Throughout this pandemic, we’ve all been spending more time than usual in our homes and inside the house, which begs the question -- how do we make it more enjoyable? The answer: plants. Not only do these chlorophyll-filled organisms give our spaces a more enjoyable aesthetic, but they also have been shown to boost mood, productivity, and health by increasing oxygen and removing pollutants and toxins from the air. For some people when they think of plants, it seems hopeless to keep them alive; however, there’s plenty of plants that are easy to care for and nearly impossible to kill. After propagating and raising over fifty plants, my room is now reminiscent of a jungle and I have some tips that I’ve learned along the way so you don’t have to!*
Regardless of what type of plant you decide to bring home, it’s important to make sure that you let the soil dry out between watering to prevent pests, overwatering, and root rot. Another must is to have pots and soil with good drainage -- make sure the pot has a hole and a plate for excess water and for soil -- a general potting mix with perlite (for drainage) is preferable. On another note, there are lots of inexpensive ways to grow your plant collection: nearly all plants can be propagated with a little work (succulents do best with leaf cuttings) and this is a great way to get lots of baby plants without having to purchase more. If you have any questions about plant care or want to know where to even get started, my email is [email protected], I currently have these plants for reference: cornstalk dracaena, aloe vera, spider plants (both varieties), golden pothos, philodendron, fiddle leaf fig, rubber plant, pepper plant, Chinese evergreen, painters palette, snake plant, asparagus fern, jade plants, crassula springtime, lucky bamboo, Burro’s tail, angel wing, and golden ball cacti. In the Corvallis/Philomath area, the best options for finding all of the plants mentioned are: Shonnard’s Nursery (Philomath off Highway 20 W), Garland’s Nursery (Corvallis off Highway 20 N), Home Depot (Albany or near AMC/Safeway), Penguin Flowers (Monroe Ave.), and even Market of Choice! * I am not an expert by any means in botany or plant physiology, these pieces of advice are from my own experience. The images are of the author's own plants! - Laura Jost If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading!
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Thanksgiving is a time in which individuals and communities reflect on all that they are grateful for. Per tradition, families gather around the dinner table and feast on turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and the likes. Although this year Thanksgiving looks a little different, with strict coronavirus guidelines preventing large family gatherings, the tradition of turkey and giving thanks remains the same. One thing that continuously goes unrecognized, however, is the source of the traditional turkey we eat. Whether or not you are a meat-lover or a vegetarian, we all must consider where our Thanksgiving turkey came from and how it was sourced, and we should all be thankful for the turkey on our plate. Every Thanksgiving, an estimate of around 46 million turkeys are killed for America’s consumption. But unlike the media portrays, these turkeys are not slaughtered cleanly or ethically. This is specifically because turkeys and chickens are exempt from the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, which excludes their slaughter from being overseen or controlled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This leads to inhumane living conditions, transportation, and slaughter of turkeys across the US, especially around Thanksgiving time. Leading up to their death, turkeys are overfed, overcrowded, and under-exercised, their beaks bound, and their legs subject to deformities and skeletal disorders. They spend their five months of life confined to enclosed incubators and cages, the opposite of the natural environment that cage-free or wild turkeys live in. Transportation of turkey livestock is also extremely cruel, where up to 2,000 turkeys are loaded onto one truck and thrown into cramped, uninsulated crates. They often suffer from broken bones, heat exhaustion, freezing temperatures, and stress, among countless other things. The actual slaughter process is equally as inhumane and heartbreaking. We must learn to look past our traditional Thanksgiving turkey dishes and sympathize with these birds, recognizing the unfair brutalities that they are subject to. After identifying the cruelty of the slaughter process of turkeys around Thanksgiving time, the public must take action to change the painful fates of these millions of turkeys. So what can we do as consumers and as the general public? First of all, petitioning for the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA) to be amended to include chicken, turkey, and other poultry can help bring the entire poultry industry one step closer to more humane practices. However, this policy change requires a lot of leverage, as the USDA claims that covering poultry under HMSA would require Congress to rewrite the law as a whole. This will take time and effort, and can only be achieved if the public works cohesively to expose and petition the existing HMSA laws. As for a more plausible, short-term plan, consumers should consider converting to vegetarian substitutes for the dish, or simply becoming more cognizant of where your meat is coming from. Knowing where your turkey is sourced from, and making sure it's ethically sourced and preferably cage-free, is crucial in bettering the lives of millions of birds annually. This Thanksgiving, let us not forget to give thanks to the turkeys on our tables, and to be aware of how they got there. Happy Thanksgiving, Raiders! Bibliography: Los Angeles Times Editorial Board. (2017, November 22). Editorial: There's a grim reality behind your Thanksgiving turkey. