Carolina Faria Autran De Morais almost missed the start of fall term while being detained by immigration officials.

De Morais wouldn't be buying her textbooks like the rest of her classmates. She wouldn't feel the angst of facing a new term. She wouldn’t be cringing at the thought of term papers. For De Morais missing the first day of classes and consequently being dropped from the class appeared to be her fate.

Being detained for 28 days in a privately contracted Houston, Texas detention center is the last thing most LBCC students would be considering just before the start of a new term.

De Morais arrived at George Bush International Airport in Houston on Aug. 26 at 3:30 a.m. She was detained by immigration officials and notified that she was going to be transported to the Houston Processing Center.

The Houston Processing Center is owned and operated by a private company named  Corrections Corporation of America. CCA received national attention this March when an  Associated Press article highlighted its deplorable conditions.

“The FBI has launched an investigation of the Corrections Corporation of America over the company's running of an Idaho prison with a reputation so violent that inmates dubbed it ‘Gladiator School,’” said an AP article out of Boise, ID.

There, the Linn-Benton Community College student would begin the process of deportation. The reasoning: a misdemeanor that had been resolved seven years earlier by paying a fine in the state of Wisconsin.

Born in 1987 in Brazil, De Morais moved to Ohio when she was 2-years-old while her parents Maria L. E. Faria and Helio de Morais attended Ohio State University in Columbus receiving their PhDs.

After a seven-year return to Brazil, her parents were offered jobs at the University of Wisconsin in Madison when de Morais was 15-years-old. The family became legal residents of the United States, living, working, and paying taxes on work visas.

On Aug. 26 De Morais felt exhausted from traveling the nine hours by jetliner from Porto Alegre, the capital city of the southernmost state of Brazil, to São Paulo, and on to the United States. De Morais thought she was nearing her home in Corvallis. She was wrong.

De Morais’s teenage experience was much the same as millions of American teens. she listened to Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Bach and Jethro Tull.  

She made her way through her teenage years, like so many have done before her, she had a run-in with the police at 20-years-old over beer. She was pulled over for a routine traffic stop and the police noticed a case of beer sitting on the back seat that prompted a search of her vehicle. During the search of her vehicle the police discovered a glass marijuana pipe in her car.

Because De Morais didn't have any marijuana she was cited for paraphernalia, the transportation of alcohol, and consumption. In the end, all charges were dropped except for the paraphernalia charge. She was told she had to pay a fine and the charge would not end up on her permanent record. She had a clean slate.

Fast forward to this August when De Morais was detained in Texas by immigration officials on her way home. The last thing she thought could be the problem was the ticket she received in Wisconsin seven years prior.

That ticket cost Lina 28 days of her life, landing her behind bars like a criminal in the privately run prison.

“It was worse than in the movies,” said De Morais, “My shoes were so worn out when I got them they had holes on the bottom and had no traction.”

She wore her socks as gloves at night while she read to keep her fingers from freezing. De Morais was told the temperature was kept that way to keep germs from spreading. All she was given was a thin blanket and standard prison-issue attire.

She found herself embroiled into a community of 60 women of varying nationalities. Some were illegals and some were much like her, legal residents on hold. All were in the same chaos.

De Morais made the best of her time while waiting for her case to be resolved. She helped defuse some of the hostile conditions that resulted from a language barrier between guards and inmates. Fluent in three languages, she helped translate documentation non-English speaking detainees were being told to sign.

Another legal resident, a guidance counselor at a U.S. high school who was captured at the airport, was completely lost in all of the paperwork she was being made to deal with by court officials. De Morais was able to help her get a game plan before her release and is currently still waiting to hear from her.

After being nabbed on Aug. 26, she was inexplicably released on a form of parole the evening of Sept. 24. The prison officials retained all of her legal identification and simply told her to walk out of the prison.

Without a working phone, a single local friend, or any way to help herself, all she had was a piece of paper the prison had given her for identification.

De Morais was able to borrow a cell phone from one of the guards who was sympathetic as she left the facility. She made contact with her mother and began to piece together a strategy to get home.

Her mother had made a reservation at a hotel where De Morais could wait for her father to arrive. Upon arrival at the hotel, the staff would not let her into the room without proper identification.

Jenny Mare, a detainee who was released the same day as De Morais, was able to return and rescue De Morais from being forced to fend for herself on the streets of Houston, keeping her safe until her dad arrived.

She arrived home on Sept. 26 and was able to attend her fall classes.

Although De Morais is now home and settling back into her daily routine, she is not out of the woods.

Her court date will continue to hang like an ominous cloud in the distance for De Morais. It affects her ability to travel out of the country, and effectively kiboshed her plans for nationalization as they are on hold until her legal matters are resolved.

