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Holiday gift giving can be challenging, stressful

Posted by :jprokop On : December 3, 2012
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Category: Opinion

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It’s that time of year again, when everyone is racking their brains and rushing around to get gifts for people.

And if you’re like me, there is literally nothing worse than having to go to a crowded store to buy some bargain bin item to wrap up and give to a random family member who you’re not even Facebook friends with.

The holiday season always brings with it a few daunting questions, such as: “Who do I care enough about to fist fight a 13-year-old for the last Nintendo Wii for?”

The uncomplicated answer: close family and best friends.

The polite answer: everyone within your bloodline.

Why is it completely necessary to get an uninspired and usually poor quality gift for those family members that we only see once a year?

Wouldn’t it be more effective to save the money that you would have spent on a random cousin and instead use it for a fantastic gift to someone you actually care about?

Wouldn’t this save everyone the hassle of throwing out useless gifts like hemp candles and decorative boxes?

Just because it’s ‘tis the season of giving, it does not mean ‘tis the season of forgetting that I hate you.

If you do choose to listen to my mom and stop being a brat and get gifts for everyone you’ve ever met, another question arises.

What’s an appropriate gift for people you hardly know but share a slight biological connection with?

Is it acceptable just to email people Groupons for bikini waxes and frozen yogurt, or is that considered rude?

Or, if you decide to use your limited funds for those you care about, what’s the best way to get that someone special something special?

The Internet is always the way to go for the weak and antisocial shoppers like me (and probably you.)

First, Internet stalking is always a great way to start the gift hunt. Lots of people have Amazon wish-lists, and all you need to find is their email address.

And, who doesn’t drop unsubtle gift tips on social networking sites?

Sure, delivery fees are awful, but Internet shopping is a sure hell of a lot easier than finding a spot in the purgatory that is the mall parking lot.

You know what parents and guardians love?

Homemade things, but not poorly constructed macaroni picture frames because you’re in college and that stuff is not cute anymore.

There are dozens of sites to make photo books where you can pick photos and themes that will make your mother glad she didn’t drown you in the bathtub.

The most important thing to remember this holiday season is that everyone is going through the gifting drama.

So remember be kind when you unwrap your third pair of fuzzy socks.

Paige Jurgensen

Staff writer

Paige Jurgensen can be reached at linfieldreviewopinion@gmail.com.

Composting enriches the community

Posted by :jprokop On : February 21, 2012
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Category: Opinion

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We’re all on a search for community, whether it’s discovering ways to engage in our cities or trying to understand how people work in groups and teams.

Usually, this investigation of community is a subconscious decision, such as navigating your way through a group project or chatting with a vender at the farmer’s market. But, if we want to be active participants in the world, it’s crucial to take a step further and engage on more intentional levels.

My latest, unexpected discovery is that something as mundane as creating compost for a garden is another window into the lives of people and communities.

It started last Saturday, when a small group of Linfield students—clad in rubber boots, old pants and sweatshirts—stood inside the gates of the community garden, learning the ins and outs of creating compost.

The students received buckets to bring home to their kitchens, and they learned how to deposit their coffee grounds, fruit peels and egg shells into a composting bin in the community garden.

Composting is easy. You just collect biodegradable garbage and let it run its course, until it eventually breaks back down into soil.

After some brief instructions, the students were sent off with the promise that they would be positively impacting the earth and spurring improvement in Linfield’s little garden.

Triggering this natural cycle of composting is simple, but its benefits are far-reaching and complex.

In fact, I think the benefits extend past the usual pamphlet-style list of reasons to compost, such as soil enrichment, natural fertilization or soil remediation.

Engaging in community projects like composting can help us understand people on a deeper level, adding another string to the web of our communities.

Even if you aren’t passionate about the environmental impacts of something like composting, it’s still valuable to participate in projects like the community garden at Linfield.

Novelist Barbara Kingsolver said, “Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work—that goes on, it adds up.”

Simply watching and helping people complete an everyday aspect of their lives, like disposing of coffee grounds, is one of the richest ways to engage them.

Although participating in large fundraising projects or one-time community events is helpful and necessary, I believe that Kingsolver was right when she said the daily work adds up.

Spending a few extra minutes of your day to do something like composting for the community garden shows that you care about a group’s vision and interests enough to engage in the mundane and behind-the-scenes aspects of their lives and goals.

And that work does add up, eventually, creating opportunities to build relationships in unexpected places and participate in larger, long-term goals and projects.

It sets the stage and gives context for deeper conversations and questions.

