LBCC Election Debate 2016

SLC candidates debate looming student issues

LBCC students have seen an unusual amount of changes in their Student Leadership Council this year. Multiple resignations, including both elected president and vice president, sent the SLC into turmoil in the midst of fall term. Persevering through the chaos, two non-elected students stepped up to fill the empty positions and turned turmoil into a cohesive team.

In two months time, President Candalynn Johnson and Vice President Eric Slyter will hand over their current positions to the new, elected leaders of student government. But first, the students of LBCC must choose their leaders; the time for an election has arrived.

On Feb. 17, students will receive an electronic ballot through their Linn-Benton email addresses, providing them another chance to pick the representatives of student government.

A round of debates were held by the SLC Judiciary Board on Feb. 12 at noon in the Fireside Room. Open to students, about 15 people filled the space to listen to candidates deliberate current issues the college faces. Board members Reis Taylor, Elijah Andre-Orlando and Sophia Metzler posed questions to candidates, asking for their ideas on a variety of issues.

Eric Slyter speaks. Next to him are candidates Jason Shirely and John Maine.

-The Candidates-


Eric Slyter: Running unopposed for president

When the SLC began crumbling during fall term, Slyter stepped up to the plate. Beginning the year as an executive assistant he is now the acting vice president.

“I was up to the challenge and I cared about the team,” said Slyter. “I sort of filled in the gaps as needed and was kind of a wild card in the SLC.”

He believes his experiences working many positions in the SLC has equipped him for the presidency.

“I feel very well prepared to lead the team,” said Slyter.

During his vice-presidency Slyter chose to tackle the issue of students' financial burden.

“If tuition is something that’s out of our control we need to shift our focus to other ways of saving students money, things like focusing on textbook affordability and working with the availability of grants and scholarships,” said Slyter.

Disappointed in the lack of competition, Slyter believes that the position of president takes devotion and may be intimidating for potential candidates. If Slyter doesn’t receive the support of student voters the position will be open to applicants, though he will be eligible to apply.

As president he would act as a liaison between the LBCC Board of Education, The Oregon Students Association, a student lobby group, and the student body. Working with the Board of Directors Slyter would be involved with the creation of a budget which affects every aspect of student resources on campus.


Jason Shirley: Running for vice

Shirley is a Salem, Ore., native and a fourth-time returning college student. He began his college career at Chemeketa Community College, and is a computer science major. This year he has spent time volunteering with the SLC, and manages a pizza joint one day a week.

“I learned some valuable skills being a manager. I know how to lead a team of people effectively,” said Shirley.

Shirely believes the biggest challenge for LBCC students is a lack of open communication about their resources. He advocates for open forums to encourage discussions with the student body regarding other issues, especially the lack of resources for student-parents.

“I have a very good idea of what keeps student in and out of school; mostly out,” said Shirley. “Linn-Benton has 16 percent graduation rate. Across all of our campuses there’s 5,500 students which means 880 students are going to graduate. I want to bring that number up. We can do better as a community, as a school.”


John Maine: Running for vice

Maine is a student-parent of three, including a newborn. Vice president of the Veteran’s Club and serving on the Judiciary Board, Maine keeps himself busy.

“I’ve been able to balance all those things in my life already and commit to my schooling,” said Maine.

Maine served in the Army. He spent 15 months in Iraq and suffered a traumatic brain injury, eventually receiving a Purple Heart for his service. After spending time rehabilitating he is ready for a fresh start at LBCC.

“When the rubber meets the road, I have the grit to get everything done. As I was a team leader in Iraq I did that in a combat zone,” he said. “I get things done; that’s how it has to be. You have to have that mindset whether you have things going on in your life or not.”

Maine believes he possesses a “unique understanding as a student parent, a student with disabilities and a veteran.” He sees problems non-traditional students face and believes he can provide solutions using the education, knowledge, and resources gained through his own experiences.


-The Issues-


Discrimination

LBCC is a college with a diverse student population. Recent discussion between students and faculty members have brought to light a need to address issues of discrimination against minorities on campus.