The time frame for this process has been set to take place between one and four years from now by immigration.  

Read more in next week’s edition, as we will sit down with Carolina Faria Autran De Morais. She will share her personal experience behind bars.

Active Minds Activating Hearts

LBCC’s chapter of the Active Minds Club proudly hosted Lynn Bain and her Suicide Prevention presentation to the Albany LBCC campus on May 22.  

Room 206 in North Santiam Hall facilitates learning and last Thursday was no exception.

Lynn Bain, lead 35 students and faculty through her presentation, that both reassured and informed each person in the room that there is hope when dealing with suicide issues. She stressed that getting involved is the answer.

” My son took his life when he was 19. Even though I had been trained, and worked as a counselor for 20 years, I didn't recognize the seriousness of his situation. Since 2002 I actively sought out training in the field, and as a department we started offering workshops on campus. We also formed a Suicide Prevention Coalition on campus comprised of faculty, staff and students. Our goal was to organize activities to spread information about suicide prevention campus-wide,” said Bain.

Mark Weiss Initially Contacted Bain on behalf of the Active Minds Club to organize a time and place to conduct the suicide prevention presentation.

Weiss is a part of the career services department here on campus as well as an a active member of the Active Minds club. Weiss “pitches in from time to time” helping organize events for the club. Weiss had some words to share regarding his concern around the issue of suicide.

” First, and foremost, that suicide is all too common at colleges and universities throughout the country, accounting for over 1000 student deaths per year. Second, that most suicides are preventable, if a) someone reaches out to the student who is suffering, and 2) there is awareness of how to get help.”

Bain provided the group with a multitude of educational resources including links to http://www.halfofus.com/  and also refurred the assembily of staff and student to the Active Mindes web site http://www.activeminds.org. both of which provide information regarding suicide prevention.

Bain has taken tragedy from her life, and refocused it into educating students and peers as to the complex issues that surround suicide. She emphasized  Recognizing warning signs and that offering help can prevent suicide.

“ My hope is that we all can be more comfortable discussing the subject of suicide, and mental illness in general. Mental illness is treatable - and suicide is preventable.  Where there is help, there is hope,” said Bain.

The active minds club meets once a month on the albany campus. The next meeting for the group will be at noon May 30. in room 107 of the North Santiam Hall building.

Something is wrong here

                                                   Something is wrong here!

The Commuter has been able to secure an interview with the student who is at the center of a situation that took place while he tried to use one of the computer labs on campus.

The intent of this interview is to shed light on an ongoing situation on campus. We at The Commuter will let you, the readers, decide what to think.

Q. Can you tell me about the situation? (what happened)

A. I was headed into the learning center computer lab when Mike Smith pulled me aside to tell me to “pull up my drawers because he could see my crack.” I looked back at my rear end and felt that my pants weren’t unacceptable, and my boxers weren’t showing. He claimed to be personally offended by my pants and told me I could either pull up my “drawers” or go work somewhere else.

At this point, I was offended.

I asked him how was it that he was offended when: 1. After I walked in the lab he wouldn’t see me again until I left and 2. My pants were not even low enough for his allegations to be true. He also made a statement about “keeping his labs safe.” I asked him if there was a school policy, conduct, or dress code that I was violating and he said that by not following his request that I was indeed violating school policy. I told him that if he is denying me access to the lab due to a personal preference or opinion that I was going to go ahead and do my homework.

So I walked into the lab and sat down to start my homework. He followed me in, and told me to get out. At this point there were other students around watching. I told him that if he could give me a legitimate reason why I shouldn’t be able to do my homework in the lab, I would leave. He said, “oh come on, you know why.” I said, “no I don’t, so tell me why I can’t sit here and do my homework. He failed to produce a reason again, so I asked a few more times to get my point across. I wanted it to be known to the people around me what this guys’ reasoning was. He went and got his supervisor, a guy named Shay, who came in and pretty much said he wasn’t completely aware of the situation but he knew that a disagreement had taken place and that I needed to leave the lab. I told him the same thing I told Mike, that it was bullshit and there is no reason I should not be able to do my homework in the lab. He (Shay) told me that if I didn’t leave, he would call security. I told him to do whatever he felt necessary because I wasn’t leaving until I finished my homework, so he left and called security.

5-10 minutes later I finished my homework and got off the computer. When I walked outside of the lab and grabbed my water bottle off of the table, Mike, Shay, another guy and a lady were all standing there looking at me. Someone asked me what was going on and I told them I had nothing to say and I was waiting for security.

Security got there and he was rude from the start. He asked Mike what happened, and then told me that it wasn’t an unreasonable request and I explained that I felt it was. He asked me for my Driver License or school ID and I told him that I didn’t have either but I had my student number. He then accused me of lying about the identification, but I had in fact forgot my wallet that day. Then he tells me more than once that I am not allowed in the computer lab and I needed to leave campus, so I told him the only reason I was still there was I was waiting for him to arrive, and that once he finished “repeating” himself I would leave. He then said, “that’s it. You’re suspended.”