If you’re interested in the community garden or composting, contact Rachel Codd at rcodd@linfield.edu.
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Joanna Peterson/Managing editor
Joanna can be reached at  Linfieldreviewmanaging@gmail.com

Be careful when seeking advice on pregnancy

Posted by :jprokop On : October 25, 2011
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I have mentioned Planned Parenthood a few times in my articles from this year and last.

I mention it because I know it is reliable, not only from personal experience but from what many other people have reported as well.

There is a Planned Parenthood in McMinnville for those who want to visit one.

Last week, when I mentioned Planned Parenthood, I also talked about another local pregnancy center and even though I mentioned it, I don’t know its reputation.

I want to urge caution, however, when using other centers.

Some centers do not provide accurate information and will press their own views on family planning and options.

Women have reported going in for an abortion, birth control, or general information on sex, and instead got a lecture about why what they were doing was immoral and against the teachings of God.

In the New York Times opinion section, a graduate student wrote about her experience with such a place.

She made an appointment at Planned Parenthood for an abortion and the operator told her to think about all of her options, which they are legally required to do.

She decided to go to a local place that advertised information on abortions.

Unfortunately, she found the place to be a false medical center.

The staff was not made up of medical professionals but rather people preying on vulnerable women to push their own personal views that abortion was wrong using religion as a persuasion tool.

Lizz Winstead, writer and co-founder of “The Daily Show,” reported a similar account from her childhood on a YouTube video.

She went in for an abortion and was greeted with false information and religious pressures.

While not all centers are like this, women seeking information should be very cautious when choosing a place to go for seeking professional and medical advice.

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Bailey can be reached at linfieldreviewbailey@gmail.com

 

Students’ college experiences are what they of make of them

Posted by :jprokop On : May 20, 2011
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I’m coming to the end of my freshman year in college, and while it hasn’t been everything I expected, I am happy to report that this year has been a success. I was terrified to come into this whole experience. I was worried that I wouldn’t make friends or that I wouldn’t succeed. I was most afraid that I might end up hating the school that I had signed my life away to.

Then I came to the realization that it’s all in the mindset. I know that sounds so cliché; that’s because it is, but it’s so true. Someone helped me understand that the experience is what you make of it. If you can come into every new chapter of your life realizing that it won’t be perfect, it will be a lot easier for you.

I had to remember that friends come and go. Wasn’t it the same way for all of us in high school? Some relationships are meant to be and some aren’t. You can’t force a friendship, you can’t expect to get along with everyone and you have to involve yourself in order to make new friends.

I realized somewhere along the way that there are indeed some things about this school that I don’t particularly like; that is bound to happen. Getting it in your head that a school is the absolute perfect fit for you is dangerous and leaves no room for disappointment or acceptance. For me, the pros of Linfield outweigh the cons by far. But I’ve come to see that isn’t the case for everyone.

I know so many people who are transferring, and at first, it surprised me. I’ve heard various reasons for this. For some people, the school and town are too small. Some dislike the teaching style. Linfield can be too expensive for many; or, students are unable to find their niches.

There are two sides I could take on this. I could say that these people didn’t have the right mindset and had their expectations too high. Running away isn’t the answer, and you should always try to make the best of things.

However, I understand where many of these people are coming from. College is trial and error, and it is also a huge part of your life. You need to be happy, and the experience won’t be beneficial if you are suffering or feeling trapped.

I admire these people for realizing that this school isn’t the right fit and having the courage to transfer. Personally, I love too many things about Linfield, and I don’t have the guts to start over.

What I can say with conviction is that the people who are transferring will be sorely missed. I only wish that this school worked as well for them as it does for me.

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Kelsey Sutton/Copy chief
Kelsey Sutton can be reached at linfieldreviewcopy@gmail.com.

 

Reading Day presents a problem

Posted by :jprokop On : May 20, 2011
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I always get excited this time of year. Wildstock might be my favorite event at Linfield, stretching back to my freshman year when it was a huge carnival style party filled with fun and sun. The bands weren’t too famous, but there was tons to do and people everywhere were looking to have fun. It seemed like every group on campus had something to contribute.

Sadly, the last few years have stifled my excitement. Greater focus on headlining bands and on the music, in general, left little room for student interactive fun and play. Both years featured good food and a lot of open space meant to be used for concerts.

This year, I was hoping things would be different. Yes, Linfield Activities Board has a decently famous band appearing to tie up much of its funds, but I was reassured by multiple people that it was going to be amazing anyway. I was told this the last two years too. I had heard that Wildstock was going to be right before finals, similar to how it was last year. Not a problem, I thought to myself.

That’s when I heard the ridiculous part. Reading Day had been moved to Friday.

