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Exploring the world is a great opportunity

Posted by :Troy Thomas On : September 10, 2013
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Category: Opinion

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Studying abroad is great! It allows you to get to know yourself, the country you’re in, the United States and your hometown a whole lot better.

I’ve had the opportunity to live and study abroad before coming to Linfield and I absolutely loved it. You get a better understanding of another country, culture and way of life. Even though we all think we have our own ideas of how other people live, it’s completely different than what we could ever imagine,

regardless of how much research we do or how many people we talk to beforehand. Nothing can really prepare you for the new adventure that you will embark on while studying abroad. Each study abroad opportunity is different and you learn so many new things about yourself that you probably did not even know you could know about yourself.

Studying abroad is a lot easier and less stressful if you remain open-minded and go with the flow. The more you resist, the harder it is to enjoy yourself and have fun. You will learn new ways of doing things you would have never thought that may even be better than how you previously performed a task.

You will truly understand how fortunate you are to be able to study abroad or even to be receiving an education. You will realize all of the little things you took advantage of at home because you won’t have them while you are gone, and you will find a newfound appreciation for them.

I lived in New Zealand when I was younger and the experience was a lot different than when I studied abroad in Europe after graduating high school. Life as a kid is much simpler than as an adult. Kids have less to worry about and are much more accepting of strange things compared to when you are an adult.

Now I am so glad I had that experience and I want to go back to New Zealand one day.

I chose to study abroad in Germany as a gap year after high school because the opportunity arose and I knew I wouldn’t ever get one like it again. I went not knowing anything about the German language, but I learned just by being there. I learned so much more from my host family and my friends that I would have never been able to learn in a classroom. I also learned a lot about myself. I am planning on studying abroad here at Linfield and I think that everyone should at least consider it.

Kiera Downs / Staff writer

Alyssa Townsend can be reached at linfieldreviewopinion@gmail.com.

Reading can be incredibly sexy

Posted by :Troy Thomas On : September 10, 2013
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Category: Opinion

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George R. R. Martin, author of the “Game of Thrones” series, wrote: “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… The man who never reads lives only one.”

I am not entirely sure why, but at some point within the last couple of generations, reading has gone out of style and is no longer viewed as cool hobby.

In all fairness, every once in a while, someone will secretly admit to being a bibliophile; however, the bulk of young people today only read when it is required, which is a shame because there is appealing than having a book in hand. Classic literature gathers dust on library shelves because people do not want to read and I just do not understand why. Furthermore, when someone actually picks up a book, it seems that it is always a popular, mostly pornographic, novel that they loaded onto their Kindle for free.

Maybe I find this so confusing because I have an undying desire to discuss what I have read until I am able to get all of my pent up feelings out, and to actually have someone understand it. There is nothing I find more attractive in a guy than him being well read. If only guys like this were easier to find. It’s not just about knowing a good story or two, or even being able to understand why half of my paycheck goes to Powell’s Books, it is about what reading can say about a person.

A person that reads is often patient, which is a much appreciated virtue.

In the age of technology, people are used to instant gratification and most well written novels will not deliver that. Gratification only comes to readers after carefully reading hundreds of pages, an act in itself that should be gratifying. Nobody should have to justify their hobbies, but there is something about a guy whose only passion lies in “pwning noobs,” that is ragingly unattractive.

On the other hand, a guy that can fit in a chapter or two of Kurt Vonnegut during their day, between gaining XP points, is definitely a guy that is worth leveling up with. Reading should not be a rarity, but rather an expected characteristic. In the days before television, it seems that everyone that could read, read.

Book clubs were not just an excuse for middle aged mothers to get day-drunk on wine. Over the years, the majority of people have lost the appreciation for words, which is another reason why when someone is enthralled in a literary journey, that they are nearly irresistible. So, for those of us that are bibliophile-philes, we must troll bookstores in search of hotties and occasionally make obscure references to our favorite George Orwell novel, until we find someone that also thinks reading is sexy.

Paige Jurgensen / Columnist

Alyssa Townsend can be reached at linfieldreviewopinion@gmail.com.