Q. How do you feel about going to school at LBCC?

A. I honestly loved this place and felt pretty comfortable here, but after this I don’t really know how to feel. The school has taken action to help me get through this unfortunate situation, which I am really happy about because I wasn’t expecting any support. I feel really good about some aspects but really bad about others; the situation still happened and I can't just forget that.

Q. What has been the outcome of the situation to date?

A. I had a meeting with and have talked to several people who appear to be fighting for me. I did miss a really important day of school do to this, but thanks to the dean I am able to make it up and the suspension has been erased from my records.

Q.  Tell me how you feel about the way you were treated?

A. I’m still pretty furious about the situation. I also learned later that the same guy made a previous outrageous allegation, stating that the day before that he could see my complete bare butt as I was walking out of the learning center. Blasphemy.

5. Was there anyone involved during the process of advocating for your student rights?  

During the process, not at all. No one cared what I had to say and they all were defending the faculty member. Saying things like, “the request isn’t unreasonable.” And just taking the staff’s side automatically.

6. Were you suspended for the interaction?

Yes, I received a 2 day suspension for the incident. The second day I knew I couldn’t miss another day of classes so I went to school and contacted Lynn Cox, Associate Dean of Student Affairs.

7. How have you been dealing with your personal feelings?

Ive been trying to stay positive and not think about it too much because every time I do, I feel anger start to build. It is a bit of a challenge still attending this specific school just because I know all the money I have to pay to go here and these kind of things happen. It makes it a little bit better hearing that there are people fighting for me from a lot of different angles, but I guess I just have to wait to see what kind of actions are actually taken.

North Santiam Hall blooms for annual art show

Linn-Benton Community College’s Annual Art Show took place last week on Wednesday, May 7, in the North Santiam Hall Galleries.

This year, 43 students submitted 115 different works of art to be judged by their peers. Sixteen different students received awards during the reception, which was held on the second level of the North Santiam Hall’s art gallery.

Claire Denning was awarded Best in Show for her charcoal drawing “The Hang Man.”

This year’s Presidents Purchase award went to Kayla West for her clay sculpture “Reef.”

“This art show gives students an opportunity to get real life experience displaying their work,” said Johnny Beaver.

Beaver won three different awards, including an award from Studio 262 in Corvallis.

Sarah Melcher won three different awards with her “Lips On Fire” piece.

“The whole [NSH building] was full of art!” said Melcher, adding that she would be entering again next year.

The exhibit will be running through June 6, so make sure to get down there and admire some beautiful art.

Career Connect with Career Connections

Student Affairs employees in the The Career Centers of Linn-Benton Community College, work to accommodate students who are thinking about their futures.

Offering career direction counseling, academic advising for undecided students, and also providing students a better understanding of the job application and interview process, are some of the main interests of the Career Center.

Along with providing help building cover letters, compiling resumes, and the opportunity to network with possible job opportunities via job matching, students and alumni can take a hands on approach to securing a future that utilizes the skills acquired during their education.

The Albany Career Center, is introducing a new job database tool called Career Connections, that in the form of software, helps transition LB students into the workforce by matching the students skills to actual employers’ needs.

Initially acquired through the $18,679,289 Credential Acceleration and Support for Employment (CASE) grant in October of 2011, Career Connections has been slow to gain recognition among students on campus; that should not reflect the potential of this interactive tool though. As student use of the program becomes more frequent, employers/staffing agencies will come to rely on LBCC’s new system to fill positions available in their operations.    

As the CASE grant came to an end this December, LB staff are transitioning the program from the CASE team to the  widening array of tools available to students in the Career Center. Lynne Cox, Associate Dean, Student Affairs said,

“We are one team of Students Affairs employees who equip students for their careers, help them find their career vision, providing training in personal growth and employability skill development, as well as provide counseling, academic problem solving, crisis intervention and referral, and a database matching students with employers in our community.”

If you are a two year program student, getting registered with the new software is recommended by the start of your second year.  Student who are registered with the new program are afforded the opportunity to see what the job market actually looks like in a real world setting. Being able to find job placement after school is an issue that the Career Center focuses on each and every day. Whether it be a small adjustment or a complete overhaul to your educational plan, the folks at the Career Center are ready to help. Student Success Specialist Justin Chin said,

“There is no prescribed time to enroll, but as a students get closer to completing their programs and degrees at LBCC, the sooner they can connect with employers and the labor market, the better.”

