force.” Childers was giving a synopsis of Galvin’s life as related to her by his 66 year old son, Norman and Galvin immediately said, “Probably lies.”

Not only was the reception attended by teachers, administrators, and students, but of his only daughter, Mary Kay Kresslein, flew (she does not like to fly, unlike her father and grandfather) in from Frederick, Maryland and surprised her father. Galvin is the proud father of four, grandfather of four, and great grandfather of six. Also present were his daughter-in-law, Cheri Galvin, his granddaughter, Tabitha Compton, and her son/his great grandson, Odin Compton, who is looking forward to going to school and loves the zoo. Odin reminded me so much of the picture displayed of Ormond at his age.

The only outward signs of his age are his hearing aids; otherwise, he is spryer than a lot of the younger students on campus. Galvin broke his back skydiving when he was in his 60’s, from which he recovered and was still flying a helicopter when he was 93. Along with producing some amazing ceramics, animals and abstracts, Galvin has to miss class sometimes to drive an 85 year old friend to her doctor appointments.
Not only was he able to watch Charles Lindbergh disembark from his transatlantic flight but grew up on the “Westside” of Central Park and observed the build of The Empire State Building. When asked, “What things have amazed you during your lifetime?”

 First, he mentioned the hay barrier, when steam engine was invented, as this started the industrial revolution. Next, he said the sound barrier being broken from planes to jets was another big thing. Finally, Galvin talked about the size of the microchip, pulling out his cell phone, in comparison to the size of the original computer, encompassing an entire room, 8 feet by 3 feet by 100 feet, and took up 1800 square feet.

Jane Herbst has known Galvin for 10 years and proclaimed, “He is a proper gentleman, thoughtful, in a time when it seems to be dead.” She, also, said, “Galvin is considerate of others and, not only does he try to help others, but he is always grateful for any help from others, trying to repay even the smallest favors. Herbst loves the parties Galvin throws for his family of students, who are all considerably younger than him.

Carrie Gibbs has known Galvin for a mere five years but admits he is “super funny and sharp. He is on it.”

Galvin has enjoyed many exciting and risk taking hobbies, from skydiving, flying planes and helicopters, sailing, horseback riding, and driving, to more sedate hobbies, like painting and ceramics.

While being introduced, Galvin kept throwing out quips. Jeff Richards commented that he would hate to be an old man and forget to close your fly. Galvin immediately said, “It’s better than being an old man who forgets to open his fly.”

Childers said, “Ormond is courteous and nice and he never puts anyone down.” Galvin replied, “I once read a book on gravity and I could not put it down.”

He is a true artist, as shown by the bookmarkers, which were given to the audience as memoirs of the occasion by his family.

One interesting fact, discovered when talking with Galvin, is that Spindrift Cellars, a small family-owned boutique winery in Philomath is run by Tabitha Compton, his granddaughter and her husband Matthew. He is so proud of the wine they produce and talked about the quality of wines, just like an expert, which he said he is not, but he appreciates a good wine or sometimes those “fruity” drinks.

And to answer the original question, yes, we still need Ormond Galvin to remind us that anything is possible and nothing is out of your reach. On those days when 40, 50, 60, or any age makes you feel old, think of Ormond Galvin and pick up those feet and do something about it to make yourself remember that you can do anything you set out to achieve.

Long Live Ormond!

C. A. S. E.

(Credential, Acceleration, Support for Employment)

    CASE “is a no-cost program open to students that meet the following eligibility requirements: eligible to work in the U. S., registered for Selective Service if applicable, 18 or older, and can provide a social security card.”

    This program, run by Sandra Shinkle, the Career Pathways Specialist, is designed to “help students in programs be successful and have a good experience at college, and develop skills employers want,” per Karin Magnuson.

    Shinkle said her “role is to prepare students to be successful once they get a job. We will be evaluated by standard performance once they are placed in a job. The grant requires that we track students for 6 months. Industry partners are telling us students need to work on their soft skills--communication skills, working one-on-one, and conflict resolution.”

    During a presentation at the Diversity Achievement Center, Shinkle stressed the importance of understanding professional culture, learn to adapt to professional communication, timeline, relationship bank, and professional emotional and cultural boundaries. 

    This program is designed to help you understand that “employers are seeking employees that:

                       Have cultural competence

                       Use feedback to improve

                       Have a professional work standard

                       Use positive and effective communication skills.”

    Knowing how to conduct yourself in a business environment and making sure you are conveying a professional attitude at all times are important tools to obtaining and keeping a job.

    Become a part of the CASE team and receive the following services:

                       Assistance with navigating college processes

                       Assigned academic/support for your individual progress and needs

                       Individualized success plan

                       Workshops to develop professional standards, communication

                       Resume, cover letter, and interview support

                       Job search assistance

                       Development of interview skills

                       Employment support after you are hired

                       Ongoing career success coaching

At a glance:

Sandra Shinkle, CASE and Career Pathways Specialist

For more information contact:

CASE at

541-917-4504

CASEstaff@linnbenton.edu

When is Social Media Wrong?

Social media is now being used, not only by public officials notifying of deaths but students being reprimanded for posts.   Is this going too far?  What happened to our social conscious in the former and our first amendment rights in the latter?

Here are four different instances where parents and relatives have been notified of the death of their loved ones through Facebook.  

In the first instance, a mother, Anna Lamb-Creasey in Georgia was notified to call the police where they were using one of their undercover aliases, "Misty Hancock."  Tom Jones of WSBTV wrote, “Anna Lamb-Creasey told Channel 2's Tom Jones she had no idea that if someone who is not a "friend" sends her a message, it goes to a box called "other" in the message folder. "

Her daughter read this post in her own inbox that said to call the police.  The mother thought it was a joke but her daughter convinced her to make the call.  Much to her dismay, this was the call she had been waiting months for. Her son was dead.

In another instance, the father had custody of the son in New York State and the mother, Jackie Barden, was not notified at all and read of her son’s death on face book per Kristen Gosling, U.S. World News.  The police claimed they thought the father had notified the mother of his death. By the time she found out, it was too late to view her son’s body.

Still another incident a young Georgia college student, Jasmine Benjamin, was found dead in her dorm and "Benjamin's mother Judith Brogdon and stepfather James Jackson were notified of her death when a friend forwarded a Facebook post about the discovery" writes Jeff Truesdell of People Magazine. 

What happened to the day when the police at least tried to come to your home or leave a message on your door to call them?    There is no excuse possible for not taking into account human decency.  Have we become so desensitized and uncaring of the feelings of our fellow citizens?

And now we are even getting to the point where tweeting something about a person is punishable as shown LIDIA CURANAJ of FoxTwinCities reported,  "Erik Nielsen, a student at Curtis High School on Staten Island, was suspended after he Tweeted a photo of a teacher's car parked in a no-parking zone and wrote "I hope Mr. Pillarella gets towed."

In another instance the following happened:  Lou Raguse of WIVB4 in New York reportsm  tthatin WNY, a senior High school honor student and his friends were removed from the stands at their school's hockey game for being disruptive.

The student posted a tweet: "F*** mrs._____ #freedomofspeech like come on why did u do that!""

He was suspended for a week."

How do you feel about the actions of the officials in these instances and how would you feel if this was the new way of contacting loved ones in the future or actions being taken for social media usage?  When does the first amendment rights apply and should they in social media?  Can you see any action being taken by the courts or public officials to protect freedom of expression or speech through social media?

Feel free to contact us with your opinion on this topic at Commuter@linnbenton.edu.