I generally view the weekend before finals as a time of preparation, reflection and massive amounts of partying. I’m not alone in that either. The previous schedule was awesome because it allowed students to spend the week before finals finishing up projects, right up until Thursday night. At that point, procrastination reaches an all time high, students begin their last hurrah and it’s a blast from the end of class on Thursday to Sunday morning.

For many, that’s actually not that different from any other weekend in the semester. But with finals following, there is a little more time to recover than the normal Sunday afternoon. That’s why having Reading Day on a Monday was so excellent.

Having Reading Day on a Friday is not a good idea. Friday was practically a day off before, and now it’s at the expense of an important study day at the end. Does anyone really think that Friday will replace Monday as the key study time before finals?

It’s going to be a party day, same as always. In fact, plenty of events have been scheduled for this day, including Wildstock, the biggest on-campus event of the year. This is supposed to be our study time?

Professors, reflect on the averages as you count up the points for the finals next week. My bet is they’ll be lower because of this lost time. Students are going to be doing what they always do, and they’ll find out quickly how little time they have to do it.

I’m sure there’s a legitimate reason for why our finals are now even closer to the end of that last project date. Regardless of why, that change isn’t a smart one. We need that extra time. Now I just have one more reason to feel depressed if Wildstock doesn’t blow me away this year.

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Matthew Olson/Columnist
Mattew Olson can be reached at linfieldreviewopinion@gmail.com.

 

Leadership positions require balance

Posted by :jprokop On : May 20, 2011
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One of the great things that Linfield offers is the abundance of leadership opportunities for students. With that said, a large number of students do participate in different areas of leadership, for some, in more than one area. In my case, I hold leadership positions through my sorority and the Linfield Review. However, I know of other students who take on even more responsibility, juggling three or more positions and balancing school work and a social life. I commend these students on their dedication and effort, but the important thing that they need to realize early on is when to keep it professional. It is also important to distinguish when it is appropriate to be oneself and not the face of whatever position or organization that one is representing.

For me, I am the face of the Review, but I also represent my sorority. This can be tricky at times because I have an obligation and loyalty to both. This means that I have to pay special care to keep them as separate as possible, unless an event does come up, which would require reporting on. And, even then, I cannot be involved in that process because it is a conflict of interest. I know of others who are in the same boat, and it is always difficult getting some peers to understand one’s views and distinctions. Compartmentalizing is an awesome skill to practice, but for some, it does require more effort than for others. For instance, it is something that I understand is necessary, especially in my line of work, but I have to constantly remind myself of. Just because one does not agree with a professional decision, does not mean it has to affect one’s views on that person as a whole.

As far as professionalism goes, a student who represents a certain organization or position should always keep that in mind when it comes to making practical decisions that would reflect on that particular organization. However, it is also important to maintain a balance. All work and no play is never ideal for anyone. So although making good decisions is always important, it is also crucial to maintain one’s sense of self. This is an adventure that I have started on and it is only going to continue to be a learning process, as it is for most everyone.

Taking on a leadership role is often a learn-as-you-go endeavor. So, making sure that one is mentally prepared to tackle all of the good and the bad that comes along for the ride will only help to ensure success in the end.

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Jessica Prokop/Editor-in-chief
Jessica Prokop can be reached at linfieldrevieweditor@gmail.com.

 

Bin Laden’s death won’t spur concrete changes

Posted by :jprokop On : May 20, 2011
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People stood outside the White House, chanting “Yes we can!” after Osama bin Laden was pronounced dead on May 2. News mediums, social networking sites and class room discussions were all centered on his death.

Now, two weeks later, the commotion has died down, and I’m left wondering how much of an effect bin Laden’s death will have on the Middle East and on U.S. efforts to combat terrorism organizations.

Although bin Laden’s death probably gave many grieving Americans a sense of closure after the horror of 9/11, I doubt that they will see many concrete changes as a direct result of the assassination. Bin Laden had become much more of a symbolic leader than a working authority in al-Qaida’s operation. His followers were operating on the basis of his original ideas rather than his active supervision. Therefore, his death is also more of a symbol of justice than a critical move in the war.

Now that bin Laden is dead, al-Qaida will need to replace his leadership, which is definitely a possibility that the group anticipated for before he died. His death may cause the operation to lie lower than usual for awhile, but new leadership was probably in motion before bin Laden was eliminated. Those who support Islamic extremism won’t abandon those violent tendencies now that bin Laden is gone.

In America, bin Laden’s death has certainly raised morale and increased President Obama’s approval ratings. It’s encouraging for Americans to see significant events like this, giving them the impression that something is being accomplished abroad. However, in terms of active changes to the unrest in the Middle East, more change will probably come from the peaceful protests sweeping the Middle East and North Africa.

