Week 7 - Spring 2021 Student Life Newsletter

It’s not too late! Sign up for your vaccination now!

The on-campus Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics are now open to the community – so hurry and grab your spot.  Deschutes County Health Services is hosting the clinics in partnership with OSU-Cascades and COCC. Appointments are recommended, but walk-up appointments may be available. Free food and giveaways!  Learn more at beav.es/bendvax.

OSU intends to implement a COVID-19 vaccination requirement beginning fall term 2021 for students and employees who learn, work or engage on campus.

Feeling Stressed? Here are Tips to Help You Relax.

• Personal counseling is available through the Office of Student Wellness. Contact our counselor to make an appointment.

• Health insurance is valuable protection, even if you are healthy. Contact OSU-Cascades’ health advisor to learn about coverage provided by the Oregon Health Plan.

• Fitness and exercise are important to physical and mental health. Take a hike, ride a bike or find spring fitness center hours and recreation programs online.

• Good sleep is critical to our health, but can be disturbed because of stress.  Here are tips to help improve sleep habits:         

  • Stick to a sleep schedule, even on weekends.

  • Practice a relaxing bedtime ritual and turn off electronics before bed.

  • Beware of hidden sleep stealers like alcohol and caffeine.

• Deep breathing reduces stress. The Student Succes team recommends free apps for guided breathing and relaxation exercises to practice daily and when stress is high.

Variety Show and Leadership Awards

The annual Variety Show and Leadership Awards Banquet are being combined this year for an incredible virtual event where you can watch students and staff perform incredible talents and receive well-deserved awards.

Complete the Variety Show and Leadership Awards checklist for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card!

Video (Talent) Submissions
Students, staff, and faculty are invited to submit videos of their talent (i.e. "Mini Bend Beavs", dancing, magic tricks, singing, standup comedy, etc.) between 30 seconds and 4 minutes. All submissions must be original and in accordance with the student code of conduct (i.e. no profanity, no nudity, no drugs/alcohol, etc.). Submissions are due May 26 and will be placed into an applicable category for judging. First place category winners will receive a $150 Amazon gift card and medal. Second place category winners will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and medal.

Submit your video now!

Photo (College Memories) Submissions
Students are invited to share photos of their college adventures (i.e. hanging out with friends, going on a hike with your dog, celebrating holidays in quarantine, etc.) so that our team can create a special slideshow presentation highlighting the craziness we have experienced together over the past year. All submissions must be original and in accordance with the student code of conduct (i.e. no profanity, no nudity, no drugs/alcohol, etc.). They are also due May 26.

Submit your photos now!

Nominate Leadership Award Winners
Students are invited to nominate and vote on a number of leadership awards including Club of the Year, Student Choice Staff Member of the Year, Student Choice Faculty Member of the Year, and more! Nominations and voting also close on May 26.

Nominate and vote on leadership award winners now!

New Housing Subsidy Program Launches

Need financial help with housing for the next academic year? Then apply to the Associated Students of Cascades Campus' new Housing Subsidy Program. Whether you're a full time or part time student you can receive up to $625 in housing assistance depending on your financial aid (if applicable, you can still apply even if you're not receiving financial aid). As this is a pilot program, only a limited number of applications can be accepted at this time so apply soon!

Complete your Housing Subsidy Application now!

ASCC understands that finding affordable housing in Bend is a serious issue for many of our students. That's why we're pleased to announce the launch of our new Housing Subsidy program. For many students with financial aid, we know that your aid sometimes doesn't cover the full cost of housing, especially in an expensive rental market like Bend. We hope this subsidy can help to fill the gap between your aid and the actual cost of housing. And for students without financial aid, we hope that this at least helps in covering some of your housing costs. Since this is a pilot program, the number of applications we will be able to accept will be limited but we hope to majorly expand this program and increase awarded amounts in the future to cover as many students as possible. Any OSU-Cascades student may apply, the amount dispersed will vary depending on financial aid with a maximum limit of $625.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Oregon State University. For more institutional diversity news, check out the OSU Office of Institutional Diversity.

OSU-Cascades sustainability, net zero goals prominent in its future

As the current presidential administration under President Joe Biden unveils its national climate plan, OSU-Cascades is addressing its own sustainability and net zero goals through both immediate and long-term action.

Built on a former pumice mine and demolition landfill, it’s hard to believe that Oregon State University’s Cascades campus in Bend, Ore. would be a national leader in sustainable development.

Unlike other universities around the state, including OSU’s Corvallis, Ore. campus, OSU-Cascades is growing up in a new age of environmentalism. As Oregon’s first university to be built in the last 50 years, OSU-Cascades had the ability to implement sustainable campus development from the start.

Beginning in 2016, with the construction of its existing 10-acre campus, OSU-Cascades incorporated a number of sustainable initiatives. Aside from building energy and water-efficient facilities, the Cascades campus prioritized protecting nearby wildlife habitats and promoting a recycling program.

In that same year, OSU-Cascades released its Long Range Development Plan that committed to becoming a net zero energy, water and waste campus.

While these goals likely won’t be achieved until the campus’ full 128-acre build-out—which could take decades—they are laying the groundwork and aiming for a bright and sustainable future with the construction of Ed Ray Hall this year, which includes a new geothermal Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system.