Janeen Phillips is one of the Student Affairs employees available to students in the Career Center. She specified some of the goals for the department by saying,

“Future plans for Career Connections include: 1) improving connections with LBCC faculty and Career Connections so they can encourage student participation, 2) advocating for participation in Career Connections to be included in the job search curriculum of college programs, and 3) enhanced marketing to alumni students.”

Contact The Career Center via phone at 541-917-4780 or be sure to drop by their office located in Takena Hall on the Albany campus.

 

So Trashy

Pick up your trash. Push your chair in. Be thankful. These are just a few normal operational characteristics on this campus. At times, I wonder if i might suffer from a mild case of OCD, to become as irritated with table tops littered with some assholes lunch remnants, or when I watch a staff worker in the Learning Center do the chair mombo every ten to twenty minutes pushing chairs back into their rightful place.  

Upon further consideration and confirmation from my girlfriend, it is safe to say I am far from an orderly fellow. I contribute my fair share to the mess here on campus. The mess that other people are tasked with cleaning up. The human beings that clean each bathroom, hallway, and room in our building, work tirelessly to make sure our campus is not the pigsty a majority of our fellow students strive for each and every day.

Although I may not be OCD, it is verifiable that I am a creature of habit, and in so I have an established way of doing things. I arrive on campus at 7:30 a.m. every morning. I find myself greeted each morning by the gleam of a new opportunity, reflecting up from the floors of Takena Hall. I can’t help but think each time,  “ whoa somebody needs a raise.” Everything from the papers on the countertops, to the liners in the trash cans, seem to have been magically reorganized like a seen from the Disney classic “Fantasia.” I stop off to get coffee and head to my math class.   

By the time I wrap up my educational needs for the day, I pack my bag and signify my pending exit with a sigh. My walk most times starts in the Learning Center. I usually don’t notice what transpires around me during the day because of my machine like focus (har har) but at the end of the day when most students have filtered away, I can’t help but notice the bits and pieces of crap that have been left behind after a long day. They are on the floor, they are on the table tops, and there is no one left in the room to pick them up.

I meander through the upper corridors of Takena Hall and see how all but a few of the table tops have been mistaken for trash receptacles. I traipse down the stairs and head for the front doors to catch a bus home and that is when (on most days), I come face to face with the magical force that I often ponder in the mornings upon arrival, broom in-hand and the look of determination chiseled into her face. I say, thank you and good job.  

We are taught to push through difficult situations from a young age and at all cost to keep moving forward. Often times this doctrine fails our society.

As administrators  here at LBCC have been working hard to understand each steps taken to deal when dealing with  the confrontation that took place between a student and a staff member on the 23rd of April in the Learning Center, Students and staff alike are in a limbo wondering what's next.

We sit in class day in and day out here at LB discussing different scenarios that have changed society, be it through documented studies in communications class ,scientific research in social psychology class , or some mind numbing literature for writing class. We are asked to apply stories from different contexts and apply them to here and now. I suggest, we may never have an opportunity like this again to study a contemporary example how misunderstandings plague our society. There are lessons inside of lessons regarding the complexities of what took place that day and also, as well as in the days that followed. Not talking about what happened on the 23rd of April  is the biggest mistake we can let happen.  We should use this situation to become better people.

The confrontation between a student and a staff member on the 23rd of April in the Learning Center cannot be undone; Nor can the systematic decisions that came in response to the escalating circumstances after all they worked exactly as they were meant to.  We seem to be caught up on who was right or wrong, and not why the disagreement  happened in the first place. Although their exchange is integral to this conversation, we need to be able to take a few steps back so we can see the whole picture. We need to also consider what is happening as the aftermath continues to unfold too. What about the way have we handled this? have we been fair? have we looked at all sides? These questions are examples of the whispers and low grublings filtering through the air on campus these day.

Although he could not discuss actions taken by the administration, Scott Rolad Director of Human resources here at LBCC made it clear that the school takes situations like this seriously. Roland was able to confirm the school’s process has involved an in depth investigation into the happenings of the 23 of April. He explained that,

“ The parts of the system worked how they were supposed to after the initial contact.” and “Something went wrong,” said Roland,

Dave Henderson, President of finance and operations is another administrator at LBCC working hard to make sure the systems we have work properly on campus, he said,

“We are having a conversation about de escalating situations like the one in the Learning Center with all public safety officers”

Our campus is a centrifuge for creating critical thinking individuals for both Linn and Benton counties. This is  the kind of situation  to run to, not to run from. We can define ourselves here and now. We can show the people of our communities just what we are made of here at LBCC. This event is an opportunity to demonstrate solving difficult situations. Isn't the goal of becoming educated about equipping oneself with the tools to handle life?

Difficulties don't come at opportune moments... ever. We reflexively set problems aside after all.there will be time to deal with it later when it is easier.