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Joanna Peterson/Managing editor
Joanna Peterson can be reached at linfieldreviewmanaging@gmail.com.

 

Current event discussions should stretch across all disciplines

Posted by :jprokop On : May 20, 2011
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Lately, I’ve been feeling a little out of the loop. Aside from arguably the two most major events this year so far, the killing of Osama bin Laden and the disaster in Japan, I’m pretty oblivious to what’s going on in the world. The first time I heard of those two major events was not on the evening news or in the newspaper, it was from friends’ status updates on Facebook.

I hear more about what happened on last night’s reality television programs than important current events in the world. I know that many students at Linfield are politically upright and informed on world events, but for my circle of friends, this is simply not the case. It’s not that we don’t want to learn about what’s going on in the news, it’s just that it is difficult to do so.

Between studying for tests, writing papers, attending class, participating in activities, spending time with friends, sleeping and eating, there is little time to devote to watching the national news or picking up the newspaper. I think it’s great that we have so many opportunities here at Linfield. It’s awesome that students can explore their interests with other like-minded people. As a freshman, I am grateful for the sense of community that Linfield has given me.

However, as I become more involved with this community, I seem to become more disconnected to the outside world.

Even in high school, I felt more informed of current events. I remember that my environmental science class discussed the 2010 gulf oil spill right after it occurred. I recall class discussions about the disaster in Haiti, as well. I was taught about the recession and how it has affected not only the United States’ economy, but the economies of other countries around the world. When I talked to my roommate about this issue, she said that she was required to write  weekly
article reviews about current events for a class called “Preparation for Adult Living.” Watching the national news every weeknight also furthered my knowledge of current events. Although I was involved during high school, I didn’t take on too many extracurricular activities or overload myself with classes. I had more spare time than I do now.  It was more convenient to stay abreast of current events.

I think one way Linfield can make students more informed about events is to include more assignments that require students to research current news. The discussion of current events should not be limited to political science and global issues classes; it should stretch across all disciplines. It could also be beneficial to post a world events bulletin someplace universal on campus, such as in Dillin Hall.

However, students must also take some responsibility. If you truly want to be politically aware and up-to-date on current events, you must devote time to reading news publications or watching the nightly news.

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Emily Isaac/Opinion editor
Emily Isaac can be reached at linfieldreviewopinion@gmail.com.

 

Seniors need more time to move out, make memories

Posted by :jprokop On : May 20, 2011
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The end of the school year is always busy and stressful for students. There are finals to worry about, papers to write, senior theses to submit and final projects to complete. And, of course, there is also having to move out on time. For underclassmen, moving out is a pain, but for seniors, it can be just as stressful as finals.

This year, the Reading Day date change altered the finals schedule, and seniors only have a brief window of time to move out. In addition to the long list of activities occurring in the next two weeks, including Wildstock and the Linfield Bar Crawl, finals are May 23-26, the Baccalaureate Service and Grad Finale/Senior Celebration are on May 28 and graduation is on May 29. Students are expected to be moved out by noon the following day of graduation.
In addition, family and friends of the graduates come to visit and might want to spend time with them to celebrate. Many seniors are stressing out about the time crunch.

Seniors who live in campus apartments have a lot to pack. During their years at Linfield, seniors accumulate a plethora of things, from furniture to food to clothing. Students living in the area have the luxury of taking multiple trips to transport their belongings. Out-of-state students are not so lucky.

There is also excess anxiety for seniors who do not know where they will be living after graduation. Students who choose not to live at home are forced to find summer living arrangements, quickly. Being stuck with boxes of stuff and nowhere to put them presents a challenge.

The Review believes the time period for moving out should be extended to June 1. The extra time would allow students not only to pack, but to say goodbye to college friends and professors.

However, there are some ways to lessen the stress of moving out. Seniors can prioritize their time by beginning to pack their belongings in advance. But understandably for some seniors, good organization is not enough to overcome the frustrations of moving out.

Students who truly need more time to pack up and to move out can contact Area Director Joni Tonn at jtonn@linfield.edu or Associate Dean of Students/Director of Resident Life Jeff McKay at jmackay@linfield.edu to ask for an extension.

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-The Review Editorial Board

 

Review Roadtrip

Posted by :jprokop On : May 17, 2011
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Photo courtesy of Alan Fox

Eight members of the Linfield Review staff went to Albany, Ore., May 6 for the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
Collegiate Day. The Review won first place in Best
Website, Best Photography, Best Sports Photo, Best Cartooning; second place in General Excellence, Best Graphic, Best Headline Writing, Best Cartooning, Best Section; and honorable mention in Best Series and in Best Sports Photo.