Visit McMinnville, burst your Linfield bubble

Posted by :Troy Thomas On : September 10, 2013
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Category: Opinion

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The beauty of downtown McMinnville is often forgotten by students who are trapped inside the Linfield bubble. Professors and many others urge students to become involved in the McMinnville community, but too often students ignore the advice and rarely stray off campus.

As I walked down Third Street, strolled through the McMinnville Farmers Market and started an internship in the McMinnville community, I began to realize how important that advice is. The McMinnville community is incredibly welcoming and offers a chance for students to continue their well-rounded education outside of the classroom.

I too was stuck inside the Linfield bubble.

It almost comes naturally to spend the day in your dorm with your best friends, and even buying food is easily accessible on campus. Additionally, weekends are spent with friends and weekdays are spent in the classroom, so going off campus seems almost pointless. However, that is completely false.

By becoming more involved in the McMinnville community, students have the opportunity to network. We are constantly reminded that networking is crucial to enter today’s work force, and nowhere is better to start than here in McMinnville. Community members recognize the name and valuable education that is offered at Linfield. The community already has an established relationship with Linfield students. These people could become future bosses, friends and even references. Take the opportunity and use it to your advantage.

Additionally, graduate schools and employers look for students who are well-rounded and seek leadership outside of school. Being off-campus is also a great stress reliever, especially for underclassmen. Sometimes living in a small space with the same people every day can become exhausting and stressful. Volunteering in the community or visiting downtown can be a great opportunity to escape your everyday problems and take a break from extensive to-do lists.

I apologize if I am preaching about this topic too much, but it is something I wish I would have realized as a freshman. Forget the McMinnville “townie” stereotypes and embrace the community for the welcoming place it is. I challenge everyone who hasn’t done so already, to pop their Linfield bubble and make the most out of their time here. You will be happy that you did.

Alyssa Townsend / Opinion editor

Alyssa Townsend can be reached at linfieldreviewopinion@gmail.com.

Seniors Hurdle Over Paperwork To Graduate

Posted by :Troy Thomas On : September 10, 2013
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Category: Opinion

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Already missed a deadline?

No not a homework deadline, but a registrar form deadline… I didn’t even realize it was due at the end of my junior year. Let’s tack that on to the growing list of stuff I have to finish before I can graduate—just one email reminder would have been nice. At the beginning of each school year, every student is plagued with getting back into the grove of being back at school, as well as jumping on growing piles of school work and catching up with friends that we haven’t seen in three months.

But as a senior, the start of our last year at Linfield is bitter-sweet. With the excitement and fear of having the end in sight, we have a lot to deal with. We have deadlines, paperwork, thesis, capstones and etcetera to finish in just a short nine months. While it is not necessarily their job to remind us about these types of deadlines, who else is going to? We have not been seniors before, and new advisors might not be familiar with everything that needs to be done.

The paper work necessary to graduate may be required, but it is not a recurring task that students have to perform each year, such as clearing our accounts, getting our semester stickers or registering for classes. So us seniors are not sure exactly what is required of us. This also does not fall onto the staff of the registrars office. This should be included in academic advising’s responsibilities. Academic advising is the office in charge of dealing with our majors, other than our advisors.

Just like the incoming students, there should be a check off list of things that need to be done before our huge occasion sneaks up on us. Or even just a tab on the current students page on the Linfield website would be helpful. Even with the forms online, there’s no guidelines or reminders of what else seniors need to do.

Instead of having to go look for three or four different things, in different places, it should be more simple! One master form or website that lists all of the requirements would definitely make life easier for seniors and end all of the confusion. What we don’t need is scrutiny when we turn these forms in late, unsure of what we were supposed to do, and then told that we can’t turn it in until we fill something else out.

I think this confusion could all come to an end with three simple things: communication, updated technology options and patience. Now we don’t need to be babied, but a little help would be appreciated. Just like the big adjustment of coming into college, going out into the real world is scary and some times intimidating, we need the support of our small college.

Kaylyn Peterson / Managing editor

Kaylyn Peterson can be reached at linfieldreviewmanaging@gmail.com.

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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Category: Opinion

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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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Category: Opinion

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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.