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-turkey-slaughter-20171122-story.html Nosowitz, D. (2018, October 18). Poultry Aren't Listed Under the Humane Slaughter Rule. Why? Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://modernfarmer.com/2017/12/poultry-arent-listed-humane-slaughter-rule/ PETA. (2016, November 15). The Hidden Lives of Turkeys. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming/turkeys/hidden-lives-turkeys/ PETA. (2013, October 14). Turkey Transport and Slaughter. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming/turkeys/turkey-transport-slaughter/ - Maya Schwartz If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! Book of the Month: A Court Of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Feyre, a girl trying to get enough to eat by hunting in the dangerous woods, takes down a wolf. Or was it? Her village lies mere miles from the boundary with the faerie world, the Wall, and they’ve seen more faeries than ever. It turns out that wasn’t just a wolf, after all, and Feyre is about to sacrifice all she knows to pay the price. There is more afoot with the faerie world than it seems, though, and her assumptions may prove to be far wrong. In fact, she may be their world’s only hope. This book is so captivating and the fantasy world it builds is immersive and addicting. What most stuck with me about this book, beyond the great setting and writing, is the character development. Feyre, her sisters, and each character you meet later in the book start off one way, but through the course of the book, grow and understand each other better as well. This was especially true of Feyre and her sisters, as well as Tamlin, who you meet after a few chapters in the book, and later Rhys also. Personally, I can’t wait to read the next books in the series, and I think this book appeals to a wide audience. I’d especially recommend it if you like The Hunger Games or Gregor the Overlander series by Suzanne Collins, Graceling by Kristen Cashore, or Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse Trilogy (all of which I would also recommend!) Quotes of the Month: “Anything worth dying for is certainly worth living for.” — Joseph Heller, Catch-22 “The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there… and still on your feet.” — Stephen King, The Stand “Ever’body’s askin’ that. ‘What we comin’ to?’ Seems to me we don’t never come to nothin’. Always on the way.” — John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath Image sources: Amazon, Wikipedia, The New Yorker, PetMD - Kate Voltz If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, takes place during the month of November. It is supposed to create a large community of authors, and it is all about setting realistic and achievable writing goals. It is a global writing effort about encouraging children, as well as adults, to write about whatever interests them. Books range from high fantasy to science fiction to historical biographies. Anything that you want to write, you can write about. NaNoWriMo itself is run through a non-profit organization that goes by the same name. As of right now they have almost 800,000 active people writing novels during the month of November. NaNoWriMo as a concept began in 1999, with the idea to write 50,000 words in 30 days. It became an official non-profit organization later in 2006. The organization also supports education and literacy in places where that is lacking. Almost 6,000 different teachers use it in their classroom environments, since it helps as a teaching tool as well as providing some curriculum. There are quite a few books that have been published as a result of NaNoWriMo. There is Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, which has been awarded the Indie Choice Book Award for Adult Fiction. Another example you might recognize would be Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. For a final example, you have Marissa Meyer’s Cinder, which is a new take on the old Cinderella story. NaNoWriMo also hosts pep talks from notable authors. Past presenters have been John Green, Andy Weir, and Veronica Roth, as well as many others. You can get writing advice as well as ideas for organizing the overall flow and structure of your novel, and learn how to navigate the twists and turns of enticing your readers. If you are interested in the specifics about NaNoWriMo, feel free to either research a little bit about it on your own or contact me, Vincent Bottaro, about more details. Many people at CV and in our community do it every year, and the Corvallis Benton-County Public Library runs programs about it, which can be found on their website. If you would like to continue writing outside of November, consider joining the Crescent Crier! Major source: the NaNoWriMo website, https://nanowrimo.org/. - Vincent Bottaro If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! COVID-19 has affected many things, not just the postponement of plans in our personal lives but also our education. This year, students and educational departments all over the world have tried something different: distance learning. According to The Handbook of Research for Educational Communications and Technology, distance education is not a new concept. That being said, except for schools and universities that intentionally offer it, distance learning has not been done for many years. In times like this, schools have options, but in terms of prioritizing the health of everyone, they have to consider adopting or re-adopting distance learning. It may not be the best for everyone, but if it’s the only way to learn right now, what other choice would we have? So how does distance learning affect us, students? Distance learning has brought a rollercoaster of effects to different students. According to Goodwin University, 1 out of every 4 students states that they are better in online classes than in