“I know that discrimination does happen on this campus,” said Slyter. “Being a privileged white male it’s a little bit difficult for me to wrap my head around what discrimination really is and it’s something that I’ve had some really deep conversations with some people about. It’s something that I’m deeply concerned with and I’ll be doing my best to make sure that the student voices are heard and they will be comfortable expressing themselves in any situation.”

Maine recognized the discrimination issue and that the VP position represents all students, no matter their background.

“We need to bring education out about all the demographics that we have here to include all minorities and talk about that openly. Don’t be scared to ask questions and know where to go for those resources,’ said Maine.

Shirley expressed a similar view, believing that students knowledge about available resources is key to the issue.

“The first problem with discrimination: making individuals feel welcomed to approach our student leaders, our faculty and our administration about discrimination,” said Shirley.


Blood Drives

One of the vice-presidential duties has traditionally been the organization of blood drives. However this has recently fallen under debate. Brought to the attention of the SLC by the Gender Sexuality Alliance, blood drives enforce FDA policies which do not allow men who have sex with men to donate blood. The blood drives discriminate against a portion of the student population, yet are still funded through their fees.

“The problem is that student funds cannot support the blood drives because it is discrimination of men who have sex with men,” said Maine. “There should be no discrimination in our student body, period. That’s my policy. That’s what I’ll stand by.

Both Maine and Slyter agree that finding a separate way to fund blood drives without the use of student funds is a preferable option. The possibility of funding the events through a club is a viable option. They also agree that it should not be in the job requirement of the VP to organize the events.

Shirley was not entirely informed about the issue.

“I’m still gathering all the information I can to have an opinion, but right now I cannot say or lean anywhere because I don’t know the full story,” said Shirley.


Student-Parent Resources

Student-parents are challenged with a pervasive lack of resources at LBCC.

“I am a student-parent myself, I have two kids and I struggle quite a bit in order to make my ends meet financially and physically getting to school,” said Christy McDaniel, SLC event planner.

McDaniel spoke up at the debate to voice her concerns to the candidates.

All candidates realize the relevancy of her plight.

“I have yet to grasp exactly why the college has not put more resources out there for student-parents. That’s something I’m currently working on, trying to figure out exactly what’s holding them back from giving a little bit to student-parents,” said Slyter.

With an imminent tuition increase of 7 percent, Slyter believes the lack of resources should be taken into account with increased budget funding.

Shirely expressed an idea for a student-run daycare center, but has yet to come up with a plan to implement the idea. He called for open forums to discuss the issue further with students.

Maine knows the plight of the student-parent all too well. He proposed a petition could help the situation, and student-parent voices to be hear. Maine intends to advocate for increased student-parent resources if elected.

At A Glance

• Candidates are: Eric Slyter for president, John Maine and Jason Shirley for vice president.
• Slyter is the current vice president of SLC and took the position after the resignation of several other members. He is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and dedicates his time to serving his community and his school. 
• John Maine is the vice president of the Veteran's Club and served in the Army. He received a purple heart for his service. Maine is a father of 3 and hopes to increase resources for student parents. 
• Jason Shirley is a returning college student. He began college at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, but dropped out due to a lack of encouragement. He has returned for a fourth time, determined to finish and increase graduation rates among his peers. 
• Elections will be held Thursday and Friday Feb. 17 to 18.
• Check your student email for more information on how to vote electronically.
• Candidates discussed discrimination on campus, blood drive discrimination, and the lack of student-parent resources at LBCC.

Taking positive action: Linn-Benton GSA co-president Ceph Poklemba

It’s business as usual at the SLC office; the laughter and banter of students tumbles through the room. Ceph Poklemba, focusing his attention on a drawing, glances up once in a while with piqued interest, interjecting in the conversation.

A bright green mop of curling hair falls across his brow. Bending over a colored-pencil drawing, he darkens the curved leg of a strong-looking woman. Her skirt is a rainbow of colors, surrounding her in a whorl of motion that drifts upwards to the edges of the page. Poklemba peers up from beneath black rimmed glasses with a discerning gaze, his quick wit at the ready.

