Experience of a Lifetime

Hello Everyone,

Spring term has being the hardest term in my first year of college.  I think it’s a good thing because that means that I’m working hard and trying new things and improving myself more. I can’t believe spring term is almost over, it feels like yesterday I just started school, and now I’m almost finishing my first year of college. Time is passing by so fast that I haven’t realized.  I’m very excited to finish this year, and start a new one. Also, I’m happy because a friend of mine who is also a student at OSU, he is graduating this year with bachelor’s degree in Civil engineer. He plays the acoustic guitar at church and I play the keyboard. He is a good friend and I’m happy for him, that in few months he will be officially an engineer. I admire him, and I want to graduate too and be an example for my little brothers like him. Me and my friends from my youth band, we will celebrate a party for Mauricio, the guy who is graduating, and celebrate the Mauricio achievements. There will be a lot of things going on, and I’m excited. But now I need to think about my classes and my goals for this spring term. I want to use my time wisely and finish my priorities at school this term. This week is going to be hard for me because I have three midterms, one from chemistry, math and sociology and that means that I need to study a lot for those exams. But I’m sure that I’ll be fine because so far I have got behind in my classes. It is time to work hard, and not procrastinate, and give my best. Like I said I have a lot of studying going on, and I wish everyone a good week. I know everyone is very busy especially because of the midterms, but don’t worry too much, get relax because it all will be fine.

Roberto

(Below is a picture of my church band.  I am on the bottom right.)

Tags: Roberto
Posted in Roberto (from Hillsboro, Student Bloggers | 4 Comments »

Many people believe that college changes you and to a certain point I agree with them. When I first came to Oregon State I was still very immature about the way I saw certain things and thought that school was going to be all about going out and having fun, but I can say that I was very wrong. Although college has been hard work it has helped me grow and become more independent.

During my first term I learned that college was going to be hard work and it was not going to be like in high school where if you did something wrong it would not matter, because here you learn that if you don’t do something there is nothing you can do that is going to make the professors change their mind, unless it is a valid excuse.  For example if you miss a midterm or final because you slept in your professors will not give you another time where you can make it up, it will go in as a zero and affect your grade tremendously.  Also, when you come to college there is thousands of people who you share campus with. We are all different people who have different traditions, language, beliefs, and personalities and you have to be respectful and learn to appreciate the diversity OSU is representing.

Now going into my third term I am much more opened to people, I am responsible for my own actions and don’t blame what I have not done or have done on other people, I am not angry when things don’t go my way, and am much more independent. I do not want to make any of you nervous to come to college because I think this is a one in a lifetime opportunity that not everyone gets to have. OSU teaches you to mature as an adult and without being here learning to think for myself and going through new experiences I would not be the person I am today. With this new confidence I have gained the skills to meet people on campus who have helped me feel more connected to campus.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and they choose their college to be Oregon State University.

~Lizeth

Tags: Lizeth
Posted in Lizeth (from Brookings, Oregon), Student Bloggers | 1 Comment »

Monday, April 26^th

• The Skee Week Kickoff 1:08 pm @ Black Cultural Center
• Glee Night 9:00pm @ Pride Center
• Money Matters 6:30pm @ MU 208

Tuesday, April 27^th

• What is Danza? 2pm-3: 30 @ Centro Cultural Cesar Chavez
• AKArobics 7:08pm @ Dixon Recreation Center

Wednesday, April 28^th

• Earning, Spending, Pricing 6:08 @ Black Cultural Center
• Volunteer Meeting 2-3:00pm @ Pride Center

Thursday, April 29^th

• Job Seekers Workshop 5:08 Black Cultural Center

Friday, April 30^th

• El Asesinato del General Francisco Villa 2pm @ Centro Cultural Cesar Chavez
• AKAlicious Fish Fry 6:08 Black Cultural Center
• A Celebration! For Grad Student Parents & Their Children 4-6pm @ Women’s Center

Tags: CRF, events, social justice
Posted in Community Relations Facilitators | Comments Off on CRF Diversity Events Calendar