traditional. From data from colleges over the years, many of which have been doing online school for years, trends shows that online learning outcomes are often less successful than in-person learning. "Online students did substantially worse than students in the same face-to-face course: They earned lower grades, were less likely to succeed in subsequent courses, and more likely to drop out," according to the Brookings Institute. Stanford's Graduate School of Business noted similar patterns. This isn't always true for every student, though. For instance, a senior at CV has been more productive and more organized in online learning than in the actual. For others, different distractions from their surroundings have kept them from focusing on their studies. The learning environment has changed, and so have our routines, but it will never change our goal - to learn. In Crescent Valley, some student-athletes have not had sports after school, and many cannot see their friends, thus lesser socialization. This has made them realize the importance of having the ability to have relationships in person. Many people felt like they have been less productive this year, and many have realized that actual classes are better. These two different ways of learning still have pros and cons. It’s just a matter of which one works better for each student. Nevertheless, as students, we should never let this pandemic stop us from doing our best when learning. Perseverance has led us here because we know the importance of education, and coming this far especially during the pandemic is something we should be proud of. The best thing we could do is to make the most out of it, to do our best, and to use what we have right now so that we can achieve and fulfill the purpose of going to school - learning. The Crier had the chance to get in touch with CV students to ask about their experience, which informed this reporting. Here’s some of the quotes from them: “Distance learning has changed my routine a lot. With distance learning I often finish school earlier than I would with normal school. I’m also home a lot more and have more time to focus on my studies. Considering I have more time to complete my work and I have a quiet space at home to focus, I do think that I have been more productive this year. The Canvas Calendar really helps me stay organized and keep track of everything! I think online school has been pretty good. I definitely miss being back in school with everyone, but I think the district organized online learning pretty well. It’s been going good for me!” - Anna Wilson, Senior “I have been so incredibly unproductive, and there is no way I can deny it… I think because the value (grade-wise) in homework has decreased, my brain tricks me into thinking that I shouldn't spend extra time on it. Does that make any sense? You know, for being self-aware, you'd think I'd be more diligent in doing my assignments... I don't want to be all sappy and throw a pity-party for myself, but I will say, I feel as if all my hard work in the years prior has gone down the dump. What's more frustrating (and I'm sure others feel it too), is that prior to COVID, we would work our rear-ends off to turn in work efficiently and on time. Now, especially with the late work policy, I'm kinda questioning everything I have ever done in public education… Actually funny enough, before I transferred schools from Albany to CV, I was heavily considering an online school. Theoretically speaking, online sounds like the dream because you work at your own pace, there is nothing 'socially' to worry about, and you have a whole load of free time on your hands. But now, I absolutely cannot stand hybrid/distance learning. No disrespect to any of the administration since I think they are doing a fantastic job compared to many other districts. There's just something about looking at a blue-lighted screen for 10+ hours that really puts me off from my education. Would I like to be in-person-learning anytime soon? Absolutely the heck not…. Something so valuable that I hold dearly during quarantine is the ability to have face-to-face interaction. Without a doubt, I think every student can agree with this statement. I usually have my camera on for 3/4 of my classes, and although I am semi-engaged in class, it just doesn't feel the same… I've lost touch with a lot of people. Like, a lot. It's been kind of melancholy since March... But, I'd rather pay the price of losing a few friends than risking my family or any other stranger to the virus... but the point is, COVID has made my priorities in life a lot more clearer.” - Maria Fuller, Junior “Distance learning has made me a lot less productive. It is hard to focus on school, and I end up sleeping in a lot later and doing less work. Actual works better for me, as there is more structure and accountability. I learned that online classes allow me to do work whenever I want as long as I get it done. I think online classes are as good as they can be for the time being. I think it is important that we have them so that we can stop the spread of COVID, but I am looking forward to going back to actual when it is safe.” - Iris Miller-Sherman, Junior “I would estimate I've been about the same amount of productive. That's hard to say though what with the workload and everything being very different. I would say that actual school works best for me. It makes it easier to learn things, get instructions, ask questions, and turn in assignments. I've gotten a lot better at figuring out how to navigate things on my Chromebook. I've never been very good at using computers in general, but this whole thing has made it so I had too. I solidly prefer actual school. I miss being able to see people, have classes in person, and participate in clubs (specifically Speech and Debate). Online does have it's benefits though, for instance the commute to school is a lot easier.” - Logan Banks-Palmer, Junior “I have been able to sleep in later and wear sweats everyday to school. I also have not had sports after school. No, I think it has been harder to be productive in online school; [I prefer] actual school. I have learned how important it is to be able to have relationships with people in person. I think that online school is boring and I would rather go to in-person school to see my friends.” - CV Sophomore “I think that distance learning has changed my daily routine in general. It has been a challenge for all to overcome. I think that I am less productive this year. There are countless distractions when you are in another environment. In-person school is definitely better than online school for sure! Fewer distractions and more engagement sessions create the best learning environment. I think that one thing that I have realized while in an online class is that I should turn my camera on, if possible so that the staff can feel like that they are actually teaching a class. I think that [online school] is our only choice for now. We just have to do our best with the given situation, be grateful, be respectful, be responsible, and be safe. Hopefully, everyone can be more compassionate, empathetic, and understanding towards another.” - CV Freshman Works Cited https://www.epi.org/publication/the-consequences-of-the-covid-19 https://usafacts.org/state-of-the-union/education/ http://members.aect.org/edtech/ed1/13/13-02.html https://mycollegeguide.org/blog/2017/05/online-classes-vs-traditional-classes/ https://potomac.edu/top-advantages-of-traditional-education/ https://honestproscons.com/pros-and-cons-of-traditional-schools/ https://www.goodwin.edu/enews/online-classes-vs-traditional-classes/ https://www.brookings.edu/research/who-should-take-online-courses/ https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/publications/virtual-classrooms-how-online-college-courses-affect-student-success#:~:text=Using%20an%20instrumental%20variables%20approach,remain%20enrolled%20at%20the%20university. - Althea Balisi If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! With Black Friday and the holiday season coming up, I’m sure we’re all very excited to get some new wardrobe items, which is why it’s a great time to bring up ethical clothing choices. Clothing produced by massive corporations can cause climate ramifications, as well as some horrifying human rights issues. Stick with me while I dive into some info about ethical shopping, and how you can participate. Shopping for ethically made clothing has always been an important practice, but it is now more crucial than ever. According to BBC, fashion accounts for around 10% of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, and Green America reports that Americans generate 16 million tons of textile waste a year, equaling just over six percent of total municipal waste. For context, 16 million tons equals about 1,230 adult elephants. That’s a LOT, but the climate impacts are just the tip of the iceberg. The way clothing is manufactured also has a large part in the mistreatment of workers as well. Many of your favorite brands, such as Adidas, Nike, Hollister and Converse still use sweatshops in manufacturing of their products. Sweatshops often have poor working conditions, unfair wages, unreasonable hours, child labor, and a lack of benefits for workers. On top of that, in developing countries, an estimated 168 million children ages 5 to 14 are forced to work in grueling conditions. Large companies like the ones listed above commonly have factories in developing countries because laws around worker’s rights, wages and child labor are more forgiving and sometimes even non existent. So, what can you do? Step one is to think, “do I really need this?” Limiting the amount of clothing you buy in general ensures that those pieces of clothing will not end up staying in your closet for years until you decide to throw them away or donate them, often sending them straight to landfills. However, if you really do need a piece of clothing, consider buying it used, or from an ethical brand. Plus, thrifting is kind of fun :) (PSA, remember to thrift responsibly). With a little bit of research, finding ethical brands that sell cute clothing is not a difficult task. Here are some brands to try out, with varying price ranges and aesthetics. More expensive/luxury brands: Patagonia, Eileen Fisher Normally priced brands: Minga London, Levi Strauss & Co Inexpensive/Thrift (requires more searching but you can find some real gems :)) Local: Revolve, Second Glance, Goodwill, Buffalo Exchange (Eugene or Portland) Online Thrifting (shop carefully): Depop, Poshmark With that, happy shopping, Raiders! :) Sources: https://www.greenamerica.org/unraveling-fashion-industry/what-really-happens-unwanted-clothes https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-sweatshops https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing - Phia Mathison If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! Tw/cw: The following poems touch on topics such as anxiety, depression, and dysphoria. If these topics are triggering to you, please proceed with caution. The second poem has some cursing. The third poem has none of these themes, though it does talk a bit about self-hatred. Pinocchio Washing hands in the dark instead of seeing myself in the mirror sweeping anxiety averted looking at reflection feels unnatural body has two lumps of shouldn’t be there weighing down my heart shoulders slump in sagging baggy clothes cover unnatural figure and to add on even without these parasites melded onto me I still hate these short legs small but not skinny enough round cheeks weak ankles dark shadows under eyes imperfect thighs feel like screaming sometimes instead I take a math test and rip at my skin leaving behind a long thin line that won’t disappear for three days anxiety gets its way I tell myself “it won’t happen again” then drown in