“Go hard or go home,” he says.

A second-year LBCC student majoring in fine arts and communications, Poklemba could be described as over-involved.

“I’m involved in about 10 clubs on campus,” he said.

To top it off, Poklemba holds the position of communications director for the Student Leadership  and shares the presidency of the Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA).

Highly active in the community as co-president, Poklemba focuses on outside resourcing, working with the high school GSA in Corvallis. He advises them monthly and maintains a presence in local youth groups.

“It’s really important to provide safe spaces for minorities on campus, regardless of what happens,” said Poklemba. “We provide safe places for gender, sexual and romantic minorities.”

As a youth Poklemba came out to his mother and friends at the age of 15, but says it is a never-ending process.

“No matter where you are or what point in your life you are at, you’re always going to be coming out,” he said.

Poklemba experienced a lack of support, education and resources during his youth, leaving him with the desire to improve the lives of high school students. Aspiring to teach art and communications, he also dreams of teaching a “real” sexual education class to seniors.

Poklemba didn’t always fit in with his family. His mother and sister were both successful athletes, yet Poklemba had little interest in athletics. He found his solace in artwork; in drawing in particular. To the chagrin of his father, Poklemba continued to pursue his love of art through high school and into college.

At the age of seven he endured the separation of his parents. Over the course of his childhood he lived in 14 different houses in Corvallis, one for only a month.

“We called it the ‘quick house,’” he said.

Poklemba experienced very little support from his family regarding what was most important to him: his art. Tensions rose with his father, and a breaking point came after he had turned 17. His father kicked him out of the house.

It was a blessing in disguise.

“I had gotten out of a really toxic family situation and I was able to be a lot more open about myself,” said Poklemba.

Poklemba now resides with his mother, and is happy about the stable situation.

“She is much more supportive of who I am than my father,” he said.

Conflict with his father wasn’t his only obstacle. While 17, Poklemba wrestled with deep depression, eventually attempting suicide. 

Suicide attempts are not uncommon for LGBTQ youth. Data from numerous studies compiled by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center shows that 30 to 40 percent of LGBTQ youth attempt suicide at some point in their lives.

Studies also show active GSA's make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ youth such as Poklemba. A study published in March 2013 in the School Social Work Journal found a decrease in suicide rates is associated with the presence of a GSA on campus. Campuses with no GSA had a 33.1 percent suicide rate compared to a 16.9 percent rate on campuses with an active GSA.

Poklemba expresses gratitude for his life and was quick to move on, enrolling at LBCC and fervently pursuing his career as a college student and club member.

“I pretty much just took twenty steps at once instead of one and got really involved really fast,” said Poklemba.

Though he continues a battle with depression, Poklemba stays busy with on-campus pursuits. But when life becomes a little too hectic he takes as step back and focuses on self-care and art.

“I like using art for political purposes,” said Poklemba. “I like using it in a way that is capable of making someone who can’t read understand it. That’s why I like art.”

At the SLC office Poklemba contributes this creativity to graphic design and communications duties. Experienced doing advertising graphics for a news publication in Salem, Ore., the SLC quickly snatched up his skills.

“He’s a likeable person and he has a great sense of humor, but he’s no nonsense and that’s why I think he does well in his position,’ said Barb Horn, SLC advisor.

SLC Volunteer Coordinator Nikki Aman shares a desk with Poklemba. She finds their high-energy, motivated working styles are a perfect match. Describing him as always having an ear to listen, he is the first to notice or offer help when something is wrong.

“He immediately turned my bad day into a solvable problem and that was really valuable,” said Aman.

Ceph Poklemba poses with his drawing.

At A Glance:

• Ceph Poklemba is the co-president of LBCC's Gender-Sexuality Alliance, believing in the importance maintaining safe spaces for students on the college's campus.

• Poklemba is the communications director for the Student Leadership Council.

• He is majoring in art and communications, with the long term goal of becoming a youth educator, teaching in a high school.

• He hopes to introduce an improved sex education class to high school.

• For now, Poklemba focuses on improving the campus community through his work with the GSA, SLC and multiple other clubs on campus.