Monday, April 19^th

• Social Justice and Human Experimentation @ 5-6 in MU 208
• Day in the life of a gender queer @ 3:30 in Pride Center (PC)

Tuesday, April 20^th

• Radio Movimiento @ 5 in MU 213
• Showing of Glee @ 9pm in PC

Wednesday, April 21^st

• Chipotle Workshop @ 5-6:30 in CCCC
• Volunteer Meeting @ 2-3 in PC
• Queer Sex 101 @ 4 in PC

Thursday, April 22^nd

• MANNRS Earth Day @ CCCC
• HIV Testing @ 10-2 in PC
• Bites with Beth @ 11:30-1 in PC

Friday, April 23^rd

• The Voices Project: Being Black @ 12-1 in Batcheller

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on CRF Diversity Calendar of Events

Several times I’ve been involved in programs or program series in which the focus topic is identity saliency (something that is prominent or important to me). During these exercise we’re asked to think about our most and least salient identities. Every time, I have a tough time answering the latter.

I struggle with this question because I am reminded of the identity that, in a sense, I ignore most. This struggle within me continues because I’m disappointed that my job consists of educating people about becoming aware of targeted identities and their privileges as members of untargeted group, and then find myself unaware of some of these same issues.

When I go through this brief battle with myself, I ask myself, how do I balance my time between my more salient identities (typically the identities in which I belong to targeted group), and the not so salient identities (typically the identities in which I have privilege). I also hate to remind myself that I’m still a work in progress and recognize that I too need to be reminded of some unearned advantages I have, and to feel guilty or disappointed in myself. Feelings of guilt and disappointment ultimately, don’t move anybody or issues forward.

With that said, I challenge you folks to think about your identity saliency. What’s most salient? What identity do you think about the least? Why do you think that is? Try to think about the identities in which you are privileged and those in which you are targeted. Is it easier to think about the ones that put you at a disadvantage? If so, examine why.

Alba García
Community Relations Facilitator – Southside

Tags: CRF, identity
Posted in Community Relations Facilitators, UHDS Staff Blogs | 4 Comments »

As a community relation facilitator (CRF) for University Housing and Dining I actively engage in peer education with social justice and diversity issues through facilitation and events in the residence halls. I also act as a liaison between RA staff and the cultural centers. With my job comes a lot of professional development to further my knowledge on social justice and diversity issues. An opportunity given to me to further my development was attending the Power of One conference put on by both the University of Idaho and Washington State University. This conference was great for furthering my knowledge about the LGBT community and on how to become an even better Ally to the community.

I recently attended a meeting at the University of Idaho and Washington State University known as the Power of One, a leadership conference for LGBT and ally students. This was an unforgettable experience. I learned so much about issues ranging from the identities of transgender people to the oppressions of the LGBT community and people of color within the community. What I learned the most from was not the conference itself, but from the reactions of my family members when I told them that I would be attending this conference.

First, my grandfather heard me just mention the word “gay” and he exploded with frustration and anger towards the community. Asking questions like, “They aren’t trying to turn you gay, are they?”  I became confused as to how I could ever explain to this man, whom I deeply respect, and who comes from a generation that has not been the most accepting, that “they” could never turn me gay. The people around me at this conference didn’t make a choice to identify in this way. In fact many shared their struggles as how they tried to conform to what society claims to be the norm, but they knew deep down that it was not possible for them to do so.

Then I had a conversation with my mother who said she was deeply concerned. She couldn’t believe that my job wanted to send me to an LGBT conference when I identify as a heterosexual male. She thought that I was forced to go rather than volunteering. My mother said she was not concerned that my job was trying to change my sexual identity, and that she accepts the gay community, but was concerned my friends would make fun of me for attending this conference. I told my mother if my friends didn’t accept what I believe in and decide to make fun of me for being surrounded by people from the LGBT community, then they were not my friends at all!