the thought of it might Next day long day wrong day someday soul feel light put on “I’m a real boy now” sit tight feel alright 8 hours pass back to a puppet can’t focus on any tests formulas theories Thoreau engineering assignments clambering for attention scholarships deadlines daunting applications drown it all out turn off the lights sleep tight anxiety can’t catch me if I’m unconscious heartbeat hammer rhythm in chest i sing along—at least I don’t completely hate my voice then deep breaths breathing in the long suffocating seconds till release hits and I find a sort of comfort in breathing-- eyes closed I disappear darkness is a true friend Third Attempt I always thought I was like you but I’m a tongue tied anomaly slowly sinking into the wrong reality. It doesn’t matter how much I twist I’ll never actually change always the same little girl F*** I almost feel at home with that word Girl is a weighted blanket I can curl up in and hide my crying face with But I’m not girl and girl isn’t green. Girl is in the sun, playing with fire. I’m on the dark side of the moon barely breathing. reality doesn’t have enough gravity to hold me down so I feel nothing, stuck halfway between everything and space I wonder when the first person will commit suicide in this overwhelming expanse I feel as though I stopped aging at 8th grade everything past that a fever dream and I-- a fly on the wall If my mind is a fridge then I’ve got all the wrong magnets Love Song to Anybody But Myself Why do I keep coming back to South? Back to far away out of reach can’t touch the wrong side of the map because I’m North and nothing’s wrong with me why can’t I see that why can’t I see that why can’t I see that If I can’t see that I’ll never see me, the faux glasses I use to look at myself are the same you wear in the looking glass, Oh honey let me slip them off your face and caress your cheek, you’re more than you think You’re flowers and smiles and Oh you’re that moment I realize it’s really fall and you’re the moment I smell spring in the air and the moment I first see snow Oh you’re that feeling I get butterflies in my stomach You’re everything I wish I was when I look at polished silver sweetest color in the world is your favorite color You scare me sometimes, how I wish I could snap my fingers and make it alright. I look at a puddle and I see mud. You see me. Oh dear love song to anybody but myself I am dirt mixed with water. The sort of thing people see on their clothes and wash off. Oh dear wash me off but I know you won’t because you’re always there. Oh smile I don’t care love song to anybody but myself Why do I do this to mud? Set me on fire so I can have a hardy exterior. Set me on fire so I’ll shatter when I fall instead of splattering small ball of clay Oh dear make the guilt go away how dare I look in the mirror But there’s nothing wrong with me nothing wrong with me nothing wrong with me nothing wrong with me Oh dear I hope you never see this poem to anybody but myself - Anonymous If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm. To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! On November 3rd, Measure 110 passed in Oregon, decriminalizing possession of small amounts of all drugs. It also lowers the criminality of possessing larger amounts of drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor, and directs millions in marijuana tax revenue toward funding addiction recovery centers and a general fund for drug treatment and recovery. With the passage of this law, the possession of small amounts of drugs earns you a ticket and a $100 fine, or the choice to be screened for a substance abuse disorder. This doesn’t mean that all drugs, including cocaine, heroin, meth, and opioids, are legalized, but they are no longer criminalized either. Oregon is the first state in the nation to do this. It’s a major step to rebuking the War on Drugs, which has over the course of decades put thousands of people in prison. In fact, one in five prisoners in America today, including federal and state prisons, is there for a drug offense. Within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which of course only registers federal offenders, 46.2% of all prisoners are incarcerated for a drug-related offense. The police make more than a million arrests each year for drug possession nationwide. The American War on Drugs has faced more scrutiny in recent years. John Ehrlichman, Richard Nixon’s chief of staff, is quoted as saying that the War on Drugs was meant to target the antiwar left and Black communities specifically. A libertarian think tank, the Cato Institute, found in their analysis that the War on Drugs has in fact increased drug overdose deaths and fueled the creation of powerful drug cartels. Thus, Measure 110 is a big move that shifts focus away from punitive measures for those who use drugs toward a rehabilitative and treatment-based approach. To examine what impacts this may have, it’s helpful to look to Portugal, which as an entire nation did the same thing nineteen years ago. In 2001, Portugal decriminalized, not legalized, but decriminalized small possessions of all drugs, as Oregon did in this election. Since then, with an expansion there of drug addiction treatments, they’ve seen a number of benefits. Opioid overdoses have fallen, as have drug-related diseases like hepatitis C and HIV. Prison overcrowding decreased as well. In the five years following the decriminalization, however, murders rose by double-digits, but they then fell again. Analysis shows this may have resulted from drug traffickers thinking the country was so-called “free game,” when drug trafficking was not legalized, leading to more clashes with police. Drug-related crimes did go down as well during this period. Portugal faced such a crisis in the 1980s of heroin use that as many as one in ten people used it at the time. It first countered this massive problem with an approach