“We’ll be using groundwater as our source of heat and cooling for [Ed Ray Hall] and future buildings,” said Steve Pitman, director of facilities and operations at OSU-Cascades. “Additionally, it will have all the infrastructure in place to be able to install solar panels and connect them when we do a larger solar installation on campus, which will probably be in the next three to five years.”

While Ed Ray Hall will be net zero energy ready when it opens this summer, Pitman said OSU-Cascades is continuing to work towards OSU’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2025.

“The sustainability goals we established were chosen to be supportive of the carbon neutrality goal without modifying it or changing it for our campus,” Pitman said. “There’s a different regional context here in central Oregon where carbon isn’t necessarily as universally accepted as a good metric for sustainability.”

In other words, according to Pitman, OSU-Cascades will support carbon neutrality with its own net zero energy and waste goals working with the Corvallis campus in order to meet as a whole, the 2025 carbon benchmark. 

These carbon offsets represent an investment into a local conservation project that sequesters the amount of carbon that the OSU-Cascades produces annually. This is an alternative to eliminating OSU-Cascades carbon production outright.

In the meantime, OSU-Cascades will look to make significant emissions reductions through operational practices on its campus.

You can read the rest of this story on The Daily Barometer's Website.

This Week's Trivia Challenge...

OSU-Cascades is set to be a net-zero campus at full build-out while making significant sustainable operations commitments along the way. Which of the following sustainability aspects is NOT part of the OSU-Cascades long-range campus net-zero plan.

1. Energy
2. Waste
3. Carbon
4. Waste

OSU to recognize Juneteenth as holiday for 2021, potentially for years to come

This year, on June 19, Oregon State University will be recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday as part of its “Moving Forward Together” initiative, diversity strategic plan and Strategic Plan 4.0. 

Chris Stout, an associate professor of political science whose research focus includes racial and ethnic politics, explained the history behind Juneteenth. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, Stout said, slavery did not really come to an end until a couple years later. 

In April of 1865, the Civil War officially ended, making enslaved Black people officially free. However, in some places, this information was not revealed to the public, leaving many African Americans illegally enslaved until June 19, 1865. Juneteenth commemorates that day as the official end of slavery in the United States. 

“By recognizing Juneteenth as a university holiday, we share a message that Black students, faculty and staff—and Oregonians—matter and that racism and violence against people of color must end,” Steve Clark, vice president of University Relations & Marketing, said. 

The announcement about making Juneteenth a university holiday for 2021 came directly after the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial on April 20. Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of George Floyd last May. After the “Humanity and Hope” community event following the verdict, OSU announced new antiracist initiatives, including the recognition of Juneteenth. 

“Moving Forward Together” is an OSU plan which seeks to enhance its commitment to “leading change and dismantling systemic racism.” The diversity strategic plan represents a path for OSU to improve inclusive excellence, while Strategic Plan 4.0 includes goals to create and refine equitable access to education for all and to demonstrate dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. 

Since June 19 falls on a Saturday this year, OSU will recognize June 18 instead as paid day off. Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Dan Larson, said although the paid holiday falls outside of the traditional academic calendar, recognizing it will still send an important message to students at OSU. 

“Students, specifically Black and African-American, will know that Oregon State University acknowledges the true end of slavery in the United States in 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation,” Larson said. “Members of the OSU community also will know that we acknowledge that the treatment, experiences and struggles of Black Americans within the U.S. and specifically, within the state of Oregon, are well documented.”

The Oregon Legislature is expected to pass House Bill 2168, which would adopt Juneteenth as a statewide recognized holiday. However, Larson said that even if this bill does not pass, he sees OSU continuing to recognize Juneteenth in the years to come. 

You can read the rest of this story on The Daily Barometer's Website.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Oregon State University. For more independent student news, check out Orange Media Network.

Consistent Resources at Your Fingertips

Feel like you don't know where to find urgently-needed resources? We are here to help! This new newsletter column will remain consistent throughout the term so you can easily find the resources you need without scouring the internet. Still don't see something you're looking for? Check out OSUcascades.edu or experience.oregonstate.edu/resources.

Health and Wellness

• OSU-Cascades Student Wellness
• OSU-Cascades Counseling Services
• OSU-Cascades Counseling Clinic
• COVID-19 Health and Wellness Resources
• ASCC Safer Living Kits
• ASCC Childcare Subsidies
• OSU-Cascades Little Beavs Childcare

Financial Aid

• OSU-Cascades Financial Aid
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• OSU ScholarDollars
• OSU Emergency Funding Request

Housing and Dining

• OSU-Cascades Dining
• OSU-Cascades Housing
• Bend Living Guide
• ASCC Food Pantry

Academic Services

• OSU-Cascades Disability Access Services (DAS)
• OSU-Cascades Academic Advising
• OSU-Cascades Library and Technology Loans
• OSU-Cascades Academic Tutoring

Community and Culture

• OSU-Cascades Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• OSU-Cascades Student Life
• Associated Students of Cascades Campus (ASCC)
• Student Fee Committee
• Campus Recreation
• Student Organizations (Clubs and Sport Clubs)

Other Resources

• Career Development Center
• Veteran's Services
• Transportation Services
• OSU-Cascades COVID-19 Information