Hearing from my grandfather and my mother showed me views that are held by many in our society today. It crushes me to know that many within my own family claim to be accepting but in reality they are far from it. Our society has progressed leaps and bounds from my grandfather’s generation to mine, but we still have a long ways to go. They say the hardest people to confront and try to inform are those who are closest to you, but I feel if I can make even the tiniest baby step with my family, then I can clear even the largest obstacles set by my peers.

-Kevin Rodemack

Community Relations Facilitator – Westside

Tags: CRF, social justice
Posted in Community Relations Facilitators, UHDS Staff Blogs | 2 Comments »

Working as an Activities Coordinator for the Residence Hall Association (RHA) here at OSU is a blast.  My seven fellow officers and I get many cool opportunities, from working with student leaders in many other organizations, to putting on large programs such as Casino Night or the Winter Formal.  When I think of the work that I have been part of this year in building community, in defining why we are “residence halls” and not “dorms,” I get very passionate and excited.

When I was asked to blog about my experience with RHA, as a program planner, I thought I would take the opportunity to convey my feelings about planning this year’s RHA/After Dark Casino Night program.  When I first started to imagine what I wanted Casino Night to look like this year, I started thinking BIG.  Earlier in the year, I had been baffled by the large attendance to our RHA/Hall Council Winter Formal program (almost 750 attendees).  I wanted to go bigger.  My aim for Casino Night is 1,000 attendees, bigger than any previous RHA program I was aware of.

In order to put on a large program like this, I knew I needed a lot of volunteers and programming resources.  Because of RHA’s great partnerships, I was able to get OSU After-Dark on board, which consists of Dixon Rec, Late Night, and the Student Events and Activities Council.  Together we delegated the MANY tasks and responsibilities between our organizations.  Responsibilities include securing resources for food, movies, bingo, Wii, casino games, prizes, check in booth, raffle, karaoke, lining up live performances by Outspoken, Divine, and a Hypnotist, getting our 80 volunteers, ordering t-shirts, Pepsi donations, decorations, the wedding chapel, and renting tables and chairs, not to mention all the tiny details I could take a whole paragraph to list.

A lot of work went into this program and it is a phenomenal experience to get to bring it all together, but it can be pretty nerve-wracking having to trust so many people to the quality execution of their duties.  Keeping up with all the assignments and making sure everyone knew what they needed to know had me feeling like a chicken with my head cut off, especially since much planning was happening during reading week, finals and spring break.  I had to push myself to stay on top of everything and to trust my fellow planners and volunteers.  Writing this piece over spring break leaves me wondering how the program will turn out and what all of my and so many other’s work will amount to.  In the end, my philosophy on programs is that it doesn’t matter how many people attend, as long as they get something out of it.

So come out to Casino Night this Friday, April 2 from 9pm-1am at Dixon Rec Center for this epic RHA event!

Cheers!

Nik Bowen

OSU RHA Activities Coordinator

www.oregonstate.edu/dept/rha

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Finals week

Hello everyone, I imagine all of you are having their finals this
week. I being trying to study and getting ready for my Finals. I have
two Finals this week, one from Math, and the other one from Chemistry.
After we are done with this week, we are having spring break. That’s a
great thing because I really needed. At last I’m going back to
Hillsboro, and visit my family. I really miss them, especially my
little brother Uriel who is just 8 years old. I used to call him “my
little hommie.”  He likes to play soccer a lot, and now that I’m coming
back we are going to play soccer together. Also, I’m excited because
I’m going to practice with my church band from Hillsboro. We have many
songs undone since I left, and now we are going to finish them.
Last Friday, I did my first blood drive donation at the CAMP blood
drive held by the CAMP program. I remember I was really scared,
especially of the needle. I thought that it was going to hurt a lot,
but it wasn’t. It didn’t hurt at all, and after I donate I didn’t feel
tired or something, instead I felt really normal. Unfortunately, a
couple hours after I started to feel little bit tired, and hungry. The
best thing about the blood drive is that I realized that I did it for
a good cause, for I saved three lives. That same day I went to a church
prayer that started from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am in the morning. I played
the piano that day at the church. I thought that I wasn’t going to be
able to stay the all activity since I donate blood and I felt really
tired, but actually I did stay for all the activity and I really enjoyed it.
The next day on Saturday, I had a practice with the church band here
at Corvallis, and we practice the songs that we are going to play next
Friday in our first youth service at Church, and we hope that a lot of
youth people come to church. I’m really excited about that.
Today is Monday, and I barely woke up. I’m going to
continue studying for those finals and do well on them. I wish
everyone a good luck on their finals, and remember get a good sleep. I
hope all of you have a nice spring break.