even harsher than the American slogan “just say no;” it was literally “drugs are Satan.” However, as perspectives changed, the mindset did too, and it began to be about treating those with addiction problems. Drug users went from being called "junkies" to people with addiction disorders or just drug users. This wasn’t just a policy change: it was coupled with social change and compassionate treatment policies. As Oregon moves forward with a new policy on drug possession, these other social factors will also need to be taken into consideration. Right now, the tax revenue from marijuana, from which the funding for Addiction Recovery Centers comes, is $100 million and projected to grow by $20 million in coming years. The new policy moves $57 million in just the first year to funding, and projects that to grow in coming years as revenue does as well. It’s also noted that it costs the state $15,000 to deal with each misdemeanor drug offense, which is actually far less than the cost for treatment. Ultimately, the results of this change in Oregon may change the course of drug policy in the rest of the United States, and demonstrate how decriminalization works out for Americans. There will likely be a lot of national interest in how the effects of Measure 110 plays out here in the state, including overdose deaths. The Willamette Week reported on Oregon’s comparably very high drug use and abuse problem in 2019. In 2018, 338 people in the state died from opioid-related overdoses alone, and the number related to synthetic opioids went up by nearly double between 2016 and 2018. We will see what these trends demonstrate in the coming years. Sources: Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2020 BOP Statistics: Inmate Offenses Pointers From Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War Portugal’s radical drugs policy is working. Why hasn’t the world copied it? Oregon decriminalizes possession of street drugs, becoming first in nation 2020 Oregon election results: The Oregonian Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act (FINAL) (00818140).DOCX Report: Nixon aide says war on drugs targeted blacks, hippies Nixon adviser Ehrlichman explains anti-left, anti-black war on drugs Four Decades and Counting: The Continued Failure of the War on Drugs Oregon: Opioid-Involved Deaths and Related Harms Nobody Can Beat Oregon for Drug Use and Abuse Image source: Vox. Instagram post photo source: AP News - Kate Voltz If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! The Crier would like to share some community resources that are totally free, from both outside sources and within CV. This post will be updated with more information and resources periodically, and we hope this is helpful in directing you toward what you need in these challenging times. We also have an older article about mental health in our state and district if you're looking for more information. Library-sponsored Teen Support: The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library is hosting a series of virtual events, moderated by therapists, to help teens with emotions and anxiety. Every third Wednesday of the month, from 4-5pm, there will be sessions on anxiety support: these are November 18th, December 16th and January 20th. To register for any of these - which are entirely free - you can use these links, in order of the dates: https://bit.ly/anxiety11-18, https://bit.ly/anxiety12-16, and https://bit.ly/anxiety1-20. Additionally, every week on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:15 there is a teen support series on handling emotions. These will last from November 24 - December 22. A new link to the sign-up page for this series is here: https://corvallisbenton.librarycalendar.com/events/teen-support-series-handling-emotions-1. These sessions are described thus: "At each virtual workshop, teens will explore different aspects of the topic (anxiety or emotions), learn various coping skills, and have a safe space to share about their experience. All workshops will be moderated by a therapist with either Benton County Mental Health (Anxiety) or the Old Mill Center (Handling Emotions). The workshops are meant for youth education and support." School Counselors If you as a student need anything, related to school or mental health or anything else, your school counselor is a great resource who can also point you toward other helpful avenues to get what you need. The Writing Center and Math Lab The Writing Center and the Math Lab are still open during online school! Reach out to Jill at the Writing Center for more information at [email protected], and talk to your math teacher about the Math Center, if these are things you're interested in. CV also has tutoring programs that your teachers can put you in touch with if you ask. DrugWatch Mental Health Information: https://www.drugwatch.com/health/mental-health/mental-illness/ (This linked page is a very helpful guide to understanding mental illnesses and treatment/resource possibilities, and is a good place to start with understanding mental illness and what you can do to feel better or help others who are struggling.) There are many emergency resources available to anyone in crisis. Listed below are just a few. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call 1-800-273-8255, or go to https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org for more resources. Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 for a text conversation with a trained crisis counselor. The Trevor Project Hotline: Call 1-866-488-7386 or go to https://www.thetrevorproject.org for a text chat and other resources. The Trevor Project is dedicated largely to preventing suicide in the LGBTQ+ community, which has far higher rates of suicide than other demographics. SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Hotline: For emotional distress related to natural or man-made disasters, call1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. 1-800-662-4357. This line will give you information about mental health services and treatment in your area - it’s not a crisis line, but can help put you in touch with resources: "This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations." On November 3rd, Oregonians’ votes were counted not only for the presidency, but for many state and local-level offices, measures and initiatives as well. Benton County’s election website reported (unofficially) on Election Day a turnout rate of 86.78%, which is much higher than the national general turnout rate of years past, which is usually around fifty to sixty percent, according to Pew Research and the United States Election Project. Both candidates for office and ballot measures passed will influence local politics in the coming years. And of course, unsurprisingly, Democrat President-Elect Joseph R Biden beat the current president in Oregon’s electoral contest. In Oregon’s Fourth Congressional District, where Benton County lies, Democrat Peter DeFazio kept his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after facing Republican challenger Alex Skarlatos. The ultimate vote margin was 51.6% to 46.3%, according to the New York Times. The race was closer than expected, since Skarlatos had appealed to conservative constituents in rural areas and on the coast. Democrats won all of Oregon’s other U.S. House seats except for one, in District Two. In that case, the Republican incumbent retired but was replaced by a Republican; the district is in central and eastern Oregon, which leans Republican. As for the Senate, only one of Oregon’s two senators was up for re-election, Senator Jeff Merkley. He won, and continues to work with Senator Ron Wyden in Washington, D.C. to represent Oregon in the Senate. The other statewide races all went to Democrats: for State Treasurer, the incumbent Tobias Read; for State Attorney General, the incumbent Ellen Rosenblum, and for Secretary of State, Shemia Fagan. For the Oregon State Legislature, Democrats have a supermajority in both houses. Benton County’s district re-elected Dan Rayfield to the Oregon House of Representatives, a Democrat who also represents the Working Families party. The state senate seat for Benton County wasn’t up for an election this time around; Sara Gelser still represents the area. The Benton County election website has not released any official data on results of the county-level elections, initiatives and office races, only preliminary unofficial information about turnout numbers; when they do, the Crier will update this post. Oregon also passed all four measures on the ballot, which makes for several significant policy changes. The first of these was Measure 107, which reforms campaign finance. It allows states, counties, and towns or cities to limit campaign contributions and spending, as well as requiring the disclosure of those things and allowing for transparency laws about the funders of political ads. Measure 108 also passed: this measure increases the tax on cigarettes, raises the cap on taxes for cigars, and adds an entirely new 65% tax on e-cigarettes and vaping products (previously, they weren’t taxed at all). The added revenue from these taxes will go toward public health programs like those that support smoking prevention and efforts to help people quit smoking. Measure 109 legalizes psilocybin and the medicinal use of psychedelic mushrooms, making Oregon the first state to do so, and the measure also puts in place infrastructure to handle the screening of people to be allowed to use it. Finally, Measure 110 decriminalizes - not legalizes, but decriminalizes, meaning it lowers the punishment to a fine and/or treatment - all drugs. That includes things like heroin, meth, cocaine, and opioids. Any possession of small amounts of drugs means a sentence and punishment on the level of a traffic offense, and those found with drugs will either get a ticket and a $100 fine or opt to be screened for a substance abuse disorder. It also reduces the punishment for larger quantities from a felony to a misdemeanor offense, and moves millions in tax dollars specifically from marijuana sales to developing Addiction Recovery Centers and also to a general fund for drug treatment and recovery. This is a huge step, and Oregon is the first state in the nation to do this; it is a major rebuke of the War on Drugs and changes the approach to drug use management by the state. That’s all of the major votes that occurred this week in Corvallis and its neck of the woods; many other states have also had impressive candidates and initiatives, and of course, President-Elect Joseph R. Biden took the 270 electoral votes needed for the presidency. The Crier will keep this post updated with further information as it arrives. Take care of yourselves, stay safe, and take a breath. Sources: Election night results: More Oregon races called as counting continues; presidential race remains tight 2020 Oregon election results: The Oregonian Oregon’s congressional races Oregon decriminalizes possession of street drugs, becoming first in nation Oregon becomes first state to legalize psychedelic mushrooms The New York Times: Oregon Election Results November 3, 2020 Unofficial Election Results and Turnout In past elections, U.S. trailed most developed countries in voter turnout 2020 election turnout - the Unites States Election Project Rayfield wins again in Oregon House District 16 Bentz winning Oregon's 2nd Congressional District Measure 107: Voters opt to allow limits on campaign contributions, expenditures in Oregon Voters approve Measure 108 to increase taxes on tobacco, tax e-cigs and vapes in Oregon Local Election Results Photos' source: OregonLive from The Oregonian - Kate Voltz If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! Hi to all our readers!