Roberto

Tags: finals, Roberto
Posted in Roberto (from Hillsboro, Student Bloggers | Comments Off on Roberto–Finals Week

Over the last month at the Wellness RoundTable Series in UHDS dining centers we have been talking about “energy balance” and choosing foods that are “nutrient dense”.

What does all of this mean?

Energy balance means balancing the calories you take in with the calories you burn.  In general, a moderately active male (age 18-25) needs about 2800 calories to maintain balance, and a moderately active female (age 19-25) needs 2200 calories.   Surprisingly, calories can add up quickly and although the lore of the “Freshman Fifteen” is more myth than fact, on average, college freshman gain 4 pounds during the first year due to “energy imbalance”….calories taken in are MORE than calories burned.

For some, this may be the first time you are completely responsible for your own meal planning and you may struggle navigating towards choices that meet your needs.  To help you to make balanced choices, UHDS has online menus available with nutrition information, ingredient and allergy information.  Additionally, calorie information is posted on Calabaloos menu boards and all soup labels in the dining centers.

UHDS dining centers have a myriad of “nutrient dense” options; that is, options that pack a lot of nutrition with fewer calories such as fruits and vegetables available on salad bars, fruit carts and grab and go areas.  There are many lean protein and dairy options such as grilled chicken, lean turkey, beans, and lowfat milk, cheeses and soy based products as well as whole grain options such as oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat bread and rolls available in all dining centers.

Additionally, the dining centers have options that are “energy dense”; they pack a lot of calories and they may be “empty calories” such as sugary soda, candy bars and chips.  While these are often perceived as unhealthy options, it is about balance and these options should be considered a “sometimes choice” rather than a daily choice.

Curious about your energy needs and ways to make your diet more “nutrient dense”? Find out more at MyPyramid.gov website.

We will be resuming the Wellness Rountable Series in the Dining Centers on April 13^th!  We look forward to seeing you there!  Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any comments, questions or concerns regarding nutrition and wellness in our dining centers.

Best of luck on finals and have a wonderful and relaxing Spring Break.

Be Well,

Tara Sanders

Registered Dietitian

Oregon State University

University Housing and Dining

Office: 541-737-3915

Cell: 541-602-9736

Tags: Dining, nutrition, Tara Sanders
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Tara Sanders–Energy Balance

So, last Wednesday UHDS hosted Soul Food Café at McNary Dining for the 3^rd year in a row.  Soul Food Café is one of several “Journeys through Culture and Cuisine” that UHDS has hosted over the last few years and last week’s event was designed to celebrate Black History month.  Each of these cultural events is an outgrowth of our Diversity Initiative which is a multi-faceted approach to creating communities that are open, caring and supportive of students from all cultures.  As a department, our Diversity Initiative is aspirational.  We know we have more work to do to creative inclusive environments, but we are dedicated and committed to the journey and we ask the rest of the campus community to join us and support us as we travel on our journey.

Working with our campus partners brings great energy to these events and I appreciate everyone’s involvement.  The Tye Curtis blues band also brought energy to last week’s event and they rocked the house.

The menu created by our culinary team was also truly exceptional and coming up real soon will be available daily at Cooper’s Creek BBQ which will open next month at Marketplace West.

Rich Turnbull

Just another person loving the Cooper's Creek ribs.

Tags: cultural cuisine, Dining, Rich Turnbull
Posted in Rich Turnbull--Dining Services, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Rich Turnbull–Soul Food Cafe 2010