As I'm sure you all know, today is Election Day. The Crier hasn't been covering much of the 2020 election, mostly since there's volumes and volumes of coverage nationally and locally, and we did publish an article about voting and local elections. But that's not what this is about. This election has the highest of stakes, it's stressful, it's terrifying, it's hard to weather and impossible to ignore, really. I just want to tell you to practice good self-care today and going forward into this week and after the election. No matter the results, it will be chaotic. So take a deep breath, let yourself off the hook a little bit, and try to take care of yourself and those close to you in this insanity. Have as good a day as you can, given the circumstances. Happy Election Day, or week, or possibly month, and keep your head up if you can. - Kate Have you ever wanted to go on an adventure? To bust out of your local community and explore? Well you can, and you can earn school credits along the way. Every year, study abroad programs help more than 300,000 American students start their journeys towards global awareness and cultural immersion. Many of these programs offer full or partial scholarships and range from two weeks to a full academic year in length. State Department programs such as AFS or NSL-Y are often more academic and language oriented, but there are smaller programs that you can learn more about through your language teacher as well. These programs may emphasize different aspects of studying abroad: language, community service, education, or in-country exploration, for example. Traveling alone to a foreign country...sounds pretty scary. First of all, you won’t actually be alone. Depending on the program you choose, you will likely be meeting several other exchange students as you arrive. Project mentors will guide you through an orientation and support you in whatever way you need. These programs are meant to challenge students and expand their comfort zones, but also to make sure that this international experience is as safe, authentic, and exciting as it can be. What happens when you arrive in the country? One of the key aspects of traveling abroad as a student is the full cultural immersion. You are not a tourist in this setting: you are living and experiencing the day to day life of a local citizen. You will stay with a host family, go to school, shop at local markets, and converse with your community in the native language of the area. Unfamiliar people speaking an unfamiliar language does sound daunting, but the connections you make with your host family and your peers will last a lifetime. This is an exciting experience for them, too! As for the language barrier, there is no better way to learn a language than to be surrounded by its native speakers. And if picking up on the language is slow going, you will become an expert at reading body language, social cues and dramatic miming as well. There is so much to learn from an immersive cultural experience, and the connections and memories you make cannot be replicated by any guide book or documentary. Every interaction you have is a chance to learn and grow, whether it’s trying to understand an algebra class in a foreign language, buying food from a vendor, or playing with groups of curious children who pepper you with questions and bounce around you with endless amounts of energy. Experiences are valuable and studying abroad, fully immersed in a new culture, can transform you academically, but also at a personal level. If you choose to travel abroad during the school year, you will continue to go to school with your host sibling and earn credits from the classes you take. The school system may be different than what you are used to at Crescent Valley, and it’s important to keep an open mind. Aside from school work, you may also participate in extracurriculars such as sports, clubs, or other outings and festivals. Some programs even set aside dates for all of the exchange students in the area to meet up as a group and explore as tourists for a couple days. The memories you make will hopefully be treasured for the rest of your life. In the summer of 2019, I had an opportunity to participate in a short immersion project in Panama. Deciding to go on that trip was one of the best decisions of my life. I remember being woken up in the middle of the night by the leader of the conservation project I was working on. He led a small group of us down to the beach in the dark to look for the female turtles that would come onto the sand to lay their eggs. He explained in Spanish that this way, we would know exactly where the eggs had been laid and how to protect them before the tracks got washed away by the ocean and the wind. We walked in the humid darkness, noting tracks as we went, and when we sat down to take a break we looked up at the stars. That was an experience that could not be captured in a guidebook. Not every moment will be as profound as a midnight conservation walk on the beach, but they will be just as memorable. For example, one of my favorite memories is watching my little three-year-old host brother rummage through my backpack, tear four giant holes in my mosquito net with his teeth and then start singing to me. Traveling, exploring, and learning pushes you to reflect on your values and empathize with people from different backgrounds and belief systems than your own. It is also a reminder that the perspectives of people in the United States, Oregon, Corvallis, and Crescent Valley High School are not the only ones that matter. This is especially important for you as a student because the future is yours to build. By changing your perspective, traveling as a student rather than a tourist, and making international connections, you are better equipped to create a future that appreciates the beauty and authenticity of the world, and where people and communities fight to preserve it. - Cecilia Bahnson If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! |